text:
GI Games Round-up: Playtech, Stakelogic, GameArt and more25th September 2020 10:34 am GMT
This week’s Gaming Intelligence games round-up includes the latest releases from Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Stakelogic, Vibra Gaming, RubyPlay and GameArt, among others.
Pragmatic Play’s Wild Wild Riches
Pragmatic Play has announced its latest game release Wild Wild Riches, an Irish-themed 5-reel, 576 payline slot that takes players into a magical meadow.
“Wild Wild Riches takes a classic, fun theme and adds plenty of feature-filled fun as bettors look to find big wins on the reels,” said Pragmatic Play chief commercial officer Melissa Summerfield. “Our roadmap continues to produce exciting content for our fans in markets all over the globe, and we can’t wait to see how it is received by our operator partners.”
Playtech’s Legend of Hydra
Playtech’s Ash studio has released its latest slot Legend of Hydra, the second title in its Power Zones suite of games.
In the 5x6, 15,625-ways slot, the Hydra awaits players as they look to build Power Zones that transform symbols into monstrous wins. Players can unleash a Hydra feature on any spin for four powerful in-reel modifiers, or trigger up to 50 Mighty Hydra Free Games for lasting Power Zones that all transform into the same mystery symbol on the Mega Spin.
“Legend of Hydra is the second game in the innovative Power Zones suite,” said James Cook, games producer for Ash. “Building on the success of the first game, we wanted to introduce extra engagement by making a feature-packed game with 4 powerful on-reel features and a fillable meter for players to chase. Each feature can interact with each other, creating exciting situations for players across numerous spins.
“We believe Legend of Hydra is going to add a thrilling punch to the Power Zones suite, as well as our catalogue of games.”
Stakelogic’s Lion Gold
Stakelogic has unveiled its latest slot game Lion Gold, the first to feature its new Mega Super Stake feature.
Revamping its popular Super Stake feature, Mega Super Stake lets players place a side bet with every spin, allowing them to multiply each bet x2.5 for even more big win potential.
“Lion Gold sets the benchmark for the production value of a video slot, combining striking graphics and animations with powerful sound to create a truly engaging experience for the player,” said Stakelogic CEO Stephan van den Oetelaar.
“Lion Gold is also the first slot to include our Mega Super Stake feature, which we have combined with Free Spins and Jackpots and our standard Super Stake option to ensure that players have a great chance of collecting plenty of gold, and big wins, of their own.”
GameArt’s Rosh Immortality Cube Megaways
GameArt has launched its first ever Megaways title with the release of fantasy adventure slot Rosh Immortality Cube Megaways.
“All of our games stand out from the crowd, but Rosh Immortality Cube Megaways takes things to a whole new level,” said GameArt CEO Stefano Picone. “By combining the uniquely rewarding Megaways features with a truly atmospheric fantasy world, led by feedback from player’s themselves, we’ve created something that’s sure to appeal to slots fans everywhere.”
Vibra Gaming’s Popeye Slots
Vibra Gaming has launched its first licensed game Popeye Slots, a new 5x3 reel, 25-payline slot based on the muscular American cartoon character.
“I think fans of the comic and the cartoon are going to love Popeye Slots as it captures the look and feel of the story perfectly, creating a sense of nostalgia and recognition that will be hugely appealing,” said Vibra Gaming CEO Ramiro Atucha
“Of course, we believe it will appeal to all player types and have made sure that it delivers a fun and entertaining experience with the chance to win big through the range of bonus features including Wilds, Respins and Free Spins.”
GAMING1’s Feng Li Dragon
GAMING1 has released its latest game Feng Li Dragon, a new ancient China-themed 5x3 slot title.
“We’re turning back the dial and setting off to the far-East in the thrilling new slot game, Feng Li Dragon,” said GAMING1 chief operating officer Sylvain Boniver. “With free spins, an engrossing theme and a scorching jackpot for players blessed by the gods of fortune, we’ve set the reels ablaze with a sizzling set of burning-hot gameplay features.”
RubyPlay’s Wolf Haven
RubyPlay has expanded its portfolio with the launch of Wolf Haven, a 5-reel slot based in sacred mountains where bears, eagles and wolves rule the wild.
“With the Megaways trend in the market, we thought we would join the party with our Big Reels feature in Wolf Haven, offering players up to 100,000 ways to win,” said RubyPlay chief operating officer Ittai Zur. “This is created by having any ways wins, 5 rows high and double symbols on the reels, and it makes for some serious action.”
1X2Network’s Battle Maidens: Cleopatra
1X2Network’s 1X2gaming studio has launched the first game in its new Battle Maidens series with the release of ancient Egypt-themed Battle Maidens: Cleopatra.
The game has been launched exclusively on LeoVegas and will be made available network wide from 30 September.
“Battle Maidens: Cleopatra is the next chapter in what is an incredible story and series of slots and we are thrilled to be launching it exclusively with our friends at LeoVegas,” said1X2 Network head of account management Rory Kimber.
“Battle Maidens: Cleopatra builds on the success of the first game, utilising the exciting concept whereby each bonus round can be very different to the last, and offers a new and fresh player experience thanks to its ancient Egyptian theme.”
Booongo’s Thunder of Olympus
Booongo has released the latest addition to its Hold and Win library of games with the launch of 3x5, 25 payline slot Thunder of Olympus.
“We are thrilled to release Thunder of Olympus, the latest addition to our growing Hold and Win portfolio,” said Booongo head of account management and business development Yuriy Muratov. “With a thrilling Ancient Greek theme and engaging gameplay, we can’t wait to see how it is received by our operator partners and fans across the globe.”
Yggdrasil’s Valley of the Gods 2
Yggdrasil has launched Valley of the Gods 2, the sequel to its popular Valley of the Gods slot.
“Valley of the Gods became an instant classic from its simple but deep gameplay and thrilling re-spin rounds,” said Yggdrasil senior product strategist Jonas Strandman. “The sequel has everything we loved from the original and more. Packed with plenty of modifiers, Valley of the Gods 2 can turn any spin into a huge win up to 5481 times the bet for our fans across the globe.
“The new wild reel feature shows up on a regular basis and can give huge win combinations and combining it with a multiplier is marvellous. We are confident our partners and their players will love the game.”
Play’n GO’s Feline Fury
Play’n GO has expanded its library of games with the release of 5x3 slot Feline Fury.
“Whether you’re looking for an epic fantasy adventure, a fun sci-fi slot or something playful like Feline Fury, you can get it all from Play’n GO,” said Play’n GO chief product officer Martin Zettergren. “We take the best ideas and fashion them into the most entertaining games, and that’s why so many people love our content.”
Kalamba Games’ Joker Lanterns
Kalamba Games has expanded its Joker series of games with the addition of 6x4 slot Joker Lanterns, exclusively distributed on the Oryx Gaming platform.
“The Joker titles are some of the most popular in our games portfolio with players enjoying the classic theme teamed with our engaging signature features,” said Kalamba Games chief operating officer and co-founder Alex Cohen. “With its huge potential returns, top-end volatility, and spooky elements, Joker Lanterns is sure to be a massive hit during the Halloween season and beyond.”
BF Games’ Stunning Hot
BF Games has rolled out the first title in its new Remastered series of games with the launch of Stunning Hot.
“We are excited about introducing the Remastered series which will include fresh versions of our most popular games,” said BF Games CEO Piotr Szpoton. “By revamping these titles, we want to attract a new and younger audience that are used to more refined graphics whilst still incorporating the aspects of our titles that players have come to know and love.”
Realistic Games' BAR-X
Realistic Games has re-purposed Electrocoin’s popular land-based slot BAR-X for the online sector.
The 3-reel, single payline slot captures the nostalgia of the low-tech classic, giving players the option of three game profiles - BAR-X 30, BAR-X 40 and BAR-X 50, with each offering maximum pay outs of 90x, 120x and 150x respectively.
“As one of the most successful land-based slots ever to hit the UK market, we are honoured to be bringing BAR-X to online players and have paid attention to every detail of the game to do the original justice,” said Realistic Games commercial director Robert Lee.
“We’re extremely proud of the result and look forward to players of all demographics being able to enjoy the 3-reel version of this absolute classic slot for a long time to come. This is the first of six Electrocoin land-based titles we will be releasing in the coming months.”
Blueprint Gaming’s Fishin’ Frenzy
Blueprint Gaming has enhanced its popular Fishin’ Frenzy slot with the inclusion of its Power 4 Slots mode.
Retaining all the characteristics of the game, the slot now allows users to play across four sets of reels at the same time, ensuring there are more ways to trigger Free Games and catch big wins.
“Power 4 Slots presents players with an exciting new way of experiencing Fishin’ Frenzy, one of the most popular slots from our comprehensive games library,” said Blueprint Gaming director of marketing and relationships Jo Purvis.
“Since launching the four-reel set mode earlier this year, players have resonated with the concept and truly appreciate the increased chances of triggering bonus features. It made strategic sense for us to combine the timeless classic with the innovative feature.”
Red Rake Gaming’s Lorelei's Pearls
The latest release from Red Rake Gaming is Lorelei's Pearls, a new mermaid-themed 5x3, 25 payline slot.
In the game, players venture out to the deepest ocean to find Lorelei, an enchanting mermaid whose songs guide players to the pearls that she guards, rewarding them with 15 free spins and the Fusion Minigame. This gives players the opportunity to combine Lorelei symbols to form even larger symbols and win up to 2000 times their bet.


text:
CJ WOW SHOP has launched a month-long celebration called WOW in a Million whereby the team will be visiting the Top 100 Customers all around the country.
The team comprises of top executives, show hosts and crew members, and they will be making surprise visits to the lucky 100 people’s homes.
Of course, the crew won’t be arriving empty handed. They’ll come bearing irresistable gifts and rewards to the loyal purchasers.
Kim Yang Hyun, Chief Executive Officer of CJ WOW SHOP who will be leading the convoy said,
“Our success is paved by the trust and satisfaction of customers who have supported us throughout the years.
“They’re the reason we keep pushing our limits – reaching one milestone after the other.
“WOW in a Million is an opportunity for us to honour our most important customers and fans with great savings, mystery rewards and exciting surprises that will truly wow their lives.”
Expecting their millionth customer some time in September, CJ WOW SHOP wanted to take this opportunity to set out on a thank-you campaign for the Top 100 Customers whom have spent an average of RM14,600 each.
The surprise door-to-door visits will be broadcast live the entire day!
Interested in purchasing items? You can watch the telecast on TV8 and TV9 and call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-18-0808 to place your orders. You can also watch these channels on xtra.

domain: news


text:
BlueGem II LP acquires a majority stake in Big Fernand. the leading French gourmet burger chain
8th june 2017
Bluegem II LP acquires a majority stake in Big Fernand, the leading French gourmet burger chain.
Bluegem is pleased to announce the acquisition of a c.80% stake in Big Fernand. Founded in 2011 by Steve Burgraff, Guillaume Pagliano and Alexandre Auriac, Big Fernand currently operates nearly forty restaurants in France, London, Dubai and Hong Kong.
As part of the transaction Bluegem also injected seven million euros in the company and acquired the two restaurants in Hong Kong, which were previously operated under a franchise agreement.
Steve Burggraf will remain the CEO of the company and leads its expansion.
"It is a tremendous opportunity for Big Fernand to partner with Bluegem, a fund that specialises in developing successful retail brands internationally” said Steve. “This investment launches a new phase of development for our company.”


text:
For a more responsible use of influence: consulting agencies make a commitment!
Brands, agencies and influencers must work hand in hand to usher in a new era of more authentic, responsible and sustainable influencer marketing.
The law designed to combat fraudulent practices by influencers on social networks was passed by Parliament on March 30. A necessity for its rapporteurs, at a time when influence marketing is gaining ground, bringing with it a number of abuses. Over the past 3 years, we’ve seen the rise of a more ethical influence, driven by PR professionals, who have been at the forefront and pioneers in this area since 2020.
Influencer marketing comes of age
Influencer marketing is a recent phenomenon in the history of communications. And yet, its growth has been meteoric. It involves a brand leveraging the reputation of influential content creators and the engagement of their communities to gain visibility.
The arrival of reality TV stars on social networks has sometimes been accompanied by questionable practices, which have tarnished the image of influence: buying likes or followers, false product recommendations, scams…
Faced with the scale of the phenomenon, the legislature took up the issue, bringing together France’s leading PR and influence consultancies. An initiative welcomed by the entire profession, and which led to the adoption of a law to put an end to such abuses.
This decision reflects several years of militancy on the part of consulting agencies, who have been working on this subject within CPRS since 2020. A “Charter for Influencer Relations”, advocating a more transparent relationship when working with influencers, soon emerged and was signed by all SRCP members. It sets high standards in terms of transparency, advice, integrity, compliance and measurement.
Promoting transparency and honesty
As an agency PR & Influence As a member of the SRCP, we at FHCOM share the public authorities’ concerns on this vital issue. We need to regulate the commercial collaboration of influencers, and thus combat the abuses that penalize an entire ecosystem.
Encouraging responsible practices means, in particular, promoting sincere, concrete commitments on the part of the various parties involved in influence. Penalties are also necessary to dissuade the unwilling. Today, the CPRS is taking things a step further, by launching the “Responsible Influence Consulting Agency” e-label. This will enable economic players to prove their commitments via an e-label assessed by the AFNOR certification body. This label will focus on verifying that the means are in place to ensure a more responsible online influence, such as: training for PR professionals, transparency between players and the use of ARPP-certified influencers.
What’s certain is that we’re witnessing a fundamental trend. The abuses of influencer marketing have reminded us of the importance of putting ethics back at the heart of this discipline. Working hand in hand with their consulting agencies and influencers, brands will be able to create a positive, value-bearing influence that will appeal to their audience.


text:
Fiat India launch and dealership outline for 2014
Fiat is making noticeable strides in India, and is now looking to launch 3 more cars by end of the year. They began 2014 by showcasing a new contemporary urban vehicle Avventura at Delhi Auto Expo and will launch the new CUV sometime in 2014.
2014 Fiat Linea facelift was recently launched. Fiat Punto model year hatchback is gearing up for launch having been spotted in Pune on road tests on numerous occasions. Fiat will also introduce Abarth 500 during 2014 as a CBU unit and is working on introducing another Abarth variant here which will have some local content.
Speaking at the Fiat Caffe in Pune, last week an outline for dealership growth was revealed with expansion across the country with a targeting of 150 dealerships in all by year end. Currently there are 108 dealerships across India, and this number is set to increase to 112 by March end.
Fiat’s future plans in India include 9 car launches by 2016 clearly stating the automaker’s interest in strengthening it’s foothold here. Fiat has done reasonably well in the current financial year having recorded strong sales growth for a considerable number of months. It has to be kept in mind, after Fiat’s decision to go on their own on the dealership front, parting ways with Tata had adversely affected Fiat sales at the time. As such, growth rate reported is on a low sales base to begin with.
While an almost certain Jeep launch had generated much interest, Fiat has deferred plans to launch Jeep and are waiting for an opportune launch time which will be supported by the right price point and product best suited for India.
Email - [email protected]


text:
You know prices are getting up there when a bag of mesquite barbecue beef jerky and a soda cost almost as much as a T-bone dinner with a glass of Cabernet. Yeah, I was a bit rattled, too, when the gas station attendant rang up a small mortgage for my afternoon snack.
Like me, consumers across the U.S. are increasingly facing sticker shock on just about everything. From expensive groceries and gas to soaring rents and home prices, the greenback simply doesn’t go as far these days.
We wonder, are people really getting squeezed like a family pack of Charmin? How are shoppers’ spending habits being affected?
Let’s take a step back and see what the LikeFolio data tells us about the current inflation pressures.
Data confirms: Inflation-related concerns from gas prices to health care are dominating consumer thoughts.
This shouldn’t be a surprise, especially as consumers shell out $4.22 on average for a gallon of gas as of this writing.
Even historically low mortgage rates are joining the inflation party. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has snuck above 4% for the first time since 2019.
And with the Fed likely only getting started on its rate hike journey, affording a home or car is about to get more challenging.
Despite these mounting pressures, the consumer-spending environment remains healthy. At least that’s what recent retail sales figures have shown (although they reflect easy year-over-year comps when lockdowns were still a thing).
Consumer confidence readings tell a different story. Yes, higher heating, electricity, and internet bills do seem to be weighing on our collective psyche.
But is this shaky sentiment translating to a slowdown in discretionary spending? And what about spending on the essentials?
This is where LikeFolio data comes into play.
It’s really like a direct line connecting to actual purchasing behavior from consumers – because we’re listening to consumers all the time — in real time.
This level of insight is extremely valuable for investors. It will help us identify if and when consumers reach a breaking point.
To Spend or Not to Spend
We’re going straight to the source to learn what kind of impact inflation is having on people’s daily spending decisions.
LikeFolio’s vast library of consumer mentions, Purchase Intent mentions, and Happiness data reveals much about how our attitudes are shifting—and where our dollars are going.
Let’s divide things into big-ticket items, discretionary purchases, and essentials to learn if consumers are feeling the burn.
1. Big-Ticket Items
Traditionally, these are the first purchases to go as consumers tighten their wallets.
For example, buying a home or a new car, or renovating their existing home.
While refinancing and new home building mentions are tempering, other trends remain positive. This tells us that consumers haven’t reached their breaking point — yet.
However, this could change very quickly.
2. Discretionary Purchases
The next level of consumer spending to get cut is discretionary purchases, and an interesting consumer mindset is at play due to the events that unfolded over the last two-plus years.
Consumers recognize that they’re paying a lot more than they are used to, but coming off a pandemic, they’re putting their burning need for getting out and having fun at the controls.
Data suggests consumers are still splurging on things they’ve missed out on: booking trips, going out to eat, attending that music festival, and upgrading their wardrobe.
The big question: Is this pent-up demand that will shortly fizzle?
We’ll be watching these trends (and related companies) very closely so we know exactly if and when this euphoric boon begins tapering.
Finally, the last area where consumers may tighten their belt is related to consumer staples.
Reduced spending on food, toiletries, and cleaning supplies may be the final sign of an impending breaking point. After all, tough economic times can cause consumers to hit the supermarket less frequently, rotate to generic brands, or find other ways to stretch their dollars.
Tracking mentions for companies like General Mills (GIS), Campbell’s Soup (CPB), Kraft Heinz (KHC), Clorox (CLX), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), and Colgate-Palmolive (CL) is a great way to keep an eye on staples to see if demand begins slipping.
We’ve also got a close eye on discount retailers. So far, stores like Dollar General (DG) and Dollar Tree (DLTR) are not experiencing a major traffic influx. Granted, even discount retailers have raised prices, but since they remain the safety net for many strapped consumers, we’ll be monitoring developments there.
Our conclusion: Consumers are definitely feeling the heat, but they aren’t sweating profusely.
Frugality at the Forefront
Still, we know that economic pressure is building based on how consumers’ attitudes around being fiscally responsible are evolving.
Discussions around being frugal have clearly picked up since the start of the year. Frugality being up +17% YoY tells us that consumers are increasingly exploring ways to save.
This is consistent with the trend in Deal Discovery mentions. The consumer search for deals and discounts is at its highest level in more than a decade.
Summary: Squeeze Play
The reality is, Americans can’t hide from rising gas, grocery, car, and home prices. But they aren’t exactly running away from them either.
While bargain hunting is definitely on the rise, the consumer doesn’t appear to be getting squeezed just yet.
Discretionary spending remains up in key areas like housing, autos, and leisure. People also don’t seem fearful enough to avoid paying for nonessential services like contractors and ride-hailing.
But with some interesting patterns underway, there are some things we’ll be monitoring to see if the full-court press is applied.
After all, with inflation persisting and rates rising, the economy’s grip on consumers is poised to strengthen before it weakens.
Eventually, people may get fed up, say “Ex-squeeze me?!”, and walk away from certain purchases.
And thanks to LikeFolio data, we have “insider” info directly from the consumer’s mouth, telling us exactly if and when that begins to unfold.
As always, members will be the first to know.


text:
Europe Working to Establish Electronic Submission Gateway
I caught up with Tim Buxton of EMEA at the DIA meeting in June. Tim’s big news is that EMEA’s Electronic gateway will be operational shortly, although he could not release a date. The gateway has already been tested with a variety of submissions.
Tim stressed that the EMEA is serious about enforcing the use of eCTD and no longer accepting NeeS as of the published 1 January 2010 deadline. He mentioned that forward-looking companies are already looking beyond eCTD and asking him about RPS.
In Tim’s presentation, he mentioned that the eAF (electronic application form, which is an XML form) will be ready by the end of the year. EMEA is finalizing their receiving tool as well as an authoring tool that will be available both on-line and stand-alone.
In the area of PIM, they are finalizing a stand-alone light authoring tool that will be downloadable from their web site. Although they are still working out kinks in the pilot project and are not ready to make PIM mandatory yet, Tim said that “it won’t be too long” – just the push that sponsors have been waiting for… in the meantime, EMEA will assist sponsors in converting.
Next post, news from the MEB and European statistics…


text:
Changes in store as Somerfield decides to sell supermarkets
Friday 12 November 1999
Somerfield, which acquired the Kwik Save stores last year, has been forced into the decision after a collapse in sales which led to a third profits warning in four months on Wednesday. The group is planning to sell up to 140 of its larger superstores to the leading supermarket operators as well as clothing retailers like Peacocks. It is also hoping to sell its 350 remaining Kwik Save outlets as a going concern. However, there is the possibility of a slimming down of the group's head office and distribution centre in Bristol with up to 1,000 job cuts.
The news forced the shares down another 10 per cent to a new all-time low of 84p.
Analysts questioned the strategy and said it was highly likely that Somerfield would have to close the Kwik Save stores and incur heavy property and redundancy costs. Philip Dorgan, retail analyst at WestLB Panmure, said the decision to almost halve the portfolio could have serious knock- on effects to the remaining part of the business. "Suppliers will seek better terms [ie higher prices] and they could start demanding swifter payments. The business could implode," he said.
Analysts also questioned Somerfield's belief that it will be less exposed to the major supermarkets if it concentrates on its smaller stores. One said: "The idea that there is some cosy, cotton-wool world of convenience stores is a fantasy. They are deluding themselves." Some analysts also questioned the role of Warburg Dillon Read which earned huge fees for advising Somerfield in the Kwik Save merger and will now earn a further sum for advising on the disposals.
The sales will leave Somerfield with 852 stores including 416 Kwik Save outlets which have yet to be converted to the Somerfield format.
A trading update showed that Somerfield' s group like for like sales in the 28 weeks to 6 November were down by 6.3 per cent. This included a 16.2 per cent drop in Kwik Save sales in the second quarter, compared with a 12 per cent decline in the previous three months.
Andrew Thomas is stepping down as Somerfield's chairman to be replaced by Louise Patten, wife of former Tory cabinet minister John Patten.
David Simons, chief executive, said he was happy to soldier on. "We're not giving up."
- 1 Exclusive: Abusers using spyware apps to monitor partners reaches 'epidemic proportions'
- 2 Margaret Thatcher 'expressed fears of Asian rising' at Anglo-Irish summit in 1984
- 3 Sussex couple die in suspected Christmas Day 'suicide pact'
- 4 The 'Black Museum': After 150 years, public set to see exhibits from police’s grisly crime museum
- 5 The Unluckiest People of the Year 2014 (and one very unlucky giraffe)
Exclusive: Abusers using spyware apps to monitor partners reaches 'epidemic proportions'
UK weather: Warning for more snow and ice as freezing temperatures and gales hit Britain
UK weather: Travel chaos continues as King's Cross train delays add to snow on roads
The Unluckiest People of the Year 2014 (and one very unlucky giraffe)
North Korea calls Barack Obama 'a monkey' in latest attack as 'The Interview' row festers
British actor Idris Elba cannot star as James Bond because he is black, says shock jock Rush Limbaugh
Germany anti-Islam protests: 17,000 march on Dresden against 'Islamification of the West'
Ukip member gets into Christmas spirit with Union Flag plea to Santa 'for our country back'
Immigrants make UK racist, says Ukip councillor Trevor Shonk
BBC director Danny Cohen: Rising UK antisemitism makes me feel more uncomfortable than ever
Katie Hopkins speaks out on childhood obesity: 'Parents of fat children should be prosecuted for child cruelty'
iJobs Money & Business
Not specified: Selby Jennings: VP/SVP Credit Quant Top tier investment bank i...
Not specified: Selby Jennings: Quantitative Research | Global Equity | New Yor...
Not specified: Selby Jennings: SVP Model Validation This top tiered investment...
Highly Competitive: Selby Jennings: Our client, a leading European Oil trading...


text:
Samsung rumored to employ Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 for Galaxy S4
Samsung will forgo the in-house Exynos processor in favor of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 for the upcoming Galaxy S4, reports Korean Media (translate). Allegedly, Samsung’s own chip is power hungry and gets rather warm as compared to the Qualcomm processor. Not that we’re complaining; the benchmarks for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 are incredible.
Among other details, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to feature a 4.9-inch Full HD display, 2GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and the
- 1.9Ghz Quad Core APQ8064T Qualcomm Snapdragon 600/800 processor.
See Also: What we expect: Samsung Galaxy S4
You might also like
For those of us that own a smartphone, whether it be an Apple or Android, using apps is part of our daily lives. Can you imagine, 10-15 years ago, not
With only a few weeks to go before we hit 2013 and the start of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) now is the time for invitations and rumors to
The Moto X has a great feature which allows Google Now to be triggered with a simple ‘Ok Google’ voice command, which is made possible due the device always listening


text:
E-government in Nigeria – Submitting Tax Returns
South African fintech startup TaxTim has made Nigeria its second international market after partnering with PWC to offer virtual tax assistance. TaxTim lets users file their tax returns online with step-by-step guidance through a chat-based platform, with a virtual assistant asking questions to ensure accuracy. TaxTim was started in 2011 with seed funding from Google and expanded to Namibia in 2015.
Become a member
Join the Ecommerce Forum South Africa and benefit from industry insights in South Africa and Africa.
Sign up to newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter and stay informed of the progress we are making at the Ecommerce Forum South Africa with government during Coronavirus.


text:
It seems that when you put one crack in the damn, the entire thing will start leaking, as spilling info like a gossip who’s just been told the juiciest secret in the world, Alien: Isolation screenshots have now been leaked onto the web after a source detailed Sega’s yet unannounced title. We previously learnt that the game would be far better than franchise predecessor, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and now with these Alien: Isolation screenshots looking as intriguing as ever, we might finally start believing the hype.
Dragonborns grab your reinforced Viking helmets! Jarls drop your gauntlets! Peasants drop your…cabbages? Poor Skyrim references aside, Bethesda are working on Elder Scrolls Online, the massive multiplayer online game of the medieval fantasy world that we’ve come to know and love, this much we already know. What we now are also clued up on, thanks to an info and trailer drop is the Elder Scrolls Online release date, along with how the gameplay is shaping up. Find both after the break.
To be frank, the last game based on the Alien movie franchise, Aliens: Colonial Marines, was rubbish. Rated ‘a load of old cack’ by reviewers across the board (the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions are rated 43 and 48, respectively on Metacritic), what was promised to be the first decent video game outing under the Alien brand was a huge disappointment. Publisher of the game, Sega, however, wish to make amends by bringing a far better game to market with Alien: Isolation, which apparently involves including a female protagonist.
‘EA are the most gay friendly place to work in all of the games industry’, a bold statement? Absolutely. Is it one that can be backed up with real, actual, verifiable statistics? Again, yes. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), who like to keep tabs on companies doing good, non-discriminatory things to their employees and treating them like plain old human beings, no matter how they identify, have rated EA a 100 out of 100 for equality in the workplace. But what does the publisher’s gay friendly status mean for their games?
In a reveal that’s about as well concealed as an elephant hiding behind a curtain, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was announced for next-gen consoles, PS4 and Xbox One, this weekend at the Spike VGX Awards 2013. We saw this one coming a mile off, mostly down to the fact that Amazon Italy leaked it a few weeks ago but now, letting their inconspicuous cat out of the bag, Square Enix have released a Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition trailer and announced the release date.
Living the life of an NBA baller isn’t all fun and games y’know. It takes years of hard work: from the gruelling workouts that push a player’s muscles to the very limit or the many hours logged on the practice courts as they fight with their minds to remember the seemingly endless amount of plays that they have to learn. Sound like a great deal of effort? Well then it’s a good job that in the virtual world it’s nothing like that! Watch the new NBA 2K14 MyCareer trailer after the break to find out more.
Have you yet to take interest in Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag’s pirate antics and shanty singing? If incredible sea-based battles and the most rich, diverse landscape the series has ever seen aren’t enough, Ubisoft have released the Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag ‘Accolades’ Trailer, to give you at least three good reasons to buy the critically acclaimed title. You can watch the video after the break.
With new console generations brings new specs, the new scent of ‘fresh console’ (that they really do need to consider making an air freshener out of) and more new types of games than we can shake an upgraded processor at.
The PS4 and the Xbox One are now upon us and we’re all eager to see what’s changed. Specifically, have the cries for diversity in our games paid off? Or are we still subject to straight, white, male protagonists? Thankfully, those shouts have been of use and you can find our list of 8 diverse PS4 and Xbox One launch games after the break.
What we know about inFamous: Second Son is that Native American protagonist, Delsin Rowe, will be sticking it to the man as they try to lock him up for having powers of the superheroic variety. What’s also abundantly clear from all of the inFamous: Second Son screenshots is that this PS4 exclusive title will look amazing when it launches on Sony’s new console. Sony are showing this off once again with a new drop of screens, which you can see after the break.
There’s something rather special about platforming games. It’s the dizzy excitement when you clear a bold jump, it’s the thrilling sense of relief when you figure out the solution to the puzzle and most of all, it’s the dazzling originality that so many of these games have. So Many Me is set to be a fantastic addition to the platforming genre and we’ve spoken to Extend Studio, the developers behind the Braid and Portal inspired game, to find out more.


text:
In Why doctors are raising the alarm over e-cigarettes published yesterday in the Globe and Mail tobacco control extremism rules the day.
“Many physicians, however, do not welcome the trend. A Canadian Medical Journal editorial published this week warned that e-cigarettes may be a “slippery slope to tobacco addiction.” A recent study in the journal The Lancet found that e-cigarettes were comparable to nicotine patches in helping smokers quit cigarettes over six months. However, only a small per cent of patients in either group succeeded in quitting long-term. The rest, despite using a free supply of e-cigarettes, or nicotine patch, continued to smoke regular cigarettes at an average rate of half a pack a day.”
-If this is taken at face value does it not argue that on the basis of cessation potential that the patch should be taken off the market? The e-cigarette is acting as cessation in some instances even while not intended as such while the patch is failing in its sole function.
“But even as medical researchers and tobacco-industry scientists debate their merits as a smoking-cessation device, e-cigarettes have become a hit among North American youth. The sale and marketing of e-cigarettes is illegal in Canada, but aficionados say contraband products are easy to find. E-cigarette users – or “vapers” as they are known – describe their new habit as a hip lifestyle choice.”
-Tobacco industry scientists have been pretty quiet about this whole affair. Apparently everyone who argues in favour of e-cigarettes is a tobacco industry scientist or stooge (very strange since until the industry started buying in, e-cigarettes were their greatest threat to continued market dominance).
And a hit among youth? Odd to say that when every study finds the majority of vapers to be smokers or ex-smokers and over 25. Though people do enjoy their e-cigs its more as a safer alternative than a hip lifestyle choice. I have no doubt that usage will creep downwards (and that is a good thing because it will mean less smoking) but currently the kids are still favouring smoking.
“E-cigarette companies are using the same tactics to target youth – TV ads, fruit flavours, celebrity endorsements, event sponsorships – that have been banned for cigarette marketing, according to researchers Rachel Grana and Stanton Glantz at the University of California, San Francisco. Manufacturers are promoting the idea of “vaping” in smoke-free environments to re-establish social norms for nicotine addiction, the researchers wrote in a recent letter to the British Medical Journal: “These messages undermine existing smoke-free laws and contribute to keeping people smoking cigarettes.””
-If health matters at all in this debate you cannot decry e-cigarette advertising because it looks like traditional cigarette advertising. Should you ban cola adverts because they resemble liquor adverts?
And then the few sources cited here are the rabid dogs of tobacco control – known for their inability to assimilate facts and/or logic. Point being that it is impossible for vaping to undermine smoking restrictions precisely because vaping competes with smoking.


text:
Long-time Slashdot reader phalse phace shares their report:
Mr. Sheppard said the takedowns on the platform, which has 300,000 users and mimics some of the functions of Facebook, pales in comparison to content removals by much larger competitors. “I can’t fault them for looking at it,” Mr. Sheppard said of Apple. “I just wish they would give us a chance…” Mr. Sheppard said his team is installing additional security measures, including tools that automatically flag keywords such as “murder” and “killing.” Apple’s App Review Board said in a message to Mr. Sheppard Tuesday that his proposals to limit further harmful content failed to satisfy its rules…
Mr. Sheppard said Thursday night that he was in contact with Apple officials on possible ways to meet the tech company’s standards and eventually return to the App Store… Representatives of the Google Play app store also sent Mr. Sheppard a warning of potential removal Thursday morning, giving him 24 hours to implement new policies, according to a copy of their correspondence reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Google didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The site has just five moderators in total, Sheppard tells the Journal.
“We’re not out there to fact-check. We’re out there to keep people safe
Read more of this story at Slashdot.


text:
More and more pieces of the C8 Chevrolet Corvette puzzle are coming together.
The latest concerns a trademark filing made by General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] for the use of the “LT5” name on automotive engines.
First identified by GM Authority, the filing was made with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 19, 2016. It follows an earlier filing made by GM in 2013.
Linking LT5 with the C8 Corvette is a placeholder page on the website of engine builder Katech that surfaced in July and was quickly removed upon discovery. On the page was listed "C8 Corvette ZR1/Zora” and “2018+ Corvette ZR1/Zora LT5.”
2019 Chevrolet Corvette (C8) spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Katech has a long history with GM, including building high-performance engines for Corvette Racing, so it wouldn’t be odd for the Michigan-based company to be helping develop engines for the C8 Corvette.
But what exactly is the LT5? While we can’t be sure, the name hints at the next-stage of performance for the current LT family of small-block V-8s from GM. The LT4 is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 delivering as much as 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. We’d expect the LT5 to be delivering even higher numbers.
The C8 Corvette is expected to make its debut at the 2018 Detroit auto show, as a 2019 model. Prototypes suggest the car will feature a mid-engine layout, a first for a production Corvette. We've also heard that the car may skip a manual transmission.
Before the arrival of the C8, though, GM will launch a C7 Corvette more potent than the current Z06 model, and this could be the model to debut the LT5. The car has also been spied and is expected to revive the ZR1 name. It should make its debut at the 2017 Detroit auto show next January.


text:
10 predictions from experts at the London Health Show
Last week thousands of health, fitness and wellbeing professionals descended upon London’s Olympia for the London Health Show 2016.
Somewhat of a wellness pilgrimage, the two-day expo delivered in-depth talks from industry leaders to keep people up to date with the latest innovations and trends in the market place.
There was a plethora of speakers and brands across a variety of sectors including health clubs, fitness classes, nutrition and supplements, beauty and healthcare technology, which meant that a lot of information was packed into the two days. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the key trends and predictions experts shared at the event.
Tackling obesity will become a priority
It doesn’t come as a surprise that preventing obesity was one of the most discussed topics of the health show.
For the first time in a decade, diet has overtaken smoking as the largest cause of preventable death in the UK, Dr Justin Varney, Interim Deputy Director of Public Health England, stated in his speech. He also said that over 40% of disease can be prevented by a change in lifestyle. There has also been a 45% increase in the number of cancer cases caused by excess weight in the last two decades, according to Cancer Research UK.
Dr Varney stated that becoming active is the key to preventing serious diseases, we need to work harder to encourage people to want to become active and look after themselves.
‘Wired wellness’ is here to stay
Wearable fitness technology has caused a huge debate in the media recently, as many people are questioning its accuracy and whether it is really necessary. However, many speakers including Dr Christian Jessen and Dr Justin Varney, commented on how the health industry will continue to utilise technology and apps to monitor and measure health and fitness. A recent example is the Sugar Smart app launched by Change4Life, which reveals the number of sugar cubes in popular food and drink.
Cheryl Hersey, Director of ActionPR, highlighted the explosion of active rewards apps. These apps reward users for being active by earning points which can be exchanged for shopping vouchers, discounts and other incentives. All the user needs to do is sign up and continue with their daily lives, earning points for going to the gym, meeting step counts and walking around.
This is a fantastic way to encourage people to be more activate in general, it gives exercise a gaming element which will appeal to many people, especially if they are competitive. It’s also great for those who are already active, because they are earning rewards without changing their usual routines. Cheryl also predicted that insurance companies would be jump on the back of the active rewards trend to incentive more customers to switch to healthier lifestyles.
Emphasis on movement
Many speakers, including Senior Global Master trainer for Technogym and an Olympic and Paralympic trainer Grant Powles, expressed the importance of movement in fitness.
He explained that the majority of people suffer with back issues, posture problems and sleep conditions due to a lack of movement in their everyday lives. With this in mind, fitness professionals should be encouraging people to relearn the basic principles of movement through simple bodyweight exercises that focus on areas such as stability, posture, flexibility and balance.
The fitness industry is booming
Steven Ward, Director of UK Active, discussed how the consumer’s interest in health and fitness has never been higher. He said that there is no such thing as peak fit for Public Health, as we can never stop helping people. Despite the threat of obesity, the UK is focused on making their lives healthier and more enjoyable.
Camel’s milk is in
Classed as a superfood, camel’s milk is full of nutrients, proteins and essential carbohydrates, while its fat content is 50% lower than cow’s milk. There are no known allergies to camel’s milk, unlike traditional cow’s milk which can irritate eczema and digestion. While it certainly doesn’t sound very glamourous, Shona Wilkinson who is the Head Nutritionist at NutriCentre, predicts that we’ll all soon be adding camel’s milk to our smoothies.
Friendly ‘fitness’ language
Many of the speakers discussed the demand for clear and more friendly language in the health and fitness industry whether it is using less ingredients on food packaging, or using clear language when training clients.
Olympic and Paralympic trainer Grant Powles revealed that customers don’t want to be pushed out of their comfort zones anymore, they want to do exercises that they are familiar and comfortable with. An example of this is asking clients to ‘bend down, touch the floor and lift hands above your head’ instead of asking them to do a ‘clean and press’ which may be confusing. Utilise bodyweight exercises that encourage people to work on their range of movement, rather than focusing on how much weight they can lift.
Supplement market will continue to grow
There were a great deal of food and supplement brands at the expo, so it wasn’t surprising that many speakers predicted that the market will continue to soar over the next year.
While the emphasis was on food supplements, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamins and seaweed (which was crowned the new kale), protein powders were also discussed. This is quite a controversial topic, as research has revealed that consuming protein powders before, during or after moderate intensity exercise has little effect on muscle recovery and the ability to train. With this in mind, it’s our duty as fitness professionals to help consumers cut through the marketing jargon and follow the right advice.
As fitness and technology become intertwined, Cheryl Hersey of ActionPR predicts that we will see an increase in immersive and interactive fitness classes. This could mean anything from gym classes which use visuals, lighting and music to create an unforgettable experience, to virtual races and classes that users can participate in from the comfort of their own home.
Some of the most innovative ones to look out for are treadmill classes and virtual marathons, while LES MILLS is the brand that has been leading the way with their immersive fitness classes.
Pick n mix memberships
Fitness classes are all the rage right now, but consumers don’t want to be tied down to just one. Experts at the Health Show predicted that more brands will provide multiple classes to different gym sites across the UK, which allow consumers to experience more than one gym and class. Class Pass has already started offering this service, but they predicted that there will be many more following this trend.
Health and fitness is one of the most exciting and innovative industries in the world. It has been made clear from the London Health Show that preventing obesity through lifestyle changes, movement and bodyweight exercises, fitness technology and engaging classes are here to stay.
Join Amaven and start using our innovative platform to deliver exceptional workouts today.


text:
Ever since the World Health Organization declared Coronavirus a global pandemic, countries have been scrambling for their next steps.
Countries across Europe have effectively shut down, the United States has closed its borders, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently ordered a 21-day countrywide shutdown.
The world economy has become a big focus as many businesses either shut their doors voluntarily or are closed as they do not classify as a “non-essential” service.
Some sectors, like hotels, airlines, and other travel-related industries have taken a beating. Numerous airlines such as American Airlines, Lufthansa, Delta, and British Airways are requesting government assistance in order to survive the overnight loss of flights and passengers.
Other industries, such as online entertainment, grocery stores, and eCommerce are thriving.
Then, there are industries that seem to be stuck in the middle. Construction is one of those industries as different countries seem to have different responses to what to do with construction.
So what is in store for the construction industry?
Workers Fear for Their Safety
With nearly all countries preaching the importance of social distancing, construction is one such industry that is unable to put social distancing practices into play. With so much collaboration on the construction site, both in close contact and through the exchange of tools, it’s easy to see why construction workers might feel a bit frightened.
It’s not just the fact that workers might be in close proximity to one another at the worksite, but they are also in close proximity with hundreds if not thousands of strangers during their commute.
Many countries have already classified construction workers as non-essential, but others have been a bit vague. The UK, for example, has said that if work can continue in the open air, then it should be allowed.
Many countries receive their construction materials from other countries through trade. India is one such country as the second-largest country in the world receives much of its materials from China.
The main goods received are iron, steel, electronic equipment, plastic goods, and more. When those shipments stopped to do the virus spreading, many firms had but no choice to delay projects.
This is a phenomenon that is also worldwide, as the United States reports that around 30% of construction projects have been put on hold with contractors saying that almost 20% of the delays were due to equipment issues or lack of products.
Projects that are continuing are making use of all tools available, getting creative with how materials are moved and consistently working towards a quick solution.
A Huge Part of the Economy
Construction, by and large, is a huge part of the world’s economy. In India, construction is responsible for roughly 15% of the working class and over 5% of the country’s GDP.
In fact, the construction market is expected to be worth $1 trillion within the next five years, according to a report from KPMG in 2016.
With such a large part of the economy coming to a semi-halt, how is that going to affect the nation’s economy overall?
As of now, it means that a lot of people are losing their jobs. With over 30 million people employed in the construction industry, that’s a lot of the working class that’s being told to stay at home.
The majority of India’s construction workforce are contractors, meaning they do not have the same protections and rights as employees would. Many are expecting to lose their jobs over the next few weeks.
The government is expected to unveil a multi-billion dollar stimulus package in the next coming days which will help, but many will still continue to feel the effects of the lockdown and lack of work.
A Boom in the Future?
What happens when this is all over and people start returning to work?
Unfortunately, no one knows the correct answer to that question. The world is still in the early days of the global pandemic and with many countries instituting lockdowns recently, it would be unwise to try and predict the future.
Projects would likely start to trickle back in slowly as measures are taken to make sure there isn’t a second wave of the virus. The fight for jobs will be fierce as the market is likely to be flooded with millions looking to work again.
Eventually, though, people will start spending money again which should help the economy start to recover.
[Disclaimer: The pictures used in the article are supplied by the author, NewsGram has no intention of infringing copyrights.]


text:
A 'sexist' tax on sanitary products has been abolished in the UK from today (1 January).
EU law stipulates that members must place a five percent rate of VAT on tampons and sanitary towels as they are classed as non-essential items, but chancellor Rishi Sunak committed to scrapping the tax in his March Budget, once the UK had officially left the EU.
Activists have campaigned for the so-called tampon tax to be scrapped for 20 years.
Felicia Willow, chief executive of women's rights charity the Fawcett Society, said: "We warmly welcome the scrapping of VAT on all sanitary products from 1 January 2021 and congratulate the government on taking this positive step.
"It's been a long road to reach this point, but at last the sexist tax that saw sanitary products classed as non-essential, luxury items can be consigned to the history books."
Laura Coryton - who has been campaigning to end the tax for six years and started a petition that attracted more than 300,000 signatures - said the move has come at a crucial time.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I'm just so happy and relieved and excited at the same time for this tax to finally be axed.
"It will mean a reduction in prices for period products, and that reduction in cost will be important for the increasing number of people who are battling with poverty, especially due to the pandemic."
The Treasury estimates the move will save the average person who menstruates £40 over their lifetime, with 20 packs of tampons down by 7p and a pack of 12 sanitary pads down by 5p.
Chancellor Sunak said: "I'm proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax.
"Sanitary products are essential so it's right that we do not charge VAT.
"We have already rolled out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals and this commitment takes us another step closer to making them available and affordable for all women."Featured Image Credit: PA


text:
Speaking to IGN, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that Nintendo "sold in 2.3 million units" worldwide since the system's launch on November 11, 2016.For those unfamiliar, "sell in" means units shipped to retailers to be sold through to consumers. In January, Nintendo revealed it had sold through 1.5 million NES Classic Edition units, which means at least 65 percent of that current worldwide shipped number was sold through as of February 1, 2017. Fils-Aime did not offer updated sold through numbers, however, but did say note the "NES Classic was originally planned to be a product for this past holiday."
"We didn't anticipate just how incredible the response would be, but once we saw that response, we added shipments and extended the product for as long as we could to meet more of that demand" Fils-Aime said.
We need to make sure we manage all of our resources in an effective way.Fils-Aime also explained the company's thinking behind the decision to discontinue the product while demand still existed for it.
"We understand that some people were frustrated about not being able to find the system, but for us, we need to make sure we manage all of our resources in an effective way," he said. Fils-Aime went on to note that "At the same time we were facing this surging demand for NES Classic, we were preparing to launch Nintendo Switch," and so as Nintendo "saw the demand, as we saw the excitement [for the Switch], in fact we were able to increase our production and sold in, and largely sold through 2.7 million [Switch] units."
Nintendo revealed the Switch's worldwide sales numbers earlier this week as part of the company's year-end earnings release.A couple of weeks earlier, Nintendo confirmed the decision to discontinue the NES Classic to IGN, explaining that "NES Classic Edition wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product. However, due to high demand, we did add extra shipments to our original plans."
At the time of its launch, various reports revealed how in-demand the system, a miniature recreation of the NES hardware featuring 30 games, and IGN took a look at how the shortages dampened what should have been a fun moment for Nintendo and fans. Following the recent discontinuation news, IGN also examined what Nintendo could learn from the NES Classic's failures.
The official Nintendo NYC store also announced that yesterday would be the last day the store would sell the NES Classic, while recent reports suggest that Nintendo will release an SNES Classic Edition sometime this year.
Reporting by Jose Otero. Jonathon Dornbush is an Associate Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @jmdornbush.


text:
VW Group moved 7.61 million vehicles through the end of September.
Volkswagen Group is in position to finish the year as the world’s biggest-selling automaker, Automotive News Europe reports.
In the nine months to the end of September, VW Group sold 7.61 million vehicles worldwide, growth of 2.4 percent on the same period last year. By contrast, Toyota, which has held the top spot for the last four years, saw growth of just 0.4 percent, moving 7.53 million units over the same period.
Volkswagen’s sales growth accelerated in the third quarter of the year. For the first sixth months of the year, the German automaker reported growth of 1.5 percent, delivering 5.12 million vehicles.
Toyota actually outpaced that growth, recording an increase of 10 percentage points from a fall of 0.6 percent. But that will be a small consolation when it faces losing the number one status it fought so hard to achieve.
VW’s success comes despite the ongoing emissions cheating scandal, which has led to a drop in sales in some markets. Toyota far outsells VW in the U.S., for instance. But in China, the largest automobile market in the world, VW sells three cars for every one Toyota moves. Through the end of September, VW reported an increase in sales of 11 percent in China, up to 2.58 million units.
Toyota’s fortunes have not been helped by problems suffered by some of its suppliers. An explosion at a steel supplier in February caused Toyota’s Japanese factories to shut down for a week, and weeks more were lost when another supplier’s facility was damaged by an earthquake. Falling gas prices have led to a reduction in demand for the big-selling Prius hybrid in the U.S., as well.
Sales at the Volkswagen brand itself have fallen in the wake of Dieselgate, but the Group’s numbers have been boosted by strong demand for Audi, Porsche, and Skoda. End-of-year sales of more than last year’s record high of 9.93 million are targeted.
Source: Automotive News Europe


text:
Computer security researchers say that the GSM phones used by the majority of the world's mobile-phone users can be listened in on with just a few thousand dollars worth of hardware and some free open-source tools.
Two consumer groups urged U.S. regulators on Monday to block Google from acquiring mobile advertising provider AdMob, citing potential harm the deal could cause to users, advertisers and application developers.
African governments are banking on renewed relations with China to spread communication networks into underserved and rural areas, but their use of condition-free Chinese loans for funding has raised concern in a continent rife with corruption and po...
India's mobile subscriber base crossed the 500 million mark in November, according to data released Wednesday by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Travellers in or from East Asia may soon be able to turn to their cell phones for quick, easy and cheap translation help thanks to a new application from Toshiba.
2009 will see a total of 1.2 billion mobile devices shipped, including all categories of wireless devices such as mobile phones, MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices), netbooks, mobile consumer electronics products, and cellular modems.Shipments of these de...
You obviously don't need to be told that texting and driving are two complex tasks that don’t mix well. But a new study by University of Utah researchers sheds light on why and finds that this activity is even more dangerous than talking on a cell ph...
A Maine state legislator wants cell phones in the state to carry labels warning of brain cancer risks due to electromagnetic radiation. And the proposal could come up for debate and vote in early 2010.
It's a throwback to the old arcade games based on The Simpsons in the 1990s, but it's on a very new platform.
Apple's iPhone user base is now the second-largest in the U.S. smartphone market, passing Windows Mobile-based models to slip into the spot behind Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry, research firm comScore said today.
Google's mobile app store, the Android Market, has doubled in size in the last five months, and now hosts more than 20,000 applications, according to unofficial numbers from specialist portal AndroLib.
Even if Google employees have kept mum about Nexus One specifics, ROM hackers have been able to dig deep into the phone's system files to reveal the list of hardware we can expect from the Nexus One.
Those who want a little less Google on their iPhones will soon be able to put a lot more Bing on their handsets. Microsoft is prepping a Bing iPhone app for immediate release via Apple's App Store to give iPhone users a Google alternative.
Amazon.com plans to release a new, free Kindle for BlackBerry mobile application in near future, according to the company's Kindle Web page. The online retailer didn't specify when exactly the app will be released, but its Kindle page currently shows...
Google's Nexus One smartphone is a shot across the bow of many entrenched competitors, enough to make us wonder whether Google has some master plan for world domination or has merely gone loopy.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Apple MacBook (early 2015) review: Almost a game changer
- 2 Microsoft Surface 3 Windows 8.1 tablet
- 3 HP Spectre x360 convertible laptop
- 4 Intel NUC Kit (NUC5i5RYH) Mini PC
- 5 Dell XPS 13 laptop (early 2015 model)
Join the PC World newsletter!
Best Deals on GoodGearGuide
Latest News Articles
- Amazon rules Gartner's magical box
- Google gives Android developers new tools for tracking app performance
- US Senate leader pushes to extend NSA phone dragnet
- Pebble Time smartwatch to begin shipping on May 27
- Adblock browsers for Android and iOS to keep mobile ads, tracking at bay
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
- FTSenior Digital B2B Sales Manager | Household BrandNSW
- CCMobile Designer / Developer - IOSNSW
- CCMobile Designer / Developer - IOSNSW
- FTKey Account ManagerNSW
- FTSMB Direct Sales Account Executive | Largest Global Online MarketplaceNSW
- FTSenior SQL DBANSW
- FTSenior Sales Executive X 3 World Leading Music Streaming PlatformNSW
- FTApplication Security SpecialistNSW
- FTSENIOR FORMS ANALYST (13767)QLD


text:
Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 20
Gamers, cosplayers and collectors knew this one was coming weeks ago, but for those who have only observed the most devoted of fandom from afar, the Green Country Comics and Gaming is almost here. The two-day showcase of comic and gaming art, tournaments and vendors will be Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 20. Opening ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday before participants split off to various game rooms and contests scheduled throughout the weekend at the Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills, 1902 E. 71st St. Registration is $20 for one day or $40 for both. Children 10 and under are free with the purchase of an adult pass. For more, visit www.comicsandgaming.com.


text:
When synthetic cathinone products began to appear in convenience stores in the mid-2000s, they contained substances that were not specifically banned by state or federal drug laws. But by the end of the decade, a few states passed laws to ban their sale.
In 2011 the DEA used emergency protocols to temporarily ban some of the substances found in synthetic cathinone products. In 2012, President Obama signed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act, permanently placing several different classes of psychoactive substances, including many synthetic cathinones, into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) – the most restrictive classification possible.
Each state is currently using various administration actions, prosecution strategies, and regulations for product labeling and branding to either quickly ban individual substances or criminalize sales. Most states have also enacted criminal and civil penalties (and many others have pending legislation) for the sale of products that attempt to avoid being advertised as “synthetic drugs” by claiming they are “not for human consumption.”
Recently, states like New York, Virginia and others have pushed for new laws that broaden the chemical definitions meant to be outlined in Schedule I as well as call for harsher penalties for sale of synthetic cathinone products.
Alternatives to Prohibition
Drug prohibition laws essentially “mark the battle lines,” as manufacturers of synthetic cathinones can make small changes to the chemical formulas to skirt these laws, producing newer synthetic cathinones that have not yet been scheduled.
Instead of further criminalization, alternative approaches are needed to reduce accidental deaths related to drug use, improve public health outcomes, care for vulnerable populations, and protect young people.


text:
NDR, the German public radio broadcaster, reports that airport pornoscanners are unable to cope with pleats:
While some passengers are being asked to remove thicker clothes such as jumpers, NDR reported that the devices are regularly malfunctioning due to creases in lighter clothes such as blouses and skirts.
'Naked' scanners fooled by creased clothing
(Thanks, Fipi Lele!)
Uber today announced that it will provide millions of face masks against coronavirus for people who work as drivers or food delivery workers around the world, and that it has begun providing gloves and face masks for its workers in New York City.
“Big Brother, it turned out, was wearing a MAGA cap”
The video conferencing app Zoom has become suddenly ubiquitous over the past few weeks, as the coronavirus shutdown closes schools, businesses, and keeps us all indoors. Shares of Zoom dropped 9% on Monday, adding to their sharp declines in recent days, as security and privacy vulnerabilities are reported. There is also new competition from other […]
If your sleep has been somewhat troubled recently, you’ve got plenty of company. With so much uncertainty, millions of people everywhere are laying in their beds, wrestling with huge life problems while unsuccessfully trying to also get eight hours of rest…or six…or heck, even 30 minutes. If that hits a little close to home, you […]
Believe it or not, you can still score a new job in the midst of the pandemic. There are a bunch of industries under more demand stress than ever that have an immediate need to grow. Regardless of the specific role needed or company that’s hiring, one skill that can only help you score an […]
If you’ve ever tried to shoot your own videos, you know the equipment costs to do it right can mount up quickly. Even if you’re fine with capturing video on your trusty smartphone, you still need a mount to keep your phone in place. And you’ll need a mic to augment your smartphone’s not so […]


text:
Toyota Supra 2019: The alleged prices
With only a few days away, the price details on the long-awaited Toyota Supra has been revealed through a photo pertaining to the Toyota Supra’s pricing and available colors.
The said photo has been popping up in a lot of Facebook groups particularly on the site’s online marketplace where people buy and sell used vehicles. The post in question even says that you can contact a person for inquiries and reservations.
According to some sources, the photo in question is purported to be the real deal and is accurate. Not that we disagree with the source but we’ll just have to wait until the release of Toyota Supra on July 9 for the official pricing.
True or not, the prices here can form an estimate for the real price of the Toyota Supra 2019
Regardless, the photo states that the BMW CLAR based Toyota Supra is priced at Php 5,090,000 for the Matte Storm Gray, Php 5,050,000 for the white metallic, black metallic, lightning yellow, silver metallic, ice gray metallic, and deep blue metallic and lastly, Php 4,990,000 for the prominence red.
Further rumors are also saying that the aforementioned Php 5.09 matte storm gray will be limited to a super limited one unit run for the Philippines market. As with the entire photo though, we’ll just have to wait and see if that is indeed true.
Don't forget to check our Toyota Philippines price list regularly to keep updated the latest changes in the pricing of Toyota models.
Long-awaited Supra 2019 is expected to be released on July 9 with the official price
The supposed pricing details of the Supra based on the photo above most obviously sits in between the lower spec Z4 sDrive20i and the top-spec variant of the said BMW coupe called the BMW Z4 M40i both of which are already available here in the Philippines.
Also, note that the BMW Z4 shares the same platform with the new Toyota Supra which is the BMW Cluster Architecture of CLAR platform. So from that, we can only guess that differences that the Supra has to the BMW Z4.
Toyota Supra 2019 Philippine variants: Any news at all on that?
The specifications for the Philippine version of the Toyota high-performance coupe in question are not yet available to the public nor are the variants and their respective prices.
In the US though where the new Toyota Supra was released a couple of months ago, the Toyota made coupe comes in two variants, a turbocharged 2.0 inline-4 capable of making 194 horsepower and 320 NM of torque while the more powerful 3.0 inline-6 variants make about 335 horsepower and 495 NM of torque.
Both use an eight-speed automatic to which the public, especially on popular car forums didn’t quite agree with.
We here at Philkotse.com hope that these two variants will make it to the Philippines. But we might also hazard a guess that the Toyota Supra will inevitably engage in friendly competition with its German brother.
The inline-4 might be cheaper but the more power inline-6 will definitely hold true to the Supra name
Toyota Supra: More related news
Other than the rumors with regards to the Toyota Supra’s prices here in the Philippines, Toyota Racing Development or TRD already has an aero package available for the said performance coupe.
It features the trademark “Sakana” stabilizer fins on rocker extensions, a diffuser extension and a lip-style spoiler, and a pair of side pieces that strangely covers the side intakes.
Also included are 19-inch aluminum wheels and side mirror covers.
This is the TRD package for the Toyota Supra. It alone costs about P1.3 million
The said Toyota TRD package for the Toyota Supra costs about Php 1.34 million and so is not really cheap. Regardless, the said package improves the Supra’s looks making it more aggressive than ever before and will definitely have an effect on its aerodynamics.
For more automotive news, car reviews, and the most updated car pricelists, please keep reading here on Philkotse.com.
Know more about Toyota Supra 2023
The Toyota GR Supra is a 2-seater sports car that is available in the Philippines at a price of Php 4,990,000. It can go up to Php 5,090,000 if the Ice Gray body color option is chosen, with five other paints priced at Php 5,050,000. Only one variant is available locally which uses a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter inline-6 twin-scroll turbocharged gasoline engine that generates 335 Nm of torque and 500 Nm of torque. This engine is connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard. Dimensions-wise, this iconic sports car spans 4,379 mm in length, 1,854 mm in width, and 1,294 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,470 mm and a ground clearance rated at 115 mm. In the local market, the Toyota Supra competes against the likes of Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z, and Porsche 718.
₱ 4,990,000 - ₱ 5,050,000Explore
Cesar G.B. Miguel
- The new Toyota Supra 2019 is selling like hotcakes in Japan Apr 12, 2021
- Toyota Supra 2020 unintentionally revealed its final appearance via e-mail Sep 11, 2020
- Latest teaser photos of the Toyota Supra 2019 revealed Nov 22, 2022
- The debut of the Toyota Supra 2019/2020 will be in January 2019 Sep 08, 2020
- Toyota Philippines price List 2023 Apr 08, 2020


text:
On social media, Alexa PenaVega and her husband, fellow Hallmark Channel star Carlos PenaVega, often tout the benefits of their family’s all-natural lifestyle, from eating “clean” to using natural remedies for illnesses and injuries. Alexa, who also frequently shares her all-natural beauty secrets with fans, recently revealed some surprising choices when it comes to her skincare, including not using sunscreen on her or her kids, but eschewing her toxin-free regimen for Botox injections.
Alexa PenaVega Shares Why Her Family Doesn’t Use Sunscreen
Alexa, 34, has been working in the entertainment industry since she was a child actor in the “Spy Kids” movies, so she’s tried lots of different treatments and strategies over the years to bolster her health and appearance, and even overcame an eating disorder that she told Fox News in 2022 “wrecked me for years.” Her own health journey and her experience as a parent inspired her to choose natural products whenever possible, frequently sharing supplements and other products with her social media followers.
In addition to having a home in Hawaii, the PenaVegas’ family of five — including six-year-old son Ocean, three-year-old son Kingston, and 20-month-old daughter Rio — also lives part-time on a catamaran along the Florida coast. In November, Alexa told her fans during an Instagram Live that the kids “just live in their underwear or bathing suits on the boat right now!”
With all that time in the sun and sea, one of Alexa’s fans recently asked what kind of sunscreen their family uses. The actress answered in a video via her Instagram Stories on January 20, 2023, that they no longer use it.
“I’m sure there will be many opinions on this,” Alexa laughed. “But for us, we decided to stop wearing sunscreen altogether. If it is way too hot and the sun is, like, unbearable and we don’t have an opportunity to get the kids inside, we just cover up.”
“We decided to do this after we took a deep dive into sunscreen,” Alexa continued. “And the more you deep dive, the more you learn about sunscreen, obviously, but what we also realized was how much food plays an effect on how the sun messes with your skin. Certain types, obviously. Hear the key word: seed oils.”
According to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention — as explained by the Oncology Nurse Advisor website in 2018 — a “high intake of polyunsaturated fat may be associated with increased risk for certain subtypes” of skin cancer, meaning that eating foods with soybean, corn, and flax oils may increase the chance of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. This has fed into a widely-circulated theory that the consumption of seed oils is more to blame for sunburns and skin cancer than UV rays from the sun.
In response to the theories, Dr. Patricia Farris, a dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, told CNN in 2019, “There are definitely foods that we eat that can boost our ability to protect our skin from the sun,” but that wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is the most important step towards skin protection, followed by cover-ups and diet.
In her Instagram Story, Alexa said she feels good about not using sunscreen on her family.
“I mean, we’ve been in the sun all day every day and we’re doing great,” she said.
Alexa PenaVega Says She Mainly Uses Natural Skin Products, But Still Relies on Botox
In a second video uploaded to her Instagram Stories on January 20, Alexa spoke to fans who’d said they feel bad about not being able to adopt a completely “natural lifestyle,” revealing that she gives herself some wiggle room for products she really likes — including Botox injections.
“I’m getting a lot of questions-slash-comments about people feeling kind of guilty about not going all-in with, like, a natural lifestyle,” Alexa said. “And, guys, look — if you can go all-in, that’s amazing. But I think you go in as much as you can. For us, we try to stick with natural, cleaner products across the board, so that way when we go out to dinner…we don’t feel very guilty.”
“For face products and stuff, I use very natural, clean face products,” she continued. “But then I do go and I get Botox because I feel better about my face after I get Botox. So there are little things that we all do.”
Alexa added, “I don’t necessarily need these things. I don’t need a pie. I don’t need a cake. I don’t need Botox, but these are little things that I do enjoy occasionally.”
In December 2021, Alexa also shared a video of herself getting a “lip brushing” procedure, according to Us Magazine, which is a form of cosmetic tattooing that tints a person’s lips.
Alexa’s next film is “A Paris Proposal” co-starring Nicholas Bishop. The Hallmark Channel movie premieres on February 11 at 8 pm Eastern.


text:
Recreational marijuana legalization reduces opioid deaths by 20%…at least. Mexico government is taking public input on how best to legalize marijuana. Bernie Sanders says he would legalize marijuana by executive order. Outside Lands becomes first major music festival to allow marijuana sales.
Marijuana legalization is coming to Arizona. Initiative filed with Arizona Secretary of State for marijuana legalization on 2020 ballot. Arizona marijuana measure faces opposition from business community, politicians. New Mexico governor’s marijuana legalization working group schedules first hearing. Legalizing Florida marijuana is long overdue.
First legal marijuana shop opens off Massachusetts mainland. Massachusetts municipalities seek clarifications on recreational marijuana legalization. Cash is king for New Hampshire marijuana industry as banks remain cautious. The best responses from the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor’s weed survey.
A beginner’s guide to legal marijuana in Michigan. Three Michigan communities say no to marijuana businesses. Task force eyes flaws in Michigan‘s new recreational marijuana law. Michigan Atty General eyes tweaks to recreational marijuana law. Illinois community colleges eye programs to train students for marijuana industry. Will Illinois pot sales fuel prevention funding? Advocates fear not. Pot prohibition in Illinois will persist, even after it’s legal. Illinois marijuana growers spent about $600,000 on political giving leading to the pot legalization vote: here’s where the money went.
Colorado governor says deliveries would deter stoned driving. Legal marijuana sold in Colorado is increasingly for recreational use. Oregon law limits sales of marijuana byproducts. Legal marijuana has created a thriving black market in Riverside County, California. Marijuana legalization and the California workplace. It’s Minnesota‘s turn to legalize marijuana use. Wisconsin falling behind on legal marijuana laws. Did Ohio lawmakers accidentally legalize marijuana? Top law enforcers say yes.
Legal weed bill for New Jersey may be revived later this year.
Advocates want legalized cannabis boom to help communities hurt when marijuana was illegal. Protect vulnerable groups from exposure to Big Marijuana. Credit unions won’t be punished for working with weed businesses, federal regulator says.
Push to legalize pot cements partisan divisions in 2020 race. This is the most marijuana-friendly Congress in history. Key Congressional chairman sends marijuana email to NORML activists. Why the issue of marijuana legalization isn’t about getting high. Marijuana and agribusiness.
Teen pot use tricky to predict as legalization approaches. Big Alcohol is pouring billions into the drinkable marijuana market. After marijuana legalization, the wait for retail sales is the national norm. Capitalization requirements for marijuana businesses are unjust and counterproductive. A US-based cannabis company could be active in as little as 6 months, says pot investor. Infusing marijuana with data: Cannabis industry vets aim to clear the haze in a booming industry. Four takeaways from National Drug Use and Health Survey on marijuana.


text:
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Fleet Complete announced a collaboration with Cummins Inc. to provide the Cummins Connected Diagnostics application to customers using the Fleet Complete internet of things platform who have Cummins engines in their vehicles.
“[Customers] will get easy-to-understand reports and actionable recommendations on engine fault alerts in real time,” Fleet Complete CEO Tony Lourakis said in a company release. “This will save a considerable amount of money and time at a repair shop when the drivers can present a ready-made, prioritized list to the mechanic to start on the repairs straight away.”
Being able to make these time-critical decisions fast is crucial to fleet-owning businesses that rely on uptime and reliability of their vehicles to stay profitable in daily operations, according to the Toronto-based company.
Fleet Complete is a global provider of connected vehicle technology, delivering fleet, asset and mobile workforce management offerings. The company is servicing close to 500,000 subscribers and more than 35,000 businesses in 16 countries.— Transport Topics


text:
Welcome to the latest Beauty in Brief, our fortnightly round-up of the latest news in beauty technology and marketing.
This edition features YSL Beauty’s social-focused pop-up store, Unilever’s acquisition of Schmidt’s Naturals and the UK getting its own version of Sephora.
YSL Beauty has unveiled a new pop-up store in Heathrow Airport, London. The store, designed with social media sharing in mind, featuring some of their most recent launches including their Black Opium line.
The L’Oréal-owned beauty brand has hired a tattoo artist who will give consumers temporary tattoos. Visitors can also expect free makeovers, virtual make-up try-on iPads, a GIF photo booth and an ‘ATM machine’ that dispenses free Black Opium samples.
The deodorant, toothpaste and soap brand Schmidt’s Naturals is to be acquired by Unilever, further expanding their fast growing naturals category which already includes Degree and Dove.
Schmidt’s Naturals was created in 2010 by Jaime Schmidt. Schmidt described the deal as “a momentous day in the history of Schmidt’s Naturals”.
Described as the “UK’s first, most revolutionary destination for beauty”, Indulge is a new multi-brand store created by the CEO of The Fragrance Shop, Sanjay Vadera.
Over 120 cult, classic and emerging brands are to be stocked by the retailer which aims to become a one-stop destination for beauty – much like Sephora in the US.


text:
Home Kent Business County News Article
The new Herne Bay Saturday market is set to move to the town centre on May 3, Canterbury City Council has revealed.
The proposed relocation from the King’s Road car park to Mortimer Street and William Street will see 26 new stalls setting up shop.
The council’s coastal towns manager Chris West said: “I think it will give a whole new dimension to the market.
“It will increase the visibility and hopefully generate far greater footfall in the town centre. Along with the new business opening on the pier the two should complement each other.
“There will be a much better offering for Herne Bay and be a better package for visitors with more things to do.”
The council had originally planned to have the new market in place in April ahead of the busier summer period.
After careful negotiations with town centre businesses there will be new market stalls offering items like fruit and veg, clothing, fine foods, plants, flowers and much more.
Traders will trade from both sides of their stalls with new green and white striped gazebos to match the colour scheme in place for Canterbury market.
They will be allowed to use their vehicles to set up early in the mornings and then to replenish stocks if necessary.
But in Mortimer Street the brick shrubberies and plants and benches will have to be removed to make way for the new stalls.
Down to Earth shop owner Stan Truelove is wary of the move. He said: “They invested lots of money to make it a nice shopping precinct all those years ago. But now all that money will be wasted.
“It’s going to cost them an estimated £10,000 to remove the brick plants. So for six days a week it will go back to looking like a mess.
“I think they should have used the bottom half of Mortimer Street, which would allow people to walk on to local shops without it clashing.”
The council now plans to drum up support for the new move with a Market Fun Day to launch the new plan.
What do you think?
Email us: firstname.lastname@example.org call 01227 475928, write to us: Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Estuary View Business Park, Whitstable, CT5 3SE. Follow updates on Twitter @HerneBayGazette or see our Facebook Page.
Click here for more news from Canterbury.
Click here for more news from around the county.


text:
Asian countries are paradoxical when it comes to cryptocurrency. Though most of them are far away from regulating digital currencies, they are actively using it. China has actively rejected Bitcoin’s legality but has continued to boost the currency’s volumes and prices in phases. The Southeast Asian countries account for a good chunk of the global remittance industry. They have begun using Bitcoin for instant cross border transfers which otherwise generally involve high third party charges. Now that Bitcoin transactions are on the rise, Russia has decided to regulate Bitcoin despite previously challenging the digital currency’s legality. Let’s dive deep into why and how Russia is planning to monitor Bitcoin.
Russia and Bitcoin
In recent years, Russia has showcased an alternating personality when it comes to Bitcoin. While at times Russia’s central bank admired the numerous advantages of a cryptocurrencies, they have also been hands off and cynical when it comes to adopting them. In 2014, Russian authorities issued warnings against Bitcoin citing uses like money laundering and financing terrorism before declaring the use of Bitcoin as illegal. They were even considering an outright ban of cryptocurrency in the country punishable by jail time for holding any bitcoins. By May 2016, Russia’s central bank revealed plans to create its own cryptocurrency banning the existing ones. However, the air cleared when a federal tax service letter released in December of the same year implied that cryptocurrencies are not illegal and are yet to be regulated.
Plan to acknowledge Bitcoin
Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev said that Russia plans to recognize Bitcoin as a legitimate financial instrument in 2018, in order to fight money laundering, as per Bloomberg’s release. The central bank is coordinating with the government over consolidating their position over crytpocurrencies. The need for monitoring Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies arises from the fact that the traditional monitoring methods won’t suffice for Bitcoin monitoring. The need also stems to the fact that money moved abroad through illegal methods like fake trades and loans has been cut down by nearly half last year and amounted to $771 million.
How Bitcoin is faring in Russia
While it is still unclear whether Bitcoin would be treated as cash or security or commodity, the digital asset’s trading volume has increased over the last couple of weeks. The trading volumes on Local bitcoins alone exceeded 342 Million rubles which is worth roughly $6 Million and is high for a country that has made the cryptocurrency illegal.


text:
Hampton House Furniture’s Great $1,000,000 Store Closing Retirement Sale!
One of the areas’ most distinguished furniture stores, HAMPTON HOUSE FURNITURE announces the decision to retire from business and close their store, located at 467 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. At the conclusion of their Great $1 Million Store Closing Retirement Sale, which begins Friday, June 9th, they will be retiring to pursue other interests.
“We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with the people of Montclair and surrounding communities for 70 years. We have now made the strategic decision to retire and close our store and sell out our entire and complete stock”, said Joan and Ron Fisch, owners.
The Lynch Sales Company, an internationally known sale event specialist, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will coordinate the Sale. “We expect tremendous crowds due to the low prices we will be offering. Everything, including our newest merchandise and special orders, will be sold during this Historic Sale”, said the Owners.


text:
Whitbread-owned Costa Coffee has boosted the group’s overall Q1 performance for the 13 weeks to 2 June 2016, with total sales at the high street coffee chain up 11.5% to £414.3m and retail like-for-like (LFL) sales increasing by 2.6%.
Within this, Costa’s UK retail system sales rose by 11.4% to £226.5m, with equity stores growing LFL sales by 2.6%. The company opened 35 new Costa stores in the UK in the period, to reach 2,069 outlets (retail and enterprise).
In a conference call with the industry, chief executive Alison Brittain said that Costa “had a good start to the year, with a good performance across our travel concession and drive-thru channels”. She added that core brands such as Costa and Premier Inn gave the company “tremendous resilience in times of uncertainty”.
Speaking further on Costa, she said the coffee chain was “innovating to a change in customer tastes”, including testing finer coffee concepts as well as single-origin brands and catering to the health-conscious with new SuperDay smoothies. While “mindful of the EU referendum in two days’ time”, she said the company remained “confident of maintaining strong progress for the full year”.
Overall sales for the Whitbread group were up 8%, with LFL sales rising by 1.8%.
The company said it remained on plan to open 230-250 new Costa stores globally this year, as well as installing at least 1,250 new Costa Express machines this year.
Last month Costa announced it will now accept payment with the Android Pay app at participating stores.


text:
The official release of the Android 12 operating system is set for later this year. However, the beta version of the new OS is already out and has shared many new features for testing.
Android 12’s Game Dashboard Integrated with Google Play Games
Once the Android 12 is out, it will bring a new Game Dashboard feature that provides quick access to useful tools like FPS monitors. Also, there is a widget that shows the achievement and leaderboard data from Google Play Games.
Earlier this year, Google previewed the Game Dashboard and Play Games widget for Games developers, and now it’s rolling out the same for beta users.
Google Play Games app version 2021.07.28550 is out now via the Play Store. XDA developers have installed the app on Pixel 3 XL that runs Android 12 Beta 4. They saw the Google Play Games widget in the Game Dashboard.
Games like SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated showed the achievements. Even the number of games is shown on the leaderboards.
When the user clicks on the widget, it opens another page that shows the username on Play Games, Google account’s email ID, cards, achievements, leaderboards, and the profile and privacy settings page. For example, you can see the picture shown below.
The last achievements you unlocked are shown in the achievements card. Once you click on achievements or leaderboards, you will see more information without opening the full Play Games app.
Last month, Google announced the Game Dashboard feature; it stated, the feature will be coming to selected devices running on Android 12. The company also said that the beta release would not have the feature, but it is now available.
Some of them might access the Game Dashboard by going to Settings >> Notifications >> Do Not Disturb >> Schedules. Click on the cog icon next to the “Gaming” schedule; it will open the Game settings page. Here you will see a global toggle for Game Dashboard and Do Not Disturb for games feature.


text:
Heart poses in sheer bra for Metro
MANILA - A bikini-sporting Anne Curtis looks summer-ready in a magazine cover unveiled Wednesday night during the "Dyesebel" star's launch as a shampoo brand's latest endorser.
The 29-year-old actress is seen posing in a floral bikini on the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines' April 2014, which was revealed at a press event held by Cream Silk celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Curtis was introduced as the shampoo's new brand ambassador, joining the likes of Sam Pinto, Toni Gonzaga, and Heart Evangelista.
At the same event, Evangelista's cover appearance for the April 2014 issue of fashion magazine Metro was also shown.
Evangelista, who was Cosmpolitan's March 2014 cover girl, appears to be wearing a black sheer bikini top under a Gucci robe on Metro's cover.
Other cover appearances unveiled to coincide with Cream Silk's anniversary were Gonzaga for Metro, Pinto for Preview, and Evangelista for LOOK.


text:
The recent buyback announcement by AllCargo Logistics is likely to provide a floor to its stock, which has seen investor apathy in the past few months. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 109 this month due to slowdown in global trade.
The company last week announced a Rs 75-crore buyback plan with an upper limit of Rs 142.5 per share. Assuming the company utilises the entire amount for buyback at the current market price, the company's equity base would come down by nearly 4%. As a result, the promoter's holding would increase to 73% from 69% currently.
The current market price looks attractive for the buyback as the stock is trading near its historic low valuation. On a trailing twelve-month basis, AllCargo's stock is trading at a P/E of 7.3 compared to a 5-year average P/E of 19.
On the other hand, its net profits have grown at a CAGR of 22% in the last 5 years. Also, he company does not have a large capex for FY13 ( 150 crore), which is less than half the capex incurred in the previous year.
One of the main reasons for the low valuation is concerns over low growth in its European business. Belgium-based ECU Line, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of AllCargo, is the second-largest non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC) in the world.
ECU Line aggregates cargo from various sources, books space in ships and forwards it to the final destination. On a consolidated basis, this business contributed nearly 45% to its profits before interests and taxes in the 15-month period ending March 2012.
Its new CFS unit at JNPT is expected to be operational in the second quarter. Going forward, company's volumes in NVOCC business are likely to be under pressure due to bleak macro-economic scenario in Europe.
However, capacity addition in its CFS business would help it maintain a decent growth. It may demerge the NVOCC business to unlock value. Investors could hold on to the stock.


text:
Coolpad Cool 20s 5G was sent off on Monday in China. It is a piece of the organization’s Cool 20 setup that as of now incorporates the vanilla Cool 20 and the Cool 20 Pro. The Cool 20s 5G is a reasonable cell phone that is controlled by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and packs a 4,500mAh battery. It sports a 6.58-inch full-HD+ show with a waterdrop-style score. This cell phone has an around 8.28mm slender body that weighs around 180 grams. It likewise includes a 50-megapixel double camera arrangement on the back.
Coolpad Cool 20s 5G price, availability
The Coolpad Cool 20s 5G is accessible for pre-orders in China at a beginning cost of CNY 999 (generally Rs. 11,500). It will go marked down interestingly on June 17. It packs 128GB of locally available capacity and offers 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM choices. This Coolpad handset comes in Azure Blue, Firefly Black Moon, and Shadow White tones.
Coolpad Cool 20s 5G specifications
This section-level cell phone is controlled by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC matched with Mali G57 GPU. The Coolpad Cool 20s 5G elements a 6.58-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,408 pixels) show with a 90Hz revive rate, a screen-to-body proportion of 91.2 percent, and a pixel thickness of 401 PPI. This cell phone runs on Android 11-based CoolOS 20.
For optics, this cell phone has a double back camera arrangement featured by a 50-megapixel essential sensor with an f/1.8 opening. There is likewise a 2-megapixel large-scale sensor on the back. The Coolpad Cool 20s 5G is outfitted with 8-megapixel selfie snapper.
The Coolpad Cool 20s 5G packs a 4,500mAh battery that upholds 18W quick charging. It measures 163.02×74.75×8.28mm and weighs around 180g. It is a double SIM (Nano) cell phone that likewise upholds double band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v5.1 network. Likewise, it includes a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm earphone jack, double sound system speakers, and a side-mounted unique finger impression sensor.