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A drone that can carry people will begin "regular operations" in Dubai from July, the head of the city's Roads and Transportation Agency has announced at the World Government Summit. The Chinese model eHang 184 has already had test flights, said Matt al-Tayer. The drone can carry one passenger weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds) and has a 30 minute flight time. The passenger uses a touch screen to select a destination. There are no other controls inside the craft.
There are quite a few companies working on developing drones for human transportation, but a new one has just jumped into the fray. With an almost fully developed prototype and plans to start producing them commercially next year, the aptly named Passenger Drone introduced itself by showing off a manned flight on its first prototype. The company has been quietly working on its tech for the last three years and it has produced a lightweight, car-sized drone that can fly autonomously, be maneuvered remotely or be controlled manually. It's lifted by 16 rotors and produces zero emissions. Passenger Drone says it plans to build five more prototypes and log over 1000 hours of flight time before proceeding with commercial production.
There have been concerns from different quarters regarding the safety of drones and their uses, with different voices having contributed to this debate. There is a consensus, however, that there is need for policing and regulating policies to ensure that drones do not expose people and countries to danger. Last year, an unmanned autonomous vehicle was spotted flying towards a passenger airplane flight 366 causing different groups to come together and work with the industry, the White House and various universities to develop rules and regulations on the use of drones. And while these rules and regulations are necessary, stakeholders also agree that it is crucial to provide a policy for drone technology in the national air space. "There's tremendous personal responsibility, and you need to educate yourself before you open the box and start to operate an airframe like this," Keith Kaplan, CEO of Tesla Foundation and representative of UAV System Association, was quoted as saying.
The EHang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle is unveiled at the EHang booth at CES International in January in Las Vegas. The drone is large enough to fit a human passenger. The EHang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle is unveiled at the EHang booth at CES International in January in Las Vegas. The drone is large enough to fit a human passenger. The idea: a drone taxi that can transport a single passenger for up to 23 minutes.


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So far fashion etailer ASOS remains immune to the economic downturn. Sales for the six months to 30th September were £65.7 million, up 17 per cent from the first half of last year. Pretax profit for the same period grew 71 per cent, to £4.1 million. What’s the secret to the company’s success? The Telegraph devotes a fair amount of space to trying to find out.
“Next is understood to be planning a round of job cuts in the new year as the fashion retailer prepares for what is expected to be a grim 12 months,” The Guardian reports.
Screwfix and B&Q parent company Kingfisher was ranked number two on The Observer’s Good Companies Guide, which rates companies based on their social and environmental actions, the quality of their corporate governance and how they address industry-specific issues. (Scottish & Southern Energy earned the top spot.) The only other multichannel retailer in the top 20 was Marks & Spencer. Two cataloguers made the bottom 20, however: Findel (because of “concerns over directors’ contracts, independence and remuneration”) and N Brown ( “It is not a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and, with no information provided on supplier auditing, runs the risk that worker abuse could feature in its supply chain”).
The Times profiles Hotel Chocolat, and its socially responsible sourcing practices in particular. Upscale chocolate must be in the zeitgeist because The Guardian also featured Hotel Chocolat in a business roundup titled “Inspire and innovate”.
Microsoft has finally launched its own eCommerce site, where customers in the UK, Germany, Korea and the US can buy its software direct from the company, reports VNUnet.com. Stateside customers can buy Microsoft hardware from the site as well.
The Herald offers a paean to catalogue shopping: “…amid all the misery, there is one cause to cheer: Christmas catalogues, lots of them, arriving with the newspapers, offered in the shops, pouring through the letterbox”.

domain: news


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Though lines for the iPhone 4 at Apple Stores around the world are as long as ever, with some stores already selling out, a group of early owners are reporting problems with the phone's screen and antenna.
When powered up, some phones experience yellow screen discoloration or a constellation of white spots. Meanwhile, others are experiencing reduced call reception when holding the phone a certain way.
Then there's the thing with the volume control. "Although it isn't going to change your life, it looks like a few iPhone 4s are coming off the assembly line with reversed volume buttons," Friday morning. One reader reported that the button with the "—" icon increased volume, while the button with the '+' icon reduced it.
The gadget blog Gizmodo has received more than 50 reports from new owners, many including photographs of the screen issues, most frequently a distinct yellow bar across one side of the screen, or in some cases yellow blotches.
This yellow discoloration is thought to be related to an adhesive used in affixing components underneath the screen. There is some hope that the off-color will fade as the bonding material cures. One MacRumors forum member wrote that his "major yellow spots" had faded by the second day. "Keep an eye on it over the next day or so if you have the issue," he suggested.
The other screen issue seen in photos is a constellation of bright white spots, appearing in different patterns that persist regardless of the picture on the screen.
While these problems do exist, it is not clear how widespread the issue is. Owners of the iPhone 4 are reporting that Apple customer service representatives are acknowledging screen discoloration as a known issue, and in some cases attributing it to "residue from the manufacturing process."
Some Apple Care reps have offered replacement iPhone 4s — either on the spot or in a week — to owners who complained. Now, however, Gizmodo reports that in other cases, service reps are telling new iPhone 4 owners to wait to see if the screen issues fade over time.
Despite buyers discussions with customer service reps, Apple has not yet made a formal statement regarding the blotchy-screen troubles.
At the same time, many new users are citing issues of poor reception, but this appears to be related to the iPhone 4's design, rather than any manufacturing flaw. According to videos demonstrating the problem, holding the phone a certain way apparently interferes with the antenna.
The issue, which initially surfaced on MacRumors, is that when a hand or finger is placed over a small gap in the iPhone 4's metal band, a gap identified by Apple as a key to the new external antenna construction, the phone noticeably loses reception bars, and at times drops calls or suffers data speed declines.
Due to the placement of the gap, on the lower lefthand side of the phone's band, this alleged problem would be more likely to affect people who hold their phones in their left hands as they talk. Gizmodo has rounded up over 20 user-submitted videos of this phenomenon, all confirming the same issue.
Fortunately, as quickly as reports of the flaw have come in, so have suggestions on how to fix it. Sticking Apple's $29 rubber "bumper" around the phone covers the antenna contact, and therefore apparently prevents the problem, as demonstrated in a video on Gizmodo.
We just received a pitch via email for a $30 protective film called Wrapsol, which covers the front, back and sides of the phone, and "may also help with reception issues." Others have gone more low-tech, suggesting that a piece of Scotch tape would do the trick as well.
Most likely, the solution that will gain the most popularity will be simpler — learning how to hold the phone without touching the antenna gap.
Late Thursday, Apple did respond to the antenna problem, saying just that. "Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas," said the written statement.
"This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."


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This week's iPhone 5 rumor roundup features information on The Date from that hotbed of Apple smartphone rumors, St. Albans, Hertfordshire; more slips from Verizon's loose-lipped CFO; LTE prospects in Red China; how the iPhone 5 is causing a slump in global smartphone cells; a new SIM card standard that will extend Apple's control over identity stuff; and why new tables in the Apple stores mean iPhone 5 will have NFC.
You read it here second.
"Some report elsewhere whatever is told them; the measure of fiction always increases, and each fresh narrator adds something to what he has heard." -- Ovid, "Metamorphoses"
The Date: The iPhone 5 will be "delayed" again, at least in the UK, until November. We know this because an employee of this corner Phones 4U store in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, said so.
"Speculation around the Apple iPhone 5 is at fever pitch this week as reporters have been badgering an employee of phones4u into spilling the beans on its official release date," according to a breathless account in Gadgets and Gizmos.
The Herts Advertiser 24 apparently embroidered a bit more, saying that "rumours surfaced this week that a sales assistant at the St Albans branch of Phones 4u had told a customer that the release date, thought to be September, had been pushed back to November due to handset problems."
This rumour reached a "new level of stupidity," according to U.K. tech site Electric Pig, which is saying something as iPhone rumours go.
"Why did no one else realizses that Apple had installed a Batphone straight from Steve Jobs' personal office to the backroom of the St Albans branch of Phones 4U?" asked Mic Wright. Wright on.
Details revealed: Some vague comments by Verizon Communications' CFO are being subjected to a heady blend of obsessive analysis and wishful thinking. According to Reuters, Fran Shammo, CFO for the parent company of Verizon Wireless, spoke at the Reuters Global Technology Summit. There, Shammo's main points were that the mobile carrier will scrap unlimited smartphone data plans this summer, offering tiered pricing, along with new options such as family plans for data services.
But he also mentioned that the "next iPhone" from Verizon Wireless will launch "at the same time as AT&T," according to Reuters. There's been speculation that some customers have held off buying Verizon's iPhone 4 because they're waiting for an iPhone that runs on Verizon's recently introduced "4G" network based on Long Term Evolution (LTE). Reuters: "Shammo said that even if the next iPhone does not support LTE, Verizon will have enough high-speed alternatives to sell. 'I think it's a bigger issue for Apple than it is for us,' he said. 'Depending on where Apple plays, that's where we'll sell.'"
"Verizon CFO Reveals iPhone 5 Details," announced PC Magazine. One alleged detail was that iPhone 5 will be a global phone, able to work on both CDMA and GSM networks. But this appears to be a misreading of the Reuters story, which noted correctly that Shammo had already talked about this in April. By saying that Verizon "would be able to launch the iPhone 5 at the same time as AT&T," Shammo was "all but confirming a simultaneous launch on both carriers," PC Mag helpfully pointed out. But the CFO was "fairly mum" about iPhone 5 and LTE. So, not much of a detail there, apparently.
ZDNet, which misidentified Shammo as "Verizon CEO," linked both the demise of unlimited data plans and the new family plans to the looming iPhone 5: "Verizon plans to kill unlimited data plans as the global iPhone 5 draws near."
"Both of these changes come as Apple readies the release of the iPhone 5, which is widely expected to appear this fall," according to the post. More confident than PC Mag, ZDNet claimed Shammo had indeed "confirmed" that Verizon and AT&T will "get the iPhone 5 at the same time."
Leaving plenty of room for future rumors about whether they will announce, start presales, start regular sales, and ship the phone at the same time.
Chinese LTE: China Mobile, the country's biggest wireless carrier with just over 600 million subscribers, announced "it has reached consensus with Apple Inc. on using its fourth-generation technology on iPhones to be offered by the Chinese mobile services provider," according to a brief story in MarketWatch.
Coyly, the story noted that China Mobile Chairman Wang Jianzhou "declined to elaborate on exactly what has been agreed with Apple."
IPHONEYS: The iPhone 5 edition (slideshow)
Currently, China Unicom is the sole source of iPhones in China. The fourth-generation technology mentioned in MarketWatch is China Mobile's own flavor of LTE, called TD-LTE, as it also currently offers a variant of CDMA. The "consensus" could mean that China Mobile will only offer the iPhone as a 4G device in the future, rather than the 3G iPhone 5 as previously speculated.
At PC Mag, the "consensus" between the two companies morphed into a "deal" that will let China Mobile "offer the iPhone." Digital Daily's John Paczkowski is more restrained. He writes that "some progress has been made" and clearly spells out that "the [iPhone] version [China Mobile is] evidently getting won't run on its current 3G TD-SCDMA network, but on its next generation 4G TD-LTE network, which won't be fully lit up for 12-18 months."
Phones Review, which confusedly referenced iPhone 4G, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s, appears finally to conclude that the China Mobile "agreement" means that an iPhone with 4G "will more than likely happen in 2012 and no sooner."
iPhone 5 causes slump in handset sales: "Sales of handsets slumped as consumers hold out for high-profile device launches, like the iPhone 5, according to research firm Gartner, " according to Mobiledia. The only problem with the statement is that Gartner didn't exactly say it.
Gartner reported this week on Q1 sales of mobile communications devices. Smartphones were 24% of total mobile device sales, an 85% jump over the same period a year ago. "This share could have been even higher, but manufacturers announced a number of high-profile devices during the first quarter of 2011 that would not ship until the second quarter of 2011. We believe some consumers delayed their purchases to wait for these models," says Roberta Cozza, a principal research analyst at Gartner.
iPhone 5 of course hasn't been officially announced. So it's harder to guess how many people are delaying current iPhone purchases in the hopes of buying the i5. (Though the folks at Beatweek have devoted themselves to continually answering "the most common tech-related question we get here ... is when the iPhone 5 will be released and, accordingly, whether the iPhone 4 should be purchased in the meantime.")
The Gartner study doesn't speculate on iPhone 5, but simply notes that the quarter's performance "helped Apple consolidate its position as the fourth largest brand in the mobile communication market overall," according to Carolina Milanesi, Gartner research vice president. "Considering the higher than average price of the iPhone this is a remarkable result and highlights the impact that a strong aspirational brand can have on a product."
Gartner thinks the smartphone market may cool off somewhat later this year. "Part of the reason for the lowered expectations is that consumers may be holding out for the high-profile iPhone 5 release from Apple," Mobiledia asserts.
Relocated LED flash: Probably not the No. 1 Eagerly Awaited iPhone 5 Feature for most folks. But Ars Technica's Chris Foresman does a pretty good job putting it in context.
The "thin evidence" in support of this rumor is a photo of a new product from the main supplier of "random Chinese-made iPhone cases," Alibaba.com. The product is a "crystal case" for something called the "iPhone 5g." The case shows a rear-facing camera in its usual position on the left side, but the LED flash has moved far to the right.
Foresman says that having the two components close together "often results in less-than-optimal image results" because of light leaking into the lens, among other problems. He says the redesign is plausible but cautions about reading too much into the Alibaba product because case designers often crank out new designs based on nothing more than rumors, hoping to get a jump on their rivals.
9to5Mac reports that the case now has been removed from the Alibaba website and speculates that Apple's legal team made them do it. "We're not going to say for sure that Apple was behind the removal of the above iPhone 5 case, but it makes sense." Unlike the St. Albans leak cited earlier.
New smaller SIM card: U.K. tech site V3 reports that Apple has proposed to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) a new standard for a smaller Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, which could be included in "its forthcoming iPhone."
The story says an ETSI spokesman confirmed the proposal, but nothing has been approved. Although V3 says the new card is for the upcoming iPhone 5, it's actually not clear if that's Apple's intent. The ETSI spokesman was quoted as saying "No technical details about the proposal were provided." KnowYourMobile.com picked up on a related Reuters story, which notes that ETSI standards can take a year or more to finalize. Another complication for Beatweek's iPhone 5 buying recommendations.
What would the change mean? V3 talked to Jeremy Green, practice leader at Ovum's telco strategy team, who said, "The new SIM card will not only be smaller, it is highly likely to be reconfigurable, which will give Apple increased control over user activity."
Apple could update the International Mobile Subscriber Identity number, update other software and features, and possibly let customers change networks with replacing the SIM card, according to Green.
Near Field Communications: The ping-pong ball rumors about whether NFC -- a very short-range wireless technology that can be used for automatic wireless payments -- will be included in iPhone 5 are now trending toward "yes," thanks to information from "multiple Apple sources," cited by The Boy Genius Report.
BGR says Apple's point-of-sale devices (the iPod touch-based wireless payment terminals) "recently all went offline for 'maintenance' for an entire day"; plus some employees in some stores stayed late to "assist in installing TBD devices" throughout the stores"; and new tables were installed in stores, with different wiring compared to Apple's standard tables.
What does it all mean? "We have a feeling Apple's 10th anniversary plans might put a few pieces of the puzzle in place, but one of our sources also believes that NFC payment processing capabilities are among the enhancements that will be brought about by the new gear."
John Cox covers wireless networking and mobile computing for Network World.


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Facebook's status update box has gotten itself a new upgrade: Lists.
This is the first major upgrade to the update box since the introduction of the coloured backgrounds in December 2016.
What are Facebook Lists?
Facebook Lists are just like they sound; a new feature that allows users to share itemised lists of anything they want – whether it’s travel destinations, restaurants they want to try or simple to-do lists. The feature is not yet broadly available, as it’s a part of a slow global rollout beginning last week.
Why the change?
There are two core explanations behind this change. The first is a part of Facebook’s recent initiative to encourage meaningful interactions between people.
The second is a recent acknowledgement from Facebook that social media may not be all that good for you – it just depends on how you use it:
Just like in person, interacting with people you care about can be beneficial, while simply watching others from the sidelines may make you feel worse.
This update is just one of the many changes to Facebook in an attempt to post more personal updates across the platform – reengaging with friends and family. They’re looking for users to post stories about their lives, what they’re up to and what they’re thinking – solving the problem of too much non-personal content in the News Feed.
In recent years, the Facebook News Feed has been filled with news articles, videos, brand advertisements and publisher posts. These recent changes are an attempt to move away from this type of content – again prioritising personal connections on the platform.
How do Facebook Lists look?
The coloured background functionality will continue with the new Lists feature. Users are able to create their own Lists and customise it with a chosen colour.
Facebook users will also have the ability to decorate their Lists with emojis. These have been designed with the idea that friends could copy and share each other’s Lists – while also offering their opinions on the given subject.
It isn’t clear if there will be a limit on how many entries a list can have, however only the top five will appear by default, with others hidden in a dropdown menu. The lists can also be alternated between bullet and numerical.
How can I make a Facebook List?
- Make sure your Facebook app on your phone is up to date
- Tap the “What’s on your mind” item
- Tap on “Add to your post” and scroll through the different update-formats
- If the Lists feature is there, great – go right ahead and post your list!
- If the feature isn’t there, you’ll need to wait until your region/device is included in the feature rollout.
Keep in mind you can also copy and repost someone else’s List as well as commenting on the List itself. So keep your application updated and you may just get to try this new feature soon!


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Large tanks heating up dozens of gallons of water at a time are standard fixtures in most homes, but there is an option that is catching on these days: Tankless water heaters provide an option that can not only save money but can also save homeowners from running out of hot water at just the wrong point in time.
“As far as stateside, they’ve been out about 11 or 12 years,” said Tony Russ of Texas Water Heaters at 505 Oak Ridge Drive in Pflugerville. “People would rather get tankless than a tank, but sometimes the cost won’t permit it. Ten years from now, every house is going to have a tankless. It will only make sense.”
Russ said that tankless systems will generally run about three times the cost of installing a standard water heater in a home. But before dismissing the option, he advised that homeowners considering the purchase should think in the long term. Tankless water heaters should actually be a cost-saving proposition after a few years.
“It’s going to cost three times as much to install, but it’s going to last at least three times longer,” Russ said. “The only disadvantages are going to be the up-front cost, that’s all there is.”
More Stories: Indoor Trends
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- Go with the grain
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- Big mirrors leave big impact
- Saving lost treasure from the trash
- What are the differences between the different types of mattress foam, and what is most popular these days?
- Beeswax makes cleaner, brighter candles
- What is the best way to clean wood elements in furniture, and is there anything that can damage them?


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The European Parliament will soon discuss a subject which Hungary, as the third biggest producer of honey, deems important but which also has a salient impact on agriculture and the environment throughout the bloc. The Hungarian initiative seeks to address problems faced by beekeepers across the EU, MEP Norbert Erős, of the ruling Fidesz party, said on Sunday.
The European Parliament’s professional committees are currently discussing the Hungarian report which is expected to go before the agricultural committee in November, Erős, who submitted the report, told a press conference.
Imported Chinese honey of often dubious origin is causing Hungarian and other European beekeepers a headache,
he said, adding that proposals include tightening controls of honey imports and banning filtering and the addition of synthetic resin with a view to concealing the product’s geographical origin.
Erős said almost 500 amendment proposals have been submitted to the report by MEPs, indicating the significance of the issue.
As we wrote before, significantly, Hungary provides 10% of the European Union’s full honey production, which means an amount of about 20-30 thousand tonnes of honey per year. But, despite the major decrease in the production this year, the prices did not increase because of the availability of the Chinese honey.
As we wrote on August, Great Taste, the world’s most coveted blind-tasted food awards, which celebrates the very best in food and drink, has announced the Great Taste stars of 2017. Out of 12,300 products to be judged Hungaroharvest Kft. was awarded 2 golden star for its Dr Honey Premium Flavoured Honey with Apricot Brandy and 1 golden star for its Dr Honey Premium Honeydew Honey, read more HERE.


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The union for thousands of West Coast dockworkers has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, it was announced Wednesday, after more than a year of negotiations and several work disruptions that snarled shipping traffic at some of the largest ports.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union reached the tentative deal for a new six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association, a trade group for cargo carriers and terminal operators. Its members include such global shipping giants as Maersk and Evergreen Marine.
The agreement will require ratification by PMA and union members and would affect 22,000 dockworkers at 29 ports from Washington state through California.
Continue reading on The Associated Press (no subscription required)…


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Bitcoin evangelist Jack Mallers’ Bitcoin payments app Strike has launched its eagerly awaited Visa card. The Card will permit customers to make direct deposits, purchase bitcoin, pay in bitcoin, use Apple Pay and Google Pay to spend funds, ship and obtain cash, and earn rewards.
Strike is a Lightning Network-built cost app that permits customers to make payments and earn rewards on spending.
The launched Visa Card duped Strike Card, will likely be availed to all those that register for the waitlist within the Strike app.
Strike in an announcement mentioned:
“The Strike Card is right here! A Visa card with actual rewards for the actual world. You can now take Strike anyplace and earn rewards on on a regular basis spending. Join the waitlist in your Strike app for early entry as we start rolling out the card to everybody.”
Combining conventional and crypto payments expertise
The Strike cost app combines conventional and crypto cost experiences with prompt rewards for spending.
Strike Card customers won’t be charged any extra charges when utilizing the card and can somewhat get prompt rewards on each spending.
Additionally, Strike has proposed to ship 1% of all of the earnings made by Strike Card to an open-source Bitcoin improvement that’s more likely to drive extra bitcoin adoption throughout the globe.
“Funding Bitcoin with each swipe. Putting our cash the place our imaginative and prescient is.”
Strike will even supply extra rewards to those that refer family and friends for the Visa Card.


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In December 2017, Qualcomm officially released the flagship chip Snapdragon 845 in Hawaii, when Qualcomm touted at the conference, people are very much looking forward to this 2018 Android flagship standard mobile platform.
According to the information released last year, this generation of Snapdragon 845 is still based on the Samsung foundry 10nm process technology, equipped with Kryo 385 CPU, 2MB cache, consisting of four 2.8GHz core A75 and four 1.8GHz core A53, of which the performance of large nuclear than the previous generation increased by 25% -30%, small nuclear performance increased by 15%. The GPU upgrade to Adreno 630, Qualcomm GPU performance and energy efficiency up to 30%, display throughput up 2.5x; Integrated Spectra 280 ISP with support for 4K 60fps video Shooting; support LPDDR4X 1866MHz up to 8GB capacity.
In this case, in fact, it is still difficult to perceive the specific performance of Snapdragon 845. After all, still have to run a minute to see. Fenghuang technology currently got the Snapdragon 845 Geekbench data, the test equipment is equipped with 6GB of Ram memory, and Android 8.0 system Qualcomm engineering prototype.
It’s CPU core score of 2448+ and multi-core 8454 is higher than that of Samsung Note 8 equipped with Snapdragon 835. However, compared to Apple A11 (GeekBench single-core 4000+, multi-core 10000+), Snapdragon 845 is still at a disadvantage.
Take a look at the domestic mobile phone enthusiasts are more familiar with Antutu test results – Snapdragon 845 obtain 267288, close to 270,000 points, and usually equipped with Snapdragon 835 points about 200,000. In comparison, the overall performance Snapdragon 845 is still quite obvious.
In addition @ Song x3 digital bloggers posted on the Weibo Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Kirin 970, Snapdragon 835, Samsung Exynos 8895, Apple A11 GeekBench points comparison and it is shown that the current Snapdragon 845 only lags behind the Apple A11 processing Device.
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook group and page which keeps you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets and more from the technology world of the future.


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Well known antenna guru, Steve VK5SFA has won the ARRL antenna competition.
The criteria this year called for compact designs for those with space restrictions. The antenna had to cover any band from 2200 metres to 10 metres.
Steve’s TMLA design fitted the bill perfectly for the 160 and 80 metre bands
From the ARRL letter:
ARRL has announced the winners of the 2018 QST Antenna Design Competition.
“Dozens of entries were received, but only three could win,” said QSTEditor Steve Ford, WB8IMY.
|The first-prize winner of the 2018 QST Antenna Design Competition was a 160/80-meter loop antenna design by Steve Adler, VK5SFA.|
Requirements for the 2018 QST Antenna Design Competition included an antenna for one or more bands between 2200 meters and 10 meters that could fit within a 30 × 50 foot area and be no taller than 30 feet above ground at any point.
“In other words, we were seeking designs for LF, MF, or HF antennas for limited-space applications,” Ford explained. “We wanted to see innovative antennas that would allow amateurs to get on the air without the need for towering supports and acres of property. Our winners not only met this challenge, they exceeded it.” The winners:
- First Prize ($600): “A High-Power 160/80-Meter Transmitting Magnetic Loop Antenna,” by Steve Adler, VK5SFA
- Second Prize ($250): “LF/MF Reversible EWE Antennas for Small-Lot, Weak-Signal Applications,” by Michael Sapp, WA3TTS
- Third Prize ($150): “The 3/8-Wavelength Vertical for 20 Meters, a Hidden Gem,” by Joe Reisert, W1JR
Details of all three winning designs will appear in a future issue of QST.


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The Caribbean Bite has added a second location and is now serving its authentic Puerto Rican and Dominican flavors in downtown Grand Rapids at the Studio Park development.
Owner Tony Banks, who moonlights as a DJ on 97.3 FM, opened the first location in February in the food court at Rivertown Mall in Grandville. While the mall location focuses more on fried foods like empanadas and chicken wings, the new restaurant at 122 Oakes St. SW, Suite 110, will offer healthier fare made for dine-in consumers.
The Caribbean Bite, which officially opened on Sept. 8, serves Caribbean flavors “like your grandma made,” according to Banks. The nearly 1,200-square-foot restaurant seats approximately 20 indoors with seating for an additional 20 people outdoors.
The menu includes stuffed plantains, tacos, burritos, salads, steak and chicken with rice, beans and fruit on the side. Banks is focusing heavily on authentic flavors and locally-sourced ingredients, emphasizing homemade flavors and unique recipes.
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“Our meat is home-cooked real chicken and real steak,” Banks said. “It’s not a processed food, it’s not a quick option. We let it marinate and then we cook it to perfection.”
Banks developed the idea for The Caribbean Bite after discovering his partner, Jiatnna Valoy, had a hidden talent for cooking. He felt Valoy’s culinary talent could rival other area restaurants, which led the couple to opening a counter in Rivertown Mall’s food court.
Valoy serves as the head chef for The Caribbean Bite, creating flavor combinations and recipes to keep the restaurant’s menu fresh and exciting.
The Caribbean Bite joins other restaurants and businesses in Studio Park, including Leo’s Coney Island, Elsa’s and One Twenty Three Tavern. The eatery will take the place recently vacated by Malamiah Juice Bar and Eatery, one of two Malamiah locations to close in July as the lingering effects of the pandemic drained the small business, as Crain’s Grand Rapids Business previously reported.
So far, the reception to The Caribbean Bite’s new downtown location has been positive, Banks said, with many returning customers.
“It is definitely a good location,” he said, adding that “people are really happy and accepting of the concept and supportive.”
The second location might be just the beginning of an expansion for The Caribbean Bite, Banks said. He has his eyes set on growing the Caribbean Bite brand, with a goal to open a drive-thru fast food restaurant in West Michigan next year.
“There is nowhere where you can drive-thru and get empanadas,” he said. “It’s a no-brainer to establish ourselves in these different environments and spaces because there is no competition.”
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:


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South African tech company iiDENTIFii has achieved Microsoft global Co-Sell status
Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud, the iiDENTIFii platform, which authenticates in under 30 seconds, has the highest standards of security and data protection. This new status underpins iiDENTIFii’s role not only as a key customer, but also a significant partner to Microsoft worldwide as it encourages innovation and industry winning solutions like this one.
“As part of Microsoft’s ecosystem through the co-sell partnership, our cloud technology solution will be available to more customers in the region and beyond, which is an incredible opportunity and value-add for a proven company such as iiDENTIFii, as well as for Microsoft and their respective clients globally,” said Lance Fanaroff, chief strategy officer, iiDENTIFii.
He said that by being a preferred solution of Microsoft it endorses the company’s quality, performance, and ability to address customer needs in the financial services industry as well as other key vertical sectors including telco, healthcare, government, transport, retail and insurance, which holds much promise: “Importantly, it means that Microsoft and its partners are actively incentivised to sell and promote our solution to customers, which is significant and also very exciting for us.”
Other benefits for iiDENTIFii include increased time to market, broader reach and the possibility of additional collaborative partnerships across the Microsoft ecosystem. “Customers will also benefit from our access to Microsoft’s local and global network of data centres, and can be assured of zero data sovereignty concerns or privacy compliance issues. The partnership means that there will be increased flexibility and control, while also ensuring access to best-of-breed solutions that integrate with Microsoft,” added Fanaroff.
“Microsoft is looking to play a significant role in digital transformation, and as a result, are looking at gaining market share through investment and collaboration with a select group of vital digitally-based technologies. We are glad to be working with Microsoft again and look forward to developing a successful digital biometric authentication platform within its ecosystem and assist in growing and developing at this exciting and opportune time.”


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Microsoft has now released updated versions of its Windows Phone Store badges that can be used by Windows Phone software developers to help market and promote their apps.
...of Microsoft money, ARM's acquisition, and Windows 10 updates
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
JESBOD QY13 sports Bluetooth earphones
Time is running out to claim your free Windows 10 upgrade
windows 10 upgrade
Insider build 14393.3 for PC and Mobile released to Fast ring
I saw a link to this story at Newsgeek.net, here it goes... On Thursday, federal authorities told AP that undercover investigators surfing the Internet bought more than 900 black-market law enforcement badges, to...


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Payments platform YouTrip unveils YouBiz offering zero FX fees and unli cashback
YouBiz is also launching a credit facility offering flexible financing to SMEs.
Singapore’s YouTrip has launched YouBiz, a corporate card aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) offering zero foreign exchange fees and 1% cashback on all card spending.
Powered by Mastercard, YouBiz allows SMEs to receive, hold and spend in nine currencies currently–Singapore Dollar, US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Australian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, and Thai Baht—and make an immediate exchange at competitive rates and no fees.
YouBiz enables SMEs to generate physical and unlimited virtual cards for payments at more than 80 million Mastercard merchants worldwide, in over 150 currencies, online and in-store.
Alongside its launch, YouBiz is also introducing a credit facility that offers flexible business financing to SMEs. Businesses to obtain unsecured and collateral-free term loans with no hidden or early repayment fees. Loans will be disbursed to the YouBiz account within 48 hours.
Parent company YouTrip recently secured US$30m in Series A funding.


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“Samsung Pay will reinvent how people pay for goods and services and transform how they use their smartphones. The secure and simple payment process, coupled with our robust partner network, makes Samsung Pay a truly game-changing service that will bring value to consumers and our partners in the ecosystem.”
CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics JK Shin, commenting on the launch of Samsung Pay on March 1st 2015
Samsung, it seems, was on a roll at Barcelona, Spain at the recently concluded MWC (Mobile World Conference) 2015.
They launched the dual twin towers Octa-Core Processor Google Androidc5.0 Lollipop wonder that is the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge on the Sunday 1st Match 2015, their answer to the Apple iPhone 6 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus as reported in my article Samsung Galaxy S6 and Edge at MWC 2015 coming to Mash up Jamaica.
This was even before the big extravaganza kicked off on Monday March 2nd 2025. But they also announced their answer to Apple Pay called, quite aptly Samsung Pay.
Samsung Pay will utilize both the NFC (Near Field Communication) and a new proprietary technology called MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) that comes baked into their Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
Samsung Pay will initially be available in the United States and Korea this summer of 2015. Expansion to other regions such as Europe and China with Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge will eventually follow through the rest of 2015.
Future Samsung smartphone will come with NFC and MST making it possible for Samsung customers to use their Smartphone at nearly 30 million merchant locations worldwide regardless of whether they support the traditional Magstrip or use the newer technologies.
Samsung Pay – Support for NFC and MST means more Merchant in more places can accept Samsung Pay
This built-in acceptance will help to reduce the current low level of acceptance of such Mobile Wallet solutions such as Google Pay. MST technology enables Samsung Pay to support PLCC (private label credit cards) and thus more Credit and Prepaid Debit Cards, thanks to the kind cooperation of key partners Synchrony Financial and First Data Corporation.
Margaret Keane, President and CEO of Synchrony Financial, the largest provider of private label credit cards in the U.S. seemed to think this was the next greatest thing since sliced bread seeing as no upgrade to existing POS (Point of Sale) Terminals is needed, quote: “This is great news for our customers who can access their cards and make payments using Samsung Pay and great news for our retailers who won’t have to upgrade their point of sale terminals. We look forward to working with Samsung and others to deliver secure mobile payments for our 60 million active accounts.”
As part of that drive, Samsung has partnered with MasterCard and Visa and has expanded their global reach to the following American banking partners with a global reach:
- American Express
- Bank of America
- JPMorgan Chase
- S. Bank
MasterCard and Visa were thrilled to be partners with Samsung on their quest to beat Apple at their own game, to quote Executive Vice President, Visa Inc. Jim McCarthy, quote: “Mobile commerce just got a lot more interesting. Combining Visa’s expertise in payment technology with Samsung’s leadership in creating innovative mobile experiences, gives more choice to financial institutions who want to enable their customers to pay by phone.”
Bank of America seemed quite eager to use their 7 million mobile customers as guinea Pigs to test out Samsung Pay to quote CEO, Chairman and Director of Bank of America, Brian Moynihan: “We are committed to making interactions easier in the financial lives of our customers. Samsung Pay is another significant move in that direction for our 17 million mobile customers”.
Overall, these partnerships with merchants, issuing banks and major payment networks allows customers the ability to use a wide range of Cards pre-loaded into their Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6. This makes Samsung Pay almost like a universal Wallet, unlike Apple Pay which openly supports NFC, a technology used by some 300,000 Retail Merchants.
So what other advantages does Samsung Pay have over Apple Pay, aside from being more ubiquitous and having potentially a higher level of proliferation due to the use of MST?
Samsung Pay – Leveraging the Power of KNOX with Find My Mobile and secure fingerprint scanner
Samsung Pay is made more secure via the presence of Samsung KNOX, which is not only a secure overlay on Google android 5.0 Lollipop that helps to create secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) for loud Based applications as described in AnyConnect for Samsung Knox is a Cisco Systems partnership for Secure VPN Communications but also secure apps and transactions on your smartphone.
Samsung Pay, like Apple Pay, also uses tokenization, meaning simply that your Credit Card information is transmitted as a secure and heavily encrypted one use token. No data from the transaction or Credit Card numbers are stored on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge or their transaction servers, making it pointless for anyone to steal your smartphone.
However, you can still access an itemized list of your purchases, suggesting your purchase is stored somewhere. Albeit not your Credit or Prepaid Debit Card information, it still isn’t that easy to aces, requiring someone to actual enter your Credit Card information on that particular Device or on a computer terminal accessing a web based platform to bring up your account transaction information.
Plus the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge comes with Find My Mobile feature that allows you to remotely lock down your smartphone and locate it in the event it gets lost or stolen.
Hopefully Samsung Pay will also come in the form of NFC and MST Stickers, making it possible for non-Samsung users to implement a Samsung Pay Transaction without having to have a Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
Instead of having a Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, all they’d have to do is just place a sticker on their smartphone and poses the capability to do transactions, being as the Credit Card information can be entered via as Web interface and the Credit info isn’t stored in the NFC/MST sticker.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is coming to Jamaica at the Samsung Experience Store by Thursday April 16th 2015.
With the Summer of 2015 is only four (4) months away, it is up to Jet-set Jamaicans with money to burn to decide if Samsung Pay on a Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is a Mobile Wallet they’d use when travelling abroad, since it might not be supported by local Banks here in Jamaica!
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In-ear vs. on-ear, circumaural vs. supraaural, open vs. closed back -- shopping for the right pair of headphones can be tough, but CNET's on the job with a buying guide to help you narrow down your choices.
As the battle for virtual reality heats up, Google -- along with other well-known firms -- makes a big bet on a little-known wearable headset maker called Magic Leap.
Developers looking to build games for Oculus' VR headset will swap their best tricks of the trade at the company's first conference.
Researchers are working on a tool that converts tedious, dull, and shaky footage into smooth, seamless, time-lapse videos -- it's said to be a Windows app soon.
A new video from the American Chemical Society examines the science behind getting high and how some labs are working to prevent "killer" buzzes.
Thanks to PlayStation Move, the newly minted virtual reality titan is pushing the boundaries of body tracking, but with a proprietary catch putting it at odds with Oculus.
Sony's virtual reality headset for the PlayStation 4 looks amazing, but it's hoping to succeed where many others have tried and failed. For Project Morpheus, it may be a long, hard road to success.
Haystax's cloud-based tools are helping New York and New Jersey security officials navigate massive amounts of data in order to find any possible threat. Just a few years ago, this would have been impossible.
A new survey finds 79 per cent of 3D TV owners regret buying their 3D televisions because of expensive extras and a lack of stuff to watch.
With commercial space flight on the horizon, a Pennsylvania training center offers would-be astronauts a chance to experience the rigors of blasting off. CNET sister site SmartPlanet investigates.


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Money for nothing: He was paying a credit repair company, but says he wasn't getting anything in return
Canada Credit says matter with customer Doug Randell has now been resolved
A Paradise man, who was paying down a loan he hoped would help repair his credit years after he declared bankruptcy, says the company behind the arrangement was not following up on its promises to improve his financial situation.
Canada Credit now says the matter has been resolved with customer Doug Randell, after receiving inquiries from CBC News.
Randell had gone public and done an interview prior to the resolution.
He claimed Canada Credit told him that, if he signed up for its services, his credit score would increase by 90 per cent in six months.
To do that, he made payments on a loan to another company, even though he was never actually given any cash as part of that arrangement.
But he discovered his payments on the loan weren't being reported to the national credit bureaus.
"You just pay money, and nothing [is] being done," Randell said.
"You feel violated... it's terrible. It makes you feel like you're nothing, actually."
Since CBC News started investigating this matter, Canada Credit's legal department sent an email stating that there had been a development.
"Canada Credit would like to inform you that [the] matter with Douglas Randell has been resolved," the email read.
"Credit Canada [sic] and the customer came up with [a] mutually acceptable resolution," noting that the company had no further comment on this matter.
When CBC News contacted Randell about this resolution, he declined to comment.
Signing the contract
Randell, who's originally from Englee on the Northern Peninsula, told CBC News in an earlier interview that he declared bankruptcy about four years ago.
While surfing social media last fall, he saw an ad for Canada Credit. Randell said he put in some of his information online, and the company called him right away.
"They told me what they would do, clean up my credit report, and they would give me a pre-paid, secured credit card that I could put whatever amount I want on this card to rebuild my credit," he said.
Randell paid a $199 set-up fee, and signed a contract to pay $79 biweekly for 16 months for a "micro-loan" from another company, the Kingston, Ont.-based SkyCap Financial, with an interest rate of 29.99 per cent.
The total amount of the loan, as detailed on Randell's SkyCap contract, is $2,964.
But Randell didn't get any money from that loan. According to his Canada Credit contract, it was being used to pay for "membership fees" with the company.
"The $79 biweekly, I didn't know for sure what it was, but I didn't really ask too many questions — I just thought it was a process that I had to go through," Randell said.
He said when he signed up, he was told his secured credit card was in the mail.
When it didn't show up, he said he called Canada Credit, and a representative told him it would cost another $150 to get that credit card — but he refused to pay any more money than he had already agreed to.
Getting the 'runaround'
In January, Randell discovered his payments weren't being reported to the national credit bureau Equifax. He again called Canada Credit, which he said steered him to SkyCap.
"It was just a runaround each time, every time I called," he said.
"Then they told me not to call back anymore because I was harassing them."
Randell said he asked Canada Credit what would happen if he stopped his payments, and was told that he'd be brought to a collections agency.
"They were sort of saying, 'Well, you signed in, you're signed in.' Tough luck, pretty much," he said.
Randell's Canada Credit contract does state that he can cancel his membership with a written request, but that it won't cancel his financing agreement with the third-party lender.
'Improve your credit score'
The Calgary-based Canada Credit has been in the credit repair business for about a decade.
Its website says clients can:
- "Grow your credit score and repair your bad credit fast";
- "Improve your credit score by introducing a healthy loan on your credit report";
- and "Get approved now!"
While it's called Canada Credit, its website is creditcanada.net — which is similar to creditcanada.com or Credit Canada Debt Solutions, a not-for-profit credit counselling agency that claims to have helped people get out of debt for over 50 years.
Along with the micro-loan, Canada Credit's program lists access to an app, a secured "Cat Platinum" credit card, and "live one-on-one premium support."
The Cat Platinum credit card states it has a 100 per cent approval rate and no credit check.
"Canada Credit cares, and our goal is to help people get the credit they deserve," the company's website states, noting that it offers the tools, direction, and support for customers to achieve their credit improvement goals.
"Rotten things happen to good people. But we share the vision that nobody should be behind due to unforeseen financial hardship."
According to LinkedIn, Canada Credit's president is Sheldon Wolf.
Wolf's personal website also lists ties to other credit repair companies, including Canada Credit Fix, Credit Slab, and Empire Citi Properties, a real estate company.
In addition to that list, Canada Credit's office shares an address with several other companies, including Cat Platinum credit card; Omni Furniture; and Identity Lock, which is involved with identity theft protection.
Wolf did not reply to requests for comment that were sent to his personal website or through social media. Canada Credit's legal department later asked CBC News to solely contact them.
When CBC News initally spoke with a representative from Canada Credit's legal department, the person refused to identify herself over the phone. She said the company would conduct an internal investigation into the matter.
SkyCap Financial declined to do an interview, but its legal department sent a statement to CBC News.
The company said, since 2013, it has helped tens of thousands of individuals who aren't able to get services from traditional banks to gain access to personal loans and financing.
SkyCap said it is solely a lending business, with no other products or services.
It said it can't comment on a customer's complaints dealing with products or services offered by another company.
No jurisdiction for Service NL
Service NL Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh was not available for an interview, but her department issued a statement.
It says a number of businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador offer debt consolidation and support services for residents who need help to re-establish credit after personal or business bankruptcy.
But Service NL notes that since Canada Credit is not licensed in this province, the government doesn't have jurisdiction over its operations or advertising practices.
The province says it also doesn't have control over the advertising that consumers may find online.
"This is why it is important for consumers to know as much as possible about the companies they are dealing with before they enter into business with them," the statement reads.


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At this point, DraftKings’ mission is clear – it wants to control the gaming world not only in the US, but globally. It is already discussing the possibility of purchasing Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) in a deal worth around $1.56 billion, but that pales in comparison to its latest acquisition target. Entain has confirmed that it is considering a bid from DraftKings that would see it sell for around $22 billion, if the deal reaches the finish line.
DraftKings Has Entain in its Sights
It wasn’t too long ago that DraftKings and GNOG announced their arrangement, although that transaction still faces some resistance. While that’s being dissected and picked apart, DraftKings apparently was working on a separate arrangement with a much larger target. Entain confirmed that it is in receipt of a takeover bid from the second-largest sports betting operator in the US. Should this deal be accepted, DraftKings would become a global powerhouse in sports betting and online gaming.
Entain explained that it was approached by DraftKings with an offer recently to purchase the company at $34.12 per share through cash and stock. That offer was seen as too low and was rejected by Entain’s board. DraftKings didn’t stop there and returned with a higher offer of $38.21 a few days ago. The payment would be made through a mix of cash and stocks, with Entain receiving a 46.2% premium on its share price as of the end of the day on September 20. This seemed more appropriate to the board and was accepted by the board. Now, DraftKings will need to finalize its commitment to purchase by October 19. However, according to Entain, that commitment may not arrive.
Entain Acquisition Faces Challenges
Before DraftKings could close on any purchase of Entain, it would have to get around a large brick wall in the form of MGM Resorts International. MGM and Entain are linked through the BetMGM online gaming platform in the US and MGM has previously announced that it was discussing the possibility of buying out its partner to control all of the business. That hasn’t yet found an equitable and satisfactory conclusion, but MGM continues to crunch the numbers to figure out how to proceed. It doesn’t want to pay Entain more money, but isn’t willing to give up its stake in BetMGM, either.
MGM has made it clear that it will stand in the way of any DraftKings/Entain negotiations. It released a statement after the news initially broke, asserting, “MGM is Entain’s exclusive partner in the U.S. online sports betting and iGaming market through our highly successful 50/50 joint venture BetMGM LLC (“BetMGM”). As a consequence, any transaction whereby Entain or its affiliates would own a competing business in the U.S. would require MGM’s consent.”
DraftKings wants to take over the market, but has to get passed FanDuel to become number one. BetMGM has been gaining ground and threatening the positions of both. The takeovers anticipated by DraftKings would almost certainly catapult it to the top; however, MGM is going to make sure that doesn’t happen. It added in its statement that it will “engage with Entain and DraftKings” as needed in order to come up with a solution that “meets all parties’ objectives.”


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J C Penney Company Inc (JCP.N)
|Market Cap (Mil.):||$3,371.50|
|Shares Outstanding (Mil.):||304.84|
NEW YORK, Sept 10 (IFR) - US department store giant JC Penney took a major step on the road to recovery on Wednesday, pricing a bigger-than-expected US$400m unsecured bond that showed it has ample access to the debt capital markets.
(The following statement was released by the rating agency) NEW YORK, September 09 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has assigned a rating of 'CCC/RR4' to J.C. Penney's Corporation Inc.'s (J.C. Penney) proposed issue of five-year $350 million senior unsecured notes. The Rating Outlook is Positive. The unsecured and unguaranteed notes will rank equal in right of payment with all of its existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, including its existing notes. J.C. Penney intends to use
Aug 14 - Department store chain Kohl's Corp reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as costs fell, sending its shares up 3.4 percent in premarket trading.
- The success of General Electric Co's impending initial public offering for its private-label credit card unit could ride on investors' willingness to bet that a lukewarm consumer-led U.S. economic recovery heats up.
July 18 - The success of General Electric Co's impending initial public offering for its private-label credit card unit could ride on investors' willingness to bet that a lukewarm consumer-led U.S. economic recovery heats up.
July 1 - JC Penney Co appealed a New York state court ruling Monday that found it had interfered with a contract between Macy's and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc by selling the celebrity's home goods, according to a filing.
NEW YORK, June 16 - JC Penney Co interfered with a contract between Macy's Inc and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc when it cut a deal to sell a line of the celebrity's home goods, a New York judge ruled on Monday.
NEW YORK, June 16 - J.C. Penney interfered with Macy's agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia , a New York judge ruled on Monday.
* Russell 2000 ends up after near correction territory early
* Russell 2000 rebounds after approaching correction territory again


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Delisting of mid-tier IT firm Hexaware Technologies by promoter Baring Asia PE will have no impact on its operations or employees and clients, R Srikrishna, CEO, Hexaware, told Moneycontrol on July 28.
In an interaction with Moneycontrol, Srikrishna said that clients have so far raised no concerns over the move, and there are no issues on retaining employees either. “The whole idea is to continue as it is,” he added.
In an earnings call on July 28, he said that if the delisting goes through, employees with company stocks would be adequately compensated. This could be through ownership plans similar to restricted stock units (RSU), he said. RSU is a compensation issued to employees in the form of company shares.
The results of the shareholder voting to consider delisting will be out on August 10, post which the timeline for the same, if it happens, would emerge, he said.
Baring Asia PE had announced its intent to delist in early June. The board authorised the delisting move on June 20, and now it is up to the shareholders. The board approved the delisting, saying that if the promoter group gets complete control, it would increase operational flexibility to support the company’s business.
Delisting will also help in cost savings and allow the management to dedicate more time to focus on the business.
Baring PE Asia holds a 62.4 percent stake in Hexaware, which it acquired in 2013. The company has a market cap of Rs 11,212 crore. The company's stock increased close to 10 percent after the announcement and has increased to 20 percent at Rs 374.
According to a CNBC-TV18 report, the promoters believe that delisting would give them better value for their stake. The report added that delisting will help the company scale Hexaware faster and in selling the company to a strategic investor.
The company’s revenue rose 10.4 percent year-on-year to $208.1 million, for its second quarter ending June 30, 2020. Profits dipped 7.2 percent y-o-y to $20.2 million for the same period. The company won new deals worth $46 million in the quarter. Hexaware follows the calendar year for its fiscal.
The revenue growth, Srikrishna said, was driven by the new digital service lines the company created for the post-COVID-19 world. This includes automation, cloud, customer experience and touchless technology that have seen a huge uptick. This is what is going to drive growth in the coming quarters, he added.
But the company is cautious about recovery. While Srikrishna said that they have bottomed out, he does not expect growth to go back to pre-COVID-19 levels right away. “We are in the worst, don’t think this is going to get any worse from here. But it is too difficult to predict a recovery,” he added.
He said that while investments are taking place in newer areas, clients are still cutting down discretionary spends.
This is visible in the company’s drop in headcount by 1,173 people. The company employs about 18,825 people. Srikrishna explained that a majority of attrition occurred in the business process services. “The number has primarily come down in areas where demand is unlikely to come back.” This includes travel and education. The IT sector saw performance-related attrition in the last quarter also.
The company did not on-board freshers due to the pandemic. "We will start on-boarding from the July-September quarter onwards and will recruit more freshers this year for FY21 like usual," he added.Also Watch | Explained: What happens to your investments when a company delists


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Oct 14, 2011
After approval by U.S. and European antitrust agencies, Microsoft’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype has been finalized, the software giant announced today.
“This represents a huge leap forward in Skype’s mission to be the communications choice for a billion people every day,” former Skype CEO Tony Bates, who is now president of Microsoft’s Skype Division, wrote in a blog post. “Joining forces with Microsoft is the best way to accelerate this mission and capitalize on our position at the intersection of social, mobile and video communications.
The Internet phone company, whose brand will be retained, is Microsoft’s biggest-ever acquisition. Microsoft says it plans to integrate the Web-based communication service across numerous consumer products such as Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox. The company has said it will continue offering Lync, a similar service already by Microsoft, in its business products such as SharePoint.
With Skype apps on Apple’s iPhone, Google Android devices and Windows Phones, Microsoft will have a stronghold on Web-based communication in the mobile world. Skype’s PC software is available for both Windows and Macintosh. And Microsoft has insisted Skype’s cross-platform presence won’t fade away.
“I said it, I mean it: We will continue to support other platforms,” CEO Steve Ballmer said May 10, when Microsoft announced the deal. “Fundamental to the value proposition of communications is to reach people whether they’re on your device or not.”
Sep 29, 2011
An Italian company has asked European antitrust officials to block Microsoft’s proposed $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, The New York Times reports, unless it is not bundled with Windows.
The software firm, Messagenet, is a Skype competitor and wants to make sure Microsoft would not include Skype with the rest of its ubiquitous software. Microsoft, of course, has gotten in trouble in Europe – and the U.S. – for its bundling practices, recently by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows.
From the NYT report:
But legal experts were split over whether the latest complaint, filed Sept. 20 by Messagenet, a company based in Milan that is a rival to Skype Internet’s phone service, would complicate or prevent European approval of the takeover, which would be the largest in Microsoft’s history and the largest takeover in the technology sector this year.
“These types of complaints from competitors are to be expected,” said Denis Waelbroeck, an antitrust lawyer at Ashurts in Brussels. “I would expect that the commission will look at this seriously, but I think that in the end, the officials will reach their own independent decision. This doesn’t mean the complaint will be upheld.”
Aug 22, 2011
The Associated Press reports: “Skype is expanding even before it gets absorbed by Microsoft Corp. The online communications service said Monday that it plans to buy GroupMe, which provides group text messaging. … The acquisition brings Skype into the quickly growing field of mobile group messaging, which has been rolled out on a variety of smartphone apps including one recently launched by Facebook. Skype already offers a number of group communication options, including Web-based conference calls and group video chats.” Read more at seattlepi.com.
Jul 22, 2011
It was just 10 months ago that Philip Su left Microsoft, where he’d worked for 12 years, to join a the small Seattle outpost of a young company named Facebook. In October, by the time he’d finished the social networking company’s six-week training “boot camp,” he’d already developed one new Facebook feature and had settled on his next project: video calling.
By the beginning of July, he was standing alongside Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., announcing his newest creation: Skype integration with Facebook. Soon, he and the Facebook founder said, all 750 million people on Facebook would be able to video-chat with their friends, simply within their Web browsers.
Not everyone can use the new feature yet – Facebook is slowly rolling it out, still, over several weeks. But the fact Su was able to conceive, develop (with the part-time help of several other engineers), test and deliver a major product in just about eight months is a testament to how quickly the Facebook gears turn in this new technology world. And how different the company is from a behemoth like Microsoft.
“I myself was the only full-timer that did video calling, and I think that is pretty good evidence of the amount of impact that a single engineer can have at Facebook,” Su told seattlepi.com during an interview at Facebook’s Seattle office Friday. “And that is an opportunity that I feel I’ve been given at Facebook that I would not necessarily have been given at Microsoft.
“But not because of some cultural flaw in the company; I think just fundamentally Facebook is in a different space.”
Jul 06, 2011
Facebook today said it is launching a video-chat feature powered by Skype and developed at the social network’s Seattle office.
The previously rumored service, which will roll out over the course of the day today, is browser-based, so Facebook users will not have to download Skype software to chat, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the company’s announcement this morning, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. He also said Facebook will launch a text group-chat feature and an updated design.
The Skype announcement is the “awesome” news Zuckerberg teased last week when he visited his company’s office in Seattle, near the Pike Place Market. Philip Su, an engineer at Facebook’s Stewart Avenue location, demoed the video-chat feature from Palo Alto, Calif., today by chatting with his Seattle coworkers.
Some details from the Chronicle’s liveblog:
Jul 01, 2011
Facebook next week will launch a new video-chat feature powered by Skype and developed at the social network’s Seattle office, according to several reports.
TechCrunch first reported and Mashable has since confirmed the partnership, lending further credence to the rumor. Seattlepi.com has reached out to Facebook and Skype for official comment.
The tie-up appears to be the “awesome” announcement Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased during his visit Wednesday to the social network’s Seattle office near the Pike Place Market. Others have speculated Facebook could announce a native application for the Apple iPad, but images on the social network’s press invitation suggest a video-chat feature is more likely.
From the TechCrunch report:
Jun 20, 2011
Skype is firing senior executives before the acquisition deal with Microsoft closes, to lessen the value of their stock-option payouts, Bloomberg News reports. The executives include vice presidents David Gurle (Skype for Business unit), Russ Shaw (Skype Mobile and EMEA) and Don Albert (Americas and Advertising); Christopher Dean (chief strategy officer), Doug Bewsher (chief marketing officer) and Anne Gillespie (head of human resources); and Ramu Sunkara and Allyson Campa from Qik, which Skype acquired earlier this year, Bloomberg reports. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Friday gave antitrust approval to Microsoft’s planned $8.5 billion purchase of Luxembourg-based Skype – the Redmond company’s largest-ever acquisition.
Jun 17, 2011
Federal Trade Commission U.S. Department of Justice today gave antitrust approval to Microsoft’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, paving the way for finalization of the deal.
[Corrected 2:12 p.m. June 20: It was the DOJ that gave approval, but the decision was announced on the FTC's website.]
The deal is the biggest ever in the Redmond-based company’s 36-year history. Yet, Microsoft must still go through antitrust hoops overseas.
A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on today’s U.S. regulatory approval.
With Skype in its arsenal, Microsoft has armed itself for both offense and defense – offense in that Microsoft will have control of one of the hottest technology segments, Internet telephony and videoconferencing, and defense in that Microsoft is keeping Skype out of the hands of a competitor such as Google.
Jun 13, 2011
Some Comcast customers will soon be able to make video calls on their TVs through Skype, the companies announced today. But, obviously, those customers will need the equipment to make it happen.
Through the Skype integration, which will launch “in the coming months,” Comcast customers will be able to make and receive video and audio calls, and send instant text messages, while watching TV. The companies’ news release says the Skype interface will allow people to continue watching their show at the same time.
“This service will be delivered on the Comcast customer’s HDTV through an adaptor box, a high-quality video camera, and a specially designed remote control that enables customers to text on Skype as well as control their television,” the companies said. “The other calling party does not need any special equipment beyond what is needed to use Skype.”
The companies said Skype conversations will be able to continue uninterrupted when switching to another TV, phone, tablet or computer.


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January 19, 2023
Higher feed prices unease Vietnam's pangasius farmers
The price of pangasius feed in Vietnam has continuously increased in recent times, and local pangasius farmers are now facing the risk of loss.
By the end of 2022, seafood export turnover was expected to reach US$11 billion, bringing Vietnam into the top three seafood exporting countries in the world. There are also hopes that the domestic animal and aqua feed production industry will soon grow with the output of export products.
Dong Thap and An Giang provinces in the Mekong Delta are considered cradles for raising pangasius and basa fish for export throughout Vietnam.
With COVID, pangasius farmers have been seriously affected, and the increased prices of feed add to the challenges.
Nguyen Thanh Binh, director of Chau Thanh Seafood Production and Service Cooperative in Dong Thap Province's Chau Thanh District, said that in 2021-2022, the price of pangasius fluctuates from ₫21,000/kg to ₫22,200/kg.
Although the selling price of fish is higher than before, farmers are unable to make a profit as the price of fish food has increased many times, thus pushing up the cost of raising fish.
In localities with large shrimp farming areas such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Kien Giang, farmers are concerned that shrimp prices tend to decrease but the price of aquafeed still increase. A shrimp exporter in Soc Trang said that high feed prices are one of the factors pushing Vietnam's shrimp farming costs to be the highest in the world.
According to shrimp farmers, the price of shrimp fluctuate erratically while the price of feed, accounting for about 70% of the cost of shrimp farming, only rose.
Tran Van Viet, director of Thanh Cong Industrial Shrimp Farming Cooperative in Ca Mau Province's Dam Doi District, disclosed that of the 10 shrimp farmers present, nine of them buy food on credit.
The price of animal feed is currently over ₫350,000 (US$15.05) a bag, an increase of nearly ₫80,000 (US$3.44) compared to a previous period.


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In a recent announcement, General Motors has stated that it will cease production of and cancel the Chevy Impala. This move will be made in an effort to restructure its operations. Ending production of the Chevy Impala will mark the end of one of the manufacturer’s top vehicles. The Impala has been in production since the 1950’s and is regarded as America’s most iconic vehicles. After ten generations, the sedan looks to share little compared to its previous models. Despite reaching some notable milestones, the Impala will no longer be sold to consumers.
In recent years, the Chevrolet Impala has been one of the most commonly used vehicles at car rental entities. The car has been widely used as a commuter car for business travelers and families who are visiting an area on vacation. While its popularity as a car rental is still quite high, General Motors believes that it is not likely going to be a profitable option when it comes to their line of vehicles for Chevrolet. As a result, the Impala will only be attainable as a used model in the upcoming years.
An auto industry analyst named John Wiley said that there is now going to be a shift in demand from the Impala. For many years it was an in demand family sedan but now it is no longer as popular among consumers. Since it is no longer popular among average consumers, the Impala is going to disappear. This will result in one less option for enthusiasts to purchase and enjoy when it comes to large family sedans.
In the year 2000, the Chevrolet Impala became a vehicle with front wheel drive along with offering a V8 engine. Despite these features, the car did not stick to its roots like other popular large sedans such as the Pontiac G8. Cars such as the Pontiac G8 stuck with rear wheel drive. Since the Impala will be discontinued, there will be a major impact on the collectability of this car in both current and older models. As a result, there will be less options for collectors to get when looking to drive in an Impala.
According to Hagerty Price Guide, the most valuable Impala is the 1963 Z11 lightweight sport coupe. This car has 427 cubic feet, 430 horsepower, a V8 engine and a value of $282,000. This is the value of the car if it is in good condition but not perfect condition. If this car is in top condition, it is valued at $445,000 which is ranked as the third most valuable car on the market.
As of 2013, the Chevrolet Impala was still getting noticed by consumers and auto enthusiasts. The car was making a great impression on many in the auto industry as a top of the line vehicle. It was clearly making a statement and proving that Detroit has made a resurgence after the great recession of the late 2000’s. In 2014, Consumer Reports raved about the newest design and was named as its top rated sedan of the year.
The consumer reports magazine reported that the Impala has undergone a big transformation in recent years. According to the magazine, the sedan was quite uncompetitive and outdated and was therefore a model that consumers should avoid. Even though it was upgraded as a rental car, the magazine said that consumers should still avoid using it. However, with the recent redesign, the car would become more modern and become a very enjoyable car to drive on a regular basis.
Despite the upgraded design, the Impala is in need of yet another redesign in order to remain as a competitive car. Since there is a new demand for other types of vehicles, the Impala will need to add more features in order to meet the preferences of most auto consumers. Nowadays, consumers want sport utility vehicles and trucks instead of sedans. As a result, cars such as the Impala are now slowly becoming a bit obsolete. Due to this factor, Chevrolet and General Motors have concluded that it will need to focus on making other types of vehicles rather than continue manufacturing the Impala.
Since the 1950’s the Chevrolet Impala has been one of the staples in the American auto market. At one time, it was one of the most popular sedans on the market and widely purchased by many auto consumers. However, the car’s demand steadily went in decline over the last several years. In recent years, many auto consumers have gravitated towards purchasing and leasing larger vehicles such as trucks and sport utility vehicles. With sales figures going in decline and costs reducing profits, General Motors and Chevrolet has decided that it is finally time to end production of this once popular car. Today, the Chevrolet Impala will now be another classic car from that past that is no longer a part of the modern car market.


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(Pocket-lint) - HTC has said that it is already planning on bringing the new Android OS, Android L, to the HTC One family including the M8 and the M7:
"HTC is excited about the new features in Android L and we can't wait to share them with our customers. We are committed to updating our flagship HTC One family as fast as possible. We will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) in regions worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices."
The news is likely to be welcomed by HTC owners, although it's worth noting that while HTC is going to be working as hard as it can to bring the update to its users, Google has yet to announce when it plans to launch Android L to the general public.
Still with an Autumn release schedule that should mean Android L on the HTC One by Christmas.
The announcement ties in with HTC's Advantage scheme, previously outlining that upgrade aim to encourage Android fans to stick to HTC. HTC delivered, just about, on the KitKat upgrade, although using a phased roll-out means that it won't be 90 days for all users globally.


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Now that summer break is in full swing, families are hitting theme parks in droves but not every theme park is created equally. So, which them park is the best out there?
Well, TripAdvisor has the answer. The travel review site just handed out their annual Traveler’s Choice awards for Amusement and Water Parks, ranking parks on quantity and quality of reviews and ratings over a 12-month period.
For the fourth year in a row, Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando is the number one amusement park in the world, while Siam Park in Spain is the best water park in the world for a fifth year running! When it comes to water parks in the U.S. specifically, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in Orlando, Florida tops the list.
Top Ten Amusement Parks In The World
- Universal's Islands of Adventure – Orlando, Florida
- Magic Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
- Le Puy du Fou – Les Epesses, France
- Universal Studios Hollywood – Los Angeles, California
- Universal Studios Florida – Orlando, Florida
- Disney's Animal Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
- Europa-Park – Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
- Tivoli Gardens – Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Island in Pigeon Forge – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Disneyland Park – Marne-la-Vallee, France
Top 10 Water Parks in the World
- Siam Park – Tenerife, Spain
- Waterbom Bali – Kuta, Indonesia
- Beach Park – Aquiraz, State of Ceara, Brazil
- Thermas dos Laranjais – Olimpia, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – Orlando, Florida
- Aquapark Istralandia – Novigrad, Croatia
- Wild Wadi Waterpark – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Makadi Water World – Hurghada, Egypt
- Eco Parque Arraial d'Ajuda – Porto Seguro, Brazil
- WetSide Water Park – Hervey Bay, Australia
For a look at the best parks in the U.S. and more click here.
Not every company is strictly out to make money, and now “People” magazine is recognizing ones that go out of their way to show they care. The magazine has just revealed their second annual “Companies That Care” list, singling out 50 companies that have demonstrated respect, compassion, and concern for their communities, their employees, and the environment.
Topping the list for a second year in a row is the San Francisco-based company Salesforce, which is a leader in pay equality. They also promote philanthropy within the company, giving employees seven days of paid time off to give back to causes that are important to them.
“People’s” Top Ten “Companies That Care”(click here for the complete list)
- Ultimate Software
- Comcast NBCUniversal
- Edward Jones
- Adobe Systems Incorporated
- Intuit Inc.
- SAP America
The FDA has just approved the first new medication to treat pain caused by endometriosis in more than a decade. The drug, called Orilissa, offers a new treatment to the women who suffer from the condition that affects the uterus. The pill will be available as early as next month, according to the manufacturer AbbVie.
Around 176-million women worldwide have endometriosis and many of them struggle for years before finding a therapy that brings them relief. The condition affects about one in 10 women of reproductive age, and it occurs when tissue that usually lines the uterus grows outside of it, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can cause extreme pain and can even lead to fertility issues.
Right now, women with endometriosis are treated with birth control pills, painkillers, or hormonal therapies. And in some cases, like actress Lena Dunham's, patients have a hysterectomy or other surgeries for relief. While the new drug could be a game-changer, it’s definitely not cheap. The “Chicago Tribune” reports that a four-week supply of Orilissa will cost $845 without insurance.
Summer has been flying by and believe it or not, this weekend will be the last one of July. And to mark the occasion, Sephora has freebies for us. The beauty retailer is giving away face masks with no strings attached.
Sephora’s free face mask giveaway isn’t a BOGO deal and you don’t have to sign up for a loyalty card or make a purchase to get in on it. All you have to do is head into any brick and mortar Sephora store this weekend, tomorrow through Sunday and you can walk out with a Sephora Collection face mask of your choice at no charge.
These masks typically sell for $6 apiece and are made without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates, so they’re all about clean beauty. Plus, they come in six varieties, including Green Tea, Pineapple, and Lotus, so you can pick the one that works best for you. And did we mention they’re totally free?
Source: Elite Daily
There are plenty of kids’ books out there, but really good bedtime stories are hard to come by. So when thousands of parents claim they’ve found one that helps their little ones fall asleep fast, we pay attention and that’s the case with “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site,” by Sherri Duskey Rinker.
The book was actually released back in 2011, but so many moms and dads think it’s a winner, it’s racked up close to 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The story is about the end of the day at a big construction site and one by one, the trucks and equipment are getting ready for bed. It’s like “Goodnight Moon,” in that you say goodnight to each one, and it’s supposed to get the kids to nod off in no time.
"Especially if read in a quiet, soothing tone, I can't think of a more perfect bedtime book,” one reviewer writes. “You know how seeing someone yawn usually makes you yawn yourself? I think that's the exact effect the illustrations have.”
As tired parents, we’re willing to try almost anything to get our kiddos to sleep easily. And something must be working, the author has expanded the series to include four more bedtime books involving trucks and construction equipment. Happy reading.
Source: Good Housekeeping


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Dropping globally December 19.
A new look for an old favorite.
Bold colors and seasonal textures for fall.
Inspired by Tokyo’s autumn nights.
Felt uppers highlight the latest Disc Blaze drop.
The BEAUTY & YOUTH imprint unveils its Fall/Winter 2015 looks.
Shedding new light on a commonly overlooked silhouette through the introduction of innovative design ideals.
Japanese company Ojaga Design lends its hand in designing one of PUMA’s most classic silhouettes with two new PUMA Trinomic Disc Blaze...
PUMA unveils the latest Trinomic Disc Blaze in a new “Burgundy” rendition. Highlighting a nylon burgundy upper, the classic silh...
Starting off this year with a solid “Part IV” release of its “Crackle Pack” series, PUMA steps it up a notch further...


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Why don’t products we buy work as they are designed? Food packaging So many packages of food have a tear strip that is supposed to come off and reveal a resealable baggie (like the seams on a sandwich bag): Often these strips won’t tear at all, even at the designated “tear here” location.If they do … Continue reading Why don’t things work as intended?
In a remarkable turn of events reminiscent of the Moon Landing and the first circumnavigations of the globe by sea and air, local college student Older Child reportedly washed a pile of dirty laundry last night for the first time since beginning college more than four months ago. "Well, yah, I was running pretty low … Continue reading Live Updates: College Student Washes Clothes
Saturated fat from the fruit of the Doofo Tree will harden your arteries faster than an Alberta Clipper freezes a puddle!


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Information Commissioner: DM industry action needed to avoid ‘over prescriptive data regulation’
|02 Mar 2012 11:48 GMT||Back|
Also in the news
The Information Commissioner Christopher Graham has warned that the UK direct marketing industry can expect an ‘over prescriptive’ new EU Data Protection Regulation unless it embraces best practice and becomes fully involved with the legislative process.
In his keynote speech at the Direct Marketing Association’s annual Data Conference which was sponsored by Aquira and Lateral Group, Mr Graham said that while he welcomed many aspects of the new Regulation the EU published in January, the current draft’s focus on ‘process rather than risk’ would over-burden the ICO’s resources with having to ‘deal with box ticking, rather than chasing the cowboys’.
Mr Graham said that the direct marketing industry must continue to follow the highest standards of data best practice and join together in a united voice to ensure that EU legislators pass a ‘lighter touch’ Data Protection Regulation into law:
“There is much to welcome in the current Regulation, but in many respects it is over prescriptive. There is also too much focus on detail that risks making a fetish of process. The Regulation must instead focus on how we can address the real risks.
“The direct marketing industry has an important role to play in the legislative process. It must focus on good practice and respect consumers. It must also remember that this is just the start of a long game; there is a lot more work to do on the Regulation, so the industry must engage with legislators.”
The DMA has already voiced industry fears that the EU’s new draft Data Protection Regulation poses a severe threat to the ability for UK businesses to use data to market their goods and services to consumers and will have serious financial repercussions.
Responding to Mr Graham’s call, Chris Combemale, executive director of the DMA, said that the organisation will be undertaking a number of initiatives to marshal the direct marketing industry’s response:
“Since the Regulation came up for review, we’ve been leading the campaign to ensure EU legislators draft a regulation that balances the data privacy rights of the individual without being at the cost of business.
“We are leading an industry task force with the Advertising Association, conducting research to assess the economic impact of the Regulation, conducting research to measure consumer attitudes towards data privacy, and responding on behalf of the industry to all government consultations.
“In addition to providing an industry response to the Ministry of Justice consultation next week, the DMA will lead industry engagement with ministers and officials at the MoJ, MPs and MEPs to ensure that the views of the creative industries are represented in the legislative process.”
Tristan Garrick, DMA PR manager
Tel. 020 7291 3315


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The impact of COVID-19—on education, health, the workforce, and the economy—has made clear that young people need skills that enable them to think critically, creatively, and globally—to solve problems, create new jobs, and address issues never seen before.
Teachers can bring real-world industry to their class this fall with the Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge. By participating in this free three-hour virtual challenge, students experience the power of coding while uncovering how Amazon uses computer science and robotics daily to deliver customer orders.
Calcflow, powered by Matryx on STEAM, lets students explore mathematical theorems and scenarios in an interactive virtual reality environment. Essentially it allows them to visualize mathematical concepts in a completely new way.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, IBM is working with policymakers and education leaders to increase the number of Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools(P-TECH)in the United States. Currently, IBM hosts 220 P-TECH partners worldwide, and the company plans to expand the program to 150 schools in the US—half of the company’s total commitment of 300 by 2023.


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If you’re a fan of Lego, you’ll love this.
Construction of York’s first box park is now underway, and it’s like putting together a giant Lego set.
The former shipping containers – soon to contain start-up businesses, cafés and more – are being lowered into place by a giant crane.
With impressive speed and precision, the crew lifted each container into position. By the end of Monday (September 4) day much of the two-storey temporary business park was in place.
Inspired by similar enterprises in London, including Pop Brixton and Boxpark in Shoreditch, Spark:York will house offices, retailers and street food traders.
The three people behind the scheme – Sam Leach, Tom McKenzie and Joe Gardham – have been overseeing the development of the park.
It was granted planning permission by City of York Council in May, and more than 260 local people expressed an interest in taking some space in Spark:York.
Aimed at enterprises which would struggle to otherwise afford office space in the city centre, the park looks set to be an exciting community hub.
The first tenants are due to move in later this autumn.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Stage Stores Inc.
said Thursday that it swung to a fiscal third-quarter loss of $102.8 million, or $2.66 a share, from a profit of $2.4 million, or 6 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 6% to $333.8 million and same-store sales in the period declined 10.3%, or 7.6% excluding the estimated impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Stage Stores said its quarterly loss was mainly due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $95.4 million. Excluding that charge it would have lost 19 cents a share. Analysts polled by FactSet were forecasting a loss of 15 cents a share. The group said it's not expecting the economic climate to improve in the fourth quarter and therefore sees same-store sales falling between 8% and 10%. For the fiscal fourth quarter the group forecast earnings of 64 cents to 70 cents a share and said adjusted earnings for the year excluding the goodwill impairment should be between 75 cents and 81 cents a share. Analysts had forecast earnings of 89 cents a share for the year.


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The male toy contracts based on the speed of the female performer and vibrates during body-to-body contact. The female toy responds in a similar way.
The Spain-based VRP team said it has been coding the integration since Nov. 2014 and the new version of its video player with toy synchronization will be launched in the coming days.
“Since our inception, the goal was to create an experience that felt completely immersive. The VirtualRealPorn team researched all kinds of devices in the sex toy industry searching for something to add more immersion to the experience we provide. We discovered Lovense and immediately saw the possibilities of integration,” VRP co-founder Leonor Laplaza said.
The toys integrate via VRP's Virtual Real Player video player. The actors’ movements are coded for each video and the video player sends commands to the Lovense sex toys wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Currently, the toy synchronization feature is supported for Oculus Rift DK1, DK2 and the upcoming Oculus CV1 headsets. VRP said it is currently coding the feature for Samsung Gear VR headsets, and plans to release the updated player in the fourth quarter of 2015. The upcoming Android smartphone app will also include the feature when it is released in the third quarter of 2015.
Lovense said it provided technical support throughout the integration, but VRP took the development lead and continues to do so. However, Lovense is closely watching how the integration is received by VRP's subscribers and noted that it is willing to support the idea with more resources in the future.
“The Lovense team has been focusing on providing sex tech solutions to long distance couples, but felt this partnership was a great opportunity to branch out. We believe a lot of the early adopters for the Oculus Rift and other VR headsets will be open to adult content. VRP is the leader for 3D adult content, so we are excited to see the response from their users. It’s a good test to see if the idea is worth further investing in. If things go well, it’s possible for us to design toys specifically for VR porn,” Lovense founder Dan Lau said.


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The 2020 JCK Las Vegas and Luxury shows have been canceled, the events’ organizer has confirmed, as the coronavirus continues to sweep across the globe.
“This decision was made in response to the unprecedented challenges faced by JCK’s jewelry community,” Sarin Bachmann, Reed Jewelry Group’s vice president for the shows, said Tuesday. “We know [it] impacts the entire industry and it was not made lightly.”
The main JCK Las Vegas trade fair was originally scheduled to begin June 2, while its sister event, Luxury, was due to start on May 31. Reed Exhibitions said last month that it was planning to postpone both events to an undetermined later date. However, the organizer has now confirmed that the next editions will take place at the Venetian Resort & Sands Expo in June 2021.
Reed Jewelry Group will host a remote event called JCK Virtual 2020 this summer, it said, noting it was “creating other virtual tools to assist jewelry professionals.” These will supplement the online education and webinars that it has already launched to address challenges related to the coronavirus.
In addition, the organizer said JCK exhibitors would have the opportunity to participate in JIS October, which is slated to run from October 13 to 16 in Miami.
“We will continue to listen to our customers and to facilitate the personal and business connections that our industry is built on, so we can all evolve and emerge stronger and better-connected than ever,” Bachmann added.
Image: The 2019 JCK Las Vegas show. (JCK Events)