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Today features a duo of updates for Apple Music. First, the streaming service has hired Briean Bumbery as its director of publicity. Bumbery founded BB Gun Press firm in 2011 and has worked with high-profile music clients including Metallica, Green Day, Chris Cornell and Madonna during his career as a public relations strategist. He assumes the new role as Jimmy Iovine, one of the central architects of Apple Music’s launch out of Beats Music, shifts into a consulting position for the company.
There’s also a noteworthy beta test in the works for the latest version of Apple Music. The company is testing an integration with Android Auto. Apple has never offered support for the car infotainment dashboard from the Google/Alphabet tech giant. So far, there are no details available about when this integration might have an official launch, or if other connections between Apple and Android platforms are also in the works.


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The Government is set to launch its electronic payment platform for payment for government goods and services in few weeks.
Already, some public agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Passport Office have such payment platforms.
According to Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the foundation of digital economy has been laid and this payment platform will help reduce corruption, enhance transparency and improve revenue generation.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful told Class Business that the government is committed to using technology to enhance its work.
“We are setting up an electronic payment platform for all government goods and services which will be operational within the next few weeks, and that will ensure that when a citizen pays for goods from any government agency it will go directly to the agency. We will receive notification that the payments have been made and received and notification about when the service will be delivered.
“For those who have applied for passports that is already rolling out, it’s going to be replicated across governments; and that for us will also reduce corruption and enhance transparency and give the Finance Minister more visibility on the quantum of internally generated funds,” she explained.
The Ablekuma West lawmaker pointed out that Ghana will become the hub of technology in Africa in the next two years saying “Other digital initiatives will be rolled out but like I say it’s quiet a revolution which is ongoing on because within the next two years, we’ll see Ghana as the go to place of all IT and showcase the way for a digital economy thriving as we host the Continental Free Trade agreement which will be powered by IT.”

domain: news


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Last night, New York Fashion Week kicked off with the annual GO RED for Women Red Dress fashion show all to raise awareness about women’s heart health. And a few of our faves were on hand to participate in the good and fabulous cause. Plus, a few YBF kids also took the runway yesterday. Check ’em out inside…
To kick off New York Fashion Week, a few fabulous ladies participated in the annual Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2015 presented by Macy’s at The Theatre at Lincoln Center last night in NYC.
Zendaya, rocking a Rick Rubin designed gown, posed it up with Ciara in the name of healthy hearts for women.
And we’re totally in love with the tv star’s pink trimmed satin gown.
Ciara rocked this cute cold-shoulder dress with a high ponytail that made her look like a teenager again:
Estelle rocked a red velvet dress by Black Halo.
“The Chew” star Carla Hall wore this off the shoulder gown. Quite matronly, but maybe that’s her steez.
“RHOA” star Cynthia Bailey got back to her modeling roots.
Laverne Cox of “Orange Is The New Black” gave us super blonde wiggery and a beat face for the catwalk. And she worked it out in this Donna Karan dress.
She also posed it up with fourth hour “Today” host Hoda Kotb.
Star Jones, who is a heart disease survivor, walked the carpet with her pup and her dramatic b michael AMERICA gown.
Backstage before the catwalk fun:
Cynthia got her hair and makeup together.
And gave kisses to Star.
Ciara and Zendaya shared the love.
Nice job ladies!
And elsewhere in NYC last night, one of LaLa & Carmelo Anthony’s many stops involved seeing their baby boy Kiyan walk the runway at the Nike Levi Kids Rock fashion show.
And the front row was filled with professional athlete dads like the Anthonys, CC and Amber Sabathia, Victor Cruz and more.
So proud of Kiyan walking in the Kids Rock Fashion Show today!!! Made us so proud.
A video posted by LaLa (@lala) on Feb 12, 2015 at 5:10pm PST
Awww look at little Kiyan!
Also walking in the show was Leah Still, daughter of NFL player Devon Still. And we’re happy to see Leah is still winning her fight against cancer.
Her proud dad was there cheering him on…with his boo.
And so was Hoda Kotb.
And Angie Martinez’s son Niko was also in the show. Fun times!
Photos: Getty/Photographer Matthew Long/Angie Martinez’s IG


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SHROPSHIRE-BASED agricultural supplier Wynnstay has burst through the £100m turnover mark, according to its end of year results.
The company, which supplies cattle feeds, seeds and agro-chemicals and owns a chain of 24 shops in Wales, saw turnover rise 22% to £103.4m, with like-for-like profits up 11% to £2.6m.
It benefited from a move from the independent OFEX exchange to the London Stock Exchange‘s Alternative Investment Market in May, which raised £1.1m in share capital.
Shares have risen 43% since relisting, closing at 273p on Jan 26.
Bernard Harris, Wynnstay managing director, said: “In spite of difficult trading conditions, I am pleased to report record results.
“Results are especially creditable for having been achieved in one of the most volatile markets for raw materials in over 30 years.
“The cost of wheat, for example, a major ingredient for feeds, almost doubled in price before returning to little more than the opening values in the late summer.”
The feed division, which accounts for over a third of Wynnstay‘s business, saw sales grow by 15%, thanks to a partnership on cattle feed with the Welsh Meat Company.
And in the arable division, which also generates about a third of group sales, turnover was up 8% after growth in seeds, agro-chemicals and grain trading.
Even fertiliser sales remained stable, the company said, despite the sluggish market brought on by high winter and spring prices and CAP uncertainty.
The stores business, which now includes Eifionydd Farmers, saw like-for-like sales grow 8% on the back of strong demand for pet products and especially equine products, where sales rocketed 38% on the year.
Mr Harris reported that the company was in a strong financial position and poised to make further acquisitions.


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As a franchise, Halo has managed to persist for over two decades. With numerous mainline installments and spin-off games under its belt, Halo is considered by many in the gaming community to be one of the most influential and popular series to ever exist. To the point where Halo’s main theme was recently used in a New Year’s Eve event.
One of the most memorable aspects of Halo that spans across each entry in the series is the music. Composers like Marty O’Donnell have created a multitude of music tracks for the Halo franchise and a significant number of them have become deeply synonomous with the Halo series as a whole. Although, many Halo fans likely weren’t expecting the main theme to be used during a New Year’s Eve countdown event.
A Reddit user named aura_dl0923 noticed that during King 5 news’ coverage of the New Year’s event in Seattle, Washington, the main Halo theme played during the final minute of 2021. Some fans might find it odd that a local news station would choose to play the Halo theme during such a momentous occasion, but there’s actually a fairly good reason for it.
Not only are both Xbox and 343 Industries based out of Washington state, but the headquarters of Halo’s original development studio, Bungie, are also located in Washington. Therefore, the Halo series has deep ties with that area of the United States. The news station likely thought that, given the recent release of Halo Infinite, and given how orchestral and triumphant the Halo theme is, it would make for a good background track to round out the end of 2021.
In any case, it’s amazing to see just how much Halo has had on the world at large. Back when Halo: Combat Evolved first launched, plenty of fans probably wouldn’t expect to see Halo circulated outside of the gaming community in any capacity. Nowadays, it’s almost commonplace to see video games being used in various other circumstances.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Halo going forward. It was announced recently that the classic Halo game servers on Xbox 360 will soon be shutting down. While this truly marks the end of an era, it does make sense for the servers to shut down, given how accessible all of the classic Halo games are now via Halo: The Master Chief Collection.


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Berg Insight, the world’s leading M2M/IoT market research provider, today released a new market report covering the connected vending machine market. The global installed base of connected vending machines reached an estimated 1.51 million units in 2015.
The first solutions for including connectivity in vending machines became commercially available more than two decades ago. It has however taken years for the technology to gain the interest of mainstream vending operators. Today, global penetration is still relatively modest and Berg Insight estimates that only around 10 percent of the world’s 17 million vending machines are connected.
The market has however gained momentum in recent years as more and more vending operators have started to deploy cashless payment systems and vending telemetry solutions at a larger scale.
Demand for cashless payments has so far been a main driver for connectivity in vending machines. Vending telemetry is however anticipated to have a more transformational effect on the industry as these solutions enable vending operators to substantially improve their operational efficiency.
North America is estimated to represent around 0.80 million of these machines, whereas the corresponding number for the European market is 0.20 million. The number of connected vending machines in other parts of the world totalled an estimated 0.51 million units at the end of 2015, mainly in Japan and Australia.
Berg Insight forecasts that the number of connected machines worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7 percent to reach 3.6 million units by 2020. As a result, the global penetration rate will reach 20.3 percent at the end of the forecast period. Leading solution providers include Crane, USA Technologies, Cantaloupe Systems and Nayax which all have more than 100,000 connected vending telemetry and cashless payment solutions each.
The connected vending machine market is currently affected by a number of trends that are foreseen to positively impact technology uptake and innovation among the solution vendors.
Rickard Andersson, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight, said:
“The business case for vending telemetry continues to improve in line with technology advancements and decreasing costs of both equipment and connectivity services”.
He adds that cashless payments is similarly a strong driver for adding connectivity in vending machines. Mobile wallet services can enable new opportunities beyond mere payments such as mobile-enabled advertising and marketing programs that can boost customer intimacy. Other recent developments in the unattended vending space include the growing popularity of so-called micro markets.
As micro markets are expected to continue to grow at the expense of traditional vending machines, the vending telemetry and cashless payment solution providers will inevitably face a diminishing addressable market in their primary segment. This development on the other hand presents opportunities for innovative solution providers to also cater to the needs of micro market operations. Front-running players such as Cantaloupe Systems have already embraced this opportunity.
“Other solution providers are expected to follow suit and increasingly serve the promising micro market segment in 2017 and beyond”, concluded Mr. Andersson.


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A top Massachusetts lawmaker Monday confirmed legislators are talking about delaying aspects of the measure to legalize marijuana, a ballot initiative approved by more than 1.7 million voters last month.
Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg said, “We’ve had discussions about delaying some of the dates to give us more time to fine-tune the bill and, in the next few weeks, we have to make final decisions on that.”
Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat who supported legalization, told reporters if lawmakers slow the rollout, “it’s going to be a very time-limited delay.” And, he said, changes to the timing of the measure could happen in informal legislative sessions over the holiday season, which are usually attended by just a few elected officials.
On Thanksgiving, the Globe reported lawmakers were discussing delaying several aspects of the measure, including when residents could legally grow marijuana at home and when retail stores could sell the drug. Until Monday, legislators were mostly mum on that Globe report.
The initiative, which passed 54 to 46 percent, legalizes marijuana for possession, use, and home-growing on Dec. 15 — a week from Thursday. It mandates the state treasurer appoint a three-person Cannabis Control Commission to regulate the new industry by March 2017. And it authorizes retail stores to start selling the drug in January 2018.
But, once the vote is certified, the legalization initiative will be a law like any other. That means the House and Senate can change it through the normal legislative process. However, during informal sessions, a single legislator can thwart the proceedings.
Rosenberg said changes to all the dates in the measure are “on the table.”
But he said there is a “a strong feeling that we ought to be looking at the later dates, rather than the earlier dates.”
Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat who opposed legalization, echoed those comments. But his words did not make clear if he was staking out a position in favor of slowing implementation.
The legislators made the comments after a closed-door meeting with Governor Charlie Baker in which the state’s tight budget appeared to be a major part of the conversation. The fiscal squeeze also came up in the discussion with the press.
Proponents of legalization spotlighted what they framed as the dissonance between difficult fiscal times and delaying implementation of the pot initiative.
“It’s encouraging that these leaders seem to be indicating that there will be no attempt to delay the December 15 possession and home-grow provisions,” said Jim Borghesani, who helped lead the effort to pass Question 4.
But given the state’s difficult financial position, he said, “it seems counterintuitive that they would consider pushing back the post-December 15 timelines and in doing so push back a significant new revenue stream.”
The measure imposes a 3.75 percent tax on marijuana sales, in addition to the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. It also gives towns and cities the authority to add an additional 2 percent tax to local sales.


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beIN Sport to roll out across MENA with Pace
Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport has chosen Pace to deliver home media servers and HD set-top boxes to enable it to roll out its service across the Middle East and North Africa.
BeIN Sport is offering a range of sports to subscribers in the region, recently adding Formula 1 motorsports to its list of rights in the region.
beIN Sport is taking delivery of Pace’s DMS7000NBS home media server, the first deal for this in the region. The device will enable subscribers to watch sports on multiple screens and includes a 1TB hard disk.
Pace will also supply its DZS3000NBS HD set-top to beIN Sport in the region.
beIN Sport already uses Humax set-top boxes to deliver its services in the region.
Roger Hall, managing director of beIN (MENA), said, “Pace’s Home Media Server and HD STB allow us to provide our customers with our latest TV services to every screen within their homes. The Home Media Server gives us a flexible platform to add multiscreen TV applications and services to further cement our position as the leading Pay TV provider in the region.”
Source: digitaltveurope, March 10, 2014.


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The coronavirus pandemic has lit a fire under consumer demand for plant-based meat. With meat processing plants shuttering to avoid spreading the disease, and corresponding price hikes in meat at grocery stores, people are turning to meat alternatives like never before. In fact, Nielsen reported that during the nine-week period ending May 2, sales of plant-based meat in retail increased by 264 percent.
But who exactly are the players making all of this plant-based meat? You're likely familiar with a few of the media darlings, like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. You might also have glimpsed brands from major meat corporations, like Tyson and Hormel, on store shelves. And for years the vegan section of the grocery shelf has housed offerings from plant-based meat veterans, like Tofurky and Field Roast. Odds are, you've even sampled a few for yourself.
But what about the constant stream of innovators bringing their products to market? Companies big and small from around the world are launching plant-based meat products of their own, trying to carve out a piece of the lucrative pie before the market becomes too saturated.
The offerings go far beyond burgers — companies are also creating plant-based seafood and developing next-generation protein ingredients to power these new meat alternatives.
To give you a clearer picture of the playing field, we’ve created a database naming the companies making plant-based meat, fish, and protein ingredients across the globe.
This sortable database includes the following fields: Company Name, Protein Category, Website, Year Founded, Region, City/State or City/Country, Company Summary, Location of Product Availability, Total Funding.
You can apply filters to search the database by keyword and also sort by category such as region, protein type and more.
The Plant-based Meat Innovators and Startups Database is available to Spoon Plus members. You can learn more about Spoon Plus here.
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Mentorship-driven startup accelerator partnership is the first of its kind to target the maritime industry.
The partnership will provide startups a platform from which to disrupt and revolutionise business.
The YSEALI Generation: Startup Weekend Asean programme has kicked off at the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) campus in Cyberjaya.
The Young South-East Asia Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) said that applications are now open for the YSEALI Generation: Startup Weekend, part of its youth engagement programme facilitated by the US Embassy in Malaysia.
The Walt Disney Company announced that it is accepting applications for its second Disney Accelerator programme, powered by Techstars.


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Gayatri Projects share up on bagging new orders
The company's stock closed at Rs 214.55, up 0.85% from its previous closing of Rs 212.7 on the BSE
Shares of Gayatri Projects, ending the losing week-long streak, gained 1% after the company announced that it won two new orders of Rs 923 crore from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The orders include a Rs 529 crore road project on NH-42 (Cuttack- Angul section) in Odisha and Rs 394-crore project on NH-23 (Rajamunda- Barkote section) in the state on EPC mode.
The company's stock closed at Rs 214.55, up 0.85% from its previous closing of Rs 212.7 on the BSE.
The scrip opened at Rs 207.6 and touched a high and low of Rs 216.8 and Rs 207.6, respectively. The stock traded above its 50 DMA.
Gayatri Projects is the flagship company of Gayatri Group. It has interests in infrastructure, power, hospitality, real estate and industry.
The company has evolved from an asset-heavy business model to an asset-light EPC model in road construction.
As of Q2FY18, the company has zero exposure to hybrid annuity model and residual exposure to build operate and transfer projects, an India Infoline report said.
"We, therefore, believe that the company will be able to sustain its operating margin at 15% over FY18-19E. GPL’s debt has reduced by around Rs 20 billion after the demerger of its BOT business post NCLT’s approval. The stock currently trades at 10x FY19E EV/EBITDA," said India Infoline.
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After MobiHealthNews spotted and reported on the departure of two Aetna executives on the CarePass team, Aetna has confirmed exclusively to MobiHealthNews that it will be phasing out the platform, and that the previously announced employer pilots will not be going forward.
“At this time, we have decided to make no further investments in the CarePass platform,” an Aetna spokesperson told MobiHealthNews in an email. “Current CarePass users will continue to have access to the CarePass platform for the time being, but we plan on closing the CarePass web and mobile experiences by the end of this year. In addition, we will not be conducting pilot programs with Aetna plan sponsors that were previously reported.”
In additional comments, the company emphasized the exploratory nature of the platform and stressed that valuable lessons had been learned.
“One of the primary ways that Aetna is improving health care is through the increased use of innovative technology,” the spokesperson wrote. “We are consistently creating technology-based solutions that make it easier for consumers to navigate the health care system and get the most out of their health benefits. While we are continually developing these solutions, we also need to evaluate our investments to ensure that we are providing the most value to our members.” Keep reading>>


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November 12, 2013
Spot market freight availability rose 1.9% in October, to a level that is atypically high for the season, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.
June 17, 2013
Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose 5.6% from April to May. Compared to May 2012, when freight reached an all-time high, freight volume fell 13%.
April 17, 2013
The number of loads on one major spot market has picked up since last week but rates have headed south in two out of three main sectors.
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VeriSign’s (NSDQ: VRSN) effort to capitalize on mobile content through its acquisition of Jamba is officially over. VeriSign tried to keep skin in the game through a JV with News Corp (NYSE: NWS). selling 51 percent in May 2007 for $187.5 million and a merger with Fox Mobile Entertainment. Today, the two companies said VeriSign has sold its remaining 49 percent to News Corp for approximately $200 million, suggesting that the value of the JV, which has struggled with leadership and strategic issues, has been static at best. VeriSign’s sale has been expected for months given the company’s switch to a core focus on internet infrastructure.
VeriSign acquired German mobile content company Jamba in 2004 for $273 million. The acquisition was part of a strategy by former CEO Stratton Sclavos that stretched far beyond infrastructure to mobile entertainment, the real-time web and more. VeriSign spokeswoman Lisa Malloy declined to discuss specifics of the company’s overall financial performance with Jamba but said of the enterprise: “Our involvement in mobile content helped us recognize what we’re good at.” Why not just stay in the JV as a minority? “We’re laser-focused on our three businesses (identity and authentication, SSL and naming).”
Rafat adds: We have been expecting this for a while…with VeriSign wanting to get out and Jamba’s ownership structure, this was the only logical deal at this point. Doesn’t mean News Corp may not turn around and try and sell it at some point, especially since Jamba for all intents and purposes is a European company now, and can be disposed off to a local player there. Jamba has gone through a meteoric rise an fall over the last few years, first zooming into prominence around the Crazy Frog ringtone, and then becoming mired in billing controversies and regulatory issues in multiple countries including its biggest Euro market UK. With the bottom falling out of the ringtone market, so did its fortunes since then.
Disclosure: VeriSign has been a sponsor of mocoNews.net.


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- Kellogg is battling a weakening cereal segment and processed foods industry, but CEO John Bryant remains positive and confident the company can improve.
- Kellogg's stock hasn't been able to keep up with competitors, coming in at a 1.3% increase so far this year compared to 7.4% for other packaged food and meat companies' subindex.
- Some investors and analysts are growing wary of Kellogg's future performance, as some believe that cereal sales will remain pressured by other breakfast options, such as Greek yogurt. They may also not have confidence in much of the rest of Kellogg's processed foods portfolio as more consumers turn toward fresher, healthier, and more natural foods.
While U.S. morning foods sales declined 2.3% last quarter, Bryant argued "that an aging population and a growing interest in cereal as a snack or dessert will strengthen iconic brands like Special K, Frosted Flakes, and Froot Loops," The Wall Street Journal reported.
Bryant said on a recent conference call that "while we definitely have more to do to improve [cereal] performance, we’re confident that we’re focusing our investment on the right drivers of sales growth to continue recent trends."
One recent trend for Kellogg is to adapt to consumer health preferences by pushing its better-for-you cereal brand, Kashi, which Kellogg acquired in 2000, though it's been struggling. Kellogg has also introduced several new products in the health space and retooled some recipes to make them more conducive to the consumer health trend, including removing artificial colors and flavors from its cereals and other products.
However, with 2014 bringing in the lowest net profits in over a decade, it's no surprise investors are getting antsy. Project K is a Kellogg cost-cutting initiative, and already the company has closed several plants, but the bottom line savings haven't been revealed in earnings reports.


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Judge approves sale of Twinkies, snacks may return to shelves summer 2013
Iconic snack cakes could make a comeback
Hostess – The maker of Twinkies announced in November that it will close because of an ongoing labor dispute and softening sales.
Image copyright 2012 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Last Updated: 62 days ago
NEW YORK - A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of Twinkies to a pair of investment firms.
Hostess Brands Inc. is selling the spongy yellow cakes, along with other snacks including Ding Dongs and Ho Hos, to Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co. for $410 million.
Metropoulos, which owns Pabst beer, has said it hopes to have the cakes back on shelves by this summer.
The judge also approved the sale of Wonder and other breads to Flowers Foods, which makes Tastykakes. Flowers will also get Nature's Pride, Butternut, Home Pride and Merita as part of the $360 million deal.
The sale of Beefsteak, a regional bread brand, to Grupo Bimbo for $31.9 million was also approved.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Go-go gadget car!
Sending an email newsletter is an important part of a brand's marketing strategy. Here's a look at one company that's doing it quite well.
Nestlé USA plans to do away with all artificial flavors and colors from its chocolate snacks by the end of 2015, the company announced Tuesday. That means FDA-certified colors, like Red 40 and Yellow 5 will be gone from snacks like Butterfinger, Crun...
Just as you sometimes come across a forgotten $20 bill while unpacking a pair of shorts, you never know what rewards you'll uncover while spring cleaning.
In an interview with Mashable, John Legere says most CEOs would rather hide from their customers in meetings than deal with them in public.


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Arizona-based company GoDaddy used to be associated with advertisements involving women wearing fewer clothes. But when Blake Irving stepped in and became GoDaddy’s CEO, it opened the company’s door to change, per CNBC.
What is GoDaddy?
GoDaddy was established by Bob Parsons, a businessman from Maryland, in 1997 under the name Jomax Technologies. Its name then changed to GoDaddy in 1999. The company is known for its web hosting services and management of internet domain names. Aside from these services, the company is also known for its marketing campaigns and advertisements aired during the Super Bowl, with its first advertisement airing in 2005. In 2013, the company managed to hire Belgian actor and martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme to star in its ads for a shift from its “sexy side.”
Before being hired as the CEO of GoDaddy in 2013, Blake Irving worked at Microsoft for 15 years and became the vice president of Windows Live Platform in his last years in the company. He then was hired as Yahoo’s chief product officer for two years and semi-retired after his term in Yahoo. He used to be a customer of GoDaddy before taking on the CEO position where he hosted 45 domains in 2012.
When Parsons ran GoDaddy, the company made controversial advertisements featuring women often in provocative and sexual clothing and poses. This part of the company’s history made Irving uncomfortable as he stated in his Reddit AMA. And when Irving became the new CEO, he worked on getting rid of such reputation and leading the company to a different path.
Irving first made the company a leading workplace for women in technology. In 2013, he hired Elissa Murphy, Yahoo!’s former vice president of engineering, as the chief technology officer (CTO). Murphy’s hiring is a milestone for GoDaddy as she became the first female CTO in the company’s history. They then established GoDaddy’s women in technology network, per Wired.
Other noteworthy efforts of Irving in promoting women in technology include working as an executive producer on a documentary entitled “Code: Debugging the Gender Gap” and speaking at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, which he considers as his most memorable moment of being GoDaddy’s CEO.
In an interview with E27, Irving said that GoDaddy was considered as a marketing company when he came in. One of his goals for the company as CEO is to create a platform for startups to use. In the process of meeting that goal, he steered the company in a different direction and developed the web builder product where users can acquire domains and build their websites. GoDaddy then established offices in various U.S. cities and opened customer care organizations in different parts of Europe, South Africa, and Asia.
Irving on the Google memo controversy
When asked about the recent controversy of Google involving a memo about the tech firm’s misguided diversity policies, Irving stated that the problem existed for a long time in Silicon Valley. He also said that that the issue of gender diversity in tech is beginning to show itself to the public in a significantly impactful way now that people talking about it more and more these days.
After five years, Irving announced that he will retire as GoDaddy’s CEO at the end of 2017. However, he will still be on the company’s board until June 2018. The company said Tuesday that Scott Wagner, the company’s chief operating officer, will replace Irving as the new CEO.
Following the violent Charlottesville rally earlier this month, GoDaddy and Google dropped Daily Stormer upon hearing that the website posted an article defaming Heather Heyer, a woman who tragically died at the rally. The article used offensive terms like “childless slut” and even called Heyer “fat.”
Daily Stormer founder Andrew Anglin said Anonymous, a hacking group, took over the website. However, a news source for Anonymous in Twitter indicated that the Anglin’s allegation is not confirmed.
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Cyborg GT120 electric motorcycle from Ignitron Motocorp was launched in India on Friday. It is powered by a 4.68kWhr lithium-ion battery and is capable of churning out 6kW of peak power. A single charge is claimed to give the indigenous electric sports bike a range of up to 180km. Cyborg GT 120 is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 40kmph in 2.5 seconds. Unlike the other two Cyborg motorcycles — Cyborg Yoga and Cyborg Bob E — Cyborg GT 120 has a fixed battery due to its size and weight. It will come with three riding modes.
Cyborg GT 120 price in India, availability, colour options
The newly launched Cyborg GT 120’s pricing and booking information is expected to be announced next month. It will be available in two colour options — Black and Purple. The motor, battery, and the vehicle are offered with a 5-year warranty.
Cyborg GT 120 specifications, features
As mentioned, Cyborg GT 120 is powered by a 4.68kWhr lithium-ion battery paired with a brushless DC motor that churns out 6kW of peak power and is capable of reaching a top speed of 125kmph. Being an electric sports bike, it can hit 40kmph from a standstill in 2.5 seconds. Cyborg GT 120 has a range of up to 180km on a single charge. The battery can be fully charged in up to 5 hours using a 15A fast home charger. Furthermore, due to the size and weight, the battery is fixed. The battery is also weather-proof and touch safe.
Cyborg GT 120 features a combi brake system (CBS) with a disk brake at the front and regenerative braking. The electric sports bike also features geo-fencing, geo-location, USB charging, Bluetooth, keyless ignition, and a digital instrument cluster. The cluster houses an LED display that also shows the rider the remaining battery life. The display also has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.
Ignitron Motocorp’s electric sports bike comes with three riding modes — Eco, Normal, and Sports. The bike sports telescopic front forks in the front and a fully adjustable mono-shock at the rear. It is also equipped with a reverse mode and gets parking assist that makes multiple sounds to alert the rider. Cyborg GT 120 measures 2,040x780x260mm, has a wheelbase of 1,240mm, and a ground clearance of 260mm.


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Challenges that plagued the manufacturing industry in 2022 are not showing any signs of slowing down, leaving business leaders with the monumental task of dealing with these issues—or at least their remnants— all while pushing innovation, meeting customer demand, and driving operational growth.
Surely, there will be new trials and tribulations but the beginning of 2023 also welcomes endless opportunities, posing the perfect time for companies to reassess their business operations and set in stone their plan towards running a successful enterprise.
Here are some of the things that could help business leaders in weathering the challenges that the new year has to offer:
Learning to say no to manual processes
A whitepaper published by Global Shop Solutions said manual processes act like “anchors” for businesses, slowing down production times and increasing the chances for error. Transitioning to automation could help businesses in their goal of reducing labour costs, eliminating waste through more efficient inventory processes, reducing turnaround times with CAD, and future-proofing operations through efficient forecast capabilities.
Going paperless on the shop floor
Being able to transform transitional business operations into smart factories entails a long list of traits. This includes capabilities as simple as efficiently and rapidly moving materials and parts throughout the shop floor. Solutions are now capable of enabling operators to have a wealth of information on the shop floor without huge piles of paperwork following materials around.
“You can produce reliable count verifications and updates, run cycle counts in real-time, and make on-the-fly adjustments to part and lot-bin counts – all without printing a single sheet of paper,” Global Shop Solutions said.
Tapping into job cost accounting solutions
According to Global Shop Solutions, business leaders equipped with Job Costing Accounting Software have a huge advantage as they have the power to immediately know the cost breakdown for freight, labour, overhead, outside services, and material.
Aside from being able to view old and new quantities, the software also offers operators a time-lapse view of every part that has passed through the shop floor.
Automating inventory processes
Delivering parts to customers on time should be a no-brainer for modern businesses with the availability of automated inventory processes. An automated system not only allows business leaders to manage inventory in real-time, but it also enables them to make business-critical decisions in a timely manner.
Effectively controlling labour costs
Labour costs are typically one of the biggest items on the P&L, but they are also the hardest to track with precision.
A worker’s time and attendance on the job could be inaccurately recorded or overtime hours could be poorly managed. Automating this aspect of operations will improve the business leaders’ capability to address these workforce issues.


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Search engine giant Google usually buys up companies and does not sell. But in the case of search engine marketing (what is it?), Google is a seller. It has gotten ridden of its search engine marketing business Performics to French advertising group Publicis Groupe. The terms are not disclosed. Chicago-based Performics came to Google when the latter acquired DoubleClick Inc. Google, which owes its existence to generating objective search results, sold Performics since search engine marketing is all about how to “manipulate” search results. It went against Google’s position of maintaining “objectivity” in search engine results.
Launched in 1998, Performics now employs nearly 200 search marketing specialists with employees in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, London, Hamburg, Sydney, Singapore and Beijing.
Performics will part of Publicis Groupe’s VivaKi Nerve Center, a new strategic entity launched by the Groupe last June. VivaKi leverages the collective scale of Digitas, Starcom-MediaVest, Denuo and Zenith-Optimedia to develop new services, tools and partnerships, including new and emerging performance marketing platforms.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.


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Although 2023 has been quite a good year for pig farmers in France, they still joined the massive protest movements of the last few weeks.
They came with their tractors to the blockades of major motorways and even the city of Paris, spread manure and straw at supermarkets, and drove with their massive vehicles through city centers all over the country.
According to Inaporc, the situation in the French pig sector is far from ideal. Not only does the number of pig farmers steadily decrease, there are also less and less abattoirs to slaughter the animals. Pig farmers complain about the ‘disloyal competition’ from their colleagues in other European countries too. Moreover, a number of large French pork producers like Fleury Michon and Cooperl recently reported serious financial and other problems.
Like elsewhere in Europe, the slaughter numbers of pigs and the production of pork and pork products are in decline. In 2023, 21.88 million pigs were slaughtered, 4.8% less than in the previous year, the French agricultural statistics service Agreste reports. In the month of December, the fall increased to 7,8% with 1.78 million animals slaughtered. That December figure was also 6.5 % lower than the average for that month over the years 2018 – 2022. Last year, the French pig price reached a height of € 2.51/kilo (entrée abattoir) but that subsequently went down to € 1.97/kilo in the last month of the year.
Philippe Bizien, the recently appointed new President of Inaporc, is a worried man. “ln 3 years’ time we have lost 10% of the pig holdings in France. That has never happened before. Last year, a record 27 pig companies went into insolvency. At the moment, we still have some 10,000 holdings but 34% of those farmers are 55 years or older. There are hardly any young people entering pig farming. It is increasingly difficult to expand our businesses due to the real guerilla of the anti-livestock movement, while the constant flow of new rules and regulations strangle us as much as all the other farmers.”
For French pork producers, things do not seem to be rosy either. Market leader Fleury Michon reported over the first half of 2023 a net profit of € 1.2 million on a turnover of € 422.3 million, a margin of a meagre 0.2%. Volumes in France declined slightly, although the company could maintain its market share.
Cooperl, the Brittany based largest pork cooperative with over 3.000 members and a turnover of € 2.79 billion (2022), last September reported problems in its transformation business. “The company has been confronted with strong inflation pressure which cannot be recuperated fully because of the economic restrictions of the costs of living,” it said in an announcement. Cooperl announced a restructuring plan with the possible closure of 2 of its plants this year. A painful detail: Cooperl bought those 2 factories only in 2017 from then insolvent Turenne-Lafayette.
Inaporc stresses that pork is the only kind of meat where France still is self-sufficient. In order to maintain that position, the organisation, in a response to the recent protest movement, published a manifest about its demands. The main action points are:
“Fighting the undermining of standards, a battle that is indispensable to avoid a further loss of our competition power compared to other European countries;
a better regulation of the labelling of meat products; higher tax reliefs for the transfer of farms or other agricultural assets;
a law to avoid that neighbours of farms abuse their right to object to an expansion of a pig holding;
recognising farming as a profession under stress, in order to make it easier to attract workers.”
Inaporc says ‘it will wait eagerly so see if and when those demands will be met, implying that the tractors will be kept ready in case they will be needed again. “The main problems of the sector are a simplification of rules and procedures to make doing business easier and enable us to modernize and enlarge our farms. That also is urgent because of the increasing attention in society for animal welfare and environmental issues. Later this year, we will publish the engagements of the sector and our members for all the roads towards durability in 2035.”


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Even as General Motors scrambles to get its house in order, its marketing efforts continue apace. But the troubled automaker -- and Chrysler as well -- should rethink current tactics.
GM is spending millions to assure consumers that it's still here by pushing its "Total Confidence" package, its version of Hyundai's Assurance program. While it is smart marketing to continue spending during the worst of times, GM needs to consider its priorities.
Right now, the priorities for it and Chrysler are to move cars out of the showroom and to get money in the bank. Ads for assurance programs may seem soothing and may even increase foot traffic to some degree, but they strike us as pointless and the consumer as completely out of touch with reality. For instance, how can Saturn promise to make your car payments for up to four months when the brand itself is slated for disposal?
Consumers watch the news. They know that Chrysler is declaring bankruptcy and GM is on the brink. They know both companies are laying off huge numbers of employees, temporarily shutting down factories and relying on the government to make it through. So however well those ads may be executed -- the Saturn spot in particular seems well-crafted and brand-appropriate -- they ring false.
The customer isn't stupid. And he or she is in a pinch as well. So why not advertise, in plain English, that customers can now get the deal of a lifetime on a vehicle? Don't hide it behind messages about financing or ridiculous phrases such as "employee-pricing" discounts. And don't put it all on the dealers.
This may go against branding principles that say you don't undercut the brand image, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Both companies can still get in messaging about quality, and both will have to figure out a way to assure the consumer that they'll be there -- not to pay the bills, but to fix the car and honor the warranty. Perhaps promise that now the vehicles are guaranteed by Uncle Sam, the newly invigorated car companies will actually be in better shape to be around for the long haul.
Do that, and adjust prices accordingly, and it's likely Americans -- who are always on the lookout for a deal -- will start driving out of the showrooms rather than walking out.


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If you’re having a hard time waking up your kids in the morning because of their habit of playing Minecraft all night long, then your mornings are about to change, as Kellogg’s is set to launch a new cereal based on the popular video game.
Called Kellogg’s Minecraft Creeper Crunch, this breakfast treat is a tasty, cinnamon-flavored cereal featuring green square-shaped marshmallows inspired by the game’s Creepers. For those who do not play Minecraft, Creepers are green, deadly hostile mobs that silently approach players and explode shortly after coming within three blocks of their targets. Due to their distinctive appearance and a high potential for killing unwary players, Creepers have become one of the notorious icons of the game.
If your kids aren’t fans of cinnamon-flavored cereals, it’s very likely that they will still give it a try, as each box comes with a code that unlocks special game clothing, which allows Minecraft players to customize their character’s appearance with cloaks, jackets, and more. These pieces of game clothing are typically available for purchase via the game, but these codes make them free for the gamers. There’s a total of ten game clothing items to collect via the codes.
Kellogg’s Minecraft Creeper Crunch cereal will be hitting retail stores across the country starting in August. It will be available in an 8-ounce box for $3.99 and a 12.7-ounce box for $5.69.
This isn’t the first time Kellogg’s will be releasing a cereal inspired by a video game. Back in 2000, Kellogg’s memorably partnered with Nintendo for a cereal based on the Pokemon video game. The said cereal consisted of sweetened oat rings and yellow, blue, pink, and green colored marshmallows shaped like Pikachu, Ditto, Oddish, and Poliwhirl.


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A veritable spider’s web of scams was rolled into one in an attempt to get cash from consumers seeing to lose weight. The number of things associated with a scam shut down by the FTC started with false advertising claims made on a fake news site.
The ultimate goal was to sell acai berry products which could not live up to the claims made about them.
It started with LeadClick Media, a subsidiary of CoreLogic, which used its news sites as a venue to run false claims about the products placed by affiliated marketing firms.
The false ads directed consumers to the online store of LeanSpa, which sold the products which were said to have colon cleansing and weight loss properties.
Customers were lured into a “free trial” that kicked off a $79.99 a month payment that the company made extremely difficult to terminate.
“This ruling is good news because it takes ill-gotten gains out of the hands of companies who knew they were promoting a scam and gives them back to the consumers who lost millions of dollars,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “It also makes clear that a parent company cannot retain ill-gotten gains of its subsidiaries.”
LeadClick is ordered to return $12M in ill-gotten gains, and CoreLogic is on tap for $4M.
In a proceeding, the FTC stated, “…the court held that the fake news sites developed by LeadClick’s affiliates deceived consumers by using real news organization names and logos along with purported testimonials from users of LeanSpa’s products. In finding LeadClick responsible for the deceptive content on its affiliates’ websites, the court noted that LeadClick recruited the affiliates, had the power to approve or reject their marketing websites, paid the affiliates, purchased advertising space for them, and gave them feedback about the content of their sites. The court also rejected LeadClick’s claim that it was immune from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, because it was responsible in part for the fake news sites promoting LeanSpa’s products.”


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NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue outlined his plan last month at a meeting of team owners in Orlando. The NFL confirmed the decision, and confirmed that Mr. Tagliabue told the owners in the closed-door meeting: "I'm the commissioner of football, not the commissioner of music."
John Collins, the league's senior VP-marketing and sales, said the Jackson incident clearly prompted the change. "There's fallout, and there should be fallout," he said. "But we think we can come up with a better model for Kickoff Live."
Kickoff Live was created as a marketing platform to draw attention to the league's opening weekend. Instead of beginning the season on a traditional Sunday with multiple games, the league in 2002 moved one game to a Thursday night slot on national TV. The game was preceded by a live televised concert-Bon Jovi in New York City's Times Square in 2002, Britney Spears on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., last year.
Not only did the league tout Kickoff Live as one of its most successful marketing ventures, it also used it to benefit sponsors. Last year, PepsiCo introduced its newest flavor and made Pepsi Vanilla the presenting sponsor of the one-hour concert. Ford Motor Co. used the game to launch a $100 million campaign for the 2004 F-150 truck.
The league will still have a Thursday night season opener preceded by Kickoff Live on Walt Disney Co.'s ABC. Mr. Collins said the pregame special would now be related to the game. Prior to the decision, the league was considering Chicago's Solider Field for the game and nearby Grant Park as a venue for the concert.
But Kickoff Live 2004 in September will not include a concert, and it remains to be seen whether that brings the same interest from the league's marketing partners.
"I'm torn," said an executive from one of the NFL's corporate sponsors. "On one hand, I don't know what the NFL could come up with that would be as popular as the concert portion and be as valuable to a presenting sponsor. On the other hand, this is the NFL we're talking about and it's the most popular sport in the country. So you know people are going to tune in."
The NFL is in contact with event marketing agencies including Interpublic Group of Cos.' Jack Morton Worldwide to help it plan the Kickoff Live show as well as next year's Super Bowl halftime. Jack Morton is producing the opening and closing ceremonies for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.
"Jack Morton is just one of several production companies that we've reached out to and are gathering ideas from," Mr. Collins said. Asked if the company would produce next year's Super Bowl halftime show, Mr. Collins said, "Jack Morton has not been hired to essentially produce our Kickoff Live or Super Bowl halftime show. We've worked with some talented people in the past and have quite a few resources we can call on."


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Update, 5/13: Some Instagram users have started noticing non-chronological posts on their newsfeeds, but the app assures that those changes are a part of a test run for the new algorithm, which hasn't officially taken over yet. "We are still just testing algorithmic feed, and haven't yet rolled it out broadly," an Instagram rep told Seventeen.
Twitter has been LIT ever since Instagram launched the redesign of its classic analog camera icon. Users have been making fun of it, comparing its new rainbow gradient icon to things like Lisa Frank and PowerPoint presentations. But it appears the icon makeover and its new black-and-white app design came with another change users are just starting to notice—THAT major change, actually: the new algorithm that will order pics in your feed by "importance" instead of in chronological order.
Now that the shock and awe of the icon has died down, people are freaking out on Twitter about their feeds being out of whack.
Other users pointed out that the Instaverse had been duped and this whole "logo change" was just a cover for the algorithm change.
There's no word on whether the new algorithm has officially rolled out or if it's just being tested. All I know is MY app is updated on Android and the feed is still in chronological order.
Regardless, Twitter is NOT impressed. May the next Insta update come with an option to opt out of Insta's "new and improved" feed.


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Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia: Which cloud gaming service is best?
Amazon’s September hardware event didn’t just deliver all the big Echo, Fire TV and Ring updates we had hoped for this year. It also marked the announcement of Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service. But, how does Luna compare to Google’s Stadia streaming service?
Google Stadia launched last November, offering a gaming option for anyone hesitant about forking over hundreds of pounds on a console. There’s a lot to like about Stadia, from it’s portable, hardware-free setup to support for 4K streaming. However, while cloud gaming might be the future, we still felt the service lagged behind established competitors like PlayStation and Xbox.
Now, all eyes are on Amazon to provide a cloud streaming service that can compete with Stadia and consoles alike. Luna certainly isn’t Amazon’s first rodeo when it comes to cloud services or streaming sites, but cloud gaming is new territory for the tech giant. We haven’t had the opportunity to try Luna just yet, but Amazon has revealed plenty of information to compare with its Google rival.
It’s Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia. Read on to find out which cloud streaming service we think will be best.
Read our review of Google Stadia
Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia prices – How much do they cost?
As streaming services, Amazon Luna and Google Stadia are more affordable in the short term than splashing out on expensive hardware.
Stadia Pro is priced at £8.99 a month and comes with a one month free trial. This includes access to the platform, 4K HDR resolution, 5.1 surround sound, discounts and a number of free games added every month. Google also offers a free version of Stadia, but you’re limited to 1080p at 60fps and will have to pay for any games you want to run on the platform, which then can’t be transferred to other platforms.
Luna+ will be available at an introductory offer of $5.99 a month. Amazon has yet to announce UK pricing and early access is only available in the US right now, but that works out at around £4.63 a month. This price is set for early access only, so we expect it could go up later in Luna’s lifetime. Like Stadia Pro, Luna+ includes access to free games and 4K streaming at 60fps. It isn’t clear yet whether Amazon will offer a free subscription tier as Google does.
Both cloud gaming services also offer hardware. The Stadia Premiere Edition package includes access to Stadia Pro, a Google Chromecast Ultra to stream games to your TV and a Stadia Controller. Stadia Premiere Edition is priced at £89.99, or you can get just the controller for £59.
Amazon’s Luna controller is available for $49.99 – or around £38.62 – during the early access period. It is Alexa-enabled and uses Cloud Direct technology (as opposed to Bluetooth) to reduce latency.
Amazon is the more affordable option right now in the US, but we’ll have to see how the two compare once the early access period is over and UK prices are revealed.
Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia release dates – When will they launch?
Google Stadia launched in the UK on November 19 last year.
Gamers in the US can request an invite to Luna’s early access programme right now. There is currently no word on when Amazon Luna will be available in the UK.
Related: Amazon Luna
Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia games – What can you play?
One of the biggest advantages of cloud gaming is that there’s no need to download or update any of your games, meaning you can jump in with no waiting necessary.
There are over 80 games available on Stadia right now, including Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Hitman, Doom and Final Fantasy XV, to name just a few. You can browse these and 25 more games coming to Stadia on the Google Store. Subscribing to Stadia Pro will give you a free game every month but, otherwise, you’ll find yourself paying for every individual game you wish to add to your library.
Luna+ early access will include games like Resident Evil 7, Control, Panzer Dragoon, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Surge 2, Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair, Iconoclasts, GRID, ABZU and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. This is a pretty limited list, compared with both Stadia’s current 80 games, but Amazon does intend to add more titles over time.
Amazon will also be launching a gaming channel with publisher Ubisoft, giving subscribers access to the likes of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6 and Immortals Fenyx Rising in 4K resolution (where available) the day they come out. It isn’t yet clear whether this channel will cost more than a regular Luna+ subscription.
Stadia offers the better selection of games right now with significantly more titles to choose from, but we expect both libraries to expand over time.
Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia devices – What devices are they compatible with?
Google Stadia can be played on a TV via Chromecast Ultra, on a computer, laptop or tablet via the Google Chrome browser and on your smartphone via the Stadia app. This makes the service incredibly versatile and allows players to move from device to device with a five minute changeover time and no need to save their progress.
Luna will be available on Fire TV, PC and Mac, as well as iPhone, iPad and Android via web apps. The Amazon streaming service will also allow gamers to begin playing on one device and pick up where they left off on the next. Because the Luna controller connects directly to cloud servers, you’ll even be able to switch your controller from device to device without repairing or making configuration changes. Luna will also allow users to access Twitch streams from Luna, and Luna games from Amazon-owned Twitch.
Both cloud gaming services offer TV, computer and smartphone support and allow players to switch between them near-seamlessly. Stadia suffered a number of blips at launch, but appears since to have sorted out its platform across devices. We have yet to see Luna in action so it’s difficult to crown it the winner just yet.
Related: Best game console
Amazon Luna vs Google Stadia – Early verdict
It isn’t easy to pick a winner, having not gotten the chance to test Luna out for ourselves yet.
At a glance, it looks to be a draw. Luna has the latency-reducing Cloud Direct technology and a more affordable subscription plan on its side, but Amazon’s subscription plan could become more expensive following its early access programme. Stadia, on the other hand, got off to a shaky start but has since fixed many of its issues and has a growing library of games available.
We’re excited to get our hands on Luna and find out for sure whether Amazon’s cloud gaming service can compete with Stadia or if Google is already ahead of the game. There’s also Xbox Games Pass to consider, which not only allows for cloud streaming but also provides access to a number of games at no extra charge outside of the monthly subscription cost.


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Which CEOs are making the most in financial services? King of the Comp was Frank J. Bisignano, the CEO of First Data, who pulled in nearly $52 million of total compensation last year, a whopping 454% year-over-year increase, according to new data from Equilar provided to The New York Times*.Read More
Post Tagged with: "CEO"
2015 has been a busy year in fintech. New mobile payments methods appeared on our phones; investing became easier and cheaper for millennials (who may finally have money to invest); Square went public; money continued to pour into fintech startups; and every other word we have heard is “blockchain.” But, in retrospect,Read More


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Why money no longer motivates me – Etinosa Idemudia
October 14, 2022
Controversial Nollywood actress, Etinosa Idemudia, has revealed why the thought of making money no longer motivates her.
In an Instagram post, the mother of one said she used to see money as a motivation until she became rich.
However, although she once found inspiration in money, she no longer finds it motivating now because according to her, she has already made too much of it.
She went ahead to question all her colleagues, demanding to know what drives them apart from money.
“When i had no money, money was a motivation . Now that i have money danu, suddenly, money no longermotivates me. My fellow billionaires, what motivates you?”


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You might soon see ads on Philadelphia city buildings and trash trucks. City council has approved the idea in the name of bringing in new revenue.
The bill’s architect, Council President Darrell Clarke, says selling ads is better than raising taxes again.
“The opportunities are limitless I just want to see us move ahead get the contract done and bring in some much needed revenue,” said Clarke.
How much revenue does Clarke think the advertising will generate for the city? He compares it to SEPTA which has put ads on everything from the sides of buses to monthly passes to the front of its headquarters.
“The reality is they’ve done $21 million in the past fiscal year, so I would like to think we would be near that number but you won’t know until you do a contract,” he said.
Mayor Nutter still has to decide whether to sign the bill before any advertising could be sold.


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The corner of Motor Avenue and National Boulevard is one of those Los Angeles intersections with a lot of rules -- a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser often parked nearby ready to enforce them.
When local merchants see the LAPD in waiting these days, though, they run out to the sidewalk holding up a four-foot sign that warns "NO TURN! WILL GET TICKET." The stores along the street also hand out postcards bearing the phone numbers and email addresses of city officials, tacitly encouraging drivers to complain about the restrictive traffic rules.
One computer-repair store even offers a free hour of labor -- calling it "justice credit" -- to any angry customer who arrives with a citation in hand. In the last five years, the store has given the credit to about 60 customers.
The intersection has become a bitter battleground over so-called traffic calming measures, which have been deployed all across the city in an attempt to reduce cut-through traffic in residential areas. Among other things, the city has restricted turns, installed traffic islands, and added stop signs and speed humps.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 4 News Desk 1 inches; 27 words Type of Material: Correction
Palms intersection: An article in the Aug. 14 Section A about controversial traffic calming measures in Palms included a map that mislabeled Overland Avenue as Sepulveda Boulevard.
Traffic has fallen in some neighborhoods because of the measures, but the changes have also drawn complaints from nearby residents who believe the attempt to "calm" traffic has just moved the problem into their neighborhoods.
The turning restrictions at Motor and National were designed to reduce the number of cars cutting through Cheviot Hills, a community of million-dollar homes between the 10 Freeway and Century City
For three hours during morning rush, drivers going east or west on National are not allowed to turn north onto Motor, a main route into Century City. Merchants and some residents in less affluent Palms say they are paying the price -- in traffic tickets and lost business because the rules make it difficult for customers to come to their stores.
From Jan. 1 to April 12, police handed out about 200 tickets for illegal turns at the intersection, according to the LAPD data. Two mornings during that period saw about 40 drivers ticketed -- about 20 each day. Tickets for such violations run about $238, a Los Angeles County Superior Court spokeswoman said.
Adam Collis is still fuming over a ticket he got last year when he turned onto Motor. Collis frequents the businesses there and said he's grateful the merchants are now trying to warn drivers with their signs.
"Oh, man, let me tell you," Collis said outside C&M Cafe. "I saw the guys with the signs, and if I didn't have three kids and have to make a living, I would go out there with them just to stick it to the really wrong-thinking individuals who have created this mess."
The warning campaign was hatched about two years ago by the local street-improvement association after complaints from irate customers who got tickets while trying to get to local stores and from the business owners who feared a loss of customers.
On a recent morning, community activist Lee Wallach stood at the intersection counting the drivers making illegal turns. As it happened, no police cars showed up.
"This guy's going -- he just made that right" turn, Wallach said, surveying the commuters. "There's another one. And there's another one. All these folks would be getting tickets right now."
Wallach is one of the "first responders" who get the word out when they see a police car lurking.
He and his associates believe they're saving drivers countless tickets.
As Wallach counted cars, another concerned business owner, P&C Auto Body owner Peter Neptune,looked on, his arms folded over his mechanic's vest. Just then, a customer made an illegal turn into the body shop's driveway.
"That's what I'm depending on," Neptune says, chuckling. "Human beings -- I don't care how many signs they put in, they're not going to obey this stuff."
The business owners say police come at random -- sometimes several times a week, sometimes less than once a month. Some customers who get tickets end up canceling appointments they had with the merchants. Others have stormed through the doors, ready to blame their ticket on the business and its location.
"They get caught by cops, and that's it," said Ali Ayati, a partner at Printex. "That's the end of their business with us."
Motor Avenue connects Fox Studios in Century City with Sony Studios in Culver City. It got its name decades ago because people could "motor" easily between the two (at the time, the Sony lot was owned by MGM). Between Palms and Century City, Motor is lined with stately homes in Cheviot Hills. As traffic worsened over time, Cheviot Hills residents demanded that L.A. take action.


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"The Elders Scrolls 6" recent updates revealed of the creators desire to hire someone to join the team. It appears that Bethesda is searching for a character artist to fill in the hole to work with the developments regarding game franchise.
Although the release date of "The Elders Scrolls 6" remains uncertain, the gamers are hoping for the hiatus to end sooner than anticipated. Neurogadget reports, "Neither The Elder Scrolls 6, nor the Skyrim 2 will get a release soon. He was even surprised to hear that there are fans already waiting another Elder Scrolls, since their team is currently working on Fallout 4. And it wouldn't be such a time-consuming process, if it wouldn't involve the entire team working at the studio."
The developers are known for their preference and their efforts not to split the teams, and so, the gamers be seeing an update to the ES 6, but only by 2017 and since Bethesda have been known to follow an intricate timeline, the new "Elder Scrolls" might appear by 2019, according to the same post.
On a different note, Bethesda's job listing has sparked much interest since the gaming firm has been noted to be searching for a character artist to help in the development of its projects. Since "Fallout 4" is out, it is clear that the direction of the developers would be on the updating the DLC packs for "The Elders Scroll 6."
Jobs & Hire formerly reported that "The Elders Scroll 6" has been on prolonged hiatus for such a time and it is just about right that a new update be made for the game. As Bethesda hires new artist to fill in the hole, the expectations of the gamers rises even more for the release of "The Elders Scroll 6."


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Business News›payu lazycard launch
PAYU LAZYCARD LAUNCH
Fintech startup Uni temporarily stops servicing existing card users
This comes after the company had stopped issuing new cards in June, after Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) communication to industry stakeholders, which barred the loading of prepaid payment instruments (PPis) through credit lines.
LazyPay stops buy-now-pay-later payment product amid PPI concerns
LazyPlus UPI had stopped onboarding new users last year as banking partners pulled out of the arrangement.
PayU’s new product suite gives small businesses easier access to credit
PayU's priority settlement feature allows merchants to choose between receiving funds in scheduled settlement cycles every 15 minutes, hourly or in three daily batches.
Edtech firms join forces to set rules; Tata’s new financial marketplace
India’s top edtech firms are joining forces to implement a self-regulatory code on how they do business in the country. Tata Digital has set up a fintech arm to compete better with Amazon and Reliance.
PayU's LazyPay launches credit product 'LazyCard' amid growing competition in BNPL space
PayU’s ‘buy now pay later’ (BNPL) solution, LazyPay has partnered with SBM Bank India for the prepaid instrument, as the company looks to up the ante against card-based BNPL providers Uni and Slice, among others.
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Exclusive Networks Middle East, the value-added services and technologies distributor, has announced Gigamon as the latest vendor to be added …
A Paris court has recently ruled that Google is not liable to pay the $1.3 billion in back taxes demanded by the French authorities.
HID Global has acquired Arjo Systems SAS, a provider of physical and digital identity solutions for secure government ID applications.
The Smart Dubai Office has announced results of the first Blockchain Challenge, which awarded a grand total of $45,000 to the most promising solutions using blockchain technology.
Paris Saint-Germain and Ericsson have announced their official partnership, focused on building the new digital experience of the Parisian football club.
Plussh has announced that it will be launching its Plussh Pro live video application during its participation at the upcoming GITEX Technology Week 2016.
SYSTRAN, a company specialising in language translation solutions and products, will showcase its Enterprise Server Version 8 at GITEX 2015.
Xilopix has announced that its Xilopix Media Manager solution will officially launch in the MEASA region at this year’s GITEX Technology Week, which will be held, as always, at Dubai World Trade Centre.
New research commissioned by civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch has revealed that over three quarters of consumers globally are concerned about their privacy online.


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See Oprah in all her HD goodness !
DISH Network recently announced that OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, which the company introduced earlier this year in standard definition, will be available beginning this today (03/03/11) in high definition on Ch. 189 to DISH Network customers who subscribe to the America’s Top 200 programming package or above.
“As the nation’s leader in HD channels, DISH Network is proud to be the first to offer OWN – one of the most anticipated channels launched this year – nationwide in crystal clear high definition,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. “What’s more, DISH Network is the only TV company that gives our customers free HD programming for life, meaning that Oprah fans won’t pay a penny more for the high definition broadcast of the channel that entertains, informs and inspires viewers to live their best lives.”
“We are thrilled that DISH Network is making OWN available in HD,” said Allan Singer, EVP, distribution & strategy, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. “Many viewers have contacted us eager to watch OWN in HD, and now with the help of DISH Network, we are able to fulfill their request and continue serving our audience.”
For more information on OWN programming check out www.oprah.com/own.


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AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to millions of articles from top publications available through your library.
Byline: David Robinson
Sep. 18--Moog Inc.'s stock sale was a big hit.
The Elma aerospace company was able to raise an extra $9.5 million by selling more shares than initially planned, bringing its total proceeds from the secondary offering to $72.5 million, the firm said Wednesday.
Moog, which will use the proceeds to pay for part of its $169 million acquisition of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Poly-Scientific division, originally had expected to raise $63 million by selling 1.75 million shares of its Class A common stock.
But because demand was strong enough, the company was also able to sell an extra 262,500 shares, boosting Moog's proceeds …


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BTC Markets granted AFSL
Melbourne-based blockchain firm BTC Markets has announced that it has been issued with an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), through its sister company BTCM Payments.
The firm said it had made it the first crypto exchange in Australia which had managed to successfully gone through nearly 18 months full application process.
Under the new license, which currently focuses on non-cash payment products and general advice, BTCM Markets has been appointed an authorised representative (AR).
The firm also said it believed that obtaining the AFS licence would enable it to “further bridge the crypto and traditional financial gap”.
BT Markets’ chief executive, Caroline Bowler, added that owning its own AFSL had been always the priority over buying an existing AFS licence from another licence holder.
“We are now the masters of our own destiny – we have a clean slate and full control over the AFSL. It also readies our organisation for impending Australian regulation which we will welcome in due course. Our AFSL will sit alongside our ISO certification and work for SOC 2 compliance,” she noted.
“From BTC Markets’ point of view, it’s about understanding the needs of our Australian consumers seeking to access crypto safely and securely. From an industry perspective, we’re seeking to demonstrate how crypto can sit alongside traditional finance to seamlessly work together in a financially inclusive future.”


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Facebook Helps Find Wynsors TV Winner
Busy mum of 3, Kirsty Murch, our latest competition winner, was blissfully unaware of her good fortune as she had not seen the e-mail saying she was the proud owner of a brand new 42” plasma TV. Undaunted the Wynsors web team used the power of social media, in the form of our Facebook followers and posted a message on the Wynsors Facebook page to see if we could get in touch with her that way. And thanks to Facebook follower Tracey Rollings it worked.
When she came in to collect her prize top Coronation Street aficionado Kirsty said “When you enter competitions you never think it will be you so, as I hardly use the computer, I never thought to check my e-mails!” and that is how it could have stayed but for the message from Wynsors on Facebook for Kirsty to get in touch. It was picked up by Tracey Rollings, one of our fans, who then found a profile for someone with the same name from the Halifax area which turned out to be the Kirsty we were looking for.
Kirsty was presented with her prize at our Halifax shop by Store Manager Isabel Greenwood. While having her photo taken Kirsty said “I’d like to say thanks to Tracey and to Wynsors and I’ll definitely be buying a Lottery ticket this weekend to see if my good luck continues!” We are sure her husband and kids will be hoping it does. Good luck with the Lottery Kirsty, and enjoy your new TV.


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In last year and most probably this year as well the most important topic of discussion among investors and the business community is about the central banks' actions that are being introduced to fight inflation. But the real topic of discussion should be how are the governments' actions impacting the energy supplies of the world because this will give clarity on inflation and the central banks' actions in future.
Looking at Europe this might bring more clarity. Currently, Europe is aggressively trying to find an alternative supply for oil and other related products as Russia gets fully removed from the post-introduction of a price cap on petroleum products from February 2023. Even if they can get alternative supplies the cost at which can source makes inflation and economic sustainability a big problem. This has already led BASF one of the world’s largest chemical companies to permanently downsize operations in its home country Germany and shift them to China.
Why China ? One might ask but the simple reason is the energy supply is more than demand even at the current stage. This comes along with another benefit that it buys a steeply discounted supply from Russia, Iran and Venezuela which are heavily sanctioned countries. Recently it has announced a cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia in various areas especially oil and related products.
Within this trend, even India emerges as a beneficiary but to a limited extent as it only gets a discount from Russia. But such a trend not only provides a strategic shift of the countries individually but also decides the future of the global economy as the energy supply policy dominates the real-world outcomes.


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Can’t wait to walk through the doors of Oregon’s first Cabela’s when it opens tomorrow?
Go for a stroll with the Eugene Register-Guard.
Here’s a link to their story on the 58,000-square-foot shop.
The grand opening is May 5 at 4 p.m. A crowd is expected and, reports a local TV station, there will be traffic rerouting for folks to get to the location in Gateway Mall.
It’s the second of two new fishing and hunting outlets opened in recent weeks. Fisherman’s Marine opened a third location in Tigard on April 4.


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Milavitsa sales up in Ukraine, down in Russia
…is its third-largest market, at 55.9% and 4.1% of sales, respectively, as of 2017. Belarus is second with 28.9%. As of the end of 2017, Silvano Fashion Group had 412 Milavitsa stores in Russia, including 36 company-owned and 376 franchised units, and 50 franchise outlets in Ukraine.
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Oct 3, 2017
Tesco fraud trial hears two staff quit over their concerns
The trial into alleged fraud at Tesco has heard that two members of its finance department resigned in 2014 over concerns they may be compromising their professional integrity. Tesco's former finance head, managing director and food commercial boss deny charges of fraud by abuse of position and false accounting. Problems with Tesco's accounts came to light in a regulatory announcement in September 2014, when Tesco shocked the market in admitting it had overstated profits by around £250m. Tesco has said it had incorrectly booked payments from its suppliers and has paid £85m in compensation to investors who lost out when the share price fell in the wake of the accounting revelations. She told the court that the situation had left some staff "In tears", and afraid they would compromise their professional integrity if they continued to work at Tesco. Jurors also heard that former Tesco accountant Aysen Nadiri quit her role on August 26 2014.
Make a complaint about Tesco by viewing their customer service contacts.


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Office Sector Sees Asking Rents, Vacancies Rise
Econ 101 teaches that prices should drop as supply increases. But when it comes to 2020, little if anything can be understood as normal. The office sector, according to a 3Q2020 report from Cushman & Wakefield, saw asking rents increase while vacancies also increased as the U.S. settled into its months-long fight against COVID-19.
The national vacancy rate hit 14.4 percent in 3Q2020, the highest level since 3Q2014. Meanwhile, net absorption was -41.3 million sf, an increase from -23 million sf in 2Q2020 and the largest decline in occupancy in the 25 years since Cushman & Wakefield began collecting data. Despite these troublesome data points, asking rents increased to $34.64 per sf in 3Q2020, an increase of 1.9 percent from the previous quarter. While counterintuitive, this increase is a sign that landlords are maintaining or increasing asking rents despite the difficult market conditions.
Cannabis Proves Popular Candidate in 2020 Election
One of the biggest winners of the 2020 election may have flown under your radar: cannabis. South Dakota, Montana, New Jersey, and Arizona all voted to legalize the use and/or sale of recreational cannabis. At the start of 2021, 15 states and Washington, D.C., have fully legalized marijuana.
Though the national trend continues toward increased cannabis production and sale, local markets can take time to establish themselves, with challenges ranging from identifying and acquiring viable real estate to passing regulations and dealing with licensing issues.
But cannabis is a growing niche in land real estate. In November, Subversive Real Estate Acquisition REIT became the second publicly traded cannabis REIT, after California's Innovative Industrial Properties.
Grocers' Growth Could Plateau in Next Decade
COVID-19 has split the retail market in (at least) two sectors, with grocers, convenience stores, and pharmacies doing well, while clothing stores and restaurants are among the businesses struggling to stay afloat. But gains made by grocers may face decreasing demand as consumer behavior reacts to economic reopening of businesses in 2021, according to a November 2020 report from Bain & Company.
Sales in 2020 at grocery stores in the U.S. jumped by 10 percent, though analysts expect steady revenues in 2021 with moderate forecasts ranging from 1 percent increase to 3 percent decline. The Bain team suggests grocers who act to capture and maintain market share will be best positioned for success in the coming decade, emphasizing improvements in e-commerce, supply chain efficiencies, and improved customer in-store experiences.
Lodging CMBS Delinquencies Decline After Painful Summer
The good news is that the delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities continued to decline in August after hitting a peak in June. The bad news? It remained at 22.96 percent — a level that was inconceivable in February 2020, when it was just 1.6 percent before the coronavirus thrashed the hospitality sector. According to Trepp, the overall delinquency rate dipped to 9.02 percent in August after reaching a peak of 10.32 percent in June.
Lodging remains the sector with the largest portion of its CMBS loans in delinquency, with retail as the second-most troubled market at 14.88 percent delinquency. Analysts suspect a bump in delinquency rates across market types could be in the future, considering dwindling federal relief and increasing COVID-19 rates across the country, but any increases in troublesome loans should be relatively modest compared to rates at the beginning of the pandemic.
Multifamily Absorption Rebounds After 1st COVID Wave
When the U.S. faced shelter-in-place orders across the country in the first half of 2020, apartment absorption plummeted. But the multifamily sector rebounded in July and August, with 50,000 units absorbed — nearly as many units as in the first half of the year, according to Yardi Matrix's study of 17 million apartment units in its database. As areas began to reopen after the initial shutdown, pent-up demand helped many metro areas rebound.
Cities in the Sunbelt and West saw solid absorption numbers, including Dallas (4,000), Denver (3,600), Atlanta (3,000), and Phoenix (2,100). Gateway metros struggled, with New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco accounting for a net absorption of -4,300 units. These urban centers are continuing to see many residents exit the market as office, retail, entertainment, and hospitality properties remain closed or limited in operation.
Younger Generations More Open to Work-Shop-Play Living Spaces
Big-box retail outlets were in trouble before 2020 brought along a once-in-a-century economic disruption. The problem, according to Shopping Center Business, isn't that retail is overbuilt; it's that it's “under demolished.” Potential replacements for large retail properties include mixed-use developments with hotel, office, residential, and medical uses.
Shopping Center Business found that younger people are more amenable to living in such all-in-one communities. Just 71 percent of people 55 years and older would consider such a development, compared to 80 percent of individuals from 39 to 54 years old and 85 percent of people between 21 and 38 years old. While mixed-use and adaptive reuse projects will continue to be hot topics in 2021, these properties appear to appeal to many younger consumers.
Cold Storage May Prove Crucial in COVID Vaccine
The U.S. boasts nearly 250 million sf of cold storage inventory, according to JLL, roughly 1.8 percent of all U.S. industrial space. Vacancies have been below 10 percent for decades, but look for demand to increase. With pharmaceutical companies working on hundreds of potential COVID-19 vaccines, cold storage could be a vital link in bringing doses to millions of Americans. Increased demand for last-mile delivery and growing supply has positioned the sector for success, with some locations capable of fulfilling vaccine-related needs.
“The vaccine is vital to save lives and help facilitate economic recovery,” says Peter Kroner, investor research, industrial, JLL. “We expect to see an increase of hundreds of thousands of square feet of cold storage space in strategic locations across the globe in order to meet demand.”
Boat Buyers in Market for Storage Spaces
Thanks to the social pressures associated with proper physical distancing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, boat sales headed north for much of 2020. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, sales jumped 30 percent in the summer. But, according to Bisnow, consumers are now faced with the challenge of finding places to store them.
“The boater demand is growing like crazy, but the supply of new marinas is obviously not moving too much,” says Integra Investments Principal Victor Ballestas, during a November Bisnow webinar about the future of marinas. “That supply/demand constraint is where we think that the opportunity lies in the space.
For the near term, the future of marina space might be upward, with developers building multilevel properties that can store and retrieve boats automatically.


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Ford To Exceed Pledge To Bring Uaw Jobs In House; 1,975 Hourly Jobs Coming To Ford Plants Through 2012
* Ford is on pace to bring approximately 1,975 UAW jobs into its U.S. plants from 2008 to 2012, exceeding its commitment in the 2007 UAW-Ford Collective Bargaining Agreement by more than 25 percent
* Ford is able to bring jobs in house from suppliers inside and outside of the U.S. thanks to collaboration with the UAW to improve the competitiveness of Ford plants
* Approximately 1,340 jobs already have been brought into 24 Ford facilities in the U.S. since 2008
* Ford has committed to bring another 635 jobs into nine of its plants by 2012
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Ford Motor Company is on pace to bring in-house approximately 1,975 hourly jobs that would be performed by suppliers inside and outside of the U.S. by 2012 – exceeding its original commitment to the United Auto Workers by more than 25 percent.
Ford said it is able to bring the UAW jobs into Ford’s U.S. plants thanks to collaboration with the union to make its plants more competitive and efficient through modern labor agreements.
“The name of the game is competitiveness, and our UAW partners have found new ways of working together on labor agreements that allow us to bring jobs back to Ford plants and back to America,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas, who is speaking today at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.
The initial commitment with the UAW called for 1,559 jobs to be “in-sourced” to Ford hourly workers throughout the four-year term of the contract. Ford already has brought 1,340 jobs into 24 U.S. plants and has committed to bring another 635 to nine Ford plants in the U.S. by 2012.
Ford and the UAW have been working together to develop a strong business case for sourcing components – including parts, sub-assemblies and systems – to the company’s American plants. Some of these jobs would have been produced by suppliers outside the U.S.
Ford has committed to in-source jobs to the majority of its assembly, powertrain and stamping facilities around the country, including the:
* Sharonville (Ohio) Transmission Plant for 6F35 automatic transmission gear machining and solenoid body assembly
* Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., for moon roof sub-assembly, instrument panel assembly and part kitting for engine, doors and interior trim for the company’s new Ford Focus, arriving in dealerships this winter
* Chicago Stamping Plant for a variety of stamped parts for the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus, as well as for next generation Ford Explorer
* Sterling Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., for global production of the Rear Drive Unit for Ford’s front-wheel drive products
* Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights for production of the 6F35 automatic transmission and HF35 electric drive transaxle. The work is currently performed by a supplier in Japan
* Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., for battery pack assembly for next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles. The work is currently performed by a supplier in Mexico
“Bringing these jobs to Ford’s U.S. facilities has proven to be a win-win proposition for the company and our salaried and hourly employees,” said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president, North America Manufacturing. “Not only are these agreements enabling us to become more cost competitive, but bringing work to our UAW work force ensures that we apply world-class quality control and improved efficiency through the rigorous processes that are part of our production system.”
Ford said it has a long history of working hand-in-hand with the UAW on competitive issues, including initiatives aimed at improving quality and productivity. As a result, the company continues to show substantial improvement in these metrics as reported in both internal studies and third-party research.
For example, according to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, the Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands, with three Ford models ranking highest within their segments.
“Ford’s commitment to working with the UAW to maximize our in-sourcing opportunities sends another clear signal that we are investing in the future of American manufacturing,” Fields said. “We will continue working with our UAW partners and others on competitive business plans designed to provide opportunities for long-term growth and profitable growth for all of our stakeholders.”
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
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We’ve been seeing Microsoft, Apple and Google put a ton of emphasis on AI. All three of these companies have always tried to showcase what a digital assistant could be like. Most people do not use Google Assistant, Siri or Cortana as much, but what Google has pulled off in today’s Google I/O 2018 Keynote will blow your mind away, I mean literally!
Digital Assistants haven’t ever been important to most users. People who often use them often use them to set alarms, reminders or control their household devices. Now, when Google, Apple and Microsoft call their AI technologies, digital assistants, no one ever took them very seriously.
Today, at Google I/O 2018, Google has shown off their new Google Duplex technology that’s about to be a part of Google’s Assistant app. Apart from setting alarms, booking tickets and controlling your household items, Google’s digital assistant will now make your phone calls for you, in the most natural tone ever! Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai showed off a demonstration of Google’s new Duplex technology in action where it called a barber to set an appointment.
Here’s a video clip of Sundar Pichai showcasing the capabilities of their new Google Duplex technology. Let me spill it, it’s mind-boggling!
Google’s Sundar Pichai said that Google was able to learn how to speak naturally over the past decade and has also learned how humans would speak. Listening to the call again simply shows off what an actual assistant would do if you asked them to make your phone calls for you.
Since Google’s Assistant was responsible for calls, it’s mind-boggling to see Google’s assistant reply to random calls.
If this is what Google could achieve right now, I could bet you could call into your school informing the management about your sickness!
I just can’t wait for Google to actually launch this later this year!


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Posted Thursday, January 31, 2019 @ 9:02 AM
Qdoba Mexican Eats, Dunkin’, Subway, and CFE Federal Credit Union are the first retailers confirmed to lease space on the first floor of UnionWest at Creative Village. These vendors will serve students and residents of the new UCF Downtown and Valencia College Downtown campus set to open in Fall 2019. They represent four of the six available retail spaces for the new campus.
UCF and Valencia students may now apply to live at UnionWest and take virtual tours here.
Full article here.