text:
Opening a new avenue in neurobiology, scientists turn one form of neuron into another in the brain
A new finding by Harvard stem cell biologists turns one of the basics of neurobiology on its head – demonstrating that it is possible to turn one type of already differentiated neuron into another within ...
Chevy Volt goes upscale in new electric Cadillac (Update)
General Motors is trying to take the Chevrolet Volt's electric technology upscale with a new Cadillac.
Startup touts ultrafast charging: What if a smartphone could charge in 12 minutes instead of two hours?
Toyota, BMW working on new battery technology
Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW Group are working together on next-generation batteries for green vehicles called "lithium-air" as their collaboration, first announced in late 2011, moves ahead in fuel cells, ...
Rocky road for electric car market
The road has gotten bumpier for electric cars, with Coda Automotive, one of what had been a promising crop of electric car startups, filing for bankruptcy protection this month.
Cyborg surgeon: Hand and technology combine in new surgical tool that enables superhuman precision
Even the most skilled and steady surgeons experience minute, almost imperceptible hand tremors when performing delicate tasks. Normally, these tiny motions are inconsequential, but for doctors specializing ...
Scientists find homolog of mammalian neocortex in bird brain
A seemingly unique part of the human and mammalian brain is the neocortex, a layered structure on the outer surface of the organ where most higher-order processing is thought to occur. But new research at the University of ...
Nissan upgrades Leaf electric car, lowers price (Update)
The upgraded Nissan Motor Co. Leaf electric car can travel further without recharging, comes in a cheaper model and tells drivers how much battery life is left.
GM says Chevy Spark EV can go 82 miles per charge
General Motors said Wednesday that the battery-powered version of its Chevrolet Spark mini-car can travel up to 82 miles (132 kilometers) on a single charge, putting it among the leaders in mass-market electric ...
Deep Impact spacecraft completes rocket burn
(Phys.org)—NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft completed a firing of its onboard rocket motors earlier today. The maneuver began at 1 p.m. PDT (4 p.m. EDT), lasted 71 seconds, and changed its velocity by 4.5 ...
New study reveals challenge facing designers of future computer chips
To build the computer chips of the future, designers will need to understand how an electrical charge behaves when it is confined to metal wires only a few atom-widths in diameter.
Scientists design, control movements of molecular motor
(Phys.org)—An international team of scientists has taken the next step in creating nanoscale machines by designing a multi-component molecular motor that can be moved clockwise and counterclockwise.
A nano-gear in a nano-motor inside you
Diverse cellular processes require many tiny force-generating motor proteins to work in a team. Paradoxically, nature often chooses the weak and inefficient dynein motor to generate large persistent forces ...
Action urged to deal with handheld phone use in cars
(HealthDay)—Strong action is urged to tackle the growing problem of handheld phone use and texting while driving, according to a viewpoint published in the March 6 issue of the Journal of the American Me ...


text:
Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin’s 4.5-liter supercharged Bentley race car sold for £4.5 million at an auction during the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past weekend. In March 1932, Birkin set a record 137.96 mph at the Brooklands track in the United Kingdom.
The 240 horsepower red racecar passed the earlier record achieved by a Bentley at auction when the Speed Six known as ‘Old No 2’ sold for £2.8 million at the Le Mans Classic in 2004.
Things are proceeding apace for Bentley, which is now owned by Volkswagen. Global sales for Q1 in 2012 increased by 47% with 1,759 cars delivered to customers, far below the more than 10,000 delivered in 2007 before the onslaught of the Great Recession.
Q1 sales were led by China, now Bentley’s largest market with 578 cars delivered. The Americas also remain a key market for Bentley with sales up of 468 cars. In the Middle East 168 cars were delivered; and European sales saw a 34.4% increase at 207. Sales in the UK and Germany remain stable, with 233 cars and 62 cars delivered respectively.
Whilst mostly living and marketing in the past, Bentley in 2003, after 73 years since Bentley’s last win at Le Mans, two Bentleys Speed 8s came in first and second at Le Mans in their class, almost 83 years after the day that the two Speed Sixes had previously won the 24 hour race.

domain: news


text:
Google changed its Google Play Store logo last year 2017 and now after almost 5 years Google Play Store got a new logo.
It is a motto Google Play One of the most recognizable logos of the company that you can instantly recognize when you step inside your Android phone.
Google Play is arguably the official application store for the Android platform, and anyone who owns an Android phone can easily download whatever they want from applications and games.
Google Play Store has nearly 5 million apps, 2.87 million apps in 2020 with more than 100 billion downloads by users.
Old and new Google Play logo
Apparently, Google has decided to make minor changes to its Play Store logo with some new colors and you might not notice it as it has reached a limited number of users.
Currently, the new Google Play logo will appear during transactions in the App Store, where the new logo will appear in a low-resolution mini version above the payment details.
It’s hard to see the change, but the colors and appearance are noticeably different when looking at the old and new logo.
The new Google Play logo is still triangular, but you’ll notice that the corners are more curved and rounded compared to the current shape.
Also read from Tech News:
Twitter is testing an unprecedented feature on social media
The blue and green colors are darker than before and the interior parts that were equal in size are no longer there, as the blue triangle has become larger in size compared to the other parts.
It has been reported that Google redesigned its store logo several years ago when it removed the shopping bag icon, and that no major changes were made to the first store logo.
The company didn’t want to make drastic changes, knowing that users would recognize the store just by looking at the logo, which has become a universally known icon.
Finally, no one knows when Google made this change to its App Store logo or if it will be rolled out, but it could gradually reach all users.
“Professional coffee fan. Total beer nerd. Hardcore reader. Alcohol fanatic. Evil twitter buff. Friendly tv scholar.”
Tecno introduces Camon 20 with advanced anti-shake OIS sensor technology
OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey: A masterpiece of design and craftsmanship
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Saudi Federation for Electronic Sports and LG


text:
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see a decrease at the pumps in the prices of gasoline and diesel, effective Thursday, June 30, according to the latest ex-refinery costs from Petrojam.
With both grades of gasoline down by $0.25, 87-octane gasoline will be sold for $215.14 per litre and 90-octane gasoline will be sold for $220.16 per litre.
Automotive diesel fuel will be sold for $227.26 per litre after a decrease of $0.25, while ultra-low sulphur diesel will be sold for $229.99 per litre down by $0.25.
Kerosene also decreased in price by $0.25 and will be sold for $201.55 per litre.
Propane liquid petroleum will be sold for $73.03 per litre up by $0.20 and butane liquid petroleum will be sold for $82.43 per litre after an increase of $0.50.
Marketing companies and retailers will add their respective mark-up to these prices.


text:
Mayor Mike Duggan's office announced this week an expansion of the city's fast-result Covid testing.
Starting today, employees and owners of restaurants and bars in Detroit can get a free Covid-19 rapid test at the Detroit Health Department, 100 Mack, just east of Woodward, and get the results before they leave. The rapid testing also is available to Detroit salon and barber shop employees and independent contractors.
The testing is for employees at Detroit businesses only, with retesting available every two weeks. Appointments are required by calling (313) 251-4488 weekdays from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tests are available Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The test is expected to take 30 minutes, with results within 15 minutes. Individuals who test negative will receive a sticker to display at work. Those testing positive can speak with a health professional.
In addition, individuals will receive two surgical masks, two pairs of gloves and a face shield.


text:
Beware of Creative Ways Hackers Exploit Phishing Attacks
With people spending an unprecedented amount of time at home given COVID-19, Netflix and other home-based entertainment usage is at an all-time high. Consequently, hackers are finding new ways to target their victims using phishing attacks and Office 365.
Most companies are upgrading their Outlook to Office 365. Hackers who can obtain specific e-mail addresses are using it to target select victims. This has not been caught within the bulk email filters of the Office 365 Exchange Online Protection (EOP). At times, phishing attacks are cleverly implemented and not identified by the network firewall systems.
Hackers are cleverly using phishing attacks to hit Netflix subscribers. (Phishing attacks comprise a longstanding tradition. However, the way hackers exploit phishing attacks becomes increasingly mischievous.)
Hackers are now creating credit card phishing emails. These can land in a company’s Outlook inbox claiming to come from Netflix with a warning that the user’s streaming service account is being put on hold. * A request to re-enter credit card details is being asked of the targeted victims. This is to steal their credit card information. Using improvised language and correct customer service phone numbers to make these emails look more legitimate is how hackers carry out their designed attack.
As Gulf News reports on the COVID factor regarding cybercrime: “The sudden shift to working from home opened up security gaps for hackers.” ** Because of COVID-19, most employees are teleworking and trying to chaperone their kids during the day. As a result, families across the U.S. are using Netflix more and more to entertain their kids so they can work. Hackers are very much aware of this and are hence targeting Netflix users to bankroll their initiatives. For those hackers able to have the end user click on the URL provided within the body of the e-mail, the link in the e-mail allows the attackers to enter their credit card details. This leaves the information vulnerable to being relayed back to the hackers, not be flagged by the e-mail system’s endpoint protection service or be blocked as a malicious link.
An example of hackers becoming a steward of proper language is that the hackers are now including typical language that Netflix would use to let a customer know that something is wrong with their account. Never discount a hacker’s attempt to achieve their objective when they can study proper wording that Netflix typically uses.
The emails are cleverly combined with techniques to stress the urgency of the matter to the targeted user. This is so the user will act on the matter as soon as possible. There have already been cases identified in which the attack was successful. These instances are now being investigated by various security companies to study and detect the ways the e-mails are being cleverly devised. Given this, you can expect more of this type of attack since success equals more money for the hacker. Basically, it goes back to Security Awareness Training 101. If the end user suspects they have received an ambiguous e-mail or phishing email, it pays to perform due diligence and check out every word within the body of the e-mail so that you don’t become the next victim.


text:
Diloo delivers just about anything to anyone in Lima, Peru with a smartphone. In that growing city of 10+ million, with a fast-growing middle-class, and traffic like you can’t imagine, deliveries are a popular service.
Over the past year, Diloo’s usage has grown 707%, and to keep up with that growth, the company has just closed a $400,000 investment round.
Co-founder/CEO Jose ignacio Bernal says, “We are excited to announce that in this round we have incorporated a strategic partner which will enable us to offer new services to our growing base of 50,000 recurrent customers.“
“Estamos contentos de haber incorporado a un socio estratégico en esta ronda lo cual nos va a permitir desarrollar nuevas ofertas verticales pedidas por nuestra base de casi 50,000 clientes recurrentes.”


text:
POLICE have issued a CCTV image of a man who may have information about the theft of a mobile phone at a store in Long Eaton.
The incident happened between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday, February 14, in the town's Asda store on Midland Street.
The owner of the phone dropped it and it was handed in by another customer to a member of the store's staff.
But before the owner had a chance to collect it, a man used the opportunity to claim it as his own and left the shop with the phone.
Officers are appealing for the man in the image, or anyone who recognises him, to contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


text:
It's been a tough month for the Entertainment Software Association, the videogame industry trade group that puts on the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) each year in Southern California.
First, there was the news that Activision and Vivendi Games (soon to merge into the world's largest game publisher) were dropping out of the ESA and going it alone during E3. Then news began to trickle out that other publishers would skip the recently-scaled-back E3 - NCSoft, Blizzard, iD Software, etc.
Now, according to GamesIndustry.biz, LucasArts has joined Activision and Vivendi in quitting the ESA, although the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed publisher will have a presence at E3.
According to EA spokesman Jeff Brown, who assailed two of the offending companies in a recent conversation with GI.biz, companies like Activision who are dropping out of the ESA are acting irresponsibly.
"I think having [Activision and Vivendi] pull out of the ESA reflects an unfortunate lack of leadership," Brown said. "They're a big company and we feel that when you're a big company you've got a responsibility to consumers to work on policy issues which are very, very important to consumers. And the best way to do that is with an industry consensus. That's the way it's been done with the ESA in the US, and with ELSPA in the UK."
Brown went on to say that EA planned to continue its active involvement in the ESA and urged other publishers to do the same.
"There's always tensions inside these organizations, but for the most part it works," he insisted. "So it was sad to see them step away from that responsibility. We hope that others don't do that, but I think that the onus is on the ESA to prove that membership in it is good for the company and good for consumers. And I think we're going to see the ESA redouble its efforts to prove that."
In a news release today, the ESA announced that Texas Governor Rick Perry will "address industry influentials" as a keynote speaker at E3 this year and released a full list of the companies currently scheduled to exhibit at E3. Of those companies, here are the publishers, developers and first parties still involved:
Capcom USA Inc.
D3Publisher of America
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Konami Digital Entertainment America
Majesco Entertainment Company
Midway Games, Inc.
Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.
Nintendo of America Inc.
SEGA of America, Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.
Sony Online Entertainment Inc.
Square Enix USA
Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.
Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment Inc.


text:
China's tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd has become the world's 10th biggest publicly traded company by market value.
Founded in 1998, Tencent is the only Chinese company in the list of 10 biggest companies by market value, while American counterparts dominate the rest of the list.
The Chinese internet titan best known for its WeChat messaging service and gaming apps, gained 1.6 percent last Wednesday at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, vaulting its capitalization to $279 billion, just a shade above that of US lender Wells Fargo Inc.
Six of the world's top 10 are now technology companies, including the top four.
Tencent went public on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2004. Its stock has climbed 43% over the past year and more than 20% in 2017 alone.
Ma Huateng, CEO of Tencent, was named the third wealthiest man in China, according to Forbes' 2016 China Rich List.


text:
Following the news that RTX Australia 2016 is sold out, Rooster Teeth is announcing Twitch as the official live broadcasting partner of their inaugural Australian event. RTX Australia 2016 is taking place on January 23 and 24 at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney, and will be live broadcast on their official Twitch channel (twitch.tv/rtxaustralia/).
"Our community is passionate about convention coverage, especially when these events are sold out or across the globe," said Jonathan Chou, Director, International Partnerships, Twitch. "Because this will be the case with RTX Australia 2016 for many of our viewers, being their official live broadcasting partner ensures nobody misses out on this exciting event."
RTX Australia brings Rooster Teeth live to fans over two big days, with panels and popular shows including Funhaus, Social Disorder, Let's Plays and Freeplay. Among the personalities taking part are members of Rooster Teeth: Burnie Burns, Gus Sorola, Barbara Dunkelman, Joel Heyman, Matt Hullum and Geoff Ramsey, in addition to Rocket Jump's Freddie Wong, Good Game TV's Stephanie 'Hex' Bendixsen, ScrewAttack's Craig Skistimas, and many others.
Adding to the quality of the broadcast, this marks the first major Australian event to utilize Twitch's recently deployed data center in Sydney.
For interview requests or media passes to attend RTX please contact: [email protected]
Latest News Posts
- Did Blizzard just tease the 30th hero for Overwatch?
- Overclockers UK unveils $43,000 gaming PC: 8Pack Orion X2
- NZXT releases Overwatch-themed H500 PC gaming chassis
- NVIDIA reportedly launching GeForce GTX 1650 next month
- No, AMD didn't just drop the price of Radeon RX Vega 56
- Intrusive Ads on Tweaktown
- AxE: Alliance vs Empire preview: MMO mobile chaos
- random shutdown
- Kensington LD5400T Thunderbolt 3 Dock Review
- Compatibility issue P10S-M-DC with i5
- LG Innotek Begins Mass Production of 'ToF Module' for Smart Phones
- Puma And The Tetris Company Announce Partnership That Is Sure To Spark Nostalgia
- Embrace Your Dark Side - Daedalic Entertainment Announces New Tactical RPG Iratus: Lord of the Dead
- New Devespresso and Headup Collaboration: 'Vambrace: Cold Soul' Coming Soon to PC & Consoles
- Hadean Integrates Distributed Simulation Technology Powered By Microsoft Azure


text:
Ant Group fiasco reflects battle for China's financial soul
China's last-minute abandonment of Ant Group's record-breaking IPO stems from an intensifying battle for the soul of the nation's financial system that the fintech giant and its charismatic leader Jack Ma helped to ignite.
Global markets were stunned Tuesday when Ant's record-breaking $34 billion IPO was abruptly shelved, frustrating investors eager for a piece of the fast-growing company.
The debacle has prompted head-scratching over how the IPO got so close –- shares were to begin trading Thursday -– only to collapse at the finish line.
Analysts say it was the culmination of an escalating rivalry between Ma, Ant's co-founder and the billionaire founder of Alibaba, and a state-dominated Chinese banking and regulatory system controlled by the Communist Party that has become uncomfortable with Ant's growing power.
Ant Group made its name via its main product Alipay, the online payments platform and super-app that is now deeply embedded in China's economy.
But the company has also expanded into offering loans, credit, investments and insurance to hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, spurring fear and jealously in a wider banking system geared more for supporting state policy and large corporations.
As global demand for the dual Hong Kong-Shanghai listing pushed the IPO toward record valuations—potentially handing Ma and Ant Group even more funding, legitimacy and clout—Chinese regulators acted.
In recent weeks, new minimum capital requirements and other restrictions on online lending were imposed to guard against "systemic risk", plugging some of the regulatory gaps that Ant Group had stepped through, analysts said.
"Given the magnitude of Ant Group's operations, the regulators might have felt that they did not have an appropriate handle on the flow of money being processed through Ant Group products," said Philippe Espinasse, a capital markets consultant and former investment banker.
Ma sounds off
The moves angered Ma, 56, who had stood to become Asia's richest man via the IPO.
He uncharacteristically lashed out in a speech two weeks ago, saying capital requirements were outdated and that China lacked a true "financial ecosystem".
Ma likened Chinese banks to "pawn shops" for requiring loan collateral and implied that they underserved smaller, younger borrowers.
Chinese public figures rarely call out the government, and the reaction was swift.
A series of commentaries in government media mouthpieces pushed back against Ma, warning of extensive risks from online lenders like Ant Group and vowing tighter supervision.
Things came to a head Monday when Ma and two other Ant executives were summoned to a highly unusual meeting with financial regulators.
Exact details of the talks remain unknown, but the next day the Shanghai exchange pulled the IPO.
Ma's critiques "didn't sit well with regulators, many of whom have been grappling with the risks of micro-lending", said Alex Capri, a research fellow at Hinrich Foundation.
"Ant has grown too large and too influential as a financial institution in China, something that will not be tolerated by the (ruling Communist Party)," Capri said.
Experts say a robust online lending sector is needed to meet the needs of ordinary consumers but that China has reason to fear a borrowing binge.
Bad debt in the country's chaotic financial system is a perennial risk, and regulators launched a crackdown on a growing nationwide credit addiction three years ago owing to fears of a financial meltdown.
But Ant now boasts around 500 million users of its loan and credit products, which allow consumers to take out cash loans or access revolving credit lines.
This has stoked fears of a younger digital generation with little risk awareness falling into a life-long debt spiral, said Zhang Gang, a strategist with Central China Securities.
"Because of Ant's scale and influence, they may dominate private lending in the future and ... (acquire) private lending companies," said Zhang, who feels tighter regulations are badly needed.
The IPO is expected to eventually go ahead after Ant complies with the new regulatory requirements, which it has vowed to do, although analysts expect the size and valuation to be lower in light of the curbs on Ant's businesses.
But the "awful" timing of the IPO's withdrawal could dent China's hopes of being viewed as a financial and technology force to rival the United States, said Espinasse.
Beijing is pushing its national tech champions to list on China's stock exchanges rather than in the US, partly because of an escalating bilateral rivalry.
"This potentially has significant implications, not just for homecoming listings but also for listings of Chinese tech companies more generally," Espinasse said.
"Ultimately, financial markets are all about trust and transparency and it looks like we don't have that right now."
© 2020 AFP


text:
GROCERY STORES MUST DO BETTER: PLASTIC HAS TAKEN OVER!
It has become almost impossible to shop for groceries without bringing home unnecessary plastic packaging that can't be recycled or reused.
Environmental Defence surveyed 54 large, high-traffic grocery stores across Canada including Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro, and found that the majority of products on the shelves were packaged in plastic. Even the produce section has become a concerning source of single-use plastic waste that often ends up in landfills, incinerators or littered in nature.
Plastic packaging can contain harmful chemical additives, such as bisphenols and phthalates. It's also a major source of microplastic contamination.
It's time to stop the plastic pollution crisis.
Big grocery chains have to clean up their act on throwaway plastic packaging instead of leaving us holding the bag.
Urge big grocery chains to phase out unnecessary single-use plastics and to scale up their reusable and refillable packaging systems.
SEND A LETTER TODAY.
Your letter will go to the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Loblaw Companies Ltd, Metro Inc, and Empire Company Ltd.


text:
LineageOS 17.1 is being dropped as work on LineageOS 19.0 continues
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM by far, providing hundreds of Android devices a light, near-stock version of Android. LineageOS 18.1, which is based on Android 11, is the latest version of the ROM. But with Android 12 out for a while now, many fans are looking forward to the next iteration: LineageOS 19.0. While we still don’t know when the new builds based on Android 12 will arrive, the LineageOS team has now announced that they’re ending support for LineageOS 17.1.
In a Reddit post, the LineageOS team revealed that LineageOS 17.1, based on Android 10, has now reached retirement. That means new builds of LineageOS 17.1 won’t be developed moving forward. The team says they had to take this step because of the storage restrictions of their build servers.
As per the announcement, the following devices are being dropped from the LineageOS 17.1 build roaster:
|Google Pixel||sailfish||intervigil, razorloves|
|Google Pixel XL||marlin||intervigil, razorloves|
|HTC One (M8)||m8||bgcngm|
|HTC One (M8) Dual SIM||m8d||bgcngm|
|Huawei Honor 5X||kiwi||BadDaemon|
|LeEco Le 2||s2||codeworkx, tImIbreakdown|
|Motorola Edge||racer||erfanoabdi, Jleeblanch, SyberHexen|
|Motorola Moto E 2015 LTE||surnia||althafvly, theimpulson|
|Motorola Moto G 2015||osprey||althafvly, chil360|
|Motorola Moto G3 Turbo||merlin||althafvly|
|Motorola Moto G4 Play||harpia||jro1979|
|Motorola Moto X Play||lux||jro1979, thopiekar|
|Motorola Moto Z||griffin||DD3Boh, erfanoabdi, shr3ps, stargo, vache|
|Nvidia Jetson (Nano / Nano 2GB) [Android TV]||porg||webgeek1234|
|Nvidia Jetson (Nano / Nano 2GB) [Tablet]||porg_tab||webgeek1234|
|Nvidia Jetson (TX2 / TX2 NX) [Android TV]||quill||webgeek1234|
|Nvidia Jetson (TX2 / TX2 NX) [Tablet]||quill_tab||webgeek1234|
|Nvidia Shield TV (2015 / 2015 Pro / 2017) / Jetson TX1 [Android TV]||foster||webgeek1234, npjohnson|
|Nvidia Shield TV (2015 / 2015 Pro / 2017) / Jetson TX1 [Tablet]||foster_tab||webgeek1234, npjohnson|
|Nvidia Shield TV 2019 Pro [Android TV]||mdarcy||webgeek1234, npjohnson|
|Nvidia Shield TV 2019 Pro [Tablet]||mdarcy_tab||webgeek1234, npjohnson|
|Realme 2 Pro||RMX1801||sb6596|
|Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)||a3xelte||danwood76, Stricted|
|Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)||a5xelte||danwood76, Stricted|
|Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)||a7xelte||sourajitk, danwood76, Stricted|
|Samsung Galaxy J7 (2015)||j7elte||dariotrombello, danwood76, Stricted|
|Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo||s5neolte||danwood76, Stricted|
|Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 LTE||castor||snc|
|Sony Xperia Tablet Z2 Wi-Fi||castor_windy||snc|
|Wingtech Redmi 2||wt88047||nicknitewolf|
|Xiaomi Redmi K20 / Mi 9T||davinci||Pig|
|Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 / 8T||ginkgo||DarkJoker360, danascape|
|Yandex Phone||Amber||HighwayStar, vm03|
If you’re running LineageOS 17.1 on any of the above-mentioned devices, you can continue to use the ROM as it is but note that there won’t be any new updates. That means you will miss out on important security patches and other improvements. Your best bet is to upgrade to LineageOS 18.1, assuming it’s available for your device, or switch to another custom ROM which is in active development.
At the time, LineageOS 17.1 builds are still listed on the LineageOS download page. The team notes that builds and recoveries will eventually be removed from the website.
As for the Android 12 release, the team says they have started testing build systems to support LineageOS 19.0. However, no exact timeline has been provided for when the new version is officially coming out.


text:
Are you an online shopper? If so, would buy products off of YouTube?
President Obama reached out to a younger generation today with a live online interview with three of the most popular YouTubers on the internet.
President Obama will field questions today from representatives of the online audience, represented by popular YouTubers Bethany Mota, GloZell Green, and Hank Green.
This guy is crazy!
Friends without the Friends music…hmmm
President Obama, the leader of the free world, will field questions from representatives of the online audience, represented by three popular YouTubers.
A new group has singled out YouTube over other sharing services for a slew of reasons, including “their attitude.”
This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen on YouTube and I actually really like the song.
The Edison Research and Triton Digital recently discovered that AM/FM radios are how most people find new artists. Naturally, word of mouth through friends and family is second with YouTube coming in third.
Sophie just loves to roll down the hill


text:
By this time of year, a third of people in the UK have started to prepare for Christmas and the majority have begun shopping for Christmas presents for their family and friends.
But this year the high street is not benefiting, as COVID-19 continues to have a profound effect on the retail sector. With most shops closed due to government lockdown restrictions, early shoppers are turning to social media to buy their gifts.
According to PwC UK, consumers are expected to carry out 88% of Black Friday shopping online this year, up from 77% in 2019, because they are bringing forward Christmas spending.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) is warning consumers of fake and potentially dangerous goods that may appear on social media in the run up to Christmas. “Traders in counterfeit goods use brand names to try to openly sell their illicit products on social media. Some even offer home delivery” said Phil Lewis, the group’s Director General.
“With social media being so accessible to these sellers, they are trading from their front rooms and vans in car parks, selling fake items such as electrical goods, clothing, trainers, handbags, perfume, toys, makeup etc., bearing well established global brand names. Christmas shoppers are falling of this fraudulent activity. Consumers must be vigilant and check the product is being sold by a reputable source and report potentially counterfeit goods when it seems suspicious.”
Operation CAROL, a collaborative enforcement campaign coordinated by ACG, is currently underway and is taking-down prolific Facebook and Instagram traders that are impacting on its member brands. The operation is made possible with collaboration from Facebook and UK Intellectual Property Office.
“These traders are deceiving consumers and selling counterfeit goods, many of which will be dangerous and unsafe. This operation, which coincides with Black Friday and National Consumer Week, will help protect innocent people who are simply seeking a bargain and instead may be receiving inferior goods, that are not genuine brands. We aim to restrict the availability of counterfeit goods on these platforms at this critical time of year” commented Graham Mogg, ACG Intelligence coordinator.
“We are very grateful to Facebook and the Intelligence Hub at the Intellectual Property Office without whom this operation would not be possible.’’
A spokesperson for Facebook said ‘’Facebook takes intellectual property rights, including issues concerning counterfeits, extremely seriously and applies a variety of measures to action violating content. More information about how Facebook protects intellectual property can be found in this anti-counterfeiting guide in its Business Help Center.’’
Operation CAROL has worked with Facebook and Instagram to report content of potentially counterfeit products for removal and to protect the interests of consumers and legitimate business who are struggling to survive in these difficult times.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal labor officials vowed Monday they will decide quickly whether to support a request by Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) to stop a union-backed group from pushing worker walkouts at hundreds of stores on Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.
The world's largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on Thursday to stop a group called OUR Walmart, which is made up of current and former Wal-Mart workers, from holding protests.
Wal-Mart faced a worker walk-out in October ahead of its annual investor meeting that expanded to about dozen states and involved about 90 workers. But union officials promise walkouts at hundreds of stores this week.
Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
More from The Motley Fool
Wal-Mart Is Testing an AI-Powered Robot
The world's largest retailer is augmenting its human associates with an AI-infused robot to combat out-of-stock items.
Why Wal-Mart Is Closing 63 Sam's Club Stores
Despite criticism, closing the stores makes sense.
Why 2017 Was a Year to Remember for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Many had written off Wal-Mart as a pending casualty of the dawning online era. Several acquisitions and new online chief later, and the retailer has come roaring back to life.


text:
PlanX is all set to launch 2016’s first Demo Day during the last week of March. The target and interested audience, as always, would be upcoming startups, young entrepreneurs, students, innovators, investors, and top brass business people.
Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) is behind PlanX. The project has made a name for itself in the startup and entrepreneurship market. PlanX assists tech startups and assists in boosting their reach. The tech accelerator utilises a vast network of founders, mentors and investors to assist upcoming startups. It has already helped quite a few startups in extending reaching to the local market.
Demo Day is a platform for local Pakistani startups to showcase what they have to offer, what they have achieved and their future plans on expanding their business. They get a forum to display their talent and detail their products and services. It’s a great place for young and upcoming business people to interact with the some of the industry’s big names. Investors, mentors and potential clients, all of them gather at the Demo Day.
Any startup, engineer or designer looking to launch their product, gauging market demand, aiming to reach new customers or seeking guidance from successful startups should definitely register for Demo Day. Over 1000 guests from the industry will be present at the event. Featuring idea-stage startups, mid-stage startups and established companies, more than 100 startups have already registered to showcase their products and services at the event.
The 3rd PlanX Demo Day will take place on March 24th, 2016 from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM at the Arfa IT Park in Lahore.
The event agenda includes networking followed by speaker sessions and a startup expo. Speakers include, Chairman PITB Dr Umar Saif, Director PITB Nabeel Qadeer and prominent figures in the startup arena like Ali Mukhtar, Hussein Kanji, Umair Jaliawala, Hafsa Shorish and Khurram Jamali. A panel discussion featuring experts from the industry will also be organised to provide attendees with the insights of the tech space.
Registering for PlanX Demo Day
Startups can register for the event by filling the application form available here. Each startup will be provided with a table and two chairs in a total space of 20 sq. ft (4ft x 5ft). The last date for applications is 17th March 2016. Visitors can fill the form available here. There are no charges or fees for registrations or participation. Students can also come to the Demo Day and display their products or ideas for free.
Location: Arfa Software Technology Park 346-B Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Punjab.
For more information: Demo Day Homepage
Image Source: PlanX Facebook Page


text:
According to papers filed in the court case between Interplay and Bethesda, the Oblivion developer has been working on a "World of Warcraft type MMO."
Development on the game has apparently been ongoing since late 2006, with "tens of millions of dollars" invested and "close to a hundred people" working on it.
Bethesda is allegedly looking to pull the information revealed in the case.
So far, Interplay has in development Project V14, which is rumoured to be a Fallout MMO. Remember that Interplay owns the rights to develop Fallout MMOs; if the Bethesda game is Fallout-based, it won't legally be able to sell it.
Bethesda issued a lawsuit on Interplay last September for breach of agreement and infringing the Fallout trademark.


text: Argentinian artist Felipe Pantone and French marque Alpine have collaborated on four A110S art cars, each one handpainted in Pantone's signature style. Presented at the Monaco Grand Prix, each A110S is a unique example of Pantone's pixelated color gradients and bold black and white. Taking over a week of handwork each, no two are alike. Of course, underneath the striking paint is another work of art — the 292 horsepower range-topping mid-engine A110S. Only three of the four cars will be sold to the public.


text:
The history of personal technology, like biological evolution, is littered with failed species. Often, higher lifeforms succumb to attack from below, as better-adapted creatures take advantage of changing conditions to grab a foothold on the evolutionary ladder.
Such a moment may have come this week when Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, held aloft his company’s Kindle Fire tablet.
The device, which will go on sale in November and be available only in the US, looks unprepossessing as a piece of hardware. But if the early, excited reaction in tech circles is any guide, it may already have secured itself a new corner in the personal computing world – with potentially sweeping effects on the wider personal tech and media industries.
With a screen measuring seven inches diagonally – giving it only half the surface area of Apple’s iPad – and no camera or ability to connect to high-speed 3G networks, Amazon’s entry into the crowded tablet market will not arouse the techno-lust of the average gadget geek.
This is not a device, though, that is designed to sell itself on its technological innards – or what, in tech circles, are called the “feeds and speeds”. Instead, the Fire is a window into a world of digital content.
“It’s a full-on PC that won’t behave at all like a computer,” says Mark Anderson, a US technology commentator.
Personal computing has already been going through an extended evolutionary spasm. Apple’s iPhone, the fifth version of which is due to be unveiled on Tuesday, has led to a generation of pocket-sized, touchscreen devices that have quickly become all-purpose life aids. Mobile phones, digital cameras, GPS location devices – any number of separate functions have already been sucked into the smartphone.
With many device makers now looking at including mobile payments – something Apple has itself studied, though it is not yet clear whether this will be featured in its next handset – the wallet may be next to go.
The more recent iPad, on sale for less than 18 months, is now threatening to disrupt the market for larger screens, ranging from PCs to electronic book readers. Yet, while in the smartphone market other handset makers have largely copied Apple’s lead, Amazon has decided that tablets are due for another evolutionary branch.
In doing so, it has copied one of the most famous strategies in business history: the idea, pioneered by safety razor inventor King Gillette more than a century ago, that a company can sell one product at – or even below – cost to secure customers for more profitable products or services for which it can make repeat sales.
In Amazon’s case, that means slashing the price of its tablet to just $199 – far below the $499 price tag on the cheapest iPad. At that price it will make little or no money, even on devices it sells directly from its own website, according to Wall Street analysts. But from digital books to its music and film services to its online retail store, Amazon has plenty of ways to make its users pay.
“The primary concern for Amazon is to support its ecosystem and sell more content,” says Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner. “This is what the Kindle Fire was created to do: be a good platform for content consumption.”
Rather than present its users with the familiar “desktop” screen of icons for a range of apps, the Amazon Fire will display its access to digital content prominently on its home screen. And much of that content will come from Amazon.
Others put the company’s ambition more starkly. “The idea is to kill Netflix,” says Mr Anderson – echoing a widely held view that the dominant streaming film service in the US is one of the companies most threatened by this integration of hardware and content. With Amazon pushing aggressively into other digital media services, the impact of tight vertical integration with content could also be felt more widely.
In this regard, Amazon is playing to its own strengths. Besides running the largest online store, it has become a leader in the digital delivery of media and other content from its own servers.
Also, thanks to its early move into the “cloud computing” market, building the data centre capacity that other companies use to reach their users online, it has an unrivalled digital infrastructure to reach consumers. By bringing this back-end technology to bear in making its delivery of online content more efficient – for instance, with a new browser called Silk – Amazon has been able to draw at least some enthusiastic reviews from the tech geeks this week.
There are some obvious potential pitfalls in the Amazon approach. One is that, by stripping down its hardware to keep costs as low as possible, it will fail to excite consumers whose view of tablets has been conditioned by the iPad.
“A company that loses money on every hardware unit has the wrong incentives, it cannot keep pace technologically with a general-purpose device,” says one big Silicon Valley investor. But with a radically different price point, analysts such as Sarah Rotman Epps at Forrester say that Amazon is set to expand the tablet category, not compete directly with the iPad.


text:
Elon Musk stepped down as chairman of Tesla’s board of directors. In addition, he pays a fine of twenty million dollars. This is the settlement that Musk reached with the U.S. market regulator SEC on a previous complaint about the CEO’s claims that he could take the car manufacturer off the stock exchange.
Musk can keep his job as CEO of Tesla and remain on the board of directors. But he must resign as chairman of the board within 45 days and may not be re-elected to that role for the next three years. That’s part of the settlement between Musk and the SEC. Tesla also has to pay a $20 million fine.
Neither Musk nor Tesla have to plead guilty under the settlement. At the same time, the settlement follows an indictment by the SEC, which resulted from Musk’s choice to post on Twitter that he was considering withdrawing Tesla from the stock market for $420 per share. That was a striking claim he couldn’t substantiate.
Within the settlement, Telsa also has to appoint two more independent directors. A committee of independent board members should also be appointed. Musk will also be obliged to follow Tesla’s communication strategy and if he wants to tweet about Tesla, he must first have the company’s communication advisors look at the messages.
The settlement will keep certain investors in Tesla happy. In the lawsuit that the SEC had filed, Musk was asked to be removed from the board altogether. This led to tensions, because investors were afraid that the car manufacturer would not be okay. The manufacturer has been struggling with the mass production of its vehicles for years.
Moreover, this settlement only brings to an end the SEC’s case against Musk. There are also a number of investors who have filed a case against the CEO. Their lawsuits are likely to be strengthened by the SEC’s indictment, the documentation of which provided new facts for the investors’ lawyers.This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.


text:
While there has been an immense anticipation for the next iPhone, Apple is planning even to uplift Siri with a human touch to make the overall user experience much better than ever before. The new Siri voice will be a part of iOS 11 that will debut on the new iPhone range, including the highly rumoured iPhone 8.
Apple has released a white paper that reveals a deep learning integration within Siri's unique voice. The new voice is more natural and smoother than what you hear on your iOS 10 device. "The quality of the new TTS (text-to-speech) system is superior to the previous Siri system," Apple's Siri team writes in the paper.
The Siri team has used a deep MDN (mixture density network) that combines conventional deep neural networks with a Gaussian mixture model. This fusion enhances the voice output with human-like speech features such as formants and voiced and unvoiced speech sound transitions. The new engine generates high-quality speech into multiple audio segments -- as many as one to two million units -- and trains the unified target that resulted in through the mix with natural and lively prosody traits. Apple has also added a higher sampling rate of 48kHz over the existing 22kHz and accomplished the entire process with better audio compression.
Notably, the fresh TTS system has several optimisations to suit mobile devices such as the new iPhone models or even the older ones that will be compatible with iOS 11. These optimisations are specific to the runtime performance for speed, memory usage and footprint.
New talent behind the scenes
Not just bringing some tweaks using deep learning algorithms, but Apple has also hired a new female voice talent to enhance Siri your iOS device. "We evaluated hundreds of candidates before choosing the best one. Then, we recorded over 20 hours of speech and built a new TTS voice using the new deep learning based TTS technology," the Siri team states in the white paper.
The new voice talent is aimed to improve naturalness, personality and expressivity of Siri's new voice. Apple has provided a few samples to show the difference in reality.
Advanced translation support
Apple's Siri engineers are additionally working hard to bring as many international languages to the digital assistant as they can. The iOS 11 update is expected to enable you to translate phrases to languages such as Spanish, French, Italian and German. These translation changes are presently available in beta for users with American English.
With all the speech and translation related changes, Apple is indeed intended to give a competitive edge to Siri. These upgrades will help in winning the race against Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung's Bixby Voice and Microsoft's Cortana.


text:
AOL News has a new home! The Huffington Post.Click here to visit the new home of Politics Daily!
(Dec. 7) -- Start up the Apple rumor mill! According to a report from Digitimes, the iPad 2 could be coming to stores as early as February. The tech blog seems to have a report from the Chinese...
Even if you don't own an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you may have heard the news that Apple made its shiny new operating system available via free download today. Departing from Apple's previous...
News From Our Partners
More on Aol
Sites and Services


text:
Editorial: Bailout doesn't curb AIG's greed
One sometimes can't be amazed at our federal legislators, and the recent bailout is no exception. As if spending $700 billion wasn't enough, lawmakers had to pad the package with an extra $150 billion in pork to apparently make the deal more pala...
One sometimes can't be amazed at our federal legislators, and the recent bailout is no exception. As if spending $700 billion wasn't enough, lawmakers had to pad the package with an extra $150 billion in pork to apparently make the deal more palatable. Then, they colletively engaged in a group hug, celebrating a massive forking over of our money.
Meanwhile, the folks over at American International Group Inc. did their own kind of celebrating. The Associated Press reported earlier this week that AIG -- days after it received an $85 billion loan from the government to fend off bankruptcy -- spent $400,000 on a getaway for its high-ups. Not long after some folks with the company lost their jobs -- never mind the financial struggles of our nation and the rest of the world -- executives were reportedly enjoying such pleasures as spa treatments, banquets and golf outings.
If executives wanted to celebrate (and last we checked, the prevailing economic conditions weren't worthy of any kind of jubilation), couldn't they have simply grabbed a cold one at a nearby watering hole?
Seriously, these are some of your tax dollars at work, folks. And, while it's clear that something needed to be done in Washington to stop the bleeding, it also seems apparent that the stock market's continued nosedive since the bailout's approval isn't quite it. Maybe the general public will have a tad more faith in making investments if there was a little accountability.


text:
Government to Reduce Regulatory Duty on Mobile Phones in the Next Budget
Amidst the economic strain faced by the mobile industry due to heavy taxation and import limitations, the government has made a significant decision to evaluate budget proposals put forth by mobile phone traders. According to reports, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is actively considering various possibilities to decrease the customs duty on mobile phones in the upcoming federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, set to be disclosed on June 9th.
In the past, the government implemented a considerable increase in taxation on mobile phones, ranging from 100 to 150%. This decision had an adverse impact on revenue generation for the national treasury, as it fell significantly short of expectations. Instead of the anticipated amount of Rs. 85 billion, only a meagre sum of Rs. 5 to 10 billion was collected.
The high taxes have posed a significant threat to the mobile sector, affecting traders and millions of individuals whose livelihoods depend on it.
You May Also Read
First Air Taxi Service in Pakistan
People Resorting to Illegal Means
The exorbitant duty rates ranging from 100 to 150% made cell phones unaffordable for various segments of society. The restriction on importing used mobile phones has inadvertently contributed to increased smuggling activities as individuals are resorting to illicit methods to acquire smartphones and utilize their features without bearing the burden of high taxes. It is leading to a financial loss for the national treasury.
Planning a New Proposal
In Pakistan, where the number of mobile phone users has exceeded 186.9 million, a proposal is under consideration to alleviate the current burden of high taxes. It currently ranges from 100 to 150%, imposed on both small and large mobile phones. This adjustment is being deliberated to tackle the financial challenges experienced during the ongoing fiscal year.
Recommendations by Mobile Phone Traders Association
During a meeting, the delegation from the Mobile Phones Traders Association put forward their recommendations to Ishaq Dar, the finance minister and other senior officials. It has come to light that Pakistan imposes a duty of 75% on mobile phones, which is significantly higher than neighbouring countries in the region. This excessive duty has resulted in tax evasion activities involving collusion between individuals and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Munir Beg Mirza, the General Secretary of the All Pakistan Mobile Phones Traders Association, emphasized that each customer will contribute if the upcoming fiscal year implements reasonable tax measures. It will potentially result in the government’s revenue from phone sales reaching Rs. 100 billion instead of the current amount of Rs. 5 billion.
Reducing tax duties on mobile phones in Pakistan during the current economic crisis can have several positive impacts on the economy. Firstly, it would make mobile phones more affordable for consumers, increasing demand and higher sales. It will stimulate the mobile phone industry, creating more jobs and generating revenue. Secondly, reduced tax duties would encourage legal imports, discouraging smuggling and black market activities. It would contribute to the government’s revenue collection and help combat illicit trade.
Fewer taxes on mobile phones would also attract foreign investment in the manufacturing and assembly of mobile devices, fostering economic growth and technological development in the country. Reducing tax duties on mobile phones can boost the economy by promoting consumer spending, formalizing the market, and attracting investment.


text:
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Wednesday the new range of high-quality petrol introduced by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is beneficial for consumers as well as the country’s economy at large.
To prevent adulteration, the colour of Altron Premium and Altron X High Performance has been kept different from other fuels, the minister said while inaugurating the high-quality petrol at PSO outlets in Lahore and Karachi.
Altron Premium and Altron X High Performance were already put on sale earlier this month at PSO petrol stations nationwide.
The higher-grade RON results in extended engine life and reduced maintenance costs.
The two fuels reduce the environmental impact due to lower emissions. Additional benefits of the new product range include better mileage and enhanced engine performance.
Talking to journalists in Lahore, Mr Abbasi said industries will get uninterrupted gas supply during the winter season, according to APP.
The minister said the government is trying to ensure smooth gas supply to domestic consumers as well. “We have ample storage of gas and have a comprehensive strategy to meet its high demand during winter,” he added.
Courtesy : Dawn News


text:
Red Heart Rum has signed up as a sponsor of the Zando Cape Town 10s rugby games, with naming rights. The event will be hosted at the Hamilton Rugby Club on 3-4 February 2017 and will see a number of rugby legends, celebs and media personalities in action throughout the weekend.
2 days ago
Bonitas Medical Fund, a major sponsor of the Comrades Marathon for the past decade, recently announced that it has renewed its contract for an additional four years. The brand's stance on the Comrades Marathon is simple: "As a proudly South African company that promotes accessible quality healthcare we feel this ultra-marathon is an ideal fit for us to talk about making good wellness choices every day and celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things."
Issued by Bonitas 3 days ago
Samsung Electronics South Africa is to sponsor the Ultra South Africa Music Festival 2017, taking place on 24 February 2017 in Cape Town and 25 February in Johannesburg.
10 Jan 2017


text:
The smartphones are smart enough to hear ultrasonic sounds, but, the present-day hackers are even smarter than it. The cybercriminals are trying to hack Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri on your phone using this ultrasonic functionality.
As per the research conducted by Washington University, the hackers can get these voice assistants to perform tasks they want it to do, by fooling those apps using ultrasonic sounds. By integrating the special features of acoustic voice transmission inside solid materials, they have framed a new attack, SurfingAttack. This attack allows the hacker to communicate with the voice commanders from a distant killing the need to be physically present.
Once it passes through the multiple interaction loops, it gains access to create new attacks by hijacking your mobile phones.
The SurfingAttack works best on tables made of solid materials like wood, glass and metal. It converts the voice into an inaudible frequency band and thereby uses an off-the-shelf PZT transducer to transmit the attack signals through the table.
The researchers had tested the success of this hack on 17 smartphones of different brands including Google, Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and unfortunately, it passed all the tests.
According to the researchers using hardback covers like the ones made of wood is one of the ways to escape this hack.


text:
Consumers living just about anywhere can have groceries shipped to them from small and independent grocers, thanks to a new feature in Local Express's e-commerce platform.
To help small businesses, including independent grocers, expand their e-commerce footprint, food e-commerce platform provider Local Express has introduced a new shipping module that makes it easier to deliver to customers anywhere in the world.
Using Local Express’ e-commerce platform, grocers can now integrate shipping into their online stores. Shipping charges are automatically calculated based on the dimensional weight of items and the shipping destination, and an algorithm helps determine the appropriate box size for optimal shipping costs.
"The new shipping module is a free feature for our customers that have been asking for the capability to ship their specialty food to anywhere in the U.S. because their own customers are asking for it,” said Bagrat Safaryan, CEO and co-founder of Glendale, Calif.-based Local Express.
Supporting the introduction of this new feature, Local Express offers a guide that explains the process and provides tips for properly packaging foods, including perishables.


text:
Security firm Check Point on Thursday, May 25, unearthed a number of Android applications that infected devices with malicious ad-click software. Among such apps, one had been available directly through Google’s Play Store for over a year until recently. How widespread the malware has yet to be determined, but the firm claims that it has […]
As governments become more attuned to the threats posed in the IT space, the first reaction is to reflexively clamp down on them.
Chipotle has announced that a data breach affected most of its restaurants, and hackers used malware to steal customers’ credit/debit card information. The food chain revealed on Friday, May 26, that malware hit its sales system between March 24 and April 18. Chipotle further mentioned that the data breach occurred on April 25, a week after […]
Researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara and the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered a new class of Android vulnerabilities that have been named the “Cloak & Dagger” exploit. Google was informed about that exploit nine months ago, but some of the vulnerabilities are still present, even in the latest Android 7.1.2 Nougat. […]
It’s dangerous to go alone outside Google’s protective walled garden, but it’s the price you pay for free software.
Your personal data is worthless – it’s only when it’s processed by the Facebooks or Googles of this world that it has business value
The impact of data breaches can be measured in a company’s share price and customer churn.
After a chaotic week, courtesy of the WannaCry Ransomware attack, another vulnerability has been found that could lead to another exploit. This time, because of older Linux software still in fairly wide use. Another Weakness In the fallout of the original attack, researchers found the vulnerability in a widely used Linux networking software, according to […]
Five hospitals in Queensland are suffering from system failure caused by the security patches that were installed to protect the hospital from the global WannaCry ransomware attack.
First announced earlier this year as part of the country’s 2017 budget, Singapore’s IT office says it will put out S$2.4 billion in ICT tenders encompassing data analytics and Internet of Things sensors.


text:
New OCCF event with bands, vendors, activities in Bancroft Park June 17June 4, 2018
A new seven-hour event, West Fest, will focus on live music, food, drink and crafts in Bancroft Park Sunday, June 17.
Organized by the Old Colorado City Foundation (OCCF), the event will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to OCCF President Dave Brackett, the goal is to have a festive, “ family-friendly” gathering that will raise money for the
Admission will be free, with assorted food or drink vendors selling their wares. Among these will be food trucks parked along Colbrunn Court and local brewing businesses with beer they've made, according to event coordinator Lauren Ripko.
Four bands are scheduled on the Bancroft stage - Foggiest Notion (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), Boondoggle Saints (1-3 p.m.), Ruxton Railsplitters (3:30-4:45 p.m.) and Ashley Swendsen (5-6 p.m.).
Other scheduled activities are an interactive robot-building workshop with the CoCo Crafted group and demonstrations by Cougars Gone Wired (the Coronado robotics team), Ripko added.
West Fest's no-admission/buy-from-vendors format is the opposite of the OCCF's annual Taste of OCC fundraiser (scheduled Sept. 23 this year), at which people must pay to enter a fenced-off area where they eat and drink for no additional charge. Brackett said he thinks that approach attracts a “foodie” crowd that likes to sample things; whereas West Fest's free admission is likely to be “more appealing to families.”
Formed in 2013, the OCCF is a charitable nonprofit of the Old Colorado City Associates (OCCA) business group whose goal is to fund improvements in the historic shopping district.
Westside Pioneer article


text:
Russia will set up its first polyethylene terephthalate complex that would produce textiles. Located in the town of Vichug located in the Ivanov region, the plant is a modern production facility in Russia which is deemed necessary for the industry. An investment of around 25 billion rubles ($419 million) is being made on the project. At present, preparatory procedures are underway, while construction of the complex is planned to start in summer.
Giving details, Pavel Konkov, Governor of the Ivanov region said the modern integrated plant will be capable of producing out almost 200,000 tons of synthetic fiber and yarn per year, The enterprise is scheduled to be launched in the year 2020.
The textile grade Pet production plant will become an anchor project with production volume of up to 200,000 tons of polyester fiber and Pet-chips per year. The Ivanovo region is a part of the Central Federal District of Russia. The governor of the Ivanovo region Konkov said in future a complex of new textile plants will be created, specializing in innovative import substitution products for special and technical purposes with the use of polyester fibers and yarns.
The idea of setting up the plant is to establish its own production of synthetic fibers was born in the even before import substitution became a trend. However, during the implementation some problems came up, the project turned to be capital-intensive, while dependence on imports has not been considered a serious problem. When the plant in Ivanovo region reaches full capacity, it will cover all the needs of Russian producers of raw materials.


text:
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) has what feels like the good side of a perfect storm pushing it. As the leader and pure-play in flash memory, it is a winner in the current climate where more and more consumer electronics are using flash memory. All this week, we have seen Forbes write about flash memory margins rising as will SanDisk; TheStreet.com wrote “Why Shares of SanDisk Have Doubled” and S&P raised its rating on SanDisk as the flash memory sector recovers… But what if flash memory prices are seeing a soft May? One industry group is pointing to softer flash memory price this morning.
DRAMexchange.com has noted this morning: “1HMay NAND Flash average contract price roughly declined 1% to 8% due to the slow season effect.”
The article shows where prices have been impacted by second quarter slow season effects and instability anxiety in partial financial markets recently. It said that the first half of May saw NAND Flash average contract price roughly declined 1% to 8%. Currently cost-competitive TLC is mainly applied on the memory card and UFD products.
The note does have a caveat that could render any caution as silly as it noted, “Since 2Q is the traditionally slow season for memory card and UFD while TLC white-brand memory card supply is increasing, NAND Flash suppliers adjusted down 1H May TLC chip contract price 1%-8% at the purpose of promotion in slow season.” It also noted, “NAND Flash suppliers will also appropriately control 2Q10 output growth to ease the impact for slow season effect.”
Keep in mind that this also flies in the face of just a month ago when DRAM joined Flash Memory in shortage concerns. This is also just one article in a giant sea. It also does not mean for sure that all producers and suppliers are seeing the same effect.
DRAMexchange.com’s full article is here for reference.
If there is any concern at all, it is not being felt. So far SanDisk shares are indicated up 1.4% at $42.25 on thin volume this morning. The 52-week range is $12.04 to $44.89.
JON C. OGG


text:
Pradhan tweeted that he was resigning to go back to the startup world. He was a member of Infosys' executive council and was seen as one of the candidates for the CEO post once SD Shibulal retires in 2015.
Basab Pradhan, who was the global head of sales, marketing and alliances at Infosys , India's second largest software services exporter, has resigned.
"Leaving Infosys to go back to the startup world," Pradhan tweeted on Tuesday.
He was also a member of Infosys' executive council and was seen as one of the contender to succeed SD Shibulal as the CEO. Shibulal is due to retire in 2015.
Pradhan earlier had quit Infosys to start a technology startup called Gridstone Research in 2005. He rejoined the Bangalore-based firm two years ago when the company announced the new Infosys 3.0 strategy.
His resignation comes just three days before the company announces first quarter results and is the first high-profile resignation since the board reappointed NR Narayana Murthy as the executive chairman last month.
Infosys stock price
On November 24, 2015, Infosys closed at Rs 1041.00, down Rs 12.5, or 1.19 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 1219.00 and the 52-week low was Rs 798.21.
The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 66.53 per share as per the quarter ended September 2015. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 15.65. The latest book value of the company is Rs 209.27 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company is 4.97.
READ MORE ON Infosys, Basab Pradhan, global head, sales, marketing and alliances, software services exporter, IT, resign, quit, startup world, Narayana Murthy, SD Shibulal, SME Stepup
Set email alert for
ADS BY GOOGLE
video of the day
Nifty to fall below 7500 if Q3 disappoints; GST key: Kumar


text:
By Josh Beckerman
Miniso Group Holding Ltd., a Chinese retailer whose stockholders include Tencent Holdings Ltd., filed for an initial public offering.
The company will apply to list its American depositary shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
Miniso had more than 4,200 stores as of June 30, including 129 it operated directly, selling items including home decor, small electronics, toys and cosmetics. In 2017, it opened its first U.S. location in Pasadena, Calif.
Revenue was $1.3 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30.
Write to Josh Beckerman at email@example.com


text:
- Filter By Topic : 加工设备
Why the food industry needs to think about sustainability
八月 16, 2022
When businesses behave with sustainability, it’s not only society that benefits – this can also help bring in new business. Stefaan Kennis, Director of Strategy, Market Intelligence and Sustainability at TOMRA Food.
Potato Europe visitors can see the latest handling innovations from Haith
八月 15, 2022
The UK's leading manufacturer of vegetable handling solutions will present its revolutionary new grading machine – the ProSort - to European farmers at Potato Europe 2022.
Newtec shares buyers guide for investing in food weighing and sorting machinery, including price and costs
八月 13, 2022
The purchase of industrial weighing and sorting machinery for food packhouses is a high capital investment that needs to be carefully researched and considered.
World Potato Congress Abstracts and Presentations held in Dublin now available online
八月 12, 2022
Abstracts and Presentations of the 11th World Potato Congress Inc. Dublin, Ireland are now available online
Next-Generation Air Velocity Sensor for ovens promises improved accuracy
八月 12, 2022
Reading Thermal, the leading brand of measurement data logging systems by Reading Bakery Systems (RBS), has announced the release of a new SCORPION® 2 Digital Air Velocity Sensor Array that offers improved accuracy
Key Technology Introduces Reversible Zephyr Horizontal-Motion Conveyor
八月 12, 2022
Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces its reversible Zephyr™ conveyor at Pack Expo booth S-3547. Achieving higher capacities than other horizontal-motion conveyors, Zephyr
Food cutting specialist Urschel acquires Jifco and plans expansion
八月 11, 2022
Urschel Laboratories, Inc., a Global Leader in Food Cutting Technology, officially acquired Jifco Products, Inc. The business has been renamed Urschel South. All previous Jifco employees are now Urschel employees.
Grote Company Names New Controller and Engineering Manager
八月 10, 2022
Grote Company, a manufacturer of reliable, top-quality food slicing and assembly equipment, announced that Aaron Thomas has accepted the role of controller for PFI (a Grote Company).
A novel approach to snapshot hyperspectral imaging based on computed tomography imaging spectrometer (CTIS)
八月 08, 2022
A novel approach to snapshot hyperspectral imaging based on computed tomography imaging spectrometer (CTIS) is the result of the interesting collaboration between Newtec Engineering A/S and Physics at the University of Southern Denmark.


text:
What’s Driving Wearables Adoption Among Millennials?
Originally published on https://www.emarketer.com
This year, 23.8 million US millennials will have used a wearable device at least once per month. That’s roughly a third of the millennial population, according to our estimates.
We expect adoption to continue to increase steadily, reaching 28.9 million US millennials by 2022.
“Millennials, especially older ones, are the most likely age group to use wearables,” said eMarketer forecasting analyst Cindy Liu. “This group has been the most involved in the emergence of the “Quantified Self” movement especially as it relates to fitness tracking.”


text:
BMW has introduced this month its new app “BMW Connected” + ” at the Innovation Days 2017 in Chicago (United States). This app on your smartphone connects the cars, waiting for the arrival of the autonomous control.
Connectivity automobile is becoming a crucial issue for BMW. The brand is preparing a major update of its application for BMW ConnectedDrive. The official announcement took place at the beginning of July, during the innovation days BMW in Chicago (United States). By the end of the month, the app will be renamed the BMW Connected+, reported this Monday, AndroidPit.
#BMW : the brand restyle his #i3 electric and prepares a version S. #BMWi3 @BMWFrance https://t.co/2iT3syYfuc pic.twitter.com/DwxBL9M8Vm
— LesFurets.com (@LesFurets) June 1, 2017
8.5 million users connected
BMW claims 8.5 million cars connected to its app BMW ConnectedDrive. More than 1 million people would use regularly in over 29 countries. For the manufacturer, it is a good starting point. BMW has decided to improve its application, how to prepare for the arrival of autonomous cars. At BMW, the connected car has become more intelligent in waiting cars without a driver.
With BMW Connected+, the driver can lock and unlock their vehicle from their smartphone. The app will also offer to program the air conditioning, to find a cabin already cool before you take the wheel. The photo of BMW Connected+ allows you to generate a 3D image of their vehicle. During his journeys, the driver will be able to send its geographic location to his contacts. An effective way to adjust the timing of work meetings !
BMW: check out the new design of the #Série2 https://t.co/HwHS3jmIxx @BMWFrance @BMW #bmw #design #car #coupe #convertible pic.twitter.com/9gEfYcwzHO
— LesFurets.com (@LesFurets) May 15, 2017
A car transformed into a co-working space
A large part of the optimization of the app aims to save you time. For example, BMW Connected+ you will send in advance a notification to remind you to make full. The app will be able to scan your calendar, to provide you with the shortest route to your next appointment. You can continue to use the GPS function to complete the journey on foot. BMW Connected+ is also compatible with the voice assistant Amazon, Alexa.
“The car should no longer be seen as a means of transport but as a part of extra life,” said Thom Brenner, Vice President Digital Services at BMW. For the German manufacturer, connectivity, automobile and also leads to the transformation of your vehicle into a co-working space. For example, the new sedan Series 5 will propose as early as this fall in France the Skype application meetings (video conferencing, with 10 participants maximum) in its interface-board iDrive.
Compare quotes auto


text:
Labor issues continue to dominate port news, especially on the West Coast, where the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association failed to reach a new contract agreement by the July 1 deadline.
In a feat rare for the convention industry, the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center projects it will finish fiscal 2014 nearly $1 million better than budgeted, bolstered by higher than expected hotel/motel tax revenues.
SV Pittie Textiles, a leading India-based textile manufacturer, broke ground Monday for a planned $70 million facility near Sylvania. The plant, which will be located in Screven County Industrial Park, will employ 250 people when it’s fully operational.
As the debate over foods containing genetically modified organisms - or GMOs - continues to ramp up across the country, one Savannah company has quietly taken the lead in developing a non-GMO plant product that is also heart healthy.
Dan and Carrie Rohde have a lot to celebrate this July 4th.
They're just back from New London, Conn., where youngest daughter Dana reported to the United States Coast Guard Academy, following in the footsteps of sisters Krysta and Devin.
At a special called meeting Thursday, the board of the Savannah Economic Development Authority voted unanimously to reimburse Chatham County nearly a quarter million dollars for what chairman Bob James characterized as “an overdue invoice ignored by previous SEDA administrations.”
“As we get r...
As negotiations continue for a new contract agreement covering 13,600 dockworkers at 30 ports stretching from San Diego, Calif., to Bellingham, Wash., a new study shows the U.S. economy could lose as much as $2.


text:
TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437.TO), Japan's largest cellular operator by subscriber numbers, Thursday said it will work with Internet search giant Google Inc. GOOG, -0.30% to provide applications and services for DoCoMo mobile phones.
The companies said they will make Google the default search on DoCoMo phones and offer mobile versions of Google's map, e-mail and YouTube services.
DoCoMo said also that it is considering offering phones based on Android, a mobile platform being developed by Google.
The collaboration comes at a time when Japan's mobile carriers are caught in the throes of a domestic price war while continuing to pour investments into next-generation networks.
And, as brainy handsets with large screens become the norm, companies such as DoCoMo are looking for readymade applications which can boost revenue.
Google and DoCoMo - Japan's dominant carrier with nearly 50 million users - aim to generate Y10 billion yearly in joint revenue from search advertisements through the tie-up "in the near future," said Executive Vice-President Kiyoyuki Tsujimura.
Google's lucrative advertising network has long powered its profits in the U.S., but the company is a relative latecomer to the Japanese Internet scene, which - apart from the search segment - is largely dominated by Yahoo Japan Corp.
Google has now set its sights on the country's mobile market, where Internet use rivals that of PCs.
"We're very excited about the amount of mobile broadband infrastructure investment that's been made in this market. We think there is an immense opportunity here," said Omid Kordestani, a senior vice-president in Google's global sales and business development division.
In July last year, No. 2 Japan carrier KDDI Corp. announced a new e-mail service based on Google's Gmail. KDDI offers Google-based search as well.
Japan's third major carrier, Softbank Corp., offers online mobile services based on Yahoo Japan, in which it is a major stakeholder.
DoCoMo executives said they were attracted by the amount of customization Google allows to its offerings.
Managing Director Takeshi Natsuno said this is in contrast to negotiations with Apple Inc. (AAPL) to sell its iPhone in Japan.
"There is no room for DoCoMo to add its own flavor" with the iPhone, he said.


text:
As Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) carve out a new frontier in the global financial ecosystem, they are concurrently raising profound concerns regarding potential invasions of personal privacy. CBDCs, digital manifestations of sovereign currency issued by central banks rather than commercial banks, represent not a new form of currency, but a digitized version of existing money that can be utilized by households and businesses for everyday transactions.
Various central banks around the world are progressively contemplating the issuance of their own digital currencies. As of January 2023, five central banks have already launched a CBDC - the Central Bank of The Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bank of Jamaica, and the People's Bank of China, with the latter issuing the first digital currency of a major economy. More recently, the Reserve Bank of India joined the bandwagon with its 'Digital Rupee'.
Unlike virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies, CBDCs are state-issued and are anticipated to circumvent the use of distributed ledger technology like blockchain. In a bid to reduce their reliance on global financial systems, several states, including Venezuela and the Marshall Islands, have issued their own cryptocurrencies.
Yet, with the increasing acceptance of CBDCs, concerns regarding their potential impact on privacy are mounting. Recent developments in the UK and Switzerland in February 2023 starkly highlight the diverging attitudes towards digital currencies. While the UK Treasury and the Bank of England suggested that a state-backed digital pound might be launched after 2025, a Swiss lobby group demanded a national vote to retain a "sufficient quantity" of cash in circulation. Their primary concern is that electronic payments could inadvertently enable the state to closely monitor its citizens' actions.
In an interesting development, however, the state of Florida has taken a unique stance by banning CBDCs altogether. This bold move underscores the rising apprehensions about CBDCs, and signals a growing demand for measures to protect individual privacy in the face of rapid digital transformation in the global financial system. As we venture further into the era of CBDCs, the balance between monetary innovation and privacy preservation will be crucial.


text:
Samsung announced that the popular security app, LoJack would be soon built into their latest flagship device, the Galaxy S4. The firmware update necessary for LoJack arrived for most of the US variants of the Galaxy S4 in recent weeks, and now the service is live to take advantage of it. LoJack can be activated on your Galaxy S4 right now and it'll cost you $30 per year for the service.
So what do you get with LoJack? Well you can track your phone, remotely wipe it, and recovery assistance. Samsung also says that the LoJack app is built right into the firmware, which makes it persistent through factory resets. But it probably won't be persistent through ROM flashing, so if you flash ROM's you might want to be weary of that.
To get started, all you'll need to do is go the LoJack website, register your device then simply pay up. Absolute Software (the company behind LoJack) claims that it will work with law enforcement to recover stolen phones, which is a pretty cool feature. Law enforcement has already been after the OEMs to help keep phones from being stolen. And this is a great step towards that.
Currently the service is only available in North America and only on the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Active. Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T has already pushed out the update which has LoJack built-in. T-Mobile appears to be the only one that has yet to do so. It seems to be a pretty cool feature and service. But I still think this service should be included for free with every phone, right? It would make it so much easier when your phone does get stolen.
How many of you are jumping over to LoJack's website now to register your device? Let us know in the comments below how you like the service.


text:
- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Tumblr
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday proposed to eliminate commercials from state-owned radios, having already proposed to scrap advertising on public television.
Sarkozy also said in a speech there would be no change in the scope of state-owned channels, grouped in France Television.
“This choice does not imply any change in the scope of France Television,” he said.
“In order to make things coherent, I want French public radio services, regrouped under Radio France, to undergo the same changes,” he added.
Last week Sarkozy proposed scrapping ads on public TV channels and funding the revenue shortfall with a tax on private channels and on new communication means such as Internet and mobile phone.
French public television channels currently generate nearly 1 billion euros ($1.47 billion) in advertising revenues.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Sunday the government was considering a raft of measures to make up for the shortfall, including taxing private TV and telecoms operators.
He said also that France Television had been asked to make savings.
French newspaper Les Echos reported on Thursday that France could tax new computer, television and mobile phone sales by 1 to 2% to help fund its state-owned TV channels.
Asked about the newspaper report, Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs Luc Chatel told LCI television: “We are at the reflection stage… We will study different ideas for possible financing.”
Les Echos said the tax plan was discussed at a meeting at Sarkozy’s offices on Monday and, based on total consumer electronics sales of around 17 billion euros, could raise 170 to 340 million euros.
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day


text:
A new app called HiHello is taking aim at business cards. While plenty of apps in the past have tried to kill the business card , they never achieved critical mass. Mainly, this is because most required that both parties — the business card holder and recipient — have their app installed. HiHello is different. Instead of forcing everyone to download its app, it simply generates a QR code that can be scanned by anyone with a modern smartphone. HiHello specifically takes advantage of the fact that today’s smartphones now have QR code readers built in — users no longer need to download a separate QR code scanner app to exchange information over this format. On iPhone, you can use the native iOS Camera app to scan QR codes. And on Android, Google Lens (a part of Google Assistant) offers similar functionality. (Although this should really be in its camera, too, ahem .) What this means is that when a HiHello user wants to share their contact information with another person, all they need to do is have the recipient scan the QR code the HiHello app generates. The recipient doesn’t have to download or install anything, and is able to quickly save the contact information right into their phone’s address book.
Originally posted here:
CardMunch founder returns with HiHello, a new app aiming to replace business cards


text:
New research from Goldman Sachs underscores fraught economic conditions currently hitting small business owners in the UK.
Staff resignations, rising energy costs and follow-on inflationary pressures are at the forefront of concerns for entrepreneurs in the region.
Of 10,000 small business owners contacted by Goldmans, nearly 5,000 reported business confidence lower than that during the peak of covid in 2021.
47% of respondents believe the economic outlook for the second half of 2022 is worse for small businesses than that during this time last year.
A UK inflation rate of 9% reflects a 40-year-high, with the same situation mirrored in the US: inflation in the US is at 8.6%, also a forty-year-high.
78% of small business owners say inflationary costs have ultimately hurt their profit margins since the start of 2022.
While only 47% of UK-based respondents reported worse economic outlook than this time last year, a larger 65% cohort reported inflationary costs will hurt the future growth of businesses.
A large part of the UK’s inflationary situation is due to rising energy costs across the region for businesses and households. This continues to proliferate as the Johnson government retains staunch opposition to introducing price caps.
61% of small business owners reported having been negatively impacted by rising energy costs through 2022.
55% of respondents reported perceptions that future business growth will remain constrained as energy prices in the UK remain high, a larger cohort than the 47% reporting worse economic outlook.
Interestingly, 54% of respondents claimed small business operations have been negatively impacted by staff shortages in the first half of 2022.
Asked by Goldman Sachs what government-level supports would aid small business operations, respondents targeted three priorities:
Capping energy prices in the UK
Acting to curb inflation
Increasing tax relief measures for small business
Whether or not small businesses will get what they want remains to be seen.
Get the latest news and insights direct to your inbox


text:
In California, lawsuit abuse fuels rising prices
There seems to be no end in sight for the nationwide supply chain crunch that is crippling our nation’s economy. For small business owners in California who barely survived the destruction caused by the pandemic, this could not come at worse time.
California – which is already in the midst of an affordability crisis – has long been known as one of the most expensive places in the country to live. While high prices are nothing new for California consumers, the wave of inflation that we are currently experiencing is an entirely new animal.
When the input costs for businesses rise, they are forced to raise prices on their customers to compensate. While traditional market forces such as changes in supply or demand generally dictate price movements, misguided government policies that artificially alter the cost of goods and services can play an outsized role.
While the ADA is a widely recognized federal statute, PAGA is a lesser-known law unique to California.
This is especially true in California, as the state’s growing lawsuit abuse problem is contributing to the rise in consumer prices. This development can be squarely blamed on lawmakers in Sacramento, who designed California’s legal code in a way that unnecessarily makes small businesses vulnerable to frivolous claims.
The state’s legal climate specifically allows for rampant abuse of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by greedy trial lawyers in search of a quick buck. This exploitation clogs up our state’s court system, harms small businesses, and prevents judges from focusing on legitimate trials.
While the ADA is a widely recognized federal statute, PAGA is a lesser-known law unique to California. Essentially, PAGA allows aggrieved current or former employees to file claims against their employer to collect damages in the event of a workplace-related incident. While the well-intentioned law allows for employees to collect remedies if they can prove they were wronged, it was written so broadly that it opened the flood gates for all sorts of abuse.
While both laws incentivize lawyers to seek out those who need representation, in many cases, these attorneys actually recruit faux plaintiffs to participate in their profiteering schemes. To do this, they spend millions of dollars each year blanketing television airwaves and dotting highways with advertisements for their legal services.
Their goal is to spook honest small businesses with overwhelming lawsuits and then strongarm them into settling before trial. By resolving the case before it is heard in court, these attorneys can quickly make a profit and move on to their next victim.
Small businesses are often forced into these agreements due to their lack of financial resources to fight drawn-out court cases and their fear of losing their livelihoods should a judge rule against them.
In the end, many of these “victims” end up with nothing as their attorneys’ cash huge checks.
Unfortunately for California consumers, this dishonest maneuvering comes at a steep price. When businesses get hit with frivolous, costly lawsuits, they are forced to raise prices on their customers to make up for the losses. The more this happens, the less affordable everyday goods and services become for the average Californian.
This vicious cycle can be stopped. By reforming PAGA and the way the ADA is enforced, lawmakers in Sacramento can provide relief for struggling small businesses who live in fear of being sued. By reining in lawsuit abuse, our Representatives can also ease the upward pressure on prices for consumers.
In this inflationary environment, our government must do all it can to make the cost of everyday goods and services more affordable for Californians.
Editor’s Note: Connie Conway represented Tulare County in the California State Assembly and served as Assembly Republican Leader. Prior to that, she served on the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.


text:
Curious as to what an Apple Drone might look like?
A German designer who goes by the name Eric Huismann has envisioned a drone concept he calls the Apple Quadcopter.
If it weren’t for the above information, one would think the product comes from Apple itself, owing to its realistic design loyal to the aesthetics of the tech company.
Carrying a minimalistic design, the Apple Drone was first posted on Huismann’s website.
If he would have his say, the Apple Quadcopter would be able to shoot still and panoramic photos using the four cameras built inside its legs. Pictures and 4K-quality videos would then be streamed to the user’s Apple device.
As expected from all devices bearing the Apple brand, Huismann’s drone has the now-iconic Apple logo printed on the middle.
Drones of the Future
As with all visionary companies, an Apple Drone would always exist in the realm of possibilities.
It should be noted that Amazon, in its effort to make deliveries easier and faster, has successfully applied for a permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to test out their delivery drones.
The FAA has just released on March 19 a statement approving Amazon to test out the drones it would be using for their upcoming Amazon Prime Air.


text:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), is the federal statute that was enacted to promote accuracy, fairness, and privacy of consumer information contained in the files of credit reporting agencies. The purpose of this law is to protect consumers from the willful and/or negligent inclusion of inaccurate information in credit reports. With this purpose in mind, the law regulates gathering, dissemination, and use of information by the credit reporting agencies and furnishers to ensure the accuracy of consumer information.
Why These Changes are Occurring
In an effort to adhere to the letter of the law, the three big credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union are working to make changes so that they can improve the accuracy of consumer information and allow consumers easier access to dispute inaccuracies with the credit bureaus. The motivation behind these changes dates back to 2015 when government agencies discovered the agencies were not complying with the letter of the law and the number of consumers with inaccurate information on their reports was immeasurable.
Issue of Quality Control
This year alone, it is reported that just under 200,000 consumers have launched disputes with the credit reporting agencies regarding inaccurate information on their credit reports. This number is astounding. To improve upon the large amount of inaccuracies, the credit reporting agencies will first need to establish better quality control programs. In other words, credit reporting agencies will need to hire more employees to conduct investigations in greater detail so that the results will be more accurate.
Consideration of Supporting Documents
Under the FCRA, consumers are encouraged to send supporting documentation with their disputes, however consumer experts argue that the credit reporting agencies do not consider the information. Under new compliance procedures, agencies must consider the information when conducting a dispute and will have to put new procedures in place to prove that the information is being considered.
Information Furnishers Must Also Comply
Not only are the credit reporting agencies required to comply with the law but so are the furnishers of information. More often consumers are finding that furnishers are supplying inaccurate account information to the credit reporting agencies. To comply with the law, furnishers will be required to delve deeper into requests for investigation and to review information prior to reporting it.
In an effort to keep the credit reporting agencies and furnishers of information in compliance with the FCRA, authorities are giving them until March of 2018 to implement improvements. If you believe your rights have been violated under the FCRA and would like the advice or assistance of counsel, contact SmithMarco P.C. for a completely free case review.


text:
Exploding hoverboards have been all over the news lately, especially as these boards were very popular as holiday gifts. Based on the number of incidents of the boards exploding or catching fire, many retailers including Amazon.com and Target stopped selling them before Christmas, and several commercial airlines banned them aboard their aircraft.
So what happened in the production of these items in China to make them so dangerous? We all know about defective, cheap Chinese products, but is this really the result of poor processes and sub-standard materials or is something else going on? Why is it for example, that China can build a $589,000 Lamborghini Estoque, but not a safe hoverboard? And who is responsible when a defective product is imported into the United States?
In this talk, Rosemary Coates will address these questions by discussing the facts about global supply chains, poor quality products, patent infringement, outdated safety standards, and the potential for high profits with knock-off brands within the extremely competitive manufacturing community in China.


text:
The new video iPod is a mediocre product. Similar products have been on the market for months, some (like the Sony PSP) with far superior screens. Battery life is low and it’s deliberately crippled by copy protection. And think about it – are you interested in watching an episode of Lost on a two and half inch screen? Do you think anyone else is? I don’t.
More to the point, it raises the question of why the video iPod earned an article on the front page as well as the lead article in the business section of the newspaper a couple of days ago. Here’s an article about the inordinate amount of attention paid to Apple’s product launches and the short memory that prevents mention of the numerous failed products whose launches were reported just as gleefully. The video iPod articles don’t mention the iPod Photo, a failed product from only a year ago. The iPod Shuffle is being swept under the same carpet.
Apple puts its machines in pretty boxes, and it was ready to step in when Sony dropped the ball in the portable music world. (Remember the Walkman? It seems like ancient history now, but Sony ruled portable music at one time.) Apple is swell. I like Apple. But the media’s overreaction to Apple product launches is getting tiresome.


text:
Get another sneak peek at Innovation Lab companies coming to NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show
On-demand production: The future beckons
NRF 2022: Insights on successful custom manufacturing from Ralph Lauren.
Retail Imports Remain High
Imports will return to normal growth in 2022 but volumes will remain high, according to NRF's Global Port Tracker.
Supply chain disruptions — are we done yet?
Most retailers have plenty of merchandise and we expect that to remain the case.