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A variety of freshly baked goods are available in downtown Arlington now as Hammond Bread Co. has a storefront location.
The new business is at 119 N Olympic Ave., Arlington, and they held their grand opening on March 4.
“We have had a cottage bakery for the past five years and we baked from my home,” said owner Lauren Hammond.
She sold her home business products at various local fairs and farmers markets, and also did regular home deliveries.
“When we had the chance to rent this place and buy some bakery equipment we were just excited to have a permanent physical location,” she said.
A number of different baked pastry and bread items are available at the business.
“We’re most famous for our big fat cinnamon rolls that are as big as your face,” said Hammond.
“We have so many giant cookies and we’re starting to venture into cupcakes and cakes,” she added.
They also have a variety of breads.
“We do honey whole wheat, white, rustic, and cinnamon swirl bread,” said Hammond.
“I think that people love homemade bread. Sometimes we crack the window and just let the smell waft out there,” she added.
The bakery is family owned and employs members of the community, she said.
“I love seeing people come in and say ‘hi,’ and I love the people that work here,” said Hammond.
Having a storefront instead of a home business allows Hammond to sell the food while it is still warm.
“I love being able to bake something and serve it right out of the oven,” she said. “The cinnamon roll pulls apart. When it just comes out it has this delicious taste and texture … I never could do that before because I didn’t have a storefront."
After building the bakery business for years, she is glad to be able have a more traditional bakery location.
“It just feels magical to be able to be down here with our small little piece of downtown,” said Hammond. “I look around and think ‘are we living in a Hallmark movie?’ We have our own small-town bakery."
The current hours for the store will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
“We’ll be extending our hours later, probably in the summer time,” said Hammond.


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Coinbase CEO stole work from a rival blockchain startup. Armstrong was reportedly working on a platform for publishing academic research. …Read More…
Armstrong was reportedly working on a platform for publishing academic research.
Coinbase has not yet made a public statement on the matter.
The Coinbase CEO reportedly stole ideas from a blockchain startup for a viral project under the idea of a possible investment. Meanwhile, it is said that the cryptocurrency exchange committed fraud, according to a lawsuit.
In detail, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong was creating a platform for publishing academic research that used tradable tokens when he discovered a similar platform called Knowledgr. This is according to a complaint filed by MouseBelt Labs, a blockchain accelerator that had invested and worked in Knowledgr. Like Knowledgr, Armstrong’s ResearchHub would award participants with tokens similar to Bitcoin.

domain: news


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In an exclusive interview with IAM, Gustav Brismark explains his sudden departure from the Swedish giant, as well as talking legacy, the future for 5G, plus a whole lot more
WIPO has published an in-depth Technology Trends report focusing on IP in the artificial intelligence space. We provide the top 10 takeaways
In a tough Chinese market, a deal with Oppo means a lot to licensors, a fact the vendor has used to gain hundreds of new patent assets
Executives at some of the country's leading domestic mobile manufacturers open up about the reasons they believe an anti-trust investigation of the Swedish company is merited
News of six year licence, chipset supply deal, and payment from iPhone maker send chip giant’s shares soaring
Attorneys say agency’s president has no legal basis for asking the Enlarged Board of Appeal to review the finding that plants produced by biological processes are patentable.
Judges rule that inventions arrived at by well-established or routine tests can be patented, but the decision will also reassure generics
With so many issues emerging across the entire supply chain, the sector’s IP leaders will be sharing their thoughts and insights at events in Detroit and Munich next month
Following the court’s Abraxis decision, life sciences face a more restrictive interpretation of which products qualify for supplementary protection certificates.
Filings against Daimler and BMW follow court actions against Toyota and VW - and it could only be a matter of time before others start to get more assertive
A pair of acquisitions and the bankruptcy of a competitor opened the door for Hanwha Q CELLS to move from licensee to plaintiff in the latest indication that disputes in the clean energy sector are heating up
The Barcelona Commercial Court saw a 43% jump in its special IP docket during February's gathering of the mobile industry's elite in the Catalan capital, with companies such as Samsung, Xiaomi, ZTE, LG and Sisvel all involved
Portuguese national says he has sold his house to hire an attorney to go after the Chinese company over alleged IP theft – a huge leap of faith given US assertion realities
IAM's annual benchmarking survey is designed to identify the key concerns of senior decision makers in areas such as deal-making, valuation, patent office performance, top litigation venues and policy
After calling off ITC investigation, South Korean company will receive royalties from Hong Kong-based supplier to brands like DJI, Oppo and Apple


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Live interactive communication platforms including various live commerce platforms allow real-time interaction between a host and guests. Customers can ask questions during a live commerce show session and show hosts will answer the questions. During a live interactive concert, fans can request songs and communicate with artists through an interactive online concert platform.
In 2020, K-pop wonder BTS changed the paradigm of concert events by holding two live online concerts through its fan community app Weverse. The seven-member band attracted more than one million paid viewers through its online concerts. Other K-pop artists including girl band BLACKPINK and boy band Super M joined the trend to invite global viewers to interactive online concerts.
Genie Music said in a statement on October 21 that the company launched a new interactive live platform called "STAYG." The online music service provider said the new platform will create an interactive communication bridge between artists and fans through large-sized and small-sized events including concerts and fan meetings.
The music service will adopt global digital payment methods such as PayPal and Union Pay by the end of 2021 and establish paid business models for domestic and foreign markets. There are two language versions -- Korean and English -- available but Genie said that more language versions will be released later.
"We have officially launched STAYG as a communication tool for the non-face-to-face era and promote the value of K-pop," Genie's innovative technology division head director Seo In-wook was quoted as saying. AKMU, a popular brother-sister band, is the first artist to communicate with fans through Genie's new platform. The band will hold a concert to communicate with fans on October 21.
© Aju Business Daily & www.ajunews.com Copyright: All materials on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the authorization from the Aju News Corporation.


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Cuddlier Stuffed Animals
- Molli Toys from Sweden launches a new exclusive premium range
The young Stockholm based toy company Molli Toys is taking the market by storm. After nearly six years, their “mollis” (soft, high quality stuffed animals) are becoming a household name among all families with children
in the stuffed animals age.
This fall, Molli Toys is launching a new range of stuffed animals called Premium.


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|Bid||18.04 x 3000|
|Ask||18.15 x 900|
|Day's Range||17.72 - 18.65|
|52 Week Range||11.81 - 19.97|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||N/A|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||56.23|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||18.20|
SHENZHEN, China , April 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tencent Music Entertainment Group (" Tencent Music", "TME", or the "Company") (NYSE: TME), the leading online music entertainment ...
Since its IPO, Tencent Music (NYSE: TME) stock has continued its upward trajectory. Investors' bullishness on Tencent Music stock only grew after TME reported its fourth-quarter results, which were strong. Strong Fourth-Quarter ResultsTME reported Q4 revenue of $785 million, up 50.5% from last year's Q4. TME lost $127 million in the period due to a one-time equity issuance charge of $221 million related to the company's issuance of TME stock to Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. * 7 Mid-Cap Stocks to Find the Market's Sweet Spot For the full year, TME's total revenue rose 72.9% to $2.76 billion. TME reported net cash provided by operating activities of $281 million. The company's cash and cash equivalents rose by over 300%, to $2.52 billion. The IPO of Tencent Music stock added $509 million to the company's cash total, while its operations generated $819 million of cash.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips TME's International Growth OpportunityFunds from the IPO ofTencent Music stock will support the company's global-growth ambitions. CEO Cussion Kar Shun Pang pointed to online music and social-entertainment services as the two growth areas for the company. Its investments in premium content, innovative products, and proprietary technology drove its recent growth. This year, it will build on that strategy while accelerating the promotion of its premium content.Premium content can increase the company's profit. If Tencent Music can get a higher percentage of revenue from premium content while attracting more customers, expect its earnings growth to accelerate in the quarters ahead, boosting Tencent Music stock.TME's investments in its partnerships are paying off. By joining forces with domestic and international music labels, Tencent Music broadens its appeal to its customers. Proprietary, in-house content that caters to users' demands will also boost TME's growth, further differentiating the company from its competitors and lifting Tencent Music stock. Mobile Growth ExpectationsTME reported 27 million paying users of its online services, representing growth of 39.2% year-over-year. The number of the company's paying social-entertainment users grew by 22.9% to 10.2 million. But the total monthly average users of the company's online-music products was 644 million, suggesting that it could monetize more of its users. And so far, TME has proved that it has the right balance of producing content in-house, partnering with others, and discovering other innovative ways to promote its products. Higher CostsInvestors should not ignore TME's costs. In Q4, its cost of revenue grew 62.5% as its content fees and its revenue-sharing fees rose. The more content it produces in-house, the higher its costs will be. Fortunately, Tencent's high-quality original content should attract more users and subscriber revenue over the long-term.TME's operating expenses grew 58.1% to $197 million. It also spent more on sales and marketing, as it increased its efforts on branding, its products, and its content. The company's general and administrative spending increased after the company incurred higher employee and personnel costs. If TME can keep its staff turnover low, then the initiative should benefit the company over the long-term. The Valuation of Tencent Music StockThe eight analysts who cover TME stock believe the stock is trading at fair value, according to Tipranks. With analysts' price targets on Tencent Music stock ranging from $15 - $21, TME stock could fall if investors decide to buy its competitors' stocks instead.Among its competitors are Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Spotify Technology SA (NYSE: SPOT). Tencent Music, like many young companies, is growing quickly, and it should be profitable over the long-term. Investors will need to weigh the current $29 billion market capitalization of Tencent Music stock against its prospects.The number of shares of Tencent Music stock being sold short is also up, increasing from 19.4 million shares in January to 30.4 million shares on March 14, 2019. The Bottom Line on Tencent Music StockTencent Music stock's growth outlook is are very good. Investors should add TME stock to their watch lists.As of this writing, the author did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Internet Stocks to Watch * 7 AI Stocks to Watch with Strong Long-Term Narratives * 10 Dow Jones Stocks Holding the Blue Chip Index Back Compare Brokers The post The Growth Outlook of Tencent Music Stock Is Strong appeared first on InvestorPlace.
Alibaba cleared a buy point Friday, looking a lot like the Apple stock chart. NetEase, Autohome, Tencent Music and UP Fintech also have compelling chart action.
Is (TME) Outperforming Other Computer and Technology Stocks This Year?
Cary-based Epic Games’ billionaire CEO Tim Sweeney says he has zero regrets about taking on Chinese firm Tencent as a backer – even amid “recent anti-China rage.”
The coming crop of unicorns might offer better plays than last year’s, which have mostly been dogs for investors. A boost from Lyft?
Epic Games’ success with “Fortnite” has given other brands a major lift, execs are saying. And it’s helping them rethink their strategy in an increasingly digital world.
Investors need to pay close attention to Tencent Music (TME) stock based on the movements in the options market lately.
The major stock indexes notched hefty gains at the stock market open. The Dow Jones industrials gained more than 200 points. Intel is near a buy point.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) was in 25 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. TME has seen an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds in recent months. There were 0 hedge funds in our database with TME holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our […]
The stock market was broadly higher early Friday on renewed optimism for China trade talks. Apple stock is nearing its first buy point since last year.
Benzinga has examined prospects for many investor favorite stocks over the past week. Bullish calls included some big names that American consumers love. And bearish calls included some embattled industry ...
Tencent earnings fell more than expected in the fourth quarter on soaring costs and weak games revenue for the Chinese internet giant. Revenue of $12.37 billion beat views of $12.26 billion.
Tencent Holdings signalled it will reduce its reliance on gaming in China, where a regulatory review and one-off investment costs led to its sharpest-ever quarterly profit drop and slowest annual profit growth in 13 years. "Our revenue mix is getting increasingly diversified, with fast growth from performance-based advertising and 'other' revenues," Tencent President Martin Lau said on Thursday. Lau was referring to a segment that included Tencent's new cloud business, which posted its first annual revenue of 9.1 billion yuan ($1.36 billion).
Tencent Holdings is set to report on Thursday its sharpest quarterly profit decline in more than 13 years, as its failure to launch new blockbuster games due to China's regulatory review capped revenue growth. China resumed new gaming approvals in December after a nine-month hiatus partly due to concerns over violent content and gaming addition. Investors will be keenly watching for updates from Tencent's top management about the games approval process and whether it will participate in a multi-billion-dollar bid for South Korean gaming firm Nexon to beef up its games portfolio.
Tencent Music Entertainment reported fourth-quarter results after the market close Tuesday that met Wall Street views on the bottom line but fell short on sales. Tencent Music stock fell.


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WeWork, which was previously valued at $47 billion, has announced that it has reached a restructuring support agreement with its stakeholders. The purpose of this agreement is to significantly reduce the company's debt.
WeWork, a company that provides shared office spaces, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday (7 November).
They have also requested the option to terminate leases for specific locations that they deem to be mostly non-operational.
Amid the company's challenges in the United States, its India division released a statement to address concerns about its future.
WeWork India has clarified that it operates independently from WeWork Global and that the recent Chapter 11 filing will not have any impact on its members and stakeholders in India.
The company reassured that it will continue to provide its services to members, landlords, and partners without any disruption, emphasising its commitment to the growth and success of its business. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
WeWork India has announced that it is supported by the Embassy Group, its majority stakeholder, which is dedicated to investing in the future growth of the business (AFP).
The company remains fully focused on providing exceptional and innovative flexible workspace solutions for its members in the region.
As a leader in the industry, WeWork India has revolutionised the way India works. Since 2021, the company has been profitable and is dedicated to the continued growth and success of both the business and the industry as a whole.
In a statement, WeWork CEO David Tolley emphasised the need to proactively tackle legacy leases and enhance the company's financial position to propel the future forward.
He highlighted that WeWork has revolutionised the concept of flexible work and these actions will ensure its continued dominance as a global leader in this field.
WeWork, based in New York, raised concerns in August about its survival.
However, signs of trouble surfaced a few years ago, shortly after the company reached a valuation of $47 billion.
Bhuvan Krishna is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
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Adele: Fans' emotional rollercoaster as they battle to get advance Belfast concert tickets
Aiken warn against buying tickets from unofficial outlets ahead of Friday general sale
Adele is known for her tear-jerking music but it seems trying to get a ticket for her show has sent fans on an emotional rollercoaster of its own.
It was already tipped to be a sell-out show but super-fans of the Someone Like You singer were sent into meltdown as they tried to get their hands on advance sale tickets for her tour, which kicks off in Belfast in February 2016.
Adele announced her tour last week - her first in five years.
Advance tickets were available from the singer's website but the hashtag #Adeletickets was soon trending on Twitter with some queuing for up to four hours online being left empty-handed.
Angry Belfast fans hoping to see the star at the SSE Arena Belfast took to Twitter to vent their frustration as their hopes of securing a ticket to see their idol ahead of the general sale appeared to be dashed.
One said: "After two hours I got through to get tickets for Adele in Belfast, then they were sold out."
Another said: "Is anyone in Belfast actually getting the Adele presale tickets? Been in the queu (sic) an hour and still no change and says still available."
While another disgruntled fan said: "Not happy at all tried the past two days to go see Adele in Belfast but both days the sites crashed and took hours."
Adele has experienced a record-breaking return to the music world as her first single Hello along with her album 25 has sky-rocketed to the top of the charts around the world.
SSE Airtricity Customers were also given access to pre-sale tickets for the Adele concert on Wednesday morning and they too had sold out within two hours.
The demand caused the website to experience difficulty due to the high volume of traffic.
Those who got their hands on the coveted tickets were quick to voice their joy.
One said: "Christmas has come early this year! Adele tickets got for Belfast next year. I may die with excitement before this!"
Tickets will go on general sale on Friday, December 4 at all usual Ticketmaster outlets, the venue box office and Adele.com.
Aiken promotions are warning fans not to buy from unofficial outlets.
Ahead of tickets being released it is warning fans to only buy from the outlets listed:
1. All usual Ticketmaster outlets
2. The SSE Arena Box Office 9073 9074
3. 24hr Credit Card Bookings 0844 277 4455
Book on line www.ticketmaster.ie
Music and sports fans have lost almost £1.3 million to ticket fraud in the last six months, according to new police figures.
Nearly 3,000 cases were reported between May and October, with the Rugby World Cup, Fleetwood Mac, One Direction, AC/DC, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift highlighted as particular targets.
This marks Adele's first tour since 2011, which ended prematurely because of the discovery of a haemorrhage on her vocal cord requiring surgery.
If her current record sales are anything to go by, tickets are expected to sell out within minutes, as the Oscar-winning singer's third album sold 737,000 copies in the UK within its first week of release.
It has also sold almost three million copies in the US.
Belfast Telegraph Digital


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Paytm may be set to join the club of Warren Buffett’s investments — Apple, Bank of America (BAC), Coca-Cola, American Express, Phillips 66, and a lot more
There was a time when investor, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and financier Warren Buffett avoided investing in the technology sector because he did not “like to own stocks in companies whose business he didn’t understand.”
Now, Buffett through Berkshire Hathaway has finally made his first direct investment in India in Paytm.
Bloomberg reported that Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s chairman and chief executive officer, wasn’t directly involved in the investment in One97 Communications Ltd.
Reports had surfaced this morning that Buffett, through his US-based holding company Berkshire Hathaway, is in talks to invest about $286.81 Mn-$358.37 Mn (INR 2,000-2,500Cr) in Paytm’s parent company One97 Communications.
It is being speculated that the deal could be clinched in the coming weeks, valuing Indian digital payments giant Paytm at about $12 Bn.
With existing investors like China’s Alibaba Group Holdings and Japan’s SoftBank, Paytm is one of the most valued companies in India and achieved $10 Bn valuation earlier this year after a secondary share sale by employees.
It is being speculated that Berkshire Hathaway is in talks to pick up a 3-4% stake in the company through a primary subscription of shares.
The transaction was discussed at a board meeting of Paytm held a few weeks ago. However, the deal size, as well as other details, have not been finalised yet.
“Berkshire Hathaway is impressed by the scale that Paytm has been able to build in a short period of time. They realise that technology companies go through a cycle of losses before they start generating cash,” the report added.
Further, it is being speculated that Todd Combs, one of Berkshire’s key fund managers who is also seen as a potential chief investment officer at the firm, is leading the transaction.
An email query sent to Paytm didn’t elicit any response till the time of publication.
Paytm’s Exponentially Growing Portfolio
The Noida-based company has recorded 200 Mn customers and a gross transaction value (GTV) of $20 Bn (March 2018), registering over 1 Bn transactions per quarter.
With a valuation of $10 Bn (as of January 2018), Paytm, which started out with digital payments, has been rapidly expanding its portfolio. It has expanded to ecommerce with Mall, started its own Payments Bank, and has also ventured into event ticketing services, wealth management, insurance and gold services.
Inc42 had earlier reported that on the revenue front, One97 Communications has been on shaky ground, oscillating between highs and lows. The company’s total revenue for FY17 stood at $122 Mn (INR 828.6 Cr), which is a 38.6% increase from its FY16 revenues of $88 Mn (INR 597.8 Cr).
In some relief for the company, its losses declined 39% from a massive $229 Mn (INR 1,496.7 Cr) in FY16 to $133 Mn (INR 899.6 Cr) in FY17.
Paytm claims it has achieved an annual run rate of 5 Bn transactions and $50 Bn in GTV, which as a result of the phenomenal adoption of its services in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The company recently partnered with SoftBank and Yahoo Japan’s newly launched digital payments company PayPay to expand to Japan. PayPay will leverage Paytm’s technology and expertise in mobile payments. The services will be launched in the fall of 2018.
Paytm has also started offering forex services for the top 20 international currencies. It may also enter cross-border remittance services.
The company is looking to raise funds to build a new retail model to equip shopkeepers with technology, logistics, and marketing capabilities.
Paytm as an entity is targeting multiple markets through its portfolio services.
The Indian ecommerce industry is currently worth $200 Bn while the digital payments industry is expected to grow five-fold to reach $1 Tn by 2023, as predicted by Credit Suisse.
Berkshire Hathaway once burnt its hands in an indirect investment in India in 2011 as a corporate agent of Bajaj Allianz General. The company exited two years later owing to lack of profitability and laws that constrained ownership by foreign companies.
Now, Berkshire Hathaway, which has portfolio companies with operations in India, seems to have again taken up the challenge of investing in Indian companies. We’ll have to wait and watch whether Paytm can make the final cut for Buffett’s cheque.


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GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday approved a $10,908 grant to help a men’s suit shop open on South Division Avenue.
Mel Styles is expected to open next month at 315 S. Division Avenue, said Archie Sudue, the store’s owner. He plans to use $26,000 of his own money to renovate the space and will use the funding approved by the DDA to help cover his rent.
“Being the owner of a store is a dream come true,” said Sudue, 34, who moved to the U.S. from Liberia in 2006.
Mel Styles is the fourth business to receive a retail innovation grant from the DDA since June 2018, according to a memo from Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the entity that manages the DDA.
The grant is designed to support entrepreneurship, activate vacant retail spaces and diversify the mix of downtown retail offerings. It places an emphasis on women, people of color and other disadvantaged populations looking to expand or start a business downtown.
The other businesses to receive the grant are Tamales Mary, Ambiance GR Kitchen and Lounge and Mosby’s Popcorn. Tamales Mary received $60,000, Ambiance GR received $45,000 and Mosby’s Popcorn received $45,000.
Tim Kelly, president and CEO of DGRI, said the grant for Mel Styles is lower than the others because Sudue only requested funding for rent assistance. Tamales Mary, Ambiance GR and Mosby’s requested funding for rent assistance and construction costs.
Sudue has received assistance from other Grand Rapids organizations focusing on business and entrepreneurship. He said he won $1,000 at a pitch competition hosted by SpringGR in 2017 and $5,000 from Start Garden in May.
He currently runs his business out of his Kentwood home on an appointment only basis. He says moving into a brick and mortar location will help him grow his business and reach new customers.
Sudue, who learned the tailoring business while working at Men’s Warehouse and Macy’s, says his prices set him apart from other businesses. He says his prices for a tailored suit start at $250.
“Instead of you paying 250 for an oversized suit, you can pay $250 for the same suite that will fit you perfectly,” he said.
The stretch of South Division where Sudue’s business will be located is currently impacted by road construction on South Division Avenue. DGRI officials say that they and other business groups will attempt to provide what assistance they can to mitigate that impact.


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[ NEW YORK ]
PepsiCo to Remove Gatorade Ingredient
Published: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:50 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:50 p.m.
PepsiCo Inc. is removing a controversial ingredient from its Gatorade sports drink in response to customer complaints. A spokeswoman for the company, Molly Carter, said Friday that the removal of brominated vegetable oil was in the works for the past year after the company began "hearing rumblings" from consumers about the ingredient. The ingredient is also used in other drinks, including some flavors of Powerade made by rival Coca-Cola Co. For Gatorade, Carter said the ingredient is used as an "emulsifier," meaning it distributes flavoring evenly so that it doesn't collect at the surface.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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If you love buttery Ritz crackers and chocolatey Oreo cookies, you're in luck: a new cookie collab is dropping soon — and for a limited time only.
Read more at Tasting Table
Today only, Amazon is offering up some sweet discounts on a number of Logitech gaming and streaming accessories.
Read more at KnowTechie
The Cartwheel Galaxy, named for its resemblance to a wagon wheel, is located about 500 million light-years away.
Read more at msnNOW
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Got a sweet tooth that needs to be filled? National Doughnut Day is on Friday, June 3. If you're craving something sweet, for free, we've got you covered! Below is a list of local shops that will be giving away freebies and deals.
Read more at WJXT News4JAX
Daughter Ashley Judd penned a sweet tribute to her late mother, Naomi Judd, who passed away earlier this month.
Read more at The Blast
The days are ticking away until NASA's enormous new observatory unveils the cosmos in a new light. The James Webb Space Telescope is now through a six-month commissioning process. With only a few weeks left on the mission, NASA and its partners ...
Read more at BollyInside
After all the universe to big to think that we are just alone. Similarly, NASA recently discovered a Super- Earth that is said to be four times the mass of our planet and it is some 37 light years away only! This newly discovered exoplanet is named as Ross ...
Read more at India.com
News in business Category
The Dodge Challenger and Charger have had a lasting impact on the landscape of modern muscle cars. From the rebirth of both namesakes to the outrageous wheelie-prone, 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the duo leaves little to be desired for ...
Read more at MotorBiscuit.com
It seems obvious that Dodge was always going to have a problem selling the idea of electric vehicles to its core group of enthusiasts. Case in point? TikTok.
Read more at SlashGear
Dodge claims its new Charger Daytona SRT Concept electric car "sounds like a Dodge". Make up your own mind with this new video.
Read more at Drive
A Seattle CEO who announced in 2015 that he was giving himself a drastic pay cut to help cover the cost of big raises for his employees has announced his resignation. Dan Price, the embattled CEO of credit card processing company Gravity Payments, ...
Read more at Stuff.co.nz
Applied Materials Inc., the biggest maker of machinery used to manufacture semiconductors, gave an upbeat sales forecast for the current period, saying it can weather the economic slowdown afflicting the industry. Revenue will be about $6.65 billion in ...
Read more at Bloomberg


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Walmart planning to hire 20,000 new warehouse workers
Clip: 09/01/2021 | 2m 17s | Video has closed captioning.
It will hold hiring events in early September, and says workers will earn over $20 an hour. The jobs are permanent positions, and not just for holiday help, according to Walmart.
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning


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By the end of 2012, Google is expected to start selling eyeglasses that will project information and entertainment. The glasses will be like a smartphone with the lenses serving as a kind of see-through computer monitor. They are not meant to be worn all the time – but as needed.
The glasses are being built in the secretive Google X laboratory near Google’s main Mountain View, CA.
The glasses will use the same Android software that powers Android smartphones and tablets. They will be equipped with GPS and motion sensors and contain a camera and audio inputs and outputs. They will be fed by a 3G or 4G connection. The navigation uses head tilting to scroll and click. The low-resolution built-in camera will be able to monitor the world in real time and overlay information about locations, surrounding buildings and friends in the area. The latter opens up some privacy concerns, as people might object to being filmed by someone wearing the glasses.
Of course, the glasses will be able to serve up advertising (this is Google after all).
Cost on the new glasses hasn’t been set – and speculation is all over the place – anywhere from $250-600 have been quoted.
Alex has written for Vanity Fair, Barrons, Bloomberg and Condé Nast Traveler.


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Rising Costs Push Retailers to Shift Strategy
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- In the face of rising commodity prices and increased competition, food retailers -- both traditional and non-traditional -- need to take a step back and reexamine their strategies to attract and keep customers.
Speaking during today’s Webinar, "The Future of Food Retailing," Michael Sansolo, treasurer of The Food Institute, explained that the food retailing industry is always changing, but is currently in the midst of what may be the most "tumultuous change we've seen in decades."
The Webinar, presented by The Food Institute in cooperation with consultant group Willard Bishop, pointed out five key facts facing the industry:
• Food price inflation will be significant for the next three to five years, driven by rebounding commodity costs;
• High levels of unemployment and underemployment will persist over the same time period;
• Many retailers and manufacturers are passing through cost increases, ultimately reaching the consumer;
• Those actions will have negative consequences for both sides; and
• Retailers who limit their price increases and maintain margins through better procurement, smart pricing and enhanced private label mixes will benefit disproportionally.
The long-term upward trend in pricing is partially supported by China, India and other emerging countries as their per-person calorie intake increases with wealth, explained Jim Hertel, managing partner at Willard Bishop. In addition, growth in alternative fuels is continuing to drive the price of corn up. To this point, almost 40 percent of the corn crop is dedicated to alternative fuel and not feeding people, he added.
Fueling the problem, Hertel contended, is that unemployment in the United States continues to hover around 9 percent; when added to underemployment, the combined number is projected to go as high as 20 percent over the next few years.
Commodity prices started on a downward slide in 2009 and continued on that path through mid-2010, he explained. However, there has been an uptick in those prices since then, and "everybody is expecting commodity prices to go up" even more with weather here and in Europe playing a role.
Despite some bounce-back in economic conditions over the past year, consumers are starting to get nervous again. "Economic pressures are having a profound effect," said Craig Rosenblum, business development partner at Willard Bishop. He said while some jobs have started to come back, that figure is not keeping pace with those out of work.
"Personal income has become stagnant or is going down," Rosenblum explained, adding that this is affecting how many dollars consumers have to spend on food. "It is kind of déjà vu of what we saw three years ago. In the end, the shopper is only going to have $100 or less to buy the same amount of groceries."
To weather the recent storm, Hertel said, retailers need to take a better approach. Specifically, they need to get more creative negotiating prices with manufacturers; they need to use all their price image enhancement levers; and they need to optimize private label/branded product lines.
Rosenblum further explained that "a good price image is about more than price." Of the six dimensions to price image, only three are price related (shelf prices, promoted prices and known value items), the remaining three (per-unit prices, merchandising and price communications) are not, he said.
But manufacturers are not off the hook. There are several steps they can take as well, Hertel said. For example, they can try to understand how retailers' price image is developed and how their categories impact that. Manufacturers can also make pricing suggestions in context of enhancing retailers' price image, and focus on helping with non-price elements. Furthermore, he said, they can develop merchandising plans and point-of-sale materials that will help enhance the price image.


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WASHINGTON -- A bill that would have barred states from moving ahead with mandatory labeling of foods to indicate they contain genetically engineered ingredients failed in the Senate on Wednesday.
The Senate, on a 48-49 vote, fell short of the necessary votes to move ahead to consider the bill that would have barred states from pursuing mandatory labeling.
The bill's failure means that states can continue to move forward with a variety of labeling laws. For example, Vermont's mandatory labeling law is set to go into effect on July 1, and other states are considering similar laws.
"Unfortunately, the impact of these decisions will be felt across the country," the bill's sponsor, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, said after the vote.
"Those decisions impact the farmers in fields who would be pressured to grow less efficient crops so manufacturers could avoid these demonizing labels."
The bill's defeat was a huge blow for major players in the food and biotech industry, which have spent millions fighting labeling requirements. They have argued that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe and that the labels could be costly for American consumers, agriculture and food companies.
"Despite today’s vote, there continues to be a strong bipartisan consensus to protect American consumers from the increased food costs and confusion of a 50-state patchwork of labeling laws," Pamela Bailey, the head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, said in a statement.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the leading opponents to the bill and a Democratic presidential candidate, called the bill's failure a "victory for the American people over corporate interests."
"All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the food they eat and the food they serve their kids," he said.
"When parents go to the store and purchase food for their children, they have a right to know what they are feeding them. GMO labeling exists in 64 other countries. There is no reason it can’t exist here."
The House passed a bill blocking mandatory state labeling laws last year.
So far, scientific evidence linking GMOs to human illnesses or other poor health outcomes is lacking.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.


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It’s been a breakout year for Janet, who is a rising star in the West Coast art scene
Yountville, CA (PRWEB) April 07, 2012
Napa Wine tasting room, Cornerstone Cellars, a premium producer of award-winning Napa Valley wines, is excited to present artist Janet Ekholm’s special exhibition of dramatic paintings at Cornerstone’s Yountville tasting room gallery as the featured artist during Napa Valley’s “Arts in April.” Ten of Ekholm’s latest works will be on display from April 1 to April 30, with Ekholm in residence from April 17 to April 22. During the exhibit’s opening hours, a complimentary wine tasting will be available for all “Arts in April” visitors.
“It’s been a breakout year for Janet, who is a rising star in the West Coast art scene,” Allison Zickfeld of Cornerstone Cellars said. “During the artist in residence period, Janet will be working live on a new painting and will be available for personal tours of the exhibition.”
The “Arts in April” exhibition of Janet Ekholm will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. during April. Ekholm will be available on April 17, April 19 and April 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“On April 21 and April 22, the art of painting, music and wine will intertwine as Janet Ekholm is joined by Pacific Chamber Orchestra bassoonist Karla Ekholm,” Zickfeld said.
For more information about artist Janet Ekholm, visit http://www.janetekholm.com.
For more information about the “Arts in April” display or any of Cornerstone Cellars’ products or services, call 707-948-6295 or 707-945-0388, view the tasting room on the web at http://www.cornerstonecellars.com, or visit 6505 Washington St. in Yountville.
About Cornerstone Cellars
Cornerstone Cellars is recognized as a quality leader in super-premium Napa Valley, and now Willamette Valley, wines. From the first vintage, Cornerstone has received consistently high ratings from The Wine Spectator, The Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker. Cornerstone Cellars was rated one of eight "World Class" Cabernet producers in The Connoisseurs' Handbook of the Wines of California and the Pacific Northwest, Fourth Edition. Cornerstone Cellars has one goal: to make compelling, exciting wines that speak clearly of the vineyard, variety and vintage from which they are born. All the wines receive minimal, gentle winemaking that relies more on nature than technology, and come from organic or sustainably farmed vineyards.


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Strong Representation of South Africa at Viva Technology in Paris
The 2018 edition of Viva Technology, annual exhibition dedicated to innovation and digital transformation launched two years ago in Paris, has established itself as a worth experiencing global rendezvous, with more than 300 speakers, 9 000 start-ups and 125 nationalities present.
This edition has put South Africa in the spotlight, first through its national pavilion in the African ecosystem Afric@ Tech along with Rwanda, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal. The South African delegation led by Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, was made of more than 50 start-ups including 13 funded by the DTI. In addition to the speakers and students taking part in a hackathon, South Africa was promoted through the announcement of a key long-term partnership with AfricArena, the Cape Town-based tech conference set for November. On top of that, two South African start-ups, Vizibiliti Insight and Sun Exchange, were successful through the different challenges.
— #VivaTech (@VivaTech) 25 mai 2018
In order to promote investment opportunities in South Africa, Minister Davies met different high level stakeholders on the side-lines of the event. His meeting with the Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, Mr Mounir Mahjoubi, and seven of his African counterparts led to a discussion on the potential outcomes of French president Emmanuel Macron’s proposals for Africa. He also had a bilateral meeting with Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and with Ms Delphine Geny-Stephann, Secretary of State to the Minister of Economy and Finance, to discuss trade policy issues, challenges around the fourth industrial revolution and the forthcoming bilateral meetings (in particular a major business forum and a potential economic committee for the beginning of November 2018). He gave an address in front of the French Business Confederation, MEDEF international, with about 20 French enterprises to discuss the business environment and current reforms, in order to attract foreign investments in South Africa.


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“I am despondent. A truly good burger simply cannot be made with buffalo meat,” says meat-lover Dhiraj Sanghvi, 26, an entrepreneur based in Khar. “The only thing that might taste the same is a ‘well-done’ steak, because then the meat is cooked to that level of toughness anyway.”
Sanghvi says that he will miss his beef cheeseburgers, bulgogi and carpaccio. “Beef carpaccio is made with super tender strips of beef cooked in the acidity of lemon and olive oil,” he says. “It’s impossible to recreate that with the tough, sinewy buffalo meat.”
For fellow foodie Kamini Masturdarh, 34, a Fellow with NGO Teach For India, beef was what she went looking for when dining out, since she didn’t know how to choose good cuts or cook it well at home.
“Most south Asian dishes require the beef to be very tender, as do Japanese-style marinades, and the Italian carpaccio,” she says. “Now, all these will no longer be viable.”
The thin silver lining is that a majority of mid-level restaurants won’t be impacted since they were serving buffalo meat anyway. “What will be impacted will be the high-end restaurants which were importing beef, as well as the poor, who would eat the bull meat that was usually a byproduct of the leather industry,” says Nachiket Shetye, chef at 36 Oak and Barley and co-creator of Restaurant Week. “The truth is, Indian chefs are very good at creating great food with subpar ingredients.”
The ban could impact restaurant entrepreneurship, adds food critic and writer Roshni Bajaj Sanghvi.
“This will become yet another battlefield for chefs and restaurant owners, when it’s already an uphill battle to be in the food and beverage business in this city.”


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A couple of months ago we reported on rumours that the Legacy of Kain series was in the process of being rebooted. A LinkedIn profile for Crystal Dynamics' lead principal artist, Matt McCulloch, potentially adds credence to this, or at the very least points to another new IP in the works from the studio behind Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain:
"Creating wildly cool environments for a soon to be announced title for Crystal Dynamics. Working closely with all disciplines to create unique, efficient and malleable levels. more on that to come..."
On top of that, the Crystal Dynamics site now has job listings for a 'brand new AAA game'.
Either way, it looks like we could find out exactly what Crystal Dynamics are now working on at this year's E3.
Last year's Tomb Raider reboot was one of the highlights of the year, and it appears that developer Crystal Dynamics is following up on that success with...
I was quite skeptical over the release of the game, but I decided to pick it up to give it a chance. The overall experience blew me away with how well...
It looks like the recent Tomb Raider reboot treatment has rubbed off on the movie side of things as well. Variety are reporting that Crystal Dynamics are...
1 day ago
With Comic Con in full swing in San Diego, BioWare have shown off a few more details for their upcoming Mass Effect 4. The game will feature the Mako land...
3 days ago
Learn the secrets from the expert and use it to your advantage. Eeach and everyone of us takes time to learn especially if you are playing for the first...
6 hours ago
Today EA announced their new subscription service, called EA Access. EA Access will appear exclusively on Xbox One, and will cost either $4.99 per month...
4 days ago
Back at E3 in June, BioWare hinted at a brand new IP. Now they've released a trailer for it. The trailer is titled "Nightmare" and can be seen below: It's...
5 days ago
SteamDB have uncovered another iteration of Valve's Steam controller, which can be seen below: The most notable change is that the Steam controller now...
4 days ago
Sonic Boom will be released on the Wii U this November the 18th in America (with the game expected to launch on the 21st in Europe). The 3DS version of...


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A digest of important news from sources selected by our local editors. Delivered weekday mornings.
Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLP is making a fresh $3.6 billion investment in its newest Austin manufacturing plant, creating about 500 new jobs in the next year, the company announced June 9. That takes the company out of a gray area that prompted some to wonder whether the computer chip giant would embarrassingly have to pay back to the city and state public money because it couldn’t deliver promised employee totals.
The news comes about one year after the company — one of the largest employers in Austin — cut about 550 jobs, reducing its headcount to 1,000, which is half of its workforce two years ago.
Samsung has two plants in Austin, known as Fab 1 and Fab 2. The new investment is the second phase of creating Fab 2, a 1.5-million-square-foot complex the company built in 2007 for $3.5 billion.
The newest infusion of capital will increase Samsung’s total investment in Austin to more than $9 billion, according to the company.
Until recently, Samsung had been “holding its breath” about whether it would comply with the criteria for job creation it agreed to when local and state governments provided $230 million in 2005, Samsung spokesman Bill Cryer said.
“We have let our breath out, and now we are huffing and puffing,” Cryer said.
The expanded fabrication plant, one of the largest in the United States, is dedicated now to front-end fabrication of advanced 45-nanometer logic process technology. It will now produce advanced logic devices for the company’s large system integration, or LSI, business.
In simple terms, that LSI technology provides the guts that make mobile phones and MP3 players function with circuit boards the size of a postage stamp.
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Lidl is ahead of competitors such as Mercadona or Carrefour and becomes the first supermarket chain to allow payment with Bizum in its online stores. The payment application grows in popularity in Spain.
In a move to bring more convenience and payment options to its customers, Lidl has established a strategic alliance with Bizumthe popular mobile payment service in Spain.
This action positions Lidl as the first supermarket chain, ahead of Mercadona and Carrefour, to offer Bizum as a payment method in its stores.
As alternative to traditional credit cards, Lidl has included the payment by Bizum as an additional option along with Visa, Mastercard and Google Pay.
This is not the first time that the German chain has experimented with new forms of payment, since it also has the Aplázame service, which allows you to pay in installments.
From now on, this new payment option will be available in the Lidl online store. Customers interested in making their purchases and paying through Bizum will be able to do so no need to use a credit cardsimply by sending money from your mobile device.
The process, as explained by Lidl, is extremely simple. The customer selects the Bizum payment option, enters their phone number and validates the purchase using the password or SMS, depending on the specific operation of each bank. Buying at Lidl will be the same as making a Bizum for a friendbut in this case with the supermarket
At the moment it will not be extended to physical stores
Lidl’s association with Bizum is a reflection of the reach that this payment method has reached in Spain, as well as the continuous progress in the security of online payments, which has allowed such a large company to be encouraged to adopt this option. .
So far, no details have been provided on whether Lidl intends to extend this payment option to its physical stores. It will be necessary to wait for the system to be consolidated on its online platform and, if it works satisfactorily, it could be extended to traditional supermarkets.


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CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Tuesday he is warming up, though reluctantly, to the idea of reopening the U.S. economy if lawmakers fail to strike a deal on another coronavirus relief measure and drag their feet on issuing practical safety rules to follow.
“Ideally, we’d keep everything closed until the federal government massively ramps up its testing and contact tracing capacity,” the “Mad Money” host said, but “without more aggressive action from the federal government, we may have no choice but to reopen as the economy spirals into a depression.”
As states slowly authorize nonessential businesses to resume operations amid a health pandemic, most retailers, with the exception of big box stores, are struggling with reopening safely. Restaurateurs face even more challenges, Cramer said.
Walmart, Amazon, Target, Costcom, Home Depot — all names in Cramer’s WATCH list of retailers with scale — and Lowe’s seem to all have it figured out, the host said. Chipotle and Domino’s Pizza are among the few restaurants that are finding success in delivery operations, he added.
“Almost everybody else in the industry is shut and it’s crushing the economy,” Cramer said. “I’d be okay with that if our leaders had a plan” but it “increasingly feels like that’s not an option” for the country.
The uncertainty surrounding a full reopening of the U.S. economy has left Wall Street puzzled, which is part of the reason the market fell in Tuesday’s session.
Cramer said he is betting on a U-shaped economic recovery, but that bet hinges on a direction from the federal government to guide a safe reopening. House Democrats on Tuesday revealed a new $3 trillion spending package to expand testing and address the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, including rescue funding for state and local governments. The bill could face pushback from the Republican-led Senate. The GOP has reservations about dishing out federal funding to states.
Delaying another bailout could send the U.S. economy into deeper troubles, including a wave of defaults across the country that will hurt financial institutions, Cramer said.
“The whole point of the lockdown is to buy time for the federal government to build out testing and contact tracing, but if the government’s not doing that with alacrity, we’re buying time for nothing,” Cramer said. “I want what [Dr. Anthony] Fauci wants, a much more aggressive federal response, but, at this point, [it’s] wishful thinking.”
Disclosure: Cramer’s charitable trust owns shares of Amazon and Costco.


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© First Sensor Business | June 03, 2019
TE Connectivity makes an offer for First Sensor
First Sensor says that it has signed a business combination agreement with TE Connectivity which outlines key points to significantly strengthen their combined position in the market of sensor technology.
Following the signing, TE Connectivity announced its decision to make a voluntary public tender offer with a cash consideration of EUR 28.25 per share, representing a premium of 14.6% to the closing price as of 24 May 2019, the last trading day before the company confirmed the existence of negotiations with TE Connectivity. The transaction, including the assumption of First Sensor’s outstanding net debt and minority interest, is valued at approximately EUR 307 million, a press release reads. The transaction with TE allows First Sensor to become part of a global technology and manufacturing player for connectivity and sensor solutions and provides the scale, customer base and existing sensor expertise to create a more comprehensive offering. First Sensor will extend TE’s sensors product range and will add application solutions in key growth markets, particularly in Industrial, Medical and Mobility. A subsidiary of Deutsche Private Equity (holding about 40% of First Sensor shares), funds managed by Teslin Capital Management (holding about 13%) and other shareholders together holding about 14% of First Sensor shares have irrevocably agreed to tender their shares into the offer. That is in total about 67% of all First Sensor shares outstanding. The tender offer will have no minimum acceptance threshold but will be subject to receipt of necessary antitrust and other regulatory clearances. “With regard to our business model and product portfolio, a combination of First Sensor’s and TE’s businesses offers a strategic advantage and significantly furthers the business opportunities for both companies. The value and the growth prospects of our attractive technology portfolio and application solutions in the Industrial, Medical and Mobility target markets, are reflected in the current offer,” says Dr. Dirk Rothweiler, CEO of First Sensor AG, in the release. “At the same time the transaction is a clear opportunity for growth for First Sensor’s workforce." The transaction is expected to close by mid 2020 at the latest. The CEO of First Sensor, Dr. Dirk Rothweiler, intends to continue his position in the company after completion of the takeover offer.
Microsoft invests in AI Chip company Syntiant, a deep learning tech company providing AI voice and sensor solutions, has completed a USD 35 million Series C funding round.
Meyer Burger sells its microwave and plasma maker Muegge Meyer Burger Technology is selling its microwave and plasma technology company Muegge GmbH, to investment company HQ Equita.
ON Semi looking to sell Japanese facility ON Semiconductor is exploring a sale of its manufacturing facility in Niigata, Japan. The intended sale of the facility is part of the company’s plan to optimise its manufacturing footprint and sharpen its focus on highly differentiated power, analog and sensor products.
New VP of business development at Smith The distributor of electronic components and semiconductors has appointed Renato Souza to the position of Vice President of Business Development. Renato previously served as Vice President, Latin America of Smith since 2017.
Bosch launches 5G tests at Reutlingen wafer fab The German company believes 5G will be a key building block of digitalization and connectivity in manufacturing and logistics. And for that reason, Bosch is now starting compatibility tests and channel measurements for setting up a 5G network in its wafer fab in Reutlingen.
ACM Research receives orders from two new analog/power IC customers The supplier of wafer cleaning technologies for advanced semiconductor devices, has received purchase orders and final stage bidding activities for a total of USD 36 million from two new China-based customers that manufacture analog and power IC devices.
ClassOne's Solstice plating system selected for advanced MicroLEDs Semiconductor equipment manufacturer ClassOne Technology announces the sale of its Solstice GoldPro electroplating system to an unnamed developer of microLED technology for advanced applications.
Jenoptik: order intake down on prior year; order backlog slightly up From January through early March business performance was in line with expectations, but clear impacts of the corona pandemic and increasing uncertainty within the automotive industry became apparent from late March on.
Smiths Detection completes acquisition of PathSensors Smiths Detection has completed the acquisition of PathSensors, a bio-technology solutions and environmental-testing company, based in Baltimore, MD, USA.
Saab divests Dutch-based QPS Saab has divested the Dutch-based company QPS (Quality Positioning Services), a provider of hydrographic software solutions within the global maritime industry. The decision is in line with Saab’s strategy to optimise its product portfolio and increase focus on five core areas.
Eyeing SiC and GaN potential – GlobalWafers team up with NCTU Advancements in 5G and electric vehicle technologies are bringing the mounting demands of power semiconductor. GlobalWafers is teaming up with the National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) to develop the third generation semiconductor material.
Phison expands with new R&D centre Taiwanese NAND Flash controller IC and storage solutions provider, Phison Electronics, broke ground on a new R&D center and inventory management in Guangyuan Science Park in Zhunan township, back in late march.
Infineon swings to loss as the pandemic continues impact target markets “Infineon has so far coped well with the challenging situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As a company, we reacted quickly to the new situation and established a framework that has enabled us to stabilize our business,” says CEO Dr. Reinhard Ploss.
Murata completes new production building The Japanese manufacturer’s subsidiary, Izumo Murata Manufacturing, has completed the construction of a new production facility which started back in August 2019.
Analog Devices team up with Intel to address 5G network design challenges The companies are collaborating to create a flexible radio platform that addresses 5G network design challenges and will enable customers to scale their 5G networks more quickly and economically.
Atlas Copco has acquired the technology and operating assets of iTrap The Swedish company has acquired a technology for process diagnostics and control in the semiconductor industry.
Goodix closes acquisition of Dream Chip Technologies Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co. Ltd., an integrated solution provider, has completed its acquisition of Dream Chip Technologies GmbH (DCT), a fabless German semiconductor technology company.
Rebound Electronics team up with IHS Markit The pace of change in the electronics industry continues unabated for all customer types – OEM, ODM and EMS. This is driven by all component manufacturer types – including semiconductor, passive, connector and electromechanical – dynamically changing pricing, lead time, life cycle management and more.
New management takes the reins at Würth Elektronik eiSos As of the 1st of May 2020, Dirk Knorr and Josef Wörner have been appointed as General Managers for the German business of the Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG, having been a part of the management circle of the company for years.
Seasoned financial and semiconductor executive joins GlobalFoundries GlobalFoundries has appointed David Reeder as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Global Semiconductor Packaging Materials Market to Reach $20.8 Billion by 2024 The global semiconductor packaging materials market will track chip industry growth to expand from USD 17.6 billion in revenue logged in 2019 to USD 20.8 billion in 2024, a 3.4% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), SEMI and TechSearch International forecast.Load more news


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Genshin Impact is getting its new update 1.3 in Feb 2021. However, talks about update 1.5 has already been started and what new content it is going to bring to the game. We will provide you with all the information you need. Here’s everything you need to know.
Genshin Impact- Update 1.5
miHoYo has been consistent in providing new and unique content to the game with every update patch to its game, Genshin Impact. Every new patch comes with new banners and new characters along with new weapons. The recent update 1.3 is going to be launched in February 2021 and the next update 1.4 is going to be released six weeks later than update 1.3’s release. Following this schedule, we can predict the launch of update 1.5 in Genshin Impact along with the characters launches.
Genshin Impact Update 1.5-Release Date
miHoYo has announced that they are going to release a new update for Genshin Impact every six weeks. So, if we consider this, we can say that update 1.5 will be released somewhere near April 2021.
@nep_impact also posted on Twitter regarding the release dates of upcoming updates on Genshin Impact.
Genshin Impact- Update 1.5 expected content
As of now, there is no data for the content that will be coming to Genshin Impact Update 1.5. However, according to YouTuber, Dux characters La Signora and Scaramouche are probably going to be made available as playable characters in update 1.5 or later.
We also have information on Update 1.4 which is expected to be released in March 2021. Update 1.4 will be featuring the return of the character Venti along with a new Mondstadt Festival.
For additional information on update 1.4, head over here.
This is still early to say anything about update 1.5 as there is no data available but we expect that new insights on update 1.5 are going to come to light soon after update 1.3 hits the game. Expect some rich and unique content in the upcoming updates of Genshin Impact.
Genshin Impact- Update 1.3
Update 1.3 is going to be featuring a Lantern festival along with new banners for, Xiao and Keqing as confirmed by miHoYo.
New 4-star weapons are also expected to be released in the new update 1.3. For more details, visit here.
Genshin Impact- Update 1.3 Trailer
The trailer for Update 1.3 was released on Jan 22, 2021, featuring the Lantern festival and character Xiao along with new changes made to the game. The trailer is almost 3 minutes long which helps to give a brief overview of how the game will look in the upcoming update releasing in February 2021.


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ROANOKE, Va. – Trading in riches for the simpler things in life after a traumatic car accident ten years ago, business owner David Hendren says he divorced himself from money and he now lives life on the road.
You may know him as “The Wreath Guy,” known for turning trash into treasure.
Dave Hendren makes wreathes like he lives his life, going with the flow and seeing the beauty in the simple things.
“I used to have retail stores and employees to babysit and I just didn’t want to anymore," said Hendren. "I divorced myself from all of it. I just wanted to travel, I just want to be a free weed. I find work where I go.”
Life on the road ultimately brings him to Roanoke at the beginning of November every year.
“It is really exciting every year when I come back, when I have someone say, ‘It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a wreath from “The Wreath Guy,"' just, I don’t know, it makes me feel really good,” said Hendren.
He earned his name as “The Wreath Guy” a decade ago while backpacking through southeast roanoke.


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Dell Australia has been fined AU$10 million (US$6.5 million) for misleading strikethrough discount bundle pricing offered to buyers with a computer in their web store cart.
TACC's Stampede3 packs Sapphire Rapids with HBM2E memory and Ponte Vecchio compute GPUs.
Thanks to Dell's Black Friday in July sales event, you can pick up the Alienware AW3423DWF QD OLED monitor for under $900
Dell's new everything-but-the-kitchen-sink 32-inch 6K monitor includes IPS Black technology, a built-in 4K webcam, and a 2.5G LAN port.
Dell will start to remove Chinese ICs from products starting in 2025, says a new report, moving steadily to cut all Chinese manufacturing from US-sold products by 2027.
Stay on the Cutting Edge
Join the experts who read Tom's Hardware for the inside track on enthusiast PC tech news — and have for over 25 years. We'll send breaking news and in-depth reviews of CPUs, GPUs, AI, maker hardware and more straight to your inbox.


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In the framework of CES 2019, Samsung showed a preview of its upcoming robotic platforms. One of the robots that showed on stage during the presentation was Samsung Bot Care, designed to monitor the health of users, in certain circumstances. For example, check vital signs, sleep habits, provide important information about the patient’s health, warn about taking medication, etc.
It works just like a virtual assistant, allowing you to receive orders through voice commands. According to the plans that Samsung has shared, in the future, they intend to integrate the possibility of controlling it remotely.
Other proposals designed for the home is Samsung Bot Air, an air quality monitor, which we can also expect to have intelligent functions. On the other hand, Samsung Bot Retail aims to improve the dynamics in factories or facilities, since its dynamics will allow carrying loads or packages from one side to another.
Samsung not only presented its series of robots with varied functions but also mentioned Samsung Bot Gems, an exoskeleton that will make it easier for users to carry heavy loads, without having to make efforts or movements that harm their health.
At the moment, no more details about their robotic projects have been mentioned, so we will have to wait to know the potential of their functions and the dynamics they propose.


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Earlier today Sony accidentally leaked the brand new Xperia Z4 Tablet.
Earlier today Sony accidentally leaked the brand new Xperia Z4 Tablet. The image was posted on the official Xperia Lounge app, which Sony uses to share news with Xperia device owners. Almost as quick as the image went up however, it was retracked.
With World Mobile Congress in Barcelona set to kick off in less than one week, we think it is quite likely that Sony will unveil the latest tablet there.
From the image, we can assume that the tablet will be impressively thin, and looks somehwat similar to the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, which is lightweight and “premium”, according to Sony.
Sony claims it will have a “stunning 2K display”, and the “latest ultra fast processor” with “industry leading battery performance”, which likely to be the Snapdragon 810 SoC.
In addition to the image, the text alongside it claimed that the latest tablet from Sony would have a “stunning 2K display”. Although the report did not include exactly how large the display will be, we think it is unlikely that it will be compact, which means it is likely to be bigger than the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact’s 8-inches.
The text also mentioned the “latest ultra fast processor” with “industry leading battery performance”, which seems an awful lot like the now famous Snapdragon 810 SoC that is lightning fast and an industry favorite.
It is likely that the introduction will come March 3.


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CLOT‘s Edison Chen covers the latest issue of T Magazine. The creative dons a Louis Vuitton mockneck for the cover shoot, while the feature — dubbed “A BUSINESS HAMLET” — reportedly goes in depth with Chen about his brand’s creative shift over the past decade-and-a-half. Chen will explain how he began to approach CLOT from a business standpoint, and where the brand will go from here.
T Magazine‘s new issue hits stores April 16.
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As the smart electric vehicle market enters the stage of large-scale development, the upstream and downstream of the automotive industry chain are ushering in new opportunities and challenges. The picture shows the inauguration ceremony of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Supply Chain (S100) in the automotive industry. The center will work with upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to carry out a series of work such as supply chain risk analysis.
I am afraid that there is no industrial product that can connect all participants in the long supply chain with tens of thousands of parts and components like automobiles. A smart electric vehicle, which is "armed to the teeth" by batteries, various sensors and software, needs to go through more processes than traditional fuel vehicles, from product design definition to driving out of the production line. This means that the automotive supply chain is becoming more complex than ever.
From January to October this year, China's automobile production and sales were 1.10 million and 2401.6 million respectively, an increase of 2396% and 7.8% year-on-year respectively. It is worth mentioning that since the beginning of 9, China's automobile export performance has also been particularly prominent, of which the export of new energy vehicles will be 1,2023 units, a year-on-year increase of 99.5%. The data of both production and sales and soaring exports prove that Chinese automobiles have a first-mover advantage in electrification and intelligence.
At the 2023 Global New Energy and Intelligent Vehicle Supply Chain Innovation Conference held not long ago, representatives from supply chain enterprises such as governments, industry associations, universities and institutes, vehicle companies, automotive chip manufacturers and power battery manufacturers gathered together. In the era of smart electric vehicles, how should OEMs grasp the relationship with suppliers? Will the dominance of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain change hands? This series of issues deserves attention.
We can't do our own thing, we have to rely on integrated development
Zhang Yongwei, vice chairman and secretary general of the China Electric Vehicle 100 Association, believes that as the intelligent electric vehicle market enters the stage of large-scale development, the pattern of the automobile industry has also changed, the automotive industry supply chain has ushered in a new major change, and the core relationship of the automotive supply chain is undergoing major changes. Different from the traditional chain relationship in the past, the automotive supply chain is now evolving into a network structure of "multi-subject participation and more integration of professional division of labor".
"Taking the most common intelligent cockpit screen in a new car as an example, there are dozens of suppliers involved behind a screen. This number is likely to be even higher in the future as technology evolves. Zhang Xiong, deputy general manager of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., said frankly that in the process of developing smart electric vehicles for car companies, the complexity of supply chain management is an unavoidable challenge.
The reporter noted that due to the high requirements of Chinese consumers for the electrification technology and intelligent level of automobiles, more and more foreign-funded car companies have increased their investment in localized R&D in China and have worked closely with local Chinese suppliers.
Wei Jianbin, full-time deputy director of the manufacturing headquarters of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company and general manager of Guangzhou Fengshen Automobile Co., Ltd., said that in the new energy vehicle supply chain, Dongfeng Nissan will accelerate the implementation of the localization strategy, "as long as there are mature suppliers in China, we will adopt them."
Since the beginning of this year, the competition in China's new energy vehicle market has become more intense, and the prices of many new cars have repeatedly fallen. In the face of cost pressure brought about by the price war in the auto market, the relationship between automakers and suppliers has become the focus of the industry. However, there is one industry consensus that can be determined: the upstream and downstream of the automobile industry chain can no longer do their own work, but rely on integrated development.
Pan Yu, vice president of supply chain development of NIO, said that in the face of challenges, NIO's supply chain management strategy can be summed up in three words: mutual trust, mutual integration, and mutual strength. He explained to reporters: "Mutual trust is a transparent supply chain, and the two sides are bound for a long time to create certainty; Mutual integration is joint research, and vehicle companies and supply chain partners come together to overcome various technical difficulties; Mutual strength is to make the industry ecology better through long-term cooperation, so that car companies, partners, and supply chain systems can achieve common development. ”
As a representative of the core supplier of intelligent vehicles, Chen Liming, President of Horizon Robotics, publicly called at the meeting that in the second half of automotive intelligence, he hoped that the automotive supply chain would accelerate the creation of an open ecology and allow supply chain enterprises and vehicle enterprises to achieve win-win cooperation.
"OEMs and supply chain companies should strive to strengthen technical collaboration, explore standardization in hardware, and avoid reinventing wheels, so as to reduce resource waste and improve R&D efficiency." Chen Liming said that in today's mesh supply chain ecology, it is difficult for vehicle companies to control system costs if they do not contact with major parts and functional suppliers.
The upstream and downstream of the industrial chain should make new contributions to the "going overseas" of Chinese automobiles
Zhang Yongwei said that from the overall perspective of the global regional layout, the automotive supply chain is forming a "new triangle pattern of China, the United States and Europe". He also predicted that in the near future, China is likely to become the center of the global automotive supply chain.
On the one hand, China has formed a relatively complete electrification supply chain, which occupies an important position in the world. Taking power batteries as an example, about 70% of the world's battery production capacity is in China at this stage.
On the other hand, China has been the world's largest automobile market for many years, and Chinese consumers have strong and demanding demand for smart electric vehicles, which can drive the development of related domestic industries.
"I hope that China can successfully build a number of world-renowned brands in the field of new energy vehicles, lead the image of Chinese auto brands to the world, and help the high-quality development of China's economy." Liu Pingping, chairman of the China Brand Construction Promotion Association and former deputy director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China, said that considering that the global market has entered the era of brand economy, 20% of the world's well-known brands occupy nearly 80% of the market share, so China's automobile industry chain should also pay attention to the power of the brand when entering the overseas market.
In order to improve the level of supply chain management and strengthen the brand building of China's automotive supply chain, the Collaborative Innovation Center for Supply Chain of the Automotive Industry (S100) came into being at this conference.
It is understood that the center is initiated by the China Electric Vehicle 11 Association, the vehicle enterprises and supply chain enterprises voluntarily set up a third-party coordination platform in the field of automotive supply chain, it will focus on <> key contents, to carry out supply chain risk analysis, to ensure the safe operation of the industrial chain supply chain and a series of work.
"All parties in the industry should be fully aware of the importance of the automotive supply chain, and whether the supply chain management capability is strong or not is related to the cost reduction and quality improvement of enterprises, the introduction of new technologies, and business continuity, which will become the key to determining the life and death of enterprises," Zhang Yongwei reminded, especially in core areas such as materials, batteries, chips, and software, and special attention should be paid to the risk of "breaking the chain and leaving the chain".
"In the era of traditional fuel vehicles, the proportion of key components of Chinese companies is not high, and it is basically dominated by European, American and Japanese companies; However, in the era of smart electric vehicles, the Chinese factor is becoming more and more important, and China's automotive supply chain is expected to become an important global center and create higher value. As Zhang Yongwei said, China should not only contribute to the global automotive industry through trade, but also through the supply chain.
The successful experience of China's power battery, automotive chip companies and vehicle companies over the years shows that building a new automotive supply chain can not only boost Chinese auto brands to go overseas, but also become one of the links between China and the world.
China Youth Daily, China Youth Network reporter Xu Yajie Source: China Youth Daily


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I actually just read a really interesting article related to small + big retail in India:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8121206.stm
Where small is beautiful and bountiful
By Shilpa Kannan
Business reporter, BBC News, Delhi
Shopkeeper Gulshan Rai
Gulshan Rai's store has been a feature of the neighbourhood for decades
Rows of large glass jars holding myriad different Indian spices and dry fruits are being cleaned and polished to prepare for the first customers of the day.
This has been the ritual everyday for over 50 years in Shivaji stores - a brightly lit corner shop located in the central Delhi.
Over 95% of the Indian retail market is made up of small, family run businesses like this one, that has been run by Gulshan Rai's family for generations.
Here the shopkeeper is the friendly confidante, counsellor and even family, for some. He understands the local tastes and customises the products on offer.
"Despite the new malls, our customers keep coming back to us," he beams.
"We provide them with good quality products and people put their trust in us.
"We have been here for over 50 years and are always going to be right here, so they can hold us responsible for anything they are not satisfied with," Gulshan Rai says.
His store is not an exception. Most local shopping markets are bustling with people.
Chaos and credit
At another market nearby, shopkeepers are putting their wares on display on rows of clothes lines.
Women sorting lentils for Shivaji stores
Indian shoppers appreciate the added value they get from small shops
There are long strips of hair clips, colourful bands and other hair accessories.
Most of the shopkeepers cry out to attract the shoppers, who in turn start haggling loudly over the prices.
The sounds, the colours and the smells, along with the chaos, are an integral part of the shopping trip.
Though they seem disorganised, they are generating good business.
These tiny shops stock just what the consumers want and constantly change the products to match the demand.
Shopkeepers here know most of their customers by name, offer credit and will deliver to their doorsteps.
This is an experience that can't be matched by modern retail giants.
But just over a year ago, the country was all set for a retail revolution.
A number of Indian companies set up western-style supermarkets.
In the next 20 years, I can't foresee modern retail being any threat to traditional shops in India
Pinakiranjan Mishra, heads of Ernst & Young's retail and consumer practice
They rented or bought thousands of square feet of retail space to sell everything from vegetables, electronic goods, jewellery and books under one roof.
People thronged these stores for the new experience of shopping in large air-conditioned stores and to get away from the heat outside.
There were even protests by millions of people in the unorganised trade who felt threatened by this growth and feared job losses.
However, two years down the line, some of these big chain stores have had to scale down operations.
Trying to provide the frills of modern retailing, these shops had to bear the burden of sky-high rents in shopping malls, electricity bills and paying the salaries of a large workforce.
Some simply couldn't cope. Many have started to pull down their shutters.
Empty stores looted
The worst-hit among them is Subhiksha - the south Indian retail chain that opened over 1,600 stores in less than two years.
They couldn't sustain the pace at which they expanded and the stores have now been mothballed.
We are investing significantly in personal care and health care products, which cater to rural markets
Rajan Verma, chief financial officer, Dabur India
From over 5,000 employees they have been reduced to less than 50. Unable to pay for security agencies and staff, their stores and warehouses were looted across the country.
Now a group of banks are working on a corporate debt restructuring plan to try and revive the company.
Experts say it's not easy to change Indian shopping habits.
"In the next 20 years, I can't foresee modern retail being any threat to traditional shops in India," says Pinakiranjan Mishra, heads of Ernst & Young's retail and consumer practice.
"If you look at the places where [modern retailing] has a large share of the market, they have good infrastructure, everyone has a vehicle.
"They have the propensity to buy rations for the month and store them - how many people in India have cars to cart such huge rations or refrigerators to store them?"
Indian consumption patterns are not like western patterns, he argues. Here, people shop daily or at the most weekly, not for longer periods.
This is something that Dabur India knows all too well.
In a large research lab outside Delhi, their scientists are working on new and improved shampoos, herbal tonics and health drinks.
Despite the downturn, the company found an increase in sales of products in neighbourhood stores.
So they have turned their focus back onto the smaller outlets for their growth.
As a result, this year, the company has delivered its best growth in nearly a decade.
"Initially when the modern formats were launched, we made an effort to put our products there and they did sell," says Rajan Verma, Dabur's chief financial officer.
"But in the long-run our focus remains neighbourhood shopkeepers... In fact this year ,we are also increasing our focus toward the semi-rural and rural end of our portfolio by investing significantly in personal care and health care products, which cater to rural markets."
Dabur is now looking for acquisitions and recently bought a controlling stake in Fem Care Pharma to enter the skincare market.
The potential is huge. US-based management consultancy AT Kearney has named India as the most attractive retail destination for investors among 30 emerging markets.
Back at the Shivaji store, women in bright sarees are sitting outside in the sun cleaning and packing the lentils and grain.
Whether it's in service or in products, many consumers think these shops give added value.
Both small and large shopkeepers agree that the retail business in India is booming.
But in the fight between traditional practises and modern business, it seems the first round has gone to the small Indian shopkeeper.


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Fashion designer to the stars, Johanna Johnson, is struggling to sweep staff salary issues that led her enterprise into liquidation under the red carpet (Source: A Current Affair)
Embattled fashion designer Johanna Johnson has registered a new company despite her old business being in liquidation and her employees claiming theyre owed tens of thousands of dollars.
The new label, “Johanna Johnson The Label”, lists her husband and sister as directors, with herself as the company secretary. The business is registered at the same address as her old studio, which was declared insolvent in April.
News of Johnson’s new company has not gone down well with former staff, who claim they are owed tens of thousands of dollars.


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SHANGHAI, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- China reported robust growth in both imports and exports of toys in first eight months this year, which consolidated the country's status as a major toy manufacturer and consumer.
During the period, China exported toys valued at nearly 26.4 billion U.S. dollars, up around 37 percent year on year, while imports hit more than 719 million U.S. dollars, a rise of nearly 34 percent from a year earlier, according to the China Toy & Juvenile Products Association Wednesday.
In addition, Chinese-made juvenile products saw a year-on-year increase of 5.7 percent in exports and 9.3 percent in imports from January to August, the association said.
Chinese manufacturers have done a better job this year, as exports of toys saw year-on-year growth of 9.5 percent in 2016.
Thanks to industrial upgrading, Chinese manufacturers of toys and juvenile products have improved their production capacity, R&D and business negotiation, and sustained rising labor costs, said Liang Mei, head of the association.
Goodbaby, for example, has seen growth of more than 40 percent in revenue from Europe this year. It takes up nearly 30 percent of the car seat market in the United States and around 40 percent in Europe.
"In the past, Chinese companies only manufactured, did not design or sell products. But now we can do all and are more competitive," said Song Zheng, founder of Goodbaby.
The association predicted that domestic market for toys would reach 60.7 billion yuan (9.2 billion U.S. dollars) this year, an increase of 9.2 percent year on year, and that growth of 15 percent, 35 percent and 24 percent in the market size of strollers, car seats and feeding bottles.
China has more than 10,000 toy manufacturers with about 6 million employees. From 2011 to 2015, Chinese-made toys accounted for 73 percent of the toys bought globally.


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While Amazon, which is locked in a fierce legal battle with the Kishore Biyani-led Future Group, has been running an advertising campaign since 2016 with the tagline ‘India ki Apni Dukaan’ (India’s own shop), Big Bazaar’s tagline will now read ‘India ki Asli Dukan’ (India’s original shop), said people familiar with the development.
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Big Bazaar’s move comes at a time, when the debt-laden Future Group is looking at ways to put its assets to better use, while its Rs 24,700-crore proposed deal with Reliance (RIL) hangs in the balance. RIL had announced in August last year that it was buying out the retail and wholesale business of Future Group, but Amazon — with a minority stake in an unlisted Future Group company — subsequently dragged the Mumbai-headquartered retailer to court, alleging that the proposed deal violated contractual agreements.
A Future Group spokesperson refused to comment, while a questionnaire emailed to Amazon remained unanswered till the time of going to the press.
“Apart from the ‘Asli Dukan’ moniker, we have played on the word ‘Amazing’ by using terms such as Amazing Service, Amazing Prices, Amazing Products and Amazing Deals,” said the executive.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- ET Markets
- Learn more about our print editionMore
- Investors Want Bloomberg Barclays to Bond with India
Top US funds have urged managers of the Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets bond index to advance a scheduled review to early October so that a decision on India, now featuring on the competing JP Morgan gauge, can be brought forward by a quarter to give bulge-bracket investors tracking the benchmark an option to incrementally buy about $25 billion of bonds issued by one of the least indebted major economies.Gold Buyers Take a Shine to Monthly Schemes
Consumers might be buying less gold amid record-high prices, but top retail chains are seeing a surge in jewellery purchased through deferred or monthly payment schemes. Some of the big jewellery retailers saw over a 50% rise in purchases through monthly schemes.NSE Plans Longer F&O Trading Hours
The National Stock Exchange, India’s largest bourse, is finalizing plans to extend trading hours for equity derivatives, said three people with knowledge of the matter.
ETPrime stories of the day
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Stimulus check payment: what are the IRS alternatives?
As negotiations for the new bailout continue, the Inland Revenue Service is considering alternatives for distributing the second Economic Impact Payment.
Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a bipartisan agreement to launch a new economic relief package, however, as the negotiations continue, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is considering alternative methods for the distribution of the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). It’s worth noting that these stimulus checks, although having support across party lines, are still subject to that crucial agreement being made and President Donald Trump adding his signature to it.
In order to expedite the payments in the, almost certain, second round, several reports have stated that the IRS could substitute the sending of printed checks with prepaid debit cards (EIP cards). These cards were already used during the first round, as part of the CARES Act provisions, and were sent to around four million Americans, proving to be an efficient means.
First stimulus check: who received the EIP card as payment?
According to the official IRS website, the citizens who benefited from the distribution of the EIP card during the first round of stimulus checks were those who did not have available bank information.
Having account details allowed the IRS to transfer the money via direct deposits. Those issued a card were also at the lower end of the income scale.
Second stimulus check: who will receive the EIP card?
In order to expedite payments, those US citizens who already have their EIP card will only have to wait for the IRS to reload the corresponding payment from the second stimulus check onto it. Then it can be used as before.
However, for those people that do not already have one, and who do not have appropriate bank details for a direct transfer, they are likely to receive an EIP debit card instead of the printed check they may have had in the first round.
To find out if the payment will come to you via the card, you can check its status through the invaluable IRS tool, Get my Payment. Also, if you are eligible for the EIP card, the IRS will send a letter to the postal address previously registered with the government agency 15 days after the payment is made, informing you about the money, the payment method and what to do if you did not receive it.
Of course, we are still awaiting concrete news on a deal being reached for this to happen, and for the long-touted second stimulus check to become a reality. In the event that this agreement arrives during the first two weeks of September, it is estimated that the payment of the second check will begin to be distributed at the end of the month or by the beginning of October.


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Is Wi-Fi iPad Bug Delaying Apple's iOS 4.2 Release?
Several prominent Mac-centric websites and blogs are reporting that Wi-Fi connectivity bug affecting the iPad is preventing Apple from releasing iOS 4.2, the update to the mobile operating system powering its wildly popular iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.
According to a posting on the MacStories website, developers who got their hands on the Gold Master release of the app have had trouble making and sustaining a Wi-Fi connections with their iPads.
"Wi-Fi issues came up with the (Gold Master) build Apple released on Nov. 1," according to today's post on MacStories. "Apple may release a second GM build as early as tomorrow to deal with Wi-Fi issues."
"This will delay the rumored Nov. 12 release for at least a week while it is tested, but may not get public release until the following week as it appears Apple will be testing it vigorously," it added.
Apple officials were not immediately available to comment on the purported iPad Wi-Fi glitch or the timeline for the eventual release of iOS 4.2.
Other blogs and Apple-tracking websites and bulletin boards including MacRumors have offered conflicting reports with some posters claiming they've had no troubles with the Gold Master release and others reiterating the faltering connectivity issue.
"I've never had problems with WiFi and my iPad," a poster identified as "lozpop" wrote on the MacRumors forum. "Ironically, since I've installed the 4.2 Golden Master, WiFi is clearly having problems."
Another poster, calling himself "Don Kosak" wrote, "Hmmm, no problems so far. The apps I'm testing both heavily use the Internet connection."
While Apple itself never set a specific release date for iOS 4.2, several sources, including one identified by MacStories as an "unnamed AT&T source," said they were told the update would be released at 10 a.m. PT today.
When Apple CEO Steve Jobs first detailed the new features that would be included in the iOS 4.2 release in September, he said it was "all about the iPad," promising to bring multitasking features to the iPad and wireless printing functionality, via AirPrint, that would allow users to print from any printer remotely.
But this week's release of the Mac OS X 10.6.5 update didn't include AirPrint, setting off rampant speculation that it would not be included in today's expected release of iOS 4.2.
For now, Apple fans are left to wait, wonder and commiserate over what an iPad Wi-Fi flaw they say is keeping them from establishing a connection.
Basically, even if the iPad manages to successfully connect to a local network, the connection is lost after a few minutes," MacStories reports. "This seems to be the most common problem among users, although some cant simply use Safari at all. The bug has been reported to Apple, and they apparently decided to delay the release of iOS 4.2 to fix the bug."


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If you, like me, like to collect single-use shower toiletry bottles, you won’t find any in Marriott International hotels worldwide.
And that is a good thing.
The brand announced that it’s expanding an initiative to replace tiny, single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bath gel with larger, recyclable pump-topped bottles alternative in their guestrooms.
Marriott has already rolled out larger bottles at about 1 000 properties in North America, and its other hotels are expected to make the switch by December 2020.
If implemented globally, the brand's toiletry programme will help prevent about 500 million tiny bottles annually from going to landfills.