text:
Phoenix Coffee — pardon the cliche — is on the rise.
With a new downtown location and an ambitious rebranding that champions its comfortable cafes and redefined coffee offerings, the local company is trying to differentiate itself from corporate juggernauts like Starbucks. Phoenix recently unveiled a refreshed brand with a new logo and color scheme, headlined by a menu update at all five retail locations. Phoenix's newest cafe in Cleveland's Warehouse District on downtown's western rim is the forerunner for the revised branding and logo, said director of coffee Christopher Feran.
The 650-square-foot cafe is nestled within the former D'Vine Wine Bar in the Worthington Building on West St. Clair between West Sixth and West Ninth streets. Phoenix operates additional shops in Ohio City and East Ninth Street downtown, along with two locations in Cleveland Heights. A cafe the company had on West Ninth — a stone's throw from its newest shop — shuttered in 2011.
"It's somewhat symbolic to launch a brand a block away from our old location," Feran said. "This may not be a flagship store at 650 square feet, but it's designed to be a cafe that lives in the neighborhood."
Feran and finance guru Shane Hinde run Phoenix's operations, part of an internal restructuring that had CEO Sarah Wilson-Jones scale back her day-to-day involvement. Under new leadership, Phoenix streamlined its branding with help from Cleveland design company Type Twenty Seven, while Lakewood-based architecture firm AoDK designed the Warehouse District shop's interior.
The company had been scouting locations since 2014, landing on the Warehouse District for its emergence as one of Cleveland's most vibrant and populated neighborhoods. The district boasts 3,000 residents and 4,000 workers, according to the Historic Warehouse District Development Corp.
"The neighborhood has evolved and changed," Hinde said. "There's more people than ever moving there, and a lot of energy to add more amenities."
Downtown Cleveland is not overburdened with coffeehouses: Phoenix's only immediate competition on the west side of Ontario Street is a Starbucks located on West Sixth Street. Feran said his company separates itself from the ubiquitous Seattle chain through a focused coffee menu and creation of warm, inviting spaces that inspire positive interaction and a critical mass of returning patrons.
Though Phoenix's brand retooling aligned the overall company, each shop is tailored to fit its particular location. For example, the Ohio City cafe has bar seating and a large community table ample for meetings and use as an individual workspace, said Feran.
"It's full in the morning with people journaling, reading or working on computers," he said. "We intentionally created different elevations and zones of seating to accommodate different uses and placed power outlets to direct those uses."
Phoenix's two Cleveland Heights locations, meanwhile, match a different breed of clientele. The Coventry cafe incorporates barnwood and other found materials, and is decorated with fresh-cut flowers from a nearby flower shop, as well as toy dinosaurs hidden throughout the space.
"In Cleveland Heights, we have two cafes within a mile-and-a-half of each other," Feran said. "Coventry has a quirkier 'hippie' feel that matches the people that come in there. Every Phoenix cafe is adapted to its neighborhood, and now we're bringing more intentionality to that."
The company is also pursuing a renewed commitment to positive environmental impacts. A new pollution-free roaster produces tasty java sourced from climate-friendly growers. Even Phoenix's coffee sleeves are made from post-consumer recycled paper and use less paper than a traditional double-walled cup. The company's coffee reflects these trends, complemented by pastries and other baked goods supplied by local outfits, including Cleveland Bagel Co..
"Some customers who've been ordering the same beverage for 20 years are hesitant to change, but they like our ethically sourced beans," Hinde said. "It's been a slow transition, but it's worth it because we're maintaining those customers."
Phoenix updated its branding during the leadership changeover, switching from its previous circle logo to an abstract rendering of the mythical phoenix in flight. The new design symbolizes the coffeehouse's recent transformation while paying homage to its 27-year-old legacy.
"The history of the company matches the mythology of the name," Hinde said. "We wanted to express the idea that the phoenix is reborn."
Dan Cox, founder and president of Coffee Enterprises, a Vermont-based coffee business consultancy, said Cleveland's smaller market size and downtown regeneration make it a promising center point for additional independent cafes. In addition to a handful of Startbucks, downtown Cleveland boasts other independent coffee shops like Erie Island Coffee Co. on East Fourth, Pour Cleveland on Euclid Avenue and Rising Star Coffee Roasters in The Arcade on Superior Avenue.
"Cleveland is a pretty hip market," Cox said. "There is still room for (new shops) as long as you have a point of differentiation."
Operators like Phoenix must continue to nurture their relationship with the community, he said. Cox suggests creating proprietary beverages related to local sports teams and making appearances at arts and athletic events.
"Get your name out there any way you can," Cox said. "There's still room for savvy retailers if they do their homework."
Finding and keeping good employees is a constant challenge for the industry, but Phoenix has retained its individual cafe staff for an average of two years and seven months. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, ethical business practices, cool new digs and good coffee will keep the company riding high into a lucrative future, its leaders believe.
"The best thing we can do is give customers an incredible experience when they're in our cafes," Hinde said. "That interaction will make them want to come back."


text:
Alexandra Simon (Caribbean Life News) reports that Eat Caribbean (organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association) will take place from June 17 to 24 in different Caribbean restaurants around New York City to celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month (June).
The fifth annual Eat Caribbean Week returns June 17 to June 24. The weeklong program, organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), features dozens of eateries and bakeries that serve the finest Caribbean cuisine and treats. About 25 participating restaurants citywide will be taking part in the promotional dining experience, and this year the event is acknowledging the cooks behind the discounted meals, and healthy-eating, said the curator. “This year we’re actually focusing more on the chefs,” said Michelle Gibbs. “We have a diverse community of chefs that come from different islands and we want highlight these chefs and their healthy dishes.”
It’s also chance to showcase the cuisine from smaller Caribbean islands, added Gibbs. She says more popularly known cuisine from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago often dominate Caribbean gastronomy, but this is an opportunity for foodies, and even natives of these islands to try these offerings and eventually boost tourism. [. . .]
The emphasis on health consciousness is to revisit traditional dishes created with more mindful preparation, said Gibbs. “We are all into wellness because healthy eating is something to be conscious about, and this year we want to be very health conscious about what we eat and promote good wellness,” she said. That includes making ingredient swaps for a more healthy alternatives. “Simple changes like using coconut oil instead of corn oil, fresh herbs and spices instead of salt seasoning, fresh salads, and so forth,” said Gibbs.
Currently about 15 restaurants, including many that participated last year, are already registered for the program, and that number is expected to increase by launch week, Gibbs said. [. . .] “The largest portion of supporting heritage month during the month of June is also the fact that WIADCA still maintains a majority of the Carib community, from carnival, to events from year to year, and we continue to support Caribbean heritage month during Eat Caribbean week to help West Indian businesses and the economy of New York city,” said Bill Howard. [. . .]
Gibbs says she is thrilled that the program has returned for a fifth year, and says the event has gotten bigger over the years. “I’m excited that we’ve lasted five years and to have so many Caribbean restaurants participate, because this is our mission of expressing who we are as a Diaspora,” she said.
For more information, see www.eatcaribbean.nyc

domain: news


text:
Global logistics spending expected to touch $10.6 trillion in 2020, Frost & Sullivan
The findings published in Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis also states that the spending from transportation alone will account for more than 70 percent.
Digital technology and solutions are driving the businesses globally, and no longer any industry ignore the importance impact of investing in digital tech. The global logistic industry is expected to see spending of around $10.6 trillion (Rs 7.1 crore crore/Rs 714.9 trillion) in 2020, says a report by Frost & Sullivan.
The report titled 'Urban Logistics Opportunities — Last-Mile Innovation' finds that globally transportation accounts for the majority or 70 percent, in logistics industry. And emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and crowdsourcing, coupled with an influx of tech-savvy start-ups, are unbundling the value chain and transforming delivery models.
According to the report, about two-fifth of the overall logistics costs are associated with the last mile that are forcing providers to come up with newer innovative solutions to deliver packages within cities. Frost & Sullivan predicts that the market will rapidly move toward mobile freight brokerage-type, on-demand deliveries and autonomous technology, such as the use of drones and delivery bots which are set to solve the last mile delivery challenge by being more cost-effective to end users with lesser regulatory mandates.
“Spiraling last-mile delivery costs and changing customer demands are causing retailers to rethink their strategies and look toward new business models such as click-and-collect, locker boxes, on-demand, and autonomous solutions,” said Frost & Sullivan’s Visionary Innovation analyst. “Moreover, the influx of start-ups in logistics has enabled innovative solutions that not only provide value-creation customised solutions for the consumer but also tackle the inefficiencies currently witnessed.”
The report states that the digital freight brokering platforms are reducing the empty miles by around 8 to 10 percent. There is a drastic shift towards low-emission and zero-emission solutions, such as low-carbon vehicles or bicycles. Even fleet operators are developing urban distribution centres for effective logistics management.
Norton Motorcycles launches 185bhp V4CR, first new model after TVS ownership
The naked superbike café racer, which develops 185bhp and 125Nm of torque, is the first brand-new motorcycle produced by...
Volkswagen and Audi consent to a US$85 million diesel settlement in principle with Texas: Report
In 2015, the auto company had admitted to making use of software to circumvent emissions requirements in around 11 milli...
Ford inks transaction with Tesla to get access to charging stations starting next year: Report
Last year Tesla had announced that it would make available its charging design and network to other companies.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Time: 7:30 am - 10:00 am
Place: Sheraton Palo Alto
Google Books aimed at Amazon, court documents show
Google Inc.'s $180 million effort to scan and make books available online was a commercial project aimed at getting an advantage over Amazon.com Inc., internal Google records cited in a new court document suggest. This comes despite the search giant's public portrayals of its Google Book Search as primarily a service to benefit the public good.
According to a 2003 internal presentation cited in documents released on Aug. 3 in Google's long-running legal battle against the Author's Guild, a major goal of the project was to get searchers who were looking for books to land on Google websites rather than Amazon.
"We want web searchers interested in book content to come to Google, not Amazon," the presentation stated. "Everything else is secondary ... but making money."
Dan Clancy, the former engineering director in charge of Google Book Search, testified that Google thought the effort would give it a competitive advantage.
"To the extent that other search engines were not similarly investing in such a project then the belief would be that this would enhance our experience for users and, therefore, improve the product we might offer, which would tend to give us an advantage," he says in the document.
Whether Google Book Search was primarily a commercial or humanitarian effort is an important distinction; A key aspect of Google's defense has been that its indexing of more than 20 million books without authors' permission constituted fair use because it made digital copies of the books it indexed available to libraries and only displayed snippets of the text in response to search queries. Under U.S. copyright law, the fair use defense is typically only allowed for uses that are non-commercial, such as "criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research."
Jon Xavier is the technology reporter at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- Exclusive: Google campus plan would explode the concept of buildings
- Why has San Jose gone bust during a boom time?
- 3 things Apple is doing to fend off patent fights
- Lennar's massive Fremont development reaching crucial milestone
- Westport bets on Milpitas with $45M campus buy from J&J
- First look at Irvine Co.'s new mixed-use plan by Santa Clara Caltrain
- Can Apple get to a trillion?
- Deadline looms to grab development rights in Mountain View
- YouTube founder Chad Hurley, Mark Cuban Twitter fight over history
- Apple hit with patent suit: Ericsson aims to halt U.S. iPhone sales
Insurance Agent State Farm | Bay Area, CA
Vice President – Structure-Based Design HarkerBIO | Buffalo, NY
Vice President for Commercial Operations HarkerBIO | Buffalo, NY
Operations Data Analyst (SQL expertise needed) Adecco Engineering & Technology | Mountain View, CA
Sales Underwriter Opes Advisors | Palo Alto, CA


text:
(Bloomberg) -- Ferrari NV new factory making electric supercars as well as next-generation powertrains will be ready from the middle of next year to start the manufacturer’s EV chapter.
The Italian luxury automaker’s site in Maranello, northern Italy, “will be ready in June 2024,” two years after construction started, Chief Executive Officer Benedetto Vigna said Monday in an interview Tommaso Ebhardt at Bloomberg’s Italy Capital Markets Forum. The so-called e-building will have assembly lines with the flexibility of making electric and non-electric cars, he added.
Ferrari plans to unveil its first fully electric Ferrari in the fourth quarter of 2025, Vigna said. Battery-only as well as plug-in hybrid models are slated to dominate the company’s portfolio in the second half of the decade with hybrid cars making up 35% of shipments during the first quarter.
The carmaker’s transition to electrification has progressed more slowly than rivals with the maker of distinctive supercars taking careful steps to keep its combustion-engine buying clientele on side. Porsche AG, Europe’s most valuable carmaker after last year’s blockbuster initial public offering, unveiled the battery Taycan in 2019 with sales of the e-Macan due to start in 2024 followed by an electric Cayenne the year after.
On Monday, Vigna rejected that Ferrari was a laggard on electrification and doesn’t expect any margin reduction with new EV models. Buying any other carmaker or forming a luxury hub with other fashion brands is also off the cards, he added.
Porsche, targeting higher returns, is moving further upmarket to battle Ferrari. The German company is planning an all-electric high-performance SUV above the Cayenne, as part of a plan to boost operating margins to more than 20%.
Read More: Ferrari Overtakes Fiat Owner as Value Climbs Past $50 Billion
Ferrari in September unveiled the Purosangue, which looks more like a sport utility vehicle in a break from the company’s traditional portfolio of low-slung, two-door sports cars. The move is expected to broaden Ferrari’s customer base. After starting out with a combustion-only version, Vigna hinted the car may feature a plug in future.
Ferrari reopened Purosangue orders for 2026 after having filled its production capacity until the end of 2025, Vigna said.
--With assistance from Alessandra Migliaccio.
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.


text:
The gown was worn by Monroe throughout her famous 1962 efficiency of Happy Birthday to United States president John F Kennedy.
It was “careless” to lend a legendary gown once used by Marilyn Monroe to Kim Kardashian for the Met Gala, a collector has stated.
The reality television celebrity made waves when she showed up at the flashy fundraising event wearing the outfit – called one of the most popular dress in the world – which was put on by Monroe during her popular 1962 efficiency of Happy Birthday to US head of state John F Kennedy.
Some of the focus transformed to objection after collector Scott Fortner published pictures on-line showing up to reveal damages to the dress, which has because been returned to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!.
Mr Fortner stated the franchise business’s only intent in permitting the fact celebrity to wear the outfit at the prestigious New York fashion occasion had been “attention” and that even more needs to have been done to secure the “social icon”.
He included that it was not his intent for any kind of outrage to be routed at Kardashian.
” I believe the dissatisfaction that I’m experiencing is Ripley has made multiple statements that they were doing whatever that they could to shield as well as preserve the gown,” he claimed.
” I do feel that it (was) reckless, this is not simply a dress.
” This is a social symbol. It’s a political symbol. It’s a Hollywood icon.
” It’s part of American history from an event that took place 60 years back as well as … it must have been archived and also preserved and also looked after.”
The skin-tight dress is decorated with greater than 6,000 crystals and was hand-sewn by costumier Jean Louis.
Mr Fortner included: “I assume a great deal of people are really type of boiling down truly difficult on Kim Kardashian and that’s not my attempt right here.
” It’s one of the most renowned wear the globe.”
The chronicler, who has actually curated his very own personal collection of Monroe artefacts, said the gown was currently “irreversible” as it was no more possible to purchase the material it was made from.


text:
Vornado Realty Trust has reportedly taken control of the ground lease at the landmarked 11-story Swiss Center at 608 Fifth Avenue, where the REIT is marketing 44,440 square feet of retail space across four of its floors.
Vornado took over RFR Realty’s mortgage on the property last March with an $8.5 million payment that RFR owed to another lender and signed the ground lease on the property with the family of the late Sarah Korein, which owns the land under the building, according to the New York Post.
New York City. Land of opportunity. Safe haven for foreign investors. And home of the multi-million dollar parking garage — thanks to the highest parking rates in the country.
The latest parking lot to sell this month was scooped up by Imperial Parking Systems Inc. at 304 West 49th Street for $14 million, city records show.
The sale highlights the continued viability and high profitability of running and operating parking garages in the city, which the latest data shows is still the most expensive place to park.
A parking rate survey by Colliers International for 2012 comparing parking rates in locations throughout the United States shows New York City still has the highest rates by far after taking the crown during the previous year.
Brokerage firms Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International are said to be testing out a new technology that tracks the amount of foot traffic and automobile traffic around their buildings.
The technology, Motionloft, is backed by eccentric NBA owner and billionaire Mark Cuban and employs sensors to track the number of people entering a building, as was first reported by The Real Deal.
The San Francisco-based company has reportedly already put sensors along Broadway while also planning to add ones in Times Square and “another Midtown location.”
RECon: Las Vegas
Jeffrey Roseman is an executive vice president and principal of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s retail business and is a top retail leasing executive in the city. Mr. Roseman, who has handled a number of prominent leases over his long career, spoke to The Commercial Observer about how ICSC remains important for top-tier dealmakers, how retail isn’t going away despite the growth of e-commerce and what recent departures from Newmark means both to him and as part an industrywide shake-up in brokerage. As usual, Mr. Roseman will be heading into ICSC with several interesting space availabilities he is marketing.
On an unseasonably warm winter afternoon, The Commercial Observer zoomed up Madison Avenue, packed into the back of a cab with members of a Cushman & Wakefield retail team that has been closing its fair share of the avenue’s luxury retail leases at a blistering pace.
Ted Baker, the high-end clothing retailer, will open a flagship store at 595 Fifth Avenue, it was announced today.
The U.K.-based company signed a long-term net lease for 12,000 square feet at the corner of 48th Street and Fifth Avenue, just down from retail icon Saks Fifth Avenue. Ted Baker will use three of the five floors of the building, which they will rent in its entirety, for retail, while the balance are for office and showroom uses. Just a block from high-profile tenants Michael Kors and LaCoste, the space could command up to $2000 per square foot, sources not affiliated with the deal speculated.


text:
Regardless of your industry it may be time to take a closer look at your potential vulnerability to a claim about hidden fees or drip pricing.
State attorneys general and consumers are filing lawsuits across the United States against companies utilizing “drip pricing” and “hidden fees.” While the term “hidden fees” is somewhat self-explanatory, the closely-related term “drip pricing” occurs when companies advertise a price at the outset of a purchase process, but by the time consumers reach checkout, additional fees and charges have been “dripped” onto the total. This often results in the consumer being charged a significantly higher final price than was initially advertised.
In 2018 there were several hidden fee and drip pricing class actions filed against online ticket sale companies like StubHub and Ticketmaster. Recently, however, there has been a flurry of such lawsuits against companies operating outside the event ticket sale industry.
- A class action lawsuit was filed in June against AT&T for their application of allegedly hidden “administrative fees” to customer bills.
- Earlier in September the Second Circuit revived a proposed class action against Spirit Airlines for their use of allegedly hidden carry-on bag fees.
- In July the attorney generals for Washington D.C. and Nebraska filed lawsuits against Marriot and Hilton hotels, respectively, for allegedly utilizing drip pricing programs that charged hidden resort fees on hotel rooms.
- And, more recently, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed suit against JustFly Corp. and its affiliates for their alleged application of hidden fees in their online flight booking service.
At the crux of all of the above lawsuits are allegations that fees were misleadingly described and/or inadequately disclosed to consumers. Consider auditing your pricing programs to detect potentially misleading hidden fees and drip prices.


text: The first day of Lakmé Fashion Week started off with interesting showcases by rising labels like Quirkbox and Huemn. Quirkbox calls itself an ‘art label', and this season for them was all about reinstating that their clothes are not just fashion, but art. Huemn showcased its fall 2016 line, which was about elevating street staples, like the sweatsuit in velour and embroidered, bold sweatshirts. The 'Walking Hand In Hand' show was about bringing artisans, who help create garments, into the public eye. Catch all the highlights in the video.


text:
Latest M2M Stories
MultiTech and ILS Partnership Makes it Easier for People to Deploy their M2M Applications on the deviceWISE platform. Mounds View, Minnesota (PRWEB) February
MINNETONKA, Minn., Feb.
MarketReportsOnline.com adds the "Machine to Machine Market 2014 – 2019" report to its research store. Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) January 30, 2015
New Deltek GovWin IQ report calls out sensor-based technologies, software-defined infrastructure and predictive analytics as the next major wave of innovation coming to federal agencies
DUBLIN, January 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/krjp7m/global_connected) has announced the addition of the "Global
Marketresearchreports.biz has published a new research report on technology, titled, “The M2M, IoT& Wearable Technology Ecosystem 2015 - 2020 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies,
ParStream, the IoT Analytics company, today announced that company Co-founder/COO Joerg Bienert will speak on the Things At Rest Panel: Practical Analytics, at the M2M Conference and Expo.
SysSCRIPT is a powerful, menu directed scripting software for Systech's family of SysLINK M2M/IoT gateways.
DUBLIN, January 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Dublin - Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/x9pgdp/endtoend_m2m) has announced the addition of the
- Emitting flashes of light; glittering.


text:
Did you know that there are around 1 billion WhatsApp users and more than 80 million Netflix users in the world, and that an average person spends around 4 hours on their mobile device every day?
Figures like this show how reliant people have become on communicating and consuming content over the Internet. Yet, it is probably fair to say that for many people the Internet is today simply a utility like electricity or gas – which we tend to take for granted.
With today (29th October) being Internet Day, it’s worth taking a moment to think about what it takes to keep us all connected and enable us to lead the digital lives that we’ve become so accustomed to. Crucially, with the continued emergence of new devices and applications which rely on Internet connectivity to function, will the Internet will be able to cope under the extra pressure of data-hungry technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), driverless cars and virtual reality (VR)?
Managing tens of billions of connections
Real-time analytics of supply chains and equipment, robotic machinery, portable health monitoring and retail inventory tracking, biometric and facial recognition locks… all of these different IoT applications require superfast connectivity and an innumerable number of connections.
In 2006, there were ‘just’ 2 billion connected objects. In 2020, there will be 50 billion – so around 7 smart objects for every human being on Earth. The amount of data traffic that these objects will generate could cause network-wide issues if things were to go wrong. So, as the IoT hype is starting to become a reality, policy makers need to start thinking about IoT traffic differently to traditional data traffic, due to the potentially disastrous consequences of a network failure on transport systems and future healthcare.
Another connected technology that has been in the headlines recently is driverless cars. It’s now feasible that seeing a self-driving car on the road will turn from an oddity to an everyday occurrence in the next 10 to 15 years. Yet, the many incidents experienced by Google, Tesla and other companies testing autonomous vehicles show that it is still early days for the driverless cars revolution. For self-driving cars to become truly autonomous vehicles, these companies must look at the connectivity which this smart technology will rely on. There needs to be a deeper understanding of the demands that the data traffic generated by hundreds, thousands and ultimately tens of thousands of self-driving cars will put on network infrastructures around the world.
Whether the autonomous vehicles revolution happens in our lifetime will depend on the availability of ubiquitous, intelligent and highly robust networks, which will underpin the safety and reliability of these vehicles.
The biggest bandwidth hog: video
The pressure felt by the world’s networks is not just about the volume of connections, but also about bandwidth. In 2020, video will represent more than 80 per cent of all Internet traffic, with every second nearly 1 million minutes of video content crossing the Internet.
With more and more content being developed by the sports, TV and film industries for Oculus Rift, Google Glass, Samsung Gear and other VR headsets, we’re set to see a 60-fold increase in VR traffic between now and 2020. One reason for this huge growth is that VR requires 5 times more bandwidth than HDTV to create an immersive user experience. Yet, while the companies that own and operate the infrastructure behind the Internet have the bandwidth to support VR, home broadband often does not, leading to a jittery viewing experience.
That is why we need to see investments in very low-latency, high-throughput last-mile networks to cope with the demands of VR. Only then can the industry ensure the brilliant, immersive VR user experience that consumers expect.
Is the future wireless?
IoT, VR and autonomous vehicles are causing networks to increase in complexity, with wireless technologies layered on top of wired infrastructures. The convenient, seemingly ubiquitous nature of Wi-Fi and 4G – and soon 5G – means that in the eyes of many, the future is wireless.
Despite news headlines suggesting otherwise, it remains to be seen if 5G will materialise as quickly initially thought because of the major investments needed by mobile operators to roll out 5G networks, and subscribers’ reluctance to pay a premium for ultrafast 5G connectivity. Nevertheless, whether Wi-Fi or 5G, wireless technologies will undoubtedly play a key role in delivering the next-generation Internet. Yet in my view, wired connections remain a necessary long-term investment. Even by 2020 – when there will be more than 4 billion Internet users around the world – wired fibre optic networks will be capable of carrying far more data and bandwidth than wireless alternatives.
AI at the heart of the world’s Internet
It’s been said that everything invented in the last 150 years will be reinvented using artificial intelligence (AI) – so the way we shop, the way we manufacture goods, the way we travel, and perhaps even the way we care for the elderly. In the same vein, AI will play a central role in helping the Internet cope with future bandwidth demands.
Networks are getting hugely complex due to their global and multi-layered nature, and designing a network is one of the most incredibly complex feats of engineering known to man. AI will revolutionise network design: machine learning will enable us to find ways of building faster and more efficient networks, and AI will maintain the network – analysing traffic, breaking up cyber-attacks and self-improving – as demands on the network evolve. By using AI, we will be able to predict Internet traffic flows around major global sports events such as the Football World Cup or the Olympics, and reroute traffic more effectively as needed.
To provide the critical connectivity foundations that IoT, VR and yet-to-be-invented Internet-enabled technology advancements rely on, there is a huge amount of work going on in the telecoms industry. By rethinking how networks are managed globally and bandwidth is optimised, we can ensure that the Internet won’t buckle under the pressure of ever-growing volumes of data criss-crossing the world’s networks every second. Still, with different connected technologies now permeating all aspects of our private and professional lives, and the incredible rate of technology innovation showing no signs of slowing down, it’s easy to take ubiquitous superfast connectivity for granted.
The next time you speak to a friend or a colleague over Skype, upload a photo onto Instagram, or share an update on LinkedIn, take a moment to think about how different the world would be if there was no Internet to power our always-connected lives.
David Eden, future technologist and product innovator, Tata Communications
Image source: Shutterstock/Toria


text:
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) - Intel ( INTC) may have lowered its full-year guidance when it announced its second-quarter results on Tuesday, but strong gross margins and competitive strength shouldn't be ignored. The tech giant's shares were climbing nearly 3.5% to $26.26 on Wednesday as investors digested Intel's comfortable earnings beat and its 63.4% gross margin, which came in above the midpoint of its guidance. Despite acknowledging a challenging macroeconomic environment, the Dow component expects gross margins to remain healthy. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company predicted a third-quarter gross margin between 61% and 65%, and offered a full-year margin range of 62% and 66%. "Bears have long argued that Intel's capex in next-gen capacity and
a weak PC market would eventually crater gross margins," noted Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Vivek Arya, in a note. "However, 11 quarters and 2 chip manufacturing generations later, we see consistent gross margin execution within the company's 60% to 65% target band." Arya has a buy rating and $34 price target for Intel. Speaking during the company's second-quarter conference call, CEO Paul Otellini cited Intel's ability to ramp up manufacturing of its new 22-nanomenter Ivy Bridge chips as key to the company's improving margins. "As we move into Q3, we now have the phenomenon where cost comes down rapidly on Ivy Bridge," he said, in response to an analysts' question. Intel, he added, expects to reduce its Ivy Bridge costs while doubling chip production volume compared to the second quarter. The fact that Intel both designs and manufactures its own chips is hugely beneficial to the company's margins. Rival AMD ( AMD), for example, which outsources its manufacturing, reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 46% during its first-quarter results earlier this year. AMD, which slashed its second-quarter guidance earlier this month, expects its gross margin to be flat to slightly up in sequentially, when it reports after market close on Thursday. Excluding items, Intel's gross margin was 64.4% during its second quarter. Despite a fickle economy and increasing competition from design rival ARM Holdings ( ARMH), Intel also enjoyed growth in its key PC and data center businesses during the second quarter, highlighting the firm's ongoing competitive strength. Intel's Data Center Group, which provides chips for servers, saw its revenue climb 14% sequentially to $2.8 billion, while its PC Client Group revenue grew 3% to $8.7 billion.
Also on the conference call, Otellini said that volume growth, combined with a rich mix of products, drove record server revenue. Data Center Group sales grew 15% year-over-year, he added. Despite recent concerns over the impact of a slowing PC market, analysts still see plenty of growth catalysts looming on the horizon. In particular, Intel could receive a boost from Microsoft's ( MSFT) Windows 8 operating system when it launches later this year, tablets, and Ultrabooks, the new category of super-skinny laptops championed by the chip giant. "We continue to recommend buying the stock given the resumption of Data Center sales momentum, prospects for accreting gross margins, and the Windows 8, Ultrabook and tablet catalysts on deck for 4Q12 and 2013," explained Alex Gauna, an analyst at JMP Securities, in a note. "The downside risk represented by ARM ( ARMH)-based tablets is matched by the upside potential from the reinvigoration of mobile computing and Intel's own ability to participate with tablets and other touch-friendly devices." Gauna reiterated his market outperform rating and $33 price target on Intel shares after the report. Intel shares have gained almost 8% this year, lagging behind the Nasdaq's 13.18% gain. AMD's stock has tumbled almost 8% over the same period. -- Written by James Rogers in New York. Follow @jamesjrogers >To submit a news tip, send an email to: email@example.com. Check out our new tech blog, Tech Trends. Follow TheStreet Tech on your wireless devices.


text:
AT&T is reportedly seeking to promote DirecTV to non-public-equity buyers just five decades just after acquiring the satellite supplier. The negotiations with probable purchasers come soon after thousands and thousands of shoppers ditched DirecTV around the previous two many years, and could benefit DirecTV at significantly a lot less than the $49 billion AT&T paid out for it.
“AT&T is in search of non-public-equity traders to get the bulk of its DirecTV satellite-television business, helping it cope with a significant drag on its operations, according to persons acquainted with the problem,” Bloomberg wrote yesterday. AT&T and its advisers at Goldman Sachs “have been in talks with non-public-fairness suitors about the satellite Tv unit,” with potential bidders which includes Apollo World wide Management and Platinum Equity, The Wall Road Journal noted.
AT&T could stop up marketing DirecTV for much considerably less than it compensated 5 several years in the past. “Any offer for the satellite Tv set service would be sizable but probable a much cry from the $49 billion AT&T paid for it in 2015,” the Journal wrote, quoting sources familiar with the talks as saying that “a offer could worth the business enterprise below $20 billion.”
7 million subscribers dropped due to the fact mid-2018
A sale is by no usually means a certainty, and AT&T could retain a minority stake in DirecTV even if a sale happens, the studies stated. “AT&T is on the lookout to sell just over 50 % of the asset, which would allow the telecom big to consider a rapid-shrinking business enterprise off its publications while still savoring the advantages of a however-massive distribution community,” the Journal wrote. AT&T previously deemed a sale of DirecTV last yr but made the decision to retain the satellite small business.
AT&T’s 2015 buy of DirecTV happened less than then-CEO Randall Stephenson, who retired this 12 months. The new talks with possible consumers “were being spurred by Main Executive John Stankey,” who changed Stephenson in July, the Journal wrote, incorporating that “Mr. Stankey has explained the business really should sharpen its aim on main connectivity products and services.”
AT&T has been reporting major client losses every single quarter for the earlier two years, with AT&T’s increasing Television set price ranges supporting force users to other Television set or on line streaming companies. Following a Q2 2020 decline of 954,000 clients, AT&T was down to 18.41 million buyers across DirecTV, U-verse Television, and AT&T-branded on line Tv set products and services. Which is a decline of a lot more than 7 million shoppers since mid-2018 when AT&T had 25.45 million subscribers in those people categories.
AT&T declined to comment, according to Bloomberg. We contacted AT&T nowadays and will update this article if we get a response.


text:
Did you know that Filipinos are eating less fruits over the years?
This was revealed in the food consumption survey (FCS) conducted in 2008 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) which showed that fruit consumption has decreased over the past 20 years from an individual intake of 107 grams in 1987 to only 54 grams in 2008.
The survey also revealed that individual fruit intake did not change from 2003 to 2008 at 54 grams.
The amount of 54 grams is about one serving-size banana latundan that contributes about 6.3 percent of the average individual food intake for 2008.
This consumption level is lower than the recommended intake of 2-3 servings of fruits daily.
No wonder that no fruit was included in the list of most commonly-consumed foods of Filipinos in 2008.
Fruits are rich sources of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber.
Vitamin A is needed for normal vision, promotes growth and boosts immune resistance, while vitamin C increases the body’s resistance to infection, helps keep gums and teeth healthy and acts as antioxidant, among others.
Fiber provides bulk, aids in normal bowel movement, helps in the management of diabetes, lowers cholesterol and may help prevent certain cancers.
However, based on the FCS, Filipinos get most of these nutrients from other food groups, particularly meat, fish and poultry for vitamin A and vegetables for vitamin C and fiber.
The low intake of fruits calls for a more aggressive promotion of fruit consumption and a closer look at the reasons why fruits are not common in the Filipino dining table, including their affordability and availability, as well as the Filipino’s attitude towards eating fruits.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.org; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service: Press Release – CHARINA A. JAVIER)


text:
Kmart In Fairhaven To Close Mid-April
A company official for Kmart confirmed Wednesday in an email to The Standard Times that Kmart in the Shaw's Plaza will close its doors in mid-April.
Company spokesman Howard Riefs stated in the email, "[w]e can confirm that we are making the difficult, but necessary decision to close the Kmart store at 9 Plaza Way in Fairhaven."
Riefs also stated that the store will begin a liquidation sale on Jan. 6.
"We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as previously announced," he wrote. He stated that in the email that the majority of the employees work part-time, but the total number of employees available at this time.
Eligible employees will receive severance and will have the chance to apply for openings at Sears or Kmart stores in the area.
With additional reporting by Sal Lopez


text:
Brexit: Indian companies can expect deregulated market in Britain, says Top RBI Official
Kochi: Indian companies can expect a deregulated market in Britain, minus EU's complex bureaucratic regulatory structure said, U Chiranjeevi, GM, Reserve Bank of India, Kochi.
He was inaugurating a one-day seminar on the `Importance of Financial Documents in Foreign Trade', organised by International Chamber of Commerce India (Indian affiliate of ICC) in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and State Bank of India (SBI) here the other day.
The implications of Brexit are significant for China and India as they are now significant capital exporters to EU and Britain. In all probability, they will have to revisit bilateral investment protection agreements with the UK separately. The UK accounts for 15 per cent of India's total merchandised trade, but its share has been declining. Thus, one can expect Britain to try extra hard to woo Indian companies to invest there by providing much bigger incentives in terms of tax breaks, lesser regulation and other financial incentives,'' he observed.
Reserve Bank of India has always taken a calibrated and open-ended approach to strengthen foreign trade. In the past few years, the foreign trade policy has been more favourably inclined towards exports compared to imports.
RBI has taken effective steps to move in tandem with the government's efforts towards Make in India, Digital India, Start up India Stand up India and ease-of-doing-business, he said.
K Parameswaran, renowned Corporate Adviser and Trainer in International Trade and Relations led the sessions.
Ashok Ummath, Executive Director, ICC India; Omesh Puri, Dy. General Manager (IB Domestic), SBI and Savio Mathew, Head, FICCI Kerala State Council also spoke.


text:
Apple could soon offer a major revamp of one of the few consumer products it’s launched this past decade that hasn’t found mainstream success, as a report claims that the company will offer a new “Apple TV” set top box unit for just $99, less than half its current price, complete with a new operating system based on the one which currently powers the iPhone and iPad. All of these details sound plausible, as Apple has taken an increased interest in offering widely palatable price tags of late ($99 iPhone, $499 iPad) even when the company could likely have gotten away with higher “early adopter” pricing for new models. And with as much as Apple has tied up in its iPhone OS at this point, it only makes sense that the next Apple TV would run it as well.
However, the new AppleTV apparently won’t include DVR functionality, the ability to record television shows for free and play them back on demand, which represent be a continued embarrassment for Apple as even the lamest of generic ten dollar a month set top boxes from cable companies are able to offer such functionality; it can be argued that lack of DVR functionality is the main reason the Apple TV has remained a low profile niche over the past few years, a period of time in which nearly every one of Apple’s other consumer offerings (the Mac mini excepted) has been a mainstream success.
But even that issue aside, the report is best taken with a grain of salt. The trouble with rumors which sound entirely plausible is that it’s easy for such rumors to be invented by third parties who know it’ll sound believable.
ZAGG, best known for its line of Invisible Shield products for iPhone, iPod and other devices, has introduced a product of a different kind entirely in the form of the ZAGGbox. Hailed as a “digital life center” by the company, the set top box is a high-end home media server with universal remote.
The initial version of the ZAGGbox, which is expected top ship in the second quarter of 2010, will work in conjunction with an iPhone app, with apps for other devices coming later.
The ZAGGbox will be priced at $999 but is currently available for pre-order at a discounted price of $799.


text:
Shopping malls, which were previously excluded from Saskatchewan’s plan announced on April 23, can now open alongside other retailers in Phase 2.
Starting on May 19, malls can re-open their doors as long as they follow the province’s retail guidelines.
Mall operators will have to ensure people are social distancing in common spaces in the mall and that queues are managed to keep people two metres apart.
Washrooms will be open for staff and the public, but increased cleaning and disinfection must take place.
Food courts can offer food through pick-up and delivery options only. All seating will be closed.
As for elevators, people will still need to maintain a two-metre distance. The same goes for escalators.
The retail store guidelines have also been updated to allow for returns, although it’s being discouraged. If someone needs to return merchandise, it has to be disinfected and isolated for 72 hours prior to returning to the retail floor.
Change rooms can only operate at 50 per cent capacity and they will have to be disinfected after each use.
Below are other changes made to Saskatchewan’s Re-Open Plan.
Stiff-person syndrome: What we know about Céline Dion’s rare condition
Céline Dion reveals diagnosis of rare neurological disease: ‘It’s been really difficult for me’
Golf courses (opening May 15):
- Pull cart and golf club rentals were previously prohibited, but are now allowed under the updated guidelines as long as they are disinfected between each use.
- Pro shops can open on May 19.
Greenhouse operators (opening May 19):
- Can now operate under the same guidelines as retail stores
- Must implement one-way aisles
Outdoor individual recreation operations:
- Archery and gun ranges can open on May 15
- Group recreation, competitions or fundraising events are not allowed
- Clubhouse facilities will remain closed. Washrooms will be open but cleaning and disinfection must take place
- Locker rooms will be closed
- Equipment rentals are allowed, but they have to be disinfected after each use
Parks and campgrounds:
- Parks will be open to vehicle traffic for Saskatchewan residents only beginning May 4
- Anglers can access boat launches in advance of fishing season
- Hikers and mountain bikers allowed
- Beginning June 1, only Saskatchewan residents will be allowed to camp or visit provincial parks
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.


text:
Olympics fails to boost Eurostar amid fragile leisure market
Eurostar said extra traffic during the Olympics was wiped out by a fragile leisure market, as it offered a sneak peek of its new trains.
The cross-Channel train service enjoyed a 4 per cent bump in traffic during the Games, but fewer leisure travellers meant third-quarter traffic was flat at 2.6million.
Boss Nicolas Petrovic said leisure sales have been ‘really strong’ since then, while business travel has shown signs of improvement ‘for the first time in more than 12 months’.
Bump in traffic: But fewer leisure travellers meant third-quarter traffic was flat at 2.6million for Eurostar
Passenger numbers for the year so far are up from 7.3million to 7.4million, but revenues fell slightly to £612million due to currency movements.
Eurostar is spending £700million to overhaul its fleet and expects the first of its Velaro e320 trains, built by Germany’s Siemens to be ready for boarding in 2014.
The firm offered video and photos of the trains but not of the new interiors designed by Pininfarina, the Italian frim known for its luxury car interior designs.
The company also refitted its trains for the Belgian and French Paralympic teams, at its own cost.
Most watched Money videos
- Euro NCAP safety tests of new Porsche Taycan shown in clip
- What will 2020 hold for investors and the UK stock market?
- Durability of Tesla Model X examined in Euro NCAP clip
- Vauxhall launches fifth generation of top-selling Corsa hatchback
- Introducing the new Ford Puma with fuel-saving powertrain technology
- Urban Electric's new pop-up chargers rise from the pavement
- Door comes off Volkswagen Sharan during Euro NCAP safety tests
- How a biotech trust invests in the future of medicine
- Volkswagen unveils concept for robots to deliver chargers to cars
- Hyundai Uber concept flying taxi shown off in promo vid
- Blue Whale: We want companies that can grow whatever happens
- Wireless charging network will be installed in Britain from 2020


text:
When Jason Biggs wrote that being a celebrity meant having constant anxiety about being recognized, he had no idea — high-end retail stores are testing technology that scans customers against a database of celebrity photos and alerts store clerks when there's a match.
According to NPR, the software is being tested in "a dozen undisclosed top stores and hotels in the U.S., the U.K., and the Far East," and works even if the person is wearing sunglasses or a hat, has gained weight, has aged, has changed hair colors, or has grown facial hair.
Once the system has made a match, salesclerks are alerted via computer, iPad or iPhone and given a list of the customer's preferences.
And stores aren't just focusing on celebrities — many US retailers track shoppers via their smartphones by following the WiFi signals. Using the technology, stores can gather data about their customers, "using video surveillance and signals from their cellphones and apps to learn information as varied as their sex, how many minutes they spend in the candy aisle and how long they look at merchandise before buying it."
[NPR, image via Shutterstock]


text:
H&M Stays Upbeat in Tough TimesKerry Capell
Many retailers, facing the worst recession in decades, are scaling back their global ambitions. Not Swedish affordable-fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz (HMB.ST). Instead, new CEO Karl-Johan Persson—the 34-year-old grandson of H&M's founder, who took over the top job on July 1—intends to ramp up international expansion in the second half of this year, opening up 159 new stores by the end of November in addition to the 84 outlets launched in the first half of 2009.
Persson takes the reins a week after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter results. H&M said net profits in the quarter ended May 31 hit $532 million, up 6% from the same quarter last year, on sales (excluding value-added tax) that were up 23%, to $3.5 billion. Overall, first-half sales rose 6% in local currencies to $6.6 billion, though sales for stores open more than a year fell by 3% over the six-month period. In a June 25 statement, H&M said it "remains positive towards the future expansion and the company's business opportunities." Persson is currently declining interview requests.
Discount retailers such as H&M are proving more resilient than their mainstream rivals as the economic downturn crimps consumer demand. The chain's fast-fashion formula of offering consumers catwalk styles at bargain prices has helped transform it into the world's third-largest apparel retailer by revenues behind Gap (GPS) and Spain's Inditex (ITX.F), which operates the Zara chain. H&M now boasts 1,822 stores in 34 countries.
Lining Up in America
Even in the U.S., long a graveyard for foreign retailers, H&M continues to do well. In the first half, the company opened two more stores, bringing its total there to 171, and it plans to open an unspecified number of additional outlets later this year. Since opening its first U.S. store on New York's Fifth Avenue in 2000, the chain's popularity has continued to grow. When H&M opened its first store in Atlanta last year, hundreds of people lined up the night before.
"Most U.S. apparel chains are doing badly on the basis that the American consumer is doing badly," says Howard Davidowitz, chairman of New York retail consultancy Davidowitz & Associates. "Consumers are trading down in general, and in fashion H&M is the beneficiary of that trend."
H&M understands that budget-conscious shoppers don't want to compromise on style. That's why Persson's predecessor, Rolf Eriksen, embarked on a series of successful collaborations with high-profile fashion designers and celebrities, from Japanese label Comme des Garçons to Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and even pop star Madonna.
Its latest venture is with luxury British shoe and accessory brand Jimmy Choo, which rose to fame in part thanks to frequent appearances on the television hit show Sex and the City. Jimmy Choo will design a range of shoes and bags for women and men that will be available at 200 H&M stores worldwide from Nov. 14.
Premises Vacated by Woolworth
For H&M, the recession also presents an opportunity to score bargains of its own. The company is using the downturn to pick up prime real estate locations on the cheap and to secure better terms from landlords. In Britain, where H&M operates 149 stores, it has moved into several premises vacated by bankrupt chain Woolworths. It also plans to open a nearly 25,000-square-foot outlet at the upscale Bluewater mall in Kent, taking over space from another insolvent chain, music retailer Zavvi. Analysts say H&M managed to secure six months of the 15-year lease rent-free.
Keeping operating expenses under control will be critical as H&M expands during the recession. Over the past five years, the company has managed nearly to double its revenues, profits, and number of stores—even while increasing operating margins from 19.9% to 22.7% in 2008. Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein (AB) forecasts H&M's 2009 aftertax profits will hit $3 billion on sales of $14 billion.
Still, the year ahead is likely to be one of H&M's toughest ever. Analysts reckon net earnings growth will fall below double digits for the first time in nearly a decade, and a lingering recession could unexpectedly crimp sales. It looks as if H&M's new CEO will have his work cut out for him.


text:
Brain Age 2 to pop up in unlikely places
Next, Nintendo will be sponsoring several different Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk events, making sure that participants can try the title out. Also, Nintendo is apparently taking over a hair salon in Beverly Hills, CA. While patrons wait to get their hair done, they can shape up their mind by trying the title out.
All in all, looks like a pretty aggressive campaign.
[Via press release]


text:
The Manufacturers and Exporters Association expects more jobs to be lost as sales continue to fall.
Its latest survey of business conditions shows total sales in December fell 6% compared to the same month a year earlier. Staff numbers in December were down 17% on the same month in 2008.
The association's chief executive, John Walley, says staff numbers will continue to fall, and will not recover until sales demand picks up. December export sales were down 7% and domestic sales down 4%.
Mr Walley says people are buying smaller quantities of goods, creating uncertainty for business owners and leading many to operate on a month-to-month basis.
Unemployment figures released on Thursday showed the rate had jumped to 7.3%, meaning 168,000 New Zealanders were recorded as out of work in the December quarter.


text:
UPPER EAST SIDE — High-end clothing shop James Perse on Madison Avenue is seeking approval to serve booze at a planned cafe on its third floor.
Members of Community Board 8's street life committee gave the plans a thumbs up after representatives explained that the cafe at 1128 Madison Ave. would keep the same hours as the shop.
James Perse, which has been in the space for two years, is going to add four tables and 14 seats on its third floor, and will serve tea sandwiches, pastries, popcorn, chips, coffee, teas and booze, from Corona to white and red wines and champagne, according to the store's submitted menu.
The idea is to serve those who come in to shop and feel like a snack, according to Dana Lapan of Helbraun Levey & O'Donoghue, the law firm representing the store. So far there is no timeline as to when the new cafe will be rolled out.
The shop has three levels — women's clothing on the first, menswear on the second and the third will be made into a cafe, Lapan said. The third level is currently be used for its wholesale items.
The full Community Board will vote on whether to recommend its approval to the State Liquor Authority on Sept. 16.
James Perse, which is based in Los Angeles, did not immediately return a request for comment.
The shop's new Bleecker Street location is also applying for a beer and wine license this month.


text:
Florida orange forecast "solid news" for industry
The USDA's initial Florida orange crop estimate for the 2019-20 season is "solid news" for the industry, according to the Florida Citrus Mutual.
The USDA on Thursday said projected 74m boxes, which is a 3% increase from last year's final tally.
The Valencia crop has been pegged at 42m boxes and early/mid-season varieties at 32m boxes.
"This incremental increase is good news for the industry as we continue to recover from Hurricane Irma and the devastating effects of citrus greening," said Michael W. Sparks, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.
"We believe that this number - if it holds throughout the year - will strike a nice balance of getting the processors the oranges they need while firming up prices to the Florida citrus grower.
"I am proud of the Florida citrus grower who continues to produce the best fruit in the world in a very challenging environment. We are not out of the woods but we are making gains."
The USDA issues its initial estimate in October of each year and then revises it monthly as the crop takes shape until the end of the season in July.
During the 2018-19 season, Florida produced 71.6m boxes of oranges.
The USDA's estimate of the 2019-20 Florida grapefruit crop is 4.6m boxes and specialty citrus is 1.05m boxes.


text:
After the founder and co-chief executive, Alastair Lukies decided to depart from MONITISE PLC (OTCMKTS:MONIF), its non-executive director, Tom Houghton too followed the suite. A Reuters report noted that Houghton decided to step down as a member of the board of directors effective from March 29, 2015.
Conflicts of interest
The decision came more as a move to avoid conflicts of interest that might emerge during Strategic Review of the company and Visa. It is to be noted that as Houghton is also a Board representative of Visa Europe. Thus, both the companies decided that Houghton should step down from MONITISE PLC (OTCMKTS:MONIF)’s board.
Early last week, the company’s founder Lukies also stepped down from the board after a strategic review. Lukies will become a ‘strategic adviser’ to former Visa executive, Elizabeth Buse, who has now become sole chief executive of the company. Meanwhile, the company has ruled out any possibility of a sale. MONITISE PLC (OTCMKTS:MONIF) called for a strategic review in January after it gave a revenue warning for the third consecutive time in a year. The company provides services that allow consumers and businesses to transact through mobile devices. The company hired Moelis, an investment bank to explore all possible options for the company, which included an option to sale.
However, MONITISE PLC (OTCMKTS:MONIF) was unable to reach any sale agreement in the absence of clarity of expressions of interest or structure. Buse said that the company is committed to delivering what it promised to do and is self-sustaining. Buse went on to state that Lukies’ decision to step down was a mutual one, after being arrived in agreement with the board. She said that Lukies want to remain a strategic adviser to the company, which does not mandate him to be a member of the board.
As the company embraces the new shift in its strategy, its shares have lost more than 75% of their value. During the previous trading session, the stock of the company settled 3.09% higher at $0.200.


text:
Seen and heard as the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo gears up for its three-day run at the Los Angeles Convention Center:
For the longest time, Lara Croft of “Tomb Raider” was the biggest female star in video games - mainly because she didn’t have much competition.
Things are changing, though, with game companies finally waking up to the realization that women make up nearly half of their audience. So at this year’s E3, we’re seeing more heroines like Emily Kaldwin, the assassin in Bethesda Softworks’ “Dishonored 2.” Microsoft’s “Beyond Eyes” tells the tale of Rae, a blind girl whose other senses are enhanced. Sony’s “Horizon: Zero Dawn” features a female hunter on a planet where mechanical dinosaurs run rampant.
Meanwhile, EA Sports’ “FIFA 16” brings women’s teams to the soccer pitch. Rooftop-running athlete Faith makes her long-awaited return in Electronic Arts’ “Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.” And, of course, Lara herself is back in Square Enix’s “Rise of the Tomb Raider.”
There are also games like Bethesda’s “Fallout 4,” EA’s “Mass Effect: Andromeda” and Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate” that let you play as either a man or a woman. And even ultra-macho military franchises like “Halo” and “Gears of War” include female warriors in their squads.
Also encouraging: More women have appeared this year on the E3 stages where companies are showcasing their new games. “Mirror’s Edge,” EA’s “Star Wars: Battlefront” and Ubisoft’s “Rainbow Six: Siege” were just a few of the high-profile titles presented by female developers. As “Beyond Eyes” director Sherida Halatoe put it, “If we open ourselves up to new experiences, it can be a beautiful world.”
Five years ago, Microsoft introduced its Kinect motion control device with a flamboyant E3 extravaganza starring Cirque du Soleil.
This year? Kinect didn’t even merit a mention at Microsoft’s Xbox show. One presenter blurted a Kinect voice command, but the device itself doesn’t even appear in most pictures of the Xbox One.
Sony, which has put far less emphasis on its PlayStation Move doodad, didn’t bother mentioning during its presentation. At least Nintendo’s Wii U still incorporates the gimmick, last time we checked.
So what’s taking motion control’s place? “Virtual reality,” with both companies promising immersion in three-dimensional worlds via wraparound headsets. Microsoft’s has adopted the Oculus Rift for use with the Xbox One and PCs; Sony has its own Project Morpheus.
Can virtual reality thrive where motion control stumbled? We’ll check back in 2020.
Celebrities, no matter how much we love them, don’t thrive during E3 presentations. The attendees are there for computer-generated spectacle, not to watch Kobe Bryant fumble with video-game controls (as he did in 2011).
So even an undisputed legend like Pele, who appeared this year to promote “FIFA 16,” can bring the show to a screeching halt. Jason Derulo may be a chart-topper, but he wins this year’s Flo Rida Memorial Trophy for Awkward Performance promoting Ubisoft’s “Just Dance.” Neither was greeted with the kind of applause that was received by video game designer Fumito Ueda, creator of the cult classics “Ico” and “Shadow of the Colossus,” and the new “The Last Guardian.”
But then we have Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the brains behind “South Park.” They surprised the Ubisoft audience with a trailer for the forthcoming “South Park: The Fractured but Whole,” then treated us to a profanity-filled Q&A with host Aisha Tyler. Stone acknowledged saying they’d never make another game after last year’s “The Stick of Truth,” but joked that they’d just figured out what they were doing by the end of that game’s development and didn’t want to let it go to waste.
He expressed all that in words I can’t repeat in an AP story. That’s knowing your audience.
Buzziest game announcements of the pre-E3 showcases:
- Bethesda’s postapocalyptic role-playing epic “Fallout 4.”
- Sony’s boy-meets-monster love story “The Last Guardian.”
- EA’s parkour-happy “Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.”
- Sony’s “Dreams,” a freaky dive into the unconscious mind for the creators of “LittleBigPlanet.”
- Ubisoft’s “South Park: The Fractured but Whole,” in which the boys become superheroes.
Follow Lou Kesten on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lkesten
Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.


text:
There has been a 20 per cent rise in travel bookings ahead of Navratri this year, show records of travel websites. This, even after the tourists, who are planning trips back home or to other destinations, being largely affected by the spike in airfares. While several are looking to visit Bangalore, Delhi and Gujarat for Dussehra holidays, many are planning to take short trips of three to four days.
Karan Anand, Head (Relationships), Cox & Kings said, “The upcoming Dussehra break presents a good opportunity to take up short trips. Bookings for the weekend are soaring up to 20 per cent, with travellers showing significant interest in domestic destinations.”
“With this being festival time, people mainly travel to witness the celebrations in different parts of the country. While many visit Mysore for the Dussehra celebrations at Mysore Palace, others visit New Delhi for Ramlila shows and Mumbai and Gujarat for dandiya and garba nights. Kolkata is a major tourist attraction for Durga Puja, Sindur Khela and the dhaak and dhanuchi competitions,” he added.
According to travel website Yatra, a spike in airfares this time, when compared to last year, has pinched the pockets of tourists. For example, while the lowest fare of a one-way trip to Delhi from Mumbai was Rs 1,165 in October 2017, it is now Rs 2,559. There has been a spike in airfares for November also.
“We at Yatra.com are witnessing a mix of travellers visiting their hometowns and those opting various off-beat destinations for short trips. This trend has been noticed despite a hike in the fares on popular routes such as Mumbai-Bangalore, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata,” said Sharat Dhall, COO, Yatra.com. “The steep spike in the fares when compared to last year can be attributed to various reasons like increase in passenger load factor and surge in fuel charges among others. These announcements ahead of the peak travel season will affect the fare chart adversely. Moreover, with rupee depreciating at this pace, the outbound tourism is likely to be impacted,” he added.


text:
Adult Industry News
Mon, Dec 08 2014 01:30pm PST
An arbitrator last month sided with adult tube site WorldStarPorn.net, which was hit with a cybersquatting claim filed by mainstream hip-hop shock site WorldStarHipHop.com.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 12:45pm PST
Amid talks of the “near future” availability of virtual reality, Samsung has quietly slipped in an option available right now.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 11:30am PST
Pure Play Media announced that it has inked an exclusive distribution deal with Popporn Productions, an off-shoot of the adult news and retail site.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 11:00am PST
So just what were the most popular movies of 2014 on NakedSword.com? To answer that question, NakedSword has complied its top 25 biggest hits of the year, and will be counting them down all December long. ???
Mon, Dec 08 2014 09:45am PST
Brokerbabe, one of the leading mobile companies in the adult space, has announced today that it will host the “Webmaster Rodeo” on Jan. 14 during XBIZ 360.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 09:30am PST
U.S.-based brick and mortar retail chain, Starship Enterprises, is bringing male chastity brand CB-X to the Deep South.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 07:45am PST
Carnal Creative announced today its plans to host Sexpo UK in London in November 2015 with the full support of Sexpo Australia..
Mon, Dec 08 2014 07:30am PST
Buoyed by the generous donations of its sponsors, the Australian Sex Party is ramping up its campaign to secure a seat in the Victorian State Parliament.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 07:00am PST
Sportsheets International is offering a first look at another one of its upcoming Sexperiments kits — the Switch Out Silencer — set to ship to distributors and retailers in December.
Mon, Dec 08 2014 06:15am PST
CamsPower.com has announced its release of branded white and black label versions of its new cam site for affiliates to promote.


text:
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected economic activity almost worldwide. Various factories and warehouses are forced to close to protect their workers. Could a more automated workforce have eased the economic damage caused by COVID-19? The International Federation of Robotics has reported that the cost of robots has fallen in 2019 and continues to fall, allowing them to be widely adopted. In South Korea, there are 7 robots for every 100 workers, while every 3rd robot installed is in China. In 2019, a report by Oxford Economics predicted that 12.5 million manufacturing jobs will be automated in China alone by 2030. After the COVID-19 pandemic, there could be even more.
Before the pandemic began, frightening and alarming headlines immediately amplified the predictions that many jobs would be lost. Now that many jobs are being lost, the question is how can industrial automation speed up recovery and protect us from future pandemics?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has estimated that emerging occupations due to automation could account for 6.1 million jobs worldwide between 2020 and 2022. We do not yet know how COVID-19 will affect long-term employment, but it is safe to assume that automation will accelerate where people and consumers are safer.
Logistics automation protects warehousemen and couriers. Robots constantly cleaning hospitals protect health workers. Digital payments prevent the exchange of cash, which is important for those in retail.
At the end of February, China alone purchased 2,000 robots in Denmark that can autonomously disinfect and kill viruses and bacteria using ultraviolet light, effectively limiting the spread of coronaviruses and the possibility of infecting hospital staff.
Amazon had a partially automated parcel sorting centre in Washington. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic created a need for greater automation to ensure greater security for employees and customers, while minimising the number of potential contacts.
In the public domain, we see many reports that companies that have invested in robotic and fully automated production can continue their operations without risking the safety of their employees. The crisis caused by COVID-19 has revealed even greater benefits of industrial automation.


text:
A federal report concludes the “Freedom to Farm” policy has widened the gulf between small and large farms. The General Accounting Office report found just 14 percent of federal farm payments in 1999 went to small farms, a “dramatic” four-year decline while payments to large-scale operations doubled during that time period. The average federal payment to a small farmer was about four thousand dollars in 1999; large farmers’ payments averaged nearly 65-thousand dollars. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says the report confirms his suspicions that the “Freedom to Farm Act” benefitted large operations at the expense of small farmers. Harkin says the study proves the Ag Committee, which he leads, should consider ways to ensure federal farm payments are distributed fairly.
You are here: Home / Agriculture / Report says farm policy has greated a gulf between big and small farms


text:
iPad Repair London Launches Discounts for Senior Citizens that Make iPad Repairs More Accessible
London, Greater London, Kent, Surrey, Essex, (PRWEB UK) 30 June 2013
iPad Repair London, the iPad Screen Repair Service for London have been supporting the cause of the Elderly by helping and making iPad Repair services more accessible and affordable for the elderly. iPad Repair London is giving all Senior Citizens claiming a pension a 15% Discount on all iPad Screen Repairs. The initiative is helping to demonstrate that the technology revolution is not just for kid. It's for their parents and even their grandparents. In one local nursing home in London, residents are getting a taste of wider access to the world around them using a handful of iPads.
With hundreds of thousands of apps, it's opening the eyes and the minds of older people who might think that technology has passed them by. Alfie Potter, 72, is playing hangman in the sports category on the iPad. He ives at a Senior Citizens nursing home in West London, where residents are becoming part of the iPad revolution. The staff started it off by showing around their personal iPads.
The iPad's intuitive interface makes it appealing to senior citizens around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyo: "The iPad is a good tool for the elderly because it's very forgiving of mistakes." Miura's team uses computers to help train senior citizens to rejoin the workforce. "Unlike the PC, it doesn't require prior knowledge," he says.
Ryan Newman, Customer Service Manager at iPad Repair London points out that "we have a aging population, and more and more of the elderly are embracing technology like the iPad. We at iPad Repair London are providing a really useful and accessible service for the elderly. Anyone can drop and iPad and break the screen or anything else. However, for the elderly, our service has some unique benefits beyond the discount. The Senior Citizen does not have to step out of their home to get their iPads fixed, we come to their home, collect the iPad, repair it, and return it back to their home. It could not be more simple."
The Senior Citizens Discount for iPad Screen Repairs at iPad Repair London goes live from the 1 July 2013. To find out more please visit http://www.ipadrepairlondon.net or call 0207 100 1212. You can also Download a free iPad user Guide for the Elderly from the iPad Repair London website.
Company: iPad Repair London
Telephone 0207 100 1212
Address: 135 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7ET
iPad Repair London is the Number One iPad Repair Service in the UK. We specialise in iPad Screen Repair - and repair almost anything and everything when it comes to iPad Repair.


text:
Image Courtesy of Ayleen O’Hanlon
Melbourne based singer-songwriter Ayleen O’Hanlon plans to release her debut album. Titled Blend and Spill, the album will be released on the 27th July.
O’Hanlon is crowdfunding the release of Blend and Spill by offering orders of the album via PledgeMusic. She’s also just released the video for the gorgeous new track North of Nowhere – check it out here:
To celebrate the release of Blend and Spill Ayleen O’Hanlon will be throwing a launch show at the Toff in Town in Melbourne on Sunday 6th September – get more details on the official Facebook event here.


text:
“Trump’s Costumes Aren’t Popular”: What’s Important for Halloween 2021 | Fashion
The year 2020 was a strange year to play dress up. Still in the grip of the pandemic and in the shadow of the last American presidency, last Halloween’s hit costumes included outfits that refer to “fake news” and the Netflix show Tiger King. “Last year was a huge Halloween and took us all by surprise,” says Alicia Thompson, brand marketing director at Yandy, the American costume designer. “Obviously everyone was looking for a mental escape from the overwhelming circumstances of the year.”
This year, alongside perennial favorites such as cheerleaders, cowgirls, Austin Powers and Scooby Doo, the viral moments have been a source of inspiration. A costume that comes close to Kim Kardashian’s Balenciaga fetish all-black outfit at the Met Gala is out of stock. “The Mystery Gala Guest costume is flying off the shelves,” said Thompson. “[It] just wanted to be created, right? How could we not? Fans and detractors alike have no shortage of ways to really have fun with this one.
On the other end of the “fun” spectrum is the King of the Jungle, who appears to visually refer to the horned outfit of Shaman QAnon Jacob Chansley during the Washington Capitol Riot. Ouch! Thompson denies the visual connection. “The costume sells well, of course, but I couldn’t tell if people use it for this purpose,” she says. “It is certainly not the intention to wear this item.”
Meanwhile, the 2000s nostalgia train is on full swing, with a look reminiscent of Christina Aguilera‘s 2002 Dirrty video (flared leather chaps and all) selling well. “The trend has consistently influenced fashion this year, made its way into lingerie, and claimed Halloween 2021 with a vengeance,” Thompson said.
Also interesting are the costumes that have fallen out of favor. While “essential worker” costumes and a look mimicking a bottle of hand sanitizer remain bestsellers, pandemic-specific costumes have been avoided. “You’re not going to see sexy Covid-19 costumes,” Thompson says. A certain presidential era is also not celebrated. “Trump-specific costumes are not popular at all anymore,” she said, referring to the Donna T Rumpshaker costume of Yandy, a big seller in Trump’s time. “We had to refresh the remaining stock. “
While her Fake News dress is still being purchased, political costumes are generally out of favor this year. “The political spectrum is so polarized that it doesn’t offer the same humor as before.”
Thompson says Halloween gives psychological insight into a person’s character. “You can learn a lot about people,” she says. “It’s an interesting time of year when people explore dark desires and dark humor. While not everything is tasteful, there will always be a group of people who will use Halloween to tap into themes that seem out of reach at any other time of the year.


text:
Many people joke about naked cleaners but nobody has ever thought there might be a company offering this kind of service. Apparently this is the latest trend because now you can book a naked cleaning services in Edinburgh.
The owners of the company are a husband and wife and they introduce themselves as Barbie and Ken. The couple offers all types of domestic and cleaning services, including cooking and ironing which they are going to perform naked. Of course, the co-owner explained that there will be strict rules about the cleaning process. All clients should stay clothed and they are no children allowed to present.
The two people admit that they realize some people might understand their service in a wrong way and those customers will be totally ignored. “We wanted to bring something that is unique to Edinburgh”, said the husband.
Another thing totally prohibited during the cleaning process is taking photos or recording with a camera.
Barbie and Ken had 10 booking for the first day when they launched the service.


text:
Exploit: Unauthorized database access
Minted: Online marketplace for independent artists
Risk to Small Business: 1.980 = Severe
After a database was made available on the Dark Web, Minted acknowledged a data breach that compromised customer information. The breach happened when hackers accessed a company database on May 6th, and it’s unclear why it took the company more than three weeks to identify and respond. Customers are increasingly willing to walk away from platforms that can’t protect their data, and the company’s slow response could make it more challenging to regain users’ trust.
Individual Risk: 2.602 = Moderate
The incident compromised users’ data, including their names, addresses, phone numbers. Less than 1% of victims also had their dates of birth exposed. In addition, users’ login credentials were impacted. In response, those affected by the breach need to update their Minted passwords and any other platform passwords that use similar information.
Customers Impacted: 5,000,000
How it Could Affect Your Customers’ Business: Data beaches are a public relations nightmare, and a fast, effective response can be the difference between restoring trust and watching customers walk away. At the same time, equipping employees and customers with tools to secure their accounts demonstrates a tangible commitment to data security.


text:
NEW Warrington Market designs will help to bring its historic presence back to the heart of the town centre.
That was the verdict of traders reacting to the new plans unveiled last week for the market redevelopment.
Alison Roberts, of Alison Loves to Bake, said: “I think it is great. We need a new building and I like the new development’s use of historic Warrington.
“It is also close to the town centre and will hopefully bring more people in.
“A lot of stalls are quality stalls not just cheap and cheerful. Yet there is still a lot of snobbery. People think stalls could be grotty in this building and are surprised when they come to see us and how good the other stalls are.”
Mar 24, 2019 0Business News Wales By Mark Powney A new, multi-kitchen dining hall called Y Gegin will open in Pembroke Dock on the 7th June. The venue, whose name means ‘The Kitchen’ in Welsh, will be based...
Mar 21, 2019 0Wrexham.com A Continental Street Market showcasing cuisines from across the world will return to Wrexham town centre this week. Over the next four days (Wednesday 20th – Saturday 23rd March) Hope Street, Regent Street and Queen Street, will play host to international themed traders selling street...


text:
This is an archived release.
Cars softened the reduction in consumption in March
According to seasonally-adjusted figures, household consumption of goods fell by 0.3 per cent from February to March 2009. Excluding consumption of cars, the index decreased by 1 per cent.
According to seasonally-adjusted figures, there was an increase of 4.4 per cent of purchases of vehicles and petrol in March 2009 compared with February 2009. This was the only group of goods with an increase in consumption from February to March this year. When compared with last year, the consumption of cars and petrol in March 2009 was 13.2 per cent lower than in March 2008.
The consumption of electricity and heating fuels decreased by 5 per cent from February to March according to seasonally-adjusted figures. This group of goods contributed with 0.4 percentage points towards the reduction in total consumption.
Overall, households’ consumption of food, beverages and tobacco remained almost unchanged compared with the previous month. Viewed separately, there was a small decrease in the consumption of food, whereas the consumption of tobacco and non-alcoholic beverages was slightly higher than in February.
Consumption of the goods in the group “other goods” showed a reduction of 0.9 per cent from February to March. Except for books and telecommunication equipment, there was a decrease in all the components in this group. The consumption of books remained unchanged, and there was a small increase in the consumption of telecommunication equipment.
The unadjusted volume index shows that the households’ consumption of goods was 1.3 per cent lower in March 2009, compared with the same month in the previous year. Only the group “other goods” showed a higher consumption in March 2009 than in March 2008.
Method differs from the index of retail sales
The index of household consumption of goods describes the development in household consumption, while the index of retail sales measures the development in retail sales. Compared to the index of retail sales, the index of household consumption of goods has a wider selection of goods. The calculation of the index of household consumption of goods is based on information from the index of retail sales, plus purchases of cars (initial registration) and consumption of electricity and heating fuels. This may result in deviations in the development of the two indices. Additionally, it should be borne in mind that the “Standard Industrial Classification” changed on 1 January 2009, which inter alia means that petrol stations from then onwards are a part of retail sales.
The index of household consumption of goods uses the same definitions and methods of compilation as the quarterly national accounts, and thus serves as an indicator of household consumption in the quarterly national accounts.
Since Statistics Norway gives a high priority to timeliness in the release of statistics, the index of household consumption of goods may have to rely on preliminary estimates in some cases. This means that such estimates will be replaced in subsequent releases. As regards the seasonally-adjusted figures, the figures for previous periods may be revised when a new observation is added to the series of raw data.
Change from previous month.
Change from the same month
last year. Per cent
|1||Please note that the indices have been revised.|


text:
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed the landscape of many industries (especially technology-focused) by helping reduce the number of manual skills needed to get the job done. Companies are increasingly employing AI to improve workplace productivity and profits.
The work of Artificial Intelligence started back in 1930, and the research saw a significant breakthrough in 1956 when the goal to empower machines with enough intelligence to carry out labor tasks was set.
Over the years, AI has advanced a lot, so much that their abilities have been able to copy human actions and even went a step further — into future event predictions. Many people believe that machines will eventually take over human jobs, leading to increased unemployment and unstable societies.
The Jobs That AI May Replace
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently researched the industries that AI could potentially disrupt following the progress made in the field. The report they published revealed that although AI will take some jobs from humans, it will also create new jobs for us to fill.
According to the report, 1.8 million traditional jobs will be taken by AI — but 2.3 million new jobs will be created in their place. The report suggests that employees should start preparing for this change in the job market by learning new skills that are complementary to AI technologies.
Here is a list of all jobs AI may replace:
Customer Service Jobs
In an attempt to properly service customers, businesses are making investments into systems that can help reduce customer waiting time. AI bots were developed to tackle this issue. AI service is always on and listens to customer complaints, unlike human service which is often unavailable because the operators are helping another customer. The bots with AI can serve multiple customers at once, cutting the waiting time to zero.
With digitalization, direct phone sales became a less popular choice. With plenty of digital platforms available, companies can do marketing and get analytics with the help of AI. This move will eventually lead to way better results of AI telemarketing, making humans obsolete in this line of business.
Sales & Market Research
Some parts of the sale and market research industry are starting to get taken over by AI. With digital transactions and e-commerce, millions of data are being created, which makes it impossible to analyze for humans. AI can analyze the data and create reports with a small error rate, unlike humans that take a lot of time and have a higher error rate.
The accounting is another industry going towards AI. Bookkeeping is one of the first industries that are going to get taken over by AI. Many businesses use some sort of accounting software or for data entry, analysis, and other needs. AI can help eliminate the errors human make and ensure that companies have reliable and accurate accounting done faster and cheaper.
The AI technology may not take over these industries in the short-term, but it is inevitable that the effects of AI on the market will start to show soon. Although many remain concerned about the detrimental effects of AI development, there is a lot of advantages AI could bring to the world. Proponents of AI strongly believe that not only humans will adapt and get new skill sets, but also thrive and advance.
What do you think about AI? Is it something to look forward to or something to be concerned about? Share your thoughts in the comments.


text:
A closer look at OPPO’s Under-Screen Camera technology
OPPO recently introduced at MWC19 in Shanghai, China, their new Under-Screen Camera technology which puts the smartphone’s front camera under the display. Such camera design will allow manufacturers to produce devices with full-screen displays without the notch or pop-up mechanism.
As mentioned in our previous article, it’s a new technology but provides a huge advantage when it comes to smartphone design, just like the benefits brought by the under-screen fingerprint scanners. With this new camera tech, future phones will no longer need notches or pop-up cameras.
In the case of OPPO’s Under-Screen Camera technology, the camera is located just below the phone’s earpiece but under the screen. To allow light to pass through, they placed a highly-transparent material with redesigned pixel structure on top of the camera’s location. You won’t notice it when viewed normally or from a distance but you’ll see it up-close which looks like a tiny screen with low resolution.
Do note though that the technology is far from perfect as it still has lots to improve on in terms of quality and performance. OPPO mentioned though that they will use three algorithms to improve image quality (adjustments with White Balance, HDR, and Haze Removal).
The device used is also a demo phone that uses custom software so we can expect the quality will be significantly better before it becomes implemented in commercial devices. Although this is solid proof that the technology works and we’re looking forward to seeing it in future OPPO smartphones.


text:
Pierce County Council takes more action to support hurting local business
Local businesses are struggling, and the Pierce County Council wants to help. That’s why Thursday it passed its second round of emergency legislation in a week aimed at getting money into the hands of Pierce County business owners.
Through legislative actions Council:
- Waived the repayment requirement of the county’s emergency small business relief loan program for all pending and future applicants and set a Dec. 4, 2020 deadline to ensure applications are processed by Dec. 30, 2020;
- Streamlined the process to forgive loans previously issued under the emergency small business relief loan program; and
- Added a need-based grant program to assist Main Street and arts and culture-focused businesses to allow these businesses to receive a grant up to $10,000.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic Council has prioritized the nearly $158 million in federal CARES Act monies the county received to go where it is needed most,” said Council Chairman Doug Richardson. “We know the latest round of restrictions this week will have devastating effects on our small businesses and we only have until Dec. 30 to expend the money, which is why this latest action is so critical.”
Councilmember Marty Campbell proposed the legislation that targets in-store retail, arts and culture establishments like theaters, museums and entertainment venues, fitness facilities and gyms, restaurants, tap rooms and similar eating and drinking establishments that do not have a drive-thru and did not participate in the Pierce County Restaurant Rally program.
Eligible businesses can receive a need-based grant up to $10,000. Businesses that already received assistance from the county’s COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Relief Loan Program can apply for this latest round of funding.
Additional eligibility requirements include:
- Businesses with 20 or less full-time equivalent employees;
- Demonstrate at least 25% reduction in revenues due to COVID-19 pandemic;
- Located in Pierce County;
- Independent business (no corporate chains or corporate franchises).
Earlier this week Council moved $2 million in CARES Act funds from a contingency reserve account to support expansion of this program. Businesses can request the need-based grant through the Economic Development Department.
The emergency legislation now goes to the Pierce County Executive for signature.
Additional information will be available soon on the Pierce County CARES Business Relief website.


text:
Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – The novel Coronavirus has now affected more almost 100,000 people worldwide, but the CDC does not believe this number will go down any time soon.
Although the virus doesn’t have a high death rate, thousands have been hospitalized, and China’s manufacturing industry has been largely shutdown due to large quarantines in the country. This nationwide response has lead to worldwide struggles for companies who rely on China in their supply chain.
Companies like ICM Controls, in North Syracuse, who manufactures thermostats, is seeing some affect because they rely on China to obtain their raw materials for production.
CEO of ICM Andy Kadah said “prices of shipping have increased by more than 10 times. This is affecting are supply chain heavily.”
The company, which is vertically integrated, meaning that they do mostly all of the production from start to finish themselves other than obtaining raw materials , is going to domestic suppliers for materials. This may actually have a positive impact for domestic companies who now have a wide range of new customers.
This all comes after a historic dip in the stock market. The Dow Jones dropped 1,300 points yesterday, and the Federal Reserve dropped interest rates by a half a percentage point, NPR reports.
This decline has worried many, but the Senate funded $8 billion to virus research. Researchers are hoping that this research pays off, and a cure to the disease is found soon.


text:
It’s that thrilling and rewarding time of year again for The YGS Group’s Content Sales & Licensing team. We’ll be planting ourselves in the YGS booth at the annual Inc. 5000 conference for three days starting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18 and meeting Inc. 5000 honorees. As the only authorized provider of custom reprints and award merchandise for honorees found on the Inc. 5000 list since 2002, YGS always looks forward to engaging with honorees and others at the Inc. 5000 annual conference.
Each year, YGS strategizes a new way to interact with honorees from the YGS booth at the Inc. 5000 conference. At last year’s conference, honorees could stop by the YGS booth and have their picture taken in front of our Inc. 5000 honoree backdrop, displaying their Inc. 5000 rank. By tweeting out all of the YGS booth visitors’ pictures and Twitter handles, YGS became a leader on the Inc. 5000 Conference Twitter board in no time. After the conference, YGS launched a social media photo contest that asked honorees to share a photo of their recognition merchandise and get their family and friends to vote for their photo. The winner received a sweet prize and our Facebook post reach increased by more than 80% during the contest.
“This year at the YGS booth,” says Jenny Kintner, YGS Group Manager of Content Sales & Licensing, “we’ll be running a similar photo contest with a whole lot more to offer than just getting your photo taken.” As if pulling a winner to receive a $50 Amazon gift card each day of the conference wasn’t reason enough, this year, visitors will use be able to use Simple Booth on the YGS iPad to get their photo taken in front of our 2016 Inc. 5000 honoree backdrop. Using our iPad, you can choose to upload a photo or GIF of the moment to all of your social media pages at once. So go ahead, let your followers know your ranking… you’ve earned it!
For the real deal, talk to The YGS Group at this week’s Inc. 5000 conference! You can find us at booth no. 4. #YGSForTheRealDeal!