text:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health regulators will require generic versions of the best-selling painkiller OxyContin to include recent formulation changes designed to make the pill harder to abuse.
SUNNYVALE (AP) - Yahoo's Internet advertising revenue crumbled further during the first three months of the year and overshadowed a surge in the company's earnings.
MENLO PARK (AP) - Facebook has updated its iPhone and iPad applications to let people keep using its chat feature even when they are doing other things, such as reading friends' updates.
SANTA CLARA (AP) - Intel Corp., the world's largest maker of chips for PCs, is remaining steadfast amid a drastic slowdown in computer sales.
DALLAS (AP) - A key computer system used to run many daily operations at American Airlines failed Tuesday, forcing the nation's third-largest carrier to ground all flights across the United States for several hours and stranding thousands of frustrated passengers at airports and on planes.
NEW YORK (AP) - As J.C. Penney Co. burns through its cash after a disastrous turnaround plan and taps almost half of its credit line, the flailing department store chain doesn't only have to calm its investors. It has to restore confidence among its several hundred suppliers whose constant flow of merchandise must continue if the retailer is to survive.
NEW YORK (AP) - Dish Network Corp. is trying to snag U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel away from a Japanese suitor, the latest sign that satellite dishes are losing their relevance in the age of cellphones that play everything from YouTube videos to live TV.
RICHMOND (AP) - Federal investigators on Monday called on California to strengthen oversight of refineries after a probe into the cause of an intense fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery found numerous company and regulatory lapses that, if reversed, could have averted the accident.
DETROIT (AP) - General Motors and Ford are putting aside their longstanding rivalry to work together to develop a new generation of fuel-efficient automatic transmissions.
Q: I am 68 years old and getting Social Security. I recently took a job and was shocked to learn they are taking Social Security taxes out of my paycheck. I thought once you are getting Social Security, you no longer have to pay taxes into the system. Am I right?
NEW YORK (AP) - A Florida billionaire awarded $12 million Friday by a Manhattan jury in his dispute over phony vintage wine vowed to do more to expose wine frauds. The energy maven and yachtsman also proclaimed it his happiest day since winning the America's Cup in 1992.
SAN PABLO (AP) - Several people face criminal charges in connection with a financial aid scam at a community college in Northern California, prosecutors said.
NEW YORK (AP) - Verizon Wireless, the country's largest cellphone carrier, on Friday said that it is extending the time it takes to earn a subsidized phone upgrade from 20 months on contract to 24 months.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Looking for a career change, Ken Shimizu decided he wanted to be a software developer, but he didn't want to go back to college to study computer science.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's plan to raise Medicare premiums for upper-income seniors would create five new income brackets to squeeze more revenue for the government from the top tiers of retirees, the administration revealed Friday.
FREMONT (AP) - Electric car maker Tesla Motors' fourth-quarter loss widened to $107.6 million because of the impact of the strong dollar and a delay in shipments of its new all-wheel-drive Model S sedan.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - FireEye Inc., the high-profile computer security company called in to investigate massive hacks at Sony Pictures and Anthem, reported fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday that show its business is growing but profit so far remains elusive.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - ST. LOUIS (AP) - Panera Bread Co. (PNRA) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $48.5 million.
NEW YORK (AP) - Competition for online takeout orders is heating up with Yelp's purchase of Eat24.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Watch what you say in your living room. Samsung's smart TV could be listening. And sharing.
PALO ALTO (AP) - Smartphones and tablets have been pushing the personal computer aside, thanks in part to popular apps made by mobile-first entrepreneurs like Flipboard CEO Mike McCue.
CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple has set a record on Wall Street: It's the first U.S. company to be worth more than $700 billion based on the value of its stock at the close of trading Tuesday.
RIVERSIDE (AP) - One of the nation's largest solar projects was dedicated Monday in the Riverside County desert, as California rushes to expand its use of green power to meet the state's renewable energy requirements.
NEW YORK (AP) - Everyone worries about stolen credit cards or hacked bank accounts, but just visiting the doctor may put you at greater risk for identity fraud.
NEW YORK (AP) - A diminished RadioShack will live on, but its future may lie with Sprint.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Yelp Inc. (YELP) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $32.7 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twitter shares flew nearly 10 percent higher aftermarket, as the messaging service shrank losses and nearly doubled quarterly revenue by drawing more users and expanding its advertising offerings.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (AP) - Symantec Corp. (SYMC) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $222 million.
NEW YORK (AP) - Evolving shopping habits have forced yet another retailer to think outside of the box.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - West Coast seaports could shut down in as soon as five days - hobbling U.S. trade with Asia - if dockworkers and their employers cannot reach a new contract, the head of a maritime association warned Wednesday in remarks intended to pressure an agreement after nine months of negotiations.


text:
In case Pope Francis’s arrival in the United States made you think for a brief moment that we live in an agreeable, harmonious society filled with people who only want each other to live happy and satisfying lives, here’s a reminder that you’re totally wrong.
GS&P recently created a bag of rainbow-colored chips for client Doritos in partnership with the gay advocacy group It Gets Better, and certain parties just COULD NOT DEAL because they have no more productive way to spend their limited time on this planet. It’s rare for Adweek to attract real trolls, but this post somehow did–and it didn’t even include the words “Kim Davis.”
As the fat, sweaty fingers writing right-wing gossip blog Breitbart put it, “Doritos Aligns with Anti-Christian Bully Dan Savage.” From that post:
“The rainbow color of the Dorito chips represent the LGBT rainbow flag, a symbol now widely seen as one of anti-Christian hate and bigotry.”
What a smart take!
But the anger didn’t end there, of course.
Yesterday AdFreak noted that Mike Melgaard, the dude who won headlines for “trolling” the haters by posing as a Target rep, has been doing the same for Doritos. The “I will never eat Doritos again” comments are truly better than anything we’ve ever seen on our blog.
As our headline implies, the company’s own employees found a way to express their disapproval. A source tells us that some workers at a Frito-Lay plant in Texas recently refused to work on the line producing these super-gay chips because the fact that many Americans believe in a magical anti-gay sky man now precludes them from actually doing their fucking jobs.
Who said advertising doesn’t matter?

domain: news


text:
Today, experiential agency We’re Magnetic announced the promotion of managing director Jessica Reznick to president and the hiring of Rachel Saunders as global director of consumer research and insights. Both will be based in We’re Magnetic’s New York headquarters.
The agency described Reznick as “a champion of diversity,” being a founding member of Time’s Up Advertising, which just recently held its first meetings across 14 cities to get a better sense of the barriers women currently face in the advertising industry.
Reznick first joined We’re Magnetic in 2014 and is touted for playing “a key role” in developing partnerships with clients such as Sony, Kind Snacks, Facebook, Netflix and The Female Quotient/The Girls Lounge. Previously, she held stints at Creative Artists Agency, 72andSunny and Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
As president, Reznick will continue leading We’re Magnetic’s strategy and building on its partnerships and capabilities. She’ll also be charged with bringing in new talent—first up being Saunders, who was previously insights and strategy director at Cassandra, a research firm that focuses on millennials and Gen Z.
Saunders, who will lead strategic work for We’re Magnetic clients, worked alongside Reznick at Los Angeles-based Creative Artists Agency before she joined Cassandra, where she first served as editor in chief of Cassandra Daily. At Creative Artists Agency, Saunders and Reznick built custom brand strategies for actors, athletes and lifestyle talent. Saunders is also tasked with building out We’re Magnetic’s consumer research and insights practice.
“It’s an exciting time for us at We’re Magnetic as we head into our sixth year and continue to build upon our offering and influence on our clients’ brand building efforts,” Richard Rathe, We’re Magnetic founding partner and COO, said in a statement.
Rathe said he’s been “inspired” by Reznick’s “tremendous dedication and ingenuity” since starting at the agency. “One of her greatest strengths is identifying top-notch talent, and we’re thrilled that she’s brought on Rachel to lead our consumer insights and research efforts,” he added.
Based in New York with outposts in L.A. and London, the independent agency describes itself as an experiential marketing firm that crafts “real-world experiences” for leading brands. We’re Magnetic was founded in 2012 and boasts a wide array of offerings as it acts as both an experiential agency and production shop.


text:
Updated : 1 week, 2 days ago IST
Kathmandu [Nepal], Nov 27 (ANI): The government on Wednesday gifted two electric vehicles to Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) in Nepal to help elderly pilgrims and differently-abled visiting the holy temple.
Updated : 1 week, 5 days ago IST
Washington D.C. [USA], Nov 24 (ANI): While more and more experts are emphasising over usage of electric vehicles for a sustainable future, there are still several issues standing in the way of its widespread adoption with researchers working on resolving them.
Updated : 2 weeks, 3 days ago IST
New Delhi [India], Nov 19 (ANI): Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that about 2.85 lakh buyers of electric/hybrid vehicles have been supported by a subsidy of Rs 360 crore under the FAME India Scheme.
Updated : 1 month ago IST
New Delhi [India], Nov 4 (ANI): In a much relief to commuters, the Delhi Government on Sunday announced that electric vehicles will be exempted from the restrictions of Odd-Even scheme.
Updated : 2 months, 1 week ago IST
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India] Sept 26(ANI/NewsVoir): The CoWrks Foundry announced the successful conclusion of its third cohort, comprising of eight startups.
Updated : 2 months, 2 weeks ago IST
California [USA], September 20 (ANI): As global warming intensifies, tech giants are taking bold steps to undo the environmental damage. One of the steps taken by e-commerce giant Amazon is adding electric vehicles to its delivery fleet.
Updated : 2 months, 3 weeks ago IST
New Delhi [India], Sep 10 (ANI): With the olefins cycle likely to decline further, domestic petrochemical producers are expected to face tough times going forward which in turn is bound to lead to subdued returns.
Updated : 3 months, 3 weeks ago IST
New Delhi [India], Aug 14 (ANI): Automobile manufacturers on Wednesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent assurance that both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle technologies can co-exist.
Updated : 4 months, 1 week ago IST
New Delhi [India], July 27 (ANI): The recent reduction of GST rate on electric vehicles will go a long way in making our cities pollution-free, said Power Minister RK Singh on Saturday.
New Delhi [India], July 27 (ANI): The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday recommended a reduction in GST rate on all electric vehicles from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.
Updated : 4 months, 2 weeks ago IST
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 24 (ANI): West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Wednesday termed as "impractical" and "draconian," the Niti Aayog's direction to the automobile industries to switch to Electric Vehicles by the year 2025.
Updated : 4 months, 3 weeks ago IST
Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday rooted for electric vehicles and biofuels as more cost-effective, pollution free and indigenous source of energy and said that it is beneficial for all.


text:
SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Public Library will hold its second annual Holiday Book Sale later this month.
You have free articles remaining.
The two-day shopping event, which is organized by the Friends of the Sioux City Public Library, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 and from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 24 in the Gleeson Room at the library, 529 Pierce St.
Shoppers can look forward to a selection of books that includes general fiction, crafts & holiday, children's and audiobooks. Recordings and hardcover books will be available for $3, paperbacks for $2 and children's picture books for $1.
Proceeds from the sale enhance library service and support initiatives, such as the summer reading program.


text:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday proposes a Rs,1,500 crore-scheme that will provide financial incentives to promote digital payments in the country. According to the minister, there has been a significant increase in digital payments made in the recent past and the scheme will boost the transactions going forward.
“To give a further boost to digital transactions, I earmark Rs 1,500 crore for a proposed scheme that will provide financial incentive to promote digital mode of payment,” Sitharaman said during the Budget presentation. The incentive may give a boost to the digital payments ecosystem in India which is dominated by the likes of Google Pay, Walmart-owned PhonePe, Paytm, amongst others.
According to a report by RBI growth in digital payments has been quite rapid with 43 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in the last ten years. The report highlighted that 498 crore transactions accounting for Rs 96 lakh crore were recorded in FY 2010-11. This has now grown to 1623 crore transactions having a value of Rs 3,435 lakh crore in FY20. RBI said that people have accepted digital payments and this growth has been exponential over the years.
President Ram Nath Kovind last week during the joint sitting of Parliament of the Budget session said that over Rs 4 lakh crore worth of digital transactions were facilitated by UPI in December 2020 and more than 200 banks are linked to the UPI system.
To encourage digital payments in the country, Sitharaman in her 2019-20 Budget Speech had said digital payment options such as BHIM, BHIM UPI, UPI-QR Code, Aadhar Pay among others can be used for promoting a cashless economy.
She had also said that companies having an annual turnover of more than Rs 50 crore can offer these payment options to their customers, and no Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) would be levied on them or their customers.


text:
On Saturday (September 25), one of the best guitar players in the world, Jack White, performed a surprise five-song set atop a London balcony belonging to British artist, Damien Hirst, to commemorate the new Third Man Records shop in the U.K. city.
White, sporting blue hair, shook the London streets with his songs, which you can watch below. He was joined by drummer Daru Jones and bassist Dominic Davis.
Guitar World Magazine reports that the five-song balcony set included songs from his various bands. The setlist included “Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground,” “We’re Going To Be Friends,” “Seven Nation Army,” “Steady As She Goes” and “Lazaretto.” White also performed a basement show that day, which included a handful of other tracks.
Earlier this summer, Third Man Records announced the news of their new store on Twitter, saying they were “excited” for the new location, the first outside the U.S.
“We’re excited to announce the opening of our first-ever #ThirdManRecords store outside the USA. Situated on Marshall Street in the heart of London’s historic Soho, the London store will complete a trio of Third Man physical spaces,” the Tweet read.
Watch videos from the surprise performance here.


text:
Our #io13 talk has been posted to YouTube. Check it out for details on Android support for Bluetooth Low Energy and AVRCP 1.3 — including a sneak peek of the APIs that will be released in the next version of Android — and some tips for Bluetooth development in general.
15 plus ones
Shared publicly•View activity
View 14 previous comments
- May 29, 2013
- There are plenty of Galaxy Nexus owners (including myself) that want BLE for their device. Google is taking a lesson from Apple and trying to force people to by new devices by creating artificial limitations on older hardware.
Also it would be nice if Google/Android would respond to this ticket: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=33371Jun 3, 2013
- I also imagine it likely costs to re-certify a device for BTLE support, not a lot of manufactures will cough up the dough to do this.Jun 13, 2013
- Maybe galaxy nexus will be brought up to 4.3 see http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-nexus-passes-bluetooth-android-4-3-224336/Jun 18, 2013
- I in fact read this, but am not going to offer official Google comments on my personal G+ account, sorry. :)Jul 25, 2013
- One of the Android DevRel accounts.
I'm in the process of moving across the country, so will be extra not-responsive at the moment.Jul 26, 2013


text:
Recently, we got a look at a brand new Gears of War 4 trailer during the season premiere of Fear the Walking Dead, and now Microsoft has released a new gameplay clip that shows off a brutal execution.
In the short ten second clip, we got a look at one of our new protagonists, Kait brutally crushing an enemy’s head and then launching the deceased body across the map. She then yells “Next!” after her work is finished.
You can check out the gameplay clip down below.
In related Gears of War 4 news, it is now known that the game will launch later this year on Oct. 11, and the official cover art for the game has also been revealed which you can check out here.
If you can’t wait that long for the game, you may be able to get your hands on the multiplayer beta access. All you have to do is play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on either Xbox One or Windows 10 within the month of April, then you’ll get first access to the beta, starting Apr. 18 on Xbox One. For the rest who didn’t get to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the beta will begin on Apr. 25, only a week later.
What do you think about Gears of War 4? Will you be picking it up? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.


text:
City Council approves two parking garage projects
SAN ANTONIO- It's not always easy for people to find parking at the Zoo.
Jesse Castillo said it normally takes a couple of circles around the parking lot to find a spot.
“You have to drive around a few times you know, ask are you leaving, are you staying but it usually works out pretty good,” Castillo said.
On Thursday, City Council approved two major parking garage projects.
One for Zoo and park goers.
“There's a lot of folks who want to come to the zoo that end up circling around Brackenridge park to find parking and they end up leaving,” said Brian Carter Vice President of Marketing for the San Antonio Zoo.
The other parking garage will be downtown for USAA.
City Council has approved waiving 75% of a $1.2 million fee to allow USAA to build a six-story, 192-space parking garage on Hagner Arc.
The extra parking will help USAA accommodate the two-thousand jobs it's bringing downtown under a $6 million incentive deal reached last year.
As for the Zoo, it'll cost just over $10 million and is funded by the bond.
“Next year, next summer we will see it completed and we'll have 600 brand new space for Brackenridge park,” Carter said.


text:
Editors carefully fact-check all Drugwatch content for accuracy and quality.
Drugwatch has a stringent fact-checking process. It starts with our strict sourcing guidelines.
We only gather information from credible sources. This includes peer-reviewed medical journals, reputable media outlets, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts.
Welcome to a special two-part podcast featuring Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumers Union’s Safe Patient Project, the policy arm of Consumer Reports, a publication trusted for its integrity and dedication to the best interests of the American consumer.
On this episode, McGiffert phoned in from Safe Patient’s offices in Austin, Texas to talk about their mission and a new revolutionary campaign to get manufacturers of hip and knee implants to warranty their products.
After all, if cars and other products are warrantied, why shouldn’t companies provide warranties for medical devices implanted in humans?
Some of the most troublesome devices are metal-on-metal hip implants. These devices have the highest premature failure rates, and more than 750,000 Americans received these implants over the last decade.
Hip implant manufacturers now face a deluge of lawsuits filed by people who suffered complications from failed devices. Injuries range from infections and dislocations to bone and tissue damage that requires multiple revision surgeries to correct.
Safe Patient proposes that a warranty will hold manufacturers accountable, make products safer and help patients handle the costs of replacing the device.
‘End Secrecy, Save Lives’
The Safe Patient Project has spent the last decade enacting key legislation that protects patients and makes information more accessible to the public, allowing them to make better decisions about their health.
Its mission: End secrecy, save lives.
McGiffert says Safe Patient advocates for patients and endeavors to prevent medical harm by educating the public.
The campaign sets itself apart by working hand-in-hand with people who suffered medical harm from dangerous medical devices, hospital negligence and other causes. Through its dedicated national network of activists, Safe Patient crusades to make health care safer for everyone.
They also work closely with the health ratings system of Consumer Reports, publishing information about infection rates in hospitals, how patients fare after treatment in hospitals and error rates of surgeons and other physicians.
In September, the advocates at Safe Patient rolled out their latest campaign focused on warranties for hip and knee implants to improve the safety of these devices and educate the public.
“Patients have a right to know how long medical device manufacturers are willing to stand by their products,” said McGiffert. “While patients may be told by their surgeon how long a device can be expected to last, they rarely get a guarantee in writing since most hip and knee implants do not come with a warranty.”
Why Should Hip and Knee Implants Carry Warranties?
Doctors perform nearly a million hip and knee and hip replacement surgeries a year, and the surgery is becoming more common as the aging population grows.
The majority of hip and knee implants, especially newer models, have an improved design that makes them safer and more durable than older models. However, when these implants fail, they cause problems that affect a patient’s physical, emotional and financial health.
Currently, the patient and their insurance company have to deal with the cost when the implants fail.
“These implants are being used in younger and younger patients. If you are 40 years old when you get your first implant, and it only lasts 10 years, you may have to have four or five revisions. Each revision is going to get more and more difficult,” McGiffert said. “These are things that people need to consider when they are thinking about getting an implant.”
Even people who don’t have these implants suffer consequences.
American taxpayers contribute to Medicare and foot the bill for these faulty devices to be replaced in patients over age 65. According to Safe Patient, the average cost of hip replacement surgery is $19,000. Revision surgery, a more complex procedure, can cost thousands more.
Here is another little known fact: Most of these devices are not tested for safety before being implanted in patients.
The Food and Drug Administration’s 510(k) approval process only requires manufacturers to say their device is “substantially similar” to another device previously on the market before they are allowed to sell it.
“This is the way the market works,” McGiffert said. “So there are a lot of unknowns going in. A lot of the patients we’ve talked to don’t even know what specific device they have.”
Making matters worse, there is no standardized system for notifying patients and doctors during a recall because the devices are not tracked.
What Should a Warranty Include?
The Safe Patient website details points of an ideal warranty program:
- Cover the implant for at least 20 years.
- Cover the full replacement costs of a flawed device, including the device, surgeon, and hospital costs, as well as the related patient out-of-pocket costs.
- Give the consumer the option to replace the failed device with another manufacturer’s product if the implant has been recalled by the FDA or the company, is subject to FDA warnings, is under investigation by the FDA, or if the product is no longer being sold by the company.
- Establish a clear communications system for patients to use, including a toll-free number and a registration number to track the claims process. Physicians will charge the device company, not the patient.
- Not require the patient pay out-of-pocket expenses. For example, the patient should not have to pay the device maker or surgeon first, and get reimbursed later.
- Provide the patient with full information concerning a warranty claim denial and a process to allow the patient to appeal the decision.
- Not limit or eliminate a patient’s right to sue if they use the warranty.
- Not disqualify patients across the board if they have specific diseases or illnesses not related to the failure of a device.
- Not disqualify patients for normal activities, including falls.
- Not disqualify patients due to information that is not routinely available to them, such as information that is on the device packaging or placed into their medical records.
Join us on the next episode of Drugwatch Radio for Part 2 of this series.
Calling this number connects you with a Drugwatch representative. We will direct you to one of our trusted legal partners for a free case review.
Drugwatch's trusted legal partners support the organization's mission to keep people safe from dangerous drugs and medical devices. For more information, visit our partners page.


text:
BlockApps, the company behind blockchain-powered business network platform (STRATO), has announced a partnership with Australian blockchain development and consulting services firm, Labrys.
Labrys will join the Global BlockApps Partner Network – an ecosystem of technology and service providers combined with blockchain experts across industries and help enable rapid application development, integration, deployment, and enhancement for BlockApps STRATO customers and partners.
“We’ve seen first-hand that Australia is one of the most forward-thinking countries in terms of blockchain use and adoption. This partnership with Labrys strengthens the global footprint and capabilities of the BlockApps Partner Network and we are especially excited to have such an experienced and capable firm building with STRATO.”
– Kieren James-Lubin, President & CEO, BlockApps
Since launching STRATO on Microsoft Azure in 2015, BlockApps was also the first blockchain company to partner with all major cloud platforms (Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform) and is a founding member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance.
In September 2019, BlockApps successfully closed a Series A funding round led by Fitz Gate Ventures.


text:
OPEC Oil Output ticked higher to 26.7 million barrels per day (mbpd) in February, as Libyan production recovered. OPEC+ agreed to maintain their -2.2 mbpd output cuts through June. The Saudis additionally extended their voluntary cut of -1.0 mbpd through the same date. Russia pledged to hold their crude oil and fuel export cuts by a combined -0.5 mbpd, and damage from Ukrainian attacks on refineries made this a certainty. Global oil demand was expected to grow at a significantly weaker pace this year, while soaring output from the Americas will help boost supply despite output curbs from OPEC and its allies, the International Energy Agency said in their February report. Their forecast for oil-demand growth this year remained unchanged at +1.2 mbpd, down from +2.3 mbpd in 2023 due to slower economic growth. Total demand was expected to average 103 mbpd. “Spare capacity has reached a multi-year high, which will keep overall market sentiment under pressure over the coming months,” the senior analyst at Kpler wrote. The IEA estimates that OPEC’s total spare capacity is 5.1 mbpd. India’s gasoline consumption rose +8.9% year-on-year to 0.9 mbpd, while distillate demand also rose by +6.2% year-on-year to 1.9 mbpd in February. “Diesel demand is almost guaranteed to hit a new record this year (in June), surpassing the 2 mbpd mark for the first time in history”, per Kpler.
US Oil Production moved back higher to the record set last month to 13.3 mbpd as operating oil rigs increased from 499 as of February 2nd to 500 as of March 1st. US oil output from top shale-producing regions will rise in March to its highest in four months, the Energy Information Administration said, with production from the top basins rising to 9.7 mbpd, the highest since December. US February oil exports were expected to hit a record 4.8 mbpd. Per AAA, US average regular unleaded gasoline prices continued higher to $3.33 (+18¢) as of the end of the month. California prices increased 11¢ to $4.40 per gallon for regular unleaded. In electric vehicle news, days of inventory of EVs on dealers’ lots (an indicator of lower demand / overproduction) moved much higher in 2023 (see graph right) causing production cutbacks and losses (see graphic below showing declining revenue and same/ higher loss per vehicle at Ford’s EV division). Moreover, EV sales as a percent of all sales fell from over 9% to about 7.5% in January. Another data point is that the price of a used Tesla fell from the high of $67,900 in late 2022 to $32,880 in January per CarGurus. While cheaper Chinese EVs have not come into the US (yet), the consumer saturation point appears to be approaching rapidly.
China’s Crude Oil Imports rose +5.1% in the first two months of 2024 from a year earlier, as refiners ramped up purchases to meet fuel sales during the Lunar New Year holiday. Imports during January and February amounted to 10.7 mbpd. China’s unwrought copper imports rose +2.6% in the first two months of 2024, as domestic demand improved from the previous year when pandemic restrictions had just been lifted. Finally, China’s coal imports in the first two months of 2024 rose +23% from the corresponding period a year earlier, rising to the highest level for the period, totaling 74.5 million metric tons (mmt), up from 60.63 mmt in the first two months of 2023. Still consuming!
Brazil’s Association of Grain Traders Decreased their soybean production estimate to 153.8 mmt, down from the 156.1 mmt it forecast in February and the 159 mmt produced in 2023. These are still record levels. Brazil’s largest farm cooperative entered 2024 with grain stocks over 50% higher than in 2023 driven by a bumper crop last season and sluggish farmer selling. Plentiful rains in Argentina’s main growing regions provided much-needed relief to the country’s soy and corn crops, bringing some estimates up to 52 million metric tons of soy and a record 59 million tons of corn for the season. Cocoa output in top grower Ivory Coast, which has been beset by unfavorable weather, was expected to slump more than -20% this season to 1.75 million tons, the worst season in eight years. Last season’s output was 2.23 mmt.
Swiss exports to China – a proxy of Chinese demand for gold – nearly tripled in January as consumers sought a hedge against turmoil in the country’s stock market and property sector. Chinese buying may be partially behind bullion’s jump to an all-time high to over $2100 as their central bank bought 390,000 troy ounces or another +0.5% to their holdings last month.
In unusual news, Russia put the Estonian prime minister on its most-wanted list – no charges were cited though Russian law enforcement had been investigating Estonian removal of Soviet-era war monuments. Given that Russia/Soviet Union had to crush a rebellion in Estonia after WWII, one can understand how Estonians would view the USSR as not liberating them from Nazi Germany.
Years of rising prices have made everyday food and drink items a lucrative target for criminals. Late last year, a van delivering 10,000 Krispy Kreme donuts was stolen in southeast Australia. Around the same time, criminals snatched 200 hams thousands of miles away in Spain. Thefts of foods and beverages accounted for more than 20% of all incidents globally last year, according to a supply chain intelligence company, up from 17% a year earlier and 14% in 2021. Hold onto that apple fritter!
All the best in your investing!
David Burkart, CFA
Coloma Capital Futures®, LLC
Special contributor to aiSource


text:
The People's Bank of China is "almost ready" to launch its own digital currency, a senior official says.
Mu Changchun, deputy director of the central bank's payments department, made the comments at a forum over the weekend, according to press reports.
The impending launch comes after five years of work. The People's Bank set up a research team to investigate a digital currency back in 2014.
Details of the project are scant, but the currency will rely on a two-tier system meaning that both the central bank and commercial financial institutions can issue it. Blockchain technology will be used but not exclusively.
In addition to speeding up the transition away from cash, the digital currency is designed to give China's authorities more control over the financial system, says Bloomberg.


text:
What’s already been a bang-up year for California walnut growers shows signs of getting even better.
Based on tonnage received by handlers through mid-November and additional deliveries expected by the end of this calendar year, the 2016 California walnut harvest is likely to meet - or perhaps even exceed - the record 670,00 tons forecast by the National Agricultural Statistics Service in early September.
This is according to walnut industry consultant Pete Turner of Turner and Associates in Stockton, Calif., and chairman of the California Walnut Handler Coalition. Tuner said by Oct. 31 handlers had reported new crop receipts of 627,812 tons; or 83,000 tons more than the same time last year.
Part of this increase reflects a one week earlier start of this year’s harvest, compared to 2015.
Turner attributes another 20 percent to 30 percent or so to increased production during the good growing season. He credits the balance to additional walnut plantings in recent years which began to enter commercial production this year.
He expects handlers to receive an additional 45,000 tons of walnuts in November and December. If accurate, the 2016 California walnut crop could total 673,000 tons – almost 12 percent larger than last year’s record 603,000 ton record crop.
With the larger walnut supply going into the market, Turner sees a good chance that once handlers have marketed the 2016 crop that growers could end up with higher returns compared to last year’s crop price.
“Prices of the 2015 crop started out higher than the current level but then they dropped,” Turner said.
“The lower starting prices for this year’s crop have stimulated an increase in demand. Based on the market so far, I see the possibility that average prices for the 2016 crop market could exceed last year. If so, this could mean higher returns for growers even with the larger 2016 crop.”
Serr variety yields this year are about 30 percent lower than last year, Turner notes. While 2016 tonnage of the Tulare variety was about the same as last year, Howard and Hartley variety yields were up slightly this year.
However, Turner says most of this year’s increased production is based on much higher yields for Chandler variety walnuts which represent almost half of California’s total walnut production.
On nut color and quality, Turner says, “The good news is that almost all varieties are well above average for light-color kernels and the overall quality of the crop was excellent,” Turner says. “But this has created a shortage of darker-color Combo type material in some areas, especially the domestic market.”
He says walnut shipments are up across the board, compared to last year.
October Shipments 2016 2015
In-shell 146.5 million pounds 99.7 million pounds
Shelled 50.4 million pounds 40.1 million pounds
In-shell Equivalent 130,504 tons 96,000 tons
(since Sept. 1)
In-shell 181.0 million pounds 112.9 million pounds
Shelled 79.5 million pounds 62.7 million pounds
In-shell equivalent 180,829 tons 128,748 tons
The October market was active in most areas, says Turner. Shipments posted record gains, including a nearly 77 percent increase in in-shell shipments to Turkey and 32 percent higher shipments to Europe.
Total shipments of shelled product to all countries increased 27 percent. In fact, walnut shipments reached record levels every month this year.
“I believe this string of record shipping volumes will continue for the next several months and that the walnut market will remain firm well into the new year,” Turners says.
In mid-November, J/L Hartley (a standard pack of 70 percent Jumbo and 30 percent large) was actively trading at $1.35 per pound or higher with Chandler J/L firm at $1.35, he notes.


text:
HostGator and Create.com founder Brent Oxley is well known within the domain name industry for amassing a portfolio filled with ultra-premium, one-word .com domains including Broker.com, Message.com, and Hybrid.com. Oxley regularly adds to his portfolio, but every so often, he sells a domain.
Recently, the domain Limit.com was sold from Oxley’s portfolio for an undisclosed fee. Based on available data, it looks like Oxley acquired Limit.com in 2020 for $120,000 via the Sedo marketplace.
After a hold time of under two years, Oxley sold the domain in a deal brokered by domain brokerage company Lumis. According to Archive.org, the domain held a minimum offer value of $300,000, but the domain name did sell on a payment plan.
As of publishing, the identity of the Limit.com buyer is unknown.
This isn’t the only one-word .com domain that Oxley has sold in recent months. Storm.com was sold to an upcoming NFT marketplace for an undisclosed fee. Again, the buyer acquiring the name on a payment plan.


text:
The Department of Health (DoH) is consulting on plans to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and other nicotine containing devices to under 18s.
The proposed regulations would also make it an offence for an adult to buy an e-cig on behalf of a minor.
The consultation will run for six weeks until 28 January 2015.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the launch. Chief executive James Lowman said: “E-cigs are a growing product category in convenience stores, providing a viable alternative to smoking for thousands of people.
“The vast majority of our members already have a voluntary age restriction on these products in place, but this consultation will provide important clarity for all responsible retailers who sell these products and ensure that they have the support of legislation.”
To respond click here


text:
Pandemic slashes Steklarna Rogaška glassworks business results
Rogaška Slatina, 28 November - The Steklarna Rogaška glassworks, which halted production for seven weeks during the first wave of the epidemic last year, generated EUR 38.1 million in sales revenue last year, which is EUR 6.2 million less than the year before. Net profit, which totalled EUR 1.3 million in 2019, dropped to almost EUR 728,000 in 2020.
The rest of this news item is available to subscribers.
The news item consists of 852 characters (without spaces) or 166 words words.
Buy the news item. Price: 2 tokens; on account: 0 tokens.


text:
Around two thirds of small to medium sized businesses in the North West are concerned with the possibility of an interest rate rise in the next six months according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank.
The report canvasses the opinions of over 1,500 small and medium-sized businesses and shows that firms still see interest rate rises as a threat to their business, up slightly nationally at 67 per cent from 65 per cent in 2014.
Although a similar number of firms (68 per cent) also see inflation as a risk for their business, this has decreased from almost three-quarters (74 per cent) from the same time last year and reflects the recent fall in inflation and the lower cost of raw materials.
The overall findings from this year’s report found that UK business confidence fell by 10 points from a record high in July 2014 to 43 per cent, amid concerns about the global recovery.
Only 56 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses are concerned over movements in foreign currency, a similar level to January 2014, although the proportion of firms who said that they are very concerned increased by three points to 16 per cent.
Tim Hinton, Managing Director, Mid Markets and SME Banking, Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Interest rate uncertainty is a clear concern for businesses, with the possibility that rates may start to rise in small steps before the end of 2015 and in 2016.
“Businesses should consider how a rise in rates might affect their long-term plans, ensuring they are prepared for the potential impact on their cashflow or their customers and suppliers.”
Trevor Williams, chief economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking said: “The recent drop in oil prices has had a big impact on driving down price inflation and the Bank of England expects the annual increase in the consumer price index to fall further in the next few months, possibly turning negative in the spring.
“However the expected boost to consumer spending from falling oil prices means that an interest rate rise is still likely at some point over the next 12 months.
“Businesses need to be alert to this risk.”


text:
Apple has restored service to its widely used iTunes and app stores after a rare breakdown Wednesday.
The outage vexed the iPhone and iPad maker for more than five hours, disrupting some of the world's most widely used and profitable services and frustrating millions of music lovers and mobile device owners around the world.
Access came back in the late afternoon, Eastern time, according to status updates posted by Apple Inc. While they were locked out, exasperated Apple users vented in social media and online forums.
Apple apologized for the inconvenience, blaming the problem on an internal error that bogged down its computer servers.
About 800 million accounts...


text:
“You would think the PC was six feet under by reading tech coverage this week,” Brooke Crothers reports for CNET. “With every aspect of the iPhone 5 dissected ad nauseam by legions of tech journalists worldwide, coverage of the ultrabook at the concurrent Intel event didn’t stand a chance.”
Here are a few of the most prominent technologies that ultrabooks — the standard for cutting-edge PC design — either lack or can’t incorporate effectively:
• Ultra high-resolution displays: There is no Windows laptop out there with anything close to the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro’s 220 pixel-per-inch (PPI) density Retina display, let alone the iPhone’s 326 PPI screen
Crothers writes, “Here’s a closing word of advice to Microsoft, Intel, and its partners to keep the PC above ground. Laser-focus on high-resolution displays, because a 13-inch Retina-class display would be stunning on an ultrabook.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Why bother with ultrabooks? Smart consumers buy OS-unlimited MacBook Pros or MacBook Airs, not crappy OS-limited knockoffs from floundering outfits like Dell, HP, etc.


text:
Potatoes have been fighting an uphill battle over nutrition messaging, from the low-carb craze last decade to more recent legislative discussions around leaving the potato off of school menus or out of the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program.
To counteract those messages, the Denver-based U.S. Potato Board has been fighting with facts.
Potatoes are the largest, most affordable source of potassium in the American diet, according to combined research from several groups this fall.
Researchers from the University of Washington merged data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Database for Dietary Studies, the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion’s national food prices database, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Affordable Nutrition Index to reach the conclusion about potatoes’ nutritional value.
The data also showed that people who eat peeled, roasted and baked potatoes have diets that are higher in nutrition and lower in calories.
The USPB presented the research at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo on Sept. 27 in San Diego and continues to work the information into its consumer and media materials, said Meredith Myers, manager of public relations for the board.
The research piggybacks a 2010 study commissioned by the potato board that showed potatoes can be a part of a successful weight-loss plan. In the studies, three groups of dieters were studied. Each dieter ate five to seven servings of potatoes per week. One of the groups ate a high glycemic index diet, one a low glycemic index diet and the third served as a control group. All three groups lost weight without a discernible difference between the groups.
Potatoes have been hit hard in recent years for their glycemic load, but Myers said the criticism is unbiased because glycemic load is calculated only for raw white potatoes alone, and potatoes are rarely eaten raw or by themselves. Also, the glycemic load of a potato depends on a number of factors including variety, maturity and region, she said.
The potato board has also developed new nutrition handouts on topics including glycemic index; diabetes; the potato’s place in the 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines; heart health; and childhood obesity.
The handouts, along with the board’s recently updated potato nutrition handbook, are available from the board for anyone in the food or health industries at potatogoodness.com.
The U.S. Potato Board’s public relations efforts in the nutrition community have included outreach to the Society of Nutrition Educators and the American Dietetics Association, but expanded this year to include physicians. The group came face-to-face with more than 2,000 of the country’s family physicians at the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Scientific Assembly in September in Orlando, Fla.
“This is so important for the potato industry because there are so many misconceptions and myths out there,” Myers said. “Doctors specialize in their fields, but they’re not necessarily taking nutrition classes.”
Myers said the board focused on facts about potatoes’ effects on the glycemic index and about carbohydrates.
The board participated in an event called “What’s in Store” in conjunction with the American Dietetic Association’s late October conference. The event was a symposium for supermarket dieticians and included about 40 supermarket registered dieticians, some of whom are industry influences through blogs and networks.


text:
There’s a new chai in town here in Greenpoint and it comes from the owner of local favorite Crema coffee shop.Alkemy Brewlab opened its doors in October 2017 at 290 Nassau Ave, at the corner of Hausman Street. It may seem a little off the beaten path but it’s only four blocks from McGolrick Park and well worth a visit.
The Nassau location is a compact but fully functioning coffee shop complete with requisite treats from fellow Greenpointers at Ovenly (31 Greenpoint Ave). Alkemy focuses on doing two products really well: cold brew and chai. Most notable is the innovative and highly functional cold brew kit which allows you to create your own high-quality brew at home or on the go. This is a game changer for campers and other outdoorsy types but also for all of you traveling coffee snobs out there.
If you are a chai drinker, chances are you’ve already had Alkemy’s blend as it’s served at dozens of locations across the city. For a list of stockists, check their website where you can also purchase the chai concentrate and cold brew kit directly.
Last week Greenpointers caught up with owner Jin to find out about their process thus far, plans for the future and what it’s been like opening up a second shop in Greenpoint.Continue reading →
A few years ago, a group of friends began serving up coffee shop treats at the whimsical Woops! Bakeshop over on Driggs Avenue and North 7th Street. Little did they know, they were starting what is now the nation’s largest macaron chain. And finally, one of their franchises is coming to Greenpoint with the opening of Woops! Greenpoint on Sunday in the former Lunchbox space at 120 Norman Avenue. The new spot will be helmed by Michelle and Monserrate Irizarry, two longtime Brooklynites (Monserrate is a born and bred Williamsburger) who are fulfilling their lifelong dream of opening a cafe, and Greenpointers readers can get a special treat when they stop by Sunday or Monday.
The path towards this new location all began when Michelle decided to be a stay-at-home mom after having their first daughter. She developed the frequent habit of stopping into that Driggs Avenue store for an afternoon coffee and a treat, and it was there that she noticed a flyer regarding franchising with Woops!. Her and her husband reached out to the owners and ultimately spent a year working side-by-side with their team for training. Already living in and loving Greenpoint, they couldn’t help but want to open their location in the neighborhood. “Giving back to our community in any way is what we pride ourselves in, and we are very grateful and blessed to have this opportunity,” says Michelle. If you’ve ever visited the Driggs Ave shop, the offerings will be about the same, with everything made on-site. In addition to those delicate French macarons, they’ll be serving sandwiches, select pastries, and a regular coffee shop menu. And once their permit is passed in the coming weeks, they’ll be the first Woops! location to have beer and wine.
Woops! was originally scheduled to open this weekend, but they’ve hit a couple of delays. When they do open, stop by, mention “Greenpointers” and you will get a free macaron with any purchase. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Yesterday, residents at the north end of Greenpoint had their unbelievable patience greatly rewarded. Last August, the neighborhood lost one of its most beloved establishments, Champion Coffee, when the 1108 Manhattan Avenue shop closed its doors due to “unforeseen circumstances.” Luckily, the paperwork had already been signed on the space directly across the street in a former artists’ studio at 1107, and at their smaller café at 142 Nassau Avenue. The Nassau Avenue spot opened last November and now the new Manhattan Avenue flagship spot has opened its doors. And it is without a doubt one of the best additions to our coffee shop scene.Continue reading →
Excuse me, but winter is here and baby, it’s cold outside. November’s weather brought everything from flurries and snow and frigid gusts of winds that made me want to warm up inside our one of our local coffee shops. Inside, I heard sounds that captured an ominous winter spirit. Looks like we’ll be inside for a while with something hot between our hands.
From the Specials to The Budos Band, these songs were curated over the last month from the spaces of Upright, Charlotte Patisserie, Variety, Propeller , Spina.


text:
Did not see a topic about this but it looks like this year will be the last year Black River and Westerns Steam Locomotive before going into the FRA 1472 Inspection.
Saturday April 15, 2023 starting at 10AM will be a photo excursion with freight and props. Tickets seem to be sold out.
Sunday April 16, 2023 Steam Excursions will run at 1:45PM and 3:45PM. Looks like tickets are only available for the 3:45PM departure out of Flemington to Ringoes.


text:
As Americans Hit the Road for Memorial Day driving their own cars, voters surveyed in four states have serious safety and privacy concerns when it comes to driverless car technologies like those being researched by Tesla, Ford and other manufacturers. Consumer want Congress to apply the brakes to robot car technology until it is proven safe, according to a public opinion poll conducted for Consumer Watchdog released today.
The poll, conducted for the nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group by Public Policy Polling found overall that just 16% of voters in California, Florida, Michigan, and South Dakota say they would ride in a driverless car if it were available, compared to 74% who say they would not. 75% of voters say Congress should apply the brakes to driverless car technology until the technology is proven safe, compared to only 15% who think more driverless cars are needed on the roads.
The four states polled cover the political, demographic, and geographical spectrum, with varying concentrations of cars and auto industry jobs, Consumer Watchdog said. The states are also the home states of Senate leaders from both parties who are pivotal in the ongoing debate about driverless car legislation.
“Congress has been listening to the self-serving claims of the robot car manufactures. Instead, our representatives should be listening to the people, who understand this technology is not ready to deploy and must be carefully regulated to protect safety,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy and Technology Project Director. “The Senate needs to put on the brakes and not hit the accelerator pedal on the sadly inadequate AV START Act.”
Other key findings from the survey include:
- 79% of voters surveyed say they would be either very concerned or somewhat concerned for their safety as a passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist on the road if a driverless car service were operating in their area – including 56% who say they’d be “very concerned” – compared to just 6% who said they would not be concerned at all.
- Voters’ concerns go beyond just their physical safety – 79% of voters also say they’re very concerned or somewhat concerned about the security of data collected by driverless cars – including 56% who say they’re “very concerned”, and just 7% who say they’re not concerned at all.
- 75% of voters say they oppose victims of driverless car crashes being forced to bring their case in a private arbitration hearing, rather than a jury trial. Just 12% support forced arbitration with no right to a jury trial.
- 59% don’t believe driverless cars will be safe enough to consider using during their lifetime, while 30% do.
- 80% of those surveyed believe that government should regulate the driverless car technology rather than allow industry to self-regulate, which is the course the pending federal legislation takes.
- 58% say that the loss of jobs due to driverless car technology should slow its deployment.


text:
New Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop and Galaxy S4 Lollipop release details have arrived today. And while some of the news is good, there are also some grim Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 Lollipop release details that users need to be aware of.
In December, Samsung started rolling out its Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. Since then, the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has made substantial progress as its reached regions and devices all over the world. In the United States, the update is now available on three of the five major carriers including Verizon and T-Mobile.
Earlier this year, Samsung started rolling out four new Lollipop updates including upgrades for the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note Edge, and Galaxy S4. They too have made progress though they are still lagging behind the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update. As these updates have all pushed on, we’ve continued to see new details emerge for different regions, carriers and devices. Today is no different.
Today, several new Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 Lollipop release details have emerged. We have both good and bad news so we’ll start off with the good. Galaxy Club has discovered updated user manuals for the Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 that now include the Galaxy S4 Lollipop update. Samsung is clearly making progress with this unreleased Galaxy S4 Lollipop update though a specific release date remains unknown.
The Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 Lollipop update has shown up numerous times since the start of the Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 roll out. Last week, the highly anticipated Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 Lollipop update leaked and it’s now available to seasoned Android users on XDA-Developers. The update is the stock version of the software and it gives veteran Galaxy S4 users a chance to use the software ahead of Samsung’s official release.
Now, for the bad news. According to SamMobile, Samsung has halted two of its Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop roll outs. Samsung Norway has apparently stopped pushing out its Galaxy S5 Lollipop update and its Galaxy S4 Lollipop update due to issues. The bugs have impacted the performance of the two devices and it appears that Samsung’s gone back to the drawing board in an effort to fix these Lollipop problems.
Android 5.0 Lollipop problems have been a problem for both Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 users and complaints have ranged from poor performance to awful battery drain after making the move up from Android 4.4 KitKat. While there are temporary fixes out there, many Galaxy users are looking for bug fix updates from Samsung and its carrier partners.
While the Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop update has made its way to the United States, US Galaxy S4 users are still waiting for their upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop. US carriers haven’t announced any Galaxy S4 Lollipop release details and it’s not clear if any of them have plans to push an update out to the two year old former flagship.
Last month, T-Mobile unveiled a new Android software update page that tracks its upcoming updates. While it confirms Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for the Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Note Edge, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Lollipop update is nowhere to be found.
What this means is that T-Mobile and Samsung have not agreed to offer this update yet, a sign that its release could be months away in the United States. That shouldn’t be the case for owners of the GT-I9505 and owners of Samsung’s other international variants.
The company’s roll outs are extremely unpredictable and random which means that owners of these international variants will likely be sitting around in the dark until Samsung decides to push the software out. March has already been busy for Samsung and its various Android 5.0 Lollipop roll outs and we expect to see more movement soon.
MacBook Pro 16 Keyboard: 5 Things You Need to Know
Apple finally fixed the MacBook Pro keyboard with the 2019 MacBook Pro 16-inch model. This is what you need to...
4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 13.2.2 & 11 Reasons You Should
The iOS 13.2.2 update is a small maintenance release, but it could have a huge impact on your iPhone’s performance. While some...


text:
In the previous, Apple used Qualcomm’s modem chips in its flagship iPhone fashions to assist them hook up with wi-fi knowledge networks. But early final yr, Apple sued Qualcomm in federal court docket in San Diego, alleging that the chip firm’s apply of taking a minimize of the promoting worth of telephones as a patent license charge was unlawful.
Qualcomm denied the claims and has alleged that Apple owes it $7 billion in unpaid royalties.
A supply accustomed to the state of affairs stated this week that there are not any settlement talks between Apple and Qualcomm.
“There is absolutely no meaningful discussion taking place between us and Qualcomm, and there is no settlement in sight,” the individual stated. “We are gearing up for trial.”
Qualcomm didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The case is to go to trial early subsequent yr and has spawned associated authorized actions in different courts all over the world. In July, Qualcomm’s chief government, Steve Mollenkopf, instructed buyers on the corporate’s quarterly earnings name that the 2 corporations have been in talks to resolve the litigation.
“We continue to talk. We also have a number of … legal strategies that are in flight,” Mollenkopf stated on the decision. “And we hope that through the combination of either those paths, we could get to a resolution, and we’re confident that we will.” In addition to its dispute with Apple, Qualcomm is in a dispute with one other telephone maker, extensively believed by analysts to be China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, that’s withholding funds. But talks with Huawei seem like progressing.
In July, Qualcomm acquired what its patent licensing chief, Alex Rogers, known as a “good faith partial payment” of $500 million from the non-paying telephone maker, which Qualcomm executives stated was an indication of progress within the talks. Qualcomm is slated to obtain $200 million extra in such funds, the executives have stated.
Qualcomm can be attempting to settle an antitrust lawsuit introduced towards it by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission days earlier than Apple filed its lawsuit.
But that effort suffered a setback on Tuesday, when a federal choose in San Jose, California, issued a preliminary ruling saying that Qualcomm should license some patents concerned in making modem chips to rivals reminiscent of Intel Corp, a transfer that might jeopardize Qualcomm’s present licensing practices.


text:
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Bumpy Ride Ahead for Economy as Inflation Accelerates
Rising well above the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) medium-term inflation target of 4 per cent, retail inflation accelerated to a 15-month high in November amid the ongoing seasonal surge in vegetable prices and an unfavourable base effect from last year.
According to Central Statistics Office (CSO) data released, retail inflation accelerated to 4.88 per cent in November over the same month last year. CPI Inflation in October had stood at 3.58 per cent, while it was at 3.28 percent in September.
As per the data, the surge in inflation was led by a 22.5 per cent rise in the prices of vegetables. Higher vegetable prices have kept India’s inflation on the rise since July, after hitting an all-time low. Rising oil put further pressure on inflation. Brent crude prices increased 9.1 per cent month-on-month during November. According to analysts, this has affected fuel inflation and spilled over to the transport category.
Adding to the economic woes, the industrial output hit a three month low as it continued to witness a negative trend and fell 2.2 per cent on annual basis in October.
Data showed that subdued performance of mining and manufacturing sectors coupled with a contraction in output of consumer durable weighed on the industrial output. This shows that the turnaround in investment and demand is yet to resume in earnest. The same data last year registered a positive trend of 4.2 per cent. The alarming figures come in the aftermath of the slowed GDP figures earlier this year.
Headline inflation has already breached the central bank’s revised forecast that consumer prices will range between 4.3-4.7 per cent for the rest of the current fiscal. The RBI had held interest rates steady during its December monetary policy warning of upside risks to inflation and marginally increasing its estimates. The central bank noted that the moderation in core inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, seen in the first quarter, has now reversed. As per Economists, RBI is likely to hit the pause button on interest rates for the remainder of the current fiscal.
Further, the impact of the reduction in GST rates on a number of items may pass through into retail prices and inflation in the coming weeks. However, the continued impact of the HRA revision on housing inflation and elevated fuel prices suggest that the CPI inflation is likely to be in a range of 4.4-4.7 per cent in the remainder of FY2018.
Latin Manharlal Group
Posted by Latin Manharlal at 00:11


text:
SIXTEEN YEARS after her remarks about salmonella in eggs rocked the poultry industry, Edwina Currie gave the thumbs-up to British Lion eggs at the start of British Egg Week last month.
Then later in the same week, British egg producers called for a ban on Spanish imports
Andrew Parker, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council highlighted that support from Mrs Currie is the ultimate accolade for the industry, reflecting the huge progress over the past decade.
At the time of the crisis, he recalled that there was much denial and amazement that the poultry industry had a problem as large as the media made out.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs Currie remains adamant that when she was junior health minister in 1988, she couldn’t ignore a department of health report showing 500 cases/week of salmonella, many traced to a new host – eggs.
“Over the 16 years since, the British egg industry has spent over £20m putting its house in order and unlike many other industries, they‘ve done it without subsidies. It is a British farming success, one of very few seen in recent years.”
Most UK eggs are now produced under the stringent food safety standards of the British Lion scheme, which includes vaccination of hens against salmonella enteritidis.
Since the latest Food Standards Agency and Health Protection Agency reports published earlier this year found no salmonella infected eggs, Mrs Currie felt that she had to back the industry now eggs are safe.
So as part of British Egg Week, she took centre stage to encourage people to cook their own perfect omelette, and she has even put eggs back on the menu at the House of Commons.
Her contribution to the BEIC ‘My perfect Omelette‘ booklet is a Spanish omelette. “But while my recipe is of Spanish origin, only British Lion eggs should be used.”
Sponsoring the event, Owen Paterson MP, shadow Agriculture and Food minister, highlighted that imported eggs remains a problem.
“It‘s wrong that this success is being undermined by other eggs where their industry has not sorted out their salmonella problem.”
Later in British Egg Week, the Health Protection Agency and the Food Standards Agency announced that they are to step up action on salmonella in Spanish eggs.
The HPA has investigated more than 80 outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis in the past two years, with at least 2,000 confirmed cases, and the evidence shows that the use by the catering trade of Spanish eggs is a major source of this infection.
A national outbreak control team, which includes the FSA, was convened by the HPA to look at this problem, and recommended that various actions should be taken, in the UK and in Europe, to prevent further people from becoming ill.
This includes alerting caterers to the risks to health that are clearly associated with some non-UK eggs.
FSA head of microbiological safety Judith Hilton added that since January 2004, these eggs have had to be marked ‘ES‘ so both caterers and consumers know that they will need to take extra care if they use these eggs, or they may choose to use UK eggs, marked ‘UK‘, which we know have far fewer problems.
“We are also pressing the European Commission to take further action to tackle this problem.”
However, the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has condemned both the UK Government and the European Commission for not taking quicker action against Spanish eggs, which have caused several salmonella outbreaks in the UK over the past two years.
Mr Parker said: “It is ridiculous that two years after the problem with Spanish eggs first became apparent no action has been taken. It is now time for the UK Government to ban Spanish eggs.”
The BEIC reiterated advice for consumers and caterers to look for the British Lion mark for the safest eggs in the world.
The latest HPA results showed nearly 6% of Spanish eggs tested positive for salmonella while in the same investigation, salmonella was not recovered from any UK eggs produced under the Lion Code of Practice.


text:
The economic and social changes that have occurred in the past few years worldwide - especially due to the outbreak of the corona pandemic - have had a significant impact on countless industries. While for some the effect was a negative one, some sectors were able to profit from the situation. If we look at the latter, broadcast and other classic media are clearly among them. Here’s why:
Social media, king of news – that‘s history. In 2024, trust continues to be very low with only 12% of people stating that they completely trust news published via social media feeds (Ipsos, 2023). Fake news, paid content and online disputes are just a few of the reasons why the majority of users have lost trust in the platforms, especially when it comes to sensitive or political topics. Recent studies show that trust in social networks has steadily decreased over the past few years. Almost 70% of those surveyed now state that they do not trust them at all or tend not to trust them.
From time to time one might get the impression that digital media are gradually replacing the classic ones. Young people in particular are apparently more likely to use laptops instead of TV sets and digital subscriptions instead of printed paper. But the facts and figures show a different picture: people’s trust in TV, radio and press is the highest.
The Covid pandemic and other international events have clearly shown that people rely on high-quality media that they trust, especially in crisis situations. In the German-speaking countries alone, television usage suddenly rose by around 11% at the beginning of March 2020.
Likewise, the Russia/Ukraine war has reaffirmed the great value of high-quality news media. Following the escalation in the region, consumption of traditional news sources, especially television, has increased again. When a crisis hits, there is simply no room for misinformation and untrustworthy reporting.
In the US, the daily television time has increased by almost a third from 275 minutes to 354 minutes. Thus, the average American currently spends around 6 hours a day in front of the television.
Increased use of TV and radio in combination with the changing needs of consumers also has a major impact on the TV advertising landscape. During the first part of the Corona pandemic in America, beer was advertised over 200% more often than in the same period in 2019, online media 150% more often, and the increase in advertising measures for convenience foods was almost as high. At the same time, advertising for restaurants, vehicles and vehicle accessories as well as clothing have decreased significantly.
It is precisely the sectors that struggled with high losses at the beginning of the pandemic that have seen a recovery in the past year due to the easing of measures and the tendency to move back to “normality” - at least in Europe and North America. In the US, for example, global radio spend has increased from US$ 29,26 Billion in 2022 to US$ 29,63 Billion in 2023 (Statista) with an expectation of further growth this year.
In this respect, broadcast media are not only a reliable source of information for many people during the crisis, but also an important indicator for changes in the global economy - so it pays off twice to tune in.
If you, too, would like to profit from analyzing and monitoring TV content, check out the eMM solution here.
You might also be interested in:


text:
Like its fashions, Retro-Actives reviving after fire
MILFORD A month after a fire destroyed his collection of one-of-a-kind go-go dresses, classic ball gowns and vintage flared jeans, Joel Weber is preparing a new Retro-Active store down the block from the old one.
The 15-year-old shop will re-open around April 1 on River Street between the Corner Deli and Francos Pizza, said Weber, whose paint-covered hands revealed that he had already begun sprucing up the spot.
By Carrie Melago, Register Staff
"I think its important for this community to have businesses like me meaning off the wall," he said with a grin.
Retro-Active will be the second of three businesses destroyed by the Valentines Day fire to reopen.
The fire demolished a century-old Broad Street building next to Harrisons Hardware and left one family without a home.
The smell of smoke was still in the air and the charred building had not yet been bulldozed when Wanda Hornack, the dauntless owner of Wandas Sugar Shack who has been burnt out before, reopened her landmark candy shop just footsteps away in the Harborwalk area of downtown.
And Marti Reed, owner of the Canvas Patch, said she is trying to find the perfect spot for her 22-year-old gift store.
The Downtown Milford Business Association has collected hundreds of dollars in contributions that will be split between the family that lost its apartment and the three shop owners. The family, John and Rita Moore, has since moved to Missouri to be near relatives.
Also, the association will host a benefit reception March 27 at the Stonebridge Restaurant. Tickets will cost $25 and can be purchased at Just For You Gift Shoppe on River Street, Shoreline Mortgage on Harborwalk and Edward Jones Investments on Broad Street.


text:
Amazon will ban police use of its facial recognition software for one year, in an abrupt reversal that shows how quickly the dynamics of law enforcement technology are shifting.
Police use of Amazon’s Rekognition software has been a subject of criticism by civil rights groups for years but Amazon repeatedly defended the merits of the technology in law enforcement. The company changed its tune in a brief blog post published Wednesday.
“We’ve advocated that governments should put in place stronger regulations to govern the ethical use of facial recognition technology, and in recent days, Congress appears ready to take on this challenge,” Amazon said. “We hope this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules, and we stand ready to help if requested.”
The announcement comes two days after IBM said it would wind down its facial recognition products in response to the national racial justice movement.
This is a pretty narrow halt – only on police use, and not on any gathering of face data or providing additional access or deletion rights to it.
I mean, it's still a win. But doesn't address a lot of problems. https://t.co/mHGT1NbqiR
— Amie Stepanovich (@astepanovich) June 10, 2020
Studies by the ACLU and MIT, over the past few years, showed facial recognition software misidentifies women and people of color more frequently than white men, leading to concerns that the technology will disproportionately impact communities that are already over-surveilled. Amazon disputed the findings of those reports, but a federal study published in December added weight to the concerns of civil rights groups. It found Asian and African American people were up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified than white men, according to The Washington Post.
“It took two years for Amazon to get to this point, but we’re glad the company is finally recognizing the dangers face recognition poses to Black and Brown communities and civil rights more broadly,” said the ACLU of Northern California’s Nicole Ozer in a statement.
“We urge Microsoft and other companies to join IBM, Google, and Amazon in moving towards the right side of history,” she added.
Amazon said it would continue to allow organizations like Thorn, the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Marinus Analytics to use Rekognition “to help rescue human trafficking victims and reunite missing children with their families” in the announcement.


text:
What you need to know
- Rockstar Games is reportedly remastering three Grand Theft Auto titles.
- This ports are being planned as a compilation that includes Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas.
- Ports of other games, like Red Dead Redemption, are also reportedly being explored.
Rockstar Games is remastering three Grand Theft Auto games for Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Stadia, mobile and Nintendo Switch platforms, according to a report from Kotaku. The games in question are Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which originally launched in 2001, 2002 and 2004, respectively.
These games are reportedly being remastered using Epic Games' Unreal Engine, while development of these remasters is being led by Rockstar Dundee. The Scottish studio is newest addition to Rockstar Games and was known as Ruffian Games before being acquired. Ruffian Games was the lead developer of Crackdown 2 and also provided support work on titles like Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
The plans for these remastered games have also reportedly shifted due to the pandemic, with the possibility that the games might launch in November but the mobile and PC ports could be delayed to 2022. It also appears the three games will be bundled together as a digital-only package. Per the report, new ports of games like Red Dead Redemption are also on the table, though this could depend on the sales of the remastered Grand Theft Auto games. 2019 western adventure Red Dead Redemption 2 sold over 38 million copies as of earlier in 2021.
Rockstar Games' latest entry in the GTA series, Grand Theft Auto 5, recently crossed 150 million copies sold, with a new version of GTA 5 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PS5 scheduled to launch on November 11, 2021. Grand Theft Auto 6 is also reportedly in development, though it seems like that game won't arrive until possibly 2025.
Heists are waiting
Grand Theft Auto V is a massive game from Rockstar that allows players to live out their high-stakes criminal dreams. A huge campaign focuses on three very different men drawn together by circumstance, while GTA Online continues to grow with constant updates.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.


text:
The City of Los Angeles is currently underway on a $1.77 million streetscape improvement project on Los Angeles Street in Downtown’s Fashion District.
Once complete, the upgrades will bring 20,000 square-feet of sidewalk improvements, as well as pedestrian-friendly curb extensions, bus station lighting, high-visibility crosswalks, 26 new street trees and new ADA curb ramps. As a creative community feature and nod to the local area, the tree grates will be adorned with the Fashion District BID logo on them.
With funding from Metro’s 2007 Call for Projects, the upgrade is a key part of Councilmember Huizar’s DTLA Forward initiative. The plan and design was a collaboration among the Bureau of Street Services, the Board of Public Works, the Fashion District BID and Councilmember Huizar’s office with a project scope that encompasses Los Angeles Street, between 7th Street and Olympic Boulevard.
The project will also increase pedestrian access to regionally significant bus stops and businesses and residences in the Fashion District, creating a direct link with the previously constructed Fashion District Streetscape Phase I improvements along Olympic Boulevard and Santee Alley, approved in 2001 Call for Projects, which provides similar pedestrian improvements within the Fashion District’s core area.
Project Scope - Los Angeles Street between 7th Street and Olympic Blvd
● Repair over 20,000 square feet of sidewalk along Los Angeles Street between 7th Street and Olympic Blvd
● Construct 2 curb extensions at existing mid-block crosswalks on Los Angeles Street between 7th and 8th, and 8th and 9th respectively
● Construct new ADA curb ramps and upgrade crosswalks to continental markings
● Install/upgrade pedestrian lighting at 6 bus stops (18 lights total) along the corridor
● Plant 26 new street trees (36” box) with tree grates with the Fashion District BID logo


text:
Apple is once again ready to surprise the world. Its latest innovation, the Apple Vision Pro, promises to redefine the way we experience augmented and mixed reality. We update you with the latest rumors and a reminder of the features that the 1st generation of this device will incorporate.
With revolutionary features, superior display capabilities, and a commitment to user convenience, Apple’s Vision Pro is set to revolutionize the immersive technology market. And not only that, but apparently Apple has already started working on the 2nd generation of the device.
100Hz refresh rate
One of the things that has most surprised users who have already been able to try the Apple Vision Pro is its impressive display quality. The glasses or “the computer” has screens that support a refresh rate of 100Hz. This means that the images we can view will be softer and more realistic, making it ideal for games, viewing multimedia content in general, and even immersive educational experiences.
While the default refresh rate sits at 90Hz, the Vision pro can seamlessly switch to a 96Hz mode to support video content recorded at 24fps. This adaptability guarantees that we can enjoy the best possible experience, regardless of the content we are consuming. However, the real wonder lies in the 100Hz mode. This mode will be activated strategically to compensate for the annoying 50Hz flicker that is often associated with artificial lighting.
As we have been commenting, the Apple Vision Pro will not only stand out for its power but also for the quality of the images it will give us. Equipped with two custom micro-OLED displays, it offers a combined total of 23 million pixels. To put this into perspective, that’s more pixels than you’d find on a 4K TV, and it’s delivered to each eye individually. This impressive visual quality It promises a level of immersion that was previously unimaginable.
Looking to the future
The Apple Vision Pro represents just the beginning of Apple’s journey into immersive, or mixed reality, technology. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is already hard at work on models of second generation. Its focus is on reducing the size and weight of the device, as well as improving the user experience. Will the Apple Vision Pro be the new iPhone?
The Apple Vision Pro working group is considering a variety of options, including lower-end versions as well as more powerful, lighter versions of the device. The goal is to address feedback from users who reported that the 1st generation Vision Pro was a bit heavy on the head and that could detract from the user experience.
While the second-generation Vision Pro is still expected to take a few years to launch, its launch could come between 2025 and 2027, the first generation is scheduled to make its debut early next year, 2024. Therefore, apparently, Apple has a long-term commitment to this new device.


text:
Funding for India’s booming electric vehicle (EV) sector doubled last year, making it the third-largest EV market in the world, the Business Standard reported.
The investment boost takes India’s total EV funding to $1.66 billion, said the report, led by government subsidy initiatives such as the FAME II programme.
Read the full report: Business Standard
Vietnam EV-Maker VinFast to Delay US Car Deliveries
BYD Sees Profits Supercharged as EV Sales Surge in 2022
Honda to Set up New Division to Catch Up in the EV Race


text:
Samsung has been moving faster with software updates for its devices for Android 10, and the change of pace is refreshing to see compared to how slowly it rolled out previous new Android iterations.
The Galaxy A30 and A50s from last year have already been tasting that Android 10 sweetness, and today the Galaxy A70 is joining them. Samsung has started the rollout of Android 10 for this device in Ukraine. As usual, expect more and more countries to see it in the coming days and weeks.
The update arrives over-the-air as a 2.06GB download, and once you have installed it you'll be running Android 10 with Samsung's own One UI 2.0 on top, as well as the February 2020 security patch level. That's current at the moment, so props to Samsung for not issuing outdated security updates like other companies.
According to a roadmap shared by Samsung earlier, this release was supposed to go out to the A70 in April, so it's great to see the company beat that by more than a month. Of course it may be that the rollout will actually make its way to all countries by April, but this is a good start nevertheless.
What is ur android 10 baseband version now
i read your comment mr ivan as you mention too much game yoo much bright screen over charge and asking for too much detail as you say just take good care of your phone very simple
i havebeen using samsung all model autually they are all good phone problem is they over use too much game too much over charge too bright sceen which cos lcd problem like shadow burn mark and so on whatever phone you buy take good care of it so le...


text:
The rumors regarding Dead Space and a remake of sorts coming from the EA camp just keep on coming. They've gotten so loud that even several gaming industry insiders have backed up what is being said - that EA is indeed working on a Dead Space remake. That said, being a huge fan of Dead Space 1 and 2, and knowing how EA treated the Visceral Games team prior to all this, I'm not sure this is going to pan out. #deadspace #electronicarts #videogames #gaming podcast.
For all your gaming and geek culture news and reviews, be sure to head over to www.theouterhaven.net!


text:
In an increasingly health-conscious city like NYC, could tea be the next big thing? Coffee giant Starbucks is betting on just that with its first Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bar in New York City, which opened this morning on the Upper East Side. Exuding a Zen aesthetic with its charcoal tones and stacked rows of looseleaf teas, this LEED-seeking café promises to deliver a premium beverage experience that caters to both casual tea drinkers and tea enthusiasts alike. Inhabitat stopped by for a preview of the sustainable interior yesterday - read on for our photos.
The charcoal effect of the store’s wood was achieved right in NYC, and Liz Muller, Director of Starbucks’ global concept design even helped out in the process herself.
Starbucks, which acquired Teavana nearly one year ago, plans to open 1,000 such tea bars in the next five years. Research has shown that over the past five years, America’s taste for tea grew by 16 percent, a trend that Starbucks hopes to capitalize on by crafting a new experience to elevate tea in the same way that they’ve done for coffee.
“As the second most consumer-global beverage behind water, tea presents a $90 billion global market opportunity, and we are excited to celebrate the first retail example of how our two companies are coming together,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer. Clad in sustainable elements, this LEED-seeking tea bar also features reclaimed wood tables, LED lighting, cheesecloth walls dyed with tea and other green business practices.
One of our favorite parts of the design – a ceiling outfitted with clear tubes filled with loose teas.
In addition to its wide selection of hot brewed teas, iced teas and tea blends, the new Tea Bar will also offer a range of health-conscious food items specially designed to complement various tea flavors. Starbucks expects to open a Seattle branch just before Thanksgiving and will gradually expand its 300 or so existing Teavana stores with tea bars over the next five years.
For those who don’t quite have a taste for tea yet, the tea bar also boasts one of the world’s only tea carbonating machines. We tried a sample yesterday and found that the bubbliness really allows you to enjoy tea in a totally new way.
Photos ©Yuka Yoneda, except where noted


text:
Stock photo, video and audio provider, iStock by Getty Images, has partnered with file sharing service, Dropbox, to create an industry-leading workflow enhancement for customers.
The new partnership announced today will provide users with instant access to licensed assets across all their devices.
Grant Farhall, Senior Director of Product/E-commerce at iStock by Getty Images said “as our customers increasingly move from screen to screen, creating and consuming content at a faster pace than ever before, it’s never been more important to surface the content they need most on whatever device they’re using.”
By automatically syncing licensed assets directly to their Dropbox folder, users will no longer need to manually download items individually.
Speaking of the new integrated services, Alex Castellarnau, Head of Design at Dropbox said “with iStock’s premium content and our collaboration network, individuals and businesses can concentrate less on content management and more on creating amazing things together.”


text:
samsung observe 10
CNBC’s Todd Haselton takes a initially seem at Samsung’s most recent phones, the Galaxy Take note 10 and Observe 10 Furthermore. New capabilities contain S Pen gestures, prolonged battery lifetime, and the elimination of the common headphone jack.
Samsung introduced its new lineup of quality smartphones on Wednesday: the Galaxy Notice 10, Galaxy Observe 10+ and Galaxy Be aware 10+ 5G.
This is Samsung’s shot to get its most recent and finest phones on the market right before Apple launches its new iPhones in the fall. And you will find a large amount to like, as you might be inclined to commit at the very least $950.
The industry of persons keen to shell out about $1,000 for a cell phone is shrinking, as quite a few continue to maintain on to phones for more time than at any time. That means it’s essential for Samsung to get its new Observe phones out the doorway and enchantment to these customers just before Apple launches its new iPhones in September.
This is also the 1st time Samsung has launched much more than a single model of its admirer-most loved Galaxy Be aware cellphone, which will help it cater to as numerous of these potential buyers as attainable. There’s a product for persons who will not like “huge” telephones, there’s a major a person for energy consumers and there is a 5G variant for folks who want to long term-evidence for subsequent-era networks that are beginning to roll out now.
All 3 phones will be out there to order at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday, and they will be in merchants on Aug. 23. The 5G variant will be a Verizon Wi-fi unique to start.
» Subscribe to CNBC:
» Subscribe to CNBC Tv set:
» Subscribe to CNBC Typical:
About CNBC: From ‘Wall Street’ to ‘Main Street’ to award profitable original documentaries and Actuality Tv set series, CNBC has you lined. Working experience specific sneak peeks of your preferred displays, distinctive online video and extra.
Join with CNBC News On the internet
Get the latest news:
Comply with CNBC on LinkedIn:
Abide by CNBC Information on Facebook:
Observe CNBC Information on Twitter:
Observe CNBC Information on Instagram:
Samsung’s Galaxy Take note 10 Smartphone | First Look


text:
Forget pressing buttons – HTC’s latest smartphone will be controlled by gently squeezing its frame, spelling an end to physical home and volume rocker buttons, according to reports.
The Taiwanese company has sent out a save-the-date note for 16 May, complete with the strap line ‘Squeeze for the brilliant’, when it is widely expected to unveil its next flagship device.
The handset is expected to feature ‘Edge Sense’ technology, thanks to sensors embedded into its outer edges. Squeezing the upper edges, for example, could be used to power the unit on or off, or adjust the volume, while applying pressure further down the body could scroll through web pages or menus as you would using a finger on a regular touch screen.
Other functions could include launching Google Assistant or either camera, or even toggling through WiFi settings, according to Android Headlines. To prevent accidentally triggering a feature just by holding the phone, its sensors will be able to detect three different kinds of pressure sensitivity.
The new handset is expected to be called the HTC U, in line with the U Ultra and U Play devices launched earlier this year. It’s reported to feature a 5.5-inch QHD display, 12MP rear-facing and 16-MP front-facing camera. It’s also likely to come with 4GB / 6GB of RAM, 64GB / 128GB of storage and no circular headphone jack, like the U Ultra.
Voice control has been championed as the most innovative way of interacting with devices for a while now, so it’s interesting to see HTC taking an entirely new touch-input direction. The success of the new model could hinge entirely on how responsive the sensors are and their ease of use, in order to take the feature out of gimmick and into game changing territory.
Japanese firm Docomo created a prototype squeeze-controlled smartphone back in 2012, but the Grip UI interface was never introduced into mass-market handsets.
While the HTC U could sport some virtual reality capabilities, it is not expected to be a fully-fledged Vive device, as had been previously rumoured. Chia-Lin Chang, president of smartphones and connected devices, told i that mobile VR will come into its own with the arrival of 5G, and dodged any suggestion of a Vive phone.


text:
Cautious stance on blockchain utilization
In an interview with Bloomberg, Shuji Utsumi, the representative director and co-COO of SEGA, a major domestic game company, showed a cautious stance on the use of blockchain technology.
The reason is that the market of crypto assets (virtual currency) is sluggish and the blockchain industry has entered the winter era. He said he would like to see if blockchain technology really spreads and succeeds in the game industry.
Mr. Utsumi believes that games should be enjoyed, and he said that “play-to-earn games are not fun,” but Sega does not deny blockchain technology.
In September last year, double jump.tokyo, which develops blockchain games, received an IP (intellectual property) license for SEGA’s “Sangokushi Taisen” and developed a card game using the Oasys blockchain. announced. Last week, at the side event of “IVS Crypto 2023” at Nijo Castle, it was announced that the title of the new blockchain game was decided as “Battle of Three Kingdoms”.
Preview the “Battle of Three Kingdoms” screen!
This 1v1 instant card game captures the essence of “Sangokushi Taisen” where players must build the strongest deck within a time limit.
—Battle of Three Kingdoms (@b3k_games) July 7, 2023
connection: Announcement of Ubisoft’s adoption of Oasys, etc. BCG event held at World Heritage Site “Kyoto Nijo Castle”
Utsumi also acknowledges that blockchain technology has merit. Sega is open to blockchain technology in the long run, he said, as the technology matures. Utsumi said he plans to announce that he will provide IP to blockchain projects this year, and that he will continue to invest in blockchain-related projects.
On the other hand, he explained that he will refrain from providing licensing of the most popular and popular titles to other blockchain game projects at this time. He said he did not want to reduce the value of the content, and indicated that he would no longer develop his own blockchain games.
He also did not say whether blockchain technology will be used in an initiative called “SuperGame,” which is scheduled to offer games after 2026.
connection: Benefits of Playing Blockchain Games and the Future of Autonomous Decentralization | Abandoned Cats
Trends of major game companies
The cryptocurrency market was sluggish due to the Terra riot and the FTX bankruptcy, and the impact spread to the entire blockchain industry, including NFTs (non-fungible tokens). On the other hand, developers and companies who believe in the value of blockchain technology are still working on it. While Sega has taken a cautious stance, other major companies have shown strong interest in blockchain technology.
What are NFTs?
Abbreviation for “Non-Fungible Token”, a digital token that cannot be replaced and has a unique value. The technology is widely used in games, music, art works, and various certificates.
connection: “NFT as a national growth strategy” Interview with Liberal Democratic Party Digital Society Promotion Headquarters Masaaki Taira
For example, Square Enix Holdings (Square Enix), which is in the same industry as Sega, announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2023 in May this year, and listed the blockchain business as an “initiative to achieve further growth.”
He explained that becoming a “pioneer” is the key to achieving overwhelming results, and that while promoting business verification and monetization in parallel through title releases, investment activities will continue globally.
connection: Square Enix to accelerate Web3 game development in the fiscal year ending March 24
Also this month, Ubisoft released an image video of its first blockchain game “Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles”. The details of the game system have not yet been revealed, but it is said that the release date will be announced soon.
connection: Ubisoft’s first BCG, Oasys-based strategy RPG “Champions Tactics” to be released soon