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Apple’s “Far Out” event is on September 7. Beyond the new iPhone 14, here’s what to expect from September’s Apple event — and beyond.
Regular as clockwork, Apple takes time in the fall to launch a swathe of new products intended for consumers to buy during the following holiday shopping period. As a very lucrative time of year for the company, Apple puts a lot of effort into its fall events, showing off as many new items as possible.
While primarily centered on its iPhone product line, Apple does take time to look at other complementary products and services.
Here’s what you can expect from Apple’s fall 2022 effort.
When will launch events take place?
Apple’s usual cadence for its fall launches is to hold at least one special event, with at least one taking place in the September of that year. You must return to 2011 to encounter a year without a September event.
The September launch usually won’t be the only one, as over the last ten years, there have been seven October events and one November event.
As Apple has held October events in 2020 and 2021 as part of a slickly-produced pre-recorded video stream prompted by COVID-19, it seems probable that there will be at least two events in the fall lineup.
While other fall events cover many different Apple products, with later events generally handling Mac-related subjects, the iPhone usually dominates the September event. The exception for the last decade was 2020, when the September event focused on the Apple Watch and iPad lines, while October dealt with iPhones and HomePod mini, and November was the Mac month.
While Apple usually waits until two weeks into the month for its September event, it has already confirmed it will be doing so on September 7.
That still leaves some room for interpretation for the October event. With Apple generally leaving a one-month gap, an early October event is possible.
As for whether there could be a third, that would depend on how Apple’s product lineup is presented in the September event, as well as if Apple leaves any obvious lineup gaps in the October one.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max
The biggest story each year is that of new iPhone models. However, the story for 2022 may be one talking about a lack of updates, rather than of ground-breaking changes.
For the iPhone 14, Apple is expected to bring out two models as usual, but with a big shift in size. Instead of an iPhone and iPhone mini, there will instead be the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max.
Rumors and supposedly leaked diagrams point to models having 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, echoing the sizes of the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Despite the larger size, the Max model will share the specifications of its non-Pro stablemate.
What will change on the outside could be the camera bump, which could be made to be smaller.
Internally, it seems that Apple could be sticking to the same A15 chip for its non-Pro lineup instead of upgrading to an A16, but it could still have some processing improvement. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the RAM of the standard models could jump from 4GB to 6GB.
Other features that may stay the same can include a lack of ProMotion, the return of the notch, the Lightning port, and the same 12MP camera system. That said, there could still be some improvements.
For example, the iPhone could gain Center Stage support for video calls. The Macro mode from the iPhone 13 Pro lineup may also make the jump for 2022.
A late August report claimed that there could be a key improvement, in terms of power. A 30W fast charging capability has been touted, a significant jump from the 20W of the iPhone 13.
On the more outlandish side, long-term rumors of Apple introducing satellite service to its devices floated again in late August, after SpaceX and T-Mobile said they would bring satellite internet to cellphones. However, Apple has reportedly already handled hardware development for the feature back in the days of the iPhone 13, and that only signing up with a partner scuppered its introduction.
For colors, claims include green, purple, blue, black, white, and red will be on offer.
Apple’s use of a space theme could point to actually introducing the feature in its hardware in 2022, and if so, the iPhone 14 stands a good chance of getting it.
There has also been speculation that one other change could be the price. In July, it was speculated that supply chain cost increases will be passed onto consumers, which could increase the base cost of models by as much as $100.
While the September event will almost certainly involve iPhones, it seems that most eyes will be watching the changes in the Pro models, not the iPhone 14.
As for when to expect the iPhone 14 to actually ship, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts it could launch earlier than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. The claim is an extrapolation from Apple’s positive Q3 2022 outlook from its July results.
Kuo also reckons that announcing and shipping the iPhone as soon as possible could minimize the impact of any risk to demand prompted by a global recession. However, Kuo didn’t offer when the actual release could take place.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
The Pro lineup of iPhones get the most significant upgrades each year, and for 2022, that probably remains the case.
Once again, rumors point to two models, consisting of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, complete with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays. Leaked diagrams indicate they should be practically the same size and shape as the year-ago models.
The first noticeable change from the iPhone 13 lineup is the display, as rumors indicate Apple will switch to an always-on version. Such a feature will provide at-a-glance details for users without waking and illuminating the entire screen, saving battery.
That display will also apparently switch out the notch for a pill-and-hole cutout, significantly reducing how much of the display is wasted by the onboard TrueDepth camera array.
However, late August rumors say that Apple may not go with the pill-and-hole motif, and instead switches to a long i-shaped cutout instead. it would serve the same purpose as the pill-and-hole, except there would be a small screenless gap connecting the two sections.
The cameras may also get a massive upgrade, with the use of a 48-megapixel wide camera sensor. The change could result in the ability to record 8K-resolution video and create more detailed 12-megapixel images using a process called pixel binning.
Rumors propose that the A16 could be reserved just for the Pro line, which will provide a performance increase over the A15 non-Pro models, despite having identical 6GB memory allocations.
The Pro lineup should also get the same 30W power boost and supposed satellite service as its non-pro counterpart. On the subject of color schemes, the Pro line will apparently be sold in green, purple, silver, gold, and graphite.
The proposed $100 increase for the non-Pro models may also appear in the Pro range, if only for consistency. However, Apple may still seek to avoid the sticker shock associated with a starting price of $1,099.
If true, this could really work in Apple’s favor. Analysts firmly believe that pent-up demand for iPhone upgrades, as well as fewer changes to the iPhone 14 lineup, should push consumers to buy the iPhone 14 Pro range instead, and with the Pro Max the biggest beneficiary.
As for when it will arrive in consumer hands, analyst Kuo’s comments suggest it could be earlier than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 releases, but there’s little to really go on for that.
The timing is also backed up by another report, claiming Apple has finished developing what will be the version of iOS 16 that will be released to consumers.
Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Pro, and Apple Watch SE
A good contender for launch alongside a new iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 8 can expand the Apple Watch range into three variants, bringing out a Pro version alongside the standard and Apple Watch SE.
Leaks say the standard edition will not get much in the way of a redesign and will appear to be similar to the Apple Watch Series 7 in many respects. This includes aluminum and stainless steel cases in 41mm and 45mm sizes.
However, there have also been claims of a third size, with a larger display resulting in an Apple Watch with a size of about 47mm. This third one may be the supposedly rumored “Pro” variant.
Anticipated to be more rugged than usual, the Pro model will be more capable of use in sports and fitness, complete with a more durable casing, possibly titanium. The durability could come at a cost, with one report claiming the Pro model could start from around $900.
On September 4, the pricing claim was reiterated, with it starting at $900 and potentially going over $1,000.
As part of the design, the Pro model could have some design cues taken from the iPhone 13, such as a flat display and an updated exterior design.
As a larger model, there have also been some claims Apple could bring out larger bands to work with the bigger overall design. Using larger band sizes may result in bands that would work with the 44/45mm models being too small to properly fit the bigger wearable device, though there are some conflicting rumors about this potential change.
On the inside of the standard and Pro models, Apple is thought to be introducing body temperature measurements for the first time, enabling fever detection. While an update to the S8 chip is planned, it is also believed that the chip update won’t be that much faster than the current-gen S7.
One exceedingly late rumor from September 4 claimed that Apple could bring out an Apple Watch SE during the event, alongside the Series 8 and the Pro model.
The report claimed the budget smartwatch would benefit from a shift to the S8 processor from the S5 used in the original model. However, no details were offered about the size, sensor changes, or any other features for the model.
iPad and iPad Pro
The iPad often appears during the September event, and depending on Apple’s launch plans, it could easily be launched in September or an event later in the season.
However, reports about an early September 7 event indicate that it won’t feature the iPad family, and instead will concentrate on the iPhone and Apple Watch. An October launch event is more probable for the iPad lineup.
It’s entirely plausible that Apple could launch an iPad during September but delay the release until October, but a later reveal is more likely.
One of the big points of evidence for this is Apple itself, as it has decided to skip iPadOS 16 entirely, and confirmed that iPadOS 16.1 will be the first public release, heavily pointing towards an October introduction for new products.
The tenth-generation iPad is rumored to sport an all-new design for once, as its entry-level nature means it hasn’t been the subject of changes overall. For the tenth version, renders and leaks point to the use of an all-new design.
Flat iPad Pro-like sides could point to Apple Pencil 2 support, as well as bringing the tablet more in line with Apple’s modern aesthetic. The casing could introduce slimmer bezels around the display, as well as a new rear camera module, but the Touch ID Home button may continue to survive for another year.
There have been claims of a bigger display for the base model, along with the unusual rumor that Touch ID could shift to a side button and the FaceTime HD camera could move to the side. The latter point would fit in with the idea of a larger screen, but the repositioned camera seems improbable.
Inside, it could use the A14 chip, with support for 5G networks, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6.
Along with the iPad update, changes could also be afoot for the iPad Pro, albeit not as seismic in nature.
For a start, the M1-equipped tablet lineup could see a change over to using M2. This would be a natural progression for the product line, adding enhanced video features.
AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max
With AirPods on its third generation, it’s about time that the AirPods Pro get an update. Luckily enough, rumors point in that direction as well.
In May, it was reckoned that an update to the personal audio devices would occur in the second half of 2022, most likely via a fall event.
While rumors claim that there could be two events, dividing the catalog into iPhone and Apple Watch for September’s event and iPad and Mac for October’s, it is unclear what will happen for AirPods. It’s plausible that, since they’re so closely linked to iPhones as accessories, Apple could include them in the September event.
Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter for September 4 declared the AirPods Pro update would feature during the September 7 event, but with no real new details on features or specifications.
Among the supposed changes to the model is the inclusion of a stemless design, departing wildly from the existing AirPods aesthetic.
There have also been older claims that there will be some form of fitness tracking functionality, but later assessments have doubted their inclusion. Rumors have also suggested the use of a microphone in the charging case, a form of hearing aid functionality, and a case speaker to assist with Find My recovery.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offered a prediction on August 9 that AirPods will have USB-C charging cases in 2023, however, AirPods Pro 2 will continue to ship with a Lightning-based charging case.
The changes for the AirPods Max may not necessarily be as significant. Rumors say there are changes on the way, but limited more to new color options than feature updates.
That’s not all, folks
Apple launches many products in the fall, far beyond this list. For the purposes of this article, we have dealt with just the products we believe Apple will show during a September event.
Rumors do claim new Mac models are on the way, such as a New Mac mini or more M2 MacBook Pro releases. However, Apple doesn’t usually launch them in September but instead waits for an event occurring at a later time.
Reports claiming there will be two events put Apple’s Mac changes alongside the iPad for an October event while leaving September’s for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
There are also long-standing rumors about the Apple mixed-reality headset, but such a ground-breaking release would see Apple holding a completely separate launch event. It would have too much ground to cover if it sandwiched the headset alongside other launches.
There’s also speculation that the launch of the headset won’t be until 2023.
Updated: August 21 with new event rumors.
Updated: September 3 with more event rumors.
Updated: September 4 with even more event rumors.


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Many businesses are still coping with the ongoing effects of COVID-19 in their business. While it looks like some are coping well, brands had to adapt to many changes to ensure business continuity under the new reality. If there are changes that we can expect to stay even after the crisis, these are as follows.
The Emergence of New Entrepreneurs
Life before COVID-19 was very busy. Many aspire to start their own brand but have no time to spare in their busy schedule. Others don’t have enough drive to start their own business.
But because of the pandemic, many started their own business ventures. The increase in the unemployment rate and the emergence of business opportunities made more people start their own business ventures. Despite the number of companies that shut down during the crisis, many had the time to think and take the risk by creating their own brand.
Some managed to start a small business right at home. Others bought a business for sale, while some chose a business franchise.
Franchise opportunities gave aspiring business owners hope by providing them with the basics of starting a business. Buying a franchise to open a smartphone repair shop, for instance, allows you to tap on the mobile user’s market. With most people owning a smartphone these days, it makes sense why more are exploring business opportunities involving such electronic devices.
Local Business Collaborations
Businesses value both quality and quantity. They make sure they partner with suppliers and vendors who can offer them affordable but quality products. This usually meant transacting primarily with international suppliers.
Lockdowns, lack of supplies, and other reasons made businesses rethink their supply chain. The delay of shipments and growing prices of materials had them looking for different ways to obtain the materials they needed. For the most part, many turned to local suppliers knowing this is the best and most sustainable choice.
Local business collaborations increased, helping to stabilize the economy during the crisis. As more businesses turn to local suppliers, local businesses are given a chance to grow their brand and thrive in the middle of the situation. This helped increase brand awareness and equity among many small businesses.
We can expect the same thing to continuously happen in the future. This is since more businesses are embracing sustainable practices. By turning to local suppliers, one can outsource sustainably and reduce the carbon footprint associated with getting the supplies they need.
Digitalized Business Processes
Before, brick-and-mortar brands are doing well despite them only have physical stores. They have enough foot traffic to generate more than enough revenue to cover business costs. They do utilize online marketing but are strictly catering to in-store customers.
But when the pandemic came, consumers went online. They now do more tasks online, including their shopping. Instead, they would shop online and wait for their orders to be delivered than increase their exposure by doing in-store shopping.
This made businesses take their brand online. They embraced consumer’s need for online shopping and boosted their online marketing efforts. They had to change how they ran the business and adapted new ways to cater to online consumers.
For one, they had to adapt online selling and invested in optimized e-commerce websites. More businesses now accept digital payments. Many are using Artificial Intelligence AI-based applications to better serve online customers.
While digital adaptations changed the way businesses operate, this gave small companies the chance to grow their brand online. They were able to reach business success in online platforms. They can go beyond the limitations associated with their physical store and used modern tech-based adaptations to grow their brand online.
Remote Work Accelerated
Remote work opportunities are already available even before 2020. Many companies allow their employee to work remotely as a way of supporting better work-life balance. When the pandemic came, more companies embraced this work set up to support business operations.
They had employees switch to remote work to reduce their exposure to the virus at work. This is especially true with their talents, who are more at risk of being severely infected by the virus. With fewer employees working at the same time in the office, this helped promote health and safety standards like social distancing.
While remote work is not for everybody, more people plan on embracing remote work in the future. They like the idea of working from home and still can address their responsibilities at work and home. The flexibility remote work offers and the fact that companies save from costs and boost business productivity make more businesses reconsider this option.
But with the pandemic added into the mix, the world of entrepreneurs turned upside down. These four business adaptations only show that change is inevitable in the business world. Even after the crisis, we can only expect these to remain to dominate the world of business.

domain: news


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Coinbase is the biggest and most popular crypto trading platform in the USA. The company has become the first crypto-based enterprise to get a green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission to become publically traded. There had been some speculations in the past that the listing might set off a volatile price trend in the crypto markets due to the increased pressure of buying. However, Coinbase’s decision to opt for direct trading has averted the crisis.
From Wednesday of the ongoing week, ticker COIN would become live at NASDAQ. A pre-market tokenized version of COIN is currently valued at $140 billion at FTX. The value is six times higher than NASDAQ and two times higher than its subsidiary, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Matt Houga, CIO at Bitwise Management, told CNBC that there is going to be a gold rush for crypto equities as investors come to terms with the fact that digital assets are on the rise.
The COIN Stock said to be Overvalued by Financial Analysts
A close analysis of the PE ratio for the Coinbase stock indicates that the trade commodity could be overpriced for the market. There are big players in the industry that have been listed for a longer time, and the COIN PE ratio has managed to upstage them. The PE ratio is the measure of earnings per share in comparison to the number of times the market price is valued.
The NASDAQ itself has a PE ratio of 25-30, while a payment giant like PayPal scores 75. In comparison, the PE ratio for Coinbase as per Q1 analytics falls in the range of 90-120. While some analysts are worried that this number can prove to be a bubble, others are justifying this value based on the company’s high earnings.
The Top ETFs to Include Coinbase Stock
The profit margin for Coinbase is nearly four times higher than NASDAQ and many folds greater than PayPal. The age and market presence of these companies are infinite in comparison to Coinbase. There are also concerns about the dominating ratio of failure for tech startups. Jeff Dorman, CFA and CIO of Arca said that 38% of tech companies end up going bankrupt. The ratio of failure for tech companies is higher than last year.
However, the strong presence of Coinbase in the market might be able to keep it afloat for a longer duration. Meanwhile, prominent ETFs are making a beeline to get access to COIN as soon as possible. The Ark fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF), Transformational Data Sharing ETF by Amplify (BLOK), and Global X Fintech ETF (FINX) are the top of the list buyers who are eyeing the COIN ticker.


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On Thursday, crowdfunding platform NakedWines announced that it has appointed Antonio Trevino as its new U.S. wine and technology director.
Trevino was previously chief production officer and director of winemaking at Purple Wines and Spirits, where he managed the U.S. wine portfolio and guided global strategy. He will bring over 20 years of winemaking experience to NakedWines.
Chief winemaker and officer of NakedWines International, Matt Parish, stated:
“This is a significant appointment for the company, and we welcome Antonio’s skill and expertise which will further drive our growth, most importantly ensure our customers have an amazing experience. Antonio is a well-respected wine professional and his willingness to join the team showcases the appeal of our business model and our future potential.”
“I’m thrilled to join the NakedWines.com executive team and look forward to using my experience in the industry to promote growth in the Americas. The incredibly innovative NakedWines.com business model empowers winemakers to engage with satisfied wine-loving customers. My entire career I’ve provided people with exceptional wines and look forward to growing the NakedWines.com portfolio.”


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After being frozen for more than 24 hours, App Stores across the globe are starting to show signs of life. At around 1pm est we started to detect rank changes in most app stores. Unfortunately that’s not very good news.
While some apps rallied, the trend we observed is for paid apps to either decrease in rank dramatically or drop of completely. This was observed in many app stores around the world, US included. While free apps moved as well there is no clear pattern, which at this point is good news.
With the weekend approaching fast, and paid apps declining without cause, this can spell bad news for developers of all sizes. So once again we’re left crossing our fingers and hoping for good…
How’s your app doing?


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Why Apple's "Black Sites" are stirring up concerns for its employees
When you think of Apple employees, you might think of Silicon Valley techies working at the company’s massive, modern headquarters in Cupertino, California. While the campus hosts more than 10,000 employees, these are far from the only Apple workers. There are also other Apple facilities scattered across the U.S. and the world. One location just a few miles away is stirring up controversy on how its employees are treated.
Another side of Apple
The location in question is a nondescript building, referred to within the company as a “black site.” Black site is a military term referring to a place where an unacknowledged, secret project is being conducted. The building hosts Apple contractors who, according to Bloomberg, are working on Apple Maps. It also hosts other Apple employees whose assignment isn’t known, although Apple Insider speculated it could be related to the company’s self-driving car project.
The black site location is so secretive that managers told workers to walk a few blocks away before calling for an Uber or Lyft home, sources told Bloomberg. Workers also use the back door of the building. There is what looks like a reception area in the front of the building, but it’s not staffed.
Many of the workers at the site are contractors hired by a company called Apex Systems. These contractors say they aren’t treated nearly as well as direct Apple employees. Most of them work on contracts lasting 12 to 15 months. The majority leave when they’re contracts are up, and some leave before that. One contractor said many worked under the fear of being let go. The employees also reportedly began with a few months of training followed by a test. If the workers failed the test, they were fired.
“It was made pretty plain to us that we were at-will employees and they would fire us at any time,” a source told Bloomberg. “There was a culture of fear among the contractors, which I got infected by and probably spread.”
One reason you might want to work for Apple is to be able to put the name of such as prominent company on your resume. Apex managers, the report says, initially told employees they could list their employer as “Apple, via Apex Systems” but later instructed them to remove the word Apple.
Apex also reportedly cut the annual paid sick time from 48 hours to 24 hours, which prompted more than a dozen workers to quit. Some other complaints included understocked vending machines, not being allowed to use the gym and not being permitted to use the bathrooms on the side of the building occupied by direct employees.
Apple has said it requires all its staffing agencies to treat workers with dignity and respect. The company also conducted an audit of the location after reporters inquired about it and found that it was “consistent with other Apple locations,” according to Bloomberg.
A representative of Apex told Bloomberg that it “provides multiple avenues for employees to raise concerns, both directly and anonymously, and to have those concerns addressed.”
Part of a larger trend
It’s not uncommon for tech companies to work with contracting companies. Direct employees account for less than half of Google’s workers, and these contractors reportedly aren’t treated as well as the company’s direct employees. Facebook, Uber and others use contractors too. Apple also works with other agencies besides Apex.
This is neither the first labor-related issue that has surfaced regarding Apple nor the worst. Typically, these issues arise in the supply chain and involve factory workers. In November 2018, A group called Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior released a report about concerns in the Apple Watch supply chain. It alleged students were forced to work assembling Apple Watches in a factory in Chongqing, China, run by Quanta Computer. The students were told the work was part of an internship they needed to graduate, but many of the students were not studying anything related to what they were doing at the factory.
Apple has reported that it discovered labor violations in the past. In 2017, the company said it found three bonded labor violations in which a worker’s labor is repayment for a debt. It also discovered 38 other violations that year. In March of 2018, Apple released a report on how it’s working to improve its supply chain.
Will this latest report cause Apple to change its practices regarding contracted employees? Will it be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and inspires Apple enthusiasts to ditch the company? Maybe a few. The issues surrounding the Apple black site are just a small sample of the many facing the company.
While Apple is still incredibly successful, its public image is starting to suffer in some areas. If it wants to fix this, it’s going to have to show it’s serious about fixing its labor and supply chain problems.
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Virginia businesses that maintain and use customers’ data should be aware of what is on the horizon. The Virginia Legislature is poised to finalize and pass data privacy legislation that will impose new obligations on these businesses called the Consumer Data Protection Act. Companies should begin to prepare themselves for the new statutory requirements by familiarizing themselves with the legislation.
The Bill Has Passed Both Houses
The Virginia Legislature has acted very quickly to move this bill through the process. As of this writing, the Consumer Data Protection Act has passed in both the House and Senate, and Gov. Ralph Northam is ready to sign it into law. It is not a question of whether this bill will be passed and signed into law but when. Virginia will be the second state after California to have this type of legislation, and it will be far from the last. Privacy protection advocates have the upper hand in the national debate after several high-profile examples of breaches and misuse of customer data.
As a result, most businesses should start to engage now with a data privacy attorney to learn what requirements may be on the horizon. State data privacy laws are a relatively new thing, so companies will need to be forward-looking and proactive if they intend to collect data in Virginia.
Who Is Covered by the Law
The first question that companies will have is whether they are covered by the terms of the law. The law will define “covered companies” as any of the following:
- Those who will process or control the data of more than 100,000 Virginia residents in a calendar year.
- Those who hold the personal data of more than 25,000 Virginians and earn more than 50% of their revenue from the sale of personal data.
What this boils down to is that if you are a large data broker or have a big online presence in Virginia, no matter where you are based, you will need to follow the CDPA and should consult a Virginia data privacy attorney.
The Law Applies to Consumers and Households
The next question is who is entitled to protection under the new law. The statute defines “consumer” as someone acting only in an individual or household context. The law does not cover people acting in an employment or business context. This means that the law protects consumers who are using their own personal internet for their own personal purposes.
The law both gives consumers rights and places some restrictions on how those that control data collect it. First, consumers are allowed to know if their controllers have their data and what data they have. Second, once they see the data that the controller has, consumers have the right to correct any errors. Third, customers can demand that controllers delete any data that they obtained. Fourth, they can opt-out of having their data used in targeted advertising or being sold to a third party.
The last requirement requires customers to execute an affirmative opt-out to take advantage of this protection. Without that, companies can continue to use data in advertising and sell the data as they otherwise would.
The Restrictions That Apply to Companies
In addition, controllers are now restricted from collecting more information than is “adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary” for their purpose. As a business, you can see how that could lead to differences in interpretation between consumers and companies. Companies that use data for targeted advertising or for sale must also conduct assessments of whether this practice benefits all stakeholders, including consumers.
While this law will have definite impacts on companies, one important piece of information is that your company cannot face a private lawsuit from a consumer who claims that their rights were violated. Only the Virginia Attorney General has the ability to enforce the Act, and they can issue a civil fine. Nonetheless, companies should take these requirements seriously. The law allows for a fine of up to $7,500 for each violation of the Act. As of now, it is not known how a violation will be defined, meaning that this could lead to a major penalty if each customer is treated as one separate violation.
Virginia Businesses May Have Questions
As a business owner or employee, you will likely have a number of questions about this law and how it will affect you. If you do large-scale business online in Virginia, the chances are that it probably will.
One concern that business should have is the speed at which the Virginia Legislature passed the law. The bill made its way through both Houses in several weeks. Bills that are passed quickly may have some gaps and ambiguities. In addition, there may be continued pressure from consumers’ rights advocates to make amendments to the law to strengthen it. This could be just the beginning of Virginia’s legislation in this area. As other states pass their own privacy laws, there is a chance that the Virginia Legislature could borrow some of the tougher provisions elsewhere and implement them here.
Prepare for the Consumer Data Protection Act to Be Effective
If you own a company doing business in Virginia, the first thing that you should do is determine if the law applies to you. Your business may not possess data from enough consumers to fall under the law. Alternatively, the type of data that you have may fall under one of a number of exemptions to the law, which include exemptions for institutions and companies with HIPAA-covered data. If you are covered by the law, you should prepare yourself to comply by its effective date by working with a data privacy lawyer.
Contact a Virginia Data Privacy Lawyer Today
To learn more about how this law applies to you and what your company can do to prepare itself, call the Virginia law firm of McClanahan Powers at 703-520-1326 or contact us online. You may not have much time to prepare for a law that could change the way that you do business in the Commonwealth, so request a consultation today.


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Antuan Goodwin picks his 10 favorite Android apps as part of the CNET 100 series. Check out the titles he loves best and be sure to vote for your favorite.
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VW's rapidly mushrooming diesel emissions conundrum could cost it up to $86B, argues major financial services company Credit Suisse.
German automaker orders its US dealerships to halt sales of affected cars, says that 11 million vehicles are impacted globally.
In an open letter to the automaker and an official release, the EPA claims that VW's diesels aren't as clean as you'd think.
Project 2&4 combines the body of an open-wheel race car with the high-revving heart of a MotoGP racing bike.
A preview for an upcoming large crossover SUV, Mazda's Koeru concept looks ready for the road.
From CNET Magazine: If self-driving proponents have their say, the most gratifying part of future trips will be kicking up our feet to read a book while our cars automatically take us to our destinations.
Researchers exploit a Web-connected insurance monitor to hijack a car using text messages.
At the digital security conference, Kevin Mahaffey and Marc Rogers explain how they hacked a Tesla Model S -- and why you shouldn't be too alarmed.


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Underdark, a barrel-aged imperial stout, is coming back on tap – and in bottles – at Intuition Ale Works Saturday.
The beer is a blend of Intuition’s King Street Stout, Truck Stop Stout and Rye Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels and Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels. The various beers have been aging between 8 and 12 months.
It’s not clear what the alcohol content will be because the beers haven’t been blended yet – that will be done soon, and the beer will be carbonated and bottled in time for the release party.
The Underdark will be available in bombers for $15 (cash only) at the King Street brewery. There's a limit of two bottles per customer. The beer also will be available on tap along with other Intuition beers.
In addition, there will be some big beers on guest taps, including:
- Bell's Double Cream Stout
- Cigar City Kalevipoeg Baltic Porter
- Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine
- Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout
- Green Room Shaka Oatmeal Stout
- Terrapin Wake N' Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout
Underdark T-shirts and snifters will be on sale and food will be available for purchase from the On the Fly truck.
The release party runs from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the King Street brewery.
Starting this year, Underdark will be an annual release.
For more information, see Intuition’s website.


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Mar 18, 2019
First-Ever the Bloody Mary Festival-Wisconsin Coming to Plaza in Front of Fiserv Forum June 22-23
The Bloody Mary Festival-Wisconsin will take place on the plaza in front of Fiserv Forum on Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23, marking the first time that the national celebration will take place in Wisconsin. Milwaukee is one of 10 cities nationwide to host The Bloody Mary Festival in 2019.
“Milwaukee restaurants offer amazing Bloody Marys, and it’s about time that we celebrate them in an event of this magnitude,” said Michael Belot, Senior Vice President of Bucks Ventures and Development. “The plaza in front of Fiserv Forum is a prime destination for outdoor entertainment, and we are delighted that the festival organizers selected the plaza to be the site for the first-ever Bloody Mary Festival in Wisconsin.”
The largest event of its kind, The Bloody Mary Festival brings together the most innovative and crafty Bloody Mary mixes, curated by its team of Bloody Mary aficionados and made by local bars and restaurants.
Guests will have the opportunity to taste them all before voting for their favorite via the “People’s Choice Award.” A panel of industry judges will also select the “Best Bloody Mary in Wisconsin.”
"Wisconsin has become famous for creativity with and love for the Bloody Mary," said The Bloody Mary Festival organizer Evan Weiss. "There is no better place to celebrate this cocktail than the plaza in front of Fiserv Forum on a beautiful summer weekend in Milwaukee."
The festival goes beyond cocktails, however, by including many local businesses sampling and selling food, beverages, crafts and more. Tickets to the festival, which was recently nominated as one of the top 20 food festivals in the country by USA Today, will include all participating Bloody Marys, tastes of local food and beverage products, live music, temporary tattoos, photo ops and more.
Each day of The Bloody Mary Festival-Wisconsin has two sessions from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. The general admission cost is $45.50 and $55.50 for an early entrance VIP ticket.
For more information on The Bloody Mary Festival-Wisconsin and to purchase tickets, visitwww.thebloodymaryfest.com.


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California Approves Verizon-MCI Combination
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NEW YORK and ASHBURN, Va. - California today gave its final approval to the proposed acquisition of MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCIP) by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) after concluding the transaction advances the public interest, benefits consumers and has no adverse effects on competition.
Today's action by the California Public Utilities Commission, which comes less than three weeks after the Federal Communications Commission provided final federal approval of the Verizon-MCI combination, adds momentum to the regulatory approval process as it heads into its final stage.
Executives of both companies anticipate that the transaction will close, as planned, next month or very early in January. The Verizon-MCI combination was announced on February 14.
"California's decision is good news for customers and confirmation that the Verizon-MCI combination is in the public interest," said Tim McCallion, Verizon's California president. "This is a major milestone in the approval process, and it increases the momentum as we near the finish line. We are eager to offer the benefits of this new combination to customers in California and across the nation as soon as possible."
Jim Lewis, MCI senior vice president of policy and planning, said, "We appreciate the commission's timely review and recognition that this transaction will benefit California consumers and the business community. The PUC's examination of the extensive record demonstrates that our merger will promote competition and benefit American consumers and businesses."
As part of California's approval, Verizon will continue its rollout of stand-alone DSL broadband service and the company will contribute $15 million to a fund supporting ubiquitous access to broadband and advanced services in California. Verizon has also agreed to increase its philanthropic giving in California by $20 million over the next five years.
The commission's findings in favor of the transaction are supported by an extensive public review and evidentiary record, including findings by the California attorney general that the combination would not harm competition. Over 200 community, civic and business leaders registered their support for the business combination at six public participation hearings held in August.
The Verizon-MCI combination, part of the continuing evolution of the industry driven by customers and technology, will capitalize on the complementary strengths of each company and create one of the world's leading providers of communications services.
The combined company will be better able to compete for and serve large-business and government customers by providing a full range of services, including wireless and sophisticated Internet protocol-based services. Consumers and businesses will also benefit because the new company will have the financial strength to maintain and improve MCI's extensive Internet backbone network.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million customers nationwide, and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers in 28 states. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of nearly 215,000 and generates annual revenues of more than $71 billion from four business segments: Domestic Telecom, Domestic Wireless, Information Services and International. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With one of the most expansive global IP backbones and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com.
NOTE: This press release contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: a significant change in the timing of, or the imposition of any government conditions to, the closing of the transaction; actual and contingent liabilities; and the extent and timing of our ability to obtain revenue enhancements and cost savings following the transaction. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Verizon and MCI are set forth in their respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at investor.verizon.com/SEC/ and www.mci.com/about/investor_relations/sec/.


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Black Screen Records are releasing the soundtrack to upcoming 2D action platformer Bushiden on vinyl.
The release will be a 3LP on pink, purple and white swirl colored vinyl. It will be housed in a triple gatefold jacket with artwork by David Liu.
It is priced at €52 and the first batch of 100 copies will be shipping in late November, 2022, while additional copies will be made available at a later date. It can be ordered from Black Screen Records here.


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* Owners reluctant to sell when markets strong-CEO
* Want to keep business in the family
* Says Becker Underwood buy in line with other deals (Recasts lead, adds details, background)
By Ludwig Burger
DUESSELDORF, Germany, Sept 26 (Reuters) - BASF, the world’s largest chemicals maker by sales, says it is struggling to make acquisitions in fast-growing markets, potentially making its growth targets harder to reach.
“The owners in many emerging markets say: ‘Why should I sell when we are growing at such a rate?’,” Chief Executive Kurt Bock told a business conference on Wednesday.
“Then again, some owners think in dynastic terms...buying companies in emerging markets is difficult.”
The company, seeking to lift its proportion of sales from emerging markets to 45 percent from 34 percent by 2020, has said it would like to buy more companies in Asia.
But uncertain ownership structures and legal compliance issues often prove insurmountable hurdles.
Bock said that of the companies around the world screened by BASF as potential takeover targets, only about 3-4 percent were suitable and of those the owner’s willingness to sell had not yet been assessed.
BASF has generated about one third of its growth from acquisitions in recent years.
Last week it agreed to buy U.S. crop protection company Becker Underwood for $1.02 billion to boost its farming pesticides division in the largest deal since its 2010 acquisition of Germany’s Cognis, which makes additives for household products.
Bock said the Becker Underwood deal, which valued the U.S. seed treatment company at more than four times annual sales, was not too expensive and that when measured as a multiple of earnings, the price was in line with other comparable deals.
BASF has not disclosed Becker Underwood’s earnings figures.
On average, global chemical companies currently have a market value of about one times annual revenue, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine.
Outright takeovers typically value a company at about 30-40 percent above market capitalisation. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger)


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Lastminute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman’s Founders Factory in London is running a summer accelerator backed by L’Oreal and Aviva for 20 early-stage beauty tech and fintech start-ups.
Irish start-ups are being urged to apply and applications for this cohort close on 30 June.
As part of the programme, start-ups will receive £30,000 in capital.
They will also receive dedicated support from a 30-strong product, engineering, business development and fundraising team.
Particularly valuable will be the six months worth of office space in South Kensington in London.
Hoberman is a British entrepreneur who started Lastminute.com in 1998 with Martha Lane Fox.
He floated the company and then sold it to Sabre for £577m in 2005. Sabre sold the company last year to the Bravofly Rumbo Group for £120m.
Hoberman, who received a CBE in 2015 for his services to entrepreneurship, is also a co-founder of Founders Forum, a private network for digital and technology entrepreneurs.
London image via Shutterstock


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When the actress and mother of two had trouble finding affordable, all-natural baby products, she co-founded Honest.com. The monthly subscription service offers customizable bundles of eco-friendly, toxin-free baby essentials, from plant-based disposable diapers to shampoo and laundry detergent. Earlier this month, the company raised $27 million in funding from venture capital firms like General Catalyst Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
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Dr. Reddys Laboratories is currently trading at Rs. 5149.30, up by 47.95 points or 0.94% from its previous closing of Rs. 5101.35 on the BSE.
The scrip opened at Rs. 5120.00 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 5190.00 and Rs. 5120.00 respectively. So far 25252 shares were traded on the counter.
The BSE group ‘A’ stock of face value Rs. 5 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 5514.65 on 21-Sep-2020 and a 52 week low of Rs. 3613.45 on 18-May-2020.
Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 5190.00 and Rs. 5021.05 respectively. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 85569.47 crore.
The promoters holding in the company stood at 26.74%, while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 43.93% and 17.06% respectively.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has launched Albendazole Tablets, USP, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Albenza Tablets, 200 mg, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).
The Albenza brand and generic had U.S. sales of approximately $27 million MAT for the most recent twelve months ending in November 2020. Dr. Reddy’s Albendazole Tablets, USP are available in 200 mg tablets in bottle count sizes of two.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, Telangana in India. It manufactures and markets a wide range of pharmaceuticals in India and overseas.


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Conviva Works With ServiceNow to Provide Next Generation Customer Service for Streaming Customers
Conviva, the intelligence cloud for streaming media, today announced that its streaming insights data will be integrated with ServiceNow telecom and media industry solutions. This new integration will enable streaming providers to offer more reliable streaming services and personalized customer care experiences to drive user acquisition, reduce operational costs and increase customer lifetime value.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210415005156/en/
Conviva and ServiceNow Provide Next Generation Customer Service For Streaming Customers (Graphic: Business Wire)
Conviva’s integration with ServiceNow extends ServiceNow’s offerings within the telecom and media industry and will help streaming customers to automate proactive case creation and ticket generation to identify and diagnose incidents across the entire video delivery supply chain. Adding this additional layer of automation to root cause analysis delivers improved productivity, reduced operating expenses and faster time to issue resolution.
“Automatically populating support tickets inside of ServiceNow will dramatically reduce operational overhead,” said Juan Rojo, Head of Incident Management at DAZN. “With this visibility we can spend more time addressing issues and less time documenting.”
Delivering Conviva’s streaming insights directly into the hands of customer care agents using ServiceNow also enables agents to easily understand each viewer’s streaming experience by quickly evaluating location-related and network issues, devices and operating systems, ISP being used, errors and service issues and the streaming quality. These streaming insights can be further extended via ServiceNow’s telecom and media industry solutions to drive real-time alerts to customers as well as immediate updates available via self-service portals and chatbots.
Diagnosing incidents faster and more accurately is critical and providing a more informed and proactive customer care experience when service issues arise has become a key area for streaming providers to differentiate themselves. Conviva’s integration with ServiceNow delivers the data and insights for providers to meet these needs and deliver great customer service.
“As streaming providers adapt to the increased demand for content, providing an exceptional customer experience has become an important competitive advantage,” said Bill Demas, CEO at Conviva. “Until now, customer service teams have had limited insight into a customer’s streaming experience, hampering their ability to troubleshoot technical issues and even provide general subscription support. Thanks to Conviva’s work with ServiceNow, agents can now immediately see which service issues are impacting the viewer and provide actionable service recommendations based on this data. The result is an enhanced customer experience while reducing average issue resolution times and churn. It’s a win-win for streaming providers and their customers.”
“When it comes to streaming, the customer experience is everything,” said Chris Bauschka, GM & AVP, Global Telecommunications, Media and Technology at ServiceNow. “By integrating Conviva’s streaming insights with ServiceNow telecom and media industry solutions, streaming providers will be able to identify issues faster and proactively keep their customers updated of service issues. This means a more reliable streaming service and personalized customer care experience.”
This integration also offers additional proactive benefits, including the ability to identify which customers may have had a poor streaming experience. This allows OTT streaming providers and publishers to target those customers for proactive nurture campaigns, offer them self-help resolutions and ultimately deflect future support calls, resulting in increased customer loyalty, higher NPS scores and reduced churn.
Conviva is the intelligence cloud for streaming media. Powered by our patented Stream Sensor™ and StreamID™, our real-time platform enables marketers, advertisers, tech ops, engineering and customer care teams to build, engage and monetize their audiences. Conviva is dedicated to supporting brands like CCTV, DAZN, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, Sky, Sling TV, TED and WarnerMedia as they unlock the incredible opportunity in streaming media. Today our platform processes nearly 2 trillion streaming data events daily, supporting more than 500 million unique viewers watching 180 billion streams per year across 3.3 billion applications streaming on devices. Conviva ensures digital businesses of all sizes can stream better—every stream, every screen, every second.
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Dick’s Sporting Goods is expecting a busy online holiday season.
The sporting goods giant said it will hire up to 9,000 employees for the 2020 holiday season, about one thousand more than last year. Dick’s will launch its holiday recruitment effort at its third-annual "National Signing Day" on Oct. 14.
The company said the seasonal hires will provide extra staffing and service in its stores and nationwide distribution centers. In addition, Dick’s will designate employees to fulfill curbside contactless pickup and ship-from-store orders.
Ahead of the holiday season, Dick’s recently announced growth in e-commerce sales of 194% during the second quarter, including Curbside Contactless Pickup, buy online, pickup in-store and ship-from-store, which collectively accounted for more than 75% of e-commerce orders.
The retailer added that its workers will receive a 15% pay premium through the end of the year as well as a discount of up to 25% at its Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream locations.


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City lawmakers are criticizing the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's recent decision to stop the use of cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, as a food additive in city restaurants.
Council Speaker Corey Johnson; Mark Levine, chairman of the council's health committee; and Councilman Robert Holden expressed their concerns in a letter addressed to the department's commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot. In the letter, the lawmakers call for "clarity and insight."
"CBD is legal in most states, doesn't get you high and has even been approved for some medical uses by the FDA," Levine said in a statement. "At a time when we are finally moving away from prohibition of marijuana, this is a step backward, and DOHMH has yet to offer a substantive explanation about why such a drastic step needed to be taken now."
The politicians called for an official stance from the department on the sale of CBD as well as on its effects on health. They also call for an explanation of the department's policy on new rules made without a public hearing or a Board of Health decision.
Levine added that his office is "drafting legislation to legalize and regulate the sale of CBD as a food additive" and that he is seeking a "public airing" of the issue.
Last month the Department of Health issued new guidance on the use of the legal additive in food and beverages sold at restaurants after the department was called out for embargoing CBD-laced products without any notice. Violations are expected to be doled out in October.


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For VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.
Ivory coast is the world's largest producer and exporter of the cocoa bean. But, people have been illegally transporting, or smuggling, cocoa beans between Ivory Coast and neighboring Ghana for many years. Ivorian growers smuggled their cocoa beans into Ghana because prices were higher and more dependable there. But that has changed.
Ghanaian money lost value recently while Ivory Coast has become more secure after a period of unrest. Now Ghanaian farmers are smuggling their beans into Ivory Coast, where they get a better price. The government in Ivory Coast has set a price for cocoa beans. It hopes that will help keep the beans in the country. At the same time, Ghana's money has dropped in value against the dollar by more than 40 percent. This has caused a loss of profits for the country's cocoa growers. They can make more money if they smuggle their crop to Ivory Coast. Ghanaian farmers who do not send their cocoa beans to Ivory Coast are urging the government to keep other farmers from doing so.
One way to slow the smuggling would be to increase the price of cocoa in Ghana. But Ghana has a budget deficit so it does not have the money to support such a move. These beans are needed to make chocolate. Ivory Coast, Ghana and other West African countries together produce more than 65 percent of the world's cocoa crop. Industry experts estimate that up to 100,000 tons of beans have been smuggled into Ivory Coast from Ghana since last October.


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British luxury lingerie label Lascivious has been put up for sale.
Founder and creative director Chloe Hamblen announced on her blog page last night that she is looking for a new director to take the reins of the business after 14 years at the helm.
Hamblen said she is excited to be celebrating the brand’s anniversary, but explained that Lascivious now needs a “serious level of investment to grow” and can long longer be self-funded.
“We have looked at investments, but none of the potential partnerships were right. It has meant that financially, for the last few years we have been under a cloud of uncertainty and it has undoubtedly affected our ability to expand the collections and grow as a brand,” she added.
“I think now is the time for a new beginning for Lascivious, with a new director and a new vision. I hope that whoever buys the brand will do something truly wonderful with it.”
Hamblen established Lascivious after interning for some of the most respected designers in her field.
Reflecting on how the brand started, she said: “I had just returned from a job working for Dutch modernist Marlies Dekkers in Holland and was juggling two part-time jobs whilst setting up the brand. There were only a handful of innovators at the time, and I felt like if I worked hard, I could be one of them. It was natural for me to find my own path.
“Our first year was a whirlwind. We were approached to stock Barneys in New York, create a diffusion line for Topshop and we threw a party to celebrate our first birthday and launch our illustrated playing cards.”
Hamblen’s brother Ozzie helped her design the brand logo and shot Lascivious’ first campaign with their friends as models.
London boutique Coco De Mer took a chance on Lascivious’ first collection, which was handmade in Hamblen’s bedroom.
Hamblen then hired her first assistant, and together they created Milla and Lila, two of the Lascivious’ most important collections.
She also designed the renowned Kitty collection during her first five years in the business, and this remains Lascivious’ best-selling style.
“We have had so many highlights; from the parties, celebrities, press, collaborations and awards won that it would take me forever to list. There are so many people that have helped along the way and I will try to take the time to thank them in my next post,” Hamblen said.
Signing off her blog post, she said she hopes Lascivious has helped inspire a new generation of designers to push forward and break new ground.
“Most of all I hope we have encouraged women to feel beautiful and confident, provocative and sensual, and evoke a real connection and playfulness between partners. If we have achieved that, then we have done our job,” she added.
“Thank you to everyone that has supported us along the way, it has been one hell of a ride!”


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The Apple TV+ service
Tom Dougherty, CEO – Stealing Share
21 May 2020
Where the Apple TV+ service goes from here
In this time of quarantine, streaming TV is booming. More people are watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and Hulu than ever before. But not the Apple TV+ service. What gives?
Since the streamer launched in November, only 10 million have signed up. Compare that to the nearly 70 million Netflix draws in the United States alone, and the nearly 30 million for Hulu. (Amazon Prime’s numbers – 101 million – are skewed as many signed up for free shipping rather than TV watching.)
Granted, the Apple TV+ service is still new, and coming services like HBO Max and Peacock may not break the 10 million barrier. However, my guess is that they will. They won’t top Disney’s 50 million number but 10 million is a low bar, a shockingly tiny number when you consider Apple offers the service free to those buying Apple devices.
Isn’t Apple the greatest brand in the world? Did it just not transfer to television?
Yes and no. For starters, the Apple TV+ service originals just aren’t very good. They’re glitzy and follow a certain aspirational element that meets with the brand meaning of Apple. Or does it?
“The Apple TV+ service stands in a weird place. With the company figuring out what exactly its brand means and how that translates. I suggest getting back to its roots even though it’s hard to position yourself as the rebel when you’re the market leader.”
The Apple TV+ service must reach back to its roots
Apple remains the most cash-rich company in the world, and there have been rumors it would buy out another streaming service. But I think it forgot what made the Apple brand appealing in the first place. “Think Different” launched the brand into the stratosphere, developing a cult following among tech enthusiasts like me.
That position suggests a certain edginess that its TV offerings lack. There’s a blandness to the Apple TV+ service offerings, like they’re honed down to a shiny surface that feels corporate generated. Even its most critically acclaimed series, Little America, suffers from it.
Now comes word Apple is talking with studios about licensing their older movies and TV shows. That’s all well and good but, if they follow the same direction as the original content, it won’t help much. Especially because many are going to direct to consumers already. (HBO Max, for instance, is backed by Warner Brothers.)
The Apple TV+ service stands in a weird place. With the company figuring out what exactly its brand means and how that translates. I suggest getting back to its roots even though it’s hard to position yourself as the rebel when you’re the market leader.
But it must think different to succeed in the streaming wars.
Car commercials Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share18 January 2021Car commercials: Why are they always the same?It often amazes me how some brands live in the dark when it comes to knowing their competition. Nowhere does that situation exist more than in...
Brand identity Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 11 January 2021Brand identity: How it actually worksLast week, I presented two examples of new logos that simply didn’t have a reason to exist. On the flip side, I now present an example of brand identity...
Logo development Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 7 January 2020Logo development: Not just a pretty pictureLogo development represents one of many services we at Stealing Share offer. But there has to be a reason for it. And it must reflect the...


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The remake is being handled by Bluepoint Games, known recently for similar projects such as Gravity Rush Remastered and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection . It certainly doesn't hurt that Shadow of the Colossus has always been a good looking game and that its HUD-free presentation affords it a very cinematic presentation style that.
The report also counseled that Congress allow tribal co-management of cultural portions and define how specific areas should be categorized and managed. Zinke also asked Congress to create alternate designations such as national conservation or recreation areas within what is now Bears Ears National Monument, and to clarify wilderness management practices within national monuments.
At least five catfish hit the ice before the face-off. "It's been an fantastic year from the start, trying to repeat", Lemieux said. The problem is the Predators didn't score in either of the final two games of the series - and Pekka was pulled from two of three starts in Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Final , where PPG Paints Arena became his personal House of Horrors.
A check after the plane landed found a crack in the casing of the aircraft's left engine. When the fault was noticed, the plane took a turn back to Sydney airport and firefighters were called to the tarmac to help the pilots. "It looks like a pretty big dent... I'm glad we're all safe", a passenger said. China Eastern said an investigation was launched while the passengers were set to take another flight bound for Shanghai on Monday, according to People's Daily.
When an app developer releases a new update in the App Store , all their lovely reviews disappear in the ether. The new feature is also able to send texts informing someone trying to contact you that you're driving and can not respond immediately.
Apple has revealed its Siri-powered HomePod smart-speaker. The device contains six microphones to pick up voice commands. We just got our first look at Apple's long-awaited Amazon Echo rival. HomePod will be taking Amazon Echo and Google Home , which have been building momentum in the market for voice-controlled speakers capable of controlling smart appliances, fetching content from the internet and more.


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Multiple fatalities were inflicted at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday when at least one gunman opened fire on worshippers, police said.
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Cost of iPhone X Sales to Increase Prices of other Smartphones
Cost of iPhone X Sales to Increase Prices of other Smartphones when Apple rolled out the iPhone X at roughly $1,000 a pop, people balked at first. The smartphone market was entering maturity, are people really so enamored of their Apple devices that they’ll shell out that much, even as competitors get better at making alternatives at lower price points? It seems that increasingly, the answer is yes.
Indeed, by grooming consumers to spending upwards of $1,000 for a new phone, the iPhone X’s pricing strategy may have cemented these kinds of prices into the wider smartphone industry, Apple analyst Philip Elmer-DeWitt tells Inverse.
Initially, Elmer-DeWitt said he thought these kinds of prices were outlandish, but paradoxically Apple’s iPhone X strategy may have ended up doing its competitors a solid. Essentially, Apple raised the ceiling for what a luxury smartphone could cost, which allows companies like Samsung and Google to market their phones as somewhat oxymoronic “affordable luxury” devices.
“By selling configurations for a lot more than $1,000 they’ve done their competitors a favor,” says Elmer-DeWitt. “They’ve created a price umbrella under which their competitors can enter the high end of the market as a cheaper luxury device that’s nearly as good as Apple’s. Or so they’ll say.”
Many of Apple’s rivals in the smartphone market have raised their prices considerably in the last two years, according to a Monday report from CNET, including Samsung, Huawei, and OnePlus. The biggest jump has been in the cost of the OnePlus, which has soared by almost a third.
How High Can Smartphone Prices Go?
During Apple’s second-quarter earnings call, CEO Tim Cook stated that the iPhone X was the “top-selling iPhone since the launch,” putting to rest “notions that” the pricing strategy was too aggressive. The company’s current flagship iPhone was released alongside the 8 and the 8 Plus, which were around $200 cheaper.
For more evidence that Apple’s smartphone strategy is sticking around, look no further than its rival Samsung.
The 2016 Galaxy S7 Edge, for example, was initially released for $779.99, while both the Galaxy S8 Plus and S9 Plus have been upped to $850. Rumors regarding the company’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9 allege that the company’s next-generation phone-tablet hybrid could start as high as $1,055.
However, this doesn’t mean that all Apple and Android phones will cost $1,000 in the future. The majority of iPhone rumors claim that Apple will release three new handsets priced at $699, $899, and $999. This would provide a top-of-the-line option while offering cost-conscious consumers an option that might be cheaper than the current iPhone 8.
Which is to say that it’s really access to the latest and the best smartphones that’s getting more expensive, as opposed to the actual smartphones themselves. And if you’re thinking of shelling out for a new Apple phone, here’s our guide to the best times of the year to buy.


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American Technology News for 25 Feb 2015
The internal structure is the most important thing about an agency, CEO of agency Big Spaceship Michael Lebowitz tells Mashable. It's important to think strategically about who you are hiring, but... also how the organizational structure and physical space will play a part Big Spaceship doesn't have creative directors, and it doesn't separate the agency physically by departments. "There is no template anymore," Lebowtiz says. "We need to make everything unique, custom, and — I hate to use this word — but bespoke every time." And to do this, an agency — or a company of any kind — must think about how physical space can affect work behavior"The physical space is a canvas for the people who work here. You need to build as elastic a space as you can, so that there is a...
British phone and tablet manufacturer Kazam has fallen foul of the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK which has banned the company's latest TV ad for being "overtly sexual". The ASA also... concluded that the one minute commercial could cause offence...
Streetwood-One is the result of two years of prototyping, designing, testing, shaping and perfecting. These headphones are designed specifically for daily use. Headphones are not just for listening to... your favourite music in perfect hi-fidelity, they are also about expressing your style. Wearing this customizable 'accessory' will make you stand out from the crowd. You are unique, so why not your headphones too?
Bravo NASA f0r capturing this new cool Mars Curiosity selfie on the surface of Mars at its new research site, the Mojave. NASA made this image by combining dozens of photos taken during January 2015.... Here is the annotated version, so you can see the sites that the rover visited before reaching this point.
Google has added a new warning to Chrome that pops up before users visit a site that will encourage downloads of unwanted software, the search engine announced on Monday The red warning, pictured... above, lets readers know that the site they're about to visit "might attempt to trick you into installing programs that harm your browsing experience" by, for example, switching your homepage or injecting extra ads on your screen. Chrome already has a warning that pops up once a software download is initiated See also: 5 super easy tips for better online security on Safer Internet Day In addition, Google's search engine has added a framework that better helps Google pick up on deceptive sites, reducing the likelihood that they will show up in search results
These YouTube sensations are making big bucks off of their personalities.
Audi is showing off a new concept car called the prologue Avant and it is a very modern and sleek shooting brake or station wagon as we would call it in the US. The car has a hybrid powertrain and... produces an impressive amount of power to the tune of 455hp and 553.2 lb-ft of torque. The prologue Avant is …
Experts are rethinking the belief that technology always lifts employment as machines take on skills once thought uniquely human.
The man is suspected of being the mastermind behind the GameOver Zeus botnet, which was used by cybercriminals to steal more than $100 million.
The famous Paris landmark has been fitted with two new wind turbines that generate enough electricity to power the commercial areas of its first floor.
The International Space Station isn't expected to maintain funding past 2024, but that doesn't mean that everything will come crashing down when the money runs out. Russia's Federal Space Agency has... decided that it will keep its station modules in or...
If good design is invisible, then you might not notice the intentional choices that go into designing a landscape. It's the work of a landscape architect to subtly guide you through a physical space... and shape how you interact with it, and it's a bit more than just choosing the potted plants.
A new study has been published this week which suggests that artificial intelligence can now learn "human-level control." The team of researchers come from Google's DeepMind, where they're using Space... Invaders - the video game - to show how the search for truly human artificial intelligence isn't too far off. The machine learns to play the video game, learns to …
TORONTO — Police are still puzzled over the origins of a mystery tunnel that was discovered in the city last month, and are asking the public to step forward if they have any information.... Toronto police announced the existence of the tunnel Tuesday. It's located in a heavily wooded area of Black Creek Parkland near Rexall Centre, a tennis stadium. The police have found no new leads in their ongoing investigation, Constable Victor Kwong told Mashable on Wednesday. If you built a tunnel near the Rexall Centre in #Toronto give us a call, k? 416-808-2222 — Chris Boddy (@TPSChrisBoddy) February 24, 2015
The recent privacy scandal that Samsung's Smart TVs have brought the issue of privacy and security with such voice-controlled features into the spotlight. But if you thought that Samsung was alone in... this behavior, you'd be dead wrong. Perhaps it isn't common knowledge yet that smart assistants like Siri, Google Now, or even Cortana do keep your commands for some …
NASA is using one of its satellites to determine how much sand from the Sahara Desert in Africa ends up helping the Amazon rainforest in South America to grow. While the two locations are on different... continents, the amount of dust from the desert that makes its way to the rain forest will surprise you. NASA used one of its …
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has ruled that Apple must pay $532.9 million because iTunes infringed three patents owned by a Texas-based patent licensing called company... Smartflash.
Intel isn't the only chip giant championing battery life over performance this year. AMD has revealed Carrizo, a processor range that's focused heavily on extending the running time of... performance-oriented laptops. While there will be double-digit bo...
If 3D printed organs and prosthetics weren't already cool, now Marvel is on board.
People routinely dismiss Web browser security warnings and just continue to their desired content without giving the threat a second thought. Researchers now suggest that this response could be... hardwired into the human brain.
Samsung has begun rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update to devices in its flagship Galaxy S smartphone series. Here's an update on the progress so far.
A rocket used in the launch of Chinese satellite in December reenters Earth's atmosphere, lighting up the night sky over Utah.
UK 1st country to OK creation of human embryos from 3 people to avoid passing on diseases
While flagship devices like the Apple iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 are great, some might not want to drop that much money on a rectangle that lives in your pocket most of the time anyway. Here... are the top 5 smartphones that money can buy, provided that money is $200 or less.
2014 was a bad year for high-profile hacks. Home Depot, Apple, Target, Sony, the State Department and a number of others were hit hard last year, which cost the companies, the government, and many... consumers big money.


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Google had an event yesterday to show of an update to Android, a new Nexus 7 tablet and their new dongle based service – Chromecast. Like many involved in mobile I was intrigued and looking from the outside Chromecast looked and was demoed as a competitor for Apple’s AirPlay. In reality however it turns out not […]
Well it looks like there are some serious conflicts underway in the mobile operating system sector at the moment. While not quite as fun as some good ol’ fashion fisticuffs – the current bout of patent and legal battles is really intriguing for the interested observer.
So Google has launched Google+ or GooglePlus depending on your preference. So what is it?


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The popularity of the video game Minecraft is increasing, with Microsoft announcing that more than 112 million people play it in a month. This is an increase of 20 million over the reported figures in October 2018.
Minecraft was acquired by tech giant Microsoft in 2014 for $ 2.5 billion (about Rs 17,900 crore).
Noting that the game is available on almost all platforms, it’s no surprise that the number of players keeps growing, with Windows Central citing an interview with Minecraft Studio head Helen Chiang by Business Insider on Saturday.
Often avoided as virtual lego, the game is about fitting pieces together to create something amazing. The game is essentially a blank canvas and provides endless building blocks.
But users’ ability to create support and content after launch, even campaigns, are believed to be the reasons behind its success. The report said that it is expected that this title will continue to grow and reach further heights.
Last month, Microsoft said it would use chipmaker Nvidia’s real-time ray tracing technology, which would give Minecraft players more realistic graphics on personal computers. Real-time ray tracing, or the ability of a chip, helps video games and other computer graphics view shadows and reflections more closely in the real world to see how rays of light will move in a visual field.
Other games that have the same graphic technology are Activision Blizzard’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare”, Ubisoft Toronto’s “Watch Dogs: Legion” and Tencent NExT Studios’ “Synced: Off Planet”, NVID’s previous Where was the month.
Minecraft, a construction game in which players can imagine almost anything, blocks by block, has spread like wildfire since its full release in 2011 by developer Mojang, in a digital, Lego-like world, which Was purchased by Microsoft in 2014.


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Tobermory releases 42-year-old whisky in GTR
Distell-owned Tobermory Distillery has released a 42-year-old single malt whisky exclusively in the global travel retail channel...
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Only hours after I announced that BIS services had been restored in Europe, Middle East & Africa users are yet again faced with another outage…
This time the outage is reported to have spread to Latin America, RIM has acknowledged that it is still experiencing problems.
“Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays,” the firm said in a statement.
“We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.”
These outages come just days after RIM’s rival Apple announced the iPhone 4S and with Apple’s security improving alot of companies have already shifted to the iOS platform.
RIM seriously need to improve their server infrastructure in order to make sure a repeat of these outages never happens again or they will be putting their position within the global cellular market at risk.


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Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, XSEED Games/Marvelous USA, More to Participate at E3 2021
posted on by Alex Mateo
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced on Thursday that Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco Entertainment, XSEED Games/Marvelous USA, Inc., Gearbox Entertainment, Freedom Games, Devious Eye Entertainment, Turtle Beach, Verizon, and Binge.com will participate in this year's E3 gaming event.
The ESA confirmed that the E3 gaming event for 2021 will be a "reimagined" virtual event that will run from June 12 to June 15.
The ESA will work with media partners globally to amplify and make the E3 2021 available to everyone for free. Nintendo, Xbox, CAPCOM, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games, and Koch Media had committed early to E3 2021. Konami later announced that it would not present at the virtual event. Developers will show their latest games and news during the event.
The ESA had said last year that it plans to hold a "reimagined" E3 in 2021.
The ESA canceled the physical E3 2020 event due to concerns about the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The ESA reportedly told its partners in March 2020 that it was "exploring options for an online E3 event" that summer. However, E3 eventually did not hold an online event last year.
Source: Press release


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Ubisoft witnessed digital sales of The Division "skyrocket" in March, as the game overtook Call of Duty: Black Ops III for the top spot among digital console purchases, according to the latest report from SuperData.
"Excitement pushed sales to over $109 million, making Tom Clancy's The Division the highest grossing digital console title in March, $48 million ahead of runner-up Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Black Ops III's 17 percent month-over-month revenue decrease means The Division siphoned off attention and spending from Call of Duty fans. Black Ops III is not the only digital console title to see a significant decrease, Madden NFL fell to 10th place from the top 5 with revenue decreasing 31 percent month-over-month. NFL postseason excitement has clearly worn off," noted SuperData's Joost van Dreunen.
Overall, digital game sales for the month increased a modest five percent to $6.2 billion, and the biggest growth came from the console world, which jumped up 23 percent year-over-year in revenues and 15 percent in terms of audience.
While social gaming revenue continued to decline, down 10 percent year-over-year, "as casual gamers increasingly shift to mobile devices," mobile, free-to-play MMO and digital PC all showed gains in March. Mobile, in particular, once again demonstrated just how dominant Supercell has become.
"Clash Royale tops worldwide revenue charts, delivering a blow to Supercell's competition. Supercell's newest game earned a whooping $133 million in revenue the past month, beating Clash of Clans to become the highest grossing mobile title worldwide. Supercell now has two games occupying first and second place in worldwide grossing ranks with a combined March revenue of $251 million. Clash Royale firmly solidifies Supercell's status as the world's most lucrative mobile gaming company, a significant achievement in an increasingly competitive market," said van Dreunen.
"The $32.8 billion mobile market is set to grow 10 percent between 2016E and 2017E, but higher user-acquisition costs means fiercer competition among top companies. Machine Zone just recently announced plans for 'diversification,' shifting their attention to server hosting as a new business segment."
Interestingly, in the world of PC gaming, it looks like subscription-based MMOs are making a comeback of sorts. As van Dreunen explained, "Black Desert shows niche subscription MMOs still have potential in western markets. Korean publisher Daum Games has already sold over 400,000 copies of the title at $30, $50 and $100 dollar pricing tiers and expects at least one million copies to sell by year's end. The company also noted that international sales surprisingly far exceeded domestic ones. This year's $2.3 billion market for pay-to-play MMOs is still just a fraction of free-to-play's $17.2 billion. However, MMOs like Blade and Soul, Lineage I and Aion demonstrate that quality pay-to-play titles beside World of Warcraft still can carve out enough market share to thrive."
Here's the digital chart for each game segment:


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OnePlus has announced that it’s holding a surprise launch event in China this weekend.
The event, scheduled for this Saturday, December 17th at 14:30 China Standard Time, was announced on Chinese social media network Weibo. The post, as translated, reads, “New direction, new action, new future. Born to the new, witness the important moment of OnePlus brand and products! See you online at 14:30 on Saturday, December 17.”
Considering that OnePlus 11 leaks have been ramping up in the past few months, it could be that the event would focus on the new flagship. However, on the other hand, OnePlus normally teases its new flagship launches months in advance, and considering that the upcoming event was revealed just a week in advance, we can also expect it to be related to a less anticipated announcement.
It might be that the company shares a teaser for the OnePlus 11 at the event, though it doesn’t seem likely that the phone will be revealed at the event.
From what we know so far, the OnePlus 11 will sport a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, up to 16GB of RAM, a triple camera setup with 50-megapixel, 48-megapixel and 32-megapixel shooters, 16-megapixel selfie camera and a 5,000mAh battery.
Additionally, the company is reportedly looking to drop the ‘Pro’ moniker from the upcoming flagship, and just stick with the OnePlus 11.
Image credit: OnePlus (Weibo)