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It’s Bing time as Microsoft reinvents the search engine
The battle for search engine supremacy gets going as Microsoft officially announces the availability of its AI-powered Bing search engine and Edge browser. Available in preview mode at Bing.com, the search engine is expected to deliver better search with more complete answers comprising a new chat experience and the ability to generate content.
The new search engine will be Microsoft’s not-so-secret weapon against Google. While Bing has been around for some time, Microsoft has always found itself trailing Google when it comes to searches. One of the main reasons for this is user preference. Google’s search engine holds 84% of the global market share, bringing in tens of billions of dollars in ad sales every quarter and making up more than two thirds of the tech giant’s total revenue. Bing’s market share stood at only 9% last year.
Although Microsoft dominated internet browsers before Google and Mozilla introduced theirs, its Bing search engine never really took off when it was launched in 2009. With Chrome and Firefox dominating browser usage, Microsoft eventually replaced Internet Explorer with the Chromium-based Edge browser but was still shy of meeting the mark.
According to Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, the launch of Bing and Edge powered by AI copilot and chat will help people get more from search and the web. With 10 billion search queries a day, Microsoft estimates that almost half go unanswered. It’s hoping the new Bing search engine can help solve this.
“AI will fundamentally change every software category, starting with the largest category of all – search,” said Nadella.
In a statement, Microsoft explained that the new Bing experience will be a culmination of four technical breakthroughs. They include:
- Next-generation OpenAI model – The new Bing is running on a next-generation OpenAI large language model that is more powerful than ChatGPT and customized specifically for search. It takes key learnings and advancements from ChatGPT and GPT-3.5 – and it is even faster, more accurate, and more capable.
- Microsoft Prometheus model – Microsoft has developed a proprietary way of working with the OpenAI model that allows it to best leverage its power. Called the Prometheus model, this combination gives users more relevant, timely and targeted results, with improved safety.
- Applying AI to the core search algorithm – Microsoft has applied the AI model to its core Bing search ranking engine, which led to the largest jump in relevance in two decades. With this AI model, even basic search queries are more accurate and more relevant.
- New user experience – By reimagining how users interact with search, browser and chat with a unified experience, this will unlock a completely new way to interact with the web.
“These groundbreaking new search experiences are possible because Microsoft has committed to building Azure into an AI supercomputer for the world, and OpenAI has used this infrastructure to train the breakthrough models that are now being optimized for Bing,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President & Consumer Chief Marketing Officer in a blog post.
There’s no denying that since Microsoft announced its investment in OpenAI, the aim was to build a product that is capable of competing with the best. While ChatGPT and Bing may have been powered by the same generative AI technology, they’re still unique in their own ways.
It will also be interesting to see how Microsoft will ensure AI is used responsibly for searches. There have been increased concerns about AI bias but Microsoft has stated that it is working with OpenAI to ensure the AI systems are responsible by design. This includes ensuring the full strength of its responsible AI ecosystem – including researchers, engineers and policy experts – to develop new approaches to mitigate risk.
“We’ve also been intentional in implementing safeguards to defend against harmful content. Our teams are working to address issues such as misinformation and disinformation, content blocking, data safety and preventing the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content in line with our AI principles,” added Mehdi.
Meanwhile, Brad Smith, Vice President and Chair at Microsoft wrote in a blog post that the future of artificial intelligence requires a multidisciplinary approach.
“The tech sector was built by engineers. However, if AI is truly going to serve humanity, the future requires that we bring together computer and data scientists with people from every walk of life and every way of thinking. More than ever, technology needs people schooled in the humanities, social sciences and with more than an average dose of common sense,” wrote Smith.
Microsoft’s announcement may be seen as a challenge to Google and the latter is already working on ways to improve its search engine with generative AI as well. In China, Baidu is also making headlines with plans to release its own version of AI-powered search in March.
Generative AI may revolutionize the search engine. However, what these organizations need to realize is how the technology will impact society in the long run. As Smith puts it, “we’re entering a new era. We need to learn together.”
- Ethical AI: The renewed importance of safeguarding data and customer privacy in Generative AI applications
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- Deploying SASE: Benchmarking your approach
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- Google parent Alphabet eyes HubSpot: A potential acquisition shaping the future of CRM


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Vision Solar, one of the fastest-growing solar companies in the United States, is opening a new location in Tempe, Ariz., this month, signaling the company’s plans to expand nationwide. Vision Solar plans to hire more than 60 employees, sales representatives, technicians and installers for the Tempe location which will serve the Scottsdale-Phoenix market — a strategic move, given that Arizona is among the top ranked states for its residential solar capacity.
Arizona also held its national ranking as the third-largest in solar installation in 2018, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s year-in-review report.
Vision Solar is a full-service renewable energy company based in Pennsylvania that was recently named the number one installer by SunPower Solar on the East Coast. With a combined experience of over 50 years, the company proudly serves residents throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey — and, now, thanks to the new Tempe location, throughout Arizona.
“We are thrilled to announce that Vision Solar is entering one of the most exciting solar markets in the United States: Arizona,” states Mike Eden, CRO of Vision Solar. “This move signals our strategic plans for aggressive growth nationwide, as one of the fastest growing solar companies in the nation, and also shows how much we have expanded in the less than three years since our inception.”
Apart from providing customers with easy financing options, Vision Solar also ensures that the entire process of installation is handled in-house, to provide the smoothest and most convenient experience of switching to solar energy.
Vision Solar also promises savings to consumers who make the switch to solar energy. According to company estimates, consumers can save up to an average of 30 percent on their monthly electric bills, in addition to other savings in the form of tax and financial incentives.
Vision Solar is dedicated to improving the lives of customers as well as to protecting the environment.
Have you checked out our YouTube page?
We have a ton video interviews and additional content on our YouTube page. Recently we debuted Power Forward! -- a collaboration with BayWa r.e. to discuss higher level industry topics as well as best practices / trends for running a solar business today.
Our longer running side project is The Pitch -- in which we have awkward discussions with solar manufacturers and suppliers about their new technology and ideas so that you don't have to. We discuss everything from residential rail-less deck attaching and home solar financing to large-scale energy storage value stacking and utility-driven new home solar + storage microgrids.

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Ronnie James Dio's union with the band in 1979 resulted in two back-to-back classic albums.
Pre-orders are shipping soon and the remaining inventory is super limited.
Incendium and Heavy Metal magazine have announced the launch of "Crystal Planet", created by Joe Satriani and Ned Evett.
Eddie Van Halen inspired an entire generation of players and EVH creates gear that emulates Eddie's designs.
The annual event attempts to house animals before Christmas.
When KnuckleBonz launched in 2003, their inaugural project was Rhoads.
It's a common theme every year, but shopping local during this 2020 Christmas season is crucial.
The book is set for release December 18 and is his first fiction work.
The five principals of THE JUNGLE SHOW are at it again.
He showed off some stocking stuffers, including "Celestial", his second collection of holiday music.


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In this week’s fashion news from around the world; industry leaders launch RAISE Fashion to support Black creatives in fashion, Pinterest launches Black-owned fashion and beauty shop, and many more.
360 Creative Hub Launches Design Contest To Give Fashion Designers A Chance To Win Free Design Spaces
As their way of helping fashion businesses and emerging designers stay afloat in these times, the 360 Creative Hub started a design contest tagged Design Pro Challenge. The Design Pro Challenge aims to assist and motivate young startup fashion designers to get back on their innovative track and pursue their passion.
The contest requires designers to showcase their best works and engage in a healthy competition motivating them to scan through forgotten or dusty works that would do well being showcased rather than abandoned. To enter the challenge, designers are to share 3 of their best designs created this year on Instagram using the hashtag, #DesignProChallenge, and tag @360creativehub on Instagram.
360 Design Hub will repost entries made and designers are to advocate for likes and comments for their posts on 360 Creative Hub’s Instagram page. The 10 best performing designers will be selected as winners.
Winners will be chosen based on the number of likes and engagement on their posts, and the creativity of their designs. These 10 winners will win free access to 360 Creative Hub’s fully-equipped co-sewing space in Surulere till the end of September 2020.
Entries for this challenge closes on Sunday, August 23rd 2020.
Industry Leaders Launch RAISE Fashion To Support Black Creatives In Fashion
As creatives in the fashion industry are calling for inclusivity, many organisations have emerged to hold the industry accountable and support Black creatives. A new group of female forces in the fashion industry have united to make a difference through the launch of RAISE Fashion.
RAISE which stands for, ‘Respect, Advocate, Inspire, Support, and Empower’, was founded by Carly Cushnie of Cushnie; Roopal Patel of Saks Fifth Avenue; Elizabeth von der Goltz and Nayla Touma of Net-a-Porter; April Hennig of Jonathan Simkhai; Alexa Geovanos of Chloé, and executives Nelli Kim and Felita Harris.
RAISE Fashion was launched to offer the expertise of industry experts to emerging Black talents and help them overcome the challenges they face. They will provide free mentorship to Black designers, founders, and businesspeople within fashion.
“The fashion industry can be incredibly difficult to access. There are so many barriers to entry. Our mission is to break down some of these barriers and to open doors to the Black community through strategic mentorship and networking opportunities,” Cushnie said.
“The initial concept for RAISE as a mentorship program came from a very humble reflection about what I could personally offer to make a positive impact in helping BIPOC businesses,” Geovanos said. “The outpouring of positive responses from colleagues across the industry who shared the same passion and enthusiasm for offering this support was motivating. People from across all facets of the industry were experiencing turmoil in their own businesses, but the idea of being able to step away for a moment and objectively look at challenges and opportunities outside their own scope, while making our industry more inclusive, was universally exciting for so many of the advisers.”
As part of the launch, the group is teaming up with Harlem’s Fashion Row as its industry partner. It will provide mentorship and strategic consulting for every recipient of Harlem Fashion Row’s Icon360 grant, a nonprofit program providing relief to designers of colour who are pivoting their businesses during coronavirus.
Pinterest Launches Black-Owned Fashion And Beauty Shop
As their way of standing in solidarity with and supporting Black-owned brands, Pinterest has launched a Black-owned fashion and beauty shop.
In celebration of National Black Business Month, Pinterest launched its newest Pinterest Shop collection, featuring all Black-owned fashion and beauty brands. The company said there was an increased interest in Pinners searching for “Black-owned business” and “support small business” from June 22 to July 19 compared to the same period in 2019.
“We’ve seen an enormous increase in searches for ‘Black-owned businesses’ in the past year, which shows how hungry the world is for more from their shopping experiences,” Andrea Millard, Chief Marketing Officer at Pinterest said. ” We’re proud to showcase these amazing entrepreneurs and help bring more customers and businesses as innovative and beautifully crafted as these.”
The collection features over 20 Black-owned fashion and beauty brands and more than 600 products all in one spot to make it easier for Pinners to discover and shop from mission-driven brands. Each product featured has a shoppable product pin that links buyers directly to the respective store’s virtual checkout, allowing funds made to go directly to each retailer.
Tommy Hilfiger Launches Its First Hijab
In recent times, the fashion industry has embraced diversity more than ever before. There are now plus size models and Black creatives taking prominent roles in the industry.
In line with this, Tommy Hilfiger has announced that it will launch its first hijab on August 24, 2020. The hijab will be available for purchase both in-store and online, via the company’s website. Following the introduction of curve-sizing to the brand, the creation of the hijab honours the brand’s vision to be more inclusive and accessible to all fashionistas.
The hijab, which is lightweight and very breathable, is crafted from fine jacquard, with a light shimmer of soft lurex thread, giving it an elegant look.
TechStyle Fashion Group Announces Partnership With Good360 For Recurring Apparel Donation
TechStyle Fashion Group, the global fashion retailer known for its membership-based digital brands Fabletics, Savage X Fenty, JustFab, ShoeDazzle and FabKids, announced, on Tuesday, an ongoing partnership with Good360, the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving.
Extending TechStyle’s growing commitment to philanthropy and sustainability, the new partnership kicked off with a donation of approximately $1.5M worth of JustFab and ShoeDazzle apparel to nonprofit organizations serving families in need.
“Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clearer than ever that as industry leaders, we have an important responsibility to protect our environment and communities,” Meera Bhatia, President of Expert Services, TechStyle Fashion Group, said. “At TechStyle Fashion Group, we are always looking for new and impactful ways to lessen our environmental burden, while being mindful of our commitment to philanthropy. We look forward to working with Good360 to donate clothing on an ongoing basis to those who need it the most.”
This partnership is part of a series of recent initiatives dedicated to addressing waste in fashion while reducing TechStyle’s impact on the environment. TechStyle has also partnered with Soles4Souls in the past, donating footwear to provide relief to families in need, as well as donated unused fabric scraps to Marimole, a textile waste recycling company.
Brands under TechStyle, like Fabletics, have also increased their efforts to address the fashion industry’s challenges to environmental sustainability by transitioning from plastic shipment bags to recycled, biodegradable and reusable polybags. They also debuted an eco-conscious capsule collection made entirely from recycled and upcycled materials in celebration of Earth Day.


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Amazon is bringing its Freetime kids service to Fire TV, starting with its Fire TV stick devices: The app allows parents to set age limits, content restrictions, and even limit the amount of time their little ones spend watching TV every day.
Freetime apps previously launched on Amazon’s Fire tablets, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices. Amazon is also making Freetime available through Alexa-enabled smart speakers.
However, these apps really only make sense if you also pay for Amazon’s Freetime Unlimited subscription. Feetime Unlimited subscribers get ad-free access to movies and TV shows from LEGO, Amazon Studios and Mattel, as well as select titles from the Prime Video catalog.
Amazon charges consumers $4.99 per month for access to its Freetime unlimited tier, with a $2 monthly discount for Prime subscribers. Families with multiple kids can get individual profiles, and access to multiple streams, for $9.99 per month ($6.99 for Prime subscribers).
The new Freetime app for Fire TV will roll out on Fire TV sticks and Fire TV devices first, and then come to select Fire TV edition TV sets in the near future.
In addition to the Freetime app for Fire TV, Amazon also announced a dedicated Kindle Fire Kids Edition device Monday. The kid-friendly e-reader comes with a year of free access to Freetime Unlimited, as well as an extended warranty and a cover, and costs $110.


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Cott, the makers of RC Cola, reported softer than expected fourth quarter results than analysts expected, said Morgan Stanley analyst William Pecoriello.
Pecoriello said Cott suffered soft volume in North America, and was unable to pass the increased price for packaging and ingredients on to consumers.
The company’s stock still has distance to fall, Pecoriello said. He said volumes appear weak in January, and Coca-cola poses a challenge with cost increases below the rate of inflation. Cott hasn’t weathered rising commodity prices as well as larger companies, Pecoriello said, and the consumer soft drink market has been generally soft.


text: Paper or plastic? With proposals to ban plastic grocery bags in Madison and statewide, Wisconsin Grocers Association President Brandon Scholz urges an alternative approach. Scholz says a better solution would be to educate consumers to bring the bags back to the grocery store, where they could be collected for recycling. His group's members are already moving in the direction of recycling the plastic bags, which appear to be preferred by their customers. Scholz says the costs associated with paper and biodegradable corn starch-based bags are higher, and those costs would be passed on to shoppers.


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The Dark Souls games have, to some extent, become a part of everyday nomenclature for gaming. How many times have people endured near-limitless variations of “it’s the Dark Souls of x” making its way into discussion? As such, with three mainline games and multiple re-releases, it should come as no suprise that the series has sold very well.
Today, FromSoftware, the developers of the games, shared that the Dark Souls series has crossed 27 million copies sold.
The DARK SOULS series has sold over 27 million units to date. We are incredibly grateful to every single one of our players. This success is owed to you.
We hope you continue to enjoy our games, and look forward to Elden Ring, the new Action RPG that’s currently in development. pic.twitter.com/697rctd7wZ
— FROMSOFTWARE (@fromsoftware_pr) May 19, 2020
In addition to this impressive milestone, the studio also confirmed that Dark…


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Russia Delays Gold Sales
Catherine and News & Commentary, October 29, 2009 at 1:10 pm
By Polina Devitt
The Russian government said on Tuesday it had postponed its plans to sell up to 50 tonnes of gold this year, after information about the sale was leaked to the market, but the gold market failed to react.
“Due to the leak of the information the sale in the reported period and in the reported form will not take place,” deputy head of the government agent for precious metals sales, Sergei Gorny, told Reuters.
He declined to say when the sale may take place.
Continue reading Russia Will Not Sell Gold In 2009: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/reuters/...-UPDATE-2.html


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A new study expects 50-55 per cent of jobs in Kenya to rely on digital skills by 2030, up from 25-30 per cent in 2019.
According to a new report released yesterday by UNESCO in conjunction with Chinese tech giant Huawei, the digital economy is expected to account for 25 per cent of the global GDP by 2026, up from 15.5 per cent in 2016.
This will require a new skill set and knowledge, which many countries such as Kenya are deficient in.
Among the jobs that will require new skills are security, data analysis and processing and cloud computing.
“While Africa expects the digital economy to contribute about 5.2 per cent of its GDP by 2025, Kenya’s digital economy is expected to generate 9.24 per cent of the total GDP by 2025. Therefore, interventions that can contribute to further strengthening of the digital economy in Kenya are desirable,” says the report.
The study notes that Kenya’s widening skills gap has been worsened by the growing but still low number of ICT graduates both at intermediate and advanced levels, with less than 5,000 students joining the field annually.


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If you haven’t heard, oat milk was predicted as one of the big food trends of 2019. Back in December, Pinterest reported a
The Polaris business-class cabin is seen during a night-time color setting on United's new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner as seen at Washington Dulles
United Express tails line a terminal pier at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in April 2016. (Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY)
London: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a "real, true European army" to defend its interests, echoing language used by French President Emmanuel Macron
Killing Eve is adding two more to season 2.
Henry-Lloyd Hughes and Shannon Tarbet have joined the cast of BBC America’s buzzed-about spy
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Got room for one more holiday TV movie in your Hallmark Christmas stocking?
The elves over at Hallmark certainly think so. EW has
Facebook adds AI to its eBay-style Marketplace to automatically add price suggestions – and it may offer interior design tips in the future
Instagram adds personalized shopping tab and ‘buy stickers’ in bid to get users to shop from its app Instagram is adding a dedicated
James Minchin III / FX
Another character from the “Walking Dead” comics is set to join the AMC series for its upcoming


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May 13, 2021
Raghuram will become CEO on June 1. He joined VMware in October 2003 and is executive vice president and COO of products and cloud services.
Gelsinger left VMware to return to Intel in February as its CEO. He served as VMware’s CEO for more than eight years.
Here’s our list of channel people on the move in April.
Zane Rowe, VMware’s chief financial officer, has been serving as interim CEO.
“VMware is uniquely poised to lead the multicloud computing era with an end-to-end software platform spanning clouds, the data center and the edge, helping to accelerate our customers’ digital transformations,” Raghuram said. “We have enormous opportunity. We have the right solutions, the right team, and we will continue to execute with focus, passion and agility.”
Since joining VMware, Raghuram has helped steer the company’s strategic direction and its technology evolution. He helped grow the core virtualization business and drove VMware’s software-defined data center strategy.
Moreover, he built and guided VMware’s cloud computing business and SaaS transformation efforts. He also played a pivotal role in the company’s M&A strategy.
VMware’s Raghu Raghuram
Raghuram has been key in driving partnerships with Dell Technologies, hyperscalers and other strategic partners.
Dell is spinning off its VMware ownership in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Michael Dell is chairman of VMware’s board of directors.
“Throughout his career, [Raghuram] has led with integrity and conviction, playing an instrumental role in the success of VMware,” he said. “Raghu is now in position to architect VMware’s future, helping customers and partners accelerate their digital businesses in this multicloud world.”
In addition, VMware named Sumit Dhawan as its new president. He’ll lead all go-to-market functions including worldwide sales, worldwide partner and commercial organization, customer experience and success (CXS), marketing and communications. He’s been serving as senior vice president and chief customer officer.
Meantime, chief operating officer Sanjay Poonen wrote on Twitter that he’s leaving the company after VMware passed him over for the top job.
Read more about:VARs/SIs
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Facebook announced this week that its Analytics for Apps tool is now being used by 1 million businesses, websites, apps, and bots. Facebook is also adding new features to the product, for users to get better results.
Facebook’s Analytics for Apps is a useful tool to better understand, measure and optimise customer experiences and online products. Understanding how people interact with a business on its various online properties really is a driving force behind growth. And Analytics for Apps is working very well for businesses.
In a blog post this week, Facebook Engineer, John Connuck announced that there are currently over 1 million businesses, websites, apps, and bots using Analytics for Apps. This is why Facebook continues to develop the product with some brand new features as well – cross-platform metrics, and analytics for businesses building Messenger bots.
As Connuck explained:
Facebook Analytics for Apps now lets you create customer segments based on a number of specific attributes, and easily compare performance between them. Segmentation based on attributes such as “country, type of device used, demographics” and others, makes it easy for businesses to filter their funnels and cohorts, and understand how different audiences react to them.
The new feature includes side-by-side segment comparisons with “active users, revenue, and events.” Connuck provided a good example of how this might be used effectively:
Another new feature is the ability to find out where customers are coming from. With cross-platform analytics, businesses were able to get a much more complete “picture of customer behavior across their desktop and mobile websites, in addition to their native apps.” Now, this feature has been expanded, and support for referring domains has been added. This makes it a lot easier for businesses to find out the best referring domains – essentially, the websites that are helping drive more people to their own online properties.
The update now allows the business to build breakdowns of events depending on the referring domain. Referring domains can also be added as a “condition when building a customer segment to filter your reports.”
Again, Connuck offered an example:
To get started with Analytics for Apps, you can visit the quickstart guide for step-by-step instructions.
Images: Facebook Analytics for Apps
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The cool but short Batman Arkham VR game released for PlayStation VR last year is now out for Oculus Rift and the Vive. This is a…
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3 years ago
ZTE reiterates desire to bring their devices to the US but raises other questions
Back in January, ZTE was optimistic on bringing their range of Windows Phone to the US. At the time, they noted "The United States and China will be key engines driving our smartphone sales" which seemed ambitious, only because navigating the sea of US carrier approval is a tough goal to accomplish.
Now in a article on CNet, ZTE is once again promising to bring the Windows Phone Tania to US shores by the end of the year.
In of itself, this is not news at all. It is simply ZTE re-stating what they said five months ago to Reuters. What makes us scratch our head is if the ZTE Tania, a relatively low-end Windows Phone 7.5 device, is coming by year's end to the US--what OS will it be running?
It seems odd to want to sell what is at best a low-range phone from 2011 right when Windows Phone 8 is reportedly launching at the the same time. The Tania sports a 4.3" screen, 1GHz CPU, 5MP rear-camera and a measly 4GB of storage. Presumably some of that will be upgraded which is fine, we did like the Tania for what is was back at CES (see our hands on after the break).
But will they really launch a device with Windows Phone 7.5 by December? Or will it have perhaps another OS on board, like Windows Phone 8? We really have no idea as that status of Windows Phone 7.5 as an OS is unknown at this point, which makes ZTE's plans curious. Maybe they are planning on selling direct as a pay-as-you-go phone or maybe they are planning on updating the hardware and OS for the US, in which case are we really still talking about the Tania?
Like we said, this raises some interesting questions. Either way though, we're happy to see ZTE try their hand at the US market.
3 years ago
Sprint exec says he is "still bullish on Apollo"
When it comes to Windows Phone, we've been pretty hard on Sprint in the past, and rightfully so. After testing the waters with the first-generation WP7 HTC Arrive, they have been a non-player, even going so far as to make the Arrive the poster child for their buyback program. Well, we could possibly be seeing that stubbornness come to an end with the imminent arrival of Windows Phone 8 (Apollo) later this year. Speaking at CTIA, the carrier's director of consumer acquisition, David Owens, said that he's "still bullish on Apollo."
This is the same man, mind you, who said back in January:
"We have a Windows device in our lineup, but honestly, it hasn't done well enough for us to jump back into the fire. We told Microsoft: You guys have to go build the enthusiasm for the product."
Microsoft certainly paid heed to his word, setting off on a monstrous advertising campaign with the help of its partners, like Nokia and AT&T. Since then, we've seen huge demand for other Windows Phone handsets, like the Nokia Lumia 900. Perhaps the shifting momentum has changed Owens' mind. Or perhaps he has caught a glimpse of Mango's successor, Apollo, and liked what he saw. Owens failed to elaborate on his comment, so we'll just have to wait and see. However, it gives us some hope that we could see an Apollo device or two in Sprint's Fall lineup.
Source: PCMag; Thanks for the tip, Vallos!
3 years ago
Rabobank releases mobile banking app for Windows Phone
Rabobank, one of the largest banks in the Netherlands, has released a mobile banking app for Windows Phone. Like its counterparts for Android, Blackberry and iOS, the Rabo Banking App lets users take care of their banking needs, be it checking their balance, viewing account history or making transfers, wherever they may be.
In order to use the app, you must already have a Rabobank account and have your Random Reader and debit card handy. You can click here for more information about the Rabo Banking App, or here to download the mobile banking app from the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Thanks for the tip, Lobbie 1978!
3 years ago
Smoked by Windows Phone, new numbers and ads
Microsoft's Smoked by Windows Phone began way back in January at the 2012 CES conference. Since, it's grown by leaps and bounds traveling to various Microsoft Stores across the nation and world wide. We've even seen the Smoke by Windows Phone challenges held by former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra.
Ben Rudolph, who started all this, has released some numbers associated with the Smoked by Windows Phone.
95%: Windows Phone's global winning percentage
36: The number of countries running Smoked by Windows Phone promotions
50,000+: The number of phones that have been smoked by a Windows Phone
8,000,000+: The total number of views the Smoked by Windows Phone has generated since it launched in January.
100,000,000+: The estimated number of people who have seen, participated in or read about Smoked by Windows Phone.
The Smoked by Windows Phone campaign will continue with a new set of internet ads hitting the web today. The ads are also available over at the Windows Phone YouTube Channel. While the Smoked by Windows Phone has had its moments of controversy, the campaign has brought a lot of attention to how well our Windows Phones measures up against the competition.
Source: Windows Team Blog
3 years ago
Nokia reveals upcoming exclusive apps and games for Lumia Windows Phones
Nokia has today announced in a press release that a number of apps and games are to be exclusive to Lumia Windows Phones. At CTIA Wireless 2012, the manufacturer has focused on creating original app experiences to Lumia customers by building relations and forming partnerships with developers. Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer Experience, added the following comment.
"We are focused on delivering great, locally relevant apps, and importantly, those which offer unique, exclusive and original experiences. With Nokia Lumia smartphones now available in 48 markets, developers are rapidly recognizing the business opportunities and creating their best work for our consumers."
Nokia has already built a strong arsenal of apps in their OEM collection, including the likes of Nokia Drive, Transport, Maps, Music and the recently unveiled City Lens. Crawford Del Prete, EVP, Chief Research Officer, IDC, had the following to comment on Nokia's progress with moving to Windows Phone and building developer relations.
"Nokia has achieved much in a short space of time when it comes to key brands and partners creating apps for Nokia Lumia customers. We believe developers are now moving away from simply porting, to create new innovative and high-design apps that fully leverage the Windows Phone Metro UI and features such as live tiles. With new and exclusive apps launching on a regular basis, and Nokia Lumia rapidly expanding into new markets, Nokia and Microsoft are demonstrating meaningful differentiation for consumers, developers, operators and retailers."
So with al lthis talk of exclusive apps and games, partnerships and developing progress, what's on the horizon for Lumia Windows Phone owners? Check out the summarised list below of content that's destined to be exclusive for Nokia devices (and Windows Phone owners as a whole).
3 years ago
Nokia City Lens (beta), discover local interests with augmented reality
Nokia's Beta Labs has just made public City Lens, an augmented reality experience for users to find local points of interest. Much like Local Scout, but more realistic, City Lens provides a more user friendly overview of what establishments are located in the vicinity. Instead of guessing which building is which (should signage not be effective enough), Nokia Lens slaps a label on each to help you out.
Landmarks, restaurants, hotels, shops and more are listed in camera, list or maps view. This adds more options for the user, which will be handy should you not wish to wave your handset around at that exact moment and look like a tourist recording a video. Your location is loaded, much like any other app with similar functionality, and this can then be shared with social networks. Favourites can also be saved for more convenient access - pretty neat.
Nokia Beta Labs is interested in receiving feedback on this experience, so be sure to download Nokia City Lens from your Lumia Windows Phone. City Lens isn't listed in the Nokia Collection so you'll need to open the link from your Lumia Windows Phone or scan the QR Code below.
You guys know how much we love augmented reality here at WPCentral, so we strongly recommend checking this out.
Source: Nokia Beta Labs; via: Engadget; thanks everyone who tipped us!
3 years ago
Windows Phone App Review: Star Wars
3 years ago
Verious adding Windows Phone to their lineup to aid developers in making apps
Verious Inc is a leader in connecting developers with components and services for mobile app developer and they have a strong presence with iOS and Android development. Today the company has added Windows Phone development to their lineup giving developers even more tools at their disposal.
What's this mean? Hundreds of pre-built mobile app components, open source projects, HTML5 components and SDKs are now available to Windows Phone developers. It opens up the pool of resources developers have to tap into. Verious has reportedly worked closely with Microsoft to identify the most valuable components to help accelerate mobile app development.
As described by Anil Pereira, founder and CEO of Verious,
"From Metro-styled icons to charting controls and mapping tools, we’ve worked with Microsoft to compile the world’s most comprehensive catalogue of pre-built components, open source libraries and SDKs for Windows Phone development. Now mobile app developers can leverage these resources to get their apps to market faster—just as they do for other leading smartphone platforms.”
Seeing that Verious already has a presence with iOS and Android development, the addition of Windows Phone to Verious's catalog may see more cross platform apps hit the Marketplace.
You can catch the full press release after the break and find out more on Verious here at their website.
3 years ago
Nokia Lumia 900 beats out the iPhone 4s and Galaxy S for best display
In what looks to be another nice win under the belt of the Lumia 900, Nokia took away the top prize in DisplayMate's shootout of displays for tablets and smartphones.
The test involves shinning light on to the displays with various levels and then putting the screenshots onto their "Master Photo Grid" for direct comparison. For a more nuanced description, we refer to you DisplayMate:
"We photographed 4 Tablets and 5 Smartphones inside an Integrating Hemisphere using a powerful light source that uniformly illuminates the displays from all directions from 0 lux (Absolute Darkness) up through 40,000 lux (Indirect Sunlight), which is very bright. Direct Sunlight at noon is a blinding 100,000 lux."
We're just going to go ahead and defer to them on the science part.
The results have the Lumia 900 at the top with the Galaxy S just edging out the iPhone 4S for number two. There's no doubt that what contributed to the win for Nokia was their ClearBlack polarizng screen technology, which filters out the bad waves of sunlight, helping reduce glare and keeping the AMOLED colors super vibrant (some may say too vibrant.
In fact, DisplayMate said that Nokia Lumia 900 had the lowest reflectance of any device on the market, meaning that the ability for the display to reflect light and cause a glare was markedly reduced on the AT&T "hero" phone compared to the competition.
Overall, it's a great win and a great headline for Nokia.
Source: Displaymate; via: the Verge
3 years ago
Viber feature-limited beta now available for Windows Phone
Viber has finally pulled the sheet off of its long awaited VOIP and messaging app for Windows Phone (and Blackberry too) today, allowing users to download and try out the service for free on their device.
One major caveat though: there is no VOIP phone calls just yet.
According to the press release, the current version only allows Viber Messaging aka "allowing users to exchange text and high-quality photo messages and share locations with other Viber users." Have no fear though, that VOIP service for making free phone calls is on the way: "Viber’s signature HD-quality free voice calling, will be released as soon as it meets Viber’s quality standards."
The app so far is basically a glorified Kik or WhatsApp as it can search your contacts for other Viber members for ease of messaging. Having said that, it's a fairly nice app and worth looking into as you'll want to be ready when that ability to make phone calls over your data connection finally shows up.
Grab Viber v2.1 for Windows Phone here in the Marketplace. It's free and ad-free. Read the full press-release here for more info.
3 years ago
Upcoming Windows Phone developer conference reveals Apollo info
Back in January, we brought you the news of the first independent Windows Phone developer conference not sponsored by Microsoft called WP DevCon occurring October 22-24th in Burlingame, CA.
The listing and descriptions of the classes being offered during the conference hav been released and interestingly enough, there's a whole class on Windows Phone Apollo development. Seeing as the classes are in late October, perhaps we shouldn't be shocked that Windows Phone 8 will be discussed at length during such an event. But what makes it interesting is some of the details revealed.
The session is being led by Paras Wadehra, Principal Software Engineer at Good Technology and ex-Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft:
"This session will guide you on how to develop for Windows Phone Apollo, the new version of Windows Phone due out by the end of this year. You will learn the new resolutions needed to support and target Windows Phone Apollo, the new hardware you will program against, the changes coming to the Windows Phone Marketplace, and much more. There will be some code shown, which will help you migrate your Windows Phone Mango apps to target Windows Phone Apollo. The session will also help you understand the marketing aspects of apps targeting Windows Phone Apollo in order to help you get your apps approved the first time. You will also learn about the new emulator as well as new reporting features available in the Windows Phone Marketplace.
At the end of the session, you will be ready to write and upload apps to the new Windows Phone Marketplace. Please note: Knowledge of the Windows Phone Developer ecosystem is required. In order to appreciate the difference between Mango and Apollo, it is also preferable that you have developed at least one app currently in the Marketplace."
Since the session is in October and Apollo is mentioned as "due out by the end of this year" it sounds like we're still looking at a November or December release for the new OS. That's the bad news and contradicts some earlier rumors of a possible early October release (though schedule changes are certainly plausible).
The good news is the Windows Phone 8 emulator will already be out by that point and we bet it will be released in June when Microsoft holds their own developer conference in San Francisco. It's also the first real confirmation of different resolutions being offered in Windows Phone 8, though once again, this shouldn't be a surprise at this point.
Read the whole Windows Phone DevCon catalog here (PDF) and visit their site (www.wpdevcon.net) for more information in case you want to attend. Thanks, rutvik19, for the tip!
3 years ago
ARMED updated on Windows Phone, coming to Windows 8 as well
Sickhead Games’ ARMED! stands out as one of the most impressive indie games in the Windows Phone lineup – in fact, it even outdoes just about every Xbox Live title in graphics, UI, and multiplayer features. Even the title is extra exciting, with not only capital letters, but also an exclamation point! Why Microsoft hasn’t picked up ARMED! for Xbox Live status remains a mystery, but Sickhead continues to support their title, both with updates and plans to expand to other platforms as well.
Head past the break for the full scoop!
3 years ago
Lumia 900 available at Norwegian retailer Elkjøp on June 1st for 4,290 kr
The Lumia 900 is on its way to Norwegian retailer Elkjøp and is set for a June 1st launch. Priced at 4,290 kr, the flagship Nokia Windows Phone was previously seen on a terminal at the retailer where orders of each colour where spotted. This availability date is some time behind the expected shipping dates for UK retailers, which is probably a knock-on effect of the "overwhelming demand" of the Lumia 900 in the states.
The Lumia 900 is available to pre-order in black, blue and white, with financing options should they be required. Will you be picking yours up?
Source: Elkjøp (blue - white, black); thanks, the_Enlightened, for the tip!
3 years ago
Senior User Experience Designer for Windows Phone, Arturo Toledo leaves Microsoft
Arturo Toledo, a Senior User Experience Designer for the Windows Phone Design Studio who chose to leave Microsoft last month, has announced plans to finish the Windows Phone Design Series. Toleda is set to turn the series into a free e-book.
More good news is Toledo plans to stay involved in Metro for the future, I guess we can't get rid of superb talent that easily?
The 31 “Weeks” of Windows Phone Metro Design series focuses on providing developers (and enthusiasts who are just starting on the Windows Phone development path) with resources to ensure app UIs follow suit and create a fluid Metro experience for consumers. One thing we here at WPCentral understand is that our readers (and the community as a whole) favours a complete Metro experience.
Should this series finally become available in free e-book format, it'll be the bible for Windows Phone developers. Exciting times ahead. For now we'll leave you with our no-so-famous Metro meme.
3 years ago
Samsung Focus 2 hands-on
First out of the gate from CTIA 2012 in New Orleans is the Samsung Focus 2. The follow-up to the (wait for it ...) Samsung Focus brings a 4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 8GB of internal storage and it's rocking a 1.4 GHz processor. And as was confirmed by the official specs earlier today, it's got a 1750 mAh battery.
The Focus 2 actually is a tad heavier than its predecessor, but it's in a slightly smaller form factor. It feels decent enough in the hand. It's definitely got a plastic feel to it, which you'd expect from a Samsung phone. But, indeed, for an entry-level device, you're not going to be ashamed to pull this one out of your pocket. And it's always nice to see a dedicated camera button on the side of a phone.
Other items of note: It'll be available May 20 for $49.99 on contract ($19.99 on upgrade). We've got more pics and hands-on video after the break.
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Growers' new tune: Yes we have ecobananas
IN LATEST SIGN THAT ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY FOOD IS BIG BUSINESS,CHIQUITA WILL SOON ADOPT ECO-OK LABEL.
| NEW YORK
Bananas are going green.
Americans buying their favorite fruit may see signs at the produce stand announcing that the bunches are "Eco-OK."
That means the companies that grow the fruit are meeting environmental and social standards set by green groups. And bananas are just the latest Latin American crop. Heightened social responsibility is spreading from the banana plantations to coffee, cacao, sugar, and citrus producers. The food industry has caught on that, in this time of prosperity, Americans are willing to pay more to feel good about what they eat.
"It's smart business as well as environmentally and socially sound," says Bill Liebhardt, of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program at the University of California at Davis. "It builds a better position in the marketplace. It's part of good business to present your product as environmentally benign or beneficial and to say that you pay your workers a good salary."
Last month, a sign of change in the banana business came when Ecuador's second largest producer, Reybancorp, earned the right to use the Eco-OK seal of the Better Banana Project. By early fall, Chiquita, one of the top three banana producers (along with Dole and Del Monte), will qualify as well.
"When you take those two companies together, it means a transformation of the banana industry," says Chris Wille, who works for the Rainforest Alliance out of Costa Rica. As of this spring, about 30 percent of banana production in Costa Rica and 70 percent in Panama had been certified. Mr. Wille puts production of Better-Banana-Project-certified farms at 60 million boxes, or 10 percent of Latin American and Caribbean production.
Banana growers' legacy of abuses to both land and humans at one point led to talk of boycotts. But in a nation like Costa Rica, where 50,000 families depend on the sweet yellow fruit, a boycott would have harmed more than helped.
"Instead of throwing people out of work," says Wille, "we looked at giving guidance to the industry and rewarding the good actors by giving them an eco-label that they can use to distinguish themselves in the marketplace."
One example of the changes taking place: When Wille first arrived in Costa Rica 10 years ago, he saw rivers choked with blue plastic bags, used by growers to control ripening and protect the fruit from insects.
The bags used to be stripped off and thrown into piles that were carried off in floodwater. Now, on all certified farms, they are collected and recycled.
Even people within the industry admit the business needed to do something.
"The banana industry has a reputation of misuse of chemicals and poor treatment of workers," says Rafael Wong, president of Reybancorp. Now, the firm will meet standards set by the Conservation Agriculture Network, a coalition of Latin American environmental groups.
The program addresses a spectrum of socio-environmental issues. On certified farms, reforestation programs have replaced rampant deforestation. Workers receive improved housing, schools, training, and medical care - not to mention contracts and the right to organize. In addition, most certified farms pay workers above minimum wage. At Chiquita's Costa Rican farms, for example, workers make $12.90 a day - 176 percent more than the $7.33 minimum wage.
To maintain certification, farms must show continual improvements. Inspectors make surprise visits to farms and audit them annually.
Chiquita was the first multinational company to join the Better Banana Project, which began in 1991. "We will have all of our farms completed by the end of the summer or early fall," says Magnes Welsh, a Chiquita spokesman. The company's farms in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia are already fully certified.
"When a company as big as Chiquita is involved in this, it really has a ripple effect," says Wille.
Dole, too, is taking on a more verdant hue. Last month, it ranked among the Top 10 companies overall in environmental and social responsibility as ranked by the Council on Economic Priorities, a public-interest research organization.
"Large farms, in general, are hopping on board," says Dr. Liebhardt. "A lot of industries are trying to present themselves in as green a light as possible."
Many coffee farmers in Costa Rica have stopped dumping organic wastes from coffee mills into rivers, which was a major source of pollution. Also, under pressure from conservationists, some coffee farmers are returning to a traditional method of growing coffee in the shade of rain forest trees, which provides habitat for monkeys and birds. In Brazil, the sugar industry is phasing out the practice of burning fields before harvest.
The reason for all this is simple: money. American shoppers are more willing than ever to pay a premium for ecofriendly products.
For example, at Magic Mill, a natural-foods market in Madison, Wis., organic bananas - 99 cents a pound, compared with 39 cents for their ordinary brethren - are the second-highest seller, behind cherries.
It was the surging popularity of organic and ecofriendly products in the marketplace that, in part, motivated Ecuador's Reybancorp to put six years of effort into transforming their haciendas into ecohip farms. They replaced 65 to 75 percent of their infrastructure, planted hundreds of thousands of trees, and restored about 5,000 acres.
And it expects a return on its eco-investment. "We thought we would get a premium price if we did this," says Wong.
(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society


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It's not clear what might have caused the fault. Olivas told Gizmodo that she'd only been using the official Apple charger with the phone and that she hadn't had any trouble with the device until this week. After the device failed to switch on, she said she took it to an Apple store where employees ran diagnostic tests but found no faults.
"The next morning I was asleep with my phone charging next to my head, my boyfriend grabbed the phone and put it on the dresser," Olivas told Mashable. "He went to the restroom ... and from the corner of his eye he saw my phone steaming and [heard] a squealing noise. By the time he got over to the phone it had already caught fire, he quickly grabbed the phone and threw it in the restroom ... as soon as he threw it in the restroom it blew up and more smoke started coming out of the phone."


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Welcome to CBE
We are one of the leading innovators in Hospitality & Retail technology in Europe and first choice for EPoS solutions in the UK & Ireland.
CBE would like to express a huge congratulations to Peter & Joe Hockenhull, and all the team in “The Stage” on winning “UK Forecourt Trader
CBE, the Mayo based retail technology company, has installed a new point-of-sale solution in the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium in Cork. Beating off stiff


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The Ministry of Commerce recently announced that since December 29, 2018, anti-dumping duties have been imposed on imported n-butanol originating in Taiwan, Malaysia and the United States.
Among them, the anti-dumping tax rate for Taiwan Plastics Industry Co., Ltd. in Taiwan is 6%, other Taiwan companies are 56.1%; the anti-dumping tax rate for the US Oujiya company is 52.2%, Eastman Chemical Company, Dao Chemical The company, BASF, and other US companies have a tax rate of 139.3%; the anti-dumping tax rate for Malaysian Petrochemical Petrochemical Company/Ma Petrochemical Marketing (Nayong) Co., Ltd. is 12.7%, BASF Malaysia National Oil Chemicals Pte Ltd, Ou The tax rate of Berdymo Malaysia Chemical Company and other Malaysian companies is 26.7%.
On December 29, 2017, the Ministry of Commerce decided to conduct an anti-dumping investigation on imported n-butanol originating in Taiwan, Malaysia and the United States.
N-butanol is an important organic chemical raw material, mainly used in the production of butyl acrylate, butyl acetate, dibutyl phthalate, butylamine, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and other downstream products, widely used in coatings, textiles Agents, plasticizers and other fields. N-butanol is also an extractant for oils, biochemicals and fragrances, an additive for alkyd paints, and is also used in the manufacture of surfactants.
In recent years, the domestic coatings industry has developed rapidly, and domestic coating raw material enterprises have also grown. They are able to independently produce and develop a variety of high-quality products. However, the development of downstream derivatives of n-butanol with high added value and high technical content still exists abroad. Larger gaps, some derivatives with special performance and high added value still need to be imported.


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Coronavirus: PizzaExpress bakes plan to axe scores of UK restaurants
The chain is drawing up plans to close well over 50 of its outlets as part of a restructuring, Sky News learns.
Thursday 16 July 2020 13:37, UK
Dozens of PizzaExpress sites are facing the threat of closure as part of a financial restructuring of one of Britain’s biggest restaurant operators.
Sky News has learnt that the company is drawing up plans to close "around 75" of its 470 UK outlets through an insolvency process called a company voluntary arrangement (cva).
Sources said on Thursday that the final number of proposed closures had yet to be arrived at, and would depend partly on the progress of formal talks with landlords, which are expected to get underway as soon as next week.
One source said the number could be marginally higher or lower than 75 but said it was unlikely to represent more than 20% of PizzaExpress's UK business by number of outlets.
That would nevertheless impact many hundreds of jobs at a company which employs roughly 8,000 people in its home market.
The plans represent the latest sign of the pain being felt by UK-based casual dining groups as the coronavirus pandemic leaves them facing an uncertain future.
A CVA would be used by PizzaExpress to cut its rent obligations across much of the rest of its UK estate.
It would come alongside a wider financial restructuring reported earlier this week by The Times that would see the company's bondholders take control of its UK business from Hony Capital, the Chinese private equity investor which bought the group in 2014 for £900m.
Other restaurant operators, including the Café Rouge owner Casual Dining Group, Prezzo and Carluccio's, have been forced by the COVID-19 crisis to call in insolvency practitioners or explore sale processes.
A PizzaExpress spokesman declined to comment.


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Just 15 percent of Georgians spend more than $1,000 on holiday expenses, while 29 percent spend between $500 and $1,000 and 28 percent spend between $300 and $500.
That’s according to new information from the 2016 Mid-Year Consumer Survey by Georgia released this week by Georgia Credit Union Affiliates (GCUA).
The average American spent $734 on gifts, $120 on food, $78 on decorations, and $85 on flowers and cards during the 2015 holiday season, according to AOL Mass Media.
Cutting costs may be necessary to stay financially afloat during the holidays for 24 percent of respondents to the GCUA survey who said they don’t plan ahead for expenses. Eight percent said they start planning less than a month in advance and 22 percent said they start planning one-to-three months in advance.
“Thinking ‘outside the box’ during the holidays may be the answer,” Kimberly Ford, vice president of marketing and human resources at Georgia Heritage Federal Credit Union, said in a news release. “The old adage, ‘It’s not the gift, but the thought that counts,’ really does resonate with people. Making homemade cookies, cakes or other holiday foods to give to family and friends will save you the trouble of shopping during the holiday rush, not to mention the cost savings. As an added bonus, you may want to include the recipe.”
Ford also suggests checking out Pinterest for creative, homemade gift ideas.
“Another idea is giving the gift of your time,” Ford added. “Grandparents can babysit the grandkids and give the parents a much-needed date night. Making a phone call to someone you haven’t seen in a while can be priceless. And volunteering at a soup kitchen or at the humane society will give you an emotional boost. The holidays can be a time of joy, but the happiness can quickly fade into stress if you set your expectations too high.”


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Last updated on July 3rd, 2019 at 07:22 pm
Oconomowoc-based Lake Country Foods Inc. has sold some of its blending and packaging assets to Columbus, Indiana-based Tipton Mills Foods LLC. The transaction closed March 14 for an undisclosed price.
Lake Country in January notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development it planned to cease operations and eliminate 91 jobs. The contract manager provided blending, agglomeration and specialty packaging of powders for the food industry, including malted milk powder.
Operations were expected to conclude on March 15 at the plant, which some employees staying through March 30 for plant maintenance.
Tipton Mills, a portfolio company of Compass Group Equity Partners, also manufactures custom agglomerations and blends of food and beverage powders like coffees, cocoas, nutritional supplements, fibers and protein syrups.
It purchased the packaging equipment and some ingredients from Lake Country after the company decided to close, said David Harding, chief executive officer of Tipton Mills.
“We helped them out because they were stuck with a lot of stuff” when they decided to close, Harding said.
Tipton Mills also helped fulfill some customer orders impacted by the closure, he said.
Milwaukee investment bank TKO Miller assisted Lake Country in the sale.
“Lake Country Food’s customers and products fit very well with Tipton’s business strategy. This acquisition allows us to expand our production capabilities and expedite the growth in some of our key markets,” Harding said.


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DroidEFB, an aviation planning and in-flight support app for Android devices, has revealed that QuickWeather will now be included free with each subscription.
Additionally, pilots can now use DroidEFB to integrate AOPA Flight Planner functionality with handheld Android devices.
These are just two of the new features and improvements in the latest version of the app, DroidEFB 2.4.8, according to company officials.
QuickWeather uses color-coded METARs and TAFs to depict weather at specific airports, including animated radar, AIRMETs, SIGMETs and TFRs.
According to company officials, weather information is automatically updated while connected to the Internet and the app is running. DroidEFB also caches the data so that it is still available when the system is off-line, officials note.
Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) members who are also DroidEFB subscribers can plan their flight using the AOPA Flight Planner on their desktop or laptop computer, then send those routes to DroidEFB on their tablet, company officials said. This will allow pilots to take advantage of GPS moving-map navigation, NOAA and NEXRAD weather overlays, approach plates and taxi diagrams, weight-and-balance information, note taking, flight plan filing, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) information, and more, company officials add.
“Integrating QuickWeather and AOPA Flight Planner into the latest iteration of DroidEFB aren’t the only improvements we’ve made,” said chief executive officer Paul Coleman. “We are committed to ensuring that this app is the best value in aviation navigation. It was developed and is still owned by the pilots and software engineers who introduced it originally and we remain focused on advancing its versatility, technology, ease of use, and reliability.”
In the latest iteration of DroidEFB, users can add or export waypoints, or obtain a quick translation of raw TAFs and METARs (including METAR remarks), by tapping an icon. DroidEFB also provides a graphic depiction of METAR trends by using METAR history.
Monthly subscriptions are $6.99, with a yearly subscription priced at $74.99.


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From the Wires
AVG Technologies Study Reveals Social Media Stokes Workplace Privacy Fears
By: Business Wire
Jan. 31, 2013 12:01 AM
More than half of adults (53 percent) believe privacy in the workplace has been eroded with the proliferation of social media, reveals AVG Technologies’ latest Digital Diaries study, Digital Work Life. The seventh installment in AVG’s Digital Diaries series includes responses from 4,000 adults in ten countries in relation to cyberbullying in the workplace.
The study found that the misuse of social media has infiltrated the workplace with often negative effects on employees’ privacy, forcing many to switch off or limit their use of social networking sites. One in ten respondents discovered secret discussions about them online were initiated by colleagues using social media, and 11 percent have had embarrassing photos or videos taken at a work event and uploaded onto social media sites. This is as high as 19 percent in Spain and 14 percent in the UK. A small number of all adults (6 percent) even found themselves subjected to unwanted romantic advances through online media, and in the US this number rose to one in ten of all adults.
As the use of social media increases for both personal and professional purposes, the privacy many workers value and expect is slowly diminishing through employee misuse and cyberbullying. To prevent personal information from being circulated at work, many adults are turning away from social media altogether. Of those who agreed social media has eroded their privacy at work, nearly a quarter (24 percent) now avoid posting on social networks that have caused them privacy concerns, while 23 percent limit their posts. More than half (53 percent) are more careful about what they post.
Tony Anscombe, AVG’s Senior Security Evangelist, said: “This study highlights the need for a combination of greater education around social media alongside stricter enforcement of the accompanying standards for social media etiquette at work. And we’re not just talking about employees here; employers can trip themselves up just as easily when managing the company’s own social media presence. Until everyone is clear about exactly what is and isn’t acceptable online behavior, trying to enforce policies will just fail, leaving the door open to cyberbullying and invasion of privacy. If organizations take the time to first educate before establishing and enforcing policies, privacy can be protected in the workplace without having to sacrifice any of the social activity we all enjoy.”
Jenny Ungless, an independent HR Consultant and life coach, commented on the findings: “While you can’t completely control what people say about you online, you can control the ‘ammunition’ they have against you. Being more careful about your posts on social networks or ensuring your privacy settings protect your personal information are just a few steps you can take. The research shows adults are now finding themselves in unchartered territory when it comes to social media in the workplace. Having to ward off colleagues’ romantic advances online, suffer the embarrassment of unwanted personal photos seen by colleagues or have personal details from social networks used against you, are all things that adults haven’t typically had to deal with. We often talk about bringing work home with us, yet little has been done to date to tackle our home-life now being taken into the office and the possible implications of this.”
Other key findings include:
About AVG Digital Diaries
The first stage of AVG’s Digital Diaries campaign, Digital Birth, focused on children from birth to age two. The study, released in October 2010, found that on average, infants acquire a digital identity by the age of six months old. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of children have had their pre-birth scans uploaded to the Internet by their parent – establishing a digital footprint even before birth. The second stage, Digital Skills, was released in January 2011 and showed that for two to five year olds, ‘tech’ skills are increasingly replacing ‘life’ skills. In fact, many toddlers could use a mouse and play a computer game, but could not ride a bike, swim or tie their shoelaces.
Digital Playground, released in June 2011, found nearly half of six to nine year olds talk to friends online and use social networks. This was followed with Digital Maturity in November 2011, which revealed how 11 year olds had developed adult skills in technology. Digital Coming of Age, the fifth installment of AVG’s Digital Diaries study was released in April 2012, which interviewed parents of 14-17 year olds, found that nearly half of parents keep tabs on teens via Facebook, latest AVG Technologies’ research reveals.
Digital Baggage - released in October 2012 delved further into the theme of social media usage. Research, which involved interviews with 18-25 year olds about their online habits, found that one quarter were Facebook friends with their boss - which could potentially damage their career prospects.
The seventh installment, Digital Work Life, examines cyberbullying and privacy in the workplace with 4,000 workers surveyed across ten countries: UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Czech Republic. More than half of the respondents revealed that the misuse of social media has eroded privacy in the workplace.
Research for all stages of the Digital Diaries series was conducted by Research Now on behalf of AVG Technologies.
More information visit: www.avgdigitaldiaries.com
About AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG)
AVG's mission is to simplify, optimize and secure the Internet experience, providing peace of mind to a connected world. AVG's powerful yet easy-to-use software and online services put users in control of their Internet experience. By choosing AVG's software and services, users become part of a trusted global community that benefits from inherent network effects, mutual protection and support. AVG has grown its user base to 143 million active users as of September 30, 2012 and offers a product portfolio that targets the consumer and small business markets and includes Internet security, PC performance optimization, online backup, mobile security, identity protection and family safety software.
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Oil tax cloud over Enterprise bid
SHELL'S £3.5bn bid for Enterprise Oil could be endangered by the Chancellor's 10% oil tax, which could render the offer less profitable.
Enterprise Oil, Britain's biggest independent producer, pumps 250,000 barrels of oil a day from the North Sea and this will be subject to the 10% windfall tax, which could cost it £400,000 a day.
Shell may therefore revise its agreed bid. Today it said it was 'considering the consequences' of the new tax. Shell also said it was 'fully aware of UK Takeover Code requirements' that impose strict rules on revised bids.
The war premium on world crude oil prices is worth between $2 and $4 a barrel and is likely to leave the price per barrel at about $25 for some time. Brent crude, however, sells at a higher price because of its quality. Today it was up 33 cents at $25.71.
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As one of the global leaders in the world of play, China’s toy market is expected to become a USD 61.3 billion industry by 2026, according to the market research firm, Research and Markets1. With the onset of the pandemic and a rising need for entertainment at home, the toy industry in China has experienced high demand from its domestic market, with retail sales of toys reaching USD 11.9 billion in 2020.
“Following the success of the previous two editions last August and this March, we aim to once again offer an effective platform for business encounters and information exchanges amongst toy, baby product and licensing industry players,” Ms Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd commented. “While the Chinese market has shown promising signs of recovery, the 2021 fairs revealed changes in market demands for the children-related sectors. Exhibitors will have the chance to capitalise on the new retail opportunities when the events return next March.”
Blind boxes and China chic: what Chinese millennials are eyeing up now
Against the backdrop of an increasingly consumer-driven economy, ‘blind boxes’ and ‘China chic’ are some of the latest retail buzzwords gripping millennials, the key consumer target group in China. These millennial-driven demands inspired exhibitors to showcase their innovative products at the 2021 fairs.
“The concept of blind box has become a sensation in the Chinese market,” Mr Shane Ouyang, Sales Manager of Eastern Progress Company Ltd from Hong Kong shared. “So this year we featured Baby Shark plush toys in mystery packaging and capsules. These have received a lot of enquiries from visitors, particularly from claw crane arcades.”
Meanwhile, across many consumer goods categories in China – the fashion industry to begin with and now extending to children-related sectors – more brands are incorporating cultural and nostalgic elements to entice shoppers with emotional connections.
Mr Yuming Zhang, Marketing Manager of the Guangdong Sembo Culture Industry Co. Ltd noted the popularity of their collections that highlight traditional heritage and the country’s significant breakthroughs: “We are showcasing our most recent licensed construction blocks of the Forbidden City, the Chinese space rockets and more. Toy & Edu China is perfect for new product launches since all our potential and existing clients are gathered here.”
The other prevailing trend in the Chinese market as witnessed at the fairs is educational toys and products, and there is no indication that this is going away any time soon. As NPD Group’s data analysis2 suggests, the largest categories of toy e-commerce sales in China for the first month of 2021 were infant, toddler and preschool toys, many of which consist of educational elements.
Commenting on the future development of educational toys, Mr Ivan Ting, Chairman of the Hong Kong Toys Council said: “Education is very important in China and across the world so I think toys that help children learn such as science-based toys and building sets will become more popular in the future.”
Visitors were also pleased to see a wide range of educational toys featured at Toy & Edu China. Mr Xin Wang, General Manager of Star Home Shopping highlighted: “I am here to source educational toys and I’m particularly impressed with the offerings from Hape and Qisehua. Amid the pandemic, the demand for educational toys has increased rapidly as children have to attend online classes, and brands are focussing on toys that aid their learning process.”
Further in-depth analysis of the trends and insights about the Chinese market can be accessed here: https://shenzhen-international-toy-and-education-fair.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shenzhen/en/press/case-studies/2021/SZTF21-CS1.html.
The e-commerce growth momentum and how the fairs help
The analysis from the NPD Group also shows the boom in toy e-commerce sales, which was already growing before the pandemic but is increasing even more now. In January 2021, sales were up 33% compared to the same month last year. The growth of online shopping opens up opportunities for international brands to establish their presence in the local market of China. In particular, exhibitors will benefit from the location of the fairs in Shenzhen as many large scale and well-known e-commerce platforms have already set up their offices in the city and neighbouring areas and have visited the fair in the past, including Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, JD.com and more.
The 2021 editions of Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China and Licensing China welcomed 1,413 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions whilst 82,481 visitors attended, proving the fairs as a trusted platform to tap into the thriving domestic demand in the Chinese market.
Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China and Licensing China are organised by Guangdong Toy Association, Guangzhou Li Tong Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.
For more information, please visit:
Notes to editors:
Further press information and picture material:
Follow the fairs on social media:
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. The Group employs approximately 2,450 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries around the world. The company generated annual sales of approximately €257 million in 2020 after having recorded sales of €736 million the previous year. Even in difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are globally networked with our industry sectors. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are expanding our digital expertise with new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
1 China Toys Market by Segments, Sales Channel, Company Analysis, Forecast, Research and Markets, https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5308264/china-toys-market-by-segments-sales-channel
2Toys E-commerce Starts Strong in 2021, NPD Group, https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/infographics/2021/toys-e-commerce-starts-strong-in-2021/
- SZTF22-PR1-en (pdf, 275 KB)


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Atlanta, GA, June 20, 2008 --(PR.com
)-- Hospitality, institutional, and healthcare value added distributor, AWW Acquisition Corp dba Accessories Worldwide LTD, publicizes plans to target several new foreign markets, including the Dominican Republic and Mexico, among other countries. Since 2001, Accessories Worldwide has provided “all-in-the-box” solutions of kitted and installed furniture, fixtures, equipment and operating supplies to consumers across the United States, but current economic conditions presented an opportunity to diversify these capabilities.
“With U.S. exports reaching a 12.6% increase last year, we recognized that expanding our international commerce would be essential in maintaining our competitive advantage and viability,” states Carol Barnes, President & CEO of Accessories Worldwide. “We are constantly evolving to bring our “all-in-the-box” concept to the latest markets.”
“The cornerstone of our business is offering quality and convenience within all budget and time parameters.”
The Accessories Worldwide “all-in-the-box” concept allows customers to choose from thousands of name-brand products to create one-stop, room-ready kits uniquely packaged for immediate commercial installation. “The cornerstone of our business is offering quality, installed value and convenience within all budget and time parameters,” Lauren Young, Marketing and Communications for Accessories Worldwide notes. “We knew that these values would translate into any language.”
Why this sudden concentration on exports? The proliferation of free trade agreements and the strength of foreign currency against the US dollar (1 € = $1.55 at press time) have increased international demand for American products, especially within the quality-conscious hospitality sector. Companies like Accessories Worldwide are converting this demand into a chance for unparalleled business development.
For additional information regarding this press release, contact Ms. Lauren Young or visit www.awwltd.com
About Accessories Worldwide:
Currently shipping from eleven major distribution operations and several major seaports, Accessories Worldwide offers “all-in-the-box” packages at competitive installed value and unmatched service. All packages are kitted for speed installation and inventory options are available for prompt re-order. The company now serves business customers worldwide through its sales representatives and website: http://www.awwltd.com.


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If you are interested in the Galaxy S20 series and want to own them in a contract, you will be happy to know that U-Mobile is currently accepting pre-order for these devices. And if you are a fan of the iPhone SE, the successor of it will be here next month.
Realme C3 launched
The Realme C3 is now official and it is now available in Indonesia with a very affordable price tag. To find out more click here.
Honor 9X Pro launch
Despite the cancellation of MWC 2020, Honor is still having a press event to unveil its latest products. One of them is the Honor 9X Pro which is a higher-spec variant of its mid-range Honor 9X series, and it is called the Honor 9X Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S20 on U Mobile contract
If you’re looking for another telco to get the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, you can get it from U Mobile now. According to their website, they will be accepting pre-orders today until the 26th February 2020.
iPhone 9 & iPad Pro 2020 launch
Apple is expected to have a new product event next month which will reveal a new iPad Pro and the iPhone SE successor which is expected to be called the iPhone 9.


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Pike talks with local resident Ricky Vinson--he
was making his first visit to Gulfport beach at the time to see what was left.
He points out a city park which used offer shade to the Gulfport citizenry hard
by the commercial docks with its hundreds of shipping containers. Everything
he? once owned was gone, he said, except for a few clothing items.
An epic introduction at the yard brought the eyes of the boating world to the MCY 80. The latest launch from this builder brings style and sophistication in a gleaming package.
Get a look at the new yacht here. ▶


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A Carrick store will be taking on a distinctly vintage look in advance of one the most popular events in the borough’s festive calendar.
Whitehead’s Victorian Street Fair will take place on November 26 this year in the seaside town.
And to help visitors get into the spirit of the occasion, the Carrick Action Cancer branch will be hosting its own Victorian-themed window display in the week leading up to the event.
Store manager Shirley Kearney explained: “It’s something we have done in previous years and there are a lot of people who go to the fair who would buy their costumes from us.
“I try to gather up a nice selection of Victorian hats, clothes, shoes and bric-a-brac from our other stores throughout the year.”
It is expected that the clothing and other items will be on display and for sale at the Market Place retailer from November 19.
Always a popular draw around the Christmas season, the annual Victorian Fair is organised by Whitehead Community Association.
Appealing for visitors to ‘dress to impress’ was Jeremy Jones, chairman of the Association. “If you can, try to join in with the spirit of the event by dressing in appropriate costume,” he said. “Your garb doesn’t even have to be accurate; a shawl, a long dress, a frilly blouse or - if you’re a man - tweeds, waistcoat and paddy hat.”
As in previous years, there will be prizes for the ‘best dressed’ male, female, and child, he added.


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Telltale Games has released a video of the opening of The Walking Dead: Michonne. The video features the typical quick-time events the series is known for, while also showing how much Michonne is still haunted by her past.
Without spoiling the comics, there's a point in time where Michonne leaves Rick and her group of survivors. It's during this time that she's absent from the group that the story of the game takes place.
In Episode One: In Too Deep, Michonne joins Pete and his crew on a sailing ship as they cruise the coast for survivors and supplies. The group eventually comes across a signal for help that takes them to a scene of horrific massacre. Michonne and the crew are lead further to the floating survivors' colony of Monroe, which may just be harboring the person responsible for the carnage.
Episode One releases on the 23rd of February on PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC and Mac, with the iOS and Android versions releasing on the 25th of February. Episodes two and three will launch in March and April, respectively. The three episodes will be available to purchase for $14.99/â‚¬14.99, with a price for each individual episode yet to be revealed.


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X-Dumpsters owner Steven Hedrick rents roll-away dumpsters to people, but now his city forces residents to contract with the county.
"Government in general does a lot of things that aren't necessary," says Jared Polis.
Why the businessman launched a long shot campaign for the presidency.
Excessive government interference in the market hurts consumers and thwarts policy goals. It also gets in the way of the government itself.
The higher taxes on small businesses and entrepreneurs could slow growth. Less opportunity means more tribalism and division.
Politicians say they want to subsidize various industries, but they sabotage themselves by weighing the policies down with rules that have nothing to do with the plans.
But partisans are having the wrong debate.
Compliance could prove impossibly expensive for independent food sellers.
Wherever markets are free, new wealth gets created. Then almost everyone wins.
Without a tenable visa pathway, immigrant entrepreneurs will look to greener pastures—and the American economy will be worse for it.
It would signal that the transportation future involves decentralization and rapid change rather than Washington-style command-and-control.
Limited resources create enormous vulnerability.
Though the American economy still looks bleak, there are silver linings.
Detroit leaders throw around words like "fairness" and "equity" while shielding big restaurants from smaller competition.
"The quality of life we have even during COVID is so much higher than anything humanity experienced, and it's only going to get better."
A bill signed into law this month in Illinois and one awaiting governor approval in New Hampshire would let kids sell non-alcoholic beverages outside their homes.
From SpaceX and Tesla to Uber and Lyft, many of the most successful companies thrived without the government's stamp of approval.
Even a critic who doesn’t love singing or dancing succumbed to its charms.
Regulators haven't kept up with the times when it comes to the changing nature of ventures into space.
Plus: Replacing cops with health care workers saves lives, tech policy advice for President Biden, and more...
There's a silver lining to partisan demagogues taking up peaceful entrepreneurship.
Alex Winter's new film celebrates the Rock Hall of Famer's individualism, anti-authoritarianism, and entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs discouraged by red tape even before COVID-19 need officials to leave them alone.
In a year that will be remembered for a deadly pandemic that shut down parts of the economy and cost millions of people their jobs, here's one silver lining.
A government survey finds that prepping for hard times can have wide benefits.
Cheese shop owner Jill Erber on why she's keeping her store open to take care of her customers and her community
GOP attacks on internet smut are heating up, but the porn industry has more practical threats to worry about.
At This Year's Vegas Porn Expo, Everything People Think They Know About the Internet and Adult Entertainment Is Wrong
The internet has turned adult performers into media entrepreneurs.
"There was a time when the majority of people on Earth were illiterate and starving, and capitalism changed all of that."
Dump intrusive trade policies to give a real boost to consumers and entrepreneurs.
Licensing reform efforts cross partisan barriers. Unfortunately, so do efforts to cripple opportunity and prosperity.
People are happier, healthier, and wealthier because freer markets have opened the floodgates of innovation, research, and development.
The Cobb County Police Department then blamed Corey J's aunt for escalating the confrontation.
High tobacco taxes neither raise revenue nor discourage smoking.
Josephine, in the Bay Area, linked aspiring food entrepreneurs with hungry neighbors.


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Following a study on overdraft fees The Pew Charitable Trusts are encouraging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to consider limits for customers. About 84% of the largest banks allow consumers to overdraw their accounts when they lack sufficient funds to cover a transaction. The CFPB found that the median transaction amount of purchases that…
CardFlash News Briefs: CFSI (study); XPRESSBUY (Visa); ACI (TransferWise); and INTELLICHECK (deal).
A new survey shows the average fee for using an out-of-network ATM rose four percent over the past year to a record $4.52 per transaction.The average overdraft fee also set a new record ($33.07) and is up nine percent since 2010.
CardWeb.com’s CardPixes database of more than 7,000 images today features the Wells Fargo Cash Back College Visa Card.
With a highly banked population and a reputation around the world for being fiscally responsible, a new survey reveals that many Canadian consumers face challenges with the current ways they manage their finances, budget and pay for goods. As a result, Canadians from coast to coast are considering new financial tools to help them solve these problems and take control of their financial lives.
CardWeb.com’s CardPixes database of more than 7,000 images today features the Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Visa card.
Almost 56% of millennials would switch from their current bank for an account that did not automatically pay overdraft items for a fee. Also, while online banking is the preferred money management channel for all segments analyzed, millennials are three times as likely to report that mobile is their preferred channel.
Wirecard has inked CIMB Bank Singapore with a partnership agreement to offer a complete merchant solution to businesses in Singapore leveraging their respective core expertness.
U.S. Bank has inked deal with the American Red Cross’ to be the sole prepaid card provider offering Red Cross staff and clients safe access to emergency money with the U.S. Bank Prepaid Debit MasterCard Disaster Relief Client Assistance and Mission cards.
The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA) and NetSpend urged the CFPB to show restraint in its final rule and avoid imposing overly broad restrictions on prepaid accounts, which could destroy the market.
JetPay has added Ingo Money as a new and convenient funding method to its Money Access Card Prepaid Visa. Currently introduced in a limited geographic region in the mid-Atlantic states, MAC will soon be available nationwide.
Green Dot Corporation (GDOT) supports the CFPB’s newly released prepaid debit card Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Green Dot’s Founder testified yesterday at the CFPB field hearing on the topic and believes that its business will not be materially impacted by the CFPB’s newly proposed rules. Furthermore, Green Dot fully supports the proposed rules that mandate “Regulation E” consumer protections for lost or stolen funds and disputed transactions, including the providing of provisional credits to consumers, and the CFPB’s proposed rulemaking dealing with the new framework for overdraft programs attached to prepaid cards.


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BTSO continues to bring its members together with the most important fairs in their sectors within the scope of Global Fair Agency Project. The members of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited MICAM Fair held in Milan, Italy and kn
Bursa as Turkey's gateway to the world, continues to search for new and alternative markets and under the leadership of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry at full steam. Following the negotiations in Sao Paulo which is located 11.000 ki
BTSO continue to gather its members with foreign markets from all corners of the world. Under the guidance of the BTSO, a delegation of almost 80 went to Sao Paulo, the industrial city of Brazil with the export-oriented development objectiv
Delegation of 45 business people in construction sector examined recent sectoral developments closely in Swissbau 2018 organized in Basel, Switzerland Within the scope of Global Fair Agency Project carried out by Bursa Chamber of Commerce a
Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry carrying on its works in line with export-based development objectives of Turkey, went to Germany as the first business trip of the year within the scope of Global Fair Agency Project. The BTSO delegat
Junioshow fair will open its doors on January 10, 2018 and will boost baby-kids ready wear sector. It is expected that almost 1000 business world representatives from 50 countries will attend to the fair to be carried out under the guidance
The restoration of Uludağ Lifelong Learning Centre (UYEM) project which will make the Kirazlıyayla Sanatorium Building, one of the important cultural assets of Uludağ, one of the most prestigious educational bases in the business world, sta
Mr. Mehmet Ali Erkan; General Director of Turkish Trade Centre in Iran, hosted business World representatives in textile and baby-kids wear sectors and mentioned that Chinese products have lost its effect on Iranian markets in recent years.
BTSO MADE HISTORY AT THE LAST FAIR OF THE YEAR Bursa Industrial Summit which gathered 4 different fairs under a single roof came to an end. The Summit carried out by Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) gathering almost 1.200 business World representatives from 60 different countries across six continents, has strengthened not only sectoral export target but also tourism and business life in the city.
BURSA BUSINESS WORLD IN THE FAR EAST FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CONNECTIONS Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues to provide new market opportunities for its members within the scope of Global Fair Agency Project. BTSO that has carried out more than 130 fair organizations so far in line with its export-oriented development targets, took the representatives of Bursa business world to Thailand.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING SUPPORT FROM BUTGEM FOR BOSNIAN YOUTH Bursa Design and Technology Development Centre carried on business within the scope of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, started to provide vocational training for the students who came from Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the existing project carried out with the cooperation of United Nations Development Programme.
COMMERCIAL SAFARI PROJECT DOPING TO THE INDUSTRY SUMMIT The Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) will execute a new procurement delegation organization at the Industry Summit to be held from November 30th to December 3rd. Almost 600 foreign business professionals from 60 countries will meet with sector representatives of Bursa within the scope of Ur-Ge projects in the sectors of machinery, aerospace and defense, composite and railway systems.


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European business school are now accepting payment in Bitcoins
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Business School (IEBS) in Spain is now accepting Bitcoin as payment for tuition fees. Covering its online master’s and postgraduate courses, the school will now be able to offer a fixed rate to its wide array of international students without having to worry about international exchange rates. “Cryptocurrencies are a fundamental part of the school’s strategy to change the means of payment and offer alternatives to currency exchange,” said Óscar Fuente, CEO of IEBS. IEBS’s decision reflects the fact that, despite the dramatic fluctuations in value that have come to characterize Bitcoin, the (in)famous cryptocurrency is having a profound effect on the business school world. Berlin’s European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) was the first German university to accept payment for tuition fees using Bitcoin. ESMT cite the digital currency’s immediacy and ease of transfer as a reason for their choice, as Bitcoin transactions are typically cleared in around 10 minutes, compared to potentially weeks or months for credit card payments.