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A performance patch is coming to Resident Evil Village on Steam next week, and it promises to make the game run that little bit better on PC.
In a tweet via the developer's social media channels, Capcom said this update explains that the new update is being pushed out in order to fix an issue where "certain" unspecified CPUs were "unable to launch the game". The patch will also address "minor fine-tuning of certain graphical processes".
The patch is due to land in-game on August 24, and users are hoping that it'll make the game that bit more playable.
This comes after the game's last PC update which made "adjustments" to Denuvo DRM, after it was proven Denuvo tech was to blame for consistent stuttering and performance issues on the PC version of the game.
After it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt that DRM was indeed to blame for the performance issues, Capcom pledged to update the game to address the concerns of PC players that would have got a better game if they resorted to piracy. No publisher wants to make their players feel like that, after all.
If you want more Resident Evil content in the immidiate future, you may be disappointed: Resident Evil Re:Verse, the multiplayer shooter free with every copy of Resident Evil Village, has now been pushed back into 2022 so that the development staff can “continue working to deliver a smooth gameplay experience.”


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Romania: Inflation exceeds Central Bank target
January 11, 2013
In December, consumer prices rose 0.6% over the previous month, which was well above both the virtually flat reading recorded in November and market expectations of a 0.3% rise. The monthly jump was the result of higher prices for food and non-food items, which overcompensated for lower prices for services.
Annual headline inflation climbed from 4.6% in November to 5.0% in December, above the Central Bank's tolerance margin of 3.0% plus/minus 1.0%. The reading exceeded both market expectations of a 4.6% rate and the 3.1% recorded in December 2011. Annual average inflation inched up from 3.2% in November to 3.3% in December.

domain: news


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Watch Dogs 3 will very likely be revealed at E3 this year. The sequel's been rumoured for what feels like an age, and in a year when Ubisoft has said that Assassin's Creed will be taking a break, it makes sense for the open world hack-a-thon to make a return in its absence.
It's also long been rumoured that Watch Dogs 3 will take place in London, and evidence of that is mounting. In Kotaku's recent report about Assassin's Creed with Vikings, the publication throws its weight behind the supposed London setting, saying that it is happening.
Again, we'll likely know for sure when E3 2019 rolls around, but right now it's looking nailed on. Maybe our mate Danny Dyer can lend his cockney voice to this game, too?


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Remember the recent incident when Coles suffered a major technical glitch that led to the closure of all 800 stores across Australia.
On 19 October, however, there was another massive technical defect in the Australian banking system!
On the morning of October 19, National Australia Bank suffered a widespread technical failure that caused its application and web banking system to crash, preventing users from accessing mobile apps and PC versions of online banking, and affecting merchant POS terminals, radio 7 News reported.
ATMs, NAB cards and Apple Pay are still available. On Monday morning, the bank confirmed that it knew of a major technical problem with the system’s network.
According to the social media messages of NAB, its merchant POS terminal transaction payment system, Mobile Banking, Web Banking have not been able to use and open the situation until 4 p.m., the problem has been gradually resolved. In a statement on Twitter, NAB said: “We will resolve this issue as soon as possible and regret the change.” “
This sudden situation also nasty everybody, the netizens makes fun of in succession on the Net, oneself encounter trade process occurrence problem.
As a matter of fact, with the increasing degree of electronic banking system, major Australian Banks also frequently appear system failure problems.
On the same day as the nAB glitch, Australia’s central bank, the RBA, will require Banks to report on electronic banking system glitches from the middle of next year, so that the market can get information about the reliability of the banking system and force them to make the necessary investments.
As the coVID-19 unforeseen acceleration of the structural shift from cash to digital payments has led to a sharp increase in pressure on traditional Banks’ online trading systems, rBA data show a significant increase in the frequency and duration of retail payment failures in recent years.
According to the data, the frequency of failures in 2020 has increased from less than 1,000 in 2017 to about 2,300, and the number has risen in each of the past three years. Even the most technologically advanced and leading Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) suffered two massive outages in July and August, with millions of people not having access to payment services for hours.
Software glitches were the main cause, as were problems with telecommunications infrastructure and third-party services.
The report also shows that the RBA supports ATM consolidation. The continuing decline in cash consumption has changed the economic viability of cash distribution services. However, in order to ensure adequate access to cash services, the RBA did not rule out integrating ATMs into utilities that are jointly owned or outsourced by participants.
This arrangement may now be an effective way to maintain widespread ATM coverage, which is particularly important in remote areas with fewer cash services.


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The UK tech sector has reached the milestone of 100 UK tech companies valued at $1bn (£0.72bn) or more, thanks to the growth of tech unicorns, the majority of which are fintechs.
According to data from Dealroom and Tech Nation, the UK has now joined China and the US as the only nations to have triple digit unicorns.
UK tech unicorn creation reflects the rapid growth of the tech sector. So far in 2021, 13 UK tech unicorns have already been created, compared to seven in the whole of 2020, and UK tech unicorn creation has risen by 127 per cent since 2017, when the UK was home to 44 tech unicorns.
Collectively, the UK’s 100 tech unicorns have raised almost $32bn in venture capital investment across multiple tech sub-sectors. The majority (34 per cent) of UK tech unicorns are fintech companies, 14 per cent are healthtech, eight per cent travel and transport tech, five per cent foodtech and four per cent gaming.
The UK has more tech unicorns than Germany (42), France (22) and the Netherlands (18) combined, and is the first country in Europe to reach 100 unicorns.
The high levels of tech unicorn creation reflect the continued strength of the UK tech sector, which reached record highs in the first half of this year. UK tech start-ups have raised $14.5bn since the start of the year, beating the previous record of $8.9bn in the second half of 2020, with two weeks still left to go.
The UK’s 100th tech unicorn, Tractable, an AI start-up building computer vision tools, and a member of Tech Nation’s late-stage Future Fifty programme, has today announced a $60m Series D raise, that takes the company’s valuation to $1bn.
“Smashing through this milestone cements the UK’s place as one of the world’s top tech hubs,” said MP Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.
“The government is backing our brilliant innovators and entrepreneurs by investing in world-class digital infrastructure and people’s skills, so that we can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and level up opportunity across the country.”
“With UK tech unicorn creation growing by 127 per cent over the last three years, it’s clear that the UK tech sector has become a rapidly growing hub for unicorns, culminating in 100 companies with unicorn status today,” said Gerard Grech, chief executive, Tech Nation.
“It’s a privilege to have worked closely with many of these inspiring companies, helping them navigate scaling challenges as they continue to transform every corner of UK industry.”
“The UK has just passed a major milestone,” said Yoram Wijngaarde, founder and chief executive of Dealroom.
“Only three countries have created unicorns in triple figures: the US, China and the UK. The raw unicorn figures can be a sign of a maturing ecosystem, but there is also no let up in pace.”


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BSTI to run countrywide drives during Ramadan
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will carry out special drives across the country during the holy month of Ramadan to monitor whether businesses are cheating in weight or selling substandard and adulterated foods.
The BSTI will carry out its surveillance activities with additional mobile courts apart from the existing ones to ensure safe foods for the consumers, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana said at a press briefing at her office in the ministry in Dhaka today.
"The mobile courts led by executive magistrates will act in the capital throughout the month of Ramadan, including holidays in cooperation with the law enforcement agencies, including police and Rapid Action Battalion."
It will also work to prevent sales of adulterated Iftar and Sehri foods and products by hotels and restaurants, she said.
Apart from the capital city, she said, the mobile courts will conduct drives in Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Tangail, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Kishoreganj and other districts.
The directives were also given to the divisional and district BSTI offices to carry out mobile court drives at upazila levels with help from the local administration, she added.
To ensure safe food during Ramadan, the BSTI has recently collected some 826 food items from the market. The institution found that 760 of the items have maintained standard while 14 were substandard.
The BSTI also served show cause notices on 14 businesses in this regard.


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CHICAGO, Sept. 24, 2021 – Experts selected and America voted, and Bravazzi has been crowned the No. 1 canned beverage in the 2021 USA TODAY 10Best Canned Cocktail competition.
Taking the top spot in the USA Today competition is a proud moment for Bravazzi, another in a series of recent accolades for the brand. Bravazzi has consistently been voted “best tasting” at Seltzerland competitions across the US in 2021, and has been recently highlighted in outlets like Forbes, the Washington Post, and more.
Excitement around Bravazzi continues with the launch of the Coastal Collection – a new variety pack inspired by flavors of Italy’s coastal regions. The Coastal Collection includes two new flavors, Mango with Lime and Peach with Lemon, as well as best-selling Blood Orange.
“We are ecstatic that Bravazzi won the 2021 USA Today 10Best competition. We were thrilled to get second place in 2020, but to win a national competition as a small, independent business is a huge deal,” said Sarah Ross, Co-Founder, Vivify Beverages. “There are more new brands in the market than ever before, and people are falling in love with Bravazzi because it’s unlike anything else out there and they’re bored with the status quo.”
“At a time when travel has been significantly limited around the globe, Bravazzi offers something truly unique: escapism. Every aspect of Bravazzi is influenced by our beloved Italy. Like the Italians, we use only the best ingredients to create mouth-watering, true-to-fruit flavors. We know that people today want delicious flavor experiences without sacrificing superior ingredients and quality, and that’s what Bravazzi offers.”
There are hundreds of brands available in the U.S. market today, and of those hundreds, the panel of experts behind USA TODAY’s 10Best selected the top twenty to be included in this competition. The public then had four weeks to vote for their favorite before the winning brands were named.
Bravazzi was the first brand from Vivify Beverages, a forward-thinking alcohol beverage company founded by a team of innovative industry veterans. Majority female owned, Vivify was also one of the first companies to partner with Constellation Brands for their “Focus on Female Founders” initiative. Get more information at www.vivifybeverages.com or www.bravazzi.com.
Bravazzi is 4.2 percent alcohol by volume and 100% gluten free—it’s crafted with a proprietary alcohol base derived exclusively from cane sugar. Inspired by gourmet Italian sodas that have taken the nonalcoholic beverage market by storm for years, and made with six simple ingredients, including real juice, it’s no wonder Bravazzi has just been voted a big winner.


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Info & Phones News
Alliacense today announced new patent litigation it is filing against 13 different companies, many of which make mobile products. Alliacense alleges that the companies involved are violating the patents held by MMP Portfolio, which is a patent-holding and licensing firm contributed to and run by a number of other organizations. The companies being sued include Acer, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Garmin, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera, LG Electronics, Nintendo, Novatel Wireless, Samsung Electronics, Sierra Wireless, and ZTE. Alliacense and MMP have filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to prevent the companies involved from importing the infringing products. It also filed action seeking damages for past infringement that includes triple unpaid royalties and interest, plus attorney's fees; and injunctions barring future products from entering the U.S. Alliacense and MMP Portfolio didn't specify the nature of the patents involved in the litigation.
Eastman Kodak on Monday filed a lawsuit in Manhattan against Apple, claiming that the iPhone maker is wrongfully asserting ownership of 10 patents and thereby throwing a wrench into Kodak's efforts to sell those patents. Kodak is accusing Apple of attempting to "delay and derail" its patent sale. In a statement, Kodak said, "Apple's strategy has been to use its substantial cash position to delay as long as possible the payment of royalties to Kodak and to interfere [with the sale]. Apple and FlashPoint (an Apple spin-off that is also claiming ownership) are seeking to benefit from Kodak's difficult financial position, which will be exacerbated if the debtors cannot obtain fair value for the patents." Kodak is requesting that Apple's ownership claims of the patents in question be dismissed.
Microsoft today announced that more hardware makers will soon be bringing Windows Phone 7 devices to market. Acer, Fujitsu Limited, and ZTE Corporation all join Dell, HTC, LG, Nokia, and Samsung. The first Nokia WP7 device will have Mango.
Phone Scoop spent a few moments with Acer's massive new Android device, the Iconia Smart. Is there anything redeeming about the awkward 21:9 display?


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HOLYOKE, Mass (WWLP) – On Saturday, June 18th, the Greater Holyoke Chamber and Holyoke Farmers Market will distribute over 100 food boxes to Holyoke residents.
The Greater Holyoke Chamber has brought the Holyoke Farmers Market to Holyoke residents and the surrounding community for over ten years. Special COVID CDBG Funding was given by the City of Holyoke’s Office of Community Development to aid low-moderate income residents that are struggling from food insecurity.
A total of 52 small grocery boxes and 67 standard grocery boxes were purchased from Simo’s produce. The boxes contain cheese, butter, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables which will address food insecurities in Holyoke residents. They will also help families and individuals who are facing financial difficulties due to the nation’s rising food costs.
Residents of Lyman Terrace will receive the standard grocery boxes during a community event put on by Aida Gomez, Community Life Service Coordinator for Lyman Terrace. Gomez will be offering food demos and guiding residents to consume as well as cook with healthier alternatives. The Holyoke Farmers Market will distribute the small grocery boxes to anyone visiting the market that day. The market opens at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 3:00 p.m.
The Greater Holyoke Chamber and Holyoke Farmers Market encourages the community to visit the market and support local farmers.


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It is good news for the car lovers, Audi A6 and RS6 avant will be launching soon in US. The new RS7 will have a 600 Horsepower of Engine and a 4.o litres twin –turbo V8. There are also some rumours about a hybrid drive train which may have been borrowed through Panamera Turbo S E- Hybrid.
But from an inside source a news has come that Audi RS7 will be coming with a new RS6 Avant model. It has also been said that both the models will be available in US by 2020.
These cars (Audi A6 and Audi RS6) will have a MLB platform which will allow to lose a weight of them by almost 80 kg and then we can see the 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds only.
If it is true then we might be seeing Audi sports cars in US and many of the car lovers will have been thrived with this news.
Both the A6 and RS6 Avants models are expected next year. The previous A6 and RS6 versions were not available in the US and many of the car lovers were forbidden from enjoying the rides in these two variants.
Cars preferred in US market
In US, people basically are fond of SUVs and do not prefer wagons. But in 2018, wagon models have already left a remark in US car industry. Mercedes is the only company which supplies wagon versions of its E63 AMG in US. But after the release of A6 and RS6 variants in US it will have a tough competition for both of them to survive.
This news is true or not, it can’t be said right now. But definitely we will be waiting for coming this news to be true.
Blogger, Gadget Guru and a well experienced Digital Marketer. Keshav loves to review the new tech updates and Gadgets. Passionate about the latest trends of Digital marketing and love writing about the latest Tech News and Buying Guide.


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[Funding alert] Ather Energy raises $35M in Series D round led by Sachin Bansal
on Saturday raised $35 million in its latest round of Series D round led by Sachin Bansal, who invested $23 million in the Bengaluru-based electric scooter manufacturer. Hero MotoCorp also invested $12 million in this round.
With this round, the co-founder of now Walmart-ownedhas made a total investment of $53 million in the EV startup. In 2014, Sachin had invested $500,000 in Ather Energy.
With this fresh capital, Ather Energy will be accelerating its expansion plans and speed up the deliveries of the Ather 450X.
Speaking on the investment, Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy, said,
"Post the successful launch of our new product line, we are now looking forward to delivering the vehicles and seeing them across all cities. The pandemic has changed the landscape of personal transport, and we hope that with high-performance alternatives available, people will choose electric vehicles for their daily commute.”
Founded in 2013 by IIT Madras alumni Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, and backed by the co-founders of Flipkart Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, Hero Motocorp, and Tiger Global, Ather Energy launched India’s first electric scooter Ather 450 in 2018, followed by its flagship product Ather 450X in 2020.
It has also installed a comprehensive public charging network — Ather Grid — built and designed in India. With 38 charging points in Bengaluru and 14 charging points in Chennai, Ather Grid is one of the largest fast-charging networks for EVs in the country.
According to the startup, the deliveries of Ather 450X will commence in Bengaluru and Chennai by next week and will be available in other cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Calicut, and Kochi by March 2021.
“Ather Energy has set a new benchmark for intelligent electric bikes in the Indian automobile industry. Their new product line and expansion plans across the country will make EVs a part of the Indian landscape. Having been a part of the team since 2014, it's great to see their vision taking shape,” said Sachin Bansal.
Edited by Suman Singh


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Wednesday, June 5th, 2013
The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and Voltimum launched the "Does it comply?" initiative this week at the offices of Standards Australia, in Sydney’s CBD. The event was attended by 40 senior executives from the electrical and communications industry, and the first person to sign the pledge to stamping out non-compliant products was Wes McKnight – NECA’s National Chairman.
“There is no place for non-compliant products in any area of our industry today,” said Wes McKnight. “Electrical contractors that knowingly purchase and install non-compliant goods are putting their customers and their business at risk. As the new regulations come into effect contractors need to understand the consequences as this behaviour will no longer be tolerated,” he added.
Colin Blair - Standards Australia CEO, opened the proceedings, James Tinslay – NECA CEO welcomed the guests, Kim Craig – Voltimum Australia Chairman, previewed the website and to underline the importance of getting the industry on side, Neil Fraser – Energy Safe Victoria Executive Manager, updated guests on the progress being made by the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS).
The next step in this process – which kicks off today, is to get contractors in the electrical and communications industry to ‘sign the pledge’. Contractors do this by watching a webinar on the Voltimum website and then testing their knowledge with 10 simple questions. And we hope this will be the beginning of groundswell response to the industry only accepting compliant products across Australia.
To see the questions go to www.doesitcomply.com.au/online_training.php
Ian Richardson – PresidentP: 02 9888 3081
The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and Voltimum launched the "Does it comply?" initiative this week at the offices of Standards Australia, in Sydney’s CBD.


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After Dell lost their spot as king of the hill last year, along with continuing to lose ground to Apple and HP, they have been looking for new avenues to expand growth. And as a result they have made many changes to their offerings which we've seen quite readily. From offering Linux on more desktops to offering greener computing, they have been expanding their audience in many new ways.
They are also looking for more resellers. Recently, they have added Staples to their list of stores carrying their products, whether it be online or in a store. They are also going back on their sales model of having display units in stores with purchases actually occurring online:
To try and reverse this slide, Dell flirted with the failed Gateway model of retail sales without retail inventory where customers would play with display models and then order a computer from Dell.com. However, this effort has clearly not produced the kinds of results Dell was hoping for.
It was actually a lack of retail presence that initially gave Dell an advantage over their competitors. Times have changed, and up until recently they have had trouble adapting. More retail presence will probably mean more sales, so perhaps next year we will see them reclaiming what they have lost to HP.


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Today we’re exploring insights from the downfall of Artifact, how trust in UK Media is down, The Guardian raising record revenue in the US, Schibsted’s success with audio and how to fight news avoiders with positive news. Welcome to Twipe’s weekly news digest.
1. What do digital news platforms need to reach financial sustainability? Insights for publishers
New ventures find it particularly challenging to carve a space in an already competitive niche. In recent weeks, both Artifact and The Messenger have made headlines for the wrong reasons. In this piece we explore how digital news platforms can reach financial sustainability.
Read the full article with Twipe.
2. Trust in media: UK drops to last place in Edelman survey of 28 nations
he UK saw the biggest drop in trust in the media and was the least-trusted out of 28 countries surveyed for the latest Edelman Trust Barometer.
Read the full report by Press Gazette
3. How The Guardian raised a record amount of reader revenue in the U.S.
Earlier this month, The Guardian U.S. announced that its end-of-year drive brought in $2.2 million, a record amount of reader revenue since its first appeal six years ago. (The figure was 25% more than the previous record.)
Read the full story at Nieman Lab
4. Schibsted finds success with AI audio
Schibsted News Media has a reputation for consistently delivering excellence through innovative product strategies. Notably, the group is renowned for its fearless transition to a digital-first publishing model, making early investments in video, and nimble experimentation with paywalls and new revenue models.
Most recently, Schibsted turned to audio as a way to deepen engagement with its journalism, fit into new routines, and attract younger audiences.
Read about Schibsted’s audio success with INMA
5. CEO of Positive News on fighting news avoidance
Positive News is a non-profit constructive news website which has just launched a three month campaign to get its content straight to the public. The non-profit news organisation advertises its constructive stories in UK high streets and shopping centres to reach audiences where they are.
Read (or listen!) to more with Journalism.co.uk
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Every Thursday, our Future of News newsletter lands in your mailbox bringing you insights on an exciting topic from the world of publishing and news tech. Don’t miss out.


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Not much was said after a hedge fund called Groveland Capital quietly nominated six people to the board at Biglari Holdings — giving Sardar Biglari his first potential threat as chairman of the owner of the restaurant chains Steak N Shake and Western Sizzlin.
Instead, Biglari simply went out, bought some stock, and turned activist on two little known companies that just so happen to have significant investments from none other than Groveland Capital.
In November, Groveland quietly nominated a half-dozen people to the Biglari Holdings board, led by its CEO, Nick Swenson. Groveland controls less than 1 percent of Biglari Holdings stock.
Swenson is also the CEO of an aviation services company called Air T. And in November this year he was appointed to the board at a company called Insignia Systems, which sells in-store marketing products for retailers. Swenson was appointed to that board after Groveland and Air T. bought up 10.2 percent of the company’s stock and filed activist documents.
This month, Biglari Capital Corp. — which handles the investing duties for Biglari Holdings — bought up stock in both Air T. and Insignia. It paid $8.74 million for 18.8 percent of Insignia stock, and $8 million for a 14.4 percent stake in Air T.
On Monday, Biglari Capital filed activist documents with both Air T. and Insignia. In other words: Sardar Biglari is going activist against his own activist.
According to the Insignia filing, Biglari believes that company is too small and should put it up for sale, but after using cash to pay shareholders a one-time dividend.
More interesting is the Air T. filing, which is clearly a shot at Swenson and Groveland. Biglari, according to the filing, believes that “management should concentrate on improving the profitability of its operations rather than diversify its limited capital through minority interests in other public companies.”
In each case, Biglari Capital and it’s hedge fund arm, The Lion Fund, bought up stock after Groveland nominated those six board members.
It’s not certain what, if any, impact Biglari’s actions could have on his company’s looming board elections. That proxy has been remarkably quiet over the past six weeks.
But it’s worth noting that after Biglari began buying up stock, Air T. approved a poison pill provision to protect itself from a takeover bid.


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The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for .
Consumers often prefer online banking for its convenience, including the ability to access account information and make transactions with just a few taps or clicks. A study released by Chase in 2023 found that 87 percent of Americans use their banking app at least once a month. With increased usage, however, comes a higher risk of cybersecurity problems.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has alerted consumers to fake bank websites and banking apps designed to steal money or personal information. The agency recommends researching banking websites to verify their legitimacy, as well as being cautious of apps that ask for suspicious permissions.
Cybersecurity expert Paul Benda relays a story about the time that hackers tried to break into his bank account and steal his money. “They found out my login, but didn’t know my password,” says the senior vice president of risk and cybersecurity policy at American Bankers Association.
Fortunately, the cyber thieves were foiled. “I called up my bank and locked down my account,” Benda says.
Tips to avoid getting hacked
Bankrate interviewed four cybersecurity experts to learn the best ways consumers can protect their banking and financial accounts.
Paul Benda, senior vice president, operational risk and cybersecurity at the American Bankers Association
- Make sure you’re actually on your bank’s website or app. This is because hackers have been known to set up imposter sites. “Check your statement or the back of your bank card for the right website, bookmark it, and use that to ensure you are on your financial institution’s official website,” Benda says.
- Only download verified apps from reputable websites such as the App Store and Google Play. “Trojans are really pernicious,” Benda says. “People need to be careful about what apps they install and where they install them from.” Fraudulent activity can often occur through sideload apps, or those downloaded from unofficial sources, he says.
- Don’t reply to a text from your bank if you’re unsure whether it’s legitimate. “Instead, verify the message by contacting your bank at the number on the back of your card or through the mobile banking app,” Benda says.
Teresa Walsh, chief intelligence officer and managing director, EMEA, at Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center
- Be aware of ways artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to put your personal information at risk. “Along with newer threats like deepfakes, AI is also being used to mask some of the traditional warning signs of cyber threats,” Walsh says. For example, threat actors are utilizing generative AI tools to fix the poor spelling and grammar in phishing messages that used to reliably indicate a malicious email or text.”
- Use different passwords across banks. This also applies to your credit cards and peer-to-peer apps for sending money. “If one password becomes compromised, suddenly a cyber-criminal can potentially access the full spectrum of your financial information,” Walsh says.
- Opt for a longer password. “A 16-letter password has exponentially more possible letter permutations than an eight-letter password, making the programs criminals use to try and guess passwords unable to do so,” Walsh says. “Many people use password managers to generate, store, and change passwords on a regular basis.”
Donald Korinchak of CyberExperts.com:
- Use two-factor or multifactor authentication. This security measure offers greater protection by requiring you to provide at least two methods for verifying your identity. “There are three categories of authentication,” Korinchak says. “One, something you know, like a password. Two, something you have, like your cellphone — this is validated when you receive the text code. And three, something you are — biometrics.”
- Set up alerts via email, text or your bank’s app to monitor fraudulent activity. “In the old days, customers often were unaware of fraud until they got their monthly bank statements,” he says. “Because of this delay, the fraudulent activity could continue for up to four weeks. With alerts, the customer is notified very quickly and can work with the bank to swiftly rectify the issue.”
- Use your device’s security functions to protect data. “Be sure to set up the ability to track your stolen device, disable it and wipe it remotely,” says Korinchak.
Eric Kraus, vice president and head of products and services, fraud risk and compliance at FIS, a fintech company:
- Beware of messages that could be from scammers. “Consumers should never respond to unknown messages and embedded web links,” Kraus says. “Everyone should understand your bank or credit union will not contact you asking for sensitive information they already have, such as your account number. When in doubt, contact your bank or credit union directly for clarification before providing anything via text or web.”
- Set up mobile payment controls and account alerts. “Timely notification of account activity can help consumers identify suspicious activity quickly,” says Kraus, who recommends monitoring bank accounts as well as online shopping accounts and digital wallets.
- Be careful when sharing your personal information on social media. “Everyone wants to tell everyone in the world about every little personal thing in their life,” Kraus says. “Be cognizant of not oversharing.” The more of your personal data a hacker has, the greater likelihood they can use that information to get into your account.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing nearly $9 billion to fraud in 2022, which was a 30 percent increase over the previous year. You can help avoid being a statistic by being aware of the types of cybercrime and the ways to protect yourself.
“Hackers are constantly improving their game,” says Korinchak of CyberExperts.com. “And it is up to all of us to be vigilant.”
— Barbara Whelehan contributed to a previous version of this story.


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But, a new cruise travel trend is emerging — and it requires packing a puffy jacket and paying a higher premium than you would if you were sailing away to the Caribbean. As it turns out, the cruise industry is investing in smaller, high-end ships that are equipped to take passengers into wild and extreme arctic climates rather than tropical islands, according to Bloomberg.
Today’s most elite passengers are snubbing the tropics and instead opting to see Antarctica, the Arctic and anywhere there are glaciers and beluga whales.
But seeing penguins and polar bears from the cozy confines of a cruise ship cabin costs a pretty penny.
For example, a 19-day cruise on Australian line Scenic that ventures to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands to watch whales and see king penguin colonies starts at about $19,295. The 228-passenger luxury cruise ship, which limits its Arctic trips to 200 passengers, has a six-seat submarine and two helicopters, plus an indoor pool and meditation room.
Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury adventure travel company, offers an “Arctic Cruise Adventure: In Search of the Polar Bear.” The 15-day cruise starts at $15,995 and passengers are on board with an expedition team that includes a dedicated photo coach, historian, geologist, ornithologist, botanist, marine biologist and other experts.
While Alaskan cruises have long been on the bucket lists of many (and are relatively more affordable than these Arctic expeditions), the trend of sailing to remote, far-off lands seems to be driven by the sense of exclusivity.
“Experience, that’s become the currency,” Rick Meadows, president of the cruise line Seabourn, told Bloomberg. “People want stories to tell their friends and family — to say, ‘We went to Greenland and saw all these things’ to a room full of people who have not had that experience.”
Which vacation would you prefer, a cold-water adventure cruise or a warm-weather escape?


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We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of "Playing the Edge." Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!
Japan is a shrinking part of the video game market, with software sales now trailing behind the United Kingdom. It’s about six percent of the global market, and sales are shrinking on an annual basis.
Can the Japanese succeed outside of Japan? Jun Takeuchi, executive producer of Capcom‘s upcoming Resident Evil 5 game is addressing the question at the Dice Summit in Las Vegas. He can speak to this topic from experience, because the Resident Evil series has spawned a bunch of hit games and movies. Capcom has also just launched the latest installment of its famous Street Fighter series, with considerable critical acclaim. But not every Japanese game that Capcom or other Japanese publishers make can be translated on a global basis.
Japan-based Nintendo has succeeded with the Wii and Nintendo DS, but Japan’s role on the global stage is weakening.
Sega has encountered weakening demand for its Japanese-oriented cute mascot character games, and over the past four years it embarked on an acquisition binge, buying Western game developers. In the meantime, Korean and Chinese game makers are making a lot of headway with online games.
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Among the problems: the Japanese make culturally focused games such as the Onimusha samurai games which appeal to only a narrow market outside of Japan. It doesn’t help to add a layer of Western culture upon such games, which Takeuchi said was no more than “dyeing a game blonde.”
Takeuchi said his company also tried to make games specifically for the U.S. market, such as Shadow of Rome, with a lot of action and violence. The company got a lot of advice in the planning process from U.S. game developers. But that effort didn’t work out as well as they’d hoped, since the Americans felt their advice wasn’t taken seriously.
Taking risks is important to coming up with games with global appeal, Takeuchi said. A strategy of “risk reduction,” where a publisher makes a game that will appeal to a Japanese audience, actually increases risk, since the Japanese market is so small. Takeuchi belittled excessively regional thinking.
Japanese movies such as Godzilla or Akira Kurosawa’s films were once successful worldwide, but now the Japanese film makers reduce their risks by focusing on the Japanese market at the expense of making the films globally appealing. In contrast to movie makers, Nintendo’s focus on making globally appealing games has for many years kept Japanese games in the forefront of the global industry.
One of the keys to Capcom’s success is keeping staff turnover at less than 10 percent per year. The company also manages to keep staffing increases to about 10 percent a year. Development studio costs are expected to stay low, fluctuating no more than 10 percent a year.
Yet within those limitations, Takeuchi believes that the company should shake up its internal organization often in response to shifts in the market. Capcom, for instance, shifted its Dragon Quest game series to the Nintendo DS when it was clear that the Nintendo portable game player was dominating the market. Takeuchi believes that the developers themselves should shake up the company from the bottom up.
Capcom has a lot of big game properties, and it shoots for original topics for about 20 percent of its games. That has given rise to new franchises such as Lost Planet and Dead Rising, which were both developed with the European and U.S. markets in mind. His main point, which isn’t brilliant, is to make games users enjoy.
Takeuchi said there are no borders to fun. He said that while he was developing Resident Evil 5, he fell in love with Take-Two Interactive’s BioShock, one of the best games of 2007, and a game that translated well to the global stage even though it was developed by Americans.
Of course, we all know the unspoken secret here that Capcom discovered long ago. Everyone loves shooting zombies.
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Firefighters called to Saffron Walden building blaze
- Credit: Archant
Firefighters tackled a blaze at a building in Saffron Walden this morning (December 30) when flames were seen by shopkeepers in their basement.
Two crews from Saffron Walden attended the address at 13A King Street after being called by employees at Crew Clothing at just after 9am, who saw flames coming from their basement.
The fire was not in the basement of the retail outlet at 13 King Street, but was in the building next door at the site of the former Dish Restaurant, which is now part of the clothing store.
Four firefighters were sent into the building with breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera to extinguish the blaze, which was put out at 11.14am.
A ventilation fan was also used to clear the building of smoke.
Saffron Walden Fire Chief Paul Curtis said: “We were called by Crew Clothing who saw flames in their basement, but the fire was actually at the building next door. At this time, we don’t know how the fire started, but there is considerable structural damage to the building.”
Some debris from the building had been removed and placed outside as curious shoppers in town stopped to take a look.
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- 3 Keep your chimney clean warning after blaze in Ashdon
- 4 Former army major sentenced after pillion rider dies in motorcycle crash
- 5 Waitrose and Halfords recall items over health and safety concerns
- 6 MP Kemi Badenoch launches 'Buy One More Toy Appeal' for Christmas support
- 7 Walden has late night shopping and musicians
- 8 Community helps with tree planting at Lime Avenue, Saffron Walden
- 9 Villagers rally behind Elsenham Christmas Market
- 10 How to get tickets for Creamfields South Chelmsford 2022
Fire crews are set to revisit the shop later this afternoon to carry out further safety checks.
A sign put up outside the clothing store said that due to the fire damage it would be closed for the forseeable future.


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And she is leading from the front, planning to use her status as a contestant to display how important our language is.
The Miss Cook Islands pre-pageant interview event was held on September 5 at the Muri Beach Club. All Miss Cook Islands contestants presented a seven minute speech on topics they selected at the fashion show on August 27 and were asked two questions on the topic by the panel of six judges at the end of their speech.
Casey Viti confidently presented her topic in her native dialect from Atiu Enua and demonstrated how important it is for Cook Islanders to be able to speak te reo. She encourages Cook Islanders here and abroad to use or learn te reo, to pass on their love for their culture and to be proud to be Cook Islanders.
“Te reo is at the core of The Cook Islands identity,” Viti says. “I hope my use of our language in the pageant inspires everyone to keep our identity alive.”
Accounts manager/director Tia Porter said: “We commend Casey’s efforts toward using te reo as an element in her campaign towards the Miss Cook Islands title.
“It’s great to see young women proud to speak their language.”


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By Callum Keown
Every year millions of Chinese consumers fly into London and board a 45-minute train to the small Oxfordshire town of Bicester in search of a luxury bargain.
The stampede of shoppers come armed with empty suitcases, planning to fill them with designer items from some of the world’s best known brands.
Bicester Village, which is home to more than 160 shops from Gucci and Burberry /zigman2/quotes/205386705/delayed UK:BRBY -1.49% to Ralph Lauren /zigman2/quotes/207257694/composite RL -0.80% and Hugo Boss /zigman2/quotes/205761551/delayed DE:BOSS -2.82% , attracts more than 7 million visitors a year and encapsulates the Chinese consumer obsession with luxury goods.
The luxury shopping outlet, which is 50% owned by retail property giant Hammerson /zigman2/quotes/206876822/delayed UK:HMSO -0.27% , is the second most popular U.K. destination for Chinese tourists, behind Buckingham Palace, according to research by payment platform Alipay.
The location is so popular with Chinese visitors that onboard train announcements are read out in Mandarin as services approach the Bicester Village station.
At London Marylebone train station, staff from the high-end retail outlet wait on the platform to escort shoppers — often identifiable by their large luggage — onto the train. Chinese ministers have even made guest appearances at the shopping outlet on Lunar New Year to celebrate its success and popularity among tourists.
Celebrations were canceled this year, and the outlet’s owner Value Retail said they were closely monitoring the virus.
“In light of the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China, we are monitoring the situation closely as well as following guidance from the World Health Organization and will be taking any measures advised by government and expert authorities,” a spokeswoman for Value Retail told MarketWatch.
Luxury retailers across the globe are highly dependent on the spending power of Chinese consumers.
Shoppers from the country spent $115 billion on luxury items at home and abroad in 2018, representing a third of the global spend, according to McKinsey & Company. The consulting firm noted that younger Chinese shoppers have a preference for affordable luxury and a tendency to travel abroad.
At the same time, Chinese tourists are splashing out more abroad — their spend increased 13% to $130 billion in 2018, according to the China Tourism Academy.
But over the next few weeks, fewer Chinese citizens will be able to travel outside of the country as more international airlines have suspended flights to and from mainland China.
British Airways on Wednesday halted flights between the U.K. and China, while Cathay Pacific, one of the most popular carriers, has also cut flights by 50% until the end of March.
Some luxury stocks have already come under pressure from ongoing protests in Hong Kong and now face further strain as concerns over the spread of the flu-like virus mount.
ING’s global head of strategy Chris Turner said it was hard to predict the impact of the virus but that the luxury sector was at risk. “Just think of the fact that for some global hotel chains or companies of luxury goods China and Greater Asia accounts already for 10-20% of their annual sales,” he said.
Citi analysts estimated the sector’s downside risk to consensus full-year revenues and earnings at 3% and 10% respectively and highlighted that the industry was much more exposed to Asia and Chinese consumption than during the SARS outbreak.
Burberry, which is one of the largest stores in Bicester Village, said last week its Asia sales had been hit by unrest in Hong Kong. Shares have now slipped 14% over the past two weeks.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton /zigman2/quotes/206499835/delayed IT:LVMH -1.67% , which owns high-end jeweler Tiffany’s and is a firm favorite among Chinese shoppers, has seen its stock fall 9% since Jan. 17 despite record results earlier this week. LVMH’s flagship store in Paris attracts around 37 million shoppers a year.


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The odd, government-mandated hieroglyphs etched on to the back of the iPhone are as memorable as "Designed by Apple in California," but some could soon be relics: a new bill introduced in the Senate would allow device makers to digitally stamp phones, computers, and other gadgets, rather than physically etching symbols on to them.
Not all the stamps you see are required by the US
Although it's unlikely you'd find many people on the street who could decode them, the symbols on gadgets provide information on trade regulations and proper disposal. The E-Label Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate on Thursday, would give manufacturers more leeway in how they comply with US regulations. Not all the stamps you regularly see are required by the States — the "CE" mark is for products sold in Europe — but marks like the FCC ID numbers required for gadgets built or sold in the US could be viewed on-screen instead of the exterior.
The two Senators behind the proposal say the bill would save manufacturers money and time in complying with regulations, benefits that would then be passed on to consumers. But more importantly, it comes just in time to save manufacturers from cramming labels on ever-smaller devices like smartwatches.


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The European Commission has informed thirteen companies supplying optical disk drives in the European Economic Area (EEA) of its preliminary view that they may have infringed EU antitrust rules by participating in a worldwide cartel.
The European regulators have concerns that those suppliers may have coordinated their behaviour in bidding events organised by two major original equipment manufacturers for optical disk drives used in personal computers (desktops and notebooks) and in servers.
The sending of a 'Statement of Objections' does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation.
The Commission takes the preliminary view that the companies concerned engaged for at least five years in bid rigging, which is one of the most serious breaches of EU antitrust rules. This behaviour, if established, may have ultimately affected customers that bought optical disk drives manufactured by the companies concerned.


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Pizza Hut Buzz, time for a pizza party scandal, and Pizza Hut is right in the middle of it. You’ve probably seen the hashtag making rounds – #BoycottPizzaHut. Curious what’s cooking? Let’s dive into this cheesy drama that’s got everyone buzzing.
Pizza Hut Buzz
Our go-to Pizza Hut, the pizza legend we all love, is facing some heat. Why? Turns out, Pizza Hut’s Israeli spots are serving up free pizzas to military bases. And guess what? That’s why we’ve got #BoycottPizzaHut trending. People are upset, and they’re spilling their feelings all over social media.
Pizza Hut Buzz : Pizza and Politics Mix
This isn’t Pizza Hut’s first rodeo with drama, especially when it comes to its Israeli joint. Pizza Hut and politics have a history. The recent free pizza revelation adds another spicy layer to Pizza Hut’s political pizza game.
Pizza Hut Buzz : Flashback to Ad Fiasco
Before #BoycottPizzaHut took the stage, Pizza Hut had another moment. They caught some heat for a wild ad by their Israeli branch. Back then, social media went wild, and everyone had something to say.
Pizza Hut Buzz : Social Media Takes a Stand
In the era of hashtags and trends, people don’t hold back. #BoycottPizzaHut isn’t just words; it’s a whole vibe. Social media turns into a battlefield where folks vent their frustrations and demand action against Pizza Hut’s military pizza move.
Pizza Hut Buzz: Fans Split
The pizza community transforms into a spot for discussing ethics, values, and where you stand on supporting a pizza joint caught up in political drama.
Impact on Pizza Hut
With #BoycottPizzaHut gaining traction, Pizza Hut could take a hit. A company’s rep is fragile, and public opinion can flip things around. Pizza Hut is now juggling the storm of social media backlash and figuring out how to handle the concerns of its pizza-loving customers.
Talking Corporate Duty
This pizza uproar sparks a bigger talk about businesses doing the right stuff. Customers today want companies to play fair in the ethics game. Pizza Hut diving into political waters raises questions about how big corporations should handle global matters and diverse customer bases.
Pizza Hut’s Next Move
So, what’s Pizza Hut’s play? Will they respond to the noise? How they tackle the issues, clear things up, or make amends will shape what people think about them. It’s a tricky situation, and Pizza Hut needs to communicate well to come out on top.
The Power of You
#BoycottPizzaHut isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a reminder of your power as a consumer. In a world where social media rules, your choices matter. This pizza drama proves that regular pizza-loving folks like you can have a say in the game. Who knew your pizza preferences could be this influential?
Pizza Hut’s Next Steps
As the pizza plot thickens, Pizza Hut has decisions to make. They need to figure out how to deal with the mess – whether to face the issues, make changes, or stick to their guns. Pizza Hut’s journey through this storm will depend on the moves they make.
Final Slice: Pizza and Principles
Who would’ve thought pizza and principles would collide? #BoycottPizzaHut shows that even your favorite pizza brand isn’t safe from getting mixed up in big talks. Pizza Hut now has to balance the slices and the controversies, proving that in today’s world, even a pizza giant has to think about more than just cheese and pepperoni.


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FryAway, a new plant-based solution for cooking oil clean-up, is causing a buzz for discerning home chefs across the US. The FryAway plant-based powder solidifies used cooking oil, removing stress in the kitchen and providing a sustainable solution to leftover oil.
Founded by CEO Laura Lady, FryAway cooking oil solidifier is simple to use and turns the oil into completely organic waste that will later decompose thanks to the plant-based non-toxic ingredients. The product comes in three varieties and is currently available via the FryAway website and Amazon.
Proper disposal of frying oil is a big issue. Pouring it down the drain can cause plumbing clogs and dumping it outside can be dangerous for the environment. Oil that joins other waste products in the sewer systems can create disruptive “fatbergs” that harm ecosystems and cost millions to dislodge. One such fatberg the weight of a small bungalow was recently cleared from an east London sewer.
“At FryAway, we are thrilled to make the frying as enjoyable as the eating and we’re proud to contribute to a planet-friendly frying culture”, states the company.


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In San Francisco on March 10, the second annual Bloomberg Businessweek Design conference will be held at the Yerba Buena Center. The conference aims to use the day-long event to bring an international crowd together to share ideas in architecture, transportation, graphic design, technology, urban design, 3D printing, product manufacturing, data visualization, genetic engineering, corporate branding and more. One of the main headliners happens to be Makerbot’s CEO Bre Pettis.
Bloomberg Businessweek magazine offers a who’s who of the business world, the movers and shakers, and once again, Bre Pettis is on the scene. His presence is a welcome headline for the conference especially when considering the tone of the event.
“Over the last decade we’ve all seen how innovation and design are linked—and how the right design can change a company’s destiny,” said Josh Tyrangiel, editor of Bloomberg Businessweek. “The exceptional group of designers joining us in San Francisco are leading their companies and clients to new territory and reimagining how we experience the world. It’ll be great fun to hear them present, argue, collaborate, and challenge one other, while sharing their secrets for doing great and impactful work.”
The 400 scheduled attendees will be privileged to view an installation from Autodesk. Some of the installation will be available to view outside the conference. 3D printing has maneuvered into a staple in the business world, and individuals like Bre Pettis offer a welcoming face to the international crowd that the conference facilitates.
Coverage of select sessions from Bloomberg Businessweek Design 2014 will be available across various Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg platforms.


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Captain D’s Names Jeff Wilson as Chief Financial Officer
Captain D’s announced Jeff Wilson has joined its executive team as chief financial officer. Jeff will develop and execute financial strategies to support the company’s business plans and lead the finance department. Jeff spent the past 15 years at Cracker Barrel, most recently as the company’s vice president of finance and CFO of the Emerging Brands group.
Captain D’s is a seafood restaurant chain based in the United States. With a focus on serving quality seafood in a fast-casual dining setting, Captain D’s offers a menu that includes a variety of seafood dishes, such as fish, shrimp, crab, and other seafood options.


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EU Believes Apple Received Unfair Tax Deal in Ireland
European Union regulators believe Apple received unfair tax breaks in Ireland that amounted to illegal state aid. WSJ's Lisa Fleisher explains the potential impact on Apple and other U.S. tech companies. (Photo: Getty)
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... European Union regulators today said that they believe Apple received unfair tax breaks in Highland ... then on to three illegal state aid ... Apple an eye on how to say that there were no favorable conditions in an apple ... that when given to any other company ... this could mean and in the future Apple faces a big back taxes fell but that still sommelier somewhat ... my immediate impact will be that European countries will probably take a closer look of the type of tax deals the giving companies especially tech companies ... with them on the U K ... Treasury chief said that there can come down harder and tech companies that tried to avoid paying taxes ... I shuffling profit around ... isn't just one more way that U S companies especially as tech companies ... are facing scary mean you're out ...


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We knew it was coming; we just didn’t know when. Numerous websites and smartphone industry experts hinted to a smaller, slimmed down version of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, claiming it would not only be smaller in size but also cost less. Well, we now have an official confirmation by Samsung that a Galaxy S5 Mini is on its way.
On July 1, 2014, Samsung officials confirmed the rumor of a Galaxy S5 Mini variant. But they didn’t just confirm its existence, they also said that it was launching NOW. Yep, you don’t have to wait around for weeks or even months, as the Galaxy S5 Mini is launching now. Samsung officials noted, however, that it may take a while for new variant to reach certain markets.
Now for the million dollar question: is the Samsung Galaxy Mini worth buying? We haven’t tested the device for ourselves, but Samsung released hardware and software specs, most of which look pretty good. It’s important to remember Samsung designed the Mini variant to appeal to a more budget-conscious group of consumers — people who aren’t willing to shell out $600-$700 for a Galaxy S5.
The Galaxy S5 Mini features a smaller 4.5-inch screen with 720 x 1280 AMOLED display. The smaller screen and lower resolution may turn some consumers away, but again, this reduces the device’s overall production costs, which in turn results in cheaper prices for consumers. Much like the launch-edition Galaxy S5, the Mini variant is powered by a quad-core processor (we don’t know what brand). However, the Galaxy S5 Mini’s processor runs at 1.4 GHz, whereas the Galaxy S5 runs at 2.5 GHz.
Another subtle difference between the two devices is memory. The Galaxy S5 Mini features 1.5 GB RAM, whereas the Galaxy S5 features a full 2 GB RAM.
The Galaxy S5 Mini has a 2,100mAh, removable battery. The Galaxy S5 has a 2,800mAh removable battery.
Unfortunately, a downside to the Galaxy S5 is its camera. The original Galaxy S5 was (and still is) touted as having a powerful 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, which is great for people who enjoy snapping photos of pretty much everything they come into contact. The Galaxy S5 Mini has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera — a substantial difference from its counterpart.
Both the GalaxyS5 and Galaxy S5 Mini run Android KitKat 4.4. with Samsung’s own TouchWiz software.
What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini? Let us know in the comment section below!


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Lotus has celebrated its 60th anniversary at its Hethel headquarters in England & coming along with a British sportscar maker on a special edition Europa car to celebrate. This car comes with a speciality as part of its diamond anniversary as it apples its likes on Paris Hilton. Its looks like it has already catch many audiences attention as its comes with a sparkly metal finish from the outside. Lets catch some of its features on this special edition
- Special Custom Gear Shift Lever
- Switches are in-set with diamond in black metal finish
- High Gloss Black Paint
We have heard that it has some good unspecified upgrades under the hood and its likely we know it soon. As to look at the performance side, it pushes 0 to 60 dash in just 5 seconds, and touches its final dot to a 146 mph top end. We don’t know whether Lotus is planning to build more or could sell at £150K.


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I love the meaninglessness of beer trade categorization whether it's the 783 recognized craft beer styles or the many different ways macro-brew makers describe its monotony. But this great news just adds to the beauty of it all:
Convenience store beer buys dropped 4% in 2009, according to research firm SymphonyIRI, a steeper decline than seen in other outlets. But sales of below-premium beers have held up and have even seen a slight lift. Core convenience store shoppers now have less cash, which is likely why 7-Eleven is entering the market at a low price point. "They figure that since brands are weaker at that price segment they can capture the full margin rather than pay a premium to a supplier," says Harry Schuhmacher with Beer Business Daily, which first reported the news. Schuhmacher says the beer is called Game Day, but 7-Eleven wouldn't confirm.
Why not confirm? Well, I suppose it could be wrong and even a better name than those they already bounced around, like "Outta Luck" and "BAD." Imagine the slogan: a bad day deserves a BAD beer.


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“A year in the making...” captioned the image, which found the model, clad in faux-shearling and leaning over a drool-worthy table of brushes, concealers and lipsticks, ranging in shades of nude, light pink and deep berry purple. (Her face-framing blowout and 70s-inspired tinted shades gave off girl-in-charge vibes a la Gloria Steinem during her Ms.
days.) And while the news comes fresh off the heels of yet another multi-tasking It-girl's makeup brand,
it's safe to say that the sunny sister, who is famous for her supermodel abs and So-Cal beach waves, will offer up the same makeup palate of tawny nude-colored statements that has secured her a spot as fashion’s favorite beauty icon.


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Thursday, January 19, 2012
MapMyFITNESS Ties Into Facebook Timeline
Austin-based MapMyFITNESS, the developer of mobile tracking and fitness software, has joined a number of companies announcing apps for Facebook Timeline today. MapMyFitness said it has launched a fitness app for Facebook Timeline, which allows people to share their fitness activity with friends. MapMyFitness is run by Richard Jalichandra, who said in a statement that the app wil provide a "a new, more personalized experience" for sharing fitness achievements. MapMyFitness is backed by Austin Ventures. Jalichandra took the reins at MapMyFITNESS last June, and had previously been at Battery Ventures and Technorati, among other firms.


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Obsession: Blue Bottle in Brooklyn
This is the first time the cult Bay Area coffee roaster and café has branched out beyond its native turf. Since its opening in March, New Yorkers have given it our signature warm-slash-blasé welcome. Now that the shop has settled into its skin, it’s starting to host classes and public cuppings.
Owner James Freeman was inspired to open an East Coast location after a New York visit in August 2008. He and his wife, Caitlin, ventured to Williamsburg and were smitten with the neighborhood. Fantasy edged closer to reality through a confluence of lucky events, including the availability of a former glassblowing studio. “It moved up the hierarchy from pipe dream to bad idea to there you are, opening a roaster,” Freeman explains.
The result is a calmly focused coffee bar serving consistently outstanding drinks within sight of the roasters.
There’s a flash of showmanship in the lineup of five Japanese slow-drip machines, illuminated against a blue wall. The glass globes produce exceptional iced coffee at a stately pace of 88 drops per minute.
Drip coffee is made a cup at a time, with steaming water poured from graceful Japanese kettles. (It’s meditate-and-wait, not grab-and-go.) Freeman’s 1970s San Marco Leva machine finally made it off the workbench and into action, dedicated to single-origin espresso. A cherry-red La Marzocco machine steps in for the standard espresso drink roster, which includes the signature SG-120, a drink halfway between a latte and a machiatto.
Other key ingredients come from local sources. Milk arrives from Battenkill Valley Creamery, a family-run New York state dairy. Neighboring Mast Brothers Chocolate, which first lured the Freemans to Williamsburg, provides the cacao quotient.
Brooklyn’s Patisserie Colson supplies a small selection of snacks, the best of which are the cheddar biscuits and the thick coins of spicy speculoos.
The airy, clean-lined space recalls the company’s first location in San Francisco, a kiosk in a former garage. It doesn’t encourage lingering, though, as there are just a few stools, one stand-up communal table, and no bathroom.
The staff recently initiated a public cupping, demonstrating how to smell coffee grounds, compare sips, and discern the characteristics of their blends. They hope to offer cuppings and other classes every month; for now, keep an eye on their Twitter feed for announcements.
The much anticipated “nel drip” coffee, made with Japanese flannel filters, hasn’t yet materialized. In the fall, however, we can look forward to house-made pastries from a new kitchen behind the bar. Caitlin, who recently won raves for her art-inspired desserts for SFMOMA, surely has something mouthwatering in store. 160 Berry St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (718) 387-4160.
Guest blogger Jennifer Paull is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer and coffee lover.


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The blueberry market in North America, ideally, has different regions producing blueberries at different times — creating a kind of marketplace harmony — beginning with production from Florida, moving up to Michigan, across to California, and ending in B.C. But with unusual weather patterns being experienced across the continent, this year’s blueberry harvests have been crunched together.
“So right now Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and B.C. are all producing at the same time,” said Debbie Etsell, executive director for the B.C. Blueberry Council. “There is a lot of fruit that is in market at the same time right now.”
According to Etsell, not only does the increase in supply provide challenges for local farmers as it drives down prices, but it also causes complications to purchasers who expect product from certain areas at certain times.
“Usually with B.C. not being until a bit later than some of the other [regions], it’s difficult to those stores to all of a sudden switch over their programs as well,” said Etsell. “So they have to be able to somewhat adjust and that doesn’t always happen.”
While there is usually some overlap in production from the different growing regions, especially in the beginning of B.C.’s blueberry season, towards the end B.C. usually holds a large market share.
“When our main crop comes in, we’re still competing with some U.S. fruit, but the tail end of our season — we run the blueberry market,” said Craig Seale from Blueberry Junction in Abbotsford. “We have the last fruit in North America.”
Driediger Farms Ltd. has been growing in Langley since the 1960s.
“It’s our earliest season ever,” said farm owner Rhonda Driediger. “New Jersey was late, and some other regions were late on the East Coast so they started essentially the same time we did.”
According to Driediger, individual quick-frozen tunnels, used to commercially freeze berries, have helped B.C. farmers adapt to the changing weather and markets.
“There’s people avoiding fresh because the prices are not good, because there are so many people shipping,” said Driediger. “Its just supply and demand, lots of supply, low demand, equals low prices, so right now we are diverting products into the freezers.”


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Motorola Xtreme / Shadow spotted being ‘very metal’ – IntoMobile (blog)
Motorola Xtreme / Shadow spotted being 'very metal'
If, for some reason you're still not convinced that Android is the next big thing in mobile, just look at the number of high-end Android smart phones headed …
Motorola likely to launch Google Android Tablet
Motorola Android Tablet Announced – A Companion to TV?
Motorola Shadow (Droid): Won't ship with Android 2.2 Froyo?
Filed Under: News


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June 21, 2017
Accenture Report: Artificial Intelligence Has Potential to Increase Corporate Profitability in 16 Industries by an Average of 38 Percent by 2035
NEW YORK; June 21, 2017 – Businesses that successfully apply artificial intelligence (AI) could increase profitability by an average of 38 percent by 2035, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The introduction of AI could lead to an economic boost of US$14 trillion in additional gross value added (GVA) across 16 industries in 12 economies.
To capitalize on the opportunity, the report identifies eight key strategies for successfully implementing AI that focus on adopting a human-centric approach and taking bold and responsible steps to applying the technology within businesses and organizations.
“Artificial intelligence will revolutionize how businesses compete and grow, representing an entirely new factor of production that can ignite corporate profitability,” said Paul Daugherty, chief technology & innovation officer, Accenture. “To realize this significant opportunity, it’s critical that businesses act now to develop strategies around AI that put people at the center, and commit to develop responsible AI systems that are aligned to moral and ethical values that will drive positive outcomes and empower people to do what they do best – imagine, create and innovate.”
The report, developed by Accenture Research in collaboration with Frontier Economics, measures the potential economic impact of AI in GVA, a close approximation of gross domestic product that accounts for the value of goods and services produced. The research compared the economic growth rates of 16 industries in 2035 in a baseline scenario showing current assumptions of expected growth, to an AI scenario showing expected growth with AI integrated into economic processes, finding that AI has the potential to increase economic growth rates by a weighted average of 1.7 percentage points.
Of the industries studied, information and communication, manufacturing and financial services are the three sectors that will see the highest annual GVA growth rates in an AI scenario, with 4.8 percent, 4.4 percent and 4.3 percent respectively by 2035. This translates to an additional US$6 trillion in GVA in 2035 for these three sectors alone. Even labor-intensive sectors such as education and social services —where productivity growth is traditionally slow – will see a significant increase of US$109 billion and US$216 billion in GVA respectively.
Annual growth rates by 2035 of gross value added (a close approximation of GDP), comparing baseline growth to an artificial intelligence scenario where AI has been absorbed into a sector’s economic processes
In specifically examining industry profitability, the research demonstrates that AI offers unprecedented opportunities. In labor-intensive sectors, such as wholesale and retail, AI augments the human workforce, enabling people to become more productive, leading to a profit increase of almost 60 percent. In capital-intensive industries such as manufacturing, AI powered machines will eliminate faulty machines and idle equipment, delivering constantly rising rates of return, resulting in equally dramatic profit increases of 39 percent by 2035.
Share-of-profit increase per industry between baseline in 2035 and AI steady state in 2035
Regardless of industry, companies now have a significant opportunity to apply AI and invent new business capabilities for growth, profitability and sustainability. To prepare for a successful future with AI, business leaders should consider the following eight strategies:
- AI strategy and leadership – attaining value from AI will demand recognition and action from the top of the company; therefore, the benefits must be made tangible to the C-suite and a roadmap is essential.
- Reinvent HR into HAIR – the Chief HR Officer’s role will not only be about managing human employees, but will evolve to also manage human-machine interaction -- or Human AI Resources (HAIR).
- Learn with machines – to adapt their businesses to the changing nature of learning and employee training, business leaders must focus on the needs of their workforces, particularly in the area of agile skills development.
- Appoint a chief data supply chain officer – this position will be needed to construct an integrated, end-to-end data supply chain.
- Create an open AI culture – trust, openness and transparency are key for human and machine relationships to work well; business leaders must shape the corporate culture and guidelines to minimize the risks of a hybrid workforce while maximizing the opportunities.
- Take the crowd into the cloud – the next phase of innovation will combine crowd-sourced data in the cloud with AI capabilities to create new and disruptive business opportunities.
- Step beyond automation – with recent strides in AI, companies need to take a step beyond to harness the intelligence of dynamic, self-learning and self-governing machines.
- Measure your return on algorithms – Unlike traditional assets that depreciate over time, AI assets gain value as time passes so CFOs will need new financial metrics to properly assess the “Return on AI,” which could include the value generated from each algorithm or a combination of initial outlay and ongoing costs.
“By exploring the macroeconomic impact of AI as it matures over the next few decades, it’s clear that organizations in every industry have tremendous opportunities to apply AI to unleash remarkable benefits,” said Mark Purdy, managing director, Accenture Research. “By optimizing processes with intelligent automation, augmenting human labor and physical capital, and propelling new innovations, AI can drive dramatic and long lasting profitability and economic growth.”
New research from Accenture finds AI can increase corp. profitability by average of 38% by 2035
This research builds on the Why Artificial Intelligence is the Future of Growth report released in 2016 that examined the economic impact of AI across 12 developed economies. The report found that AI could double annual economic growth rates by 2035 and boost labor productivity by up to 40 percent by fundamentally changing the way work is done.
To access the How AI Boosts Industry Profits and Innovation report, visit www.accenture.com/aiboostsprofits
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 401,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
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Local businesses have been negatively impacted by a law that went into effect in March which allows grocery and convenience stores to sell wine.
The proposition was introduced in the 2022 election and was passed by voters. The law allows anyone with a license to sell beer to also sell wine.
Since March 1, locals have been able to buy wine at City Market, Walmart and Target, as well as convenience stores across town. Before, the only place consumers could pick up their wine was at liquor stores.
“We were quite upset about it, when it passed,” said Brittany Bagwell, who manages West Main Liquor. “Honestly momand- pop liquor stores are what this town runs on (as far as alcohol sales go.”
She said wine has typically accounted for about 20% of West Main Liquors sales and that since March, wine sales are down at least 15%.
“The wine is just moving really slow,” she said. To immediately try to compete with the bigger wine retailers, West Main has implemented sales. They’ve also aimed at expanding their variety of wines to hopefully capture customers looking for more specific or specialty wines.
Dominick Lajoy owns House of Spirits on East Main Street, and he’s familiar with this sort of change in law. He remembers corporate lobbyists vying for grocery stores’ rights to sell full-strength beer.
He says they were able to adjust and ultimately did fine after that law change took effect in 2019. He said grocery stores had a wide variety of local crafts to begin with but soon realized they didn’t sell the volume they needed to make it worth their while.
Lajoy travels to Denver once a month to scout new beers and offer a bigger selection of craft, which grocery stores can’t quite do like his store does.
Still, Lajoy worries about the future of mom-and-pop liquor stores, where 70% of his business is regulars. He says legislation that would allow for bigger liquor stores to move into communities like Montrose, which has small liquor stores across town, would devastate several mom-and-pop shops.
“It might wipe out half of the liquor stores we have in town,” he said.
With that, he said, you would likely see a net drop in employment, which would negatively affect the local economy.
The wine sale legislation did affect Lajoy’s sales a little bit, but he says his liquor store and others like it offer something grocery stores can’t compete with.
“At the grocery store, it takes longer to park your car, go in to where the wine is and pick it out and leave,” he said. “Liquor stores are designed for quick and easy access and, plus, we do delivery.”
justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.org mailto:email@example.com
or by phone at 970-765-0915 or 254-246-2260.


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Why aren’t the convenience stores able to sell alcohol yet?
There is no one answer but a lot of this delay pertains to the past Liberal government signing a 10-year exclusive deal with the three (3) major owners of The Beer Stores known as the MFA agreement. This agreement subjects the present government to penalties for business losses if they open up to the retail channel, which in turn causes the government to delay.
Keep in mind the national convenience chains are some of the largest customers to the three major breweries throughout North America and you think this could somehow influence an open market to assist the government in a transition to our channel.
In the meantime, we see all bars and restaurants selling take home alcohol (in all types of containers) and alcohol delivery companies making profits on delivering beer (all monitored by the three major beer companies) while our industry patiently waits.
Recently the national convenience chain association launched their own initiative to try to move the needle. Unfortunately the government tasked with coordinating a solution with stakeholders remained somewhat difficult and it appears that the campaign was not given the recognition it deserves.
The OCSA is committed to this file and continues to work with the Ford government on how to bring this initiative forward (during an election year).
We have always worked alongside many stakeholders, like the Craft Brewers Association, to ensure we can and will support their members. We also work alongside Carlsberg, Waterloo Brewers, Ontario Craft Wineries, and many others because we believe a collective voice is necessary in terms of the best interests for all consumers in Ontario.
What can Convenience Store retailers do?
All retailers need to have their voices heard and during the upcoming election posturing. Remind all MPP’s and potential politicians of the commitment to consumers, suppliers, and convenience stores of this ongoing promise to our channel while we continue to see the opening of the market to all other groups.
The OCSA is committed to seeing this through and look forward to celebrating the day all family run stores will have the same rights to sell beer/wine to their customers like other jurisdictions in North America.
It is time to come out of the dark ages with this old fashioned beer retailing model and allow for choice, competition, and convenience throughout the province, and to live up to the promise!


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A team of scientists from the University of Glasgow’s BEST group have developed a new solar-powered supercapacitor that they believe could make future wearable technologies lighter and more energy-efficient.
The Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) group led by Professor Ravinder Dahiya, have developed, best described by them, a propitious and new type of graphene supercapacitor, which could be used in the next generation of wearable health sensors. Their findings were published in the Nano Energy journal, where they further expanded on their developments.
At present, all wearable systems/technology generally depend on relatively heavy, inflexible batteries, which can be uncomfortable over long time usage. But, with this development by the BEST team, they’ve created an entirely self-charging system which uses an integrated flexible solar-powered skin developed in-house to charge the systems. A pH sensor which uses wearer’s sweat to monitor their health, and a supercapacitor developed by perfecting their previous work which could power health sensors capable of conforming to wearer’s bodies, offering more comfort and a more consistent contact with skin to better collect health data.
Professor Dahiya said, “We’re very pleased by the progress this new form of solar-powered supercapacitor represents. A flexible, wearable health monitoring system which only requires exposure to sunlight to charge has a lot of obvious commercial appeal, but the underlying technology has a great deal of additional potential.”
“This research could take the wearable systems for health monitoring to remote parts of the world where solar power is often the most reliable source of energy, and it could also increase the efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles. We’re already looking at further integrating the technology into the flexible synthetic skin which we’re developing for use in advanced prosthetics,” he added.
Their new supercapacitor uses layers of flexible, three-dimensional porous foam formed from graphene and silver to produce a device capable of storing and releasing around three times more powerful than any similar flexible supercapacitor. The team demonstrated that their super-capacitor provided power consistently across 25,000 charging and discharging cycles without any burden or shortcomings.


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REGION: Feds seize suspected counterfeits at O'side swap meets
Raids part of larger probe
Federal agents recently raided two Oceanside flea markets, seizing thousands of pieces of brand-name clothing, from NFL jerseys to Nike jackets to Lacoste shirts, all of them suspected counterfeits, according to court documents.
Prompted by an unidentified tipster, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been investigating vendors at the Mission Bazaar and the Mission Tianguis on Mission Avenue for more than a year, according to search warrant affidavits by Special Agent Tyrone Duren filed at the Vista courthouse.
Three stalls at the indoor swap meets were raided Oct. 28.
Both bazaars sit in aging strip malls within a mile of Interstate 5 in a downscale business district of gas stations, fast-food joints, small supermarkets and coin laundries.
While admitting she sold some fakes, one of the raided vendors is questioning why agents also searched her home, kept her and her sons in handcuffs and took personal items.
The raids at the indoor markets and three business owners' homes were part of a larger probe, and more action is expected, ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said.
However, with the investigation open, she said she could not comment on its scope or purpose, so it's unclear whether agents are watching any other North County vendors.
ICE, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is charged with keeping counterfeit goods off the streets and breaking up criminal rings that manufacture and distribute them. During fiscal year 2008, agents seized counterfeit or pirated merchandise worth approximately $273 million, a 38 percent increase over the previous year, officials said.
Federal officials cite industry groups that estimate counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy about $200 billion and 750,000 American jobs each year.
AT&T Sportswear and the T-shirt Outlet at the Mission Bazaar, and Sox & Sox at the Mission Tianguis were raided, with boxes of logo-wear seized. No vendors have been arrested, and it's not clear whether any will be. No one was arrested in 2005 flea market raids in Texas, ICE officials said. But retailers, wholesalers and international distributors have been sentenced to federal prison for selling counterfeited and pirated goods, officials said.
Locally, Duren first visited the family-run AT&T Sportswear on Aug. 29. He looked at clothing with Reebok and NFL trademarks, taking careful note of design details, inventory numbers and where they were made, his search warrant states.
Then, to compare, he headed to nearby Sports Authority on Vista Way, a licensed retailer of NFL and Reebok.
"The items were the same in most respects," he said.
But, he testified, there were a few differences. An item at AT&T Sportswear was made in Mexico; its Sports Authority counterpart came from Honduras. Among the suspected fakes, every shirt or hat from a given line would have the same serial number, Duren said. But at Sports Authority, the serial numbers were sequential.
He also noted inferior stitching and detail in the suspected knock-offs.
On Oct. 17, 2008, a private investigator from Investigative Consultants, expert private investigators who worked with ICE, visited the business, buying an NFL jersey and a Reebok shirt. The investigator also noticed thousands of Major League Baseball hats and Lacoste, Adidas and Famous Stars and Straps apparel, Duren said.
The investigator determined the purchased jerseys were fake and estimated $53,200 in counterfeit goods were for sale that day.
It is not clear whether the expert investigators were contracted by ICE or industry groups. In the past, ICE has joined with investigators under contract with the NFL, officials said.
When visited at AT&T Sportswear this week, owner Andres Tapia, who works with his wife and adult daughter, declined to comment. Agents seized hundreds of items from the shop and Tapia's Oceanside home in late October. The stall was jam-packed on Wednesday with hats, shirts and shorts for sale.
T-Shirt Outlet was also open for business Wednesday. Its owner, Sung Ryll Oh, 59, said in Korean through a translator that the raids were a bad memory and he didn't want to talk about them.
Sean Kim, Mission Bazaar's owner of nine years, said he recalled no similar raids in the past. He said each stall has a business license, and he has no way of knowing whether their goods are real.
"I can't go to each store and see if the Adidas or Nike are fake," he said, adding that he just can't tell.
Peri Yi Shin, 47, owner of Sox & Sox, said that about 15 agents took everything from her business. They raided her Oceanside home at 6:30 a.m., waking her and her two college-age sons, handcuffing them as they waited in pajamas or boxer shorts for about three hours while agents searched the home, she said.
"It was very embarrassing," Shin said.
As a small retailer who does not manufacture illegal goods, she questioned ICE's tactics. She would like to consult a lawyer, but can't afford to, she said.
Her family's sole breadwinner, Shin said she has run the stall for about three years and had sold some knock-offs. But she said most of the seized merchandise was authentic, as is everything she sells now.
On Wednesday, the shop was glutted with Chargers and Raiders Jerseys, as well as baseball caps stamped with the Major League Baseball insignia.
In one undercover visit to Sox & Sox in October 2008, investigators bought NFL, Reebok, Hollister and Famous Stars and Straps shirts they later determined were fakes, according to court documents.
On July 29, an undercover agent bought a Reebok jersey for $59.99 that was determined to be authentic.
Both fake and authentic trademarked gear were purchased or seen in all three businesses, Duren's affidavits note.
This is a "typical practice of vendors who engage in the sale of counterfeit goods," Duren states in his affidavit, citing an expert.
Shin declined to say where she got her merchandise. She said she told the ICE agents who her suppliers were, and Duren's affidavit shows that ICE summoned Shin's phone records and identified two possible wholesalers.
Duren testified he also ordered phone records for the other two vendors and got information about their suppliers.
It is not clear whether ICE will pursue wholesalers who may be supplying counterfeit goods to local vendors.
Call staff writer Sarah Gordon at 760-740-3517.


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Why Apple Could Be a Future Customer for Intel’s Chipmaking
#Intel ’s upcoming 10 nanometer chips could entice more business from the #iPhone maker. Intel announced on Tuesday that it had snagged a leading phone maker as one of the first customers for its new service to manufacture mobile computer chips based on designs from ARM Holdings. But the big “get” wasn’t one of the two leaders of the mobile business. Samsung still manufactures its own chips and Apple has used #Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to supply the brains of recent iPhones. Instead, Intel said South Korean phone and appliance maker #LG Electronics agreed to buy Intel-manufactured mobile chips. LG ranked third among smartphone makers in the second quarter, grabbing 14% of the U.S. market, according to Kantar Worldpanel.


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SAIC Motor (SHA:600104) said last month it might be interested in a "single-digit" stake in GM when offering came to market. The Chinese company said it has been monitoring GM's progress as the company worked to emerge from bankruptcy and says GM's restructuring will be a positive for the U.S. company.
Talks between SAIC (SHA:600104) and GM regarding the Chinese company's participation in the IPO have been called informal. Earlier this week, GM said it expects to price its IPO in the $20-$25 range.
Earlier this week, SAIC (SHA:600104) said it expects its profit for the first nine months of this year to surge 140% due to increased demand in China.


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MELBOURNE | Technology company Connexion Media Limited (ASX:CXZ) is on track to raise up to $6 million through its public offering, which should see it re-listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
The funds will be used to purchase Miroamer Pty Ltd and its technology that caters to the web-connected vehicle market, in particular Internet connected software services and data analytical services.
It has an agreement with General Motors relating to its Internet radio product, which allows the consumer to listen to AM/FM radio stations from around the world. General Motors produces around 8.5 million vehicles a year.
Miroamer chief executive Mr George Parthimos said the company had received several significant commitments, including a major investment from Mac Equity, a Perth-based investment firm.
“Investors are excited about our technology, not just in the growing internet radio streaming market, but the potential of the vehicle data analytics collection and subsequent on-sale to business partners,” Mr Parthimos said.
“We are a global player in supplying software services to the connected car market. We are seen as punching above our weight with our multi-award winning technology.
“We have established a strong management group and have solid agreements with the key partners in the global connected vehicle market.”
Connexion Media is offering 30 million shares at 20 cents each, to raise up to $6 million. There is a minimum subscription of $3 million. Lead manager for the Issue is Phillip Capital Limited.
The Offer closes on 3 July 2014 and the company expects to list on the Australian Stock Exchange on 24 July 2014.


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A mixed signal is coming as dissident accounts surface regarding Apple’s negotiations with cable and satellite providers over the rumored “Apple TV”. Bloomberg reported this morning that talks with TV content providers have stalled due in large part to the fact that content providers are unwilling to relinquish any control to Apple. Striking a deal to offer TV service in the way that Apple would like to is proving much more difficult than it was to convince the major record labels that a deal with Apple was in their best interest.
Content providers are in a much different position than the record labels were around the turn of the century (we can say turn of the century now, right?). Record labels were in the middle of watching their entire business model crumble before their very eyes. Their industry was in free-fall, and as a result, they were willing to cave to Apple’s demands. Unlike the recording industry, the TV industry has arguably done a sufficient job of keeping their content locked down in the face of new technology. Record executives, frightened of the internet, didn’t take measures on their own to secure their own distribution model online, which left an opportunity for Apple to swoop in and literally save the industry from collapse. TV executives and distribution channels got the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the recording industry. They have found moderate success with distributing content through Netflix and Hulu.
It is worth noting that Apple faced opposition from wireless carriers when it wanted to break into the phone business with the iPhone. Apple wanted to have a direct relationship with iPhone customers, and it didn’t want to have any carrier logos on its devices. It found an initial partner in AT&T, which was all it took to get the iPhone to market. The iPhone was wildly successful, and wireless providers who initially shunned the revolutionary device now clamored to be the next one to be able to offer it to customers.
There is a good chance that history will repeat its self as Apple progresses further into the TV market. So far, content providers are holding fast to what they already have; ugly and inconvenient user interfaces and ho-hum service. They want to be the ones who control the boxes that are used to access their services, and they want to control the customer relationship. The problem is that the content providers are terrible at all of this. Their equipment, service, and customer service are abysmal, especially when compared to Apple. This entire scenario sounds so much like the opposition that the iPhone initially faced that it’s almost comical.
However, it only takes one.
It only takes one cable provider who is willing to “bet the farm” on Cupertino. According to recent reports, that one provider may very well be Time Warner, who is reportedly inching closer to inking a deal with Apple. If Time Warner partners with Apple, it is highly likely that users will abandon their current cable or satellite provider to further integrate the Apple device paradigm into their digital lives. If that happens, the iPhone scenario is likely to play out once again, with content providers clamoring to offer Apple’s set-top box, because customers will demand it.


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Bulletproof whiteboards will be among the back-to-school supplies for professors at one university.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is spending $60,000 for 200 of these personal safety devices, according to a press release.
The lightweight 18 x 20 inch boards, available in white, pink, blue and green, are made of a high-tech material called Dyneema. Fitted with three handles and a hook, they can withstand "multiple magazines of ammunition from any handgun or shotgun without ricochet or injury," according to the manufacturer's website.
(What they can't withstand? Ordinary writing implements; the boards are to be used only with dry erase markers and materials.)
Here's a video showing a board being ballistic tested:
The Baltimore Sun reports that about 100 schools have these whiteboards, but this is the first university purchase:
UMES President Juliette B. Bell said in a telephone interview that she decided to order 200 whiteboards for faculty using funds from the university's foundation account so the school could be "proactive rather than reactive" in a violent situation.
Located in the historic town of Princess Anne on the Eastern Shore, UMES has never experienced an "active shooter" incident, unlike some other Maryland schools, including Morgan State University, where a football player and a visiting student were shot in two separate events last year.
"Being able to respond accordingly is very important," Bell said, pointing to the Virginia Tech shootings. "It's all about being prepared."
The bulletproof whiteboards retail for $299 each. Hardwire -- the Maryland-based manufacturer which began making bulletproof classroom materials after last year's Sandy Hook shootings, and also produces armor protection for the military -- sells 10 x 13 inch clipboards for $109 and backpack inserts for $99.
Hardwire's founder, George Tunis, told the Sun that these products are "designed to be a last resort and to buy you some extra time."
"You have different options to protect the students," UMES professor G. Dale Wesson said to the paper. "It won't protect you from a bazooka, but it's something."