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It’s been a pretty bumpy ride for Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) over the past few weeks. The US Justice Department recently said it was planning to relaunch an anti-trust probe into the firm. Separately, the calls to break down big tech firms have been louder than ever before.
With all these non-operational headwinds at play, Alphabet will need a solid quarter to revive investor confidence in the firm. The search giant is scheduled to report second-quarter financial results after the closing bell on July 25, Thursday. Here are the key figures investors will be looking for in the upcoming quarterly result.
Earnings estimate: Alphabet does not provide any forecasts, so all we have are street estimates. For the second quarter, analysts estimate earnings of $11.30 per share, compared to $4.54 per share it reported in the same quarter last year. However, the last quarter earnings included 4.34 billion euros in a one-time fine by the European Commission. Excluding the fine, the bottom-line would have been $11.75 per share, which is higher than this quarter’s estimate.
Such a decline in adjusted earnings would be driven by weakening foreign currency, analysts predict.
In the trailing four quarters, Alphabet has surpassed earnings estimates on two occasions.
Revenue estimate: Wall Street expects revenues to grow 17% to $38.17 billion. During the last reported quarter, the company’s revenue grew 17% to $36.3 billion, which was lower than $37.34 billion expected by the street. The top-line was hurt by a slowdown in advertising revenues, which takes us to the next key metric.
Advertising revenue: This metric is of paramount importance as it accounts for almost 85% of the company’s total revenues. However, there has been a marked slowdown in its growth, which has been worrying investors (see image). Year-over-year digital advertising revenue growth has steadily declined from 24.4% in the first quarter of last year to 15.3% in the first quarter of this year.
Since the company does not give a proper split of its advertising revenues, it is difficult to pinpoint a reason. The management has also been pretty close-mouthed about the deceleration.
Other revenues: This includes revenues from sales of hardware and services such as Google Cloud and Google Play. During the last quarter, there was a slowdown in this segment, due to weak sales of Pixel smartphone. Investors will be watching whether it was a one-time event or an emerging trend.
During the earnings conference call: During the conference call, look out for management comments on the weakening ad revenues, potential anti-trust actions and any updates related to the investments going into “Other bets.”
GOOGL stock has gained just 7.6% in the year-to-date period, compared to 18% by the S&P 500 index. The stock has a Strong Buy rating with an average 12-month price target of $1334, an upside of 18% from Monday’s trading price.
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) reported first quarter 2023 earnings results today. Net revenues grew 12% year-over-year to $7.9 billion. GAAP net income rose 6% to $4.2 billion while EPS grew
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) Thursday reported a decline in adjusted earnings and revenues for the fourth quarter. The semiconductor giant also provided guidance for the first quarter of 2023. Fourth-quarter
Shares of McCormick & Company Inc. (NYSE: MKC) were down over 5% on Thursday after the company missed expectations on its fourth quarter 2022 results and provided a lower-than-expected earnings


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Lumee Booth Gets Shout Out From Yelp for Being the Best Photo Booth Rental Company in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA – 2019 – With clientele like the NBA, TNT, Marvel, Walmart, Netflix, Poshmark and Pepsi is it any wonder Atlanta photo booth rental Lumee Booth has Yelp’s attention? With its all-seeing eye on local businesses, the mega crowd-sourced review platform recently gave Lumee quite a nod. Now named as the best selfie booth rental service Atlanta, Georgia has to offer, Lumee Booth sets a new bar. Noted as the most modern photo booth service with affordable prices in Georgia’s capital city, Lumee Booth is ready for its close-up. Lumee Booth is also the first company in Atlanta to offer the 360 photo booth.
Be it for a personalized party favor for a birthday, a wedding, or a branding event, the Atlanta photo booth rental service offers fun memories. Right from a Lumee Booth, party guests can instantly share images, GIF, and Boomerangs via AirDrop, Email, SMS, Twitter or Facebook. They can even go the old-fashioned route and print them.
A celebrity photographer and videographer before co-founding Lumee Booth, Hassan Terry said, “We have fun at every event from holiday parties to store openings, galas, and trade shows. It obviously shows because getting this Yelp ranking is beyond stellar.”
For more information visit http://www.lumeebooth.com.
About Lumee Booth:
Lumee Booth is a service for photo booth rentals in Atlanta, GA.
Hassan & Candy Terry
Co-Owners, Lumee Booth

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The recent launch of the BlackBerry 10 platform, alongside its flagship Z10 smartphone is yet to make a significant impact, but the Canada-based company is busy preparing the new OS for the Z10's QWERTY-based sibling, the BlackBerry Q10. We just heard that the first major update for BlackBerry 10 is almost ready and will launch alongside the second smartphone running the new OS.
The Q10 is expected to go on sale later this month, and while the update will apply to both devices, BlackBerry OS 10.1 is slated to be chock-full of optimizations created specifically for the Q10's hardware keyboard.
Recently, we've learned that the new update will also bring significant updates to the camera including faster performance and HDR picture mode for better low-light performance.
There's also hints of an update for BlackBerry Link that allows you to access your PC and its files.
The rest of the BlackBerry 10.1 changelog reportedly goes like this:
- Mnemonic Phone Dialing
- BlackBerry Mobile Voice System Support
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- BlackBerry Balance
- Word Prediction
- Type N Go
- Corporate Liable Feature
- Cross Domain Email Warnings
- Dark Theme Support
- Smartcard Support
The BlackBerry Q10 is rumored to hit shelves in Canada on the 30th of this month, so expect to see the update go live around that time.


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It's always fun when the newest flagships start seeing their prices drop, but this deal on a brand new 32GB Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is not just a price drop–it's a steal. At $629, it's a full $150 less than the price you'd pay to T-Mobile or the like. You can get it a little cheaper on Amazon, at $752, but this deal is still over $120 better than that.
Even better, this isn't some fly-by-night seller that you have to worry about. It's Newegg, of selling legitimate electronics fame. There are a few things to note about this listing, though.
About a month ago we spotted two new entries in the country availability listings for the new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio: Taiwan and India. Today both of those are coming true (though India is somewhat conditional - see below), and you can add Hong Kong into the mix. For both Hong Kong and Taiwan, the streaming gadgets are now available on their respective Google Stores. The Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio are HK$349 (around $45 USD) in Hong Kong and NT$1445 ($44.75) in Taiwan.
In India, things are a little more complicated. The new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio aren't available directly from the Google Store.
The Galaxy S7 has been out for a while now, and it's about time the price started dropping. After all, it's not the only 2016 flagship out there. You can pick up the unlocked GS7 (G930F) on eBay for a very competitive $559.99. That's $70-80 cheaper than the price elsewhere and much cheaper than the US carriers.
It's no secret that I'm not the LG G5's biggest fan - but that doesn't mean there aren't things I find myself liking, nay, loving, about LG's latest smartphone. Let's break down my top five for the G5.
#1: The wide-angle camera
Solution looking for a problem? OK, maybe, I guess - my colleague Liam Spradlin (sorry, Liam) kind of has it out for this dual-camera system, but I believe it's going to be a hugely fun feature for people who take a lot of smartphone photos. The two images below, I think, show you just what a difference the wide-angle lens can make when you're capturing a scene.
You don't hear a lot about the Huawei GX8, but it came out around the same time as the Honor 5X. It's a slightly tweaked and substantially more expensive phone at $350. It's on sale today at Best Buy for $120 off, bringing the price to $230 with free shipping.
The HTC 10 is leaps and bounds better than the M9 was, and it looks like people are getting rightly excited about this device. The 10 beat out the GS7 in a recent AP poll, in fact. Now Verizon customers can put their money where their mouths are and pre-order HTC's make-or-break smartphone. Sprint has announced details too, but you'll have to wait a little longer.
It's common knowledge that Google has been working on a travel application for some time now. Last week, Maps Explorers were emailed and asked to complete a short survey for a chance to test it before everyone else. Now we know what this app is called, and what it does. Meet Google Trips.
Details are a little thin on the ground. After all, it hasn't been officially announced by Google. But that still hasn't stopped screenshots finding their way into the awaiting arms of the tech press. So, what does it supposedly do?
Perhaps the biggest feature of Google Trips is that it scours Gmail for hotel reservations and flight bookings.
Late last year, Amazon started to allow hobbyists and developers to integrate the Alexa virtual personal assistant into their own products through the developer preview of Amazon Voice Service. This effort has already borne fruit with Invoxia's Triby.
Looking a bit like an FM radio from yesteryear, the Triby immediately loses points in the looks department, especially when compared to the sleek, futuristic aesthetic of the Amazon Echo. It packs a magnetized back, allowing you to attach it directly to any metal surface, such as a refrigerator or knife rack, as well an E-Ink display for showing messages and notifications.
Not only can it be controlled through voice commands, but there's also an official companion application available for Android and iOS.


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Streaming websites to watch Eating Out 3 online for free.
More from the web
Disappointing retail sales figures for August show consumers are cautious, choosing to save rather than spend at the shops.
Veggie Burgers, sandwiches and pizza can sometimes be a healthier option when eating out, and today is the perfect time to try a veggie meal for World Vegetarian Day.
It’s always the worst part of a restaurant meal: the moment when the bill arrives. “I didn’t realize that drinks would be that expensive!” you might exclaim. Or, “Those appetizers really added up!” Wouldn’t it be nice to be pleasantly surprised by the bill the next time you dine out? Here’s how.
A pubs and brewing group has detected glimmers of hope for economic recovery with a study which shows households spending 11% more on eating out than they did a year ago.
Bob Day came to visit Jess and brought a surprise with him on New Girl season 4, episode 3, “Julie Berkman’s Older Sister.” Find out what happened with our recap! When Schmidt goes to use his idea notebook, he discovers it’s covered in stains. Nick admits he used it as a napkin when he was […] The post ‘New Girl’ season 4, episode 3 recap: Trashy Ashley appeared first on Hypable .
NEW YORK (TheStreet) — Are you drinking and eating your way into debt? We all know that expensive dinners and drinks add up quickly, but how much are consumables affecting your ability to save? “If most people were asked the amount of their mortgage or car payment, they’d know it off the top of their head, but if asked how much they spend each month eating out, they’d likely have no idea, or at ...
Winter babies crawl earlier than summer babies and more nuggets
A brewery with 35 tenanted pubs across West Norfolk and the Fens is backing the campaign to cut the VAT on eating out.
Even Italian models insist that eating alla italiana, complete with lots of pasta, helps keep them in shape. But do the experts agree? We spoke to three Italian nutritionists to find out how goodies like gelato, wine, and biscotti fit into plans to lose weight (or maintain it). Click ahead ... More »
Researchers at the University of Arizona combed through 3.5 million tweets from October 2013 to May 2014 to map out the food people had on their mind the most.
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Dick’s Sporting Goods continued to transition its business throughout the first quarter of FY19, producing positive same-store sales growth and raising its full-year guidance on the back of more than $100 million in share repurchases.
In a Nutshell: During its quarterly conference call, the company admitted that it had depressed its outlook for the rest of FY19, despite the estimated 13 cents it could add to its earnings by continuing to purchase shares, due to “general concerns on where the consumer will be in the back half of the year” if tariffs increase as proposed by the Trump administration.
“For us, these tariffs were [previously] mostly concentrated in our hardlines categories and were factored into our original FY19 guidance,” said Dick’s Sporting Goods CFO, Lee Belitsky, in the company’s quarterly conference call. “Effective May 10th, this tariff was increased to 25 percent. We’re still working through the impact of this increase with our manufacturing and brand partners and how this may influence our overall pricing strategy. As a result, we have not specifically contemplated this into today’s guidance.”
Dick’s also said that it would continue to minimize the sale of firearms through its “hunt” category. At the end of the previous fiscal year, the retailer said that it would be replacing the hunt category in 10 pilot stores with a “compelling local assortment.” Dick’s said these stores produced positive sales comps in the first quarter and that it would begin rolling out this strategy in 125 more stores throughout the second quarter as part of a “holistic strategic review” of the category’s place in its business.
Sales: Dick’s was able to pull in $1.92 billion in sales during the first quarter of FY19, up 0.6 percent year-over-year, and just above the $1.90 billion expected by analysts. Same-store sales were flat, although the company said that this was on the high-end of its growth expectations, reflecting “another quarter of sequential improvement.” For comparison, Dick’s same-store sales decreased by 2.5 percent in the same period last year.
The retailer’s e-commerce sales increased by 15 percent in the first quarter, which the retailer credited to its increased investment in omnichannel services. E-commerce sales penetration for Dick’s increased two percentage points to 13 percent during the quarter, as well.
Inventory levels increased by 16.2 percent during the quarter, the outcome of stock holdings that the company described as “running too lean.”
Dick’s said that it expects its same-store sales to be slightly positive over the rest of the year, possibly increasing by up to 2 percent, compared to a decrease of 3.1 percent in FY18. The company said that it expects to begin delivering positive same-store results beginning in the second quarter, though its outlook was admittedly cautious as the organization continues to consider the possible impacts of a new tariff regime.
Earnings: On net income of $57.5 million in the first quarter, Dick’s earned 61 cents per share—higher than the 58 cents predicted by analysts. Dick’s said it would raise its full-year guidance to $3.20 to $3.40 from the previous range of $3.15 to $3.35 despite an estimated $30 million investment in omnichannel “business transformation initiatives.”
CEO’s Take: Dick’s Sporting Goods chairman and CEO Edward Stack said that higher margins and improved same-store comparisons helped his organization turn in a solid first quarter ahead of a time of uncertainty.
“We were pleased with our start to 2019, delivering higher merchandise margins and first quarter earnings per diluted share above last year. Same-store sales turned positive in March and remained positive in April, as we started to see the benefits of our key strategies and investments,” said Stack. “We are very enthusiastic about our business and are pleased to increase our full-year earnings outlook.”
Dick’s president Lauren Hobart praised the company’s investments, particularly in digital spaces.
“During the first quarter, we made great progress in executing against our strategic priorities and investments as we remain focused on improving the in-store and online experience for our athletes and driving productivity improvements across our business,” added Hobart. “As we continue to build the best omnichannel experience in sporting goods, we see significant opportunity to drive competitive advantage in the marketplace and strengthen our leadership position.”


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Salesforce has introduced Einstein Copilot, an advanced AI tool designed to revolutionize how companies interact with their CRM systems. Positioned as the only copilot capable of genuinely understanding customer relationships, it integrates deeply with company data and Salesforce’s Data Cloud to offer personalized and informed responses. With its ability to automate tasks, generate material, and understand complex discussions, Einstein Copilot aims to enhance productivity and customer experience while adhering to stringent data governance protocols.
- Einstein Copilot is embedded within Salesforce’s AI CRM applications, providing a seamless user experience across different departments.
- The tool combines Salesforce and user data to deliver personalized responses, adhering to strict data governance through the Einstein Trust Layer.
- It supports over 50 out-of-the-box actions and can be customized for specific business needs through various builder tools.
- Salesforce’s Data Cloud plays a crucial role, enabling Einstein Copilot to offer responses based on unified customer data, which has led to Salesforce being recognized as a leader in customer data platforms.
- Despite its advanced capabilities, Salesforce acknowledges the broader challenges and limitations of AI, emphasizing the importance of data security and ethical use.
Salesforce’s approach with Einstein Copilot is to leverage its existing AI and data capabilities to offer a unique value proposition in CRM. By integrating deeply with the company’s data and metadata, along with trusted business data from Salesforce’s Data Cloud, Einstein Copilot is designed to understand and automate complex business processes, thus enhancing customer relationships and operational efficiency.
The implementation of Einstein Copilot within Salesforce’s ecosystem highlights a multi-faceted strategy aimed at enhancing CRM functionalities through AI. Initially, the integration process began with embedding Einstein Copilot directly into Salesforce’s AI CRM applications, ensuring that it could leverage company data and metadata to provide a deeply personalized user experience. This foundational step was crucial in enabling Einstein Copilot to understand and interpret complex customer relationships and business processes. By accessing Salesforce’s Data Cloud, the AI copilot could draw upon a rich repository of trusted business data, allowing for more informed and relevant responses to user queries. This level of integration ensured that regardless of the department—be it sales, service, marketing, or IT—Einstein Copilot could deliver consistent and valuable insights across the entire customer journey.
To address the diverse needs of businesses and facilitate a more customized use of AI within CRM workflows, Salesforce introduced a suite of builder tools. These tools, including Copilot Builder, Prompt Builder, Skill Builder, and Model Builder, empowered users to tailor Einstein Copilot’s functionalities to their specific business requirements. For instance, Copilot Builder allowed for the creation of custom actions that could integrate with existing Salesforce extensions or external APIs, enhancing the AI’s utility and flexibility. Meanwhile, Prompt Builder and Skill Builder provided the means to activate custom prompts and create new actions accessible to Copilot, further embedding AI into the fabric of daily operations. This level of customization was instrumental in ensuring that businesses could harness the full potential of AI to streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, and elevate customer service.
The deployment of Einstein Copilot was underpinned by a strong commitment to data privacy and security, addressing one of the primary concerns businesses have regarding AI integration. Salesforce’s inclusion of the Einstein Trust Layer within the Einstein 1 Edition package that houses Copilot was a testament to this commitment. Features such as masking personally identifiable information (PII), scoring outputs for toxicity, and enforcing zero-data retention policies were implemented to safeguard user data. These measures not only reassured businesses about the safety and privacy of their data but also underscored Salesforce’s dedication to responsible AI use. Through these comprehensive implementation strategies, Salesforce has not only enhanced the capabilities of its CRM platform but also set a new standard for the integration of AI in enhancing customer relationships and business processes.
Since its launch, Einstein Copilot has demonstrated its potential to transform CRM interactions, offering more intuitive and efficient ways to manage customer relationships. Salesforce reports significant interest and adoption among its users, with a notable increase in productivity and customer satisfaction. The integration with Salesforce’s Data Cloud has also been pivotal, enabling more coherent and informed AI responses based on comprehensive customer data.
Challenges and Barriers
Despite its successes, the deployment of Einstein Copilot has not been without challenges. Issues such as ensuring data privacy, overcoming AI bias, and managing the complexity of integrating AI into existing CRM workflows have been significant hurdles. Salesforce has had to navigate these challenges carefully, balancing innovation with ethical considerations and regulatory compliance.
Looking forward, Salesforce sees immense potential in expanding Einstein Copilot’s capabilities and integration points. The company is focused on scaling the adoption of its Data Cloud and enhancing AI functionalities to meet the evolving needs of businesses. With continuous improvements in AI and data integration, Salesforce aims to lead the transition towards more intelligent and automated CRM solutions, promising a future where businesses can leverage AI to foster deeper and more meaningful customer relationships.
Salesforce Launches Einstein Copilot – Promising Unheralded Data Integration
Salesforce Ships Public Beta of Einstein Copilot Amid High AI Expectations
Salesforce CEO Benioff thinks it is sitting on an AI goldmine
Salesforce Unveils AI-Powered Billing Inquiry Manager, Revolutionizing Customer Service
Salesforce combines AI, data, and CRM in new Marketing Cloud edition


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LG Electronics Inc said yesterday the Taiwan launch of its Nexus 5, which was produced in partnership with Google Inc, would help to boost its market share.
The South Korean company captured only a 3 percent share of Taiwan’s smartphone market in September, but that figure grew to 4 percent last month after its flagship LG G2 went on sale, said Jackie Kim, director of mobile business at LG’s Taiwan branch.
With the arrival of the Nexus 5, the Seoul-based company is targeting a 5 percent share by the end of the year and a seat among the nation’s top five vendors, up from sixth place, Kim said.
The co-branded smartphone will be available today in Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信) stores starting at a price of NT$14,900 (US$504).
That means the Nexus 5 will retail at a lower price than its competitors the iPhone 5C, which sells for NT$18,900, and the HTC One Mini at NT$15,900, but at the same price as the Samsung S4 Mini.


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CapitalMachines, a Brazilian fintech startup, has raised $8 million in a seed funding round led by Kaszek Ventures and Redpoint eventures. Other investors in the round include Canary, FJ Labs, ONEVC and Nubank’s founder David Velez. The funding will be used to expand CapitalMachines’ team, accelerate product development and increase its customer base masstamilan.
Founded in 2020 by a group of former Nubank executives, CapitalMachines is building a software platform that helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Brazil manage their financial operations more efficiently. The platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to automate tasks such as accounting, tax compliance, payroll and cash flow management myvuhub.
One of the key challenges facing SMBs in Brazil is the complexity and cost of complying with the country’s tax laws. CapitalMachines’ platform simplifies the process by automatically generating tax reports and payments, while also providing real-time financial insights to help businesses make better decisions teachertn.
The company’s founders have extensive experience in the fintech industry, having previously worked at Nubank, Brazil’s largest neobank, and other leading financial institutions. They identified a gap in the market for a platform that could provide SMBs with the same level of financial management tools and support that larger enterprises enjoy.
CapitalMachines’ platform is currently in beta testing with a select group of SMBs, and the company plans to launch it more widely later this year. The platform is expected to be priced on a subscription basis, with pricing tailored to the needs of individual businesses pagalsongs.
The Brazilian fintech sector has seen rapid growth in recent years, with a number of startups raising significant funding rounds. In 2020, Brazilian fintechs raised a record $1.9 billion, according to data from Distrito, a local startup tracking firm. The sector is expected to continue growing as more Brazilians turn to digital banking and payments yareel.
With its experienced team and innovative platform, CapitalMachines is well positioned to capitalize on this growth and help SMBs across Brazil better manage their financial operations. The company’s use of AI and ML also puts it at the forefront of innovation in the industry, and could pave the way for new solutions to financial challenges facing businesses in lasenorita Brazil and beyond.
Overall, the investment in CapitalMachines is a testament to the continued growth and potential of the Brazilian fintech sector, and highlights the important role that innovative startups can play in driving economic development and financial inclusion in emerging markets.


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CCCD is hiring for a Tech-Admin Support!
The Cooperative Development Foundation is raising funds to assist cooperative businesses damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
A Slice of New York is believed to be the first brick-and-mortar business in the county—out of more than 163,000—to turn its equity over to employees in a cooperative model.
The agreement provides sustainable business operations for Groundwork Books, the Food Co-op, the General Store Co-op and the Che Café Collective.
The demographics of a growing demand for elder care in America is raising alarms and the supply of home care workers is likely to fall short of demand. AARP and Capital Impact Partners work together to solve this problem by using the cooperative model.
NCBA CLUSA is excited to bring together a broad spectrum of cooperative sectors to build on and amplify the economic impact co-ops have in the U.S. and internationally at the first-ever Cooperative IMPACT Conference this October.
CO-OP Financial Services announced it has secured 11 new large credit union agreements for its ATM and payments processing services, and now counts 23 of the 25 largest U.S. credit unions as clients.
NASCO is accepting applications for the position of Director of Education.
Calabasas will become the first city to join the Los Angeles County Community Choice Energy program. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors launched the energy buying co-op earlier this year that will offer businesses and residents an opportunity to pool their buying power and purchase electricity that comes from suppliers other than Southern California Edison.
A fairly new group has formed to promote and encourage fine wine production in the Garden State. It's called the New Jersey Winemakers Co-op.


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Budget in price, mainstream in aspiration.
Despite a shaky beginning, Turtle Rock's cooperative shooter is a worthy successor to Left4Dead.
After years trapped in licensing hell, the classic action-RPG is back. But does it still hold up in the days of Dark Souls?
No bug, no problem says Hallock.
CMT going away, it seems.
ARM has confirmed that future chip designs will feature HyperThreading-like technology.
Acer has leaked details of an up-coming tri-core mobile CPU from AMD.
October 14 2021 | 15:04
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European Commission highlights WAAM3D as a key innovator
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) company, WAAM3D, has been highlighted as a Key Innovator by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar. This is as a result of WAAM3D’s work with Cranfield University in creating multi-material add-on software for WAAM systems.
WAAM3D CEO wins Global Additive Manufacturing Award
Dr Filomeno Martina, CEO and co-founder of WAAM3D, has been awarded the prestigious International Outstanding Young Researcher in Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Award (FAME Jr) at this year’s Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium.


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Bank of Ireland has announced a range of supports for people moving current accounts to the bank ahead of Ulster Bank and KBC's exit from the Irish market.
The new supports include about 500 new Bank of Ireland staff to help with account opening, a dedicated phone line, an online hub as well as a range of tools and templates to help consumers make the move.
Bank of Ireland said that about 500 additional personnel will be put in place to support the opening of new current accounts. 420 of these jobs are temporary contract positions with the remaining 80 being redeployed from other parts of the bank.
Over 350 of these new staff are in place already with the bank working to fill the remaining roles.
A new dedicated online hub has been developed to guide people on how to close their existing current account, open a new account, make changes to regular payments and apply for credit products such as overdrafts.
Templates for letters to SEPA direct debit originators, payroll change instruction letters to employers, and credit payment redirection forms have also been developed to help consumers navigate the process.
An appointment form is available so customers can make an appointment to open an account, for those who need to do so in a branch.
A dedicated phone line has also been put in place - 0818 200 374 - to support account opening.
Henry Dummer, Director of Everyday Banking at Bank of Ireland, said that so far this year the bank has opened 81% more current accounts than the same time last year.
"We expect that trend to continue over the remainder of this year and into 2023 as the exiting banks roll out their phased approach of contacting customers," Mr Dummer said.
He said that as people receive letters from their departing bank and consider where to move, he would encourage them to review the practical guides on its website.
"The level of change we are seeing is unprecedented in Irish banking. We know that this will be a priority for consumers and businesses over the coming months." he said.
"It will be a priority for us too, and we will work hard to support new customers as best we can as they choose where to bank into the future," he added.


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Event organiser CESA has released preliminary attendance figures for the Tokyo Games Show, revealing a substantial climb in attendance at the three day event and reversing several years of decline for the show.
Early figures for the three day event show 158,089 visitors passing through the show's turnstiles, compared with 134,042 last year - a climb which CESA attributes largely to a boost in the number of corporate visitors to the show.
TGS this year featured the unveiling of a wide range of new games, with the show indisputably stolen by Square Enix - whose first TGS as a merged company yielded a stand hosting not only updates to the hugely successful Kingdom Hearts franchise on GBA and PS2, but also news of the company's CG movie based on Final Fantasy VII.
Next year's event is scheduled for September 24-26, 2004, and may well be the first public show to feature PlayStation Portable software in playable form. Although the hardware of the PSP is expected to make an appearance at E3 in May 2004, Sony has hinted strongly that playable software may not be ready until TGS.


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Home Tags Old Navy
Tag: Old Navy
Gap Inc. is also planning to add between 30 and 40 stores for its Athleta and Old Navy brands in the next three years.
In an April filing with the SEC, Gap Inc. said it had stopped paying rent for its 2,785 North American retail stores due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bridgeport’s Lecoq Cuisine Corp. has laid off 181 workers. “Although this action may be temporary, given the uncertainty created by this pandemic, this separation may be permanent,” according to Chief People Officer Laura Brown.
Craig Deitelzweig, the president and CEO of Marx Realty, which along with Benenson Capital Partners owns and operates the Cross County Shopping Center, outlined plans for use of the Sears space and said they're looking at expansion.
Area Gap and Banana Republic stores include locations in Danbury, Fairfield, Stamford, Trumbull and Westport in Fairfield County, and in Larchmont, Mount Kisco, Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers in Westchester.


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Most parents will tell you that getting their kids to eat vegetables is a monumental task. However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. Science Daily reports that there is a simpler and more effective solution to get kids to eat vegetables by making them understand how eating their greens can make the body healthier.
Psychological scientists from Stanford University tested how well the conceptual strategy works by developing five storybooks that revolve around proper nutrition, diet, and digestion. Several preschool classes were asked to read the books during recess for three months, while another set of classes had snack time as usual.
The results showed that students who read the books more than doubled their vegetable consumption as compared with those who didn't. They also became more knowledgeable and interested about different nutrient and bodily functions.
"Children have natural curiosity--they want to understand why and how things work,” researchers explain.
With these findings, thinking of complicated schemes to make kids eat their veggies may be unnecessary. All you need is a proper and creative explanation to push your little ones in the right and healthy direction.
(Photo by Zhao ! via Flickr Creative Commons)


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Channel 4 staff facing the axe left furious as boss poses in Cartier ring and a £50,000 watch for Vogue amid privatisation uncertainty
- Alex Mahon, 48, was quizzed by MPs about the ‘obscene’ salaries of senior staff
- As well as her Channel 4 salary, she is a board member at fashion house Chanel
- ‘People are going to lose their jobs and there she is parading around’ said staff
- The Government announced plans to privatise Channel 4 in April this year
Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon has triggered fury by appearing in a Vogue photoshoot wearing a Cartier ring and a £50,000 watch amid the threat of job cuts at the station.
While staffing levels at the network remain uncertain because of its proposed privatisation, the chief executive has been pictured in the magazine wearing designer clothes and expensive jewellery.
Ms Mahon, who was paid £1.2 million last year, is included in the magazine’s August edition in a feature on the 25 most influential women of the year.
Alex Mahon has triggered fury by appearing in a Vogue photoshoot wearing a Cartier ring and a £50,000 watch despite staff suffering job uncertainty
Wearing a burnt orange dress by Victoria Beckham in the pictures, the mother of four sported a gold-and-diamond Cartier ring and a £50,800 Audemars Piguet watch.
The outfit and accessories were provided by Vogue, but some of Ms Mahon’s employees accused her of hypocrisy because she said in an accompanying interview that her mission was ‘to challenge the status quo’, adding that Channel 4 spoke up for ‘the under-represented’.
One staff member told The Mail on Sunday: ‘How can she say that Channel 4 is there to speak up for the under-represented when she is wearing a £50,000 watch and thousands of pounds of jewellery, all with a Victoria Beckham dress?
‘She may not have owned them, but it is hardly the right optics.
‘People are going to lose their jobs and there she is parading around in clothes and jewellery which those who are under-represented could only dream of wearing.’
Ms Mahon, 48, has previous form when it comes to expensive jewellery. In June last year, she wore a diamond necklace worth nearly £50,000 by Chelsea-based designer Jessica McCormack while she was quizzed by MPs about the ‘obscene’ salaries the broadcaster paid its senior staff.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said that Government ownership is holding Channel 4 back
As well as her salary from Channel 4, Ms Mahon is a non-executive board member at fashion house Chanel.
In April, the Government announced that it wanted to privatise Channel 4, which broadcasts programmes such as Gogglebox and Countdown. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has said that Government ownership is holding it back.
Explaining the reason for Ms Mahon taking part in the photoshoot, a spokesman for Channel 4 said: ‘As chief executive, Alex successfully led Channel 4 through the pandemic, delivered record-breaking results and launched world-leading menopause, child-loss and carer initiatives for staff.
‘All the participants were costumed and styled by Vogue, which is standard practice.’
Source: Read Full Article


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The latest news and insight on the current state of U.S. Ports, including infrastructure investment, new services, labor issues, and global trade volumes.
Posted 05/15 · 08:06 AM · LM Editorial
When making a list of the several elements working against the competitive position of the Port of Oakland, we can now add one more: the San Francisco Bar Pilots
Posted 05/14 · 09:29 AM · LM Editorial
With Europe in a recession, it is being reflected in data in the most recent edition of the Global Port Tracker report from Hackett Associates and the Bremen Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics.
Posted 05/13 · 09:44 PM · LM Editorial
If a proposed sports stadium plan moves beyond the “Arena Advisory Panel,” and on to a referendum, things could become much worse
Posted 05/08 · 06:01 PM · LM Editorial
Cartel spokesmen say U.S. consumer spending and retail sales trends are on the uptick confirming carrier forward bookings
Posted 05/08 · 08:46 AM · LM Editorial
Gradual economic growth patterns continue to be the norm based on data released in the most recent edition of the Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
Posted 05/01 · 02:00 PM · LM Editorial
The recent surge of U.S. exports has created a more balanced trade picture for U.S. ports and the stakeholders they serve. If this is a sustainable trend, analysts expect to see more investment in infrastructure and increased competition among the leading gateways.
Posted 05/01 · 09:09 AM · LM Editorial
New service launches in the next three months are expected to bring the idle fleet below 350,000 TEU by July
Posted 04/27 · 04:13 PM · LM Editorial
Horizon Lines is, and always has been, a very staunch supporter of the Jones Act and all of its requirements
Posted 04/25 · 08:09 AM · LM Editorial
Trade Tech is one of the first technology providers to receive certification for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment
Posted 04/20 · 08:19 AM · LM Editorial
In a move signaling a commitment to long-term leadership, The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has unanimously adopted a five-year strategic plan the port


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now browsing by category
CEO lays out priorities for new top level domain company.
Donuts CEO Akram Atallah has provided an update on the top level domain company’s plans through the company’s blog. It’s his first published statement that I’m aware of since Abry Partners bought Donuts and installed him as CEO.
In his message, he makes two pronouncements:
- The company is working on acquisitions. It’s not surprising that the company plans to consolidate given its financial backers.
- It’s focusing steadfastly on working with the channel (i.e., registrars). It’s hiring channel team members.
Given its stated focus on working with the channel, I suspect its acquisition targets do not include registrars. The company owns registrar Name.com, which it has used as a sort of testbed for initiatives. But it also creates a conflict of interest for the channel.
© DomainNameWire.com 2019. This is copyrighted content. Domain Name Wire full-text RSS feeds are made available for personal use only, and may not be published on any site without permission. If you see this message on a website, contact copyright (at) domainnamewire.com. Latest domain news at DNW.com: Domain Name Wire.


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A new market study of 2,008 adults in the U.S. and U.K. reveals 83% of consumers want brands to use video more to communicate with them, but 64% rarely or never get video communications.
The State of Video Technology report released also shows rising interest in next generation video technology that includes personalization, interactivity and AI. Continuing the trend from the last two annual surveys, this preference for advanced video tech is strongest among younger and more affluent consumers. These cohorts also have a greater appetite for video content: 90% of Gen Zers want more video from brands as do 89% of high earners.
Data from the study indicates that brands need to use video, including advanced video technology, more often and more effectively to meet consumer expectations.
- The video gap: 83% of people want more video, but most rarely or never get it. While brands appear to be increasing their video output (70% of consumers in 2023 said they rarely or never get video), the demand for video is growing as well (up from 81% last year).
- Personalized video driving loyalty: Similar to previous years’ findings, personalized video is 4x more likely to make someone feel valued by a brand and 3.5x more likely to make them become or remain a customer.
- Gen Z and high earners: Younger and high-earning consumers want next gen video the most. A staggering 93% of Gen Z are interested in interactive video, as are 87% of high earners (compared to 81% of all consumers). Both demographics are also over 5x more likely to want to receive a personalized video than a non-personalized video.
- Hungry for AI innovation: 65% of consumers are interested in receiving AI videos from brands — this is even higher for Gen Z (76%) and high earners (77%). This response shows a surprisingly strong majority given how recently such technology has been made widely available.
- Personalization in demand: 73% of consumers are willing to share data for personalization. For Gen Z, that’s 81%. And more consumers this year trust brands to keep their data secure: from 68% in 2023 to 74% in 2024.
“The findings echo a lot of what we’ve seen in our previous annual market studies,” said Yotam Ben Ami, Idomoo CMO. “People want more video than ever. But they also want brands to push the limits of video innovation, offering personalized, interactive and now even AI-driven video. The data suggests that doing this will help build brand loyalty and ultimately be reflected in the company’s bottom line. This holds even more true for brands marketing to Gen Z, who consistently reward video usage and innovation by brands.”
The study also reinforced a point from last year that the U.K. market lags somewhat behind the U.S. in adoption and interest in video: 87% of Americans want more video from brands while only 79% of U.K. consumers do. U.K. consumers are also 46% more likely to say they never or rarely receive video content from brands they do business with. However, they do want personalization: 71% expect brand comms to be personalized to them (vs. 67% in the U.S.).
For more findings, download the full State of Video Technology report. This market study was commissioned by Idomoo and conducted by Atomik Research in January 2024 with a statistically representative sample of the population.
For more such updates, follow us on Google News Martech News


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DC Comics announced Thursday prices for physical and digital copies of almost all ongoing title comic books will be raised to $3.99.
Unlike prime competitor Marvel Comics, DC books do not include a digital copy that allows physical book purchasers an opportunity to own a digital copy of their selected comic book.
DC Comics readers took to Twitter to express their grief with the price hike, many citing an issue with the increased costs to come with purchasing a twice-monthly title and the new $3.99 price tag being prohibitive towards readers trying new books.
Now that the veteran comic book publisher has concluded its “Rebirth” era — and its accompanying line-wide $2.99 pricing — DC Comics readers are expressing ire at the company for backing out on its 2011 “Drawing the line at $2.99” promotion.
The promotion included the company’s marquee heroes — Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and more — proudly declaring the company was “keeping comics affordable for you.”
Thanks a lot for the stupid price increase @DCComics . $3.99 was always my line in the sand. I dropped Marvel titles when they went to that price point. Looks like I won't be collecting comics for much longer.— Jeff DeWitt (@nWoJeffDW) May 10, 2018
Hey, @DCComics. If you’re going to raise the price of all your books to $3.99 give us digital codes like @Marvel or at the very least drop the biweekly books back to monthly. You took a lot of steps forward with the Rebirth stuff & now you’re taking 10 steps back!— Todd Gray (@grendelred) May 10, 2018
Kinda hoping @DCComics goes to monthly release with increase of price on their comics, I don't know if my wallet can handle a price jump plus bi-weekly shipping!— Ryan Wilson (@Mr_RyN_93) May 11, 2018
@DCComics will the biweekly books be going monthly now that the price is going up to $3.99, or will they continue to be published twice a month? I will be dropping those titles if the cost will be $8 a month.— John Boggs (@JohnBoggs4) May 11, 2018
Damn it!! Looks like imma have to trim down my #pulllist for @DCComics now that they are raising the prices. Uh sucks cuz idk how I’m gonna do it without collecting all the single issues but with a price increase and no raise I’m trimming— Edward (@elg3la) May 11, 2018
I wish the price increase also included a digital copy...but I guess I'm in the minority when it comes to such things— Bobby N. Cognito (@bobbyincognito) May 10, 2018
These line-wide price increases, especially on biweeklies, are really gonna hurt DC and in the end you guys. #dccomics— Scott (@scottluvslucero) May 10, 2018
Because of the $2.99 price point when I got into DC at Rebirth, I was able to go in deep. I bought just about everything for a while and figured out what I liked. This won’t make me buy less, but less likely to buy more.— bryan gerding (@bryanobryan) May 10, 2018
When I can get a great book, that I can read for days for the same price as 4 @DCComics it's time to quit reading comics. 1 week of content versus 45 minutes. Not even a contest. $3.99 you out of your mind?— Hello Puppy (@Gemini_Wolf70) May 11, 2018
@DCComics FYI I'll be dropping Wonder Woman immediately. Sorry, but it's just not worth the price increase to $3.99 AND double-shipping. You can have one or the other but you cannot have both. Especially as it's been very lack-lustre since Robinson took the helm.— Devaishwarya Neeramanii (@DevaishwaryaN) May 10, 2018
Comics is becoming an increasingly niche hobby. Current prices are insane and unhelpful.— Scott (@Scott13055174) May 11, 2018
The fact that @Marvel can sell twice monthly books at $3.99 and still be the #1 publisher every month is exactly why @DCComics is doing this. And the drop in sales will be minimal. We’re addicts, we gotta get our fix no matter how high the price... ?— Neal Alejandre (@nealalejandre) May 10, 2018
I have been a life long DC collector but at 3.99 down the line for all titles I'll be cutting back to 4 titles, this is how Marvel is dying— Lex Silverback Kemp (@lexkempjr) May 11, 2018
I may be dropping several @DCComics titles. Now all titles are 3.99 and they have discontinued the ability to renew the purchased comic.— Spirit Comics (@SpiritComics1) May 11, 2018
@DCComics @JimLee so, increase prices to $3.99, remove digital codes & possibly still twice a month shipping on some? Thanks, but no thx. I was looking for an excuse to cut back on DC, now I have one. Even at $3.99, @Marvel will be better because of digital codes. #MakeMineMarvel— Storm (@Stormboli) May 10, 2018
It isn't a deal breaker for me, yet, that #dccomics are all going 3.99 soon, but at two issues a month for some books, one series will match or exceed services that provide objectively more content. My own budget isn't so tight but I really have to think before following a title.— psudonym (@psuedofolio) May 10, 2018
They’re also removing the digital codes for all the books that aren’t big events, this definitely doesn’t seem like a smart strategy as it gives @Marvel the edge in their $3.99 books and it could definitely cause some people to drop some @DCComics titles— CJ Seddon @FauxNerd96 (@FauxNerd96) May 10, 2018
So @DCComics will now all be $3.99. I'll be dropping a few books from the pull list. In a world where comics dont sell anywhere the numbers they used to, or should be with this geek culture revolution, you'd think comic companies would stop shooting themselves in the foot.— Steve Knarr (@steveknarr) May 11, 2018
Soooo not happy with @DCComics price increases. If you're gonna be $3.99 then those titles must go back to once monthly. Twice monthly at $3.99 is ridiculous.— kevin (@fighterofevil) May 11, 2018


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As reported by MT earlier this week, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has today confirmed it will ballot members for industrial action over a host of issues including pensions at Royal Mail. Terry Pullinger, CWU deputy general secretary (postal), said: “Talks have been taking place since April 2016, but the sense of shared purpose has drifted as privatisation has evolved. “Quite frankly, three years or more into privatisation, we are seeing its promises shattered as the company has deserted the […]
The ongoing threat of strike action at Royal Mail has encouraged many of its customers to switch to rival carriers, while growth in new contracts has slowed, the firm admitted in its half year results.
This year has seen many companies in the parcels sector thrive as carriers move record volumes and consumers continue to do more of their shopping online. But while this has encouraged some parcel carriers to invest heavily in their networks and offer more services to their customers, 2013 has also bought with it more challenges for many operators who have struggled to keep apace with the rapidly changing industry. Motortransport.co.uk has compiled a list of the biggest stories in that […]


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04 March 2017
Media statement by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi regarding the update on the Listeriosis outbreak in South Africa
Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for joining us this morning
Firstly, let me introduce the team that is here. We have Dr Juno Thomas, Head of the Centre for Enteric Diseases from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD); Mme Precious Matsoso (Director-General of Health) and her team; Mr Lionel October (Director General for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and his team; Dr Rufaro Chatora (Country Representative from the World Health Organization (WHO)); the Acting from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) DG Mr Ramasodi and his team; the team from the National Consumer Commission (NCC); as well as the representative from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), .
At the last media briefing held on 08 January 2018, I reported that a total of 727 laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis had occurred since 01 January 2017. Of these 727 cases, there was final outcome data for 134 patients. This means that 134 actual patients were traced to their health facilities, i.e as to what eventually happened to them. Unfortunately, 61 of them had died.
I had then promised that we would have a media briefing every month. However, we could not have a media briefing in February because the NICD asked for a bit of more time to finalise certain laboratory tests. We are now ready because those test results they have been waiting for were finalised. That is why we have called you here to brief you.
The situation now is as follows:
As of 02 March 2018, a total of laboratory-confirmed cases have risen to 948, still counting from January 2017. Of these 948, a total 659 patients have been traced and 180 of them have unfortunately died. This constitutes 27% case fatality rate.
In our constant search for the source of the outbreak and the treatment of people who are affected, a team from the NICD has interviewed 109 ill people to obtain details about foods they had eaten in the month before falling ill. Ninety three (85%) people reported eating ready-to-eat (RTE) processed meat products, of which polony was the most common followed by viennas/sausages and then other ‘cold meats’.
On Friday 12th January, nine children under the age of 5 years presented to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital with febrile gastro-enteritis. The paediatrician suspected foodborne disease, including listeriosis, as a possible cause. The environmental health practitioners (EHPs) were informed and on the same day visited the crèche, and obtained samples from two unrelated polony brands(manufactured by Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken Limited (RCL) respectively) and submitted these to the laboratory for testing.
Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from stool collected from one of the ill children, and from both of the polony specimens collected from the crèche. These isolates were sent to the NICD Centre for Enteric Diseases, and underwent whole genome sequencing and genomic analysis. The ST6 sequence type was confirmed on all three isolates on Saturday 27th January. Remember that in the last press conference I informed you that from clinical isolates obtained from patients (patient blood), 9 sequence types of Listeria monocytogenes were isolated and 91% were of sequence type 6 (ST6). We had then concluded that time that this outbreak is driven by ST6.
I wish to further remind you that we had then taken a decision to visit all food-processing sites, food-packaging sites, as well as food production sites where possible.
Following the lead from the tests performed on these children from Soweto and the food they had ingested, the EHPs (Environmental Health Practitioners), together with the NICD and DAFF representatives, accompanied by 3 technical advisors from the World Health Organisation in Geneva, visited a food-production site in Polokwane and conducted an extensive food product and environmental sampling.
Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from over 30% of the environmental samples collected from this site, which happens to be the Enterprise factory in Polokwane.
To conclude the investigation, whole genome sequencing analysis was performed from this Enterprise factory and the results became available midnight or last night. The outbreak strain, ST6, was confirmed in at least 16 environmental samples collected from this Enterprise facility.
THE CONCLUSION FROM THIS IS THAT THE SOURCE OF THE PRESENT OUTBREAK CAN BE CONFIRMED TO BE THE ENTERPRISE FOOD-PRODUCTION FACILITY IN POLOKWANE
Additionally, preliminary results show that several ready-to-eat processed meat products from the Enterprise facility located in Germiston contain L. monocytogenes, but the sequence type is not known as yet.
Investigation of the RCL Wolwehoek production facility is also underway. Polony products have tested positive for L. monocytogenes, but the sequence types of the isolates are NOT ST6. However, such contamination of ready-to-eat processed meat products constitutes a health risk. Also, over 10% of environmental samples collected by EHPs at this facility have tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The sequence types of these isolates are not known as yet.
With the information at our disposal, we have decided on the following course of action:
- The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has in terms of Section 60(2) of the Consumer Protection Act this morning issued the manufacturers concerned with safety recall notices.
Section 60(2) of the Consumer Protection Act states that:
If the NCC has reasonable grounds to believe that any goods may be unsafe, or that there is a potential risk to the public from the continued use of or exposure to the goods, and the producer or importer of those goods has not taken any steps required by an applicable code contemplated in subsection the Commission, by written notice, may require that producer to—
(a) conduct an investigation contemplated in subsection (1); or
(b) carry out a recall programme on any terms required by the Commission.
The NCC will prepare a recall strategy in conjunction with the manufacturers and make further announcements to the public in due course.
The safety recall will affect the manufacturers’ entire distribution networks, both domestic and international.
- Compliance notices will be issued to facilities in terms of the National Health Act.
Environmental Health Practitioners appointed in terms of section 80(1) of the Act and duly registered as such in terms of section 83(5) of the National Health Amendment Act, 2013 (Act No. 12 of 2013) should upon finding that there are in terms of section 83 (1) and (2), existing conditions which-
(a) constitutes a violation of the right contained in section 24(a) of the Constitution;
(b) constitutes pollution detrimental to health;
(c) is likely to cause a health nuisance; or
(d) constitutes a health nuisance,
- In terms of registration for exports by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the respective processing or manufacturing establishments namely RCL Foods with an export registration number ZA32 and Enterprise Foods with an export registration number ZA 33 have been temporarily suspected till further notice.
- We advise members of the public to avoid all processed meat products that are sold as ready-to-eat. While we know that polony is definitely implicated, there is a risk of cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat processed meat products, either at production, distribution or retail. This is because Listeria on the exterior casing (packaging) of polony can be transferred to other products it comes into contact with, including viennas, russians, frankfurters, other sausages, and other ‘cold meat’ products that are typically not cooked before eating.
Just a reminder that people at high risk for listeriosis include:
- pregnant women
- neonates (first 28 days of life)
- very young infants
- elderly persons >65 years of age, and
- anyone with a weakened immune system (due to HIV infection, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, people with transplants and those on immunosuppressive therapy such as oral corticosteroids, chemotherapy, or anti- TNF therapy for auto-immune disease).
The recall of these products does not mean that members of the public must now relax and stop the 5 food-safety rules which we have recited many times have to be abandoned, i.e washing your hands before handling food or when coming back from the bathroom; making sure that food is well cooked; isolating raw food from cooked food; making sure that food is at an appropriate temperature; and washing non-cooked food with clean running water; as well as using only pasteurised or boiled milk products.
It means that the general status of hygiene of the population must still be a matter of priority to society as a whole, and must remain like that forever.
I thank you
For more information, have a look at the following documents.


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Apple Will Soon Let You Fix Your Own Iphone 13 Screen
After major blowback from owners, Apple will let iPhone 13 customers use third-party screen replacement services, after owners previously found out that doing so would cause issues with Face ID.
Of course it isn’t as easy as it sounds, with a future software update needed to make it possible to replace the display without having to transfer a control chip from the display being swapped.
There is no word yet as to when the update will go live, but it will give clumsy iPhone 13 users more options, as well as cutting back Apple’s monopoly.
Until this happens, the iPhone 13 was paired to its screen through a small microcontroller, and owners or independent shops couldn’t pair a new screen. Only authorized techs with access to proprietary software Apple Services Toolkit 2 could make new services work by logging the repair to Apple’s cloud services and synching the phone and screen’s serial number, allowing Apple to approve it.
But now independent workers will be able to fix screens without losing Face ID functionality.


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(US/nv) Joe Downtown: Iowa students announce vegan food truck as their downtown project
- [Las Vegas Sun - opinion]
After spending spring break here, University of Iowa students in a class
that focuses only on downtown Las Vegas have come up with something they
believe will enhance the area.
The upper-level students who spent spring break here and downtown as part
of their classwork are going to introduce a vegan food truck to the
Students announced their initiative, Frozendipity, on their Facebook page,
which is named after the class, �Reimagining Downtown.�
�Frozendipity is essentially a charming, nostalgia-inducing, renovated ice
cream truck serving raw, vegan treats while inconspicuously showcasing an
introduction to healthy foods ...�
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text:
Despite Electronic Arts (EA) moving away from popular computer game marketplace Steam in favour of their own Origin store back in 2011, it appears as though EA couldn't stay away forever.
That's because the company recently announced that they're going to be releasing video games through Steam once again. Moreover, their EA Access subscription service will also come to Steam sometime next year. This will allow gamers to pay a monthly fee in order to access several EA video games through Valve's Steam. The first EA game that will come out on Steam has been confirmed to be Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
"At the core, we are game makers, and our aspiration is to connect as many people as we can to the great games that we built and make it as frictionless as possible for them to do that. So with more players playing more games and more platforms, frankly, we want to be where the players are," EA Senior Vice President Mike Blank said.
In addition to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, more EA video games are planned to come onto Steam next year. Such titles include Apex Legends, Battlefield V, FIFA 20,The Sims 4 and Unravel 2. These games were recently released by EA, making them great choices to join Steam. It's currently unknown if more video games from the popular publisher will be making their way to Steam, too.
Back in 2011, EA parted ways with Steam shortly after the release of Crysis 2. EA had blamed it on Steam's "set of business terms" for developers that had prevented the release of the aforementioned game. This was due to a deal by Crysis developer Crytek had had with another service. Now, EA hasn't said why they're reuniting with Steam or what kind of deal they've struck with the gaming marketplace. All EA has said on the matter since it was announced is, "It’s a new way of working with Valve."
Regardless of motives, gamers will no doubt be happy with EA's decision. Here's to being able to play EA video games on Steam once again!


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Toyota Motor Corp. U.S. executive Jim Lentz said American buying new vehicles to replace those lost during Superstorm Sandy will result in strong November auto sales, Reuters reported.
Speaking on the sidelines of a J.D. Power and Associates and National Automobile Dealers Association conference Tuesday, Lentz said Toyota believes 400,000 cars and trucks were destroyed by the storm. Of those, 100,000 were new vehicles.
Sales will be particularly strong in the New York area, but Lentz said November sales throughout the U.S. will be strong.


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Acquisitions define 2011
Due to acquisitions, Oregon lost a few company headquarters last year, including giants Jeld-Wen Inc. and Howard S. Wright Constructors. Their acquirers, however, seem in a position to help the companies grow. Meanwhile, other Oregon companies did their share of acquiring. Here are the top 10 deals of 2011 as selected by the Business Journal.
1) Onex acquires Jeld-wen
Drowning in debt and suffering from a major slowdown in construction activity, door and window manufacturer Jeld-Wen Inc. last year grabbed the lifeline offered by Toronto investment company Onex Corp.
Publicly traded Onex invested $871 million to obtain a 58 percent interest in Klamath Falls-based Jeld-Wen, Oregon’s largest privately held company with $3 billion in 2010 revenue.
In early 2011, rumors of bankruptcy swirled around Jeld-Wen. In May, Onex emerged as an alternative, saying it would invest $675 million to take a 39 percent stake in Jeld-Wen, which at the time employed 20,000 at 123 sites in more than 25 countries.
The terms changed in August, when Onex said it would pay $864 million to take a 58 percent controlling interest. However, the deal was subject to Jeld-Wen raising additional financing through a bond sale.
The bond sale, originally planned to raise $575 million, proved a difficult proposition. Eventually Jeld-Wen sold $450 in bonds that were considered junk bonds.
Onex invested an additional $7 million to help restructure the bond offering and improve the rating.
“We believe that Onex’ strategic guidance and experience combined with our strong balance sheet, brand and market position will allow us to further grow the company and strengthen our competitive position,” Jeld-Wen CEO Rod Wendt said in a news release at closing.
Robert Goldfield covers law and manufacturing.
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New research by Wunderman Thompson Technology (formally Cognifide), reveals the common pain points for consumers when it comes to digital experiences, with slow websites (37%) cited as the biggest frustration when dealing with brands online, and over a fifth of consumers (23%) stating that brands are failing to live up to expectations.
Experiences Customers Want
Over a fifth of UK consumers feel brands are failing to live up to online expectations.
En 1 chiffre
Nearly half of UK consumers are now less forgiving of poor online experiences than before the pandemic.
En 1 chiffre
When decision-makers were asked about their own website’s performance the majority thought it was ‘great’.
En 1 chiffre
Over a third of consumers are willing to give more of their personal data to brands if it improves the online experience.
Download the full report now!
Hard to navigate websites (29%) a lack of clear information (23%) and poor mobile optimisation (22%) all feature highly as common issues when consumers deal with brands online.
Yet, when decision-makers were asked about their own website’s performance the majority (77%) thought it was ‘great’. A concern, when a fifth (21%) of consumers say a slow website alone would stop them interacting with a brand altogether.
Seamless experiences across channels are also a top priority for consumers (42%), yet only 11% of decision-makers think that a connected, omnichannel experience is the most important factor for great customer experience. Difficulties with unifying data across channels (38%) and data siloes within their organization (34%) were called out as barriers when it came to the omnichannel experience.
Impact of COVID-19
Nearly half (46%) of UK consumers are now less forgiving of poor online experiences than before the pandemic, signifying how critical digital experiences and interactions are to business success.
Expectations have clearly risen, with nearly two-thirds (62%) saying they expect more convenience from brands as a result of COVID-19. During this time brands have looked at how they serve their customers, with 72% now offering new products and services, 40% putting sites through a fundamental redesign, and 36% making information easier to find.
As a result, 44% of consumers say their online experiences with brands have improved since the beginning of the pandemic.
EMEA CEO, Technology - Experience
The Value of Personalization
While 76% of decision-makers say they personalise experiences based on customer data and behaviour, only 14% surveyed said they are prioritising the creation of personalised content in order to deliver on it, exposing a mismatch between the aspiration to personalise and the ability to deliver.
Over a third (35%) of consumers are willing to give more of their personal data to brands if it improves the online experience. But targeted ads should be approached with caution, as potentially “creepy” ads were high on the list of pain points, with 33% saying targeted ads are among their biggest frustrations.
However, the value of targeted ads is clear when they do not jar with the consumer experience. When relevant and contextualized, 42% see targeted ads as a valuable use of their personal data and 37% say they are more likely to buy a product if they have seen a relevant ad.


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Tickets for a festive drive-in cinema in Fraserburgh are selling like hot cakes.
It will be on Saturday, November 18, to raise money to bring an ice-rink to Fraserburgh on December 8 and 9, free for everyone for a weekend in December.
Fraserburgh Super Saturdays coordinator, Leona Findlay explained: “The drive-in cinema will take place at Fraserburgh college car park. We will screen two classic Christmas films, Elf and Home Alone.
“It will to be a great family event that will get everyone into the festive spirit in preparation for the ice rink coming to the Broch.”
Elf will be shown at 4pm and Home Alone at 7pm.
Local businesses will sell pizza, burgers and hot drinks. Fraserburgh Community Church, Fraserburgers will sell hot food and Symposium will bring their mobile coffee van.
Lilly’s Dough will sell freshly made hot pizza.
Tickets at £20 per car plus an online booking fee for the drive-in are available online from www.eventbrite/frozenfraserburgh.
For more info visit Super Saturdays facebook page.


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With the country set to celebrate Independence Day on 12 June, Shangri-La Plaza is putting the spotlight on Filipino talent and creativity for the entire month of June with “LIKHA,” a collaboration of the brightest talents for cultural diversity.
The festivities include the exploration of the country’s rich heritage. Starting from 1 to 13 June, the “Pamana” Exhibit showcased stunning photos that recall our roots, from national landmarks to heirloom culinary traditions.
It will feature the works of Jan Aliling, Bien Bautista, Paolo Antonio Buendia, Josefino Mario De Guzman, and Maria Victoria “Kakai” Manotoc Arroyo at the Luxury Lane, Level 1, East Wing.
Aside from that, the event will also display the country’s native products with the amazing popup event Filipino Flavors & Fabrics from 4 to 9 June at the Grand Atrium to take home wonderful products from community vendors, indigenous peoples and women micro-entrepreneurs, and also to support women producers all over the country.
As for music, the historical holiday will be marked with a special musical collaboration as musician Noel Cabangon teams up with the Manila String Machine for “Malaya: An Independence Day Concert” on 12 June at the Grand Atrium, while a traditional folk fest will commence “Alay“- a rich and colorful display of Filipino folk tradition that will be spearheaded by folk dance company Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe as it moves to the voices of Song Weavers Philippines on 15 June at 7 p.m. also at the Grand Atrium.
Ballet Philippines, on the other hand, will come up with its most celebrated pieces with “Celebration” featuring Tales of the Manuvu, choreographed and written by National Artists Alice Reyes and Bienvenido Lumbera, and other masterpieces on 22 June at 7 p.m. at the Grand Atrium.
Meantime, visitors can shop for unique local finds as two great fairs come to the Shang from 28 to 30 June as the HABI Market Fair offers mall guests beautiful handcrafted products from Kalinga, Ifugao, Mindoro, Basilan, and more at the Grand Atrium, while “Piling Pinoy” at the East Atrium has everything from furniture, art, food and fashion.
For inquiries, call 370-2597 or 98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial or follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.


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The Tailor, the Florist, the Violin Maker: Improvising to Survive
Shops in Hamburg, Germany, have been pushed to the brink by lockdowns and curfews in the pandemic and the uncertainty of when a return to something like normal may happen.
Photographs by Hayley Austin
Reporting by Jack Ewing and Hayley Austin
Germany is known for luxury cars, machine tools and other goods that have protected the overall economy from the worst effects of the pandemic. But Germany is also a nation of shopkeepers, small operations whose employees are often from the same family.
These businesses have been pushed to the brink of existence by lockdowns, quarantines and other restrictions that often change from day to day. Vaccines are in short supply and intensive care units are filling up, prompting Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to impose a nationwide curfew last month in areas with high infection rates.
In the port city of Hamburg, retailers are improvising to try to survive.
Théodora Vezo, the owner of a boutique that bears her name, took customers by appointment and changed her window displays of clothing and accessories much more often.
Yayi Chen, owner of a store that sells Manga comic books and graphic novels, set up a TikTok channel and ordered his employees to come up with content as a way of promoting online sales.
Birgit Wyrowski, who has been building violins at her shop for 34 years, was able to partly compensate for a decline in sales by selling ukuleles, popular among neophyte musicians in lockdown because they are easy to play.
But these improvisations often come with a downside. Ms. Wyrowski said she worried that young people who took up an instrument to combat lockdown boredom will lose interest without in-person lessons. “And playing together. That’s also missing, of course,” she said.
For many businesses there has been no real option but to tough it out until lockdowns ease, which in Germany may not be until the fall.
Edip Kücükoglu, a tailor, is still allowed to do alterations but customers are staying away. Why spend money looking better when you never leave home?
“Customers aren’t coming in to have things altered or made. They’re waiting until times are better,” Mr. Kücükoglu said. “It’s a good thing that I own this shop. If I wasn’t an owner, I would have closed a long time ago.”
Federal and state governments have provided aid to many businesses. But policies were sometimes inconsistent. Giulia Christen, a fashion designer and owner of Pyrate-Style, a shop that sells custom-made apparel, said the government response was excellent at first. “You put in a request, and two weeks later the money was in your account,” she said.
But Ms. Christen was denied aid for November and December on the grounds that a shutdown didn’t take effect until Dec. 16. “That meant we lost all our Christmas business,” she said, “but we didn’t get any support.”
A few businesses have benefited from the pandemic. Dennis Jakob’s butcher shop, which was founded by his grandfather in 1951 and where he has worked basically his whole life, has been busy supplying customers who were cooking more for themselves and shopping closer to home. “There are many new faces! Our customer base has grown,” Mr. Jakob said.
Germans have a reputation for being organized, but the stereotype has not applied to the vaccine campaign. Less than a quarter of the population had received a first vaccine dose by late April, compared with more than 40 percent in the United States and more than 60 percent in Britain.
Christian Möller, owner of Derpart Flug und Ferienreisen, a travel agency, said sales are down more than 90 percent so far this year. Only when people are vaccinated, he said, will they feel confident about vacationing abroad.
“I hope that the vaccinations will go ahead as soon as possible,” Mr. Möller added. “That is the key to the whole thing.”
Businesses that depend on weddings, funerals or other gatherings are in a similar situation. “None of that is taking place at all,” said Susanne Jürgens, a florist at Blumenstube Diana Hittig. “Celebrations, confirmations — we missed all that business in 2020.”
Hair salons have been closed for much of the last year, but were allowed to reopen in early March, sooner than most other shops that involve personal contact.
The rush of customers in between lockdowns helped compensate for the periods that Petra Hartje was forced to close her shop. There was even a positive aspect: People really appreciated their hairdressers. “We were suddenly relevant to the system,” Ms. Hartje said.
But keeping the business open hasn’t been easy. “In December, a customer was here on a Saturday. The following Tuesday she emailed me that she was sick with Corona,” Ms. Hartje said. “I had to quarantine for 10 days.”
While internet retailers have boomed, online sales are not a real option for shops that depend on personal contact, like Marie Josephine Bouquet’s hat shop.
“I can’t make anything if I can’t do fittings, or measurements or touch the customer,” Ms. Bouquet said. “Hats are too individual and too special.”
Apparel businesses are among the biggest economic victims of the pandemic. Nationwide, sales of items like clothing and shoes plunged by more than three-quarters in January from a year earlier, according to official figures. Nearly half of the retailers surveyed by the German Retail Association said they feared bankruptcy.
More than two-thirds of Ms. Bouquet’s hat sales used to come from theater productions, which are at a standstill. “That was the last straw,” Ms. Bouquet said. Her revenue fell by about half last year. While she will continue to make hats to order for theater customers in her atelier, she said, she closed the storefront permanently in February.
Paula Haase contributed reporting.
Source: Read Full Article


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Apple Lends Support to California State Right-to-Repair Bill ⇥ techcrunch.com
Brian Heater, TechCrunch:
In a surprise move, Apple this week penned a letter to California state senator Susan Talamantes Eggman, voicing support for SB 244, a “right to repair” bill currently making its way through Sacramento’s State Capitol building.
Apple has, of course, softened its stance on right to repair legislation in recent years, including last year’s addition of a Self-Service Repair program. The offering, which was viewed by many as a preemptive measure against looming state and federal legislation, provides users with rental tools to repair iPhones and Macs at home.
Jason Koebler of 404 Media posted a full copy of Apple’s letter (PDF). If you are interested in how SB 244 evolved over time, I have uploaded a comparison between the bill text introduced and the latest version. One update that caught my eye is that, according to the definition on line 56, a “desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or cellphone” are all considered “general” or “all-purpose” computers.


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Greenwich town centre is to get a new Sainsbury’s supermarket, triggering a potential new threat to the town’s remaining independent shops.
The motorbike accessories store in the same Greenwich High Road block as the existing Co-op is closing down. On its windows are statutory notices announcing that Sainsbury’s is applying for an alcohol licence for the premises. The new store – about the same size as the Co-op by the looks of the site – will be the third new supermarket chain to open in recent years, after the M&S Simply Food at the Cutty Sark and the Tesco Metro on Trafalgar Road.
The post-Tesco fate of the other shops on Trafalgar Road – closure for some, reduced business for many - could be a worrying portent of the future. The new Sainsbury’s will be within a minute’s walk of Greenwich’s main cluster of independent food shops – the greengrocer, butcher, cheese shop, fishmonger and general grocery on Royal Hill.
True, these places have managed to cope with the Co-op, for years. But Sainsbury’s stock is likely be more directly competitive with them – more fresh food, more bourgeois comforts and more upmarket stuff than the Co-op – meaning that it’s a more serious threat.
And the competition between the two neighbouring supermarkets may also (temporarily) drive down prices on the basics and staples to an extent which damages Royal Hill. I found last year that the prices of the Royal Hill shops were suprisingly competitive with the Co-op (then Somerfield). If both of the retail behemoths are prepared to sell things at a loss as they battle it out, however, it seems unlikely that the smaller players will be able to compete on price. That could do them great damage.
At the same time, perhaps the most consuming retail issue in Greenwich – the fate of the market - is about to come to a head. Planning permission for Greenwich Hospital’s hateful scheme to knock down the market was refused exactly a year ago. But the Hospital’s appeal against the decision will be heard by a planning inspector at a public inquiry between September 7th and 17th.
Greenwich Hospital’s changes to the scheme – principally keeping, though reglazing, the roof – don’t seem to have convinced anyone. The existing shops will still be demolished and the number of stalls, and the food court, reduced. The site will be dominated by a 100-bedroom hotel.
On Sunday, as we covered on the site, there was a demo against the plans, with the three local councillors handing out leaflets claiming that even the revised proposals “will see the end of Greenwich Market as we know it.” This is true – because the cost of the redevelopment will almost certainly mean that the Hospital will have to raise the rents to a level beyond that which the existing independent traders can afford. Hays Galleria or Spitalfields, next stop!
The cynical view is that the tourists won’t be able to tell the difference. But of course they will – and we most certainly will. The market was so rammed this weekend that, to the rage of passing motorists, the demonstrators had to stand in the road. If it’s turned into a feeble appendage of a 100-room hotel, with added chain-stores, it won’t be anything like as much of a draw to the town.
As well as the local councillors, the influential Commission on Architecture and the Built Environment – the Government’s design standards watchdog- has attacked the revised scheme. In their response to the planning inspector, CABE said the new plans were still ‘alien.” They criticised the proposed layout of the market, the ‘dominating’ scale of the boutique hotel and the detailing of the glazed roof.
They branded as “awkward” the proposed new route from Greenwich Church Street into the market. And they said that the relationship between the roof and the proposed new buildings on either side was still not “fully resolved.”
I’ll be covering the saga of the market and the public inquiry in more detail within the next two weeks. But we should look at the onward march of the supermarkets – a Waitrose and a further Tesco are also rumoured – with just as much alarm.


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India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) is hosting the first-of-its-kind online AI summit themed Driving Next Generation of Innovation. The two-day conclave will focus on how AI has been & will continue to be a key innovation driver in the global semiconductor & electronics ecosystem.
The IESA Hyderabad Chapter brings the AI Summit 2021, which is dedicated to bring together thought leaders, policy makers, business & technology experts and entrepreneurs who will share their vision on the future of the industry as well as the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the Global ecosystem. The objective is to create a knowledge-sharing platform on future opportunities for both established companies and start-ups to harness the power of AI in developing solutions for the industry ecosystem. The summit announced a powerful line up of speaker’s key dignitaries and industry experts. The event will be inaugurated by leading government dignitaries Shri Ajay Prakash Sawhney, IAS, Secretary, MeitY and Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt of Telangana. It will also, be graced by the presence of Shri KT Ramarao, Minister of IT, Govt of Telangana.
Gearing up for the IESA AI Summit 2021, Rajeev Khushu, Chairman (elect), India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), said “The Semiconductor and electronics industry is witnessing significant growth in investments and interest globally. With the emergence of new applications of Artificial Intelligence, new avenues for innovation are opening up both in the software and semiconductor areas. At the IESA AI summit we will be taking a closer look at emerging opportunities that will help both established and startup companies in the ESDM Ecosystem.”
IESA AI Summit 2021 aims to spotlight the latest development, market trends and growth opportunities leveraged through the application of AI and IoT. Leading experts will share their views on Impact of AI on the Semiconductor Industry, AI / ML Applications for Social Empowerment, Security, Industrial Applications, Robotics and Automotive Applications, Edge Computing Vs Cloud Computing, India’s Role in building AI Software. Additionally, it will feature product demos including ASIC Platform for AI Enabled Edge Devices.
Commenting on the IESA AI Summit 2021, Ajay Naini, Engineering Vice President and Site Director, Xilinx, Inc. and Co-Chair, IESA Hyderabad Chapter added, “The potential of AI to bring digital transformation in creating opportunities and innovation in the electronics and semiconductor industry is massive. The global semiconductor chip revenue is poised to reach trillion dollars by the end of the decade. India has the opportunity to further utilize AI for the growth in the telecom, automotive, industrial automation, defense, medical, education and even in agriculture. We look forward to participating in the summit that will provide a holistic perspective on the emerging markets and boost domestic manufacturing and development in the country.”
As AI computing emerges, making AI accessible and affordable, expansive transformational opportunities abound in India for AI technology to solve real world problems that can in turn propel leaps in economic development for many industries, including the Intelligent Electronics & Semiconductor ecosystem,” commented Dinakar Munagala, CEO & Co-founder, Blaize Inc, looking forward to the event.
ASUS Cancels All Upcoming Product Launches in India Amidst Rising COVID-19 Cases
ASUS has announced to postpone its upcoming ROG line-up – ROG Flow X13, Zephyrus 15 Duo SE, Zephyrus 15 and Zephyrus 14 in India owing to the rapid surge in the COVID-19 cases. This product lineup was scheduled to launch on 12th May 2021. The country is going through a very difficult time due to which ASUS has decided not to launch its products as of now. The upcoming products will be launched as soon as the situation comes under control.
It is noted that Indian market has been one of the key markets for ASUS due to the large customer base and popularity of its products. Recently, ASUS launched its widely popular ROG Phone 5 in India in March which gained huge success among gamers. ASUS was supposed to bring new innovation under ROG brand and Zephyrus line-up but unfortunately due to current pandemic ASUS had to cancel all its launches.
“India is going through a very challenging time and our heart goes out of all in times of the crisis. We know the media has been awaiting the new ROG Flow X13 and Zephyrus line-up, however keeping in view the current situation, ASUS India has decided to cancel all upcoming PC & ROG launches. We would like to thank everyone for their support and contribution. Request you to stay tuned for an update on the product availability” said Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group ASUS India in a statement.
Know Why M.2 Slot is Disabled on Some B560 Motherboards with 10th Gen Intel Core Processor?
More and more Z590/B560 motherboards are being launched to pair with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processor. Compared to 10th Gen, 11th Gen Intel Core Processor supports PCIe 4.0 and offers additional 4x PCIe 4.0 lanes for storage like M.2 SSD.
If you plan to upgrade to PCIe 4.0 devices, the 11th Gen Intel Core Processor is the choice to pair with Z590/B560 motherboard. However, if you don’t care that much about PCIe 4.0, the 10th Gen Intel Core Processor is still a good option.
However, some users have recently found that one of the M.2 slots on some B560 motherboards is disabled with the 10th Gen Intel Core Processor installed. The M.2 slot is only available to use with 11th Gen Core Processor. This implies that on motherboards with two M.2 slots, only one slot is available to use.
Why is the M.2 slot disabled with 10th Gen Intel Core Processors? Let’s get into it.
Why M.2 slot is disabled with 10th Gen Intel Core Processor?
On Z590/B560 motherboards, the M.2 slot needs to be connected to the CPU to utilize the PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes from the 11th Gen Core Processor.
When the 10th Gen Intel Core Processor is installed, there are no PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes offered for M2. Slot. This is why the M.2 slot connected to the CPU is disabled with the 10th Gen Core Processor installed.
But why is the first M.2 slot still available with 10th Gen Intel Core Processor on MSI B560 models with two M.2 slots, such as the B560I GAMING EDGE WIFI, B560M MORTAR WIFI, B560M BAZOOKA, and B560M PRO-VDH?
Both M.2 slots are available on MSI B560I GAMING EDGE WIFI / B560M MORTAR / BAZOOKA / PRO-VDH
This is because MSI uses a switch for the first M.2 slot to switch the connection between CPU and chipset. When the 11th Gen processor is installed, the first M.2 slot is connected to the CPU to utilize the PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth. It’s switched to the chipset and utilizes the PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes when the 10th Gen processor is installed.
There are several M.2 offerings for the MSI B560 series. Some have three M.2 slots, some have two, and some have only one. For the models with more than two M.2 slots, at least two are available with 10th Gen Intel Core Processor.
Here is the list of M.2 slots and the max transfer mode for each slot. For more detail, please visit the MSI website or refer to the user’s manual.
The M.2 slot max supported transfer mode with 10th Gen Intel Core Processors.
The M2_1 slot supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 with 11th Gen Intel Core Processors.
Kingston Announces New ‘‘Kingston Is With You’’ Campaign
Accelerating the vision of preserving memories with its memory and storage products,Kingston Technology announced its “Kingston Is With You” campaign. With the new brand positioning message, “Kingston Is With You,” Kingston aims to bring alive the invincible impact of memories in our lives and emphasizes that memories not only exist in the past, but can also be the driving force that motivates one to move forward in life.
A series of “Kingston Is With You” themed online and offline activities begin today, kicking off with the premiere of the micro-film, Memories Empower, which unveils a self-recovery journey through memories. In addition, Kingston specially designed a limited-edition gift box that connects memories with the five senses. The gift box comes with “7-Day Memory Challenge” cards, assigning 7 mini-tasks to recipients, helping them relive their most precious moments and provide a chance to win heartwarming gifts. Retail channels will also run promotional activities for customers to preserve their meaningful moments and experience the strength in memory with Kingston’s products.
Kevin Wu, Sales/Marketing and Business Development Vice President of APAC region, Kingston, said, “Kingston has always been a leader in enabling people to preserve their memories through our most reliable and high-performing memory and storage solutions products for business, creative and daily settings. We staunchly believe in the power of memories and its unlimited impact. During these times, we want to bring inspiration and strength to people with a promise that ‘Kingston Is With You.’ We strive to stand alongside all our customers, to celebrate cherished moments and be there with them during tough times. We would also like to express our deepest admiration and respect, and pay homage to those who show courage, resilience and strength during these testing times.”
Brand New Micro-film Brings Memories From the Past to Future
Kingston believes that video is one of the best ways to tell a story. The previously released A Memory to Remember Trilogy micro-film series centered around the significance of past memories and has touched the hearts of millions. This year, to show how “Kingston Is With You,” Kingston has brought back celebrated advertising director Lo Ging-zim to direct its latest micro-film. Mr. Lo also directed Kingston’s three previous micro-films.
While the A Memory to Remember Trilogy micro-film series focused on the memorable past, Memories Empower expands time and space to the present and future. The story depicts a young girl’s encounters after an abrupt change in life and exploring the theme that memories not only connect people to their past, but it also provides the courage to continue moving forward. Kingston invites viewers to embark on this journey of self-recovery through this micro-film.
Experience the Power of Memories with Kingston’s Limited-edition Giftbox
Extending its credo of Memories Empower further, Kingston has specially designed a limited-edition memory gift box that stimulates the five senses: sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell. Cards for each day of the 7 memory-related challenges, along with a Kingston x CSD face mask are included in the gift box, encouraging people to revisit small but treasured moments and rediscover the happiness of little things in life.
From May 14-18, Kingston will recruit its users to participate in the 7-Day Memory Challenge. Participants selected will be announced on Kingston’s Facebook Fan Page on May 20. Those who share their challenges online will have a chance to win an iPhone 12 and other exciting gifts.
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