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Resident Evil 3 is off to a strong start, though not as strong as Resident Evil 2.
Today, Capcom announced that its latest Resident Evil REmake sold over two million copies in its first five days. Those are great numbers for Jill and Carlos’ action-oriented outing. But, Capcom’s latest has sold one million fewer copies than Resident Evil 2 had by the same milestone.
Resident Evil 3 sales good, but down
Resident Evil 3‘s momentum has likely been hurt by a few factors.
For one, the remake has polarized critics. IGN awarded the game a 9, GameSpot damned it with the faint praise of a 6, and our own Callum Williams gave it a 3.5 out of 5. I enjoyed the game tremendously and would be closest to IGN’s score, but there’s no denying that Resident Evil 3 wasn’t met with the universal acclaim Resident Evil 2 received last year.
Secondly, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis had a complicated effect on video game sales. The pandemic has increased video game sales as a whole, with consumers turning to video games for entertainment while they’re stuck inside.
It has almost certainly depressed physical sales. In today’s press release, Capcom stated that roughly half of Resident Evil 3’s revenue has come from digital sales. The game would likely have boasted a better physical haul if players could legally go to a GameStop.
Those caveats aside, Resident Evil 3 has done undeniably well for Capcom. So well, it seems, that the publisher is attempting to do the impossible. Though at this point it’s only been reported by VGC — who recently broke the news that a cavalcade of Mario remasters are rumoured to be in the works at Nintendo — it’s heavily rumoured that Capcom has plans to remaster Resident Evil 4 for a 2021 release.
It will be difficult to improve on a game that many consider perfect. But, on the other hand, Resident Evil 4 provides a much stronger foundation than Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
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One of the UK’s leading commercial vehicle bodybuilders has taken another major step forward after completing the acquisition of a specialist supplier to the drinks industry.
At a stroke, Bevan Group’s buy out of PG Reeves gives it a major foothold in a market segment it had not previously served to any significant extent.
With headquarters in Halesowen, West Midlands, Bevan Group builds dry freight box and curtainside bodies for some of the biggest names on Britain’s roads.
PG Reeves was based at nearby Balsall Heath, Birmingham, where it manufactured truck bodies, many of them specially designed to offer fast access during multi-drop operations, for the likes of Coca-Cola, Matthew Clark and Dayla Drinks, as well as many independent breweries.
Bevan Group has paid an undisclosed sum for PG Reeves’ plant and machinery, as well as its order book. Key to the deal was its recruitment of former Managing Director Martyn Reeves, along with a dozen of his former colleagues.
Bevan Group Managing Director Anthony Bevan explains: “Martyn’s agreement to join our team in the new role of Director for Business Development was of paramount importance – without him, we would not have gone ahead.
“The PG Reeves brand was well known and respected within commercial vehicle bodybuilding circles, and after 34 years in the industry Martyn brings unrivalled expertise and customer contacts to our company. He is going to be a great asset.”
Turnover within some divisions of the fast-growing Bevan Group is on target to double within the next 18 months and Mr Bevan confidently predicts that overall sales will increase by 25 per cent as a result of its acquisition of PG Reeves.
He continues: ”We had identified the drinks sector as one that offered significant potential for growth. Now, with Martyn working to expand his already impressive customer base, we look forward to exploiting that potential.”
Martyn Reeves adds: “We had reached the stage where we couldn’t take PG Reeves any further without substantial investment which, in the current climate, with funding in short supply and consequently expensive, was not a viable proposition.
“I was therefore delighted when Anthony approached me with the suggestion that I amalgamate my business into his. Bevan Group is a highly successful company that’s clearly going places and I’m certainly looking forward to the journey.”
Bevan Group’s move for PG Reeves represents the latest in a series of acquisitions of former competitors or suppliers, and the company remains open to further expansion opportunities wherever and whenever these arise.
In addition to building top-quality standard bodies in high volumes, Bevan Group also offers specialist bodybuilding and vehicle finishing services, and back-up from the industry’s most comprehensive aftercare team, who service and maintain ancillaries such as tail-lifts as well as bodies. Another recent addition to the Bevan portfolio is a vehicle graphics division, which offers a full livery design and application service.
“We aim, as far as possible, to provide our customers with a ‘one stop shop’ service,” concludes Anthony Bevan.

domain: news


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Evolution Bureau isn't the sort of agency you hire to "gin up" a catchy message and push it out to the masses. Instead, it's the kind of agency that "develops tools, content, and social currency that inspires consumers to take your [brand's] message further."
But if that sounds like meaningless hype, it's not. Just ask Altoids, which commissioned this branded video that feels closer to a Lonely Island sketch than a marketing message.
But the "Altoids Curiously Strong" video doesn't end with a funny YouTube splash. Instead, a Facebook app allows users to get in on the fun and award friends with their own curiously strong awards, courtesy of the brand.
Taking a campaign that extra step seems to be a specialty for Evolution Bureau, which created "Mob the Rainbow" for Skittles. The campaign leveraged the brand's existing Facebook fans, but it took the idea of fandom one step further by encouraging the Skittles community to take collective action in the real world by asking users to send a Valentine to an unsuspecting parking enforcement officer in San Francisco. More than 45,000 brand advocates took Skittles up on the challenge.
Mob Case Study from Daniel Stein on Vimeo.
To help Nike promote its Zoom Kobe VI shoe around the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, Evolution Bureau created a digital rendering of the area outside of Los Angeles' famous Staples Center that allowed users to claim a physical space with a customized poster that featured them and Lakers' star Kobe Bryant. The area, dubbed "Town of Los Fearless," broke out of its digital confines during All-Star weekend when Nike projected user-created posters onto buildings around the "real" Los Angeles.
Evolution Bureau is based in San Francisco. It has worked with brands ranging from Pepsi to Toyota.


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Market research agency IDC said smartphone shipments in 2014 will grow 19.3 percent year-over-year to 1.2 billion from 1 billion in 2013.
The double digit growth in smartphone shipment is despite main vendors — Samsung, Nokia, Sony, LG, BlackBerry, HTC, Huawei, ZTE, etc. announcing several premium, mid-priced and low-end smartphones at the Mobile World Congress 2014 at Barcelona, Spain.
While Samsung focused on Samsung S5, its premium phone, BlackBerry said it will launch $200 smartphone for Indonesia. Sony added Xperia Z2 smartphone and tablets.
LG announced its 4G phone, Huawei brought in premium smartphone. Some of these vendors also focused on smart wearables to boost revenue streams.
Future growth is going to face slow down, says IDC. Worldwide smartphone shipments growth will be 8.3 percent in 2017 and 6.2 percent in 2018.
Annual smartphone volume in 2013 surpassed 1 billion units for the first time, accounting for 39.2 percent growth over 2012.
In the coming year, IDC expects mature markets like North America and Europe to drop to single digits, and Japan might contract slightly. Despite the high growth expected in many emerging markets, 2014 will mark the year smartphone growth drops more significantly than ever before.
“In North America we see more than 200 million smartphones in active use, not to mention the number of feature phones still being used,” said Ryan Reith, program director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
IDC predicts that 2014 will be an enormous transition year for the smartphone market.
Worldwide smartphone average selling price (ASP) was $335 in 2013, and is expected to drop to $260 by 2018.
Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team, said: “Last year we saw a total of 322.5 million smartphone units ship for under $150 and that number will continue to grow going forward. We’ve already seen numerous smartphone announcements targeting this priceband this year, with some as low as $25.”
“Just as the dynamics have changed for overall smartphone growth, so have the dynamics for smartphone pricing in the markets where continued growth is expected. Not all vendors will want to get into this space, but those that do must make deliberate choices about their strategies in order to succeed,” Llamas added.
Indian smartphone market
Meanwhile, CMR today said India recorded 247.2 million mobile handset shipments in 2013. During the same period, 41.1 million smartphones were shipped in the country.
65.8 percent of the total smartphones shipped in the country were 3G smartphones in 2013.
Nearly 70 vendors operated in the India smartphones market in 2013. Brands like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Sony, HTC, LG and Blackberry captured close to 53 percent of the total smartphones market, followed by India brands with 43 percent.
Pix source: WSJ


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What will your New Year’s resolution be?
Turns out that not a lot of people are resolving to lose weight for 2013. A new survey says that 23% of workers will be looking for a new job, and a small percentage of workers are looking to get their boss ousted! About a third of those surveyed said their resolution is to work hard and get a raise.
Our Food for Thought question: What’s your New Year’s resolution?


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Flipkart clears $15B stake sale to Walmart
Flipkart clears $15B stake sale to Walmart. Seeing regulatory risk in a deal with Amazon, India's Flipkart has approved a 75% equity stake sale in the company to a group led by Walmart, Bloomberg reports. Closing of the approximately $15B deal is expected within 10 days. SoftBank will sell its 20%+ stake as part of the transaction, while Alphabet is likely to participate in the investment.
That would seal a Walmart triumph over Amazon.com., which has been trying to take control of Flipkart with a competing offer. If completed, the deal will give Walmart a leading position in the growing market of 1.3B people and a chance to rebuild its reputation online. Read more here.
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11:00 AM New York – Market index in New York traded higher and the S&P 500 and the Dow flirted with new highs. Weekly initial claims of unemployment declined 42,000 at the end of last week and import prices declined in March. Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Intel declined after personal computer sales slumped.
U.S. market indexes traded higher and the broad S&P 500 index traded at a new high after the initial claims for unemployment fell more than expected last week.
The S&P 500 index increased 0.27% or 4.21 to 1,591.94 and the Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.03% or 0.87 to 3,298.12.
Fed minute of meetings indicated policy members debating the end of monthly purchase of $85 billion in Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Initial Weekly Jobless Claims Decline
Initial claims for state benefits declined 42,000 to a seasonally adjusted 346,000 at the end of last week, according to the data released by the Labor Department.
Data for the previous week was revised higher by 3,000 more applications.
Seasonal factors are still affecting total claims across the nation with the Easter holiday and school spring breaks. The claims data are expected to be volatile for at least two more weeks.
The 4-week moving average increased 3,000 to 358,000 and despite the slight increase in claims economists are still estimating economy to generate close to 150,000 jobs a month.
Import prices fell 0.5% in March on the weakness in petroleum prices, according to the separate released by the Labor Department.
In European trading, market indexes gained fraction across the euro zone.
In London trading, FTSE 100 index added 0.2% or 15.9 to 6,403 and in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 0.4% to 29.8 to 7,840. In Paris, CAC 40 index gained 0.6% or 21.6 to 3,765.
Axa SA gained 1% after the Paris based insurer agreed to sell its U.S. based Protective Life Corp for $1.06 billion.
Marks & Spencer, the U.K. based food and apparel retailer reported better than expected quarterly sales.
Evraz plunged 10% after the Russia based steel maker reported a quarterly loss and board of directors did not announce a final dividend. The steelmaker dropped the most since it began trading in London in November 2011.
In Asian markets, stocks traded higher and the Nikkei in Japan closed at 5-year high as the yen inched closer to 100 mark against the dollar.
The Nikkei for the year has surged 30% on top of 23.4% increase in 2011 after the Bank of Japan announced a plan to spend $1.4 trillion in the next two years to break economy from the decade of slump.
Stocks in Review
Tech stocks and PC related companies declined after market research firm IDC said global shipments of personal computers plunged 13.9% in the first quarter.


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Bape to Release iPhone 8 and iPhone X Cases
With the recent launch of Apple's iPhone 8 and the upcoming iPhone X release, Japanese streetwear brand Bape taps into the phone accessory game today by unveiling five upcoming phone cases for the latest Apple smartphone and the next generation of the iPhone.
The all-new phone cases from A Bathing Ape will feature several iconic images and graphic designs from the brand that have been made famous through their garments. With graphics including Bape’s signature shark head hoodies and the Ape heads, the collection of phone cases will offer a variety of styles and colorways for all Bape fans. Each case will release on a black surface, the cases also include the phrases “A BATHING APE TYPE 93.17” and “WORLD GONE MAD” on the bottom of each phone case.
Releasing later this week, the Bape iPhone 8 and iPhone X Apple cases will be available at Bape flagship stores worldwide.
In related Bape news, the brand recently teamed up with XXL to release a set of limited edition tees honoring the publication's 20th anniversary, which was celebrated in October with 20 XXL covers.
The Top 5 Sneakers Coming Out This Weekend Including Air Jordan 13 GG Bordeaux and More


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Editor’s Note: This is the Paw Print Rewind, a daily recap of the top news headlines.
Lowe’s gains overshadowed by Home Depot
Lowe’s fourth-quarter sales at U.S. stores open for over a year rose a healthy 5.5 percent, with expectations for 2016 sales to rise six percent.
“As good as (Lowe’s) numbers are, comparisons will inevitably be drawn with Home Depot’s much stronger results. This takes the shine off (Lowe’s) figures as it indicates that Home Depot is adding market share at a faster pace that Lowe’s.”
-Hakon Helgesen, Conlumino analyst
Overall, the Mooresville, NC-based company’s same-store sales rose 5.2 percent in the quarter ending Jan. 29.
Lowe’s net earnings plunged to $11 million from $450 million, hurt by a $530 million impairment charge related to leaving a joint venture in Australia.
Excluding items, the company earned $0.59/share.
Net sales rose 5.6 percent to $13.24 billion.
Telescope used on Armstrong’s moon landing finds new galaxies
The Parkes telescope, used to broadcast live vision of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon in 1969, has found 883 new galaxies hidden behind the Milky Way by using an innovative receiver measuring radio waves.
The telescope’s findings were reported in the latest issue of Astronomical Journal.
“Hundreds of new galaxies were discovered, using the same telescope that was used to broadcast the TV pictures from Apollo 11. The electronic technology at the back end is substantially different and that is why we can still keep using these old telescopes.”
-Lister Staveley-Smith, University of Western Australia International Center for Radio Astronomy Research professor
The discoveries occurred as scientists were investigating the region’s close proximity to the Great Attractor, a gravity anomaly in intergalactic space.
According to the study, using radio waves has allowed scientists to see beyond dust and stars in the Milky Way that previously blocked the view of telescopes.
According to Staveley-Smith, scientists have been trying to get to the bottom of the mysterious Great Attractor since major deviations from universal expansion were first discovered in the 1970s and 1980s.
“It’s a missing part of the jigsaw puzzle, which is the structure of our local universe. They have managed to pierce through it and complete the picture of what our part of the universe looks like.”
-Michael Burton, University of New South Wales Physics School professor
Target comp sales show turnaround traction
Target’s comparable sales in higher-margin categories rose by over three times the company average in the quarter ending Jan. 30, with women’s apparel, wearable electronics, and food being the fastest growing.
“Signs that CEO Cornell’s strategic initiatives are gaining traction include: ‘signature’ categories re-accelerating to about six percent growth and traffic rising 1.3 percent.”
-Renato Basanta, Sterne Agee analyst
According to Target finance chief Cathy Smith, apparel sales were helped by better in-store and online presentation and the stocking of trendier styles.
“We believe that Target performed somewhat above the market (in apparel) thanks to its more fashion-savvy shopper demographic and its strong marketing efforts around holiday looks.”
-Neil Saunders, Conlumino CEO
Best Buy forecast misses expectations
Best Buy forecast revenue between $8.25-$8.35 billion and a profit of $0.31-$0.35/share for the first quarter.
The Richfield, MN-based company will buy back up to $1 billion in shares over the next two years, along with a special $0.45/share dividend.
According to company CFO Sharon McCollam, Best Buy expects revenue declines in the first half of the year, followed by second half growth.
“In this context, we are targeting flat domestic (U.S.) revenue for the full year … but recognize that it will be challenging without a strong mobile cycle.”
-Sharon McCollam, Best Buy CFO
Sales at established stores fell 1.7 percent in the first quarter, while sales of computing and mobile devices fell 6.8 percent in the United States. The category accounts for 43 percent of the company’s total U.S. revenue.
The company’s net income fell 7.7 percent to $479 million ($1.40/share) in the quarter that ended Jan. 30.
Excluding items, Best Buy earned $1.53/share from continuing operations.
Revenue fell 4.1 percent to $13.62 billion.
Dynegy, Energy Capital to buy Engie’s U.S. power plants
Dynegy and Energy Capital will buy Engie’s U.S. power plants, as falling demand for electricity in the United States has led to a spike in utility mergers.
The deal gives Dynegy access to the Texas market, which is currently controlled by grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
According to Dynegy, the deal will also boost the Houston-based company’s presence in New England, the mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Midwest.
According to Dynegy, the acquisition would add about 8,731 megawatts to its generation capacity.
Dynegy will invest about $770 million, while Energy Capital will invest about $415 million in the joint venture.
According to Dynegy, the partnership has secured financing with $2.25 billion in committed debt facilities and $1.19 billion in equity commitments. Energy Capital will also buy $150 million of Dynegy stock at $10.94/share, raising its holding in the company to about 15 percent.
Energy Capital will have the right to exit the joint venture four years after the deal closes, either through a sales of its interest to Dynegy or a sale of the entire joint venture.
Hasbro looks to girls for turnaround
Hasbro is turning to Disney princesses and its first animated movie to turnaround a five-quarter slump in its girls’ toy sales.
The Pawtucket, RI-based company has begun selling dolls from Disney movies Frozen and Cinderella after getting the license from Mattel. According to company CEO Brian Goldner, Hasbro will also launch My Little Pony toys throughout the year ahead of its 2017 movie release.
“Getting it on the shelves early allows Hasbro to maximize the window in which it can sell.”
“These products are already on shelves in the U.S. and rolling out internationally. Shipments are now ramping up and early consumer indications are positive.”
-Brian Goldner, Hasbro CEO
Hugo Boss CEO steps down after weak China, U.S. sales
Hugo Boss CEO Claus-Dietrich Lahrs is stepping down after eight years with the German fashion house after weak sales in China and the United States.
According to the Metzingen, Germany-based company, Hugo Boss will start without delay to find a successor to Lahrs, who was leaving with effect of Feb. 29 “upon his request as part of a mutual agreement.”
Laurs joined Boss in 2008.
According to the company, Bernd Hake will take responsibility for sales and retail as a new managing board member starting March 1. Lahrs’ other responsibilities will be taken on by other board members until a successor is found.
McDonald’s launching in Kazakhstan next month
McDonald’s will open its first restaurant in Kazakhstan in March, with another 15 opening afterwards.
According to McDonald’s Russia president Khamzat Khasbulatov, the restaurant will launch in Kazakh capital Astana on March 8 after $3.5 million of franchise project investments.
Halliburton slashing another 5,000 jobs
According to company spokesperson Emily Mir, Halliburton is slashing another 5,000 jobs, or roughly eight percent of its workforce.


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Amazon’s Best Black Friday Week 2019 Deals – Live Updates
Amazon is kicking off its Black Friday offers smartly forward of the particular day. It’s beginning its’ standard Black Friday week of offers the Friday sooner than. Which is November 22. So you’ll already save large on many merchandise on Amazon’s web page.
We’re rounding up the entire highest offers that Amazon has to provide for Black Friday and might be steadily updating this record from now via Black Friday – which if truth be told takes position on November 29. So let’s get began!


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A Canadian web marketplace looks to deliver by drone
September 11, 2015 04:20 PM
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s, um, that package that I ordered online?
Canadian shoppers could be saying that by 2018 if all goes according to plan for Canadian online marketplace Shop.ca. The company has announced a partnership with drone technology firm Drone Delivery Canada with the goal of starting to deliver packages across Canada via unmanned aerial vehicle before the end of this decade.
That is, of course, if all the necessary legislation passes, testing goes well and government approvals are attained. Right now, it’s not legal to deliver packages via drone in Canada, though according to Transport Canada, that could change as soon as 2017.
Tony Di Benedetto, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada, says testing will begin as soon as next year.
“We’re going to be starting in the rural areas and then moving towards urbanized corridors,” he says. “As the solution becomes more perfected, then it’s going to move into the downtown core where there’s greater density, there’s more obstacles.”
Drone Delivery Canada will own and control the drones, which will be housed at Shop.ca’s fulfillment centers across Canada.
Here’s how it’s going to work: Drones will travel from one of Shop.ca’s fulfillment centers to a designated delivery point, be it a rooftop, a porch, even “on a boat in the middle of an ocean or a lake,” Di Benedetto says. The company will use GPS triangulation technology to direct the drone to the waiting consumer’s mobile device.
Once it arrives, the drone won’t touch down, rather it will hover about 20 feet above the customer to whom the package is being delivered.
So how will customers receive their packages?
“The package comes down on a tether,” Di Benedetto explains. “You’re receiving a notice (on your mobile device) that the package is there. Once you see it, you hit confirm, (the drone) takes a picture of you as proof of delivery.” The picture of the recipient is then sent directly to the mobile device to show who accepted the package.
Neither Di Benedetto nor Shop.ca would specify whether there’s going to be an additional cost to have packages delivered by drone. Di Benedetto also refused to specify what the weight limit for packages delivered via drone, only saying “our solution can deliver decent-sized packages. It can’t deliver a sofa.”
Shop.ca’s partnership with Drone Delivery Canada comes months after Amazon.com Inc., No. 1 in the Internet Retailer 2015 Top 500 Guide, began testing its own drone delivery service at a facility in British Columbia for its Prime Air service. Amazon has been petitioning the Federal Aviation Administration to begin similar tests in the United States.
Di Benedetto says Shop.ca likely won’t be alone in delivering via drone in Canada by 2018.
“We’ve got partners throughout Canada,” he says, adding those partners will be named in the not-too-distant future. “Retailers, government service-type agencies. It’s a better, more efficient way of having products delivered just in time.”


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Do you like the new header image? I thought it was time for a new look.
The tech world is aflutter this week with some big announcements just before the summer. After a hot start to the short week here in New York, things are cooling off to become a bit more like the Spring we never had and it is expected to stick around for the weekend. Fortunately, I’ve got plenty of soccer festivities and time outside with the US Men’s National team taking on Spain in a friendly, a home game for the New York Red Bulls against Columbus Crew, and a coed league game for me on Sunday. If you haven’t been to a Red Bulls game yet, it is the best value sporting event in the city (though the Mets may now be cheaper). Come join me for a game and I might even buy you a beer. And to this week’s big news in the city…
Roundup Reads for the Week:
•With Groupon’s IPO in the news, talk about coupons is stirring. My company Campus Dibs did a study on the use of coupons and daily deals by college students. Here is a story from the Charleston Post and Courier that included some data from popular online dating site Match.com: Restaurant Coupons Losing Stigma
•Pandora and Groupon have had IPO news this week, but the big question mark is Groupon now that their financial data is out of the bag and being dissected with tweezers under a microscope. Yipit does a pretty good case study that Betabeat picked up: Groupon’s business is decaying in its established markets and if you really need some exciting reading for the weekend, here is the S-1 filing with the SEC
•So here I am blogging or at least aggregating the stories for the week that are worth a read for my friends around the tech scene. However, my company takes priority in all situations. That’s why Square COO and investor Keith Rabois said that us NYC tech blogging founders shouldn’t be: Keith Rabois Says Great Founders Don’t Blog; Bloggy New Yorkers Appalled
•Why we love New York as startup central? Sure the cost of living is high, but we still know where to find $2 PBR’s and now, free Wi-Fi in DUMBO that isn’t in a Starbucks
•For a little foreign news, here is some advice on how not to reward your company’s top earners. Those crazy Germans: German insurance firm organized sex party for salesman
Quote of the Week:
•I just got an Android the other week after being a die hard BlackBerry user, so now I have the Kindle app to read on my commutes. My first book is Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” so here is a line that applies in battle, life, and startups:
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
Biggest event for next week:
•It is Internet Week 2011 here in NYC from June 6-13, however the biggest one-off event of the week will probably be the New York Tech Meetup, which highlights innovation and is the largest Meetup group. Come out and support your scene… If you can get a ticket of course: NYTM.org
Get your interview on:
•This was technically last week, but if you didn’t get to see Charlie Rose interview Ashton Kutcher at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York, here it is. One of his big early investments Airbnb has also been in the news this week due to hotel laws. CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky seems to have it figured out though. Here is Ashton and Charlie’s interview, who says actors can’t be tech investors?


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The U.S. Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team has issued a statement recommending people not use Internet Explorer until Microsoft released a patch to fix a newly found exploit.
... of Windows updates, Instagram indifference, Apple fashion tips and Office porn
Giveaway: Win the Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard!
Microsoft reveals next set of phones to receive Windows 10
Check out our coverage of Windows 10 for the desktop and phones
VisionTek USB Pocket SSD 120GB - Review


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Musclepharm Product Stack Up For Grabs
15 April 2013
Johannesburg (South Africa) - At EFC AFRICA 19 MusclePharm will be offering a huge selection of world class merchandise at massively discounted, EFC AFRICA 19 only prices. In addition, MusclePharm are offering fans an opportunity to win a newly released three product stack.
MP – MuscleGel, MP - Combat Powder 4lbs, and MP - Amino 1 are further proof of why MusclePharm are the world’s leader in sports nutrition. These three products together retail for R 1741.
Guess the low price that this product stack will be on sale for at EFC AFRICA 19, post your prediction on EFC AFRICA’s Facebook Page, and the first to guess correctly will receive the entire stack, free!
EFC AFRICA 19, presented by MusclePharm, takes place at the Carnival City Big Top Arena on 19 April 2013. Broadcast information and full fight card available at efcafrica.com


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The popularity of content marketing has grown dramatically over the last few years. More and more companies are shifting budget away from traditional paid advertising towards inbound marketing.
Content is at the core of a successful inbound funnel. But what makes one company successful at content marketing, where another fails?
HubSpot and Smart Insights joined forces to find out what has been going on in content marketing in Europe. We surveyed 2600+ marketers to discover their common challenges, and plans for 2014. Want to see how stacks up against them?
Get your copy of the report here http://offers.hubspot.com/driving-content-success-in-2014


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The HTC EVO 3D doesn’t officially arrive until Friday but that won’t stop those who pre-ordered from getting their hands on it a day early as shipments will apparently start arriving on door steps today.
That must feel nice for those of you that pre-ordered the phone at Best Buy all the way back on May 2nd and have been waiting for the phone ever since.
Sprint’s latest powerhouse of an Android phone was easy to put into our top five Android phones for June and we’re pretty sure it’s going to please the many, many Sprint customers out there that ordered it. For those of you that didn’t pre-order, you’ll be able to get your hands on the latest EVO device starting June 24th when it hits shelves across the United States.
And to recap for the last time, the EVO 3D packs a 4.3-inch S-LCD display with qHD resolution (540 x 960), 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, dual 5MP rear cameras with 720p video capture for both 2D and 3D, 1.3MP front facing camera, 4GB of on board storage, Bluetooth 3.0, HDMI, DLNA, 1730 mAh battery, and last but not least, 1GB of RAM.
Anyone see their phone show up today? If so, how are you liking it?
Via: Android Central
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Best of CES 2019: 15 Things You’ll Want to Buy This Year
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Fans of Pokemon will be pleased to hear that Nintendo has announced Pokeland. The game will be heading to both Android and iOS mobile devices soon. In fact, the first alpha is scheduled to start soon in Japan.
The Next Web calls the game a “fusion between Pokemon Go and Rumble”. Players collect and train Pokemon as well as battle other players in special duels.
Players will need an internet connection to play along with a Nintendo account.
An Android-only alpha test is set to start today, but it is limited to the first 10k players to sign up. This phase will include six islands, 52 stages, 15 levels and 134 Pokemon. All data will be wiped before the game launch, however. Alpha testing will run through June 9th.
At this time, there is no word on a Western release, though given the success of Pokemon Go around the world, it is likely to be headed this way too.
If you can read Japanese, you can head to the official site.


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U.S. government believes quantum computing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things pose an “emerging threat” to its national security.
Finger vein payments technology is to be introduced campus-wide at Copenhangen Business School by Nordic payments processor Nets and UK biometrics company Sthaler.
Google and Microsoft researchers have recently called for regulation of “oppressive” facial recognition technology.
What if we wake up one day and find that all the paper money that we are familiar with has disappeared?
BlockShow Asia 2018 will be taking place as a part of the Asia Blockchain Week between November 27 - December 1 at the Marina Bays Sands Hotel.
Our industry meetup gathered industry leaders to share their insights on automation and AI, fraud and risk and how to get the most out of your data.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to transform the nature of work and the collaboration among human beings and machines in organisations.
There is a new kid in town: online automated investment platforms, or “Robo Advisors” as they are better known, which allows clients to manage their own investments.


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MakerVerse – the one-stop-shop platform for advanced on-demand manufacturing services – collaborates with ZEISS to deliver industrial-grade quality via the MakerVerse platform.
MakerVerse and ZEISS accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies through a multi-tier quality assurance process that meets the entire spectrum of requirements from prototyping towards end use parts
MakerVerse customers benefit from end-to-end industrial grade quality solutions building on MakerVerse’s premium additive manufacturing supply chains and ZEISS´ state-of-the-art metrology solutions, leading expertise in metrology and ZEISS Quality Excellence Centers as a global partner for cutting-edge support.
July 4, 2022, Berlin – Today, ZEISS and MakerVerse announced their commitment to a collaboration that assures the delivery of industrial grade quality components to customers of the MakerVerse ondemand manufacturing platform. With this joint approach, MakerVerse builds on ZEISS’ expertise as world leader in industrial quality solutions and enabler of powder to high performance applications to execute its “one-stop shop at industrial-grade quality” strategy.
MakerVerse’s ambition is to be a key driver for the adoption of industrial grade quality additive manufacturing parts by building on three core quality levers.
Built-in Quality: MakerVerse fully commits to its audited, premium, EU-only supply chains, material data sheets and delivery specifications to adhere to its strict quality standards. Also, the platform builds on 100+ years of expertise in additive manufacturing by its application engineering team.
Assured Quality: By collaborating with ZEISS, MakerVerse expands its quality assurance capabilities among others via dimensional, surface quality and internal defect and structural inspection.
Controlled Quality: The ZEISS collaboration further allows MakerVerse to conduct process quality control services for end use parts via production-parallel assessment of proprietary test specimens
Dr. Markus Seibold, CEO of MakerVerse states “We are proud to join forces with ZEISS to deliver industrial grade quality parts to our customers. Leveraging the ZEISS leading metrology solutions to quantify and manage (process) quality is a huge step to establish a new benchmark for quality in distributed additive manufacturing supply chains.”
Dr. Claus Hermannstaedter, Head of Additive Manufacturing Technology at ZEISS Industrial Quality and Research, adds “we are excited to contribute to making the full breadth and depth of offering available to MakerVerse‘s customers. This collaboration will help drive innovation in consumer and industrial products and processes and will further accelerate accessibility of high-quality additive manufacturing for a broad range of users with an increasing number of applications.”


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The Port of Cork’s new €86m container terminal in Ringaskiddy is already too small and will need to be expanded in the future to meet the increased demand for goods and services due to population growth, the port company’s CEO Eoin McGettigan has said.
However, delays in progressing the M28 motorway to Ringaskiddy were hampering expansion plans and would delay the departure of the port company from the Tivoli docks which is planned to be redeveloped to accommodate 3,000 residential, office and retail units.
Eoin McGettigan, CEO, of Port of Cork said the facility will not reach capacity until the M28 motorway to Ringaskiddy is completed.
Completed and opened for container traffic this year the Cork Container Terminal (CCT) and is expected to handle 120,000 containers in its first year of operation. However, speaking at the Cork Chamber’s Business Breakfast event yesterday Mr McGettigan said the facility took three years to build and 14 years to plan which meant they were already planning to expand it further.
“The terminal that was just built and opened is already too small,” he said. “We need to spend about another €50m in different types of cargo handling equipment to get this up to capacity. But we also can’t get the capacity because the motorway to it is not built yet.”
“It is so important because this motorway will allow us to move out of Tivoli. And moving out of Tivoli to allow, simply be redeveloped for compact living and there is enough space to house 3,000 housing units and offices and retail. But we can’t leave. We are locked in there until the motorway is built.”
The Port of Cork chief said the delays in planning infrastructure needed to be resolved. “If I did have a magic wand I would change the planning system. The democratisation of planning has gone too far. I know why did it but it’s gone too far,” he said.
“The fact that it takes 14 years to build critical infrastructure by a company that’s owned by the government is crazy. There are flood relief plans in place for Cork City and traders on South Mall and Princes Street face floods. The budget is there to do it. If I could make one change it would be that.”
Looking to the short and medium turn, Mr McGettigan said they are beginning to see a softening in demand across their business as inflation impact consumer demand for products.
“Earlier this year, we were surprised at how busy we were. The imports and exports were both growing. As the year has moved on, imports have dropped due to softening consumer demand in Ireland.
Exports have held their ground but are beginning to soften now.
“Anybody who owns warehouses in Ireland right now is making a lot of money because the ‘just in time (JIT)’ stock management model has changed out to JIC ‘just in case’ and people are stockpiling everywhere. Sheds are full and we are seeing that.
“When we talk with our customers, next year is going to be flat. I believe they are overegging it. I think it will be a rocky year in terms of consumer demand. We in the port will be lucky to do the same revenue next year as we did this year.”
“Ports are a pretty resilient business but I would be concerned that we as a country don’t overspend as we have done in the past. And I think these tax windfalls that we have should be rainy-day funding.”
Alan Healy © Irish Examiner 2022


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Ninkasi Brewing is getting set to make its full time debut on the east coast.
Starting in late September, the brewery’s beers – including Total Domination IPA and Oatis Oatmeal Stout – will be available throughout New York via a partnership with the Sheehan Family distributor network, comprised of Craft Beer Guild of New York, Union Beer Distributors, T.J. Sheehan Distributing, and Tri-Valley Beverage.
The company already sells beer in 10 states and in western Canada, but has yet to develop a strong presence in the east. In July, the company expanded to Texas, where it currently has a limited footprint. Brewery founder Nikos Ridge has a tie to the Big Apple, however, as an alumnus of New York University. He said he sees “tremendous opportunity” for growth in the state.
“I am excited to bring our beers to the growing number of passionate craft beer drinkers on the east coast,” said Ridge.
The company began sending one-off shipments to New York City last May, but will expand throughout the state, its eleventh, next month. Ninkasi may also look to expand in other east coast markets, a company spokeswoman told Brewbound. Communications director Ali AAsum said Ninkasi is already “looking into the possibility of additional East Coast cities” coming online this year.
It’s been a relatively busy year for the brewery on the distribution expansion front. In addition to launching in Texas, and now New York, the brewery tapped General Distributing Company of Salt Lake City for coverage throughout Utah back in February. In January, Ninkasi also realigned its wholesale network, leaving a pair of wholesalers owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev for two independent distributors.
Ninkasi, which last year opened a second brewery capable of producing 250,000 barrels annually, sold 95,700 barrels of beer in 2014. Currently ranked as the nation’s 36th largest craft brewery, Ninkasi plans to sell upwards of 110,000 barrels in 2015, AAsum said.


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4 min to read
In the vibrant landscape of financial services, Fintech Startups have emerged as key players, integrating the agility of tech entrepreneurship with the solidity of financial sectors. This wave of digital disruption brought about by Fintech service solutions has revealed an array of opportunities and challenges for startups.
The primary opportunity lies in the fact that Fintech software solutions have democratized financial services. Today's startups can leverage the power of the web and mobile app development for a fintech to offer customers a seamless experience that traditional banking can't provide.
Fintech has also enabled startups to tap into previously unreachable markets, facilitated by digital payment services. There is a wide customer base that is underbanked or unbanked and fintech startups can tailor their services to cater to this audience. Another opportunity is the constant innovation in the fintech space, be it in AI, machine learning, blockchain, or data analytics, which startups can harness to continually enhance their services.
While opportunities abound, fintech startups also face significant challenges. First among these is Fintech security. Given the sensitive nature of financial data, ensuring robust security is crucial. From protecting against data breaches to complying with data privacy regulations, startups have to invest heavily in securing their platforms.
Additionally, gaining customer trust can be a tough hurdle for fintech startups. Traditional banks have established reputations, and the task of convincing customers to trust a new player with their finances is a significant challenge.
Moreover, the regulatory environment of financial services is complex and constantly changing. Navigating through these regulations, ensuring compliance, and keeping up with changes can be difficult for startups that lack the necessary resources.
Lastly, startups need to deal with the intense competition in the fintech space. The market is flooded with innovators and it takes a truly disruptive solution to stand out.
The fintech revolution has thrown open the doors to a world of opportunities for startups, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Success in this space requires a fine balance of leveraging opportunities while effectively managing challenges. Startups need to maintain a robust security framework, win the trust of customers, navigate regulatory landscapes, and outshine competitors. For those that can strike this balance, the rewards can be substantial. The fintech space is ripe for disruption and the startups that can offer innovative, secure, and user-friendly solutions stand to redefine the future of finance.
Feel free to contact us for more insights in financial services app development - https://calendly.com/cookiedev/30-min/


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olkswagen Navarra assumes the leading factory condition of the new PoloAutomotive News
Volkswagen Navarra assumes the leading factory condition of the new Polo.
Volkswagen Navarra will assume the position of factory leader of the new Polo, whose mass production will begin in the coming weeks, while transferring the leadership over the current Polo to the plant that the multinational has in Pune (India), which will continue to manufacture that model .
After eight years as the leading factory of the current Polo, the Navarre plant of Landaben will continue to maintain this condition with the arrival of the new Polo, which, in the opinion of the president of VW Navarra, Emilio Sáenz, confirms the work that has been carried out in This center, and its commitment to quality and teamwork.
In this sense it alludes to the close relationship they maintain with the other plants that produce the Pole, a relationship that will continue to lead, as it has until now.
Thus, according to the company said in a statement, will coordinate with the rest of factories producing the car the training of workers, the launch, production and modifications that may be introduced in the future in the vehicle.
In addition to Volkswagen Navarra, the new Polo will be manufactured in the plants of Anchieta (Brazil), Uitenhage (South Africa) and Shanghai (China).
In these three factories the series production will be after the start in Volkswagen Navarra and will be staggered, first in Brazil, then in South Africa and finally in China.
In this phase of preparation of the new Polo, more than 200 workers from these plants have already visited the Navarra factory, who during their stay in Pamplona have received training in aspects related to the new car. In all, it is expected that in the coming weeks this number will reach 300 people.
The new Polo is to be manufactured with the modular platform MQB27, which allows sharing parts with vehicles of the Volkswagen Group in its segment, such as the Audi A1, SEAT Ibiza and Arona or Skoda Fabia, thus favoring the synergies and competitiveness of the Factory Navarre, they affirm.
EFE – Pamplona – EL DIARIO – 31/05/2017 (Translation Soft)


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The health crisis has impacted a lot of people and businesses across the world, including film festivals. But organizers at one unique event are getting creative to make sure the show still goes on.
The 48 Hour Film Project has been a popular worldwide competition for nearly 20 years. This unique challenge gives filmmakers just 48 hours to complete a short film from start to finish. Cities across the globe, including Seattle, take part.
But with everyone under quarantine, organizers had to change things up this year - so they created the 48 Hour Stuck At Home Challenge, with one major rule: social distancing.
Each week, a new challenge is posted on the Stuck At Home page, and filmmakers are required to shoot everything at home. Cast and crew may only be people from your home or anyone through remote collaboration. The results have been fun - and it's a good way to keep up your skills and try something new.
Filmmakers don't seem too rattled by the new concept, in fact - the challenge has had thousands of submissions. Usually the 48 Hour Film Project has their screenings at a local theater, but this round it's all about the hashtag #StuckAtHome48.
And if you don't consider yourself a Spielberg, don't worry about it. This is open to everyone, and it's truly about having fun.
The Challenge isn't over yet! There are a few more coming up this May: May 1-3rd, and 22nd-24th with additional dates to be determined in the future. More info on these challenges, and the brand new Animation Project, online here.


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Bristol-Myers Squibb will locate a North America Capability Center in Hillsborough County.
The move will bring 579 life sciences jobs to the area, a statement from Gov. Rick Scott said.
The 70,000-square-foot facility will open in January 2014 with approximately 250 employees. Those workers will focus on information technology, marketing services, business and finance services and other functions supporting the company's biopharma business in the United States.
The company plans to add more than 325 additional jobs supporting scientific and technical activities at the site by 2017, the statement said.
The specific location for the facility has not yet been announced, said Rick Homans, CEO and president of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. The company is in the final stages of negotiations for a site, he said.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) evaluated many locations and considered many factors before choosing Florida, Gareth Morgan, senior vice president, said in a statement from the company. He cited Hillsborough County's work force, university presence, the region's business climate, economy and quality of life, as well as availability of necessary logistics and office facilities.
Hillsborough County committed $2.1 million, about $700,000 under Florida's Qualified Targeted Industry program and about $1.4 million from the Quick Action Closing Fund, Homans said. None of the money would be paid out until the jobs are created and then the payments are phased in over the subsequent four years, he said.
Margie Manning is Finance Editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She covers the Money beat.


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Nowadays Technical demonstrations are always fun, they’re a fortune to experience on how new technologies at work for new arrivals to come, and recently Epic revealed their new version of Unreal Engine with a real-time gameplay demo on the PlayStation 5.
Lumen And Nanite
Unreal Engine 5 includes a bunch of next-gen graphical features like dynamic global illumination called, Lumen and virtualized geometry called Nanite.
So we’ve already witnessed real next-gen graphics can look like. However, Unreal Engine 5 seems to finally step it up with some mesmerizing effects running in real-time.
60 FPS A Bigger Target
It is quite natural that quality comprises performance and this is what exactly shown here. Xbox Developers already confirmed the fact that they are not keeping up their word to provide standard 60 FPS in the game.
Games Which Could Get An Upgrade
Most of the Battle Royale Segments are likely to updated with Unreal Engine 5 next year. Likes of Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battleground are on the list to get an upgrade. More games like Borderlands 3, Gears 5, and many more could be updated with Unreal Engine 5.
So the future already arrives with lots of expectations next year as this year regarded as much more of a lockdown and battling with the pandemic. So we hope next year will be much better as for both technical strength in terms of progress at a very large scale.


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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has asked the Government to intervene to stop energy suppliers from finding routes to inflate prices, as small firms continue to struggle with soaring energy bills despite the launch of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS).
In its letter to the Business Secretary Grant Shapps, the UK’s largest business group reveals that eye-watering bills are still landing on small businesses with insufficient discount, after the government energy rebate scheme came into effect, while energy suppliers continue to charge those with newly signed contracts at rates substantially higher than previous period.
There are also examples of small firms asked by energy suppliers for disproportionate upfront payments and told that they could be disconnected from energy if they fall into arrears. While energy suppliers have pledged not to disconnect households that fall into arrears this winter, they have promised no such help for struggling small businesses in the same position who can be cut off within 30 days. Some suppliers even refuse to take on business customers from certain sectors out of fear that they might go under this winter.
“Across the UK, small firms await their energy bills with trepidation as well as hope, in the face of harsh economic challenges which have persisted since 2020,” the letter read.
“However, the implementation of the scheme and apparent lack of communication from suppliers is causing some concerns.”
In September, FSB wrote to Chief Executives of six leading energy suppliers – Centrica, EDF, E.ON, Octopus, Ovo, and Scottish Power – to remind them of their of roles in implementing the EBRS, as well as encouraging them to commit to freeze standing charges for small business customers, not to ask for unreasonable upfront payments and not to disconnect vulnerable small firms.
Only one – Scottish Power – responded, but only with a holding reply. The other five suppliers did not respond at all.
No major supplier has engaged points raised by FSB to protect the small business community, at such a critical time. The small business community has contracted by 10% – 500,000 small firms – over the last two years, and FSB is now concerned that energy providers may be putting many more at risk.
FSB Policy and Advocacy Chair Tina McKenzie said, “The lack of responsiveness from the UK’s big energy suppliers speaks for themselves and matches with what small businesses have been experiencing in the past month.
“While the energy help package is welcomed by small firms, many have come to us puzzled that their bills remain sky-high, confused about how the discounts are being applied and worried about whether they could still stay open by Christmas and need to let their staff go.
“That’s the opposite of what the EBRS is supposed to achieve. We need more transparency and support around the scheme, which is designed to help tens of thousands of small businesses cope with soaring bills and get through this winter.
“The Government should intervene to ensure that energy suppliers refrain from finding routes to inflate rates for contracts. Energy firms should promise not to disconnect struggling small businesses this winter, in line with their commitments to households.
“It’s utterly unacceptable for energy suppliers to ask cash-strapped small firms to cough up a large sum of deposit in advance of having any turnover or profit that can fund their energy use – when the vast majority of small businesses are fighting for survival from a record-high inflation, rising interest rates and an intensifying consumer pessimism. This is basically kicking small firms when they’re down.”
“Energy suppliers need to recognise their roles in ensuring this multi-billion-pound help package serves its purpose and is not exploited at the expense of taxpayers or the livelihoods of the small business community.”


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The Depot in Edmore is hosting a customer appreciation weekend June 14-15 to celebrate the installation of new, state-of-the-art flex-fuel pumps. As part of the event, customers will be able to purchase 85 percent ethanol blends (E-85) for $1 less per gallon than regular gasoline all weekend.
“We’re proud of our new flex-fuel pumps that will allow us to offer a broader range of choices for our customers,” said Tony Maxfield, owner of The Depot. “We installed these pumps because more competition at the pump means better prices for our customers. We’re always looking for ways to provide the best service possible to our local families and businesses and we invite the community to come down to the station this weekend to see our new offerings.”
The Depot replaced all of its standard pumps with flex-fuel pumps that give customers the choice of ethanol blends from 10 percent, which is standard in all gasoline, up to 85 percent. The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and Carbon Green BioEnergy helped finance the pumps with grants aimed at increasing consumer access to higher blends of ethanol.
“Ethanol is produced at Michigan plants, from corn grown by local farmers and sold by locally-owned gas stations like the Depot,” said Bob Chase, senior manager of retail sales at Bennett Pump Company, a leading manufacturer of fuel dispensers located in Spring Lake. “Our company is a vital part of this Michigan industry and we manufacture top of the line flex-fuel pumps at our factory in Spring Lake. Making and selling ethanol is a Michigan process from start to finish, and that means the money that goes into ethanol stays right here in our local economies”
Last year, Michigan State University released a study quantifying the economic impacts of ethanol production for Michigan. The study found the Renewable Fuel Standard, which calls for blending ethanol into transportation fuels, generates $433.3 million dollars in economic activity for Michigan each year and supports hundreds of jobs.
“Using more Michigan-made biofuels is good for our economy and our national security,” said Mitch Miller, CEO of Carbon Green BioEnergy in Lake Odessa. “In 2012, the Renewable Fuel Standard reduced our imports of foreign oil by $44 billion, keeping that money here in the United States instead of sending it overseas. It’s really a question of who you want to support when you fill up at the pump - local producers and businesses, or foreign oil barons.”
The Depot is part of the Yellow Hose program, a network of local gas stations that offer E-85 for a guaranteed $1 less per gallon than gasoline. You can locate all these locations by visiting YellowHose.com.


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Using new technologies, such as additive manufacturing, in the aviation industry should not complicate regulatory oversight.
Former B/E Aerospace division's popularity with customers could sway OEM, however.
Japan's first foray into commercial aviation in decades has endured a string of setbacks.
Aircraft OEM sees a strong flow of demand for freighters over the next 20 years.
Composites specialist Spirit Aerosystems' new production technique aims to maximize a number of advantages.
British engine manufacturer launches R2 Data Labs with the aim of developing new applications.
Understanding how Industry 4.0—including simulation, sensors and virtual reality—will transform aviation manufacturing and product life cycles.
Checks mandated on limited number of affected engines.


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The Federal Government has unveiled a new $4 million body with the sole focus of reducing Australia’s food waste – a critical step towards its target of halving the millions of tonnes of food that ends up in landfill every year by 2030.
Last year, Magnum was the first ice cream brand to use recycled polypropylene plastic in its packaging and now its rolling out over 7 million new tubs and lids for its pints range.
Animals at Sydney Zoo will soon be feeding on surplus fresh food rescued from Woolworths, after the zoo joined Woolworth’s Stock Feed for Farmers program.
According to a Woolworths statement, Sydney Zoo joins over 750 farmers and community groups that access surplus fresh food from the supermarket.
“Last year more than 32,000 tonnes of surplus food no longer suitable for sale or human consumption went to feed animals both on farms and in zoos,” the statement reads.
Woolworths Head of Sustainability Adrian Cullen said Woolworths first diversion priority is working with OzHarvest, Foodbank and Fareshare to feed people that would otherwise go hungry.
“We then work with local farmers and the likes of Sydney Zoo, so that surplus food, which cannot go to hunger relief, is used as feed for animals or for on-farm composting, to help further reduce any food waste,” he said.
Sydney Zoo Managing Director Jake Burgess said Woolworths’ support will allow the zoo to reallocate funds from food to conservation and education work.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is expanding its kerbside collection to include food organics, after receiving $182,000 in funding from the state government.
According to Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, the project, worth over $460,000, has the potential to divert an estimated 4864 tonnes of organic material from landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8241 tonnes.
“This will support Macedon Ranges Shire Council to better divert food and organic waste from landfill, including providing infrastructure to residents such as kitchen caddies, liners and kerbside bins,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“It’s crucial we continue to support projects like these across regional Victoria – they boost jobs, divert more waste from landfill and reduce emissions.”
Managed by statutory authority Sustainability Victoria, the funding comes from the state government’s $26 million Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund, which aims to support infrastructure investment to improve collection and reprocessing.
Previous recipients include the City of Greater Geelong to develop laneway recycling for retail and hospitality outlets, Advanced Circular Polymers to assist the development of Australia’s largest plastic recycling facility and Ararat Rural City Council to consolidate three existing rural facilities.
Australians spent a total of $10.1 billion on food that went to waste in 2019, up from $8.9 billion in 2018.
The Rabobank Food Waste Report, released 26 November, shows Australian are now wasting an average of 13 per cent of their weekly grocery spend, equating to $1026 each year.
Rabobank Australia Head of Client Experience Glenn Wealands said food waste is one of the most significant challenges facing Australia.
“According to the Food Sustainability Index, developed by The Economist’s Intelligence Unit, Australia is the fourth highest food waster in the world,” Mr Wealands said.
“Given the increasing pressure on the planet to provide for a growing population, there is an urgent need for greater action across governments, industry, retailers, and consumers to drive real change.”
According to the report, consumers are the biggest offenders, with household waste making up 34 per cent of food waste nationally.
Primary production represents 31 per cent, with manufacturing contributing 25 per cent.
Mr Wealands said every individual has a role to play in minimising food waste.
“We know from this research that more than three quarters of us care about reducing food waste and are annoyed by it,” Mr Wealands said.
“However, it is alarming that less than three out of 10 of us recognise the impact our food waste has on the environment.”
Wastech Engineering’s Jeff Goodwin explains how the ATRITOR Turbo Separator can help businesses achieve a food waste recovery rate of 99 per cent.
Growing populations and an associated increase in food consumption is accelerating the organic waste problem in Australia and around the world.
As reported by Waste Management Review in June, many Australian businesses are hesitant to engage in the source separation of food waste.
This is due to a limited number of recycling facilities able to process the recovered organics, together with concerns around the ability to recycle packaging.
With the National Packaging Targets are squarely on the waste industry’s agenda, the ability to effectively separate recyclable packaging from its contents is therefore equally important.
Jeff Goodwin, Wastech Engineering’s National Product Manager Projects, says growing issues around food waste generation, paired with rising landfill restrictions and capacity levels, was the driving factor behind a recent addition to Wastech’s product portfolio.
“Working with UK manufacturer ATRITOR, Wastech has added a range of turbo separators for food de-packaging to our product roster,” Jeff says.
“As the exclusive Australian representative for ATRITOR, Wastech can provide customers with a solution offering a typical food waste recovery rate of 99 per cent for both dry and liquid products.”
Jeff says the high recovery rate makes the Turbo Separator ideally suited for use in product destruction units.
The Turbo Separator range comprises four models designed and engineered to efficiently remove a wide range of products from their packaging.
“Wastech’s distribution range includes the TS1260, TS2096, TS3096 and TS42120 models, with a material dependant separation rate ranging from 600 kilograms an hour to 20,000 kilograms an hour,” Jeff says.
According to Jeff, the equipment ideal for separating out-of-date, out-of-specification or mislabelled products.
“Historically, expired and mislabelled food products were consigned to landfill due to the difficulty of extracting organics from packaging,” Jeff says.
“With the ATRITOR Turbo Separator we can begin shifting that practice.”
Jeff says the Turbo Separator is sufficiently flexible and can de-package a range of products and packaging materials including supermarket waste, tin cans, polymer bottles and soft packaging.
“Additionally, the Turbo Separator is equally at home separating gypsum from the backing paper in plasterboard,” Jeff says.
“The recovered gypsum can be used in agriculture or re-used in plasterboard manufacturing, while the recovered paper can be further recycled.”
Jeff says the Turbo Separator also works for blister packs, sachets, pouches, paper bags, aluminium cans, plastic bottles, plastic drums and TetraPak.
“The only unsuitable application is glass containers or bottles, as the glass shatters and the shards will contaminate the organics,” he explains.
The Turbo Separator combines centrifugal forces, self-generated airflow and mechanical processes to remove organic material from packaging.
Jeff says this allows the recovered materials to be recycled or disposed of correctly.
Packaged materials are fed by an infeed conveyor into the separation chamber, where a number of rotating paddles open up the packaging.
The force of the paddles then creates a squeezing effect, which separates packaging from its contents without destroying the packaging.
Depending on the material, the recovered organics can then be used for animal feed, nutrient-rich compost or anaerobic digestion.
Wastech can supply the Turbo Separator as a complete package, with an infeed hopper and conveyor, separation chamber and outfeed conveyors.
The separator is also delivered with a maintenance access platform and control cabinet.
“The Turbo Separator’s rugged and durable construction, coupled with high product separation rates and economy of operation, is an ideal proposition for all de-packaging applications.”
A City of Sydney waste trial will see food scraps from up to 4000 homes diverted from landfill, and used to create green energy and plant fertiliser.
The trial involves separate collection and recycling of food scraps from residential properties in the council area.
Participating households have received a small kitchen caddy to store food scraps, an initial supply of compostable caddy liners and a food scraps bin to be placed on the kerb for pick up.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the trial was an important step in the evolution of waste collection, and a critical component of the city’s waste strategy and action plan, endorsed by council in 2017.
“There have been many advancements in waste separation technology, but the most effective method is when our residents separate the waste themselves at the source,” Ms Moore said.
“Food scraps generally make up one-third of the average red lid bin, so this trial will divert a significant amount of waste from landfill.”
The collected waste will be sent to EarthPower, Australia’s first food waste-to-energy processing facility.
“The scraps will be processed using anaerobic digestion technology, where microorganisms break down biodegradable material in a chamber without oxygen,” Ms Moore said.
“This process produces biogas, which is converted to green electricity and a nutrient-rich sludge that is dried and granulated to produce nutrient rich fertiliser.”
330 houses and 53 inner-city apartment blocks have been selected to take part in the trial.
“If successful, we’ll look at providing this service across the entire council area,” Ms Moore said.
The first-ever cooperative research centre for food waste reduction, the Fight Food Waste CRC, lays out its strategy to reduce product losses across the supply chain. Read more
In addition to developing its own recyclable products and reducing unnecessary packaging, Woolworths is working towards a zero food waste future. Read more
The Victorian Government has announced it will invest $500,000 in the Love Food Hate Waste business pilot program.
The program, originally designed for households, aims to help hospitality businesses reduce the environmental and financial impact of food waste – Victoria’s largest waste stream.
New research from Sustainability Victoria shows Victorian hospitality businesses produce an average of 5.6 tonnes of food waste every year, and 85 per cent of hospitality businesses consider this a significant issue. According to the research, over half this food waste is preventable.
The free three-step program will be available to all hospitality businesses in Victoria, providing practical resources to identify where food waste is occurring and how to make preventative changes.
The launch of the program builds on the Love Food Hate Waste’s ‘Love a List’ challenge, with 1,200 households participating in a program to reduce their household food waste.
The campaign is linked to a successful campaign of the same name developed in the United Kingdom by WRAP UK and delivered in New South Wales by the Environment Protection Authority.


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SoftBank-Swiggy deal gets CCI approval, two days before Zomato IPO
SoftBankis reportedly looking to invest $450 million in the food delivery giant
- The Japanese conglomerate had sought CCI’s approval last month.
- The development comes only two days before
Zomatogoes for an IPO
India’s competition watchdog Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved SoftBank’s request to invest in food delivery giant
According to media reports published earlier in April, SoftBank was looking to invest about $450 million in Swiggy at a valuation of $5 billion. The Japanese conglomerate had sought CCI’s approval last month before making the transactions.
According to an ET report, this round is expected to be an extension of Swiggy’s $800 million round, which witnessed participation from marquee investors Falcon Edge, Amansa Capital, Think Investments, Carmignac and
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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has tapped Anna Magzanyan for the newly created position of vice president of marketing, it was announced today by THR publisher and senior vice president, Lynne Segall.
Magzanyan, who most recently served as vice president of strategic partnerships at Clear Channel Media for iHeartRadio and prior to that at the Los Angeles Times Media Group where she was VP of advertiser and event marketing, will lead a major expansion of brand and marketing initiatives on all platforms for THR. She starts Jan. 22, reporting to Segall.
"Anna's appointment to this newly created position continues to build on THR's tremendous growth since our November 2010 re-launch," said Segall. "Her experience as an innovator and strategic marketer in both national and regional initiatives will help to accelerate the expansion of our consumer advertising business while retaining our #1 leadership position in the entertainment industry. We're thrilled to have Anna on board."
"THR has moved in leaps and bounds over the past two years, doing what had previously been considered the impossible in media," Magzanyan said. "Joining the company just as it's in the midst of redefining entertainment media is a huge career milestone. This will be about leveraging THR's number-one asset -- its seemingly limitless editorial operation -- to drive the brand into new markets with new technology, events, contact points, partnerships and people."
As vp strategic partnerships at Clear Channel for iHeartRadio, Magzanyan was responsible for growing distribution through integrated marketing programs and content-integration deals.
Prior to that, Magzanyan was vp advertiser marketing and events at the Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG), where she presided over a 200 percent increase in alternative revenue streams, including events, integrated advertising strategies and product developments. As one of the youngest vice presidents in the history of the Tribune Company, the media corporation that owns LATMG, Magzanyan, grew new categories of advertising revenue, established and helped implement new revenue and audience generating growth products including the Los Angeles Times Image section, The Envelope, Los Angeles Times Rock/Style, Los Angeles Times' The Taste, Art of Entertaining, Beauty, Health and Wellness events.
She also oversaw the redesign and repositioning of key brand events like the L.A. Times Festival of Books and the L.A. Times Travel Show, and managed the brand's digital marketing initiatives.
Magzanyan spent most of the first decade of her career on the agency side of the business where she oversaw research, media planning and development for key national and international media accounts including Ketel One Vodka, Crystal Cruises and Tourism New Zealand.
The award winning Hollywood Reporter just celebrated its two-year anniversary since relaunch under editorial director Janice Min.
THR.com's traffic is now at 9 million uniques (comScore total universe, November 2012), and an interactive iPad edition was launched last month.
About The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter is the entertainment industry's flagship news media brand. Named Entertainment Publication of the Year and Best Website by the LA Press Club in 2012, THR leads the category in providing breaking news, feature stories and industry analysis to readers of its glossy print edition as well as to 9 million unique monthly visitors online. The entertainment industry's paper of record, THR is widely read among Hollywood's top insiders and influencers, making its print edition cover "prized real estate," according to the New York Times,
The Hollywood Reporter is available online at www.thr.com.
CONTACT: Lisa Dallos, email@example.com, 212-918-2041
SOURCE The Hollywood Reporter


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Presented by Marc Tarpenning, co-Founder of Tesla Motors
Today, Tesla Motors is $30 billion in market cap. Do you know the road its founders took to get here? Perhaps the most asked question is: why did Tesla entered the electric car market just as GM was pulling the plug on their EV1?
The founders of Tesla were determined to “solve a real problem that we cared about” – the oil problem. “If you can reduce the dependency on oil, everything will be better off,” said Tesla co-founder, Marc Tarpenning. Marc was advocating oil independence via a clean tech solution in his presentation to the MIT alumni at the inaugural event of Pioneers in Clean Tech Speaker Series.
“There’s the environmental aspect, political aspect, national security aspect, and there’s the resource depletion aspect. And all of these [problems will be mitigated] if we can get off of oil,” he added.
And how big is this problem? In the US, over 70% of the oil uses are in transportation. And, within transportation, 51% of use is attributed to passenger cars and light trucks.
But building electric cars in the late 90’s to early 2000’s to solve the oil problem was a formidable undertaking. Just ask GM.
If GM pulled the plug on EV1 could be summarized by “there simply weren’t enough [customers] at any given time to make a viable business proposition for GM to pursue long-term,” as their spokesperson, David Barthmus, said to Washington Post on 3/10/2005, what did Tesla founders see that GM had missed? And, what possibly could compel consumers to switch to electric cars when gasoline was practically free (less than $1.50 per gallon)?
Tesla’s early market research confirmed that electric car buyers didn’t care about saving money. Clint Eastwood didn’t buy the Prius because it was cheap. George Schultz drove around his electric car most likely because he wanted to make a statement about not supporting the oil economy, a key interest shared among electric car early adopters. As Marc observed, “it’s about doing the right thing, and projecting your values.”
Watch – either for the first time or again – Marc’s recount of Tesla’s road to success, including: technological research and innovations, product vision, fund raising, step by step in building, fixing, testing, and selling the Roadsters; and, of course, Elon Musk coming on-board to steer the company. Learn from this pioneer how to build a great company from the ground up.


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Photos and text by Kerese Blake-Goss
Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, a largely black and Caribbean-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, was until recently one of the last affordable neighborhoods surrounding Prospect Park. Gentrification is slowly beginning to alter the neighborhood; the arrival of wealthier people from different backgrounds pushed real estate prices up and made PLG, as locals call it, a more expensive place to live. The telltale markers of gentrification are visible all around — changing demographics and an influx of fancy coffee shops, bars and restaurants. In addition, the neighborhood has seen a boom in the construction of luxury apartment buildings.
Among the new businesses on Flatbush Avenue is Tugboat Tea Company, where the cheapest coffee on the menu is $2. Next door, at Coffee Shop, customers can get coffee and a bagel with cream cheese for the same amount.
Sheryl Carty, 61, of Trinidad and Tobago, has lived and owned a business in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens for 30 years. A seamstress by trade, Carty had a store, Nykki’s Boutique on Flatbush Avenue, until 2016, when, she says, her landlord refused to renew her lease and initiated eviction proceedings. She moved her seamstress business to her home. Carty says she is occasionally contacted by developers who want to purchase her house but she has no intention of selling.
Alicia Boyd (right), of the Movement to Protect the People, an anti-gentrification group, urges the Land Use Committee of Community Board 9 to fairly compensate the heirs of the owners of 237 Maple St., now a community garden, when the city Parks Department acquires the property and designates it for public use.
The intersection of Lincoln Road and Flatbush Avenue is an important commercial center in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. The changing nature of the neighborhood is reflected in the people who frequent the shops. Caribbean restaurants, barber shops and hair-braiding salons sit alongside sushi restaurants, fancy bars and coffee shops.
Among the long-established businesses on Flatbush Avenue is Texturas Hair Studio and Barbershop. Errol Maxom, a barber and a Jamaican immigrant, has been in the community for 14 years.
The neighborhood’s rich housing stock has attracted new buyers. These townhouses on Midwood Street, between Flatbush and Bedford avenues, are a part of the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens historic district, given landmark status by the city’s Landmark and Preservation Commission in 1979.
Sunday morning patrons socialize outside Nagle’s Bagels, which opened recently. Nagle’s Bagels has two other shops in gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhoods, Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Cynthia Foulks, an office manager at a nonprofit legal organization, has been living in the neighborhood for 27 years. A single mother, Foulks lives in a rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment with her daughter, Kayla, who attends college out of state. She says she had wanted to find a two-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood but could not find one she could afford. According to online listings, two-bedroom rentals in the neighborhood cost about $2,000 a month.
Along Flatbush Avenue, a number of black-owned, longstanding businesses have closed, while new restaurants, bars and shops catering to new, wealthier residents have opened.


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No doubt bUoyed by The word that The wheel of time A hit out of the gate, Amazon Studios again Reaching into her Worryingly deep Pocket Another genre of show funding: an adaptation Popular Bioware and Electronic arts video games Massive impact.
This news comes courtesy Deadline, Trumpeting the barely-initiated success tucked it into an article of any kind Robert Jordan Series. But it is understandable, both considerations are huge Massive impact Fan base That’s already in place, and that’s true Expansion Its going to be the sixth premiere and Last season: a Massive impact Series Has all the possibilities Amazon Next sci-fi sensation.
It has not yet been set in stone — the trade reports that the streamer “Near an agreement for development [the] Series, “but it bolsters With that some enthusiasts Comments from Amazon Studio Chief Jennifer Salke: “You will see that we continue to invest in all kinds of fantasy genres, we have a genre-centric team at the studio who work tirelessly on those slates with our creative partners, and you can look forward to more. “
There is no word on how we will look to move forward Massive impact– Possibly less than those who will show, direct, write and act in the series.But Salke was a piece of information Lord of the Rings, One of the seasons which is slated Arrive In September 2022. “The whole system is running on that show, it looks absolutely incredible and we can’t wait to launch it to the world. We know our global audience is hungry for advanced fantasy and favorite IP-based shows; We see with that The wheel of time, And Lord of the Rings That will be the focus of our year. ”
What do you think Massive impact News? AHey you Tuning In The wheel of time? As you do According to Amazon Studios, “hungry for advanced fantasy and shows based on favorite IPs”? Noise down!
Wondering where our RSS feed went? You can Here’s a new pick.


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After the Kolkata based company stopped the production of Ambassador cars in 2014, Hindustan Motors sold its iconic brand to French automotive company Peugot for $12 million according to a report but PTI. Back in 2014, the company stopped production of the car citing poor demand and debt. As a result, two companies have signed an agreement that surrenders the brand and related rights associated with the brand.
In an official statement from CK Birla group said, “Hindustan Motors has executed an agreement with Peugeot SA for the sale of the Ambassador brand, including the trademarks. We intend to use the proceeds from the sale in clearing dues of employees, lenders and others.”
Earlier in January, two companies signed an agreement to setup a vehicle and powertrain manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu with an investment exceeding $100 million with a target to produce around 100,000 vehicles per year.
This is not the first time the French company intended to establish itself in India as back in 2001 its deal with another premier brand fell through. As CK Birla group is actively trying to establish itself again in the Indian Market after repeated failures in the recent years, this deal should be welcomed by everyone in the company given that Peugot has already established itself in the automotive industry in the recent years.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons


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MUMBAI: Popular video app MX Player
, available for Android and iOS handsets, has reinvented itself as a content provider on the lines of such services as Amazon Prime and Netflix. On Tuesday, it announced the launch of five original TV shows for India — labelled as “MX Original” series — on its on-demand video platform.
Already, MX Player boasts of over 1,00,000 hours of licensed content from “MX Creators” and partners such as Alt Balaji, TVF
, Arre and SonyLIV
. These shows will be available to viewers for free on its ad-supported platform, and can be watched via a web browser and its smartphone apps.
“As more people move towards consuming content online, we want to create digital-first stories that appeal not only to urban audiences but also much beyond,” MX Player CEO Karan Bedi
“Everytainment is the core of our product... We are exploring various new genres spanning satire, drama, comedy, chat shows, historical sagas, biopics, big-ticket reality shows and more across multiple languages,” he said.
Besides the MX Original series, the OTT service also streams movies, sports content, news shows and music videos that are powered by audio-streaming service Gaana. Apart from Hindi and English, the service offers video content in nine regional languages including Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu.
In 2018, Times Internet
— the digital venture of The Times of India
Group — acquired a majority stake in the South Korean video playback app in a bid to enter the OTT video streaming space in India. Tuesday’s announcement is the latest thrust in that direction.
“India is on the brink of an on-demand entertainment revolution as quality online content is emerging as the most important value proposition to attract new customers,” Times Group
MD Vineet Jain
“MX Player has been empowering talented Indian artists, content producers and independent film studios to produce unparalleled premium content that strikes a chord with discerning viewers. The launch of the platform with five premium MX Originals series, and over 20 planned for the year, along with the addition of free music streaming is a reaffirmation of its commitment to offer the most comprehensive mobile entertainment experience in India,” he added.
MX Player, which boasts of 650 million downloads worldwide, is designed to run on low- as well as high-end devices. Also, in keeping with variable data speeds across India, it employs algorithms — based on the H.265 compression standard — to optimise streaming, with less-than-one-second latency, to viewers for buffer-free entertainment.


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Canadian payments firm SnapPay and Chinese payment platform Alipay have partnered to support acceptance of Alipay at Canadian-Chinese grocery chain FoodyMart.
Under the partnership, consumers can make Chinese currency payments at all FoodyMart locations.
This includes the Alipay Experience store in Richmond, British Columbia.
SnapPay’s payment gateway enables merchants across North America to accept digital payments from users of Chinese apps.
SnapPay chief growth officer Chris Renton said: “Our platform provides Canadian and U.S. Retailers with an extensive new revenue channel.
“North American retailers gain access to billions of untapped potential revenue by simply offering their customers the option to pay with the mobile apps and currency that they’re familiar with.”
The latest tie-up will enable consumers to make payments in Chinese currency, while merchants get paid in Canadian or US dollars.
To make payments, consumers have to scan QR codes.
FoodyMart president Yiwei Cheng said: “Since deploying SnapPay last year, we’re seeing triple digit growth in our sales. Integration with our POS was a fast, easy process.
“In addition, the solution enables us to directly market to our customers through their mobile apps, which provides us with a brand-new channel to drive sales and customer loyalty.”
Last month, US-based pharmacy store chain Walgreens added support for Alipay at its stores.


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Amazon recently added another private label to its food brands.
Dubbed Aplenty, the new line will eventually include hundreds of products across the center-store and frozen departments. Amazon says the items are all free of artificial flavors, synthetic colors and high fructose corn syrup.
Meet the 2021 winners of the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation. For consumers, the Product of the Year seal serves as a guide to the best products in the market, and for manufacturers, it's a powerful marketing message proven to increase trial, awareness, distribution and sales.


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Twitter is offering its 500 million users a download containing the entire archive of their tweets - including data such as where, when and with what they tweeted.
Drunken Twitter and Facebook users who post grossly offensive messages online may be less likely to face prosecution if they hit delete and express remorse after they sober up, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, indicated.
The photo-sharing app wanted to make it very clear that they would not be selling users' images like stock photography, but also made it clear that Instagram is still a business and it will be using user data in some form to profit.
Twitter now has more than 200 million active users around the world, with some 10 million of those in the UK underlining its rapid growth as a social media tool.
Google is this week expected to escape the biggest anti-trust investigation for more than a decade by agreeing with US regulators to tweak the way it displays searches.
The National Rifle Association has scaled down its social media presence in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Newton, Conn.
If you use a BlackBerry, you could very well be a pessimist. If you use an iPhone, you're likely an optimist, but chances are your manners are suffering because you're using it too much.
Almost every product you buy now carries a barcode, and its familiar black-and-white lines are used in more than 5bn transactions each day. Its co-inventor, N Joseph Woodland, who patented the idea 60 years ago, has died aged 91.
A proposed global telecoms treaty that would give national governments control of the internet has been blocked by the US and key western and African nations. They said they are "not able to sign the agreement in its current form" at the end of a International Telecoms Union (ITU) conference in Dubai.
Apple shares fell 3.9% in early trading on Friday after the launch of its iPhone 5 received a frosty reception in China, and two analysts cut shipment forecasts.
Nuclear Dawn, The Lost Crown, Star Ruler, and Blades of Time - Limited Edition are up for grabs at $1.
#IDARB is heading to Xbox One in February, as a free game initially, and the trailer spoofs Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Gearbox Software and 2K Games' Borderlands has appeared on the Australian ratings board website.


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Apple announced that it will open its first European iOS app development center. It’s to be located at partner institution in Naples, Italy.
The center gives where students can acquire skills and training pertaining to the development of iOS applications. It will support teachers and provide a specialized curriculum geared toward the growth of Apple’s developer ecosystem.
Apple itself will work with partners throughout the country on curriculum development and additional student opportunities. Eventually, the company will expand the program to other countries.
CEO Tim Cook said, “Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we’re thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success. The phenomenal success of the App Store is one of the driving forces behind the more than 1.4 million jobs Apple has created in Europe and presents unlimited opportunities for people of all ages and businesses of all sizes across the continent.”
“Thousands of companies are expanding because of their work with Apple, which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities large and small across Europe,” Apple says. “Milan-based Laboratorio Elettrofisico makes some of the most sophisticated magnetization equipment in the world and their technology enables some of the industry-leading magnetic features found in Apple products. Apple also works with Europe’s leading manufacturers of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, which create tiny components that power some of the incredible sensor and audio technologies found in iOS devices.”
Apple says the App Store has helped developers in Europe earn over €10.2 billion from selling their apps around the world. 75,000 jobs in Italy alone are attributable to the App Store, the company says.
Image via Wikimedia Commons


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Wearable Device Measures Calories by Chewing Sounds
The days of manual calorie counting may soon be over, thanks to AutoDietary, a wearable technology that recognizes different types of food by monitoring eating sounds. It provides an automated way of measuring daily caloric intake, according to Food Navigator.
AutoDietary is made up of two parts, an embedded hardware system and a smartphone app. An acoustic sensor, which is worn around the neck, detects eating sounds and transmits data to the smartphone app, which is able to take the data and interpret it as different food types.
Computer scientist Wenyao Xu and team at the University of Buffalo tested the system’s effectiveness by gathering 12 subjects and asking them to eat seven different types of food: Apples, carrots, cookies, potato chips, walnuts, peanuts, and water. The researchers calculated an overall accuracy of 86.6 percent for identifying chewing or swallowing events, and 81.5 percent to 90.1 percent accuracy in recognizing different food types.
Future research will build upon the food library, which will be done by testing different foods and recording the eating sounds made, reports Science Daily. Xu is also planning a biomonitoring device to complement AutoDietary, which would be activated when the user is eating a general category of food.
The device would determine nutritional value based on blood sugar levels and other measurements, rather than relying on sound alone for a more accurate analysis.