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In celebration of its landmark 300th episode, Martin Garrix's radio show is expanding to YouTube. Prior to the announcement, Garrix's preeminent "Martin Garrix Radio" was available via Apple Podcasts and Mixcloud.
The barnstorming EDM wunderkind took to Instagram to share the news.
According to a press release issued to announce the expansion, the addition of YouTube will give the show an extra dimension due to the infusion of "accompanying live footage of Garrix to enhance the listener's experience even more."
The Chainsmokers To Share Stake In Album Royalties With 5,000 Of Their Biggest Fans
The "iPad" producers are partnering up with 3LAU's Royal to make it happen.
PEEKABOO Unites With Caspa For Brain-Melting Collaboration, “RELOAD”
The massive release comes just before PEEKABOO embarks on his Hide & Seek Tour.
Revisiting Daft Punk's "Silhouette" iPod Ad: May Its Memory Never Die
The Robots' song "Technologic" was featured in a 2005 iPod ad and kicked off a longstanding tradition of electronic music in Apple ads.
With over 63 million weekly listeners, Garrix's ubiquitous flagship radio program, which launched back in 2014, is one of the most popular electronic dance music mix shows in the world. Spanning across 83 major radio stations in 47 territories, the show's immense reach is undeniable, and Garrix consistently utilizes it to share his favorite tunes as well as unreleased music from his STMPD RCRDS imprint.
You can listen to the latest episode of "Martin Garrix Radio" in full below.


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Austrian supplier of gaming technology Novomatic AG says it is introducing a new electronic gaming machine cabinet called the V.I.P. Eagle III 3.32. Novomatic issued a statement last week to announce the new product.
The V.I.P. Eagle III 3.32 will go on display at the ICE 2019 trade exhibition, which is due to open in London on February 5.
A Novomatic spokesman told GGRAsia the V.I.P. Eagle III 3.32 would be available in Asia.
The company’s statement said the new cabinet will run games in the Novo Line Interactive Edition X and Impera Line HD Edition 6 mixes. The product combines upright and slant-top cabinet design, has 32-inch game screens and a 27-inch TouchDeck slant, complemented by extra-wide LED effects.
Novomatic and more than 20 of its subsidiaries will be showing their wares at ICE 2019, the company said.
Novomatic said last month it was an important contributor to the facilities at the new Corona Resort and Casino on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc. The company said it had supplied the establishment with a range of gaming terminals, a casino management system and media technology for its casino floor.
Apr 24, 2019Two Philippine firms linked to the City of Dreams Manila casino resort issued on Wednesday clarifications on commentary this week – that had been reported by local media – suggesting the...
"As [Summit Ascent Holdings] is going to develop phase two of the Tiger de Cristal project, it is the right time for the company to increase its stake… such that the company can have more influence on the development of phase two"
Hong Kong-listed gaming investor Suncity Group Holdings

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This, of course, is in part the problem of Zimbabwe, though far more damage was done to Zimbabwe's agriculture and economy by its own government.
Hat-tip to Monte Asbury.
the United States and the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, all of which we, the United States, dominate, have for the last twenty-five, thirty years have insisted that in order to get the loans, which Haiti and these other countries, agricultural countries, need,
Haiti had to change their economic system so that their country was open to competition from other countries on agriculture
thirty years ago, Haiti imported almost no rice, was an exporter of sugar and other things. Today, Haiti imports nearly all of its rice.
rice from the United States
at low or below cost—
and destroyed the ability of farmers in Haiti to be able to grow rice. And as a consequence, the country now depends totally on imported rice. Cost of import—cost of rice around the world has gone up over 100 percent since January.
the people of the United States have no idea that
our government has destroyed not just Haiti, but the agricultural bases of lots and lots of very poor countries


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For the second year, Breckenridge Distillery – the most-awarded craft distillery in the U.S. – has teamed up with the Denver Broncos to release two new Broncos Bourbon Blends to kick off the season. As the Official Bourbon of the Denver Broncos, Breckenridge Distillery invited Broncos alumni Jake Plummer and Karl Mecklenburg up to Breckenridge to see who can blend the better bourbon. Plummer teamed up with Head Distiller, Hans Stafsholt, while Mecklenburg was paired with founder and CEO of the Distillery, Bryan Nolt, to create the blue and orange blends respectively. The labels of both blends honor the Mile High era of the Denver Broncos, with the team’s 1962 logo.
“Last year we released our first collaboration with the Denver Broncos, and the Broncos Bourbon Blends were not only a hit with our Colorado fans, but whiskey fans as well,” says Nolt. “We’re so excited to continue our partnership with the Broncos and bring Broncos and whiskey fans across the country our latest release of the Mile High Blends to enjoy this season.”
The first collaboration of the series, the 2021 Champions Blend, garnered recognition in the whiskey world by being named Best American Blended Whiskey, Limited Release and Highly Commended, Campaign Innovator of the Year by Whisky Magazine at the World Whiskies Awards.
Plummer’s blend takes a more restrained approach with elegant aromas of honeycrisp apple and Valencia oranges with pleasant creamy quality that waltzes into a honey blossom white pepper finish.
Mecklenburg’s Orange blend is characterized by hedonistic heady burnt citrus, brown sugar, and cherry smoke spicy notes that taper off into a racy light black pepper finish.
Breckenridge Distillery was founded in 2008 when Nolt, a doctor-turned-distiller, decided to turn his whiskey passion into a business. By forming Breckenridge Distillery, Nolt’s goal was largely to better understand and appreciate the craft of creating a quality spirit loved by so many.
Breckenridge Distillery’s original offering of Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey has since made strides in the spirits world, scoring 96 points—one point above Pappy Van Winkle’s 23-year-old bourbon—at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in New York City in 2012 and winning the World Whiskies Awards Best American Blended in 2016. The Distillery went on to win the Icons of Whisky America for Brand Innovator of the Year in 2018. Today, Breckenridge Distillery is the one of the most awarded craft distillery in the U.S. offering a lineup of award-winning spirits including whiskey, gin and vodka.
Visitors come to Breckenridge Distillery to experience their award-winning spirits at new heights. From distillery tours to complimentary tastings to a whiskey blending lab and their modern-American steakhouse restaurant, fans of the distillery have opportunity to tour and taste spirits from start to finish.
To learn more about Breckenridge Distillery and where to buy its award-winning spirits, visit breckenridgedistillery.com.


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For many retail investors, early 2021 indicated that the most lucrative side hustle to be found was only a few thumb flips and a blast of confetti away. All one seemingly had to do was head to the r/wallstreetbets Subreddit, take a look at what the masses of fellow retailer investors were high on that day, and hit buy on their Robinhood App.
The fervor for stock buying dwindled by summer, and attention had shifted to surging cryptos. When Bitcoin rose above $65,000 in November, social media was flooded with screenshots of investment portfolios showing massive gains.
Cut to the bear market of Fall, 2022 and Bitcoin has been asleep, hovering around $20k. Without the hype of Robinhood Subreddits and a Bitcoin bull run, retail investors are turning to side hustles to earn extra cash.
To better understand how they’re coping with 2022’s economic downturn, Snackable Solutions surveyed 1,000 American retail investors in October 2022. The survey found that 34% of retail investors started side-hustling during the pandemic. Additionally, 24% more started side hustling in the last year.At a Glance…
- 77% Pandemic Retail Investors Seek Traditional Side Hustles For Additional Income
- 2 In 5 Retail Investors Started Trading During the Pandemic Lockdowns
- Flexibility at Home During COVID-19 Lockdowns Empowered Women To Invest
- 39% Of Retail Investors Reselling Goods Online for Additional Income
- 53% Of Liberals See Partial Economic Recovery; Conservatives Disagree
Pandemic Investors turn to side hustles
The Snackable Solutions survey showed that many Americans who joined the investing frenzy during the pandemic are now pursuing side hustles for an additional source of income. Seventy percent of retail investors who started investing during the pandemic say they have an additional source of income. Of these retail investors, 1 in 3 say they are working a second full-time job for more income. Others said they are working a part-time job/side hustle at 23%, or multiple side hustles at 21%.“Side hustles have always been around as a way to earn extra income. There’s always a consideration when starting a side hustle, as sometimes the old adage of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ starts to play true when someone stops innovating in their primary career. However, there have been many side hustles that were started in the pandemic that resulted in thriving entrepreneurial businesses.”Moshe Fishman, Director of InsurTech, RELI Exchange (NASDAQ: RELI)Financial Benefits, Flexibility are Top Motivators for Side Hustle
At 61%, financial benefits is the top motivator for side hustle(s) among pandemic retail investors. The potential for more flexibility is the second biggest motivator at 45%. Among genders, the top motivator is financial benefits for both men (63%) and women (58%). The runner-up is the potential for more flexibility (men 44% and women 45%).
Financial benefits are a top motivator within all age groups. Of 18-24-year-olds and 35-44 year-olds are motivated this most by money, with 69% of both age groups selecting it. Pandemic retail investors that are between the 25-34 (58%), 54% of 45-54 year-olds and 53% of those 55 and up said financial benefits are their top motivator for taking on a side hustle.
The older generation (54+) said their second motivator is to turn their passion to profit at 47%. The youngest (18-25) said learning new skills and more flexibility are among their top motivators (45%).
Michael Mulder, a retail investor makes his living as an account analyst for an insurance company. In the past, he served as the president of his university’s Investment club, which had about $250,000 in assets. According to Mulder, his investment strategy changed because of the pandemic lockdowns.“Prior to COVID, I made investments regularly, and put my money into the stock market quickly. Since COVID, I held off, expecting innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. I don’t think that materialized, and we’re going to hit a recession. I haven’t made any new investments recently because I’m hoping there will be opportunities at the end of all of this.”Michael Mulder, Retail Investor39% Of Retail Investors Reselling Products for Additional Income
Among all retail investors, reselling products online is the most popular side hustle with 39% selecting this option. The runner-up is creative freelance work at 29%.
Although side hustles are popular, many people have other things occupying their free time. Mulder coaches a school sports team and engages in volunteer work.
Mulder supports the sales team at his company, and said that his perceptions about working on a team changed also, as a direct result of the changes in the way he and his team worked, due to the COVID lockdowns.“Prior to the pandemic, I saw myself as part of the team. Now that I’m working from home, I question how valuable being on a team really is. I feel like I’m on an island, away from my colleagues.”Michael Mulder, Retail Investor41% Of Pandemic Retail Investors Reselling for Additional Income
Among retail investors who started investing during the pandemic (1-3 years), 41% have chosen to resell as their main side hustle. Creating and selling goods online as well as freelance creative work are retail investors’ second choices.
Type of Side Hustles
The majority of pandemic retail investors are choosing to resell as a second source of income except those who earn $150,000 or more per year. They turn to renting out their living space and/or freelancing technical work as their side hustle.“It used to be that eBay was the dominant platform for reselling. Now people perform arbitrage between eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and wherever they can find used goods. Reselling on social media has become a cultural norm. It’s ironic that Web2 platforms are driving users back to traditional side hustles like selling used merch. I expect we’ll see this trend continue as Web3 becomes a more dominant force in the way we communicate and connect with others.”Dennis Consorte, Digital Marketing and Startup Consultant, and the Host of Snackable SolutionsLiberals Fear Layoff, Conservatives Fear Bear Market
Conservatives, liberals, libertarians, and other independents finally agreed on one thing when the pandemic hit—it was time to start a side hustle. The ideological camps also agree on the best way to do so, with the plurality of all three selecting reselling the most.“A side hustle is a good idea for two separate reasons. A more progressive person will think they’re sticking it to big business, where a more conservative person will think they’re picking themselves up by their bootstraps. Even though the reasons differ, both sides value independence.”Larry Sharpe, Business Consultant for The Neo-Sage Group and host of The Sharpe Way show
Of retail investors who started investing during the pandemic, liberals fear layoffs the most with 37% selecting this. Comparatively, conservatives fear a bear market more at 33%.54% of Liberals See Partial Economic Recovery; Conservatives Disagree
Recession or Recovery
Over half of liberal retail investors, who’ve been investing for 1-3 years, believe by 2024 the economy will be partially recovered. Comparatively, 42% of pandemic investing conservatives disagree. Rather, conservatives believe by 2024 there will be a recession/depression at 42%. Of libertarians, 41% believe there will be a recession/depression and 44% believe the economy will be partially recovered.29% of Retail Investors Manage Less Than $5k
Amount in Stock Market
The Snackable Solutions survey found that 29% of retail investors manage a portfolio of $5,000 or less. And despite all the six-digit portfolio screenshots in 2021, the survey revealed that only 11% had $100,000 in their portfolio.
Allan Rosenthal, PhD is the Principal Partner at Micaddan Marketing Consultants, a full service Investors Relations firm currently working in coordination with Quantum Media of New York City. He saw the use of stimulus money in the market as a wasted opportunity, where short-term gains got in the way of long-term thinking and a potential rise in new businesses.
“During the pandemic, many potential investors found themselves home because offices across the country were closed. In addition, the Federal Government provided unprecedented monetary stimulus in the form of at least three sets of checks sent to families across the country. Lastly, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates to effectively zero providing unprecedented access to ‘free’ capital and liquidity.
“While most people who received stimulus checks used the proceeds to pay down debt, and make investments into the stock market, very few people thought it was a good time to start their own business. Obviously, it takes long term thinking to start and grow a business and given the returns investors were seeing, it’s not surprising to see most of that money finding its way into the stock market or the cryptocurrency market.
“Imagine the surge in new ideas and small businesses that would have started had the stimulus money been used by investing long term in a personal business. I think this is one of the most understated things that occurred during the pandemic and many people who could have started their own business are probably upset with themselves for not doing so.”Allan Rosenthal, PhD, Principal Partner, Micaddan Marketing Consultants, LLC2 In 5 Retail Investors Started Trading During Pandemic
Investing for 1-3 years
Many retail investors took advantage of the market crash during the pandemic with the majority of retail investors (40%) saying they’ve been investing for 1-3 years. One in four retail investors said they’ve been trading for 4-5 years and 16% for 10 or more years. Those who’ve invested for less than a year and between 6-9 years are the lowest at 10% and 9%, respectively.“The pandemic put a sunset on business in March 2020 coinciding with the falling stock market. After the initial shock of life turning on its head, people slowly became productive in a remote environment. With some extra time on their hands people that never played the stock market started buying some stocks that they ‘felt’ made sense. The good news was that coming out of the pandemic almost everything went up.”Moshe Fishman, Director of InsurTech, RELI Exchange (NASDAQ: RELI)
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) of retail investors who started during the pandemic are between the ages of 25-34. Close behind are those ages 35-44 at 26% and 18-24-year-olds at 25%.“The performance of the stock market during the pandemic bought many novice investors/traders to the stock market. In an age of ‘make money quick,’ such investors found that the most volatile and risky parts of the market gained MUCH more attention typically found in times of record investment into the stock market. Even financial TV such as CNBC were routinely bringing guests on that were recommending extremely risky stocks. History has suggested that when this happens, stock market bubbles occur, and the people hurt the worst are the ones looking for a very fast return on their money. Most if not all of the money such investors used in the stock market has probably been lost and then some.”Allan Rosenthal, PhD, Principal Partner, Micaddan Marketing Consultants, LLCPandemic Empowered Women To Invest
The pandemic may have brought bouts of fear but it also encouraged women to look at other avenues for earning a little more cash.
Forty-six percent of retail investors who started investing during the pandemic are women and 31% of these women age 25-34. Gen X women aren’t far behind with 26% of them starting to invest in the last 1-3 years.
In addition to the 46% of women who started investing during the pandemic, 11% of women say they’ve been investing for less than a year. This is a large increase in women investing within 1-3 years compared to men. Of men, 35% say they started investing during the pandemic and only 10% say they have been investing for less than a year.“We have been hearing how the pandemic brought women into the investment community. This seems pretty natural to me that when 100% of the world is in their home and communicating through digital means, you lose all stereotyping for gender, race etc. You’ve likely read many times that Wall Street has long been dominated by Men. The level playing field created in the pandemic naturally brought many women into the investing community.”Moshe Fishman, Director of InsurTech, RELI Exchange (NASDAQ: RELI)Methodology
All data in this report was collected using the online survey platform, Pollfish, and commissioned by Snackable Solutions. A total of 1,000 American retail investors who manage their own portfolios were included according to Pollfish’s algorithm and screening methodology, with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 3% on the total US population. Results for individual states will vary. The survey was conducted on October 16, 2022. All respondents were asked to answer all questions truthfully and to the best of their abilities. This survey, and data story were developed by Brand Boba.
For full survey data or to interview one of our experts, please email email@example.com.


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Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system has had a difficult journey since its launch. Steve Sinofsky predicted that the new OS would have a rocky start before consumers ultimately embraced it, but a year on from its release, it still pales in comparison to its far more popular predecessor, Windows 7.
Now a chart from Statista (based on data from Net Applications) draws some stark writing on the wall for Windows 8, which was supposed to be the future of Microsoft's platform strategy. The new operating system is being used by only 9.3% of the computing market. In comparison, Windows 7, which launched in October 2009, was twice as popular 12 months after launch.
Worrying for Microsoft
Windows 7 took only a few months to surpass 10% market share and reach 20% at the close of its first year. In comparison, Windows 8 has started slowly and continued to grow slowly, and, despite a small increase in sales over the summer, appears to have plateaued in recent months. It took the new platform more than half a year to reach just 5% adoption.
Perhaps more worrying for Microsoft, however, is another report from Net Applications which gave Windows 8 a market growth of 0.05% while Windows 7's growth was a far bigger at 0.22%. Essentially, Windows 8 is actually being outsold by its 4-year old predecessor, despite Microsoft actively spreading the OS's 'look and feel' to other platforms such as the Xbox and Windows Phone.
Of course, the numbers don't necessarily foretell the doom of Windows 8. Microsoft will be hoping that Christmas and holiday sales of devices supporting that platform will drive its market share up into more healthy figures. It seems, however, that Microsoft's user base overwhelmingly shown its preference for Windows 7, the company's tried-and-trusted stalwart.
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Cyber criminals are seeking to capitalize on remote learning by targeting people of schools, universities and research centers who log-in from home using their personal devices.
Amid the pandemic, PLDT and Smart have ramped up their employee wellness campaigns, which include mental health talk series, entertainment series and various engagement efforts.
PLDT ensures good customer experience as Filipinos continue to rely on fast and reliable connectivity for their daily transactions.
Addressing the need to empower educators, one million public school teachers will get the data connectivity they need.
The Bureau of Internal Revenues issued a memorandum “reminding” so-called social media influencers to pay their taxes.
Announce partnership for studying commercial potential, aiming to contribute to sustainable society by supporting efficient use of limited spectrum resources.
The Infinix NOTE 10 Pro is the first smartphone in the Philippines to have a MediaTek Helio G90T with 8GB RAM storage under P10,000.
HyperX Days Promotion is coming, offering plenty of great deals for numerous gaming gears you won’t want to miss out on.
Smart won the Fastest Mobile Network Award with a Speed Score of 44.70, a big leap from previous year where Speed Score was at 24.99.
Globe’s latest venture is to make 5G more accessible and affordable with these latest promo offers as well as an expansive list of 5G devices and mobile handsets.


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This particular 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus has a unique story, as previous owners implemented engine swap from gas to electric. The new owner, however, decided to restore it with a gas-powered engine once again - and what a project it turned out to be.
Bring a Trailer received the bus in March 2021, acquired as a non-running electric vehicle project - and the current owner removed the electric drivetrain in favor of a 1,750cc flat-four engine with a four-speed manual transaxle. The engine has dual carburetors and a fuel system and engine bay sheet metal was added.
The dashboard instrumentation includes a speedometer with 80-mph max, fuel gauge, analog clock, and an odometer reading 63 miles - actual total mileage remains a mystery.
Previous changes include a new front windshield with replacement window seals, window latches, body hardware, and weatherstripping on the doors.
The Freeway Flyer four-speed manual transaxle power to the rear wheels - and the previous owner replaced the clutch, shift bushings, and front shift rod last year.
The modified 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus reportedly sold for $55,000 on November 17. The new owner also gets the non-running electric drivetrain as part of the deal.
The bus in action:


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2015 Mitsubishi Pajero facelift launched at approx. Rs 17 lakhs in Japan
2015 Mitsubishi Pajero facelift with modifications to its exterior and interior has been launched in Japan. Now in its eighth year, this fourth generation Pajero get a bolder and better stance, though engine specifications are carried forward to this model year.
2015 Mitsubishi Pajero will be offered in three variants to include VRII, Exceed and Super Exceed and is already on sale in Japan with prices starting from ¥2,921,400 (Rs 17.33 lakhs).
Exterior updates seen on 2015 Pajero SUV include LED Daytime Running Lights, a new bumper and grille, while interiors will boast of minor but exclusive changes to include metallic trim and additional sound insulation material with piano black highlights.
As far as India is concerned, Mitsubishi’s operations in India are not exactly at full steam forward. In India they have just one model on offer, the Pajero Sport which is being offered with manual gearbox. Later this year, the company promises launch of an automatic transmission variant which is assembled at the HM Plant in Tiruvallur near Chennai.
Email - [email protected]


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EDERNA finalist for the World Food Innovation Awards 2018
EDERNA is pleased to announce its finalist position in the Best Ingredient category of FoodBev Media’s 2018 World Food Innovation Awards.
Presented this year at Hotelympia – the UK’s market leading hospitality and foodservice event – in London, the World Food Innovation Awards, organized by FoodBev Media, are designed to celebrate excellence and innovation across every category of the global food industry.
EDERNA presented this year its innovative product, the COFFEOS™ Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate (more info to come).
The expert judging panel analysed over 250 entries from 26 countries in 20 categories. The winners will be revealed as part of a special ceremony at Hotelympia on 7 March 2018.
Learn more via this link.


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The company who also built the very successful platform AdZookie and is known as an “Unconventional Marketing Company” have started paying people’s mortgages for them in exchange for home owners letting them paint their house bright colours and advertise brands on them.
The Creative Collective say they plan to feature various industry experts over the series and will continue to use a range of learning methods during the sessions to ensure participants remain engaged and focused.
We all have ideas. But the thing with ideas is, they are worth nothing until we start acting on them. The number one rule that gets in the road of developing an idea is skills. However, a new app that launches today is set to change the way entrepreneurs, consultants and angel investors connect globally with each other.
Join over 300 other Entrepreneurs and Network and learn in one of the biggest Under 35’s events for 2012 on the startup scene.
We are looking for a minimum of three startup and small business superstars, to join Angela and Mat when they take back to the air waves in the coming weeks on the Eagle Startups Radio Program!


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Indoor ice skating rink coming to Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights
A synthetic ice rink, food trucks, and art installations are headed to Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights this spring, according to the mall’s new owner.
The rink, which will use artificial ice, will be located in the mall's center court allowing for year-round skating, said spokeswoman Ashley Spitz of Miami-based real estate development firm Lionheart Capital. Mall-goers will be able to rent the rink for private parties and enroll children in skating lessons.
“We are thrilled to be bringing an ice skating rink to Lakeside,” Lakeside Mall manager Jerry Weller said in a news release. “This will definitely create a new fun experience to the mall and we hope the Sterling Heights community is as enthusiastic as we are.”
The mall is enlisting the help of graffiti artists to liven up white spaces in the shopping center with murals and galleries, according to the release. It will also conduct art workshops for children and teenage mall-goers.
More: Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights sold, new owner plans to expand beyond retail
Gallery:Inside the new Sterling Heights Community Center
“The city created its 2030 Vision with a focus on place making, public art, and abundant recreational opportunities for all residents,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor in a statement. “It is exciting to see that Out of the Box Ventures shares the same values as the City and is committed to creating unique experiences at Lakeside Mall during this transition period.”
Lakeside Mall will also host its first food truck and pop-up market late this spring with a selection of local food vendors and artisans from Sterling Heights and Detroit.
Lakeside Mall was sold in December for $26.5 million to Out of the Box Ventures, a subsidiary of Lionheart Capital.
Contact Miriam Marini: email@example.com


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IoT is a tricky subject. On the one hand, IoT has essentially transformed industries around the world in a matter of a few years, from automating basic household tasks, like monitoring your home’s internal temperature, to large-scale enterprise applications such as integrating IoT technology to create “smart cities“.
On the other hand, because IoT has transformed our lives so quickly, IoT device manufacturers have largely overlooked key aspects such as IoT security, leaving many enterprise organizations at major risks from hackers who see a unique opportunity to quickly and easily access organizational data that isn’t as secure as it should be because of lax IoT security regulations and standards.
This, however, will have to change as 96% of IT professionals expect to see a breach within their IoT devices and technology this year. And that’s not an irrational thought given that 2016 already saw one of the largest cyber security attacks involving IoT devices when Dyn was attacked late last year.
Luckily, a spate of new IoT technologies is already being rolled out, which should help curb some of the cyber attacks that many IT professionals are anxiously awaiting. Here are five IoT security technologies that you should know about from TechRadar’s 2017 Q1 IoT Security report.
1. IoT Encryption – Encrypting data that’s at rest or in transit might seem like a fairly simple and commonplace technology. However, the wide variety of IoT devices that exist means that standard encryption protocols and processes are fairly limited. There are some enterprise vendors, however, that are working to create more IoT encryption standards that can be used in future IoT devices.
2. IoT API Security – Because many IoT devices need to transfer data between consumer facing apps, back-end systems, and the physical device, there’s a serious need for strong IoT API security. Luckily, companies that are on the forefront of IoT technology and want to move further into the enterprise space, like Google, are focusing heavily on IoT API security.
3. IoT Authentication – Authenticating IoT devices is a big step in improving IoT security. The issue that complicates it is that instead of authenticating say, a person, using a mobile banking app, you’ve got a physical device component that needs to be authenticated. Taking out the human element and working on machine to machine authentication requires switching up standard authentication measures, but there are a handful of companies working on making this better.
4. IoT Network Security – Network security for IoT devices is going to become standard as physical devices will need to securely communicate with backend systems and applications. There are, however, a wider range of communication protocols that are used with IoT technology, which creates a more complex environment than standard network security.
5. IoT PKI – A PKI (or Public Key Infrastructure) is obviously an important component of IoT security, as there needs to be some way to create, manage, and store digital certificates and public key encryption. As with most other IoT security, there are some challenges, such as the fact that many IoT devices weren’t built to be PKI compatible. However, moving forward, having a standard process for integrating and utilizing PKI will help improve overall IoT security.


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Founded in the midst of the first Industrial Revolution 180 years ago, Schneider Electric initially focused on the steel and machine industry. In 1891, the company entered the nascent electricity market and over the next 100 years specialized in selling products for energy management, electrical distribution and building automation.
Today, Schneider Electric is becoming a services company. The France-based firm generates 40 percent percent of its revenues by selling a suite of value-added services to its clients alongside its products, spanning from energy efficiency solutions to strategic energy sourcing, to industrial cybersecurity. That’s up from 10 percent in 2009.
Schneider is not alone in focusing on services. Seventy-four percent of manufacturers expect data driven-services will be their primary revenue source within 10 years, according to the Salesforce Research “Customer Service in Manufacturing” report.
This represents a sea change in manufacturing, driven by advances in cloud, social, mobile, internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. By 2020, there will be 40 billion IoT-connected devices in the world sending trillions of signals daily into the cloud, according to Gartner. Yet, behind every one of those products, sensors and signals is a customer.
Manufacturers today know far more about their customers — and how they use their products — than ever before. The smarter ones are using that data to drive meaningful value and competitive edge by moving from providing services to predictive services.
For example, connected sensors on Schneider Electric’s power distribution components transmit data on product usage and status. That data highlights when components need servicing and allows the company to preemptively replace them, avoiding expensive periods of downtime for customers. Those sensors can also identify inefficiencies across a plant, giving valuable suggestions on how clients can better run their operations.
“For a company like us, it's a revolution. We used to do just energy distribution. Now we are speaking about saving and sharing energy. We are tackling the efficiency of buildings. We are bringing predictive maintenance capabilities so that our customers don't have to suffer problems.” - Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO and Chairman, Schneider Electric
There’s a similar revolution underway at General Electric, where the aviation division’s jet engines now come equipped with smart sensors that allow the company to track important aircraft data throughout a flight. The company pairs that flight data with navigation and weather information to help clients cut fuel consumption, reducing an operating expense that makes up about 30 percent of an airline’s costs.
Yet, the scope and scale of the services revolution in manufacturing is not limited to B2B companies. In the consumer goods space, data enables manufacturers to add service offerings to products. Dutch giant Philips is connecting an ever-increasing number of its consumer products to the cloud with smart IoT sensors. The data generated means researchers can design products that more effectively meet customer needs, and over time add services offerings that lead to a longer, deeper relationship with customers.
An interesting example: Philips introduced a “smart toothbrush” that tracks how you’re brushing your teeth. The company then uses that data to give advice on brushing technique, provide progress reports and remind you to replace your toothbrush head.
“We’ve already connected lamps, air purifiers, coffee machines, toothbrushes and more...In the past, we built products that were self-contained, but now these products become plug-ins for digital solutions” - Jeroen Tas, CEO Informatics Solutions and Services, Philips Healthcare
Providing a Service? Focus on the Customer
Regardless of the company, product type or customer, there’s one common truth: In moving from selling products to providing services, manufacturers are using data to build a more direct relationship with customers. This is not a technological challenge — adding connected sensors to products is a well-trodden path — but rather an organizational one. The real issue is shifting the mindset of an entire business from focusing on making products to connecting with customers.
In this the age of the customer, the new currency for success is creating a deeper, more high-fidelity relationship with each customer.
It’s a challenging time to make the switch, but there is no going back to the days when the key focus was plant efficiency and driving down costs. In industries as varied as travel, finance and healthcare, disruptive new market entrants are offering alternatives to incumbents that provide a more personalized, cheaper and responsive customer experience.
For example, Lyft and Uber offer customers the same underlying service as a taxi cab, but often with a shorter wait time and lower fares. They have no fleet upkeep or driver overhead. At Warby Parker, customers pick from a tailored selection of glasses online, try them on and purchase the pair they want — all without leaving home, and for a fraction of the price. Transferwise allows customers to transfer money from one country to another from their phones, with none of the fees levied by traditional banks.
In this new world of personalization, connectivity and speed, customer experience becomes the key differentiator for every industry, especially manufacturers. According to Salesforce’s “State of the Connected Customer” research report, 65 percent of business buyers say they’re likely to switch brands if their company is not treated like a unique organization. And 82 percent of business buyers say technology has made it easier than ever to take their business elsewhere.
For the manufacturing industry, it’s not good enough to simply add sensors to products. Companies must start with customers — and the data they generate — and use it to change business processes, organizational structures and corporate strategy.
Manufacturing leaders’ questions must shift from “In what market does our cost-to-produce give us competitive advantage?” to “Where does the data we generate add unique value for customers?” Business metrics must change. Rather than focusing solely on throughput and utilization, manufacturers must incorporate metrics to measure the depth and quality of customer relationships. Customer satisfaction, churn rate and monthly recurring revenue will all help to ensure all departments — customer facing or not — align around the customer.
For manufacturers today, building services to complement product offerings is table stakes. By harnessing the power of IoT and intelligent data to focus on customer outcomes — and delivering unique value as a result — manufacturers can truly thrive in the age of the customer.
Cindy Bolt is Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Energy and Consumer Goods at Salesforce.


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People like coffee and people love cats so together they make the paws that refresh at a London cat cafe that is so popular it’s booked out until June.
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium on the fringe of London’s financial district is cashing in on an idea first popularised in Japan to allow stressed-out workers to wind down by stroking a cat while sipping a cappuccino or latte – or tea, if you prefer.
“The idea is you can come have a peaceful lunch or high tea and be surrounded by cats. If you’re lucky, one of them will fall asleep on your lap,” said Anna Kogan, an investment banker who is co-owner of Dinah’s along with Australian Lauren Pears.
Part-financed by a crowd-funding campaign which raised more than £109,000 (RM592,000) in less than two months, the cafe, which opened its doors on March 1, is already a runaway success.
Cat lovers stormed the cafe’s online booking system within hours of its launch, making more than 3,000 bookings and causing the system to temporarily crash. It is fully booked until the end of June.
“I thought that it would be really cool to just hang out with loads and loads of cats,” said recent patron Christy McCormick.
“They’re really fluffy and cute and … I really like cats. They’re great,” McCormick said of the cafe’s 11 cats, donated by people leaving the country or unable to care for them.


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Twilio has extended its relationship with AWS to advance its predictive AI capabilities.
Announced at the AWS Summit in New York, the extended partnership bolsters the value proposition of Twilio CustomerAI – a generative AI solution launched last month.
The solution extracts data from a customer’s conversations with sales, service, and marketing teams via large language models (LLMs).
That data – which may include intent, sentiment, and qualitative insights – then filters into the customer’s Golden Profile in Segment, Twilio’s customer data platform (CDP).
With all that data inside those Golden Profiles, end-users can now apply Amazon SageMaker to further their understanding of customers.
SageMaker offers machine-learning-powered tools, which Twilio customers can now access out-of-the-box, thanks to the strengthened partnership.
Those tools will sweep through profile data and anticipate customer actions, supporting proactive customer retention campaigns and initiatives to spotlight VIP customers.
By surfacing more customer insights, Twilio aims to promote the close relationships many customers have with local businesses on a digital scale.
Alex Millet, Senior Director of Product at Twilio, doubles down on this point. “It’s clear to me that Twilio has the strongest dataset of customer engagement interactions and the platform to make this happen,” he said.
We believe our tools will change the way marketers, contact centers, developers, and data teams deliver these world-class customer experiences.
In maintaining its AWS partnership and leveraging its predictive AI, Twilio will continue building out its native features and APIs.
The Benefits for AWS
The Twilio collaboration and product alignment also drives benefits for AWS.
Indeed, the cloud juggernaut may take advantage of Twilio’s Programmable APIs and integrate more than six AWS solutions with Segment.
Shaown Nandi, Director of Technology, Industries at AWS, also underlined his excitement to work with Twilio as an example of a brand driving AI innovation.
“We’re excited to hear from customers and partners at the forefront of AI innovation, which is certainly where Twilio is playing in the customer engagement space,” he added.
It’s great to see Twilio and our portfolio of AI/ML services working together to help businesses meet customers where they are, improve engagement, and deliver highly personalized experiences.
Alongside its support for Twilio’s generative AI innovation, AWS has started leveraging the power of LLMs in its customer experience innovation.
Finally, the vendor has played a critical role in the democratization of LLMs, with its Bedrock platform giving businesses foundational models to customize.


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The Cannabidiol (CBD) saga continues to muddy the waters of cannabis legalisation. When we first started our legalisation challenge eight years ago, nobody had heard of CBD, and now it’s everywhere, in every product, for every ailment, for every use. Weed’s silver bullet.
We’ve always been wary of CBD. To us, it has been used as a stalling mechanism to skirt around full legalisation the world over. Prohibition governments have ‘legalised’ CBD for limited use the world over, and the headlines proclaim ‘marijuana legal in…. (insert State, Country, Province)’.
The US State of Kentucky is a classic example. Keep that nasty THC stuff illegal with all that dangerous mind altering psycho what what, and look good in the polls when CBD products are ‘legalised’, mostly before an election. The claim that THC is dangerous because it is mind altering is deeply flawed. CBD also has a ‘mind altering’ component to it. A dose of CBD most certainly alters ones consciousness. How could it not if it affects mood, pain, anxiety levels and so on?
Undoubtedly, CBD can genuinely assist in balancing the human condition, but the good cannabinoid bad cannabinoid rhetoric that has sprung up when comparing it to THC is clouding everyone’s judgment.
The case of CBD classification and legality is no more politically and control motivated than right here in South Africa.
The 1992 Drugs & Drug Trafficking Act lists all parts of the Cannabis Sativa plant, including seed and roots as a dangerous, dependence producing drug with no medical value.
It is still the law, nothing has been amended, and of course we are all waiting for parliament’s September 2020 deadline. Let’s see how the government rewrites the law to come in line with last September’s Constitutional Court judgement regarding home cultivation and use.
CBD has somehow managed to be extricated from the Act as some sort of special child with special needs. The fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the complete rescheduling of CBD as a completely benign substance has helped, and so started the relaxations of CBD scheduling in South Africa.
CBD according to the 1992 Drugs Act is just Dagga, a schedule 7 drug, but the South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) decided on a whim to drop the classification to schedule 4 in 2018. This made CBD available for medical research, but the consequence of this move was to make it available by doctors prescription only. This meant that local businesses like Hemporium, Clicks and Dischem had to clear their shelves of CBD products because it had become a scheduled medicine, not a health supplement.
What was the basis of the rescheduling? Where were the studies that SAHPRA based the classification on? Where were the human trials? These were all questions the Traditional & Natural Health Alliance (THNA) started to ask by way of a barrage of lawyers. SAHPRA was taken to task in an affidavit to the Pretoria High Court. “Prove the science behind the scheduling of CBD or we’ll sue the arse off you” was the message.
After much too-ing and fro-ing as is often the case in the build up to a major courtroom confrontation, SAHPRA finally capitulated out of court. Gone are the days of the quasi governmental Medicines Control Council (MCC) using the States lawyers to prove their point. SAHPRA, the newly formed regulatory medicines body is a registered corporation which means they now have to pay for their lawyers like everyone else. Undoubtedly this became a pivotal point for them when deciding how to tackle this potentially damning court case with a gaggle of powerful plaintiffs baying for SAHPRA blood.
This week SAHPRA capitulated and the Health Department gazetted a rescheduling of all CBD products. CBD is still in schedule 4 to the Medicines and Related Substances Act. It has however been removed from schedule 7, but is now to be considered a no claims health supplement. Really confusing, but it seems like a huge win for the TNHA and CBD, and may well usher in a more rational approach to the classification of Dagga in general.
But wait, what are those percentage figures at the end of the government gazette? A 20mg maximum daily dose is reasonable for most applications, but does it still mean risking criminalisation if someone were to imbibe more than 20mg? The figure of 0.001% THC as a maximum quantity allowed in a CBD preparation pretty much ensures than anyone cultivating their own weed for CBD preparation will find it impossible to extract a product with less than 0.001% THC. ‘Hemp’ CBD has a ceiling of 0.003%. 0.001% means the CBD will have to be isolated by extraction with very expensive machinery to stay within the arbitrary new limit. A control mechanism if ever we saw one.
The final arbitrary figure the Dept Health came up with as their final caveat is not more than 0.0075% CBD in a total product. Can you imagine how ludicrously small that actually is?
Already the press is full of misleading headlines on the subject. “Dagga ingredient CBD just became fully legal” is patently wrong and the final paragraph of the CBD gazette put a 12 month moratorium on the situation.
Good news and bad news really. As Anthony Rees, the head of THNA said in a live interview on the Hotbox Show hours after the gazette was published, it’s like walking up a down escalator. The minute we stop putting the pressure and stop walking uphill, we’ll end up at the bottom again. Two steps forward one step back. Anthony has since written a formal statement from the TNHA.
Enjoy your new found freedom to buy, sell, trade and consume CBD products………for the next twelve months. As always, we’ll keep you posted – because in this matter, the truth is always stranger than fiction.


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Local airports are calling for more investments to boost their capacity to handle rising demand for freight services.
The Kenya Aviation Authority (KAA) says it has been working to woo cargo airlines in local airports. As the effort pays off, KAA acting managing director Alex Gitari said the airports need to be expanded to handle the growing demand for cargo services.
Eldoret International Airport, he said, is the fastest growing airport — after the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) — with more cargo airlines landing.
Data indicate that Eldoret Airport handled 11,200 metric tonnes in 2018 down from 9,100 metric tonnes in 2017. The airport if fully utilised has the capacity to handle more than 60,000 metric tonnes annually.
Some of the airlines operating at the airport include Ethiopian Airline, Fly Emirates, Jambo Jet, Sax and Skyward Express
Mr Gitari noted that among the initiatives the authority has put in place is working closely with The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) countries to entice more airlines to launch cargo freight in the country.
“KAA is finalising on an incentive plan for scheduled flights that will include launching new routes apart from investing on both air and ground infrastructure to provide conducive space for existing and new airlines,” said Mr Gitari.
“Eldoret Airport has recorded significant growth in cargo carriers due to its position and also the availability of horticulture which has remained our major export in the country. We are working with Comesa to link airlines which export Kenyan products to return with different merchandise to make routes more profitable.”
Eldoret Airport, which has two cargo warehouses and one passenger terminal, is strategically positioned with intermodal transport network such as lake and road making it attractive to other greater lakes regions.
Due to increasing demand of air freight transport, JKIA is constructing its sixth cargo terminal set for completion by February 2020, and which will increase its combined annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes.
The terminals are fitted with modern specialised cargo handling facilities and adequate cold-rooms hence attracting more than 17 international scheduled cargo carriers and several ad-hoc freighters.
On February this year, JKIA was ranked the second fastest growing airport in the World Cargo Ranking which was attributed to growth of new markets in Far East and Australia and the increase in meat exports to Middle East.
“KAA is committed in ensuring more international scheduled cargo carriers visit not only JKIA but also utilise our other 18 airports and airstrips that is why we are undertaking major rehabilitation and expansion in our facilities,” said Mr Gitari.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing 12 Routes Africa meeting in Mombasa attended by business leaders from leading airlines, airports and tourism authorities to discuss air services to, from and within Africa.
The acting MD said there was a need to invest in new and modern terminals in different airstrips such as that of Malindi, Diani, Manda among others to attract bigger airlines and more visitors.
World Bank pushes G-20 to extend debt relief to 2021
World Bank Group President David Malpass has urged the Group of 20 rich countries to extend the time frame of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative(DSSI) through the end of 2021, calling it one of the key factors in strengthening global recovery.
“I urge you to extend the time frame of the DSSI through the end of 2021 and commit to giving the initiative as broad a scope as possible,” said Malpass.
He made these remarks at last week’s virtual G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.
The World Bank Chief said the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the deepest global recession in decades and what may turn out to be one of the most unequal in terms of impact.
People in developing countries are particularly hard hit by capital outflows, declines in remittances, the collapse of informal labor markets, and social safety nets that are much less robust than in the advanced economies.
For the poorest countries, poverty is rising rapidly, median incomes are falling and growth is deeply negative.
Debt burdens, already unsustainable for many countries, are rising to crisis levels.
“The situation in developing countries is increasingly desperate. Time is short. We need to take action quickly on debt suspension, debt reduction, debt resolution mechanisms and debt transparency,” said Malpass.
Kenya’s Central Bank Drafts New Laws to Regulate Non-Bank Digital Loans
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will regulate interest rates charged on mobile loans by digital lending platforms if amendments on the Central bank of Kenya Act pass to law. The amendments will require digital lenders to seek approval from CBK before launching new products or changing interest rates on loans among other charges, just like commercial banks.
“The principal objective of this bill is to amend the Central bank of Kenya Act to regulate the conduct of providers of digital financial products and services,” reads a notice on the bill. “CBK will have an obligation of ensuring that there is fair and non-discriminatory marketplace access to credit.”
According to Business Daily, the legislation will also enable the Central Bank to monitor non-performing loans, capping the limit at not twice the amount of the defaulted loan while protecting consumers from predatory lending by digital loan platforms.
Tighter Reins on Platforms for Mobile Loans
The legislation will boost efforts to protect customers, building upon a previous gazette notice that blocked lenders from blacklisting non-performing loans below Ksh 1000. The CBK also withdrew submissions of unregulated mobile loan platforms into Credit Reference Bureau. The withdrawal came after complaints of misuse over data in the Credit Information Sharing (CIS) System available for lenders.
Last year, Kenya had over 49 platforms providing mobile loans, taking advantage of regulation gaps to charge obscene rates as high as 150% a year. While most platforms allow borrowers to prepay within a month, creditors still pay the full amount plus interest.
Amendments in the CBK Act will help shield consumers from high-interest rates as well as offer transparency on terms of digital loans.
Scope Markets Kenya customers to have instant access to global financial markets
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 20 – Clients trading through the Scope Markets Kenya trading platform will get instant access to global financial markets and wider investment options.
This follows the launch of a new Scope Markets app, available on both the Google PlayStore and IOS Apple Store.
The Scope Markets app offers clients over 500 investment opportunities across global financial markets.
The Scope Markets app has a brand new user interface that is very user friendly, following feedback from customers.
The application offers real-time quotes; newsfeeds; research facilities, and a chat feature which enables a customer to make direct contact with the Customer Service Team during trading days (Monday to Friday).
The platform also offers an enhanced client interface including catering for those who trade at night.
The client will get instant access to several asset classes in the global financial markets including; Single Stocks CFDs (US, UK, EU) such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google, BP, Carrefour; Indices (Nasdaq, FTSE UK), Metals (Gold, Silver); Currencies (60+ Pairs), Commodities (Oil, Natural Gas).
The launch is part of Scope Markets Kenya strategy of enriching the customer experience while offering clients access to global trading opportunities.
Scope Markets Kenya CEO, Kevin Ng’ang’a observed, “the Sope Markets app is very easy to use especially when executing trades. Customers are at the heart of everything we do. We designed the Scope Markets app with the customer experience in mind as we seek to respond to feedback from our customers.”
He added that enhancing the client experience builds upon the robust trading platform, Meta Trader 5, unveiled in 2019, enabling Scope Markets Kenya to broaden the asset classes available on the trading platform.


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Accenture Global Hackathon Seeks Digital Solutions to Make Cities More Livable
Do you have a good idea of how to use digital solutions to make cities more livable? If so, join an 11-city, 24-hour global digital hackathon that includes Dubai. Sign up no later than Monday, November 6th for the event hosted by Accenture in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai, and supported by GE.
The Accenture Digital Hackathon invites teams to prototype digital solutions that create a truly human city environment. There’s no fee, and it’s open to recent graduates, undergraduates, young entrepreneurs and start-ups with expertise in technology development, design and marketing.
Winning solutions will receive cash awards and a chance to be selected for the “Innovation Impact Grant Programme” run by Expo 2020 Dubai. Meanwhile individuals have the potential to be interviewed for jobs at Accenture Digital or elsewhere in the company.
The Dubai hackathon, which is supported by GE, Etisalat Digital, Google, and the American University of Sharjah, will be held concurrently in Chicago, Bangalore, Istanbul, London, Manila, Mexico City, Monterrey, Rome, Shanghai, and Singapore. GE is supporting with judges and prizes for local winners in the Dubai and Istanbul events.
The hackathon will take place November 11 and 12, and will focus on solutions focused on two elements:
- Putting humans at the heart of the experience
- Using the latest digital technologies including wearables, artificial intelligence, analytics, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain and the Internet of Things
Accenture will award prizes with a total value of up to US$80,000 to the top teams in each city, region (Europe and Middle East, North America and Latin America, and Asia), and globally. The best works will be determined by a panel of judges of experienced practitioners from Accenture, Expo 2020 Dubai and local sponsors.
Expo 2020 Dubai will select its favorite project from among the three regional winners and shortlist it for the Expo Live “Innovation Impact Grant Programme.” The program is expected to provide winning projects with grants of up to US$100,000 and a chance to showcase their innovations at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Individual participants demonstrating exceptional teamwork, problem-solving and goal orientation skills whose profiles are in line with Accenture’s recruitment plans, may be interviewed for roles in Accenture Digital, or elsewhere in the company.
During the hackathon, participants from all cities will connect in quiz games, virtual talks and tutorials. Mentors from Accenture will help them define and develop their project concepts.
GE is a natural partner to this hackathon, as the world’s digital industrial company. We have held dozens of hackathons around the world focused on Predix, GE’s application development platform for the Industrial Internet of Things. In the region, we held an automotive industry hackathon in Turkey and a healthcare industry hackathon in Saudi Arabia. Read more stories here about this work across the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Pakistan region.


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By Kathryn Hardison
Nike Inc. said Monday its board of directors has approved an $18 billion buyback program of Class B common stock.
The retailer said the new four-year program will replace the current $15 billion share repurchase program, which will be terminated in fiscal year 2023.
Repurchases under the new program will be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions.
Shares fell 0.2% in after-hours trading.
Write to Kathryn Hardison at firstname.lastname@example.org
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 27, 2022 16:52 ET (20:52 GMT)Copyright (c) 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.


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Kripke Enterprises Inc. (KEI), a nonferrous metal brokerage based in Toledo, Ohio, has announced the promotion of three new vice presidents. Andy Golding of Toledo has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing; Marvin Finkelstein of Boca Raton, Florida, has been promoted to vice president of the southern region; and Chad Kripke of Toledo has been promoted to vice president of the northern region.
“Marvin, Andy and Chad drive our vision and create high value for our scrap dealers and consuming aluminum mills,” says Matt Kripke, president of KEI. “Their combined 50 years of industry experience supports our company growth while generating winning outcomes for our customers.”
Founded in 1993, KEI has locations in Toledo and Boca Raton. KEI says its sales in 2014 topped $140 million.


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Adverts aim to promote inclusive outlook on beauty
French perfumery chain Marionnaud has launched an advertising campaign created by French ad agency Rosapark.
Called Born To Be Me, the campaign features images of women of all ages and races, mostly wearing a natural beauty look with the tagline “la beauté qui me ressemble”, or “beauty that looks like me”. Marionaud has used this phrase ever since it launched its Code Beauté concept a year ago....
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|| Print ||
|Articles - December 2011|
|Tuesday, November 15, 2011|
By Kristen Hall-Geisler
When Donavan started the company in 2009, the idea was to keep dog waste — and the plastic bags that often encase it — out of the landfill. Collecting it and composting it would not only offer Oregonians a greener option, but Green Pet Compost stood to profit on both ends of the process.
The pickup business has been doing well since Donavan started it, but the compost business needed to be ramped up. Steve and brother Greg invested the capital to bring the waste to Poulsbo, Wash., and compost it.
The startup costs for composting pet waste were steep. The in-vessel composter itself ran about $40,000, plus they needed forklifts for moving the compost around. Even though they built the mixers and augurs themselves, the Dreilings invested $100,000 in startup costs alone.
The reuse aspect is still in its early stages. The first batches of compost were only finished midway through 2011, just in time for Oregon’s busiest growing season to wrap up. The Dreilings have hired a marketing expert to help overcome the “yuck factor,” as Dreiling calls it, and get the product to potential clients who use compost year-round. Only one-fifth of Green Pet Compost’s capacity is being used.
Overcoming the yuck factor is going to be a matter of getting the compost onto the shelves and into flowerbeds. “Once we mix the waste with a carbon source, primarily sawdust, there is no smell,” he says. During the compost process, the whole vessel stays consistently hot, at 131-150 degrees for 72-100 hours, which kills all pathogens.
For now, customers can buy the finished compost at a wholesale price, and bags will be delivered at the next scheduled pickup. Green Pet Compost is working to get the nitrogen-rich product into retail stores.
Green Pet Compost has plans to expand in the future from organic and natural pet foods and toys to natural gas produced by composting that can power the pickup and delivery trucks. But the company’s focus right now is on the composting operation and getting the compost into the market.
“Pick-up is doing better than compost,” says Dreiling. “We hope that’ll change.”
Monday, July 13, 2015
BY JACOB PALMER
Holding a Power Lunch at Veritable Quandary in downtown Portland.
Monday, July 13, 2015
BY CAMILLE GRIGSBY-ROCCA
Can the brave new world of neurotechnology help an OHSU surgeon find a cure for obesity?
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
There are more than 10 million former military members working in the United States.
Monday, July 13, 2015
BY KIM MOORE
A conversation with Greg Lambert, president of Mid Oregon Personnel Services.
Thursday, July 09, 2015
The sweltering weather didn't keep the crowds away. Although the numbers were down slightly from last year, the Oregon Food Bank raised $850,636 to fight hunger. About 80,000 people attended despite temperatures in the upper 90s.
Friday, July 10, 2015
BY DAN COOK
The Affordable Care Act has triggered a rush on health care plan redesign, a process fraught with hidden costs and consequences.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
An international architecture firm known for its design of the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion in New York unveiled its plan this week for a modern indoor/outdoor food market at the foot of the Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland.
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|Boeing chairman threatens to relocate|
|Economy's growth disappoints analysts|
|Portland fireworks hotline overloaded by call volume|
|Rolling Stone magazine sued by UVA frat brothers|
|'Kayaktivists' hang from St. Johns Bridge to protest Shell Oil ship|
|Legal pot sales to start Oct. 1 in Oregon|
|Best Buy will sell Apple Watch, is hoping it boosts sales|
One of the many reasons why businesses fail is due to the lack of attention to analytics. Sure, you can go on running your business, but mastering the science of analytics will translate into a business advantage. But what exactly are analytics and why are they so important?
Court experience helps legal firm anticipate potential problems for clients and prevent expensive litigation.
When Garmin AT needed to consolidate operations for its 550 employees, it scanned its entire corporate map for possible sites.
Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) and the College of Business at Oregon State University is offering “Business Analytics for Competitive Advantage”, a two-day intensive workshop.
34 spots for food, 17 places to sip, and 7 sites to choose a brew beckon visitors.
A look back at the shifting sands of Portland’s growth and development.


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The Bluetooth-based mobile keyless entry solution unveiled by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide earlier this month is now live in 10 hotels in Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles and Doha and will be rolling out to Aloft, Element and W Hotels across the globe. Starwood plans to rollout the SPG Keyless service to 30,000 doors in 150 hotels by early 2015.
- Seven watch brands to embed Barclaycard’s bPay wearable payments in their devices
- UnionPay sets out its mobile payments rollout plans
- Google expands support for wearable payments to Canada, Spain, and Australia
- American Express files faster blockchain payments patent
- Crédit Agricole expands HCE payments to Visa cardholders


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Snap and Amazon Fashion are partnering up to provide Snapchat users with the ability to try on branded glasses using AR filters.
Snapchat is giving users more advanced video editing tools through a new feature called Director Mode for iOS and Android.
Snapchat is making the desktop version of its app, Snapchat for Web, available to its entire global community, the company announced on Thursday.
BeReal has been copied by yet another competitor, with Snapchat introducing Dual Camera. But Snapchat has introduced its own spin on the feature.
If you are interested in sharing your live location with friends on Snapchat. Below, we have shared step-by-step guide on snapchat live location.
Snapchat is partnering with restaurant review website The Infatuation to enable users to find local eats on the Snap Map, the company announced today.
Snap launching a new Snapchat lens that can help you learn American Sign Language (ASL). It’s called ASL Alphabet Lens to translate sign language.
Snapchat has rolled out a new feature that allows users to share live locations with friends. The location-sharing feature is out for all users globally.


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Jailbreak iOS 12 Untethered via Pangu Team. Updates. Pangu Team jailbreak iPhone XS running iOS 12. This was stated by one of the participants Pangu Ming Zheng in his blog on Twitter. Jailbreak creators from Pangu Team are known for releasing public utilities for jailbroken iPhone and iPad, so it’s possible that soon the possibility of hacking iOS 12 will be available to users.
Jailbreak creators from Pangu Team were the first who managed to jailbreak the iPhone XS, which is based on the system on the A12 Bionic processor. Prior to that, another group Ali Security demonstrated jailbreak last year’s iPhone X running iOS 12. Earlier Pangu Team repeatedly released public utilities for jailbreaking various versions of iOS. At the same time, Pangu solutions were easy to use, and also because the jailbreak was unconnected. This means that jailbreak was not reset every time you reboot the iPhone or iPad.
At the moment it is not known whether Pangu Team has plans to create and release a utility for jailbreak iOS 12. However, the fact that they shared their successes in breaking the iPhone XS with the public should set up jailbreak fans in a positive way.
How Much Jailbreak iOS 12?
After this statement, many iPhone owners cheered and they had the hope that soon, they will be able to make a jailbreak. As always, after such a statement, dozens of sites appear on the network that offer jailbreak for 10-20 dollars. Users who hear about the upcoming release of the utility do not bother to check the release date and buy a jailbreak.
In fact, they only buy a link to the information in which offers to download an unknown program: which accesses personal information, but does not perform jailbreak.
To be continued…


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March 5, 2013
Posted by on
Several days ago Nokia was reported as working with P2i, a leader in liquid-repellent nano-coating technology, to develop a waterproof lumia phone. Such a waterproof technology could be potenially introduced to Nokia’s next flagship phone (codenamed as ‘EOS’).
Nokia’s intention of adding a nano-coating waterproof layer to the phone doesn’t surprise me at all, as such a technique is getting more and more matured and can be commercialized easier than before. However, I wonder why Nokia doesn’t commercialize it’s own nano-coating technology but to partner with P2i for a waterproof phone.
Back in 2011, during Nokia World 2011, the hydrophobic nanocoating technology developed by Nokia Research Centre (NRC), Cambridge, was demenstrated. The video in the news shows that NRC applied this technology to the Nokia 700 and added a layer of nanostructures which contain a very thin layer of air in them, which aims to prevents the water from entering the surface.
Anyway, we are expecting some great products from Nokia this year. It’s quite likely that Nokia is perfecting the new flagship while cashing in on Lumia 920. Still the same old line, wait and behold, Nokia will shine in the year 2013!


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The Western Journal posted an article yesterday featuring a Craigslist ad (that has since been taken down). The ad calls for people who have the coronavirus to attend the Trump rally in Oklahoma.
This is a screenshot of the ad (taken from the Craigslist archives):
This is likely someone involved in a sick hoax, an internet troll desperate for attention. The strange language of the ad — particularly the odd dress requirements — make this seem like a prank that seemed like a good idea at 4 a.m. in a college dorm room somewhere after more than a few intoxicating beverages.
The problem is that someone might actually take this call to action seriously, given that there are more enough people who have become convinced Trump is the nexus of evil in this world and that the supporters who show up to his rallies are nothing less than Satan’s minions.
…The responsibility for this should lie solely on whoever posted it, but we ought to consider the toxic environment in which this could even be considered possible. It’s wildly implausible that this would have happened during any prior presidency. But the country has been been whipped up to the extent that an ad like this, sadly, feels almost inevitable.
There are lessons about Trump Derangement Syndrome be learned from this. Will we learn them? That’s hoping too much.
The extent of our hope in this case is that the person or persons involved in this are tracked down and dealt with accordingly. Given that this is nothing less than a call to use oneself as a silent, deadly weapon, the possibility of criminal charges should definitely be on the table.
The Western Journal has reached out to Craigslist for comment.
If this is real, it is unacceptable. If this is a joke, it is not funny.


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After almost a year of highly detailed planning, preparation and fitting out, Lab M moved into the company’s new global headquarters ahead of time and on plan.Chairman Colin Goodwille paid tribute to everyone for their roles in achieving the move with minimum disruption. “I’d especially lik ... more
Lab M completes move to new HQ
Lab M’s Managing Director Ian Morris (left) and Chairman Colin Goodwille (right) welcomed the Lab M team to their new global headquarters in Heywood, Greater Manchester, UK.
After almost a year of highly detailed planning, preparation and fitting out, Lab M moved into the company’s new global headquarters ahead of time and on plan.
Chairman Colin Goodwille paid tribute to everyone for their roles in achieving the move with minimum disruption. “I’d especially like to thank Ian Morris, who joined Lab M as Managing Director part way through the design and fitting out process,” said Mr Goodwille. “Ian masterminded many of the critical stages and has ensured that we have stayed firmly on track.”
- Lab M
Lab M has appointed a new distribution partner in Spain. Akralab S.L. is based in Alicante and is an established supplier of laboratory products, including laboratory equipment and diagnostics. Akralab’s experience and reputation as a supplier to the Food and Agriculture sectors in Spain f ... more
Lab M is celebrating 20 years with its Finnish partners, Labema Oy. Together, Lab M and Labema Oy have brought microbiological diagnostic products and dehydrated culture media to laboratories across Finland and Estonia. Colin LeGood, Lab M’s Sales & Marketing Manager, said, “Our partners ... more
- 1Competition among pathogens
- 2Taking a closer look at genetic switches in cancer
- 3Plasmon-powered upconversion nanocrystals for enhanced bioimaging and polarized emission
- 4A fresh look inside the protein nano-machines
- 5Water is surprisingly ordered on the nanoscale
- 6Discovery of a key regulatory gene in cardiac valve formation
- 7Safe medications thanks to new test procedures
- House-warming of the new Elementar headquarters
- Recognized for Excellence in China: Analytik Jena Fares Well at a Trade Conf ...
- Bruker acquires light sheet microscopy company Luxendo
- DKSH extends partnership with LAUDA to Singapore and Taiwan
- PerkinElmer completes sale of medical imaging business to Varex Imaging


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Earlier this year, the Silicon Valley VP of Sales Forum hosted five high tech CEOs for a panel discussion focused on developing effective relationships between the CEO and VP Sales. The panelists were candid and transparent in their opinions and openly shared their observations and expectations. This is the first installment in a three-part series. See more at: http://www.daggerfoil.com/category/blog/#sthash.pTwYZVXd.dpuf
For more information, please contact the leading sales and marketing consultants at Daggerfoil Group http://www.daggerfoil.com or Dave Dotzler at (415) 295-4870.


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The COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow is envious of motorcyclists as we have had the green solution to save the planet for over 100 years already… Just ride a motorcycle! Plus it’s more fun than eating bug proteins. New 2022 Zero Motorcycles: A Massive Leap Forward will help those riders in the electric camp have even more fun zipping around the cities. Zero motorcycles is the leader in electric motorcycle bikes and Total Motorcycle has been coving Zero since 2009 way before electric vehicles were widely known.
Now Zero brings not only new models for 2022 like the 2022 Zero FXE ,Zero SR/F, Zero SR/S and 2022 Zero SR, but like any evolving technology is now offering new Z-Force battery packs with more power, longer range and even quicker charging. Which is great as all three of these options decrease the inconvenience of owning and traveling with an electric bike.
Check out all the new electric and gas 2022 motorcycle models at Total Motorcycle as well the new 2022 Zero Motorcycle electric bikes today!
Introducing the new 2022 Zero Motorcycle Guide.
New Bike Reviews, Huge Photos, Full Specifications. Get it all at Total Motorcycle with the 2022 Zero Motorcycle Guide.
Electric Street Bikes
– 2022 Zero FXE – New model
Electric Dual Sport Bikes
We’re the company that defined the electric motorcycle category, and we’re pushing the bar higher than we ever have before with three massive new stories beginning with a pair of all-new Z-Force batteries.
ZF14.4+ kWh & ZF15.6+ kWh
Packing more energy into the same footprint wasn’t enough for us, so we decided to go even bigger than that. The all-new 14.4+ kWh and 15.6+ kWh batteries not only pack more energy than before, they also have the ability to grow their capacity as your needs as a rider change, as well.
CYPHER STORE UPGRADES
Zero Motorcycles’ proprietary operating system gets an update to the all-new Cypher III+ which enables owners to customize their rides at the touch of a button. Performance and feature upgrades are all available on-demand through the Cypher Store.
THE ALL NEW SR
Bringing these groundbreaking technologies together into a completely new model is the 2022 SR, the world’s most adaptable motorcycle. Customize everything from battery capacity, charge time, features, on-screen turn-by-turn navigation, and so much more all at your fingertips.
The new ZF 14.4+ kWh batteries come stock on all Standard trim SR/F and SR/S whereas the Premium trims receive more base range thanks to the 15.6+ kWh Power Pack. Plus, maxing out the Cypher Store upgrades on these bikes and pairing them with the option Power Tank accessory (available Spring 2022) gets the highest on-board battery capacity Zero’s ever had with nearly 21 kWh of energy!
Zero is the only company in the world that can bring motorcycles that truly grow with their owners, and these 2022 models are only available from your local Zero Dealer!


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The Samsung Galaxy Fold is “Fragile with a capital F”, according to a meticulous new teardown, with several large gaps which could allow dust and dirt to enter, many different ways for the screen to break and a complicated hinge mechanism that is likely to wear and fail over time.
The foldy phone was set to release in the US last week, but the launch was delayed after several journalists experienced serious issues with their review units. Now the respected repairability advocates and teardown specialists at iFixit have disected one of these early phones on their operating table, and they’re not overly impressed.
For starters, the bezel that lines the large, folding screen is very skinny and is apparently attached only by light adhesive, prompting iFixit to worry about how little protection it provides and whether it would peel over time.
More concerning is the fact that the bezel itself does not bend, so when the phone is unfolded a 7mm gap is left open where liquid or particles could potentially enter. There are also gaps along the spine of the phone when closed.
The Fold is one of the very first flexible phones, so some design challenges are to be expected. Early mobile phones, of course, had problems with ingress protection too. But the issue is a big one when almost every other flagship phone on the market is watertight.
The gaps are especially worrying in a folding design because “anything that gets lodged between the fragile display and its hard metal backplate could become a fatal pressure point when the phone is unfolded”, according to iFixit. This likely explains what happened to some of the journalist’s review phones.
The teardown also examines the cause of some of the other failures, including the “advanced polymer layer” that some reviewers mistook for a screen protector and peeled off, killing the phones.
iFixit explains that the phone could technically work without the layer, but the force of lifting it pulls on and destroys the fragile OLED display. On most phones, these displays are protected by sturdy (but unbending) glass.
One final “serious reliability concern” was in the hinge. Though iFixit praises the engineering of the folder-like structure itself — which uses a system of spring-loaded clasps, hinges and gears to move and lock the sturdy metal plate upon which the foldy display is pasted — it says the cables that are routed through hinges to connect each side of the phone could cause a problem over the long haul.
Though it calls the Galaxy Fold “alarmingly fragile”, iFixit concludes that Samsung could bolster it with some extra reinforcement and ingress protection, and by making the polymer layer look a lot less like a pre-installed screen protector.
Samsung has yet to set a new launch date for the Fold, saying in a statement that it was investigating the issues and would strengthen the display before release. Details of the phone’s Australian availability were never announced, beyond Samsung confirming the phone would make its way here at some point.


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Apple recently launched its latest iPhone 13 lineup and iOS 15. However, after using the device, several users started experiencing a problem and complained on Reddit and Twitter about not being able to unlock their new phones use their Apple Watch.
“Apple has identified an issue where Unlock with Apple Watch may not work with iPhone 13 devices. You might see ‘Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch’ if you try to unlock your iPhone while wearing a face mask, or you might not be able to set up Unlock with Apple Watch,” the company said.
The same update was released a few days back, but was only available for iOS 15.1 beta users. Now, the fix is live for everyone who is using the iOS 15 version. The latest software update is about 553.7MB.
Those who still haven’t received the update can turn off Unlock with Apple Watch and use their passcode to unlock their iPhone 13 until the new iOS 15.1 hits your device. The feature, which Apple offered to let you unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask or ski goggles, can be disabled in the Settings section. You will find the feature in the Face ID & Passcode.
Apple’s latest update also includes other bug fixes, but the Cupertino giant hasn’t specified what those might be.


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W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — July 29, 2019 — ASTM International’s smart textiles subcommittee (known as D13.50) has approved its first standard, a compilation of industry terms.
“The textile industry is currently experiencing a renaissance with the development of novel and emerging materials that provide opportunities for new consumer applications and markets,” says ASTM International member Carole Winterhalter. “This new smart textile terminology standard provides the ability to objectively classify and differentiate some of these new materials and products.”
Winterhalter, a textile technologist with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Soldier Center, notes the subcommittee developed terms and definitions that can be used by anyone involved in smart textiles, including manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, regulatory bodies, consumers, laboratories, and military personnel.
“The terms may be used to advertise and describe new products to consumers. They can also be used by regulatory and safety bodies to classify products and their intended performance,” Winterhalter said. “The standard will also help consumers understand exactly what it is they are buying.”
The new standard helps define everything from “smart textile” to “wearable electronic.” “This standard is building a bridge between two very different industries, the textile industry, and the electronics industry,” Winterhalter said. “It is helping to establish a relationship that never really existed before.”
The smart textiles subcommittee invites anyone to participate in developing definitions for revisions of the new standard. Winterhalter added, “We plan to refine these terms and add more terms and definitions as the market continues to evolve, mature, and expand.”
The new standard will soon be available as D8248. The smart textiles subcommittee is part of ASTM’s committee on textiles (D13) and is featured in the recent Standardization News article “How Smart is Your Shirt?”
Posted July 29, 2019
Source: ASTM International


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0211immuneaudListen to Allison Wall of Georgia Watch explain why she opposes SB 101.
It’s not unusual for states to offer tax incentives to lure new industries. But in a bid to entice manufacturers of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, Georgia may go a step beyond.
Senate Bill 101, introduced last week in the Georgia General Assembly, would grant such companies, in some cases, immunity from civil lawsuits.
It would amend the Official Code of Georgia section 51-1-11, which pertains to product liability, and would apply only to products that have been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
The assumption is that such products have been proven safe, so there would be no legitimate reason to sue the manufacturer. The bill was filed by state Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, at the request of Gov. Sonny Perdue.
In a statement released Friday, Perdue said, "This legislation will make plain that the threat of meritless litigation is not a viable business strategy in Georgia."
Bert Brantley, spokesman for the governor, said he couldn’t think of any other industry in Georgia that is immune from civil lawsuits. But he said the state wants to aggressively pursue companies that make prescription drugs and medical devices.
"Our biotechnology industry is growing, but not as quickly as we’d like," he said.
Ideally, the bill would be passed before Atlanta holds the world’s largest biotechnology convention in May.
"(The conference) is a unique opportunity to show off what we have in Georgia," said Brantley. "We hope to draw more business here, and this (legislation) will be another tool in our toolbox."
Brantley said the biotech industry is eligible for the same tax incentives as any other business that is considering relocating to Georgia.
But state officials believe biotech needs an extra boost.
"The tax credit doesn’t help biotech as much, because when they first start up, they don’t have a product to sell," said Brantley. "It’s not like a company that makes car parts, which can have products coming off the assembly line as soon as the plant opens."
But not everyone thinks the biotech industry should get special treatment. Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy group, has complained that the law would absolve companies of any responsibility if someone gets injured by a product.
Georgia Watch director Allison Wall said she is uneasy about relying on the FDA to determine whether a product is safe.
"There are a lot of products that have withdrawn recently that had FDA approval," she said.
Drugs have to be tested for safety in order to get clearance from the FDA. But there have been numerous cases in which drugs were pulled off the market only after they had been sold for years and millions of consumers had taken them.
The painkiller Vioxx is one of the best-known examples. It was approved by the FDA in 1999 and quickly became one of the most popular prescription drugs in history. But it turned out that Vioxx increased the risk of heart disease, and it was withdrawn from the market in 2004.
Wall said other states that already have a thriving biotech industry do not have laws granting companies immunity from lawsuits, so she doesn’t see why the legislation is needed in Georgia.
"Where has this worked in other states?" she said.
Brantley said the only state he knows of that has a similar immunity law is Michigan.
Wall thinks SB 101 is unlikely to create new jobs in Georgia, and its only effect may be to deprive consumers of a legal option.
"The answer I’m looking for from the governor’s office is why he believes this is a good thing for the state of Georgia," she said.


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The company's S-1 lays the groundwork for what is widely expected to be one of the largest initial public offerings of the year, second only to Uber's IPO in May. It's also...Technologyread more
Fraud investigator Harry Markopolos' accusations extended beyond GE's management to actuaries, auditors and analysts who he claims overlooked billions in liabilities.Marketsread more
Trump's tweet comes a day after Apple put out a press release describing the money it spends on U.S.-based suppliers and vendors.Technologyread more
CNBC combed through Wall Street research to see which stocks are still a buy after their earnings reports.Marketsread more
President Donald Trump held a call on Wednesday with the CEOs of three major U.S. banks, according to people with knowledge of the situation.Marketsread more
Despite aggressive strides, Waymo needs one thing before their self-driving cars become a seriously useful transportation system: people. We talked to the ones closest to it.Technologyread more
Scientists say the smoke plumes, filled with megatons of tiny, harmful particles, could travel to other areas of the world and cause serious respiratory problems for people.Weather & Natural Disastersread more
Some Weight Watchers loyalists applaud Kurbo by WW. But nutritionists worry Kurbo promotes an unhealthy relationship with food during an especially impressionable time.Health and Scienceread more
Benefits from what President Trump called "the biggest reform of all time" to the tax code have dwindled to a faint breeze just 20 months after its enactment, writes John...Politicsread more
Epstein, 66, was found in his cell in Manhattan federal lockup Saturday morning and transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.Politicsread more
Air travelers faced delays at U.S. airports on Friday afternoon after a computer issue snarled processing of international arrivals.Airlinesread more
Apple will announce new software features coming to iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs and Apple Watches on June 3, to kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Bloomberg on Monday highlighted a couple features that it says are coming to those platforms.
Software changes to iOS 13, reportedly named "Yukon," are unlikely to be drastic enough to flip falling iPhone sales, but they may refine the experience for Apple's current customers. They could also be used to push the new digital services Apple recently announced, like a video game subscription service and streaming TV shows produced by Apple.
Bloomberg reported Apple is planning to add a new "dark mode" to iOS 13, a feature that's already available for Macs that darkens different parts of the user interface so it's less harsh on eyes, particularly in the evening.
The company is also reportedly planning a new feature that will allow people to use iPads as a secondary display when connected to a Mac. Other features include new multitasking for iPads, tweaks to iMessage that make it more like WhatsApp and a new Health app that "better outlines your daily activity from the day," Bloomberg reported.
Apple's iOS has improved steadily over the years, with recent releases focused on improving battery life and performance on older devices. The company's voice assistant Siri could use a big upgrade, but major changes to it weren't mentioned in the report. Since Apple always rolls out new features to older iPhones and iPads however, iOS upgrades don't usually drive new device sales.


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Taipei, Sales generated by companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) rose in February by more than 28 percent from a year earlier, as many of them climbed out of the doldrums caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the TWSE.
TWSE data showed the aggregate revenue posted by 946 firms listed on its main board at NT$2.48 trillion (US$87.94 billion) in February, up 28.12 percent year-on-year.
One company, the biotech firm Pharmally International Holding Co., which is registered in the Cayman Islands and launched its primary listing in Taiwan in 2015, failed to report its February sales to the TWSE.
The aggregate sales of the 871 Taiwan firms that reported was NT$2.43 trillion in February, up 28.08 percent from a year earlier, the data showed. For the 75 listed foreign companies, their sales totaled NT$53.6 million, an increase of 30.10 percent year-on-year, according to the data.
Among the 946 firms that reported their sales, 639 showed year-on-year sales growth, while 307 saw a decline, the TWSE said.
The TWSE said the electronics sector benefited from solid global demand in February and a relatively low comparison base over the same period of last year.
Electronics firms that manufacture a wide range of products, including the world’s largest contract electronics maker Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., recorded the highest year-on-year sales growth of 79.40 percent to a total of NT$436.3 billion, the data showed.
Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, led the field, with its February consolidated sales rising 84.81 percent from a year earlier to NT$401.89 billion, as the latest iPhone, which it assembles, did well on the market, the TWSE said.
Meanwhile, shipping companies, including Evergreen Marine Corp. and Yang Ming Marine Transport Co., posted NT$90 billion in sales in February, up 55.71 percent from a year earlier, on the back of increased freight rates, the TWSE said.
In the electronics component industry, aggregate sales rose 45.85 percent in February from a year earlier to NT$124.4 billion.
Among the electronics component makers, contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported record high consolidated sales of NT$106.53 billion in February, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier, with analysts attributing the growth to strong demand for the company’s high-end processes.
The fuel and electric industry, however, saw a 9.90 percent year-on-year drop in February sales to NT$45.5 billion, the information service industry sales fell 8.77 percent to NT$5.2 billion, and the financial and insurance industry sales declined 2.91 percent to NT$223.3 billion, the data showed.
In the first two months of the year, the aggregate sales of the 946 firms totaled 5.55 trillion, up 25.97 percent from a year earlier, with 731 of them recording an increase and 215 reporting a decline, according to the data.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel


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Apple makes iMovie, iLife suite apps free for MacOS and iOS users
Transfer to a free model will allow customers to get the latest version using older hardware without paying extra
Apple is making its iWork and iLife suite productivity app free for Mac and iOS users. In 2013, Apple began offering its iMovie and iLife apps for free to new hardware customers, but continued to sell them to those who did not update their hardware. Now, Apple is slashing the price of its iWork and iLife apps,
According to 9to5Mac, iMovie and Garageband for iOS retailed for গ্র 4.99 for new customers, while pages, keynotes and numbers were priced at $ 9.99 each for new customers using old hardware. On Mac, iMovie and GarageBand are listed for $ 14.99 and 4.99, respectively. Pages, keynotes and numbers for each new customer using the old hardware have a price tag of 19.99. Apple has bundled or sold these apps for free on iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs sold since September 2013.
MacRumors reports that the move to Apple’s free model will allow customers to get the latest version using older hardware without paying extra. Apple also has a document detailing how to get a copy of these apps under the company’s volume purchase program. Apple plans to drop support for 32-bit apps with the launch of iOS 11, and the move will help distribute the latest version of the app directly to all users.