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Tightrope Integrates Burbio Database With Cablecast Community
Collaboration enables automated, aggregated feed of community event data
MINNEAPOLIS & PELHAM, N.Y.—Tightrope Media Systems has announced a new partnership with the digital platform Burbio that will integrate Tightrope’s Cablecast Community Media platform with Burbio’s zip-code level event database to automatically update calendar information on broadcast and online bulletin boards.
Cablecast is a broadcast automation, playout and streaming platform that allows users to reach both traditional and cord-cutting audiences. With the combination of Burbio services, media centers can now easily update hyper-local community event information, including from school districts, governments, libraries, nonprofits, businesses and sports leagues. Users can set their own specifications within the Cablecast CG and Carousel user interface on what Burbio sources to draw from, and how long they appear in the bulletin.
Tightrope reports that the Massachusetts-based Billerica Access Television station is among the first media centers to implement the Cablecast-Burbio combination.
Both Tightrope and Burbio will highlight the technology at the 2020 NAB Show in Las Vegas from April 18-22. Tightrope will do so from Hospitality Suite 739 at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, while Burbio will exhibit as part of the Sprockit startup hub in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
For more information, visit www.cablecast.tv.
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HLR technology achieves superior IAQ to boost student performance
April 25, 2017
enVerid Systems Inc. announced that the Shanghai-based China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) has achieved superior indoor air quality per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, and 80 percent reduction in the utilization of outside air, through the installation of enVerid HLR® (HVAC Load Reduction) modules in its state-of-the-art lecture theater.
Though consumers are becoming more familiar with IAQ, it’s important for HVAC contractors to facilitate conversations that focus on indoor environmental problems and solutions and then let them make their own decisions.
As consumers become better educated about IAQ, the need for humidification and dehumidification — and the comfort solutions they provide — has increased. According to RnR Market Research, the global market for humidifiers is expected to surpass $1 billion by 2019. Another study, conducted by Grand View Research Inc., states the global dehumidifier market is expected to reach $3.54 billion by 2022.
Mold can be found everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. However, it’s usually not a problem until it begins growing indoors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to mold can cause a number of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints. Mold can be a serious issue if left untreated, which is perhaps one of the reasons most HVAC contractors tend to avoid it.
While proper ventilation can sell itself for those who suffer from allergies, it can be a more difficult sell to the rest of the population. Many homeowners are more concerned with ensuring their HVAC system is keeping a consistent temperature than maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ). But, in recent years, more and more studies are linking health issues with indoor air pollution. By making homeowners aware of these results, you can help them make an informed decisions for proper ventilation and air quality improvements.
IQAir announced its clean air technology is now featured in the new Vitality Room of Swissôtel in Zurich, Switzerland. The room was specially designed to be a serene and stylish sanctuary for those concerned about physical and mental well-being. The Vitality Room builds upon Swissôtel's well-received Vitality Program, which takes an integrated approach to supporting guests by focusing on health and wellness.
Plasma Air Intl. announced that it has assisted the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort (AMCR) to achieve a healthier indoor air environment. Utilizing Plasma Air’s bipolar ionization technology, the casino significantly improved the indoor air quality (IAQ) of both smoking and non-smoking sections of the 130,000-square-foot facility, improving the health and comfort of both employees and customers.
Since it was founded in 2011, Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based Allied Energy Efficiency Experts has completed approximately 5,000 comprehensive Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) projects in New Jersey and Delaware.
The Water Savor Controller is a device that limits the amount of excess water leaving a bypass flow-through humidifier and exiting down the drain. It can be easily installed with any brand (new or previously installed) bypass flow-through humidifier.

domain: news


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Square Enix announced last week, that come April 11, the Japanese release date for Dragon Quest XI will be revealed at a special event that only Square Enix can do. So naturally, they released a bundle of screenshots/ artwork to cool us all over until then.
Check these bad boys out!!
Yes, I know the graphics aren’t to the level of say, The Witcher 3, but they still look absolutely fabulous for a Dragon Quest game.
I’m hyped. Can’t wait until 2018. Any of my fellow Brahs hyped for this?!?


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MetaMask, a renowned software cryptocurrency wallet, has significantly forged new partnerships in six countries: Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, and Chile to foster the Web3 ecosystem. This move extends MetaMask’s reach and signals a strategic shift towards embracing the burgeoning potential of Web3 in diverse markets.
Localized collaborations: Empowering users worldwide
MetaMask collaborated with various payment platforms in these countries to cater to the distinct needs of local markets. In Vietnam, the partnerships are with VietQR and Mobile Money; GCash in the Philippines; QRIS in Indonesia; Thai QR in Thailand; Vodafone Cash in Egypt; and Webpay in Chile. These alliances are tailored to provide users in these regions with localized cryptocurrency transaction options, facilitating greater accessibility and convenience.
Enhancing local transfers and Web3 integration
Further expanding its scope, MetaMask has also augmented its services to support local transfers in Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. This enhancement is made possible through strategic alliances with Unlimit, a borderless payment solution, and TransFi. These partnerships aim to offer local crypto payment and transfer options within the MetaMask wallet, making the Web3 experience more inclusive and user-friendly for people irrespective of their geographical location.
MetaMask’s expansion and integration efforts represent a significant step in the evolution of the Web3 ecosystem. By establishing partnerships with local providers and enhancing the ease of local transfers, MetaMask is expanding its user base and contributing to the global adoption and normalization of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.
This strategy aligns with the overarching vision of Web3. Through such initiatives, MetaMask is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of digital finance, ensuring that it remains accessible and relevant to users around the globe.
MetaMask recently faced transaction challenges for mobile users using version 7.9.0. To address this, they released a bug fix on November 15. The wallet provider urged mobile users to upgrade to the newest version, 7.10.0, for enhanced security. In a November 14 announcement, MetaMask clarified that the problem with the prior version affected only a select group of users.


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Consider the ultimate gift in a homeland security country: the iTaser, a weapon with its own MP3 player and earphones that can deliver a 50,000 volt electrical charge while you catch your favorite tunes. This new Taser, on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will be available, reports Richard Wray of the British Guardian, in "red, pink and even leopard print designs." Anyone carrying the iTaser will be able to make what may be the first homeland-security fashion statement in any one of the 43 states where Tasers are legal. The company that makes the weapon, Taser International, has already sold 160,000 less-stylish versions to private individuals. According to founder and company CEO Rick Smith, "Personal protection can be both fashionable and functionable."
In November 2006, the Taser infamously broke into the news on campus when a student at the University of Florida, questioning Senator John Kerry harshly, was dragged off, Tased, and subdued by campus police. His plea, "Don’t Tase me, Bro!," is now the stuff of bumper stickers, T-shirts, and cell phone ring tones. Thanks largely to him and the publicity the incident got, the New Oxford Dictionary made "Tase" one of its 2007 words of the year, the Yale Book of Quotations put it at the top of its yearly list of most memorable quotes, and the rest of us got a hint that something new might be happening in America’s "ivory towers."
As Michael Gould-Wartofsky indicates in a new piece, "Repress U," that incident was just the tip of an enormous — and growing — homeland-security presence on campus. Gould-Wartofsky’s remarkable report offers real news about just how deeply the new homeland security state is settling into every aspect of our world.


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FRANCE: Kobrand Corp. readies L&L takeover
Kobrand Corporation is set to take control of L&L, the French company known for its Cognac-based cocktail, Alizé.
A trustee for the Kopf family, Kobrand's owners, confirmed yesterday (21 July) that Jean Paul Lafragette, L&L's director, is in the process of transferring his 49% shareholding to repay debts.
"In satisfaction of what is owed to L&L, the Lafragettes are transferring their shares to L&L," said Michael Insel. "Since their shares are worth slightly more than what is owed, they will get a small payment."
Insel said he hoped the deal would be approved by French courts before the end of this month, when full control of L&L could pass to Kobrand via its holding company, French American Vintners.
Lafragette was imprisoned in June and released last week, after the Kopf family alleged he had misappropriated funds at L & L. The original case against Lafragette was brought last year by the Kopf family, owners of Kobrand, in relation to the alleged misappropriation of over EUR1m (US$1.6m). It is now understood, however, that there are other charges relating to other business dealings adding up to about EUR10m.
Neither economic gloom nor the presence of an illustrious neighbour appear to be overshadowing Armagnac, France's less well known brandy denomination. Chris Losh found the region's producers to be in ...
LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton has released a limited edition bottling of its Hennessy Cognac brand for the US....
Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Philip Raimondo as national accounts mixologist....
Economic woes in the US have begun to erode growth on the country's spirits market, hitting volumes at Pernod Ricard and Diageo, new figures show....
Pernod Ricard has signed a deal with Norway's Arcus Gruppen to sell several drinks brands acquired as part of its takeover of Vin & Sprit....
Global shipments of cognac were up 3.1% last month, thanks to a surge in the US, according to the region's trade body, BNIC....
Central European Distribution Organisation, the wine and spirits group, has said it has signed a deal to refinance its short-term debt, enabling it to continue investing in key growth markets....
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the drinks division of Fortune Brands, has appointed communications veterans Paula Erickson and Dan Cohen to its team....
- Diageo NA head on Trump, Millennials, Bourbon
- Has Millennial-mania drowned out elder consumers?
- Interview - Loch Lomond GTR head Andre de Almeida
- Absolut and Smirnoff's conflicting Millennial view
- Trump, local spirits and the IR role - The Analyst
- Beam Suntory opens global headquarters in Chicago
- Diageo wine assets integration head to leave TWE
- Absolut not "sufficiently focussed" on Millennials
- Molson Coors names UK & Ireland managing director
- Pernod Ricard targets at-home drinking
- Luxury Alcoholic Drinks: The Spirit of Premiumisation
- Global gin insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global Wine Market 2016-2020
- Global Cognac insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global rum insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends


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Drive Type: STICK
Model: Beetle - Classic
AIKEN., South Carolina, United States
IMMACULATE 73 SUPER BEETLE-----THIS ONE IS READY TO USE DAILY AND DRIVE ANYWHERE---IN AIR CONDITIONED COMFORT---ZERO RUST,SOUTHERN CAR, WINDOWS OUT FENDERS OF RESPRAY IN FACTORY ORANGE----ALL NEW BODY AND RUBBER SEALS---REBUILT 1600 CC ENGINE WITH MILD CAM---REBUILT TRANSMISSION----BRAKE SYSTEM---REFURBISHED COLD AIR CONDITIONING---ROOF RACK WITH VINTAGE SURFBOARD----THIS IS A GOOD ONE----408 892 5959
CAR IS IN AIKEN,S.C.
Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:31:00 EST
Judges for the World Car of the Year Award have narrowed down the finalists to just four vehicles. Out of a total of 42 entries, only the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster/Cayman, Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT-86 and Volkswagen Golf remain standing. For Volkswagen, this marks the second consecutive year the company has had an entry among the finalists, and the fourth time since 2009. In order to qualify, a vehicle must be on sale on two continents during the span of time between January 1, 2013 and May 30, 2013. A panel of 66 journalists from 23 countries then vote on the finalists.
Three vehicles have made the cut for the last round of voting on the 2013 World Performance Car as well, with the Cayman/Boxster and FR-S/BRZ/GT-86 running against the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Meanwhile, the Renault Zoe, Tesla Model S and Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid are duking it out for the World Green Car Award. Finally, the World Car Design of the Year Award is up for grabs between the Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar F-Type, and the Mazda6. Check out the full press release below. Overall winners will be presented at the 2013 New York Auto Show.
In 2007, the European Union mandated fleet average CO2 emissions of 158.7 g/km. For 2015, that figure will drop to 130 g/km, and the target for 2020 is an ambitions 95 g/km. Thanks to some German politicking, that target will be phased in from 2020 to 2024, but it will still apply to 80 percent of passenger cars in that first year. In US miles per gallon, that's the equivalent of going from about 35 mpg to 42 mpg to 57 mpg. The current Volkswagen Golf is rated from 85 g/km of CO2 to 190 g/km depending on model - and zero for the e-Golf, so for the next-generation MkVIII hatch due in 2019, to meet the goal, Volkswagen engineers will need to introduce a bunch of new tricks. According to a report in Autocar, VW be mining its hyper-efficient XL1 for some of them.
Predictions for the next Golf include a variable-compression engine, an electric flywheel and an electric turbo, along with taking greater advantage of coasting. Volkswagen could be getting help from Audi with the electric turbo and variable-compression engine and electric turbo, with Audi already having shown off the former and brand technical boss Ulrich Hackenberg confirming the VW Group is working on the latter. It's possible the flywheel system could also have the mark of The Four Rings: Autocar mentions a British system that Volvo is testing, but the R18 e-tron Quattro racer has been using one for years.
The need for such features is because the company won't be able to net enough future gains from just aerodynamic improvements and advanced materials. As price will be a factor (the regulations are expected to "add hundreds of euros to the cost of building a car"), adding much more aluminum or carbon fiber is an unlikely option. We're told the next generation won't be longer or wider than the current car, and being Europe's most popular model, VW doesn't want to make a big bet on futuristic aero, but the report says the MkVIII will "likely" have "the most aerodynamic treatment yet seen on a production vehicle," the area where lessons learned from the XL1 will truly be seen.
The Scirocco is undoubtedly one of the better-looking models in the Volkswagen lineup, but introduced back in 2008, it's now been on the market - some markets, anyway - for the better part of six years. VW is said to have an all-new replacement in the works, but before that arrives, the German automaker has announced a facelifted version with revised styling and a new engine lineup.
Set to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the new Scirocco benefits from updated styling front and rear, high-tech exterior lighting, a revised cabin space with some throwback retro touches, some new technologies and, of course, an array of fresh wheel options ranging from 17 to 19 inches.
The updated Scirocco will be offered with a wide array of engines right from the get-go, including four gasoline options and two diesels, spanning from 125 horsepower all the way up to the 280-hp Scirocco R. The 2014 model hits European showrooms in August, but unfortunately isn't any more likely to make the transatlantic voyage Stateside than the version it replaces. Still interested? There's plenty to see in the high-res image gallery above and details in the press release below.


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VILNIUS, Feb. 14 ( Xinhua) -- Annual growth of consumer prices in Lithuania reached 2.3 percent last month, official data revealed on Tuesday.
Consumer prices increased by 0.3 percent last month compared to the previous month, according to data released by Statistics Lithuania.
Growth in consumer prices was mostly influenced by increase in food and alcohol prices as well as growing prices of services in hotels and restaurants.
Economists from Swedbank in Lithuania said annual growth in consumer prices has hit the highest level in four years.
"A big seasonal drop in price of clothes and footwear didn't help much," Swedbank economists said in a note.
Swedbank expects price growth to continue in Lithuania due to increase in tobacco and alcohol excise duties as well as recovering oil prices. Rapid growth of wages is also to blame for rising prices.
In December, annual growth of consumer prices in Lithuania stood at 1.7 percent.


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Survey: Small Business Optimism Rises
Find Out Just How Much Optimism Rose
Buoyed by better sales and profits, optimism among small business owners increased in April, according to a just-released survey. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported last week that its optimism index rose two points last month to 94.5. After a dip in March, the index is back to its February level.
William Dunkelberg, the federation's chief economist, reported that plans to hire increased in April, as did sales and profits. Still, Dunkelberg called the 94.5 reading weak, and said many business owners are still wary about their prospects because of downbeat economic news coming from Washington and Europe, where a debt crisis has left a cloud of uncertainty.
"Most likely there will be only small improvements on Main Street in optimism or hiring and spending this year," Dunkelberg says.
The study was conducted by surveying the outlooks of 1,817 small-business owners in the first week of May.


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The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia last week agreed to hear a challenge by the Organic Trade Association against the Department of Agriculture. OTA is challenging the agencies decision and process to withdraw organic livestock standards.
USDA in March withdrew the final Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices regulation, which was to go into effect in May. The agency contends that the Organic Food and Production Act does not give the National Organic Program the authority to regulate animal welfare.
The Organic Trade Association is arguing that the claim is a radically different view from any administration since the adoption of the National Organic Program, and one that cannot be legally supported. The Organic Trade Association filed its original lawsuit against USDA in September of 2017 over the agency’s continued delay of the final organic welfare standard.
Source: National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.


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2013 Vauxhall Astra prices slashed
* Vauxhall announces big cuts to Vauxhall prices * Cut by as much as 1970 * Specification levels also increased...
Vauxhall Astra prices have been slashed by almost 2000 to make it more attractive to both company and private buyers.
The price cuts have come through a simplification of the Astra's range. ES and Exclusiv trims have been dropped and replaced with the Design model, while a Tech Line GT has been added further up the range.
Design comes with the same equipment as the outgoing Exclusiv, but costs 1965 less than the 94bhp 1.3-litre and the 109bhp 1.7-litre diesels. Despite the cut in price, it comes with 16-inch alloys, air-conditioning, steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, aux-in socket and cruise control as standard.
The new Tech Line GT model which is aimed at the company car market offers equipment from Tech Line and SRi models. It comes with 18-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights and a Bi-Turbo-styled front end. It also gets lowered sports suspension and front foglights.
Inside, it comes with sat-nav, DAB radio with USB and Bluetooth connections, and sports seats. Despite offering extra kit, the Tech Line GT costs 1970 less than the SRi, which will remain on sale. The Tech Line GT costs from 19,470.
Vauxhall says that the Tech Line is aimed at company car drivers, with the new lower pricing intended to reduce Benefit in Kind tax bills. The SRi will remain on sale, with Vauxhall saying that it will offer its flexible finance packages to retail customers only.
The new Astra models are available to order now.


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April 27 (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc ( AMZN.O ) signaled on Thursday that long-running high cloud growth would slow further as business customers braced for turbulence and cut spending, overshadowing the company’s quarterly sales and profit that topped expectations.
In extended trading, Amazon̵[ads1]7;s shares initially surged about $125 billion in value on its positive view of consumer sentiment and the company’s standing among cloud competitors, only to see all of the gains disappear within minutes.
The share price drop followed comments from CFO Brian Olsavsky, who told analysts that cloud customers continued to try to trim their bills starting in the second quarter and that Amazon was helping them build long-term relationships.
That meant earnings growth was about 5 percentage points lower in April than in the first quarter, he said, citing a period that saw a sequential decline.
The stock is now down 2%.
Amazon’s surprising rise and fall is indicative of a precarious moment for the company. To address what he has called an uncertain economy, CEO Andy Jassy has aimed to cut spending across Amazon’s vast array of divisions. At the same time, Amazon faces a looming threat from its cloud rivals Microsoft ( MSFT.O ) and Google ( GOOGL.O ), which are rolling out high-profile artificial intelligence tools.
The cost cuts have gone deep. Amazon has aimed to eliminate 27,000 corporate roles since November; and the number of employees has fallen 10% to 1.47 million full-time and part-time employees, including in warehouses, from the quarter just ended.
The company is also ending entire services, among them the Halo health trackers. It has reorganized its national fulfillment operation so it can find goods closer to customers and deliver them faster and cheaper.
Those moves contributed to Amazon’s profit of $3.17 billion in the period ended March 31, compared with a loss of $3.84 billion a year earlier.
But this did little to attract investors. David Klink, an analyst at Huntington National Bank, said the company’s rapid decline was “tremendous.”
“You don’t see (that) at either Microsoft or Google,” said Klink, whose bank owned $129 million in Amazon stock as of Thursday.
Amazon has been looking for new revenue all the time. Olsavsky told reporters that the economy has brightened internationally.
“It’s good to see inflation going down there,” he said. “It’s good to see that consumer confidence is increasing.”
In North America, Amazon’s biggest market, demand held up, he said. But “you’re seeing signs that customers are looking for value” and “probably delaying some discretionary purchases.”
Ultimately, the online retailer reported better-than-expected sales of $127.36 billion in the first three months of the year, and it forecast revenue between $127 billion and $133 billion in the second quarter.
Aside from its financially conscious customers, Amazon aimed to project confidence in its cloud for the long term.
Jassy said the growing use of generative AI, which can create text, images and other content from past data, represented a huge opportunity for Amazon’s cloud. One reason is its proprietary chips that he said can power much of what businesses want to do with AI; another is Amazon’s own new AI tools.
Likewise, Olsavsky told reporters, Amazon had seen no change in the competitive balance among cloud providers. His comments followed a financial report from Microsoft this week that beat analysts’ expectations as rival Amazon drew business through AI. Sales growth for AWS slowed to 15.8% in the first quarter.
Dennis Dick, a stock trader and market structure analyst at Triple D Trading, said shareholders are likely to sell.
“AWS growth slowdown is a signal for investors to take profits,” he said.
Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and Jeffrey Dustin in Palo Alto, California; Editing by Arun Koyyur
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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On 7 August 2017, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) released the following investigation reports into the major data breach that occurred on 5 September 2016 through the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s (Blood Service) website:
Sponsors of therapeutic goods must ensure that they advertise their products in accordance with the indications accepted in relation to inclusion on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd  FCAFC 181; Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Limited v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission  HCASL 86
In the September 2016 edition of our Health Law Bulletin we reported on Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) proceedings against Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (RB) and the judgment arising from the first substantive hearing. Since that judgment, there has been an appeal to the Full Federal Court and finally in April 2017, the dismissal of an application for special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia by RB.
Ms Tinnock initially underwent surgery for repair of an incisional hernia on 7 June 2010, under the care of Dr Justin Gundara, surgical registrar. The surgery was supervised by Dr Michael Payne, specialist general surgeon.
A recent Court of Appeal decision in a defamation claim has considered the defence of absolute privilege under section 27(2)(d) and Schedule 1, clause 15 of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), and the good faith protections for complainants under the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW) and the former Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW).
AAI Limited (t/as Vero Insurance) v GEO Group Australia Pty Limited  NSWCA 110
A recent Court of Appeal decision confirms the need for healthcare providers to understand their medical malpractice and civil liability policy terms and conditions. The primary decision was the subject of our article in the May 2017 edition of the Health Law Bulletin.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently announced that it will launch an investigation of the “more serious matters being raised” in the Aveo retirement village scandal.
Introduction - Genome Testing – Genome.One
An Australia-first genomic testing service that combines whole genome sequencing and a comprehensive health assessment can offer individuals an unprecedented glimpse into their future health.2
Welcome to the August 2017 edition of the Holman Webb Health Law Bulletin.


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If you had told someone 50 years ago that there would have been a car than ran purely on electricity they would have called you crazy. Zoom years later and we have cars like the Tesla Roadster.
Things are changing and everyone is looking for the next big thing. SkyDrive which is a company backed by Toyota has been using their time to develop their flying vehicle. The vehicle which is called the SD-03 is a flying car of sorts.
It has 8 propellers that provide lift. There are talks that the team is planing on making it an autonomous vehicle. Last Friday there flew it around a Toyota test track. This time it was driven by a pilot.
Although it is possible that it one day pilot itself. The video below shows them flying the craft around. While there aren’t making a crazy maneuvers it’s amazing to see just how close we are to making flying cars a reality.
Check out the video below and let us know if you’ve ever ride in one.


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Under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Al Foah will participate in the Qasr Al Hosn Festival 2015, held within the activities of the third round of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi from 11th – 21st February, 2015. The festival seeks to revive the historical status of Abu Dhabi and highlight the ancient heritage of the UAE’s deep-rooted community. On this occasion, H.E. Eng. Dhafer Ayed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Board, said: "Such heritage festivals enhance the generations’ concept of heritage. Hence, Al Foah’s participation is a national duty and social responsibility. The palm is closely linked to the people of the Gulf in general and UAE citizens in particular, who inherited its love throughout the generations, realized its importance and learned how to cultivate it till the UAE became one of the top producing countries of dates in the world.” He added that Al Foah’s participation in the festival is an ideal opportunity to “highlight the identity of the national products of luxury Emirati dates, which embodies the nobility of the authentic past."
Al Ahbabi also emphasized Al Foah’s interest in shedding light on the importance of palms, palm-based industries, and the introduction of varieties of dates. Al Foah’s participation also represents an opportunity to introduce the national industry of luxury Emirati dates; especially its development as the largest producer of dates in the world. These cosmopolitan, high-quality UAE dates have reached more than 44 countries around the world.
The CEO of Al Foah H.E. Musallam Obaid Al Khales Al Ameri, explained: "Qasr Al Hosn Festival offers its visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with various types of dates characterized by their high quality, which attract consumers from local and international markets. The Festival also highlights Al Foah date products. Al Foah prepares the local products cultivated on over 17,000 citizens' farms across the states. The dates are then produced and manufactured according to the latest international standards and regulations, ISO and HACCP systems." He noted that Al Foah’s stand includes illustrative images of the palm parts, stages of growth, and areas of distribution in the state. In addition, the company has a special corner to display 30 types of dates and another corner for tasting the varieties of dates displayed. Al Foah’s participation promotes and supports this festival and highlights the identity of Emirati luxury dates, a renowned national product.
On his part, Deputy CEO H.E. Mohammed Ghanim Al Qesaili Al Mansouri stated that Al Foah displays its products at the popular market within a large and distinctive stand offering a wide range of luxury dates products brands such as Zadina and Date Crown; the best of the UAE’s date industry. Al Foah’s stand also offers Besr juice and date delicacies that are widely acclaimed by the public as they are mixed with multiple flavors like cardamom and saffron. Date Granola (YAS) is an integral healthy meal made from dates. It is a 100% natural product without any additives, along with the organic dates from Al Foah farm, the largest organic palm farmland in the world.
September 30, 2016
- August 21, 2017 Al Foah Announces the Launch of the 2017 Dates Marketing Season
- June 1, 2017 Under the Patronage of Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan
- May 22, 2017 Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Signs Five Letters of Intent with Local and International Institutions
- April 27, 2017 Abu Dhabi to Cultivate Unique Date Factory as a Tourist Attraction
- March 21, 2017 His Excellency Major General Dr. Nasser Salem Saif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Security, Justice and Safety Committee, Visits Al Foah
- November 20, 2016 Al Foah Participates in the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2015
- November 20, 2016 Al Foah Awarded the Arab Quality Award in the Gold Category for Food Industries
- October 3, 2016 Al Foah Dates Participates in Gulfood Exhibition for the Fifth Consecutive Year
- September 30, 2016 Al Foah Settles the 6th Payment to Farmers for Seasonal Marketing of their Dates
- September 30, 2016 Al Foah Participates in Qasr Al Hosn Festival
- September 30, 2016 Al Foah Participates in TAWDHEEF Exhibition 2015
- September 19, 2016 Al Foah Launches “Al Foah Reads” Library
- September 12, 2016 Al Foah Honors its Staff with Yearly Excellence Awards
- September 12, 2016 Al Foah Launches Blood Donation Campaign Among Staff Members


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Fin-tech startups have mixed reactions for Union Budget 2018
When Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget 2018 on Thursday, the whole country was waiting to see how its wallets would be controlled in the coming 12 months. Startups were no exception, as Jaitley’s briefcase was expected have set major possibilities for their progress this year. Among them, the fin-tech sector was no exception.
However, the Budget left fin-tech startups with mixed reactions. While they are excited about the government’s efforts towards financial inclusion and increasing digitisation, some are left wondering about the executional efficiency.
Promoting financial inclusion
Renu Satti, MD and CEO, Paytm Payments Bank, believes that the government’s Budget decisions will bring about higher penetration of banking services and easy access to credit. According to her, digitisation of agricultural markets will bring farmers into the formal economy. “We look forward to leverage these initiatives to provide digital payments, banking and other financial services to rural India,” she said.
Although demonetisation in November 2016 encouraged growth in digital payments segment, there is still a long way to go. Kumar Srinivasan, CEO (India) of mobile wallet Matchmove, says,
“With an unbanked population of over 250 million Indians and the country moving towards 520 million smartphone users by 2020, it is a wise move by the government to incentivise digital payments to encourage consumers to shift to “cashless” and increase bandwidths to reach out to a larger populace.”
The Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) scheme and Jan Dhan Yojana scheme are some of the major initiatives by the Government that has helped boost India’s digital payments agenda.
More digital transactions with free wi-fi
Government’s decision to create 500,000 wifi hotspots in rural India has got great appreciation from all sectors. Jose Thattil, CEO of Pune-based payment solutions startup Phi Commerce, says people from rural India will now be able to conduct cashless transactions using BHIM UPI, Aadhaar Pay and BharatQR.
However, Rohan Bhargava, Co-founder, CashKaro.com, says that while setting up 5 lakh WiFi hotspots in rural areas is a progressive step, he was hoping for larger measures to boost Digital India.
“Ultimately, these are big and fancy numbers which surely sound promising. Our Government’s ability to execute these plans will determine whether India can really become the $5 trillion economy we have set out to be,” he adds.
Benefits of better infrastructure
Union Budget’s allocation of Rs 10,000 crore to build a digital-first economy gives hope to the fin-tech sector. As Kumar of Matchmove says, granting an infrastructure status to digital payments companies will open new opportunities, enabling stakeholders as well as end-users to adopt and scale into a cashless economy towards the bigger goal of ‘Digital India’.
Jose is glad that the Budget is encouraging in replacing of cash collections for toll payments with electronic payment systems. He hopes that digital payments will play a key role in enabling a true smart city. (The budget has identified 99 smart cities and provisioned an outlay of Rs 2.04 lakh crore.)
Fin-tech startups continue to hope that the government will create the right environment for Fintech including support for to VCs and angel investors to invest in startups. Abhishek Ray, Head-Legal, ePayLater says it in a nutshell, “The boost to Digital India and digitisation will not only simplify and improve the quality of lives of our citizens, but provide the required platform and infrastructure to fin-techs to develop and deliver products and services to many more unserved and underserved individuals.”


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Google Now a voice activated digital assistant now available on iOS, the operating system for iPhones and iPads. Previously, the app was only available to Android users. Our friends at Mashable recently published some words describing how the Google app works at knowing your preferences and interests, all for the cost of monitoring your movements and data. Not that we aren’t monitored most of the time anyway, just ask Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
As Apple iOS and Google’s Android vai mobile media dominance, Microsoft, it seems has at least finally showed up. Recently, a slew of
feeble new commercials aired from the software giant arguing that Bing is a better search engine than Google. Another set of commercials go after GMail, with the message that Google is essentially all up in your junk, knowing your business. The campaign gives pause, but probably not for the reason Microsoft intended.
Google and Apple seem to understand that in a future where
computers mobile devices assist our day to day personal operations, that a certain veil of privacy must be forsaken. This means somewhere in a chilled warehouse, multiple servers can probably tell you your life better than Oprah. The big question is, will having a digital big brother knowing your business wear off as a novelty or take off as the standard for our lives in the mobile digital age?


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Future Models - Jaguar 2017 XKSS
Jaguar set to build born-again XKSS roadsters
Cat with nine lives: Original Jaguar XKSS roadsters were converted D-Type racers, but the 2017 version will be hand-built from scratch.
59 years on, Jaguar plans to replace XKSS ‘supercars’ that went up in factory fire
Click to see larger images
24 March 2016
JAGUAR’S in-house classic car experts in England are planning to hand-craft
nine spanking new XKSS sportscars to the original 1950s race-bred recipe, for
collectors with at least £1 million ($1.4m) to spare.
While it might seem like a lot of loot for a 1950s-based vehicle, the price is
cheap compared with the asking price for one of the originals which command up
to $6 million on the world classic car market.
The company expects to have no trouble unloading all nine of the vehicles that
will effectively replace nine examples destroyed in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns
Lane factory in in Coventry in 1957, thus effectively completing the set 59
The project follows in the wheel-tracks of a similar Jaguar project to build
six Lightweight E-Types in 2014, thus belatedly completing the run of 18
planned cars, 50 years after the originals.
Jaguar Australia senior public relations executive James Scrimshaw said that so
far, no Australian orders had been received for the new XKSSs, but it was early
“Now that the project has been announced, we will see if the publicity brings
anyone out of the woodwork in the next few days,” he said.
The cars will be built by Jaguar Classic – a special division of the British
company that specialises in restoring class cars and building replicas to
original specifications – at the company’s new Experimental workshop at Warwick
in the West Midlands of England.
The original XKSS was a road-going version of the six-cylinder, twin-cam D-Type
racer that won three successive Le Mans victories in 1955, 1956 and 1957.
According to Jaguar, company boss Sir William Lyons decided in 1957 to convert
the remaining 25 D-Types into road-going cars with several external
modifications, creating what it describes as the world's first supercar.
A higher windscreen and passenger-side door were added, while the famous fin
behind the driver’s seat and the divider between driver and passenger were
Famously, one of the cars was owned by American actor and race driver Steve
McQueen who bought it for $5000 in 1958. That car is in the Petersen Auto
Museum in California, and depending on who you believe, could be worth up to
$US30 million ($A40m).
According to Jaguar Magazine editor Les Hughes, one XKSS made it to Australia,
first to Sydney and then Melbourne before it was returned to England in the
He said three original D-Type race cars were sold new in Australia, but at
least two – and possibly all three- have now left the country.
“The most expensive D-Type sold to date is another ex-Australian car which was
sold in 2014, also in Paris for over $6 million, I believe,” he said.
The car was originally raced by Melbourne’s Bib Stillwell, owned by radio
superstar Jack Davey, then raced by Frank Gardner, Frank Matich and Doug
Chivas, Mr Hughes said.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic director Tim Hannig said the XKSS occupied a unique
place in Jaguar's history and was a car coveted by collectors the world over,
for its exclusivity and unmistakable design.
"Jaguar Classic's highly skilled team of engineers and technicians will draw on
decades of knowledge to ensure each of the nine cars is completely authentic
and crafted to the highest quality.
"Our continuation of XKSS reaffirms our commitment to nurture the passion and
enthusiasm for Jaguar's illustrious past by offering exceptional cars,
services, parts and experiences."
According to Jaguar records, the nine “lost” XKSS sportscars of the original
run of 25 were destined for the United States.
Apart from born-again Jaguars, Jaguar Land Rover Classic also turns out classic
Series 1 Land Rovers, for a price.


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Bhumika Group continues to sign brands for Udaipur mall project
Property developer Bhumika Group has leased almost two lakh square feet of its upcoming 1.8 million square feet mixed-used development project in Udaipur, and is continuing to sign fashion brands for the venture.
Bhumika Group’s ‘Urban Square’ development is one of the only few projects of this nature in Udaipur going ahead, as per its pre-pandemic schedule, ET Bureau reported. The development has recently obtained Fire NOC and partial completion and part of the development will comprise a large shopping mall.
“We are taking all necessary actions to offer the possession of Phase I soon,” Bhumika Group’s managing director, Uddhav Poddar, told ET Bureau.
“All the brands signed up earlier have honoured their existing commercial terms post Covid as it was during the agreement signing and they have confirmed that they will be taking possession as per the committed timelines.”
The Rajasthan-based business has recently signed lease agreements with clothing and lifestyle brands including Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Louis Philippe, Spyker, and Funland, among others. On February 23, the business announced its latest additions to the mall as United Colors of Benetton and Just for Kids on its Facebook page.
Bhumika Group is currently working on a number of development projects. The business plans to invest Rs 450 crore ($67.6 million) in a retail project and two residential projects in Udaipur, Alwar, and Jaipur.
Copyright © 2021 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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If you eat chicken, a concerning report came out today potential health risks. Consumer Reports’ tests of more than 300 raw chicken breasts revealed 97 percent harbored bacteria that can potentially make you sick. On American dinner tables, chicken is the most popular meat. But, Consumer Reports’ tests of more than 300 raw chicken breasts purchased at stores across the country found potentially harmful bacteria in nearly all the samples.
“We tested the chicken for six bacteria, including salmonella and campylobacter, which are common causes of food poisoning, and E. coli and enterococcus, which are typical measures of fecal contamination,” Dr. Urvashi Rangan said.
More than half of the chicken breasts were tainted with E. coli and enterococcus.
Continue reading this article here, from our Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA.


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According to the latest numbers from ACT Research, June’s preliminary net trailer orders decreased sequentially, and were lower against longer-term comparisons, with 6,300 units (8,000 seasonally adjusted) projected to have been booked during the month.
“Preliminary net orders were 34% lower compared to May’s intake, and down 75% versus the same month last year,” said Jennifer McNealy, director of CV market research and publications at ACT Research. “Seasonal expectations suggest orders are likely to remain soft the coming few months, particularly given near record-level order backlogs. Trailer manufacturers normally spend mid-year working down the backlog ahead of the next year’s full orderboard opening.
“Albeit against strong comparisons, demand is softening, but with 2024 orderboards just beginning to open, it is no surprise that net orders in June were the lowest they’ve been so far this year,” she added. “That is simply part of the cycle. However, we’re seeing increased and broad-based cancellations, but we’re hearing that much of this is a dealer stocking issue, rather than a general decline in fleets’ appetite for equipment. Since backlogs remain relatively healthy, most fleets needing trailers remain in queue.”


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Hubs, a prominent online manufacturing platform, has recently unveiled its latest 3D Printing Trend Report. This comprehensive report draws from insights gathered from over a thousand customers and manufacturing partners, a thorough examination of news and media sources, and insights provided by leading market analyst firms.
The report sheds light on the growing adoption of 3D printing for large-scale orders, signifying its transformation from a niche hobbyist’s tool to a powerful industrial solution.
The survey, conducted in February 2023 and featuring 1,035 participants, provides a glimpse into the industry’s remarkable expansion. A substantial 71 percent of respondents revealed that they produced more 3D-printed parts in 2022 compared to the previous year.
This surge in 3D printing usage is vividly reflected in the industry’s market size, which reached an impressive $17.05 billion in 2022, boasting an annual growth rate of 13 percent. The primary driver behind this growth can be attributed to a staggering 83 percent of businesses reporting significant cost reductions achieved through 3D printing.
Hubs’ 3D Printing Trend Report cover image.
The upward trajectory in the 3D printing market is anticipated to persist into 2023. Drawing upon Hubs’ internal data and compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) projections from ten prominent market analysis firms, the 3D printing market is expected to expand by a remarkable 17 percent, ultimately reaching a substantial $19.9 billion by 2023. Notably, the polymer additive manufacturing (AM) sector generated more than double the revenue when compared to its metal counterpart. However, metal additive manufacturing experienced a more robust growth rate in 2022 and is poised to continue growing at an accelerated pace.
Turning our attention to printer hardware, there was a noteworthy surge in revenue in 2022, despite a 4 percent decrease in global shipments during the same period. This phenomenon is likely attributed to factors such as inflation and the escalating costs of manufacturing machines.
Among the different categories of 3D printers, personal 3D printers saw the most significant decrease in shipments, while industrial polymer systems experienced a marginal 2 percent decline. Contrarily, industrial metal systems witnessed a slight increase in shipments in 2022.
Top 3D printing applications.
3D Printing’s Impact on Key Industries
The 3D Printing Trend Report sheds light on the primary applications of 3D printing, with prototyping leading the way at 66 percent. It is closely followed by tooling and the production of end-use parts, which allows for mass customization and minimizes machine downtimes.
The aerospace industry, having been an early adopter of additive manufacturing, continues to play a pivotal role in the 3D printing landscape. The technology’s capacity to fabricate lightweight components that enhance aircraft fuel efficiency remains a compelling feature for this sector.
Furthermore, additive manufacturing offers a high degree of flexibility to the medical industry. Currently, it is employed in the manufacturing of patient-specific implants, prosthetics, surgical guides and instruments, anatomical models, dental products, and a range of other applications.
The report also delves into other industries that are poised for transformation, including food, fashion, motorsports, bioprinting, and space exploration.
The Future of 3D Printing
Looking ahead, the report delves into the profound impact of AI and smart materials, including 4D printing, on the landscape of additive manufacturing.
It provides valuable insights from industry experts regarding how cutting-edge technologies such as AI and smart materials, particularly 4D printing, are poised to shape the future of additive manufacturing. AI-driven solutions, like in-print monitoring, have the potential to make significant improvements in terms of consistency and quality control within the 3D printing process.
Furthermore, AI tools hold the promise of streamlining generative design processes, making complex design elements more accessible in the realm of 3D printing.
Smart materials, a key frontier in this field, have the potential to be a game-changer in healthcare, particularly for applications like targeted drug delivery. Beyond healthcare, numerous other industries, including aerospace, furniture, packaging, and wearables, are actively exploring the potential of smart materials to create innovative and transformative solutions.
Green by Design: Additive Manufacturing and Sustainability
The 3D Printing Trend Report underlines how 3D printing represents a manufacturing option with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.
To begin, it generates substantially less waste when compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Additive manufacturing also facilitates local production, thereby eliminating the environmental impact associated with long-distance transportation.
Moreover, with the increasing availability of filaments made from recycled sources, the utilization of recycled materials in 3D printing is on the ascent.
Looking to the Future
At present, a notable 20.72 percent of the survey participants included in Hubs’ research utilize 3D printing for the production of end-use parts. However, as the technology continues to advance, offering enhanced efficiency, speed, and accessibility, Hubs anticipates a consistent growth in the adoption of 3D printing as a fully-fledged manufacturing method.
The narrative of 3D printing is marked by continuous evolution. Moving forward, we can anticipate new dimensions of this versatile technology that will reshape our world and the way we engage with it.


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Nokia and Sprint Push 5G NR Over Massive MIMO
Sep 10, 2018, 11:34 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Nokia and Sprint today said they've made the first live 5G NR connection using a Massive MIMO antenna array. The setup can support up to 120 MHz in Sprint's 2.5 GHz spectrum. The companies claim this arrangement can deliver peak 5G download speeds up to 3 Gbps while maintaining active LTE service. This means Sprint can offer 4G and 5G on the same radio. Sprint and Nokia believe this is a win for handset makers and, eventually, consumers. Sprint believes it will be able to deploy 5G NR via Massive MIMO on its 2.5 GHz spectrum during the first half of 2019. 5G is expected to offer 4K and 8K video streaming, as well as high-definition virtual reality and ultra-low latency.
Mar 23, 2021
OnePlus today announced the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, its newest flagship phones. The 9 Pro is a true flagship-class phone with a QHD AMOLED display with variable refresh from 1 to 120 Hz, and IP68 water rating, starting at $969.
Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.
May 20, 2022
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is, as its name implies, a turbo-charged version of the existing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagship chip.
Sep 6, 2022
Qualcomm has just announced the two chips that will power a great number of entry-level and mid-range Android phones in 2023: the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. Both chips integrate a 5G modem and include upgraded performance as well as new features compared to the chips they replace.
Jan 4, 2022
Verizon has formally announced plans to launch 5G in the new "C-band" mid-band radio frequencies later his month, and filled in details of what the launch will include. The company is promising to cover 100 million people — nearly 1/3 of the population — with the new network at launch.


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Music isn’t the only arena where Apple (AAPL) is contending with Spotify (SPOT). A new phase of their competition has made podcasts an epicenter. On November 13, a report by Voxnest indicated that, in October, Spotify had outpaced Apple in the podcast space in many regions. During the month, Spotify emerged as the most preferred platform for podcast listening. It was particularly strong in Sweden and Equatorial Guinea.
Apple had been a leader in podcasting. However, listeners are more interested in original content, a trend that Spotify has identified and bet big on. It has made massive investments in original content and improved its interface for listeners.
Spotify’s aggressive investments in podcasts
Back in February, Spotify announced its acquisition of private podcast companies Gimlet Media and Anchor, reported CNBC. At that point, Spotify reported plans to invest $400 million–$500 million in such acquisitions this year.
According to Tubefilter, in March, Spotify acquired storytelling-driven studio Parcast. And in November, Spotify launched a new personalized feature, Your Daily Podcasts, reported TechCrunch. With the feature, algorithms analyze users’ listening behavior and suggest the next episode. Based on these algorithms, users can also create a new podcast playlist. Spotify is also looking at signing deals with YouTubers Ryland Adams and Lele Pons to make top-notch podcasts in 2020, revealed Tubefilter.
The company is also looking at expanding in India to promote original content with a local flavor. According to Rolling Stone India, Spotify India announced three original podcasts on November 19. All three shows are set to commence on December 3. As of Friday, Spotify stock had surged 25.5% year-to-date, to $142.55.
Apple’s plans to create original podcasts
The Voxnest report shows that Apple Podcasts still dominate in most of the parts of the world. But it lacks original content. For years, Apple has only been a player instead of a creator. Its podcast business, launched in 2005, hasn’t seen significant upgrades for many years.
However, with the consistent success of Spotify, Apple has woken up to reality. It may soon make its presence felt in the original content space. On November 21, AppleInsider reported that the company had brought onboard National Geographic deputy podcast director Emily Ochsenschlager.
Another report by Bloomberg back in July suggested that the iPhone maker would be venturing into original podcasts that would be available only on Apple’s Podcasts app. Apple is relying heavily on original content for its Apple TV+ as well. According to Voxnet, the company had been focused on its streaming platform’s November launch over the past few months, setting podcasts on the backburner.
Podcast industry set for a significant growth
The podcast industry is booming. In June, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated the industry would generate over $1 billion by 2021. Up until 2018, the podcasting industry had grown by 65% compounded annually. Another survey by Edison Research and Triton Digital has estimated that weekly podcast listeners would climb from 8% of the US population in 2014 to nearly 22% in 2019.
Apple’s podcast advertising could be lucrative
Spotify is keeping up with Apple. Rolling Stone India has revealed that Spotify now has 500,000 podcast titles, compared with 10,000 in 2018. The exponential rise of podcasting is a major reason Apple must become more active than ever in this arena.
Apple doesn’t make money from podcasts. However, investing in originals will help it attract more iOS users into Apple’s ecosystem. The users may also subscribe to Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
One of the main reasons for the surge in the podcast industry is ad revenue. In the abovementioned Bloomberg article, Lucas Shaw and Mark Gurman suggested that if Apple’s podcast userbase expands, it could earn more from ads in its App Store.
In November, JPMorgan Chase raised Apple stock’s price target, reported AppleInsider. Analyst Samik Chatterjee indicated that more ads on the App Store and Apple TV+ could result in increased ad revenue, and predicted ad revenue could soar from the present $2 billion to $11 billion in 2025. Chatterjee’s Apple stock price target is $290, implying an approximate 9% rise from the stock’s current price.


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Microsoft plans to upskill 75,000 women in advanced skills like cloud computing and AI.
This movement is part of the company’s ‘Code Without Barriers’ programme that aims to facilitate equal advancement opportunities for people to succeed in the technology industry. Speaking at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru, company CEO Satya Nadella shared how AI is changing the way that developers are making products and how those across India are working towards ground-breaking solutions.
Microsoft will offer specialised training, certifications and support to women developers across India. Having partnered with Accenture and HCL Technologies, it aims to help women succeed in technology jobs, ensuring they are supported to advance their careers.
Supporting India’s digital transformation
The technology sector is still a very male-dominated field, with women only accounting for 26% of the workforce worldwide. Likewise, according to the World Economic Forum, only 22% of AI professionals are women.
As a result, businesses and organisations have been working towards greater gender diversity in the workplace with the goal of advancing global equalities. Deloitte states in its Women in AI report that having diversity across the AI sector will ensure that a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences are incorporated into the design and implementation of an AI system.
Microsoft’s pledge to support women advancing in AI business sectors is part of its wider commitment to teach two million about AI by 2025 to advance the technology sector across India.
This news comes in the midst of India becoming one of the most impactful markets in the world, with its digital economy rapidly accelerating on account of AI and cloud technologies. In line with these increased demands, it is important that the country’s workforces are able to keep pace with the demands of new AI systems and capitalise on its digital growth.
A shift towards AI prosperity
Satya Nadella believes that the country’s strong market makes it well-positioned to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI technology, emphasising how the technology can drive further productivity and offer India a greater competitive advantage.
In an exclusive interview with moneycontrol, he highlights how AI is currently the driving force towards huge widespread business growth and a global shift in economic productivity across industries such as retail and healthcare.
“I’ve not seen a general purpose technology that can have that type of broad impact [before],” he says. “I am very optimistic that, with policy tools, we can manage the transition to AI in a net-positive way for even a country like India.
“India has a tremendous opportunity to use this new technology in a broad, sectoral way, both public and private. I want [Microsoft] to be the copilot for India as it takes advantage of AI.”
Ten years into his role as CEO at Microsoft, Nadella is only continuing to ensure that the company remains one of the largest in the world, with its value having swelled to more than US$3tn.
"This is only year two of AI," he says. "You must take the new tech, lean in completely and democratise it - and have innovation."
AI Magazine is a BizClik brand


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Just a week after announcing vaccination passports will be needed to fly internationally on Qantas, the airline's CEO Alan Joyce has announced further steps the airline will take to help increase the number of people vaccinated in Australia.
Joyce said by the end of 2021, the airline will look into gifting things such as Qantas frequent flyer points, or discounts off Qantas and Jetstar airfares, to those who are vaccinated.
"In addition, there are going to be 10 super prizes, one for each state and territory, which will give people on the Qantas and Jetstar network unlimited flying for a year. So you could go, when international opens up, to New York every week, London every other week, if you wanted to do that," Joyce said.
The airline has teamed up with hotel chain Accor, which has chipped in to give tens of thousands of dollars worth of free accommodation to those ten winners, and BP will also be chipping in to help with fuel.
"We're hoping to get the technology ready within the next few weeks or few months so that we can get people to register and award those incentives by the end of the calendar year," Joyce said.


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The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) announced yesterday that it was banning margin trading of shares of Tsann Kuen Group (燦坤實業) starting tomorrow for failing to complete its auditing on time.
Shares of Tsann Kuen, the nation's largest home appliance and consumer electronics chain, fell by the 7 percent daily limit to close at NT$44.50 (US$1.41) on the exchange yesterday.
Tsann Kuen's certified public accountant (CPA) issued its audit report for last year with a "qualified opinion," indicating some reservations about the submitted figures.
Citing stock exchange rules, the TSE decided to restrict shares of Tsann Kuen to cash transaction only, according to a statement released yesterday.
The ruling will go into effect tomorrow, and will remain valid until the report passes certification. If the company fails to pass certification in three months, its shares will be suspended from trading on the local bourse, the exchange said.
In a filing to the TSE yesterday, Tsann Kuen vice president and spokesman Tien Chu-ying (田竹英) said that the CPA issued a "qualified opinion" on the report because the auditing procedure for its Chinese subsidiary, which was sold to a Chinese firm, has not yet been completed.
Tsann Kuen announced last June that it was selling its money-losing Chinese arm to the Shanghai-based Yongle (
Nine of its Chinese outlets had canceled their registration in China, with the remainder still in the completion stage, Tien said.
To verify that its former Chinese operation still owed some 620 million yuan, one of Tsann Kuen's CPAs in China sent letters to more than 2,000 of its suppliers, Tien said.
However, the accountant received few replies, as the company had closed its operations in China more than 10 months earlier. Tsann Kuen was therefore unable to conclude its financial report, he said.
"We will do our best to wrap up the auditing procedure and submit the audit as soon as possible," Tien said in the statement.
The 62 million yuan only accounted for 1.5 percent of Tsann Kuen's total assets, and has had no major impact on the company's operation, he said.
Aside from the financial report, Tsann Kuen's lackluster quarterly earnings also clouded its share price performance. For the first quarter of the year, Tsann Kuen reported after-tax earnings of NT$163 million, or NT$0.67 per share, a drop of 45 percent from the same period last year.
But the figures have not dampened the company's enthusiasm for expansion in the local electronics retail market. Tsann Kuen obtained a five-year loan of NT$3.3 billion from seven lenders last month to support its plans to boost its number of outlets -- 188 at present -- as well as its product portfolio.


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Webinar on Blockchain Driven Supply Chain Management
Dr. Shujaat Mubarik, Dean CBM conducted a webinar on Blockchain Driven Supply Chain Management on Saturday, September 25, 2021. The session was moderated by Ms. Juveria Baig. This webinar was the first among a series of many to be conducted under the banner of the Disruptive Future series by IoBM’s Entrepreneurship and Management Excellence Center (EMEC).
During the webinar, Dr. Mubarik shared in detail the quality of the business processes in relation to blockchain, supply-chain traceability, and the various attributes of the blockchain. He touched upon the security measures implemented with blockchain. He shared the example of shipping logistics. It includes a bill of lending that is dispatched from party A to party B. The same action will be taken in blockchain virtually without delay as compared to the physical transfer that takes time. He added that the e-file is actually the copy of the original file being sent to the receiver.
A UK-based freight tracking company with the help of blockchain has developed a system. Several companies across the world have done the same. Examples suggested that shipments on the port requiring a weeks’ time for clearance can be cleared in less than a day through blockchain. A major problem for companies performing import-export will use blockchain to make the processes traceable, transparent, and secure. When speaking about infrastructure, Dr. Mubarik said that blockchain can be adopted with marginal improvements in infrastructure. He also said that companies can implement blockchain in existing ERP systems. Financial transactions and supply chain management can be improved if all companies begin using blockchain technologies. He anticipated that companies that adopt blockchain technologies will become cost-effective and will have a competitive edge. He emphasized that companies in Pakistan need to look at how blockchain technologies will impact the business industries and their processes. He advised that companies need to look at the strategic aspects of this technology.
When touching upon predictability and sustainability, Dr. Mubarik said that companies need to map the suppliers through tier one to the maximum level of suppliers on the map. Real-time tracking will also be helpful to maintain and sustain this mapping. This will help companies predict any disruptive events. Dr. Mubarik added that to learn about blockchain technologies people can study reports by McKinsey, Deloitte, Harvard Business Review. They have been sharing in-depth reports on this technology.


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NADA Commends House Passage of CHOICE Act; Urges Timely Senate Action
BILL INCLUDES IMPORTANT CFPB REFORMS, REPEALS FLAWED AUTO FINANCING GUIDANCE
WASHINGTON (June 8, 2017) - The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) on Thursday praised the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 10, the Financial CHOICE Act, a comprehensive financial reform bill that includes significant and much-needed reforms to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and relief for consumers facing the prospect of higher costs for financing vehicle purchases.
The CHOICE Act, which passed the House by a 233-186 vote, includes a bipartisan provision that is virtually identical to H.R. 1737, an NADA-backed bill from the last Congress, which overwhelming passed the House by a vote of 332-96. This provision would nullify the CFPB's guidance on indirect auto financing, which attempted to eliminate a dealer's ability to discount credit in the showroom. H.R. 10 also requires the Bureau to: provide public notice and comment before issuing any additional auto-financing guidance; make publicly available all studies, data, methodologies or other information relied upon to produce the guidance; and study the costs and impacts of the guidance. The CHOICE Act also brings the CFPB under the regular congressional appropriations process for the first time, which is another reform NADA has long supported.
“Access to affordable credit is essential to customers and their dealers,” said NADA President and CEO Peter Welch. “Chairman Hensarling, members of the House Financial Services Committee, and the Members of Congress who supported H.R. 10 and worked to include these vital consumer protections should be commended for their efforts to keep auto financing affordable and available to consumers everywhere. I look forward to the Senate taking timely actions to help cement these consumer protections into law.”
“America's franchised new-car dealers have always been on the side of our customers, which is why we have so strenuously opposed the CFPB's anti-consumer guidance that would have raised the cost of car and truck loans, and pushed otherwise-creditworthy customers out of the auto credit market altogether,” said NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli. “And we will continue to be on the side of our customers by urging Congress to get this legislation across the finish line, and by continuing to promote the voluntary NADA/NAMAD/AIADA Fair Credit Compliance Program that effectively manages fair-credit risk while preserving discounts on credit for consumers.”


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Energy giant SSE to cut gas prices by 5.3% - but customers will have to wait until after Easter to see the £32 a year saving
- Comes a week after rival E.ON said it was lowering gas prices by 5.1%
- On average, customers will see their annual bills fall by around £32
- Critics accuse energy firms of not passing on falling wholesale costs
- SSE also revealed that it had lost 300,000 gas and electricity customers
SSE has become the second major energy giant in a week to cut its gas prices, as the group unveiled plans to slash its standard tariff by 5.3 per cent.
The reduction will take effect on March 29 and save household gas customers on average £32 a year.
The move follows just a week after rival Eon announced it was lowering gas prices by 5.1 per cent from February 1 in the face of mounting criticism from the public and MPs for failing to pass on lower wholesale costs to their customers.
Cutting prices: SSE is cutting the price of its standard gas for household gas customers by 5.3 per cent
SSE's price cut will not take effect until after Easter when inevitably the weather will be warmer anyway, but it comes three months before its current price freeze comes to an end.
The group pledged to keep energy prices on hold in March 2014 until the end of June 2016.
SSE said of its price cut: 'This latest reduction will save a typical household gas customer on our Standard tariff £32 per year compared to existing prices and is SSE's third gas price cut in two years when it announced a unique price freeze in March 2014.
'SSE customers have not seen an energy price increase since November 2013; indeed, the new gas prices will be 12 per cent, or £78 lower for an average customer than 2013 levels.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd said the cuts were a 'step in the right direction'
'A typical dual fuel Direct Debit bill on our Standard tariff will be £1,068 compared with £1,162 in November 2013.'
The cut was praised by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd as a 'step in the right direction'.
Rudd called for other UK providers to drop their prices.
She said: 'I'm absolutely clear that the market must provide a fair deal for consumers and that's why I've been pressing energy companies to put their customers first and pass on savings to them.
'SSE has taken a step in the right direction and I urge other suppliers to follow suit.'
But not everyone was as impressed.
Ann Robinson, uSwitch.com director of Consumer Policy, said: 'Not only is this another token-gesture cut but why should customers have to wait until after Easter to see reductions to their bills?
'Lower prices are good news but prices can and should be cut much further. Consumers should be seeing bill reductions of at least 10 per cent - around £120 a year - on both gas and electricity, given record low wholesale costs.
'As three of the big six suppliers have now lowered standard prices twice since the start of 2015, the pressure is now well and truly on EDF, Npower and ScottishPower to follow suit.
'Rather than waiting for meagre price cuts, big six standard plan customers should switch to cheaper fixed deals, saving more than £320 a year.'
SSE insisted wholesale energy prices make up an 'ever smaller proportion' of customer bills, with many other cost pressures affecting tariffs and limiting the ability to pass on cuts.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said market conditions were 'challenging', with the group hit by one of the warmest winters on record and the impact of Storm Frank on its networks in the north of Scotland last month, which saw winds of 90mph and significant flooding.
The group said it restored power to 93 per cent of affected customers within 12 hours.
Phillips-Davies added: 'I am pleased that we have been able to announce a reduction in retail gas prices - our third consecutive reduction in household energy prices - and to achieve a significant reduction in the number and duration of power cuts experienced by our network customers.'
SSE also revealed that it had lost 300,000 gas and electricity customers in the last nine months - taking the total down to 8.28 million.
Customers also used less electricity, down 3 per cent, while gas usage remained flat.
Despite the loss of customers, the utility company stuck to its full-year earnings and dividend targets.
As a result shares in early trading are up 1 per cent, or 12.0p, at 1,445.0p.
Wholesale gas prices are trading around their lowest levels since 2009 because of a milder than usual winter, an oversupplied market and pressure from falling commodity prices.
Britain's biggest energy suppliers, which also include Iberdrola's Scottish Power, Centrica, RWE npower and EDF Energy, are facing a shake-up from the outcome of a competition watchdog investigation set to conclude in June.
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Incheon Airport launched its new marketing campaign and it's all about k-pop
Seoul’s Incheon Airport has just rolled out its new marketing campaign, and it dances to BTS’s k-pop beat.
The biggest airport in South Korea has enlisted the help of one of the most influential k-pop acts of the moment to appeal to the millennial travellers passing through Incheon. “Eighty per cent of our travellers are from Asia,” explained Incheon’s CEO Chung Il-young. “And sixty per cent of them are millennials.” He also said that this project reflects the need to start thinking about their age group specifically and creating campaigns that appeal to them.
And nothing is more appealing than the South-Korean band BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, who have won the USA's Top Social Artist Billboard Music Award for two years in a row now. With a whopping fifteen million followers on Twitter and their fame spreading everywhere throughout the world, their name is sure to turn eyes towards Incheon’s new campaign.
The airport’s promotional campaign is going to feature BT21, a group of eight animated characters representing the band members and their fans which were designed by BTS themselves. The campaign consists of eight mini-films highlighting different parts of the Incheon experience, from dining to relaxing. Considering that Incheon Airport includes amenities like a spa, a golf course, and an indoor skating rink, there’s plenty of material to go around.
The BT21 characters are also going to be featured on the airport luggage carts and have a shop dedicated to them, which will sell merchandise, clothing, and cosmetics from their collection. Similar stores were launched in Seoul, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and New York City last December, with 35,000 visits on opening day in NYC alone according to Billboard magazine.
“It’s a historic collaboration with the best names in the world,” said Incheon’s managing team, and one that is sure to appeal to every millennial passing through the airport.


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Broken Age 2 Delayed, Now Arriving Early 2015
Broken Age 2 fans will have to wait a little bit longer than originally expected for the game’s release. First anticipated to be out by late 2014, a posting on Broken Age’s official forums updated the game’s release date to early 2015.
Greg Rice of Double Fine Productions explained, “The game is looking really good and the team is working super fast, but we just gotta give the game the time it needs to really deliver on everything we’re hoping it will be.”
In his update on the Broken Age forum, Greg Rice also talked about how the development team on Broken Age Act 2 has grown substantially allowing them to work through Alpha testing for the game. Greg elaborated, “The goal now is to get all of the finale work done so we can hit Alpha on all of Act 2 by the end of the year. That means as you may have guessed based on recent updates and documentary episodes, the Act 2 will ship that will deliver the complete adventure is now looking like it will be early next year.”
Broken Age 2 is the second act of Broken Age that was released earlier this year. Gaming fans will remember the Double Fine Production bid to make Broken Age as being the second ever Kickstarter project to surpass the $1 million dollar mark back in early 2012. The game, which ultimately amassed an impressive $3.3 million dollars from Kickstarter backers, was split into two acts after delays from the original October 2012 release date put pressure on the studio.
With Broken Age Act 1 finally released nearly a year and a half later in January of this year, fans who purchased the Broken Age 1 or were among the countless people that funded the project on Kickstarter will be getting free copies of Act 2.


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When Carmin Moore measured the place she was renting against what she could afford to purchase at a new condo development in northwest Calgary, the decision was easy. She was ready to take her first step into home ownership.
Moore, who works as a co-ordinator for a non-profit agency in Calgary, bought a condo at Viridian in Sage Hill by Trico Communities.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“I had enough for a down payment and decided to go for it,” says Moore. She moved in to an 862-square-foot condo at the development last December.
She says the expenses are comparable.
“It’s basically the same price as when I was renting,” Moore says. “When I was renting (in the inner-city), it was an older condo and only had one bathroom. This is brand new and I got to choose everything and own it.”
Prices at Viridian span from the low $200,000s to the $280,000s. That’s an attainable range for many buyers, including people making their first purchase, says Trico’s sales manager, Ryan Murray.


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On Tuesday 31 January, the prestigious Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA) launched its 2023 award programme in a buzzing event at the Foundry Brewery Pub in Canterbury.
The event was attended by previous winners and finalists, Produced in Kent members and influential industry figures including lead judge and food broadcaster Nigel Barden.
Now in its 18th year, the TOKA celebrates the tastiest food and drink of Kent, shining a spotlight on the regions excellence in producing fine quality British produce.
This year the awards have introduced a new format, which means businesses can self-nominate and enter themselves. The entries are open now and close on the 28th February 2023.
The awards ceremony, taking place at the University of Kent on the 15th of June, is paired with a Taste of Kent Festival on the same day, open to the general public, with over 70 finalists promoting, sampling and selling their delicious food and drink products.
Floortje Hoette from Produced in Kent who run the awards explains, ‘I would urge all food and drink businesses in Kent to enter, from start ups to established businesses. The awards offer a unique opportunity to showcase the quality of the food and drink in Kent and can help elevate local businesses onto the national stage.”
A total of 28 categories are available this year, across four sub sections. There are 17 categories in the Taste /Product awards including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and everything from savoury to sweet. There are five categories in the Hospitality and Catering section, which incorporates categories such as food and drink markets, independent retailers, and street food experience of the year. There are a further three categories in the business section and three special awards.
Open to any food and drink business located in Kent and Medway, the awards are the longest-running, and most prestigious food and drink awards in the South East.
Nikki Causer, Head of Marketing of Southeastern and Head Sponsor adds.
“We’re extremely proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Taste of Kent Awards to celebrate the range of incredible products the region has to offer. Our passengers travel to Kent to explore the beautiful Garden of England and we’re proud to help them discover the fantastic variety of independent, local businesses across the county.”
Other sponsors include: The University of Kent, Brachers, Crowe UK, EKC Group, NFU Mutual Ashford Tenterden & Whitfield, Oxbury, Shepherd Neame and Southern Co-op
Key Dates Taste of Kent Awards 2023
- Entries open 1st February 2023
- Entries close 28th February 2023
- Judging March – May 2023
- Finalists announced May 2023
- Taste of Kent Festival and Awards Ceremony 15th June 2023
To enter go to https://tasteofkentawards.co.uk
Entries are £20 +Vat for PinK members and £45 + Vat for non-members.
Pictured: TOKA head judge Nigel Barden


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According to documents filed the California Air Resource Board, it seems Indian is planning a new model called the Chief Dark Horse.
The documents (found here), show the bike is planned as a 2016 model. That means we’ll likely see it officially unveiled sometime this summer. Also interesting is that the bike is listed as being 10 kg lighter than a standard Chief Classic or Chief Vintage, with a listed “equivalent inertial mass” of 470 kg – the other bikes come in at 480 kg (that isn’t a wet weight/dry weight figure; the Chief Classic weighs 370 kg wet, and the Chief Vintage weighs 379 kg wet).
So what do all these assorted bits of information indicate? It seems Indian is going the route Victory and Harley-Davidson and most of the Japanese competition have already traveled so well. In order to drop prices, they’ll likely give a cruiser the “blacked-out” look, slathering it in matte black paint. And this is just a guess, but seeing that it’s apparently going to be lighter, we’d guess the bike will get a bit of a bob job – Harley-Davidson and Victory already make factory bobbers, and it’s likely Indian will follow suit.


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Machine Makes Water From Air
AquaVentus is designed for disaster. The cost: $2,250.
The AquaVentus unit can suck up to 20 gallons of water from the humidity outside. It will go on sale next year for $2,250.
The St. Petersburg company makes a compact refrigeration unit that produces 20 gallons of clean, drinkable water a day by wringing the humidity out of air. The unit is the size of a large cooler and can be powered by electricity, a generator or solar power.
For now, the company is focusing on selling in the Southeast U.S., the Caribbean and the South Pacific. But the mini-waterworks will work in areas where the relative humidity is as low as 40%, including coastal California and just about anywhere east of the Mississippi River, says James Hill, founder of AquaVentus.
AquaVentus also sees disaster preparedness organizations as potential customers. During natural disasters, the need for clean water is often more important than the need for power. Orders to boil water were issued in much of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties after Hurricane Wilma in 2005, for example. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that Hurricane Katrina affected more than 1,220 water utility systems.
Marine Desalination Systems in St. Petersburg — which had a licensing agreement with AquaVentus — developed the air-to-water technology with help from a $1.87-million grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research after Sept. 11. The research group is working on two additional projects that will be used for a five- to 10-gallon version and a 100-gallon version.
AquaVentus will start selling its 20-gallon unit next year for $2,250. It hopes to be able to sell the 10-gallon unit for less than $1,000. The company plans to sell its units through a network of generator dealers. It projects sales of a little less than $1 million in 2009 and $5.7 million in 2010. Hill is looking for $2.5 million in investment capital to ramp up manufacturing, sales and marketing and to beef up the management team.
While the AquaVentus is designed to be used outdoors, a number of companies, including Fort Lauderdale-based WaterPure International, are marketing “atmospheric water generators” for use indoors. Units are plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet. They look similar to soft-drink vending machines. A reservoir holds approximately four to eight gallons of water.


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Welcome to Ilus. Amazon has revealed the official trailer for The Expanse Season 4, and it looks like the crew of the Rocinante are in for a costly battle when they arrive at the first resource-rich planet beyond the Ring Gate.
As the trailer reveals, Jim Holden (Steven Strait) and the rest of the crew will be sent by Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) to follow up on a failed United Nations mission to explore this Earth-like planet, which is now known as New Terra to the Belter refugees who've claimed it as their home. Upon arrival, the team finds that the long-gone alien civilization which once occupied the area isn't quite dead; their artifacts are now "waking up," which complicates things even further as the rush to colonize new planets by Earthers, Martians, and the Belters remains in full swing.
Season 4 will adaptCibola Burn, the fourth book in James S.A. Corey's book series upon which The Expanse is based. It will be The Expanse's debut as an Amazon Original, after the series was rescued from cancellation with an announcement by CEO Jeff Bezos himself, a fan of the sci-fi series. The show has already been renewed for Season 5.
The Expanse Season 4 will premiere on Amazon on Friday, Dec. 13. The first three seasons are currently available on Amazon Prime.


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Amazon.com Inc. said Thursday that it earned $239 million, or 51 cents per share, in the October-December period. Thatís up from $97 million, or 21 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.
Seattle-based Amazon said that its revenue grew 20 percent in the fourth quarter, to $25.59 billion from $21.27 billion.
FactSet said analysts were expecting earnings of 74 cents per share on revenue of $26.05 billion.
For the current quarter, Amazon is forecasting revenue of $18.2 billion and $19.9 billion. Analysts expect $19.67 billion.
Amazonís stock is down 10 percent in extended trading.
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Panasonic quits analogue telly
If you’ve been cowering in your lounge, petrified of the digital revolution, we’ve got some bad news – Panasonic has become the first major TV manufac
If you’ve been cowering in your lounge, petrified of the digital revolution, we’ve got some bad news – Panasonic has become the first major TV manufacturer to put an end to its analogue manufacturing.
Matsushita Electronic, of which Panny is the brand name, will stop developing analogue from next month and will channel all its telly energies into the digital market.
The news is hardly shocking considering the mushrooming popularity of digital, although according to its reports around a third of Panasonic’s sales are still of the analogue variety.
The UK’s switch off of the old school medium may not be until 2012, but the next-gen revolution will move up a gear this year with the launch of high-def broadcasts from Sky and the BBC.
Besides, Panasonic doesn’t want to get sidetracked making stone age tech when it could be concentrating on making 103in, HD-ready sets like the one unveiled at CES. It’s also just announced plans to build the world’s largest plasma display plant in Japan.
With Konica Minolta and Nikon both scaling down their traditional film camera operations, there’s clearly no room for sentiment in this brutal tech world.
If the news has sufficiently panicked you into getting a new TV, head over to Panasonic’s website here for info on their fine range.


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In a little over two hours, Samsung will take the stage at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, not to launch a phone as it usually does but to unveil the new Galaxy Tab S3, the Galaxy Book, and a new Gear VR with a controller. That’s not to say there won’t be anything about a phone, as Samsung will tell us exactly when it will take the wraps off the Galaxy S8.
As usual, Samsung will be streaming its event live for everyone to see, and you can view the event on Samsung’s official website and on YouTube. Things kick off at 7 PM CET (10 AM PT).
The event should also be made available on YouTube at some point, but right now Samsung is only offering a view on its website. We will be bringing you live updates from the event and a slew of coverage later today and over the coming days, so make sure to keep it right here at SamMobile (and our Twitter channel) for all the scoop about everything the Korean giant is about to launch.


text: Lunar New Year tradition was turned on its head yesterday with lai see packets filled with bitcoin coupons instead of cash being handed out to the public. In the biggest bitcoin giveaway in the world, 50,000 red packets are being distributed all over Hong Kong. But people thinking they have struck it rich will be disappointed. The roughly 20,000 red packets distributed so far are worth HK$10 each, a fraction of the cost of one bitcoin. Watch: HK$500,000 giveaway... in Bitcoin Organisers still have 30,000 packets left that are up for grabs today at the International Finance Centre and Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Times Square and Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, The One shopping complex on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wan Chai MTR and Mong Kok MTR stations. Hong Kong's largest bitcoin exchange ANX, which is behind the stunt, is hoping people will use bitcoins and spur a wider take up of the controversial digital currency. "We are trying to help the eco-system," said Lo Ken-bon, the company's founder and managing director. "One of the biggest issues is the adoption of it because it's too complicated for most mainstream users - we are trying to get them started as easily as possible. We've got a lot of people talking about bitcoin already, and more are very excited and curious." The current price of bitcoin stands at HK$6,170 on the ANX exchange. As people rushed to grab lai see packets, initially thinking there was cash inside, a few shook their heads on finding coupons, clearly vague about the concept. "I've heard of it on the news," said Maria Pang. "You can use it to purchase something, use it like money … they said it is something like an online coupon." Australian tourist Marley Hawke said he heard about it on the internet. Asked if bitcoin interested him, Hawke said: "Not until I find out more about it … I've only heard [of] the name, and that's the first step isn't it, getting the name out there?" Bitcoin has caused a split among governments, with the mainland's central bank cracking down on its use as the value soared, along with India and Indonesia. However, Singapore and Switzerland have embraced the digital currency by taxing it.