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This week in social media news, Reddit announces third-party certification for ad views with Oracle Data Cloud’s Moat, Instagram adds new audio features to Reels, Facebook rolls out holiday-themed augmented reality effects on Messenger Desktop, Facebook Gaming debuts new monetization features for livestream chats, TikTok updates its community guidelines, YouTube publishes a 2020 digital trends recap and more.
Reddit Announces Integration With Oracle Data Cloud’s Moat
Reddit is partnering with Oracle Data Cloud’s Moat to provide third-party certification on Reddit ad views, marking the platform’s first viewability measurement collaboration.
Why it matters: The announcement comes after Reddit, which has 52 million daily active users, debuted stricter brand safety controls this year, including a Limited Inventory tier.
The details: As Reddit notes, the latest integration with Moat aims to produce more in-depth campaign performance metrics to help advertisers maximize awareness and reach. Advertisers who already have a relationship with Moat can access their Reddit data through their own Moat dashboard. Reddit will provide a Moat report to those who don’t have an existing relationship.
The server-to-server integration, which is currently in the Alpha phase and open to a limited number of partners, has already delivered promising results. Reddit says that across campaigns, its native in-feed ads outperformed Moat’s in-view rate benchmark by up to 17 percent.
The integration will be more broadly available in early 2021.
Instagram Introduces New Audio Tools To Reels
Instagram is testing a variety of new features for Reels and Stories, including TikTok-like audio and camera options, reports Social Media Today.
Why it matters: The addition of new audio features, Audio Mix and Voice-over, brings Reels one step closer to competing against TikTok, where music-powered videos were popularized.
The details: Audio Mix and Voice-over, two features spotted by social media expert Matt Navarra, enable users to add either a music clip or voice clip to their Reels. Navarra also found that Instagram has added a ‘Reels’ watermark to the top left of clips—another feature copied from TikTok.
Additionally, Social Media Today reports that Lindsey Gamble has discovered a new ‘Edit Clips’ option in Reels, which gives users greater control over editing clips.
As for Instagram Stories, Amrit Kumar has spotted a new ‘Camera Booth’ feature that lets users snap several photos in sequence.
Facebook Adds New Augmented Reality Effects, Filters To Messenger Desktop
After launching the Messenger Desktop app in April, Facebook is rolling out new holiday-themed AR effects, filters and immersive 360-degree backgrounds for people to use during group video calls on Messenger and Messenger Rooms.
Why it matters: The updated backgrounds arrived just in time for virtual company holiday parties on Messenger Rooms. Facebook launched the Zoom competitor during lockdowns when video calling on Messenger and WhatsApp more than doubled.
The details: Users can choose from a variety of AR effects including a winter village, festive lights, a grumpy yeti, a Christmas elf, gold new year and snow day. New holiday stickers for Messenger Desktop include a Hanukkah with dreidel stickers, Christmas stickers and “Bye 2020” New Year’s Eve stickers.
Facebook Gaming Debuts Two New Livestream Chat Monetization Features
As Facebook Gaming steadily grows, the company announced that it’s testing two new monetization features in gaming livestream chats and a discounted Stars activation that lets fans buy Stars at a reduced price.
Why it matters: Over the past year, Facebook says gaming creators have received more than 5 billion Stars, the equivalent of $50 million. In addition, it has more than 2,000 creators making more than $1,000 per month from Stars, fan subscriptions and ads.
The details: The first new monetization feature Facebook Gaming is rolling out for livestream chats will include larger Stars, which will receive a more highlighted comment lit up in a bright pink and purple gradient.
The second is a new Stars ticker that automatically pins large Stars comments to the bottom of the chat window for a period of time.
The two new features are currently being tested and will roll out to more users soon.
In addition, Facebook Gaming’s holiday Stars activation, running from December 15 to January 1, will enable fans to purchase Stars at a reduced price, receive a unique badge for sending one and send a limited time “Hand Raise” virtual gift.
TikTok Updates Its Community Guidelines To Support Users’ Mental Health
TikTok has updated its Community Guidelines to reflect the mental health needs of its users, as well as to provide clarification on the types of content that are unwelcome on the app. In addition, it’s launching opt-in viewing screens atop videos that some may find graphic or disturbing.
Why it matters: TikTok has always been explicit about the importance of its users’ mental health, providing guidance and public health information from experts on topics ranging from the pandemic to bullying. In October for World Mental Health Day, it debuted a network of self-care ambassadors, popular TikTok creators who published advice-driven content around mental health and well-being.
The details: TikTok’s new guidelines incorporate feedback and language used by mental health experts with the goal of preventing content that displays or makes mention of self-injury behaviors and eating disorders.
The platform also strengthened its policies on bullying and harassments, making more explicit what types of content are prohibited, including doxxing and cyberstalking. In addition, it has bolstered its policy against sexual harassment.
TikTok has added a harmful activities section to its minor safety policy to reiterate videos that promote dangerous dares and games.
Lastly, TikTok says its guidelines around dangerous individuals and organizations now describe in greater detail what’s considered a threat or incitement to violence.
YouTube Publishes 2020 Digital Culture And Trends Report
In a video recap, YouTube’s head of culture and trends Kevin Allocca has shared the biggest 2020 digital trends. Based on its global team’s ongoing data analysis and a new survey it conducted with Ipsos, the findings reinforce that gaming, livestreaming and DIY content had a strong year.
Why it matters: Lockdown-induced behavior gave YouTube a huge boost this year. In Q3, its ad revenue grew to $5 billion, from $3.8 billion in Q3 2019, and it reported a total of 30 million music/premium paid subscribers and 3 million YouTube TV subscribers.
The details: According to the full findings, YouTube’s total daily livestreams grew 45 percent in the first half of 2020. Over half (58 percent) of livestream viewers report that watching livestreams helps them feel connected to something bigger than themselves, specifically noting how fun the live comment feed is. In addition, 56 percent of people agree that watching livestreams can be just as good as being at an event in person.
People flocked to YouTube for DIY content even more this year. In fact, 82 percent said they used YouTube during 2020 to learn to do something themselves. And videos with variations of “beginner” in the title garnered over 9 billion views globally this year.
Creators took advantage of lockdowns to start their own channel or grow their current audience. New channels trying to build an audience on YouTube were up 95 percent. YouTube and Ipsos’ survey shows that 58 percent of people are open to watching digital content made by creators of any age, and 47 percent are open to watching content from fictional or virtual characters or creators.
Gaming in general also saw explosive growth this year, with 73 percent of people reporting they watched gaming on online video platforms this year.
LinkedIn Launches New Product Pages
LinkedIn has announced a new “Products” tab, which will allow company pages to showcase product endorsements and testimonials by users.
Why it matters: LinkedIn says its goal with Product Pages is “to build the world’s premier marketplace.” Currently, LinkedIn has more than 10,000 Product Pages across the business-to-business (B2B) software category.
The details: The new Product Pages lets marketers and social media managers highlight products, gather ratings from current users and generate leads with a custom call-to-action button via videos or product screenshots, descriptions and more. The feature also lets you specify the job roles that best fit your product’s purpose.
In its FAQ, LinkedIn says the Product Pages are reserved for tangible product offerings to the market.
Twitter Doubles Down On Third-Party Brand Safety Measurement Solutions
In an effort to elevate its third-party brand safety solutions, Twitter has announced a partnership with DoubleVerify (DV) and Integral Ad Science (IAS) to provide independent reporting on the context of Twitter ads.
Why it matters: Early research from Twitter’s data science teams show that on the platform, adjacency between ads and divisive content hasn’t yet been found to affect brand favorability.
The details: In addition to announcing its partnership with DV and IAS, Twitter has shared more details around its commitment to undergo accreditation across the Media Ratings Council’s four pillars, including viewability, audience measurement, sophisticated invalid traffic filtration and brand safety. Twitter says it has already begun the proposal process for brand safety accreditation.
Twitter Announces Tweet Integration With Snapchat Stories
Twitter announced that iOS users can now share tweets directly to their Snapchat Stories, and will soon test the integration for Instagram Stories.
Why it matters: Given people share tweets everywhere across social media, the integration will help drive more users from Snapchat and Instagram to Twitter at a time when Twitter’s growth has slowed due to the pandemic. In Q3, it reported a net gain of only 1 million daily active users—its slowest growth in at least three years.
The details: To share a tweet in Snapchat, users can tap the “share” icon on a tweet then select the Snapchat icon at the bottom of the share menu. This will create a sticker of the tweet, which, once shared, will link back to the tweet on Twitter where you can view the whole conversation.
Twitter says that soon it will test sharing a tweet as a sticker on Instagram Stories for iOS.
LinkedIn Tests Ads In LinkedIn Stories
After rolling out LinkedIn Stories globally in September, LinkedIn is testing ads within Stories in a closed beta.
Why it matters: LinkedIn says that to date, more than 600 advertisers have run campaigns on the platform with “positive performance in clicks, views and cost metrics.”
The details: Marketers will be able to run full-screen video and single-image ads in vertical and square formats using LinkedIn’s range of targeting tools. The ads will be served to users in between members’ Stories and LinkedIn Page Stories atop the mobile app.
Snapchat Shares Insight Into Users’ Holiday Shopping Trends
Snapchat recently shared findings that highlight what holiday shopping for its global Gen Z user base will look like this year.
Why it matters: The pandemic has already caused Snapchatters to shift their buying habits as one-third of them globally report that they’re making more purchases on their phones than they previously had.
The details: For 52 percent of Snapchat users, buying gifts is a big part of the holidays. Nearly half of US and UK Snapchatters also buy presents for their friends during the holidays. Just a little over half of users in the UK and US say that their friends rely on their recommendations when deciding what to buy and use. Additionally, Snapchatters’ favorite large retailers to buy from include Nike, Amazon, Adidas and Zara.
Pinterest Publishes Its 2021 Predictions Report
Pinterest has published its “Pinterest Predicts” report, which features over 150 trends the platform anticipates will rise in 2021.
Why it matters: Pinterest says that 80 percent of its 2020 trend projections came true, including the rise of global influencers, outdoor-inspired searches, thrifted home decor, at-home music rooms and 2000s fashion.
The details: According to Pinterest, next year the major trends in travel will include car date nights, RV accessories and luxury vacations. Wellbeing trends will include protection crystals, manifestation techniques and bath tea recipes, while food and beverage trends will include tomatillo enchilada sauce, breakfast charcuterie boards and bread art. Home trends will include neon rooms, minimalist bathroom design and copper cookware, fashion trends will include oversized outfits, quilted clothes and jean painting ideas and lastly, beauty trends will include face yoga exercises, indie nails and knotless box braids.


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Google: A Patented Verb
Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra “don’t be evil”, has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning them against using its name as a verb.
In June, Google won a place in the Oxford English Dictionary, while “to google”, with a lower case “g”, was included last month in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, America’s leading reference book.
What I speculate Google is worried about is that the verb “googled” becomes generic for search as in “I googled it.” And the law says you can’t trademark something that is generically used. Essentially, if a case occurred with a rival search engine putting “Just google it!” at the top of their page and the court said they could do that because ‘google’ is a generic term, then you would have precedent for millions of Google imposters seeking to make money off the Google name (since it just means search to the general public).
Sounds like a victim of their own success ! Of course, the most ubiquitous brand-product synonimity is Xerox and photocopying.

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The bow-tie brand is claiming that it beat 2011 Dodge Challenger and Ford Crown Victoria in testing during the Michigan State Police's annual police car evaluation held this past Saturday and Monday. The tests are being closely watched by departments around the country, and millions of dollars in purchases are at stake.
Just two giant problems. First, the Michigan State Police has no official comment to validate Chevy's claims. Second, Chevrolet tested its car against the wrong Ford. The Crown Victoria goes out of production at the end of next year. Chevy doesn't claim that its car beat the Crown Vic's replacement, a Taurus. That's its major competitor for next-generation police cars. Thus, we're fairly amazed that Chevy tries to make a claim to victory in what would appear, without the Taurus, to be a meaningless contest.
The rear-wheel-drive Caprice comes with a V-8 engine, with 355 horsepower and 348 pounds-feet of torque.
Although it's not the biggest segment, carmakers take pride when they have a strong, powerful police car to offer.
"The public is interested in it," said Dana Hammer, marketing manager for the Caprice PPV. "It's a vehicle they can relate to. It's good for us from a brand perspective, because it's the vehicle people see on the streets."
For a long time, only the Ford Crown Victoria could provide the rear-wheel-drive performance police fleets wanted, coupled with strong body frames and top speeds. But with the Crown Victoria set to retire as an option for police fleets at the end of 2011, other automakers are stepping in with options.
"I'm tickled to death to see all of the manufacturers back into (police cars) in a big way after a period of stagnation," said Jerry Newberry, fleet manager for the Texas Department of Public Safety. "It's still a work in progress for all manufacturers, but that's been the nice thing in the development of this Caprice – GM is doing what it takes to bring the best car to the market."
The results GM touted this week are considered preliminary. Final results will be published later this year by the Michigan State Police.
-- Sharon Silke Carty and Chris Woodyard/Drive On
Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris


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I have never felt the need for a good front camera or webcam on a laptop as much as I have in the past two months.
Video conferencing, online lessons, and group video calls are a matter of the day and a good webcam is a must.
Now, webcams don’t really have the best specs, and that has annoyed a Hollywood actor who uses a MacBook Air.
Clark Gregg, who played the role of customer Phil Coulson, in Marvel Universe films, dissatisfied with Apple and its recent purchase: the new MacBook Air.
Greg moved to Twitter to express his concern about Apple, and he said, “Dear Apple Hello, I have been a big fan of you for more than 30 years, I’ve been stuck up when I made a mistake in buying iPhones to get us to buy new phones, but I just bought a new MacBook Air to use in what will be Zoom is probably fuzzy and the webcam is awful, why not? ”
The new MacBook Air comes with a 720p camera, which just isn’t up to the standard on paper, many complained
Apple has not changed the capabilities of the webcam on MacBook Air for some time and the 2020 model has also not been upgraded, and many Windows laptops provide a 1080p camera and claim to have better light sensitivity as well, which is lacking in the new MacBook Air .
Apple has not responded – at least publicly – to Clark’s grievances, which added a second tweet in which it posted a picture of the old PowerBook 100 Macintosh and told Apple “Respect your customers Apple or you will end up like this device.”


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A recent publication about Ghana’s Rich List has put Patricia Poku-Diaby, touted as the richest woman in the country, in big trouble, with Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) chasing her for its money.
Ms Poku-Diaby, a business woman and cocoa merchant, is said to be owing Cocobod an amount of $26.7 million.
Though she was recently named the richest Ghanaian woman and eighth richest Ghanaian in general, her company, Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, is said to be one of five cocoa processing companies that
owe Cocobod up to $131 million.
The other companies that owe Cocobod are WAMCO – $49.52 million; Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) – $46.36; Afro
Tropic – $6.92 million and Real Products -$2.24 million.
According to information gathered by DAILY GUIDE, outstanding debt owed by the five companies as at 2014 was $210 million until the new board put in some measures which resulted in part payments of the debt by the companies.
Patricia Poku-Diaby was recently named the eighth richest Ghanaian among 80 Ghanaian businessmen and entrepreneurs with a net worth of $720 million in a list compiled by a management and consultancy firm, Goodman AMC, dubbed, ‘The Ghana Wealth Report?.
The news about her net worth sent shockwaves and stirred controversy at Cocobod, as management and staff could not come to terms with why Ms Poku Diaby had refused to honour her paltry $26.7 million indebtedness to the company, even though she is worth $720 million.
According to a Cocobod management member who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, they were shocked about the net worth of Ms Poku-Diaby. ?How can she be that rich and yet refuse to pay Cocobod?? he asked. He said several attempts by Cocobod to get her to honour the $26.7 million indebtedness had proved futile.
?It is intriguing that in spite of Patricia Poku-Diaby’s acclaimed riches, her company has not been able to settle its indebtedness for smooth delivery of beans for their operations,? the management member said.
According to him, instead of focusing on paying off her debt, Madam Patricia had rather sought support from some powerful politicians and influential individuals in the country to enable her company continue to receive supplies from Cocobod.
However, he said, as part of measures to save the board from going bankrupt, Cocobod had stopped supplying cocoa beans to companies that owed it and had further put in place arrangements to forestall the recurrence of such indebtedness by making it mandatory for local processing companies sourcing cocoa beans from Cocobod to provide bank gaurantees.


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According to SEC filings, GPB Automotive Portfolio LP entered into an agreement with Group 1 Automotive, Inc. on September 12, 2021, to sell Prime Automotive for $880 million, consisting of 30 car dealerships and three collision centers located in the Northeast of the United States. According to a press release issued by Group 1 Automotive, Inc., the Prime Automotive dealerships generated $1.8 billion in annual revenues in 2020.
The future of GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP remains uncertain. Investors of GPB Automotive Portfolio LP are encouraged to act now and contact a securities arbitration law firm for a free consultation and review of their legal rights.
Iorio Altamirano LP is a securities arbitration law firm that represents GPB Automotive.


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You know I like to keep my readers up to date with the most important breaking news ;) Well just in, the world’s biggest potato has been found! It weighs in a whooping 11.3 kg, almost 3 times heavier than the previous world record holder. Found/grown by a southern Lebanese farmer, BBC News has the full story »
The guy’s skin is the exact same color. I thought it was a giant tumor!


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Probiotics are well documented to be good for your insides and we immediately saw the incredible benefits of using them in skin care as well.
Whistler, BC (PRWEB) November 07, 2012
Natural is the new go-to word that consumers across North America are looking for on the labels of their personal care products. But it is a little known fact that "Natural" has a very different meaning to manufacturers and often only means changing one well known toxic ingredients (i.e. parabens) for other lesser known, but just as toxic, alternatives. According to the results of a recent online survey conducted by the Dr. David Suzuki Foundation, four out of five of the (12,500) products entered in the survey contained at least one ingredient with suspected links to environmental or health problems — including cancer, reproductive disorders, asthma and severe allergies.
Recognizing this growing trend of "smoke and mirrors" advertising, Whistler Naturals set out to create a fully transparent skin care line that was actually good for you. With natural and organic based ingredients like Avocado, Spinach, Carrot, along with active botanical cosmecuticals like amino acids and proteins, it is easy to see how Whistler Naturals’ non-traditional, eco- and vegan-friendly skincare blends are formulated to improve your skin.
"Initially," explains co-owner Lisa McGregor, "we didn't even want to put even the words 'Paraben free' on our labels because to us personally, this was often a red flag that the manufacturer had taken out only parabens, being the key toxic word-of-the-day, but the remaining ingredients were still garbage. We wanted customers to concentrate on what was in our products and not what wasn't (in them)."
So, the owners at Whistler Naturals, set out to find the best natural and organic ingredients that, when combined, worked together for incredible results, including extra hydration, age combating, reducing acne, and calming allergic/sensitive skin. "We were incredibly lucky to unearth an exceptional probiotic based preservative that actually helps to maintain the natural harmony of your skin." Says owner Christie Angeloni, "Probiotics are well documented to be good for your insides and we immediately saw the incredible benefits of using them in skin care as well."
As their numbers person, Lisa McGregor has been challenged with keeping their costs down, "Because the good-for-you raw ingredients are quite expensive to source, we keep an extra close eye on every cent to maintain our low price point." Positioning their prices within reach of the average consumer is one of the tenet foundations of the Whistler Naturals' business model. Therefore, they are determined to continue producing the very best quality products without the huge markups typically enjoyed by the cosmetics industry.
For more information please visit http://www.whistlernaturals.com. Whistler Naturals have their products available to purchase online and are currently in various retail locations throughout North America.


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Longtime family-owned ice fishing businesses open as ice conditions improve on Mille Lacs
It was a day that the Brandt family had been waiting for all ice fishing season: opening day for anglers.
“It’s a fantastic day, slowly but surely,” said Amanda Brandt, whose family has operated an ice fishing business for 62 years.
This year is one of the latest starts in all those years for Brandt’s Ice Fishing in Onamia due to poor ice conditions this winter.
“Safety is a huge concern,” Brandt said, “A couple of weeks ago, we had open water … 200 yards out.”
But the cold weather has brought more ice to their spot on the lake, where anglers pay to walk out, drive their ATVs and, when the ice gets thicker, drive out fish houses using their ice road.
The Brandts say they constantly measure ice conditions and, on Thursday, reported around 7-10 inches of ice up to a mile out.
“It’s definitely in our blood … a lot of customers we’ve grown up with our whole lives,” Brandt said. “I want people to come up and enjoy the resources,” Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton wrote to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “Just be safe and drill multiple holes before you get set up to confirm ice thickness.”
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources offers a guide for ice thickness.
Between Isle and Wahkon, Lyback’s Ice Fishing opened for anglers on Thursday due to more ice on the lake.
“I’m a little more cautious, but I’ve learned a lot over the years … what works on the lake and what doesn’t,” said Eddy Lyback.
The family business just started its 70th year on the lake. Lyback’s posts a daily ice fishing report, which Eddy said gets several thousand views each day.
“Everything’s been quiet up here,” Lyback said about the warmer winter. “Hopefully, people can recoup enough to come out all right.”
The winter walleye season runs until the end of February.
“We’re going to have a short season, about six weeks of fun,” Brandt said.


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That right, it’s getting close to that time of year again when Vera Bradley sells handbags (and other accessory items) for huge discounts at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. They announced today that the tickets will go on sale February 1.
www.wane.comMonday, January 23, 2012 3:13:46 PM
Vera Bradley announced Monday that tickets for its April outlet sale, which discounts its merchandise up to 65%, will go on sale February 1.
Vera Bradley sale attendance drops in 2011 compared to 2010.
The Vera Bradley Outlet Sale wrapped up Sunday and broke several attendance records.
First day action from the Vera Bradley sale at the Memorial Coliseum
- Celebrating Spring! (insidestitch.com)


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NBA 2K23 is arriving in September
NBA 2K23 finally has a release date. 2K has confirmed that the game will be released on September 8 and pre-orders will start on July 7. Pricing details will be confirmed on July 7.
2K has confirmed two special editions including Michael Jordan Edition, and NBA 2K23 Championship Edition for NBA 2K23. Michael Jordan is on the cover of the game.
The game will include Jordan Challenge where players can recreate 15 iconic moments from Jordan’s career. Original challenges from NBA 2K11 have also been completely overhauled for this new game.
The company has also released a trailer with the new announcement.


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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
Competitive pressures will rise at this week's CTIA Wireless convention as market maturity drives down U.S. handset sell-through and carriers accelerate efforts to boost revenues during the worst recession in the industry's 26-year history.
Handset vendors will do their part to encourage replacement sales by launching new 3G-equipped touch-screen phones, smartphones and QWERTY-keyboard phones, all of which support carriers in their efforts to encourage revenue-boosting mobile-data usage. (See story on p. 32.) Vendors and carriers will also focus on embedding wireless in mobile devices such as netbooks, laptops, ultramobile PCs (UMPCs), and consumer electronics products, including digital cameras, personal navigation devices (PNDs), and portable media players (PMPs). (See TWICE.com during the week for show updates.)
“Carriers are looking at devices outside traditional handsets [to boost revenues],” said Strategy Analytics analyst Bonny Joy. “That is the future,” he said of CE devices that will incorporate 3G and 4G (Long Term Evolution and Mobile WiMAX) technologies.
The road to future growth, however, is filled with ruts. With U.S. cellular subscriptions having reached the equivalent of 84 percent of the entire U.S. population in mid-2008, CTIA and Census Bureau statistics show, net-new subscriber growth keeps on falling. Unit and dollar handset sell-through, excluding enterprise purchases, fell 15 percent and 5 percent, respectively, in the U.S. in 2008 following 2007's 2 percent unit gain and 27 percent dollar gain, NPD found in its consumer surveys (see p. 36.)
Market researcher IDC estimated factory-level sales of handsets in the U.S. fell 4.7 percent in 2008 and will fall 14.8 percent this year before picking up again in 2010, when IDC expects sales to grow 6.1 percent. Those figures reflect devices destined for purchase by enterprises and consumers.
Reduced consumer interest in buying a new phone reflects reduced interest in paying for extra services during tough economic times. A March survey of adult consumers by the New Millennium Research Council, a Washington-based research group, found that 39 percent of consumers with a contract-based cellphone, or 60.3 million people, are likely to cut back cellphone service if the economy gets worse over the following six months.
Among contract-phone users who subscribe to extra non-voice services such as texting or Internet access, the survey found that 8 percent would very likely cut some extras if the economy gets worse in the next six months, and 21 percent said they were somewhat likely to do so.
The council, which focuses on telecommunications and technology research, also concluded that 19 percent of adults who don't own a cellphone had disconnected service within the past six months because of actual job loss, fear of job loss, the recession or other related financial concerns. That percentage represents about 8.74 million consumers.
The CTIA show's attendance and exhibitor counts will reflect such numbers. Show management expects the number of attendees and exhibitors to drop from last year's 40,000 attendees and 1,200 booths, but it expects the people who show up to be better qualified. “We've been down this road before with the economy,” said show director Robert Mesirow. “You lose a lot of tire kickers and get a real concentration of serious attendees.” In the current environment, he added, attendees “have time to look for acquisitions and get more innovative themselves.” Innovations include advances in enterprise applications and vertical markets, he said.
For consumer users, some of the innovations here at the show, said Strategy Analytic's Joy, could include firmer plans for deploying 4G LTE and Mobile WiMAX networks, packaging wireless-embedded cameras and netbooks with new types of rate plans, and more smartphones, whose unit sales have risen in the U.S. despite declining handset sales overall.
U.S. smartphone sales by vendors grew 68.2 percent in 2008 and will rise 7.9 percent in 2009, then surge again at a 28.4 percent rate in 2010, according to IDC forecasts.
Smartphones and touch-screen-equipped phones will likely dominate show introductions. They'll include Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphones and at least one Windows Mobile 6.5 model, a hybrid cellphone/satellite phone. More Android-based phones are expected in the second half to join HTC's lone model in the U.S., but it wasn't certain at press time whether they would be introduced at the show.
Also at the show, startup prepaid carrier Zer01 will announce a commercial launch date for its $69.99/month unlimited mobile VoIP and data service, which will be sold through multiple distribution channels, including on-line and brick-and-mortar retailers.
The $69.99/month plan includes unlimited calling throughout the U.S. For another $10/month, consumers can get unlimited international calling to 40 countries. There are no additional taxes or fees except for a $30 activation charge.
The service will bypass carriers' circuit-switched channels, sending voice as VoIP-based packets over carriers' packet-based GPRS, EDGE, or HSDPA data channels to a virtual private network (VPN) that in turn accesses the public Internet.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.


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- Jan 8, 2011
Android Q is Android 10
"First, we’re changing the way we name our releases. Our engineering team has always used internal code names for each version, based off of tasty treats, or desserts, in alphabetical order. This naming tradition has become a fun part of the release each year externally, too. But we’ve heard feedback over the years that the names weren’t always understood by everyone in the global community.
For example, L and R are not distinguishable when spoken in some languages. So when some people heard us say Android Lollipop out loud, it wasn’t intuitively clear that it referred to the version after KitKat. It’s even harder for new Android users, who are unfamiliar with the naming convention, to understand if their phone is running the latest version. We also know that pies are not a dessert in some places, and that marshmallows, while delicious, are not a popular treat in many parts of the world."
Read more: A pop of color and more: updates to Android’s brand


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Germany debuts Embrace German Nature campaign targeting Indian market
The campaign has been launched after there was an increased demand for outdoor experiences this summer among visitors from the Indian market
Recognising an increased demand for outdoor experiences this summer among visitors from the Indian market, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is debuting the Embrace German Nature campaign that focuses on highlighting sustainable, open-air activities.
Germany is home to more than 130 protected natural landscapes, including a plethora of stunning forests, lakes, valleys and hiking and cycling trails. It also boasts three UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, 16 UNESCO biosphere reserves, 16 national parks and 106 nature reserves.
“Indian travellers are keen to visit countries that possess ideal summer climates with a wide range of things to do,” said Romit Theophilus, Director, German National Tourist Office, India (GNTO). “Germany’s diverse selection of outdoor activities ensures something for everyone, from hiking trails to relaxing spa towns. Our Embrace German Nature campaign will improve access to and provide information about these opportunities even further, in a sustainable way.”
Four unique picks that fit the campaign are the Bavarian Forest National Park, Rhine Castles Trail, Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle route and Baden-Baden.
Around The World


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The first Canadian Camping Week is now underway. Over 435 campgrounds from coast to coast are participating in this inaugural event that showcases all that Canadian camping has to offer, the Canadian Camping and RV Council (CCRVC) said in an announcement.
The 2015 Canadian Camping Week will run from May 19-24. The week-long event is organized by the CCRVC in partnership with provincial camping and RV associations across Canada.
“I am thrilled to launch the first ever Canadian Camping Week to celebrate this very important industry and showcase what Canadian camping has to offer,” said Maryse Catellier, CCRVC president. “The camping and RVing industries are tremendous contributors to Canada’s economy overall and play an important role in the lives of their communities. I look forward to seeing new and returning campers join us in celebrating the first ever Canadian Camping Week.”
As part of this week-long celebration of Canadian camping, participating campgrounds are hosting special events such as fishing contests, jamborees, bonfires and a special offer for two nights of weekend camping May 22-24. Parks Canada is offering a $50 discount on the Discovery Pass. Information about the 2015 Canadian Camping Week, participating campgrounds, events and camping discounts can be found at www.campingweek.ca.
- Last year 5,768,650 Canadians (22% of the adult population) went camping.
- The Canadian camping industry contributed $4.7-billion to Canada’s GDP in 2014.
- The camping industry in Canada created 60,000 full-time jobs across the country, generating approximately $2.9-billion in wages and salaries.
“Canada’s tourism sector is an important contributor to our economy,” said Maxime Bernier, Canadian minister of state, small business and tourism. “The camping and RVing industries help promote Canadian tourism by showcasing our incredible natural landscape while creating jobs in small communities across the country.
Blake Richards, chair of the parliamentary tourism caucus, noted, “One of our government’s major goals under our new National Conservation Plan is to help better connect Canadians with nature. Most Canadians have a deep and abiding respect for our land, air and water. These are values we learned from our parents and pass on to our children. Encouraging a deeper personal connection between Canadians and nature will only strengthen these bonds.”


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Welcome to the Blog with prime focus on Delphi & Pascal
Waiting Excitedly for the subject Delphi retreat in Shillong starting late Jan 2018 …. more here
“It's said the outbreak is more serious than that in #Wuhan.”
A video has been circulating online showing shops and schools closed in a village in southern #China due to a suspected second #CCPVirus outbreak. The closures have caused fear among the residents.
From fashion to food and beverage, global manufacturers have shifted operations to combat #COVID19: https://autode.sk/39Nnbp9
© 2020 Digitiger's Blog. Built using WordPress and the Mesmerize Theme


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United Arab Emirates declares BlackBerry smartphone a threat to national securityBy Adam Schreck, AP
Monday, July 26, 2010
UAE says BlackBerry is security threat
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has declared BlackBerry smartphones a potential threat to national security, saying the devices operate beyond the jurisdiction of national laws and are open to misuse.
The move raises concerns of another attempt by the government to control the flow of information in the Arab Gulf nation, which actively censors websites and other forms of media seen as harming national security or conservative local values. At the same time, however, the UAE is trying to establish itself as an international business hub.
This is the second major controversy over the Blackberry in the UAE. A year ago, the Middle East country’s biggest state-run mobile operator was caught encouraging unwitting BlackBerry users to install software on the devices that could allow outsiders to peer inside. The government has never made fully clear what happened in that case.
In the latest flap, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority voiced fears that the BlackBerry manages data in a way that could allow it to be misused. BlackBerry devices were singled out because they are the only phones operating in the country that automatically relay users’ information to privately managed data centers overseas, the regulator said.
“As a result of how Blackberry data is managed and stored, in their current form, certain Blackberry applications allow people to misuse the service, causing serious social, judicial and national security repercussions,” the regulator said in a statement carried on the state news agency late Sunday.
It said that BlackBerry devices operate “beyond the jurisdiction” of national laws because they immediately send data abroad to be “managed by a foreign, commercial organization.”
That is apparently a reference to BlackBerry maker Research in Motion’s system of relaying data such as e-mail messages to network servers that are separate from those operated by local mobile providers.
The TRA said the devices were launched in the UAE before “safety, emergency and national security legislation” regulating their use was enacted in 2007. It did not specify what changes it is seeking.
The comments raised questions about the gadgets’ legality in the country, home to the Mideast business hub of Dubai.
An official at the TRA said Monday the agency had no further comment, and that no decision about the phones’ future in the country had been made. She would not provide her name, as is customary among Emirati government officials.
Spokeswomen for BlackBerry maker RIM said the Canadian company did not yet have any comment.
Just over a year ago, RIM criticized a directive by UAE state-owned mobile operator Etisalat telling the company’s more than 145,000 BlackBerry users to install software described as an “upgrade … required for service enhancements.”
RIM said tests showed the update was in fact spy software that could allow outsiders to access private information stored on the phones. It strongly distanced itself from Etisalat’s decision, and provided details instructing users how to remove the software.
Tags: Communication Technology, Computing And Information Technology, Consumer Electronics, Dubai, Government Regulations, Industry Regulation, Middle East, Mobile Communications, National Security, Products And Services, Software, United Arab Emirates


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How Fintech is Taking over the Logistics Sector A few start-ups are offering the pay-as-you-go model, whereby one can track the shipment and know the exact distance covered by the truck or carrier service, and pay accordingly
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Be it the early hours of the morning or the peak hours of the day, highways of India are incomplete without the scores of trucks, all filled with sacks of goods being transferred from one state to another.
The Indian logistics industry is a thriving one and a recent report by credit rating agency ICRA states that the sector is growing by eight-nine per cent. Reports suggest that the Indian logistics market is set to touch $307 billion by 2020.
But this sector, too, is on the cusp of a revolution. It's a majorly unorganized sector and leaves open many loopholes for entrepreneurs to sweep in and create solutions.
At the same time, financial technology is spreading its wings to soar across all sectors. So, when fintech meets logistics tech, it looks at streamlining the payment processes involved in the sector.
Here's a look at the top four ways in which start-ups are using financial services to be a part of the ever-growing logistics industry.
Supplier Finance Management
Supply-chain finance basically refers to opitimizing the cash flow in a business that allows one to fund early payments to their suppliers. Now, for traditional logistics business owners it could turn out to be a difficult task, but start-ups are coming forward to make things easier for them. This makes the functioning of SMEs easier. Internationally, there are many start-ups like Taulia, which help companies improve their working capital.
Pay and Ship
With many irregularities in this sector, bills and receipts often go missing or are even unreported. Start-ups are offering invoice management services to help out SMEs and businesses in the transportation sectors.
From digitizing payments in these sectors to automating the processes of producing bills and even acknowledging receipts, fintech start-ups make way for easy functioning. But it doesn't stop there. Start-ups are combining logistics and fintech to offer the same to e-commerce websites. Start-ups like Ecommexpress are not only offering logistical solutions but also processing payments for marketplaces.
Start-ups like Roambee are also offering the pay-as-you-go model, whereby one can track the shipment and also know the exact distance covered by the truck or carrier service, and pay accordingly.
Blockchain in Logistics
Ever since blockchain has been introduced in fintech, its use-cases have been fitting in everywhere. And now, logistics sector, too, is going to get a taste of the blockchain.
Internationally, start-ups have already started implementing the technology for supply chain finance. This facilitates lending to smaller establishments as well as management of records. In fact, Skuchain, a Singapore-based start-up, has a product called Bracket, which covers the A-Z of logistics, right from placing the order to processing the payments. All this while, it maintains a transparent record.
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, more and more companies in the sector will soon start automating the entire process that is involved in logistics. Adhering to a customer's request, the implementation and execution of the same and even processing payments will soon be done at the click of a mouse.


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"50,000 square feet is really important to fill that's a lot of space to fill," said Kennewick Economic Development Director Jeff Kossow.
Finally the old Joe's building is about to get filled. An Oklahoma-based arts and crafts store is moving in. Hobby Lobby should open in November.
Here's one more spot you've seen sit empty for years. This gas station on Steptoe and Gage is going to be a Rite Aid.
Baker construction has been on the job this week, demolishing the old building to make way for new construction. And they're moving quick, groundbreaking is in two weeks with plans to open by early next year.
"With the way the economy is going it's good to see growth of our company and to be able to maintain it. That tells me and everyone else around me that you know we've been aggressive enough, and that in turn helps us keep going," said Matt Lonam with Baker.
Just across the street, you might have noticed a big building going up as well.
This will be a new beauty college. Lucas Marc Academy should open by the end of the year.
KEPR Action News has also been keeping tabs on work out at Southridge. Bob's Burgers and Brews is moving right along. Z-Place Salon is also moving out here.
KEPR also learned two big box stores are looking at land nearby. All this movement is a good sign not just for our economy but for national companies.
"We do a lot of calling and the good news is taking our calls and interested again. Some are expanding some are still in the hold mode, but it is loosening a little and still see bit more," said Kossow.
All this means more construction, more jobs and more spending.
KEPR called the city of Richland to check back on that other big empty building in town, the old Circuit City.
We didn't get a call back, we'll keep trying to find out if anything is moving in.


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McLoud resident owns, operates Hudson's Place
For the last five years, McLoud resident Orentha Hudson has brought trendy clothing and vintage items to customers through her store, Hudson's Place.
According to Hudson, she opened her business Sept. 1, 2015 after retiring from a career in government.
The 62-year-old said she sells women's clothing, little girl's clothing and more.
"(Hudson's Place) is just a small-town boutique that sells up-to-date comfortable and current fashion," Hudson said. "We have jeans, shirts, boots, jewelry, vintage items and a few men's items.
The business owner said the best aspect of operating Hudson's Place is connecting with customers.
"(I love) the customers, friends and family that I've met," Hudson said.
She said there aren't really any challenges to running her own business and her family helps out a lot when she needs them.
Hudson said people have responded well to her store.
"It has been amazing. I've (made) a lot of really good close friends out of it," she said.
After trying three different names that were either already taken or similar to other names, Hudson said she decided to call her business Hudson's Place.
Hudson said she didn't have to shut down business during the pandemic and customers can decide whether or not they want to wear masks. Since she has one of the few stores in town where people can purchase trendy clothes, she hasn't seen much of a difference in her business as her customers continue to shop.
Hudson's Place is located at 129 S. 11th Street in McLoud and the hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit the Hudson's Place Facebook page.


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In Brief: Wal-Mart … Reweaving Cotton … Sales Fall
WAL-MART PROBE: Jared Bowen, the fired Wal-Mart executive who sparked an investigation of former vice chairman Thomas Coughlin by bringing suspicious expense reports to the attention of superiors, has asked U.S, prosecutors to...
WAL-MART PROBE: Jared Bowen, the fired Wal-Mart executive who sparked an investigation of former vice chairman Thomas Coughlin by bringing suspicious expense reports to the attention of superiors, has asked U.S, prosecutors to investigate whether Wal-Mart violated federal statues protecting whistleblowers. The retailer dismissed Bowen on March 30, a week after ousting Coughlin from the board over allegations that he had fraudulently spent as much as $500,000 in company funds. Bowen will also ask Wal-Mart’s board to review the matter, said his lawyer Steve Kardell, of Dallas-based Clouse Dunn Hirsch LLP. Kardell said Wal-Mart attorneys told Bowen he was fired for failing to mention obtaining a cell phone for Tim Coughlin, Thomas Coughlin’s brother, who works in Wal-Mart’s corporate compliance office. Wal-Mart did not immediately return a call for comment. Bowen, has been interviewed by the FBI as part of a grand jury investigation of Thomas Coughlin.
REWEAVING COTTON: Fiber-promotions organization Cotton Inc. this week made a pair of management changes following the retirement of Dean Pelczar, who was senior director of global product marketing. Mike Tyndall, 55, was promoted to senior director of Latin America and Europe, and Mark Kametches, 39, was named associate director for North American marketing. They both report to Dean Turner, senior vice president of global product marketing. Tyndall last served as senior director of global product marketing, while Kametches had been manager of Americas mill marketing. Pelczar, 61, had spent more than 25 years with the Cary, N.C.-based company.
SALES FALL: Groupe Galeries Lafayette on Wednesday said first-quarter revenues declined 1.4 percent to 1.23 billion euros, or $1.61 billion at average exchange, due to soft spending at home in France. The retailer said sales declined 2.3 percent at its core Galeries Lafayette department stores. But it said sales at its flagship Boulevard Haussmann unit climbed 2.7 percent, boosted by the opening of a new children’s department. In separate news, the firm announced the departure of the members of the Meyer family from the board. It said that Ginette Moulin would replace Leone Noelle Meyer as chairman of the supervisory board. In March, the Moulin family teamed up with French bank BNP Paribas to buy out the 29.5 percent share held by the Meyers.
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


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PASADENA - Two masked burglars forced their way into a store and helped themselves to wine and champagne on Sunday.
Police didn’t say how many bottles were taken or the estimated value of the stolen liquor.
The suspects hit the BevMo! at 885 S. Arroyo Parkway at 11:43 p.m.
Pasadena Police Sgt. John Mercado said the suspects pulled apart the front doors then took expensive wine and champagne. He didn’t have a list of the brands that were stolen
The burglars were described as two Latinos, 20 to 30, wearing black hooded sweatshirts, face masks and jeans, One suspect had white tennis shoes on while his accomplice wore black tennis shoes.


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Aquaculture offers economic opportunities
BATON ROUGE – This time of year, most Louisianians are acutely aware of the importance of aquaculture thanks to a unique commodity produced in this state: crawfish.
But aquaculture is also an increasingly important enterprise globally, said LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist Greg Lutz. It is the fastest growing food production sector, he told attendees of the Global Agriculture Hour hosted Thursday by AgCenter International Programs. The amount of farmed fish doubled between 2000 and 2012, and today, it constitutes half the seafood consumed globally.
Asia leads the world in aquaculture production. The top three species produced are carp, tilapia and catfish.
Lutz and the AgCenter have been involved in helping producers as aquaculture's popularity surges worldwide, including in Nigeria and Honduras. Farming fish in such places is generally low-tech and requires a lot of hands-on work. But it is work that locals are often eager to do. Lutz recalled arriving at 6 a.m. at a farm during a trip to Nigeria to find workers already there, waiting to get started.
Those farms provide a livelihood and a food supply for many people in developing countries. Though aquaculture is not new — pond production systems date back thousands of years — it is gaining traction now for many reasons, Lutz said.
"Aquaculture species are very good at converting whatever you feed them into edible protein — much better than chickens or hogs or beef — and that means a more resilient food system," Lutz said.
Fish and shellfish have good nutritional value, and at the same time, their production aids rural economic development. Equipment costs can be kept low. Simple tanks made with wire, posts and plastic liners have become common sights in Latin America, Lutz said.
Aquaculture is naturally efficient, Lutz said. Aquatic animals require less food and energy because they don't have to hold up heavy skeletons. But that efficiency can be a blessing and a curse.
"Sometimes we push Mother Nature too far," Lutz said.
Colombia, for example, faces a problem with people putting out fish cages without permits and overloading the system, he said. That creates less oxygen and more bacteria, which end up killing fish.
Aquaculture, or the production of fish and shellfish, is essentially underwater agriculture, Lutz said. That means any variables that affect farming, especially economic forces, also affect aquaculture.
In Louisiana, catfish was once a key commodity, but fewer than 300 acres remain in production, Lutz said. Ethanol production drove up corn and feed prices, leaving catfish ponds around Louisiana empty.
Fortunately, Lutz said, Louisiana's aquaculture sector remains diverse and strong, contributing $492 million to the economy in 2014. And worldwide, a more sustainable, entrepreneurial approach to aquaculture has been developing. Realizing that marketing —not production alone — is part of the equation has helped, he said.
"Tilapia personifies that," Lutz said. "It was once a poor man's fish. Now it's in served in fine restaurants around the world."
People are finding creative ways to make money in the business, too. Many large processing plants have grinders and other equipment to make their own fish meal and fish oil, Lutz said. Some tilapia processors use the oil for biodiesel and send the skins to Europe for collagen extraction.


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Toyota and Honda have recently given a massive price push to their local assembled vehicles despite industry operations at a complete halt due to COVID-19 lockdowns and zero sales recorded since 22nd March 2020.
Interestingly, we have learned that the government is planning to reduce some duties & taxes in the upcoming Financial Budget 2020-21 in order to revive the ailing auto industry which is already suffering from a 52% decline in sales. Now any cut in duties & taxes will force automakers to bring down prices after the budget is announced, which is exactly why these companies have already announced a superfluous price increase in a time when plants are no longer operational.
This will only nullify the recent increase in prices and the automakers will be able to sell their vehicles in the existing prices (that of April 2020) even when the duties are reduced in the forthcoming financial budget.
Earlier in April, Indus Motor Company (IMC) increased the prices of Toyota cars in Pakistan by up to Rs 200,000 for Corolla, up to Rs 150,000 for newly introduced Yaris and up to Rs 500,000 for the IMVs. This was followed by Honda Atlas which increased the prices of its cars by up to Rs 120,000 earlier this month. Pak Suzuki is also expected to announce its price revisions ahead of the budget FY2020-21.
Bear in mind assemblers have already pleaded the government for a stimulus package to help the troubled auto industry get back on its track. The demands made are:
- Import duties on Complete Knocked-Down Units (CKD), should be 10% from current date to December 2020 and no change in duty rate of localized CKD.
- Removal of FED on locally assembled vehicles and minimum tax u/s 113 should be reduced from 1.5% to 0.25% for manufacturers and their vendors & dealers, due to economic slowdown and stoppage of their business.
- General Sales Tax (GST) should be reduced by 50% from current date to December 2020.
- The government should completely withdraw 3% additional sales tax under 12th Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and withdraw the increase in Additional Customs Duty (ACD), for imports under SRO 655 and SRO 656.
- Government should immediately grant blocked refunds of sales tax and income tax and reduce income tax for salaried class by 25% for TY 2019 to benefit them under these crisis situations.
- As a major portion withholding tax on salaries is already paid, therefore, the balance for last quarter should be exempted and corporate tax should be reduced to 28%.
What is your take on this, let us know with your feedback.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com


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Cashaa And Crypto Trading Review
· The Cashaa review provided in this write-up will help you to know this payment platform and cryptocurrency more closely. An increase in the number of new banking system will be provided through the introduction of DApps. The Cashaa ICO team developed crypto-currency and fiat wallets for high-speed transactions. Thanks to the release of plastic chip cards each user can take cash from every ATM. The crypto exchange and insurance blocks are based on the P2P principle.
Read Cashaa / CAS user & investor reviews. Learn the cryptosphere’s thoughts on transaction times & fees, infrastructure development, practical use cases, user experiences, and applications. transparent crypto. · Cashaa ICO was conducted from 6 Nov to 6 Dec ETH, BTC, USD currencies were accepted.
The project raised $ 11, out of $ 32, At the $ ATH price on investors were able to sell this position with x ROI in USD. The Cashaa token is now trading at x in USD and x in ETH from the ICO price.
- In-built crypto wallet - Buy and sell cryptocurrency (cash or bank account) - Genrate passcode for cash trade - Location based search - Sorting and filtering based on traders preferences - Export reviews and rating - Rate & write review for the counterparty - Analytics and transaction history -.
The top exchanges for trading in Cashaa are currently naqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1ai, and Binance DEX. You can find others listed on our crypto exchanges page. Cashaa claims to be the largest crypto-friendly neo-bank based in the UK, providing services to hundreds of crypto businesses around the world. CAS powers the Cashaa banking ecosystem. Well-known cryptocurrency bank Cashaa is teaming up with The United Multistate Credit Co.
Operative Society (UNICAS) as part of its India expansion plan.
Cashaa - Cryptocurrency News | Latest Crypto News today
The two companies will soon build the world’s first crypto-friendly financial institution with physical branches and operations globally, starting in India. · Crypto Trader is a cryptocurrency trading system that uses intelligent trading technology to analyze the cryptocurrency market signals and present investors with the most profitable trades.
Cashaa And Crypto Trading Review. Cashaa – Auxledger FX/Crypto Exchange CASNext Wallet Payments?
Similar to foreign exchange, in the crypto market, the aim of every investor is to buy the cryptocurrency at the lowest rate and then resell to make a. At Cashaa, enhanced due diligence is carried out before a crypto company is given an account. Our EDD process includes the review of KYC and AML policies of the crypto companies we onboards.
Experts see crypto frauds rising in 2021
Over the year we have rejected more than plus companies including some of the top crypto brands. · Bybit. Bybit is a derivatives cryptocurrency exchange platform that is designed to offer a seamless experience to margin trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS and XRP trading pairs with up to x leverage. The derivatives exchange offers perpetual contracts that follow the cryptocurrency price. Bybit has released USDT-settled perpetual contracts that can be traded on the exchange with high leverage.
In Septembernaqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1ai started publishing so called monthly "reports" about crypto retail payments in Australia. They claimed that ~90% of Australia's crypto retail revenue is processed via their own HULA system and that ~92% of all crypto retail revenue happens in BCH. They are aggregating two data sources to come up with this claim.
There are currently 2 Cashaa exchanges where you can buy, sell and trade Cashaa (CAS) with a total hour volume of $Cashaa can be exchanged with 2 cryptocurrencies. You can also buy Cashaa with and Tether stablecoin.
· Cashaa, found online at naqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1ai, is aiming to build the biggest payment platform on the planet.
- Banking Platform Cashaa Sees Indian Trading Volume Soar ...
- Major Indian Bank Partners With Cashaa to ... - Crypto Economy
- Indian Bank and Crypto Banking Service Provider
- CAS Token Trading Halted — Important Updates for CAS ...
- Cashaa supports FCA ban on unregulated crypto derivatives ...
Find out how Cashaa plans to do that today in our review. What Is Cashaa? Cashaa aims to provide financial products for banked and unbanked individuals around the world. Cashaa says that crypto-related businesses are underserved by banks, and the company’s goal is to create a hassle-free experience for STO- or ICO backed companies, exchanges, wallets, and brokers.
Thoughts about Cashaa (CAS) ? : CryptoCurrency
For exchanges and wallets, Cashaa provides the ability to issue International Bank Account Numbers for their customers to make auditing and. Cashaa price today is $ with a hour trading volume of $, CAS price is up % in the last 24 hours. It has a circulating supply of 0 CAS coins and a max supply of 1 Billion. Binance DEX is the current most active market trading it.
Banks Eye Third-Party Custodians For Crypto | PYMNTS.com
Cashaa provides clearing services and offshore bank accounts to cryptocurrency exchanges in India. "For rupee loans against crypto, since the cryptocurrency has to be deposited in our wallet as.
Cashaa is a UK-based cryptocurrency exchange. It said that it has stopped all transactions on its platform after the Bitcoins were stolen.
However, it appears that the hack has not affected the. · The cryptocurrency sector is increasingly influencing the financial services industry. Accordingly, Cashaa now debuts global crypto accounts for businesses and naqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1aiularly, the new service aims to speed up crypto banking.
This is in realization that most of the crypto world is outside the traditional financial industry. · Cashaa, the world’s first crypto-friendly banking platform, has announced a joint venture with The United Multistate Credit Co.
Operative Society. The move is part of its plan to expand to India. The joint venture, UNICAS, will create the world’s first crypto-friendly financial institution with physical branches and operations. · Bitcoin Daily: US Banks Eye Third-Party Custodians For Crypto Investors; UK FinTech Cashaa To Launch Crypto Bank In India By PYMNTS 60 60 naqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1ai PYMNTS Posted on November 1, November 1.
Cashaa ICO Overview. Presale Date: Over. Public sale Date: 6 th November to 5 th Dec. Cashaa is a gateway to consumer-centric and affordable financial products aimed at consumer adoption of Blockchain without having to understand the technical details of Blockchain technology. Cashaa’s wallet system, integrated with the peer to peer exchange with full spectrum of fully digital.
Bitex is targeting $10 Mn-worth daily trading volume for the BTC (Bitcoin)-INR (Indian Rupee) pair. Last week, Inc42 reported on global crypto players such as Cashaa and Coinbase. While Cashaa has. · In addition, Cashaa announced, “Following community requests, the minimum deposit and withdrawal limit has also been reduced from 25, to 10, INR [$] to make bitcoin accessible to every Indian investor.” Cashaa was founded by Indian entrepreneurs in the U.K.
in as a P2P money transfer and crypto trading service. · U.K. based cryptocurrency firm, Cashaa partners with India’s banking service provider, United Multistate Credit Cooperative Society, as the latter, introduces banking transactions using cryptocurrencies to 22 physical locations in northern India.
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· Cashaa has become the latest in a long line of cryptocurrency exchanges which has lost Crypto funds to an attack. bitcoins were stolen from an OTC partner of the exchange on Friday afternoon after an “OTC transaction Manager” logged into his system and made two transfers from the company’s wallet.
· The blockchain company, Cashaa, announced yesterday it will be collaborating with India’s United Multistate Credit Cooperative Society to develop a new venture. The two seek to jointly build a crypto-friendly institution dubbed UNICAS and will include 34 physical branches. · There's currently no Cashaa description. We will do our best to review Cashaa and write the description as soon as possible.
Total Market Cap: M. Cap: $ B Cashaa Token Listed on MXC Crypto Exchange, Available for Trading Against USDT. 2 months ago | naqg.xn--80awgdmgc.xn--p1ai View All. Download App. Keep track of your holdings and explore. · Multiple cryptocurrency exchanges in India claim to have experienced a spike in trading volume, ranging between % and %. The CEO of Cashaa, Kumar Gaurav, revealed that the increase in crypto activity indicates that there is a major reason for legacy financial institutions to integrate digital assets.
Cashaa is also bringing more liquidity to the crypto trading market very uniquely and intelligently.
Hackers Attacked U.K-based Crypto Exchange Cashaa Stole ...
Going with the GBP to INR remittance above, the platform matches your payment request by first finding a cryptocurrency trader who wants to sell bitcoins in exchange for GBP.
· Live Bitcoin Trading With Crypto Trading Robot DeriBot on Deribit DeriBot Backup watching. CASHAA!! BitExpo Review: Buy Crypto in INR -. Cashaa (CAS) $ (1 CAS) %. Market Cap Volume 24h Circulating Supply Maximum Supply; $ 4, , CAS: Bitcoin Ethereum Blockchain ICOs Cryptocurrency Altcoins Trading Tools Deals. Reviews. Events. · Bitcoin has crossed the Rs. 11 lakh mark in India.
The instability in the US, along with other factors, has promoted a resurgence of interest and the. Cashaa, a financial firm describing itself as a “crypto-friendly neo-bank,” has just raised $5 million from Dubai-based blockchain investment and advisory firm 01ex. Live Cashaa prices from all markets and CAS coin market Capitalization. Stay up to date with the latest Cashaa price movements and forum discussion.
Check out our snapshot charts and see when there is an opportunity to buy or sell. · Cashaa launches the world’s first global crypto-friendly banking platform Cashaa Team in Cashaa I’m A CEO, 50 & A Former Sugar Daddy — Here’s What I Want You To Know. · According to data from peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace Paxful, India has traded $94, between andmaking it the second largest crypto trading market in Asia.
Subscribe to Mint. Cashaa, a financial firm describing itself as a crypto-friendly neo-bank, has just raised $5 million from Dubai-based blockchain investment and advisory firm 01ex.
Announced Wednesday, the London, U.K.-based firm said it will soon launch in India and possibly add the rupee to its list of supported currencies alongside the U.S. dollar, the euro. Banking services platform Cashaa is offering a solution for Indian crypto owners facing banking restrictions imposed by the country's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Crypto platform makes banking entry in India with co-op ...
The service. · A huge amount of Bitcoin (BTC) has been reportedly stolen by hackers from a crypto exchange. Hackers have attacked the U.K-based cryptocurrency exchange Cashaa and stole over BTC from its wallet. After reporting this hacking activity, the crypto exchange has immediately taken notice and has halted all of the other transactions related to cryptocurrency.
Get insights about the latest crypto trends, improve your trading with valuable professional advice, and learn about all things crypto with Virtual Banking.
Read our Datum review to learn all about the project. Cashaa is a direct competitor to platforms like OmiseGO. Its ultimate goal is to create a global decentralized economy. The cryptocurrency industry has lacked a regulatory consensus and framework to ensure safe trading.
While the landscape has typically been fragmented, it is encouraging to see Hong Kong take the steps to establish a mainstream-like environment for participants looking to trade crypto. “That said, the conversation is far from over. Cashaa is blockchain-based banking solutions platform, focused on providing fiat gateways to exchanges worldwide. It is also dedicated to providing banking access to those who are unbanked or find it difficult to access banking services.
Hacker stole 336 BTC from Crypto exchange Cashaa
MXC is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, with a special focus on BTC, BSV, and ETH trading. · Their new accounts now offer users cryptocurrency conversions of up to £ million. A new banking account. The new banking account from Cashaa is called “Crypto Business/Broker” and is designed for people and businesses looking for crypto-friendly banking offerings.
Cashaa’s Get started plan lets in companies that have already got a checking account so as to add a crypto fee choice for his or her shoppers. It comes with cryptocurrency conversion as much as £1 million and helps deposits and withdrawals in over native currencies, together with U.S. greenback, euro, British pound, and Indian rupee. London-based banking platform Cashaa (CAS) have announced that, from 23 October, they will enable deposits and purchases of cryptocurrency for residents in India using Indian Rupees (INR) up to the value of 1 crore INR per month (approximately $, USD).
On the occassion of #Diwali, we are enabling #Indian residents to buy #BTC with #INR, up to 1 crore a month, starting from 23 October. · It is worth mentioning that, bank’s and Cashaa’s collaboration comes amid India’s uncertain crypto regulations. As a reminder, in March the Supreme Court of India ruled in favor of the crypto industry. The country’s central bank imposed a blanket ban on banks’ dealings with crypto businesses back in April · Kumar Gaurav, chief executive of Cashaa, stated that UNICAS would shed a complementary view of cryptocurrencies and educate Indians about this burgeoning industry.
Indian banks’ strict laws on cryptocurrencies. Last month, the country that is home to various spices announced that it would forbid cryptocurrency trading.


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Resident Evil Village will reportedly include VR mode
The latest installment of the Resident Evil series is rumored to include virtual reality options like Resident Evil 7 before it.
Resident Evil Village is fast approaching, and though it will be aiming for a 2021 release instead of this year, we can't help but remain on the edge of our seats to see where it ends up taking us – especially if that means we're headed into virtual reality again.
The upcoming sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has already stunned us with our first look, and the tenth major installment in the Resident Evil series seems like it's on track to deliver something fantastic. According to Biohazard Declassified, a group of early testers have claimed that the game will indeed include a VR version on PlayStation, much like Resident Evil 7 did.
Neither Sony nor Capcom have confirmed or denied this rumor, but it makes perfect sense that the sequel to a game where you could complete an entire run in first-person virtual reality would include the same type of content in its sequel. PlayStation VR will also be compatible with PlayStation 5, so that means there's ample opportunity for players to jump in this terrifying world.
Additionally, testers also indicated that the mansion seen in the first trailer we saw recently is full of strange, pale enemies that wear armor and some even carry melee weapons. There may even be a bigger focus on melee in general in the game this time around.
Of course, we'll have to wait and see what happens going forward, as nothing has been confirmed about any of these new rumors thus far. But we'll be looking out for some new announcements here in the future as August rolls in. Be sure to stay tuned to Shacknews for additional updates on all things Resident Evil. We'll be back with new footage to pore over when the new trailer drops this August. Hopefully by then we'll
Brittany Vincent posted a new article, Resident Evil Village will reportedly include VR mode


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Two major rival wireless charging groups join forces to accelerate adoption
Wireless charging has constantly fallen short of making its major market breakthrough. Various developers have dipped their toes in the water, but very few have made a long term commitment to include the technology in all of their products. Part of the problem is that no-one is quite sure about the best wireless charging technology to pick. However, that choice could soon be made for them, as two of the largest wireless charging groups have signed a letter of intent to merge.
The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), which backs magnetic resonance charging technology, and the Power Matter Alliance (PMA), which maintains a standard based on inductive charging, are looking to create a unified organization, which will be named later this year, with the aim to help push this promising technology to mass-market.
As the two groups base their standards on two different methods of wireless charging, the merged group expects that future smartphones and other devices may incorporate both technology types. This has the benefit that users will be able to power up their device on a range of chargers, but might add considerable costs to product manufacturing.
However, this merger currently leaves one of the biggest technologies out of the talks. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which consists of over 200 members, including Microsoft and Qualcomm, owns the Qi charging standard, which has already seen use in a number of Android handsets. Talks to form a super group consisting of all three members are apparently on the cards. John Perzow from the WPC suggested that a deal with the other groups is “inevitable” based on past statements from its competitors.
With many of the big names now all working together, wireless charging may finally break into mainstream technology.


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The new structure will see many HUL managers spending more time out of their cubicles to cover smaller markets across India. The hope is that this will make Unilever’s India subsidiary nimbler and more proactive in responding to insights from the market, and to competition, particularly of the regional variety.
The Jatara in Warangal was perhaps the first experiment with the WIMI initiative: HUL undertook a sampling exercise at the festival for Rs. 5 packs of Fair and Lovely that are meant for rural markets. The stall activation, sampling and sales, say HUL officials, resulted in an instant bump in the franchise’s numbers (the company won’t share exact figures). By the fourth quarter of 2014-15 (January-March), WIMI – along with 2,000-odd HUL managers – was on its way.
The 14 clusters are based out of seven physical locations and five sales branches; a new fifth branch for the central region has been carved out from the Hindi heartland of central Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Chhattisgarh, comprising over 500 million people. The first step for WIMI was a pilot that was done in the south branch by creating separate consumer clusters TAP (Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) and KK (Karnataka and Kerala).
The HUL mangers mobilised for the initiative began to move quickly. For instance, two of them on field duty in Punjab fed an insight about a significant mass market for tea in the ‘Punjab and Hills’ cluster. HUL was quick to respond, re-launching the Taaza brand after changing the blend to suit the local taste, and communicating aggressively on radio and in local media. This, claim HUL marketers, led to a spike in Taaza volume growth.
Similarly, Pepsodent clove oil and salt toothpaste was launched in south India; small packs of tea and unique sampling trade deals were offered in coastal Andhra Pradesh; variable price points were created in the laundry segment to shift consumers from local brands to Rin in Uttar Pradesh; and detergent brand Wheel, which was competing with a local label brand in the mass powders segment in Telangana, was re-launched with an improved formulation, pricing and communication customised for the new state.
“The numbers (of the June ended quarter, in which total income grew by 5%, in line with analysts’ expectations) reflects that the strategy is working in terms of volume growth and share,” says Mehta, who is keen to encourage a startup culture at the marketing behemoth and get young managers to keep their ears to the ground across India’s diverse markets. “It is imperative to win in all parts of our business and across all channels and geographies, in order to win decisively. We want to have the soul of a small company where speed is the currency, bias for action is the norm, where people are empowered on the frontline,” adds Mehta. “WIMI has helped us understand finer nuances about local consumers and provide us a more granular understanding of the market.” The cluster strategy is also leading to better productivity and accountability of managers across branches.
At a time when rural markets – which bring in roughly a third of HUL’s top line – are experiencing a slowdown, HUL claims WIMI helped 90% of the portfolio gain market share last year, much of it from regional brands. The marketer now has six brands that have crossed Rs. 2,000 crore in sales, five brands that are over Rs. 1,000 crore and six that have hit Rs. 500 crore.
Long-time HUL watchers who have seen CEOs come and go don’t rule this out as yet another ‘do, delete, redo’ strategy of a new CEO. For instance, if MS Banga (CEO between 2000 and 2005) had his ‘power brands’ strategy, his predecessor Keki Dadiseth almost single-handedly pursued acquisition-led growth. “Every new CEO brings in a new style of functioning, but I guess so long as the long term results are positive, it is good for all stakeholders,” is how an HUL veteran puts it.
Mehta for his part is clear that he wants his managerial team to represent the whole of India. “Our internal population represents the different clusters of the country and we don’t just have talent from urban India but people who represent the whole ethos and fabric of the country. Insights from these young managers are being taken right into the boardroom to ensure that our execution reflects such understandings.”
The 14 clusters have resulted in the creation of 14 new leadership positions to empower talent within the system. Typically, a young manager (in his 30s) leads each cluster. His mandate: to understand the local demand and competition and drive growth in non-metro geographies.
“Mehta ought to be credited for understanding that focus shoots up when you break geographies into smaller markets. Managers on the ground and in touch with consumers in a diverse market such as India can throw up huge opportunities for HUL,” says Amin Babwani, a former HUL marketer who now consults consumer companies.
Nitin Mathur, research analyst who covers consumer companies in emerging markets for Société Générale, says HUL has laid out a clear strategy to counter regional competition. “With 14 clusters, the focus is to increase the quality of distribution and increase bespoke products and strategies to counter local competition.” A recent JM Financial report said the central India cluster accounts for 40% of the country’s population but has only 22% share of the country’s GDP, which offers it (HUL) a much higher opportunity for growth relative to the rest of the country.” Small wonder then that that Mehta says he wants HUL to be “future-ready” to tap that opportunity.
Image credit: Getty


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A few months ago, Bloomberg published its list of the “50 Most Promising Startups You’ve Never Heard Of.” We were thrilled when Rulai was included. After all, we were only one of three startups specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) that made it on their list.
AI chatbots are poised to rapidly expand across the enterprise. Their importance to the enterprise cannot be overstated.
As AI chatbots continue to grow in popularity, there’s a lot of hype about their expansion across industry sectors. However, the conversation rarely delves deep into whether they’re poised to intelligently perform tasks that solve real problems. There’s a good reason for that. Simply put, the majority of companies simply don’t have the resources or manpower to develop AI chatbots that provide game-changing customer experiences.
Recently, CB Insights published its State of Automation Report. We’re proud to announce that Rulai was listed along with only 40+ other startups in its newly coined category “Expert Automation and Augmentation Software (EaaS).”
Check it out on VentureBeat: The Dangers of Letting Big Tech Control AI
Thanks to technology, customer service is a highly measurable activity that generates an incredible amount of data. You can produce endless reports that detail contact rate, call volume, chat times, resolution rates, interaction counts, etc. However, with so much data available companies often get caught up in metrics instead of focusing on their meaning.
Topics: Customer Support Processes
From live customer service agents to chatbots
Over the past few years, advances in voice processing and machine learning have made it easier for software to understand conversational language. As a result, conversational interface (“CUI”) technology is becoming ever more commonplace—just look at the rise of consumer-focused chatbots like Facebook’s Messenger, Apple’s Siri, and Amazon’s Echo.
Right now there’s a lot of media hype about AI chatbots. If you believe everything you read, you might start worrying that chatbots will eventually lead to contact center extinction.
A few weeks ago, Rulai attended the 2017 ICMI Contact Center Expo in Orlando, FL, focused on the theme of “Delivering Exceptional Customer Experiences (CX) in a Complex and Changing World.”
Today, Techcrunch published a feature article about our cutting-edge Interaction Design Console for creating an enterprise chatbot and how it's a game-changer in the industry. Notably, they called out one of the ways that Rulai is at the forefront of industry trends:


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PARIS — Notify Jeans is showing its artistic flare.
The label's atelier-like flagship here, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, is slated to open next fall, and a handbag created by Ron Arad is in the works. And Maurice Ohayon, Notify's owner and designer, is adding yet another collaboration to the brand's palette.
The premium denim label has teamed with Italian and Swiss fashion illustrator François Berthoud to design a collection of limited edition T-shirts for men and women.
"Denim is like a canvas," Ohayon said. "You can apply whatever you want to it and the outcome is always something unique. I didn't want T-shirts with complicated designs. I wanted to put the focus on Berthoud's masterful color work."
Berthoud, who has already collaborated with fashion brands such as Costume National and Karl Lagerfeld, took a simple approach to the project.
"We decided to avoid representative illustration," said Berthoud, whose illustrations have also graced fashion magazines such as Vogue, Numéro and Interview. "Instead, we chose a conceptual approach to the design."
For the collection, Berthoud drew a circle for women and a square for men in variety of natural tones such as eggplant, lime green and rose. Berthoud also worked his graphic talent into one denim look for next summer.
An exhibit of a selection of Berthoud's illustrations will be on display at the Fashion Illustration Gallery in London starting Friday and running through Dec. 29.
@deciem is all about transparency and approachability. At this year’s WWD Digital Beauty Forum, the brand's co-CEO @nicolakilner said talking to customers directly about the ingredients in products and how they work is key. #wwdsummits #wwdbeauty
‘We didn't know how relevant our film would be when we were making it. When Steven [Rogers] wrote the script Trump wasn't president, class divide in America wasn't as evident as it is now, though it was present. The Time’s Up movement hadn't began and the way we look at women and treat women who speak out — thankfully that is something that seems to have shifted in the last year. I think we just need to continue making art that provokes the conversation and do what we can,’ said ‘I, Tonya’ actress @margotrobbie. Head to WWD.com to see all the celebrities who walked the red carpet @bafta #timesup #wwdeye (📸: Neil Hall)
Gemma Arterton is joined on the @bafta’s red carpet by Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis, the two women who started the fight for the pay-gap. ‘They represent a normal person speaking out for what is right. Speak out, we will listen and anyone can speak out,’ said Arterton. #eebaftas #timesup #wwdeye (📸: David Fisher)


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All articles by BRAIN Staff
WATERTOWN, Mass. (BRAIN) — Seven Cycles has added two custom titanium fat bike models to its lineup.
The Treeline S and Treeline SL are built with straight-gauge and double-butted titanium respectively.
￼PITTSBURGH (BRAIN) — Dirt Rag's art director for the last seven years, Matt Kasprzyk, is moving on to a new career at Scott Sports. Kasprzyk's vacancy will be filled by longtime Bicycle Times art director, Stephen Haynes.
Dirt Rag's Issue #188 will be Kasprzyk's last with the magazine.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (BRAIN) — Montague's new RackStand serves as a bike's rear rack, fender and a kickstand or workstand. It's compatible with 700c, 26-inch or 27.5-inch wheels and will work with quick release or bolt-on axles. It also is available for OE sales.
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Verde Brand Communications is launching an online training program tailored to retailers, reps, manufacturers, guides and other members of the bike industry focused on the women’s market.
BEAVERTON, Ore. (BRAIN) — Kevin Chudy, owner of three Bike N Hike stores in Beaverton, Milwaukie and Hillsboro, plans to retire from the business after 31 years. Chudy is putting the three stores on the block as he transitions into retirement by the end of this year.
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (BRAIN) – Bicycle Retailer & Industry News and PeopleForBikes are collecting updates for the 2016 Industry Directory.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (BRAIN) — Cyclocross races are often held in public parks where officials and user groups are concerned about events’ impact.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Moots Cycles announced Thursday that longtime owner Chris Miller has sold the titanium bike and component manufacturer to Brent Whittington, a former executive officer for Windstream Holdings, Inc, a Fortune 500 telecommunications company.
SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Chrome Industries is celebrating its 20th year in business with a celebration tour beginning at its New York City Chrome HUB location on October 7th. The New York event will be the first of seven held at each of Chrome's regional retail HUBS.


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The cat known on the Internet as "Grumpy Cat," named Tardar Sauce, has landed an endorsement deal as the new spokescat for Nestlé Purina PetCare's Friskies cat food brand.
As part of this new deal, the "Grumpy Cat" will appear in an online promotion for the cat food brand, extending a partnership it began with the cat in March for its Web videos series, "Will Kitty Play With It?" The cat will also receive a Friskies lifetime achievement award at the Friskies Award show on October 15.
"Signing on Grumpy Cat for a longer-term relationship allows Friskies to work with one of the biggest stars in the space," said Friskies brand manager, Shawn Brain. "It's a win-win for everyone-especially people who love watching cat videos and cat owners who love experiencing a variety of online cat content."
The top 10 petfood manufacturers continue to feel the effects of the global economic meltdown
The maker of raw and holistic diets seeks to help transform pets through its products, philosophy, education and research
This book takes a decidedly different turn from the usual consumer-oriented petfood fodder
Proline Petfood business unit to operate from Scholtus' production facilities starting January 2012
Before 'natural' and 'premium' were buzzwords in the industry, Ark Naturals was already starting trends with its innovative pet products
EVO Weight Management cat food, treats featured in magazine's December 2010 issue
The company builds on its boutique business with three new lines for pet stores, including baked dog food and treats
Petfood companies who promote their support of causes in their marketing campaigns are staying innovative in these uncertain times
Learn about more companies and how they are lending a helping paw and claw to their own cause campaigns
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Powerbeats4 Leaked, Expected to Feature H1 Chip With 'Hey Siri' Support and More
German blog WinFuture.de today shared what it claims are "official" marketing photos of the rumored Powerbeats4 earphones, which will apparently be offered in white, black, and red color options.
In line with Apple's recent FCC filing, the Powerbeats4 are expected to have a more curved design that is similar to the Powerbeats Pro, with the same angled in-ear fit and wraparound earhooks. Like the Powerbeats3, the Powerbeats4 will still have a wire, although repositioned below the bottom of each earhook.
As expected, the report claims the Powerbeats4 will be equipped with the same Apple-designed H1 chip as the Powerbeats Pro, which should result in hands-free "Hey Siri" support, longer talk time and up to a 1.5x faster connection time for phone calls, up to 30 percent lower gaming latency, and more.
The report adds that the Powerbeats4 will feature the same sound quality as Powerbeats Pro, along with up to 15 hours of battery life and charging via Lightning. Pricing remains unclear, but Powerbeats Pro are priced at $249.95 in the United States, while the three-year-old Powerbeats3 retail for $199.95.
Apple received FCC approval for new Powerbeats last month, and that usually signals an upcoming release, so Powerbeats4 could be announced any day now with a press release. However, it's worth noting that with the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, plans are easily subject to change.
Top Rated Comments
Until Apple releases a firmware update a month later that nerfs the performance. :mad:
(Three months later, and I'm still waiting for them to fix my Airpods Pro.) :mad:


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Click here for the original story on Black Triangle ; and here for the first update
Stuart has asked us to share his latest video update (below) with you.
The Millennium Hotel Group are still conducting their internal investigation and we hope to update you next week.
1 thought on “UPDATE #2: On the Matter of the Defamation of Mr. Stuart Wyatt by The Copthorne Hotel, Plymouth”
well well – so it seems that someone has been rattled at the copout hotel , so well done stuart for getting something done – but i wonder how long those spraypainted lines will last and how long it will be before they are back to their old ways when all this blows over ??
now some people watching the videos may think that this is being blown out of all proportion – BUT as i said yesterday this HAS been going on for years – despite what the woman in the video said ( what was it ?? i have been here for 10 years and its never been an issue ?? ) – well she wants to try opening her eyes a bit
plymouth IS improving in many ways with disabled access ,I complained a couple of years ago about a dangerous junction near the railway station that scooter users /wheelchair users and disabled and elderly people generally took their life in their hands crossing as many motorists did not indicate after coming off a busy roundabout – the councill to their credit have sorted it – and it is now a fine and safe example of what CAN be done
BUT having said that – disabled (for the mobility challenged ) is still pretty bad in many shops and businesses in the city – there ARE a lot of bad attitudes towards the disabled ( and the crap in the mail and other mmedia don’t help ) – but there are still many stores – shops and places like cafes that UNLESS you CAN manage to walk a short distance – are still inaccessabe
BUT if you DO get off your scooter – you then get ignorant sods saying ” see he/she ain’t disabled – he /she CAN walk – i have had it said to me recently – but they soon shut up when you ask them to go into a store for you if they are SOOOOOO concerned
any ways once again well done to stuart – and i hope the copthorn has the bottle to issue a full and public appology – (but again imo – dont hold your breath )