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Muc-Off has joined forces with UCI World Tour Pro Cycling team Bahrain McLaren for the next three years, as official bike care and maintenance partner.
The brand will be supplying the team, including both riders and mechanics, with a comprehensive range of products across its clean, protect and lube systems. This includes its flagship Nano Tech Bike Cleaner and Bike Protect Spray as well as a wide range of lubricants such as the Hydrodynamic Lube.
Bahrain McLaren is also set to be the first World Tour men’s team to begin regular racing with tubeless setups with some riders at specific races in the 2020 calendar set to use the Muc-Off No Puncture Hassle Tubeless Sealant. The riders will also be using the Muc-Off Athlete Performance CC Chamois Cream.
Alex Trimnell, managing director at Muc-Off, said: “To have the opportunity to get behind a team that we believe will revolutionize road racing is hugely exciting! This partnership not only demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting world class riders and the sport we love, but also signals a new era of Muc-Off drivetrain optimization development; for which this team will act as an invaluable vehicle.”
The riders’ Le Col team kit will be adorned with McLaren’s base grid pattern mixing its Papaya Orange with Bahrain Red and accents of blue on the sleeves. Muc-Off’s partnership will not only be visible across the team vehicles, but also on the new kits with logo placement on the jerseys’ side panels and rain jackets’ dropped tails.
John Allert, joint managing director at McLaren Pro Cycling, added: “Team Bahrain McLaren is delighted to be working in partnership with Muc-Off – to benefit from its impressive technical products and rigorous approach to research and development.
“Muc-Off has so many best-in-category products and the World Tour is the perfect environment in which we can demonstrate their efficacy and performance. By bringing these elite technical products to competitive and casual cyclists alike, Muc-Off and Team Bahrain McLaren aim to educate and inspire people to care for their cycling equipment as much as we care for this great sport.”


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04/16/14: AROUND BALTIMORE: Combating bullies with books
Baltimore’s Dr. Tara Doaty-Mundell just released her first children’s book “Let’s Talk About It” to help teach kids how to deal with bullying, peer pressure and self-esteem. Plus home sales are up in Baltimore. Maryland’s Real Estate Business Intelligence just released new data and the consensus is, it’s definitely a seller’s market. And, Dr. Bruce Greenberg at Nature Care Pharmacy in Reisterstown has a couple tips to help Marylanders cope with allergies.

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Nutrisystem has developed a biodegradable cooler. Nutrisystem has invested in new technology to ensure that its products are delivered in a fresh-frozen cooler that reduces the impact on the environment while offering the same strong and secure delivery. Nutrisystem’s new coolers are biodegradable up to 92% over a four year period based on data from the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Nutrisystem has started shipping its eco-friendly cooler. Customers will have the option of recycling the shipping containers or simply mixing them with their regular trash, letting nature break them down over time. The boxes are made with thermally robust materials and can be reused or repurposed.
“We are incredibly proud to introduce this sustainable and eco-friendly cooler as part of our company’s larger mission to reduce waste without sacrificing performance,” Nutrisystem President Tommy Lewis said. “Customers can expect the same quality and reliability we have provided for nearly 50 years and continue to feel good about choosing Nutrisystem for their weight loss goals. These coolers are just another way to make it easy for our customers to lead a more sustainable lifestyle while they are on our program.”
Nutrisystem is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products and has cut down on unnecessary packaging to reduce waste. Its food cartons utilize recyclable board stock and its food trays are recyclable and labeled accordingly. In addition, Nutrisystem has decreased the print materials included with its program, while simultaneously increasing program support through its website and app.


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The launch of Kuwait App Market
a panel discussion with guests from Ooredoo Group, HP, Cisco and Fortinet. A special exhibition will be held at the forum in which Ooredoo partners will participate to showcase their latest products and services.
In the evening, the forum will witness a special event with the launch of the Kuwait App Market. The market will embrace the creativity of around 50 young Kuwaiti’s who have designed unique, successful applications. The event will be held in collaboration with Brilliant Lab from 4:40 pm to 8:30 pm. This event is in line with the company’s strategy to support the youth through the organization of the Kuwait App Market which will include the most prominent local applications.


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By Claudia Assis, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of Plug Power rose Thursday after the company narrowed a quarterly per-share loss and said it expected to break even this year and quadruple orders.
Plug Power /zigman2/quotes/205453512/composite PLUG -2.88% shares added 6.5%, losing some steam as the trading day progressed. Earlier Thursday, the maker of fuel-cell systems added 21%.
The company posted a fourth-quarter loss of $28.9 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with a loss of $8.5 million, or 22 cents a share, a year earlier.
Excluding one-time items, the adjusted loss was 8 cents a share, on par with expectations of analysts surveyed by FactSet and compared with an adjusted loss of 25 cents a share in the year-ago period.
Quarterly revenues jumped 36% to $8 million.
The stock has soared since the company said late last month that it won a contract to provide its fuel cell-powered warehouse equipment to six Wal-Mart Stores Inc. distribution centers.
“Although a lot has happened since our last call, I am more bullish than ever that Plug Power is moving into a rapid-growth cycle,” Chief Executive Officer Andy Marsh said in a statement.
“I firmly believe that this continuing momentum will carry on throughout 2014, and that orders for this year will total more than $150 million – almost four times our total for 2013. We also are on track to achieve our goal of (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) break even” by the third quarter of 2014.
Shares of Plug Power, which have a 52-week low of 15 cents, have gained more than 4,000% in the past 12 months. The stock was under pressure earlier this week, however, after short-seller and analyst Andrew Left likened investing in it to betting in a casino.
Shares would be fairly valued at 50 cents, Left said.
Plug Power shares hit an intraday record of $1,565 on January 24, 2000, and a record close of $1,497.50 on March 10 that year. The 2000 values have been adjusted to account for a reverse stock split in May 2011.
Investors have betted Plug Power and other fuel-cell companies, however, are on their way to profitability as demand for their wares rises and the cost of manufacturing their products decrease.
Plug Power’s shares runup also lifted shares of other fuel-cell companies. Ballard Power Systems Inc. shares rose 3.7%. Ballard provides the fuel-cell stacks that Plug uses in its equipment.
Shares of Hydrogenics Corp. gained 4.6%. Shares of fuel-cell power plant developer FuelCell Energy Inc. /zigman2/quotes/203763461/composite FCEL -3.73% rose 0.6%.
Meanwhile, solar companies fell on Thursday, with SolarCity Corp. /zigman2/quotes/205874957/delayed SCTY 0.00% shares down 4.4%.
SolarCity said Wednesday it was partnering with Best Buy to have salespeople in electronics chain’s stores to advise homeowners wanting to install rooftop solar systems in their property. The partnership will start in stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, New York, and Oregon.


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If you're the type to put off holiday shopping until the last minute, not to worry—there are plenty of speedy ways to ship your items nationwide and ensure that they'll arrive before Dec. 25.
Below is a rundown of USPS, UPS, and FedEx deadlines for pre-Christmas arrival. Cost, of course, goes up with the speed of the service.
Today, Thursday, is the last day to ship via First-Class mail if you're hoping your items will arrive by Christmas. Friday, Dec. 21 is the last day to ship via Priority Mail and Saturday, Dec. 22 is the last way to ship via Express Mail.
The Princeton Main Post Office and the Palmer Square branch will extend retail hours on Saturday, December 22. The hours of operation for those days will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Today is the deadline to send via UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. Friday, Dec. 21 is the deadline to send UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, Next Day Air Early A.M.
Today is the last day to ship FedEx 2Day Delivery and Friday, Dec. 21 is the last day to ship FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx First Overnight.
USPS also recommends using its website – usps.com – to print shipping labels and pay for postage or using one of their Automated Postal Centers, which, like ATMs, perform many of the same functions of a trip to the post office


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After the Realme 8 5G and some other models, Realme currently sending November 2022 security patch update for the Realme 8 in India with the build number RMX3085_11_C.14. You can check the complete changelog which is mentioned below.
- Integrates the November 2022 Android security patches.
- Improves system performance and stability.
According to the latest reports, there are so many devices that have already received Realme’s November 2022 security patch update in multiple regions and also some devices updated with the Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0 and also Realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13.
According to the current report, Realme 8 5G and Realme Narzo 30 grabbed the latest November 2022 security patch update. You can check the complete changelog which is mentioned below.
Add Realmicentral to your Google News feed.
Update Version Number:
- Realme 8 5G – RMX3241_11.C.06
- Realme Narzo 30 – RMX3242_11.C.06
- 【Security】Integrates the November 2022 Android security patch to enhance system security.
- 【Network】Optimized network performance to improve stability
- 【System】Improves system perform
How To Update:
- Please back up your data before updating: Settings->Additional Settings->Back Up and Reset->Backup & Restore, and select the Data to Be Backed up. Please keep the battery level over 30%. Please do not turn off your phone during the update process.
This update will be randomly pushed out to a limited number of users soon and will have a broader rollout in a few days to ensure there are no critical bugs. If no critical bugs are found, the full rollout will be completed in the upcoming days.
If you like our news and you want to be the first to get notifications of the latest news, then follow us on Twitter and Facebook page and join our Telegram channel. Also, you can follow us on Google News for regular updates.


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Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX), a global company focused on driving the adoption of commercial electric vehicles (“EVs”) and associated energy consumption, announced that it has completed the acquisition of California-based Solectrac, a manufacturer and distributor of premium zero-emission electric tractors that use clean renewable sources of energy. The acquisition aligns with IDEX’s focus on reducing commercial fleet greenhouse gas emissions. Solectrac offers three e-tractors and utility vehicle models that can be used for a wide array of agricultural and utility operations. According to the announcement, through the most recent acquisition, Ideanomics acquired 78.6% of the fully diluted cap table of Solectrac; IDEX now owns 100% of the innovative electric tractor company. In the announcement, Solectrac founder Steve Heckeroth, who has more than four decades experience in the space, noted that the acquisition provides Solectrac with an array of resources to help scale its marketing, operations and manufacturing capabilities as well as better achieve its mission to lead the transition from fossil fuel-based farming to zero-emission regenerative agriculture. “The acquisition of Solectrac is perfectly aligned with our EV and Mobility initiatives,” said Ideanomics CEO Alf Poor in the press release. “EV tractors have proven to be superior to their diesel counterparts not only when it comes to torque and overall performance, but also when you consider operating costs, reliability and the positive impact they have on the environment. They are also an underserved part of the market when it comes to EV initiatives. For those reasons, we are excited to bring Steve Heckeroth and the Solectrac team into the Ideanomics family. With farmers and business operators eager to transition from diesel to sustainable alternatives, we intend to make Solectrac the reliable, go-to brand not just here in North America, but across the globe.”
To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/WCdSL
About Ideanomics Inc.
Ideanomics is a global company focused on the convergence of financial services and industries experiencing technological disruption. The Ideanomics Mobility division is a service provider that facilitates the adoption of electric vehicles by commercial fleet operators through offering vehicle procurement, finance and leasing, and energy-management solutions under the company’s innovative sales-to-financing-to-charging (“S2F2C”) business model. Ideanomics Capital is focused on disruptive fintech solutions for the financial services industry. Together, Ideanomics Mobility and Ideanomics Capital provide the company’s global customers and partners with leading technologies and services designed to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability, and the company’s shareholders with the opportunity to participate in high-potential, growth industries. For more information about the company, please visit www.Ideanomics.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IDEX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/IDEX
About Green Energy Stocks
Green Energy Stocks (GCS) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on electric vehicles (EV), as well as other emerging market opportunities in the green sector. The company provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, GCS is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, GCS brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. GCS is where news, content and information converge.
To receive SMS text alerts from Green Energy Stocks, text “Green” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.greennrgstocks.com
Green Energy Stocks is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.


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Valve has posted a spirited defence of both Steam Machines and the future of gaming on Linux on its Steam Community forums.
Valve’s response comes after news that the company had removed prominent links on its Store to Steam Machines. These are compact, console-like gaming PCs that run a customised version of Linux called SteamOS.
Many people took Valve’s move as a sign that the company was giving up on Steam Machines, as well as SteamOS, and while these were rather niche products, many people who were looking for a viable gaming alternative to Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system were disappointed.
No ghosts in the Steam Machines
The forum post, written by Valve employee Pierre-Loup Griffais, insists that the removal of any reference to Steam Machines was simply “a routine cleanup of the Steam Store navigation”, which was “removed from the main navigation bar based on user traffic”.
Because this move sparked a large number of people to speculate on the future of Steam Machines, Valve decided to set the record straight. As the post acknowledges, “While it's true Steam Machines aren't exactly flying off the shelves, our reasons for striving towards a competitive and open gaming platform haven't significantly changed.”
This means that Valve's commitment to Linux remains intact. Many gamers and developers aren’t too happy with the dominance of the Windows operating system for gaming PCs. Microsoft’s push to make its own Microsoft Store, a rival to Valve’s Steam store, an integral part of Windows 10 could be seen as a major reason why Valve wants to set up an alternative operating system.
The Microsoft Store isn’t too popular with many gamers either, due to its lack of content, high prices and locked-down nature that prevents people modding games. The fact that you need to buy a licence for Windows 10, while SteamOS – like other Linux distros – is free, is another reason why people aren’t too happy with being stuck with Windows.
While Valve is honest about the lack of success of Steam Machines, it highlights that it has learnt a lot from customer feedback, and is working to address a number of issues. One of these is by its ongoing investment in the Vulkan graphics API, which is an open source alternative to Microsoft’s Windows-only DirectX tools. If more developers use Vulkan, more games should be able to run on Linux.
So, it’s good to see that Valve remains dedicated to finding an alternative to Windows for PC gamers. If Windows is indeed dying, or Microsoft continues to annoy gamers, then the need for a different operating system for our gaming rigs will be more important than ever.
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Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.


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Marina Strauss, Globe & Mail: Sobeys Inc. is making progress in its turnaround efforts after a troubled few years but still has work to do to fully revive its grocery operations. "You won't be hearing any champagne corks popping over here," Michael Medline, chief executive officer of parent Empire Co. Ltd., told an analyst conference call on Thursday after posting better-than-expected quarterly results. "We still have significant work to do in all facets of our business."
Hollie Shaw, Financial Post: Empire CEO also appeared to be warming to the idea of expanding discount banner FreshCo outside of Ontario,
Defying all logic, the ubiquitous Canada Goose is more popular than ever, thanks to the firm’s concerted strategy to remain an anti-fashion fashion brand
The case of Sears's employees, who will see their pension reduced, shows the risk of depending too much on a defined-benefit pension plan to provide income in retirement if the plan is not fully funded and the sponsor goes bust.
Roslyn Griner, the Canadian company’s VP of marketing, spoke with Retail Dive about the brand's reinvention and expansion efforts.
(Purolator Survey) While Canadians still have over 100 shopping days left before the holidays get into full swing, retailers across the country got a head start on what they expect to be a busier holiday season compared to 2016. According to a new Canadian retail survey conducted by Purolator and Leger, Canadians will be generous gift-givers this year as the majority of retailers (80 per cent) anticipate an increase in sales as they enter the busy shopping season. "Canadian retailers are heading into this year's holidays with optimism and confidence," said Ramsey Mansour, Purolator's Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Marketing. "Even with a more dynamic and competitive market, retailers expect an increase in sales, largely due to e-commerce and the anticipated strength of in-store sales."
One of Canada's best-known clothing retailers, Roots Corp., announced on Wednesday its plans to launch an initial public offering of its shares.


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The International Game Developers Association has said that the recent bout of Government attention the industry has received due to loot boxes should be a "wake up call" for its biggest companies.
In a post on the organisation's website, IGDA executive director Jen MacLean (pictured) says that the industry needs to take action over the loot box business model, calling for education of consumers and transparency about the odds of receiving items - as is already the case in China.
In addition, the exec said that the industry should make a commitment to not market loot boxes to children.
Furthermore, the IGDA chief warned that if the games industry isn't prepared to take responsibility, then it runs the risk of being regulated by outside forces.
"Random loot drops are a well-established game mechanic, and a way to vary rewards and keep players interested and engaged," she said.
"But when a player makes a real-money purchase of an unknown item-a loot box-we run the risk of triggering gambling laws. Those regulations are not always clear, and many people have noted that loot boxes are simply digital versions of collectible card games, but we cannot ignore the fact that video games face increased scrutiny, concern, and regulation because of their immersive nature."
She continued: "By not taking significant action as an industry and global game developer community to self-regulate how loot boxes are used, we run the very real risk that governments around the world will take that action for us, and perhaps create significantly restrictive laws that could impact any random reward elements in games. I offer my strongest advice to game developers and interactive entertainment businesses on this matter: addressing how loot boxes are used is both the right thing, and the smart thing, for the global game development industry to do."
It's refreshing to see someone from the games industry actually talking some sense for a change. MacLean is absolutely correct - the last year should have been a wake-up call for the triple-A games market in its aggressive monetisation tactics. PCGamesInsider.biz has been saying for over a year now that much of the goodwill that the games industry has accumulated in the last decade is being slowly lost as we end up in the media spotlight more and more for the wrong reasons.
Ultimately, when governments have to step in - which feels somewhat inevitable at this point - it will be the biggest publishers who are to blame, and no doubt they will be crying foul over any new legislation.
It is interesting that it is the IGDA - a developer-centric organisation - that has come out with statement. It's a stark contrast to publisher-funded bodies like The Entertainment Software Association who are blindly insisting that loot boxes do not constitute gambling.


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CableFAX’s Content Business Launches
CableFAX parent company Access Intelligence today launched Content Business (www.cablefaxcontentbusiness.com), an online premium service featuring proprietary coverage of cable content, ratings, programming, distribution and advertising trends.
CableFAX Content Business is led by Michael Grebb and Seth Arenstein, veteran editors for CableFAX Daily and CableFAX: The Magazine. It will be updated daily with news and analysis related to cable content and will include exclusive data from partners Nielsen, Rentrak, ComScore, Big Champagne and others, tracking consumer consumption of cable content on multiple platforms, including linear TV, video on demand and the Web.
Among Content Business’ features: a Cable Show Database that includes details on hundreds of cable shows, and columns by Tim Brooks, former EVP of research for Lifetime Television, Sean Cunningham, president and CEO of the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB), and John Zamoiski, co-CEO of NMA Entertainment & Marketing and chairman of the Promotion Marketing Association Education Foundation.
“Content Business gives cable executives a trusted editorial platform to follow the money in the cable business, where content is king and the deals are critical,” notes Diane Schwartz, vice president and group publisher of the CableFAX group. “This premium service is a timely complement to CableFAX Daily, which has been breaking the news and keeping people connected for nearly two decades.”


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The Apple Watch Series 5, Fossil’s Gen 5 Carlyle HR smartwatch and more are on sale today
Deals. Come on, we know you want more Apple deals so yeah, awe got you. Amazon currently has the 40mm Apple Watch Series 5 for $99 off, leaving it at $300 shipped. However, this is the GPS only version but you can get the discount on more color variants. The Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle stainless steel watch is also $96 off, leaving it at $199 shipped. We have more deals on Motorola phones and Amazon products in the links in the description.
Razer’s new Blade 17 Pro offers a 300Hz display and NVIDIA’s RTX 2080 Super graphics
Razer just refreshed their Blade 17 Pro Laptop for this year in two different variants, and let’s just say both are insane in their own way. One with a 17.3in FHD IPS display at 300Hz refresh rate and another 17.3in 4K touch display at 120Hz. The specs include an 8-core 10th Gen Intel i7, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, up to 2TB of SSD and graphics can go up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max Q. It starts at $2599 and it will be available later this month. We have a full spec sheet for the ports and other details in the links in the description.
Asus ROG Phone 3 reportedly spotted on WiFi Alliance and Geekbench
We know a lot of you are huge fans of the ASUS ROG Phones and it looks like we might be getting another one soon, thought this one doesn’t seem like the powerhouse its predecessors were. It was just spotted on Geekbench and the WiFi Alliance, sporting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 8GB of RAM and running Android 10. The model number is pretty similar to the one we got for the ROG Phone 2 so it only makes sense. This phone could launch in the second half of the year, we’ll keep you posted once we get more leaks.
It seems that Amazon Prime Day sales will be delayed until September
The WSJ claims that Amazon will be delaying their Prime Day this year for, obvious reasons. Previous reports speculated that they would delay it until August but this report claims that they will be pushing it back until September. This delay would create room for more inventory and prepare shipping for more types of products. This will most likely not hurt Amazon too much but instead the third party companies that get more sales through Prime Day. We don’t have an official date for Prime Date yet, but it won’t happen in July. Thing is, let’s be honest. I don’t think anyone is really looking for some crazy shopping in the current state of the economy.
The iPhone 12 may arrive without bundled earphones
According to Ming Chi Kuo, Apple is ready to make their next courageous move. In his latest report, Apple will stop shipping wired EarPods inside the iPhone 12 lineup’s box. This would create an inconvenience for most of the consumers which use these earbuds but, it would also boost up AirPods sales for the holidays. This goes along with Kuo’s report that Apple won’t be releasing more AirPods this year, as they might be trying to sell as much from the current models as they can. Some sources claim that we might get an AirPods bundle with the iPhone 12 but, you never know with Apple. Now why is this important? I know most Android OEMS don’t bundle earbuds, but the iPhone was always meant to be a successor to the iPod. It’s been legendarily known for the earbuds in the box since generation 1. You see people with them all the time. Oh well..
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Pixel 4a reportedly delayed again, might now be announced on July 13
And finally the most interesting news today continue to be Google Pixel 4a, but NOT necessarily for good reasons today. We’ve been getting more and more Pixel leaks lately because, we thought we were getting closer to the launch date for the 4a. First we were expecting it to launch around May 15th but that was clearly delayed, and we were expecting a June launch which made sense because of the Android 11 Event but it seems that won’t be the case, again… Gotta hand it to Jon Prosser for his track record in leaks, and in his new report, the Pixel 4a will be delayed once again and it will get a July 13th announcement. According to his sources, the phone is ready to ship but it keeps getting pushed because of the market’s condition due to the pandemic. Apparently it will bring a regular Snapdragon 7 Series chip with no 5G, and he also pretty much confirms that we won’t be getting an XL variant after all. The Pixel 5 might get pushed back as well.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook on Friday will take the witness stand to defend the App Store in a trial being held in California. “Fortnite” maker Epic Games claims the App Store is a monopoly that Apple abuses.
When Epic Games tried to evade the commissions with an alternative payment system in Fortnite last August, Apple ousted it from their App Store. Epic Games then sued Apple resulting in this trial.
Cook is expected to spend more than two hours making what are likely to be his most extensive public remarks on the App Store business, which anchors Apple’s $53.8 billion services business.
Cook fielded a handful of questions about the company’s App Store when he testified before U.S. lawmakers last year, but he otherwise stayed mostly silent as lawmakers grilled the chiefs of Alphabet Inc’s Google and Facebook Inc.
Apple attorneys said they plan to ask him to testify about Apple’s corporate values, how the App Store came about and Apple’s competitive landscape. Throughout the trial, Apple has sought to persuade Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that whatever rules it imposes on developers are aimed at keeping its customers’ information private and safe from malware.
MacDailyNews Take: This case is a farce. Expect Tim Cook to use his opportunity in this trial to drive home the point that Apple does not have a monopoly in smartphones (or any other market, in fact), so there can be no “monopoly abuse.”
• Android: 72.19%
• iOS: 27.00%
I don’t think anybody reasonable is going to come to the conclusion that Apple is a monopoly. Our share is much more modest. We don’t have a dominant position in any market… We are not a monopoly. — Apple CEO Tim Cook, June 2019


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Coronavirus Updates: what are the new restrictions?
On Tuesday, 22 September 2020, the Government announced tighter restrictions following an increase in Covid-19 cases.
Hands. Face. Space.
The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of the new campaign, namely to prevent the spread of Covid-19, particularly given that the winter season is fast approaching. ‘Hands. Face. Space’, initially published on 9 September 2020, is designed to urge the nation to wash their hands, use a face covering when social distancing is not possible and to try and keep distance between those who are not within their household.
Remote Working/Working from Home
In a U-turn, the Government suggested that those who can work remotely should do so over the winter months. If however, an employee is working in essential services, including the education sector or is unable to work from home, they should continue to go to their workplace.
Where employees cannot work from home, employers must ensure that workplaces are Covid-19 secure. The Government has published 14 Guides covering a range of working environments, including offices, hospitality and construction. Some employers may find it useful to review multiple guides, for example, where a business has an office and a warehouse. Further information on Covid-19 secure workplaces can be found here.
Employers and businesses will also face stricter rules in connection with ensuring that their premises are Covid-19 secure, effective from 28 September 2020:
- Leisure and entertainment venues, including services provided in community centres and close contact services, will be subject to Covid-19 secure requirements by law. Fines of up to £10,000.00 will be issued for repeat offenders.
- Employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is required to self-isolate to come to work.
- Employers must remind people, including staff, to wear face coverings where it is mandatory.
Further rules surrounding face coverings have also been the talk of the nation, these include:
- From 23 September 2020, customers travelling in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings.
- From 24 September 2020, customers in hospitality venues (except when seated to eat or drink) will be required to wear a face covering. Staff in hospitality must also wear face coverings.
- From 24 September 2020, face coverings and visors must be worn, by law, in services which require close contact.
- Staff working on public transport, including taxi drivers, are to continue wearing face coverings
Other Rules – Effective from 24 September 2020
Businesses which sell food or drink, including without limitation cafes, pubs and restaurants, social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys and indoor and outdoor leisure centres, must close their doors between the hours of 10.00 pm and 5.00 am. This will include takeaway services however, delivery services can continue beyond 10.00 pm.
In licensed premises, where food or drink is served, meals and drinks must be ordered from and served to a table. Customers may no longer order directly at a bar or front of house and must consume food and drink from their table.
Businesses must display official NHS QR Code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ using this option as an alternative to providing their details to the business. To create a QR Code for your business or for more information, please click here.
In addition to the NHS QR Code, the NHS released a Covid-19 App for smart mobile telephones, the main features are:
- Trace: find out when you’ve been near others who have tested positive for coronavirus.
- Alert: lets you know the level of coronavirus risk in your postcode district.
- Check-in: get alerted if you’ve visited a venue where you may have come into contact with coronavirus, using a simple QR Code scanner (as above).
- Symptoms: check if you have coronavirus symptoms and see if you need to order a test.
- Test: helps you order a test if you need to.
- Isolate: keep track of your self-isolation countdown and access relevant advice.
The NHS suggest that the app will be the fastest way of knowing when you are at risk from Covid-19. “Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Download the app”:


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While they’re far from obsolete, sedans are still old news. Today, crossovers are king; after the requisite Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram Pickups, the best-selling vehicle in America is the Nissan Rogue, dusting the Honda Civic by nearly 12,000 units through February 2017. Continue reading >>>
If I were to ask a hundred people what car they’d most like to see return as a new model, I bet at least half would mention one of the Toyota sports cars from the 1980s and 90s.
Let’s say you are one of the millions of Americans who are in the market for a used car. Given that you’re reading a car-shopping website’s blog, that probably isn’t a huge stretch of the imagination. With 2014 models coming off lease, now is an excellent time to buy a used car that still has some of its youthfulness and shine left. So we decided to take a look at how some strong 2014 models have fared since we first looked at them critically when they started rolling off the assembly line. A good deal of what we had to say when we first looked at these cars brand new probably still has a lot of value. Continue reading >>>
Let me guess: You drive a midsize SUV.
I’m playing the odds on that one, because the midsize SUV just might be the most popular segment of vehicle on the market today. Family sedans, and their cargo-limiting trunk space, are quickly falling in popularity at the hands of the capacity, ride height, and AWD capability of midsize SUVs.
In recent years, the opulent features and sleek design of luxury midsize SUVs have conquered the hearts, and bank accounts, of America.
The segment includes entries from BMW, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, and more. Another, from Land Rover, is due very soon in this increasingly crowded market.
Which ride will be king? Continue reading >>>
Every car buyer will eventually face the dilemma of buying new or used.
New-car buyers get a strong warranty, the peace of mind of knowing no one else has driven the car, and, of course, that invigorating scent that only new cars offer.
Used-car buyers save some money and know they are getting a great value on a car that’s already seen the bulk of its depreciation. Of course, there’s also the risk of hidden problems that could cost a small fortune to repair.
What’s the best way to go? There’s no right answer, but some of the latest research makes used look like a better option than ever. Continue reading >>>
The Volkswagen Phaeton was the answer to a question nobody asked.
It quietly debuted as the flagship VW sedan but came with the price of a well-equipped 7 Series. The Phaeton died an uneventful death after it became obvious that executive-level buyers prefer executive-level brands.
Very few people wanted to spend upward of $80,000 and stare at a Volkswagen logo.
Has Volkswagen learned from the error of its ways? Maybe. Continue reading >>>
When quality standards appeared to slip for Subaru, we asked if perhaps the small but rapidly growing Japanese brand was threatening to “fly too close to the sun.” Since 2008, General Motors has continuously adjusted course to bring its business back to basics and avoid the allure of owning far-reaching—but ultimately unprofitable—brands. The latest departure from GM’s portfolio: Opel and Vauxhall (its entire European operations) have been sold to French conglomerate Groupe PSA, formerly PSA Peugeot Citroën. Continue reading >>>
Like just about everyone else in this country, I own a smartphone that costs me about a hundred bucks per month. I never would have thought someone could lease a car for less than the cost of my phone.
In Southern California, some dealers have started to offer a $69 per month lease a new Fiat 500e.
How can leasing a new car cost less than service on a smartphone? Continue reading >>>
The snow has begun to melt, the sun is sticking around longer each day, and for thousands upon thousands of college students, the next few weeks will be some of the year’s best. For many, Spring Break means precious days away from school and the opportunity to hit the road and get out of town. Every road-trip car needs plenty of space for food and snacks, a couple of pillows, and enough room to make sure the travelers on board don’t murder each other. But there are a few other essentials, without which an interstate odyssey could easily become a terrible long haul. Continue reading >>>
When someone buys a luxury car, he or she is not just buying heated rear seats, autonomous driving capability, and an overly complicated infotainment system. The buyer is investing in a little thing called prestige.
Prestige is what you get when you buy a high-end Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, Jaguar, or the like. Prestige is the thing that makes people look at your car and think, “I wonder what that guy does…”
When non-luxury automakers attempt to build a luxury car, they can fill it with all of the luxury features and goodies they want, but it will never have the prestige of the luxury brands.
If you want all of the luxury that modern vehicles have to offer but could pass on the prestige, check out these cars. Continue reading >>>


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If you look at the growth of bitcoin or any other digital currency, then the year 2021 has been going nice so far. But what comes in the coming months of this year and beyond would be interesting to explore. This year we have seen the good growth of Bitcoin, and the price had gone all-time high before it declined further. One can find a good impact of the same on different industries and markets of modern-day times. Many of the companies and groups have come forward to accept the money in a big way. All these months and before this year, digital coins have grown well in recent times. Even top auto company men like Elon Musk were quick to invest in this domain and thus created a good buzz around the market. You can check the future of digital coins here in the following paragraphs, while one can even explore more on sites like Bitcoin System App.
As we see the digital coins going up and evolving, we see things becoming difficult to predict about the same in the long term. However, in the coming months, experts feel that it is rosy to invest in bitcoin and other digital coins. The first thing you need to talk about is the regulation around digital coins. As per experts, the future would depend more on how the regulations are being made for the coins. The lawmakers and experts involved in the White Office feel that it would be safer to invest in digital currencies if proper regulations move. This way, they feel that one can check on issues like cyber scams that are waiting to happen. Even nations like China are considering some regulations on the same to make things work for everyone willing to invest in digital coins.
As per another expert, the regulations can be called the biggest achievement in this domain as it has much to offer to the lovers of digital coins. Though one can find the US-based senators, who are seen considering some rules and regulations for bolstering the digital currencies when it comes to reporting the measures. Rules remain the best and biggest kind of overhang when talking about digital coins at the global level claims experts. A clear and precise kind of regulation can work wonders. Several groups like Federal Chair and Treasury Sec seem to have showcased their ideas about putting the interest in a regular way.
Now, let’s talk about the outlook of Bitcoin. Well, BTC remains a good indicator as far as the digital currency in the market is concerned. It has emerged as the biggest digital coin in terms of the market cap when we check recent trends in this domain. Moreover, the prices of Bitcoin seem to be interesting and encouraging in a big way that comes with the higher point that goes with the price of 60K USD in April and then goes down by half of the same in recent times. But soon, we saw the value or price of BTC is going to go 50K USD soon. So, considering the volatile nature of BTC, the experts feel that the investment in digital currencies like Bitcoin would end up giving nothing much before the target audience.
Now, if you look at the future of digital currency, the speculator has a different tale to share. But the fact of the matter is more and more people are now coming forward to invest in Bitcoin and other digital currencies, and that seems to have become a more speculative kind of investment in the coming times as not much is able to invest in this domain without getting into the direction. ISo if you are coming in the next morning, you see things changing a lot for the digital coins, and it has been banned in a couple of nations, but in the coming time’s things would open up for the virtual currency for sure. You need to know the idea of investing small and steady and never going overboard, and things would remain under control. Let’s see how things move, but digital currencies are on a higher note at the moment.


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Jason Day to Nike Golf has been out in the golf ether since late summer.
Day then re-signed with TaylorMade in a multi-year extension of his equipment endorsement deal. However, as part of the announcement, TaylorMade-adidas Golf made no mention of extending Day's apparel and footwear deal with adidas Golf, opening the door to the change to Nike. That change was formally announced Sunday, with Day signing a multi-year deal with Nike Golf to wear their apparel and footwear, as well hat and gloves.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Day will wear Nike Golf apparel starting at the SBS Tournament of Champions next week, the PGA Tour's first event of 2017.
“Joining Nike is a dream come true,” Day said in a release. “The brand is synonymous with the world’s best athletes. I’m honored and can’t wait to be part of the team and working closely with Nike to take my game, and the sport of golf, to even higher levels.”
In 2016, Day won three times, including back-to-back starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, as well The Players Championship.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans swiped their credit cards more often in October and borrowed more to attend school and buy cars. The increases drove U.S. consumer debt to an all-time high.
The Federal Reserve said Friday that consumers increased their borrowing by $14.2 billion in October from September. Total borrowing rose to a record $2.75 trillion.
Borrowing in the category that covers autos and student loans increased by $10.8 billion. Borrowing on credit cards rose by $3.4 billion, only the second monthly increase in the past five months.
The strong rise in borrowing came in a month when American cut back on consumer spending, reflecting in part disruptions from Superstorm Sandy.
Many consumers may also have scaled back because of fears about the “fiscal cliff.” That’s the name for automatic tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect in January if Congress and the Obama administration fail to strike a budget deal by then.
Consumer spending drives roughly 70 percent of economic activity.
Economists think that it could bounce back in November. But the underlying trend remains weak because with unemployment remaining high, households don’t have the incomes to spend.
Many consumers have been reluctant to build up credit card debt, which typically carries steeper interest rates than other loans.
Credit card usage has fallen sharply since the 2008 credit crisis. Four years ago, Americans had $1.03 trillion in credit card debt, an all-time high. In October, that figure was 17 percent lower.
During the same period, student loan debt has increased dramatically. The category that includes auto and student loans is 22 percent higher than in July 2008. That reflects in part the fact that many Americans who have lost jobs decided to go back to school to get training for new careers.
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Paradigm Electronics has recently joined their D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) program.
“D-Tools solution operates across a data-driven platform and they provide their users with the most comprehensive and accurate product data for their project proposals. We are pleased to be an active contributor in these efforts by offering D-Tools users Paradigm’s entire data product-line free-of-charge,” said Paul Grove, vice president, North American sales for Paradigm Electronics. “We are excited to be named D-Tools latest MVP partner and we anticipate a rewarding partnership.”
The D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) program is designed to help provide system integrators with the most up-to-date product information to over 4400 companies using D-Tools System Integrator software. D-Tools MVP members are dedicated to helping companies streamline the design process and making it easier for System Integrators and installers to provide accurate proposals to their clients.
“Paradigm consistently manufacturers award-winning and reliable speakers, proving why they are a leader in their market,” said Adam Stone, president and CEO of D-Tools. “Paradigm’s cutting-edge technology and sleek designs will offer our users exceptional speaker options for their proposals and we look forward to offering our users this product information soon.”


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Families seeking medical cannabis for their children could soon be able to get it in Harley Street when London’s first private clinic to offer the drug to youngsters opens next week.
The Sapphire Medical Clinic said it can prescribe medicinal cannabis for “all conditions acknowledged to benefit from it” — and will give families consultations “with an open mind”.
Medical cannabis was legalised last year but is unlicensed, meaning it can be prescribed only by specialists or a GP acting under the instructions of one. Parents say it is almost impossible to access medical cannabis on the NHS.
Cases such as those of Billy Caldwell, 13, and Alfie Dingley, seven, have highlighted the benefits of cannabis oil to children with epilepsy who suffer multiple seizures.
The only existing UK clinic offering medical cannabis opened in Cheadle, Greater Manchester in March. That company, The Medical Cannabis Clinics, plans to open a London branch sometime this summer, but will not have a paediatric department at the outset.
Sapphire, which opens on August 1, said its doctors — including pain specialist Dr Michael Platt — will have “complete freedom to prescribe any range of medicinal cannabis products from any available supplier”. Dr Platt said they were conscious of controversy around cannabis products with the active THC component, but were aware of anecdotal cases in which parents have shown that medical cannabis containing THC has had a “strong positive impact on the children concerned”.


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Retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 3.8 percent in November, far beyond the expectations of the majority of economists. It was a significant improvement over sales in the previous month, which fell 2.5 percent, according to revised numbers provided Wednesday by the United States Commerce Department.
Inflationary pressures were expected to have pushed the numbers even higher in January.
Retail sales were up across the board in all categories. Compared to the previous year, sales at general merchandise stores increased by 3.6 percent, while sales at department stores increased by 9.2 percent.
Sales at furniture and home furnishings retailers increased by 7.2 percent in the last quarter. Sales on the internet increased by 14.5 percent. While restaurants had a 0.9 percent reduction from the previous month, this was largely due to people refraining from going out to dine for fear of contracting the virus.
Because so many people called in ill as a result of the omicron variety that surfaced in late November, there were widespread staffing shortages.
However, the wave of infections caused by the most recent variation appears to have been short-lived, with infections beginning to fall by mid-January at the same rate as they had been rising late last year. The number of new cases has dropped from 436,000 a day two weeks ago to 136,000 on Monday.
What is growing is inflation, which has reached levels not seen in four decades, wiping out pay rises and likely evoking a more aggressive response from the Federal Reserve, which is expected to begin raising interest rates to cool the economy in order to cool the economy.


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NEW DELHI :
New Delhi: Regional language content, across television, OTT (over-the-top) streaming services, advertising and social media, is all set to emerge as the key theme for 2021.
According to the latest Ficci EY media and entertainment industry report, the share of regional content will increase to 60% of TV consumption in 2025 from around 55% in 2020 and to around 50% of OTT consumption from 30% in 2019.
New regional language channels were introduced last year, a trend that media experts said will continue even as the English and Hindi genres may slowdown. Marathi music channel Zee Vajwa, Enterr10 Television’s Dangal Kannada and Enterr10 Rangeela in Bhojpuri were launched last year.
“Regional markets have tremendous potential and scope with many of them underserved that poses a viable opportunity for expansion to networks like Enterr10 that are keen to expand their presence beyond the Hindi-speaking belt,” Arpit Machhar, head of marketing, Enterr10 Television Network said in an earlier interview to Mint.
The covid-19 lockdown also saw foreign OTT firms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video ramp up libraries across multiple Indian languages. Existing language specific streaming players expanded their footprint, while new ones aha Video in Telugu were launched. Marathi film producer Akshay Bardapurkar is also floating a Marathi language video streaming service Planet Marathi.
Once limited to dubbed TV commercials, advertising in regional languages is also coming of age. The Ficci- EY report said as internet growth is fuelled by regional subscribers, the share of language advertising will grow. Eventually, 50% ads will be made in regional languages followed by Hindi (47%) and only 3-4% in English. This is in alignment with YouTube’s first regional Ads Leaderboard Report that said the top 10 most-watched advertisements in the second half of 2020 were in regional languages.
Karthik Srinivasan, a communications strategy consultant, said brands have realised that dubbing Hindi or English ads in local languages alone wouldn’t work anymore. Even in print, brands have actively started to make small local language additions to their ads or trying to write local language scripts in English.
“This could be because people are asserting themselves in their native languages, often tagging brands on social media platforms to highlight the lack of local language nuance in the advertisements. In an English newspaper, the probability of local language ads standing out is way higher than Hinglish. Writing local language ads in English script is also a nice way to connect with young consumers in regional markets because most of them can speak the language, but can’t read and write it,” he noted.
Recently, Tata Tea has produced a television campaign capturing various dialects of Malayalam targeted at the Kerala market. Meanwhile, Zomato and Domino’s have been releasing local language print ads across various markets.
The theme of “Local first” is also emerging strongly on digital and social media platforms, with India witnessing greater demand and consumption of both local language content and local information. In its Year in search 2020 report, Google said more than 90% of YouTube users prefer watching content in Indic languages. That regional languages were popular was evident in people using Google Translate 17 billion times to render web pages in Indian languages. In addition, one-third of Google Assistant users in the country are also using it in Indic languages.
Social media platform Koo positioned as the desi version of Twitter, launched in 2020, will foray into all official 22 Indian languages this year, said co-founder and CEO Aprameya Radhakrishna.
“Our main focus is the localisation of the product and introducing new features to make the platform engaging for local language users,” he said. However, Srinivasan pointed out that the Koo positioning of pandering to local language users is a marketing gimmick because platforms are not local, it is the input mechanism that needs to be local.
“Long before Koo came, Google introduced a keypad for Android phones in multiple local languages which simply meant that one can express themselves by typing in their native language online,” said Srinivasan. According to him, audio and video have become the easier way for regional language users to express themselves online.
“TikTok was a path breaking phenomenon in that sense as it made it cool for users to talk in one’s own language,” he added. “I believe that the way forward for digital platforms is not input (text) but voice which is catching on. We see that through voice assistants — Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri. I wouldn’t be surprised if these tech companies invest in these services to power more Indic languages.”


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STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - A huge retail development in Statesboro could be closer to breaking ground.
It will be at the corner of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Old Register Road. It’s set to hold a grocery store, soccer stadium and more retail projects.
Developers say you’ll soon start seeing progress in what’s become Statesboro’s most anticipated project.
Heavy equipment moves dirt on the spot where Publix is expected to make its Statesboro home. A fully finished road runs through the middle of the large plot that’s slated to house the grocery store, a soccer stadium, a theater and more.
At least some construction is now expected to start around May 1.
“The start of Publix and the stadium will allow so much of the other retail, commercial, and even some residential, work to start coming out of the ground,” Tormenta FC owner/president Darin Van Tassell said.
Van Tassell says one big piece of the puzzle will be the extension of Akins Blvd from Georgia Southern to connect traffic back to the Statesboro bypass and to the university’s South Campus. They’ve worked more than a year on the utilities, drainage, and more.
We’ve spent a lot of time making sure we get it right. We don’t get a second chance. And the infrastructure is the piece that takes the longest,” Van Tassell said.
He says the pandemic has impacted the project because it’s created uncertainty in real estate and construction. But he says the project is still a “go”.
“It’s not a 20 year project. It’s not even a 10 year project. It’s one that’s now going to quickly move,” he said.
And we’ll keep you updated as the timelines progress.


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Report: Blue Fang laying off development staff
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- Rodney H. Brown
According to an online report, Blue Fang Games of Waltham is letting go all of its development staff.
The website Gamasutra cited “a source close to the studio” who told the site that Blue Fang is laying off “the entirety of its development staff.”
Blue Fang is best known for its Zoo Tycoon franchise of games, and is also the developer of the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and The Oregon Trail games for Facebook. Recently the company made a strong push into social online games for platforms like Facebook and mobile devices, with games based on those franchises and new intellectual property.
According to the Gamasutra report, the layoffs would affect about 15 employees. The source told the website that Blue Fang was having a difficult time getting new development work. Calls to Blue Fang were not returned.
In March, The Learning Co., a division of Boston-based publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that contracted with Blue Fang to make the Facebook version of its The Oregon Trail game, sued Zynga Inc. over the use of the name “Oregon Trail” in an upcoming release.
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Ownership of the Norbord mill south of Grande Prairie could soon be taken over by West Fraser Timber Co. The North American wood products company is set to acquire the OSB producer in a $4 billion all-stock deal.
Norbord is the world’s largest OSB producer with a capacity of close to nine billion square feet. President and Chief Executive Officer of West Fraser Raymond Ferris says in addition to their current operations, the move will create a “diversified global wood products leader”.
The deal needs the approval of the holders of two-thirds of Norbord shares and a majority vote by holders of West Fraser’s common and class B shares. If approved, Norbord shareholders will own 44 per cent of the company, and West Fraser 56 per cent.
Norbord merged with Ainsworth in 2015.


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An advanced computer chip capable of projecting three-dimensional holograms from a smartphone has been developed by computer scientists, designed to display videos and images without the need for 3D glasses.
Ostendo Technologies, the California-based company behind the technology, has so far received over $120 million (£72 million) in funding in order to develop and bring the chip to market, which it hopes to do so by next year.
At only 0.5cm<sup>3 in size the chip is small enough to fit inside a smartphone, while other versions can be integrated into televisions. Ostendo predicts that each chipset will cost around $30.
"Display is the last frontier," Hussein El-Ghoroury, founder and chief executive of Ostendo, told the Wall Street Journal in a recent profile. "Over the years, processing power has improved and networks have more bandwidth, but what is missing is comparable advancement in display.
"Imagine if everything coming back to you was in 3D - all of your shopping, all of your gaming, every way you retrieve data."
Interest in 3D technology could grow later then year when Amazon's smartphone is launched which is expected to have hardware-assisted 3D effects.
Unlike Ostendo, however, Amazon's phone would be incapable of projecting 3D images.
Projectors used to display floating images in the past, such as Tupac Shakur's posthumous appearance at Coachella festival in 2012, relied on a system of large machines and mirrors.
The size of Ostendo's chip means that El-Ghoroury hopes it can be used in even smaller devices like smartwatches and other wearable technology in the future.


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A £1.5bn plan to overhaul a traffic-choked area of south London has won the backing of the council.
Elephant and Castle as it might look under new plans
The "masterplan" for regenerating a 170-acre site of Elephant and Castle was adopted by the London Borough of Southwark on Thursday evening.
It means it can start looking for developers to create a new town centre.
Elephant and Castle's red shopping centre and five 12-storey blocks of flats are to be demolished and the gyratory road system will be re-routed.
The area has good transport links, is close to the City and the West End and is within walking distance of 11 Thames river crossings.
But the council feels its development has been stifled by its post-war layout, with its six-lane roundabout, high-rise flats and a shopping centre which has been nominated as London's ugliest building.
Plans for Elephant
Removing Heygate Estate
Building 4,200 homes
New city academy
Four new open spaces
New retail and leisure space
New civic square
Two new "landmark" buildings
Under the scheme there would be 4,200 new and replacement homes, four new open spaces, a new civic square and a market square using "forgotten" Victorian railway arches.
The plans went out to a three-month public consultation last year and the council says 80% of respondents supported the plans.
In a separate survey of the residents of the post-war council blocks on the Heygate Estate, who are to be re-housed, 61% of respondents supported the plans, 12% opposed them and 28% had no opinion about them.
Councillor Catherine Bowman said: "Our plans for a new town centre will give the Elephant back its heart and create a place where people will want to travel to, not just through."
Construction is expected to start on some of the new housing sites by the end of 2004, but the entire project will take about 10 years to complete.


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Uber is adding a new feature that lets you arrange a pickup for friends, family, and even Uber boycotters. Although an existing option to set a different pickup...
New Apple Patent Shows How That Edge-to-Edge Display Could Work
On Tuesday, the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple a patent that gives credence to those rumors of an edge-to-edge OLED iPhone. For years, users have longed for a phone that’s totally made up of a screen—no bullshit bezel needed—and this looks like one way it could happen.
You’re more rational on a smartphone than on a PC
When presented with a moral dilemma on their device, smartphone users are more likely to make a rational decision than PC users, according to a recent study.
10 Great Apps for a Perfect Mother's Day
Mother's Day is fast approaching. Here are 10 apps to help you give your mom the perfect day.


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You probably think you can, but to take guessing out of the equation, we've put together
a quick quiz so that you can see for certain.
Further briefing the President on how the Committee put together
the document, which could literally be described as Ghana's guide book to move her from virtually begging for aid, the Senior Minister stated that key institutions of the country were put together
to work on it.
While speaking with the Nigeria Tribune on the sideline of a seminar put together
by AIRDEF themed: Soil and grass: Building potentials, which held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the Preseident, AIRDEF, Oluwaseun Olla, informed that the seminar is aimed at disseminating research results through detailed information about agricultural processes.
Summary: New Delhi [India], Nov 1: Trying to put together
something to wear on Diwali?
Opting for a shallow approach from peg 31 until the last hour when he went down the edge on pellet, Jamie (MAP) put together
a tremendous catch of carp to 8lb for a winning weight of 179.4.0.
Whether it's implementing safe isolation for the first time or keeping up to date with the latest compliance issues around electrical safety, MARTINDALE ELECTRIC says it has put together
everything needed to get started.
'We have one full year of achieving the goal of qualifying a Filipino cyclist to the Tokyo Olympics and we want to put together
the best of the best in the national team,' said Tolentino, president of PhilCycling, the sport's local governing body.
According to Bloomberg, Amazon's (AMZN) average profit margins have stalled at about 1% for the past half decade but over the last few of those years, the founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has put together
a plan for advertising.
The Money Advice Service (MAS) has put together
a downloadable guide to the accounts, which can be found at: tiny.cc/bankaccounts
Raising money for: British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Hexham Foodbank and Hadrian School for severely disabled children MANAGER and Promoter Michael Brown of Gateshead said: "We are working in collaboration with Mercedes of Newcastle to put together
a luxury hamper and a chance for someone to win a Mercedes Convertible for a weekend which we are inviting people to buy tickets for.
It's a collection that holds bright full-page color photos on each facing page and which features recipes that are easy to put together
. The result is a collection packed with flavorful ideas that are surprisingly simple to put together
, yet loaded with flavor.


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54.59 decibels: The loudest purr by a living domestic cat on record, courtesy of Bella, a 14-year-old tabby from Huntingdon, UK. Bella’s owner said she purrs all the time, occasionally so loudly it’s hard to hear the TV.
$1.4m: The estimated auction price of a bottle of 96-year-old Macallan single malt. According to Sotheby’s, this particular spirit — The Macallan 1926 — is the world’s “most sought-after Scotch whisky.” Only 40 bottles were made; 12, including this one, feature labels designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami.
5.7m edits: Made by Steven Pruitt, Wikipedia’s most prolific editor. Chartr looked at the numbers behind the site’s ~6.7m English language articles. In the last month, ~122.5k users out of the site’s hundreds of millions have made edits, 881 of whom are admins. Because volunteer editors routinely check articles for accuracy, some media experts claim Wikipedia may be one of the most reliable sources of info around.
17.94%: The average tip percentage in the US, per a study from USA Today and OnePoll. Californians tip the highest at 22.69% of the bill, while Illinois tippers come in last at 14.22%. The news comes amid talk of “tip fatigue,” with inflation, added fees, and an expectation to tip across myriad services contributing to a decline in tips overall.
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In recent memory, unicorn lattes, monster shakes, and avocado toast, for one reason or another (we’re looking at you Instagram), have all been elevated from intriguing niche menu items to full-blown national food obsessions. While some trends are a relative flash in the pan, some items are indicative of broader, long-lasting changes in ways that consumers change their dietary habits. Here’s a roundup of café-related food and beverage trend predictions from around the web, which will either take off, or peter out in 2019.
Globally Inspired Breakfast Menus
Driven by consumers with more sophisticated palates, increased travel experience, and better access to ethnic foods, customers are looking to experience flavors from around the world, according to the National Restaurant Association and af&co. Whether it’s Mexican chorizo scrambled eggs, Danish ableskiver pancakes, or Filipino longsilog bowls, diners are gobbling up global flavors to start their day.
Cold Brew Crash
Nation’s Restaurant News predicts the fall of cold brew in the coming year. The trade pub cites that critics of the brew method often find that nuanced flavors of the bean are often lost during extraction. The writer suggests that new chilling equipment entering the market can chill hot-brewed coffee to quickly exact temperatures, making hot-brewed cold coffees more enticing for operators.
Alt-Milks Reign Supreme
The rise of veganism and plant-based diets also means that companies around the country are trying their best to capitalize on changing dietary habits with nut-, grain-, and legume- based milk products to replace traditional dairy gallons. According to Pinterest, Uber Eats, Nation’s Restaurant News, and Delish, we can expect oat milk to only continue its meteoric rise as the country’s favorite dairy alternative. Pea milk is also expected to start taking off this year.
New Beverages Abound
Hospitality consultancy firm af&co released a report of more than 40 food, drink, and wellness trends to expect this year. One such prediction is that the market is going to see a wealth of new beverages vying for consumer dollars. The firm expects to see new drinks such as hot nitro coffee, carbonated coffee, high-alcohol kombucha, moringa tea, cheese tea, and butterfly pea tea all become trending drinks in the new year.


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By: Prudence Okonna & Salamatu Aminu
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has so far disbursed 325 Million Naira to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) based in Abuja.
The disbursement is to enable Micro Small and Medium Enterprises key into the COVID-19 Action Recovery Economy Stimulus (CARES) programme.
Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Olusade Adesola, revealed this while flagging off the fourth edition of the Abuja SME EXPO organized by the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA)Thursday, at River Plate Park, Ahmadu Bello Way, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Adesola, who was represented by the Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnerships (EPRGPPP), Chinedu Elechi, said the CARES programme would support the recovery of MSMEs while enhancing their capacity.
He revealed that the 325 million naira disbursed to over 1,600 MSMEs in the FCT is to support the payment of credit facilities, meet operational cost and acquire technological enhancements.
He added that there will be subsequent disbursement of 3.5 million dollars support package within a two-year timeline.
The Permanent Secretary said this edition of the EXPO is focused on providing sustainable market solutions in addition to promoting local content to gain regional and global visibility.
Welcoming guests to the occasion, Acting Managing Director, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, said the theme of this edition “Unlocking Opportunities Leveraging Digital Technology for Nigerian MSMEs under the African Continent free Trade Agreement (AICFIA)” is hinged on providing a springboard for Nigerian SMEs to develop their potentials and expand their frontiers into the African Market.
He explained that the platform will also underscore the pivotal role that digital technology plays in unlocking the vast opportunities presented by AICFIA.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe reiterated that relevant stakeholders in the SME ecosystem needs to play a collaborative role to harness the potentials of entrepreneurs.
His words: “harnessing these far-reaching potentials requires a collaborative commitment from all the relevant stakeholders within the SME ecosystem which involves enhancing the commercial value of Nigerian products and services through digitization in line with global standards which is a crucial prerequisite and best practices for robust competitiveness on the international stage”.
The SME EXPO which commenced, 2nd Thursday, will end on Saturday 4″ November, 2023, and features activities such as products promotion and exhibition, Business Clinics, Symposiums, Interactive Panel Discussions and Business Advisory Sessions.


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CITY HALL FARMERS MARKET MOVES TO HOUSTON CENTRAL LIBRARY
Popular Farmers Market Moves Across Street Due to Construction at Hermann Square
May 5, 2014 --
The popular City Hall Farmers Market, a collaboration between the City of Houston and Urban Harvest, is in its 5th season.
Due to construction beginning on Hermann Square, the Farmers Market will move temporarily to the Houston Central Library through June 18. The Farmers Market runs every Wednesday from 11 am – 1:30 pm.To kick off the new location, Houston music legend, The Zydeco Dots, will be performing and Executive Chef Ara Malekian will serve samples of his famous boiled crawfish.
|WHERE||City Hall Farmers Market, Houston Central Library, 500 McKinney Street|
Since 2010, the public has been able to enjoy a variety of locally prepared foods ready-to-eat or packaged to-go, pick up farm-fresh groceries weekly and at the same time support sustainable food all amidst Houston’s dramatic downtown urban setting.The City Hall Farmers Market features more than 35vendors to include local farmers’ fresh produce, cheeses, breads, roasted coffees, and a variety of prepared meals and food trucks. All vendors and food trucks currently at the City Hall Hermann Square site will continue to participate in the Farmers Market at the Central Library site.


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Update: The new Multivan is revealed! Read all about it in our debut article.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles never had such an extensive teaser campaign for a new product, not even for the Amarok, which goes to show the importance of the revamped Multivan. The T7-based model is debuting later today, promising to be more car-like than ever before by switching to the MQB platform used by a myriad of VAG passenger models.
VW has revealed quite a few details in the build-up to the world premiere, including the availability of a plug-in hybrid powertrain with an unspecified electric range. The all-new Multivan will come exclusively with an automatic transmission of the shift-by-wire variety, along with an electric parking brake to free up additional space inside what will be an impressively roomy cabin.
Gallery: 2022 Volkswagen T7 Multivan teasers
For the first time ever, the Multivan features individual seats for the third row as well, flanking a table placed on a track system that allows users to slide it forward and aft. Second-row seats can be rotated 180 degrees to create a face-to-face seating layout, while the lighter seats of the second and third rows can be removed altogether to create a vast cargo area.
Another first debuting with the T7 is a panoramic sunroof, which aside from making the cabin feel airy, it will also boost headroom. There should also be additional legroom and shoulder room as VW has already revealed the new Multivan is going to have a longer wheelbase and wider tracks. Up front, teasers have revealed a Golf-esque dual-screen setup to accentuate the fact it will combine the benefits of a minivan wrapped up in a more car-like package.
Bear in mind we're only going to see the Multivan version today as the T6.1-based Transporter is going to soldier on for a while. The workhorse's replacement coming later this decade, likely as a result of VW's tie-up with Ford. Meanwhile, the all-electric ID Buzz will be introduced in Europe next year before arriving in the United States in 2023. A cargo derivative of the zero-emissions model is also planned, but only for the Old Continent.


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Bangladesh launches $130 laptop for schools
Bangladesh on Tuesday unveiled a $130 locally made laptop that it hopes will help bridge the digital divide in the impoverished South Asian country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the Doel -- or magpie -- laptops at a ceremony in the capital Dhaka, saying the computer, made by state-owned telecom company TSS, would help Bangladesh become a middle-income nation by 2021.
"(There are) four types of Doel laptops, the most basic one is priced at 10,000 taka ($130). The highest price is 26,000 taka," said government spokesman Shefayet Hossain.
Hossain said the idea of the cut-price laptops came from the education ministry, which aims to distribute them to tens of millions of poor students.
TSS has struck joint venture deals with two private companies to produce and market the laptops across the country, he added.
The Doel is Bangladesh's national bird.
Despite a booming economy, which has grown at an average six percent each year over the last decade, Bangladesh ranks low on Internet and information technology penetration.
The government has said it hopes that the inexpensive laptop will aid in closing the digital gap in the country.
Digital inclusion has the potential to bring education to people in countries where educational infrastructure is limited, experts say.
Access to the Internet is also seen as a way to bolster health care, banking and other services and help lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
Last week, neighbouring India launched what has been dubbed the world's cheapest computer -- a $46 tablet device. The government is planning to buy 100,000 of the tablets to be given away for free to students.
(c) 2011 AFP


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- Published on 25 May 2022
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QIB’s posted strong growth as revenue grew by 5.06%, reaching $2.23 billion in 2021
QIB’s retail banking business displayed robust growth in 2021, as advanced technologies were used to grow its customer base.
Singapore, 26 May 2022 – Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), one of the largest commercial banks in Qatar was recognised as the best retail bank in Qatar for the second year in a row at the Excellence in Retail Financial Services International Programme 2022 presented by The Asian Banker.
Financial performance: QIB’s revenue increased by 5.06% in 2021
QIB’s revenue increased by 5.06% to $2.23 billion in 2021, from $2.12 billion in 2019. The retail banking contribution to total bank income grew by 4.83%, to 25.31% in 2021 from 20.48% in 2019.
The bank commanded a healthy return on equity (ROE) of 17.6%, a 0.9% year-on-year (YoY) increase in the previous year which stood at 16.7%. The bank’s cost-to-income (CIR) ratio improved by 4.7% YoY, reaching 18.1% in 2021, from 22.8% in 2020. QIB’s retail deposits grew by 9.83% YoY, to $13.16 billion in 2021 from $11.98 billion in 2020. This was due to the bank increasing its total assets by 11.2% YoY, to $53.27 billion in 2021 from $47.9 billion in 2020, increasing its total income by 2.19% YoY, to $2.23 billion in 2021 from $2.18 billion in 2020.
In comparison, Qatar National Bank’s (QNB) net profit increased by 7.86%, reaching $2.85 billion in 2021 from $2.58 billion in 2019. The bank reported an increase in its total domestic deposits by 1% YoY, to $120.7 billion in 2021 from $119.5 billion in 2020. ROE increased by 0.74% YoY to 13.2% in 2021 as compared to 12.46% in 2020. The bank’s cost-to-income (CIR) ratio improved by 2.1% YoY, reaching 22.2% in 2021 as compared to 24.3% in 2020.
Customer experience: QIB Mobile’s user experience was designed for convenience and needs of customers
The QIB Mobile app features a smarter and more intuitive user experience. As the first bank in Qatar to introduce end-to-end digital products via its mobile app, such as Instant Finance, Instant Credit Card, Digital Onboarding, and the Domestic Workers’ Digital Account, QIB succeeded in increasing customers’ trust and usage of its digital channels. QIB is also the first bank in Qatar to launch video banking through its mobile app. This service allowed existing QIB customers to easily place a video call with a QIB service agent to get real-time guidance while applying for Instant Finance.
In comparison, QNB was the first bank in Qatar to introduce Apple Pay, Garmin Pay, and Fitbit Pay. This led to an increase in credit card issuance by 37.5%, while the uptake in prepaid cards rose by 60% due to the success of the bank’s digital enhancements and partnerships.
Digital transformation: Deploying AI and ML to digitise and automate processes for products and services
QIB’s new online corporate account opening service is the latest result of its continuous investment in technology to enable 24/7 access to all its customers. The service eases the process of opening a corporate account as the entire process is digitised. In June 2021, QIB announced the launch of a new version of its award-winning mobile app allowing customers to fulfill all their banking needs from anywhere in the world, at any time, through more than 100 features. The revamped app adopts a “step-by-step” approach with enhanced navigation of digital services. QIB is also the first bank in Qatar to launch a conversational virtual assistant “Zaki” armed with proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms which allows customers to interact with the bank 24/7.
In comparison, QNB’s group-wide innovation centre, QNBeyond, is responsible for the accelerator programme that onboarded more than 12 fintechs. The partnerships with these organisations help the bank incorporate open banking, new platforms, RPA, AI, digitisation and automation into QNB’s products and services. The bank launched QNB Pay, a mobile banking service that enables customers to make secure mobile payments. QNB launched the safest and most convenient payment form factors, including Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, and Apple Pay.
About The Asian Banker
The Asian Banker is the region’s most authoritative provider of strategic business intelligence to the financial services community. The global research company has offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Manila, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Dubai, as well as representatives in London, New York, and San Francisco. It has a business model that revolves around three core business lines: publications, research services and forums. Visit the company’s website at www.theasianbanker.com
You may visit the Excellence in Retail Financial Services page at http://awards.asianbankerforums.com/retailfinancial/
To view the respective evaluation criteria, click here: https://awards.asianbankerforums.com/retailfinancial/criteria-country
For further information on the collaterals for winning banks, please contact:
M: (+63) 94 3283 6015
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Samsung Launches ISOCELL, Image Sensor Technology for Premium Mobile Devices
Samsung shows the camera technology in the next generation of Galaxy smartphones. The devices will likely feature ISOCELL, the company’s new imaging sensor. Samsung claims that the new sensor adds advanced pixel technology that polices the absorption of electrons for improved color fidelity, even when lighting isn’t ideal. The new sensor will be available only in new premium smartphones and tablets.
The quality of an image sensor is determined by the amount of light that is accurately captured by the individual pixels within the sensor array. Samsung says this is been a challenging task for them, with the market pressure to increase camera resolution and image quality, without growing the camera size, the pixels have had to shrink, while improving their performance at the same time.
To meet this challenge, previous sensor technology developments focused on improving the light absorption of each pixel, and have progressed pixel technology from FSI (Front Side Illumination) to BSI (Back Side Illumination) which places photodiode at the top to maximize photoelectric efficiency. While being very effective at the time, this BSI technology also faced limitations in improving image quality as pixel sizes continued to decrease.
While, the ISOCELL technology forms a physical barrier between neighboring pixels, isolating the pixel. The company claims, this isolation enables more photons to be collected from the micro-lens and absorbed into the correct pixel’s photodiode minimizing undesired electrical crosstalk between pixels and allowing expanded full well capacity.
This new sensor is specifically for phones with 8 MP or higher, which could mean a drop down from the 13 MP camera seen in the Galaxy S4 and Note 3. A full camera unit with the new ISOCELL would also take up less space inside devices compared to previous imaging sensors, with a reduced height which can result to even thinner smartphones.


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Intel has announced the use of new materials to build parts of next-generation chips based on the 45 nanometer (nm) production process, claiming it is the biggest change in computer chips in 40 years. The company said the materials will be used to build the insulating walls and switching gates of its 45nm transistors. This change allows for performance hikes in future multi-core processors, while reducing the amount of electrical leakage from transistors by up to 10 times.
Intel claimed that use of the new materials gives it a one-year head start over rivals in the 45nm space and said it had five working versions of the new processors. The first production run is slated for the second half of the year.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, said: “The implementation of high-k and metal materials marks the biggest change in transistor technology since the introduction of polysilicon gate metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors in the late 1960s.”
Mark Bohr, Intel senior fellow, said: “As more transistors are packed onto a single piece of silicon, the industry continues to research leakage-reduction solutions. Our implementation of novel high-k and metal gate transistors for our 45nm process technology will help Intel deliver faster, more energy-efficient multi-core products that build upon our successful Intel Core 2 and Xeon family of processors.”
Intel’s claim of a one-year lead might be optimistic though as IBM and its partners – AMD, Toshiba and Sony – have announced their own 45nm breakthrough. Big Blue said it had also found a way to construct a critical part of the transistor with a new material, opening a way to chip circuitry that is smaller, faster and more power-efficient. More importantly, IBM said the technology can be incorporated into existing chip manufacturing lines with minimal changes.
Tze-Chiang Chen, vice-president of science and technology at IBM Research, said: “Until now, the chip industry was facing a roadblock in terms of how far we could push technology. But after more than 10 years, we have a way. With chip technology so pervasive in our everyday lives, this will benefit people in many ways.”
The IBM approach also uses ‘high-k metal gate’ technology, a new material with superior-electrical properties. It will allow a significant reduction in the size of transistors, the vendor said.
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Toronto, Canada, 25 January 2022 – Surecomp® today announced that Rabobank, the second largest Dutch bank, is fully operational with its integrated back and front-office digital trade finance solutions DOKA-NG™ and allNETT™. The bank has also deployed one of its Marketplace partner solutions – the digital adoption platform Walkme™, which is a no-code solution embedded within the front-office solution that enables it to track, measure, drive and guide its customer behavior and use of allNETT™.
Headquartered in Utrecht, Rabobank is a global leader in food and agriculture financing and sustainability-oriented banking. It decided to embark on the trade finance digitization journey to support its growing transaction volume both domestically and internationally. Following a rigorous selection process, the bank chose to partner with Surecomp based on it meeting both current and future functional needs. Surecomp’s strong heritage, stability, agility and the seamless integration of its back and front-office solutions for streamlined transaction processing, allows Rabobank to exercise innovative digital trade finance.
“We are very happy with the Surecomp partnership and how Rabobank worked closely together with Surecomp to get the job done,” explains Bart Schouten, Road Manager at Rabobank. “We are already seeing business benefits in terms of enhanced operational efficiencies and improved performance of deal processing volumes.”
“Innovation is a high priority for Rabobank, demonstrated in many areas across the business and further epitomized in its digitization of trade finance,” says Surecomp’s SVP of Account Management, Yaron Hupert. “Our collaboration with the bank has facilitated enhanced customer-centricity, so by fostering innovation with – and for its customers – it is driving optimized customer communication, engagement and satisfaction.”
Rabobank is a cooperative bank. There are almost ninety local Rabobanks in the Netherlands, which each operate with a high degree of independence so they can better serve their customers and local communities. Rabobank also has sizeable international banking operations. They focus on international business and rural activities in general and on the Food and Agri sector in particular. For more information visit www.rabobank.com.
Contact: Abby Bickford
M: +44 7931 126616