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Posts Tagged ‘Network Operator’
It seems European network operators have complained to the European Union about apple’s unfair iPhone contracts.
The report comes from the New York Times. It reports, “European Union regulators are examining the contracts Apple strikes with cellphone carriers that sell its iPhone for possible antitrust violations after several carriers complained that the deals throttled competition.
“Although they have not filed formal complaints, a group of European wireless carriers recently submitted information about their contracts with Apple to the European Commission, according to a person briefed on the communications with the carriers who asked not to be identified.
“This person said the accusations focused on Apple’s contracts with French carriers, though other countries may also be involved.”
The European Commission’s spokesperson, Antoine Colombani, said in a statement, “We have been contacted by industry participants and we are monitoring the situation, but no antitrust case has been opened.”
Natalie Kerris, an Apple spokesperson, said, “Our contracts fully comply with local laws wherever we do business, including the E.U.”
If these anonymous European network operators’ claims are true, it looks like Apple is facing an antitrust case.
Do you think Apple is enforcing unfair iPhone contracts on European network operators? Let us know what you think through a comment on our Facebook page.
Network operator O2 has increased its prices. The network will be adding 3.2% to every customer’s monthly bill starting in February of 2013. Unfortunately, you can’t cancel your contract. This is bad news if you’ve signed up for a contract with the network to get your hands on devices such as the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S3.
O2 says on their website, “We’ve always done everything possible to give you great value. And keep your bills down.
“To date, we’ve held off putting our tariff prices up for as long as possible. Even when our competitors raised theirs.
“But now, because of inflation, we need to change the price of your tariff.
“From 28 February 2013, your line rental will go up by 3.2%. That’s in line with the current rate of inflation as at December 2012 when we made the announcement.
“You’ll see the increase on the first bill you get after 28 February 2013.”
Apparently, the price hike is due to inflation. This means that the rates for making calls, sending text messages, and data will remain unchanged.
O2 says, “What you pay for making calls, sending texts and using data isn’t affected by this increase. It’s just the mobile line rental for your Pay Monthly tariff.
“You don’t need to do anything. But if you want to work out what the price increase means for you and your mobile tariff, use our calculator.”
O2 suffered from two issues that resulted in outages this year. With a 3.2% increase in your monthly bill starting in February of 2013, you must be fuming. You may even be considering cancelling your contract. According to O2, you can take this course of action, but it will cost you.
O2 says on its frequently asked questions section, “You can. But as our terms and conditions allow us to put our prices up once every 12 months due to inflation, there would be a fee if you wanted to end your contract early.”
This means that you’re better off paying the additional 3.2%per month rather spending an arm and a leg for cancelling your contract early.
Will you be sticking with O2, or will you saying sayonara the first chance you get? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.
Who doesn’t love using mobile instant messaging apps available on our smartphones? Instead of spending on text messages, more users send and receive free messages via mobile IMs. You may be enjoying free messaging apps such as the Blackberry Messenger (BBM), Apple’s iMessage, Facebook Chat, and Samsung’s ChatOn on smartphones such as the Bold Touch 9900, iPhone 4S, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but it is apparently making network operators around the world lose money, suggests a new report.
According to Ovum’s research, messaging apps or mobile instant messaging services are responsible for network operators losing profits amounting to $13.9 billion (approximately £8.8 billion), since a lot of mobile users make use of their data plans to send and receive messages rather than making use of the conventional text messaging.
Ovum suggests that network operators should tie up with phone manufacturers and app developers in the search for alternative methods of gaining back the revenues lost from messaging apps. However, despite Ovum’s findings, BBC says that the research firm failed to take account the amount of profits networks gain when charging customers data fees.
Do you still send and receive text messages, or are you one of the growing number of phone users who would rather make use of free messaging apps? Do think network operators are losing profits due to these IMs, or do you think they make up for these losses through data charges? Give us your thoughts.


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The Zumiez BTS Hoodies has been a long time coming, but it's definitely worth the wait. The two companies announced that their merchandise would be available on February 25th. Although many employees did not know about the collab until the recent announcement, some workers still questioned V's statement on Instagram Stories. Regardless, Zumiez will be releasing a limited edition collection of BTS merchandise in the next few weeks.
The brand released photos of its BTS merch on its Twitter account, which went viral. While it's hard to tell exactly how much the items will cost, many fans were ecstatic when they found out that they'd be able to buy some of the merch they wanted. While some fans had high expectations, some ARMYs and merch enthusiasts hoped to pay under $100. The merchandise is not terribly expensive, but it's worth considering if the price is affordable to you.

domain: news


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shadowknot writes: The New York Times is reporting (Warning: may be paywalled; alternate source) that Erich Bloch who helped to develop the IBM Mainframe has died at the age of 91 as a result of complications from Alzheimer's disease. From the article: "In the 1950s, he developed the first ferrite-core memory storage units to be used in computers commercially and worked on the IBM 7030, known as Stretch, the first transistorized supercomputer. 'Asked what job each of us had, my answer was very simple and very direct,' Mr. Bloch said in 2002. 'Getting that sucker working.' Mr. Bloch's role was to oversee the development of Solid Logic Technology -- half-inch ceramic modules for the microelectronic circuitry that provided the System/360 with superior power, speed and memory, all of which would become fundamental to computing."
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An anonymous reader quotes a report from NPR: An unmanned cargo rocket bound for the International Space Station was destroyed after takeoff on Thursday. The Russian rocket took off as planned from Baikonur, Kazahkstan, on Thursday morning but stopped transmitting data about six minutes into its flight, as NPR's Rae Ellen Bichell reported: "'Russian officials say the spacecraft failed [...] when it was about 100 miles above a remote part of Siberia. The ship was carrying more than 2 1/2 tons of supplies -- including food, fuel and clothes. Most of that very likely burned up as the unmanned spacecraft fell back toward Earth. NASA says the six crew members on board the International Space station, including two Americans, are well stocked for now.'" This is the fourth botched launch of an unmanned Russian rocket in the past two years. Roscomos officials wrote in an update today: "According to preliminary information, the contingency took place at an altitude of about 190 km over remote and unpopulated mountainous area of the Republic of Tyva. The most of cargo spacecraft fragments burned in the dense atmosphere. The State Commission is conducting analysis of the current contingency. The loss of the cargo ship will not affect the normal operations of the ISS and the life of the station crew."
According to French media, a court in the department of Ardeche on Tuesday sentenced a 32-year-old man in France to two years in prison for repeatedly visiting pro-ISIS websites -- even though there was no indication he planned to stage a terrorist attack. Police raided his house and found the man's browsing history. They also found pro-ISIS images and execution videos on his phone, personal computer, and a USB stick, an ISIS flag wallpaper on his computer, and a computer password that was "13novembrehaha," referencing the Paris terrorist attacks that left 130 people dead. Slashdot reader future guy shares with us an excerpt from The Verge's report: In court, the man argued that he visited the sites out of curiosity. "I wanted to tell the difference between real Islam and the false Islam, now I understand," he said, according to FranceBleu. But the man reportedly admitted to not reading other news sites or international press, and family members told the court that his behavior had recently changed. He became irritated when discussing religion, they said, and began sporting a long beard with harem pants. A representative from the Ardeche court confirmed to The Verge that there was no indication that the man had any plans to launch an attack. In addition to the two-year prison sentence, he will have to pay a 30,000 euros (roughly $32,000) fine.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: Apple plans to use drones and new indoor navigation features to improve its Maps service and catch longtime leader Google (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternate link), according to people familiar with the matter. The Cupertino, California-based company is assembling a team of robotics and data-collection experts that will use drones to capture and update map information faster than its existing fleet of camera-and-sensor ladened minivans, one of the people said. Apple wants to fly drones around to do things like examine street signs, track changes to roads and monitor if areas are under construction, the person said. The data collected would be sent to Apple teams that rapidly update the Maps app to provide fresh information to users, the person added. Apple is also developing new features for Maps, including views inside buildings and improvements to car navigation, another person familiar with the efforts said. Apple filed for an exemption on Sept. 21, 2015, from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones for commercial purposes, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg News. At that time, exemptions were required to commercially operate drones. In a response dated March 22, 2016, the FAA granted Apple approval to "operate an unmanned aircraft system to conduct data collection, photography, and videography," according to one of the documents. Apple's application told the FAA that it would use a range of drones sold by companies such as SZ DJI Technology Co. and Aibotix GmbH to collect the data. Apple has hired at least one person from Amazon's Prime Air division to help run the drone team, one of the people said.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Lenovo Moto today confirmed that it will not be releasing a new smartwatch for the launch of Android Wear 2.0, due early next year. The company had earlier said it would not be releasing a new smartwatch in 2016, but it is now saying that it doesn't plan to put out a new device timed to the arrival of Google's newest wearable platform, either. Shakil Barkat, head of global product development at Moto, said the company doesn't "see enough pull in the market to put [a new smartwatch] out at this time," though it may revisit the market in the future should technologies for the wrist improve. "Wearables do not have broad enough appeal for us to continue to build on it year after year," Barkat said, and indicated that smartwatches and other wearable devices will not be in Moto's annual device roadmap. Whether or not Moto does jump back into the smartwatch market is still up in the air, but Barkat is leaving the possibility open. "We believe the wrist still has value and there will be a point where they provide value to consumers more than they do today," Barkat said. But it doesn't appear that we'll be getting a new Moto 360 or other smartwatch any time in the near future. Google announced back in September that it would be delaying the launch of Android Wear 2.0 from this fall to next year. LG and Huawei have also confirmed that they would not be releasing new smartwatches until at least next year.
Nokia said Thursday mobile phones carrying its brand will make a comeback via a new venture that will reunite the Nokia brand with veteran Nokia execs who aim to move into smartphones capitalizing on an existing operation that sells low-cost basic phones. From a report on BBC: It's thanks to a deal with a small team based at a business park on the fringes of Helsinki, who are engaged in what will seem to many a foolhardy mission. They call themselves HMD Global -- and they believe they can make Nokia a big name in mobile phones once again. I met Arto Nummela, Pekka Rantala and Florian Seiche in a cafe on what is still the Nokia campus. That very day Arto and Pekka had stopped working for the Nokia Windows mobile phone business owned by Microsoft -- because they had acquired both it and the Nokia brand to start their new business. Yes, it is complicated, but so is the recent history of what was just a few years back Europe's technology superpower and the biggest force in mobile phones. After the launch of the iPhone in 2007, Nokia faltered and by 2011 was on what its first American chief executive, Stephen Elop, called a burning platform. Then, the phone business was sold to Microsoft, which soon found it had made a disastrous purchase as the Nokia Windows combination failed to claim a significant slice of a market dominated by Apple's iOS and Android. Now, the Finnish business -- which remained a big force in telecoms infrastructure after the sale of the mobile unit -- has licensed the Nokia brand to HMD Global, which aims to take it back to the future.
According to a report from The Information, Fitbit is buying smartwatch maker Pebble for a "small amount" of money. One source says Fitbit is paying between $34 and $40 million for the company and is "barely covering their debts." TechCrunch reports: A source close to the company told TechCrunch that watch maker Citizen was interested in purchasing Pebble for $740 million in 2015. This deal failed and before the launch of the Pebble 2 Intel made an offer for $70 million. The CEO, Eric Migicovsky refused both offers. Pebble released the newest version of its smartwatch in October, but the past year or so has been a challenging period. It laid off 25 percent of its staff in March, while we reported last year that it was in some trouble and had turned to debt funding and loans, as well as traditional investor cash, "in order to stay afloat." Earlier this year, Pebble CEO Migicovsky confirmed that his company had raised $28 million in debt and venture financing. He blamed a more cautious outlook from VCs focused on tech as the primary reason for letting 40 of Pebble's staff go.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Seagate and Amazon have partnered up on a $99 1TB external hard drive that automatically backs up everything stored on it to the cloud. The Seagate Duet drive's contents are cloned to Amazon Drive, so you can be pretty confident that your important stuff will be safe. Getting set up with the cloud backup process requires plugging in the drive, signing in with your Amazon account -- and that's pretty much it, from the sounds of it. Drag and drop files over, and you'll be able to access them from the web or Amazon's Drive app on smartphones and tablets. If you're new to the Drive service, Seagate claims you'll get a year of unlimited storage just for buying the hard drive, which normally costs $59.99 annually. Amazon's listing for the Duet (the only way to buy it right now) confirms as much, but there's some fine print: Offer is U.S.-only; Not valid for current Amazon Drive Unlimited Storage paid subscription customers; You've got to redeem the promo code within two months of buying the hard drive if you want the year's worth of unlimited cloud storage; If you return the Duet, Amazon says it will likely reduce your 12 months of unlimited Drive storage down to three, which beats taking it away altogether, I guess.
At a meeting with shareholders Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was asked numerous times what the company is doing about Windows Phones, and why do they keep hearing that Microsoft is abandoning smartphone manufacturer business. The stakeholders also asked why the company is seemingly focusing more on Android and iOS rival platforms instead of its own. From a report on GeekWire: Microsoft shareholder Dana Vance, owner of a Windows Phone and a Microsoft Band, said he received an email about the Microsoft Pix app but was surprised to learn that it was available for iPhone and Android but not Windows Phone. Ditto for Microsoft Outlook. He also alluded to reports that Microsoft has put the Band on the back burner. Given this, he asked Nadella to explain the company's vision for its consumer devices. As part of his response, Nadella said Microsoft's Windows camera and mail apps will include the same features as in Microsoft's apps for other platforms. "When we control things silicon-up, that's how we will integrate those experiences," Nadella said. The company will "build devices that are unique and differentiated with our software capability on top of it -- whether it's Surface or Surface Studio or HoloLens or the phone -- and also make our software applications available on Android and iOS and other platforms. That's what I think is needed in order for Microsoft to help you as a user get the most out of our innovation." Another shareholder, who says he uses his Windows Phone "18 hours a day," said he has heard Microsoft is "stepping away from mobile." He asked, "Can you calm me down ... and tell me what your vision is for mobile?" Nadella answered, "We think about mobility broadly. In other words, we think about the mobility of the human being across all of the devices, not just the mobility of a single device. That said, we're not stepping away or back from our focus on our mobile devices," Nadella said. "What we are going to do is focus that effort on places where we have differentiation. If you take Windows Phone, where we are differentiated on Windows Phone is on manageability. It's security, it's Continuum capability -- that is, the ability to have a phone that can act like a PC. So we're going to double-down on those points of differentiation."
PC shipments will continue to decline in 2016, according to a new IDC forecast, but the drop will be slightly lower than previously expected. What's more, things will improve even more in 2017. BetaNews adds: IDC expects PC vendors to ship a total of 258.2 million units this year, a figure which would be 6.4 percent lower than last year. The previous estimate was a 7.2 percent fall, which IDC announced in August. Growth will still be negative in 2017, but shipments are expected to decrease by just 2.6 percent compared to this year. IDC believes that commercial shipments of notebooks will grow this year, while desktops should stay flat in terms of growth. The pressure from mobile devices is said to decrease as the markets mature. The tablet market, in particular, is not as big of a concern or threat as it sees declining shipments as well. "The PC market continues to perform close to expectations", says IDC Worldwide Tracker Forecasting and PC research vice president Loren Loverde. "Some volatility in emerging regions is being offset by incremental gains in larger mature markets while the interaction with tablets and phones is stabilizing. We continue to see steady progression toward smaller desktops and notebooks as replacement buying helps stabilize overall shipments in the coming years".
Kamuthi in Tamil Nadu, India is now home to the world's largest solar plant that adds 648 MW to the country's generating capacity. Previously, the Topaz Solar Farm in California, which was completed two years ago and has a capacity of 550 MW, held the title. Aljazeera reports: The solar plant, built in an impressive eight months, is cleaned every day by a robotic system, charged by its own solar panels. At full capacity, it is estimated to produce enough electricity to power about 150,000 homes. The project is comprised of 2.5 million individual solar modules, and cost $679 million to build. The new plant has helped nudge India's total installed solar capacity across the 10 GW mark, according to a statement by research firm Bridge to India, joining only a handful of countries that can make this claim. As solar power increases, India is expected to become the world's third-biggest solar market from next year onwards, after China and the U.S.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford, and Volkswagen have entered into a partnership to create a network of high-speed charging stations for electric vehicles across Europe. The new chargers will be capable of doling out up to 350 kW of power -- which would make them almost three times as powerful as Tesla's Supercharging stations. The result will be "the highest-powered charging network in Europe," according to a statement released by the manufacturers. The automakers say that construction will begin in 2017 with "about 400 sites" being targeted, and that the network will have "thousands of high-powered charging points" available by 2020. Those four major conglomerates will be "equal partners" in the joint venture, but according to the statement they are encouraging other manufacturers to "participate in the network." One of the reasons for bothering to call on other automakers to hook into this system is because there's a standards war happening with fast charging networks. The charging network announced today will use the Combined Charging System (CCS) technology, which is what that most major automakers already use for their EVs. But Nissan, Toyota, and Honda are notable holdouts from CCS, because many of their EVs and plug-in hybrids use a competing standard known as CHAdeMO.
An anonymous reader writes:One of the things an Apple Mac can do that Windows 10 machines can't do -- at least easily and completely legally -- is run both Windows and MacOS. Interestingly, it's Apple's Boot Camp utility that makes this feat possible, which essentially enables Macs of all flavors to boot directly to Windows 10 and use the Mac as if it were a Windows machine. Usually, this is a fairly straightforward process that works well, with the resulting Boot Camp configuration doing fairly well at mimicking a Windows 10 machine with a few hardware limitations. As of the 2016 MacBook Pro machines, however, it appears that Boot Camp might be causing some serious and uncharacteristic audio issues. It appears that the new speakers running on the refreshed MacBook Pro line aren't working so well with the obsolete drivers provided in the current version of MacOS Sierra Boot Camp. Users are reporting the issue on all models of the 2016 MacBook Pro, and they are not experiencing the issue in MacOS. Virtual machines using Parallels or other software are also not experiencing the issue, providing more support of a bad audio driver causing the problem in Boot Camp.
Amazon's Echo speakers have garnered a lot of interest over the past few months. Many people believe that they like Amazon Echo because of how easy it's to operate -- there is no display, you talk with Alexa, Amazon's digital assistant, which is reasonably good at understanding your queries. But in what seems like a deviation from the idea that made Echos so popular, Amazon is reportedly working on an Echo-like speaker, only this time it is more premium and has a 7-inch display, too. From a report on Bloomberg: The new device will have a touchscreen measuring about seven inches, a major departure from Amazon's existing cylindrical home devices that are controlled and respond mostly through the company's voice-based Alexa digital assistant, according to two people familiar with the matter. This will make it easier to access content such as weather forecasts, calendar appointments, and news, the people said. The latest Amazon speaker will be larger and tilt upwards so the screen can be seen when it sits on a counter and the user is standing, one of the people said.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Space.com: New technology could use X-rays to transmit data at high rates over vast distances in outer space, as well as enable communications with hypersonic vehicles during re-entry, when radio communications are impossible, NASA scientists say. The technology would combine multiple NASA projects currently in progress to demonstrate the feasibility of X-ray communications from outside the International Space Station. The radio waves used by mobile phones, Wi-Fi and, of course, radios, are one kind of light. Other forms of light can carry data as well; for instance, fiber-optic telecommunications rely on pulses of visible and near-infrared light. The effort to use another type of light, X-rays, for communication started with research on NASA's proposed Black Hole Imager. That mission is designed to analyze the edges of the supermassive black holes that previous research suggested exist at the centers of most, if not all, large galaxies. One potential strategy to enable the Black Hole Imager was to develop a constellation of precisely aligned spacecraft to collect X-rays emitted from the edges of those black holes. Keith Gendreau, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, thought of developing X-ray emitters that these spacecraft could use as navigational beacons to make sure they stayed in position relative to one another. The system would keep them aligned down to a precision of just 1 micron, or about one-hundredth the average width of a human hair. Gendreau then reasoned that by modulating or varying the strength or frequency of these X-ray transmissions on and off many times per second, these navigational beacons could also serve as a communication system. Such X-ray communication, or XCOM, might, in theory, permit gigabit-per-second data rates throughout the solar system, he said. One advantage that XCOM has compared to laser communication in deep space is that X-rays have shorter wavelengths than the visible or infrared light typically used in laser communication. Moreover, X-rays can penetrate obstacles that impede radio communication.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from BBC: Japan's government estimates the cost of cleaning up radioactive contamination and compensating victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster has more than doubled, reports say. The latest estimate from the trade ministry put the expected cost at some 20 trillion yen ($180 billion). The original estimate was for $50 billion, which was increased to $100 billion three years later. The majority of the money will go towards compensation, with decontamination taking the next biggest slice. Storing the contaminated soil and decommissioning are the two next greatest costs. The compensation pot has been increased by about 50% and decontamination estimates have been almost doubled. The BBC's Japan correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, says it is still unclear who is going to pay for the clean up. Japan's government has long promised that Tokyo Electric Power, the company that owns the plant, will eventually pay the money back. But on Monday it admitted that electricity consumers would be forced to pay a portion of the clean up costs through higher electricity bills. Critics say this is effectively a tax on the public to pay the debt of a private electricity utility.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have found a way to convert thousands of tons of nuclear waste into man-made diamond batteries that can generate a small electric current for thousands of years. New Atlas reports: How to dispose of nuclear waste is one of the great technical challenges of the 21st century. The trouble is, it usually turns out not to be so much a question of disposal as long-term storage. Disposal, therefore is more often a matter of keeping waste safe, but being able to get at it later when needed. One unexpected example of this is the Bristol team's work on a major source of nuclear waste from Britain's aging Magnox reactors, which are now being decommissioned after over half a century of service. These first generation reactors used graphite blocks as moderators to slow down neutrons to keep the nuclear fission process running, but decades of exposure have left the UK with 104,720 tons of graphite blocks that are now classed as nuclear waste because the radiation in the reactors changes some of the inert carbon in the blocks into radioactive carbon-14. Carbon-14 is a low-yield beta particle emitter that can't penetrate even a few centimeters of air, but it's still too dangerous to allow into the environment. Instead of burying it, the Bristol team's solution is to remove most of the c-14 from the graphite blocks and turn it into electricity-generating diamonds. The nuclear diamond battery is based on the fact that when a man-made diamond is exposed to radiation, it produces a small electric current. According to the researchers, this makes it possible to build a battery that has no moving parts, gives off no emissions, and is maintenance-free. The Bristol researchers found that the carbon-14 wasn't uniformly distributed in the Magnox blocks, but is concentrated in the side closest to the uranium fuel rods. To produce the batteries, the blocks are heated to drive out the carbon-14 from the radioactive end, leaving the blocks much less radioactive than before. c-14 gas is then collected and using low pressures and high temperatures is turned into man-made diamonds. Once formed, the beta particles emitted by the c-14 interact with the diamond's crystal lattice, throwing off electrons and generating electricity. The diamonds themselves are radioactive, so they are given a second non-radioactive diamond coating to act as a radiation shield.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Google: With initial Pixel pre-orders exceeding expectations and promising activation numbers from Verizon, Google is on track to sell three million phones with revenues of $2 billion in 2016. The Morgan Stanley estimate comes as the Pixel reportedly captured 10% of the premium smartphone market in India. Unsurprisingly, the 128GB Pixel XL has the largest gross profit margin at 25%, while the cheapest 32GB Pixel is at 22%. Morgan Stanley also estimates that, compared to the iPhone, the Pixel will be half as profitable. Morgan Stanley expects Google to sell 5-6 million Pixel and Pixel XL devices in 2017 to the tune of $3.8 billion in revenue. Google is also expected to make money from increased usage of services like Android Pay and mobile search. Google's big gains were possibly due in part to Samsung's Note 7 debacle, with the company's marketshare falling to 23%. Apple captured the number one position at 66%. Additionally, Google benefitted from running a number of promotions, including cashback and exchange programs. The company also heavily advertised in newspapers, with billboards, and for the first time displays in large retail stores.
An anonymous reader writes: "A vehicle from self-driving truck maker Otto will travel a 35-mile stretch of U.S. Route 33 on Monday in central Ohio..." reports the Associated Press. The truck "will travel in regular traffic, and a driver in the truck will be positioned to intervene should anything go awry, Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning said Friday, adding that 'safety is obviously No. 1.'"
Ohio sees this route as "a corridor where new technologies can be safely tested in real-life traffic, aided by a fiber-optic cable network and sensor systems slated for installation next year" -- although next week the truck will also start driving on the Ohio Turnpike.
Ohio sees this route as "a corridor where new technologies can be safely tested in real-life traffic, aided by a fiber-optic cable network and sensor systems slated for installation next year" -- although next week the truck will also start driving on the Ohio Turnpike.
Quantum-dot televisions promise "better picture quality and are also cheaper to manufacture than organic light-emitting diode sets," ZDNet reports. And now Samsung has confirmed their acquisition of Massachusetts-based QD Vision for $70 million, according to this article shared by Dthief: QD Vision, previously known as Color IQ, is a specialist in quantum dot display technology. Developed for displays including PC monitors and television sets, quantum-dot technology uses semiconductor nanoparticles to change the properties of quantum dots, improving color definition and sharpness... QD Vision will become part of Samsung's research and development unit in the hope of creating quantum-dot LED displays suitable for the consumer market which could, in turn, become a strong competitor against OLED displays... The agreement follows Samsung's pledge earlier this year to launch a total of 14 SUHD television models this year, all of which use quantum dot technology.


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Xbox Streaming VP Promises PC/iOS Functionality Soon With A Literal Wink
We don't know exactly when cloud streaming is coming to PC and iOS, but according to xCloud VP Kevin LaChapelle, it's not far off.
Microsoft is still planning to bring its xCloud streaming functionality to PC and iOS devices, and it may be coming sooner than you'd think. A new overview video from Xbox features xCloud Platform VP Kevin LaChapelle dropping a not-too-subtle hint that the rollout is getting close.
The video is formatted as an overview, so most of it reviews the basics of everything we know about the cloud gaming functionality. Near the end, though, it raises the question of cloud gaming on iOS, prompting a response from LaChapelle.
"Oh yes. We've already announced that we're bringing it to iOS and PC early this year. So I won't give you specific dates, but it's not--not very far." In case that wasn't enough, he visibly winks at the camera.
To be clear, "not very far" could mean a lot of things, from days to weeks. And early 2021 is still a very wide release window that technically covers anytime through June. But the implication is certainly that it's just around the corner.
Cloud gaming is already available on Android devices, and is bundled with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. The functionality has taken longer to come to iOS, at least in part because of Apple's strict rules for apps from the App Store. That means that when it does come to iOS, it will be through a mobile browser rather than through the dedicated Xbox Game Pass app. The PC version of the service doesn't face similar hurdles, but it seems as if Microsoft is aiming for its cloud gaming to launch on both at once. Game Pass on PC also recently got a significant boost to its offerings with the addition of the EA Play library.


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Industrial Management: Autos
How Long Will Motown Be Motown?
Plants are sprouting elsewhere, but Detroit has a lock on R&D
Quick, what's the automotive assembly capital of North America? Yes, it's still Michigan--but maybe not for long. The state produced 3.1 million cars, just a hair ahead of the 3 million made in Ontario in 1999. What's more, capacity is growing faster in the Canadian province, putting Ontario on track to usurp the title in the next couple of years.
Are carmakers forsaking Michigan? Not at all. But they are expanding their operations in other regions much more aggressively than in past years. Since 1990, Michigan has increased its capacity by a total of 16%, according to data from Ward's Automotive Reports. In the same period, however, capacity exploded in nontraditional regions. Production in Ontario grew by 61% over the decade and by as much as 135% in the southeastern U.S. and northern Mexico.
At the root of this drift away from Michigan is a single factor: lower costs. In Canada, lower health-care payments have been a big draw. U.S. auto makers, as well as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., all have major facilities in Canada, where they save about $500 per vehicle in health-care costs compared with U.S. plants, estimates Dennis DesRosiers, president of Toronto-based DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. Also, with the Canadian dollar perennially lagging the U.S. dollar, it's cheaper to produce goods across the border, he says.
That helps to explain all the recent plant construction in Ontario. Honda plans to build about 40,000 of its Acura luxury SUVs per year at a new plant in Allisonton. In Cambridge, Toyota is expanding a plant to produce 60,000 Lexus SUVs in 2003. DaimlerChrysler's $1 billion plant upgrade in Windsor will add nearly 120,000 pickups by 2004.
In the South, the rise of the auto industry is driven largely by the desire of Asian and European carmakers to open plants in nonunion areas. Nationally, salary plus benefits for non-unionized labor average $38 per hour per worker, compared with $50 at unionized plants in Michigan. The base pay for union and nonunion autoworkers is similar--both receive about $22.50 per hour--but union workers receive better benefits.
Despite the cost savings, the Big Three aren't headed southward themselves. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors are blocked from building nonunion plants under collective agreements with the United Auto Workers union. Foreign auto makers aren't encumbered with union agreements, so they are continuing to boost their presence in the South. Nissan Motor Co. plans a new plant in Mississippi. Honda is building in Alabama. As a region, the South has enjoyed a 90% hike in auto production since 1990.
The lure is similar south of the border. At about $5 per hour per worker, the cost of wages and benefits in Mexico amount to just one-tenth of Michigan's. Of course, Mexico is distant from most U.S. population centers, auto makers point out. This means higher transportation and supply costs offset much of the benefit of Mexico's low labor costs. Still, the auto makers are flocking there: Plant capacity expanded by 87% during the 1990s. And Chrysler gave Mexico a big vote of confidence when it chose to build its popular PT Cruiser there.
Mexico may be a relative newcomer to the carmaking scene, but the shift away from the Midwest is nothing new. While Henry Ford's decision to built his first Model Ts in Highland Park gave Michigan its auto capital status in the early 1900s, production soon shifted elsewhere, says James M. Rubenstein, author of a book on auto-production geography and chairman of the geography department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. By the mid-1910s, Ford had 32 regional assembly plants outside of Michigan, he says. By the 1950s, only luxury models were built in the state.
The 1970s, however, marked a return to Motown. In the wake of the oil shock, domestic auto makers closed factories as far off as California and concentrated their production once again in Midwestern plants in an effort to achieve economies of scale, Rubenstein says. Michigan once again dominated. In the decades since, however, the growth has been almost entirely to the north and to the south.RESEARCH HUB. It's not all bad news for Michigan. Even as the state loses auto assembly, it's picking up more research and development, says Sean P. McAlinden, director of the economic and business group for the Center of Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. Even foreign auto makers tend to concentrate R&D in the Detroit area. "Even if chips aren't built in Silicon Valley anymore, no one would suggest it's not the center of the high-tech world," says Martin Kenney, a professor at the University of California at Davis who has studied the auto migration.
Reflecting larger trends in the U.S. economy, the state seems to be trading its blue collars for white, its brawn for brains. If so, Motown should keep its top-flight reputation in the automotive world, if not all its plants. And a good thing, too. "Motor Province" just doesn't have the same ring.By Jeff Green in DetroitReturn to top


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It's been a busy few months for FootJoy. Following the launch of their premium DNA shoe earlier this month, they have announced the arrival of their new HydroLite shoe.
So what is HydroLite?
Simple really, the clue is the name. Hydro, water. Lite, lightweight. The FootJoy HydroLite is a lightweight, waterproof shoe that is built to be both stable and comfortable in a low-profile design.
The HydroLite represents a new dawn for FootJoy's mid-price-point shoe category, as a more affordable option than FootJoy's big four models. Sporting a modern new look, the design features a waterproof, lightweight, leather upper combined with a flexible, stable, low-profile outsole.
One of the buzz words in FootJoy this year is "options", and the HydroLite embraces a lot of FootJoy's latest versatility. For example, beyond the 8 different colour options available, the HydroLite is available in three different styles.
First is the more traditional laced/spiked option. Available in five colour options, this model features traditional lacing and FootJoy's thin P.I.N.S., or Performance Insert System, cleat system. The standard model has an RRP of £87.50.
Secondly, there is a BOA option. Most people are now aware of FootJoy's BOA lacing system, that allows golfers to tighten their shoe by simply turning a dial on the back of the shoe, seen below.
FootJoy say the BOA system is easy-to-use, comfortable and also eliminates pressure points that can arise from tightening traditional laces. The new HydroLite is available in either a white or black colour option. The BOA model retails for slightly more than the standard model at £99.95.
The last and most modern option is the HydroLite SL, or Spikeless, model. Available in three different models, the Spikeless HydroLite gives players an ultra-low profile design that can be worn on and off the course. The HydroLite SL model has an RRP of £79.95.
To begin with, FootJoy are offering each golfer that buys a new pair of HydroLites a free FJ poker chip. Whilst it may not sound like much, it represents the potential to win an opportunity to play with one of FootJoy's Tour players at the 2014 BMW Championship at Wentworth. One winner will be announced at the end of March, with additional buyers winning a host of FootJoy prizes.


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By Huw Evans
For years, American motorists showed an overwhelming preference for V8s and V6s. However, according to statistics released from J.D. Power and Associates, that’s significantly changed in recent times; more than 50 percent of new vehicles purchased in the U.S. so far this year have been powered by four-cylinder engines – an increase from 36 percent five years ago.
As for the reasoning, it’s likely due to a combination of different factors. Perhaps the most obvious is the perceived improvements in fuel mileage offered by fewer cylinders and smaller displacement, certainly among consumers. Another is the need for auto manufacturers to meet tougher fuel economy standards in coming years.


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HOMEOWNERS who have been affected by flooding in Hampshire will be able to apply for up to £5,000 towards putting in measures to make their properties better protected.
The Government’s Repair and Renew grant is available to residents whose houses were affected by flooding between December 1 and March 31.
Businesses and charitable organisations are also eligible to claim where day-to-day business was affected by flooding during the same period.
The grant application form sets out what measures are eligible and includes works such as altering floors and moving electrics, waterproofing external walls and installing a garage or driveway barrier.
The scheme allows homeowners to join together collaboratively to apply for funding for measures which may be more suitable for a number of properties, with each property eligible for up to £5,000 each.
Applications can be made to district, borough or city councils now. People considering making an application are advised to check on the National Flood Forum’s Property Protection Advisor so see what measures might be needed in their particular case, and what these might cost. Alternatively, people may choose to commission a professional survey ahead of making an application, for which up to £500 can be claimed back as part of the overall grant.
Trading Standards would advise consumers not to agree to work that is instigated as a result of a cold call or via a leaflet drop. Residents are advised to obtain at least three written quotes from reputable businesses or traders who are either members of the Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Buy with Confidence Scheme or a recognised trade association.
The Repair and Renew Grant is part of a package of measures recently announced by Government to help homeowners and businesses affected by flooding. Residents affected by flooding may also eligible for council tax discounts and some businesses could be eligible for business rates flooding relief as well as grant assistance under the Business Support Scheme, which provides hardship funding for small and medium sized businesses in areas affected by the floods.
The scheme is being administered and delivered by local authorities. For more details see www.hants.gov.uk.


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In any event, the market for Deep Learning computation is a tide that is likely to lift all ships and chips, including CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs and even custom processors like the Google TPU. However, developing custom ASICs for processing deep learning could only make financial sense for the largest internet companies and service providers, while semiconductor vendors including Intel,
What did Google (not) announce?
While Google claimed that their TPU beats an “other” alternative by an order of magnitude in performance per watt, the company did not disclose performance data or any technical details about what lies under that large heat sink seen in their photo of the disk-sized accelerator. We reached out to Google last week, but the company has not responded yet to any of our questions on the TPU. The Moor Insights & Strategy team has decades of chip experience, and details are everything in the chip business.
After all, if this is primarily about making Google AI capabilities superior to their competition—and I think that’s exactly what this is about—why would they divulge their secrets? Google is famously mum about their internal computing infrastructure. Google was also not clear whether the TPU is being used for training neural networks, potentially displacing GPUs, or drawing inferences from a trained network, potentially displacing CPUs, or both. While they indicated that the TPU would be available in the Google Cloud Platform, they did not disclose pricing or availability.
The company said the chip was designed to run TensorFlow but did not say whether it could also support programmers using other popular DNN frameworks such as Theano, Caffe and Torch. Google didn’t say whether TensorFlow algorithms were put in hardware or if the chip was really just an accelerator for low precision matrix operations, which dominate Deep Learning compute cycles regardless of which software platform you choose.
In short, Google did not provide the information needed to allow for a quantified comparison versus existing technologies from NVIDIA and Intel. And they are probably justified in keeping this close to their vest, at least for now.
What does this mean for the Deep Learning ecosystem?
The implications of this announcement may be many but cannot be discerned without more data from Google. Google is not saying if the TPU is being used for training or inference, or for both. We believe the TPU is used for inference, not like NVIDIA's P100 which is used for training. If Google believes that this development represents an opportunity to differentiate themselves in the Google Cloud Platform against Amazon Web Services and
Second, it means that NVIDIA may have a new challenger in inference but not for training, at least where AI is being computed in the cloud. Note that Google does not plan to become a merchant silicon provider, meaning that the TPU can only be used a) in Google’s cloud and b) with Google TensorFlow software. It will take far more than that to challenge NVIDIA’s pervasive position in the Deep Learning ecosystem of hardware, software and scientists that are leading the AI movement. And if NVIDIA decides to build a derivative of their new Pascal-based GPU that would only be used for AI inference, then they certainly could do so if and when they see a sufficiently large market opportunity and / or competitive threat. We are also hearing that NVIDIA’s Pascal is 25x the performance in inference than Kepler. It’s also very important to recognize that Google hasn’t disclosed if their workloads are “pre-taught”; if this is the case, then it isn’t a threat to NVIDIA’s P100, which is a teaching monster. We are assuming the TPU is being used for inference, not teaching. Unless Google tells us otherwise.
Finally, this announcement adds some weight to the argument that startups like Nervana, Movidius and Knupath could change the way neural networks are deployed, using chips that just do one thing but do it very, very well. Similarly, this move could add more credibility to the arguments Intel and Microsoft have made regarding the potential of FPGAs in this space; mass customization with FPGAs can provide dramatic increases in performance for specific computationally intensive applications that have repetitive calculations.
Where do we go from here?
One of the fundamental tenants of AI is that the power goes to those who have the most data; Machine Learning is a means to turning all that data into profitable products and services. Google probably has the world’s largest and perhaps most prestigious AI research team and has massive stores of data about their users’ shopping and browsing habits. So it should not be a surprise that Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai focused much of his comments about AI enabled applications and devices—and even that the company has developed their own AI chip. We can expect a lot more “Machine Intelligence”, as they prefer to call it, from Google in the future.
We don’t know at this time whether Google’s chip is better than specific alternatives as Google isn’t answering our specific questions, but at least Google believes they are well served by developing their own AI technology.
Disclosure: Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided research, analysis, advising and / or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry, including some of those mentioned in this article including IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. I have a position in Google but no other companies referenced in this article.


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October 17, 2013
CARSON CITY, Nev.Coral LLC acquired distribution rights for fossilized oyster shell calcium, allowing the company to distribute oyster shell calcium as a raw ingredient for industries including food, feed, health supplements and agricultural.
Coral LLC is a manufacturer of above-the-sea natural mineral products in the U.S. The company's product are harvested from fossilized oysters from ancient shell beds in the Caribbean Islands; they are available in different particle sizes and as a direct compress (DC) for tablets.
"Fossilized oyster shells have been cultivated outside of the ocean for thousands of years, and as a result have not been exposed to ocean contamination caused by the industrial revolution," said Alberto Galdamez, director of sales, Coral LLC. "In contrast, oyster shell products harvested from the ocean may have been exposed to radiation, oil spills, pesticides from river water runoff and heavy metal contamination."
According to Coral LLC, since fossilized sea shells are harvested from ancient sea deposit, the process does not harm the ocean environment. As part of Coral LLC's environmentally friendly program, Friends of the Sea recently certified Coral LLC's harvesting methods as environmental friendly. The company actively promotes environmentally friendly products under its Eco-Safe® program.
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Outdoor dining has been a crucial lifeline for many restaurants throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
But, with winter just around the corner, many restaurants are starting to prepare for the cold weather.
Jack Cooper, co-owner of Cooper’s Seafood House in Scranton, thinks patrons may be more willing to tolerate chilly weather this year, similarly to how they braved the heat.
“We’re hoping to squeeze out a couple more months because a lot of people are still not coming inside,” he said. “In July and August, when temperatures hit the 90s, it’s usually not as busy for lunch, but people were sitting outside and not complaining.”
Cooper credits the beautiful weather for helping boost business during the spring and summer months.
“During mid-April, May and June, temperatures were in the 70s and the dock was jammed,” Cooper said. “It’s probably the best summer we’ve had in a long time.”
Cooper plans to cover part of the outdoor area with a tent and use heaters after Labor Day.
Patrick Nasser, co-owner of Backyard Ale House in Scranton, is thankful the business already had a large patio in place when the pandemic hit.
“Some restaurants had to work hard to create an outdoor space,” he said. “We’re counting our blessings at this point.”
He said the plan is to keep the outdoor area uncovered until the end of September or October, and thinks the use of heaters will allow people to continue enjoying the area throughout the winter months.
“We put the tent up every year and it’s a comfortable atmosphere,” Nasser said.
Cooper hopes Gov. Tom Wolf increases the 25% occupancy guideline to 50% in the near future. Either way, he feels fortunate that his restaurant has plenty of indoor seating to allow for proper social distancing while also serving a sizable amount of patrons.
“We have about 500 seats, so even at 25% we can still seat 125 people,” he said.
Mark Matylewicz, co-owner of Dooley’s Pub and Eatery, is also grateful that his business was built to weather the pandemic.
“We’re very fortunate that we have a patio and two decks,” he said. “People want to dine outside and we’ve been able to accommodate them. It’s been a key to survival.”
Matylewicz said portable heaters are in high demand, but he’s attempting to purchase some. He’s also confident the restaurant will have ample space to continue serving customers when the temperatures drop.
“We typically use the second floor for private parties and events, but we’ll be able to open it up with social spacing and accommodate a good amount of folks upstairs and downstairs,” Matylewicz said.


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- HENC subsidiary evaluating, pursuing property acquisitions; beginning process to obtain cultivation, sales licenses
- Sales have doubled in the past year, according to state’s seed-to-sale tracking system
- HENC working with top cannabis law firm to spearhead the process
With Massachusetts reporting marijuana sales reaching $2 billion since the state approved the adult-use market (https://cnw.fm/9CA5M), savvy cannabis companies operating in the state are looking to leverage opportunity for growth. Earlier this year, Hero Technologies (OTC: HENC), a cannabis company pursuing a vertically integrated model, announced a new subsidiary: MassCannabis LLC. The newly formed company is evaluating and pursuing property acquisitions and beginning the process to obtain licenses in Massachusetts (https://cnw.fm/x8MRZ).
The Cannabis Control Commission in Massachusetts has reported that gross sales from the state’s 165 cannabis retailers and three delivery services reached $2,009,007,478 as of August 31, 2021. “That doubles the sales total that the commission reported last November, according to the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system,” the report noted. “This milestone speaks to the success of licensees that have interacted with the Commission from the application stage, maintained compliance with our strict regulations, and contribute every day to communities across the Commonwealth.”
In March 2021, HENC announced that it had retained a top cannabis law firm, Vincente Sederberg LLP, “to spearhead the process to obtain cannabis licenses in Massachusetts, a rapidly growing cannabis market with over $1 billion in retail sales since 2019. Vincente Sederberg is a leading advocate for the cannabis industry, with over a decade of experience in cannabis law,” the company stated. “Rolling Stone” magazine has called Vincente Sederberg a “powerhouse marijuana law firm.”
“Hero Technologies’ newly formed subsidiary, MassCannabis LLC, will work closely with Sederberg to target property acquisitions and begin the process to obtain licenses to cultivate and retail cannabis in Massachusetts,” the company noted.
“We are very excited about our momentum in Massachusetts,” said Hero Technologies CEO Gina Serkasevich. “Having Vincente Sederberg join forces with our new MassCannabis subsidiary should enable us to quickly identify new strategic partners and streamline the acquisition process. We look forward to reporting more developments to our shareholders as we continue to expand and integrate cannabis initiatives across geographical markets.”
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.HeroTechnologiesInc.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HENC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/HENC
HempWire (HW) is a dedicated information provider focused on (1) aggregating hemp-related news, (2) issuing HempNewsBreaks designed to update investors on the latest developments in the hemp market, (3) enhancing corporate news releases, (4) providing full-service distribution and social media offerings to public and private client-partners and (5) designing and implementing all-inclusive corporate communication solutions. HW is strategically positioned within the rapidly expanding hemp sector with a team of journalists working to help a growing roster of public and private companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers and members of the media. We leverage a vast network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets to deliver unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the hemp industry. HempWire (HW) is where HEMP news, content and information converge.
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Tata Motors has begun an exciting
new initiative for its much-awaited Tata Hexa that goes by the name of ‘Hexa
Experience Centre’. The experience is designed for customers to get a
first-hand experience of the Tata Hexa’s prowess on and off the road. The
premium set-up is made up of a challenging off-roading course, a customer
lounge and a dining area, giving customers an opportunity to take the Hexa to
its limits. Customers also have the opportunity to book the vehicle at the
venue, ahead of its launch in January 2017.
The three-day fun-filled
event, the ‘Hexa Experience Centre’ will reach out to customers, along with their
families, giving them an opportunity to experience and indulge in a host of
exciting experiences from Tata Motors and other Tata brands. The Hexa
Experience Centre also has a special kids’ zone, a pet adoption zone and other
With the first Hexa Experience
Centre kicking-off from Gurugram, (EO Huda Gurgaon II, Sector 29), the event
will be spread over three-days from Nov 25-27. Similar set-ups are being
planned in other metros and towns like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, serving
as an exclusive platform for customers and enthusiasts.
Uno Minda, a leading Tier 1 supplier of proprietary automotive solutions to original equipment manufacturers, has launched its new premium range of alloy wheels in the Indian aftermarket in collaborat...
Greaves Retail, India's leading fuel-agnostic mobility solutions provider and a unit of Greaves Cotton Limited, has announced the launch of its complete range of e-rickshaw batteries under the brand '...
Kia India is now offering an electric sunroof in its Sonet Smartstream G1.2 HTK+ variant. The model will be available at Rs 9.76 lakh. Sonet has already more than 3.3 lakh customers in last three year...


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Apple asks Taiwan suppliers to label products as ‘Made in China’
ILENA ILARDO – MONDAY 08 AUGUST 2022 4:43 AM
Apple yesterday asked Taiwan-based suppliers to use the ‘made in China’ label, as the firm reportedly wants products to comply with Bejing rule in a bid to avoid disruption from Chinese customs inspections.
According to Nikkei, the company wants manufacturers on the island to label components bound for China as made in “Chinese Taipei” or “Taiwan, China”.
A long-standing Chinese directive requires this label to be applied on all components bound for mainland China, but the rule was previously not heavily enforced.
The firm’s request comes as Chinese customs inspections grew stricter as a result from the visit of the US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei.
Pelosi visited Taiwan last week and met with its president, where she pledged to support the self-ruled island in the face of threats from mainland China.
Chinese officials, including president Xi Jinping, had repeatedly warned against Pelosi’s visit.


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Mobility experts reveal critical success factors and new growth strategies in the two-wheeler connected and shared ecosystem
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The two-wheeler (2W) market holds the key to unlocking the future of electric vehicle (EV) transportation and enabling mass adoption of EVs around the world. The size of the electric two-wheeler market is expected to grow rapidly in India, the world’s leading two-wheeler market, while South East Asia is expected to remain the biggest market in the world. As market participants expand their focus areas, new vehicle retail strategies, shared mobility, and last-mile logistics services are expected to emerge as key growth opportunities.
Join Frost & Sullivan’s Vivek Vaidya, Associate Partner and Viroop Narla, Program Manager, for the Growth Opportunity briefing, "Transformational Shifts in the Global Electric Two-wheeler Industry" on December 8 at 4 p.m. SGT. The briefing will discuss which markets are expected to grow in the next five to seven years and help you create a strategic roadmap to succeed in the industry.
For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit: http://frost.ly/4xq
Key benefits of attending this webinar:
- Understand the key infrastructure trends and their impact on charging and battery swapping.
- Explore new retail opportunities and key electric two-wheeler OEM strategies across regions.
- Learn about key future market growth strategies associated with connected and shared mobility.
- Uncover the critical success factors for the global electric two-wheeler market, such as shared mobility and last-mile logistics services.
- Recognize historical growth and future expectations of the market along with the impact of COVID-19.
The event will also be recorded and available on-demand at http://frost.ly/1ti.
About Frost & Sullivan
For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.
M: +91 9742676194; P: +91 44 6681 4412
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Elyon gets a new, previously delayed, 10-man raid in its latest update, which also brings some goodies for new characters to help them along, bug fixes, and some adjustments to skills.
The latest update for Elyon includes a brand new Clan War map, quality of life updates, bug fixes, and details on the delayed 10-man raid.
In Elyon's first major event, Harth's Leaderboards, you can complete a series of repeatable tasks to rack up points to determine the rewards you walk away with.
Elyon has been officially out for a week, and the first maintenance patch brings fixes and item changes, but also adds a touch of Halloween spirit too.
This past week, Elyon transitioned into their full release from their initial headstart that began on the 17th. As is common with most MMORPG launches, Elyon has not gone unscathed when it comes to server problems and bugs. In a post on their official news site, Elyon has addressed the long queues and server lag that players in the EU are experiencing.
Elyon is now live for all after a launch day patch that tidies things up, fixes some abilities and UI issues, and turns on rankings.
Elyon, the MMORPG formerly known as Ascent: Infinite Realm, has finally released in the West today. The fantasy MMORPG has been out in Korea for some time now, and after an initial delay and business model change, Kakao's MMO is open to new players to explore the world. Are you playing?
Elyon fans that have been waiting for the game to release since it was delayed back in September don't have to wait any longer, as Headstart has begun! With only a few short days until the full release of the game and its new free to play business model, players that want to jump into the game sooner can do so by purchasing any of the extra packages on Kakao's official website or through Steam.
The Elyon team has updated with some good news following an initial delay to the pre-download option. Pre-download is now available and there's also a revised schedule for the lead up to launch, including early character creation and head start.
Elyon's pre-release perk for early character creation tomorrow for those that bought a package from the shop has been delayed slightly as the team issues a pending fix.
Elyon's shop has reopened with three levels of preorder packages, details on what's included in each, including a head start, early character creation, and more.
Elyon will be launching next month and pre-registration is open for the now free to play title, and signing up will net you some nice starter goods.
In an announcement today, the Elyon team announced that, due to the planned release in a busy MMO field, the game will now be released under a free to play model.
Elyon, the MMORPG formerly known as Ascent: Infinite Realm, starts its second closed beta today. The developers are celebrating with Twitch Drops and more during the beta period.
Elyon, the MMORPG formerly known as Ascent: Infinite Realm, is gearing up for its second closed beta tesst this week, and those who have access are able to pre-load starting today.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has sued New York debt collector Nationwide Recovery Group, LLC., for allegedly violating Ohio Consumer Protection laws, according to a Thursday announcement from the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
Nationwide, which is based out of Buffalo and owned by Michael McCarthy, allegedly violated Ohio’s Fait Debt Collection Practices Act and the Consumer Sales Pract
ices Act, according to the attorney general. The lawsuit alleges they violated these laws by pretending to be, or impersonating, officials from various government agencies.
“By law, debt collectors cannot threaten or mislead consumers,” DeWine said. “In this case, the business not only threatened consumers with legal action and arrest, it also pretended to be legitimate Ohio government agencies and spoofed caller IDs to further mislead consumers. Ohioans deserve better than that, and we are taking action to hold this debt collector accountable.”
Greene County Clerk of Courts Terri Mazur alerted DeWine when a resident reported the company allegedly called their house, including falsifying it phone number, and said it was demanding a debt be paid immediately.


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Ever since Sony’s release of the Sony Xperia XA in June of 2016, the device has received a great appraisal. According to critics and user reviews online, it is suggested that the device may be Sony’s best budget phone to date.
In its price range, the device outperforms all of its competitors, such as the Sony Xperia L1. The Sony Xperia E5 also was a major competitor to the Sony Xperia XA. However, the Sony Xperia XA seemed to have performed better than both the devices.
The Sony Xperia XA is highly appraised due to how much it offers for the price that it comes at. The device boasts a 5.0 Inch HD 1080p display that comes at a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels (~294 PPI pixel density), an octa-core 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, and a microSD card slot that expands up to 256 GB. Moreover, it comes with a primary camera of 13 MP, and a secondary camera of 8 MP. These features alone sets the Sony Xperia XA apart from its competitors.
The only drawback to this device is that it does not feature the latest Android Operating System (OS). The Sony Xperia XA out of the package features Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, rather than the Android 7.0 Nougat. However, Sony has confirmed that it will soon be releasing a software upgrade for it’s Sony Xperia series, including the Sony Xperia XA.
Therefore, it is without a doubt that Sony has a great device for the public to buy when looking for a smartphone that doesn’t break the bank, and offers a bang for its buck.


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A number of US credit unions are actively working towards adopting Apple Pay NFC payments, credit union technology provider Co-op Financial Services has revealed. The company says it is now a Visa “engaged issuer processor”, making it authorised to service the enrolment of credit unions in the mobile payment offering, and “already has credit unions in the implementation validation process at Visa and MasterCard” with several now in the final stages of testing.
- Consumers show more trust in mobile wallet security
- Crédit Mutuel Arkéa launches HCE mobile payments developed with Antelop
- US banks launch money-transfer app
- UK bank tests voice commands with Google Home
- Mahindra Comviva launches biometric payments solution for rural Indian merchants


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Does Android TV excite you? Do you need it now? Well, it doesn’t officially launch until this Fall, but Razer has gone ahead and announced that they will be ready for when that day comes. The company has introduced a Razer-branded micro console, powered by Android TV, with Android gaming being its main selling point.
Technically there is no official name it seems, but the set-top box is an all-black cube, complete with neon lighting. Nice touch.
No specifications have been announced yet, but Razer claims the box can handle casual games, as well as more hardcore titles for seasoned gamers. On top of gaming, the box can handle your standard Android TV features, such as movie and TV streaming, content searches, and much more.
No exact availability or pricing is available yet, but at least we know it’s coming.


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Daimler AG, the world's third- biggest maker of luxury vehicles, is barred from registering its Mercedes-Benz compact models in France because regulators have stopped accepting a coolant fluid used in the vehicles.
The Mercedes A- and B-Class as well as the CLA coupe can't be registered in the country as they use a refrigerant that no longer meets to European Union environmental regulations, the Ministry of Ecology, Development and Energy said in a statement Friday. Daimler said that it plans legal action against the move, which it called a misreading of EU law.
Daimler has been in talks for about a year with European authorities over a newer refrigerant, R1234yf, that regulators say meets stricter standards on greenhouse gas emissions. The Stuttgart, Germany-based manufacturer has held off from switching to R1234yf, saying the new fluid is susceptible to catching fire in car crashes.
Daimler sold 15,745 compact vehicles in France in the first six months of 2013, accounting for about 2 percent of its global car deliveries in the period, Ulrike Bless, a spokeswoman, said by phone.
The carmaker was in "discussions with all the relevant institutions in order to reach rapid clarification of the situation," Daimler said in its second-quarter report published July 24.
French regulators are incorrectly basing their decision on a provision of EU regulations that allows vehicles to be banned in the event of a "major" immediate risk to people's health or the environment, "which is absolutely invalid in this current case," Daimler said in an e-mail today.


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Prototype affordable Braille display in development A low-cost computer-controlled Braille board has been prototyped by a RISC OS-using university student. Undergraduate Edward Rogers hopes to sell his completed units for as little as 200 quid each to schools and families to allow more blind children to continue learning Braille. And he said he wanted to launch his venture using RISC OS-powered kit before offering a package for other platforms. 10 comments, latest by epokh on 27/6/09 12:49PM. Published: 22 Nov 2008
RISC OS Gone in 60 Seconds OK, maybe a little more than 60 seconds, so sue us. Despite the fact that drobe.co.uk has been rushed off its feet redeveloping the site, we've still been keeping a trained eye on RISC OS news and events. 12 comments, latest by peprice on 5/8/01 10:18PM. Published: 31 Jul 2001


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The first wireless networking chips capable of powering gigabit-per-second speeds using the forthcoming IEEE 802.11ac standard are starting to emerge, with routers and other consumer networking products expected to launch in the second half of 2012. With speeds three times faster than the current generation of Wi-Fi routers, the new products will speed up synchronization between home devices and greatly improve the quality of in-home audio and video streaming, according to Gigabit Wi-Fi vendors.
Broadcom and Quantenna are among the first to announce Gigabit Wi-Fi chips, and expect them to be used in routers, set-top boxes and PCs. Smartphones and tablets will also eventually have chips supporting the 802.11ac standard, Broadcom says. More products based on the standard are expected to be on display at the International CES expo in Las Vegas next week.
The 802.11ac standard is still officially in draft form, and working its way through the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). It uses the 5GHz band, rather than the 2.4GHz band relied upon by today's 802.11n (although 11n actually uses both). Routers using chips from Broadcom and others are expected to support both standards, and seamlessly switch between them as needed.
But 802.11ac isn't the only gigabit-speed wireless technology about to hit the market. A companion technology using the 60GHz frequency band is also in the works at the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (or WiGig), and will power speeds of 7 Gigabits per second, as we've noted in previous coverage—but only across short distances. These devices can potentially replace HDMI and other cables, but will only work across devices in the same room, while 802.11ac routers will power the whole home. WiGig technology from the likes of Wilocity is expected to be on display at CES.
"As you go up the spectrum there is a tradeoff between throughput and range," notes Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that certifies devices to ensure interoperability and compatibility with IEEE standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance will certify devices on both the 5GHz and 60GHz spectrum. Rather than competing against each other, Davis-Felner says wireless vendors envision homes powered by 5GHz routers but with "Islands" of 60GHz connectivity.
and 60GHz will both have an interesting and exciting future, but they really aren't substitutes for one another," she said, noting that 60GHz technology could have interesting applications for gaming.
On the 5GHz side, Quantenna announced a new chipset for 802.11ac in November, and just this week Broadcom introduced several new chips, with the fastest using three streams to reach up to 1.3 Gigabits per second. Two-stream chips will hit 867Mbps while a single-stream implementation will go up to 433Mbps. The chips are "three times faster and up to six times more power efficient than equivalent 802.11n solutions," Broadcom said in the announcement.
Broadcom is sampling the chips with hardware partners, will demonstrate their capabilities at CES, and begin wider-scale distribution in the next several months. Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link Systems, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Netgear and others were all quoted in the Broadcom announcement.
Rahul Patel, VP of marketing in the wireless LAN business at Broadcom, said to expect hardware partners to ship consumer devices based on Broadcom's new chips in the second half of this year. The first routers will likely cost between $129 and $199, depending on the configuration, with entry-level devices eventually offering a lower price, he said.
Escaping a crowded spectrum
802.11ac and the 5GHz spectrum will offer numerous technical benefits, Patel argues. The 2.4 spectrum is crowded not only with Wi-Fi devices but Bluetooth, baby monitors, microwaves, cordless phones, and more. 5GHz is less crowded while offering many more available channels. Still, the 2.4GHz spectrum offers greater range, a limitation vendors are trying to overcome.
"The laws of physics favor 2.4GHz for range. There is no two ways about it," Patel said. "But despite having the range benefits, it is kind of a shared medium and there is only so much you can do when you're limited by the number of channels available."
Patel goes even further and says devices using Broadcom chips will have as much as double the actual range of today's 802.11n devices, because of technology improvements like beamforming, which compresses signals to make them more powerful. Beamforming will also be used heavily in WiGig. If you're storing high-definition video content on a DVR or hard drive and want to stream it to a television in another room, "you would potentially benefit dramatically by having higher-performing Wi-Fi," he said.
Broadcom is calling its technology 5G Wi-Fi, or fifth-generation, not to be confused with 4G cellular networks. Whatever term they use, Broadcom says the "increased speed enables consumers to download Web content from a mobile device faster and quickly synch large files, such as videos, in a fraction of the time it would take on a similar 802.11n device," and that power savings will occur because devices that download data faster will enter low-power mode much earlier. Because 802.11ac transmissions start out faster than those from current devices, someone standing 30 feet from an 802.11ac access point will get the same data throughput as if they were standing 10 feet from an 802.11n transmitter, Broadcom claims.
Patel also believes there will be benefits to businesses. Although Gigabit Wi-Fi isn't going to replace 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks, businesses may see super-fast Wi-Fi as an alternative to Gigabit Ethernet connections, particularly because it makes smartphones and tablets in business settings more viable, he said.
Early adopters, beware
Any 802.11ac router that hits the market anytime soon will carry some risk for consumers, because the first devices to ship will be based on a draft version of the standard. While the Wi-Fi Alliance will begin testing implementations in the summer, the actual certification program won't be launched until the end of this calendar year.
"You will see products ship this year that we have not certified," Davis-Felner says. The same happened with 802.11n, and it did create problems, she notes. "Back in 2005, 2006, people were building pre-standard equipment and selling it and it was not delivering on the user experience." The biggest problem is interoperability—devices built by different vendors not connecting to each other.
Davis-Felner expects the process to go much more smoothly this time. Vendors have learned their lesson and are on board with the cooperation needed to make devices work together, she said. Additionally, the draft of the 802.11ac standard circulating today is more mature than the 11n draft that was available when vendors started shipping products based on that standard.
Draft devices sold to consumers may need software updates after the final standard hits. Then again, they may work perfectly well, making it unnecessary.
"The companies shipping products are also really active in the Wi-fi Alliance," she said. "So its not like there's some huge information disconnect. The Broadcoms and Qualcomms of the world know what's emerging from Wi-Fi Alliance work." After the final specification becomes available, "they may or may not opt to issue upgrades or updates to in-field products at that time. That's kind of a vendor decision."
Davis-Felner notes that there's no reason to stop using 2.4GHz. But devices may use that spectrum for tasks like e-mail and Web browsing and reserve 5GHz for heavier-duty tasks. "I don't have any reason to think [2.4] is ever going away," she said. "It's great spectrum. It's spectrum that has worked very well for the last 12 or 13 years."
The Wi-Fi Alliance and others believe it will be a couple of years before 802.11ac-based products become the leader in shipments. ABI Research says 802.11ac will be the dominant Wi-Fi protocol by 2014, with most devices sold containing dual-band chipsets supporting both 11ac and 11n. While releasing its research in September, ABI said "Established Wi-Fi chipset vendors such as Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm Atheros, and Texas Instruments will attempt to maintain or grow their share of the market by transitioning as fast as possible."


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Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes
Beyond Meat is a Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown. The company's initial products became available across the United States in 2013. The company has products designed to simulate chicken, beef, and pork sausage.
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ZIMBABWE’S foreign currency shortages that culminated in a cash crisis have been worsened by growing economic activity. Finance and Economic Planning Minister Mr Patrick Chinamasa’s economic growth forecasts for 2018 are at 4, 5 percent, up from 3,7 percent in 2017, driven by growth in agriculture and mining as well as policy interventions across the board.
In his 2018 National Budget, Minister Chinamasa said economic growth is expected to be above 4, 5 percent in the outlook. As productivity and the economy grows, demand for foreign currency to support the development swells, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) international banking and portfolio management deputy director Mr Ernest Matiza has said.
“I think there is more foreign exchange which we have received this year, but also what we have seen is the economy is picking, which implies that all sectors of the economy are demanding more foreign exchange in order for them to be able to operate,” Mr Matiza told a Chamber of Mines State of the Industry Survey report launch last Friday in the capital.
Matiza said the extractive industry requires a lot of foreign currency running into billions annually, with gold producers requiring about $70 million on monthly basis while platinum and chrome requirements are in the range of $100 million each month.
“If you are looking at all these sectors there is demand for electricity. If you look at it on a weekly basis we need to compliment what we are producing in terms of electricity by importing plus or minus $5 million worth of electricity (and) major demand for that electricity is from the mining sector,” he said.
“If you look at the gold sector there is also the small scale producers who are paid in cash so every week we need to import plus or minus $5 million to pay for that gold which is coming from the small producers,” Mr Matiza added. Other sectors of the economy also have their demands.
“Take your cooking oil, on average you need $5 million every week, your medicals you need $4 million every week, take your fuel which needs $50 million every month and which also goes to the mining sector.
“The suppliers on average $5 million every week so we are looking at $170 million which I receive, these are just basics (and) I have not even incorporated other sectors which come for raw materials for production as well.
This is not even enough, that is why we talk of a pronounced foreign exchange shortage but otherwise we have seen actually better,”Mr Matiza said. Between the month of August and December, foreign currency demands are exacerbated by fertilizer imports which cost the economy between $80 and $100 million, excluding agro chemicals which require an extra $25 million. If you look at the issues of foreign exchange, we have done very well as a country but also there is demand as the economy is also picking up,” he said.–herald


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The NBA Jam franchise is practically synonymous with arcade-style sports action, even though the last new installment in the Midway-spawned and Acclaim-published series was nearly seven years ago. Unfortunately, both of those companies have gone under in the interim, which cast doubt on the series' long-term fate.
Electronic Arts today dispelled much of that doubt by confirming reports that it was developing a new edition in the series for the Wii. The revival, which will go by the moniker EA Sports NBA Jam, is set to hit the hardwood later this year.
Developed by the Vancouver, British Columbia-based EA Canada studio, EA Sports NBA Jam will attempt to marry the series' familiar gameplay with new modes, ball physics, and features. The publisher has said it will introduce a new visual style that includes realistic representations of the players rather than the generic bodies used in the original arcade game.
One factor that may help EA recapture the series' essence is the recent hiring of NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell. While Turmell is stationed at EA Tiburon (the studio behind the Madden NFL games), the original report about EA's NBA Jam revival mentioned that Turmell and other series veterans had been tapped to work on the project.
EA Sports has also set up an official Web site for the game, where players can vote on which players they'd like to see make the cut from various NBA teams.


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It’s named Gucci Town, and it’s a virtual metropolis constructed by Gucci in Roblox. The venue includes a park, a restaurant, and a store where gamers may buy customized products. Lovers of the series have already lauded the establishment’s achievement. This follows on the heels of Gucci announcing that it will partner with video game developers to market its goods. In January of 2021, for instance, the premium company hit the headlines for incorporating a few of their apparel into Pokemon Go.
In December, Gucci produced a bespoke Xbox Series X. As part of a collaboration with Roblox, Gucci Garden was available to the public for several days in May 2021. Guggenheim claims to have attracted more than 20 million visitors to its Gucci Garden in 2013.
As with Gucci Garden, the premium company anticipates the freshly established Gucci Township to be at the very least as popular. “The society has traditionally been the beginning step for building the experience,” Gucci Executive Vice President of New Business Commented Nicolas Oudinot.
For this reason, we see the upcoming advancements as a two-way conversation involving Gucci and its loyal customers.” With the help of the Roblox audience, we’ll bring fresh concepts and visual images into the Roblox environment, since our artistic message is always changing, growing in accordance with the kaleidoscopic ambition of Creative Director Alessandro Michele.”
In fact, Gucci isn’t the only high-end apparel brand to work with videogame developers. Burberry has been partnering with Tencent to introduce its labeled stuff inside Honor of Kings, while Longchamp is cooperating alongside Niantic on Pokemon Go apparel collaborations with the help of Balenciaga.


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BARBOURSVILLE — A new book store could open in April in Barboursville, according to its owners.
Booktenders will be located on Central Avenue, right across the street from the restaurant Main Street on Central.
“We are shooting for an opening in April and will be offering nitro coffee and tea,” said owner Ashley Skeen. “We will also have a small lounge space that will be available for book club gatherings, author events and, well, just lounging. Additionally, we will also be carrying a small collection of fountain pens and quality paper.”
There will be a lounge space in the back of Booktenders where book clubs can meet.
“We would love to start one or a few Booktenders book clubs for those of you looking to meet new reading friends,” Skeen added.
Skeen is partnering with Mandee Cunningham to open the new business.
“We both worked at Summit Beer Station as bartenders for the past seven years, hence the name of our new book store,” Skeen said.
Both say they have a passion for reading.
“Bookstores are our happy place,” Skeen said.
Both women have retail management experience as well.
“I managed a North Face store in Aspen, Colorado, before I moved back home 10 years ago,” Skeen said.
“I was a manager at Carmike Cinemas at the mall,” Cunningham said. “That was the theater prior to the full remodel for the current theater.”
The building for the new book store is being developed by their friend Patrick Hensley and his business partners Chad Berry and Doug Reynolds, according to Skeen.
“Patrick mentioned he was looking for businesses to move in, so in July the idea of Booktenders was born,” Skeen said.
The hours of operation remain undecided, but the women said they are considering 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
For more information, check out the Booktenders’ Facebook page. It is also on several other social media platforms and can be found by searching BooktendersWV.
RIBBON CUT ON ST. MARY’S PHARMACY: St. Mary’s Medical Center cut the ribbon on the new St. Mary’s Pharmacy last week.
The ceremony took place on the first floor of the Highlawn Medical Building at 2828 1st Ave. in Huntington with several hospital, state and local officials and the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The new pharmacy opened to to patients, employees and community members last month and features a drive-thru and retail items. Services offered include prescription filling for most insurances, immunizations, a selection of over-the-counter medications, a wide range of educational/counseling services and disease management support, officials said.
In addition to a drive-thru window, the new location will have designated parking for pharmacy customers, same-day service for new prescriptions and expanded hours, including weekends.
The pharmacy will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8;30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit www.st-marys.org or call 304-526-8905.


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Throughout their relationship, the 46-year-old rapper and the 29-year-old architect have made headlines due to her increasingly provocative wardrobe choices.
Those closest to Bianca have said that her clothing choices, which have included wearing almost nothing at public events and even putting her in danger of going to jail, are due to Kanye’s ‘controlling ways.’
However, it has now been reported that he is forcing Bianca to wear the obscenely exposed outfits as part of his plan to take down Kim, 43, in the shapewear industry.
The reality personality debuted her wildly renowned company SKIMS in 2019, and since then, it has grown to become one of the most popular clothing companies globally, with an estimated $4 billion in worth.
Bianca stunned onlookers as she walked in public in Los Angeles on Tuesday wearing a racy look inspired by rapper’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
Bianca was wearing a metallic silver micro miniskirt and thong underwear that exposed her bare butt cheeks as well as a busty triangle bikini top.
Kim is an avid wearer of silver bikinis, and in the summer of 2022, her clothing brand SKIMS made headlines when it unveiled a metallic swimwear collection.
According to The Sun claims that Kanye intends to take on his ex-wife and start his own company, using Bianca as a “test” model for the risky outfits.
An insider told the outlet, “Kanye is seething about how successful SKIMS is – he wants to take Kim on with his own brand, but wants it to be riskier, sexier and make more money than SKIMS.
“He’s putting Bianca in these outfits as a sort of test – she’s his muse and will model the line, he thinks she can showcase his brand and it’ll sell out.
“That’s why he’s parading her around in these outfits to take revenge on Kim.”
PR Guru Mark Borkowski told Dailymail that, “Kanye understands outrage and is trying to break the Internet I think a lot of people are starting to feel rather uncomfortable, despite everything he’s said, about that he feels he can do whatever he wants with his partner.”
“You can only assume this is a way of Kanye keeping his name at the forefront and on everybody’s lips and also a statement to his ex-wife Kim who engaged in the same publicity, which he is taking to another level but she did with a lot more style and panache. It wasn’t as direct as this,” Mr Borkowski added.
Mr Borkowski continued, “As we revaluate those who exploited their partners in the past, this is a high watermark. I feel uncomfortable but you are looking at someone who can generate a conversation, Kanye knows how to do that. But I can’t see a strategy here. He has pushed himself so far away from brands with his anti-Semitic remarks and outrage that there has to be a limit where he doesn’t want one.”
Kim and Bianca shocked fans just last week when they were spotted cuddling up during their first public appearance together.
They were spotted during Ye’s Vultures 2 listening party in San Francisco, in the Chase Center’s stands.
Kim and Kanye are parents to North, 10, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 4 years old.
Usnewsdaily.net has reached out to rep for Kanye for comment … so far, no word back.


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Today we received the digital proof of the print copy of The Laundrymen. This is the first time that we’ve seen how many changes it’s going to be. We now have to go through each page, making sure it is laid out the way we expected – and checking the text. It’s going to take a while .. If you are interested in a Kindle version, you can pre-order it here:
We are hoping that the print edition will be available very soon – probably the 1st of Jan 2016 too.