text:
We’ve all had those moments when you feel as if you are on your deathbed and the thought of moving a muscle, let alone getting up and going to the drugstore for your desperately needed meds, is out of the question. Imagine, if rather than dragging yourself to the pharmacy, your drugs would be delivered to you, at any time of the day, in under 15 minutes. Not only just delivered to you but delivered by a computer operated, unmanned drone.
A new delivery service called, QuiQui, does just this. The revolutionary new service is coming soon to San Francisco’s Mission District. The 24-hour service will charge $1 for delivery, plus the cost of the goods. These convenient modern drones are also eco-friendly as they give off zero emissions and use quiet clean electric power. The automated service is also completely legal after the Federal Aviation Administration lost a lawsuit allowing it to ban commercial drones. The delivery drones won’t fly above 500 feet and won’t be anywhere near airports so they won’t interfere with air traffic.
For those thinking about how people could easily steal these nifty drones, QuiQui is one step ahead and will never let the devices get below 20 feet in the air. Therefore, the meds will be dropped from in the sky as opposed to landing the devices on the ground.
QuiQui seems to be just the beginning in drone delivery services, as they have become the talk of the town. Who knows what’s next to come but we do know this is the start of a huge change in home-delivery services and one less reason for shut-ins to have to leave the house.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Elvis tribute to benefit Kauai United Way
Nearly 40 years to the day after Elvis Presley performed the “Aloha From Hawaii” concert that was broadcast live via satellite in more than 40 countries, the Kauai Visitors Bureau will host “Kauai Loves Elvis,” a tribute performance that will raise money for Kauai United Way.
“This event promises to be spectacular and the money raised will be used to support our 29 participating agencies, all right here on Kauai, that address a broad array of social service needs in our community,” Kauai United Way Executive Director Scott Giarman said in a statement.
The fundraising event on Jan. 18 at the Kauai Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach will feature a 90-minute performance by Elvis Presley tribute artist Tim Welch, a buffet dinner and silent auction. The deadline to purchase tickets is Jan. 15.
Kauai Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sue Kanoho said tickets should be purchased early; tickets will not be available at the door and the September Elvis event sold out.
The event is organized by the Kauai Visitors Bureau with support provided by the County of Kauai and Kauai Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Presley’s estate partnered with the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and other Hawaii companies on a travel package for fans to commemorate the 1973 “Aloha from Hawaii” concert.
Stephanie Silverstein covers tourism, retail and money for Pacific Business News.
- Most popular
- Hawaiian CEO says decision to let Delta keep Haneda reveals bias
- Honolulu Korean barbecue restaurant gets new owner and look
- Developer acquires three Kakaako properties for condo project
- Mentoring Monday: Hawaii bizwomen share their advice: Slideshow
- Walmart sells West Oahu parcel to Panda Express owners
- Undersea cable project sparked NextEra Energy's interest in HECO
- Hawaii’s ‘Top Five’ can do more to drive the state’s economy
- Whole Foods Market to open bar, restaurant in Kahala Mall store
- Pint & Jigger partner opens restaurant in Downtown Honolulu
- Feds OK NextEra Energy's $4.3B acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co.
Sign up to receive Pacific Business News's Morning Edition and Afternoon Edition newsletters and breaking news alerts.
Renewable Energy Analyst Hawaii State Energy Office | Honolulu, HI
Maintenance and Facilities Manager Honolulu Museum of Art | Honolulu, HI
District Manager Jamba Juice | Honolulu, HI
Controller Ho'okele Health Innovations | Honolulu, HI
Patient Navigator Associate (Oncology Admin) OLSTEN | Honolulu, HI

domain: news


text:
iPhone 4G to Have Glass/Ceramic Back, User Removable Battery?
Seems more people are becoming convinced that the iPhone 4G images leaked by Engadget over the weekend are indeed legitimate. In fact, the report that the pictured product is actually a Japanese counterfeit has been retracted and was itself a false claim.
Daring Fireball's John Gruber now believes the images are real and that the next generation iPhone looks like the images depicted. Gruber also adds a detail that he has heard that the new iPhones will have a "fancy glass" back.
Multiple sources familiar with the next iPhone have confirmed to me that the back is made out of some sort of fancy glass -- and looks pretty much exactly what's pictured at Engadget. That's not the only reason I believe Engadget's unit is legit, but it's one.
He points to a 2006 Apple patent application which describes the use of Zirconia as a durable and radio-transparent material that might be used.
A portable computing device capable of wireless communications, the portable computing device comprising: an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications through.
Now, if you do believe that these images do represent the next generation iPhone, one interesting detail noted by an Engadget commenter is that it appears to allow for a user removable battery.
This annotated image shows break points in the casing that suggests the side compartment might be removable to allow the user to replace the battery. The iPhone, of course, has never allowed for a user removable battery in the past.


text:
Let’s start with this fact: YouTube is the world’s largest video web site, with more than four billion streams every day. That’s “billion” with a “b.”
Reuters news agency, in its U.S. edition, reported on June 14th YouTube is considering selling subscriptions to access of some its video offerings, which could potentially provide a way for cable television channels to be available beyond the offerings of cable network providers.
Thomson Reuters, has a storied history of its own in the news business, and is the world’s largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available via Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms.
The original Reuters news agency was founded in 1851, and remains headquartered in London. Paul Julius Reuter began experimenting with a prototype news service in London in 1849, which used the highest level of technology of his day – electric telegraphy – and carrier pigeons to collect and disseminate news to customers. He also formed the Reuter’s Telegram Company to further take advantage of infrastructure and to sell another service.
In the United States, rivals such as Western Union were creating infrastructure (telegraph poles and stringing wire) and getting into the information business. Others would do the same, such as the fabled RCA, which also had a later telegraph service.
Any reader of this space today under the age of 50 most likely has no knowledge of Western Union’s original line of business, nor that RCA had a rival telegraph business. Today, Western Union is a shadow of itself after many corporate near-deaths and reorganizations, and is primarily a consumer money-moving service.
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, Reuters never lost focus or sight of the future, and adjusted its business model to fit current times. It has thrived, and remains a word giant.
Which brings us back to YouTube, a rousing success of a company, with hundreds of millions of users. Now, YouTube management is looking for a way to cash in on the brand name, popularity of the ease of use of YouTube, and is looking to the day when there will be new revenue streams.
YouTube is making sure it’s going to be the Reuters of the future, not the Western Union. YouTube users have become accustomed to free access, and, many will likely balk at paying for something they perceive should always be free. But, YouTube has the good sense to know once the door is opened to charging for even a small part of its service, then that door can’t be shut securely.
The most powerful conveyance of messages marry sight, voice, sound, and music and makes that product available anywhere, at any time. Just like YouTube.
Small country revolutionaries in the 20th Century used to always seize the local radio stations as they seized control of a country. In the future, the smart revolutionaries will simply put something on YouTube instead, and worry less about the radio stations. YouTube is the communicator of choice of the future.


text:
Billionaire CEO of fizzy-water maker LaCroix lashes out over stock in bizarre press release
- "If you have the opinion that I, Nick Caporella, am angrily exercised while extremely fortunate to be guiding FIZZ, your opinion is quite accurate!" the CEO wrote in strange press release.
- National Beverage Corp. shares are up 90 percent this year but have dropped 20 percent this month and the CEO is shaking a fist at short-sellers.
- Coca-Cola's plan to buy Topo Chico takes out a possible bidder, and analysts have said the market for flavored sparkling water is getting crowded.
You're the octogenarian billionaire owner of a beverage company that has caught the attention of the young and hip and your stock has shot up 88 percent this year, so what do you do?
You lash out in a press release.
Nick Caporella, the CEO of National Beverage Corp., is complaining about speculators in his stock. Just 15 percent of daily trading volume is based on how the company is doing, he said Thursday in his press release, which is peppered with exclamation points and all-caps. More than 50 percent of the trading, he said, is being done by gamblers.
Worse, he suggested, short sellers (who borrow shares to sell them and then buy them back later hoping to profit, thus betting on a price decline) are in a "stampede aboard" the passive trading wagon.
"If you have the opinion that I, Nick Caporella, am angrily exercised while extremely fortunate to be guiding FIZZ, your opinion is quite accurate!" he wrote.
FIZZ is the Nasdaq trading symbol for the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, maker of soft drinks and other beverages under brands like Shasta and LaCroix. Its shares are down 8 percent this week though up 88 percent this year.
The shares seem to have taken a turn for the worse in the current quarter, falling 22 percent this month after soft drink giant Coca-Cola announced plans to buy rival Topo Chico, maker of lime flavored mineral water. FIZZ's most recent high was $129 in September.
National Beverage has had a huge hit in LaCroix, a brand of fruit-flavored fizzy water popular with Millennials.
But an analyst at Susquehanna Financial recently put a tepid rating on FIZZ and suggested the market for flavored sparkling water is getting crowded. And Credit Suisse's analyst on the stock said the probability of it being acquired is reduced because the shares are too expensive and possible bidders are building their own sparkling water brands.
Online chat rooms for investors are buzzing.
"Are perpetrators stimulating self-serving movement by stating falsehoods, creating rumors and deliberately manipulating FIZZ value? We think so," Caporella said in his press release. He wasn't available when a reporter called his office.
The company has a $4.5 billion market value. Short interest in the stock, as reported by Nasdaq, is about 2.1 million shares, but that is down from various points during the summer and last year around this time.
Average daily trading volume in the shares for the last three months was 318,000 out of a total of 46 million shares outstanding. But here's the thing. Caporella, whose net worth according to Forbes is 3.7 billion, owns about 75 percent of those shares, restricting the float and potentially making the stock prone to volatility.
Still, of that float, 18 percent of the shares are sold short, according to FactSet, a sizable amount for a consumer staple stock.
Here's a link to the full press release.


text:
Apple Inc. has released sales numbers for the fourth quarter of 2013, saying it has sold 33.8 million iPhones, 14.1 million iPads, and 4.6 million Macs.
Compared to the same period last year, the biggest upswing is in iPhones, as Apple sold just 26.8 million of them back then. In iPads, there wasn’t a huge difference, with 13 million sold in the same quarter last year, and 4.9 million Macs sold during that period.
On Monday, Apple CEO Tim Cook, CFO Peter Oppenheimer, and corporate controller Luca Maestri were present for an earnings call with financial analysts after the closing bell. They provided some figures for Q4 of this year, ending Sept. 28, 2013.
While we still don’t know how many iPhone 5S models Apple has sold, compared to the lower-priced 5C, it seems as though the iPhone 5S has been going like hotcakes. Even so, investors didn’t seem too impressed, with Apple’s stock falling about two per cent just after the numbers were released.
The company’s gross margin was down about 40 per cent from last year, with its gross margin now at about 37 per cent, meaning consumers might be shooting for lower-priced options and not paying a premium price for Apple’s more expensive products.
Still, Cook and co. seemed optimistic, saying the company considers its iPhone 5S its high-end offer, while the 5C is really its mid-tier option. The 4S is the entry offer, he said, contrary to what some may have thought about the 5C when it was first announced.
This was also the first time Apple was able to sell the iPhone in China during its first round of sales, thanks to working things out with Chinese carriers and the country’s government, Cook added. Nor were the latest product launches forgotten.
“We believe this will be an iPad Christmas,” he said, citing last week’s announcements around the iPad Air and the iPad Mini. He added iPads have also taken about 94 per cent of market share in tablets used for education, hugely overtaking any other tablet.
Still, sales figures weren’t really a surprise, said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst for research firm Gartner Inc.
“Sales came in pretty much as expected with iPads doing OK, considering that many consumers would have been sitting and waiting for the new products launching this quarter and a subsequent price decline of the existing line,” she said in an email.
“The price on iPhone declined only marginally quarter over quarter, showing that the 5S already made a difference for Apple, despite not selling for the full quarter.”
She also noted Apple is taking steps to keep consumers coming back, as it recently announced it would be giving Mac users Mavericks OS X for free. Its iOS7 update was also free for iPhone users.
“Software and hardware together deliver the ultimate Apple experience and as hardware technology is slowing down for the whole smartphone market, a lot of the innovation is delivered through software and apps,” she wrote.
“Not only that, but more importantly, higher engagement of the users – that brings higher loyalty – is given through software. So Apple has taken a necessary step more than a bold one in delivering software for free.”
For the first quarter of 2014, Apple predicts it will hit revenues from $55 billion to $58 billion with operating expenses of between $4.4 billion and $4.5 billion.


text:
The NFRN welcomes many aspects of Chancellor Hammond’s business – and environmental-friendly focus of the autumn budget 2017.
The NFRN has responded positively to the announcement of help for small businesses affected by the recent business rate revaluations.
NFRN report released as Labour says business rates are a ‘ticking time bomb’ for small businesses.
The report identifies the concerns of independent retailers and the actions needed by the government to protect their futures.
Concern as independent retailers face new blow over London business rates.


text:
Man beaten while trying to sell iPhone 7 in Overland Park parking lot
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Joel Zillig, 32, of Independence, is charged in Johnson County, Kan., with robbery after police say he beat up a man from whom he was supposedly buying a cell phone and then stole the phone.
The crime happened the day before Thanksgiving. Police say Zillig met a man and his wife at the Sam’s Club in Overland Park, 8300 West 135th Street, to buy an iPhone 7. Instead of paying for it, police say he punched the man repeatedly and stole the phone, then jumped in his car and took off.
Zillig’s bond was set at $50,000.


text:
Video has no commentary
Facebook has added a nifty new feature that hopefully you won’t need to use too often: notifications of nearby disasters, and a one-touch means of letting family and friends know that you’re ok … Read more
Pretty much the whole Macworld staff has been let go. Looks like the end. Sad—
Roman Loyola (@pinatubo2000) September 10, 2014
A personal announcement: I'm leaving Macworld after 17 years. snellworld.com—
Jason Snell (@jsnell) September 10, 2014
International Data Group (IDG) is shutting down Macworld Magazine, the long time Apple periodical according to tweets by staff and conversations I’ve had with personnel. Dan Miller, Editor, Macworld tweeted the following:
The Macworld.com website will remain open [although as a shell of its former self -ed] with a reduced staff according to Miller, who himself is leaving in a month.
As a former contributor and fan of Macworld.com it is sad to see the publication go. Ironically, the transition from print to digital hastened by Apple’s own iPad and other online tools made the publication one of the last remaining Apple publications in print.
There’s no word yet on the fate of the annual trade show of the same name that has also taken a hit since Apple stopped attending. We’ll update as we hear more.
Update: Dan Miller wrote in to clarify that he never implied that the magazine “would be a shell of its former self” (even though most of the names and faces that were the backbone of the magazine have been let go). Read more
Running U2 ad looks like 10 year old iPod ads
U2 is going on. They are putting their album on the iPhone 6
Now talking Music
Talking about iTunes
Apple Watch will be available in early 2015 starting at $349
magsafe induction charging
3 different editions. Works with iPhone 5/c/s or iPhone 6
Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, AppleWatch Edition
can control Apple TV, walkie talkie,
Jay Blahnick talking about all of the fitness features
Fitness App monitors activity
Workout App allows you to set specific goals
Talking Fitness now
Pinteresting and city Mapper. BMW Charge level
American Airline 1 tap, Starwood Hotels (creating a key).
Twitter and Facebook are making apps as Mark reported
3rd party apps for iWatch.
Notifications from apps.
Watchkit for Glances and notifications
This tap communication this is going to change the world.
Interesting maps interface on Apple Watch
:PLots of updates since iPod Nano
I’m really like the polish of these watch apps and glances
Glances is interface for Watch for little bits of info
Kevin Lynch (former Adobe Exec) is demoing Apple Watch
2 size Apple Watches
Magnetic leather and lots of other watch options
lots of watch faces and personalization options
Magsafe induction charger
4 sensors in the back
Share heartbeat with other people
Ive narrating. Whole different UI
Jony Ive narrating Apple Watch Story
MultiTouch allows people to interact with technology
Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.
tim Cook Dropped it
Apple Pay: October in US
Integrated into Target Appor Groupon or Uber
Lot of locations will take Apple Pay
Apple doesn’t know what you buy
No need to cancel Credit cards if iPhone gets lost
Device only – no iCloud syncing
Use iSight Camera to add new card. Add to passbook
Passbook will be the wallet
NFC Radio in 6 and 6Plus with touch ID.
Apple demonstrates NFC payment/ Brings up Eddie Cue
Apple loves these types of problem. This is what Apple does best
Apple talking security non-ironically
Credit card/magnetic stripe interface
Bigger than Bigger
Tim Cook back up: How it makes you feel!
That’s all for iPhone 6/+
New Silicone Cases and LEather cases including Product Red
New Gyroscope in camera
"This video stream is actually being recorded and hosted on the new iPhone 6"—
Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) September 09, 2014
Schiller: iPhone has become the world’s most popular video recorder.
iPhone 6 has an 8MP iSight camera, 1.5µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture. And an all-new sensor.
Sounds like Fast Autofocus, Tone mapping, noise reduction,
Focus Pixels Camera
802.11AC and Wifi calling and VoLTE
Apple Invents calling over Wifi
it measures elevation (Barometer)
THE NEW M8 CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CYCLING AND RUNNING
Double Touch moves whole screen down for reachability”
Apps/Websites not updated to new iPhones “just work”
2B Transistors on a 20nm process. 13% smaller than A7
25% faster CPU
Developers can customize apps for the larger screen
“easy to use one-handed
Sleep/Wake is pushed to right side (all as expected)
Sideswipe gestures for new phones
6 plus has new horizontal display
1080P display in Plus
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus
“Today, we are launching the biggest advancement in the history of iPhone.”
more importantly, #1 loved phone in the world
#1 smartphone in the world
Starting with iPhone
(Last Apple event at Flint Center was iMac launch in the late 90s
Hello again says Tim cook with a Bondi Blue iMac in the background
This video stream is a mess for me (Safari)
(unless you’ve got the Truck)
It is showtime!
Might just be Electric President
We love music … so much you get two songs at once.—
Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) September 09, 2014
This music isn’t great unless that CD is skipping
Video is now live!
T Minus 20
They're letting media in!—
Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) September 09, 2014
Not going to lie. Not sure who this is
Apple making your typo famous? Priceless
We’ll, can’t deny it any more. I’m in Cupertino, CA. At the Flint where the iMac was launched and today … ? We’ll soon see!—
Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) September 09, 2014
No doubt? V
Dre will be there
Are those presenter clothes for the fitness expert?
It's a watch. A wallet, A fitness device.
Are you getting it?—
Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) September 09, 2014
Maybe they’ll be time lapsing the covers coming off of the major structure
I'm telling you guys, don't go into that white box. You will not be the same when you come out.—
Joe Brown (@joemfbrown) September 09, 2014
Craig on scene
Apple’s doing their own blog
He needs coffee?
Its Craig Federighi waiting in line for coffee like a normal. The hair blessed, they're just like us. http://t.co/wTLxrouiCI
Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) September 09, 2014
Apple is liveblogging themselves? Yisssssss. I can go back to sleepwat.
Who invited this guy?
Some TMI from Engadget:
Steve Kovach sharing some great photos of the breakfast scene.
We’re now 2 hours from liftoff
It’s September 9th, and you know what that means: Apple’s biggest event in several years is happening today. We’re expecting Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team of executives to discuss two new and larger iPhone models, a mobile payments system, and of course, a fashion/health/fitness-centric wearable device. We’ll be following along and providing articles with the latest news throughout the day. This News Hub will embed the latest action from the ground at the Flint Center in Cupertino and provide an easy access view of the latest news articles. You can also follow us on Twitter at @9to5Mac for quick updates as they break, and all our updates below:
“We couldn’t be happier with how we’ve done with the first four years of the iPad. I’d call what’s going on recently a speed bump, and I’ve seen that in every category” …
He made that same comment before during the last earnings call and obviously that’s not the whole story…
The iPhone 6’s packaging might not only include a redesigned smartphone, but a redesigned USB to Lightning cable. While it’s unlikely that Apple will yet-again change the Lightning port introduced with the 2012 iPhone 5 anytime in the near future, a redesigned version of the USB plug could be ready for this fall. Sketchy photos of a reversible USB cable first surfaced on the web last week, and Sonny Dickson yesterday shared another shot of the cables via Twitter.
Like the Lightning connector, the benefit of a reversible USB connector is that it can be inserted into a USB port in either direction. This makes it easier to insert the connector in darkly lit or hard to reach places (like behind a desk). Due to uncertain sourcing, the first batch of photos did not seem completely believable, but digging a little deeper into the situation reveals that Apple readying a reversible USB iPhone cable is a real possibility…
Ahead of Apple’s new iPhone event on September 9th, Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (that nation’s version of what we know in the U.S. as the FCC) has approved two new iPhone models for sale in the country. The approval was confirmed on Twitter by the country’s Secretary General for these matters, and a local report indicates the model numbers for two new devices: A1524 & A1586. Thailand’s Secretary General spoke about the matter in a video from earlier this week:
When Siri lost its beta tag almost a year ago, I suggested it might be a good time for those who’d been frustrated with its early performance to give it another chance. What I discovered through your comments was that Siri seems to be one of those things that polarizes views: people either loving it and using it every day, or dismissing it as a useless gimmick. Not too many people seem to fall between the two.
But Apple has continued to work hard on improving the service, adding new capabilities as well as refining its ability to handle existing ones. It might not yet be as sophisticated as its creators envisage for the future, but a year on seemed a good point to revisit the topic and find just how many of its capabilities people are using … Read more
This fall, Apple is expected to unwrap two next-generation iPhones with larger displays: a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch higher-end “phablet” variant. While the 4.7-inch model has had physical mockups floating around the web for the past few months, parts or shells for a 5.5-inch model have not been seen until now. Sonny Dickson has sent us photos of a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 physical “dummy” mockup in the Space Gray color (above and below), and he has posted photos of a white and gold model on Twitter:
Update: Our winners have been chosen at random and contacted. As thanks for everyone participating, Pad & Quill is generously offering 15% off any order for a limited time to our readers using the coupon code DAD14 at checkout. 6/12/14
With Father’s Day quickly approaching, our friends over at Pad & Quill are teaming up with us to give away some cool bags and cases for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more. Pad & Quill makes super well-crafted accessories that look and feel very rich and thought out. We’ve had the chance to cover and review several of their products in the past.
We’ll be picking one grand prize winner to receive Pad & Quill’s Field Bag, Aria for iPad Air case, Bell Fino for iPhone 5s case, and any choice of Pad & Quill MacBook case for free (over a $600 value). In addition to the grand prize winner, two additional winners will be selected each to receive their own choice of any Pad & Quill iPhone or iPad case. Find out how to enter after the break… Read more
Tapbots, the development team behind the popular Tweetbot Twitter client for Mac and iOS have issued a mandatory update for all users. According to a post on the Tapbots blog, all current mobile versions of the app will cease to function soon due to a change in the app requested by Twitter.
Updates for both iPhone versions of the app are rolling out now. Users on iOS 6 running Tweetbot 2 can look out for version 2.8.8, while users on the newer Tweetbot 3 can already find version 3.3.2 in the App Store. The Mac and iPad versions of the app aren’t mentioned in the post, so it’s possible they won’t need to be updated. (Update: The iPad version has been updated to version 2.8.8 as well.)
Microsoft announced today at the TechEd Conference that Microsoft Office for iPad, which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, has been downloaded from the App Store 27 million times to date. The statistic was first shared on Twitter by Microsoft watcher Paul Thurrot and noted by Business Insider:
Hipstamatic led the way in offering a fast and fun way to edit and share photos from an iPhone, but has been a little slow to move into video. The company has now corrected this, launching the Cinamatic app designed to compete with Vine and Instagram.
Cinamatic lets you shoot short videos ranging from 3-15 seconds, apply filters to them and then share on Vine, Instagram and Facebook – or send them via email or Messages … Read more


text:
Apple's lawsuit against Samsung in Australia expanded Friday from three claims of patent infringement claims to 278, according to reports.
The suit also grew from Apple singling out just one device -- Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- as a patent infringer to a total of 10 devices that are allegedly breaking the law, according the news sites of The Australian and TheNextWeb.
The staggering expansion caught Samsung off guard, according to a spokesman for the South Korean electronics giant, who said Samsung was "only given days notice that Apple's legal bid against the company had been amended to include over 200 claims against smartphones and tablets that haven't even launched in the country," TheNextWeb said. "As a result Samsung said it would not be able to file a defence against the claim until mid-May."
Samsung has also sued Apple in Australia over alleged patent infringement claims, with the suits and countersuits between the two tech giants pertaining to touchscreen technology, the look and feel of products and even how devices connect to the Internet.


text:
WASHINGTON, USA, Jan 22, 2013 - The American Forest & Paper Association released its December 2012 Kraft Paper Report on Friday, Jan. 18.
Total Kraft paper shipments were 118 thousand tons, a decrease of 12 percent compared to the prior month. While bleached Kraft paper shipments increased year-over-year 22 percent, the 17 percent year-over-year decline in shipments of the larger segment - unbleached Kraft paper - was significant enough to bring overall Kraft paper shipments down compared to 2011. Total month-end inventory increased 13 percent to 85.7 thousand tons this month compared to November 2012 month-end inventories.
The complete survey with detailed tables can be purchased by contacting Caroline Nealon (Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-2448).
The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $190 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.
Free Pulp & Paper News Email. Subscribe Now!


text:
MultiChoice’s relaunched Showmax video streaming service has stated its intention of becoming the leading platform in Africa.
However, research projections show the new Showmax will become Africa’s second-biggest video streaming service in five years.
According to a report by Digital TV Research, Sub-Saharan Africa will have 16 million paying subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) subscriptions by 2029, up from seven million at end-2023.
Digital TV Research notes Netflix will remain the SVOD market leader, with 6.9 million subscribers by 2029.
It adds that Showmax will be the second-largest platform, with 3.7 million paying subscribers.
Amazon Prime Video will grow to 2.97 million subscribers across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2029 and be in third place.
With its rollout expected to be limited to South Africa, Disney+ will only have 905 000 subscriptions by 2029, says the research firm.
Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, says: “SVOD is a battle between Netflix and regional player Showmax. Rich in local content and sports rights, Showmax now has access to NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures and HBO content. Showmax’s parent MultiChoice recently rejected a takeover bid from Canal Plus.”
According to Digital TV Research, South Africa and Nigeria will supply 59% (9.4 million) of the region’s total number of SVOD subscriptions.
However, it notes, SVOD penetration will still be low by 2029, with only 7.1% of TV households paying for at least one subscription – although this is up from 4.7% at end-2023.
The report comes after video entertainment firm MultiChoice yesterday relaunched its Showmax platform, also known as Showmax 2.0.
MultiChoice group CEO Calvo Mawela recently told ITWeb that he believes the relaunch of the Showmax streaming service will propel the business to make revenue of $1 billion in the next five years.
In March, MultiChoice partnered with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky to launch a streaming service targeting the African continent.
With this partnership, Showmax is looking to take US-based streaming service Netflix head-on.
Under the deal, the new Showmax Group will be 70% owned by MultiChoice and 30% by NBCUniversal. In Nigeria, NBCUniversal will hold an indirect 23.7% stake in the local subsidiary.
Last week, the company invited the who’s who of the media industry to the relaunch of the revamped video streaming service.
Speaking at the event, Marc Jury, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, said Showmax is gunning to become the leading streaming platform in Africa in the long run.
Jury is currently leading Showmax, as the company continues to search for a new leader to replace Yolisa Phahle, who left the company in September.
Part of the Showmax relaunch is a new technical platform from streaming service Peacock, which is active in more than 70 countries.
The Peacock platform supports both live and on-demand content, including live sporting events, with that capability extended to the new Showmax.
Showmax migrated existing customers to streaming service Peacock’s platform from 23 January to 12 February.
Said Jury: “Something that excites us is the partnership with the Premier League, where we will launch a Showmax Premier League offering on mobile phones. We also have a completely new brand construct.
“There has been a lot of talk about the migration to the new platform. What this means is we had to move all our existing customers across to the new tech stack. It hasn’t been without its challenges over the past few weeks, but I’m very proud to say every single one of our existing customers have been migrated to the new Showmax platform.
“One of the key differentiation points that Showmax offers compared to a number of streaming platforms in Africa is our ability to localise.
“We are localising content as well as points of payments, and I’m sure our understanding of the local market is something that will set us apart…allowing us to become the number one streaming platform,” he said.
The new Showmax features a new app, new look, new content portfolio as well as its biggest drawcard – the first standalone mobile plan for the English Premier League, says MultiChoice.
The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes, with a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people.
Showmax and MTN are collaborating to bring three new bundled offerings to South African customers.
Targeting die-hard football fans, the Showmax Premier League standalone mobile offering will feature all 380 games live on Showmax for R69 a month.
In addition, there are two more Showmax plans available to customers in 44 African countries: Showmax Entertainment on mobile for R39 a month at launch, as well as the multi-device general Showmax Entertainment plan, where the monthly price falls from R99 to R89 per month.
The mobile bundled offering of Showmax Premier League and general Showmax Entertainment will be made available to customers for R99 a month.


text:
Broyhill, Lane to share Las Vegas Market showroom
Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, January 17, 2014
LAS VEGAS — Broyhill Furniture is vacating its longtime showroom in the World Market Center here and will share a space with sister company Lane Home Furnishings at this month's Las Vegas Market.
Broyhill had occupied space A-1053 for the past eight years. Now it will share a space with Lane, which is in A-1042 and A-1046.
Company executive Mark Stephens said the change will allow both companies to concentrate their Vegas efforts on new product. In the past, both companies showcased both new and inline bestsellers in their showrooms.
"The space will be split between the two and this will be consistent with our strategy to only show new goods there," Stephens said. "We still consider it an important market."
He added that the sharing of space is "an opportunity for us to leverage the strength of the two brands across all categories."
Lane focuses on motion and stationary upholstery as well as home entertainment and occasional furniture. Broyhill is a full-line resource offering bedroom, dining room, occasional, upholstery and entertainment furniture.
At the market, which runs Jan. 26-30, Stephens said that Broyhill will show product from the fall High Point Market, including items that will not have been seen by some buyers attending the Vegas show. He said Lane will show a mix of new product as well as some product from High Point.
Both companies are part of Heritage Home Group, which was formed by KPS Capital Partners after it acquired the assets of the bankrupt former Furniture Brands International in late November.
Stephens added that two other sister companies, Thomasville and Drexel Heritage, will not be at Las Vegas this time. At the most recent summer show, they shared a space in B-570. Their next showing will be at the April 5-10 High Point Market.
Most Viewed Articles
FTTV: Frontline Friday From F/T


text:
14 medication disposal units will be added inside CVS Pharmacy locations
WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today that the company has expanded its safe medication disposal program inside select CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island to help facilitate proper and timely disposal of opioids and other medications that could be diverted or misused if left in people's homes. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, U.S. Attorney Stephen Dambruch, and Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves joined representatives from CVS Health at a Pawtucket CVS Pharmacy store to launch the program today.
"With a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we witness the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse," said Tom Davis, Vice President of Professional Services for CVS Pharmacy. "Expanding our safe medication disposal efforts in Rhode Island is an extension of the initiatives in place across our company to fight the opioid abuse epidemic and fulfil our purpose of helping people on their path to better health."
The 14 new medication disposal units that will be installed inside CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island will supplement an additional 14 units CVS Health has donated to police departments across the state. Nationwide, CVS Health has donated more than 850 units to local law enforcement, collecting more than 140 metric tons, or more than 300,000 pounds of unwanted medication.
Attorney General Kilmartin said, "I applaud CVS Health for recognizing that to effectively tackle and defeat the opioid epidemic in this country, all stakeholders need to work together in a coordinated effort. Expanding the company's prescription drug disposal kiosks to stores across Rhode Island will make it easier for customers to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription opioids and other prescription drugs before they can be abused or diverted for illicit purposes."
The expansion of the safe medication disposal program to 750 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. was included among the enhancements to the company's strategy to address and prevent opioid abuse announced in September 2017. As part of that effort, the company also said it would align opioid utilization management with CDC Guideline for CVS Caremark clients and members, complementing measures already in place.
This work builds on ongoing company initiatives, including the Pharmacists Teach program, which brings CVS Pharmacists to local schools to talk to teens and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. More than 300,000 teens nationally including more than 3,600 in Rhode Island have already participated in the program. CVS Health has also worked to expand access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in 46 states, including Rhode Island.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
Erin Shields Britt
SOURCE CVS Health


text:
Macy’s Faces Suit After Disclosing Data Breach
• Retail giant Macy’s notified its customers and state regulators of a data breach affecting the accounts of online shoppers. The breach occurred between April 26 and June 12, 2018.
• Only two days after receiving notice, online Macy’s shoppers filed a putative class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against the retailer because of the breach.
• Alleging negligence and violations of Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the suit requests an injunction against Macy’s from its allegedly “wrongful conduct,” including “refusing to issue prompt, complete and accurate disclosures” as well as actual, compensatory and statutory damages, and statutory penalties.
Social Media Service Timehop Experiences Data Breach Affecting 21 Million Users
- Social media service Timehop, which collects and posts old content from other social media services, experienced a data breach affecting as many as 21 million users of the service.
- According to the company’s notice, although its investigation is ongoing, the breach involved names, email addresses, gender, country codes and phone numbers. The company also explained that it has no evidence that any accounts were accessed without authorization.
California’s New Data Privacy Law Could Affect Half a Million Companies
- A recent report issued by the International Association of Privacy Professionals posited that as many as 500,000 U.S. companies could be affected by the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the CCPA).
- The report also speculates the CCPA, which makes significant changes to consumer privacy protection rights for Californians, also could significantly affect companies outside the U.S. if the law interprets “doing business in California” to apply to any business − domestic or international − that collects data about California consumers.


text:
When every corporate has a website why not a health-focused website as well? Medico.com, Inc., a global health-focused Internet company, took the initiative and launched its web portal Medico.in, a platform for consumers to find health information. Medico.in is free for users to share information, and to ask and answer questions.
Elan Dekel, Founder and CEO of Medico.com Inc said "with the launch of Medico.in, we will be providing highly informative and locally relevant health information to our users across India. I hope our users in India will use our platform to share their knowledge and learn from the experiences of others with similar concerns. I expect the platform to be very valuable to our Indian audience".
Medico is set to go beyond just being a health portal to include an engaging Q&A based community of local citizens, local healthcare providers and experts.
Other than India, the portal is already running in Spain and Brazil. As a platform, Medico.in will be creating the ommunities and resources which would provide information on specific health topics as well as local concerns.


text:
Thailand's economy rebounds after Covid battering
Thailand's economy grew 2.2 percent in the first quarter as exports and tourism rebounded after the relaxation of pandemic restrictions, the country's main economic agency said Tuesday.
During the pandemic, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy suffered its worst economic performance since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, with visitor numbers crashing from roughly 40 million annually.
But this month the tourism-dependent kingdom dropped almost all restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors, including the need for Covid-19 tests to travel.
"The export sector is good... the tourism industry is getting better due to the relaxation of entry requirements for tourists," National Economic and Social Development Council secretary general Danucha Pichayanan said.
The agency said the economy grew by 2.2 percent in January to March compared with the same period last year, and by 1.1 percent compared with the previous quarter.
The figures are a stark turnaround from the depths of the pandemic, which saw the economy contract by 6.1 percent in 2020.
The agency said global market volatility from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a slowdown in China's economy thanks to virus lockdowns across various cities, were affecting the pace of the kingdom's economic recovery.
Ukraine is a key exporter of fertiliser and the war has reduced supply in Thailand.
The Thai government has sought to ease the shortage by sourcing fertiliser from Saudi Arabia.
The agency also raised its inflation forecasts this year to between 4.2-5.2 percent, up from the earlier range of 1.5-2.5 percent.
Danucha attributed the inflation increase to rising energy prices.
The country has a weekly average of more than 6,500 daily new coronavirus infections, although testing is limited.
Starker Preisanstieg bei Ratenkrediten
Infolge der Zinswende der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) haben sich Ratenkredite für Verbraucher deutlich verteuert. "Im Marktdurc...
127 Tote nach gewaltsamen Ausschreitungen bei...
Nach gewaltsamen Ausschreitungen bei einem Fußballspiel in Indonesien sind am Samstagabend (Ortszeit) mindestens 127 Menschen ums...
Immobilieneigentümer bleiben über Firmenkonst...
In Deutschland bleiben einem Bericht zufolge viele Immobilieneigentümer dank der Investition über Firmen anonym. Bei jedem fünften...


text:
With Apex Legends Mobile’s roster seemingly having leaked online, some Apex players on PC and console are starting to get jealous of the number of mobile-exclusive Legends.
When Apex Legends Mobile released on May 17 earlier this year, some members of the Apex community were concerned over what exclusive content that version would get over the standard game.
With the release of the first mobile-exclusive Legend Fade, many players started worrying that the phone version of the beloved battle royale would branch out farther and farther away from the original title.
Now, players are voicing those fears again after a leak revealed six mobile-exclusive Legends coming alongside eight characters from the original Apex Legends.
Apex Legends players jealous of Mobile-exclusive Legends
The post shows an image of the leaked roster for Apex Legends Mobile, listing codenames for six mobile-exclusive Legends.
Fans knew the Legend codenamed DJ or ‘Rhapsody’ was coming to Apex Mobile, but the other five characters are brand new and some are not happy about them being exclusive.
“Hopefully in time they would come to the main game but there is a good chance it probably won’t happen. I definitely would hate to see a mobile-exclusive Legend that looks fun not coming over to [the] main Apex,” said user ‘acidporkbuns.’
Not every player in the thread feels the same way, however as some fans think it makes sense that the mobile game has exclusive content.
“Well no one would play Mobile Apex if they didn’t have them,” said user ‘aircrag_J.’ While many disagreed with that sentiment, exclusive characters are certainly one of the factors that entice players to give Apex Mobile a shot.
This isn’t the first time PC and console players were jealous of Apex Legends Mobile content, as Loba recently got a long-requested ability in Mobile and not the main game.
It’s highly unlikely that Respawn will bring these leaked mobile-exclusive Legends over to Apex Legends, players can still expect more new characters to come in future seasons.


text:
Read original article here
ULAP Networks, the carrier-neutral intelligent solutions provider, has partnered with Simplify360, an omnichannel customer experience platform provider. Adding Simplify360’s customer experience tools to its Smart Exchange service for a cost-efficient unified solution.
This is great news to customers who expect flexibility and multiple communication channels in their stack.
Driven by AI, ULAP’s Smart Exchange lets businesses access Simplify360’s automated customer service platform to deliver innovative customer experience from a single interface. Allowing contact centers to schedule, collaborate, and publish across multiple channels to streamline workflows and improve agent productivity.
“We are thrilled about our partnership with ULAP Networks, a leading cloud services provider, to bring our mission of delivering end-to-end connected and engaging customer experiences to businesses worldwide,” says Rohit Gupta, Chief Executive Officer at Simplify360. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a global level of impact, and we look forward to a successful and transformative partnership.”
“Adding Simplify360 customer experience platform to our ULAP Dynamic Ecosystem is a great match for our customers’ requirements,” says Dominic McDonald, Chief Executive at ULAP Networks. “As businesses evolve and face the challenges of providing great customer experiences across multiple communications channels, it’s logical that ULAP can bundle in Simplify360’s Omnichannel capabilities with our intelligent, cost-effective solutions.”
Visit ULAP for Simplify360 here for more information.


text:
ATA’s Dan Forster connects with Congress, partners and ATA members regarding federal excise tax slippage to discuss how to ensure products manufactured by foreign-based entities are subject to the same taxes as those made by U.S. companies. Meanwhile, ATA members must do their part to educate customers and encourage them to buy locally.
Millions of federal excise taxes are lost annually through online marketplaces, where non-U.S. companies sell products direct to U.S. consumers. Because the online process doesn’t recognize internet marketplace facilitators as importers who would otherwise be responsible for paying the federal excise taxes on these transactions, these funds are slipping through the cracks. Unfortunately, that oversight puts American archery manufacturers at an 11% tax disadvantage and hurts state wildlife agencies that rely on FET dollars to conduct necessary habitat restoration, hunter education, wildlife research and other conservation projects.
FET slippage affects the archery industry, the entire conservation community, and individual manufacturers, dealers and consumers, which is why the ATA addresses the issue. The ATA is working closely with the American Sportfishing Association because it shares the same problem with federal excise taxes not being collected on taxable fishing equipment sold from foreign manufacturers through internet marketplace facilitators.
Dan Forster, ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer, is tracking the issue, working with legislators to correct the problem, and educating members about FET slippage pitfalls and implications.
In April 2022, he authored a letter, with support from 53 other conservation organizations, to the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee that encouraged them to take corrective action against federal excise tax slippage. In September 2022, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies passed a resolution in support of ATA, pledging assistance for rectifying the issue.
In early August, he met with members of the Government Accountability Office, who are currently working on a Congress-initiated study regarding FET slippage. Forster shared the archery industry’s perspective and explained how damaging the outdated collection policies are to ATA members and the industry.
“FET slippage is unacceptable,” Forster said. “It’s not a sustainable practice that we’re going to live with. We’ll continue to press into this issue with the full benefit of community support until Congress creates a viable solution.”
ATA member Steve Greenwood, sporting goods division director for Victory Archery, is grateful for the ATA’s work on behalf of its members.
“I want to compliment Dan and the ATA,” Greenwood said. “Finally, someone is listening and doing something for it, which I very much appreciate.”
Greenwood has been in the arrow business since 1980 and started addressing FET slippage eight years ago. As online shopping grows in popularity, so does the issue and corresponding uncollected revenues. While Greenwood welcomes competition, he despises individuals who exploit the unfair system.
“Slippage is inaccurate; this is way more than FET slippage,” Greenwood said. “It’s thousands and thousands of dollars. An American company trying to do business legally in the U.S. is at an unfair playing field, and I don’t think people realize how much money is coming into the U.S. that (foreign companies) are not paying FET on.”
FET dollars contribute to numerous areas in the outdoors industry and conservation efforts. Photo Credit: ATA
A March 2022 Southwick & Associates study estimated that about $17 million worth of federal excise taxes are lost yearly through online marketplaces selling archery and fishing equipment to U.S. consumers. That’s big money that state wildlife agencies should have for much-needed conservation projects and a lot of business taken away from American companies.
To fully understand the magnitude of financial loss for American manufacturers and dealers, Greenwood points to basic math. He analyzed a Chinese company bringing arrows into the U.S. in 2020 and found the following.
That’s a loss of $3.34 if FET were paid.
“No one in their right mind would be selling on Amazon at a loss, so the only assumption was that these Chinese vendors weren’t paying the FET tax,” he said.
Greenwood also said American dealers couldn’t buy a dozen arrows from American manufacturers at $29.99 in 2020, putting them at more of a disadvantage. Today, the FET arrow shaft rate is $0.59 per arrow. Factor in inflation and the price gap is even greater.
American manufacturers and retailers are “getting hosed,” as Greenwood puts it. Arrows are just one of the many products sold online at unattainable prices for American companies. “I feel bad for dealers, they’re trying to keep their lights on and just survive, and they’re not on an even remotely close playing field,” Greenwood said. “That’s what bothers me the most.”
To make matters worse, the issue threatens human safety, which is far more fragile and important than business profits.
Many products shipped to the U.S. from foreign companies are inferior to their American counterparts. “People are getting injured,” Greenwood said. “People are blowing up their bows because the arrows are counterfeit or bad quality. It’s a huge safety concern.” Those inferior arrows don’t group well either, causing many first-time archers to leave the sport out of frustration.
Greenwood believes most industry members don’t realize the detriment and severity of FET slippage and said it’s unreasonable to expect the end consumer to understand, especially when half of them don’t know what federal excise taxes are. As such, he hopes ATA members start to educate themselves and consumers about federal excise taxes and how they work. Then, retailers can encourage customers to buy locally to support American businesses and generate funds that benefit the industry.
“I want it to be a fair playing field. I want dealers to be protected. I want customers to have a positive experience in archery,” Greenwood said. “This is not a good scenario at all. I’m glad the ATA is focusing on it and trying to make a difference here.”
A fix will take time because Congress must update legislation to ensure the FET collection process aligns with current global markets and consumer buying practices. In the meantime, the ATA will continue to fight for U.S.-based members paying taxes that fuel conservation efforts across the country and will not put this issue to rest until the loophole in the FET system is closed.
If you have questions, please contact Dan Forster, ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer, at (507) 233-8143 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE INDUSTRY, TO HELP INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES GET THE MOST OUT OF THE INDUSTRY, AND TO HELP YOU.


text:
With new identity as DIPA, the association is now seeking to reposition itself as the representative body for Digital Communication industry players while aligning with future industry requirements, the association said in an official statement.
Vodafone, COAI push for urgent relief measures ahead of crucial Digital Communications Commission meet
With the crucial meeting of DCC likely to be held on Friday to discuss relief measures for the AGR-hit industry, VIL has made a strong push for setting off Rs 8,000 crore of GST credits and a three-year moratorium on payment of the remaining amount which should be staggered over 15 years at a simple interest rate of 6 per cent.
Moshe Porat, Founder & CEO Mesh Labs, Ariel Seidman, Deputy Consul General of Israel and Varad Krishna, Founding Partner, IIIC participated in the launch of IIIC.
DoT extends deadline for public comments on draft National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 to June 1
The DoT had said that the policy would aim to usher in regulatory reforms to ensure the regulatory structures and processes remain relevant, transparent, accountable and forward-looking.


text:
Scientists design electrolyte for lithium metal anodes for use in lithium metal batteries
With the growing demand for electric vehicles, the need for high-safety, long-life batteries also rises. Yet electric vehicles' demand for high energy density batteries outpaces the capabilities of the current lithium-ion batteries. Scientists are looking to develop lithium metal batteries with lithium metal as the anode because these batteries have a much higher charging capacity. However, there are safety issues with lithium-metal batteries because dendrites—spiky, metallic microstructures—form during the charging process.


text:
After a few years of using QLED-style Quantum technology for its high-end TVs, Vizio earlier this year announced the release of its first-ever OLED TV. The OLED TVs, available in fifty-five- and sixty-five-inch sizes, were released earlier this fall, as Vizio joined Sony and LG as brands that offer OLED TVs in the United States.
A handful of reviews of the Vizio OLED TV line were published when the TVs hit the market in October, but several more have arrived in recent weeks, to give TV buyers a hint at whether the Vizio OLED product is something they should consider for a holiday purchase.
“Vizio’s 65-inch 4K OLED TV has unbeatable picture performance for the price — especially when it's on sale for $1,500,” Business Insider’s review said. “On the downside, HDMI issues and glitches could lead to a frustrating experience for some buyers depending on what other devices you own. These are problems that could be solved with future firmware, but it's not clear when such updates will be released.”
Tom’s Guide, in reviewing the Vizio 4K OLED TV, gave it four out of five stars and called it “the best OLED TV value.”
The review praised the low price, strong picture and audio, the viewing angles and SmartCast, while listing such cons as “minor issues with brightness and color accuracy” and a lackluster gaming performance.
“With the Vizio OLED TV (OLED55-H1), Vizio has smashed open the lower end of the OLED market, and if I were LG or Sony, I’d be worried right now. This set may not quite match their lower-priced models in terms of picture quality or depth of features, but the entry-level LG BX OLED and more premium LG CX OLED are priced at $1,599 and $1,799 respectively, and the Sony Bravia A8H OLED rings in at $1,899.”
TechHive, also reviewing the TV, gave it four out of five.
“For normal viewing, 90 percent of the time, Vizio’s OLED matches its OLED competitors. SmartCast, meanwhile, is one on the better TV operating systems, and you have the option of controlling the TV with your smartphone or tablet,” the review said. “Vizio’s OLED is quite a bit cheaper than Sony’s OLED, but the price difference narrows considerably when compared to an LG OLED. Sony’s and LG’s TV deliver better fine-detail processing and Bluetooth without needing to buy an accessory.”
Meanwhile, TechRadar also gave the TV four out of five, calling it “an affordable new OLED with a few caveats.”
“If you limit yourself to 4K HDR content in a light-controlled room, or are still gaming on last-gen hardware, you will be absolutely astounded by this affordable OLED TV. But if you’re using it to watch HD cable networks in your brightly lit living room — or, worse, connect the PS5 or Xbox Series X to the HDMI 2.1 ports — the Vizio OLED will be a big disappointment,” the review said.
Stephen Silver, a technology writer for the National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.


text:
Skoda on track to meet 2009 sales targets
Skoda Auto has almost reached its global sales target for 2009, having already sold 570,217 vehicles from January to October.
And despite the difficult economic climate, the Czech Republic’s largest manufacturer is just 1.7 per cent behind 2008, in which it sold 674,530 in total.
China is playing an important role in Skoda’s growth with over 100,000 cars sold there this year.
This comes on the back of a 117 per cent sales increase from 2007 to 2008 when 59,284 vehicles were purchased by the Chinese.
Skoda BOD member responsible for sales, Mr Reinhard Fleger, was pleased with the brand’s successful expansion into China.
“China is playing a major role in the brand's future development.
“The Octavia has been a great success since its launch in June 2007. The Fabia, launched last December, is also very successful. The launch of the Superb in August this year was exceedingly important for further expansion in this market.
“Passing the milestone of 100,000 vehicles is a big step in developing the Skoda brand in China and also a great motivation to ensure that this positive trend continues,” Mr Fleger said.
Skoda Australia also had a strong October, shifting 136 units compared to last year’s 54.
It has sold 934 cars in the first 10 months of the year, a 42 per cent increase over 2008 year-to-date.
Skoda Australia product marketing manager, Petr Beneda, said the results were below predictions from the start of the year.
“We had slightly higher targets for the year, but the GFC and the overall situation slowed the whole process down. But we will have a good year though with growth of around 60 per cent,” he said.
Mr Beneda said he still remained hopeful of reaching 1200-1300 sales by the end of 2009.
He said monthly sales had been much more consistent this year thanks to the expansion of the Octavia range and the popularity of the wagon and RS models.
The Octavia accounts for 77 per cent of all Australian sales, with around a 40:60 split toward the wagon version.
Roomster sales have been disappointing – down from 100 YTD in 2008 to just 55 so far this year – something that Skoda plans to rectify.
“We were a little bit lower on the Roomster, but frankly speaking we didn’t do much advertising on Roomster so we will emphasise this model next year.”
Mr Beneda wouldn’t be drawn on sales expectations for 2010, but said simply: “Of course, we want to grow”.
The Superb wagon will help that, due for release at the beginning of the second quarter.
Mr Beneda also said efforts to bring the Yeti crossover-hatch down under were advanced and that we would hopefully see it from the second half of 2010, while the Fabia small car is a possibility after that.
by Tim Beissmann


text:
Doha, 6th Dec – Duobitx, a pioneer in the cryptocurrency landscape of Qatar, announces a major leap forward with the introduction of its newest digital asset, DUOP. Following a series of triumphs, particularly in Qatar, where Duobitx has been instrumental in driving crypto adoption, the company is set to launch DUOP, a dedicated crypto payment solution.
Qatar’s Crypto Boom:
Duobitx has experienced unprecedented success in Qatar, playing a pivotal role in attracting a growing number of consumers to the crypto market. The company’s strategic initiatives have not only bolstered its presence in the region but have also contributed significantly to the broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies.
DUOP: Empowering Crypto Payments:
The upcoming launch of DUOP is poised to revolutionize the way users engage with cryptocurrencies, specifically in the realm of payments. DUOP is designed to provide a seamless and convenient experience, offering users an advanced solution for their digital transactions.
Platform Enhancement and Continuous Innovation:
Building on the success of DUOC, Duobitx is committed to further enhancing its platform. DUOP’s introduction is just the beginning of a series of improvements aimed at providing users with cutting-edge features and ensuring convenience in their crypto endeavors.
Save the Date – December 6, 2023:
Duobitx has officially marked December 6, 2023, at 15:30 (UTC +3) as the momentous occasion for the launch of DUOP. This event promises to not only showcase the capabilities of the new coin but also reaffirm Duobitx’s commitment to driving innovation in the crypto space.
Duobitx stands as a key player in the cryptocurrency domain, known for its strategic initiatives and successful endeavors in driving crypto adoption. With a focus on user-centric solutions, Duobitx continues to shape the future of digital finance.


text:
The total currency in circulation, which includes the outstanding value of coins and notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), stood at Rs 25.06 lakh crore as on April 19.
The first two weeks of the lockdown period has seemingly pushed the country more towards cash-driven instead of adopting digital payments as urged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, The Indian Express reported. During the first fortnight, the share of money in the form of currency being held by banks and the public, hit the highest level since 2007-08. The increase in the level is being ascribed to weak credit-cum-deposit creation by banks in a slowing economy and people’s desire to have cash amid the lockdown period and the looming economic distress.
As on April 19, the total currency in circulation, which includes the outstanding value of coins and notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was Rs 25.06 lakh crore. This was 14.5 per cent up from a year ago and also 39.4 per cent more than the Rs 17.97 lakh crore level of November 4, 2016 — just before demonetization. Also, it is 2.8 times the Rs 8.98 lakh crore low as on January 6, 2017.
According to banking sources, following the three-week lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on March 24, people withdrew cash as the local mom and pop shops became the most reliable for their grocery purchases even as e-commerce deliveries were restricted to essential goods. Many people are withdrawing cash from ATMs as a reserve for personal needs, bankers added.
Moreover, as the government restricted public gatherings and travel amid lockdown, to control the Coronavirus spread, seemed to have also contributed to people accumulating cash and making more than normal withdrawals from banks/ATMs as a precautionary measure. In fact, according to sources, as reported by The Indian Express, grocery shops are preferring cash saying they need to pay their vendors in cash. A banker said that while the retailer seeks cash to pay the distributor, the latter wants cash to pay to suppliers. It’s mostly a cash economy at the ground level during the lockdown, he said.


text:
Stay on Top of Enterprise Technology Trends
Get updates impacting your industry from our GigaOm Research Community
EMI and The Beatles have settled their ongoing copyright dispute in a move that could finally end up making the Fab Four’s music available from online download sites. The band’s holding company Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) Corps took the label to court in London and New York in 2005, claiming, EMI, which distributes Beatles music, owed £30 million ($60 million) in unpaid royalties. Apple Corps settled a separate trademark dispute with Apple Computer back in February, allowing each company to use the “Apple” name. Apple Corps CEO Nigel Aspinall said then that “the years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us”, but the EMI suit remained a roadblock. Announcing their new DRM-free download repertoire earlier this month, both Steve Jobs and EMI CEO Eric Nicoli said they were “working on” bringing The Beatles to iTunes. An offline statement from Apple Corps, issued today after The Telegraph broke the story, said its dispute with EMI had been “settled on mutually acceptable terms last month”.
Although The Beatles have so far declined to offer songs for sale online, with both barriers now removed, the band is free to negotiate a possible online distribution license with EMI. An EMI corporate spokesperson told me there “has been no announcement about online distribution” but, if The Beatles’ back catalogue goes online, it could end up making more in sales than the disputed royalties. And don’t bet against iTunes Store being the first to offer The Fab Four’s old tunes in sparkly digital format – EMI has picked iTunes to be the very first to retail its new hi-def, DRM-free line-up. How times change.
– EMI Drops DRM For New Premium Line-Up, Higher Price; Apple First
– Beatles, Apple Settle Trademark Dispute; No Mention Of Anticipated iTunes Deal


text:
Carl Johnson still struggles to keep his composure when he talks about the impact of Phyllis Webstad-Jack’s Orange Shirt Day story.
“It touches my heart,” he explains, noting he has known Webstad-Jack and her story of the orange shirt for over 20 years and even though she first told it to him many years ago, it is still heart-wrenching.
“A child going to school with new clothing for the very first time and that clothing being stripped off her and being thrown in an incinerator.”
When Webstad-Jack told the story 11 years ago at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Johnson said it touched people.
He said despite the impact her story has had, she is still very humble and the first year orange shirts were sold for Orange Shirt Day, only 13 shirts were sold.
However, as the orange shirt story spread, things have grown.
For many years, the company providing shirts for the society donated $2 for every $20 shirt sold.
Johnson also sold the shirts through his store for eight years, and for every shirt he sold, he would donate $5 back to the society.
“Every year, more shirts sold.”
Last year, in September, the company they had been dealing with ran out of shirts at the beginning of September.
Johnson offered to step in and help with ordering the shirts, as he had some connections to the industry through his brother.
He had the support of his brother Bob Johnson, who was in the industry for a number of years and another friend Gordon Halloway, who helped him work out the most practical approach.
There was some risk involved in the ordering of volume, but it all worked out thanks to their guidance.
Johnson made about five orders of 5,000 shirts between May and September, and this helped him raise this year’s impressive sum.
The incredible part is, Johnson does mostly small orders through the store, which is only one of a number of orange shirt suppliers listed on the Orange Shirt Day Society. There was one significant exception, however, as School District 27 ordered shirts for all students and staff this year, helping boost sales, though on the larger orders the margin is smaller.
“There’s bigger people than me doing these shirts,” said Johnson, noting they focus on the orders of one or two shirts at a time for the most part.
He also credits his staff and the local post office for doing the work to make their donation possible.
“They were wonderful with us,” he said of the local Canada Post office workers.
When asked how it felt to be able to hand over a $234,852 cheque to his longtime friend Webstad-Jack for the society, he said simply: “I’m kind of speechless.”


text:
US-Israel Business Summit 2023
September 19, 2023
On September 19, we co-sponsored the American State Office Association’s (AOSA) US-Israel Business Summit 2023 in Tel Aviv, organized by the California Israel Chamber of Commerce. Titled “Go-to-Market USA: Smart ways to grow your business,” the Summit presented critical information for Israeli entrepreneurs on how to start and sustain a successful business in the US. Jeremy Lustman spoke on a panel with Chezi Yehezkeli, Partner at Israeli law firm Shibolet & Co., and moderated by David Yaari, Chairman at A.B. Yaari Holdings Ltd., on the topic of legal and regulatory considerations and insights for US operations. The conference provided a wonderful opportunity to help Israeli companies on their path toward global expansion!


text:
Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development. Foreign Trade Zones articles below.
Foreign trade zones, located in or near U.S. Customs ports of entry, enable duty-free movement of foreign and domestic merchandise. there are more than 200 U.S. FTZs, each a driver of regional economic growth.
The economic impact of U.S. seaports has a far reach, extending from the direct to the indirect and beyond. There are an estimated 2.2 million jobs that depend on ports.
Whether going on a business trip, exporting cars or utilizing the benefits of an FTZ, you’ll experience firsthand how the U.S. Customs and Border Protection entity lives up to its mission of “enabling legitimate trade and travel.”
The September / October 2018 issue features locations that are foreign direct investment magnets, ports and Foreign Trade Zones, and an exclusive interview with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.
In his Keynote Address at Business Facilities’ 14th Annual LiveXchange event, Dr. James F. Smith told attendees that key economic indicators point to up to three more years of growth before the U.S. economy experiences another downturn.
Goodyear has many successful FTZs, which help foreign and international businesses establish and grow operations while limiting tariffs and fees.
Economist and former Federal Reserve Board analyst Dr. James F. Smith—named “best forecaster” by The Wall Street Journal—will look over the economic horizon and share what’s coming.
The nation’s ports are handling record amounts of shipping. Importers get more bang for the buck by moving their goods through duty-free foreign trade zones located within or adjacent to ports.
Ports and FTZs are beneficial locations for all of your business needs, providing the transportation link that gets your goods where they need to go.


text:
Winter Garden's hub, above, was voted America's… (Julius Mayo Jr., DROOLIUS.COM )
Fueled by budget-conscious shoppers and the eat-local movement, farmers markets are fast becoming a center of community throughout Central Florida.
From east Volusia County to west Orange County, these weekend hubs are drawing crowds in search of locally sourced products and food artisans selling handcrafted preserves, chutneys and pestos.
"Farmers markets are a place to make connections with the people who grow or make our food," says Audrey Phillips, a New Smyrna Beach artist and frequent shopper at Volusia County's Saturday venues. "But it's also a place to run into neighbors and friends and keep those connections where you live. It's becoming a form of grass-roots urban entertainment."
Green Flamingo Organics is a regular vendor at two New Smyrna Beach markets. The Oak Hill farm sells vegetables, eggs and poultry.
"Sometimes people are surprised that Florida has so many farmers who are passionate about what they do," says Green Flamingo owner Liz Dannemiller. "We love to hear how buyers are using our products." Conversations, she says, quickly become laced with recipes and cooking tips.
Shoppers are buying more at these so-called "direct-sales markets," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sales are up 9.6 percent since 2011, with California and New York leading the way.
In Florida 135 markets have registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The actual number of venues could be much higher because filing with the state is not required. An informal online search found almost 400 marketplaces.
The JacksonvilleFarmers Market, which opened in 1938, is thought to be the state's oldest.
Closer to home, the popularity of these markets is evident in their steady growth. Winter Park's opened in 1979 with just six vendors. Today it has about 75 each Saturday morning at the city's old train depot.
The Winter Gardengathering began in 2008 with more than 20 vendors and has grown so large it now fills a pavilion and a parking lot in the historic district.
The weekly event recently was voted America's favorite medium-size farmers market in a national online poll sponsored by the American Farmland Trust, a conservation group dedicated to protecting U.S. farm and ranch lands.
"We think the market is a key factor to the city's continued growth and success," says Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer. "We are well aware of west Orange County's rich agricultural history in citrus and other crops. While the modern market is an homage to our past, it supports the new wave of small boutique farms in Florida and across the nation."
The local economy reaps the rewards, says Bollhoefer. "We're bringing locally grown produce and more food products not found in supermarkets to the consumers. The profits stay in the community and that helps fuel measured growth."
email@example.com or 407-420-5498
Find locally grown food and farmers markets at these sites:
Farmers markets: Large marketplaces that sell everything from plants to food to roasted coffee beans. Not all food is produced locally so it is important to ask questions of vendors.
Farm stands: The best place to get to know farmers and follow the Florida seasons.
Community-assisted agriculture and co-ops: Farms and organizations that sell memberships or subscriptions to customers who get to harvest or receive market baskets on a regular basis.


text:
This year the annual Scarborough trip took us to Seattle!
More info on Seattle Travel Diary (2019)
Seattle Travel Diary (2019) - BingNews Search results
Live updates | Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade
The lawmakers were working to complete their 2022 session as thousands of protesters gathered on the Capitol grounds in Phoenix on Friday night, divided into groups condemning and supporting the ...
Mistakes Tourists Make While Visiting Seattle
From going to the wrong coffee shop to missing the best experiences, here are 10 mistakes tourists often make while visiting Seattle ― and some advice for avoiding these errors during your Pacific ...
After 50 years of Title IX, Louisville and Kentucky athletics manipulate rosters to comply
Both Louisville and Kentucky were among the universities found to be manipulating athletic rosters to create the illusion of Title IX compliance.
'Travel Armageddon' as flight delays, cancellations pile up: What's going on?
Thousands of flights were again affected Monday as airlines grappled with a weekend full of cancellations and delays. Here's the latest.
As summer travel season arrives, airfares are sky-high
After being mostly grounded for two years, Americans rushed to book summer flights this year — and are paying very heavy prices for their tickets.
Study says Seattle’s deadliest street is Aurora Avenue North
The study by the Seattle Department of Transportation included five years of data from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2019. It says pedestrians were only involved in 5% of all collisions but were half of ...
The incredible shrinking lease: Some Seattle-area firms shun long-term contracts as office return stalls
In Seattle-only offices, average lease length in the first quarter of 2022 was 54 months, vs. 67 in the fourth quarter of 2021 and 68 in the last quarter of 2019, according to CompStak data.
As Paine Field marks milestone, clearer picture of economic impact emerges
The timing proved to be problematic as it launched service in 2019, a year before the Covid-19 pandemic upended airline travel worldwide ... he told the Business Journal.
2022 Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend – PHOTOS
Burlesque performers returned to the stage to compete for the first time since 2019 in the annual competition hosted at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend at The Orleans. The competition hosted ...
Return of downtown Seattle office workers expected to gain steam, DSA says
Exceptions include weeks where 2019 downtown ... told the Business Journal. The DSA's economic recovery dashboard tracks the recovery of foot traffic in downtown Seattle across five metrics ...
Do you think inflation is tough? Try vacation inflation
In May, airfare was up nearly 48% from pre-pandemic 2019 and will continue to rise in June with prices over $400 for a roundtrip ticket on average, according to travel site Hopper. Hotel rates in ...
39.2 Million Americans to Travel Memorial Weekend, Says AAA
Orlando, Seattle, Miami top U.S. destinations ... up on some much-needed R&R in the coming months." Air travel volume, which began to rally last Thanksgiving, will hit levels just shy of 2019 with 3 ...


text:
- This new chain would blend aspects of online ordering and traditional shopping, and may be inspired by a 2017 internal memo circulated ahead of the Whole Foods acquisition.
- The report also describes certain areas in which Amazon has struggled to integrate with Whole Foods, such as when it comes to cutting prices and incorporating the upscale grocer into its delivery system.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
Amazon reportedly has an ambitious plan to change the way we grocery shop — and it's much bigger than its acquisition of Whole Foods (AMZN)
Amazon is looking into creating a new grocery chain that would likely be separate from Whole Foods, according to The New York Times .
Amazon is brainstorming a new type of grocery store that would combine traditional shopping with online pickup, according to The New York Times . Such a move would mark another push by Amazon to establish dominance in the grocery shopping space following its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods in 2017.
The online retail giant is looking into building new grocery stores from the ground up rather than significantly expanding Whole Foods, the report says. These new stores would be centered on pickup and delivery, and would include a separate section where shoppers could pick out fresh groceries.
The report cites an Amazon memo circulated in early 2017 before it acquired Whole Foods that outlines the company's vision for upending the grocery-shopping experience. The memo described a concept for a store that would allow shoppers to order nonperishable items through an app as they roamed aisles to pick out fresh groceries. These nonperishable items, which could include staples like paper towels and canned foods, would be brought down to the checkout area as the customer shops, and the supermarket would also have a designated area to pick up groceries ordered online.
Read more: A futurist reveals the biggest ways tech will transform our lives in the next 5 years
While many of the specifics around Amazon's grocery chain plans remain unclear, the report likened this hybrid approach to the 2017 memo. Amazon has also posted several job listings for store designers over the past few months. One recent posting , which the Times first spotted, is seeking a candidate to join a team that is "developing creative solutions" for a "retail concept" that houses "multiple customer experiences under one roof."
Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
The Whole Foods acquisition certainly furthered Amazon's presence in the grocery market, but it has not satisfied the company's vision for overhauling the supermarket shopping experience, according to the Times. The report cites several areas in which Amazon as struggled in its efforts to cut Whole Foods' prices and incorporate the grocery chain into its delivery system.
For example, Amazon had expressed interest in offering popular items at low prices on a daily basis, but this has been difficult considering many items are seasonal and become more expensive in the off-season period. Whole Foods stores also generally have smaller stockrooms than other grocery chains since they sell so many fresh items. That means items for online orders have to be picked from the shelves where store patrons shop, the report notes.
It's not the first time we've heard of Amazon's reported plans to build its own grocery chain that could be separate from Whole Foods and its Amazon Go cashierless convenience stores. In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is planning to open dozens of grocery stores in the United States, with the first store potentially opening in Los Angeles by the end of the year. That report, however, did not get into the details of Amazon's vision for blending traditional shopping with online ordering.
- Apple contractors working on Siri 'regularly' hear recordings of sex, drug deals, and private medical information, a new report says
- Juul targeted kids in its advertising and told high-school students its e-cigs were 'totally safe,' according to congressional testimony
- The 6 biggest bombshells and takeaways from tech's wild week of earnings, from Amazon to Snapchat
SEE ALSO: If Amazon is really working on a robot for the home, it's going to take on a challenge that caused at least 3 startups to fail


text:
A new world of cannabis will open when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signs the recreational marijuana law this week as he said he would.
It used to be that possession of up to 2 ounces was a violation. Soon, it will no longer be a crime to keep up to five pounds of cannabis in your home.
A deal to permit the legal sale and use of marijuana in New York State was finalized Saturday night by legislators and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, paving the way for highly regulated cultivation, distribution and retail sales of the drug to start in about two years or sooner.
You'll be able to smoke it, vape it and otherwise consume it in many public places and even in cafes, similar to cigar clubs. You'll even be able to get it delivered to your home.
While many rules will restrict how and where it can be smoked and sold, the new law will give adults 21 and over the right to buy and consume marijuana, and it will also give an edge to those who have been most impacted by marijuana laws in getting involved in the legal trade of cannabis.
Some of the legislation will go into effect right away, but it is expected it will take two to three years before you will be able to walk into a cannabis dispensary to buy cannabis legally.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the agreement announced late Saturday on legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis.
Where can you smoke it?
The new legislation allows people to smoke, vape or otherwise ingest cannabis in most of the same places where you can smoke tobacco. Technically, that means the law will allow you to smoke it on the street.
But the legislation allows local governments to further regulate where you can smoke cannabis, just as they do for tobacco. For instance, Buffalo does not allow smoking in parks and Erie County restricts smoking at bus stops.
Also, as with regular cigarettes, you won't be able to smoke weed in a workplace or any other place that prohibits tobacco use. You also won't be able to consume cannabis in a school, on school grounds or on a school bus.
The penalty for breaking rules about public smoking will be considered a civil penalty – not a crime – punishable by a fine of up to $25 and no more than 20 hours of community service.
Cars are the big exception.
You won't be able to smoke while driving and your passengers can't, either. The same rule for open containers of alcohol will apply to cannabis products, whether it is a joint or a THC-infused gummy. That would be a ticket.
Driving while impaired by cannabis will be a misdemeanor, just as driving while intoxicated by alcohol is.
The legislation does allow for consumption sites – think cannabis cafes – where people can consume on site. Bars serving alcohol will not be allowed to also serve weed. Also, you cannot consume cannabis at a dispensary.
How much cannabis can you legally possess?
You will be able to have up to three ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis on you. How much marijuana is that? An "eighth" of marijuana – one-eighth of an ounce – can provide you with three full-gram joints, according to the website weedmaps.com, which helps people locate cannabis delivery services and dispensaries. Doing the math, that would be about 72 joints.
You will also be legally allowed to have up to five pounds of cannabis in your private residence. Weedmaps.com says that one pound would be considered "enough weed to satisfy the typical cannabis consumer for a year."
The new law says you should "take reasonable steps" to ensure that the cannabis is not accessible to people under 21.
Can you get it delivered to you?
Yes. Think Door Dash, but for weed.
The new legislation sets up a framework for people to start delivery businesses. The law requires you to get a special delivery license and you can have up to 25 full-time employees working for you.
You also won't be allowed to hold licenses for other kinds of cannabis-related businesses.
Deliveries can be made directly to the customer's home or place of business. However, a deliverer can't just show up at your door and offer you products. You have to order the cannabis products and then have them delivered. So it won't be like an ice cream truck circling the neighborhood.
Current marijuana laws have "disproportionately impacted African-American and Latinx communities," the legislation reads. And one of the goals of legalizing and regulating the sale of cannabis, it says, is to "make substantial investments in communities and people most impacted by cannabis criminalization to address the collateral consequences of such criminalization."
Forty percent of the tax revenue collected from cannabis will go to community reinvestment funds.
But the legislation also lays out avenues for people most impacted by marijuana laws to get involved in the legal trade of cannabis. It sets a goal of awarding half of the licenses related to adult-use of cannabis to "individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis prohibition," minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, distressed farmers and service-disabled veterans.
Extra priority will be given to individuals who live in the disproportionately impacted communities, have an income lower than 80% of the median income of the county in which they reside, or have been convicted of marijuana-related offenses prior to the date that the legislation is signed or are the parent, guardian, child, spouse or dependent of someone convicted of a marijuana-related offense.


text:
Israel based apparel manufacturer Delta Galil Industries is enhancing its virtual platform with new web software including digital showrooms and remote sales capabilities.
The company, which makes and markets branded and private label apparel products for men, women and children, as well as leisurewear, activewear and denim, will use solutions from ByondXR.
“Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we are absolutely reliant on the fastest, most dynamic and advanced remote technologies,” says Isaac Dabah, CEO of Delta Galil. “So, it is essential that we find the highest-quality solutions to ensure our company can maintain its competitive edge and continue to deliver the innovative products our customers have come to expect.”
The new technology, he adds, “effectively addresses our need to create exceptional online visual presentations, while reducing product delivery costs and saving time.”
Over the past year, Delta Galil has used ByondXR’s solutions to streamline and expedite its sales cycle, present remotely, reduce sample production, and easily update catalogues and styles in real time.
The technology enables the company to create virtual showrooms that can be personalised for each buyer and shorten time to market. Additionally, the technology fully integrates with Browzwear’s VStitcher 3D design software, also used by Delta Galil, allowing the creation of 3D models that can be easily accessed throughout the sales process.
ByondXR’s platform includes visual cloud-based tool sets that allow buyers to instantly view entire collections. Buyers can then interact with line sheets and individual products and build their own assortments and order lists. Analytical engines track buyer behaviour to allow showroom optimisation and gather relevant insights about seasonal collections and interest from various buyers.
Delta Galil supplies brands such as Schiesser, Eminence, Athena and Liabel, as well as its own 7 For All Mankind and Splendid brands. Brand names licensed to the company include Wilson, Maidenform and Tommy Hilfiger.


text:
Swiss WorldCargo, the air cargo division of Swiss International Air Lines, has entered into a new partnership agreement with WCA, a global freight forwarding network for independent logistics providers.
Swiss WorldCargo will undertake a number of unique cross-cooperation projects with three of WCA’s specialty groups – WCA Pharma, WCA Time Critical and WCA Dangerous Goods. The alignment of these operations between WCA’s members and Swiss WorldCargo will allow the generation of a range of new business opportunities in these burgeoning sectors of the industry, the two firms said. The two organisations will also exchange product and operational information to drive growth and cost-efficiencies across these specialist sectors of transport.
Signing the MoU: (L-R) Adam McKenna, general manager, WCA Specialty Networks, Oliver Evans, chief cargo officer, Swiss International Air Lines, David Yokeum, president, WCA and Colin McInnes, senior manager, head of cargo UK, Ireland & Nordic Countries, Swiss WorldCargo
“We already have an excellent name in the targeted market segments which we have achieved through the relentless pursuit of reliability, quality and customer responsiveness,” said Swiss International Air Lines’ chief cargo officer Oliver Evans. “Nevertheless the logistics market is complex and customers need a range of solutions to support and develop their supply chain. WCA has created innovative networks offering proven benefits to their participating members. We see our partnership with them as a complement to our existing offer, opening the door to new, flexible and pragmatic solutions for end users all across the globe.”
WCA president David Yokeum said that the partnership agreement demonstrated that an increasing number of airlines recognised the growing importance of the independent logistics sector to the health of the industry. “Our members have an unbeatable reputation for quality, service and innovation – especially in these niche, but highly important, verticals within our industry,” Yokeum said. “By working closely with Swiss, which itself has established such a strong global reputation as a leader in these sectors, we can help bring even greater value to the ultimate users – the shippers and consignees.”