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China is not playing catch-up, but rather exploring aggressively pragmatic ways to deploy a digital infrastructure for the.
Unfazed by its stagnant price movements, some high-profile investors still see bitcoin breaching $50,000 during its next bull.
28 May 2020.
Blockchain.com is the oldest and most trusted provider of crypto products.
22 Nov 2019.
It is the cryptocurrency Bitcoin that brings acceptance and prosperity of.
it is popular to use the blockchains to make anti-counterfeit solutions.
It’s only a proof-of-concept at this point, but there’s now a model for locking BTC on the Bitcoin blockchain and minting.
Although blockchain technology is the foundation for cryptocurrency (such as bitcoin),
According to the study, the future finance function will use blockchains to.
A webinar was organized on May 23 rd by Government Blockchain Association – UAE to discuss the origins of blockchain. How was.
Bitcoin Prices Did Their Own Thing In May.
contractor Rand Corporation to prove once and for all how criminals are using zcash and other cryptocurrencies.


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Worldwide consumer spending on video games on connected TVs will grow rapidly from US$ 88mn in 2012 to US$ 1.6bn in 2016, driven by a combination of the exploding adoption of Internet-enabled TV devices, the rising availability of free-to-access games, and the dismantling of market hurdles, according to a new report from IHS Screen Digest.
IHS is going on record as saying that in four years’ time, over 800mn actively connected TV devices will have exposure to monetised games content, up from 100mn in 2012.
These connected devices will include Internet-Enabled Televisions, Blu-ray players and over-the-top (OTT)-capable set-top boxes (STBs). Growth will also be fuelled by the steady dismantling of established market development barriers and the adoption of freemium content monetised through microtransactions.
“The stars of the connected TV games market are beginning to align,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, senior principal analyst and head of games research at IHS. “The sheer volume of addressable connected devices means this sector will be hard to ignore for content owners.
“There remain hurdles to overcome, of course, not least of which is user monetisation. However, IHS expects an acceleration in spending during the next five years as these hurdles are dismantled by leading industry players. Connected TV devices are now poised to join a competitive mix of games distribution channels in the home alongside dedicated consoles, tablets and smartphones.”
While the market for video games on TV has traditionally been dominated by dedicated consoles, IHS Screen Digest believes that this state of affairs is changing as the latest connected TV devices gain more powerful chipsets, graphics capabilities and storage.
Remote control technology has also advanced significantly in recent months and years, with consumer electronics manufacturers deploying more flexible solutions to cater to the cross-section of content that is available through their connected devices. These solutions include built-in gesture control and remote apps on smartphones and tablets to enable touch-screen inputs.
A major hindrance to the scalability of the legacy interactive TV games market has previously been pay-TV STB middleware fragmentation. However, the industry is starting to offer solutions to this fragmentation issue, observes the report.
These include smart TV platform collaboration among consumer electronics manufacturers such as LG, Sharp and Philips, connected device support for platform-agnostic deployment and run-time environments such as Adobe’s AIR and third-party publishing networks that help content owners get their games to market through companies such as PlayJam.
The value chain for games content direct to the connected TV is already very active, according to IHS Screen Digest: of the major CE companies, it is the Korean companies, Samsung and LG, that have most aggressively pursued the idea of over-the-top content and services like video games to their Internet-enabled TVs. Meanwhile, managed IPTV operators such as China Telecom and Shanghai Telecom have also been receptive to games content in a bid to differentiate their services.
“There are already a large number of companies bringing games content to connected TV devices,” Harding-Rolls stated. “Based on the quick evolution of previous digital games markets and the time it takes to develop the necessary relationships to get content published across devices, gaining first-mover advantage is likely to be key to the connected TV games sector.
“Additionally, those third-party companies that offer solutions to major market hurdles such as market fragmentation and consumer billing are well-positioned to benefit in the short to medium term.”

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2021 Hyundai Kona is expected to get a design update
Spy shots show the new Kona could get a similar grille to the redesigned Santa Fe
N-Line Variant expected
The upcoming mid-cycle refresh coming to the 2021 Hyundai Kona may be more significant than first expected.
The following spy shots of the new Kona were snapped by the Korean Car Blog and show a Kona with a massive grille similar to the redesigned 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The signature grille could become a distinctive design element on the entire lineup of new Hyundai utility vehicles. It will be curious to see how the large grille will work on a smaller SUV like the Kona, however.
We can see from the shots that the Kona likely keeps its sharp LED top lights while its headlights positioned below look to be three LED blocks. New taillights are also expected as well as a new interior.
The Kona hit the market in 2018 and has been a massive hit for Hyundai. Offered with two combustion engines including a turbo as well as en electric version, the Kona is one of the best-selling subcompact SUVs in its segment. It does face a slew of new competitors, however, like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30.
An update will give it the tools to compete with newer models. Hyundai may also look to up the sportiness factor with a new N-Line variant of the 2021 Hyundai Kona.


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The Sharjah International Book Fair Professional Programme will be bringing cross platform innovation in publishing into sharp focus when it hosts an exclusive virtual event with renowned British actor and author, Stephen Fry.
Fry will participate in the Professional Programme via a new video that will launch his global digital storytelling project, YourFry in the U.A.E..
The virtual event to launch YourFry will be hosted by Penguin’s digital development director, Nathan Hull, at the Sharjah International Book Fair Professional Programme, which takes place in the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce.
Launched in the last week of September, YourFry challenges innovative minds across the world to deconstruct and repurpose the words and themes from Stephen’s last two books – ‘The Fry Chronicles’ and the recently launched ‘More Fool Me’.
Speaking about the challenge and Penguin Random House’s decision to launch YourFry at the Sharjah International Book Fair Professional Programme, Ahemd Al Ameri, said: "The YourFry challenge offers an exceptional opportunity for publishers to examine and explore what can happen when creative minds are given free rein to express themselves and to hopefully gain some inspiration towards initiating innovative and imaginative projects of their own.
"Sharjah, the U.A.E., and this region has no shortage of creative and pioneering minds and I believe this project is an excellent opportunity for our local talent to get their voices heard and garner some much deserved international attention. We are extremely excited that Penguin Random House has chosen to launch this project in the U.A.E. at the Sharjah International Book Fair." A collaboration between the publisher Penguin and digital file transfer specialists WeTransfer, YourFry challenges participants to reinterpret and create new ways of telling Stephen Fry’s story beyond the page, through any technology, format, mash up, and through any and all art forms, including text, data visualisation, interactive web formats, apps, films, photography, animation, 3D models or live and experiential creations.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the three-day Professional Programme is organised annually by the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Attended by more than 300 publishers from all around the world, the programme provides a platform for discussing and highlighting in-depth issues concerning the publishing industry that would contribute to enhancing the efficiency and professionalism of Arab publishers, and to further enable them to expand their presence and outreach on the global stage.
The 32nd edition of SIBF, which was held in November 2013, saw the participation of approximately 1,010 publishers and exhibiters from 53 countries, including 23 Arab countries and 30 foreign countries, compared with 942 publishers from 62 countries, including 22 Arab and 40 foreign countries in its 31st edition, which took place in 2012.


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The Pulse #76: Why are layoffs coming hard and fast, again?
Also: why Salesforce seems to be hiring and firing based on their quarterly results; it’s a tough time to be a developer platform; and whether the Rabbit AI companion could be a smartphone replacement
Tuesday’s article on the impact of the end of a zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) ending seems oddly prescient. A good part of today’s newsletter unfortunately validates observations in that article – on how profits matter more; layoffs are a tool companies are using to boost these; and venture funding is harder to get by. Today, we cover:
Industry pulse. A roundup of recent events, with commentary. OpenAI’s licensing push; Snap’s focus on Spectacles; ChatGPT store launching; rapid drama and resolution at Carta; and more.
Why are layoffs coming hard and fast, again? Amazon, Google and Meta have all cut jobs, in what feels too similar to exactly 12 months ago. Unfortunately, we can likely expect more tech companies to follow as profits become more important in a post-ZIRP world.
Why is Salesforce firing, hiring, then freezing? Salesforce seems to behave like a QDC – a quarterly-results driven company – in its response to how business is going, rather than following a long-term hiring strategy. This behavior would not be surprising at a company where the CEO is on a “short leash” and eager to please shareholders, but at Salesforce the ultimate decision maker is a cofounder.
It’s a tough time to be a developer platform. Armory (a continuous delivery platform on top of Netflix’s Spinnaker,) and Airplane (a competitor to Retool,) are both sold in what feel like forced sales, due to running out of money and other options. Both exits are successes, but they’re surely not the outcomes which the companies and investors originally wanted.
The Rabbit AI pocket companion: is this really a $199 iPhone/Android replacement? We’re seeing AI startups like Rabbit launch hardware devices trying to replace or augment the iPhone and Android. The real question is not why they are doing it: but when will Siri and Google Assistant be (finally) updated with LLM capabilities?


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Pulliam Pools, one of the nation’s largest builders, has been purchased by two of its employees.
Third-generation owner Barry Pulliam sold the nearly century-old firm to Vice President/General Manager Debra Smith and Sales Manager Mike Clark.
“I know it would have been ideal to advance the family business to a fourth Pulliam generation,” Pulliam said. “But while not biologically related, both Debra and Mike are family, too. They have been a critical part of the success of this business, and I am delighted that they will continue my family’s legacy.”
Smith, now majority partner of the Fort Worth, Texas-based company, becomes president/general manager. Clark is vice president and sales manager.
As part of the sales agreement, Barry Pulliam, who is 60, will remain as a consultant for 15 years.
“I [wanted to] consult for the next 15 years, but couldn’t wait until I’m 75 to do that,” he said. “I want my existing customer base to be taken care of. I want the business to continue and the employees to have livelihoods. If I wait another 15 years and sell to an outsider, I have no control over whether those employees would still have jobs.”
Pulliam Pools was founded as Pulliam Inc. in 1916 by Theo Pulliam who began the company as a concrete contractor. His son and second-generation owner, Doren, purchased the first gunite rig in Tarrant County, Texas, and helped develop the process of pneumatically applying concrete that has become standard for the pool industry.
In 1984, Barry Pulliam purchased the company from his father, growing it from 50 pools a year to 100 in his first 12 months as owner. At the economy’s peak in 2005, Pulliam built 500 pools. In 2007, the most recent year recorded in the Pool & Spa News Top 50, the firm reported nearly $20 million in revenue.
Debra Smith joined the company as a part-time employee in 1992. She was promoted to office manager, general manager, then vice president/general manager. For the past few years, she’s largely overseen day-to-day operations.
“I feel very honored and proud that Barry would entrust this to us,” Smith said. “I’m speechless and awed by his confidence and faith in us.”
Smith also is president of APEC, the Texas pool and spa industry’s legislative advocacy organization.
Clark joined the firm in 1984 as a salesman, and later became sales manager. Credited with strong planning skills, he made it a priority to teach the sales staff to draw, provide thorough plans and implement CAD systems.
Pulliam said the sale was the perfect exit strategy in an age and industry where some people have a hard time with succession planning.
“To me, this seems like a real win-win situation: It’s good for my employees, it’s good for my customers, and it’s good for me. Everybody’s taken care of.”


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Tikoy Vendors Flocked Binondo as Chinese New Year Comes Closer
CHINESE NEW YEAR – The numbers of Tikoy vendors in Binondo, Manila continue to increase as the Chinese New Year draw near.
On Saturday (January 30, 2021), the Tikoy vendors flocked Binondo as the Chinese New Year comes closer. The prices of Tikoy is quite more expensive this year compared to its price last 2020.
According to a vendor in Ongpin Street, the Chinese New Year’s cake has increased around P30 to P50 but it depends on the size. The vendors explained that they were just in a consignment so they could return the products to the supplier.
Another vendor said that their P5 profit per Tikoy could still help to provide the financial necessities of their families. However, the Manila government canceled the Chinese New Year’s-related celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nian gao or popularly known as “Tikoy” is a food prepared from glutinous rice flour in Chinese cuisine.
This delicious food is most popular during the celebration of Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year would be on February 12, 2021 (Friday).
What can you say about this? Just feel free to leave your comments and reactions to this article.


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5 Reason why 2015 is the year of OTT
The wait for Apple WWDC is finally over but Apple TV plans still remain a mystery. Had Apple announced its internet TV service, this story would have more reasons to prove its point. Regardless, Apple does controls a large part of Over the Top video delivery. Apple devices drive 62% of all authenticated pay-for-TV video views and it is the preferred medium where premium programming behemoths are going direct to customers. This year Apple has challenged existing music services and the world expects nothing less for video. While we wait for Apple to launch its uber TV service, the industry continues to shift gears beyond traditional borders.
With less than 6 months in 2015, there are already noticeable change agents like HBO NOW and yet be introduced ShowTime going the OTT way at programmers end. Similarly trimmed down channel lineup services like SLING TV and Yaveo are making waves without the cable for much less cost. These events are unique and have potential to set the stage for new era in video distribution which is ONLINE. OTT based full TV service is not far, similarly it is a matter of time when premium networks worth their salt will be available Over the top as apps across platforms without allegiance to cable. OTT is present day TV reality and programming networks have no reason to ignore it. Premium OTT video services are making their impact loud and clear, and for most reasons it is not cord cutting but the sheer quality of package which is hard to resist. The results are for all to see, an ever growing bandwagon on SVOD subscribers. 2015 does marks as an year when OTT video services are coming of age!
People have been watching TV for decades and they will continue to watch. The importance of Linear TV is not fading from OTT onslaught, although it is bound to influence its packaging and pricing. Linear TV is still the chosen option for live, sports and localized content in both short and long formats, but Over the top is new consumer reality which is changing ways of TV consumption for large masses. The era of making travel, work and play plans based around TV schedules is largely gone except for few unique events. While challenges remain aplenty, OTT is surely making way towards a more mature offering. It is also not difficult to understand what brings so much favoritism to OTT. Put simply, these three attributes and some basics economics sums it all
- Convenience – Anytime anywhere consumption
- Control – To choose what and when to watch on the screen and device of choice
- Content – Availability of large existing content libraries and original programming
Online streaming which was unknown 20 years back was first demonstrated by RealAudio in 1995 by streaming audio over internet, today it has come a long way and continues to grow rapidly. Online Video is a big ocean with multiple facets and service categories. It is spread wide and gets governed by rules of partnership, delivery, nature of content, business models and markets in which it exists. It is essential to understand these categories since it is sum of parts which is making the difference. Having said that, SVOD is still the brightest and strongest contender making waves for all the good reasons. Let us briefly look at the universe of online video services
- SVOD – Subscription Video on Demand are new age content aggregators like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now. Having amassed large content libraries, exclusive content deals and all you can have content packages at a price which is hard to resist, they are are clearly the home favorites. Original programming comes as an icing on the cake.
- Ad Supported Over the Top – YouTube is the big daddy with players like Yahoo Screen and Crackle playing their part. Large repository of TV shows, movies and non-premium content available across devices at no physical cost
- User Generated Content – YouTube, Vimeo along with Social network kingpins Facebook and Twitter rule this category.
- TVOD Transaction Video on Demand – Players like iTunes, CinemaNow, Amazon, MS Xbox Video and Google Play with option to rent or buy premium content.
- MVPD OTT and Device specific Services – A recent hot trend with Traditional TV players launching slimmer channel packages services with Live and VOD content. Sling TV from DISH, PlayStation Vue from Sony, Yaveo from Direct TV make this category shine.
- TV Everywhere – A long delayed initiative by major broadcasters to enable pay-TV subscribers to enjoy subscribed content across connected devices under controlled network conditions. Limited content, device coverage and authentication have played spoilers but recently it is coming back to limelight.
- IPTV – Full service video delivery model similar to cable and satellite but delivered over managed IP networks. Read here for difference between IPTV and OTT
Online video has many service lines and a recent report from Cisco reveals its growing leadership position in the Internet of today and future. Below are some facts on where online video is expected to go from here
- It would take an individual over 5 million years to watch the amount of video that will cross global IP networks each month in 2018. By 2018, every second, nearly a million minutes of video content will cross the network.
- IP video traffic will account 79 percent of all consumer Internet traffic in 2018, up from 66 percent in 2013
- Consumer VoD traffic will double by 2018. The Video on demand traffic will be equivalent to 6 billion DVDs per month by 2018
- Content delivery network traffic will deliver over half of all internet video traffic by 2018. By 2018, 67 percent of all Internet video traffic will cross content delivery networks, up from 53 percent in 2013.
- Globally, Internet video traffic will grow 4-fold from 2013 to 2018, at a CAGR of 30%.
- Globally, Internet video traffic will reach 76.6 Exabytes per month in 2018, up from 20.8 Exabytes per month in 2013.
5 Reasons why OTT is Coming of Age
While pay-TV revenue grew less than 3% in 2014, OTT is on a phenomenon growth path with no signs of slowing down. OTT pay-TV revenues are surging ahead and are expected to grow by 26% in 2015 and at 24% CAGR through 2019. A forecast by Ovum predicts OTT user base may reach 100 million this year itself with a trend suggesting almost 200 million subscribers by 2020. And the best part, major SVOD services have not even ventured into the largest connected markets with another billion connected users – namely China and India. For OTT player, world is the market and building a global brand an instinct worth pursuing.
#Reason 1 – Consumers want IT more than ever
Netflix gained over 5 million paid subscribers in the first quarter of 2015 and now has a total base of 60 million, 10 years back Netflix total base was just 4.2 million. Simple math, Netflix is adding more number of users in a quarter than it had just 10 years back. It is already the largest paid video service provider with approximately 41 million US subscribers, Hulu comes distant second with 9 million subscribers. In comparison Comcast the largest cable provider stands midway at 21 million and if regulator approves TWC and Charter merger, the combined entity will serve 24 million customers. In last quarter alone, Netflix streamed 10 billion hours of video. Is there a need to look further that consumers love SVOD, specially Netflix ?
The three C’s of Convenience, Content & Control with added benefit of economics make SVOD a compelling service to pay for. In most developed markets, a large part of non scheduled TV entertainment is shifting from Disc, DVR and downloads to premium SVOD streaming. The SVOD growth strongly indicates that long form professionally produced content for OTT has made significant acceptance in consumer homes.
#Reason 2 – Better Devices and Enhanced Experience
With more than half a billion connected TV devices worldwide, including smart TVs, network-enabled blu-ray players, games consoles and digital media streamers, TV is now more connected than ever. US has 50% homes with connected TV capability up from 44% in 2013, and 24% in 2011. Connected media adaptors like Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast have witnessed fantastic growth in last few years fueled by its low cost and excellent feature set making more homes enjoy online TV experience. Newer compression formats like HEVC and VP9 are expected to play crucial role in improved QOE by getting higher resolution content like 4K and more importantly HD content with significant bandwidth savings.
Quality does matters when it comes to paid content and future of OTT will not disappointed on this part. OTT video presents the opportunity to bring higher resolution content earlier than most broadcast networks. While technology cycles are far longer for traditional TV providers who are still upgrading to base HD, OTT has leaped ahead with True HD, UHD and 4K services. OTT providers are clearly early adopters and the frontrunner in high quality content regime. Netflix and YouTube launched 4K services a while back and most other players are not behind. A recent Cisco study projects Ultra HD will be 7.5% of Internet video traffic in 2018, up from 0.1% in 2013, a CAGR of 250.0%. On similar note HD will also grow to 46.1% of Internet video traffic in 2018, up from 24.0% in 2013 at a CAGR of 47.8% while SD will decline to 46.4% of Internet video traffic in 2018, compared to 75.9% in 2013.
# Reason 3 – Richer Content – Opening of premium content vaults
Absence of premium content was once a major challenge which most OTT players struggled in the past, not anymore!. The reality of TV consumption is forcing open premium content vaults and protectionism is giving way to innovation and partnership. Original Programming which was once exclusive province of pay-TV constellation is not the case anymore. Major SVOD services are hotbed for best produced originals gaining immense popularity. With Binge viewing become more common form of leisure TV viewing, the loaded OTT content libraries have come as a great asset. A recent report by Deloitte reveals younger millennials and young adults are more interested in binge viewing compared to live viewing. Our changing lifestyles does support this finding :-).
#Reason 4 – Competition driving OTT as a must have strategy
Customer have started to expect OTT like experience from their pay TV services. A more intuitive user interface, faster search, content recommendations with support across connected devices including mobile are some of them. Infact access over mobile is growing much fast and soon expected to overtake desktop based consumption.
The success of SVOD players has in part shaken up the controlled traditional media landscape, and network players are challenged to change and expand their online presence. Major Pay-TV operators recognize the power of Online and are earlier launching lite versions of their lineups or placing existing OTT players like Netflix and Hulu on their platforms. Programming network are also reaching directly or through partnership to have rich online window for their content. A partnership which can bring benefits all players. Benefit of higher customer retention, addition of new subscribers, greater personalization and increased ARPU. Comcast, DISH, Cablevision , AT&T are some early adopters but others are expected to follow soon. Played by market dynamics it is a matter of 12-18 months when Apps across connected devices will be the face of most major networks for online consumers.
Statistics further shows that US pay TV penetration rates have flattened or best growing at only 2-3% CAGR. Most players are struggling with increased churn, reduced video customers and difficulty in maintaining ARPU. A simple reason being limited growth options in traditional Pay TV market which has hit saturation levels. Getting Online is hence not a differentiator anymore, it is a must have survival path to keep engaged existing and new consumers.
#Reason 5 – Technology, Analytics and and Advertising Revenues
A large part of M&E industry runs on advertising dollars and OTT video has the unique advantage of collecting consumer data at great length. With OTT video consumption rising, there lies an enormous hidden value from targeted ads. deployment. But the challenge which networks and advertisers is absence of unified measuring which makes buying and selling of advertising for OTT TV programming an uphill task. But as standardization settles in this part of advertising domain, there are rich dividends to be made by fully monetizing the true value of OTT TV programming. A recent report from TDG also predicts OTT TV advertising to nearly four-fold between 2015 and 2020 to USD 40 Billion.
We are on the cusp of the next major evolutionary phase in visual entertainment. While growth in traditional TV industry continues to falter, online video offers direction for a brighter future. The challenges, as well as the opportunities in Media industry have never been greater. The democratization of content cycle from creation, aggregation and distribution is also bringing far greater M&A’s and nurturing of new business models. The golden age of Television had arrived few years ago and that of TV streaming is just round the corner. Until next time……


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Virgin Galactic takes its rocket engine aloft
Virgin Galactic took a large step Wednesday in testing its SpaceShipTwo rocket plane.
The SpaceShipTwo, on its 23rd flight, for the first time flew over the Mojave, Calif., test range with its rocket motor installed, including its fuel tanks. It’s a big step in testing of the ship that will carry humans to space. The spaceship didn’t fire its rockets; instead, it glided back to Earth.
The ship is expected to undertake two more glide tests before it sees its first powered flight.
The test followed a successful flight last week when the ship, in the same configuration, flew mated to its launcher.
Virgin said all of its test objectives were met in both flights.
Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant at Spaceport America near Las Cruces. The company has plans to fly humans to space aboard the rocket plane. Virgin has not said when the first flights will occur. The company said in October that it has booked 529 passengers for flights.
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Allegra Holding is reportedly selling its logistics portfolio which could fetch a price of €30 million and trade at a net initial yield of 5%.
The portfolio includes two warehouses located in Villaverde, at the entrance to Madrid, and space in front of Amazon’s operations in the town of San Fernando de Henares. The properties in Villaverde have 9,798m2 and 7,676m2 of GLA and are let to logistics operator, On Time, with a 10-year duration.
In addition, the portfolio includes a 16,430 m2 plot of land in San Fernando with a project to develop a 10,265 m2 warehouse with a long-term lease.
There is currently an investor craze for Spanish logistic properties fuelled by the growth of the electronic commerce sector. During the first quarter of 2019, the sector has attracted €200 million of investment and this is expected to reach half a billion by the end of the first semester.
Allegra is the family office of the Losantos-Ucha family and was created after selling their real estate development company, Riofisa. The patriarch, Mario Losantos del Campo, who was from the town of Calahorra in La Rioja, sold 50% of Riofisa to Luis Portillo (President of Inmocaral) for €1 billion in 2007. His heirs, Irene, Eva, Mario and Sara Losantos and his wife Irene Ucha now have two property holdings: Maori European Holding and Allegra which own and develop properties in Spain, the USA, Australia and New Zealand having left the UK market due to the uncertainties around Brexit. Last year the family office bought a property in Virginia, USA and an office building in New Zealand (its 2nd property in Oceania where it owns the Bulgari store next to the Sydney Opera house).


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NEW YORK WPP Group CEO Martin Sorrell said traditional media companies as well as WPP's ad agencies are still not reacting fast enough to the rapidly shifting digital media landscape.
"I'd have to say our traditional verticals inside our business probably, like any traditional business, are slower than they should be in embracing new technology," he said.
Sorrell was speaking at a client summit here organized by WPP search agency Outrider.
Part of the problem in the slow pace of change comes down to an older generation of leadership, the 61-year-old Sorrell said, pointing out that many WPP businesses are run by persons much like him.
"Human nature is to not embrace change," he said.
For that reason, his top two priorities at WPP is reorienting the No. 2 holding company to capitalize on fast-growth international markets and the explosion of digital media.
Sorrell pointed to Wall Street to illustrate the uncertainty caused by the Internet's effect on traditional media. For that reason, Google is the most highly valued media company in the world, despite having comparatively much less business than traditional media giants. "There are major shifts in media consumption that worry investors," he said.


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Pre-Covid only 9% people travelled in personal vehicles, but post lockdown that number rose to 35%. The responses also revealed that the percentage of people who opted for air travel went down from 80% pre-Covid to 55%, post lockdown. For rail journey, the number fell from 7% pre-Covid to 3%, post lockdown. In short, the survey highlighted a shift towards the use of either personal vehicle or hired vehicle as a preferred mode of travel in the months following the lockdown.
Only 25% of the respondents said they had travelled post lockdown, between July and October, that is. Among the people who said they flew post lockdown, those in the age group 20-29 years made up for 42 %, up from the 25% pre-Covid. Those in 30-39 years bracket made up for 41%, down from 49% pre-Covid, and those above 40 years made up for 10 %, while pre-Covid this demographic comprised 19% of its passengers, according to findings of a `Travel Intent’ survey carried out by AirAsia India.
When asked about reasons they travelled post-lockdown, 47% said they travelled to their hometown. Pre-Covid, travelling back home made up only for 23 % of the travel intent. Another 20% traveled to place of work from their hometown, while pre-Covid it was 6%. The most hit post lockdown was leisure travel, which made up for a meagre 6%, while pre-Covid it accounted for 32%. Business travel was 19%, while pre-Covid it made up for 22% traffic on this low cost carrier.
The encouraging bit for the airline industry was that one in two surveyed said that they definitely planned to travel over the next 3 months and 84% among these said they would board a flight. Travelling by personal vehicles was the choice for 12%, with the remaining 2.5% made up of people who would either hire a vehicle or opt for train travel. Going forward, the bright spot this festive season was for leisure travel, with 40% saying they would go on a holiday, followed by 30% who said they would go to their hometown. A majority said Goa was their preferred holiday destination.


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On TVs across America, the pitch is being made: Infomercial products claim to make you thinner, richer, and stronger.
But what about infomercials making claims that are deceptive?
The makers of one ad last year, for a product called "Ultimate HGH," agreed to the largest health fraud settlement in Federal Trade Commission history: $20 million dollars.
“Ten percent of your marketers are serial offenders,” says Greg Renker, who has produced some of the most successful infomercials of all time.
“'Television terrorists,' I call them!”
Renker is worried about what he calls “renegades” in his industry. “It's embarrassing to be in an industry that works so hard to put out good products, to deal with competitors who don’t follow any guidelines and take the money and run.”
So if you had a questionable product—say, a pill filled with nothing more than an empty promise, how hard would it be to find someone to make an infomercial and sell your product to millions? Dateline decided to find out.
We first invented a product: a skin moisturizer in a pill. We called it “Moisturol.” We knew it wouldn’t work as advertised because we filled the pills with Nestle’s Quik!
Then with hidden cameras rolling, we met infomercial producers, including a man who we asked if we’d need a doctor to endorse Moisturol.
Producer (on hidden camera): You’re gonna want somebody in a white coat saying it works and it’s safe.
Dateline: So you’re confident we can find somebody?
Producer: Oh, its never a question of whether we can find somebody. It’s a question of how good are they and how much do they want?
The producer found a doctor, who agreed to a $5,000 fee to endorse our pill without seeing clinical studies or even testing it before she spoke.
An attorney for the doctor now claims she was tricked by NBC’s deception, including an altered listing of ingredients on the Moisturol bottle. Nevertheless, the doctor did admit to us she made a mistake.
John Larson, correspondent: How could a woman this smart, without any clinical trials, be willing to go on television and help sell a product to maybe millions of people?
Doctor: I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time.
The infomercial producers also found dozens of women who claimed they’d tried the product.
But it turns out many of these women were actresses, more than willing to exaggerate or even be fed lines by the producers.
Finally, what infomercial is complete without a host? An actress was hired to read a script—a script which said, she had used Moisturol. The only problem? That’s not what she told us the very same day on the set.
We showed portions of our investigation to Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, who expressed his concern. "We need to have the FTC send a very clear signal to the industry that these type of infomercials will not be tolerated," he says.
It’s a problem not as easily solved as a click of the remote.
The full report airs Dateline Friday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m. on NBC.
© 2013 NBCNews.com Reprints


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by Nortal HQ, October 27, 2017
Last week, Nortal and Icefire both signed contracts to work on the Estonian Tax and Customs Board’s (ETCB) new e-Tax/e-Customs portal to make their services even better for end users.
Lauri Tammiste, Head of the Public Sector Business Unit at Nortal, said Estonian e-solutions for taxes and customs have been the flagship of Estonian e-governance for years.
They have been a role model for other similar organizations worldwide,” Tammiste added. “We are pleased to contribute to the development of a new e-solution for the ETCB that will make their online platform clearer, easier to use and more up-to-date for the end user.”
The contract involves the first phase of development where the structure of the online system will go through a comprehensive overhaul and the user experience for online services will be improved by 2019.
The ETCB’s online e-tax filing project involves the development of the self-service portal that will simplify customer navigation and communication with the ETCB.
The new payments component will give customers a much clearer view of their receivables, operations, prepayment account and refund requests. Making payments will also become easier.
“A new technological foundation will help reduce physical contact with us to the greatest possible extent,” said Valdur Laid, Director General of the ETCB. “The services of the e-ETCB will have a clearer and more user-friendly design.”
Nortal has been responsible for about 40% of Estonia’s eGovernance disruption in the past 15 years.
Read more about how we turned Estonia into the most efficient manager of the European Union’s Structural and Investment Funds. Thanks to Nortal, Estonia has one of the lowest administration cost ratios for managing structural and investment funds compared to other EU member states.


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Shock and awesome
M Sport suspension add-ons, formerly for the masochist, now enhance the 3 Series
than the tiny Toyota Yaris runabout (6.0L/100km v 6.3L) and yet it’s no slouch thanks to the wonders of turbocharging technology. This is an important consideration because the money you’ll save on fuel could justify what to grab from the options list.
The 3 Series starting price is now a snip over $50,000 thanks to the recent arrival of the none-too-shabby 316i. The badge may bring on nightmares about the stubbylooking and lethargic 316s from the late 1990s but the new one is a gem.
The car we’re focusing on is the next model up, the 320i, which starts at $58,900. Not so long ago the 320i badge on the boot of a BMW signified a small six-cylinder engine was under the bonnet. Now it means there is a relatively large 2.0-litre turbo four.
With not much less grunt than that found in a Volkswagen Golf GTI, it moves along with almost the same pace as the world’s top-selling hot hatch (0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds against 6.9).
The new 3 Series has received mixed reviews since it arrived late last year but there is a fairly simple reason for the ups and downs.
Forgive me for being such an anorak but the outcome of road tests have largely depended on what wheels and tyres with which the gleaming press car has been fitted — and what roads reviewers have driven on.
Car companies love to spruce up their demonstrator models. Big shiny wheels look good in photos. They are also rubbish over bumps because there isn’t as much rubber to soak up the ripples.


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Cryptocurrencies Start the Week Down. What Can We Expect in the Coming Days
Ever since the start of this year, the crypto market has been going through an uncertain and difficult phase. Most cryptocurrencies have lost more than half of their overall value and have managed to cause severe losses to investors. The crash within the market caused the investors to sell their assets in a panic. However, cryptocurrencies losing their value can be traced back to the FED jacking up interest rates throughout this year.
The crypto market moved in correlation with the US stock market. Thus, fluctuations within the stock market had an impact on cryptocurrencies. However, the correlation seemed to weaken in recent weeks. For the longest possible time, it was actually believed that cryptocurrencies served as a hedge against inflation, but that was not exactly the case. Coupled with high interest rates and certain difficult macroeconomic factors, cryptocurrencies are experiencing a continuous loss of valuation.
What to Expect from Cryptocurrencies in the Near Future?
Just a few days ago, the FED pumped up interest rates yet again. However, there was no immediate impact on cryptocurrencies, but it was estimated to show up anytime soon. The crypto market already had a reputation for being extremely volatile. Also, it reacts swiftly to such global financial news. Nonetheless, at the start of this week, the crypto market shed its value as its overall market cap went down by over 2.50%.
Several cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin lost their previous week’s gains. Moreover, BNB, DOGE, and SOL were among the most significant losers in the market during this time. AVAX, ATOM, and FTT also lost majorly in the meantime.
It is still a matter of conjecture if cryptocurrencies would be able to regain their value and take a turn towards rising once again. However, if inflation rates are pushed down and macroeconomic factors ease-out, there is a chance that the prices of these cryptocurrencies might shoot back up. As of now, the uncertain market continues to ride on many ifs and buts situations.
Many experts believe that the situation in the crypto market could change for the best by the end of this year. There is still a possibility of a further increase in interest rates. In that case, cryptocurrencies can continue to fall. Therefore, the fundamental goal is to control the high interest rates and steer the global economy through this recession.


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Homeopathic teething tablets and gels manufactured by Hyland’s and others have long been touted as a safe, natural and effective way to relieve an infant’s teething pain. In September 2016, however, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned parents not to use these products, after they were linked to hundreds of adverse events, including 10 infant deaths.
Homeopathic medicines are based on the idea that the substances which cause symptoms of an illness can actually provide relief when taken in highly diluted doses. This notion has been around since the 18th century, but is unsupported by science. Regardless, the market for homeopathic and herbal medicines is quite lucrative, generating retail sales of $6.4 billion in the U.S. in 2012.
Homeopathic teething gels and tablets are sold under several brand names, including Hyland’s, Baby Orajel Naturals and others. Belladonna, a primary ingredient in many of these products, is toxic when ingested in large doses. Symptoms of belladonna toxicity include:
In 2010, the FDA issued a safety alert for Hyland’s Teething Tablets, after those products were found to contain “inconsistent” amounts of belladonna. The agency also revealed that it had received a number of adverse event reports involving the tablets that were consistent with belladonna toxicity. An ongoing FDA inspection also revealed substandard control of the manufacturing operation.
At the time, Hyland’s agreed to issue a teething tablet recall for those products, and voluntarily pulled them from the market. However, Hyland’s returned the medicines to store shelves after it had reformulated the products to reduce the amount of belladonna.
On September 30, 2016, the FDA warned parents and caregivers that homeopathic teething gels and pills could pose a serious risk to their infants. Two weeks later, various media outlets reported that the agency was investigating 400 adverse events, including 10 infant deaths, potentially associated with their use. A subsequent statement from the FDA noted that “the relationship of these deaths to the homeopathic teething products has not yet been determined and is currently under review.”
The FDA’s warning prompted CVS to voluntarily withdraw all homeopathic teething gels and tablets sold at its retail stores. Read More
In a statement to CNN, Hyland’s maintained that it had “not been made aware of any medical or statistical evidence to support a causal link between homeopathic teething tablets and adverse outcomes at this point.” However, the company announced on October 11th that it would discontinue U.S. sales of its homeopathic teething products, due to “confusion among parents and limited access to the medicines” created by the FDA’s warning.
In November 2016, Raritan Pharmaceuticals announced a pecautionary recall for the following homeopathic products:
Tests had indicated that the recalled products might contained inconsistent amounts of belladonna, which can prove toxic in large mounts. However, no injuries have been linked to the Raritan recall. Read More
Get the latest news and litigation updates about this case by following us on Facebook. Click the "Like" button below.


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In a recent Tech Talk interview with PR Week, Lambert & Co. founder and CEO Jeff Lambert discussed TiiCKER, an additional business venture of his created to identify and communicate with individual investors through an intelligent software platform.
The first of its kind, TiiCKER, connects publicly traded companies directly with prospective investors. In this recent Tech Talk, Lambert breaks down TiiCKER’s concept, describing the consumer to shareholder process while touching on the future of investor relations in conjunction with technological advances.
TiiCKER has invented a new marketing demographic—consumer shareholders. By engaging, verifying and rewarding shareholders through stock perks and free trading, TiiCKER has attracted new investors and brand consumers. TiiCKER is dedicated to a simple proposition: individual investors should be rewarded for their loyalty.


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Biden is spending $6 million to blanket early-voting states with TV and digital ads
Former Vice President Joe Biden will spend $6 million to run digital and TV commercials in the early-voting primary and caucus states, his campaign said Thursday, as he attempts to keep pace with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, currently his main rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Biden’s campaign announced that it's reserving “prime advertising space on traditional television and on digital platforms like YouTube, Hulu and news and sports streaming services” in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, the first four states on the presidential nominating calendar.
WARREN SHOWCASES $10 MILLION AD BUY IN EARLY VOTING STATES
The move comes a week after Warren’s campaign said it would dish out at least $10 million to run digital and TV spots in the same four crucial states.
Warren and Biden are virtually tied for the top spot in most recent national and early-voting-state polls.
While the Biden campaign is already running digital ads across the country and has spent six figures to run TV commercials in Iowa, this is its first major multi-state ad buy.
“We’ve been up on the airwaves in Iowa and blown away by the reaction we’ve seen to Vice President Biden’s deeply personal ad about health care,” Biden campaign manager Greg Schultz said in a statement.
THE LATEST FROM FOX NEWS ON THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign announced earlier this week that it would go up Thursday with the first TV commercial of the Vermont senator’s 2020 White House bid. But the campaign said on Wednesday – after confirming that Sanders was taking time off from the campaign trail following a heart procedure -- that the $1.3 million ad buy in Iowa was being postponed.


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Sri Lanka nation-wide inflation accelerates to 5.3-pct in May 2016
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices nation-wide rose 5.3 percent in May 2016 from a year ago, accelerating from 4.3 percent in April, its fourth straight monthly rise, the statistics department said.
On month-on-month basis, the new National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), compiled using prices collected from all nine provinces with a base year of 2013, rose 1.9 percent in May, up from 1.5 percent in April after having fallen 0.7 percent in March.
It was the highest point-to-point inflation since May 2015.
(COLOMBO, June 21, 2016)


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GM Canada has confirmed it will wind down one of its last two lines in Oshawa, starting as early as this fall.
“As previously announced, the Consolidated Line will cease at the end of (the) scheduled lifecycle for the current-generation Impala. This is currently anticipated to occur in June 2013,” the company said in a statement Friday.
The consolidated line currently employs 2,000 people, the company said. That’s about half the company’s workforce in Oshawa.
It’s too early to say how many people will be affected by these “scheduling actions,” the company said.
“Some employees may elect to retire and others will be on indefinite layoff,” the auto maker said in a statement.
The production changes will begin as early as this fall, starting with the third shift, the company said. The second shift will be eliminated in the first three months of the New Year. And by June of 2013, the plant will be closed.
The union representing the workers said it had hoped to overturn the company’s decision to close the plant.
But the company has said repeatedly it has no new product to put in the plant, CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley told the Star late Thursday night.
“It’ll be devastating for thousands of workers,” Buckley said, adding it’s not just the direct jobs in the plant that are affected but all the spinoff jobs as well.
Calling the decision “short-sighted,” CAW national president Ken Lewenza said, “It is also a betrayal of the tremendous work and sacrifices by our members that went into keeping General Motors afloat in 2008-2009, when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy.
“It appears today that General Motors has a very short memory,” he added.
Lewenza said this latest closure announcement flies in the face of what may actually be the best course of action for the company – using existing capacity well into the future.
The consolidated plant, considered by the company to be outmoded, builds the current model Chevy Impala, an Oshawa mainstay and one of the most popular family cars in the U.S. The same plant handles overflow work on the popular Chevy Equinox.
In December, GM committed to invest $68 million in its newer Flex plant to maintain some Impala production along with 350 jobs in Oshawa.
However, Oshawa would share production of the Impala with GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant. As well, some Equinox production would be extended for the first time outside Canada to a reopened U.S. plant.
The moves come as the Canadian Auto Workers enter contract talks this year with all three major auto makers.
Last year, the CAW’s counterpart in the U.S., the United Auto Workers agreed to link pay raises to company performance. Instead of fixed wage increases, the union accepted signing bonuses and profit-sharing incentives, concessions the CAW has unequivocally rejected.
The rising value of the Canadian dollar has also made it tough to compete with the U.S. for new investment, Buckely said.
The latest job losses come on top of the 2,600 jobs lost in 2009 when GM closed its truck plant in Oshawa, and the closure of its last remaining plant in Windsor, where it once employed 7,000 people.
GM had a Canadian workforce of 20,000 people as recently as 2005, but that number has dwindled in wake of its bankruptcy filing two years ago.
The company received $61.5 billion in bailout money from the U.S., Canadian and Ontario governments in 2009 as it went through bankruptcy protection, with politicians saying it was important to protect manufacturing jobs.
Currently, the Flex line handles the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car and Buick Regal mid-size sedan. In August, GM announced a $185 million investment to add the Cadillac XTS luxury sedan to the Flex line in the first half of 2012, securing 750 jobs.
The company said it originally announced in November 2005 that the consolidated line would cease production in 2008. But due to market demand for the current generation Chevrolet Impala and the subsequent addition of the Equinox, operations continued beyond that date.


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11th February was the date when Nokia announced its partnership with Microsoft. It’s was just the last month but it already feels like an old story.
I thought the same until I picked up this month’s issue of the most reputed local internet magazine and was disappointed to read the same pre-calculated analysis published in it (which is circulating all over the web).
So let’s dissect & clarify this issue once and for all.
Let’s go couple of years back, when Nokia started losing its market share to iOS and Android and it strongly needed to come up with a competitive product but this time it was not about cutting edge hardware, but it was about the software and the user experience.
Nokia’s answer was not customized Symbian but Maemo which later turned into MeeGo, which was going to be the future of Nokia’s smartphones – but something didn’t go right.
During all this, iOS was advancing, Android was expanding its user base, HP bought Palm and released WebOS 2.0, RIM launched a new & improved version of its BlackBerry OS & a BlackBerry tablet, one company was left without an Eco System of their own & it was Nokia.
They had to act and act fast.
Now if we believe Nokia’s CEO Stephen Elop, he said in an interview that when he arrived at the company (Sep. 2010), Nokia then knew that it has to make a strategic assessment & CEO’s job was to lead the company through that.
At this point Nokia weighed all of its options from continued investment in Symbian to MeeGo to other platforms and finally partnered with Microsoft for Windows Phone 7.
You may argue why Nokia didn’t partner with Android then?
Here is the reason: Back in September 2010 Google asked Motorola to stop using SkyHook’s location services on the Droid X, which Motorola had decided to use instead of Google’s Location Services.
If Nokia was in place of Motorola (and considering the fact that Nokia owns Navteq (a $8.1 Billion acquisition)), it would never had nodded the Google’s call.
But now, look at the complete freedom Nokia has – it can modify Windows Phone 7 in any way it want. So definitely WP7 was the choice.
will Symbian Die after WP7 Phones?
So is Symbian dead? MeeGo gone? N-series phones soon to be history? The answer it not what you have been listening to and it is, No.
Symbian is staying in its current status till the end of 2012 and until than it will be actively developed and modified. One example is the new set of icons, animations, customizable widgets and the addition of my favorite feature, the drop down notification bar (yes, they way Andriod has it).
This update is coming soon.
What will happen after 2012? The Smartphone’s from Nokia will transition to Windows Phone 7 & Symbian (particularly Series 40 & variants) will continue to be a part of the low-end phones or plain Mobile phones. So it is more of relegation than plain death. But where does MeeGo fit in?
“We are not thinking about MeeGo as the Plan B but we are thinking about MeeGo as what’s the next generation”, “What’s the next wave of business and technological disruption (beyond iOS, Android, WP7). We want to make sure we are leading through that as well”.
These three lines summarize the future of MeeGo as it is the OS Nokia will develop to lead the future platform/OS wars beyond the current ones.
What the future holds, no one knows for sure. Huawei is manufacturing low priced cheap Android phones, there are rumors that Apple is working on a smaller or cheaper iPhone & that too is the plan of Nokia to bring WP7 to all the different price points instead of just a premium product.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure, the consumer (you & I) will benefit.


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Rising interest rates caused by recent inflation may hurt traditional lenders, but some tech-fueled financial companies are seeing tailwinds.
Tony HuangCEO of Seattle consumer credit startup Possible Finance, said his company’s business is expected to grow this year. As the government is slowing its spending — and prices for everyday goods are rising — there is a greater need for consumer credit from lower-income Americans, Huang told GeekWire.
“People tend to think about consumer credit businesses as highly sensitive to interest rate changes,” said Huang, adding that isn’t the case with Possible since it’s relatively “recession-proof.”
The startup, which offers small loans for a flat monthly fee, is relatively insulated from the rising interest rates, Huang said. That’s because the company is acccustomed to incurring high costs and losses, whereas other lenders operate on relatively slim margins.
While other lenders tighten their lending, those would-be customers “flow downstream” to Possible and other alternative credit services. This lowers its customer acquisition costs and provides an influx of higher quality new users, Huang said.
To date, the startup has provided more than 1.65 million loans to more than 500,000 US customers and has raised $45 million in total funding. It is still working toward profitability.
Lending Club, a San Francisco-based digital lender, has also set itself up for a steady performance during the economic downturn. The public company’s old business model was to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions, but after acquiring Radius Bank and obtaining a banking charterit now has some control over its sources of capital and collects interest on loans, providing a “buffer” during the economic downturn, said CFO Tom Casey.
Lending Club, which serves more than four million members, projected earlier in the year that the financial markets would continue to be “quite choppy,” and this has “proven to be the case,” Casey said.
“This is a fundamental test for why we became a bank,” he added. “And we’re already seeing the benefits of that as we go through these times.”
Other fintech startups, meanwhile, have seen their valuations tumble during the year, part of the larger market downturn. A report by the venture firm Andreessen Horowitz said that the estimated valuations for private fintech companies dropped significantly since October 2021, down more than six-fold.
Perhaps the most affected by interest rates are the buy-now-pay-later, or so-called BNPL, firms. These companies split the initial cost of purchase into incremental payments, often with little to no interest attached.
However, with rising rates, their already slim margins may get squeezed even further, a report by Tellimer said. BNPL startups often charge the merchant, not the buyer, for these small loans. Therefore, if merchants are unwilling to raise the fees they pay to BNPL firms for providing a pay later function on their e-commerce site, then it is the margins of the BNPL firms that will erode, the report added.
On top of that, tech juggernaut Apple recently announced it will be a competitor in the space with its own BNPL service dubbed “Apple Pay Later.”
Investors have already soured on the idea of many BNPL companies.
Affirm, for example, saw its stock price down more than 80% since the start of the year. The firm recently partnered with Amazon to offer loan options for purchases of $50 or more on the platform, and is facing the possibility of prolonged headwinds due to the rising cost of capital.
Swedish BNPL firm Klarna has also been hammered. Its valuation was reportedly cut to $15 billion after previously raised at a $45.6 billion round, the Wall Street Journal reported.


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According to Apple executive Eddy Cue, “We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today. It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core.”
Cue adds that following the rollout to the US, they will be moving onto Europe next. “The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.”
For those unfamiliar, some of the new features of Apple Maps include Look Around, which has been likened to Google’s Street View. At the moment the feature is still somewhat limited to a handful of cities, but we imagine that over time, it should be available to more.
Filed in Apple Maps. Source: 9to5mac. Read more about


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UK's We Are Pop Up debuts in Russia in deal with JLL
We Are Pop Up, the UK company that links brands and businesses seeking space for short-term rentals, is debuting in Russia in partnership with commercial property and investment management services specialist JLL.
JLL said that brands looking to enter the market but not ready to commit to a lengthy store lease should be able to find plenty of spaces through the new service.
The venture will initially focus on properties operated by JLL, including the Mosaic and Fili Grad shopping centres in Moscow, and Yuzhny in Kazan. The rental period could be a few days up to several months and future plans include ‘micro-renting’ where the label could take an even smaller space within a store.
Pop-up tenants are seen as providing a solid revenue stream for shopping centres and they can also add buzz to a location.
We Are Pop Up CEO Leon Goldwater said that over 40,000 brands currently use its services, mainly in the fashion and electricals area. But demand is also growing from e-tailers looking to establish some kind of physical presence.
The company said that pop-up tenants in Russia will pay around 20% of their turnover for the space they occupy.
While pop-ups as a concept have been around for several decades, they’re still not that well established in Russia with the first-ever one there only opening in 2012 (it was a Uniqlo temporary store).
Although the new development could be seen as a sign that vacancy rates are growing in Russian malls, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Colliers International said the vacancy rate is around 6.9%, which isn’t a problem level.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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CNET News (SD)
Summary: From industry news to techy trends to newsmaker interviews, no technology angle is too small or obscure to explore. Our reporters take you there in this video series that aims to bring you even closer to the tech news you find daily on CNET News.
The Atlantic Council works with social media companies and governments to track inauthentic content online.
Can a smart ring hold clues to the early detection of COVID-19? A new study at the University of California, San Francisco is using the Oura ring to collect metrics such as body temperature in the hope of building an algorithm that can predict the onset of the coronavirus.
Find out key dates for filing your federal and state tax returns during the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out if you're eligible for up to $1,200 under the recently signed economic stimulus bill.
2020 marks Mario's 35th anniversary and with it, multiple reports say Nintendo is planning on a celebration that will see remakes of 3D Mario games, as well as potential new entries for the Switch.
There are several ways to donate your time and resources while still maintaining responsible social distancing. We show you how you can help from home.
Huawei has partnered with Monster Eyewear on new Bluetooth-enabled smart glasses.
The new Cicada Wing display is 50% brighter than its predecessor, and new features include improved viewing angle performance.
Words hold a lot of power, and we need to be mindful of how they're used at a time when we should come together.
The world is being asked to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. But while the social and economic impacts are huge, staying home could be the only thing that saves us from a global catastrophe.
Theatrical releases could change through 2024.
We discuss the new AR features, the crazy new keyboard case with trackpad and what we know so far.
Sony's Mark Cerny gave a very tech-heavy presentation about the architecture of the PlayStation 5 and how developers will be able to utilize the meticulously designed console. Originally meant for the developer audience at GDC, CNET's Jeff Bakalar breaks down the important takeaways that will result in tangible improvements to the PS5 gaming experience.
With a new keyboard, double the storage and quad-core CPU options, the Air is back in a big way.
Sony's Mark Cerny talks about the PlayStation 5's system architecture, which will feature a solid-state drive and enable backward compatibility.


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The news about a Soundgarden reunion at the start of the year was a great one. Still no mention of a tour *yet* but I’m sure an announcement will be forthcoming.
Until then, there’s news about Sub Pop Records reissuing the band’s debut single, “Hunted Down” b/w “Nothing To Say” on April 17th for this year’s Record Store Day. This edition of SP12 will be on orange vinyl, whereas the first pressing was done on blue. Also, this edition comes with a proper picture sleeve, done in the familiar style made popular in the label’s Single Of The Month Club.
It will be available at participating Record Store Day stores, but make sure the store plans on pre-ordering so you can snag your copy.


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Twitter on Tuesday released new tools aimed at combating hate speech and online abuse.
Technological advancements in the financial field are changing the way people invest, bank and manage money.
Televisions that promise a significantly improved picture will be
available this holiday season at mainstream prices.
Here's a Best List in cell phones for every type of user whether you're a family, data gobbler or bargain hunter.
As the White House prepares to usher in a new president, the technology industry finds itself staring into the unknown.
Today's new apps encourage offline face-time, allowing you to meet new people,
opportunities that will benefit you professionally.
Facebook and Snapchat have overtaken the home pages of Yahoo and Google
as the front door to the Internet for hundreds of millions of people.
Regulators approved tough new rules requiring
high-speed IT service providers to get customer permission before
using sensitive personal data.
In the past, marketing for the financial industry has been known to be
particularly delicate, maybe a bit boring, and most certainly
conservative in nature. Here are a few great marketing tools that span across a wide variety of industries.
Smartphones and other devices with lithium-ion batteries are known to be susceptible to fires in extreme conditions.


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President Trump has been increasingly agitated about Amazon over the last few days, speaking angrily about the company on several occasions.
It's unclear whether this is because he genuinely doesn't understand that the U.S. Postal Service makes money off the company, or because his friends own failing shopping malls, or because he's just jealous of the success of the online retail giant owned by the richest man in human history.
But despite what Trump has said, he's also a very loyal customer of Amazon. In fact, CBS News uncovered documents that show that Trump's campaign spent $158,498.41 to buy office supplies during his campaign.
The average transaction for the campaign was $418.20. The largest splurge was $3,890 in one order.
And it didn't end after the 2016 election. The Donald J. Trump for President committee still shops with Amazon, spending $2,000 with the company last year, FEC records show.


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Lincoln is going all-electric, likely with an SUV. Shows Lincoln Star Electric Blue teaser.
Ford's luxury brand intends to use Rivian’s skateboard platform. The type of vehicle was not yet disclosed, but we guess that it will be a luxury SUV. Rivian itself is using the platform for the R1S electric three-row SUV, and a pickup truck.
"The Lincoln battery electric vehicle will be built off of Rivian’s flexible skateboard platform and is part of Ford Motor Company’s planned equity investment in Rivian. This all-new vehicle also is part of Ford’s previously announced investment of more than $11.5 billion into electrification, which includes the Mustang Mach-E and a fully electric version of the best-selling F-150 pickup."
Lincoln so far introduced two plug-in hybrid models:
- Aviator PHEV,
- Corsair Grand Touring PHEV,
This shows a clear direction towards electrification of the brand. The other direction is SUVs - four new models were introduced within three years, while the MKZ sedan will end this year "in order for the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico to prepare for production of new Ford vehicles".
Joy Falotico, president, The Lincoln Motor Company said:
“Working with Rivian marks a pivotal point for Lincoln as we move toward a future that includes fully electric vehicles. This vehicle will take Quiet Flight to a new place – zero emissions, effortless performance and connected and intuitive technology. It’s going to be stunning.”
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said:
“Our vehicle development partnership with Ford is an exciting opportunity to pair our technology with Lincoln’s vision for innovation and refinement. We are proud to collaborate on Lincoln’s first fully electric vehicle,”.
Lincoln Star Electric Blue


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Smartwatches and other wearables will be a must-have for personalised healthcare, but a privacy backlash could put an end to all that.
Some Twitter for Android users had their private tweets exposed to non-followers and search engines.
According to the "State of Digital Transformation" research, in 2019, it is clear that digital transformation is maturing into an enterprise-wide movement. Digital transformation is modernizing how companies work and compete and helping them effectively adapt and grow in an evolving digital economy.
As Apple holds firmly onto its lead in the wearables category, Google seeks to refresh its flagging Wear OS with help from Fossil's IP and its R&D team.
Microsoft and Google are engaged in a pitched battle to win over your business with suites of cloud-based productivity software and services. Here's a look at the many different editions of Office 365 and G Suite, along with what you can expect to pay for each one.
If you’re hoping to jump into the field of software development, this ebook is a good place to start. It offers information on current salaries, key skills, and which programming languages will help you...
Little-known database management tool allowed hackers to take over sites and inject malicious code that steals payment card details.
Over 80 government websites are down after TLS certificates expired and there's nobody on hand to renew them.
NeuroMetrix, makers of a pain-relief device called "Quell," are using AI in a simple form already, but it plans to integrate neural networks going forward to increase and improve the product's functions, according to CEO Shai Gozani.
Unlike Instant Deposit, the debit card is not affiliated with a bank account and draws purely from the merchant's Square balance.


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It’s the most respected supplier of professional hair and beauty products in the UK, and now Salon Services have teamed up with another great brand – the Great British Barbering Academy (GBBA).
Salon Services is handing over some of its stores to the GBBA to deliver a range of high-quality barbering courses across the country, on behalf of luxury male grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge.
The partnership between Salon Services and the GBBA comes just two years after the stores began stocking The Bluebeards Revenge and found that the brand quickly became its biggest selling male grooming brand.
With 76 outlets – and growing – Salon Services now has the UK’s largest portfolio of stores dedicated to serving hair and beauty professionals.
In the UK and Ireland it trades at more than 250 stores.
Professional customers can choose from a range of more than 4,000 carefully selected hair and beauty products sourced from the world’s leading suppliers and complemented by an extensive portfolio of exclusive brands.
David Hildrew, MD of The Bluebeards Revenge and Bluebeard-in-Chief, said: “We are delighted to be delivering Great British Barbering Academy courses in Salon Services stores across the country.
“Salon Services is one of the most recognised names not just in the barbering industry, but in the whole of the hair and beauty world.
“It has undoubtedly contributed to the meteoric rise of The Bluebeards Revenge since it began stocking our products a couple of years ago.
“That’s because Salon Services has a reputation for being associated with the best names in the business, so naturally there’s no better place for GBBA courses to be delivered.”
Michael Dewey, Managing Director of Salon Service UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re really excited to launch these tailor-made courses exclusively across the UK in partnership with The Bluebirds Revenge and some of the most talented and respected barbers in our industry. Training and development is the lifeblood of our industry and helps professionals to offer their customers the best possible services and expert advice.
“We look forward to welcoming aspiring barbers of all levels – whether they are looking to top up their skills or break into the industry – to our stores to try one of the academy’s courses.”
GBBA courses will be delivered at 12 Salon Services stores across the country. They are: Belfast, Cardiff, Crawley, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Glasgow, Leyton, Manchester, Northampton, Norwich, Plymouth and Poole.


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Sky Beverages brings fresh flavor to Fall River water
FALL RIVER — With a vision, a pinch of flavor, and a lot of Fall River water, the new Sky Beverages company has begun bottling healthy drinks at its 818 Jefferson St. facility.
“Today, we’re doing blueberry pomegranate,” said Sky Beverages owner Messias Pedro as he walked through the fruity fragranced plant, machines whirring and humming around him and a small group of onlookers.
Workers, about 10, shepherd the city water through a process of filtration, flavoring, and bottling to create three flavors each of Teaworthy green tea (honey, half and half, and passion fruit) and Pinch water (passion fruit, pear and the aforementioned blueberry pomegranate).
“That’s the best water,” Pedro said. “It’s already clean. We purify it.”
The water goes through a reverse osmosis process that kills any bacteria before it is flavored.
“You’re not going to get a purer product,” Pedro said. “We’re out to have healthy products.”
Another machine uses heat to expand small plastic tubes into bottles. The water or tea is poured into the bottles and ends its journey on a conveyor belt where it is boxed up and ready for delivery.
It’s currently being sold at Amaral’s Market in Fall River, Red’s Dairy and Auclair’s Market in Somerset, Lee’s Market in Westport, Trucchi’s markets, and various other stores that have their shelves stocked by Polep Distribution. Pedro said they’re still working on getting their product onto more store shelves.
“We’re just starting,” Pedro said. “We want to have it in every town and every city in every state.”
Pedro, a Fall River native and former dairy farmer in Westport, said it was his dream to create a low sugar, low calorie product and to “share it with everyone.”
The beverages have between zero and 15 calories and are sweetened with honey and a “pinch” of natural flavor.
“There was a few years of research before we started,” Pedro said.
New water flavors are in the works, including peach mango and mint cucumber.
The facility has been on Jefferson Street for about a year. It’s a cheery blue and yellow building that is ready to welcome the public.
Next up, Pedro and Operations Manager Dulce Pacheco are working to open an on-site cafe.
The cafe will sell their products, plus sandwiches, coffee and souvenirs. There will be product samples and, best of all, a view of the plant so visitors can watch the process through a window. They expect to open the cafe in the fall.


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ZyXEL today announced an 802.11n gateway router designed for controlled-access wireless "hotspot" use.
ZyXEL today announced a single-stream N router.
ZyXEL has announced what it claims is the worlds first fixed LTE (Long Term Evolution) CPE/SOHO router.
ZyXEL has introduced a dual-band draft 802.11n wireless AP / WLAN controller targeted at business applications.
ZyXEL today announced its expanded Unified Security Gateway (USG) series that combines a deep packet stateful inspection firewall, anti-Virus, IDP, content filtering, anti-spam and VPN (IPSec/SSL/L2TP).
Digitimes today reported that Zyxel Communications has filed a complaint against D-Link and Waveplus Technology for switch-related patent infringements. Chip supplier Waveplus is being blamed as the cause of the dispute.
The dispute is over a < $20 D-Link switch that is sold only in Russia and that Zyxel claims is "very similar" to a Zyxel design.
Zyxel said it has not yet decided the amount of monetary damages it will claim and D-Link said that it is "completely protected from any patent controversy" and that no operations should be affected by the dispute.


text: In the wake of a number of high-profile security breeches, America Online has revamped is membership policy. The changes, which the Internet service provider says directly address the concerns of subscribers, will go into effect July 15. The announcement was made only days after the Federal Trade Commission indicated it would release a report criticizing self-regulation on the part of ISPs and Web site developers, whom the commission accuses of failing to protect users' privacy rights. That report focused heavily on the practice of gathering user information without first telling the user how the information might be used. AOL was criticized widely last year when it announced that user information, including addresses and phone numbers, would be sold to the company's partners. Under the new policy, which new users must read and agree to before opening an account, AOL states that improvements have been made that will help protect children from solicitations for pornography. It is not uncommon for AOL subscribers, including children, to receive e-mail advertising pornography-oriented Web sites, with links pointing directly to those sites. The company also has made it easier (though by no means easy) for users to make choices about whether they want to receive junk e-mail and has said that personal information, such as telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, will not be given out except when needed to deliver a product purchased by the user. In the past, AOL has lapsed severely in its privacy protection policies. By simply calling AOL customer service, hackers have been able to access accounts belonging to American Civil Liberties Union and rock star Trent Reznor. Last year, the company violated its own policy when private information was released to a member of the Naval Investigative Service (NIS). Maxtor Proposes IPO Hard disk manufacturer Maxtor has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission proposing an initial public offering of more than $500 million in common stock. The offering, which includes a $100 million sale of stock by Hyundai Electronics America, will be managed by Salomon Smith Barney and co-managed by Hambrecht & Quist, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch & Co. and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC. At least part of the proceeds of the sale will be used to pay off Maxtor's creditors. The remainder will go toward new expenditures and working capital. It is unknown exactly what the stock's initial price will be because the filing did not disclose how many shares would be issued. Milpitas-based Maxtor is a manufacturer of hard disk drive storage products ranging in size from 2.1 gigabytes to 11.5 gigabytes. Notebooks Due For Price Cuts Beginning next week, computer manufacturers Compaq, Toshiba and Acer will start shipping low-priced Pentium II and Pentium MMX notebooks. The moves come on the heels of significant price cuts by chip makers Intel and AMD and ultimately will reduce already bargain prices in an already tight race for notebook market share. The cuts also have been attributed to an escalating price war in the Japanese LCD monitor market, where the costs for some screens have dropped more than 50 percent. Under the new price structure, even the best notebooks will sell for less than $3,000. Compaq, which is poised to introduce a handful of new notebooks in the next week, will offer its Presario 1230, which features a 233-MHz processor from Cyrix, for just under $1600. On the other end of the spectrum, the Presario 1655, which ships with a 266-MHz Pentium II and an oversize screen, will go for about $3,000. Toshiba also will introduce new models, with a 266-MHz Pentium MMX selling for just under $2,200. Acer will offer a similar unit, but with a 233-MHz Pentium II for about $2,000.


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Hooters chairman dies in S.C.
Myrtle Beach, S.C. |Hooters of America Inc. Chairman Robert Brooks, who was found dead in his home here, died of natural causes, the Horry County coroner's office said Monday.
Brooks, 69, was found dead Sunday by his wife and a neighbor after he failed to show up at their usual Sunday breakfast, Coroner Robert Edge said.
Edge called it a "natural death." Brooks had diabetes and suffered a stroke in the 1980s.
Brooks broke into the food business by creating a milkshake formula and gained fame selling chicken wings served by scantily clad waitresses at his Hooters restaurants. Since opening its first store in Clearwater, Fla., in 1983, Hooters has expanded across the United States and into a dozen foreign countries.


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Earlier this year, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Nvidia violated three of five patents held by Rambus which could lead to a possible U.S. ban on the import of some Nvidia products.
At that time, Nvidia was waiting for a decision from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office later this year on whether or not Rambus has full claim to some of the patents involved in the current dispute with Nvidia.
Just yesterday the U.S. ITC in Washington ruled that Nvidia chips did infringe on three Rambus patents and issued an order to ban the import of such chips. Through an agreement with the European Union, however, Nvidia can still sell the chips at a pre-agreed upon rate. By paying the rate in accordance to the European Commission, Nvidia sidesteps the ITC order that blocks the company from selling its product.
Nvidia said in a statement: "This mixed ruling, which rules in favor of Rambus on three patents and in favor of NVIDIA on two, affirms the administrative law judge's previous decision. There will be no impact on our customers, or our business, as a result of this ruling. We intend to take advantage of the mandatory European Commission License that is available. This will allow us and our partners to continue our business under the terms of that license and prevent the enforcement of any exclusion order. In the meantime, we intend to appeal the case to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and continue to press our arguments on these patents before the USPTO."
The ban order by the ITC is also subject to review by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Rambus was pleased with the decision. "The ITC's decision is another demonstration of the value of our continued commitment to innovation," said Thomas Lavelle, senior vice president and general counsel at Rambus.
According to Bloomberg, Rambus got about 96 percent of its $113 million in revenue last year from patent licensing royalties.
The ITC case also named Nvidia partner OEMs, including HP for its computers and Asus for its motherboards. The case ordered the parties to post a bond of 2.65 percent of the value of the products that companies wish to import.
Check out some of the official documents below, if you're interested.
Who the hell is Rambus now?
Wow...a company that survives on suing others... Words fail me.
if you're adding companies that have failed/ripped off consumers or have trolled you can add just about every other tech company on there. they've all done it at some point.
yes but rambus strategie is to file patents then sue with no intention to ever release a product


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Foxtel has announced that Foxtel Play, the company’s recently launched internet TV service, is now available on compatible 2013 LG Smart TVs.
Fox News is aiming to shed its reputation, or at least slightly alter it, with a flashy new Fox “News Deck” - a room full of “information specialists” who use 55-inch touch screen computers to monitor developing stories.
Hi Peter, I have a response to this article that I'd love to share – what's the best way to[…]
Ive got Amayasim 100gb + UNL calls+text for $30/28days so its not so bad and they have been giving me[…]
Who are wey? We are an instrument of the oppressive communist dictatorship. We are cheap so you will buy our[…]
This is yet another disaster for the budget conscience. The price will go up, just as it has done for[…]


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Tánaiste Confirms Discussions With Eu Over Vat Reductions On Fuel
“Unfortunately there’s plenty of occasions where we’ve to raise prices however it’s just a hit-or-miss thing and we just take it day-by-day truck-by-truck,” Conley said. Conley says TPRs will remain on the store indefinitely to try to give buyer’s wallets a break. But Conley says there might be some they’ll have to extend costs. Regional manager Shane Burroughs, who oversees shops in Carrier Mills, Johnston City and Sesser, says those excessive prices are impacting everyone. The new pricing strategy in India entails a reduction by per cent on iconic favourites including its top-selling Tea Tree and Vitamin E ranges amongst others. The Tánaiste mentioned each the EU VAT and Energy directives had been “quite strict” and that beneath the rules if Ireland have been to scale back its VAT fee then when it was raised later it would be pegged at a better price. This is actually good news, but we’re still a protracted, good distance from with the ability to rating a graphics card at an affordable price.
It’s extra of a sluggish and steady decline, which we’ve already seen to an extent up to now few months. Meanwhile, Alabama House handed a tax reduce on retiree revenue, teeing it up for the Senate. Rep. Lynn Greer launched the invoice to exempt from Alabama’s earnings tax up to $6,000 in distributions from defined contribution plans by these age 65 and older. Greer estimates taxpayers would save between $230 and $240 a yr. The House handed the invoice final week, and the Senate is more likely to move it, too.
Customers may notice lots of sales inside the grocery retailer and price labels reading ‘short-term price reduction’ . The retailer has participated in the TPR program for the past four months, prompted by skyrocketing mayonnaise costs. Sold home costs supplied by Land Registry/Registers of Scotland. “We are looking for some extra flexibility in order that if we have to, we might have the ability to do more to help folks to soak up the very severe and severe will increase in energy costs that have occurred in the final couple of months,” he stated. The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has mentioned Ireland was in discussion with the EU over a possible discount of VAT on fuel costs. Tom’s Hardware analyzed the market and compiled the costs of GPUs, evaluating January to February, after which published the findings. We’ve beforehand obtained related market stories from Germany and Austria, courtesy of 3DCenter, which have also shown a gentle decline.
However, the data collected by Tom’s Hardware speaks directly in regards to the U.S. market, clearly highlighting that the costs are taking place globally. The worth of Nvidia’s RTX 3090 went down by around $250, however since that GPU is dear, this solely amounts to a 10.2% decline. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB and 8GB both famous the bottom worth drops, 2.1% and 2.6% respectively, which solely results in a few dollars worth of savings. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super saw the third largest decline with a 15.2% value drop, going from $498 in January to $422 in February. Moving back to current-gen playing cards exhibits that the RTX 3070 Ti dropped from $1,179 to $1,001, for a 15.1% decline. The costs of a number of the greatest graphics cards noted an eleven% month-over-month drop from January to February, with some GPUs dropping as much as 25% in comparison with the previous month. TPC will co-host a digital event on March 30 to explore the role state-degree carbon pricing initiatives play in US climate coverage.


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READ IN: Español
The Louvre Museum has made all its works available to the public online and free of charge via a new virtual platform.
Anyone with an electronic device – be it a tablet, computer or smartphone – will be able to access the entire collection on display at the Parisian museum.
This includes no less than 482,000 works of art belonging to the Louvre; the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix; the sculptures of the Tuileries Gardens and the Carrousel; and the “MNR” (Musées Nationaux Récupération) pieces that were found after the Second World War and handed over to the Louvre until they can be returned to their rightful owners.
Through this database, art lovers will be able to explore through simple or advanced searches, departmental entries and even thematic albums. There is also an interactive map that will help visitors explore each and every room that makes up the museum. All of this will be available in French, English, Spanish and Chinese.
“Today, the Louvre is dusting off its treasures, even the lesser-known ones,” says Jean-Luc Martinez, President-Director of the Louvre. “For the first time, anyone can access the entire collection of works free of charge from a computer or smartphone, whether they are on display in the museum, on loan, even long-term, or on deposit. The Louvre’s impressive cultural heritage is now just a click away. I am sure that this digital content will further encourage people to come to the Louvre and discover the collections in person.”
You can access the new database on the official website of the Louvre Collections.
Check out the latest art news, available on our website.


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Author: Benjamin Cher
German enterprise software company Software AG is looking to increase the revenue contribution from its Asia Pacific markets, with the manufacturing, retail and financial services verticals being key to its aspirations.
BaseRide wants to provide real-time tracking and accurate analytics for transport companies and governments – and that’s just the start, writes Benjamin Cher.
SMEs are becoming more interested in protecting their information and organisation. However, as security vendors make their marketing push into Asia, with buzzwords galore, SMEs are feeling the pressure to just buy from the vendor that makes the threat sound the most dangerous, says a vice president for Symantec's Norton business.
Settling bills between friends seems to be enough of a problem that many startups have tried to tackle the issue, and even the banks are coming in. Singaporean startup Kashmi thinks it has a singular solution.
Asian businesses are looking to Agile Ops to boost the speed, scale and quality of their app development, but are facing a DevOps challenge, said a senior CA Tech executive.
There is a struggle between traditional disk arrays and flash storage as organisations look to storing rapidly increasing volumes of data securely and cheaply – striking a balance between the schools may be the best bet, says a Nimble Storage exec.
Acronis has launched a new version of its consumer local data backup software Acronis True Image, and said the new release of the cloud version now offers backup for multiple devices including smartphones.
Logistics SME Courex bucks tradition to embrace technology and innovation to make the last-mile more efficient, and is learning a lot from startups, writes Benjamin Cher.
Organisations are more aware and spending more on IT security, but that is not necessarily translating to a lower exposure to ‘cyber risk’ – or the risk of financial loss, disruption or damage to an organisation’s reputation from cyber-attacks and cybercrime.
Singapore, known as an Asian launchpad for multinational companies in the 1990s, is quickly becoming one for startups in the 2010s – at least, according to the Singapore Startup Ecosystem and Entrepreneurial Toolbox prepared by 500 Startups' Arnaud Bonzom.


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Covid-19 the world wide pandemic has sent millions into a new lifestyle and now it’s the new normal. During quarantine many people have been taking up different activities such as crafting gaming or binge watching old or new shows. It has also affected the film industry of movies, theaters, and production. Theaters are closed, and there are many movies that can’t be filmed due to the virus. and since theaters are closed release schedules have been changed. Over 80 movies have been delayed due to the coronavirus and many more to come.
Many different movie theaters in states Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington have been ordered to close due to Covid-19. This has caused them millions of dollars and layoffs. Many businesses have adapted to these circumstances.
Different apps that use subscriptions including Disney plus, Netflix, and Hulu are releasing movies on their apps instead of in theaters. This is a great idea for many different reasons. Such as it will help the business keep making an income. Meaning, you will not have to spend money releasing it to theaters. Now the people with a subscription still get to see the movie from the safe of their own house. This is a great idea for many businesses during this time where many movie theaters are closed and income is slow.


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Patagonia’s New Sleeping Bags Were 45 Years In The Making
The down-stuffed sacks are the company's first-ever.
Patagonia sure knows how to make an entrance. Last month, the storied apparel company dropped its first-ever sleeping bags, a product 45 years in the making. Well, Patagonia claims its founder, famed environmentalist and climber, Yvon Chouinard, created a down sleeping bag back in 1972, but he just never brought it to market. (Better late than never?) The new sleep sacks pay homage to Chouinard’s early designs. And, as with everything the brand makes, they seem to be meticulously engineered.
The first two sacks — a 32.2-oz. full-zip bag designed for temperatures as low as 19 degrees Fahrenheit , and a 25.9-oz., half-zip option good to 30-degrees Fahrenheit option — are made of 100 percent rip-stop nylon, stuffed with 850 fill down (it’s sustainable and can be tracked from parent farm to apparel factor, ensuring the birds weren’t force-fed or live-plucked) and have such thoughtful features as a roomy, insulated bottom that actually lets you move your feet around a bit. There’s also an ultra-light ‘elephant’s foot’ bag meant for minimalist high-alpine climbing. If that’s your thing, the bag weighs a feathery 17 oz.
Now, these sleeping bags aren’t made for the average car camping expedition. They’re best for multi-day excursions. But, if you’re looking for extra comfort at your campground — or are planning a guy’s trip to the backcountry — the three-season sacks are a solid choice. In other words, the wait was worth it.
$299, $399, and $499.
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