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Recently, a speech by Xin Guobin, deputy minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and director of the National Leading Group for Manufacturing Power Construction, was highly concerned in the "2018 National Expert Forum on Manufacturing Powerful Country Buildings".
Here, the China News Agency is a direct train, and the original text of Vice Minister Xin Guobin’s speech is briefly summarized and presented as follows.
The following is a speech record:
Since the reform and opening up 40 years ago, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's manufacturing industry has achieved remarkable achievements. The overall scale has expanded rapidly, major innovations have emerged, industrial structure has continued to optimize, and global influence has been continuously improved.
Since 2010, the added value of China's manufacturing industry has ranked first in the world for many years. The high-tech manufacturing industry has a good momentum of development. At present, it accounts for more than 12% of the industrial enterprises above designated size. It has achieved major breakthroughs in many fields such as manned space flight and high-speed railway. Artificial intelligence New technologies, new products, new formats, and new models such as the Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing, and blockchain are constantly emerging, and they have entered the first phalanx of the international market. High-speed rail, aerospace, nuclear power, information and communication, etc. are globally competitive.
However, while seeing the results, we must also clearly understand that China's manufacturing industry is large but not strong, its innovation capability is still weak, its technology is highly dependent on foreign countries, its development mode is extensive, its structural adjustment is lagging behind, and it is still in the global industrial chain and value as a whole. The middle and low end of the chain. The problems of unbalanced development and inadequate development are outstanding. I believe that everyone present here feels the same.
It is worth noting that for a period of time, domestic and international evaluation of China's manufacturing development achievements often tends to avoid weaknesses, neglect existing problems, and exaggerate the results. China's manufacturing innovation capability is still not strong, key infrastructure materials, core infrastructure components, components, and advanced foundations. Industrial infrastructure such as technology is still weak, and the shortage of key core technologies has not changed fundamentally.
According to the survey conducted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on more than 130 key basic materials of more than 30 large enterprises, 32% of key materials are still blank in China, 52% rely on imports, and most computer and server general-purpose processors are 95% high-end dedicated chips. More than % of intelligent terminal processors and most memory chips rely on imports. In the field of equipment manufacturing, high-end CNC machine tools, high-end equipment, etc., more than 95% of manufacturing and testing equipment for key finishing lines such as launch vehicles, large aircraft, aero engines, and automobiles rely on imports. With decades of gaps with developed countries, we still have a long way to go to build a manufacturing powerhouse, and we still need to make long-term and unremitting efforts.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. China’s economy has shifted from a high-speed growth stage to a high-quality development stage. It is a major historical judgment made by the party’s 19th National Congress. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that promoting high-quality development is the development thinking that we have determined at present and in the future, formulating economic policies, implementing the fundamental requirements of macroeconomic regulation and control, and pointing out the direction for promoting the construction of a strong country.
Manufacturing industry is the main body of the real economy, the main battlefield of technological innovation, an important field of supply-side structural reform, and the key and key to promoting high-quality economic development. To promote the high-quality development of manufacturing industry, it is necessary to adopt Xi Jinping’s new era of Chinese characteristics. Guided by the ideological thinking, focusing on building a modern economic system, focusing on the goal of building a strong country, closely following the major changes in China's social contradictions, adapting to the global scientific and technological revolution and industrial change trends, practicing new development concepts, adhering to quality first, efficiency first With the supply-side structural reform as the main line, we will accelerate the promotion of quality change, efficiency change, and power change, and strive to build a modern manufacturing system that leads innovation and coordinated development, and continuously enhances innovation and competitiveness.
First, we must take the reform of deepening institutional mechanisms as the first shot and focus on creating a good development environment. For example, there are more restrictions on market access. Social capital and private investment have entered some areas. There are still serious "glass doors", "revolving doors" and "spring doors". The market segmentation phenomenon is more serious, and the formation mechanism of production factor prices is becoming more and more. Need to improve, the decisive role of the market mechanism has not been fully utilized. To promote the high-quality development of manufacturing industry, we must first exert our efforts in this area, further deepen the reform of the management of the management, optimize the business environment, promote the reform of the national defense industry and the reform of state-owned enterprises in monopoly industries, and promote the energy, labor, land and other factors that affect the development of the manufacturing industry. The reform of price marketization will speed up the construction of a unified and open, competitive and orderly market system and open and fair market rules, effectively break through various hidden thresholds, promote the free flow of resources, exchange on an equal footing, and play a decisive role in market allocation of resources. In view of the high cost of comprehensive production and operation in recent years, the company has promoted the reduction of corporate value-added tax and income tax, reduced the cost of financing and logistics, and loosened the enterprise, allowing enterprises to go into battle.
Second, we must firmly grasp the innovation-driven "bull nose" and focus on improving the manufacturing innovation capability. China's manufacturing innovation capability is still weak, and it is still unsuitable for high-quality development requirements. It is prominently reflected in weak basic research, less original technology, and insufficient attention to processes, special materials, and special equipment. We must adhere to demand-oriented and problem-oriented, focus on key core technology research and transformation of results, and make overall use of manufacturing innovation center construction, national major science and technology projects, industrial strong bases and other means to comprehensively play the advantages of domestic large market and actively create a scientific and technological ecological environment. Deepen international innovation cooperation and accelerate the improvement of manufacturing innovation capabilities.
At present, some places are eager for quick success, blindly follow the trend, and speculate on so-called new technologies and new industries. We must be highly alert and resolutely correct. At the same time, we attach great importance to vigorously promoting the in-depth development of military-civilian integration, strengthening the sharing of military and civilian resources and collaborative innovation, promoting mutual support between military and civilian technologies, effectively transforming, and enhancing the overall effect of scientific and technological research.
Third, the supply-side structural reform must be taken as a breakthrough to accelerate transformation and upgrading. The quality of the manufacturing supply system is not high, and it cannot effectively adapt to changes in consumption upgrading and industrial upgrading. It has become the most prominent problem among the three major imbalances in China's economic structure. Cultivate and develop emerging industries and upgrade and upgrade traditional industries, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, and switch between new and old kinetic energy. On the one hand, we will vigorously develop strategic emerging industries, advanced manufacturing industries, aim at the commanding heights of world industrial development, and continue to promote innovation breakthroughs in key areas such as 5G, new energy vehicles, and new materials, and promote the growth of high-end equipment manufacturing, biomedicine, energy conservation and environmental protection industries.
On the other hand, it is actively and steadily degrading and resolving old kinetic energy, unswervingly resolving excess production capacity, removing ineffective supply, benchmarking international advanced benchmarks, accelerating the improvement and upgrading of traditional industries, and promoting the overall upgrading of the entire industrial chain. At the same time, implement the country's three regional development strategies and optimize the layout of manufacturing.
Fourth, we must focus on the role of the new engine led by informatization drive and deepen the integration of information technology and manufacturing. The world is entering a period of economic development led by the information industry. The digital economy has become an important driving force for economic and social development. Can we grasp the opportunities of digital development and decide whether the goal of manufacturing a strong country can be achieved. We must grasp the opportunity of digital, network and intelligent integration development, take information and intelligence as the lever, cultivate high-quality development new kinetic energy, adhere to the direction of intelligent manufacturing, find intelligent and networked development path, and break through intelligent manufacturing. Equipment, technology, improve the national standard system for intelligent manufacturing, and promote the fundamental transformation of the manufacturing industry model and corporate form. Deeply implement the industrial Internet innovation development strategy, implement the industrial Internet development action plan, build the network, platform and security three systems, build a number of cross-industry, cross-field industrial Internet platforms, and promote the industrial Internet innovation application. Vigorously promote the deep integration of the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and the real economy, accelerate the digital and intelligent development of traditional industries, and enlarge and strengthen the digital economy.
At present, with the widespread use of information technology represented by the Internet, the network information security situation is becoming more and more serious. It is necessary to put the network information security issue in a prominent position and pay close attention to it.
Fifth, we must focus on building high-quality development carriers and cultivating a number of high-quality and efficient manufacturing enterprises. Enterprises are the main force leading the high-quality development of manufacturing industry. To achieve high-quality development of manufacturing industry, it requires both leading enterprises and small enterprises, reorganizing the market environment, supporting enterprises to focus on the main business, reform and innovation, and hard work and cultivation. Approving a group of companies with strong core competitiveness. Further increase the development support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and develop a group of specialized small giant enterprises with outstanding main business, strong competitiveness and good growth prospects, and cultivate a group of unicorn enterprises that lead the technological evolution and industrial ecology. The development of large and medium-sized enterprises is the advantage of China's enterprises, promoting the interaction and cooperation between the upstream and downstream of the industry chain, forming a good pattern driven by leading enterprises and the development of large and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, we must inspire and protect the entrepreneurial spirit and build a team of entrepreneurs who focus on the pursuit of excellence.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the development of China's economy in the past 40 years has been achieved under open conditions. In the future, China's economy must achieve higher quality development under more open conditions. We must take the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up as an opportunity to adapt to China's enterprises. Deeply integrate into the trend of the world economy, actively promote the level and level of openness of the manufacturing industry, and deepen and integrate more deeply into the global supply system. It is necessary to implement the opening-up policy of the automobile, shipbuilding, aircraft and other industries, greatly relax market access, strengthen intellectual property protection, and adhere to the principle of equal participation of domestic and foreign-funded enterprises, and actively create a more attractive investment environment.
At the same time, we must solidly promote the construction of the “Belt and Road”, improve the public service system that goes global, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries along the line in the fields of intelligent manufacturing industry Internet, small and medium-sized enterprises, and pragmatically promote important international cooperation projects.
At present, ideas such as trade protectionism, isolationism, and populism are constantly rising. We will clearly oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism with the nations of the world, firmly defend the interests of the country and the people, and uphold the rules and order of international trade.
Building and manufacturing a strong country carries the great dream of paying attention to the country from generation to generation. We must insist that Qingshan does not relax, and then hopes to continue to play its own advantages, organize experts and scholars to strengthen research on major issues, and provide more for the construction of a strong country. More intellectual support.


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Successful Beta Service launch of SOMESING, ‘My Hand-Carry Studio Karaoke App’
Nov 24, 2021 13:11 UTC
Nov 24, 2021 at 13:14 UTC
The non-fungible token (NFT) challenge the Origyn Foundation proclaimed on Tuesday the crew obtained a strategic funding of $20 million from a myriad of traders. Hilton edifice inheritor Paris Hilton participated inside the funding spherical aboard firms like Polychain Capital and Table Management.
Origyn Foundation Secures $20 Million
NFT marketplaces and internet platforms have seen tons of investments during the last 12 months as enterprise capitalists and enterprise finance companies have poured hundreds of thousands into these corporations. On Nov twenty three, the Switzerland-based non-profit NFT challenge Origyn Foundation disclosed it’s secured $20 million from strategic traders. In retaining with the announcement, the finance Origyn Foundation contains a valuation of round $300 million.
The private funding spherical was supported by Bill Ackman’s Table Management, Polychain Capital, Coinko, Vectr Ventures, Carter Reum, Div Turakhia, and GD10 Ventures. besides, the favored essential particular person and businessperson, Paris Hilton, moreover joined in on the funding spherical. Origyn says the finance can facilitate the crew launch “verticals to plug within the art, collectibles, digital media, and luxury sectors.”
Origyn leverages Dfinity’s internet computer protocol and subsequently the challenge is junction rectifier by the initiation companions and council members Gian Bochsler, Vincent Perriard and microphone Schwartz, and its enterprise govt Daniel Haudenschild. besides, the capital increase can bolster new trade companions and evaluation and growth as well as. The challenge operates trade verticals like Origyn Art, Origyn Collectibles, Origyn Digital Media and Origyn Luxury.
“We’re unbelievably lucky and excited to incorporate such a big amount of potent names during this funding spherical,” Daniel Haudenschild, the enterprise govt of Origyn Entreprise Sturmarbeiteilung stated in a press release. Origyn is unique in what it brings to the current world. It’s a sign of assist for what Origyn is trying to realize—utilizing know-how to unravel for id, credibleness, and proof of possession. Our companions have seen the possibility we provide to unlock costs for house homeowners and creators,” the Origyn authorities added.
Origyn respected sponsor, Paris Hilton, has been into cryptocurrencies and non-fungible token (NFT) belongings for fairly a while. Throughout the first week of Gregorian calendar month, Hilton stated she was excited relating to the long term of bitcoin and confirmed she was lengthy on crypto. At the top of October, Hilton listed a few her NFTs to promote on the brand new Sotheby’s Metaverse Marketplace.

domain: news


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Not too long ago the Apple App Store celebrated its birthday by giving away a ridiculous number of their best selling apps for free. If you didn’t catch that deal then you definitely missed out – seriously guys, Injustice: Gods Among Us for free? Yes please! Well the bad news is that they’re not doing that again this soon, but they are offering up a free weekly apps.
In an effort to get more people to frequent the app store more frequently, Apple has decided to do one free weekly app. This week they are offering “Color Zen” for free download and each week the free app offering will change.


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Shares of Etsy (ETSY 1.93%) were sinking last month as the stock fell on concerns about the expanding coronavirus outbreak. As an online marketplace focused on mostly discretionary, artisan-made items, Etsy seemed to be at risk as consumers shifted their shopping habits to food and essentials and away from the kind of items that Etsy sells. During its slide, the stock also got hit by an analyst downgrade.
According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock finished March down 34%. Much of the stock's decline came in the second week of the month:
Etsy shares fell sharply in the second week of March as the country took its first steps into shutdown mode, with schools closing, businesses mandating work-from-home policies where feasible, and sports leagues canceling games indefinitely. That sent an economic shock through the stock market and American business and led to stockpiling of goods like food, cleaning products, and toilet paper. Consequently, investors favored crisis-proof stocks and sold others. Not surprisingly, Etsy, which may be best known for products related to weddings, jewelry, and gifts, found itself on the losing side.
On March 19, Roth Capital downgraded the stock from buy to neutral as analyst Darren Aftahi lowered its price target from $61 to $41. Aftahi said channel checks found that small-and-medium-sized businesses and e-commerce sellers have begun to struggle in the face of the growing pandemic. He also said traffic for most Etsy sellers had slowed significantly since the beginning of the month and predicted the stock would trade sideways until the outbreak begins to fade.
Despite the poor performance in March, Etsy shares have surged in the first few sessions in April. Through April 6, the stock has jumped 21% this month. In a business update last Thursday, the company said gross merchandise sales (GMS), the total volume of sales in its marketplace, had jumped 32% in the first quarter, though growth slowed notably from a 41% surge in January an February to just mid-teens in March. Management also pulled its guidance for the year but said its financial position was solid and that it was in a better position than many other retailers, especially brick-and-mortar chains. It also noted that categories like games and puzzles had performed well toward the end of March. Investors were reassured by the announcement, and the stock surged over the next two sessions.
While Etsy's growth will slow during the outbreak, the company appears to be more resilient than investors had initially thought.


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As consumers gravitate to mobile devices, financial services firms are introducing a wave of smartphone and tablet applications for their retail and institutional customers. The likes of Fidelity Investments, E-Trade, TD Ameritrade and Morgan Stanley, among others, have been developing mobile apps that take advantage of technology innovations in the consumer space.
"When you look at [financial services] mobile platform strategies, consumers and the end investors are really starting to drive most of these trends," says Ed O'Brien, SVP, head of business technology development, for Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, the RIA custody unit at Fidelity Investments. "We're seeing [financial] advisers more quickly adopt and even expect these technologies. ... They want to do things like trading [on the go]."
According to O'Brien, Fidelity is introducing mobile apps on its WealthCentral platform, a workstation for registered investment advisers. "It's not just being able to look at an account and get information," he says. "It's going to run more of their business remotely wherever they need to be." And advisers expect these capabilities to integrate with their existing applications, O'Brien adds. "Mobile devices are so intelligent, the expectation is that they will support integration," he explains, noting that WealthCentral provides advisers with integrated reporting, CRM and workflow tools.
Part of the reason for the mass adoption of smartphones in financial services is that the devices are vastly improved from the clunky mobile phones of the 1990s. The current surge in mobile apps from brokerage firms is related to smartphone's larger screens for accessing the mobile web, asserts Brad Strothkamp, Forrester Research VP and principal analyst. While Strothkamp acknowledges the current boom in mobile banking and investing, he predicts the space will "really take off" when, "You start getting applications that are really unique to the mobile device that can't be done with the computer."
A Lifestyle Choice
Already, financial services firms are taking advantage of specific features in smartphones, such as built-in cameras, to offer unique applications that can't be experienced on a desktop. For example, Fidelity in May rolled out Money Movement, a service based on proprietary technology that allows Fidelity clients to pay bills, transfer money and deposit checks using the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. "A lot of money is going into the [mobile] money movement space and remote check processing, and it's all because of the sensors [on mobile devices]," says Joseph Ferra, chief wireless officer for Fidelity Personal Investing. Ferra adds that built-in GPS capabilities also unlock the potential for location-based services via smartphones, which will enable financial firms to develop services that are more targeted to individuals' lifestyles.
It is this consideration of consumers' lifestyles that will drive the third phase of mobile adoption, according to Ferra. The first to adopt mobile, he explains, were the technology curious -- techies -- who enjoyed the technology no matter how clunky it was. The second phase of adoption was based on need -- users who adopted wireless as an inferior substitute for the web. "Now we're in the third phase, which is lifestyle -- those who prefer to use wireless wherever they are," says Ferra.
Another reason that brokerage firms are jumping on the smartphone and tablet bandwagon is the reality that mobile apps eventually could replace the desktop PC. Nicole Sherrod, managing director at TD Ameritrade, told WS&T earlier this year that TD Ameritrade research projects that wireless devices could surpass PCs as the gateway to brokerage accounts as soon as 2013. The online broker recently added iPad and iPhone apps to its suite of mobile offerings. "We make sure on the iPhone that the client is able to see every product, that everything is priced and they can trade it," Sherrod said.
Commuting: Research on the iPad
Of course, convenience is one of the top factors propelling mass adoption of mobile, and that's especially important to investors, says Forrester's Strothkamp. When Morgan Stanley rolled out its research application for the iPad about a year ago, for example, the firm conducted extensive market research on how customers were using mobile devices.
According to Barry Hurewitz, managing director, Morgan Stanley, the company realized that its customers were using tablets while commuting to work. "It became very clear that clients are spending more time, particularly around their commuting and before the market opens, using new devices," he told Wall Street & Technology in a video interview, adding that the financial services giant believed an iPad app would make its content easier to access around that crucial time before the market opens.
The firm's analysts track 2,800 companies on which the iPad app receives updates in real time, Hurewitz related. "The most important actionable research comes out before the market opens," he explained. According to Hurewitz, clients use the tablet to scan headlines and look for actionable research. Then, when they get into the office, clients may call their Morgan Stanley sales traders or analysts for additional insights.
While the research app is intended for institutional investors -- mainly portfolio managers -- who are clients of Morgan Stanley, the apps mass distribution via the iTunes app store has given it wider exposure. Since its launch in August 2010, nearly 60,000 people have downloaded the Morgan Stanley research app for free, and more than 12 percent of clients are using their mobile devices to access Morgan Stanley research globally, the firm says.
Noting that they use tablets differently than they use smartphones, Fidelity's O'Brien says financial advisers, once slow to adopt new technologies, are embracing iPads because the tablets are good for reviewing documents and for showing clients their portfolios in face-to-face conversations. "They need the information on the smartphones to do transactions, and they need the information on the tablet for interactive discussions with their clients," he says.
Melanie Rodier has worked as a print and broadcast journalist for over 10 years, covering business and finance, general news, and film trade news. Prior to joining Wall Street & Technology in April 2007, Melanie lived in Paris, where she worked for the International Herald ... View Full Bio


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The next Twitch Prime-exclusive Apex Legends skin has been leaked ahead of its release, bringing a fresh look to everyone’s favorite wholesome robot, Pathfinder.
Every month, Twitch Prime users get a brand new, exclusive skin to decorate the Legends of the Apex Games, such as Wraith’s ‘Forgotten in the Void’ skin that was made available in April 2020.
As the most popular character in the game, many fans were delighted to get their hands on a new Wraith skin, but the only other character that comes anywhere close to her popularity is Pathfinder, and now fans of his are being rewarded for their loyalty.
After it was first leaked late on June 23 that the next Twitch Prime skin will be for Pathfinder and that players will also get a free charm with it, we’ve now got our first look at what the skin will look like.
It’s unclear what the skin is named yet, or whether it’s based off of something else, yet it brings a fun, new, bright red and blue aesthetic to the Forward Scout.
Though there isn’t yet a date set in stone for when this skin will become available, it will be added to Twitch Prime at some point in July, usually around the middle of the month based on previous drops.
the twitch prime skin i already have posted about pic.twitter.com/dgZkbh5tcs
— Biast12 (Tobias) (@Biast12) June 23, 2020
If you’re not interested in new Pathfinder skins, however, you can always find out how to claim Gibraltar’s ‘Tribal Instinct’ skin before it’s too late or check out everything new in Season 5’s Lost Treasures update.


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Unusual rust, leaks, cracks, missing parts, modifications and other discrepancies all show up on a Helios scan. The automated process allows technicians and inspectors to focus on critical items instead of areas that do not require attention.
UVeye’s anomaly-detection solutions offer support from assembly-line and paint-shop inspections at the OEM manufacturer to a variety of aftermarket applications, including systems for insurance providers, fleet managers, rental agencies, dealerships and used-vehicle auctions.
Jim Smith, founder and CEO of V.I.P. Auctions, which has implemented the technology as a first for the industry in the U.S., said the company’s new camera-based artificial-intelligence technology will save time, reduce costs and document vehicle condition.
Documentation of each vehicle’s underbody and tires
Artemis, UVeye’s tire-quality system, is designed to check within seconds a tire’s condition overall, including tire pressure, tread depth, wheel scratches, sidewall damage, abrasions and outside shoulder damage. Smith added that the condition of a vehicle’s tires and wheels can affect its value by up to several thousand dollars.
He explained that customers now will receive industry-first documentation for the condition of each vehicle’s underbody and tires, including images of the vehicle’s undercarriage and tires with trouble areas clearly marked.
“We expect this new, industry-leading inspection technology will have a major impact on customer satisfaction and result in a significant increase in sales and service over the next 12 months,” Smith said. “We’re looking forward to partnering with UVeye as the company introduces its breakthrough technology to automakers, dealerships and major fleet operators in the United States.”


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Tesla plans to build a network of car charging stations in China
US electric car manufacturer plans to link major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Tesla announced yesterday that the US-based electric vehicle company plans to build a charging network in China.
The network of superchargers will be similar to ones that Tesla is building in the US and planning to develop in Europe, The Wall Street Journal reported.
It will serve drivers traveling between major cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and Tesla owners will be allowed to use the charging stations free of charge.
Diarmuid O'Connell, vice president of corporate and business development for the California company, told reporters that Tesla had received a "tremendous" reception in China.
He did not give a timeline for the lofty network project, only saying that Tesla was already in talks with electric companies and property owners.
Previously, local Chinese media reports on Tesla's expansion in the mainland pointed out that owning an electric car such as Tesla's Model S would be difficult in China due to a lack of public charging stations.
Tesla's plans for a charging network seem aimed at rectifying this, and while the company's cars can be charged at home, the charging network would make long distance drives possible.
Tesla’s Model S sedans are due to hit mainland roads sometime in March, and the vehicle is currently available for test drives and customer demonstrations in Hong Kong.
In July of 2013, Tesla received over 300 pre-orders for the Model S vehicle in Hong Kong - a figure that surpasses the current number of electric cars in the city.
China has been pushing electric vehicles for several years now, but progress has so far been stagnant due to infrastructure problems. Currently, the mainland's biggest electric car maker is BYD, which Tesla says doesn’t have any models competing in the same segment of the market.
Additional reporting by Jeremy Blum


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Microsoft Unveils New surface Book 3; VW Readying Sale of New EV- ID.3; Uber Laying off 3700; Disney + Posts Big Subscriber NumberPosted: May 6, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
Microsoft has rolled out its latest hardware…but via blog post instead of the usual splashy presser in New York City. Zdnet.com reports that Redmond showed the new Surface Book 3, the Surface Go 2, Surface Dock 2, Surface Earbuds, and Surface Headphones 2. In addition to all that, Microsoft has added a new USB-C Travel Hub to the collection. Orders for all can be put in today, and most will ship next week. The Surface Go 2, Microsoft’s “more affordable and portable” 2-in-1 at 10.5 inches, is slightly larger than the original Surface Go and features smaller bezels. It starts at $399 tablet only…no keyboard, and is available May 12th. The Surface Book 3 is touted as MS’s most powerful laptop. They are claiming it is 50% faster than the Surface Book 2, and has up to 17.5 hours of battery life. The base model starts at $1599 and is available on May 21st. The new Surface Earbuds are $199 as expected, and have ‘all day battery life’ and…like other earbuds…a wireless charging case. The Surface Headphones 2 sport up to 20 hours battery life, ear cup rotation of 180 degrees, and will come in either black or platinum. They are out May 12th for $249.
Next month, Volkswagen will launch its ID.3 electric vehicle. According to techcrunch.com, customers who had preordered the Golf-sized hatchback can start putting in actual orders by June 17th. VW has banked 37,000 reservations for the first edition, which will be limited to 30,000 units. Orders for right hand drive models will open in July. VW is shooting for selling a million electrics per year by 2025. The ID.3 is a Europe only model, but VW says they will sell other models under the ID brand in North America. The ID.3 has an estimated range of 260 miles, and will sell for 30,000 euros in Germany.
We had previously reported that Uber was looking hard at layoffs with the drop in ride sharing. Earlier, Lyft sent 1,000 packing. Now, engadget.com says Uber is laying off 3700 full time employees, amounting to about 14% of its 26,900 person work force. Airbnb has announced it would lay off 1900. California is still moving forward with a lawsuit that alleges that Uber and Lyft misclassify drivers…who the state claims under a recent law qualify as employees. The companies, and others such as Doordash, are fighting the suit.
Although Disney is hurting from the closure of theme parks and cruise lines, etc due to the coronavirus, steaming is a bright spot. CNBC.com reported that they had 33.5 million Disney + subscribers as of the end of March, but as of Tuesday, has 54.5 million! Hulu jumped 27% from last year and now has 32.1 million, and ESPN is now up to 7.9 million subscribers. Disney had been predicting they would have between 60 million and 90 million Disney + subscribers by the end of 2024! The company did warn that viewership would drop off once shelter in place orders are lifted.


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Detoxicating Aloe Compound Developed in Yunnan
EnÂ¡Â¯erle Biological Products Co., Ltd. in Kunming City of Yunnan Province has developed an aloe compound that can detoxicate harmful substances such as nicotine and tar. The new product marks a breakthrough in developing biological resources in Yunnan.
Aloe contains various chemical substances with pharmaceutical and biological activity functions, and it is widely used in medicine, health care and beauty culture. With its favorable climate and land and water resources, Yunnan is the major aloe growing province in China, accounting for 50% of the national total area under aloe plants. Fine aloe strains cultivated in Yunnan include Yuanjiang, Zhonghua, Muli and Kulasuo.
To turn the rich aloe resources into economic returns, EnÂ¡Â¯erle company made great efforts to bring about a breakthrough in research, and developed the compound that are good for smokers and victims of air pollution to use. The province has listed the development of the compound as a major project of biological resources development and a key high-tech undertaking.
At present, the compound has been put into mass production. The company now uses more than 100 tons of aloe leaves a year, and scores 2.3 million yuan in sales revenue. It plans to use 250 tons of aloe leaves next year and boost its sales revenue to 7.4 million yuan.


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Fire chief James T. Januse and police chief James Donovan recently offered Raynham residents some tips to ensure a safe and responsible Halloween.
Each year from 2014 to 2016, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 10,100 fires were reported to fire departments in the United States over a three-day period around Halloween. This caused an estimated 30 deaths, 125 injuries and $102 million in property loss.
Halloween fires typically occur outdoors, and are often caused by open flames coming into contact with flammable decorations. Cooking fires have also historically spiked on Halloween.
• Only approach well-lit houses and always travel in small groups.
• Wear clothing that is bright, reflective and flame retardant.
• Use flashlights for guidance on sidewalks, walkways and when crossing the street.
• Make sure masks have eye-holes large enough to see any tripping hazards or oncoming traffic, and mouth openings large enough to breathe easily.
• Practice safe street-crossing by using crosswalks and walk signals.
•Wear sturdy shoes and temperature appropriate clothing under costumes.
Parents and guardians should:
• Supervise young children.
• Establish a designated curfew for older children.
• Make sure children are wearing safe costumes that fit well and don’t drag on the ground.
• Apply reflective tape to your child’s arms, legs and treat bags.
• Assure costume accessories such as swords and other pointed objects are made with soft and safe materials.
• Keep inside and outside lights on during trick-or-treat hours.
• Avoid placing lit candles and jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps and walkways where costumes could brush against them and cause burns or fire.
• Keep Halloween decorations away from open flames, light bulbs and heaters.
• Only hand out candy that is packaged and wrapped.
• Use battery operated candles for Halloween decorations.
• Avoid handing out small toys that could cause choking or lead poisoning for small children.


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Together partners with Nivo to launch app
Together has partnered with Nivo to launch an app.
According to the lender, commercial loan customers will now have access to quicker lending decisions with secure messaging through the mobile app.
The app uses messaging technology, which allows the lender to speak to its customers in a text-like format.
The firm believes this reduces processing times and improves completion timescales.
Moreover, the system will be used to request sensitive documents needed to underwrite applications.
Furthermore, the app will initially only be available for commercial direct clients, but is expected to be rolled out to personal finance customers in the next few weeks.
In addition, Together is looking into ways the app could be utilised by intermediaries.
Catherine O’Brien, growth and development manager at Together, said: “This is a brilliant innovation and something we have been working on with Nivo to make sure that it really minimises the case processing time and effort for Together’s customers.
“The app has some fantastic built-in features, such as electronic application forms, to make it easier for our customers to send us the documents we need to approve their commercial loan applications.
“It also means our colleagues can send customers a message at the click of a button, providing a quicker, easier and more secure way of us communicating with them.”
Polly Taylor-Pullen, business development at Nivo, added: “Nivo was able to deliver the secure, branded app within two weeks and we can already see that customers are returning documents much quicker, with applications being processed in record time.
“The streamlined process means staff are able to process more applications, and most importantly, customers are delighted with the ease of service. I look forward to our continued partnership with Together as we deliver more technology improvements in the months to come.”


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Track Ready Lamborghini Urus ST-X Concept Unveiled
After delivering its first one-off hypercar in history, the SC18 Alston, Lamborghini has decided to showcase what its racing division – Lamborghini Squadra Corse, can do with the recently launched Urus. And the result is…well… as expected, is quite bonkers! And here it is, the brand new Lamborghini Urus ST-X Concept. Essentially an SUV for the racetrack, the new super Urus as it is being dubbed by social media has been prepared to a one-make rallycross style racing series that the Italian automaker is set to introduce in the near future. The Urus ST-X packs in exactly the same amount of power as compared to the production version but is much lighter.
In fact, the weight reduction is absolutely massive! A whopping 25 per cent lighter than its production version, the new Lamborghini Urus ST-X still packs in the exact same twin-turbo V8 engine making 641 bhp of peak power and 850 Nm of peak torque. The car will be used in the racing series, which will debut in 2020 and will be held on purpose built race tracks in the middle east and across Europe.
Modifications include a new carbon fibre hood with a massive air intake, a full racing exhaust and a massive rear wing. The Lamborghini Urus ST-X also packs an FIA approved and race spec steel roll cage along with an approved fire suppression system and a larger ‘FT3’ spec fuel tank. Lamborghini has even added a set of 21-inch centre lock wheels with Pirelli tyres along with a slightly raised suspension setup that can navigate possible bumps and bad surfaces that this car will have to withstand when it goes racing. And to wrap it all, the car has been painted in a special Verde Mantis Livery.
Source: Read Full Article


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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Football players aren't the only ones who have been preparing for the big game on Feb. 1. Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, is bringing its fan-favorite Domino's Tracker® to your Samsung Smart TV, just in time for the company's busiest delivery day of the year.
As the New England and Seattle football teams get ready for their biggest Sunday of the season, Domino's expects to deliver more than 11 million pizza slices and more than 3 million chicken wings nationwide on game day – nearly an 80 percent overall increase from a typical Sunday. And now, Domino's customers who have a Samsung Smart TV can track their order each step of the way, from the time it is taken, to when it is put in the oven and sent out for delivery – all without missing a second of the game.
"Domino's is always looking for ways to continue innovating and using technology to benefit our customers," said Kevin Vasconi, Domino's Pizza chief information officer. "We are thrilled to bring our customers yet another added convenience using Domino's Tracker. Football fans can track their game day meal via their Samsung Smart TV and stay tuned into the big game at the same time."
This marks the first time that Domino's Tracker is available on any television platform. In order to use the tracking feature, customers must have a 2014 or newer Samsung Smart TV.
"As the market leader in TV innovation, Samsung is excited to be the first to offer Domino's Tracker to our customers, just in time for the biggest game day of the year," said Brad Trullinger, Samsung director of content and product solutions.
One of the easiest ways customers can order their Domino's game day meal is via digital ordering – whether it be online or through an app on their mobile device. Digital ordering accounted for approximately 50 percent of Domino's sales in the U.S. at the end of 2014.
Domino's Pizza Game Day Fun Facts
- On game day, in the U.S. alone, Domino's delivery drivers will cover the equivalent of more than 335 round trips from Boston to Seattle – a 50 percent increase over a typical day.
- Over the years, Domino's stores have seen sales tend to increase when the game is close and viewers are glued to their TVs.
- While both Boston and Seattle Domino's stores will see high sales at the beginning of the game, the city of the winning team will likely see higher sales at the end of the night.
- During last year's game, Domino's delivered enough pizzas to stretch across more than 2,400 football fields.
- Domino's expects to sell 3 million chicken wings (boneless and bone-in), which is a 179 percent increase over a typical Sunday.
**Media representatives are invited to visit a local Domino's Pizza store and witness the rush before kickoff. Please email [email protected] to coordinate.**
About Domino's Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, with a significant business in carryout pizza. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with its global enterprise of more than 11,250 stores in over 75 international markets. Domino's had global retail sales of over $8.0 billion in 2013, comprised of nearly $3.8 billion in the U.S. and over $4.2 billion internationally. In the third quarter of 2014, Domino's had global retail sales of over $2.0 billion, comprised of $0.9 billion in the U.S. and $1.1 billion internationally. Its system is made up of franchise owners who accounted for nearly 97% of Domino's stores as of the third quarter of 2014. The emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's generate approximately 50% of U.S. sales from its digital channels at the end of 2014, as well as reach an estimated run rate of $4 billion annually in global digital sales. Domino's recently launched its ordering app for iPad®, adding to an existing ordering app lineup that covers nearly 95% of the smartphone market. In June 2014, Domino's debuted voice ordering for its iPhone® and Android™ apps, a true technology first within both traditional and e-commerce retail.
Order – www.dominos.com
Mobile – http://mobile.dominos.com
Info – www.dominosbiz.com
Twitter – http://twitter.com/dominos
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/dominos
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/dominos
SOURCE Domino's Pizza


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For a city that amassed great wealth during the rise of traditional industry and manufacturing, St. Louis has the resources to invest in the companies of the future. While some potential investors have been reluctant to put their money into ventures that do not look like traditional big business models like Monsanto or Boeing, others are transforming the future of St. Louis by investing in innovative entrepreneurs.
The following five venture capital firms are at the forefront of an economic revolution that is currently taking place in St. Louis. By investing in consumer internet and biotech companies that are on track to position the city as the next great startup ecosystem in the U.S., these venture capital firms are forging a new identity for the city.
Capital Innovators is a startup accelerator that makes seed stage investments in startups twice a year. Though not a traditional venture capital firm, Capitol Innovators is on this list because some of the most recently successful consumer internet companies have come out of the Capital Innovators program. Companies like Aisle411 and LockerDome have recently garnered a lot of attention for their user growth and business partnerships. Capital Innovators invests $50,000 in 10 companies per year.
Nidus invests in transformative energy technologies, including biofuels, gasification, renewable energy, bioelectrohemical conversion, predictive modeling and energy storage. Nidus is led by Managing Partners Ted Briscoe, Victoria Gonzalez, Mich Hein, and Founding Partner Duke Leahey. Nidus is also different from traditional venture capital firms because of its unique approach to bringing technologies to market. Nidus combines entrepreneurial and scientific talent, corporate partners, and seed capital to identify new ways to commercialize energy products. Nidus portfolio companies include AeroValve LLC and Electrochaea, LLC.
Ascension is transforming the healthcare technology space by strengthening the relationships between medical device innovators and healthcare providers thanks to the firm’s network of more than 200 acute care hospitals. Ascension has $325 million under management. Portfolio companies include BodyMedia, a company that makes technology to monitor health and lifestyle information, and Millennium Pharmacy Systems, a medication management and delivery system. Ascension is led by Senior Managing Director Matt Hermann.
Prolog has invested in over 25 young companies in the life sciences since their launch in 2001. Prolog’s portfolio includes many consumer facing companies that help families make better health and lifestyle choices. Some of these companies include ShopWell,
which makes resources to help consumers make healthy food choices, and Zeel, an online appointment booking service connecting health and wellness consumers with health and wellness practitioners. Prolog is led by Managing Directors Brian Clevinger, Greg Johnson, and Ilya Nykin.
Cultivation Capital is a new venture capital firm that focuses on primarily Missouri companies. Cultivation Capital invests $100,000 to $1,000,000 in companies to boost early growth and prepare companies for an institutional round of financing. The firm makes 3 – 5 pre-A round investments per year. The firm’s current portfolio includes Yurbuds, an innovative earbud product for sport enthusiasts, LockerDome, and Aisle411. Cultivation Capital is led by General Partners Brian Matthews, Peter Esparrago, Jim McKelvey, Rick Holton, Jr., and Cliff Holekamp.
All of these investors are creating a new way of supporting entrepreneurs, with a unique St. Louis style. Their investment strategies are all coming together to form the fabric of the St. Louis venture capital community. This new community is essential to diverting additional investment from traditional industries and into the future of the American innovation.


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Penske Exhibiting at IFDA Conference
READING, Pa., Oct. 22, 2010 - Representatives from Penske Truck Leasing, Co., L.P. will exhibit at the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) 2010 Distribution Solutions Conference at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 25-27, 2010. Visit Penske in Booth 127.
Penske's fleet experts and Certified Transportation Professionals will be on hand to discuss topics ranging from the latest 2010 engine technologies, preventive maintenance programs, lease finance options, environmental fleet improvements with SmartWay, fleet-tracking technologies and other topics of interest to truck fleet owners and managers. Booth visitors have the opportunity to win a consumer GPS unit.
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, transportation and warehousing management, and supply chain management solutions. Visit www.gopenske.com to learn more about the company and its products and services.


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A new report from MIT has found that an increasing number of Chinese influencers are using deepfakes to extend their livestreaming time. “Deepfakes” are AI-generated fake videos of people that, as AI gets smarter, are becoming more common and convincing. The name comes from a Reddit user named “deepfake,” who inserted celebrity faces in compromising videos.
But in this case, influencers themselves are leveraging this technology to make deepfakes of themselves to churn out more content than ever.
Livestreaming is very popular in China, where streamers have tapped into the e-commerce market in a more lucrative way than sponsored Instagram posts or TikToks ever could. “Influencer farms,” a term that describes groups of content creators working together to sell products on livestreaming services, have been described as Gen Z’s QVC or the modern infomercial.
A 2022 report found that in China alone, trained influencers selling products through their livestreams were helping to exceed the projected $500 billion in revenue.
While the concept of influencer farms still seems “unreal” to many Westerners, the idea of offloading content to a fake version of yourself might be a more appealing next step for bigger creators.
“There’s a growing trend among consumers seeking highly personalized experiences, especially in the realms of digital interaction, shopping and content consumption,” Georgi Dimitrov, the CEO of AI company DreamGF, told In The Know by Yahoo. “The trajectory of AI and human relationships is heading toward even greater integration in our daily lives.”
How are influencers creating deepfakes of themselves?
According to MIT Technology Review, the services are pretty cheap. Creating an AI clone of yourself costs about $1,100 — a pretty accessible price point — although more complicated and “capable” replicas will cost more.
Once an influencer’s deepfake is created, the mouth and body will move alongside a script. Companies use language models to generate the scripts, so all humans have to do is input the basics, like how much a product is.
Sima Huapeng, founder and CEO of Nanjing-based startup Silicon Intelligence, told MIT that pricier, more advanced deepfakes will be able to interact with live comments and answer questions in real time while streaming.
“AI algorithms are already tailoring feeds to the individual’s interests and past interactions. This hyper-personalization is becoming a standard expectation among consumers,” Dimitrov argued. “AI could be used to create virtual influencers or enhance the digital presence of existing celebrities, making their personas accessible 24/7. However, the essence of human authenticity and spontaneity is something AI is still far from replicating completely.”
Do audiences want this?
AI streamers on Twitch are increasing in popularity in the U.S.; however, a lot of them are animations and not deepfakes. AI streamer Neuro-sama has almost 500,000 subscribers on Twitch and operates similarly to a chatbot like ChatGPT, mostly answering viewer questions and playing Minecraft.
But Neuro-sama is animated, which evades a specific type of discomfort humans experience when looking at humanlike digital avatars or humanoid robots called “uncanny valley.” The uncanny valley theory posits that humans feel “unease or eeriness” when looking at something that seems human but isn’t.
A 2022 research article found that when humans see AI in the form of “a chatbot agent or physical robot on a factory floor,” they’re more likely to be “accepting” of it. But, when AI is shown as “a colleague with similar job responsibility,” for example, there’s a lack of trust.
It seems as if influencer deepfakes fall into the latter category. In October, Meta announced a slew of AI influencer collaborations with celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued that it would be like having a conversation with an AI chatbot that just happened to have an extremely recognizable face.
“This is about entertainment and about helping you do things to connect with the people around you,” he said at Meta Connect 2023. “We thought that this should feel fun, and it should feel familiar.”
The response from users was more “resistance” than “enthusiasm,” according to the Decoder. Commenters called it “honestly scary,” and some said they “never wanted to use the internet again.”
A similar reaction occurred in China. Film and television actor and singer Chen Yiru caught backlash after it was revealed he’d made a deepfake of himself to share a 15-hour “livestream” of him eating chicken feet.
Chen has over 6.7 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and transitioned from performing to e-commerce livestreaming in 2021. In his first month of streaming, he allegedly generated $14 million worth of sales.
Viewers shared their frustration and fury with the deepfake. There was a disclaimer on the stream that said, “For display purposes only, not a real person.” China was the first country to set a legal regulatory structure for AI in March 2022, one of those laws being mandatory watermarks on all AI content. In October, President Biden announced plans for new standards for safety and security surrounding AI systems.
Others noticed little inconsistencies, including a moment when it seemed as if Chen’s arm was melting into the table. But fans of Chen’s expressed they felt almost betrayed by the use of AI.
Sixth Tone, a Chinese media publication, reported that a top comment on Douyin asked: “Does this mean they can earn money without being on the show for real?”
How do creators feel about the potential AI competition?
From a creator perspective, Alanna Relforth, a live streamer on LiveMe, a global livestreaming app with more than 100 million users, told In The Know by Yahoo that her stance on deepfakes “remains a mix of curiosity and caution.”
“Responsible content creation is our duty,” Relforth said. “Don’t give all the work to the AI, but it’s good to leverage it once in a while. Learning about new technology and adapting to change is important and can help you get ahead of the curve.”
She admitted that she knew of other livestreamers who seemed interested in creating AI versions of themselves — but, she argued, it was more about staying on top of the ever-changing digital landscape.
“Yes, many creators are currently discussing the use of AI and even creating digital versions of themselves,” she said. “While recognizing the potential advantages AI brings to our work, I’m mindful of the associated pros and cons — acknowledging that moderation is key.”
In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News — follow us here!
The post Influencers are looking to make deepfakes of themselves to produce more content than ever appeared first on In The Know.
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From tech to regulation, the world of payments is constantly evolving and staying up to date with the latest developments can provide a significant challenge.
However, at Payment Expert we have you covered with a bite-sized breakdown of the key digits from the week’s major stories.
85% of UKGC respondents show cashless concerns
The latest data from the UK Gambling Commission has revealed consumer concerns regarding the potential for cashless payment methods to pose a risk to gamblers.
The data showed that 85% of land-based gamblers who responded felt that cashless paying methods would make it much easier to spend greater sums of money whilst betting.
An additional 79% of respondents believed that cash assisted them with controlling their spending speed, highlighting that cash is still king in the eyes of many consumers, particularly bettors.
Neosurf achieves 90% customer satisfaction to drive international growth
Neosurf has achieved considerable success in a range of regulated markets throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most substantial expansion was recorded in Poland, where the company experienced growth of 200% within just six months, in addition to 150% in Sweden and nearly 50% in the highly competitive UK sector.
Neosurf Business Development Director, Ian Nicholson, attributed the firm’s success to its strong client feedback infrastructure, which reported a customer satisfaction score consistently higher than 90%.
Money laundering expert convicted after 60 victims pay out £850,000
Money laundering prevention expert David Thorncroft has been convicted of financial crimes following a Metropolitan Police investigation into suspicious corporate activity.
Thorncroft failed to disclose financial information at his own company, and was found to have been involved in a fraudulent scheme which saw 60 victims pay out nearly £850,000 after being contacted by a ‘salesman’ between late July and October 2014.
The fraudulent money was credited to accounts managed by Thorncorft, who was also found to have retained £16,000 belonging to four victims, whilst he was also implicated in £265,000 transfer in February 2016 to an individual subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Conotoxia offers multi-currency cards in 22 European countries
Conotoxia has made its multi-currency cards available in 22 European countries, as interest in the products spikes among Polish residents.
The cards will be offered to consumers in the European Union – with the exception of Ireland, Croatia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary – as well as Norway.
“Being able to reach more users, residents of nearly the whole European Union is a crucial step in the international growth of Conotoxia Holding services,” said Piotr Kicinski, Vice-President of Cinkciarz.pl, a company belonging to Conotoxia Holding.
The firm has also announced plans for further development, with the aim of making its multi-currency cards available in other EU countries as well as the United Kingdom.
Paysafe makes solution available across 650,000 points of sale with Xbox
Paysafe has enabled cash transactions via its eCash payment solution, paysafecard, on the Microsoft Store for Xbox users.
The payment option will be available across a distribution network of more than 650,000 points of sale throughout 50 different countries, enabling consumers to use cash for goods and services online.
Additionally, the card has become available on Xbox consoles in 22 countries, accessing millions of customers.
“Integrating paysafecard on Microsoft Store on Xbox will provide an important alternative payment method for millions of customers. paysafecard has been popular within the gaming space for some time, providing a simple and safe online cash payment solution for gamers,” remarked Udo Müller, CEO of paysafecard.


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Wednesday, 1 Aug 2012
DocDoc.com, Asia's leading specialist appointment portal announced the first ever real-time doctor appointment app, DocDoc which enables users to look for doctors and make appointments more easily.
The new Security Response Center in Singapore will reinforce Symantec's regional coverage to better identify and analyze emerging Internet security threats, deliver protection, and provide commentary on new trends observed in cyber attacks.
More leaked court documents have surfaced during the very public Apple vs Samsung legal spat. This time, it's Apple's turn to shine as almost 40 iPhone and iPad prototypes were revealed during the trial.
While the alleged iPad Mini is still somewhat of a mystery, mockups of cases for the device have seemed to further cement its possible existence. According to 9to5Mac, case maker DeviceWear has posted up and later took down a website containing some nice renders of the iPad Mini sheathed in their cases.
Microsoft is rolling out a new email service, Outlook.com, to replace Hotmail. Users have the option to sign up for a new @outlook.com email address or retain their existing @hotmail or @live.com addresses.
Facebook is said to be rolling out an update shortly that will let users save posts for later reading. This new feature will be available on both mobile and desktop versions of Facebook.
In a daring (and possibly foolish) move, French e-retailer Early Flicker appears to have registered a trademark on the well-known logo used by supporters of internet group Anonymous as well as their slogan, "Anonymous. We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."
The latest addition to Sonnet's Echo family of Thunderbolt expansion chassis for PCIe cards was designed for users who require a simple way to connect an adapter card to their computers. Supporting most of Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe cards, the SE is lighter and more compact when compared to its siblings.
A 10-inch variant of the BlackBerry PlayBook appeared in a Vietnamese forum, which suggests that the tablet game may not be over yet for Research in Motion.
Sony released an official statement on its blog assuring Xperia users that the company is still investigating which devices will receive the Android 4.1 update after information given earlier by a spokesperson turned out to be false.


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The uncertainty of Brexit and a string of high street restaurant closures appear to have put the brakes on the rate of growth seen by the UK’s largest suppliers of kitchen equipment.
Analysis from FEJ has found that the top 10 largest suppliers and manufacturers in the UK catering equipment market collectively posted annual sales of £636.82m in 2018, which represents an increase of 2.2% on the figure achieved by the same businesses the previous year.
It is the second time in as many years that the turnover of the 10 largest suppliers has exceeded £600m, but the slowdown in growth hints at the challenges the industry has had to overcome.
The 2.2% growth compares with 10.1% in 2017 and 11.1% in 2016.
The numbers were compiled for FEJ’s annual ‘State of the Nation’ report, which documents the fortunes of the largest suppliers based on the latest accounts filed with Companies House.
Last year we estimated that the top 10 players were responsible for more than 60% of equipment sales in the UK and the current numbers for the period ending 31 December 2018 suggests the situation has not changed this time around.
The top 10 only comprises companies whose core business is to manufacture or supply branded heavy duty catering equipment to operators, primarily through a third party intermediary such as a dealer.
The full report will be published online this week.


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Microsoft continues to try and transition its business into cloud computing and going mobile, hoping additional product announcements and partnerships should help. The Azure ExpressRoute gives users the chance to operate private connections between their Azure network and on-premise environments, along with increased mobility to integrate with Apple iOS and Google Android.
"Mobility and cloud are the future of business, and the future is now," said Brad Anderson, Microsoft Cloud & Enterprise Division Corporate VP. "Our differentiated cloud innovations, comprehensive mobile productivity solutions and developer tools help all of our customers realize the true potential of the cloud era."
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was largely unable to usher Microsoft into the future, with new CEO Satya Nadella trying to follow a more aggressive roadmap. The software giant will continue to push resellers to drum up interest among end-users, though will remain an uphill battle in increasingly competitive markets.
Google has just dropped the price on its cloud storage service, Drive, to ridiculous levels. Google provides 15GB of free storage through Drive, but now the company is making it much cheaper to throw more content onto the cloud. Here's the new pricing:
- 15GB - Free
- 100GB - $1.99 a month
- 1TB - $9.99 a month
- 10TB or more - $99.99 a month
Competitors Apple and Dropbox have just had their cloud storage businesses look a little worse today, with Dropbox offering 100GB of cloud storage for $9.99 per month, so Google is really dominating Dropbox here. Previously Google charged $4.99 for the 100GB of cloud storage, so the drop to just $1.99 is a significant one.
Apple charges annually for its iCloud service, at $100 per year for 50GB which means you're paying $8.30 per month. $8.30 per month for 50GB is a much higher price to pay than what Google was offering before its price cuts at 100GB for $4.99 per month, but now at $1.99 per month for 100GB of storage through Drive, Google has really dived out ahead of its competitors.
ASRock has announced that it has partnered up with Kloudian to unveil its own cloud storage service, ASRock Cloud. ASRock Cloud includes a three-year subscription to Orbweb.ME Professional, which is priced at $149.97.
This is a personal cloud storage service which is normally priced at $49.99 per year, as well as one-month upgrade to Orbweb.ME Ultimate, which gives consumers access to a Remote Desktop function. James Wei, the CEO of Kloudian, said: "It is very exciting to work with ASRock, one of the world's largest motherboard manufacturers. With the continued proliferation of mobile devices and the growing demand to 'stay connected', we are proud to provide a powerful and convenient solution to enable users the freedom of their portable device plus the power of their ASRock personal computer."
ASRock Cloud comes in both iOS and Android apps, or you can your web browser on your PC, where you can then remotely power on your PC, stream music, photos and video clips remotely through Orbweb.ME's file Xplorer, at anytime, anywhere. In order to jump in on this, you have to own an ASRock motherboard, and then visit this link for more info.
MWC 2014 - Enterprise management company CA Technologies launched the Management Cloud for Mobility platform, a new cloud service. There is specific interest in the advancing enterprise mobility management (EMM) technology aimed at keeping devices secure in an increasingly mobile workplace.
CA Technology hopes "Smart Containerization" will give companies the chance to address security, device performance and compliance while not interfering in day-to-day use.
"The growth of mobile devices and apps in the enterprise is blurring the lines between personal and corporate data and leading to new challenges for enterprises," said Chris Hazelton, Research Director for Mobile & Wireless solutions at 451 Research, in a statement. "The EMM space is evolving as companies are looking for more complete offerings that support customers and productive mobile employees."
The EMM market is on full display at both MWC in Spain and the 2014 RSA Conference currently underway in San Francisco - as businesses understand keeping mobile solutions secure is a major priority.
Its been a few months since I first reported on Microsoft being forced to rename SkyDrive, and just a few weeks ago we learned that the service would be transitioning to the moniker "OneDrive." The initial announcement said that it would take several weeks for the new branding to be fully implemented, and today Microsoft's cloud storage service is now officially named OneDrive.
Visiting Skydrive.com redirects you to the OneDrive site as does OneDrive.com, but the official URL is OneDrive.live.com, something that may be confusing to some non-technical customers. Microsoft has only changed the service's name and all functionality appears to have remained the same. New users who sign up receive 7GB of free storage space and an additional 500MB for each additional user they invite to the service. Additionally, users who opt into auto backing up images from their smartphone receive an additional 3GB of free storage space.
"Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to get all of your favorite stuff in one place - one place that is accessible via all of the devices you use every day, at home and at work. Because let's face it, until now, cloud storage services have been pretty hard to use, and the vast majority of us still have our stuff spread out everywhere," said Microsoft's Chris Jones. "In fact, according to a recent poll, at least 77 percent of people who are familiar with the cloud still have content stored on a device that is not backed up elsewhere. We want to change that."
Microsoft has just made a big change to its cloud storage service, where it has changed its name from SkyDrive to OneDrive. This is something that has gone into effect today.
The software giant has also updated its Android app, which now features automatic camera backups that will see your precious moments automatically uploaded to your OneDrive account. Microsoft is also rolling out monthly storage plans, which start at $4.49 per month for 50GB, ranging up to $11.49 per month for 200GB.
Enterprise IT spending will mainly focus helping companies move forward with cloud computing and mobile-based services, while overall budgets are increasing. Mobile app development should see a strong boost in 2014, with decision makers hoping to keep users productive and customers happy.
"One of the learnings we had early last year when we were starting to play with cloud technologies was that there was always a risk of something like this happening," said Hugh Scott, Energy Plus CIO, when speaking of a recent Amazon Web Services outage. The downtime hit Netflix, Instagram, Pinterest, and countless other services that had to deal with upset customers.
Both Google and VMware recently announced a joint effort to accelerate development of corporate desktops, powered for the "Mobile Cloud Era." The service is designed to provide businesses and enterprises with access to a secure cloud on desktops, smartphones, and mobile devices.
New Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella plans to spend a large portion of his early days at Microsoft moving the company forward in the mobile and cloud markets.
Cloud computing is predicted to reach $121.1 billion by 2015, according to a report from MarketsandMarkets, though other analysts guess the market will have a difficult time in 2014. Embracing the cloud gives users the chance to utilize a scalable and cost-effective way to access and share information from any Web-connected device.
For companies trying to sell cloud services to the consumer or B2B markets, it's quickly coming down to service quality. Any company trying to drive innovation in the cloud market must pay attention to good product support, customer support, and clear lines of communication with users.
Companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon tend to get a lot of headlines for their respective cloud efforts, though software providers like Red Hat and CA are expected to have a difficult time growing this year.
Following criticism accusing Microsoft of giving the National Security Agency (NSA) easy access to customer data, Microsoft is now allowing overseas customers to keep their information stored outside of the United States.
"People should have the ability to know whether their data are being subjected to the laws and access of governments in some other country, and should have the ability to make an informed choice of where their data resides," said Brad Smith, Microsoft General Counsel, in a statement to reporters.
If this happens, it will mark one of the more drastic moves by companies trying to limit concern over the access NSA has to documents, files, and personal information. Other companies prefer to keep information stored in the U.S., even with NSA snooping concerns, and will follow Microsoft's overseas effort carefully.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has continually denied that the NSA has a Microsoft-created backdoor to access information ranging from customer data to cloud access to browse files.
During the first half of last year, Microsoft found itself in a bit of hot water when the British Sky Broadcasting Group took Redmond to court over the SkyDrive name. Following the courts ruling, Microsoft agreed to change its cloud service's name to something else. Today, more than six months later, the new name has arrived.
Microsoft SkyDrive will now be known as Microsoft One Drive, and the company says that the re-branding will take place soon, and that no changes will be made to the service that affects your data. In a statement, Microsoft said: The Service "will continue to operate as you expect and all of your content will be available on OneDrive and OneDrive for Business respectively as the new name is rolled out across the portfolio."
"Changing the name of a product as loved as SkyDrive wasn't easy," admits Microsoft's Ryan Gavin. "We are excited about what is to come, and can't wait to share more." Gavin's statement leads us to believe that Microsoft is planning the launch of new features for OneDrive, but with the service already fully featured, I am not sure what else they could add.


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German inflation has likely peaked, says Ifo expert
The proportion of German companies that plan to increase prices declined for the third month in row in July, an indication that inflation has peaked, an Ifo institute survey found.
The proportion of German companies that plan to increase prices declined for the third month in a row in July, an indication that inflation has peaked, an Ifo institute survey found. "Prices are still likely to continue to rise, but the pace will slow," said Ifo head of forecasts Tim Wollmershaeuser on Thursday, adding there was usually a few months' lag between company price expectations being reflected in consumer prices.
"This means that inflation has probably reached its peak and will gradually decline in the course of the second half of the year," he added. Ifo's indicator for the proportion of companies planning to increase prices in the next three months slipped to 47.4 in July, from 52.9 last month and 57.8 in May.
The German inflation rate cooled slightly in June to 8.2% on the year. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the July figure to come in at 8.1%.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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A recent report from Canada’s broadcasting and telecom watchdog shows Canadians are using wireless mobile services more than ever.
This is made possible as 99.7 percent of Canada has access to mobile coverage, whether that be HSPA+, LTE, LTE-A, or 5G, by the end of 2020.
Data from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) recent Communications Market Reports on mobile wireless trends shows mobile data consumption was highest in the last quarter of 2021. The average data subscriber used 5.3GB of data every month, increasing from the 3.8GB recorded in Q4 2020.
The report says the cost of mobile service plans is also decreasing as customers switch to packages with larger data offerings.
The data shows the national cost of 50GB plans decreased by nearly 30 percent between 2020 and 2021, and the cost of 10GB plans decreased by almost 20 percent for the same time period.
5GB plans decreased more than 50 percent between 2016 and 2021. Similar figures are also reported for 2GB plans.
Subscriptions to mobile plans remained strong, the report outlines, and was not impacted by COVID. “This trend is expected to continue as Canadians rely on their mobile devices more and more in the coming years.”
The CRTC says the target to provide mobile availability to all of Canada’s population, and various highways and roads are on track to be completed by 2026.
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, which represents companies providing wireless services in Canada, praises organizations for investing in Canada’s wireless spectrum.
“Even as prices decline and usage soars, Canada’s telecom network operators continue to invest billions each year in expanding Canada’s digital infrastructure to underserved communities and ensuring Canada maintains its global leadership in quality of service by deploying next-generation technologies such as 5G,” Robert Ghiz, CWTA’s CEO, said.
However, neither the CRTC’s report nor the CWTA’s response mentions that Canadians pay some of the highest cell phone bills in the world.
Analyst firm Rewheel Research’s 2021 report showed Canadians pay some of the highest costs for a 20GB plan, which costs seven times more than for consumers in France.
Image credit: Shutterstock


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It was crystal clear why Richard Burright of North Albany-based NSExtreme had chosen to participate in Monday’s Willamette Innovation Network Expo at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center.
He had a signboard in front of his booth that said he was looking for: a technical cofounder, additional seed funding and beta testers.
Burright makes software that extreme sports enthusiasts can load into their iPhones, which they mount on their helmets and use to shoot video of their rides.
The software helps the riders “improve their performance by analyzing things on a frame-by-frame basis,” Burright said.
Burright said he still is testing his software and hopes to have it on the market by early next year.
In addition to the three items noted above he also came to the WIN Expo “to get awareness out there about what we are doing and why it is so cool.”
Burright had some competition Monday. Brad Attig of Carts and Tools Technology Inc. was receiving lots of attention for his high-tech battery-operated roto-tillers.
He was showing off both a sleek all-metal model and a more retro version, with wooden handles.
Attig’s plant is at Northwest First Street and Van Buren Avenue, but his market — like it is for a lot of the startups on site Monday — is a virtual one.
Attig went live on the web in June and shipped his first model in August.
“The big ag companies don’t produce things for the small farmer anymore,” he said. “And there has been an influx of young farmers and female farmers. This is the ideal tool for them.”
Attig brought his gear to the Expo because “it lets us connect with people, get feedback and hone our marketing strategy. Every time we talk to another customer, we learn more about our product … Plus, we’re the only company at the show with power tools.”
Nearby, Dan Coyle of Natural Fiber Helmets in south Corvallis was showing off his striking custom-made wood and cork bicycle helmets.
Coyle said he has sold more than 100 of the high-end (approximately $400) helmets, with customers on five continents, but he also said it’s important to be visible in Corvallis, which is why he bought a seat for the expo.
“I have to be strong in my hometown,” he said. “If I’m not strong in Corvallis, how can I be strong elsewhere? It’s good to be here. I can shake hands and do some networking.”
Or accept compliments from a satisfied customer.
Dan Orzech of Power Up Development noted that his wife has one of Coyle’s helmets “and we get stopped all the time when we are biking.”
Bill Dean of Oil Ex Tech displayed another side of the expo: the influence of Oregon State University.
Exhibits from the university’s advantage accelerator were right inside the front door of the Alumni Center, and Dean, a former Hewlett-Packard employee, spent two years as an entrepreneur in residence at OSU working on his plan to use microwaves to extract oils from items such as mint and lavender.
Now he’s planning to go back to HP, by occupying space in the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute in Building 11 on the HP Campus.
“One of the biggest benefits of (the expo) is getting feedback and exposure to potential investors and partners. We’re also getting a lot of support from our local economic development office … Things are starting to jell.”


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Coles has announced the appointment of Sujeet Rana as general manager, customer experience and technology.
Rana joins Coles with 17 years’ digital experience gained in the tech, Retail and construction sectors. Most recently, he spent two and half years as chief digital officer at Built Pty Ltd, with overall accountability of the digital technology strategy and implementation. Prior to this, Rana was GM, customer technology at Woolies X over several years.
Rana will commence on 29 June and will be accountable for the customer digital experience across Coles, developing customer digital experience strategy, and designing customer facing digital assets including the development of Coles Online. The role will report to CMO Lisa Ronson and will partner closely with the Ecommerce and technology teams to accelerate the Coles Online agenda.
Ronson said Sujeet’s appointment will help drive Coles’ strategy of innovating for the future, and helping customers lead healthier, happier lives.
“I am very excited for Sujeet to join Coles. His extensive digital and customer experience knowledge and skills will be a fantastic addition to our Marketing leadership team and will greatly help Coles inspire customers and help them live healthier and happier lives,” Ronson said.
Rana said he was looking forward to joining Coles at a time when the business is focussing on innovating for the future.
He added: “I am passionate about delivering an exceptional customer experience and am really excited to work with Lisa and the broader Coles team to deliver our strategy and inspire our customers.”
Rana holds an MBA from AGSM and Duke University and a Bachelor of Computer Science from University of Sydney. In 2015, Sujeet was named one of the AFR’s Boss Young Executives.
Freedom Foods and 72andSunny Sydney have launched the first advertising campaign for Australia’s Own range of plant-based beverages. The campaign introduces a new visual world and identity for the brand and captures the healthy, positive feeling you get when spending time in nature and when consuming Australia’s Own certified-organic, plant-based beverages. As well as featuring […]
Nine creatives from APAC are among the 94 finalists from 27 countries in The One Club for Creativity’s prestigious Young Guns 19 competition, celebrating international creative professionals age 30 or younger. The finalists from APAC are: Hiu Ching Kung, graphic designer, Hong Kong Lam Ieong Kun, graphic designer, illustrator, indego design, Macau Raxenne Maniquiz, graphic designer, illustrator, Santa Maria (Philippines) Kiyotaka […]
OOH transit company Adflow has announced the success of the first phase of its regional expansion program. Adflow’s regional footprint has increased by 60 per cent to now include 65 regional locations. With 9.1 million people living regionally in Australia (growth of 1.1 per cent experienced in the 19/20 Financial year) and most regional centres […]
Freshworks, a leading software company, has started trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, marking an important milestone for the company. The company priced its IPO at US$36 per share (AU$49.76), raising about US$1 billion (AU$1.4B), resulting in a total market capitalisation of AU$13.7 billion (US$10B). Freshworks, which was founded in India, has strong roots […]
Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is the biggest player in the holiday shopping game and Google’s most recent research suggests consumer interest for the peak sales season starts much earlier than retailers may realise. The pandemic has fundamentally changed buyer behaviour over peak sales season, with Google suggesting that global consumer interest in Black Friday […]


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As MWC started companies around the world start showing the majority by introducing thier products. There are many categories of devices launching every hour here from smartphones, tablets, foldable, mixed reality headsets and much more.
Today HMD Global, the company which buys Nokia has launch 5 different range of smartphone from budget device to flagship. Nokia is trying to set the bar of photography in smartphone industry to above any one, as they have launched a smartphone which have 5 camera at the rear side as 2019 is the year of 3 camera setup Nokia has done a wonderful task. While other budget model of smartphone which include Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2, Nokia 1 and Nokia 210.
Nokia 4.2 is the new segment introduce in the Nokia lineup, as this device lies between pricier Nokia 5 line and the cheaper Nokia 3. The smartphone is well made and feel premium, the device features 5.71-inch notch display and a fingerprint sensor while the price of the device is under $200.
Powering this device has Snapdragon 439 processor as it has very good capacity to manage multi-tasking and run apps and games flawlessly. Device sports 3,000 mAh battery and option for 2GB RAM with 16GB storage or 3GB RAM with 32GB of storage
The Nokia 4.2 will cost either $169 or $199 depending on the storage configuration, although Nokia isn’t sure yet which configurations will come to the US when the phone launches in April.
Nokia 3.2 is updated version of last year 3.1. It feature 6.26-inch notched display, and a gigantic 4,000 mAh battey that last upto two days under normal usage
The device feature smart Snapdragon 439 processor and 2GB RAM 16GB storage and 3GB RAM 32GB storage. As compared with Nokia 4.2 it lacks glass design instead it has plastic back which feels cheaper but it help to reduce the cost of the device for under $169 and $139 depending upon models. The Nokia 3.2 will launch in May.
Nokia 1 Plus
Nokia 1 Plus is a updated version of Nokia 1 which announced last year. Device is priced at $99, it creates a new segment for entry level smartphone for folks who are looking for cheaper smartphone option.
Price of the device won’t trims its functionality It features a 5.45-inch 18:9 display, removable back cover with replaceable battery, and is thinner than last year’s model. Crucially, it’ll also run Android 9 Pie Go, instead of the larger Android 9 Pie, and will be available in mid-March.
As year by year passes by Nokia
From decades Nokia is showing that their phones are feature which ahead of time like advance camera system in Nokia Lumia 1020 which feature 41MP camera. Nokia now fundamentally changes camera perception again as they have introduces 5 rear camera lens smartphone called Nokia 9.
Nokia 9 sets a
Camera on the device rear side, each one has a 12 megapixel sensor and an f/1.8 lens. But only two of those five cameras shoot in color — the other three are monochrome. When you capture the image the image captures by all the camera and process which result in super detailed image.
HMD Mobile has announced that the Nokia 9 PureView will be available starting in March. Price will depend on the
So these are the product launches by HMD Global in MWC 2019 we are looking ahead of more product launch until then stay connected.


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Crain News Service
A new global alliance between Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and Japan's Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. will make Goodyear the world's biggest tire producer - a market position it lost in the late 1980s.
The agreement calls for the formation of one joint-operating venture in North America, one in Europe and two in Japan; a stock swap and cash payment to Sumitomo of nearly $1 billion; U.S.-based support ventures for global purchasing; and the sharing of technology.
The new joint ventures are expected to bring Goodyear increased annual sales of $2.5 billion, the company said. That revenue would push Goodyear, currently third among world tire makers with total 1998 sales of $12.6 billion, past competitors Bridgestone Corp. and Michelin.
Goodyear estimated that its world market share will rise from 17.5 percent currently to 22 percent as a result of the deal.
Sumitomo is the second-largest tire manufacturer in Japan after Bridgestone, and owner of the Dunlop tire brand in North America, Europe and Japan. The company said in a press release that its consolidated sales probably will decline as a result of the alliance, but its profitability will increase.
Goodyear CEO Samir Gibara acknowledged the increase in Goodyear's market position but cautioned that other aspects of the deal are more important. 'The goal is not to grow our market share,' he said. 'It is to make our two companies more efficient, more effective.'
Gibara said that cost improvement and rationalization made possible by the joint ventures could increase the two companies' operating profits by $300 million to $360 million during the next three years.
But size still counts, said Richard Henderson, an industry analyst with Pershing, a division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Inc. 'In the global markets, size leads to efficiencies, and through Sumitomo, Goodyear seems to have the major world markets covered.'
Goodyear will own 75 percent of both the North American and European ventures. The European venture will be the largest, consisting of 14 operations, eight of them presently owned by Sumitomo.
In Japan, where Goodyear has a less than 1 percent share of the original-equipment tire market, and only a 2.5 percent share of the replacement market, Sumitomo will own 75 percent of two joint ventures. One will supply both Dunlop and Goodyear brands to Japanese automakers, and the other will provide Goodyear-brand tires to the replacement market.


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It took just three days on the job for Uber’s new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi to get a feel of the bad old days.
The FBI, according to a report on Friday, is investigating the ride-hail company for using a program — code-named “Hell” — that tracked drivers working for rival Lyft.
The program, no longer in operation, collected price information of Lyft as the two fast-growing companies engaged in a turf war in many cities, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the FBI probe.
Uber, through a spokesperson, said the San Francisco company is “cooperating with the investigation” being led by the Manhattan US Attorney’s office.
The Information Web site laid bare details of “Hell” on April 12.
The probe adds to many issues confronting Khosrowshahi, who on Tuesday replaced ousted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
Aside from having a board deeply divided over Kalanick and a corporate culture slammed for being hostile to women, Uber is embroiled in a lawsuit over trade secrets and is under investigation for possible breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
The top-secret “Hell” program that’s now of interest to the FBI, allegedly created fake accounts that fooled Lyft’s computer systems into thinking riders were waiting in certain locations.
“Hell,” reportedly in operation between 2014 and 2016, could be manipulated into putting Lyft’s entire fleet in any one city on display.
It also allowed Uber to determine which of its drivers did double duty with Lyft.
“Uber was looking for overlap between the location data so that it could target drivers working for both platforms in order to improve the Uber platform and harm the Lyft platform,” according to the class-action suit filed by a Lyft driver in April.
Uber accomplished its goals, the suit claims, “by incentivizing drivers working on both platforms to work primarily for Uber, thereby reducing the supply of Lyft drivers.”
In its motion to dismiss, Uber argued that any information it obtained was “readily accessible to the general public.” It also challenged the complaint on grounds it offered no basis for relief, having “not alleged injury in fact or any loss of money or property.”
The judge granted Uber a dismissal on Aug. 31 but allowed for an amended complaint to be filed by Sept. 14.
Prosecutors declined to comment.