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Saving and protecting children for decades, UNICEF, the United Nationschildren’s agency, has been implementing new ways to reach families more quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. In honor of World Creativity and Innovation Day, meet five innovations that are making 2020 the start of a decade of good — even in the midst of all the negative news we see everyday. Learn the details in the full Medium article here.
Music is everywhere, and today’s tech-enabled world makes it easy to enjoy the sounds of your favorite artists and storytellers no matter where you go. Learn about the many ways you can access music and podcasts while on the go with these tips that can make it easy to bring your audio library with you from the family room, to the car, to the gym and virtually anywhere else life takes you.
Take Music and Podcasts Everywhere You Go
(Family Features) Music is everywhere, and today’s tech-enabled world makes it easy to enjoy the sounds of your favorite artists and storytellers no matter where you go.
“In the connected world we live in, consumers want to be able to listen to their favorite music and podcasts wherever they are and however they choose to listen, whether that’s at home, in the car or on the run,” said Sten Garmark, vice president of product for Spotify.
Learn about the many ways you can access music and podcasts while on the go with these tips that can make it easy to bring your audio library with you from the family room, to the car, to the gym and virtually anywhere else life takes you:
Smart speakers are a must for any music-lover’s home with a wide range of devices that come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it’s listening to motown while you cook, turning up the jazz while you entertain or queuing up your favorite podcasts as you wind down for the night, smart speakers are equipped to stream all types of audio across your home. There are other sources for accessing your music, too. Smart TVs have become true information and entertainment hubs; going far beyond the music channels many cable and satellite providers offer, you can now access an array of apps, including streaming music, on many smart TV models. Another option: game consoles that integrate apps and features beyond their basic gaming function, such as streaming music for the best gaming soundtrack experience.
Also keep in mind that smart home hub capabilities often extend beyond simple device management, such as allowing you to use voice commands to play music and podcasts from streaming services.
In the Car
It’s no secret that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of apps designed to make driving easier and more enjoyable. You’re probably familiar with apps that provide directions or help you locate the cheapest gas nearby, but don’t overlook entertainment apps that can add a little fun to all that function.
If music apps like Spotify aren’t already integrated into your car’s audio system, you can access them through your smartphone then connect via an auxiliary cord or through Bluetooth with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which have in-car display options that make streaming audio simple and stress-free.
On the Run
Streaming music directly from your smartphone’s built-in speaker is almost always an option as well, even without any other device. When you want or need to keep your music to yourself, wireless headphones are an increasingly affordable, hassle-free option. Simply pair the headphones with your smartphone for a private music experience even when you’re in a crowded place.
Explore more options to take your music everywhere you go at Spotify-Everywhere.com.SOURCE:
(BPT) - Smart home products made major strides in 2018. More people than ever now use connected devices in their homes, and smart home hubs are constantly adding new integrations and capabilities. Research from Statista predicts that by the end of 2018, more than 45 million smart home devices will be installed in U.S. homes, fueling an exciting new phase for the smart home industry, offering consumers new and improved smart technologies and giving rise to a totally interconnected, easy-to-control environment termed the “smart home.”
This innovation looks to continue in the new year with increasingly intuitive products that make life more enjoyable and interconnected. Here are the new smart home products ready to change the way we live in the new year, coming out of the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Laundry made easy
The calendar might have changed, but your laundry needs haven’t gone anywhere. Thankfully, smart home technology is making the chore a little easier with LG’s Ultimate Laundry Room.
The LG Styler is a first-of-its-kind steam clothing care system certified as asthma and allergy friendly(R) by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The Wi-Fi enabled smart LG Styler reduces wrinkles and odor and refreshes garments with the fastest cycle on the market today — as little as 20 minutes — thanks to the gentle power of pure steam technology. Furthermore, LG TWINWash(TM) with SideKick(TM) pedestal washer, an industry-first innovation for laundry, allows users to tackle small loads that are a big deal and can’t wait or wash two loads at the same time.
With LG Styler for daily refreshes, the innovative LG SideKick(TM) mini washer for small loads that can't wait, and LG's award-winning top and front load washers and dryers, the LG Ultimate Laundry Room suite of products can be started, stopped or monitored from anywhere using LG’s SmartThinQ(R) app. Users will receive notifications when a cycle has finished, or they can download new cycles, check energy usage and quickly troubleshoot minor issues using Smart Diagnosis. For added convenience, these home solutions can also be controlled with simple voice commands using the Google Assistant.
Smarter home with smart displays
Laundry is just one example of how smart home technology is making life easier. By adding other connected appliances and devices, you can develop a true smart home ecosystem in which seamless integrations produce valuable efficiency. One of the best ways to anchor your ecosystem is with a smart display like the new LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK9 Smart Display. The advanced smart display builds on the capabilities of a Google Assistant speaker with the added convenience of a touchscreen display and, in partnership with Meridian Audio, delivers high-fidelity sound, precise vocal definition and accurate bass, despite its compact size.
In addition to its audio and video capabilities, the WK9 enables control of other LG ThinQ products such as LG TVs and home appliances, plus more than 10,000 smart devices from over 1,000 brands that work with Google Assistant. By establishing a go-to hub for all your smart home devices, you can increase connectivity and create a fully integrated smart home environment.
Stay connected on-the-go
As innovation continues, smart home technology is branching outside of the home itself. With new products, you can receive notifications regarding your home from anywhere, making sure you never lose touch with the most important things in your life. The first full-screen smartwatch with mechanical hands, the LG Watch W7 allows you to connect and control your smart devices. With two mechanical hands and a micro gearbox, users can enjoy the full WearOS smartwatch experience with the essence and mechanism of a true timepiece. With mobile connectivity, your life becomes easier no matter where you are.
Smart home technology is all about making our lives easier and more comfortable. Whether you’re just doing laundry, looking to power your whole home, or even taking that control on the road, new smart home products provide a level of convenience that’s changing the way we live.
(BPT) - Do you think you could live without your mobile phone? What about the navigation and backup camera in your car? Could you drive as well without them? Could you get by without your smartwatch reminding you how often to get up from your desk to keep healthy or weather conditions for the day so you know how to dress?
Our obsession with technology and the information it delivers daily has progressed beyond the point of external mobile phones and smartwatches to implanted heart monitors and Fitbits. At one time, consumers were too paranoid to enter their Social Security or credit card number online, but now, they are willing to implant sensors and other wearable technologies into their bodies. In turn, companies are leveraging these devices to collect as much data about their potential customers as possible.
The latest fashion: Wearing data
Think about it: You’re carrying (and generating) large amounts of data everywhere you go with wearable and implanted technologies. This means 24/7 data collection for the companies that manufacture those devices, which in turn helps them create a 360-degree view of the patients, athletes or customers they serve with the appropriate products, services and marketing campaigns.
According to research by Talend, a cloud and big data integration software company, 33 percent of consumers already own wearables like the Apple Watch or smart clothing, and another 30 percent are expected to make a purchase within the next three years. That’s a lot of new sources of data for companies to utilize — and a plethora of information companies can use to more accurately define the preferences and needs of its customers.
How we’re using wearables
Topping the list of today’s most common consumer-use cases for embedded wearables is healthcare (57 percent), privacy (28 percent) and convenience (20 percent), all contributing to the rapid dissemination and uptake of these devices.
Healthcare is the leading use for implanted technologies, with the introduction of advanced-tracking devices such as Medtronic’s FDA-approved Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor with TruRhythm Detection, introduced in March of this year, which is designed to accurately identify abnormal heartbeats. This life-saving device is implanted just beneath the skin and communicates wirelessly with the patient’s bedside monitor, which uploads device data to the Medtronic CareLink network. Once the data is loaded, algorithms can be run to determine if the patient is experiencing slower than average heart rate, which can deprive the brain and other organs from getting enough oxygen. This advanced use of embedded wearables and machine learning helps physicians find answers for patients at risk of cardiac arrhythmias to better manage a range of patient populations.
Outside of healthcare, the second biggest use for embedded wearables is physical security. Several companies have started utilizing biochip implants to replace card keys and manual entry codes for employees. For example, Three Square Market offered employees implanted chips in July to make purchases in their cafeteria and break rooms, open doors, log in to computers and use the copy machine. Approximately 50 employees underwent the minimally invasive procedure, many of whom believe the chip is worth any potential discomfort, as it helps to streamline their daily processes. Though this may seem like a massive invasion of privacy for many, for others, biochip implants present a way to make life easier.
Establishing trust: Should you be worried about privacy of information?
While the results of Talend’s survey seem to point to the fact that consumers are getting more digitally comfortable, with greater trust from consumers comes greater responsibility for companies to understand the many ways they need to protect customer data.
According to Talend’s survey, the most likely scenario that would drive consumers to break up with a brand and take their business elsewhere is a breach of personal data. In fact, 78 percent of consumers want to be assured they have full visibility into what companies are doing with their data. But as implanted and wearable technology becomes increasingly common and technology improves, the trade-off between data privacy and convenience will only increase.
Consider a future of augmented reality where implanted contacts could allow you to visualize and interact with the world around you in practical ways, or a future with implanted audio wearables that translate languages in real time. Would that convenience and experience move you to adopt wearable technology even if it means relinquishing more of your personal information and privacy?
At what point of technology adoption do we all essentially become cyborgs, guided each day by the obvious and subliminal information being fed to us via embedded and external devices? The day of total automation may be here sooner than you think.
(BPT) - Bluetooth technology is steadily expanding the role of modern hearing aids from tiny marvels that make use of artificial intelligence to process sound into true, state-of-the-art multimedia hubs now capable of two-way communication.
The primary goal of hearing aids has always been to improve speech understanding. While this hasn’t changed, manufacturers are now building Bluetooth technology directly into the most advanced hearing aid microchips. This lets consumers directly connect to virtually any wireless electronic device, eliminating the need to wear a body-worn accessory.
Let’s take a brief look at how the latest Bluetooth hearing aids are transforming the way we live.
They can now directly connect to any Bluetooth-enabled phone
According to Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, director of business development and veterans affairs at Phonak, previous generations of hearing aids could only directly connect to an iPhone, which greatly limited people’s options.
“Pew Research Center found only 33 percent of American smartphone owners used an iPhone while a whopping 66 percent used the Android operating system,” said Thompson. “Furthermore, another study showed 38 percent of all Americans over age 65 still use a classic flip phone. Until now, there has never been a Bluetooth hearing aid that was truly made for all devices and allowed universal connectivity — including the ability to directly connect to an iPhone, an Android device (e.g., Samsung, LG), or even a classic flip phone that is Bluetooth-ready.”
Bluetooth hearing aids enable truly hands-free calls
The latest Bluetooth hearing aids allow you to answer a phone call with a simple press of a button on the hearing aid. Built-in microphones on the hearing aids themselves feature automatic voice pickup, allowing people to have two-way conversations through their hearing aids. Thompson stated this is the first time this has ever been done with hearing aids.
“This is indeed the first time a hearing aid wearer can have a true hands-free conversation without having to touch the phone at all,” she said. “This is especially convenient in the car, where your phone may be in a pocket or purse, or if you need to have a conversation while leaving your phone on the table or countertop, for example if you’re cooking.”
They stream wireless stereo sound directly from your TV
According to research firm Statista, Americans spend an average of 4.5 hours per day watching TV. And if you are or live with someone who has hearing loss, you probably know that sometimes the volume of the TV can become an issue.
“With a card-sized TV Connector, hearing aid wearers simply plug the device into the back of the TV,” added Thompson. “The ‘plug and play’ TV Connector instantly pairs with Bluetooth hearing aids, allowing viewers to stream high-fidelity TV sound in-stereo at their preferred volume level, independent of other viewers. Wearers have reported a markedly better experience in understanding dialogue, especially when the person on TV is talking fast.”
Bluetooth hearing aids are available right now
While all of these new advances may sound like the future, hearing aids with built-in Bluetooth technology are available today. For more information, visit tryphonak.com or find a licensed hearing care professional who has been specially trained in fitting the latest hearing aid technology.
(BPT) - It’s everywhere — inside as well as outside your home. As digital device usage increases, you’re exposed to more and more of it without realizing how it may affect your vision in the future. We’re talking about blue light.
In its natural form, your body uses blue light from the sun to regulate your natural sleep and wake cycles. This natural light also helps boost alertness, heighten reaction times and elevate moods.
However, we use our eyes much differently than prior generations because we now use a number of artificial sources of blue light including digital screens, electronic devices and LED lighting. The evolution in digital screen technology has advanced dramatically over the years, and many of today's electronic devices use LED back-light technology to help enhance screen brightness and clarity.
These LEDs emit very strong blue light waves. Because of the widespread use and increasing popularity of these devices, we are now exposed to more sources of blue light for longer periods of time. Studies suggest 60 percent of people spend more than six hours a day in front of a digital device.
The flickering of this artificial blue light creates a glare that can reduce visual contrast, affecting sharpness and clarity. That in turn could contribute to eyestrain, headaches, physical and mental fatigue due to increasing amounts of time sitting in front of a computer screen or other electronic device.
Studies show this high-energy, blue-violet light has been found to cause significant damage to retinal cells, and is a risk factor for the onset of age-related macular degeneration, a deterioration of the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision.
Our eyes' natural filters do not provide sufficient protection against blue light rays from the sun, let alone the blue light emanating from these devices, or from blue light emitted from fluorescent-light tubes.
Mother Nature arms us with “internal sunglasses” made up of macular pigment. This pigment, which is comprised of zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein at a ratio of 2:1, is found in the center of the macula (fovea). This pigment absorbs harmful blue light that can affect eye health. These “sunglasses” protect the rods and cones needed for central as well as peripheral vision.
However, if this macular pigment isn’t at optimal density, it will allow more blue light to damage these rods and cones, negatively affecting not just what you see, but how you see.
Zeaxanthin and lutein aren’t produced by the body, they must be ingested in order to ensure optimal macular pigment density. Zeaxanthin can be found in foods like corn, wolf berries and peppers. Lutein is found in foods like spinach and kale.
Since the average American diet is scarce in zeaxanthin, supplementing this antioxidant is key. Vitamins for macular health, like those made by EyePromise, can be of big benefit.
Vision becomes even more precious as we age, since the loss of independence a very real threat to aging Americans. Reduce your risk of harmful effects of blue light to your vision by increasing the density of your “internal sunglasses.”
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October 14, 2020 Village of Ballston Spa and Saratoga Partnership Unveil Economic Development Plan to Drive Prosperity and Growth
Key recommendations include enhancing the Central Business District, supporting small businesses, enriching quality of place, and creating a community branding and marketing effort
Plan is launched at ceremony marking the restoration of Wiswall Park fountain, fed by the historic San Souci Spring, which had been capped for several years
Ballston Spa, NY – The Village of Ballston Spa and the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, unveiled a comprehensive and customized economic development plan designed to spur new vitality, promote future growth, and drive long-term prosperity in the village. Guided by input from hundreds of citizens and community, business and government leaders, the blueprint outlines a strategic and tactical approach to attracting visitors, residents and businesses to Ballston Spa by enriching and promoting the assets, resources, charm and character of the quaint and historic village.
A product of the Saratoga Partnership’s Next Wave Communities initiative, the economic development plan was made public at a ceremony in Wiswall Park that provided a visible symbol of renewal and rebirth: the restoration of a fountain fed by the venerable San Souci Spring. Among the initial springs that drew visitors to the village in the 1800s – including to the San Souci Hotel, which opened in 1803 and was the nation’s largest resort at the time – the spring feeds the just-reopened fountain, which had been capped for several years.
“The release of this smart and strategic economic development plan heralds a new beginning for the Village of Ballston Spa, and makes it abundantly clear that we are open for business,” said Ballston Spa Mayor Larry Woolbright. “I’m particularly proud that our village is proactively taking this important step forward, undaunted by the impact of COVID-19 on the state and national economies. I commend our residents for their participation, and the Saratoga Partnership for their enormous contributions to this plan, and look forward to further enhancing our ‘Village of Friends’ as a warm, welcoming place to visit, raise a family, and grow a business.”
“We are delighted to have worked with Mayor Woolbright and the steering committee, the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association, and village residents to create a thoughtful and tailored economic development plan that harnesses Ballston Spa’s assets and resources and supports its future goals and aspirations,” said Shelby Schneider, President and CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “We stand ready to assist in its implementation to ensure the village is well-positioned to meet today’s challenges and build a prosperous future.”
The 72-page economic development plan outlines four major goals, and includes a matrix of timelines for implementation, to strengthen Ballston Spa’s economic and fiscal vitality:
- Enhance the Central Business District. To attract and retain complementary retail and experience-based businesses and create a positive shopping experience, the plan recommends creating a Business Improvement District (BID) to fund infrastructure improvements; reviewing transportation and parking strategies; and encouraging merchants to collaborate, from coordinating hours of operation to developing a collaborative merchandising approach.
- Enrich the Village’s Quality of Place. To bolster the village’s atmosphere for visitors, residents and businesses, the plan calls for updating the Village Master Plan, which was last done in 1994; pursuing the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Initiative; improving walkability in the Central Business District; creating a facade improvement program; and exploring options for affordable, workforce and senior housing.
- Provide support and resources to small businesses. To help small businesses and proprietors prosper and grow, the plan suggests conducting a feasibility study to explore coworking spaces; establishing a network of supportive workforce services and facilities, including a physical resource hub; creating peer groups, roundtables, and regional business-to-business (B2B) platforms to connect business owners for collaboration and sourcing; and tracking and sharing retail and consumer trends to guide business decisions.
- Create an economic development and community branding strategy. To enable small businesses and proprietors to compete in the regional marketplace, the plan recommends developing a community branding strategy to raise the village’s visibility and showcase its assets and opportunities; targeting vacant and underutilized properties for economic development; evaluating village zoning, land use and other ordinances to support business growth; and conducting community surveys to continue gathering input on future directions.
The Saratoga Partnership worked with the village for over a year to create the economic development plan. A survey of more than 400 Ballston Spa residents was conducted to gauge the community’s vision, identify its strengths and assets, and address current needs and challenges. In addition, Mayor Woolbright and the Saratoga Partnership conducted six focus group meetings with a diverse group of stakeholders, and a public forum was held to generate further participation and solicit additional ideas.
“The hard work of village residents and the Saratoga Partnership for over a year has led us to this day, and the release of our new economic development plan,” said Rory O’Connor, Chair of the Steering Committee. “This plan is both comprehensive and flexible; it will help guide us toward the goal of maintaining our unique village, while improving our ability to attract new residents and businesses to join us in the opportunities our community offers.”
“In the age of Amazon, small downtowns like Ballston Spa have continued to thrive because they offer something neither the mall nor online retailer can: the social connection of entering a shop and talking to the owner, the person who has a vested interest in giving you great service because this business is their livelihood, passion and vision,” said Ellen Mottola, executive administrator of the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association. “This economic development plan recognizes the importance of small businesses in Ballston Spa, and we are excited to work collaboratively to create a future where we can all succeed together.”
“I am thrilled to open my new restaurant in Ballston Spa, and confident I have found the perfect place to make my dream a reality,” said Nafeesa Koslik, owner of Nani’s Indian Kitchen on Milton Avenue, which will open in a few weeks. “Seeing this proactive plan for future growth that emphasizes the importance of maintaining the village’s charm and character assures me that we are headed in the right direction.”
“As a property owner and developer, I’m thrilled to know we have an advocate, supporter and partner in the Village of Ballston Spa,” said James Beaudoin, owner of the prominent 125 Bath Street property. “This economic development plan articulates a clear and exciting vision for the village’s future, and I look forward to playing a role in making it a reality.”
“The Village of Ballston Spa is a very special and unique community in the 49th Senate District, with many wonderful small businesses, and this new plan will offer a roadmap to helping the Village bounce back from the economic impact of COVID-19 and become even more vibrant,” said Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville).
“One of the greatest parts of public service is celebrating the great individuals, businesses and organizations that do so much to support our community and help it to grow,” said Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston). “The Village of Ballston Spa is the heart of the 112th Assembly District, and the plans to restore and revitalize the economy of this beautiful and historic village is an incredibly exciting opportunity for residents and visitors alike. I applaud all who have worked so hard to make this project a reality and will do all that I can to support their efforts moving forward.”
The Saratoga Partnership’s Next Wave Communities initiative involves creating tailored economic development plans for individual municipalities in Saratoga County. Similar efforts are currently underway in the towns of Galway and Malta.
Prosperity: Ballston Spa’s Plan for Growth, Saratoga Today, 10.16.2020
New Hope for Economic Development in Ballston Spa, The Daily Gazette, 10.15.2020
Ballston Spa Touts New Economic Development Plan, WAMC, 10.14.2020
Ballston Spa Unveils Economic Development Plan to Drive Future Growth, WTEN, 10.14.2020
Ballston Spa Officials Announce New Strategic Economic Development Plan, Saratogian, 10.14.2020
Ballston Spa Turns Tap Back on to Historic Spring, Albany Times Union, 10.14.2020
Partnership Unveils Plan to Revitalize Ballston Spa, CBS 6, 10.14.2020
Village of Ballston Spa and Saratoga Partnership Unveil Economic Development Plan, WGY News, 10.14.2020
About the Village of Ballston Spa
First settled in 1771, the Village of Ballston Spa was incorporated in 1807. Today, it is a charming historic village with a friendly, hometown atmosphere, destination shopping and eateries, and a visible sense of community. For more information, visit www.villageofballstonspa.org.
About the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership
The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership leads a host of critical economic and workforce development initiatives across the public and private sectors, driving economic success for residents, businesses and government in Saratoga County, New York. The Saratoga Partnership provides a point of contact for business retention and expansion, enabling a seamless delivery of programs and services for businesses seeking to grow, and spearheads semiconductor industry marketing and attraction, global trade assistance, community economic development, and data collection and planning. For more, visit us at saratogapartnership.org and on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership is a member of the Saratoga County Economic Development Alliance, which includes the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation.

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With every new release of Android, whether small or big, there is always some activity over at AOSP. With the first Android 5.0 Lollipop running device — the Nexus 9 — making its way to stores and hands of the public, Google has started pushing the full source code of Lollipop to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
Google has created a new branch for Lollipop “lollipop-release” in AOSP and the build being upload carries the build number LRX21M. The company is also in the process of updating the device repositories for its existing devices and creating new ones for the Nexus 6 (shamu), Nexus 9 (flounder) and the Nexus Player (fugu).
Google’s Glen Kasten has also posted updated build instructions on Google Groups for Lollipop.
The code push to AOSP for such a large release is going to take quite a few hours after which you can start syncing your machine with it and get to building Lollipop for your device.[Via Reddit]


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Siewert held a senior advisory role at Coca-Cola before he joined the private equity firm, while Chang comes from auto components manufacturer Delphi, where he has worked in various senior positions, including president of its China business.
Siewert, who has significant business-building and senior management experience in Asia, will be based in Hong Kong and will lead CarlyleÆs investments in consumer-related businesses across Asia. Chang will be based in Shanghai and will focus on industrial companies. Both of them have already assumed their new positions.
ôPatrick is a proven and highly respected senior executive in the Asian business community. His global perspectives on industry trends, strong leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of Asian consumer businesses will provide us greater insights in our investment activities and significantly strengthen our ability to add value to our portfolio companies,ö says XD Yang, managing director and co-head of Carlyle Asia Partners, in a statement.
ôIn addition to Patrick, we are pleased to have Herman on board as senior director focusing on industrial companies. Herman is one of the most experienced managers in building businesses in China for multinational industrial companies,ö says Yang.
Siewert joined Coca-Cola in 2001 and has held various senior positions at the company since then, including president and chief operating officer for East Asia, South Asia and Pacific Rim. He was also a member of the companyÆs executive committee reporting directly to the chairman and chief executive officer. During his time with the US drinks manufacturer, he was responsible for Coca-ColaÆs operations in 33 countries, overseeing more than 10,000 employees. Prior to that he spent more than 20 years at Eastman Kodak, including a stint as Greater China chairman from 1994 to 1997.
Chang has more than 20 years of senior management experience at General Motors and Delphi, and has spent 10 of those years in Asia and China. Helping Delphi to develop its business in this region, he was one of the top managers at the auto components company in Asia and held a number of senior positions, including president of Delphi China and managing director of its Asia-Pacific operations, as well as of a global product business unit.


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7 smart ways to take advantage of your tax refund
The many ways to utilize your check from Uncle Sam include saving, splurging and paying off debt.
by. Teresa Mears
Tax season is a time of stress for many, but it can be a joyful time for the roughly 75 percent of Americans who receive income tax refunds.
While the refund really means you’re getting back money you loaned to the government at no interest, in practical terms it often means an unexpected infusion of cash into your wallet or bank account. Last year’s average income tax refund was $2,755, according to the Internal Revenue Service. That’s a nice chunk of change.
It’s a great problem to have: What do you do with your windfall?
The best choice for one person may not be the best choice for another. But experts agree on one thing: If you have debt, apply your refund to paying it off, whether it’s credit card debt, student loan debt or other consumer debt.
“People should still be focusing first on paying down debt,” says Meisa Bonelli, a Wall Street finance and tax professional whose Millennial Tax company advises entrepreneurs on business and tax strategy.continue reading »


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Deanna Pogorelc (New York, NY) –
In the midst of a good deal of discussion about incubators, a new health and wellness tech incubator has launched in New York.
Rather than focusing on traditional medical and healthcare devices and drugs, WellTech Funding is targeting “bold and buildable” companies that tackle unsolved problems in the $2 trillion consumer health and wellness market, according to its website. It’s providing startups with $50,000 in seed money and resources that include office space, networking, mentoring and marketing support for six months.
Although it will consider companies at various stages of development, WellTech says the most attractive candidates are those that are more than an idea — say, those with an operating website and some revenue.
It’s already brought on two companies: FITiST and Wizpert. FITiST enables fitness enthusiasts to book classes and manage their fitness schedules in one place and provides a black book of fitness, wellness and beauty services in New York and Los Angeles. Wizpert, with an iPhone app to be released next month, connects advice seekers with experts in fields from nutrition to parenting.
The incubator is backed by Jubilee Investments, the venture firm led by its founder Pete Ellis, who is also the CEO of SpaFinder.com.
How much equity WellTech asks for in exchange for the $50,000 seed investment wasn’t disclosed, but the incubator’s website notes that it will ask for the right to participate in future rounds of third-party financing, including the right to purchase up to 20 percent of future rounds. It will also request that SpaFinder.com be able to use the developed products if applicable.
WellTech has room to incubate up to 10 companies each year. It offers a more sizable initial investment than established New York health IT accelerator Blueprint Health, but seems to have a more specific consumer niche. It may also face competition from Startup Health Academy, a free, long-term educational and mentorship program for life science companies.
Deanna Pogorelc is a staff writer for MedCityNews, where this article originally appeared.
Images from Scoop.it.
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Food lovers will be thrilled with the latest news that the app, Off the Menu, is now available in Dallas. The Los Angeles-born idea allows users to utilize the cell phone app to test dishes, not on the menu, from an array of restaurants.
In addition to a selection of Off the Menu creations, users will have to pay the monthly subscription fee for the app of $20 as there is one free dish a day. The app is currently only available for iPhone users, with an Android app possible in the future.
With a listing provided to Off the Menu from participating restaurants and cafes each Sunday, the app rolls out what is available in the week ahead. The app also plans to give subscribers advanced notice about pop-up food events around the city.
“Off The Menu has developed a cult-like following since we first launched in LA, so we can’t wait to expand to another awesome foodie city like Dallas and show everyone what our unique membership is all about,” Founder and CEO Lawrence Longo shared with QSM Magazine before the apps official launch in Dallas on Sept. 26.
“OTM Club is the golden ticket to enjoying a rare dining experience at popular local restaurants and under-the-radar eateries you may not have tried yet. At just $20 per month, members can enjoy a different secret menu item every day at some of the most popular eateries across the area. We look forward to giving our members even more reason to explore Dallas’ amazing food scene,” Longo continued.
Some offerings and Pop-Ups from the app include dishes and treats from Crisp & Green, Cinnaholic, Prince St. Pizza in partnership with Deep Ellum Distillery, Mimi’s Pizzeria, and more.
App users can dine in the participating restaurants or take out, with delivery not usually an option.
You can learn about the app here: https://www.offthemenuco.com/


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How closely were you paying attention to the local SEO news in May?
Last month, we launched Local Quizness – a monthly quiz aiming to help local marketers test their knowledge of the previous month’s news. Every month we’ll be poring over the top local marketing publications, and closely following the news and observations shared by industry experts on social media, to help you ensure you’re aware of all the news that matters.
Get answering this month’s quiz now as we look back at some of the biggest local marketing news stories from May. Just 5% of quizzers answered more than 7/10 questions correctly in May’s quiz, can you beat last month’s top scorers?
And, if you want to read up on any of the news we’ve covered in this month’s quiz, we’ve compiled a list of reading materials below!
Thanks for quizzing – Local Quizness will be back in early July!


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Meta Therm Furnace Pvt. Ltd is a Mumbai-based company that sets up their roots in the Pan Mixer manufacturing industry in the year 1985. The company overcomes the greatest barriers to reach the new heights in their business. They have recently announced the launch of their new website and after getting a huge response from the same they finally take the decision to add a Blog Section on it. The respected director of the company Mr. Kiran Khandelwal says that their motive behind introducing a blog section to their website is increasing the knowledge of their visitors about their products.
He believes that with the help of introducing this blog section of their business website, their visitors easily know everything about their products like their features, benefits, applications, needs and any other thing they want to. Mr. Kiran Khandelwal also said that with the help of blogging they tried to cover a bridge gap between their customer and them. They continuously update their blog section of their website to stay in the constant touch with their customer.
Their entire team constantly makes efforts to hit the ball in their court to write a new history in the competitive market. Their blog section opens up the path to their success.
Meta Therm Furnace Pvt. Ltd starts their operation in the year 1985 in Mumbai. The company manufactures a wide range of industrial equipment like Pan Mixer, Ovens etc. in the national and the international market region.
The company marked their position in the market as top-tier Oven Manufacturers based in India. They are known among the clients for their best pricing policy, quality products, and after sale support. Their products are laboratory tested and known for their high-efficiency, effective performance and economical price.


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The COVID-19 pandemic really put a new light on the service industry and the importance of gratuity. So much so that the standard for tipping has changed.
In a post-pandemic world, experts say tipping 25% is the new norm.
Before the world was thrust into chaos, with shutdowns leading some restaurants to close completely and others left hanging on by a thread, most people would leave a 10% to 15% tip -- 20% if the service was exceptional.
Then, life as we knew it changed. Experts say the pandemic brought new awareness to the nation's hourly workforce and their wages.
With service employees earning the bulk of their paychecks from tips, many were forced to find new jobs as restrictions made it next to impossible to earn a living wage. In turn, those left behind picked up more responsibilities caused by a shrinking workforce, all while their wages stayed the same.
"People in the service industry are earning minimum or less than minimum wage, tips are absolutely critical," Eric Plam, founder of San Francisco based start-up Uptip, told CNBC. "It's a core part of their compensation."
Acknowledging the gap, many Americans started to leave bigger tips -- partly to help the workers and partly out of gratitude and appreciation for having a service return that was momentarily taken away.
When restaurants opened back up and sit-down dining returned, 42.1% of consumers said they began leaving bigger tips as a way of supplementing difficult times, according to a recent survey from Time2Play.
Additionally, restaurant payment systems also introduced the concept of prompting customers to tip when picking up their takeout orders, with predetermined options ranging from 15% to 25% -- something many wouldn't have considered doing in a pre-pandemic world. In fact, 44% of people said they would not tip if the point-of-sale system didn't prompt them to do it, according to Time2Play's survey.
The survey also shows that pre-pandemic, people were leaving an average tip of about 17.1%. Now, that number has grown to 22.8% on average.
Another survey from PlayUSA shows Americans have been especially generous with tips in 2022, with nearly 90% tipping 15% or higher. Of those, nearly 1 in 5 tip more than 20%, per the survey.
While some follow suggestions for gratuity that are more commonly being printed on receipts, others admit it's easier to just figure out 20% or 25% of the total and leave that as a tip.
Whether or not we are just feeling generous or maybe even guilted into tipping more, experts say the trend of leaving larger gratuities is here to stay.


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Helsinki expects another record summer for cruise visitors
Photo: Joona Saaresto
Helsinki expects to receive almost 300 international cruise ship calls during the summer 2018 season. The Helsinki Helpers will be on hand to greet the visitors right from the start of the season. According to international forecasts, the popularity of the Baltic Sea as a cruise destination is expected to grow even more in the years ahead.
The upcoming cruise season in Helsinki will once again be busier than ever. Almost 300 cruise ships are expected to call on the Finnish capital, bringing with them over half a million international cruise visitors.
The cruise season begins on 24 April with the arrival of the five-star cruise ship MS Hanseatic at the South Harbour. The busiest day of the summer will be 2 July, when six cruise ships will call on Helsinki on the same day with almost 10,000 cruise passengers altogether.
The upcoming cruise season reflects in part the growth in tourism in Helsinki. In 2017, the Finnish capital attracted 266 cruise ship calls with a combined total of 478,000 cruise passengers.
”Tourism in Helsinki is growing at a healthy rate, and the growing number of international cruise ships demonstrates for its own part how Helsinki is an attractive destination. The estimated number of cruise ship visits this summer represents growth of nearly 13 percent compared to last summer’s record season,” says Laura Aalto, CEO of Helsinki Marketing.
The large number of international cruise visitors during the summer season is also good for business among local service providers. According to a survey conducted in 2017, each cruise visitor spends an average of 63.70 euros during a five-hour visit to Helsinki. In total, cruise visitors generated approximately 32 million euros in tourism income for Helsinki last year.
Helsinki Helpers begin their season already in May for the first time ever
Tourist Information’s summer workers, the Helsinki Helpers, are a familiar sight on the streets of the city and at the cruise harbours. The first Helsinki Helpers will begin working already in May so that they can serve cruise visitors already at the start of the season.
“In response to the growing demand for mobile Tourist Information services at our cruise harbours, the first Helsinki Helpers will begin their season already at the start of May. They will be joined by the rest of the Helsinki Helpers in the city centre as of 28 May,” Aalto continues.
In addition to the Helsinki Helpers, cruise visitors will be served by the new Tourist Information offices inside the Central Railway Station and Stockmann’s department store beginning this May.
Faster growth expected for the Baltic Sea region
The number of international cruise visitors to the Baltic Sea increased by 1.2 million in 2017 compared to the previous year, and the number is expected to grow by a further 8.4 percent this year.
According to Cruise Baltic, the network of international cruise destinations in Northern Europe, cruise ships already carry 27 million passengers a year globally, and this number is expected to grow to 40 million over the coming decade. Furthermore, cruise destinations with cooler temperatures, such as those in the Baltic Sea, are expected to grow even more in popularity. According to the network, the trend will be for cruise ships to begin favouring the Baltic Sea and Asia over the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
In addition, Cruise Baltic believes that the key themes in global cruise travel are expected to be sustainable tourism, wellness and smart travel apps.
CEO, Helsinki Marketing
Tel. +358 40 507 9660
Helsinki Marketing is a company owned by the City of Helsinki. It is responsible for operative city marketing and business partnerships for Helsinki. Helsinki Marketing interacts with local residents, visitors, decision-makers and experts.


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SIMON WATKINS: Wonga's fake letters purporting to be from a law firm to people in financial trouble is vile
The Mail on Sunday and Wonga have never seen eye to eye. Indeed, the entire payday lending industry is one we are proud to have put under the spotlight many times. But even we are staggered by last week’s revelations that Wonga had sent fake solicitors’ letters to its borrowers.
Payday loans, which charge indefensible interest rates, are a dubious line of trade at the best of times and thousands of people are dependent on them. But debates about whether the rates are reasonable or the marketing is fair now seem academic. Sending out fake letters purporting to be from a law firm is simply illegal. Used against people in financial trouble, it is a vile practice.
In a further stunning revelation, boss Tessa Cook was not told about an investigation by the City watchdog into the fake letters when she was made managing director. Amazingly, she does not think she should have been told as the fakery was ‘in the past’.
Under the spotlight: Payday loans, which charge indefensible interest rates, are a dubious line of trade at the best of times
We should remember these practices occurred during Wonga’s years of fastest growth. Its success as a business, which has made multi-millionaires of its founders, is built on an attitude and a culture that showed contempt for customers and a ruthlessness that led some staff to think it was part of their job to illegally intimidate borrowers.
As for the victims, they will receive a small compensation payment. Many are probably short of money and might be thankful for small mercies. But one wonders how Wonga founder Errol Damelin, who has since left the company, would react if he was a sent a fake solicitor’s letter demanding repayment of debts.
Perhaps he would also be grateful for compensation of a few pounds. Or would he reach for his chequebook and pay a City law firm to sue for millions?
Meanwhile, the difficulty that any company has in eradicating a poisonous culture has been shown once again by Barclays. Two years after the Libor scandal, the British bank is again facing charges in the US of deception.
In essence, the New York attorney general claims Barclays falsely led investors such as pension funds to believe that when they traded shares through its private system, they were not being exposed to aggressive and speculative dealers.
Despite what I believe is a genuine desire on the part of Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins to clean up its culture, the alleged deceptions took place at least in part under his tenure and at a company under the glare of international banking regulation and with a stock market listing.
If ‘St Antony’ is having trouble cleansing Barclays, what hope can there be for Wonga?
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God save the king.
Kylie Jenner threw it back to the 2010s — and sent her fans into a tailspin — when she posted photos of herself with pastel pink hair on Instagram Tuesday, bringing back memories of her iconic King Kylie era with the new look.
“hiiiii remember me” the 26-year-old “Kardashians” star captioned the post, sharing three pics of herself posing in her car wearing what appears to be a pink wig.
She wore a simple gray tank top in the pics, going for an almost bare-faced look with rosy blush and neutral eyeshadow.
While Jenner sticks with her natural brunette locks these days, she was once known for her colorful hues like turquoise, green and pink, rocking a silver skull ring on repeat and plenty of edgy fashions during her teenage days on Tumblr.
She dubbed herself King Kylie at the time, even changing her Instagram handle to @kingkylie in 2015.
Fans went crazy for the nostalgic look, like one who commented, “THIS IS NOT A DRILL KING KYLIE IS BACKK.”
“Yaaaas the 2014 era is unlocking” another added, while a third fan wrote, “This cured my seasonal depression.”
“we never did get a season 2 of Life of Kylie…. just saying 👀” an Instagram user weighed in, referring to the 2017 reality show Jenner starred in with her then-BFF Jordyn Woods.
For more Page Six Style …
While fans might have been surprised by the King Kylie nod, the mom of two dropped hints about its resurgence during her interview with WSJ magazine last year.
Chatting with the publication about the launch of her new fashion brand, Khy, she described the looks as being quite “King Kylie—who I am at my core.”
Big sister Kim Kardashian also referenced Kylie’s wilder days, telling WSJ, “She’s definitely obviously matured so much, having babies and growing up, but I haven’t seen the silly Kylie in a while. She’s back to Tumblr Kylie.”
Whether King Kylie is back for good or just an Instagram post, stay tuned.


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Utomik is making games more accessible than ever on Android and other devices.
In addition to that, Utomik plans to release several beloved indie games to its cloud subscription even after the free weekend. If a user subscribes after trying the Free Weekend, such a subscriber can get 50 percent discount on their plan after the Free Weekend. They can enjoy the personal plan for only €4.49/$4.49 and the four-person family plan for only €6.49/$6.49 monthly.
Utomik claims on its website that the Utomik Cloud Free Weekend is meant for users to play amazing games on their Android devices, TV, and PC. Samsung and LG TV users will be able to play 100+ games, while Android devices owners will play more than 200 games on their devices. PC users will be able to play more than 1,400 games.
CEO Doki Tops revealed that for years, Utomik has been “working to make gaming easier and more approachable for people from all walks of life.”
See Also: Carsifi wireless Android Auto review
Which games are available on Utomik Free Weekend?
The company plans to celebrate with five new games that will be released on all devices. The five games are Deliver Us The Moon, Rogue Lords, RiME, The Surge, and Haven. Subscribers will also have additional games in the days following the Free Weekend.
If you’re interested, you may join the Free Weekend when you visit this page. For now, Utomik Cloud is available in 22 countries including the United States, Canada, Netherlands, France, Germany, and others.
Users can easily switch between their devices at any time. It can be achieved by combining its cloud streaming and smart download technology and smart download technology.
Note: Select outbound links may include affiliate tracking codes and AndroidGuys may receive compensation for purchases. Read our policy.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.


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Over the weekend, YouTube quietly removed picture-in-picture from the YouTube iOS app. In a recent tweet, many users got excited over the company declaring the feature will return. However, YouTube is now walking back the statements, stating they were in regard to YouTube TV.
YouTube Versus YouTube TV Picture-in-Picture
On Twitter, a user reported that they were having issues accessing picture-in-picture within the regular YouTube app. In response, the company replied back stating that the feature will be returning in “a matter of days” for devices running iOS 15 or later. After making this statement, the company needed to add further clarification.
After many news websites reported the return of picture-in-picture for iOS, YouTube returned to Twitter to clarify what is actually happening. The company stated, “What’s currently being rolled out is the YouTube TV picture-in-picture for iOS 15+ devices. If you’re referring to the YouTube app, it’s only available to Premium members on Android mobile phones.”
If this seems confusing, it may be because of the labelling. YouTube TV is a different experience from traditional YouTube. For those unfamiliar, YouTube TV allows users to stream and record live TV. It is this app that will soon receive picture-in-picture on iOS devices.
Concerning “main” YouTube, Google originally announced picture-in-picture for iOS users in June of last year. The feature has been available to Premium subscribers, but has recently been removed.
All Good Betas Must Pass
Picture-in-picture for YouTube on iOS has long been in beta. iPhone and iPad users have been able to test it for about a year. Touted as an “experimental feature,” only those with YouTube Premium were able to access the option. Originally, Google only had plans to release it for Premium users, though the company has recently declared that it will be available for all users. However, the question is now when this feature will return.
On Sunday, many were reporting that the testing phase of picture-in-picture officially ended. However, some are reporting that the feature still currently works for them. Reports are stating that anyone with the featured enable before the removal may still access it. As of this writing, the feature does not work for the author.
While many were expecting picture-in-picture to return to the standard iOS YouTube app, the feature arriving for YouTube TV may be a welcome surprise for some users.
The confusion over what is arriving where is likely a naming issue. With YouTube (and Apple) giving similar products similar names, it is easy for issues such as this current problem to arise. When you mention YouTube to someone, what do you think would be the first thing they think of?
Users wanting picture-in-picture to return to iOS will have to wait. Hopefully this naming debacle inspires YouTube to work harder on returning the feature to users.


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During the Dragon Ball FighterZ EVO 2018 finals, Bandai Namco announced that Frieza’s brother Cooler is coming to the game via DLC.
Bandai Namco have revealed the Switch port of Dragon Ball FighterZ will have an open...
Bandai Namco have announced the Switch port of their popular fighting game Dragon Ball...
Bandai Namco have released a new trailer for their popular fighting game Dragon Ball...
Bandai Namco have released version 1.04 of their popular fighting game Dragon Ball...
Michael Myers PR have announced that Dragon Ball FighterZ has been added to Anime Ascension’s...
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Dragon Ball FighterZ may have just released, but that doesn’t mean that DLC fighters...
Sony Interactive Entertainment


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Latest Weather Blog
Donated goods distribution begins at Cortana at noon
BATON ROUGE - Truckloads of good and supplies donated to The Salvation Army will be handed out to residents in need at Cortana Mall starting at noon on Thursday.
Residents are advised to report to 9401 Cortana Pllace in Baton Rouge at entrance five of the mall. The distribution point will be located outside of the Gap store. The Salvation Army distribution will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
On Friday, the distribution center will again hand out good from 9 a.m. to noon and then from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents will receive food boxes, water, clean up kits, toiletries, diapers and pet supplies.
Only one person from a household may pick up supplies, and you may not pick up for more than one household. You must bring and provide proof that you live in the affected area. This proof can take the form of a driver’s license or utilities bill.
The Salvation Army continues to accept donated goods at this location as well.
All monetary donations can be sent by texting STORM to 51555 on your mobile device or by going to The Salvation Army website. More information about donation is available there.
Desktop NewsClick to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
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Damage caused by city worker will cost nearly $1 million to fix;...
Prairieville resident could face parish lawsuit over fence position


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I can’t quite work out whether the news that Tesco’s trialling a ‘sat nav’ app is a good or bad thing. For me, it’s just another bit of tech I can safely relegate to the ‘completely ignore’ space of my mind. But for others…
…well, let’s explain how the thing works first. Once you’ve downloaded Tesco’s app to your Android smartphone, you’ll be able to enter your shopping list which the app will use to create a map of where the products are in the store. Then, it will work out the shortest possible route between you and those products.
Tesco said in its blog post that it won’t roll this out to stores up and down the country until it has had a clear indication that it’s something customers want. Well, take it from me, men will love it.
Blokes and supermarkets
Now, I know this might be a massive generalisation and maybe I need to get out more, but I’ve yet to meet a man who doesn’t think grocery shopping is a torture that has to be endured. For them, successful shopping means getting in and out as quickly as possible.
Never mind that they’ve forgotten half the items on the list – the fact that they step inside a supermarket and came back with something at all is testament their hunter gatherer traits.
Whether Tesco knows it or not – and I suspect they do – this sat nav gizmo will be manna from heaven for most men.
Supermarket shopping nightmare
If this sat nav app does eventually get rolled out to Tesco’s up and down the country, expect two things. Firstly, other supermarkets will soon follow. And secondly, supermarkets will no longer be a safe place to shop.
Just imagine the scenario a year down the line – all the men you know sneakily meeting up with their mates and seeing who can get their weekly shop done in the fastest possible time using this new toy. It’s going to be an absolute nightmare.
Once this thing takes off, I’m going to do all my shopping online. That way, at least I’ll be safe from speeding shopping trolleys, steered by men (and children) who’ve forgotten they’re in a supermarket, not a racetrack.


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- ChineseInvestors.com is a leading financial information website
- The company is ready to launch its online Bitcoin Trading Academy
- Bitcoin Trading Academy will provide live account executives to serve its customers
A fintech company headquartered in San Gabriel, California, ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) focuses on providing financial information and services. ChineseInvestors.com is a leading financial information portal that provides real-time market commentary and analysis, as well as education-related services, to Chinese-speaking investors, all in Chinese language character sets. ChineseInvestors.com’s focus is also on providing advertising and public relations-related support services to companies interested in reaching that large and unique market. In June, ChineseInvestors.com hosted the opening ceremony for its new Flushing, New York, office, with close to 60 guests attending, including city council officials.
Recently, Warren Wang, CEO of ChineseInvestors.com, talked about the company’s pending launch of its Bitcoin Trading Academy when he spoke with Donald Baillargeon of MoneyTV. Per the interview, the Academy will launch in July, and the company will promote its bilingual (English and Chinese) website (bta168.io) in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, and throughout Malaysia).
The Bitcoin Trading Academy will educate investors regarding bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain. The Academy’s emphasis will on providing first-rate information to those who have heard of these terms regarding decentralized digital currency but remain unfamiliar with how it really works.
In essence, the Bitcoin Trading Academy will educate investors on how to be adept at utilizing this fast-developing medium of exchange. The platform will be like a private club in that ChineseInvestors.com will first test it with its clients and investors. It will not be open to the general public. The company will invite its customers to use the innovative bitcoin learning platform.
ChineseInvestors.com is targeting an audience demographic ranging from 35-70 years old. The Bitcoin Trading Academy will offer a variety of courses. An example of courses includes Basic Fundamentals, What are Wallets and Technical Analysis. The company will provide its customers with live account executives on the Bitcoin Trading Academy platform as part of its commitment to providing premier customer service. In addition, users will have a 1-800 number available to call to address their questions and concerns.
ChineseInvestors.com will charge a yearly fee of $300-$500 to use its service. Furthermore, the company will give all those who open an account in Asia (non U.S. investors) zero-fee, commission-free access for all of their particular trading activity. This will be for a specific time frame, for example a six-month period or more.
The interest in cryptocurrency and its possibilities is compelling investors to investigate it further. BitStarz.com notes that, “Bitcoin is what’s leading the crypto market and will likely do so long into the future” (http://ccw.fm/y58Pd). ChineseInvestors.com is poised to leverage this interest and teach investors with its upcoming Bitcoin Trading Academy.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ChineseInvestors.com
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CryptoCurrencyWire (CCW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with CCW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CCW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CCW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness.
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It was reported not too long ago that LG’s display affiliate, aptly named LG Display, was soon going to start mass producing curved OLED panels. It will be no surprise if LG’s handset division sources those display panels for its flagship smartphones. A new report out of South Korea suggests that LG may soon start using OLED display panels for its flagship smartphones and that it may do this as soon as this year with the LG V30.
The report even claims that the LG V30 may not be the only flagship to come with an OLED display panel. It’s believed that LG will make this shift for all future flagship smartphones so next year’s LG G7 should, at least in theory, come with an OLED panel as well.
The company used IPS panels for previous V-series handsets. However, LG Electronics is now expected to source OLED panels from LG Display for its flagship smartphones. The display affiliate is also expected to supply panels to Chinese smartphone manufacturers who are looking to compete with top-tier manufacturers like Samsung and Apple.
Whether or not this will end up happening remains to be seen. It’s not like LG has confirmed anything about the V30 at this point in time, but given that this smartphone is expected to arrive in the third quarter of this year, we shall find out for sure soon enough.


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How to make a camera from scratch
A little over a year ago, the PlayStation Vita came with a camera that was built to take pictures with its touchscreen.
It was a very cool device, and a very expensive one, at that.
Since then, Sony has released a number of cameras that are designed to work with the Vita.
And now, the company has unveiled a new camera that works just as well as the Vita’s camera, with the addition of a built-in microphone.
The Sony Xperia Z4 features a new Sony built-up sensor that’s capable of recording video and photos in high quality.
It’s a new addition to Sony’s collection of cameras, and it’s a camera we’re pretty excited to see come to the PlayStation 4.
But first, here’s what we know about Sony’s new camera.
It has a camera, a microphone, and three built-ins: a flash, a flash auto mode, and an auto focus function.
Sony says that it also has a microphone built-into the camera.
The camera in the Xperia Z3 and Z4 includes a built in microphone.
The Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact feature built-out microphones that also work with a built In sensor, but we’re still waiting on Sony’s official word on how that works.
Sony has a full set of cameras on its roadmap, and the Z4 is only the first of many.


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The Boy Scouts of America has added several new licensees, for both consumer products and scouting-specific gear.
The Boy Scouts of America has added two new licensees for its growing range of Be Prepared products.
Of the 5,000 brands that can be found at Licensing Expo, more than 1,800 are from consumer goods categories.
The Boy Scouts of America have teamed up with Buck Knives to produce an American-made pocketknife model for Eagle Scouts.
©2016 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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MedFirst Healthcare Services Inc (杏一) yesterday saw its shares soar 50.63 percent on its debut on the GRETAI Securities Market, amid investor optimism over the company’s rapid expansion and market share gains.
The stock ended at NT$120.50, up from its initial public offering price of NT$80, valuing the company at about NT$304.87 million (US$10.05 billion). The over-the-counter index was down 0.55 percent.
MedFirst operates 184 healthcare supplies stores with medical consultancy service in Taiwan and China.
The company issued about 2.53 million shares for the initial offering and plans to use NT$202 million of the proceeds to open more shops, assistant vice president Jason Chen (陳孟宏) said.
The company has 177 stores in Taiwan, making it the largest medical store operator ahead of Wellcare Healthcare Supply (維康), which has 155 shops, Chen said.
It has seven outlets in China: four in Shanghai, two in Nanjing and one in Xiamen.
Its Chinese stores’ combined revenue rose 20 percent year-on-year to NT$50 million last year, while losses shrank 41 percent to NT$15 million, president Jimmy Tsai (蔡德忠) said.
Tsai said the company would open more than one shop each in China and Taiwan by the end of this year.
“We used to open stores near local hospitals in Taiwan, but we are thinking of changing our strategy since our stores can be profitable even without a hospital nearby,” Tsai said, adding that the company plans to open 100 more shops in Taiwan over the long term.
As for China, Tsai said the company would open shops in tier one and tier two cities in the coastal area of southeast China, eyeing their high average income.
MedFirst posted revenue of NT$3.37 billion last year, up 6.98 percent from NT$3.15 billion a year ago, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
The company’s product lineup includes about 40,000 types of medical, healthcare and biotech items, with own-brand products accounting for 7.5 percent of its total revenue last year, compared with 5.6 percent in 2012.
In the first quarter of the year, the company reported a revenue of NT$824.53 million, up 2.3 percent from NT$805.96 million a year ago.
Net profit was NT$107.14 million last year, or NT$4.71 per share, up 1.92 times from the previous year’s NT$36.67 million, or NT$1.64 per share. Tsai attributed the surge to shops opened in 2010 and 2011 turning profitable.
Profit also rose after the company’s new logistics center in Yangmei City (楊梅), Taoyuan County, which opened in February last year, helped cut costs, he said.


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The customers will also have to register for the services with the bank and will thereafter get messages for successful transaction
Reliance Communications has launched mobile banking services for its GSM subscribers in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI).
"Reliance consumers can use facilities like balance enquiry, mini statement, fund transfer, cheque book issuance, mobile recharge and bill payment at any time and place through the use of their cell phones," the company said in a statement.
The customers will not require any special mobile application or GPRS to use the service but they should have an account with SBI, it added.
The customers will also have to register for the services with the bank and will thereafter get messages for successful transaction.
The users will have to dial *595# to view simple menu choices and key in their choice.
"Consumers use their cell phones to play games, read news headlines, surf the internet, do online trading etc. And still consumers continuously keep demanding more and more from their phones," said Mahesh Prasad, president-wireless business, Reliance Communications.
"This mobile banking service is yet another useful service for our customers, they can now avoid those long queues at the SBI branches," it added.


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US Bans Imports From Chinese Fishing Company Citing Seafarer Welfare
By David Lawder (Reuters) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Friday imposed a new import ban on seafood from a Chinese fishing fleet that the agency says is using...
French container shipping company CMA CGM Group says it will be retrofitting 10 additional vessels with new bulbous bows that are better suited for current operating speeds.
The bulbous bow is the protruding bulb at the bow of the ship below the waterline, and because of their influence on the vessel’s wave resistance, their design has a major impact on the vessel hydrodynamic efficiency.
CMA CGM notes that the current bulbous bows were initially designed for a 24 knot sailing speeds, but because of the implementation of the slow steaming, the Group’s vessels now sail at speeds between 16 to 18 knots. Therefore, a redesigned bulbous bow optimized for the slower speeds can significantly reduce the ship’s fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions.
The 10 vessels will be added to the list of 15 vessels whose bulbous bows have already been modified in 2013 and 2014. All vessels that have entered the CMA CGM fleet in 2014 are sailing with optimized bulbous bows.
The bulbous bows new design were shaped in cooperation with Hydrocéan, a French engineering company specialized in hydrodynamics and which performed the hydrodynamic calculations. The bulbous bow exchanges can be performed in a drydock within a week.
The modified bulbous bows are in inline with CMA CGM Group’s objective of a 50% CO2/TEU-km reduction between 2005 and 2015, which the company says is on track to be reached, already reducing its CO2/TEU-km emissions by 40%, according to CMA CGM.
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Popular Jericho, Richmond and Shelburne markets sold to new owners
Mike Comeau never intended to become a grocery store magnate, but after successfully turning around the former Richmond Corner Market he went on to purchase three more stores in Johnson, Waterbury and Shelburne and built another one in Jericho.
On Jan. 18, Comeau will sell those stores to Associated Grocers of New England, a 70-year-old New Hampshire based organization. Prior to this acquisition, Associated Grocers owned nine stores including two in Vermont. It serves as the wholesale supplier for roughly 100 stores across the state. The price of the sale was not disclosed.
Comeau said he never had a grand plan for his stores. When he purchased the Richmond Corner Market in 2004, his plan was to clean up the building and then lease it to someone else. Having worked at Grand Union during and after high school, he knew a little bit about the business and soon discovered he enjoyed the work. He eventually moved the store to a new location, renamed it Richmond Market, and began acquiring new businesses: Johnson’s Sterling Market, Village Market of Waterbury, Shelburne Market and Jericho Market.
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Valerie Wilkins of Jericho was thrilled when the Jericho Market opened in August of 2016 after having shopped at both the Richmond and Johnson stores. “I love the selection of products including lots of local produce, dairy, meats, and baked goods,” she said. “The staff is always friendly, and I inevitably run into someone I know from around town. I’m grateful they chose a design that fits in well with our rural community.”
“The plan had always been for me to sell the stores,” Comeau said recently. “That’s the evolution of what I’ve done in business starting with purchasing apartment buildings. I build something and sell it."
Comeau had been thinking about holding on to the stores for another five years but during conversations with Associated Grocers it became evident the group was interested in purchasing them earlier than that.
“Like most things in business and life in general, you don’t always get to choose the timing,” said Comeau, but he noted that with interest rates high, and sales strong and growing, it seemed like a good time to sell. “It wasn’t a small business anymore and it needed to be run as a big business,” he said.
Comeau’s vice president for operations, Mike Evans, comes from a corporate retail background and he said has enjoyed the opportunity to work on a smaller scale.
“Working on the independent side has taught me a lot about what communities are looking for which is the pinnacle piece behind Mike’s stores,” he said. Evans believes Associated Grocers will continue Comeau’s philosophy of putting customers and employees first.
“I think they will capture a lot of synergies and advance our technology,” he said. Evans stressed that this technology will not include scanners replacing sales associates. “Every customer should have some interaction with one of our associates,” he said. “That was part of Mike’s philosophy and that will be continued.”
Comeau believes his success in business is due in part to his willingness to take risks. “I was in the right place at the right time,” he said “but I was also never afraid to push all in. The Richmond Corner Store was an opportunity and I thought it was as far as I would go but then I had the opportunity to build another store and it went from there. Each time I went all in and each time could have been the failure of all of them.”
Associate Grocers was Comeau’s first choice as a potential buyer. “They’ve been like a partner since 2010 and they helped with equipment and design,” he said. “It’s a perfect fit and I couldn’t be happier.”
Associated Grocers CEO and President Mike Violette said he is excited about the addition of the stores, adding that the company was attracted by Comeau’s “hybrid” approach of combining conventional groceries with organic and specialty items, as well as local products.
“We see a value in that and we think we can learn from him for some of our other stores,” he said. Violette said he plans to retain all of Comeau’s employees.
Comeau says he and his wife Cathy will miss the stores. “We’re sad we can’t continue to run them but it was time to let them go,” he said. “We don’t have a plan for what’s next but we’ll spend some time travelling and enjoying a little bit of freedom.”


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Leicester sweatshops and the negligence of BAME lives
Exposing the atrocious working conditions in garment factories in Leicester shocked the nation, but this is no isolated incident: BAME labour is systemically exploited in the UK.
Leicester garment factories in the spotlight
A report by Labour Behind the Label exposed garment factories in Leicester, primarily working for online fast fashion retailer Boohoo, of heinous treatment of their workers. The workers, who are mostly from BAME communities, were paid significantly less than the minimum wage, sometimes as little as £3 per hour. Criminally low wages are reportedly a “known secret” among the factory owners in Leicester, who cite a perceived culture of impunity perpetrating such exploitation. The coronavirus outbreak in Leicester, which led to a local lockdown in late June, was in part a result of the carelessness of these very factories. According to the report, employees were ordered to continue working in unsafe conditions without any PPE – even if they were sick. Factories kept on operating throughout lockdown, and were also allegedly involved in furlough fraud. In at least one of the factories, the employer held the non-English speaking workers’ ID documents. Essentially, what was discovered in the Leicester sweatshop industry is modern slavery. The consequences go beyond the exploited workers whose lives were put at risk: the spike in coronavirus cases affects everyone in the area.
Locating the problem: beyond Leicester
Though what happened in Leicester shocks us, the abhorrent disregard for BAME lives is a part of a much larger general system of exploitation. The fast fashion industry is notorious for its use of unethical sweatshop labour, located especially in the global South. Those who work in sweatshops producing garments for fast fashion companies are generally BAME women. The underpaying, the lack of rights, employer fraud, the blackmail and intimidation – all of it illustrates the same pattern of not valuing the lives of BAME people. Racism, misogyny and socio-economic inequality all make such exploitation possible in society. We tend to blame the loose labour laws in countries like Bangladesh for sweatshops; yet, sweatshops exist here in the UK regardless of any such laws. It is about time we acknowledge not only the complacency of UK companies using and thus creating a demand for sweatshop labour in the global South, but also the fact that the UK itself hosts similar enterprises without any substantial consequences.
Interestingly, the disgraceful working conditions in the Leicester garment factories have been open knowledge long before they rose to headlines this summer. In 2019, the parliamentary environmental audit reported wage exploitation in Leicester factories and in the garment sector, but no action was taken. It was only when combined with the more widespread scandal of the pandemic spreading that genuine interest has been taken to investigate the issue, and it is yet unclear what kind of action will be taken to stop the exploitation. The crux of the issue then lies in that BAME workers and their lives must be held at high enough regard, even without a risk of a virus spreading, that they are automatically granted fair wages and safe working conditions. Unfortunately, clearly we are not there yet.
Fighting exploitation at the grassroots level
We at JAN Trust want to be a part of tackling the issue of unfair working conditions. We educate women to know their own rights in the UK to feel equipped against predatory employers. Empowering women from migrant backgrounds to become active citizens of British society through integration shields them from being abused by exploitative employers. Often immigrant labour is too easily exploited due to a low level of English language skills: in Leicester, it seems that the lockdown guidance was not adequately communicated to immigrant communities who were then extremely vulnerable at the hands of their law-breaking employers. We provide ESOL-lessons at all levels to support women from non-English speaking backgrounds in becoming confident in their communication. We also provide mentoring, advice and guidance with employment related issues among others. Everyone has the right to a life free from all exploitation and abuse.


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Fans have clamored for more news after they witnessed the trailer of the much awaited The Last Guardian game at E3 2015 press conference.
This is because the end part of the the trailer only showed the release date of 2016, without any specific date, reported Youth Health Mag. It was in 2007 when the studio began working on the game and went public with its existence at 2009, making it effectively eight years in development.
“The game was running on lower frame rate, but we captured them frame by frame and sped it up for the 20-second video, fully expecting the final game to eventually run on the desired speed,” said Sony President Shuhei Yoshida, when asked about the delay of the game’s official release.
Apparently, the 2009 initial trailer only showed the development version of the game. Right now, it’s still being tested to see if it is already up to the par with the envisioned specs. The initial development version also underperformed on a number of characters, and the delay was chosen instead of sending out a half-baked game to the market.
Digital Spy reported that during E3, The Last Guardian lacked live gameplay demos. This was in stark contrast to other companies’ offerings. The video was presented instead. There were also extended versions of the game video but it was not shown for public consumption.
Reviews from gaming sites such as Venture Beat echo some more selective fans’ disappointment at Sony’s teasers for The Last Guardian, claiming that it seems to underuse PlayStation 4’s capability. But at this point, despite the long wait, it’s still too early to tell if that is truly the case. Despite some sparse negative feedback, it still remains as one of the most highly anticipated Sony offerings since the E3 conference according to Bidness Etc.


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Capital One’s (COF) international credit card business profits collapsed over the past year, falling by 48% from fourth quarter 2013. However, Purchase Dollar Volume (PDV) rose 36% to $5.3 billion, compared to $3.9 billion one-year ago.
COF’s end-of-period (EOP) international credit card (Canada and UK) outstandings rose to $8.2 billion in Q4/2014, compared to $7.5 billion in the third quarter of 2014 and $8.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. On a percentage basis, COF International credit card outstandings increased 2% year-on-year.
However, fourth quarter international delinquency (30+ day) declined significantly to 2.94%, compared to 3.34% in the prior quarter and 3.71% in the year ago quarter.
International charge-offs also declined sharply from 4.74% one-year ago to 3.34% in Q4/14 and 3.32% in the prior quarter.
For more data on Capital One’s International Credit Card Business visit CardData®. For information and commentary on Capital One’s International Credit Card Business visit the searchable CardFlash® Library of more than 58,000 articles published since 1995. RAM Research® forecasts on Capital One’s International Credit Card Business are available exclusively through CardWeb.com.®


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Gitex Technology Week has generated an unprecedented response from the industry and from various other corners of the whole ICT ecosystem Driving a great platform of ICT communities, the 33rd edition of Gitex Technology Week 2013, was executed with the theme christened as “Lets Create, Disrupt and Re-imagine Together” from October 20-24 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with Dubai Internet City as its Strategic Partner. This event had various industry segments coming in and cashing in on the overwhelming response from all corners of the ICT ecosystem.
Billed as one of the biggest congregation of IT vendors and its users, Gitex Technology Week 2013 began with the major announcement of the innovative Smart City project that would transform Dubai into one of the world’s leading “smart cities”.
As a country, India has had a great presence within the event and saw a lot of its IT and communication companies participating at the event. In its bid to provide support for entrepreneurs and small businesses, Dubai Internet City and Microsoft announced a partnership on the in5 Innovation Hub, which will use Microsoft software solutions in an environment that supports entrepreneurship and cultivates the development of the ICT and digital media start-up ecosystem in Dubai.
In other developments, empowering youth in the UAE, Google in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education and Etisalat, launched a new video tutorial service and dedicated YouTube channel called “Duroosi”, which enables Grade 11 and 12 students the tools to drive self-learning. Similar initiatives were driven by other vendors and operators such Du.
Google, which also was a partner on the Student Lab competition within Gitex, also had a lot of strong response to its technology solutions for businesses, non-profits, and the general public. This included Google Apps for businesses, a suite of GEO Products, Chromebook devices, and search for enterprise. All this generated a big excitement among the people who attended Gitex.
Additionally, this year’s Gitex Technology Week 2013 received widespread and even critical acclaim for a host of incisive, trend-setting conferences, including the Big Data Conference, Cloud Confex, and the Digital Strategies Forum. This was further amplified by the free-to-attend Smart Sessions, a powerful showcase for anyone with innovative solutions and insight.
A number of partnerships and launches were in support of the “Smart Cities” initiative, including Etisalat’s partnership with SAP, the Germany-based global software leader, to align and accelerate its support of the m-Government strategic goals and initiatives. Thanks to the partnership, customers will now be able to smoothly and easily use the wide range of mobile apps and mobile services to access and share information on government departments. All in all this year’s Gitex was very special, informative and generated a huge interest at the widespread global as well as local level.


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A Japanese meat-processing company from Hokkaido admitted to have shipped a mixture of minced beef and pork to food companies labelling it ‘ground beef’, its president confessed last week.
President Minoru Tanaka of the company Meat Hope Co told reporters that he approved the mixing of minced pork with minced beef when the company exhausted its beef stock.
The products were then labeled as ground beef, Tanaka said, adding, “We have to accept the blame for the deception.”
Whole of Japan
He added that the possible mixture could have been shipped to food companies, and apparently ended up being distributed in the whole of Japan after being processed into food products such as beef croquettes.
At an earlier news conference, Tanaka still claimed there was a possibility the meat was mixed by mistake and Tomakomai-based Meat Hope was investigating.
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Jordan Brand continues to debut brand new colorways of their newly introduced silhouette, the Jordan Eclipse.
One of the latest pair to release for the colder months of fall receives a mixture of Black, Bright Concord and Blue Lagoon color scheme, that is built with different textures on the upper. Finishing off the shoe is a clean all-White sole.
Check out the additional on-feet images below and look for the Jordan Eclipse “Bright Concord” available now at select Jordan Brand retail stores, including Titolo.
Black/Blue Lagoon-Pure Platinum-Bright Concord


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In the end, and despite everything pointed out to Samsung or Huawei being the first handset manufacturers to offer a folding screen, the Chinese company Royole tipped and launched the FlexPai.
It's a lightweight, ultra-thin, tablet-sized device with a 7.8-inch screen that's folded in half and stays the size of a notebook.
The phone can double more than 200,000 times without breaking Due to the materials used, Bill Liu Zihong, 35, co-founder, president and CEO of the company said on Wednesday at the launch event in Beijing.
"It's a historic moment that we've been waiting for years to see," said Liu, who believes technology will be popular since meets the needs of consumers who wants a big-screen phone that is easy to carry.
Although the specifications are unclear, it is assumed that the FlexPai has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 or 256 GB of storage, an Android-based operating system, and two quality cameras with 20 and 16 megapixels " can be folded to capture objects at unique angles, "according to the press release.
The device can now be purchased from the manufacturer's website $ 1,318and ensure that it will begin shipping in late December. Royole also allocated 200 million yuan ($ 29 million) to encourage developers to work on applications that support flexible phones, Liu said.
And while it appears to be the first device of its kind to hit the market, it will likely have strong competition soon, hand in hand with a heavyweight industry.
In fact, as announced by The Verge, the folding smartphone announced long ago Samsung is set to appear next week at its annual developer conference. But that's not all, because both Lg as Huawei They are developing their own folding phones.
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By Abhijit Nag
In a way Google has become more like The Straits Times.
When did you last see a Google bomb embarrassing a top leader? Remember when you typed “miserable failure” in the search box, George Bush showed up on the results page? That was back in 2007. There have been other Google bombs since but nothing that made such a buzz.
I recall an Australian was handed over to the police at Changi airport after trouble on a Tiger Airways flight in January but was subsequently let off. I first read about the incident not on Google News but on another website. It was reported by The Straits Times after making headlines in Australia.
Google seems to be cleaning up its act, guarding not only against Google bombs but also sanitizing the content. Google’s Blogger, for example, does not show the same content in every country. If India objects to a blog, that won’t be shown there but elsewhere.
Google, which celebrated its 15th birthday on Friday, is no longer what it was. I was underwhelmed when I first saw it. The site looked so bare – just a search box on a white web page.
My Yahoo was my favourite website then, a personal home page with magically updated feeds from my favourite news sources – Yahoo News, BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times. I could read them all for free.
My Yahoo seemed to offer so much more than Google — a white page with just a search box. How mistaken I was. Now we can hardly do without Google.
Google has not only grown and diversified, offering almost every online tool from email to web analytics, but changed fundamentally.
No advertisements were allowed on Google when it was launched. Larry Page and Sergey Brin wrote a research paper while at Stanford where they said that “some advertisers attempt to gain people’s attention by taking measures meant to mislead automated search engines”.
In the year 2000, however, Google began selling advertisements associated with search keywords. The ads were text-based and so less obtrusive than the banner ads on Yahoo and other sites.
“The ultimate search engine,” said Page, “would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want.”
If you want to know about Taj Mahal the American singer, you don’t want search results showing Taj Mahal the famous marble mausoleum in Agra.
Google introduced personalized search in 2005. “By personalizing your results based on your search history, we hope to deliver you the most useful, relevant content for your search,” said Google.
Personalized search can be useful and when I use Google News, instead of the standard Singapore edition, I prefer a personalized version which gives me more content.
The problem is Google has extended personalization beyond search and the Google News site.
Eli Pariser says in his book, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You:
“Most of us assume that when we google a term, we all see the same results… But since December 2009, this is no longer true. Now you get the result that Google’s algorithm suggests is best for you in particular – and someone else may see something entirely different. In other words, there is no standard Google anymore.”
Google’s algorithms are secret. That makes it less transparent than, say, The Straits Times. With The Straits Times, you know what you are likely to get. But you can’t predict what you will get when you google. The algorithms are secret to prevent manipulation of the search results, but it means Google works in mysterious ways.
“Is Google making us stupid?” asked the writer Nicholas Carr in a famous article. I don’t think so, but the general knowledge quizzes I used to love when there was no World Wide Web seem less relevant now because you don’t have to remember all that information any more — you can get it on the Net.
I wonder, however, about what the internet is doing to language. Books enriched language, wrote Nicholas Carr in his book, The Shallows, while on the internet you skip and jump. People don’t read but scan online, it is said.
Bloggers are told to write simply for easy reading. Simplicity is fine, but there should also be sensuous writers like John Updike and Lawrence Durrell whose words you have to linger over to appreciate their beauty. Unfortunately, that kind of slow, leisurely reading is not what we do on the internet, where we want information fast and relevant.
“Google updates search engine to answer questions more like a human”, reported The Huffington Post as Google celebrated its 15thbirthday. The new algorithm, called Hummingbird, will try to match the meanings of queries with content on the internet instead of matching keywords as Google originally did, reported Reuters and The New York Times. Google said it made the changes because users are asking increasingly long and complex questions and searching Google more often on mobile phones with voice search.
So Google is responding to us. No wonder the information it provides is getting more personalized, less comprehensive. Are you interested in what I had for lunch?Follow us on Social Media
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