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Digital transformation has improved the efficiency, innovation, and access to services for customers, according to a report out today from the London lobby group TheCityUK.
Contactless payments have increased by 115% year-on-year in June 2017, which accounts for a total of 470 million transactions in that month alone.
As a result, cheques have fallen out of fashion, with payments down by 69% over the last ten years. Cheque payments now make up just 0.4% of all payments across the UK.
The use of online banking has doubled as 63% of customers’ accessed their accounts without the need for face-to-face interaction in the past decade.
From 2012 to 2017, UK banking apps increased from 21% to 61% with log-ins reaching 159 per second in 2016 across a total of 19.6 million users.
The financial and related professional services industry has made a large contribution to the economy, contributing £11 of every £100 of UK economic output and £14 of every £100 of UK tax revenue raised.
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In 2016 to 2017, the industry contributed £72.1 billion of tax, which is half the total health budget.
TheCityUK chief economist and head of research Anjalika Bardalai said:
This industry is a fundamental part of local economies across the country. It is a major employer, providing high value jobs in all regions and nations of the UK.
It’s Britain’s biggest net exporting industry and its largest contributor of tax, helping to pay for vital public services like the NHS, schools or the armed services. Ensuring its ongoing growth and success will be critical to the future success and prosperity of the UK as it leaves the EU in 2019.
GlobalData principal analyst Daoud Fakhri supports these findings. He said:
Banks are in the process of enhancing their digital onboarding capabilities, which will allow them to sign up new customers online or via mobile – digital signatures and the ability to capture photo IDs via a smartphone camera are key technologies here.
GlobalData’s Retail Banking Insight Survey shows that the proportion of online consumers in the UK who use mobile banking on a daily or weekly basis increased from 31% in 2016 to 38% in 2018.
Our survey data shows that there has been a shift from in-branch to online application for current accounts in the UK. Of these who opened their account in 2007 or earlier, 75% did so in-branch, 9% online. Among those who opened their current account in 2014-17, it was 51% in-branch, 38% online.
A big shift, but the branch is still a hugely important acquisition channel, so banks close them at their peril. Nevertheless, commercial pressures will force banks to continue closing branches, as these represent a significant fixed operating cost.
The financial services industry currently provides employment for 2.3 million people across the UK with two-thirds of workers outside of London and based in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, and Manchester.
Fakhri told Verdict what the key facts mean for the financial technology sector.
There has been a lot of hype about fintech over the last three to four years, but the reality has lagged behind. Very few fintech firms have achieved significant scale, with Monzo, a mobile-only bank, being one of the few exceptions. Monzo has harnessed the power of social media and word-of-mouth recommendation to gain over 600,000 customers. However most fintechs are far smaller and do not pose a significant threat to the established banks.
A new development in the UK and EU is the launch of open banking, where legislation has forced banks to permit third parties, such as fintechs, to access customer data (with their permission) via open APIs. The aim of this is to promote innovation and make it easier for fintechs to compete more effectively and acquire customers more easily. One possibility arising from open banking is the ability of banks to integrate third party services into their own digital platforms through open APIs. Monzo is doing this, as is Starling Bank, another mobile-only bank: a current account is the only in-house product that both providers are offering, and all other products — savings, investments, insurance etc— are being sourced from third parties and built into their platform.
So the future of fintech is more likely to be one of collaboration and partnership with the big banks, rather than outright competition. Both need the other: the big banks can supply the customers, the regulatory expertise, and the funding, and the fintechs can supply the innovation, technological expertise, and creativity.
While collaboration over competition may be the result of the expanding digitisation, a TheCityUK spokesman disagrees.
If any company fails to adapt to changing circumstances and the evolving needs of their customers they risk being over taken by competitors. This is in the nature of a market economy. But it would be fruitless to try to make predictions on which ones will success or fail – or what the outcomes of this would be.
In a CityUK report last year, the financial services body envisioned a world-leading industry by 2025. It predicted that the industry will have transformed itself to be highly digitised, emphasising the need for a shift from protected physical assets to protected digital assets.
It found the UK will also need to prepare for the potential threat posed by the lack of access to EU markets.
“The UK has a globally leading fintech ecosystem with an effective clustering of talent, capital, regulators, and clients. However there are funding gaps across the lifecycle and a need to further invest in cyber-security, while developing and adopting transformative enabling technologies,” the report noted.


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Chinese fintech start-up PanPay has completed a pre-A round worth around tens of millions of RMB from Beijing-based venture capital firm Source Code Capital, according to a WeChat announcement.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, PanPay provides multi-currency bank accounts, global cross-border payments, foreign exchange, bank cards and other off-shore banking services for small and medium enterprises and individual users.
The one-year-old company has branches in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Europe and the United States with four financial licenses to operate the above mentioned financial services in these regions and countries. One of the licenses is the China financial information service license, for conducting business in mainland China. The Bank of Lithuania also issued PanPay Europe a license for payment services for trading enterprises and individuals.
The founder of PanPay, Allen Zhou, has worked for nearly 10 years in cross-border payment industry for McKinsey, Microsoft, ICBC and UnionPay International.
“With the One Belt and One Road Initiative, the demand from cross-border financial services by small and medium-sized enterprises has been increasing rapidly,” said Allen Zhou.
The proceeds of the round will be used to build PanPay’s digital banking products and services integration.

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In a sign of the massive shifts in retail and online payments, Square announced on Aug 1 that it would acquire Australian fintech Afterpay for $29 billion, its largest acquisition to date.
Afterpay, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service, allows customers to break up a transaction into installments. This fast-growing type of unsecured lending is altering retail and online purchases, consulting firm McKinsey & Company recently reported. Fintechs have taken the lead in the BNPL space, diverting $8 billion to $10 billion away from traditional banks in annual revenues, McKinsey noted.
The acquisition of Afterpay will “be like adding rocket fuel to the flame,” and will drive up consumer and merchant use of BNPL in the U.S., said Alyson Clarke, a principal analyst who specializes in financial services with research firm Forrester, in an email to Bank Automation News.
“It’s one more step towards Square’s desire to dominate small business banking and payments,” especially on the heels of the July announcement about Square Banking, Clarke said. “The addition of a BNPL offering for consumers will embed additional value and strengthen the merchant ecosystem even further — making it easier for Square to lure merchants away from the traditional banks.”
Another sign of BNPL’s surge right now: Indonesian-based BNPL platform Kredivo announced today it will go public in a $2.5 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company, sponsored by Victory Park Capital.
The McKinsey study found that 60% of customers said they would likely use point-of-sale (POS) financing over the next six to 12 months.
The BNPL market is projected to grow 33% over the next three years, according to recent data from FIS’ Global Payments Report, making it the fastest-growing sector in fintech through 2024. FIS predicts BNPL will double its ecommerce market share from 2020 to 2024, making BNPL 4% of all ecommerce transactions. That may appear to be a small percentage, but it is the fastest-growing online payment system in both the U.S. and the U.K., FIS added, representing ecommerce market shares from 2% to 5% in the U.S. and from 5% to 10% in the U.K.
The big question is how regulators will respond, Forrester’s Clarke said. While regulators in Europe have started to more closely scrutinize BNPL, it remains largely unregulated territory.
“Some players only do soft credit checks before lending to customers, and others like Afterpay do no credit checks at all,” Clarke said. “Around the world, regulators have already started to look more closely at this market with the aim of increasing consumer protection.”
News of the Afterpay acquisition overshadowed Square’s other announcement this week — its second-quarter earnings results. In a letter to shareholders, the company reported a gross profit of $1.14 billion — up 91% year-over-year — in the second quarter of 2021, with its Cash App generating a gross profit of $546 million and its seller ecosystem generating $585 million.
Square posted a net loss of $204 million, up from $39 million in the first quarter. In Q2, the company recognized a $77 million gain on its equity investments and a $45 million bitcoin impairment.
Shares of Square [NYSE: SQ] were trading $269.49, down 1.06% from market open as of 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.


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NBC News– kratom is well known as a herbal supplement, it has surged in notoriety, inciting pushback from the FDA.
Bobby DiBernardo credits the natural substance kratom with getting him off and alcohol, heroin and oxycodone six years prior.
“It helped to save my life,” he added. “I could almost have passed on any day from the overdose of heroin, but the Kratom effects gave me another healthy and comfortable life. It supported me to manage the pain of withdrawal.”
DiBernardo, 41, of Rochester, New York, still blends a teaspoon of the natural and herbal powder into a glass of water on more than one time per day and beverages it even that he said that it tastes terrible or some like horrible.
He is only one of a large number of Americans — conceivably as much as 15 million, as prescribed by appraisals from the American Kratom Association (AKA) — to use kratom, a natural and herbal supplement produced using the leaves of the Mitragyna speciose tree local to Southeast Asia.
Since at any rate the nineteenth century, the leaves have been either bitten or fermented in tea by people in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia to reduce pain, ease weariness and lift the mood. Kratom is accepted to act as a stimulant at a lower dosage and has narcotic-like painkilling impacts and narcotic properties at higher dosages.
But, as the natural herb, it has gained huge popularity in the U.S., protection concerns have provoked the Food and Drug Administration to caution buyers against kratom use and to take action against organizations making fake health claims.
“We have given various alerts and warnings about the genuine risks related with the consumption of kratom, including admonitions about the defilement of kratom items with high paces of salmonella that put people taking kratom items in danger, and brought about various diseases and acted,” FDA Commissioner Dr Ned Sharpless said in a June 2019 proclamation, when the organization gave cautioning letters to two organizations selling kratom.
“Regardless of our alerts, organizations keep on selling this hazardous item and make tricky restorative cases that are not upheld by science or any strong and logical proof.”
As per the report, six states —Indiana, Rhode Island, Alabama, Arkansas, Vermont and Wisconsin — and the District of Columbia have even made the stride of prohibiting and banning the supplement.
That is the other move that kratom details, adding Lois Gilpin, 58, of Louisville, Kentucky, restrict.
Gilpin has been blending kratom powder into making orange juice around a few times each day for a long time and says it assuages the chronic pain in her left leg and back so well that she would now be able to get up and make the most of her family once more.
“It’s certainly not a fix-all,” Gilpin said. “yet, for it to function admirably enough that I’m ready to get my granddaughters from school and take them to the recreation centre is immense.”
She was so dazzled with the use of kratom that she started volunteering to facilitate the internet based life endeavours of the AKA, a buyer support bunch in Virginia that was established in 2014.
Thus the question is still here, is kratom extremely so high? Or on the other hand, is more caution required?
Is Kratom Safe To Use?
That relies upon whom you ask — and sentiments differ broadly.
The FDA has given a strong caution against kratom usage. “FDA is worried that kratom, which influences the equivalent narcotic brain receptors as morphine, seems to have properties that open clients to the dangers of habit, misuse and reliance,” the different states.
While, ” FDA has not approved the use of kratom, and the organization has gotten concerning reports about the protection of kratom,” the FDA says in an announcement.
“FDA is effectively assessing all accessible, logical info on this issue and keeps on notice shoppers not to utilize any items labelled as containing the organic substance kratom or its psychoactive substance, mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine.”
Moreover, in 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration went similarly as briefly posting kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance — a grouping that simply means it has no acknowledged medicinal use and a high potential for maltreatment or abuse— just pulling back the choice after an open objection and a focused on request exertion from supporters.
The FDA additionally has communicated worries that kratom items might be debased with overwhelming metals or salmonella and that advertisers are making deceiving health claims.
In 2018, such as the herb was connected to a multistate episode of salmonella, provoking a required review by the FDA. (A particular wellspring of that pollution was not recognized, while, it might have happened during the developing or assembling process.) And an April 2019 investigation of 30 different kratom items discovered hints of substantial metals, added lead.
Over the year during the winter season, the FDA gave cautioning letters to two organizations for selling “unapproved, misbranded kratom-containing drug items with problematic cases about their capacity to treat or treatment for opioid addiction and withdrawal indications.”
It’s that illusion that it is a plant so it will be OK.
What’s Ahead For Kratom?
While a lot of health experts support a kratom ban, others prescribe the guideline would be a superior and better way.
Dr Dwindle Grinspoon, an essential consideration specialist and health instructor at Harvard Medical School, said prohibiting kratom would leave numerous chronic pain condition without a choice they might depend on if they need to dodge medicine narcotics or can’t get them from their doctor.
Still, Grinspoon suggests that his patients keep away from kratom on account of the absence of guideline or regulation.
“If you purchase kratom you don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re receiving,” he added. “Is it accurate to say that you are getting a gram of kratom whatever is in the capsules or in the powder that they’re calling kratom? There’s no oversight of the development, creation, growth, packing and sale of kratom.”
Visit here to read all about kratom: https://kratomwave.com/


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Donald Trump blames Fed for slowing US growth
Consumers help GDP expansion come in higher than expected at 2.1% but business spending is a red flag
Washington — US economic growth slowed less than expected in the second quarter as a surge in consumer spending blunted some of the drag from declining exports and a smaller inventory build, which could further allay concerns about the economy’s health.
But the fairly upbeat report from the commerce department on Friday had some red flags for the 10-year economic expansion, the longest on record. Business investment contracted for the first time in more than three years and housing declined for a sixth straight quarter.


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iMaker (万像文化) has completed A2 round financing of CNY tens of millions.
Founded in 2019, iMaker is the first to create AIGC interactive experience products based on the needs of various terminal vertical users. With mature underlying interactive technology support and the deep accumulation of its core team in content, market, and operations, it continuously explores the commercialization of virtual content by creating rich products and operational ecology through efficient distribution and full-chain landing capabilities.
According to data on iMaker's official website, the company has formed strategic partnerships with iQIyI (爱奇艺), NBCUniversal (环球品牌发展), and Porsche. iMaker was awarded the "Most Valuable Investment Brand" and "Best Virtual Human Full-Stack Operations and Maintenance Service Provider" in 2022.
Among the many partnerships, iMaker's cooperation with Porsche is particularly noteworthy. Since 2016, Porsche has successfully entered the field of startups and has direct interests in about 60 emerging companies, with a particular focus on digital assets and the virtual human field. Michael Kirsch, President and CEO of Porsche China, stated that cars are the carriers that connect the virtual and real worlds, and the metaverse is still a high-potential experimental field. He firmly believes that iMaker will become the most powerful leading enterprise in the metaverse era.
After reviewing the iMedia Consultancy report, EqualOcean found that in 2022, the virtual human industry in China drove the market scale and core market scale to be CNY 186.61 billion and CNY 12.08 billion, respectively, and it is expected to reach CNY 640.27 billion and CNY billion by 2025, showing a strong growth trend. The driving factors of the virtual human market are divided into three aspects: economic, social, and technological. In terms of the economy, the digital cultural industries gradually becoming a new growth point for the development of the Chinese cultural industry. In terms of society, the popularity of the concept of the metaverse and the rise of the Z generation have attracted more capital into the virtual human industry. As for technology, virtual anchors, as a technology collective, have now become relatively mature under the iteration of AI capabilities.
Domestic companies actively laying out the virtual human field include Tencent (腾讯), Baidu (百度), Sogou (搜狗), SenseTime (商汤科技), and iFLYTEK (科大讯飞). Internationally, companies such as NVIDIA, Epic Games, ObEN in the United States, EPSON in Japan, and Soul Machines in New Zealand have also performed well.
This round of financing for iMaker was continuously added by its existing shareholder Porsche, with the participation of multiple strategic investment institutions. Cec Capital (易凯资本) served as iMaker's exclusive financial advisor in this transaction.
At this critical stage, the ESG2023 "the US Sub-Forum" will be held in Shenzhen on June 2, 2023. EqualOcean will invite the representatives of academic institutions and investment institutions, as well as company leaders, from the International Studies Institute of Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Jinan University School of International Relations, Gaorong Capital, Vision Plus Capital, FreeS Fund, ZWC Partners, Source Code Capital, Niu Technologies, TikTok, SHEIN, NEIWAI, miHoYo, Tuya, MINISO, Dreame, Ecovacs, WYBOTICS, Lifen, and UniUni.EqualOcean analysts will also release the US Report 2023 at the US Sub-Forum, summarizing business opportunities and best practices for expanding into the US market in the new stage.
Click the EqualOcean全球化峰会（ESG 2023）出海美国论坛 to apply and scan the QR code below to learn more about ESG2023.


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Nike is getting out of the golf equipment business, a surprising announcement Wednesday that is sure to send Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and other players searching for new clubs and golf balls next season.
Nike said it would stop making clubs, golf balls and golf bags, instead devoting its resources to shoes and apparel, longs its strength in the golf marketplace.
"We're committed to being the undisputed leader in golf footwear and apparel," said Trevor Edwards, president of Nike Brand. "We will achieve this by investing in performance innovation for athletes and delivering sustainable profitable growth for Nike Golf."
Woods has been with Nike since...


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Please save the date for the 2017 Edison Research/Triton Digital Infinite Dial webinar, which will take place on Thursday, March 9th, at 2 PM Eastern. The Infinite Dial, now in its 25th iteration, remains the longest running study of consumer behaviors around media and technology in America. This year, we will continue to measure a number of trends in media usage and consumption habits, particularly about streaming media, radio, mobile media consumption and social media behaviors, and we have expanded our podcasting section. Attendees will learn how the streaming audio landscape has changed, which social media platforms are growing, and how new technology is influencing media consumption. The webinar will be hosted by Tom Webster from Edison Research (that’s me!) and John Rosso, President, Market Development of Triton Digital.
Attendance is strictly limited to 1,000, and it will sell out–so sign up now, and get there early!


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Revitalizing a community's downtown is no walk in the park. But a growing number of northwest suburbs think it ought to be.
OUTLOOK GETTING GREENER FOR SUBURBAN DOWNTOWNS
In the past two months, Palatine and Mount Prospect have unveiled plans to redevelop their downtowns in ways that emphasize parkland and residential development.
And Rolling Meadows last week announced that its soon-to-be-green downtown will be anchored by a Sears hardware store, which will replace a long-empty department store, and a McDonald's.
Over the years, suburban malls and strip centers have pushed much retailing out of suburban community
Municipalities such as the North Shore's Evanston and Highland Park responded more than a decade ago with redevelopment aimed at attracting new retail tenants-boutiques, niche shops and restaurants.
But more recently, in the northwest suburbs, communities have begun adopting redevelopment schemes that stress neighborhood convenience shopping, multifamily housing and a central meeting place.
The revised economic development plans are an acknowledgment that attracting business to downtown centers is "much further along the continuum than simply responding to regional malls," said Robert Teska, president of Teska Associates Inc., an Evanston-based planning and design firm.
These changes follow years of frustration for communities trying to land large-scale development or replace long-departed merchants.
And it reflects an as-yet-unproven hope that, after years of talking about redevelopment, it will be parks and residential projects that will revitalize downtowns in a way that simply replacing lost retail could not.
The development of park-like settings harkens back to 19th- and 20th-century traditional planning. But it is being used today to bring business activity to moribund or deteriorating downtowns.
"The key is center," said Michael Blue, planner at Chicago-based Camiros Ltd., a planning and design firm. "If (town officials) know what they're doing, they know they can't compete on retail, so they create niches: antiques, services, neighborhood convenience. In redoing, you need to be unique."
Not all the experts applaud the new thinking.
"Some of it is good and has merit, but you have to plug in (new development) with what is there and let it grow," said Dale Doyle of the Washington, D.C.-based International Downtown Assn., a planners group. "I'm skeptical," she added. "Sometimes, (development that emphasizes pedestrian centers) is too pat. It would be great in the best of all worlds, but not in reality."
Nevertheless, four northwest suburbs have decided to give parks, smaller retail and residential development a try.
In Rolling Meadows, redevelopment was necessitated by the closing more than a year ago of the Crawford's department store. "Downtown began to resemble a ghost town," said Rose Herzog, economic development coordinator.
Over a two-year period, the city and Lake Bluff-based planner Rolf Campbell & Associates assembled a three-pronged plan: Redevelop the main street and complete a comprehensive land use and economic development plan. 'Redefining downtown'
The aim, said City Manager Robert Beezat, is to "redefine downtown. We can't compete with Woodfield Mall, but we can have food stores, residential and some retail" in downtown, along with the municipal building and a new library.
"We want a focal point of the community. Downtown defines the perception of a community, its viability, how it sees itself," he said.
Along one side of the main thoroughfare will be a long, narrow park; along the other, residences.
The aim is to create a "destination experience," said Jack DiClementi, Campbell's director of land planning and landscape architecture and a city adviser. "Our aim is to get more pedestrian traffic" into downtown via bike trails.
The initial cost to the city will be $500,000 in the form of a loan to the private developers of the new Sears hardware site. The city also will put up $300,000 for trails, beautification and alterations to a bridge; the rest will come from state and federal grants.
The village of Palatine spent 18 months developing a strategy, work-
ing with Trkla Pettigrew Allen & Payne, a Chicago-based planning consultancy.
"Our downtown hasn't deteriorated to the point others had," explained Richard Kozdras, Palatine's director of community development. "But we need to pay attention to keep its viability. This was a preventive strategy." Mixed-use plan
The community came up with a plan to develop the downtown area for mixed-use business emphasizing architectural enhancements in landscaping, streetscapes and facade improvements. The aim is to create an identifiable center amid the retail clutter of Palatine's nine strip shopping centers.
The village so far has spent $50,000 on consultants and is working with property owners to determine who will pick up the tab for proposed improvements.
In Mount Prospect, village officials are pinning their hopes on a three-building, 139-unit residential complex clustered around a park called Clock Tower Place, to be developed by Park Ridge-based Pontarelli Builders. Land and development are estimated to cost $18.6
million, and construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
"Residential is not unusual in this day and age," said Village Planner Ken Fritz. "Mount Prospect is a mature community and there is pent-up demand for this type of housing"-condominiums with enclosed parking.
It has taken the village 10 years to get a viable plan off the drawing board. The community used planning studies by a previous developer, who pulled out when the village board opted for condos over rental units.
Commercial use is anticipated in two nearby buildings planned for the site.
In Des Plaines, much has been made of a recent announcement that the city is seeking permission to launch a gambling boat. Before that effort, however, the city was working to develop a comprehensive plan that would include a downtown blueprint.
Planner Mr. Blue said the community is now looking to attract family-style, reasonably priced entertainment, such as a youngsters' indoor play facility. The planner also is looking at esthetic improvements, such as screening parking lots with trees.


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Construction is one of the largest contributors to the economy, but productivity has barely grown in recent years
Construction profit margins were brought crashing into the public discourse following Carillion’s collapse last year. Suddenly the media, politicians and public started to understand the fragility of margins – even within the sector’s biggest beasts.
Margins, however, aren’t just key to company profitability, but to the future of construction. Low margins stunt investment in innovation within a sector which is one of the largest contributors to the global economy, but where productivity has grown by just over 1% over the last two years.
Where perhaps Carillion did stand out was for its UK exposure, because against this global backdrop, the UK and London in particular has a growing profitability problem.
Research through our International Construction Market Survey (ICMS) shows that contractor profit margins in London fell from an average of 6% in to 2017 by almost a third to 4.2% in 2019. When compared to the rest of the world, the UK construction industry is operating on some of the slimmest margins – at an average of just 4% across the country.
By contrast London’s competitors – in terms of their size, significance and presence in the global economy – can boast much higher profitability in construction. Amsterdam contractors see average margins of 10%, Paris’ at 7.5% and New York City’s at 7%.
Short-term, low margins in the UK are an acute risk to the supply chain as we face the uncertainty of Brexit and escalating costs for resources – with labour costs in the capital rising by 2.9% over 2018. The long-term challenge, however, is even greater. Without investment supported by a profitable industry, and in the context of global skills shortages, it will be these competitor markets that will begin to lead the way when it comes to innovation in how we build for the future.
In the last 18 months we’ve seen encouraging signs from Whitehall for construction, with the unveiling of the new industry sector deal to channel investment in R&D. This vision is critical, but ultimately change will be driven not just by policy priorities, but by client behaviours.
Public projects in particular are key. Despite muted growth, the outlook for the UK market is buoyed by continued investment in large infrastructure projects – in road, rail and power – where the government acts not just as policymaker, but as the client, handing it a big role to play in tackling the market’s broader structural issues.
The refreshed Government Construction Strategy (GCS) coming later in 2019, is a major opportunity. It will outline how government will behave as a client for the sector – and in turn what it expects from its supply chain. It is imperative that the new GCS makes the case for sustainable business models – underpinned by higher margins – that drive innovation and long-term economic growth.
To make a success of the sector deal, we also need to see the government commit to greater coordination in how it commissions the supply chain across multiple departments. Accelerating a model of design for manufacture, for example, will only be possible if you can use volume to deliver lower production costs. At the moment, the detail of the deal identifies six government departments – each with their own priorities.
Government action alone won’t solve the problem, but can go a long way through its spending power to change behaviours that will benefit the wider industry – and those sectors from health, to housing, to manufacturing – that it supports. The way to do that is to ensure that higher margins comes with strings attached: in return for higher rewards, the supply chain needs to prove investment in performance.
This will be crucial to the future health of the market, but also for UK plc on a global stage to export our world-class expertise in infrastructure and real estate projects and programmes. In the context of global pressures and Brexit, that becomes ever more critical.
Paul Connolly is managing director, cost management at Turner & Townsend


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Qatar Investment Authority to invest Rs 3,200 crore in Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd
AEML is the licensee for an integrated power distribution, transmission and generation business that currently serves more than 30 lakh consumers across a license area of 400 square kilometres in Mumbai.
Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL), Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML) and a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) have signed definitive agreements for the sale of a 25.1 per cent stake in AEML to QIA and for a shareholder subordinated debt investment by QIA in AEML.
The total QIA investment in AEML will be about Rs 3,200 crore. AEML is the licensee for an integrated power distribution, transmission and generation business that currently serves more than 30 lakh consumers across a license area of 400 square kilometres in Mumbai, the world`s seventh-largest city by the size of the population.
AEML`s market share of Mumbai is 87 per cent by license area, 67 per cent by consumers served and 55 per cent by electricity supplied.As part of the transaction, ATL and QIA have agreed definitive plans to ensure that over 30 per cent of the electricity supplied by AEML is sourced from solar and wind power plants by the year 2023.
In addition, ATL and QIA have agreed on a number of other green initiatives to combat climate change and facilitate the transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
The transaction demonstrates the increasingly strong relations between India and Qatar and the commitment of both countries to further develop their close ties in the years ahead, ATL said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We are delighted to embark on this partnership with the QIA. Together, we will continue to work towards improving the reliability of supply and consumer satisfaction for over 30 lakh AEML consumers served in Mumbai," said Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani.
"We believe this transaction is a significant step in the journey of the Adani Group, marking the start of a long-term partnership with QIA," he added.
QIA Chief Executive Officer Mansoor Al-Mahmoud, said: "We look forward to a long-term partnership with the Adani Group, with whom we share an inter-generational perspective on investments and a common vision for the sustainable growth and continued success of AEML. This investment demonstrates our confidence in India, with whom Qatar shares deep-rooted ties and excellent relations."
The transaction is expected to complete in early 2020.


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University of Guelph researchers test hamburgers sold in Canada, found they were 100 per cent beef
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
You can go back to eating your favorite fast food burgers not having to worry whether or not your burger contains horsemeat.
The Canadian public became concerned over the horse meat scandal that’s been playing out in Europe which found that frozen, all-beef products sold across Europe contained undeclared horsemeat in a number of beef products.
Following these reports, the University of Guelph-based Biodiversity Institute of Ontario decided to uncover if popular fast food burgers sold in Canada contained horsemeat as well. Using advanced DNA testing on a wide range of burgers sold in Canada, the results showed that they were all 100 per cent beef.
The six (cooked) burgers that were tested were the following: A&W's Mama Burger, Burger King's Whopper, Dairy Queen's FlameThrower, Harvey's original burger, the McDonald's Big Mac, and Wendy's Bacon Double Cheeseburger.
The DNA testing was also conducted on (frozen) burgers as well from the following: Beef Steakettes (Schneiders), Lick's Homeburgers, M&M Meat Shops Supreme Homestyle Beef Burgers, No Name Beef Burgers (Loblaws), Outlaw Beef Burgers (Schneiders), President's Choice Thick and Juicy Beef Burgers, and Webers Beef Burgers.
In addition to the cooked and frozen burgers that were tested, lean ground beef (in a tube) was also tested which came from Better Beef (Cargill) and Food Basics ground beef as well.
All of the tests showed that the hamburger meat was beef. As a Canadian, you can rest assured that the hamburgers that you are buying are 100 per cent beef with no substitutes or additions.


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March 22, 2013
YouTube announced on Wednesday that it has reached the milestone of 1 billion monthly viewers. Google’s popular video-sharing subsidiary shared the news with advertisers at an extravagant upfronts presentation event at the YouTube Space production studio in Los Angeles, where Robert Kyncl explained that the amount of video the site streams on a monthly basis has grown 50 percent in the last year.
“The event was a preview of what YouTube has in store for a presentation it plans in May when it appears for the second straight year at the upfronts in New York, where TV executives show programming to advertisers,” notes The Hollywood Reporter.
“Nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits YouTube,” the company explained on its blog. “Our monthly viewership is the equivalent of roughly 10 Super Bowl audiences. If YouTube were a country we’d be the third largest in the world after China and India.”
Kyncl, the global head of content partnerships for Google and YouTube, “notes that the rate of video consumption is growing even faster than the number of new viewers the site is attracting,” reports the LA Times. “YouTube now streams about 4 billion hours of video a month, up 50 percent over the last 12 months.”
The increasing popularity of viewing video content via smartphones and tablets “took everybody by surprise,” he added. Since roughly 25 percent of YouTube’s views now come from mobile devices, the company has invested to make videos available on devices running iOS and Android.
“Kyncl said paid subscriptions are providing an additional revenue stream for YouTube’s content creators, though he added it would require ‘a new skill set’ to coax users to take out a credit card and pay to watch videos on the site,” explains the LA Times.
“You will see a lot of experimentation with folks with those models,” Kyncl said. “Over time, a lot of people will figure it out. But it will take lots of iteration.”


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Last month, Google announced it finally had reached a settlement of its litigation with the Association of American Publishers, which Google hopes will remove one of the last hurdles in its mission to digitally scan and resell all global literary content.
This is good news if you like to read, because it means that millions of volumes of text could become more readily available.
But for those who write, or who try to make a living selling books the old-fashioned way, it wasn’t a good day — and could fuel even more litigation over the digital world’s indifference to the intellectual property rights of authors.
It was almost 10 years ago that Google launched its humanitarian gesture, on a scale only Google could deliver, to scan all books in existence. This was the ultimate perfect marriage of high technology with the desire to preserve the world’s literary output for all mankind for all times, and to make it available to billions who otherwise never would have such access.
But in its haste to launch the project, Google overlooked a few details. Under century-old copyright doctrines, the creation of a digital copy of a literary work is a reproduction that, absent consent of the copyright owner, is an act of infringement.
Google disagrees, of course. But two lawsuits, each filed over five years ago — one by the Association of American Publishers and one by the Authors Guild — attacked the project. The litigation has wound its way through the courts ever since. Meanwhile, Google has pressed ahead with digitizing more than 20 million books, hoping that eventually, the legal wrangling would be resolved.
Other than confirming that the publishers blinked, the announcement sheds little new light on what lies in store. The settlement agreement terms are confidential and don’t require court approval. Most notably, there’s no disclosure of how much money is changing hands. Google had offered $125 million in a previous settlement deal that a federal judge rejected a few years ago, so it’s fair to assume someone’s pockets are being lined.
The settlement also may be more an act of posturing than anything else, because it appears to ignore the other lawsuit brought by the Author’s Guild, in which authors demand a fair share of royalties for digitizing their works. But Google considers that fair use and that it should be royalty-free.
The Author’s Guild case is stayed, pending a judge’s decision on whether it can be certified as a class action, but it could lead to a re-evaluation of all the issues: whether Google has a fair use right to scan works without consent, whether royalties are required, whether the practice is monopolistic and so forth.
Many other issues remain unsettled as well, including Google’s treatment of “orphan works,” which are out-of-print books whose authors can’t be identified or located. In its previous proposal, Google said it should simply sweep revenues from those works into the till and overlook any obligation to pay orphan royalties, but a federal judge rejected this as a de facto monopoly over unclaimed works.
Needless to say, the news of the settlement drives another nail in the coffin for the already reeling independent bookstore market, as well as Amazon and other massive online vendors that continue to cling to the demand for printed material.
As for respecting the copyrights of authors, the settlement indicates that Google has come out the winner. In the past seven years, while Google’s scanning machines have operated nonstop, Google gave a nod to authors by offering an “opt out” policy, which was based on the presumption that most or all authors would consent to the royalty-free digitization of their content. For those few rogues who objected, they were required to notify Google that they withheld consent. Google justified its position simply on the ground that it wasn’t feasible to contact millions of copyright owners and create a log of those who consented and those who didn’t. The project was viewed as just too huge to be impeded by such a massive bookkeeping task.
Obviously, the settlement benefits those who like to read, promising access to vast indexes of content, making purchases easier and probably driving down prices. Still, Justice Department antitrust lawyers no doubt will scrutinize the settlement carefully to determine whether it creates an unlawful monopoly that thwarts legitimate competition.
Authors, of course, are faced with a double-edged sword. Those who haven’t made the big time write to pay the bills, and as one author we know expressed, “It is great to see your work product offered to a market that measures in the billions. But if you are trying to make a living off of your literary works, then this settlement represents untold royalties you will never see.”
It ultimately boils down to money. Google is continuing to scan whether anyone likes it or not, and the publishing industry, already on its heels in the digital age, may have decided it simply makes more sense to end the bleeding rather than continue to fight an unwinnable battle.
David Schachter, a member of the Denver law firm of Sherman and Howard LLC, and who specializes in intellectual property and technology law, can be reached at 303-299-8385 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Next time you’re out shopping, take notice of the amount of products claiming to be “environmentally friendly.” Do you believe these claims?
TerraChoice, an eco-consulting firm, took a closer look at the claims of almost 4,000 products claiming to be “natural and environmentally friendly.” The results were surprising – almost all of the claims were found to be “false or misleading.” Greenwashing, as it is known, means that consumers may find it harder than ever to know what claims to trust.
Wal-Mart, however, wants to change that. The retail giant announced earlier this month that it will require “all of its product suppliers to calculate the environmental costs of their products.” Wal-Mart will then calculate a “green rating” for the product and display it near the price tag. Suppliers that fail to comply will be banned from Wal-Mart shelves. The process is expected to take four years.
This is a major sign that companies will not longer be able to market their products as “green” without actually backing up the claim. In other words, it won’t be so easy being green.
Contact the Skoda Minotti Strategic Marketing group by leaving a message below, or by calling 440-449-6800.


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GM adopts Tesla’s EV charging system in big win for Elon Musk General Motors has announced that it will join Ford in adopting Tesla’s North… Read More »GM’s Adoption of Tesla’s EV Charging System Spells Big Win for Elon Musk
Volvo unveils affordable EX30 electric SUV in move to compete with Tesla Volvo has officially launched its first fully-electric small SUV, the EX30, complete with two… Read More »Volvo Introduces Budget-Friendly EX30 Electric SUV to Challenge Tesla’s Dominance
Tesla’s Model 3 cheaper than Toyota’s Camry with tax benefits All Tesla Model 3 vehicles in the United States now qualify for the full $7,500… Read More »Tesla Model 3 is More Affordable Than Toyota Camry with Tax Incentives
Elon Musk treated like rock star in China: ‘He’s a global idol’ Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has been hailed as a “pioneer” and “a global idol”… Read More »Elon Musk hailed as a worldwide icon in China, the crowd goes wild!
Elon Musk kicks off China visit, Tesla expansion in focus Tesla CEO Elon Musk has arrived in China for a high-stakes visit, marking his return to the automaker’s largest… Read More »Tesla CEO Elon Musk commences his China trip, with emphasis on expanding the company’s operations.


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Capcom has renewed a trademark causing fans to look their way. Earlier this year, Capcom decided to issue a trademark filing of the Dino Crisis series. The trademark filing was lumped together with other IPs like Rockman (Mega Man outside of Japan), Darkstalkers, and Power Stone.
— 商標ウォッチbot (@tmark365) December 17, 2019
It should be mentioned, this isn’t confirmation of another game. Publishers and/or developers will often protect its older IPs from other developers trademarking and picking it up. Though, it could also be a slow but sure indicator they are open to the idea. It’s not like they haven’t remade older IPs.
The Resident Evil 2 remake released this year. On top of that, they even announced the third game in the franchise is getting a remake as well. Even though Dino Crisis is not confirmed, Capcom has gone on record saying they want to revitalize dormant IPs, according to their 2019 financial report.
“We will revive dormant intellectual properties for which we have not recently released new titles by increasing the number of our developers.”
The last game in the Dino Crisis franchise to release was back in 2003, a weighty over a decade-long gap.
If this goes far enough, it may not just be its mainstay franchises like Resident Evil and Devil May Cry that will be getting some love in the future.


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Melba Kurman, author, and Hod Lipson, Cornell University associate professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering, are co-authors of "Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing" (John Wiley & Sons, 2013) and leading voices in the field of 3D printing. They contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights as part of their new LiveScience series highlighting issues and developments in 3D-printing technology.
A few years ago, the consensus was happily (and naively) positive that 3D printing was innately greener than conventional manufacturing technologies. The truth is that today, the jury is still out. Society is growing wiser and maybe a bit more skeptical.
Recent research offers the grim estimate that, worldwide, about 2 million deaths each year are caused by air pollution, much of it generated by industrial manufacturing. Manufacturing is generally polluting, no matter how it's done. Ecologically speaking, 3D printing both giveth and taketh away.
Before presenting the bad news about 3D printing's environmental impact, let's talk about the good news: its potential. In the future, additive manufacturing processes like 3D printing will help make manufacturing greener. [How 3D Printers Work (Infographic)]
Compared with traditional manufacturing techniques, the 3D printing process:
– Maintains a strong mass-manufacturing base, but raises product values to high margins and supports skilled labor in biotech, new materials, IT and specialized, high-end manufacturing;
– Has the ability to help designers develop parts and products for optimal performance, which could include reduced weight or longer product lives;
– Makes more efficient use of raw materials: The 3D printing process places raw material only where it's needed (an ability referred to as "net shape manufacturing");
– Reduces the number of parts that need assembly, shortening supply chains; and
– Can fabricate small batches of custom parts at the time of need (reducing inventory maintenance) near the point of purchase or consumption (reducing transportation pollution).
Consuming lots of electrical power
The reality today is that the technology is not there yet. Despite the potential of additive manufacturing to promote cleaner manufacturing, 3D-printing technologies aren't yet eco-friendly. A 3D printer — no matter what sort of raw material it's working with — is an energy hog. [The 10 Best 3D Printers of 2013]
Research at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom (in a study called the Atkins Project) revealed that the 3D-printing process consumes a frightening amount of electrical energy. Researchers compared industrial-grade printers to injection molding machines. They learned that 3D printers that use heat or a laser to melt plastic consumed an estimated 50 to 100 times more electrical energy than injection molding to make an object of the same weight.
A scourge of plastics
Energy consumption during the manufacturing process aside, another not-so-ideal environmental impact of 3D printed manufacturing is its heavy reliance on plastics. Plastic is rarely good news when it comes to the environment, regardless of what sort of manufacturing technique is involved. However, odd as it may sound, injection molding (the traditional method used to manufacture plastic objects) is actually quite clean in that it leaves behind very few unused plastic pieces.
In contrast, industrial-grade-plastic 3D printers that use powdered or molten polymers leave behind a substantial amount of unused raw material in the print bed. Plastic byproduct left behind in a print job can sometimes be reused, but more typically, its material properties are corrupted and therefore no longer suitable. A glimmer of hope is offered by a corn-based printing plastic called PLA that's biodegradable (although its biodegrading process takes many years).
It took years to prove that secondhand smoke was hazardous for your health. Recent groundbreaking research led by Brent Stephens suggests that secondhand printing fumes contain toxic byproducts given off when plastic is heated to high temperatures. For years, printing aficionados have remarked on the fact that certain 3D-printing plastics give off a nice, cozy smell, similar to burning corn kernels. To see whether the burning plastic smell was harmful to living things, Steele measured the air quality inside an air-conditioned office where five desktop 3D printers fabricated small plastic objects (using both ABS and PLA plastics) over the course of two and a half hours.
Air quality analysis revealed that 3D printers could be characterized as "high emitters" of what are known as "ultra fine particles," or UFPs. According to a report from the Heath Effects Institute (HFI), in animal and human studies, observed effects of UFPs included "lung function changes, airway inflammation, enhanced allergic responses, vascular thrombogenic effects, altered endothelial function, altered heart rate and heart rate variability, accelerated atherosclerosis, and increased markers of brain inflammation."The good news about the UFPs emitted by the few 3D printers in Steele’s study was their levels were about the same as cooking indoors. The bad news is that more research is needed on what UFPs, exactly, are emitted by home-scale plastic printers and the impact of UFP emissions in industrial-scale 3D printing environments. In the shorter term, it might be wise to not let your child leave the printer running overnight in her bedroom. And if you're printing plastic at home or in your office, open a window and use a fan to keep the air fresh.
Rethinking the product lifecycle
What about the bigger picture? The environmental impact of making products involves several stages beyond the manufacturing process. Every product — no matter whether it's 3D-printed or mass-produced — goes through a product life cycle.
For example, one environmentally devastating stage in a product life cycle is the process of mining raw material. Another stage that leaves behind a large dirty footprint is the product assembly process. It takes a lot of petroleum-based fuel to ship products to where they're sold. Constructing, heating and cooling retail space takes a heavy toll on the environment as well. The most negative effects come during a product's final act: when it's thrown away.
3D printing might someday encourage a new kind of pollution: rapid garbage generation. Engineers being trained to respect their raw materials are taught "Think twice, cut once." When people get ahold of easy production tools, however, it’s easy to not heed that wise old adage. Like printing draft after draft of a term paper during its painful revision process, designers and tinkerers might find themselves rapidly printing out a series of incremental variations of a design, an environmentally costly process. [Video - 3D Printing: Doodads to Prosthetic Hands]
To unleash 3D printing's potential as a greener manufacturing technology, the key will be to create unique, greener product life cycles. Perhaps one of 3D printing's most promising environmental benefits will be the fact that computer-generated designs help improve a product's form, function, performance and durability. For example, a 3D- printed metal airplane made of computer-designed, lightweight parts would consume less fuel during its lifetime of use.
3D-printed manufacturing could also change the product life cycle by shortening global supply chains, reducing the amount of fuel that's consumed to ship products from place to place. On-the-spot 3D-printed manufacturing would also reduce the environmental costs of maintaining a climate-controlled warehouse to store inventory. Your family doctor could print out a custom hearing aid for you when you need it. Your local car mechanic could print out new parts for your car without having to order them from a supplier far, far away.
'Bursty manufacturing' and renewable energy
Renewable energy is key to greener manufacturing. However, most renewable energy sources today can't yet provide (at a reasonable price) the incessant, reliable stream of power needed to fuel mass-manufacturing operations.
What if small bursts of renewable energy could be applied to small bursts of manufacturing activity? Computer scientists call the transmission of electrical signals of vastly differing sizes "bursty communication." Why not a future in which "bursty energy" would be applied to "bursty 3D-printed manufacturing?"
Despite improvements in storage technologies and smart-energy grids, renewable energy may always be more prone to fits and starts than burning gas or coal. However, a 3D printer is a versatile beast and can turn on a dime, production-wise. A small manufacturing facility of the future could run several 3D printers, each making a wide variety of different products. This facility could be powered with set amounts of stored renewable energy that would fuel scheduled start-and-stop 3D-printed production runs. Someday, it would be great to see agile 3D-printing facilities that would rapidly adjust fabrication rates to the level of available renewable power, instead of the other way around.
As Earth staggers under the weight of pollution, humanity needs to better balance the health of the environment against a global consumer economy that grows larger each year. Despite its promise as a manufacturing technology, there's nothing innately green about 3D printing. As 3D-printing technologies become more widely used in all industries, the resulting environmental impact will depend on how these emerging technologies are put to use.
Kuman and Lipson's most recent Op-Ed was How 3D Printing Will Transform Chinese Manufacturing. Follow Kurman @melbakurman. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This article was originally published on LiveScience.com.
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On September 30, NFT Steez, a bi-weekly Twitter Spaces organized by Alyssa Expósito and Ray Salmond, met with Mashiat Mutmainnah to analyze how regenerative finance (ReFi) can bring more accessibility and inclusion to blockchain technology.
As a “mission-driven movement,” Mutmainnah explains that ReFi enables users to redefine their relationship with the current financial system and their relationship with finance and wealth.
Currently, in many countries, millions of people lack basic and equitable access to financial services that would allow them to meet their daily needs.
What if there were newer models that could sustainably alleviate this? According to Mutmainnah, ReFi can redefine what money means and how it is used.
What is the impact of ReFi?
Mutmainnah emphasized that ReFi raises awareness of how current financial systems operate in an “extractive” and “exploitative” manner. He also drew a comparison to fast fashion by explaining that allowing a user to buy a shirt for $5 is at the expense of a working child.
These “extract” systems no longer work for people, as a fundamental principle of ReFi is equitable accessibility and distribution.
Mutmainnah explained that ReFi is often seen as synonymous with climate, and while it is a mainstay, ReFi has enabled “tangible and accessible use cases.” Users can “connect” and participate in models and systems that can increase their overall prosperity and that of the ecosystem.
ReFi can therefore be seen as a way to triangulate elements of sustainability through climate “stabilization” and “biodiversity”, while maintaining equitable access within global communities. This has the potential to create new financial models and systems that can increase prosperity.
As Mutmainnah says:
“ReFi is helping people change the way they relate to money.”
When asked if NFTs could be used for social and public good, Mutmainnah referenced a pilot program involving an “NFT loyalty rewards program.” Similar to Starbucks latest NFT loyalty program, Mutmainnah explained how a similar scheme could deliver positive and sustainable benefits.
For example, imagine buying an NFT that can give the holder free coffee for 10 days. In these models, NFTs can generate more economically viable benefits than buying the item and, at the same time, generate more awareness of the good or service.
Contrary to the hype and speculation circulating about NFTs in 2021, more creators and platforms are branching out and exploring use cases for peer-to-peer and peer-to-business initiatives.
However, that doesn’t mean adoption is easy. According to Mutmainnah, beyond NFTs, there are many “infrastructure pieces” to explore, including creating more dynamic products that enable this.
Mutmainnah explained that it’s something of a dance between “making a product frictionless” for smooth adoption and empowering the user to be a “power” user who takes “full ownership of their assets.”
To hear more of the conversation, tune in and listen to the full episode on NFT Steez and be sure to mark your calendars for the next episode on October 7 at 12pm EST.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should do your own research when making a decision.
Clarification: The information and/or opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views or editorial line of Cointelegraph. The information set forth herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendation. All investment and commercial movement involve risks and it is the responsibility of each person to do their due research before making an investment decision.
Investments in crypto assets are not regulated. They may not be suitable for retail investors and the full amount invested may be lost. The services or products offered are not aimed at or accessible to investors in Spain.


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Implications of the "DoubleClick Information Alliance", the use of the Abacus consumer database and what you should do to ensure online privacy.
Summary of week's headines in Internet privacy news
Daily news and blogs related to music, privacy and digital rights.
A source of information that privacy managers use to stay current in this dynamic policy area. Published monthly.
Ongoing coverage with news, analysis and commentary about the issue worldwide. Includes links to UK, US and global government laws, pressure groups and organizations.
Daily updated watch for privacy-related issues such as online privacy, anonymity, web surfing, spyware, workplace and public surveillance.
Breaking news headlines on anonymity- and privacy-related issues. Updated throughout the day.
Headlines in Internet privacy news with links to related Web sites
News coverage and feature stories from Computerworld about privacy issues, including such things as online advertising, profiling, customer data, and medical records.


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Urban Theft Myths
Dear Mr. Guidry,
The police won’t really do that on a theft case, will they? After all, its only a theft charge!
Dear Potential Customer,
Yes, the police may end up doing that. Yes, that would be a waste of tax payer money, but that doesn’t stop them (ever). And, law enforcement sometimes surprises us with their good old fashioned police work. Bottom line is: don’t be surprised when the police use technology you only see on TV Shows.
So, for all you folks wondering just how hard the police are going to work at a petit theft case, or a shoplifting case, or a grand theft case — I have some (potentially) bad news for you. The advent of “new” technologies enables law enforcement to arrest more shoplifters at Kohl’s, Macys, Wal-Mart and Target than previously thought possible. What is this crazy “new tech” and why did I put it in air quotes? Unfortunately, we’re getting more shoplifting arrests due to cheap data storage. Hard drives, basically. I know, you’re disappointed because you thought we’d be discussing the laser-guided ear lobe analysis used on the latest iteration of Law & Order. Sorry.
Store surveillance video isn’t new, but what’s new is the fact that these stores can (and do) rewind months and months of footage to see if a recently caught shoplifter had stolen from the store previously. Back in the day of VCR’s, stores would write over their tapes within a day or two. Even five years ago, it was pretty expensive to keep a few days of footage, when you’re saving data from 30+ cameras recording 24/7. Today, hard drives are cheaper. They’re bigger. So, how does this impact a shoplifting case?
Well, it is “possible” that folks who get arrested for shoplifting may have stolen at that store before, and everything that’s happened in the store for the last four or five months in on a hard drive somewhere. Loss prevention will dig through old video surveillance to find out if the recent arrestee had prior theft shenanigans. If the old footage reveals the person stealing on previous visits (and they have, that’s why we’re talking about it), there’s going to be a new arrest for an old charge. Sure, we have ways of beating these petit theft allegations derived from old video footage, but who would have thought that cheap hard drives would lead to more shoplifting cases?
Our urban myth of the day comes from the recent case of A.D.P. v. State, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 10101 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2017) (We’re using initials for the case name, which tells us that a juvenile offender is involved here, FYI). This kid was convicted of grand theft motor vehicle, and it all began when the victim “accidently left her keys in the door at her apartment complex. The next morning her 2006 Toyota Highlander was missing. There was a bead necklace hanging from her rearview mirror, and when the vehicle was returned to her the necklace was gone.” Id.
The car was recovered three days later, parked outside of A.D.P.’s apartment building. The real kicker is this: A.D.P’s fingerprint was found on the rearview mirror.
Now, this brings us to urban myth #2: the police don’t take fingerprints on theft cases, do they?
Yes, fingerprints on a grand theft case. I hate to be the one to burst your naive little law enforcement bubble. Now, fingerprints aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I wouldn’t let the state’s “expert” witness testify that “Fingerprint Sample A matches Fingerprint sample B”, but we’re not hear to attack fingerprint claims (for that discussion, check out my “interesting” article Fingerprint Experts Shouldn’t Make Claims They Can’t Support).
So, How did A.D.P.’s fingerprint end up in the victim’s car, on her rearview mirror no less?
In finding A.D.P. guilty of grand theft auto, the judge told the prosecutor the following:
“Basically, you gave me a case with a fingerprint.
Nobody’s placed him behind the wheel; nobody’s placed him in possession.
The fingerprint is on the rear-view mirror. This side of the room would argue that the rear-view mirror is in the middle of the car; usually passengers are not playing with the rear-view mirror. usually, the person that’s playing with the rear-view mirror is the person that’s driving the car.”
As you can see from the transcript above, one fingerprint was enough to convict for theft. But, did this reasoning hold up on appeal? (Would I be writing about it if it did? You know me better than that…).
The appeals court overturned A.D.P.’s conviction, reasoning that the state’s evidence, a fingerprint, could also be consistent with the notion that A.D.P. was a passenger. It is well established Florida law that “evidence that a person was a passenger in a previously stolen vehicle is insufficient to prove the theft of the vehicle”. id., citing Canady v. State, 813 So. 2d 161 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002). In order to prove theft, the state must prove that “the accused exercised dominion and control over the vehicle, such as when a person is merely a passenger, a motor vehicle theft has not been established.” id.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, who said anything about A.D.P. being a passenger?
Because A.D.P. was not caught red handed, this case involves only circumstantial evidence. No one saw A.D.P. behind the wheel of this car. A.D.P. didn’t admit to stealing this car. As such, the prosecutor must present evidence that rebuts any reasonable hypothesis of innocence. Now, this ‘reasonable hypothesis of innocence’ concept can fill an entire book, or at least several chapters, all of which would bore you to tears. So, let’s just say that in this case one reasonable theory of innocence would be the fact that A.D.P. never drove the car–he was merely a passenger who utilized the rearview mirror from the passenger side. Sure, its odd. But possible, nonetheless.
So, the appeals court threw out the grand theft conviction, holding that “the State’s evidence was not inconsistent with a reasonable hypothesis that A.D.P. touched the rearview mirror while a passenger and that he did not participate in the vehicle’s theft some three days earlier.” id. at 5.
And there you have it. Fingerprints used in a theft case. And still, not guilty.


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If you haven’t gotten the chance to subscribe with Xbox Game Pass as of yet, maybe the news that was just recently released will change your mind. March and April will be big months for the Game Pass, especially if you’re a sports fan, as the subscription service will add some of the biggest sports titles that gaming has to offer.
By the time March and April ends, you will be able to play some of your favorite sports games all on the Xbox Game Pass. Madden NFL 21 has already been added to Xbox Game Pass earlier this month but NBA 2K21 and NHL 21 (plus much more) will also be added. Here is the total list of new games that are headed to the Xbox Game Pass in the near future.
This is huge news for sports fans and those who own the Xbox Game Pass. Starting as early as March 4, you will be able to play some of your favorite sports video games all for one low price of $9.99 a month. Unfortunately, not every game that makes it onto the Game Pass ends up staying on there forever so on March 15 these games will be leaving the Game Pass.
If you love sports as much as I do, now would be the perfect time to purchase the Xbox Game Pass. Whether you have never played any of these sports games or have played these franchises hundreds of times, you can’t beat the price and the value you get for all of the games on the Game Pass. The Xbox Game Pass continues to grow bigger and bigger and each time new games are added is another reason to invest in one of gaming’s best deals.
Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on App Trigger and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more.
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© 2022 Minute Media – All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Xbox Game Pass adds Madden 21, NHL 21 and more this month – App Trigger


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#BugAlert: Windows 10 is messing with internet connectivity
Microsoft's Windows 10 has been plagued by a myriad of issues, and now, the Redmond giant has acknowledged another severe bug in the operating system. The company has officially confirmed that Windows 10 May 2020 Update suffers from a glitch that affects internet connectivity, rending several apps on the platform unusable. Here's all you need to know about it.
Bug shows bogus connectivity error
The glitch in question, first reported by Windows Latest, shows a bogus connectivity error on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon (depending on what you use for accessing the internet) on the system tray. It shows a yellow-colored triangle on the icons, indicating that there is no internet access, even when the connection is actually healthy and working at normal capacity.
This creates problems with accessing apps
As the warning is bogus, you can still continue to browse the web using Chrome, Firefox, or other browsers. But, apart from that, all other Windows 10 apps that need internet connectivity can't function. The reason? They base their connectivity on the status of Windows 10 and if the OS says there is no connectivity, the apps don't even try to connect.
Several popular apps impacted
A number of apps have been affected by this glitch, including built-in services like Cortana, Microsoft Store, Windows Feedback Hub, and third-party programs like Spotify. The complaints regarding this issue are also pretty widespread, with many users claiming they could not fix it by rebooting their PC, resetting the router, or reinstalling the network wireless adaptor.
Microsoft says it is investigating
A Microsoft engineer has said on a TechNet forum that the company is aware of the glitch and is investigating it, but has not found a patch yet. However, some affected users have suggested a workaround where modifying the "EnableActiveProbing" registry and restarting the PC solves the issue. It is not confirmed but may help dodge the bug until the official fix rolls out.
How to modify the registry?
To try the workaround, look up and launch 'Registry Editor' via Windows Search. Next, navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet". From there, go to "Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet" and select "EnableActiveProbing" from the list. There, change the default value data from 0 to 1 and click 'Ok'. Now, close the registry editor and restart the PC to apply the workaround and remove the false connection warning error.


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Retailers, financial services companies, government agencies and others that interact with customers through mobile apps need to keep security top-of-mind and threats become more sophisticated.
Mobile payment platforms debuted amidst tremendous buzz. Although the platforms launched successfully, most consumers continued to use traditional payment methods, pushing business owners to delay their mobile-first strategies to a later date. But that is changing and retailers need to be ready.
When JP Morgan Chase acquired the Merchant Customer Exchange payments technology last month, a 5-year saga came to a bitter end. The payments industry, which has proven difficult to navigate and succeed in over the past decade, claimed another victim.
A vending/micro market veteran has developed a technology, featuring artificial intelligence, he believes will disrupt the consumer goods distribution industry.
Retailers are inundated with new technology innovations, promising big returns for their bottom lines. It is difficult to decipher which deserve priority. However, few innovations have been able to match the benefits of augmented reality in retail.
The card networks decided late last year to show some mercy on fuel operators and pushed back their EMV deadline to Oct. 1, 2020.
It's time for a look back at last month's most-read articles and blog posts on Mobile Payments Today.
Retailers not using Internet of Things technology may soon want to investigate its potential given big opportunities to boost the customer experience and save big bucks.
Changes in consumer behavior continue to be rapid, disruptive, and largely driven by technology influences, such as mobile devices, big data, the cloud, IoT and machine learning.
Although mobile payments are convenient for both employees and customers, transitioning to a cashless operation also presents a new set of challenges.
Beacon technology has not been adopted by merchants as quickly as expected, yet changes to devices and strategy will spur 4.5 million active beacons in the U.S. by 2018.
Does the consumer-controlled checkout Amazon Go offers hold revolutionary potential, or is it a blip on the radar before a newer, hotter trend dominates the popular narrative? In reality, it's a bit of both.
Fraud remains a risk that mobile payments providers, as well as consumers, need to be aware of and take measures against.
It's time for a look back at last month's most-read articles on Mobile Payments Today.
The Everywhere Initiative, which Visa first launched in 2015, lands in Europe for the first time at Mobile World Congress.
Careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of each available payments option will enable restaurant owners to find the one that best meets the needs and preferences of their diners.
Mobile apps such as Postmates and Uber have become the blueprint for great customer experiences. But what is it like to be on the other side of such services, particularly Postmates?
It's time for a look back at January's most-read articles on Mobile Payments Today.
Their success will likely hinge on the same issues as mobile payments — consumer adoption and acceptance.
Smartphones are driving an e-commerce revolution. While mobile payments can adversely affect the need for kiosks in some situations, most industry observers see mobile payments as another payment option that kiosk operators need to consider to meet consumer buying habits.


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Spotify has its Noteable website with resources for songwriters, and now YouTube is following suit with a new ‘YouTube for Songwriters & Producers’ hub.
British producer Dean Josiah Cover (aka Inflo) is using his position to advocate for a change in the way his peers are paid for their work.
Apple Music has a new hub focusing on songwriters, producers and session musicians. It’s called ‘Behind the Songs‘ and launched on Friday as a home for related playlists like ‘Songbook’ […]
Noting how the music industry lacked an equivalent to what the film industry had with IMDb – and also how it was missing a verified source of data from across […]
BMG has announced a licensing deal with Swedish sampling service Tracklib, becoming the latest music company to make some of its catalogue available on the platform. BMG said that it […]
There’s been a helluva backlash against Tidal in the days since its relaunch press conference, with accusations galore that the streaming service isn’t innovative and/or is just a club for […]
Download store Beatport’s charts carry plenty of clout in the dance music world, so it’s no surprise to see people trying to rig them – including companies actively selling services […]
YouTube’s Original Channels initiative involved investing $100m in late 2011 in a variety of new channels, from fresh-faced YouTubers and established media brands alike. It committed another $200m a year […]


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USDA to update 2013 soybean acreage data
By Wes Nelson
Farm Service Agency
WILLMAR — When the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its June Acreage Report on June 28, it indicated that our nation’s farmers had planted a record-high 77.7 million acres of soybeans, up 1 percent from 2012.
The report also indicated that Minnesota farmers had planted 6.8 million acres of soybeans, down 250,000 acres from last year, but equal to the amount projected in USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report that was released in late March.
The acreage estimates provided in the June Acreage Report came from surveys of farmers conducted by USDA during the first two weeks of June. At the time of the survey, a large percentage of acres remained to be planted in 14 states, including Minnesota.
To better assess the soybean planted acreage data, USDA will resurvey the growers in those 14 states. If the newly collected data justifies any changes in the soybean acreage, the updated estimates will be included in the August Crop Production Report, scheduled for release on Aug. 12.
USDA action supports use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets
Officials from USDA recently announced that it will be expanding the eligibility for grants designed to improve access to fresh produce and healthy foods by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients at America’s farmers markets.
The grants will be used to expand the availability of wireless point-of-sale equipment at farmers markets not currently accepting SNAP benefits to include direct marketing farmers. Funds may be used to purchase or lease equipment or pay for wireless access, through Sept. 30.
Direct marketing farmers are individual producers of agricultural products. To meet the expanded direct marketing eligibility requirement, the producer must sell products at a market stall within a farmers market that is not currently participating in SNAP.
Research has indicated that about 20 cents of every SNAP dollar spent on food ends up in the pockets of American farmers. Installing wireless technology at farmers markets can expand customer base and increase the share of SNAP dollar benefits that go directly back to local farmers and into local economies.
In 2008, about 750 farmers markets and direct marketing farmers accepted SNAP benefits. In 2012, more than 3,200 participated — a four-fold increase in markets, which was accompanied by a six-fold increase in redemptions at these outlets.
Research has also shown that many farmers markets and direct marketing farmers value their ability to accept SNAP benefits. However, a significant number cited the cost of electronic benefit transfer equipment as being a barrier.
To learn more about USDA funding for use of SNAP benefit equipment at farmers markets visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm.
USDA, Minnesota launch new agricultural water quality program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton recently announced the launching of a new agricultural water quality program designed to enhance water quality in the state. Under the program, farmers in four Minnesota watersheds will have the opportunity to be part of a three-year pilot program.
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program is the first of its kind in the nation and is the product of a state-federal memorandum of understanding signed by Gov. Dayton, Secretary Vilsack and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Under the certification program, farmers who implement and maintain approved conservation plans will be certified and therefore assured that their operations meet water quality goals and standards for the term of the certification agreement, which lasts up to 10 years.
Watersheds across the state were invited to apply to participate in the pilot program. This was a competitive process and interest was high with more than a dozen groups submitting applications.
The four watersheds selected include the Whitewater River Watershed located in parts of Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties; the Middle Sauk River Watershed which covers more than 50 percent of Stearns County; the Elm Creek Watershed located in parts of Jackson, Martin and Faribault counties; and the Whiskey Creek Watershed in Wilkin and western Otter Tail counties.
The Minnesota Legislature appropriated $3 million in Clean Water Legacy funding to launch the program. These funds will leverage $6.5 million in federal funding previously announced by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack.
USDA taking action to reduce oversupply of domestic sugar
Record-breaking yields of sugar crops and a global surplus have driven down U.S. sugar prices to the point that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is required to act to stabilize the domestic market.
To meet that objective, USDA intends to purchase sugar from domestic sugarcane and sugar beet processors and subsequently conduct voluntary exchanges for credits under the Refined Sugar Re-export Program. The exchanging of sugar for credits will reduce sugar imports into the United States, and reduce the sugar surplus.
Not less than 2.5 tons of import credits will be exchanged per 1 ton of sugar, resulting in a net reduction of 1.5 tons of sugar in the U.S. market per ton of sugar exchanged.
The exchange is expected to remove around 300,000 tons of sugar from the U.S. market and cost approximately $38 million, subject to sequester, which is one-third the expected cost of forfeiting sugar loans to USDA.
To facilitate the use of the sugar credits, USDA will now allow licensed refiners up to 270 days — rather than 90 days — to make required exports or sugar transfers under the Refined Sugar Re-export Program.
Wes Nelson is executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Kandiyohi County.


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They become manufacturers of handcrafted ash hurleys, vintage stores, craft breweries, and you can a virtual matchmaking software created by a neighborhood DJ
- Costs Costs On the internet money
- Checkout Checkout Prebuilt fee function
- Aspects Factors Customizable costs UIs
- Fee Links Zero-password repayments
- Radar Radar Fraud & exposure management
It were producers out-of handcrafted ash hurleys, vintage places, hobby breweries, and an online relationship app developed by an area DJ
- Critical Critical In the-individual repayments
DUBLIN-Stripe, an economic infrastructure platform to have enterprises, now marked its 10th wedding helping Irish companies, towards discharge of study discussing common, rapid development in the country’s websites cost savings.
Homegrown startups currently have usage of an even more built investment capital ecosystem, a knack pond coached from the earth’s premier technical companies, and you will a network of educated creators. Many of these organizations enjoys centered gadgets which also let smaller tech businesses get in on the sites discount, permitting a remarkable increase in on the internet economic hobby all over the country.
Stripe’s research provides a windows towards Ireland’s growth. Inside 2013, not all the hundred or so Irish businesses put Stripe. Now, thousands of possibilities run on Stripe, that have many a great deal more joining weekly. They become technology businesses including Glofox and you can Wayflyer that were built on Stripe of go out you to definitely, and heritage companies for instance the GAA, Irish Lifestyle, and you will Smyths Toys Superstores which might be revolutionizing themselves to your electronic years. Over the past years, Irish organizations has actually processed more than €20 mil towards Stripe.
“Considering back once again to whenever we released Stripe, Ireland’s tech world feels as though night and day. Tech founders perform view it impossibly tough to boost currency and you can vie to own ability, and you may smaller businesses only did not have the tools to perform on line. Nowadays, Ireland supplies software companies at industrial level, in addition to websites savings was every-where. Which have the fresh talent coming due to programmes such as the College or university of Limerick’s Immersive Software Engineering and you will accelerators particularly NDRC, I’m delighted to see what Irish creators make second,” told you John Collison, cofounder and you will president out of Stripe.
Dublin are let me make it clear prominent within the Ireland’s web sites benefit. Brand new state is home to all seven Irish organizations appreciated within $1 billion or more, also to a lot more Stripe profiles than nearly any other an element of the country. However, effortless access to on line economic system provides the foundation to have quick growth outside of the investment area.
Over the past 5 years, nearly all of Ireland’s areas became its payment frequency to your Stripe faster than just Dublin, towards the quickest velocity going on in the areas because ranged as the Cork, Carlow, and you can Galway.
County-level on line monetary progress can occur in lots of ways. Often it is the result of a big homegrown enterprise transitioning on the web. But other times, simple fact is that results of of numerous short regional enterprises ramping upwards sites trade. Stripe analysis shows which is just what’s happening in many Irish counties, in which on the internet economy activity is being propelled by organizations of all of the items and you can tech potential. For the past 5 years, median-sized businesses into the Wexford, Cavan, and you will Tipperary counties possess tripled how much cash it gather with the Stripe.
From inside the Wexford, a sunny state toward southeastern coastline noted for its berries and yearly opera festival, more step one,000 regional organizations run-on Stripe. Delivery government app Scurri inserted Stripe just after they introduced within the Ireland in the 2013, and then covers more than 110 mil shipment annually.
The fresh new online networks and you can monetary products possess got rid of the newest barriers so you can international trade, therefore it is an easy task to accept local payment procedures, see taxation obligations, and you may comply with overseas rules. Ireland’s businesses possess seized these types of potential: nearly 56% of your fee regularity processed from the Irish people within the last elizabeth from customers and you can enterprises during the international avenues.
Ireland’s software programs and you can depending electronic local people make up good significant percentage of it cross-edging money way, along with 80% of its percentage frequency coming from overseas a year ago. However, enterprises of all of the sizes are employing the web based to enhance toward this new places. Small enterprises obtained over €500 million when you look at the revenue away from in the world customers this past year, and initial phase startups pursued a global method from the beginning, acquiring 51% of their fee volume away from additional Ireland.
And additionally wanting clients from inside the well-built export areas, Irish people have tried the net so you can create the fresh new electronic trading pathways. When you find yourself authoritative figures getting 2022 let you know Irish exports complete ran primarily on You (31% of overall export regularity), Germany (12%), the uk (11%), and you will Belgium (9%), Irish people to the Stripe been able to visited a far more varied set of export segments. Its non-Irish conversion originated generally throughout the You (17%), great britain (16%), France (14%), and you may Spain (8%). Just last year, a number of the fastest-broadening export places to own Irish people into Stripe was France (and that increased 78%), Sweden ZusГ¤tzliche Ressourcen and you can Canada (+50%), and you may The japanese (+43%).
Once ten years out of expansion, Ireland’s web sites savings has plenty more room to grow. Certified statistics demonstrate that, even when you look at the pandemic, merely twenty-two% of products and you can properties had been purchased on the web. Companies in the wellness, training, and other large Irish marketplace are only beginning to transition towards web sites. The nation’s smaller businesses nonetheless create five-fifths of their revenue out-of for the-individual transformation, according to the Western european Payment.
The following years looks for example promising. Technical that will help companies work on line will soon permeate the newest Irish savings, unlocking progress for even more traditional marketplace. All of the well worth chain might be redesigned around the internet, and you will the fresh designs-regarding artificial cleverness so you’re able to fintech control-will unleash organization patterns that are not you can easily now. With more assist having prompt-expanding startups, more years off technical people might be produced in Ireland.


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Bttn and Accolade launch re-order solution for Magento platform
Helsinki, Finland – 25.10.2016 – The Button Corporation, creator of the first physical push button always connected to the internet, bttn, launches a joint effort targeted to online stores with Accolade Partners.
The solution, dubbed Button for Commerce, runs on the leading commerce platform Magento. It brings a convenient re-order functionality that has so far been a privilege only to large brands operating in a major ecommerce store to all online stores.More →
Helsinki, Finland & Stockholm, Sweden – September 7, 2016 – Telia, the leading Swedish telco recently launched a new service for its small- and midsize business customers, the Personal Technician, which helps companies with their IT- and communications solutions and makes the technology work.
Telia has teamed up with Bttn to engage businesses around the new service by sending them connected buttons. With a simple push of the button they can sign up to the service and get a Personal Technician. More →


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Travelport is aiming to enhance its presence in Asia with new products and a focus on customer service, the company’s new regional head has revealed.
Speaking to Travel Daily, Travelport’s recently-appointed managing director for Asia Pacific, Patrick Andres, said the company’s priorities under his leadership would be to deepen relationships with its clients in the region and to “develop a culture of service” within the company.
“First of all, we have a very solid position in several regions. In many of these markets we have big customers so I want to solidify these relationships, develop a culture of service, and have our staff working for our customers. If we do that we will be successful,” said Andres, who joined Travelport in October last year. He added that Travelport’s Asian team would expand “as need be”.
Commenting on his first few months in the job, Andres said his first priority was to meet with customers.
“We visited each customer to have an open conversation with them,” Andres said. “I can’t stress enough how important that level of engagement is. That’s what will be the key to our success.
“Personally that’s what I want to see from our team. I believe in open communication, asking ourselves what we are doing well, what we can do better, exchanging ideas and talking things through.”
And Andres believes that this level of customer service will set Travelport apart from its competitors.
“Where we differ from our competitors is our philosophy is to give customers choice. We don’t think that every agency is the same. They have different needs and we want to create solutions that fit the needs of every one of our customers. We need to piece together the elements and work out what’s best for each of our customers. In every region we provide choice. And we view that as a major advantage,” he said.
In terms of solutions, Andres said Travelport’s main priority was “providing content and offering the ability to search it intelligently”. One new solution being launched this year is the ‘Travelport Merchandising Platform’, which will be able to handle the rapid growth of ancillary products sold by airlines.
“Generally GDSs have not been able to sell these as well as airlines have on their website,” Andres admitted. “Travelport Merchandising Platform will enable [travel agents] to take airline content and rebundle it. We are working with airlines like Air Canada, Air New Zealand and easyJet to get their latest products, but there are no restrictions. For us it’s just code. Technically an airline can send us anything, and we can sell it.”
“We continue to improve the functionality of our products. It’s all about efficiency. We need to engage with our customers and provide tools that will make people as efficient as possible,” Andres concluded.


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After remaining quiet for several days, Apple has officially confirmed that the iPhone 13 “unlock with Apple Watch” feature that has been causing a recent run of user issues will be fixed with a software patch.
The patch is needed to fix a bug that has been affecting the handy feature on some iPhone 13s, which lets users use their Apple Watch to unlock their device while wearing a face mask or sunglasses, bypassing the need for Face ID or a passcode.
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In a support post, Apple said on Sunday, users who try to unlock their phone might receive a message that says “Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch” or might not be able to set up the feature at all.
According to MacRumors, Apple has promised to rectify the unlock bug through an "upcoming software update." In the interim, users can head to Settings and rely on passcodes until the fix has been rolled out, Apple said, although it didn't offer a timeline for when users could expect a patch to remove the problem.
Time for a fix
Frustratingly, it doesn’t appear as though a fix is imminent. With the flaw typically notifying users that the iPhone is “unable to communicate” with the Apple Watch, there isn’t any existing method to fix this bug yourself. Other users have reported that the unlock feature can’t be manually configured in the first place, so there are a number of issues here and no one approach will solve the issue for every user.
The AppleWatch subreddit is rife with similar reports of issues affecting the iPhone 13 Pro and the Apple Watch SE, so it's worth checking this page if you're encountering a similar bug, alongside it being a good overall destination for iOS and watchOS troubleshooting.