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Samsung Electronics Co has announced revenues of 56.06 trillion Korean Won ($52.7 billion) on a consolidated basis for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012, a 7-percent increase quarter-on-quarter.
Consolidated operating profit for the quarter hit 8.84 trillion Won, representing a 10-percent increase on-quarter, while consolidated net profit for the same quarter was 7.04 trillion Won.
The full-year 2012 operating profit was 29.05 trillion Won on revenue of 201.10 trillion Won.
In its earnings guidance disclosed on January 8, Samsung estimated fourth quarter consolidated revenues would reach approximately 56 trillion Won with consolidated operating profit of approximately 8.8 trillion Won.
Highlighting the quarterly performance, Mobile Communications generated quarterly revenues of 27.23 trillion Won, a 4-percent increase compared with the previous quarter.
The growth was mainly driven by solid sales of Samsung’s GALAXY S III and GALAXY Note ll. All told, operating profit for IT & Mobile Communications, which encompasses four business units including Mobile Communications, was 5.44 trillion Won on revenues of 31.32 trillion Won.
“Despite uncertainties in Europe and concerns over the U.S. fiscal cliff creating a difficult business environment, we did our best this quarter to achieve strong earnings based on a strategic focus on differentiated and high value-added products as well as our technological competitiveness,” said Robert Yi, Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations.
“Heading into this year, we are expecting a slow recovery in the component business due to reduced capital expenditures, while competition in the set business will intensify further as demand slows and the mid- to low-end market expands,” he added. Mr. Yi also expressed caution over the continued strength of the Korean Won in 2013.
Samsung’s standout lineup of LED TVs, including premium models targeting advanced markets and TVs tailored to emerging markets, has also improved quarter-on-quarter earnings. Although demand for home appliances retreated in the December quarter due to a tepid global economy, Samsung saw increased sales of high-end refrigerators and washers in the U.S. and in European markets.
On the components business side, demand for PC DRAM remained weak but growth of high value-added products such as server and mobile DRAM was constant due to increased sales of mobile devices. While the Semiconductor Business landed profits in the quarter, the Display Panel segment struggled, as demand for IT panels for notebooks and monitors remained slow. On the other hand, profitability in LCD panels for TVs and OLED panels for smartphones prevented wider losses.
As for this year’s capital expenditure, the size of investment is expected to be similar to that of 2012’s. The weakening global economic recovery and looming market uncertainties are anticipated to weigh on plans for investment and performance this year, but despite global economic jitters, Samsung will respond to the market’s ebb and flow with a capex plan that is flexible in manner.


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US chip titan Intel on January 10 announced it will move into the booming smartphone market with a China debut of a handset made by Chinese computer powerhouse Lenovo.
“The best of Intel computing is now coming to smartphones,” California-based Intel’s chief executive Paul Otellini said during a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
“It is coming first to China, the largest market for smartphones in the world.”
Lenovo senior vice president Liu Jun joined Otellini on stage to introduce the K800 smartphone, powered by an Intel processor and Google’s Android software.
The smartphone features a rich 4.5-inch multi-touch screen and can stream video wirelessly to Lenovo televisions. It will run on the China Unicom network when they are released in the second quarter of the year. The phone’s price has yet to be finalised, but could fall in the $600 to $700 range, according to Lenovo. Intel has created a “reference device” to show off the prowess of its smartphone chip technology to other hardware makers. The company has been under pressure to field small, powerful chips for mobile devices as consumer lifestyles and preferences shift from desktop or laptop computers to smartphones and tablets. Source:
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2012.
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[China Packaging Network] the first European Recycling Show Europe (Plastics PRS) was successfully held in Holland, Amsterdam on March 29th, attracting a large number of exhibitors from europe.
Kelun communications and European Plastics News in the European plastics Recycling Association (PRE) under the support of the organization of the two day event, over 80 exhibitors. In addition, a total of more than 40 representatives spoke at the meeting, the two day of the traffic is close to 1400, exhibitors and visitors are fully affirmed the value chain of the plastics industry, including recycling business, machine manufacturers, raw material producers, processors, waste management company and brand manufacturers.
According to organizers, the next PRS is scheduled for 2018.
PRE President Ton Emans at the end of the event, said: "the purpose of the activity is to support the European plastics recycling industry can thrive on a strong foundation, we want to act together to build a plastic recycling economy.".


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A thief stole life-saving equipment from an Albuquerque firefighter Monday.
A slightly cooler and soggy day on tap as deep moisture continues to stream in from the south.
FRIDAY: A mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain continues to create dangerous driving conditions over eastern NM this morning – likely …
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All You Need To Know About Jio Platforms-The Toast of Global Investors The pile of investments peg Jio Platforms' equity value at INR 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of INR 5.16 lakh crore
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Amid the COVID-19 outbreak—that has brought lives to a standstill and businesses across the planet reporting losses with the threat of bankruptcy looming large—Reliance Industry's digital subsidiary Jio Platforms has kept tech corridors abuzz.Jio Platforms in the past six weeks has attracted a thumping Rs 97,885.65 crore from leading technology investors.
What is Jio Platforms?Jio Platforms is a technology subsidiary of Reliance Industries that came into being in late November last year. The company said it had set-up the wholly-owned subsidiary for its digital initiatives with a total capital infusion of INR 1.73 lakh crore.
The subsidiary claims to be a next-generation technology company providing affordable digital services across the country, through its wide range of apps, digital ecosystem, propelled by its latest 4G LTE technology that connects over 388 million subscribers in India.
Services provided under Jio Platforms
The Mukesh Ambani-led company has been developing and fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem with the help of various digital applications, tools and platforms spanning over self-care, information, entertainment, chat and utility tools, among others.
The company claims these services are best-in-class with a gradual increase in customer engagement metrics.
Jio TV: The platform consists of an ocean of more than 600 channels along with 135 HD channels. Users are free to watch their favourites all in one place, from Hindi to leading English channels. Jio TV also offers some value-adds such as the Jio Sports Channels to enhance user's choices.
JioCinema: An app for movie buffs which offers a wide selection of movies across languages.
JioSaavn: The music streaming platform has over 55 million songs and various artists' original programmes has made it difficult for competitors such as Spotify and Apple Music to form their steady customer base. Jio Music merged with Saavn in 2018 and since then continues to be the fastest-growing music streaming platform.
JioNews: A digital News platform that lets customers choose from over 900 magazines, more than 300 newspapers, along with live television, short videos and news articles.
JioMart: Taking advantage of the COVID-19-led restrictions, the company launched Jiomart last month in collaboration with Facebook-owned Whatsapp to directly compete with Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart in the e-commerce space. JioMart now delivers groceries in more than 200 towns across the country.
For cinephiles and those who avoid crowded theatres, the company is set to launch same-day-release on Jio Platforms.
Apart from these apps, the company is also focusing on cutting-edge, technology-enabled digital platforms that will help to accelerate digital adaptation.
Jio Platforms is currently focusing on healthcare, education, agriculture, commerce, government-to-citizen services, gaming and manufacturing. These platforms are supported by emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine, virtual, augmented/mixed reality, and computer vision.
Why is there a buzz?
Ambani-led Jio Platforms plans to become the face of Digital India. From providing high-speed Internet, online groceries to banking and home automation, everything the company intends to be run on an integrated system through Jio.
The pandemic has brought Ambani closer to have his, what he calls, "everything company".
Jio's vision to provide a Digital India for 1.3 billion people falls in line with the world's leading technology investors who are well aware of the potential market in the country.
The biggest investment that raised several eyebrows came in April when Facebook pumped in $5.7 billion (INR 43,574 crore) in Jio Platforms, making the social media giant largest minority shareholder. This investment by Facebook values Jio Platforms at $65.95 billion (INR 4.62 lakh crore) pre-money enterprise value.
Facebook has over 300 million Indian users on its flagship social network, and its new partnership with India's largest telecom provider will offer new insight into an Internet market that's expected to grow by over 200 million users in the next four years.
Soon after the investment, JioMart used Facebook-owned WhatsApp to take orders as the apps were yet to be rolled out.
Eight investments in six weeks
The latest investment in Jio Platforms was of INR 5,683.50 crore on Sunday by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) that translates to 1.16 per cent of the equity.
Prior to this on Friday, Silver Lake invested INR 4,546.8 crore. This is in addition to the INR 5,655.75 crore of investment already made by the private equity firm on 4 May, 2020. This brings the aggregate investment by Silver Lake and its co-investors in Jio Platforms to INR 10,202.55 crore. Silver Lake now holds 2.08 per cent equity in Jio Platforms.
The chain of deals led by Facebook was followed by General Atlantic (INR 6,598.38 crore), Vista Equity Partners (INR 11,367 crore), KKR (INR 11,367 crore) and Mubadala (INR 9,093.60 crore).
With these investments, Jio Platforms has raised INR 97,885.65 crore in exchange for a 21.06 per cent stake.
These investments will also help Reliance Industries to become debt-free before March 2021, as it planned.


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Part of the bitcoin community in Brazil has turned on the alert against the sale of cryptocurrencies offered by Nubank, which does not allow withdrawals and deposits of digital assets. Thus, whoever buys a ” little piece” of cryptocurrency in the digital bank faces problems when it needs to make payments with digital currency.
This is because bitcoin is a very common cryptocurrency as a means of payment over the internet. There are several sites that offer promotions for those who pay using the new digital payment method.
However, since it launched its operation in the crypto market, Nubank is one of the companies that does not allow this interaction.
Brazilian warns about selling Bitcoin practiced by Nubank
Last Thursday (24), the Bitcoin community in Brazil noticed a problem. In a publication made by Twitter, Seiiti Arata said that he sells a course and offers discounts for those who pay with bitcoin.
As a Black Friday promotion, he gave discounts on products for those who buy with Bitcoin.
The problem, however, is that whoever has bitcoin at Nubank cannot use the digital currency to make payments, since bitcoin cannot be withdrawn from the bank’s platform. According to Arata’s alert, the sale of cryptocurrencies by Nubank is a disservice.
“Clients of mine want to buy the Black Friday offer that it’s only for those who pay in BTC. And then they just can’t USE the bitcoins they think they bought.”
😡I was [email protected] see the DISSERVICE you perform selling LIE bitcoin.
My clients wish to purchase the offer Black Friday which is only for those who pay in BTC
And then they simply cannot USE the bitcoins they believe they bought with you.
How is that? pic.twitter.com/z7dsLXPAYQ
— Seiiti Arata (@seiitiarata) November 24,
After the outburst, many who saw the publication commented that customers already knew that buying at institution would be like this. When Nubank started to release the purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies, it had the support of the company Paxos to carry out the custody.
From the beginning, the bank said that it would not release withdrawals, nor receive bitcoin deposits. Other companies in Brazil adopted the same business model, but industry experts began to question the practice.
Custody at brokerage houses is going through a delicate moment
The reason for the warning against the sale of bitcoin by Nubank is that custody is currently one of the hot topics in the sector.
With the end of FTX – who claimed to have custody of customers’ cryptocurrencies, but a day later stopped withdrawals – many want to create their own wallets and store their digital currencies safely.
For the profile that made the alert in Brazil, Nubank does not sell real bitcoin, but only a synthetic financial product.
They didn’t make it clear. Open the app and see for yourself. There it says they are SELLING BITCOIN. False. If you understand what bitcoin is, you know that what is being traded there does not have the characteristics of bitcoin. They are selling a synthetic, a financial product pegged to BTC pic.twitter.com/RY0JNtipCx
— Seiiti Arata (@seiitiarata) November 24, 2022
Livecoins reached out to Nubank for comments on the process of withdrawals and deposits, but has not yet received a return.


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The popularity of multiplayer online battle arenas has begun to rise in an unstoppable manner. Mobile Legends is on the verge of conquering the world with this invitational event.
ONE Esports / Mobile Legends
ONE Championship is sports media in Asia that recently launched its subsidiary ONE Esports, a gaming platform. In their bid to remain at the top of the market, ONE Esports announced the launch of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Invitational, scheduled to run from the 2nd of May to the 5th of July 2020. Top players from across the globe will battle for the grand prize pool of around $150,000 (236,274 AUD).
Bang Bang is a multiplayer online battle arena game that was designed to be played on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. It was launched back in 2016 and has been the most played multiplayer online battle arena game in SE Asia.
Additionally, it has been able to reach 500 million downloads, with over 80 million active players per month, and has been released to 139 countries. Plus, it has been localized into over 20 languages that operate on thousands of servers to ensure that the game runs smoothly. Furthermore, during the 2019 SEA games, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was recognized as a medal game.
The invitation by ONE Esports was designed to gather the top mobile legends in Southeast Asia. This tournament happens to be the first promoted with the Moonton (the ‘developer). The tournament was developed to train the top MLBB teams, celebrate the success of the game as well as encouraging the fans across the world.
The qualifying matches start on the 2nd of May and run through to the 17th of May, 2020. The online qualifying matches will be broadcasted in each country while the final matches will be played in Jakarta scheduled to begin on July 1st up to July 5th, 2020.
The schedule per country is as follows
- May 2nd to May 3rd: Indonesia and Singapore
- May 9th to May 10th: Malaysia and the Philippines
- May 16th to May 17th: Myanmar, Laos and Thailand
Players in the competition are all playing to win a total prize pool of $150,000. Here is the breakdown of the prize pool
- 1st place – $50,000
- 2nd Place – $25,000
- 3rd Place – $20,000
- 4th Place – $15,000
- There are also consolation prizes for the teams that participated in the competition.
Discounts and in-game Prizes
The tournament was designed to be part of the annual 515 celebrations of Mobile Legends. The celebration usually takes place in Singapore and Malaysia; however, due to the pandemic, the celebration was moved online.
As part of the celebration, the MLBB will host a series of online events such as Art contest, E-party, and photo challenge starting on the 16th of May. There would be several amazing in-games prizes for players that participate in these events.
The organization will be giving huge discounts on the exclusive character skins throughout the length of the event.


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No matter what you think of Apple, it is a hard fact that this US company releases some of the most interesting hardware devices on the market. The latest Apple Mac Pro computer is a prime example – the device came in an unusual case that... Read more
The arrival of more and more gaming micro-ATX motherboards has allowed the easy creation of small-sized gaming computers that offer all the power of their bigger computing brethren. But what good is a micro-ATX board installed in a much larger... Read more
The PC chassis maker Lian Li has released the all-new O-Series of wall-mountable and open-air chassis. The new line consists of four models as of now – PC-O5, PC-O5S, PC-O6S and PC-O7S – and all of them reflect the feedback of the... Read more
The Taiwanese maker of PC chassis, power supplies and cooling solutions Xigmatek has presented its budget-oriented Mach chassis. The new company product measures 410 x 180 x 405 mm but there’s no information on its weight. The chassis is made... Read more
Corsair has announced a new computer chassis – the Obsidian 750D — that sits between the Obsidian 800D and Obsidian 650D and combines traits of both cases.
The Obsidian 750D measures 235 x 560 x 546 mm and weighs 9.5 kilograms... Read more
The famous hardware and memory maker Corsair has exhibited a new PC chassis that promises everything galore — please meet the Obsidian 900D.
The new computer case packs all the features even the most dedicated hardware enthusiasts... Read more
Thermaltake has announced two new PC cases — the Versa G1 mid-tower PC case and the Versa G2 chassis.
Completely black on the outside and inside, the Versa G1 measures 429 x 196 x 481 mm, weighs 4.5 kilograms and sports a side... Read more
Thermaltake has officially introduced its new Overseer RX-I PC chassis, specifically designed for the needs of the gamersRead more
iBUYPOWER outs a new limited edition Dragon Chassis, designed in conjunction with AMD, featuring NZXT Lexa enclosure and metallic AMD Dragon on itRead more
Thermaltake has announced their new gamer-oriented PC case and as they claim is “the world’s first SideClick EasySwap HDD docking mid-tower”. The Armor A60 chassis, measures 480 (H) x 210 (W) x 500 (D) mm, weights 7.1kg, has black... Read more


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Everyone’s looking for additional revenue streams, and November offers the opportunity for two of them in the form of robust takeout sales.
First, there’s the eve of Election Day: Tuesday, November 3. We can’t imagine anyone wanting to do anything other than staying in, getting good and drunk (open the ’61 Cheval Blanc and make it a special occasion), and stuffing themselves with the most comforting food they can fit into their mouths. Biden voters will be celebrating, Trump voters will be drowning their sorrows, and everyone else will be raising a glass to the end of political ads.
Then, of course, there’s Thanksgiving. Given the uncertainty around restaurant restrictions come Thursday, November 26, offering Turkey Day specials may be the only way to bring in money. Nick Kokonas (of Chicago’s Alinea Group) points to preorders of over $100,000 for the day at the group’s flagship restaurant, and anticipates making over 5,000 pounds of gravy and 2,000 turkeys.
While not everyone can be a three-starred Michelin restaurants with an international reputation (and Coloradans don’t seem to be big on preordering), there’s still plenty of room for creativity. Skip the turkey and offer a menu of just side (everyone’s favorite part). Don’t have room to store a dozen turkeys? Opt for Thanksgiving chickens (gatherings will be smaller this year). Tock has highlighted some restaurants offering Turkey Day dinners; visit its website for inspiration.
What are your thoughts about doing takeout for one day? Email your experiences (and thoughts, opinions, and questions—anything, really) to email@example.com.


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If this leak is indeed accurate, this could be prove to be another viable competitor to the Amazon Echo Show, and it's expected to make an appearance just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Hopefully the "Google Home" branding on this device means Google is going to patch up some of the feature disparities between a Google Home speaker and the Google Smart Display software. But Lenovo's display is an inch bigger. Thanks to photos leaked on MySmartPrice, we now know that the Home Hub screen is a 7-inch touch display.
The pricing and availability for the Home Hub has been tipped by Android Authority as being "available later this fall for $149". Surprisingly, it looks like Google won't be including a front-facing camera for Duo calls as we've seen with other Smart Display.
The product will be offered in two colors, chalk and charcoal, and weighs in at about a pound. The Google Home Hub should combine a simple touchscreen with voice controls through the Google Assistant. The company announced partnerships with Lenovo, Sony, LG and JBL to build smart displays at CES earlier this year, and Lenovo began shipping its Google Assistant-powered smart display last month.
Google may attempt to differentiate itself from rivals by launching a smart display with a smaller screen, as it tries to cater toward consumers who would use it for things like weather updates and reminders, instead of things like watching videos. Currently, Smart Displays can't join a Google Home speaker group for whole-home audio, and neither do they support the "Continued Conversation" mode. It can access Google Photos via voice commands, and the Live Albums feature allows users to see these photos in a slide-show format.


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This year sees Hisense turn 50, and it’s celebrating the landmark with its biggest IFA presentation yet. At the trade show in Berlin, the Chinese brand is showing off its latest Laser and 8K TV models for the UK/European market.
Hisense has brought its latest Laser TVs in the 100L5 Sonic screen, 100L9 and 75L9 models to IFA 2019. These Laser TVs work by using a short-throw projector to beam an image to a thin, lightweight screen that hangs off a wall.
Related: Best TVs 2019
What makes Laser TVs different from traditional projector technology is that they’re capable of higher brightness, so ambient light affects the image less than it would with more normal projection technology.
First up is the 100L5 Sonic Screen, which features a Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) inside the TV’s screen that emits audio. Also on show are the 100L9 and 75L9 Laser TV models, both of which are capable of producing a “near-infinite array of colours, including pure white”, and can achieve Rec.2100 HDR standard.
Hisense’s ULED range will be getting a run out too. The 85U9E 8K TV is equipped with an 8K Super Resolution Upscaler for beefing up 4K picture quality. The TV also has a ridiculous sounding 1,694 local dimming zones, all of which are controlled by the AI-derived Hi-View Engine, which constantly adjusts picture quality.
Related: What is 8K TV?
Hisense has also unveiled its Dual Cell ULED XD models for the European market. The 4K 65U9E and the 8K 75U9E feature the brand’s Dual Cell technology, which uses a 1080p grayscale panel placed behind an RGB panel for huge contrast ratios (150000:1), and detail that Hisense claims is “unlike any other traditional LCD single panel TV”.
Last but not least, Hisense’s current European range will be on show in the O8B – Hisense’s first OLED model – as well as the U8B and U7B. Trusted Reviews has already reviewed the O8B and U8B models, and we thought both models performed well.


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Samsung may bring Galaxy S22 with Exynos 2200 to US, SD898 to India
The next Samsung flagship chipset is the Exynos 2200, likely to launch some of the Galaxy S22 phones in early 2022. Reports from South Korea state that the business might break its traditions and introduce phones to the United States and China with an in-house processor.
Two major carriers in the countries, Verizon and China Telecom have begun negotiations with Samsung to offer exclusive models with Exynos chips while maintaining the Qualcomm option of their domestic competitors.
However, it seems that the current Exynos is a powerhouse, which is why companies are trying to reach an agreement with the Korean manufacturer.
The source also stated 100% of Samsung Galaxy S22 devices in Europe, arriving from the South Korean newsletter board, will get the next Exynos in the tradition, but India may transfer into team Qualcomm.
Another fascinating piece of information from the released source is the situation at Samsung’s Suwon Headquarters. The division of IM (IT & Mobile communication) calls on the Semiconductor team to cut the cost of the chip “because to Exynos2200’s low output.” The mobile unit is already negotiating for lower prices with Qualcomm, which is why it is difficult for the S.LSI team to decline any suggestions.


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Digital technology is no longer something that belonged only to science fiction movies or specialized publications. Even the notion of computers becoming a household appliance has turned into an old understatement. The spread of technology has made people’s lives a lot easier, but it has also brought a few concerns, especially when it comes to teenagers using, or overusing, digital devices and/or the internet.
It may seem rather contradictory to say that tools that were designed for the very purpose of enhancing communication, such as cell phones or social networks, are actually impeding social interaction, but that does seem to be the case sometimes, especially when instead of an aid, they become a necessity without which people can’t seem to live.
In the end, technology, like everything else, has its advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages of new technology like E-mail, for instance, is quite useful to affordably communicate with people who are in different cities and countries. On the other hand, personal interaction with family and friends is also important for an individual’s development. Environment friendly technology is also becoming very popular in several fields.


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One of the models might look like the iPhone X 5.8 inch OLED
New rumours have surfaced regarding the apple iphone 2018 version and according to them, Apple is supposed to release three iPhones for 2018; one which will be similar to the original iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED, there will be an iPhone X Plus with a 6.5-inch display and a more budget friendly iPhone X or iPhone 9 with a 6.1-inch LCD display.
The latest set of images were shared by tipster Ben Geskin who has the handle @VenyaGeskin1 on Twitter, which reveal the front panel of all three upcoming iPhones. It looks like iPhone X Plus will have a slightly thicker bezel. However, all three 2018 iPhones will continue with the notch on the front, where the Face ID camera and its components are housed. Apple is expected to continue with Face ID on all three 2018 iPhones, even the budget option.
The leaked panels are in line with other rumours we have seen around the 2018 iPhone series. Apple is could also introduce a dual-SIM variant of iPhone X Plus and the budget iPhone 9, according to earlier reports. Bloomberg had reported that Apple might be exploring dual-SIM options in some markets, though whether that turns out to be true is something we will have to wait and see. The company has never offer dual-SIM options of its iPhone series.
Apple’s iPhone 9 or the cheapest iPhone X in the 2018 series will also come with a single rear camera. The dual-rear camera system will be limited to the other two iPhone X variants. According to an Apple analyst, the iPhone X budget variant could start at $600, while iPhone X with 5.8-inches display will have a price of $800. Finally, iPhone X Plus will be the most expensive on the list with close to $1000 price point
Apple iPhone 9 or the budget iPhone X could also come without 3D Touch feature, according to some reports. Instead it will have a tougher glass on the front. The new 2018 iPhones are expected to launch in September.


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September sees the launch of the new 69 registration plate. Make sure your customers are fully protected in the event of a write-off.
Chris joined JLU in 2018, having previously worked for AVIVA for 27 years as a Commercial Underwriter...
Available free of charge for BIBA members. The importance of GAP Insurance with Jackson Lee Underwriting.
New research from consumer group Which? found four out of five of the best-selling cars in the UK were found to be at risk of "keyless theft".
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has appointed Jackson Lee Underwriting as their official GAP scheme provider for a further 3 years.


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Milk market overview in Ukraine and the world
Rising prices for dairy products The FAO dairy price index averaged 147.1 points in April, 1.3 points (0.9%) higher than in March, the eighth consecutive…
The World Milk Crisis 2020 - what are the scenarios for future events?
The World Milk Crisis 2020 - what are the scenarios for future events? Volodymyr Andriets analyst Association of Milk Producers During the global quarantine analytical…
Number of cows: since July, the industrial sector has been declining
According to the State Statistics Service, the total number of cows as of October 1, 2021 is 1.64 million, which is 5.9% less than last year, - said the analyst of the Association of Milk Producers Vоlоdуmуr Andriіets.
A draft low that will support domestic dairy producers
The Verkhovna Rada registered the draft low №6155 "On the basic principles of trade in food products", the adoption of which will regulate relations between producers and suppliers of food products and retail chains.
The trend of rising milk prices continues
The upward trend in milk prices continues, although the growth rate has slowed down as much as possible, said Volodymyr Andriіets, an analyst at the Association of Milk Producers.
Rising prices for dairy products are projected further
Another increase in prices of almost all categories of dairy products showed the latest monitoring in the largest retail chains - an average of 6.5% for 8 months of 2021.
The Council extended the deadline for submitting information on the final beneficiaries of legal entities
The Council extended by 9 months the deadline for submitting information on the final beneficiaries of legal entities.
DIAM and Minagro answered key questions of agricultural producers during the webinar
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine (Minagro) and the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning (DIAM) held a joint webinar for agricultural producers, during which they answered key questions about the algorithm of work for agricultural enterprises, including those who are currently applying for commissioning and preparing to apply for state support programs.
Industrial milk production decreased by 1.4%. The seasonal factor will increase the shortage of raw milk material on the market.
According to the results of eight months, 6 million 35.2 thousand tons of milk of all grades were produced in Ukraine, which is 6.2% less than in the corresponding period last year. This is due to the rapid decline in households and insufficient supply from the industrial sector.
The number of industrial cows is increasing
As of September 1, there are 1,655.2 thousand cows in Ukraine, which is 5.9% less than in 2020. Of these, 425.2 thousand cows were housing in the industrial sector, and 1 million 230 thousand heads - in households.
The first farm in Europe for 2500 cows with a closed technological cycle will work in Mykolayiv region
STOV "Promin", members of the Association of Milk Producers, are completing the construction of a unique cow house for Ukraine with the simultaneous housing of 2,500 cows with cross-ventilation. The commissioning of the complex is scheduled for October 2021.


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Kate Connolly -
Apart from the gold-plated exterior – and the fact that they are bulletproof – they seem much like any other vending machine. But instead of condoms or chocolate bars, a network of "gold-to-go" machines dispenses 24-carat bullion in a smart presentation box.
Originally designed as a marketing device for an online gold trading business, the machines have become such a success that their inventor plans to build a global network, installing them everywhere from fitness centres to cruise ships. ...
via Gold bullion – coming soon to a vending machine near you | Business | The Guardian.


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Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli USA has tapped celebrity chef Curtis Stone to help kick off its "Taste the Difference" campaign, a program aimed at educating consumers about the importance of innovation, quality ingredients and expert craftsmanship.
The Stratham, N.H.-based chocolate manufacturer will unveil a series of educational vignettes starring Stone, which will show consumers the impact these elements have on everyday indulgences.
Furthermore, to give chocolate lovers the opportunity to actually taste the difference for themselves, Lindt is sharing two million coupons for its products – including the company's newest innovation, the LINDOR Sea Salt truffle – via the company's Facebook page.
Through the "Taste the Difference" program, Lindt is pairing its expertise in chocolate making with Stone's in the culinary arts to introduce consumers to the key elements that result in great taste. Lindt and Stone have teamed up to create a series of videos to educate consumers on ways to enhance everything they eat, drink, or make, whether it’s brewing the perfect cup of coffee, whipping up a delicious dessert, or indulging in premium chocolate.
The videos, which can be found on the Lindt Facebook page and YouTube page, showcase the impact that quality ingredients, skill and passion can have on chocolate and culinary creations alike.
"As a chef and chocolate lover, I know that extra touches, like high quality ingredients, can have a huge impact on the tasting experience," says chef and Top Chef Masters host, Curtis Stone. "I'm thrilled to partner with a company like Lindt that truly understands the importance of these subtleties and to educate people on how to experience expertly crafted products."
Through the "Taste the Difference" program, Lindt is also giving away two million coupons on its Facebook page to offer consumers the opportunity to experience its range of chocolates. The downloadable coupons can be used for $2.00 off any Lindt product (3.5 oz. or greater), including the new LINDOR Sea Salt truffles or Stone's personal favorite, EXCELLENCE A Touch of Sea Salt.
"Chocolate making is an art that, when done with the right techniques, dedication and passion, results in truly exceptional chocolate," says Thomas Linemayr, Lindt USA’s ceo and president. "Our master chocolatiers are experts in this art and are constantly creating premium chocolate innovations, such as our new LINDOR Sea Salt truffles. We are thrilled to partner with Curtis Stone to educate consumers about creating extraordinary culinary experiences and to offer millions of opportunities for them to fall in love with premium chocolate."


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Georgia has taken to Instagram to share a sneak peak into her latest FHM shoot.
The model mum’s most recent FHM shoot is a far cry from her racier shoots pre-motherhood.
In the snap, the brunette beauty is wearing a white long sleeved t-shirt and matching white underwear – an outfit that’s far more demure than her previous lingerie ensembles.
Her tousled locks combined with her toned down make-up allows us to see Georgia’s natural beauty.
She captioned the photo saying, “@revistafhm this month @staceyclarkephoto #shorthair @mauriceflynn on hair short @goldfeverhair just for #fhm.”
We’re absolutely loving Georgia’s new look!


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Google Play Store
‘Agent Smith’ Malware Infects 25 million phones worldwide
Fifteen million devices in India are infected and 800,000 in Southeast Asia.
Glassfire Games publishes 'Where's Najib?'
Singapore-based indie mobile game studio releases satirical mobile game.
Digi's Q3 net profit rises 7.2% to RM385mil
Telco sees stronger quarter-on-quarter performance across the board.
Modalku launches mobile app for lenders
App provides convenience and mobility from sign-up to crowdfunding for alternative investments.
Acer debuts three new Chromebooks
Chromebooks are still a thing and Acer is confident that it can capture the education and business market with them.
Groupon Malaysia is now Fave
Fave announces that Groupon Malaysia will be consolidated under a single brand and operate as Fave moving forward.
CatchThatBus, Transnasional launches home delivery option
CatchThatBus has launched a new Home Delivery option, becoming the first bus-ticketing app available to provide such a feature.


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The Windsor Assembly Plant will shut down for three weeks after the Christmas holiday, the automaker said Tuesday.
Chrysler workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant will start the new year on a three-week layoff.
More than 4,500 workers, who start a regularly scheduled Christmas shutdown on Monday, will continue to be off the job from Jan. 2 to Jan. 21, according to the company. The shutdown is “part of the company’s ongoing operating pattern to align production with market demand,” said Chrysler spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.
The layoff also is expected to have a ripple effect on more than 1,400 workers at the four unionized Tier 1 auto parts plants that feed Windsor Assembly, said James Stewart, first vice-president of CAW Local 444.
While Chrysler needs to do what’s best for the company’s profitability, the layoff comes at time when people have maxed out their spending, said Stewart.
“It’s after Christmas, when people need money the most,” said Stewart. “Everyone feels it.”
Windsor Assembly workers on layoff receive employment insurance and supplementary unemployment benefits payments that amount to 65 per cent of their net pay. But most workers won’t get that amount because they have to wait two weeks before filing a claim for EI and one week for SUB, said Stewart.
The situation is more bleak for auto parts worker who only receive employment insurance benefits, he added.
Over the last two years, parts shortages have led to sporadic shutdowns at the Chrysler plant, which manufactures the 1,490 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans a day on three full shifts. Chrysler also imposed a one-week shutdown in January and February of this year because of parts issues, said Stewart.
Although minivan sales across North America are up this year compared to last year, Chrysler wants to avoid excess capacity, said Tony Faria, professor emeritus of business at the University of Windsor.
“They don’t want a return to that inventory situation that forced them to offer whopping discounts and where they were not making money on the vehicles,” said Faria. “They want to keep incentives to a minimum.”
U.S. year-to-date sales of the Town and Country are up 21 per cent, while demand for the Caravan is up 29 per cent.
“Chrysler had a terrific year with the minivan,” said Faria. “It has remained the leading seller, commanding close to 50 per cent the minivan market share across North America. But, all along it seemed as if they had been producing more than they were selling. So, this is sort of an inventory correction.”


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“First, let’s take a look at several factors that can affect EMI/EMC: the Circuit structure of the driving power supply; switching frequency, grounding, PCB design, and reset circuit design of the smart LED power supply. Because the original LED power supply is a linear power supply, but the linear power supply will lose a lot of energy in the form of heat during operation. The working...
Recently, the camera module parts of the Samsung Galaxy M31 mobile phone have been exposed; it can be seen that with 5 punch holes, this mobile phone will use a four-camera + flash design.
According to news reports, an anonymous and reliable industry source disclosed the situation of the Samsung Galaxy M31 mobile phone camera module; it can be seen that the rear camera module of this mobile phone uses five opening designs, which basically confirms that the Samsung Galaxy M31 mobile phone will use “L” type four-camera and flash design.
Regarding other information about the mobile phone, it was revealed that it will use Exynos 9611 or Snapdragon 665 AIE chips, 6GB of memory and a new red color scheme. In terms of camera, the main camera is 48 million pixels, and it also has an ultra-wide-angle lens and a depth sensor. There is currently no exact information on the fourth camera.
In addition, Samsung is currently developing Samsung Galaxy M11, Samsung Galaxy M21 and Samsung Galaxy M41. It is expected that these phones will be officially released in the first quarter of 2020.


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Copyright and Creation, a policy brief from a collection of respected scholars at the rock-ribbed London School of Economics, argues that the evidence shows that piracy isn't causing any grave harm to the entertainment industry, and that anti-piracy measures like the three-strikes provision in Britain's Digital Economy Act don't work. They call on lawmakers to take an evidence-led approach to Internet and copyright law, and to consider the interests of the public and not just big entertainment companies looking for legal backstops to their profit-maximisation strategies.
“Contrary to the industry claims, the music industry is not in terminal decline, but still holding ground and showing healthy profits. Revenues from digital sales, subscription services, streaming and live performances compensate for the decline in revenues from the sale of CDs or records,” says Bart Cammaerts, LSE Senior Lecturer and one of the report’s authors.
The report shows that the entertainment industries are actually doing quite well. The digital gaming industry is thriving, the publishing sector is stable, and the U.S. film industry is breaking record after record.
“Despite the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) claim that online piracy is devastating the movie industry, Hollywood achieved record-breaking global box office revenues of $35 billion in 2012, a 6% increase over 2011,” the report reads.
Even the music industry is doing relatively well. Revenue from concerts, publishing and digital sales has increased significantly since the early 2000s and while recorded music revenues show a decline, there is little evidence that piracy is the lead cause.
“The music industry may be stagnating, but the drastic decline in revenues warned of by the lobby associations of record labels is not in evidence,” the report concludes.
Piracy Isn’t Killing The Entertainment Industry, Scholars Show
Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s creator-owned comic Sex Criminals is a filthy, hilarious heist story about a couple who discover that they can stop time while orgasming, and keep it frozen until they become horny again — so they use their power to rob banks in order to rescue a library from foreclosure (naturally). The first two series of the comic are collected in Big Hard Sex Criminals, a fabulous hardcover whose plain pink wrapper comes off to make it look like you’re reading a book on DIY pet euthanasia.
Abrams directed the first two Star Trek reboot movies and is producing the third one for Paramount; he says he convinced the studio to drop its controversial lawsuit against Axanar, a crowdfunded fan-film (a suit that included a dubious claim about the copyrightability of the Klingon language) telling them that the lawsuit “wasn’t an appropriate […]
The March 29 edition of Airbnb’s terms of service requires that people who rent out their homes acknowledge that despite the company’s widely advertised Host Protection Insurance program, “you understand and agree that Airbnb does not act as an insurer.”
Jared Sinclair developed the RSS reader app Unread, which made $10,000 in its first 24 hours on the iOS market. And we’ve all heard the story of Flappy Bird developer Dong Nguyen, whose creation was reportedly earning $50,000 a day at the height of its 2013 explosion. While those are rare examples, they’re also testament to the […]
If you or your company’s IT system are besieged by black hat cyber attacks, an ethical hacker might be all that stands between crippling damage and a company’s long-term prosperity. It’s no wonder that the market for IT security specialists is exploding. Certification is the key – so learn the tenets of ethical hacking and get […]
Your laptop and mobile devices are top of the line…so why are you trotting out that raggedy decades-old suitcase when you go somewhere? Time to up your travel game with a complete 5-piece Herschel Travel Luggage bundle…and we’ll even give it to you for free!Of course, you’ve got to win the Ultimate Herschel Travel Bundle […]


text: An Italian man who attempted to smuggle 42,000 cigarettes out of the country has been arrested, authorities said yesterday, as experts emphasized that the case was just a minor incident in an illicit trade that is flourishing in Greece. Members of the Economy and Finance Ministry’s Special Inspections Service (YPEE) arrested the suspect, who was not named, after he and an accomplice, who remains at large, attempted to transport via a courier company more than 2,100 packets of cigarettes that were hidden in items of furniture. YPEE sources said that the transfer of contraband cigarettes through Greece is rife and yesterday’s incident is hardly worth serious attention. In 2008, for instance, some 215 million smuggled cigarettes were confiscated in the country, up from 149 million the previous year. It is estimated that 8 percent of cigarettes purchased in Greece are contraband. Whereas a normal pack of smokes would cost about 3 euros, one that has been smuggled into the country will be sold for about 2. In some cases, the cigarettes are made from inferior contents and can be even more damaging to smokers’ health. Contraband cigarettes usually reach Greece from China via Dubai or Egypt and are hidden among other merchandise in shipping containers. Another popular route is via Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. Experts say that ships leave there headed for Montenegro but often unload cigarettes at ports in the Ionian or on Greece’s western coast. YPEE officials said that since on paper these shipments are perfectly legal, the vessels cannot be stopped and searched at sea. Sometimes cigarettes manufactured in Greece are bought tax-free, loaded onto foreign vessels and then unloaded at another Greek port and sold, illegally, here.


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Here’s a blast from the past. I just happened to come across the listing for the 8-inch ASUS Eee Note EA800 over on Newegg this morning for $179. For those of you without a ridiculously good memory for niche gadgets, the ASUS Eee Note EA800 was first released back in November 2010 in Taiwan, and […]
The last week of February, Asus announced that the EEE Note EA-800, a blend between an ereader and digital notepad, is coming to the US for less than $200. Asus’s other ereader, the DR-900, is selling in Europe and Taiwan, but has yet to make an appearance in the US.
First released in Taiwan back in November, and then Europe earlier this month, the Asus Eee Note EA-800 is now headed to North America with a sub-$200 price. The Eee Note is combination of a digital notebook and ereader. It has an 8-inch monochrome touchscreen that supports 64 levels of gray with a resolution of […]
The Asus Eee Note EA800 isn’t your run of the mill ebook reader. This clever device is designed for note-taking and sketching as well as ebook reading. It has an 8-inch anti-glare glass screen with 64 levels of gray and 768 x 1024 resolution. The touchscreen is equipped with an ultra-sensitive Wacom digitizer for capturing […]


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2 Suspects Sought In Prescription Drug Robbery At San Francisco WalgreensTwo suspects forced their way into a store on San Francisco's Ocean Avenue on Monday afternoon and made off with prescription medication, according to police.
Suspect Arrested in San Carlos Walgreens Holdup May Be Linked to Other RobberiesA 28-year-old Stockton man arrested last week following a robbery at a Walgreens store in San Carlos could be connected to similar robberies on the Peninsula and the East Bay.
COVID Vaccines: Inoculations Begin At Veterans Home In YountvilleVaccinations against COVID-19 are underway at the California Veterans Home in Yountville, the state's Department of Veterans Affairs, also known as CalVet, announced Thursday.
Man Arrested In Strong-Arm Robbery At Millbrae PharmacySan Mateo County sheriff's deputies arrested a man suspected in a strong-arm robbery at a pharmacy in Millbrae on Wednesday.
Pacifica Police Release Photos Of Pharmacy Robbery SuspectsPacifica police were searching Thursday for a pair of suspects who allegedly stole drugs, including oxycodone, in a strong arm robbery of a local Walgreens pharmacy.
Feds Charge 2 Alleged Shoplifters Who Coughed, Claimed 'We Have COVID' At San Francisco WalgreensTwo women have been charged in federal court with stealing merchandise from a San Francisco Walgreens while coughing loudly and claiming that they were infected with coronavirus.
Walgreens To Pay $7.5 Million To Settle Fake Pharmacist CaseWalgreens will pay $7.5 million to settle with California authorities after an employee was criminally charged with impersonating a pharmacist and illegally filling more than 745,000 prescriptions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
3 Suspects Jailed For Allegedly Stealing Nearly $4,000 In Merchandise From Milpitas WalgreensThree men on probation for separate crimes were arrested Wednesday for stealing merchandise from a Walgreens store in Milpitas, police said.
Google Affiliate Begins Drone Deliveries In Small Virginia TownA Google affiliate started using drones Friday to deliver customers' Walgreens and FedEx purchases in a test being run in a Virginia town.
Walgreens Plans To Shut 200 Stores In U.S.Pharmacy chain Walgreens plans to close 200 stores in the United States as it seeks to cut costs.
AG's Office Charges Bay Area Woman Who Allegedly Posed As Walgreens Pharmacist For 11 YearsState prosecutors on Tuesday announced the filing of criminal charges against a Milpitas woman who allegedly impersonated two different pharmacists and illegally dispensed prescription drugs.
Woman Accused Of Posing As Walgreens Pharmacist For YearsA Bay Area woman is accused of posing as a pharmacist and handling nearly a million prescriptions before she was caught, the California Board of Pharmacy confirmed Wednesday.
Walgreens To Pay $2 Million After Mega Box Allegedly Sold Expired Baby Formula, MedsMega box store Walgreens has come under intense scrutiny by Northern California law enforcement after allegations of inaccurate price scanning, and "sell by" violations for infant formula and medication.
Walgreens Installs Safes To Prevent Prescription Pill RobberiesWalgreens is taking a cue from the banking business to try to keep people from robbing its pharmacies.
Would-Be Walgreens Robber Dies After Security Guard Shoots HimA possible robbery suspect died Tuesday afternoon after a security guard shot him Monday night at a San Jose Walgreens store, police said.


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According to a new Frost & Sullivan white paper, the number of consumers using digital payment methods continues to increase worldwide—and so do concerns about online fraud. With 6.17 million data records stolen every day by cybercriminals, companies doing business on the internet have two choices: win the digital trust of consumers or lose revenue. […]
The DigiCert Blog
This is the first of a series of technical blogs that DigiCert is publishing on quantum computing and the coming post-quantum transition. Upcoming articles will provide additional, easy to understand information about what is happening and steps that can be taken now to prepare for the future. Bookmark our blog and follow us on Twitter […]
Panasonic Connected Solutions Company builds IoT solutions that connect with people, devices and services. Chief Engineer Saburo Toyonaga and team develop security software for B-to-B IoT devices. They have developed an encryption module that permits incorporation of a certificate at manufacturing, and that runs efficiently even on CPUs with slower speeds or lower specifications. Panasonic […]
Even with the astronomical computing power needed to crack 256-bit SSL encryption, the cost to break SSL encryption makes it impossible.
A strong password policy doesn't need to be the only line of defense to your systems and network. Adding multiple layers of security creates extra protection for users and resources in the event of a data breach.
Social engineering is psychological manipulation of people’s minds in an attempt to influence them into divulging confidential information.
Enterprise data security today must address the growing sophistication of attacks and innovative methods to gain access to confidential information.
80% of employees are currently using their own device to access company resources. SSL has proven effective for data security in response to BYOD challenges.
IoT security needs to address improper device access control, lack of network security, and how to stop bad actors from stealing sensitive data.
The right way to build WiFi securely is to use already tried and true principles like a foundation of encryption with protocols designed specifically for WiFi.
Black Hat 2014 reminded us to think considerably more about security implications, and take an activate stance in support of data safety and user privacy.
Experts confirm that HTTPS everywhere and Always-On SSL for Websites is a positive step forward in personal privacy and online data security.


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A curated selection of the weekend's most newsworthy tech stories from all over the Web. Sign up to get the newsletter delivered to you everyday.
The "anti-software" company joins forces with one of the biggest small-business software makers out there, striking another blow on behalf of the cloud.
Salesforce.com's (CRM) future depends on rapid expansion of its customer relationship management business and its ability to become the platform of choice for developers of cloud-based business applications.
But the company can't do it all alone. That's why this morning Salesforce.com announced a strategic partnership with Intuit, maker of MOREMichal Lev-Ram, writer - Apr 1, 2011 1:01 PM ET
The Mint.com founder now runs a big part of Intuit and invests in startups on the side. Here, his take on Jack Dorsey's Square and the one investment on which he's glad to take a pass.
If you're not one of the 5.6 million active users on Mint.com, we suggest you give it a long, hard look, because even the most business savvy can benefit from its services, whether it's saving MOREJP Mangalindan, Writer - Apr 1, 2011 11:12 AM ET
|Where should you put your money now?|
|Boost for trade as global deal struck|
|Someone bought a $100,000 Tesla with Bitcoins|
|2 million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack|
|No news is good news for stocks?|


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Gourmet Master Co (美食達人), which operates coffee and bakery chain 85?C (85度C), yesterday said that continued outlet expansion in the US is expected to drive its sales growth this year.
The greater Seattle area would be one of the company’s main target markets in the US in the next few years due to its population of nearly 4 million, Gourmet Master said in a statement.
The firm also plans to gradually expand its footprint on the US west coast toward the east coast, saying that the states of Texas and Washington would be some of its top priorities.
The firm last month launched two 85?C stores in California and one in Washington state, boosting its number of US outlets to 43.
Last year as a whole, the company opened 15 outlets in the US, the fastest pace since it entered the market in 2008.
Outlets in the US enjoy a higher profit margin than in other markets, with same-store sales of more than US$10,000 per day, Gourmet Master said.
Last month, the company told an analysts’ conference that it would open at least 15 stores in the US this year, supported by the introduction of two central kitchens to ensure supplies, Yuanta Securities Co (元大證券) analyst Juliette Liu (劉珮昀) said in a client note on Jan. 10.
The operating margin of the US outlets is likely to reach 14 percent this year, up from 13.7 percent last year, thanks to a satisfactory utilization rate, Liu said.
Apart from the US market, Gourmet Master plans to add between 30 and 40 stores in China, where it already has more than 580 outlets, Liu added.
The company yesterday reported that revenue for last month totaled NT$2.02 billion (NT$68.69 million), a 7.79 percent increase from NT$1.87 billion the previous year on the back of the outlet expansion in overseas markets.
Separately, the nation’s two other major listed restaurant operators saw their consolidated sales for last month decline from a year earlier due to a higher comparison base.
Tai Tong Food & Beverage Group (瓦城泰統集團), which operates six restaurant chains led by Thai Town Cuisine (瓦城泰式料理), said its revenue fell 25.22 percent to NT$305.47 million from NT$408.51 million the previous year.
Wowprime Corp (王品集團), which owns 22 restaurant chains with a total of 419 outlets, said in an e-mailed statement that its sales fell 17.8 percent year-on-year to NT$1.26 billion from NT$1.53 billion.
END TO SPECULATION: The hotel’s management contract has been extended, despite reports that it wanted to end its alliance with Hyatt Hotels over a deal with Riant Capital Singapore-based Hong Leong Hotel Development Ltd (豐隆大飯店股份) yesterday said it has extended a management contract to ensure the continued presence of the Grand Hyatt brand in Taipei, ending rumors that the two sides were parting ways. “We are pleased Hyatt is able to come to terms on the extension of the management contract of Grand Hyatt Taipei,” said Kwek Leng Beng (郭令明), executive chairman of City Developments Ltd (城市發展) and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Ltd (千禧國敦酒店). Hong Leong Hotel Development is a subsidiary of Millennium, and both fall under the Hong Leong Group (豐隆集團). The Grand Hyatt Taipei (台北君悅大飯店), owned and built by
’WHITE BOX’: The open platform would give local firms access to Cisco’s cloud-based mobile network to develop 5G telecom equipment and tap into the global market The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday introduced a new 5G “open lab” in collaboration with US-based information technology and networking giant Cisco Systems Inc to address the rapidly growing “white box” 5G networking equipment market. The open lab will be a platform where Taiwanese manufacturers can access Cisco’s cloud-based mobile network to develop their own 5G telecom equipment, such as small-cell base stations, network switches, modems and Internet of things (IoT) devices, a ministry statement said. The open platform would allow Taiwanese manufacturers to tap into the lucrative 5G telecom equipment market, which was previously monopolized by Nokia Oyj, Ericsson AB
Nintendo Co is raising its target for Switch production to about 25 million units this fiscal year, people familiar with the matter said, as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic keeps lifting demand and component shortages ease. The Kyoto, Japan-based company, which in April hiked orders to 22 million units by March next year, is asking partners to tack on another few million units, said the people, who did not want to be identified discussing internal goals. Assembly partners plan to work at maximum capacity through December. The new production target suggests that Nintendo is likely to outperform its Switch sales forecast of 19 million
NERVOUS MARKET: With the infection sources still unknown for three COVID-19 cases that had departed Taiwan, investors have become uneasy, an analyst said Local shares yesterday came under heavy downward pressure, falling more than 1 percent as renewed fears over a possible increase in domestic COVID-19 infections hit market sentiment after the nation last week reported a case related to a Belgian national. Selling focused on the bellwether electronics sector, led by contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), which pushed down the broader market as investors ignored gains posted by tech heavyweights on the US market at the end of last week, dealers said. The TAIEX closed down 151.77 points, or 1.2 percent, at 12,513.03, on turnover of NT$231.43 billion (US$7.84 billion). Foreign


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A major drawback to 3-D printing – the slow pace of the work – could be alleviated through a software algorithm developed at the University of Michigan.
The algorithm allows printers to deliver high-quality results at speeds up to two times faster than those in common use, with no added hardware costs.
One of the challenges for today’s 3-D printers lies in vibrations caused as they work. A printer’s movable parts, particularly in lightweight desktop models, cause vibrations that reduce the quality of the item being produced. And the faster the machine moves, the more vibrations are created.
“Armed with knowledge of the printer’s dynamic behavior, the program anticipates when the printer may vibrate excessively and adjusts its motions accordingly,” said Chinedum Okwudire, an associate professor of mechanical engineering who directs U-M’s Smart and Sustainable Automation Research Lab.
To ensure details are reproduced accurately, the machines are operated slowly. And the pace of 3-D printing is one of the factors that has prevented the technology finding a broader audience.
Armed with knowledge of the printer’s dynamic behavior, the program anticipates when the printer may vibrate excessively and adjusts its motions accordingly.
Okwudire cited statements made last year by one 3-D printing company executive about the issues holding the industry back.
“We’re just waiting for the next evolution of the technology,” Simon Shen, CEO of XYZPrinting, told TechCrunch last year. “If they can do it much faster, more precise and easier, that will bring more people to 3-D printers. Not waiting for four to six hours for a print, but 40 to 60 minutes.”
In explaining how his algorithm works, he uses the example of someone trying to deliver a speech in a large hall. To reach ears in the farthest rows, that speaker will have to shout.
Should someone produce a megaphone, and the speaker still continues to shout, their voice will be overly amplified and cause the audience to squirm. Using the megaphone in a normal voice, however, produces the right clarity and volume.
“Our software is like that person who realizes their voice is going to be overly amplified,” Okwudire said. “It acts preemptively because it knows that the behavior of the printer is going to be ahead of time.
“Eventually, one of the places we would want to see the algorithm applied is in the firmware – the software that runs on the printer itself,” he said. “That way, it will be integrated with the printers, regardless of the size.”
Okwudire said his software can also be used on a variety of industrial-grade machines which suffer from similar limitations due to vibrations.
The Latest on: 3D printing speed
- This 3D-Printed Sequential Gearbox Shows You Exactly How It Changes Gearson October 9, 2020 at 9:39 am
And to be fair, the sort of sequential "dog box" seen in this great YouTube video is one of the more straightforward designs for transmissions. It uses a barrel cam, a reasonably simple shift ...
- This 3D Printed Creation Turns Your DualShock 4 Into a HOTAS Suitable For Star Wars Squadronson October 9, 2020 at 3:27 am
There's a custom HOTAS that can be 3D printed for the DualShock 4 and comes with triggers so users can play Star Wars Squadrons.
- Essentium launches DryBox 3D printing material storage cabineton September 29, 2020 at 2:12 am
Essentium has announced the launch of a 3D printing filament storage unit to protect materials in a humidity-controlled environment.
- Team Penske and Stratasys Extend Technical Partnership to Bring 3D Printing Performance to NASCAR and INDYCAR Racingon September 26, 2020 at 8:31 am
Team Penske and Stratasys have signed a new multi-year technical agreement to bring 3D printing to NASCAR and INDYCAR racing.
- 3D Printing with Visible Light Gets a Speed Booston September 23, 2020 at 7:55 am
Still an important improvement, the speed-boosting catalysts reside in the resin that ... Page and his team build on a history of 3D printing advancements made at The University of Texas at Austin. In ...
- Multicolor 3D-printing promises novel optical deviceson September 21, 2020 at 8:38 am
Advances in stereolithography, the 3D printing technique in which light is used to form solid structures from photocurable resins, have made it an attractive method of manufacturing a range of items, ...
- Rapid 3D printing with visible lighton September 16, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Now, researchers have developed photopolymer resins that boost the speed of visible-light curing. 3D printing has driven innovations in fields ranging from art to aerospace to medicine.
- Rapid 3D printing with visible lighton September 16, 2020 at 9:02 am
3D printing has driven innovations in fields ranging from art ... Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed photopolymer resins that boost the speed of visible-light curing.
- Rapid 3D printing with visible lighton September 16, 2020 at 7:46 am
3D printing has driven innovations in fields ranging ... Central Science have developed photopolymer resins that boost the speed of visible-light curing. With the help of computer-aided design ...
- ZoomMaker 2K SLA 3D printer hits Kickstarter from $149on September 14, 2020 at 2:50 am
ZoomMaker is a new 2K SLA 3D printer launched by Kickstarter this month offering high-speed printing at high resolutions at an affordable price point. Over 500 backers have already taken advantage ...
via Google News and Bing News


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Amazon is known for making enemies with its partners. The latest company to experience friction with the online giant is Wal-Mart, who said today that they will no longer sell Kindles in their stores.
In a memo sent out to store managers yesterday, Wal-Mart explains, “We have recently made the business decision to not carry Amazon tablets and eReaders beyond our existing inventory and purchase commitments. This includes all Amazon Kindle models current and recently announced.”
Reuters has more: “Wal-Mart said the decision was consistent with its overall merchandising strategy. While Wal-Mart dwarfs other retailers in overall sales, it trails Amazon and others in online sales and has been trying to beef up its Internet business. Consumers who buy Kindle tablets such as the new Kindle Fire HD can shop on the devices for more than just digital books, pushing Amazon into heightened competition with stores.”
Earlier this year Target stopped selling Amazon’s Kindle products.


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We're almost a week into Season 5 of Fortnite Chapter 2, and players have been relishing in all of the new updates and changes it has made to the beloved Battle Royale game. One of the most buzzed-about additions has been a crossover with Star Wars: The Mandalorian, including the character appearing as one of the many new NPCs in the game, and the ability for players to visit the titular character's Razor Crest ship on the map. In addition, there has been a slew of Mandalorian-themed cosmetics, from Din Djarin/The Mandalorian's (Pedro Pascal) armor to a matching piece of back bling and glider. According to a new leak, there's a chance that the Mandalorian crossover could soon be continuing. Reddit user SmearReddit recently uncovered a Mandalorian-themed pickaxe that is in the works, under the codename of "Cosmos".
A Mandalorian Pickaxe is/was being worked on! Cosmos is Mandalorian's code name and a WIP "CosmosWeapon" was included in the pickaxes this update. (via me) from r/FortniteLeaks
Fans have already speculated about exactly what this pickaxe could look like, especially after Mando recently came into a staff made of Beskar in the events of Season 2. That could definitely be a possibility, or a pickaxe themed around some other aspect of the character's now-iconic getup.
Of course, this leak isn't necessarily confirmation that a Mandalorian pickaxe is definitely on the way, or exactly when it would be available in the game. But this does provide an interesting indication of the lengths Fortnite is going to in order to foster its latest Star Wars crossover. After previously offering some cosmetics (and a surprisingly-canonical event) tied to the release of The Rise of Skywalker last year, and multiple "May the 4th" themed events, it's safe to say that Fortnite has raised the bar with its Mandalorian-themed content.


text: Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —GBK and The Institute for Athletes present the GBK Super Bowl Weekend Luxury Lounge with Woodchuck USA, on Friday, February 2nd and Saturday, February 3rd at Cambria Gallery on 7th. Institute for Athletes, a company that takes a unique approach to athlete representation and are intimately involved in every aspect of their clients’ lives, brought talent by the Luxury Lounge to be gifted and thanked for the entertaining and exciting year of football they have given us. NFL players were treated to many items, including apparel from Cambria and a gift certificate for up to $15K for a kitchen renovation. Woodchuck USA, along with engraving the wooden press wall logos, was on-site customizing wooden gift sets including flasks, pocket squares, luggage tags, notebooks, cufflinks and phone cases. Pinnertest, a food intolerance testing company that can identify an individual’s food intolerance, offered at-home tests to assist in identifying food intolerances that may lead to weight gain, acne, bloating eczema, and psoriasis. Maebane Wear is a trendy, up-scale Chicago clothing company where luxury meets unisex.


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PARIS — The second edition of the Loewe Craft Prize is set to cement its reputation as a magnet for the most avant-garde work in the field, with creations ranging from a blown glass sphere more than one meter wide to a ceramic bowl covered in red Ferrari car paint.
Loewe on Thursday named the 30 finalists, and the winner — to be revealed on May 3 — will walk away with 50,000 euros. The list includes entries from as far afield as Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, Singapore, Chile, the U.S., Poland and the U.K., among others.
“The level has gone up, in terms of the types of people applying, ranging from amazing new people who you’ve never heard of, who are making things that are just fantastic, to incredibly well-known names,” said Anderson, noting the presence of established artists like Jennifer Lee and Takuro Kuwata, who both specialize in ceramics.
While the number of submissions is down by about half from the first edition, the designer sees this as a positive development. “It’s interesting that the level of people that maybe didn’t apply last year, we have now got,” he said. “It’s starting to refine itself, which I think is a really good sign for the prize itself.”
A collector of everything from modern art to ceramics, fabric, glass, silverware and woodwork, Anderson has made the prize into an integral part of his vision for Loewe, which is controlled by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
“I do see Loewe as a crafts brand. We have amazing craftspeople who we really pride ourselves on. We’ve spent a lot of time developing that and for me, it’s just something which is fundamental,” he said, noting that the Spanish house began as a collective of artisans in 1846.
The Loewe Foundation has acquired works by last year’s winner, German wood sculptor Ernst Gamperl, and Anderson tapped Anne Low, one of the finalists, to design an installation using linen for the runway show for his signature fashion house, J.W. Anderson, staged at the Pitti Uomo trade fair last June.
Another collaboration with Low, for Loewe this time, should see the light later this year. Anderson has also worked regularly with Sarah Flynn, another finalist from the first edition, on projects including an exhibition at the Loewe store during Art Basel Miami Beach.
“The whole point of this is support, it’s not just only about money,” said Anderson, who regularly showcases work in Loewe stores and at the brand’s runway shows in Paris.
Finalists of the 2018 edition, who range in age from 26 to 76, include Japanese artist Arko, who created a wall hanging from bunched rice straw, and France’s Simone Pheulpin, who made a sculptural piece by patiently layering cotton strips reclaimed from car tires.
Also in the running is Joe Hogan, whose wicker baskets, woven around a central core of reclaimed fallen wood, helped inspire Anderson to create the prize in the first place.
The other finalists are Paul Adie, Richard McVetis, Aneta Regel, Wycliffe Stutchbury and Takeshi Yasuda from the U.K.; Hae Cho Chung, Joonyong Kim and Yeonsoon Chang from South Korea; Ann van Hoey from Belgium; Mercedes Vicente from Spain; Ryuhei Sako and Shohei Yokoyama from Japan; Gunilla Maria Åkesson from Sweden; Steffen Dam from Denmark; Sam Tho Duong from Germany; Laurenz Stockner from Italy; Rita Soto from Chile; Irina Razumovskaya from Russia; Julian Watts and Christopher Kurtz from the U.S.; Deirdre McLoughlin from Ireland; Marie Janssen from Austria; Sara Gackowska from Poland; Min Chen from China, and Ashley YK Yeo from Singapore.
They were selected by a panel of 11 experts gathered in Madrid. “This year, the judging was harder than prior years, with the standard of applicants impressively high across every category,” Anatxu Zabalbeascoa, chairwoman of the Loewe Craft Prize jury, said in a statement.
“Our chosen works reflect an almost alchemical manipulation of each medium’s possibilities and reward those who have mastered traditional skills in order to transform them for the contemporary age,” she added.
The works will now come under scrutiny from Anderson and his jury, which includes authorities such as Rosy Greenlees, president of the World Crafts Council; furniture and product designer Toshiyuki Kita; Deyan Sudjic, director of the Design Museum in London, and Patricia Urquiola, architect and industrial designer.
The winning work and all shortlisted entries will feature in an exhibition at the Design Museum in London, set to run from May 4 to June 17, and an accompanying catalogue. The winner will be unveiled at the opening event of the show.


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Legislators seek to halt sales in deference to the state’s oil and gas production industries
Cheyenne, Wyo.—A joint resolution expressing support for phasing out the sale of new electric vehicles (EVs) in Wyoming by 2035 has been introduced. It is supported by four state senators and two state representatives.
The bill‘s language states that the oil and gas production has “long been one of Wyoming’s proud and valued industries,” and noted that gas and oil in Wyoming have created “countless jobs” and have “contributed revenues to the state throughout its history.”
The proposed legislation also argues the following:
• “Since its invention, the gas-powered vehicle has enabled the state’s industries and businesses to engage in commerce and transport goods and resources more efficiently throughout the country.”
• “Wyoming’s vast stretches of highway, coupled with a lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, make the widespread use of electric vehicles impracticable for the state.”
• “The batteries used in electric vehicles contain critical minerals whose domestic supply is limited and at risk for disruption.”
• “The critical minerals used in electric batteries are not easily recyclable or disposable, meaning that municipal landfills in Wyoming and elsewhere will be required to develop practices to dispose of these minerals in a safe and responsible manner.”
• “The expansion of electric vehicle charging stations in Wyoming and throughout the country necessary to support more electric vehicles will require massive amounts of new power generation in order to sustain the misadventure of electric vehicles.”
• “The United States has consistently invested in the oil and gas industry to sustain gas-powered vehicles, and that investment has resulted in the continued employment of thousands of people in the oil and gas industry in Wyoming and throughout the country.”
• “Fossil fuels, including oil and petroleum products, will continue to be vital for transporting goods and people across Wyoming and the United States for years to come.”
• “The proliferation of electric vehicles at the expense of gas-powered vehicles will have deleterious impacts on Wyoming’s communities and will be detrimental to Wyoming’s economy and the ability for the country to efficiently engage in commerce.”
• “Phasing out the sale of new electric vehicles in Wyoming by 2035 will ensure the stability of Wyoming’s oil and gas industry and will help preserve the country’s critical minerals for vital purposes.”
The bill is sponsored by Senator(s) Anderson, Boner, Cooper and Dockstader and Representative(s) Burkhart and Henderson. As of this publishing, no committee meetings or floor sessions have been scheduled.


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Last year, Hurricane Dorian brought massive destruction to The Bahamas. The damage was unlike anything the islands had ever witnessed before, leaving around 70,000 Bahamians homeless. Although much of the Bahamian infrastructure is leveled, resilient islanders were quick to begin reestablishing their livelihoods. Now the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill, slicing through The Bahamas’ tourism economic sectors. Paired with the global shortage on toiletries and PPE, the citizens of these popular vacation islands are withstanding two pandemics; fortunately, however, local charities have stepped in a major way. Here are three Bahamian charities providing life-saving aid through these times of struggle.
3 Bahamian Charities Combating COVID-19
- The Dignified Project: People living in poverty around the world already struggled to obtain supplies and health services. Now that stores and public transports are closed due to natural disasters and the virus, combined with rising prices and economic uncertainty, the impoverished are facing even greater hurdles. But imagine a massive shortage of essential items that help manage the natural disposition of the body. No, not toilet paper. Think more on the lines of tampons. It’s called period poverty. One major, yet underrated stifle for the economic development of menstruating women is the lack of access to hygiene products that help manage menstrual health. The Dignified Project is a nonprofit organization that provides young girls with feminine hygiene products. Not only do they provide these essential items for free, but they also educate young girls in The Bahamas on building confidence, demonstrating body positivity and increasing awareness of health and “social concerns related to their biological development.” According to its Instagram page, The Dignified Project offers two kits: bras, underwear and other essential undergarments; soap and tampons or pads. Phillipa Dean, the initiative’s founder, reported that the organization has been distributing products more frequently due to heightened demand from COVID-19, which first ravaged the country on March 15.
- The Bahamas Light Industries Development Council (BLIDC): The Bahamas Light Industries Development Council (BLIDC) is an organization formed by and for Bahamian manufacturers and producers. The organization’s aim is to “promote and expand, and to preserve and protect light industries operating in the Bahamas.” In the past, members of the BLIDC, alongside other companies like bakeries and breweries, have rendered services to non-governmental organizations by aiding struggling households and communities. Although businesses like BLIDC are not fully performing manufacturing functions, these Bahamian charities still ensure access to food and beverages. Upon hearing about the recent shortage grits, a prominent food staple in Nassau, the BLIDC reached out to island partners in search of resources. In addition to supporting local businesses, the BLIDC donated what was harvested to the Bahamas Feeding Network.
- Hands for Hunger: Volunteer drivers are delivering food packages to Bahamians in need. According to its website, Hands for Hunger has delivered more than 150,000 pounds of food to 40 agencies since the dawn of COVID-19 in March including senior living homes, children’s homes and churches. As a result of this organization’s efforts, more than 2,100 Bahamians are being assisted bi-weekly with approximately 400 families having received food assistance over a three-month period.
Between natural disasters, a pandemic and pre-existing struggles with poverty, the Bahamas undoubtedly have several unique challenges left to work through. However, with continued support from passionate Bahamian charities, there is promise for the nation to repair itself in the near future.
– Katrina Robinson


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Landry's acquires Galveston's Moody center
Landry's acquires Moody center
Fertitta won't reveal plans for Seawall building
Published 5:30 am, Friday, August 20, 2004
Landry's Restaurants has reeled in another big catch in Galveston.
The Houston-based seafood restaurant chain purchased the Moody Civic Center, which has been renamed Beach Central.
Landry's purchased the property, at 2100 Seawall Blvd., from a company owned by Galveston native and oil and gas magnate George Mitchell.
The purchase price of the land, which sits next to the Mitchell-owned Hotel Galvez, was not disclosed.
"We felt like Beach Central was a key waterfront property in Landry's efforts to revitalize Galveston through a re-energized Seawall," President and CEO Tilman Fertitta said in a prepared statement.
But Fertitta won't reveal what he will to do with the vacant building on two acres of land, saying plans are still "under development."
Over the last few years, Landry's has redeveloped much of the island's Seawall Boulevard from 52nd to 57th streets.
Last year, the seafood restaurant giant opened a Rainforest Cafe, Retail Village and River Adventure Ride.
The Moody Civic Center, a well-known convention center in its heyday, was completed in 1957 and used as meeting space through the early 1990s.
The company also owns the Downtown Aquarium in Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk and the Ocean Journey in Denver.


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In his current role as chief data officer (CDO) at supermarket giant Sainsbury's, a job he's held for seven months, Andy Day is responsible for creating the retailer's overall information management strategy,...
Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API specifically disallows asking people to share their location data
Data collected also includes people's names, location details, identification numbers and online identifiers
The company says it is not confident that it has full visibility on which users will need to be informed
The Home Office is allegedly considering measures to compel Facebook to break encryption on its messaging apps
The company says this is old data previously reported in 2019


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We’re constantly hearing about the importance of emerging markets – how there is an untapped consumer base that the financial giants of the world can quickly capitalise on to send profits surging. However, not everyone agrees that should be the focal point for operations.
Focusing on Lloyd’s of London’s recent efforts to plant flags across a host of emerging economies – it has opened offices in areas such as Mumbai, Dubai, Casablanca, Bogota and Mexico City in recent times – Andrew Brooks, the incoming chair of the Lloyd’s Market Association offered a different perspective. Instead he believes that more effort should be made across the vital North American market.
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CIO Succession Planning Made Simple. Finding the new you is never easy. But when you're global CIO of a $US14 billion company, some would argue, it's a fiduciary responsibility to figure out who will succeed you when you retire. That's what June Drewry, global CIO of The Chubb Corp, says. And she's thought about succession planning almost since the day in October 2005 when she arrived at Chubb from rival Aon Corp.
Read the media story here.


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TAMIU Launches New
2.0 tamiu.edu Web Site
A new web experience for Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is just a click away at www.tamiu.edu. On Monday, April 1, the University launches its 2.0 version of tamiu.edu, offering a responsive web experience.
Steve Harmon of the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services (PRMIS), said the University’s web site is its most powerful recruitment, branding and communication tool.
“Our site now encompasses over 96,000 pages. On an annual basis it attracts over 6.6 million views from virtually every known country. With changing standards in access and expected features by users, we’ve redesigned our web experience to be more fluid and responsive,” Harmon said.
Web-based inquiries fuel the majority of the University’s dynamic recruitment initiatives, Harmon said.
“2.0 tamiu.edu capitalizes on that to grow both undergraduate and graduate enrollment, support our brand and its attributes, strengthen audience engagement, more fully integrate social media and provide a more relevant web experience across access devices,” he said.
The TAMIU development team employed responsive design in its creation of 2.0 tamiu.edu, becoming the first campus in The Texas A&M University System to deploy a comprehensive responsive web design, he noted.
“Responsive design basically creates a web experience specific to the user’s access point. The web page dynamically adapts itself to respond to the access device used. The page automatically reshapes for desktop, tablet or smartphone use in an instant,” he explained.
Other features of the redesigned tamiu.edu.2 include full compliance for impaired access, the large-scale use of photos, a “follow you” navigation bar, dynamic pull-down menus with fly-outs to linked features, calendars with live downloads, a news gallery, an embedded social media panel, college-specific news, calendar and degree information ,a dedicated online section, emergency notifications and survey capability.
Leading the tamiu.edu development was director of web and student information services Mario Peña, Rory King, associate director of web development and content management and PRMIS brand and identity manager Ana Clamont.
For additional information, click on tamiu.edu, email email@example.com, call 956.326.2180 or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.
University news and information is also available on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests
and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information
Services at firstname.lastname@example.org


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On March 25, the designers at each of Ideo’s 11 international offices put their other projects aside and spent the day thinking about Ideo. The aim was to brainstorm a new identity system–the second time it’s been overhauled since the firm was founded in 1991–and the ideas, which can be viewed on a Tumblr dedicated to the project, took many forms. There were experimental business cards and animated GIFs, handmade crafts and polished mini-movies. One designer envisioned a “biannual cosmic event,” in which an “optical obelisk” would project a massive Ideo logo on a nearby building on the days of the vernal and autumnal equinox.
All of the proposals have something to do with Ideo–they reflect its outlook, its ethos, its employees, or its services–but at the same time, they’re all reaching towards something greater, too. And that was the point. The brief the designers received that morning didn’t just ask them to come up with a new identity system for Ideo. It asked them to come up with a new way of thinking about corporate identity altogether.
Traditionally, identity systems have had the straightforward but crucial role of communicating presence. They mark territory. The goal of Brand New Ideo, as the initiative is called, is to think about what else they might be able to do as we move into the future. Or, as Michael Hendrix, the director of Ideo’s Boston studio and the designer spearheading the effort puts it, it’s a search for an identity system that might not just communicate presence but intent, too.
Hendrix put the challenge to me metaphorically, with the firm represented by a person with a wardrobe full of outfits. “There’s you, the person, and you have your full identity in yourself,” he says. “But you know contextually when to wear certain things. You might wear one thing to a funeral, you might wear one thing for a Saturday night. You understand those contexts. And those never change your identity, so to speak, but they do start to communicate some kind of intent. And that’s what we’re trying to figure out right now. How do you create some kind of contextual mirror to create intent.”
In more concrete terms, Hendrix is searching for an identity that can help convey what mode Ideo is in, so to speak, in a given situation–whether it’s being fun or serious, curious or authoritative; whether it’s asking you a question or offering you a solution. That means coming up with an identity that’s flexible and adaptable and expressive–something that might be more aptly described as a platform than a system.
For a company as varied as Ideo, that type of flexibility makes sense. “We’ve become far more diverse in personalities, and disciplines, and capabilities, and geography,” Hendrix explains. “And having a monolithic face doesn’t feel appropriate anymore.”
But it’s an important pursuit in a broader sense, simply because of how much our conception of brands has changed in the last 10 or 20 years–and how much our technology has changed over that same period. “Monolithic solutions are a necessity of yesterday, because of the permanence and cost of communication,” Hendrix wrote in his opening remarks for the project. “Now we’re in an ephemeral and affordable age, and mass distribution at low cost is possible thanks to the digital revolution.”
Complex, dynamic logo marks have been one way of pushing back against that monolithic tradition–Ideo’s current mark, with its infinitely configurable blocks, was an early example–but Hendrix thinks there’s a more substantive direction to take. “The digital revolution let us make more complex identity systems, but what’s the point?,” he says. “At some point, you start asking, ‘why do I need 10,000 configurations of a mark? What’s it really saying to me?”
This all might sound dangerously abstract–and, right now, it is. Which is in part why Ideo enlisted not just one group of designers but every employee on its staff to lend a hand in finding the way forward. Ultimately, the firm decided it was important the process reflect the outcome they hoped for: inclusive, flexible, and transparent.
But in this case, where the aim was particularly nebulous, that initial 24-hour Make-a-Thon sprint was invaluable simply as a way to get the ball rolling.
“That’s been the greatest part about this whole process to me, the speed at which we’re going through it,” Hendrix says. “It forces us to follow our instinct, it forces us to communicate quickly with one another. [Because] you can overthink it. And going at a fast past, and doing it with so many people, you can get to a pretty good idea quickly, without getting yourself caught in some kind of cyclical puzzle.”
The next step will involve a smaller team, drawing from the pool of ideas that emerged in the brainstorming sessions. But the process will remain an open one, with milestones reported to the public along the way. And they plan to keep up the pace in the next phase; the team hopes to have settled on a rough idea for the new platform in about a month’s time.
Hendrix says they’re still not sure how things will shake out, but there were some patterns among the brainstormed ideas that seemed promising. The signature Ideo blocks turned out to be a surprisingly expressive medium, and they’ll likely remain the visual basis for the identity. The novelty might come in what’s inside of them.
“The concepts that stood out to us were the ones that provided some kind of contextual mirror or window,” Hendrix says. “So sometimes you can see the world through the blocks; sometimes they’re a stamp in the world.” Depending on where they’re being deployed, they could show you a certain color palette that’s regionally significant, say, or traffic patterns based on your city.
Another promising trend that emerged was the abundance of animations and short videos. “We didn’t really anticipate that,” Hendrix says, “That’s got us pretty excited as well … What I would hope is that we get simpler in projecting the meaning of something. That may not be visually simpler. It actually might be more complex than we’ve seen.”
Imagine it’s 15 years in the future, and you’re wearing Google Glass 3.0. The spectacles have matured far beyond their awkward picture-in-picture beginnings, now offering something much closer to true augmented reality. It’s a strange new hybrid world. You glance at a subway station and see an overlay of how long until the next train arrives. You look at a dog, wonder what type it is, and a voice in your ear identifies it as a Thai Ridgeback. Of course, commerce has kept apace. A window display at Macy’s comes to life when you look in its direction; a virtual billboard on top of the Starbucks facade rotates through a half dozen drink specials.
This future, or one like it, isn’t hard to fathom. But here’s something that’s a bit harder to pin down: What does the logo on that Starbucks look like?
That’s one of the things Hendrix hopes this project will get his designers to start considering. “We haven’t had to think about responsive identities,” he says. “We haven’t had to think about time or space. And I think those will all become more important dimensions.”
“The complexity of this conversation to this point has been: ‘Do we animate or do we not animate?'” he continues. But augmented reality–or really any interactive digital space in which a brand tries to do something more than simply announce its presence–poses all sorts of challenges. “How do you express [a mark] physically and digitally? What kind of life does it have? How is it born in that moment, and how does it go away? How does it tell you why it’s there? Those are all really interesting questions.”
But to see it as simply a matter of whiz-bang animated logos is too shortsighted. What Ideo’s really searching for is a better way of communicating in general–an identity system flexible enough to work in countless new situations, across myriad channels. “It’s a complex idea, but I think it’s actually a more human idea,” Hendrix says. “And that’s what we’re trying to work towards; a more human way of expressing identity.”