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Malaysia Airlines to increase services in Indonesia
19 Dec 2012 04:38:11
Kuala Lumpur-based full-service carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plans to increase its services to more Indonesian destinations in the future in order to tap into the growing demand from the country's business and leisure travelers.
The airline's regional senior vice president for Malaysia and ASEAN Muzammil Mohammad said that they were looking at cities like Semarang, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; Balikpapan, East Kalimantan and Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara for the new services.
"œThey are important points in Indonesia and with a population of 250 million people, Indonesia is a great market. We are looking at the market, and whenever it is feasible, we are going to introduce the new services," he said on the sidelines of "œCelebrating 40 Years of Malaysian Hospitality with You" at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Read full story: thejakartapost.com


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Samsung Phone News
17th November, 2014
The Galaxy S6 is on its way and we’ve got all the news and rumours
10th November, 2014
Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S6. Our take on Samsung's smartphone
6th November, 2014
Samsung have unveiled the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 which are their
Samsung Phone Reviews
19th October, 2014
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the best phablet we have seen to date.
8th October, 2014
The Galaxy Alpha feels like the phone Samsung should have created
28th August, 2014
Samsung's Galaxy S5 Mini is a high-end compact smartphone, but just
Samsung Videos and Game Reviews
10th March, 2014
The Samsung Galaxy S5 shown close up and personal with Samsung's
17th June, 2013
Samsung show us the reliability testing they perform on the Galaxy S4.
Samsung Insider News
13th August, 2013
Both the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 will be updated to Android 4.3 ,
25th July, 2013
Samsung look set to unveil the Galaxy GEAR Smartwatch in September at
Samsung has fast caught up to Apple as one of the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturers, putting out some formidable mobile phone handsets. Samsung’s Galaxy range encompasses a full range of devices, from budget phones to the very best premium handset. Full 3G support is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Galaxy S series has won countless awards for superior design, and Samsung is constantly developing fresh features to give its users a truly excellent mobile experience. As well as producing Google’s Nexus smartphone, Samsung has its own tablet range (named ‘Tab’) and continues to innovate. Who needs an iPhone when you’ve got mobiles this good? See our phone news, insider news, video news and phone reviews for the full low-down.

domain: news


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Billionaires: Page 8
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Partied With Lloyd Blankfein and Model Karlie Kloss Aboard Billionaire David Geffen's Superyacht
Geffen is known for partying with the rich and famous.
What you can learn from the initial stumbles and eventual success of Pedro Franceschi and Henrique Dubugras.
She became one of the richest women in the world in April after finalizing the terms of her divorce from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Unfortunately, entrepreneurs chasing the billion-dollar valuation game is a trend the start-up ecosystem should be worried about
Think of it as 'Paperboy' for billionaires.
The Amazon CEO is worth an estimated $121 billion.
Take a look at the background of the biggest billionaires.
The founder of Singapore's tech unicorn Sea established the company in 2009 as an online gaming service
Entrepreneur India has worked around 6 Billionaires from the Asia-Pacific who made it big without any backing
Kardashians' fame & major social media influence, this beauty billionaire is way more than just her looks
Asia is the biggest hub for billionaires, with numbers in the region set to rise above 1,000 by 2023
She follows in the footsteps of some of the most famous billionaires in the world, including Mark Zuckerberg.
Once in our life, all of us have dreamt of becoming a billionaire, becoming a billionaire is not impossible, but it takes a whole journey of ups and downs to reach the pinnacle


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Tokyo — Nikon reported that net sales rose, but net and operating profits were down by double digits for its fiscal year, ended March 31.
Nikon said in its imaging products business, the interchangeable-lens market climate “took a sharp turn for the worse from the middle of the third quarter. Additionally, the compact digital camera market continued to shrink.” Sales for its precision equipment instruments business were also off.
Corporately, net sales this year increased by 10 percent to a record-high of 1,010,493 million yen. However, due to the impact of the worsening market conditions, operating income decreased 36.3 percent year on year to 51,001 million yen, and net income was 42,459 million yen, a 28.4 percent decrease year on year.
Nikon said its imaging products business showed “strong expansion” up until the third quarter.
Net sales increased by 28 percent for the group from the previous fiscal year to 751,240 million yen, and operating income increased by 12.5 percent from the previous fiscal year to 60,711 million yen.
“Amid this situation, among the digital camera ― interchangeable-lens type, digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras showed steady sales growth for existing products, such as the D800,” the company said.
In addition, Nikon temporarily increased product inventory as a measure to mitigate related risk for floods in Thailand, and “were forced to lower prices particularly for entry models as the market conditions deteriorated from the middle of the third quarter. We made progress in inventory reduction and were able to reduce the inventory level as planned by the end of the fiscal year.”
The company noted that advanced camera―interchangeable lens type Nikon 1 captured a high market share especially in North America and Europe, raising brand awareness for the series.
Amid a shrinking compact digital camera market, the group captured top market shares in each region as a result of efforts to launch and expand sales for product lines “with distinctive features,” Nikon said.
- DEG Honors Dolby, Sony And Warner At Annual CES Awards Event - January 11, 2019
- LG’s CES Keynote: AI Is ‘Opportunity Of Our Lifetime’ - January 9, 2019
- Memories Of Our Friend John - April 12, 2018


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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Secretary for Commerce Wilbur Ross on Thursday held discussions to increase bilateral trade between the countries. “Had a fruitful discussion with the US Secretary of Commerce @SecretaryRoss to further boost our strong trade relations and close economic partnership between the two nations,” Goyal said in a tweet.
The meeting assumes significance as India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade deal to boost two-way commerce. Recently, Goyal and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer held trade deal talks in Washington.
India is demanding exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, resumption of export benefits to certain domestic products under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), greater market access for its products from sectors including agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering.


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The public preview release of Windows 8.1 is about three weeks away, and to get us all hyped up, Microsoft has posted a video showing off some of the improvements awaiting us. The video mostly covers tweaks and additions to the Start screen and Modern UI interface, but as it turns out, there are plenty of those in store.
Windows 8.1 introduces new tile sizes, which we've all seen in screenshots (leaked or otherwise), as well as the ability to put photos on the lock screen. Access to the "All apps" screen is simpler, as is app management on the Start screen itself. It looks like you can even arrange apps into groups. App folders don't seem to be in the works, though.
Other than that, new color and backdrop options have been added—including, finally, the ability to use your regular desktop background as the Start screen backdrop.Some interesting changes have been made to search and Modern UI multitasking, including the option to snap more than two apps together on "larger" screens.
In related news, Microsoft has announced that, as part of the Windows 8.1 update, Outlook will join the suite of Office apps included with Windows RT. The current version of WinRT ships with Office 2013 Home & Student, but Outlook is missing from the package—and there's no way to purchase it separately, since Microsoft doesn't make an ARM-compatible version of the software just yet.
|Here's an early look at DX12 "Inside the Second" benchmark data||75|
|Coolchip Technologies teases a low-profile "kinetic cooler"||3|
|EKWB has a full-coverage water block ready for the RX 480||10|
|The next Android release will be called Nougat||7|
|New Wireless-AC features improve speed and stability||14|
|Nvidia readies its Shield Android TV for the UHD and HDR future||7|
|Radeon Software 16.6.2 is ready for the Radeon RX 480||12|
|Asus teases a Strix variant of AMD's Radeon RX 480||34|
|Radeon RX 480 availability check: act fast before they're gone||35|


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Boutique firms face further pressure as a result of MiFID II implementation as the rulings are pushing larger pools of money to fewer managers, and could lead to further consolidation throughout the asset management industry, it has been warned.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management's head of international retail client business Nick Phillips said his firm has seen evidence of an increase in the number of mandate being outsourced to the firm - it has...
Industry Voice: Chris Taylor discusses the outlook for Japan, explaining why corporates are producing record aggregate profits and profits growth.
Comes in on 9 December 2019
Latest news and analysis
Primarily smart-beta products
Revealed – successes across all 11 categories


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Oslo-listed Gaming Innovation Group (GIG), has announced that it will launch its popular Nordic facing brands Guts.com and Super Lenny (SuperLenny.com) for the UK market, having gained its official sports betting operator license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Following its UKGC approval, GIG governance informs that it is now allowed to operate its proprietary brands in addition to third party operator clients and white labels through its iGaming Cloud platform.
As of today, GIG is able to service UK betting customers through Guts.com and SuperLenny brands complying fully with UK online betting regulations and standards.
GIG CEO Robin Reed states that the company has high ambitions for both brands which have secured a ‘top five’ B2C position within the saturated Nordic gaming/sports betting markets.
Reed comments on UK market entry “The UK is amongst the most competitive markets for sports betting worldwide and entering the market is a bold statement of our intentions within sports betting and within our regulated market strategy.”
In 2017, GIG will continue its corporate strategy of expanding services beyond its Nordic home markets. This January the platform supplier entered a strategic partnership to launch German language sportsbook Wetten.com
GIG’s current gaming portfolio consists of the following brands; Guts.com, Super Lenny, Thrills, Kaboo, Rizk and BetSpin.com. GIG governance will update the further update the market and company stakeholders on its UK market plans and initiatives within the coming weeks.


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I do my very best to avoid department stores at Christmas time, and since Christmas shopping now begins even before Thanksgiving, I have been sticking to the grocery-store aisles for weeks.
I would rather be just about anyplace than standing in line Friday morning, waiting to run through a store just to grab a few bargains. Some stores opened as early as 4 a.m. Friday and while I'm up that early at least six of seven days each week, I refuse to join the race, no matter how big the bargains.
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After launching the Pixel 5 device globally last year, Google is gearing up for the launch of the Pixel 5a smartphone. According to tipster Jon Prosser, Google could launch its Pixel 5a phone in June 2021. Google Pixel 5a is likely to be a trimmed version of the Pixel 5 device. In addition to this, Prosser also revealed that the company could also launch Pixel Buds 3. The next iteration of Google earbuds is rumoured to debut next month. As of now, there are no details of Google’s upcoming earbuds. Google Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G Smartphones Launched; Prices, Features & Specifications.
Google Pixel 5a (Photo Credits: OnLeaks x Voice)
A few weeks ago, leaked images of the Google Pixel 5a were spotted & revealed by OnLeaks. As per the leaked images, Pixel 5a will get a similar design as the Pixel 4a 5G model. At the rear, there is a square-shaped module comprising of two cameras and an LED flash. Google’s upcoming Pixel 5a is likely to be 2.3mm taller than the previous model. The Pixel 5a phone is rumoured to feature a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with an upgraded refresh rate. For optics, the device could come with a 12MP main camera and a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens with software enhancement.
The handset is expected to be powered by a mid-range Qualcomm Chipset. Internal hardware, memory configuration and the battery of Pixel 5a are unknown. The upcoming device could retain a 3.5mm audio jack and dual stereo speaker grill. In addition to this, Google is also reportedly working on a foldable phone. For this, the company has been in talks with Samsung for the making of the foldable screen.
(The above story first appeared on Fresh Headline on Mar 09, 2021 10:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website freshheadline.com).
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Traverse City, MI (PRWEB) July 23, 2015 -- Traverse Legal, PLC has recently launched its new website http://www.dronelaw.pro. The website aims to convey essential information regarding FAA Regulations on the operation of drones (UAS/UAV).
DroneLaw.Pro is staffed by legal experts of the drone industry offering assistance in the filing and compliance of the Section 333 Petition exemptions for the commercial use of UAS/UAV/Drones. The new website offers vast amounts of information regarding Federal and State Drone Laws, filing a Section 333 Petition and other Federal Aviation Administration resources regarding drones.
With the FAA granting Section 333 Petition Exemptions on a strict discretionary basis, DroneLaw.Pro’s objective is to be the leader in legal matters regarding Section 333 Petitions Exemptions and to assist individuals and companies with acquiring a Section 333 Permit, maintaining compliance under the Section 333 Permit and all other FAA regulations for UAS/drones. They understand all legal aspects of the unmanned aircraft systems/drones including the technology, engineering, electrical systems, navigation technology, hardware and software systems of drones and the FAA laws surrounding UAS/UAVs.
http://www.DroneLaw.Pro is the drone website for the professional law firm Traverse Legal, PLC that has been specializing in technology company representation since 1994. Traverse Legal has office locations in Traverse City, Michigan, Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas and Encino, California. They also specialize in trademark, copyright, patent, internet, and business law. The lead UAS attorney, Enrico Schaefer, understands UAS technology, software, hardware, navigation, payloads and components, as well as the legal requirements to operate one as determined by the FAA.
Enrico Schaefer, Traverse Legal, PLC, http://www.dronelaw.pro, +1 (866) 936-7447, [email protected]
SOURCE Traverse Legal, PLC


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Mila Kunis has nabbed her first beauty endorsement as the new international face of Dior, saying, "I am thrilled to be working with Dior. The brand is iconic in so many ways. It defines fashion, elegance and sophistication."
Full story The Hollywood Reporter
Get more "Extra" Scoop headlines for Thursday, January 5!
Kim Kardashian Becomes Poster Girl for Campaign to Raise Taxes on the Rich -- Daily Mail
Timberlake Taking Elton John Movie Offer 'Very Seriously' -- E! Online
Kanye West Goes on 3-Hour Twitter Rant -- MSNBC
MSNBC Adding Another Weekend Political Talk Show -- NY Times


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KFit’s Fave acquires Groupon Singapore to boost SEA e-commerce
KFIT announced Wednesday that it has bought over Groupon Singapore, the third of Groupon’s Southeast Asia branches to be bought over by the gym subscription startup in the past year, as it pushes towards its goal of becoming a local e-commerce platform.
KFit, which rebranded last year as Fave, acquired Groupon Indonesia and Groupon Malaysia in 2016. According to TechCrunch, the two companies have lots in common – KFit CEO Joel Neoh was head of Groupon’s Asian operations before he went on to start KFit in 2015. Co-founder Yeoh Chen Chow also worked for Groupon APAC as regional operations director before KFit.
KFit began as a platform to help gyms gain more customers by connecting them with people looking for one-off classes and short-term memberships – similar to the US’ Classpass app. But in 2015, TechCrunch reported that the company was struggling to reach profitability just before it secured its Series A funding round, so a refocus has not come as much of a shock.
Neoh told Tech Wire Asia last year during the Global Entrepreneurship Community 2016 event that the company leveraged on its teams’ abilities to get more local businesses on board.
“Groupon approached us and were exploring opportunities to expand their Asia business – which I used to run, so it was mostly an internal conversation,” he said.
“They said that if KFit was already expanding out into categories, then it makes sense for us to inject our [Groupon’s] business into yours.”
Several months later, KFit acquired Groupon Indonesia, and then Groupon Malaysia.
The company is also thinking in terms of digital payments, and wants to emulate China, where many people pay for goods and services via apps like WeChat or Alipay.
“Fundamentally, it’s about more sales for business and convenience and savings for customers,” Neoh added.
“I foresee that in the next five years, digital payments will be the biggest driver of digital and economic growth in the world. You can already see it coming, and it’s already happening,” he said.
- The end of TikTok Shop and other social commerce in Indonesia
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- Is ChatGPT enabling collaborative decision-making or merely Hobson’s choice?
- NVIDIA and NTT DOCOMO revolutionize telecom services with world’s first GPU-accelerated 5G network
- Sony battles new hack: ‘Is my account safe?’ Echoes among concerned customers


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Venture-capital names, private equity players and pension funds are driving the rise in prices of cryptocurrencies, Bloomberg reports, citing PwC Crypto Leader, Henri Arslanian.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date on the latest crypto and blockchain news.
According to the expert, smaller venture capital firms do not feel comfort in this situation as large investors can dominate with big sums:
"Let us say they are looking at a deal and they believe it is worth $10 million, and you are seeing large VCs come in and put a bid in for a higher valuation. This is happening a lot with very early-stage companies, say, $5 million to $20 million — the prices are being inflated."
Arslanian emphasized that even though the market cools off, cryptocurrency deals have heated up in recent months. Crypto M&A was about $3 billion in 2020 and a similar amount was raised in the last 2-3 months alone, he added.
Earlier, cryptocurrency exchange FTX raised $900 million in a Series B funding round, which brings the company's valuation at $18 billion. Later, Fireblocks, a cryptocurrency custodian service focused on institutional clients, raised $310 million, bringing the company's valuation at $2 billion.
As iHodl reported, Crypto.com conducted a study according to which the number of cryptocurrency users has grown to more than 200 million by June 2021. Per the study, the market has more than doubled during the first 6 months of the year, to 221 million users.
Access more than 50 of the world's financial markets directly from your EXANTE account – including NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange.


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The Green500 lists the best energy-efficient, high-performance computing systems around the world. This week sees that list get an update with several exciting names landing at the top. Evidently, NVIDIA is also happy about the massive endorsement it offers.
The International Supercomputing Show, held in Frankfurt on Monday, is where the new Green500 list was published. At the very top of that list is the recent TSUBAME 3.0 system. It is at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) and achieves a record of 14.1 gigaflop per watt. The Tesla V100 graphics processors power all of that too.
Organizations tackling the planet’s biggest issues need the most powerful and intelligent computing architecture. They are vital in order to make the most of HPC and latest AI advances. NVIDIA AI offers the most ideal platform according to the company’s Ian Buck. Buck serves as the general manager of Accelerated Computing.
The TSUBAME 3.0 seeks to pave the way as Japan’s flagship AI supercomputer. NVDIA Tesla AI certainly made that possible. TIT’s Professor Satoshi Matsuoka said that their supercomputer delivers “a single powerful platform for both High-performance computing and AI” to supplement each other. This is achieved in addition to offering the most optimal energy efficiency.
“Our AI supercomputing platform provides one architecture for computational and data science,” Buck reports. He is all thrill and pride when it comes to NVIDIA’s AI capacity. The company provides the “most brilliant minds” the innovation they need to “solve the unsolvable.”
The processor giant pointed out that 4 of the top 13 systems also run AI based on NVIDIA DGX-1. The leading systems on the Green500 run data centers with NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPU accelerators. It is the same AI which powers the data processes on self-driving Teslas. This is another major endorsement on the young automaker’s part.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) published performance data along with the announcement. It depicts how HPC applications enhance up to 3X via the Kepler architecture Tesla GPUs. Two years have passed since the GPUs launched. That same time sees HPC performances going significantly beyond projections.
Nvidia Tesla AI helps solve the unsolvable
On NVIDIA Tesla V100 graphics accelerators, high-performance computing (HPC) works hand-in-hand with AI. The Summit supercomputer of the U.S. Department of Energy will use these AI-powered GPU boosters later this year. They will give out more than 3 exaflops of AI power along with 200 petaflops of 64-bit floating point performance.
Japan houses the top 4 Green500 systems. Systems housed by Yahoo Japan, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology of Japan, and RIKEN — Japan’s Center of Advanced Intelligence — all follow TIT respectively. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) forms part of the best 13 list too. Number 10 on the Green500 goes the company’s own SATURNV.
The full Green500 is available here. NVIDIA is a leader in the processor market and most renown for its large presence in gaming and GPUs.


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In an interview with “Konfuzius-Institut” – the Magazine, Daniel Fasnacht explains how the importance of money is beginning to change, how digital payment systems work in China and what role China could play in financial services and trade worldwide.Continue reading »
News published by other companies, often with added comments by us.
Chinese tourists are big business in Europe. Their needs will give rise to disruptive business models with new digital payment services. Technology giants are about to build ecosystems that integrate QR code payment across Europe, threatening established and profitable banking businesses.Continue reading »
Crypto Meets Banking: How to Blockchain-Enable the Financial Sector? On January 20, 2020, we will discuss this question at an event hosted by the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center and by BEI St. Gallen. We think it is now clear that blockchain, crypto assets and DLT have made their way, will not fade away and will revolutionize the financial sector. The question therefore is how to blockchain-/crypto-enable existing banks and financial institutions.Continue reading »
Networking, collaboration, data – these are the new core concepts in wealth and asset management. On the one hand, it is about making all available and accessible in a digital format to increase the efficiency of business. On the other hand, it is central to understand the changing customer wishes and implement the right digitalisation strategy.Continue reading »
Watch the gap; between the Attention Economy and financial services. Market forces are fiercely at work to start closing this gap. I shared insights around […]Continue reading »


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When Google launched its first app store, known as Android Market in 2008, there were only 50 apps available for users to choose from. At the time, Google’s Eric Chu described the store as more of a “marketplace” where developers would have an open, uncluttered environment to launch their content. In fact, launching a new app was as easy as registering as a merchant, uploading the content, and giving it a description. For developers, it was the golden age of launching a new product. In those early years, some app store optimization and a limited social media ad campaign might be enough to ensure that a new offering is the go-to option for most users.
Today, the app landscape is very different. In the first quarter of 2021, there were 3.48 million apps for Android users to browse. For iPhone users, 2.22 million apps were available on Apple’s App Store. In this transformed app ecosystem, the methods that once worked for marketers have become much less effective. New products now risk being lost in a sea of competition. For example, consider the effectiveness of app store optimization when releasing a new health and fitness app. According to data from App Annie, in 2020, 71,000 apps in this vertical alone were launched on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Figures from Statista indicate that almost 70% of all new apps have not reached the 1,000 download mark. In short, the rivalry between novelties has never been so fierce and the chances of success have never been so slim.
Amid a surge in competition in app stores, developers need to explore alternative avenues to ensure their apps reach a wide audience. Device manufacturers and mobile carriers are having a profound impact on app discovery, including enabling developers to leapfrog the competitiveness of app stores. One area that has completely shaken up the field of app discovery is the increased use of preloaded apps. While preloaders aren’t new, the range of preinstalled apps has grown significantly over the years. Many users now see these apps as a must-have feature of their smartphones, as opposed to unwanted bloatware. This shift partly reflects the growth of third-party app discovery platforms that manage the relationship between developers and manufacturers. These new partnerships have paved the way for much smaller app developers to enter the preloading arena by working alongside other new developers under the umbrella of a platform that deals directly with OEMs. These platforms have developed technology that allows for a much more personalized approach to preloading. Essentially, manufacturers no longer take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, they view users as individuals and realize that an app one user covets is an unwanted consumption of storage space for another.
The benefits of preloaded applications for users, developers and manufacturers are clear. For users, there’s the convenience these apps provide – this means no longer having to navigate the App Store, as instead users get personalized, contextualized recommendations right on the app. device. Users trust software that has been carefully chosen by the manufacturer and has been thoroughly checked. This security guarantee means they’ll likely have fewer worries about malware or data collection. The process of discovering applications targeted to user needs guarantees much greater customer loyalty. The trust that users place in these applications benefits both manufacturers and developers. For manufacturers, they strengthen their brand by providing better user satisfaction.
These users are likely to upgrade their device to the latest model when it is released, as they want to ensure that the apps they had before will be available to them in the future. Additionally, users tend to avoid the inconvenience of buying a device from a different brand, which involves reinstalling existing apps and services that populated their previous home screen. For developers, this is an opportunity to circumvent the myriad of advertisements that users are exposed to every day. They have the ability to introduce their apps to millions of brand users around the world. This way developers ensure that their offering is the first thing a user sees and installs. As for operators, it’s the ability to maintain constant engagement with subscribers, recommend content to users, and provide special offers and upgrades.
Smartphone technology has of course developed rapidly over the past 15 years. These advances have paved the way for an increasingly personalized user experience. Users want to feel like their device is an extension of their personality: the device needs to know what apps and services users want right when they need them. The device must then respond in real time to fulfill this request. Manufacturers and carriers have been instrumental in achieving this symbiotic relationship. On-device app recommendations facilitated by third-party platforms have changed the way users interact with their devices. Breakthroughs in AI-powered technology mean recommendations are truly unique to the person receiving them. For example, food delivery apps may be presented to users when searching for takeout restaurants; E-commerce platforms offering offers or discounts specific to a user’s location may be recommended when the user has expressed interest in purchasing something specific. Recommendations can be tailored based on device model, location, user behavior patterns, and the exact time of day when engagement is highest.
Although it might not seem immediately obvious, mobile carriers play a vital role in the global proliferation of this type of technology. Having devices that are 5G-enabled and capable of facilitating VR and AR experiences is just one aspect of delivering the latest smartphone experience. Without the expansion of networks in emerging markets and the investment in the infrastructure needed for faster download speeds and better mobile coverage, such advanced hardware becomes redundant. Fortunately, investments in the telecommunications industry in emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa are at an all-time high. For this reason, we can expect more opportunities for developers to expand into these locations, while manufacturers will also reap the rewards generated by buoyant sales.
As we look to the future, the app economy shows no signs of slowing down. Smartphone sales are expected to stay strong, innovation will accelerate, and users will enjoy better, more personalized, and ultimately more memorable smartphone experiences.
The opinions expressed above are those of the author.
END OF ARTICLE


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Ceat recently appointed Renji Issac, Senior Vice President R&D and Technology in India. Issac took over from Peter Becker, Senior Vice President R&D and Technology effective 1 May. Becker was globally responsible for quality tyre development and implementation in Europe from July 2017 to 30 April 2023.
Kwik Fit is marking National Apprenticeship Week with plans to expand its apprenticeship scheme and recruit more than 300 apprentices in 2022. Throughout the week beginning 7 February Kwik Fit will also be featuring current apprentices on its social media channels, enabling them to share their own experiences of the apprenticeship programme and why they opted for an automotive career.
Marty Krcelic, president and chief operating officer (COO) of TBC Brands and executive vice president of TBC Corporation is set to retire effective 30 June 2021. Under his leadership, TBC Brands has become one of the largest distributors of proprietary brand tyres in North America. Geoff Doster will succeed Krcelic to lead TBC Brands as senior vice president of sales. His responsibilities will be expanded to include oversight of TBC Brands operations, customer service, commercial truck tyre sales and equipment and non-tyre sales.


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VIDEO: AAA Predicts Record-Breaking 44.2 Million Americans Will Travel For 4th of July Holiday
By Space Coast Daily // June 26, 2017
2.3 Million Floridians expected to travel
ABOVE VIDEO: AAA says a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans will travel. That number includes more than two million Floridians.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – AAA forecasts more Americans will travel this Independence Day than ever before.
A record-breaking 44.2 million Americans (2.3 million Floridians) will take to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways; an increase of 1.3 million Americans (103,000 Floridians) from last year’s holiday.
“This Independence Day will be historic,” said Vicky Evans, Assistant Vice President, Travel Sales Development, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
“Traveler numbers are up and prices are down, adding to what has already been a bustling summer travel season.”
Most-Traveled Summer Holiday
The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4.
Independence Day is usually the most-traveled of the “Big 3” summer holidays.
While Memorial and Labor Day holidays often attract a similar number of total travelers, Independence Day commonly attracts 12-13 percent more.
“More people travel for Independence Day, because it falls in the middle of summer when school is out,” Evans said.
“Families can easily plan extended vacations for this holiday without worrying about school calendars.”
By the Numbers: Independence Day Travel Forecast
- 44.2 million Americans are expected to travel → 2.9 percent more than last year
- 2.3 million Floridians are expected to travel → 4.8percent more than last year
- 37.5 million Americans will drive → 2.9 percent more than last year
- 2 million Floridians will drive → 5 percent more than last year
- 3.4 million Americans will fly → 4.6 percent more than last year
- 168,556 Floridians will fly → 5.1 percent more than last year
- 3.3 million Americans will take other modes of transportation → 1.4 percent more than last year
- 125,305 Floridians will take other modes of transportation → 1.4 percent more than last year
Prices are on par or lower than last year
- Gas prices could hit 13-year lows for the holiday
- Airfares will average $186 → 10 percent less than last year
- Daily car rental rates will average $65 → 14 percent less than last year
- Hotel prices will average $185 → the same as last year
Holiday Gas Prices Could Hit 13-Year Lows
Gas prices remain slightly below year-ago levels, which is another factor driving the increase in travelers this Independence Day.
On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, the national average price for a gallon of gas was $2.28; the Florida average was $2.25.
Check today’s gas price averages here.
On Independence Day 2016, gas prices averaged $2.272 nationwide and $2.231 in Florida – the lowest prices for the holiday since 2005. Should average prices dip below $2.226 (US) and $2.233 (FL), they would be the lowest for the holiday since 2004.
“Florida motorists are finding the lowest gas prices of the year, as oil prices plunge in response to high production and supply,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
“Last year, the state average declined 6 cents from June 22 to July 4. During that time, oil prices drifted from $49 to $47 a barrel. In the past four weeks, crude prices have collapsed, dropping more than $7 per barrel.”
More People Will Drive, Fly and Use Other Modes of Travel
The vast majority of travelers—37.5 million Americans—will drive to their Independence Day destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over last year. Air travel is expected to increase 4.6 percent over last year, with 3.4 million Americans taking to the skies this Independence Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 1.4 percent, to 3.3 million travelers.
Airfares and Car Rental Rates Swing Lower this Independence Day
Travelers can expect lower prices for airfares, car rentals and hotels this Independence Day weekend.
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 10 percent lower this year, with an average round trip ticket landing at $186.
Daily car rental rates will average $65, which is 14 percent less than last Independence Day. Hotel costs are the same as last year, with the average AAA Three Diamond Rated hotel costing $185 per night.
AAA to Rescue More Than 338,000 Motorists this Independence Day
AAA expects to rescue more than 338,000 motorists this Independence Day weekend, with the primary reasons being lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues.
AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out.
Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. AAA members get a free 24-point inspection at approved auto repair facilities (learn more).
Orlando Remains Top Destination for Summer Travel
With new attractions debuting at popular theme parks, Orlando claims the number one spot on the list of most-visited locales for 2017 summer travel based on AAA’s summer travel bookings:
- Orlando, Florida
- Vancouver, Canada
- Cancun, Mexico
- Seattle, Washington
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Anaheim, California
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
To help travelers plan their trips to a top 10 destination, AAA’s team of anonymous hotel and restaurant inspectors recently selected a few of their favorite places to stay and dine..
AAA to Reimburse Members up to $1,500 for Emergency Expenses
- AAA provides a benefit called “Car Travel Interruption Protection” for all of its members.
- Under this benefit, AAA reimburses covered emergency expenses for members who are traveling by car – at least 100 miles away from home – and have a breakdown, accident, or if their vehicle is stolen while en route.
- Reimbursable expenses are covered up to $600 for Classic members, $1,000 for Plus members, and $1,500 for Premier members.
- Covered expenses include: meals and lodging, car rental, and transportation home or to their destination within 72 hours.
- AAA members can find complete information in their membership booklet and use this form to make a claim.
AAA offers the following tools to assist travelers
- AAA mobile app – Travelers can use the free app to map a route, find lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and review nearly 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants.
- GasPrices.AAA.com – Find average national, state and local gas prices; research top gas price trends, and use the “Gas Cost Calculator” to determine how much you can expect to spend on gasoline during your next road trip.
- AAA.com/AutoRepair – Find a AAA approved Auto Repair Facility. Each facility undergoes a comprehensive investigation and meets stringent quality standards. AAA members receive special discounts and benefits when visiting these locations.
- AAA.com/Travel – Book a hotel, flight, rental car, or cruise. Find travel ideas, hot cruise and land deals, review top destinations, purchase discounted attraction tickets, and find TripTik, tour books and Maps.
- AAA.com/TravelerReviews – View ratings and see what other travelers said about cruises and tour vacations they booked through AAA.
- AAA.com/Diamonds – Search over 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for amenities and services.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS


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This EV Mercedes-Benz Offers the Longest Range Than Any Other Electric Vehicle
Expected to launch next year, it will have a very impressive range of over 435 miles (700 km), measured in the WLTP cycle, according to Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius, who spoke about the model at the annual shareholders meeting hosted earlier this month.
Luxury Car Sales Are Soaring up to 80% in Australia: Check out the Best Sellers Here
The world is in turmoil right now and the automotive industry has taken a huge hit. Analysts estimate certain markets are going to record low numbers comparable to figures posted over 30 years ago.
Ineos Grenadier 2021: The BMW Powered Engines for Ultimate Off-Road Performance
Off-roader with BMW engines? The new Ineos Grenadier might have it all!
Mercedes Benz Partners with Nvidia Towards Better Autonomous Vehicles by 2024: Could They Beat Their Competitors?
What makes the Mercedes Benz and Nvidia partnership autonomous driving better than the rest?
COVID-19 Has Now Killed More People in the US than the Mercedes Benz Stadium Can Hold Yet Many Still Party
The coronavirus has already killed nearly 100,000 people in the US and despite that, parties in Missouri are still ignoring social distancing measures.
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe And Cabriolet Unveiled
The latest from the Three-Pointed Star is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet.
2017 Mercedes-Benz SL450: Charming Relic
2017 Mercedes-Benz SL450 is a relic from a bygone era with a modern twist.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Review: Why This Sedan Is A Technological Wonder
The Mercedes S-Class has been the default limousine of choice for decades, but this year's model takes technology and efficiency to a new level. Also, the engines range from frugal diesel to a low-emissions, a great variety.
Mercedes-Benz Unveils CLA 180 Star Wars Edition For Japan
Mercedes-Benz let out a great surprise when it debuted its limited CLA 180 Star Wars Edition for Japan, which is reportedly better than Nissan Rogue.
Fall In Love With Driving As Mercedes Rocks Its AMG GLA45 To The Road
The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLA45 has been tested out on the road and it feels like a new model, giving off a whole new driving experience.
Mercedes-Benz's Hardtop Roadster Is Not Coming Back; Futuristic Products Of The Company Revealed
Mercedes-Benz has revealed its line-up of future products as well as a beloved model's last days in the market.
Go Ahead, Talk To Your Mercedes-Benz Through Alexa Or Google Home
Mercedes-Benz owners can now talk to their cars via Alexa and Google Assistant.
The V8-Powered 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Comes In SUV And Coupe Versions
Mercedes unveils its new V8-powered AMG GLC63 SUV and GLC63 Coupe.
Aston Martin DB11: The Latest Supercar Is An Absolute Monster
The Aston Martin DB11 carries on the legacy of earlier Aston Martin DBs. It is a worthy successor to the DB9 as it has style and grace.


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WHIPPANY, N.J., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Pazoo, Inc. (OTC Pinks: PZOO), is pleased to announce that its Denver Colorado cannabis testing lab licensee Harris Lee Colorado, LLC had gained several new clients over just the past 10 days. Also, Pazoo is pleased to announce that it continues to gain media attention, this time through an article published in the USA TODAY news publication.
Harris Lee Colorado, LLC d/b/a Steep Hill Colorado over the past 10 days has gained several new testing clients. These new clients have come from a direct result of the teams’ increased marketing and networking efforts over the past month as well as from the recent national media attention to the promoting of the first ever objective based cannabis competition, the Grow Off. The promotion of the Grow Off (www.thegrowoff.com) itself has garnered great attention for Harris Lee Colorado, LLC from organizations and individuals who would like to utilize their cannabis testing services.
In addition, Pazoo CEO David M. Cunic, was asked to provide his input and thoughts about opiate painkiller addictions, specifically how utilizing cannabis could help with addiction that affects so many. The article recently ran in the online publication of USA TODAY on May 21, 2016. To view the article please follow the link below:
About Pazoo, Inc:
Pazoo, Inc. is a company focused on health, wellness and safety. Our focus is to provide best-in-class laboratory testing of cannabis and cannabinoids to protect consumers from impurities, contaminants and other irregularities. Through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Harris Lee and MA & Associates, Pazoo provides industry leading laboratory testing of cannabis. Pazoo is licensed to test cannabis in Nevada, with a focus on expansion into other states. Pazoo licensee Harris Lee Colorado is currently an operating cannabis testing laboratory in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, Pazoo delivers a comprehensive array of health and wellness information on its website www.pazoo.com, and features industry experts from both the health and wellness arena and the pet industry. Lastly, our newly formed wholly owned subsidiary CK Distribution LLC, provides the marketing and sales agent for the distribution of non-controlled hemp products throughout the USA. Non-controlled hemp products are the items utilized by the industry that support grow facilities, infusion companies and dispensaries.
Safe Harbor Statement:
This update includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Pazoo, Inc. or its management “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “forecasts,” “estimates” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statement.
SOURCE Pazoo, Inc.


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- THE MAGAZINE
- CATEGORY FOCUS
- BEVERAGE R&D
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, but this month it could be worth a trip to Spain thanks to Pernod Ricard USA’s Campo Viejo Spanish wine brand.
Malibu, a product of Pernod Ricard USA, launched a new bottle style that changes almost everything but its signature white color, the company says.
Absolut Vodka, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pernod Ricard USA, is collaborating with the online art community Threadless to host a challenge to create Chicago-themed artwork for the next limited-edition bottle in Absolut’s city-inspired series.
Pernod Ricard USA, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard SA, introduced its first low-calorie spiced rum under the Malibu name.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a two-day superstorm that left a trail of destruction in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut including snow storms, floods, power outages, fires, billions of dollars in property damage and an estimated 110 U.S. deaths to date, according to a Nov. 4 article on CNN.com, beverage companies are doing their part to send relief aid to the affected Northeast communities.
Are you an Insider? Subscribe to Beverage Industry’s weekly e-newsletter to receive news headlines, new product information and magazine highlights.
This book addresses the principles of cleaning operations, water supply issues and the science of detergents and disinfectants.


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I say STOP to massive log exports !
The Member States of the European Union and the European authorities must act decisively and quickly to save the wood processing industries. It is the future of a key component of the sector together with the economic recovery and relocation policy that are at stake
Without supplies, the crisis will have direct consequences for the downstream of the sector (industry and crafts, construction and logistics) which will no longer be able to source materials in Europe and will be dependent on imports from outside Europe.
Make no mistake, the log supply crisis for sawmills is of a violence never seen before and is only going to get worse
It’s time to wake up to the fact that European sawmills are now facing closures and liquidation if nothing is done to stop the hemorrhage that is taking place before our eyes.
In 2020, 18 million softwood logs were grabbed by countries outside of Europe: a doubling compared to 2019. Over the last 4 months, this leakage of raw material has again increased by 1,5. The same has been true for years for beech and oak logs resulting in production decrease. Overall : 20 million m3 in 2020 ; 30 million m3 end of 2021 if nothing changes!
All the qualities of logs are concerned, even industrial logs for panels and paper are leaving by the shipload
Faced with strong global demand that creates supply tensions in all sectors, European sawmills are the only ones able to guarantee supplies to the European market under economically and ecologically sound conditions. Have we learned nothing from the episode of covid masks and vaccines?
Russia's choice to ban the export of fresh logs and China's strategy based on the capture of raw materials will increase tenfold the appetite of non-European actors who take advantage of the passivity of European governments to plunder without limit the resource that European manufacturers need to work and fuel European consumption.
All sectors are now affected and supply problems are being felt on all markets and among our customers who are carpenters, home builders, retailers and industrialists. They cannot rely or compete on international markets to secure supplies. The logistics sector is also threatened with a significant risk of disruption in supply chains (packaging, transport, etc.) if pallet manufacturers cannot find wood products locally.
This economic and ecological aberration must stop now.
While Europe is showing a strong political will for an ecological transition and the reduction of CO2 emissions, it is counting on wood, building materials of the future, to achieve its objectives. The massive export of logs simply cancels out all these calculations by emitting more carbon than the tree has stored in its lifetime.
European manufacturers cannot invest and modernize without securing their raw material supplies. Europe is one of the last regions in the world not to have a strategy for the valorization of its natural resources, while we, the companies involved in the primary processing of wood, are building, through our work, a European industry that is what Europe should be: Modern, Responsible and Sustainable.
The services of the Member States and the representatives of the European institutions have been letting this toxic trade take hold for 10 years. We now are on the edge of the cliff
Allowing the export of our raw material without ensuring a strategic and priority supply of our European industries is simply to:
- Condemn the wood industry to no longer be self-sufficient
- Condemn a sector that provides local jobs
- Endanger the sectors of craftsmen, construction, logistics...
- Turning our backs on our ecological ambitions
- Sacrifice the work of our predecessors and not offer our children a future in this industry.
Entrepreneurs, processors, customers and users, wake up: your sawmill industry is in mortal danger. It is you who are going to write the history of the end or the rebirth of our European wood processing industry.


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Mexican trade with India surges to $6.3 billion
Bilateral trade between Mexico and India reached $6.29 billion in 2012, from $4.15 billion in 2011.
Engineering products topped the list of export items of India as usual, while 88 percent of India's imports from Mexico was crude oil.
India was the eighth largest export destination of Mexico in 2012. Reliance was the importer of Mexican crude oil, as in the past several years.


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Better Place and the Smart Grid in Ontario
Yesterday, Better Place announced a brand new electric vehicle charging project to take place in the province of Ontario to make it easier for electric car drivers to charge their vehicles on a smart grid network, and prepare to spread the electric vehicle smart grid to the rest of the province.
Electric cars spreading in Ontario, Canada
As 2011 is shaping up to be the year of the electric car, it’s fitting for Better Place to spread to Canada’s most populated province. Markets like Toronto are ripe for electric car adoption as soon as they are available, and the Better Place smart grid network will only speed up adoption. With the partnership between Better Place and the Ontario government, Canadian residents will learn the facts and fictions about electric cars, and how the smart grid will revolutionize our personal transportation.
See it for yourself
If you live in the GTA, be sure to visit the demonstration and interactive EV education centre in person at the Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto. If you’ve seen it for yourself, let us know your thoughts in the replies!


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© zollner Electronics Production | December 11, 2015
Zollner with Rehm equipment in Costa Rica
Family-managed global player Zollner AG relies on manufacturing equipment from Rehm Thermal Systems for its new plant in Costa Rica.
Competing globally on the EMS market requires a continuous supply of initiatives, ideas and concepts. And EMS-provider Zollner AG from Zandt seems to have plenty of those. This year company founder Manfred Zollner can look back on 50 years of corporate history. Having started back in 1965 as a one-man company with a small electrical shop in Zandt, he is now at the helm of a company with over 9'000 employees. Of its 18 locations worldwide, eight (8) are situated in the local area around Zandt, making Zollner AG the largest employer in the region. After establishing several locations in the Bavarian Forest (Germany), the first foreign location in the Hungarian town of Vác was founded in 1988. Since then, locations in Romania, Switzerland, China, Tunisia, the United States and most recently in Hong Kong and Costa Rica have been added. Since November 2014, production has also been up and running in the Costa Rican town of Cartago, equipped with reflow soldering systems and drying systems from Rehm Thermal Systems. Zollner Electronics Costa Rica Ltda. mainly manufactures products for the industrial sector at this new location, but also for the automotive industry. Although electronic assemblies are being manufactured here at the moment, the portfolio will later be expanded to include the production of complex mechatronic systems. “We do not need to predict the future, but we must be well prepared for it.” Johann Weber, chairman of Zollner AG, shares this approach with his fellow board members. To ensure this planning security, those in charge at Zandt have built up a circle of reliable partners. And Rehm Therman Systems has been one of them and all Zollner AG locations are equipped with soldering systems from Blaubeuren. Johannes Rehm, CEO of Rehm Thermal Systems, always emphasised the necessity of integrating the systems with internal company data networks. Zollner makes good use of this today and close cooperation - between Milpitas and Cartago for instance - is relatively easy. The new Zollner AG plant in Cartago, Costa Rica has already seen the installation of a VsionXP+ reflow convection soldering system and an RDS 6000 paint dryer, the largest from the Rehm Thermal Systems porfolio. A second production line is already being planned and is scheduled to begin production in the fourth quarter. © Zollner AG (Zoom)
NCAB appoints Peter Kruk as new CEO Following the announcement late last year that Hans Ståhl planned to retire in 2020, the board of NCAB Group has now found his successor. Peter Kruk will be taking over as the new CEO of the PCB supplier.
Comtech Telecomm Corp. issues business update New York-based Comtech Telecommunications Corp. has issued a statement on the withdrawal of its business outlook for its fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, as well as an update on its proposed purchase of the Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.
Xerox provides HP acquisition update Xerox has issued a statement regarding its earlier proposal to buy HP Inc.
As Samsung Display exits the LCD market a major reshuffle is expected According to the latest investigations by the WitsView research division of TrendForce, the oversupply of TV panels in 2019 resulted in a major price drop. As such, panel manufacturers hoped to utilise their excess capacity in 2020 through increasing their production of monitor panels, with Samsung Display (SDC) having the most extensive plans.
Swedish PCB manufacturer updates machine park PCB manufacturer MMAB’s factory in the south of Sweden recently got a new drilling area with updated machines.
Ventec races to build up regional inventories to fight COVID-19 The electronics industry is playing a major role in supporting increased requirements for critical medical devices during the current COVID-19 pandemic. And with that an increase in demand of the building blocks is to be expected.
Elmatica sees a spike in demand - responds with growth in staff Growing demand, new customers and an increase in business within knowledge intensive industries, has reinforced the need for another Country Manager in Poland, a new Technical Manager and an additional resource in the Customer Service Department.
Co-operation negotiations completed at Etteplan Etteplan initiated co-operation negotiations on March 18th 2020 due to temporary changes in customer demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the negotiations have come to a complete.
Indian electronics company support the fight against COVID-19 Indian engineering and technology solutions company, Cyient, says it’s received clearance for its Mysore facility to run its MedTech manufacturing lines to support the production of medical equipment critical in the fight against COVID-19
Tesvolt kickstarts production at new German factory Semi-automated production began today in Europe’s first gigafactory for commercial battery storage systems, located in Wittenberg, Germany.
Global semiconductor materials market revenues slip 1.1% in 2019 Global semiconductor materials market revenues edged down 1.1% in 2019, SEMI reported in its Materials Market Data Subscription (MMDS).
Cirexx Int’l posts COVID-19 update Santa Clara, California-headquartered Cirexx International has released a statement penned by President and CEO Philipp Menges concerning status of operations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Abbott gets OK for fast, portable COVID-19 test Abbott has been granted emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a rapid molecular point-of-care test for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19 limits viability for AT&S Considering current events and the effects that the global pandemic is having on logistics and production chains worldwide, AT&S is preparing itself for a decline in demand in some of its customer segments.
Neways provides update on COVID-19 impact The EMS provider says it has taken various measures to limit the risks to the health of its employees, as well as its clients and suppliers. In addition, the company has taken measures to safeguard business continuity.
Samsung Display plans to stop all LCD production in 2020 The South Korean company has reached the decision to end all of its production of LCD panels in its home country and in China by the end of 2020.
Orbit One updates machine park with new selective soldering machine Swedish EMS provider, Orbit One, has invested in a new ERSA selective soldering machine for the production unit in Ronneby, Sweden.
ZOLL pivots to focus on volume for ventilator production Massachusetts-based ZOLL Medical Corporation has shot capacity up to 10,000 ventilators per month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a nearly 25-fold increase from normal volume production.
Computrol ramps output for ventilator production As the coronavirus pandemic continues its spread through the U.S., Idaho-based Computrol is joining a growing list of electronics manufacturers who are adjusting operations to support companies producing critical healthcare products.
ABB adding jobs, new distribution center in Arizona ABB has announced the creation of a new distribution center in Phoenix, in a move that will bring the company closer to Western U.S. distributors, contractors, industrial customers, and retailers.
8% growth in 2019 drives tenth consecutive year of EDA growth The Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance Market Statistics Service (MSS) says that the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry revenue increased 2.2% for Q4 2019 to USD 2626.3 million, compared to USD 2570.1 million in Q4 2018.
Polestar 2 production begins in Luqiao, China Production of Polestar 2 has officially begun in Luqiao, China. The new electric performance fastback is the first electric vehicle to be produced by the facility.
Kimball Electronics updates on the impact of COVID-19 COVID-19 has disrupted the company’s global operations since its initial outbreak. While Kimball Electronics' facilities in China were initially adversely impacted, they have now resumed normal operations.
First Solar says that it's still operational First Solar says that its manufacturing operations will continue at each of the company’s Wood County, Ohio, Kulim, Malaysia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam facilities at this timeLoad more news


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Jewel-embellished links at the temples exude elegance on this sleek cat-eye style. Channel Jackie Kennedy...
Albertans Plan To Spend The Most The Holiday Season There will be nothing Grinchy about Albertans' spending this holiday season.
Albertans plan to shell out the most cash of all Canadians this year, according to katespadr a recent Bank of Montreal survey, with the average person predicting they'll spend approximately $1,947 over the holiday season. Sal Guatieri, kate spade bags for less a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, said the plan to spend less is, in many cases, tied to slower job growth across the country. "Recent stock market volatility and elevated household debt could also dampen sales," he said. This year, Canadians plan to spend most of their holiday money on gifts ($441) and travel ($677). They'll spend another $211 on entertaining and $79 on other holiday expenses, such as decorating. However, a survey released Thursday by Accenture contradicted BMO's poll, instead finding that only 19 per cent of Canadians plan to spend less this holiday. Twenty one kate spade handbags sale per cent said they will spend more, which 60 per cent said they anticipate spending a similar amount to last year. The Accenture study comprised findings following an online poll of 1,200 Canadian adults in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal in September.
The BMO study used survey results from kate spade sunday Pollara of 1,005 Canadian adults between Oct. 14 and Oct. 16.


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Gear.Club Live in Apple App Store. Pre-Registration Open for Android.
Eden Games’ latest creation and first mobile game Gear.Club is now roaring its engine in Apple App Stores worldwide. Android users can pre-register to get a chance to win an in-game Chevrolet® Camaro® 50th Anniversary Edition.
Lyon, France – Eden Games is proud to announce that its latest creation and first ever mobile game, Gear.Club, is now live in all Apple App Stores worldwide, for iPhone and iPad.
Meanwhile, pre-registration is open for Android users, as Gear.Club is poised to launch on Google Play next month. Pre-Registration members will be able to gain a head-start by winning great virtual items and prizes, the most coveted of which being the chance to start the game with the brand-new Chevrolet® Camaro® 50th Anniversary Edition.
Gear.Club is a realistic driving experience, with fully simulated engines, powertrains, suspensions and aerodynamics. Players will get to explore breathtaking settings and compete live with their online friends and foes through unlimited races and championships.
This high-octane game is more than just racing - it is an authentic world of cars. Car-lovers can collect, upgrade and customize some of the most gorgeous exotic vehicles in their performance shop and enjoy details such as engines and interiors in fully-rendered 3D.
Gear.Club has been in development at Eden’s sunny Lyon studio for the last two and a half years, and debuted on Apple TV 4th Generation as a launch-window title, where it has been #1 overall app in 25 countries and #1 grossing app in 10 markets.
The team at Eden Games’ track record includes the creation of the V-Rally franchise, Need for Speed: Porsche and Test Drive Unlimited, among other major racing game hits on various consoles.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.


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Following other prominent companies, the uber-popular video streaming service, Netflix will no longer allow iOS users to subscribe to Netflix’s services via iTunes.
Netflix started testing this back in August and the roll-out began last month, in November and is reaching to everyone globally. Consumers who were using the in-app subscription option earlier will continue to be billed via iTunes but once their service is canceled, users will be forced to resubscribe on the Web and will then subsequently log back into their iOS app.
This change was made to avoid Apple’s cut which the company imposes on its in-app transactions. Apple takes 30% as fee for the in-app transactions, however this latest change by Netflix can reduce this fee to 15% for its long-term subscribers, the additional money that Netflix will now save will be substantial.
The fact that Netflix’s iOS app tops the chart of “iOS apps with the largest venue” will only help Netflix’s cause more. While this may very well turn out to be a lucrative decision for Netflix, it can also risk at losing some subscriptions. It should also be noted that Apple for some time has been working on an Apple streaming service which will understandably enjoy some extra privileges on the App Store.
Spotify in recent times has also criticized that the App store policies give Apple an unfair advantage. The company argued that a service like Apple Music is not only untouched by revenue sharing but is also integrated into every Apple device and therefore negates the chance of an even playing field between such streaming services. Spotify might not be wrong since Apple has been criticized for its monopoly-like policies for the App store. In fact, the tech giant has had a case presented to the US Supreme Court by iPhone owners, who complained that it’s unfair that no one else can profit in the same way as Apple does from app sales.
Apple replied by saying:
“It’s down to the individual app developer to sell their app and they keep ownership of their creations. Apple does not own them or sell them, it merely provides the platform for sale and collects payments.”
With the possible release of Apple streaming services, and the monopoly-like status it will enjoy on the App Store, Apple may very slowly but surely force its consumers to replace Netflix by its own streaming service in the years to come. It remains to be seen if more companies will follow Netflix to decouple their business from Apple Store due to the Cupertino giant’s policies.


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Sunflag Group and Lineplast Group of Companies donate equipment to help curb the spread of COVID -19
Sunflag Group of companies donated masks to the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, to be distributed to the public. Additionally, Lineplast Group of Companies donated hand sanitizers to the Ministry of Industry, all of which are geared towards assisting to curb the spread of COVID -19. The items were received by CAS Mr Lawrence Karanja and PS Dr Francis Owino.
Sunflag Group donates additional PPE’s to the Interior Ministry
Sunflag Group of Companies also donated masks to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
The masks were received by Interior CS Dr Fred Matiangi, who noted that KAM’s continued support in assisting to flatten the curve is a demonstration of our local capacity, saying, “This is Kenya’s moment to claim our position in the region. We’ll grow as a country.”
Industry CS visits BATA, Alpharama and Yetu Leather
Industry Cabinet Secretary Ms Betty Maina on Friday, 8th May 2020 visited Alpharama, Bata shoe Company and Yetu leather to engage the sector on various interventions to address challenges within the value chain.
Key areas of intervention discussed include: Buy Kenya Build Kenya Initiative, illicit trade, improving quality of raw materials, aligning duty anomalies and COVID 19 interventions.
Bata donates 2 Million worth of personal protective footwear to the Ministry of Industry
In its commitment to Keep Kenya Moving, Bata Kenya through its Bata heroes program donated 2 million worth of protective footwear to the Ministry of Health through the Ministry of Industry.
The donations were received by Industry CS Ms Betty Maina.


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Rienchai Likitplug, president of the property developer BKK Grand Estate Co, said the skytrain extension from Sois On Nut to Bearing that began running last year has triggered a boom in Bang Na.
The area has changed dramatically in recent years, especially near the Bang Na intersection, he said.
As soon as the skytrain opened service to Bearing station, the sales rate for the company’s condominium project The Coast Bangkok, located near the Bang Na intersection on Sukhumvit Road opposite the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, doubled to 40-50 units a month.
Launched in late 2009, the eight-rai site will comprise Tower A with 39 storeys and 412 units and Tower B with 35 storeys and 408 units for a total sales value of 4.5 billion baht.
Tower A has fewer than 5% of its units left for sale and will start transferring to customers during this quarter, while Tower B is 70% complete and half sold.
Also forthcoming is The Coast Village, a 6,000-square-metre mall in the same spot that the company is spending 500 million baht to develop.
It will open this coming Sunday with rental rates of 1,000 to 1,300 baht per sq m per month.
Thanks to the BTS extension, selling prices rose by 10% from the launch date to mid-2011.
Prices are now 80,000 to 100,000 baht per sq m, up from 69,000 baht originally but still lower than for other projects due to lower land costs, said Mr Rienchai.
The running of the skytrain to Soi Bearing has made Bangkok’s eastern fringe more of a draw.
Mr Rienchai estimates more than 15,000 condominium units in Bang Na district will be finished in the next few years.
The boom will create new consumers, drawing investment from The Mall Group, one of the country’s two giant shopping centre operators, and new players such as the TCC Group.
Both plan to build shopping complexes in Bang Na, making use of the large land plots available.
Mr Rienchai said BKK Grand Estate expects revenue of 500 million baht from condo transfers at The Coast’s Tower A and Tower B this year.
“The skyrocketing cost of land near mass transit, the new daily minimum wage of 300 baht, the increase of 15% in construction material prices and tighter competition in the condominium market are causing more difficulties in new condo development,” he said.
The company is eyeing single houses or townhouses for future development and plans to spend 500 million baht to develop a nine-rai community mall on Theparak Road in 2014.


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Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) unveiled dual motor versions of the Model S last week, and as expected, analysts are excited about them. Morgan Stanley analysts believe there’s “something far bigger” going on with the automaker. While Stifel analysts applauded the new Model S versions and the technology they bring.
Tesla’s PR strategy
Interestingly, both Morgan Stanley and Stifel analysts mentioned Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s PR and communications strategy. In their report dated Oct. 10, 2014, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas and his team called the automaker’s marketing and PR power “formidable.” When CEO Elon Musk tweeted something about unveiling their “D,” the Twitter-verse was alive with the snarky comments of those who had dirty ideas about what he meant.
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Musk tweeted later that he didn’t mean to spark those kinds of comments, but it’s worth questioning whether he did or not. He certainly got a lot of free publicity and advertising by doing that.
Jonas and his team said Tesla manages to “help showcase talent, sells cars and creates real shareholder value.” They believe the company’s strategy is pressuring other automakers to keep up, noting that others spend billions of dollars for less attention.
“Elon’s infectious enthusiasm for his product makes customers and observers feel like they are part of something exciting, something bigger than just cars,” the Morgan Stanley team wrote.
Tesla needs a communication strategy
In his report also dated Oct. 10, 2014, Stifel analyst James Albertine said he thinks Tesla needs a better team to focus on communications. Without actually referencing the nature of Musk’s tweet, it seems pretty clear that he didn’t think much of the effort.
“We believe TSLA managers and engineers are very smart in their own right, but stylistically, we would leave the tweeting to the tech companies with sub-$1k product price points.”
This seems like somewhat odd comment in light of how much publicity Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has managed to attract through Twitter, but it does also suggest that someone who is more experienced in PR should take over the reins. The Stifel analyst also noted that Simon Sproule, vice president of communications, is leaving Tesla to go to Aston Margin.
At the time the announcement was made, he didn’t think much of it. However, he thinks it could be more important because he believes “the genius of communication may revolve around the organized scarcity of information.” As a result, he said Tesla could be affected by this change in senior management.
Getting down to Tesla’s D
In their report, Jonas and his team highlighted the technology changes Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is making to the Model S. He gave “kudos” to the automaker for forging ahead with its auto-pilot features while other automakers are “still cowering behind legal / liability concerns.”
They also said that the new technology could change views that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) only makes electric vehicles. They think the company’s skills in machine learning and also autonomous driving could set it apart even more than the electric power train the company makes. They add that the automaker can continue to enhance its products through the over-the-air updates, further pushing it ahead of competitors.
In his report, Albertine said he was “impressed” by the dual motor version of the Model S. He expects the D versions of the sedan will be very competitive at the higher price points. He sees this as being a good move for Tesla as it continues to gain share in the luxury auto maker.


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Meta is considering introducing premium subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram services, offering users an ad-free experience and other benefits.
Developed rather as a response to EU criticism of aggressive user data collection practices, the new subscriptions come as an alternative for using Facebook and Instagram services under conditions that fully comply with the requirements of GDPR legislation, while also offering some benefits, such as removing advertisements. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Meta’s plan to comply with good practices regarding advertising and data privacy subject to the purchase of paid subscriptions will be accepted by the European authorities.
What is certain is that subscriptions will not be imposed on users, the introduction of such an option allowing Meta to support compliance with EU data protection legislation, while also obtaining an alternative source of income.
Ad serving alone would likely still bring in more revenue for Meta than future Facebook and Instagram subscriptions, with the latter more likely to mitigate even greater anticipated losses from possible fines or restrictions on advertising practices.
The free version of Facebook and Instagram will continue to exist in the EU alongside the paid versions. It’s not known how much the ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram will cost, nor when/if Meta will make them available


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Virtual reality is an exciting new technology that isn’t actually new at all. For decades, various technology companies have attempted to make VR a consumer friendly experience, and for decades, those same companies have failed. The graphical and computational horsepower needed to make virtual reality a convincing experience has never been as affordable, and as available, as it is now. The financial and technical limitations that held VR back in the past no longer exist, and multiple tech heavyweights have thrown their headsets into the ring in a battle for VR supremacy. Samsung, HTC (along with Valve), and Oculus all have headsets currently on the market, with Sony’s Playstation 4 VR headset coming in the fall, and now Intel has decided to join the fray with its Project Alloy headset.
Intel has been the leader in microprocessors for years, fighting off vicious competition from AMD to stay at the top of the industry. Now they have a brand new fight on their hands, against competitors who already have more gaming expertise, such as HTC and Valve, or a large head start like the one Oculus has. Intel is hoping that the main thing that sets Project Alloy apart from its competition, the fact that it’s completely wireless, will grab the attention of media members, as well as consumers, who may already be suffering from VR fatigue. Intel is also banking on their relationship with Windows to help them on the software side, with Microsoft’s Holographic operating system platform being featured on Project Alloy. There are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered regarding Project Alloy, as Intel didn’t give very many details regarding the hardware specifications or pricing and availability.
The virtual reality market is quickly becoming overcrowded, with no less than four different headsets all fighting over the same general market. Intel obviously has the marketing and research budget to decide whether or not entering this space is a smart business decision, but you have to wonder if consumers feel the same way about the Intel brand as they do about Samsung, HTC or Oculus. Intel has a sterling reputation among PC hardware enthusiasts, but do mass market consumers have the same loyalty? That remains to be seen.


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14 April 2017
New details for the HTC’s mid-range device are popping up online but not too frequently. Back in November, we got to know HTC has certified a few devices in Russia and One X10 is one of them. It is being said that HTC One X10 will be the successor to the One A9. Now, a new device from HTC has received the Bluetooth certification, however, the name of this smartphone is unknown but one evidence is hinting that it is none other than the already speculated One X10.
The certificate enlisted the model number of the device as 2PYR1XX. The number 1 can equal to the number One. The first X could be just an X and the last X could be the Roman number for 10. Putting it all together, you will see the model number as One X10. So, if our estimations are correct than the specifications should go parallel to the rumored specs that came before.
According to the rumored specs, the mid-ranger includes a 5.5-inch display with 1080x1920 pixels resolution. It will be powered by MediaTek Helio P10 chipset with a true octa-core CPU clocked at 2GHz. The processor is accompanied by the Mali-T860 GPU clocked at 700MHz and 3GB RAM. It also has a 13MP rear camera sporting OIS. Even the price of the device HTC One X10 is speculated before that hints it should be kept around $288 USD.
It was rumored before that HTC would release three handsets over the next three months and we believe, One X10 is one of them and the other left in the two could be the HTC 11 flagship. It might be possible that HTC is planning to announce all these three smartphones in different price range. So, the third and the left one smartphone could hold an affordable price, lesser than the X10. However, these are just the guesses for now.
HTC is holding an event on January 12th, it could be possible that the company would unveil all these smartphones. So, stay tuned.


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Sea of Thieves developer Rare has announced that The Hungering Deep, first in a line of several DLC coming to the game, is arriving next week on May 29. There are six expansions in total currently expecting to release for Sea of Thieves in 2018; two more over the summer, and three following pieces of DLC towards the end of the year.
A new trailer introducing The Hungering Deep and a grizzled pirate named Merrick was released alongside the DLC news. In Rare’s announcement post, it prefaced the trailer by writing, “A new and not inconsiderable threat to seafarers will be joined by a raft of other additions, including a voyage of discovery upon which you’ll cross paths with Merrick himself.” In the trailer, Merrick’s tales of infamous and terrifying sea monsters (along with the title of the expansion) is definitely foreshadowing of what we’re likely to see upon the DLC’s launch. We can also see Rare promises “new challenges” for players, adding “Do the sailors on the Sea of Thieves face a new threat, or an ancient one? Hear the stories and steel yourselves…”
Rare has also stated that this update will bring a new event to the game, adding “a new AI threat to the world.” As part of the event, “crews will have to work together to discover and defeat this threat.” Additionally, Rare will be adding a few new mechanics “to assist players on this adventure” and unique rewards to be collected during the event.
Sea of Thieves‘ next expansions are Cursed Sails, which will be adding a new type of ship to the game, and Forsaken Shores, which introduces “a perilous new part of the world to explore.” Both of these will be arriving in just a few months during the summer, and similarly to The Hungering Deep, will bring new mechanics, AI threats, and rewards for players.
Sea of Thieves is available now for Xbox One and PC.


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As a tech-savvy generation, we have accustomed to operating smart devices with various types of displays. But have you ever thought of a smartphone with a stretchable display?
Yes! Researchers from Stanford University have made this possible. In a recent study published in Nature, they have developed a groundbreaking method of creating an incredibly elastic light-emitting polymer. This material can be used to make bendable and stretchable displays for smart devices as it is functional even when stretched out to twice its size. While an actual stretchable display is still in the making, speculations and anticipations regarding its possible advantages have already started.
Revolutionizing Human-Machine Interface
Zhenan Bao (Senior Author of the study and Chemical Engineer at Stanford) anticipates that these Stretchable displays can allow a new way of human-machine interface. Human-machine interface (HMI) is any device or software—like keyboard, touchscreen, etc.—that allows a person to interact with a machine or system. Given the increasing use of digital devices in every field, HMIs are becoming more sophisticated to make operations easy.
Despite numerous advancements, almost all the HMIs we are using today are flat, rigid, or fragile and lack the ability to reshape and interactively respond to users. The introduction of stretchable displays can surely add new dimensions to the HMIs. The flexibility to reshape will not only add more possibilities but also facilitate the user in many ways, increasing the human-machine engagement. It will also provide HMI makers with a new perspective and encourage them to make more interactive, intuitive HMIs.
A Myriad of Advantages
The reshapable or stretchable display, if it is affordable, can offer a plethora of other advantages as well. Since the all-polymer film can be directly joined to an arm or finger and does not rip when flexed or bent, it will enable wearable trackers to have their display directly attached to the screen. Moreover, stretchable displays can be used to generate reshapable interactive screens or even develop 3D landscapes on a map.
Although there are still a lot of question marks on the feasibility and affordability of the stretchable display, this discovery is surely a big step towards a transformation in the electronics industry!


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Apple is expanding their Apple Pay mobile payment system to more countries and the service is now available in Russia.
Russia the the 10th country to get Apple Pay and Apple is supported by Mastercard and Sberbank in Russia.
Apple’s mobile payment system is now available in Russia, UK, US, China, Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Apple launched their mobile payment system in the US back in 2014 and have been expanding the service to more countries since then, they are expected to continue their expansion to more countries this year.
Source AppleFiled Under: Apple, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone


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Dutch medical devices maker Philips said on Tuesday that independent tests had shown 95 percent of its respiratory devices involved in a major global recall had shown limited health risks.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The company expects to have test results for the remaining machines involved in the recall later in the year.
Amsterdam-based Philips has been grappling with the fallout of the global recall of millions of respirators used to treat sleep apnoea since it was announced in June 2021 over worries that foam used in the machines could become toxic.
It said exposure to particulate matter emissions and volatile organic compounds from degraded foam in DreamStation devices was “unlikely to result in an appreciable harm to health in patients.”
Philips had already said last year that tests indicated foam degradation was very rare and was linked to the use of unauthorized ozone-based cleaning products.
It now added that foam degradation as a result of such cleaning was also unlikely to result in an appreciable harm.


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Key Developments: Jamba Inc (JMBA.A)
11 Mar 2014
Latest Key Developments (Source: Significant Developments)
Jamba, Inc. announced that for fiscal 2012, it expects to deliver positive company owned comparable store sales of 4%-6%. Full Article
Jamba, Inc. raised fiscal 2012 company owned comparable store sales guidance to a range of 4%-6%. Full Article
Jamba, Inc. announced that it is affirming its guidance for fiscal 2012 and expects to deliver positive comparable store sales in the 3% to 4% range. Full Article
- Smoothie store operator Jamba Inc warned of a 3.4 percent fall in comparable-store sales in the current quarter, mainly due to a slowdown in consumer spending, sending its shares down 9 percent in after-market trading.


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The CBC’s latest eco-rant says you should replace meat with Rabbit Food – Meat and the environment: Do Canadians know what’s at stake? – I say we install meat vending machines at all CBC facilities.
Michigan restaurant installs barbecue meat vending machine
(CNN) — Do you ever have late night cravings for some really good barbecue or smokehouse meat — and can’t find a restaurant that’s still open?
Well, a Michigan company has come up with a solution for that very problem — a meat vending machine.


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Analysts from securities firm Piper Jaffray have predicted that video game shelf space could grow by as much as 55 percent by 2007 in U.S., as retailers increase their commitment to the industry.
"Discussions with leading video game retailers reveal shelf space expansion plans between 2005 and 2007. We estimate videogame category square footage will increase between 50% to 55% by 2007 driven by the launch of new hardware platforms and complementary software products," commented an unnamed analyst.
The firm suggests that 55 percent of the increase will be comprised of new store rollouts at leading retailers, and the remaining 45 percent via an increase in existing floor space allocations.
"Retailers view video games as a leading traffic driver. Next-generation systems promise a leap in technology and gameplay that retailers believe translates into increased adoption of higher-margin HDTVs, audio equipment, and ancillary home media devices," the research firm said.
Best Buy and Target are seen as the leaders for in-store expansion, increasing video games coverage by around 50% between 2005 and 2007, with Wal-Mart and Circuit City to follow.
"Comments from mass and electronics retailers suggest a slimming of the CD-based music and portable DVD categories in favor of increased space devoted to video games." Piper concluded, "A 50 percent increase in shelf space would demonstrate retailers' willingness to bet on meaningful category growth during the next five years. Competition is heating up for consumer dollars and mindshare, and we expect GameStop, EB Games and Best Buy to be early next generation winners as hardcore gamers are drawn to these destinations in late 2005 and 2006."


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Coca Cola using AI to replace its creatives… Artificial Advertising for an Artificial Product!
Coca-Cola spends about $5 billion a year on advertising and a lot of advertising agencies and creative directors have created extraordinary campaigns and made countless millions creating messages that have fueled massive sales, generation after generation, despite the rather pathetic attempts of legislators and nutritionists to slow this growth.
As part of a recent restructuring to make Coke a digital business, the brand hired its first chief digital marketing officer. That digital transformation includes four focus areas:
- Customer and consumer experience,
- new businesses and
Within the customer and consumer segment, Coke is interested in using artificial intelligence to improve content, media and commerce, particularly when it makes the creative process more effective.
In theory, Coke believes AI could be used for everything from creating music for ads, writing scripts, posting a spot on social media and buying media. It doesn’t need anyone else to do that but a robot, coupled with AI and machine learning.
Coke isn’t alone in envisioning human-less creative. AI is already being used to create commercial music and jingles and publishers like the AP are experimenting with using robots to write copy. In terms of Coca-Cola’s interest in AI for media buying, Coke already buys ads programmatically but it is currently less than half of its media budget into programmatic. Still, with $4 billion in advertising, that is still a huge chunk of change that advertising agencies are no longer getting.
Coca-Cola is also looking for ways to use programmatic technology to fulfill ecommerce sales through tactics like subscriptions. Coca-Cola thinks AI could be used for everything from creating music for ads, writing scripts, posting a spot on social media and buying media.
Souped-up vending machines are particularly interesting in countries like Japan, where mobile adoption and vending machine sales are high. Coke has a Japanese app called Coke On that lets consumers pay for drinks. Once the company has that, then they can use beacons so that they know when people are passing by the machines and you can understand habit of consumption, location and time.
At the same time, marketers need to keep in mind privacy concerns with the Internet of Things and need to find the right balance of using consumer data to provide better services that consumers appreciate without crossing the line.
That includes devices like Amazon Echo and also Coke’s own packaging, bottles and trucks. For example, Coke is testing beacons in Belgium in retail stores that pull in live data as shoppers move around the store. You can follow them in real-time and then they have historical data that helps them predict behavior.
Coca-Cola is now evaluating whether an AI bot can replace these flesh and blood creative teams. Mariano Bosaz, the brand’s global senior digital director, said that he’s evaluating how brands can use artificial intelligence because he’s interested in replacing those creative people with robots. Content creation is something that Coke have been doing for a very long time, they brief creative agencies and then the agencies come up with stories that they audio visualize. Coke wants to start experimenting with automated narratives.
How are robots, AI and machine learning going to affect your industry? No matter what industry you are in, it will, and dramatically.


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55% of Dutch consumers would prefer to make mobile payments through an app rather than NFC, according to a poll of 15-65 year olds conducted by Telecompaper. Respondents said convenience and trust are paramount when choosing who handles their payments. Most prefer payments to be handled by their bank, with phone manufacturers and mobile networks trailing far behind. Only 1% would opt for a system where they would pay via different apps in different stores.
- Carrefour tests biometric payments at point of sale
- Facebook to offer WhatsApp payments in Africa?
- Shenzhen Metro tests face recognition payments
- Shanghai bus operator adds face recognition payments
- German savings banks to offer Apple Pay ‘this year’


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Since the launch of Siri, the demand for voice assistants has skyrocketed, with the major technology players each creating their own version. While Google tends to dominate the headlines with the Google Assistant, another player has the makings of a strong competitor. Samsung introduced Bixby, a voice assistant program, on the Galaxy S8 ... Read More »
After first introducing Bixby in the first half of 2017, Samsung may be planning a significant update for its assistant in the second half of the year.
Samsung is planning to introduce Bixby 2.0 at its developer conference on October 18, according to the Read More »
Samsung has put a lot of focus on Bixby, its new digital personal assistant, including putting a dedicated button on the side of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 which allows for the quickest possible access to the feature.
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Back in July, it was reported that Samsung was manufacturing a Bixby-enabled smart speaker, following hot on the heels of Apple announcing a smart speaker and Google and Amazon contributing to the market, too. It didn’t take long before another report said that Samsung might not be making a smart speaker after ... Read More »
Samsung‘s Bixby Voice, the feature that lets Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ owners control a variety of functions on their device with just their voice, has had a staggered rollout throughout the year. It launched first in South Korea, and, following a public beta period, finally launched in the United States ... Read More »
Earlier this month, a report surfaced that said Samsung was going to launch its own smart speaker that would run the Bixby digital personal assistant. The reason behind this device’s creation is that companies like Amazon and Google already had their smart speakers out in the market, each of which has ... Read More »
Droid-Life reports that the latest update to Bixby Voice and Bixby Home brings voice control options to Google Play, Pandora, and Yelp. For Google ... Read More »
Samsung Electronics is creating a speaker that will feature the capabilities of Bixby, a voice assistant software that the company is actively developing. Bixby was announced alongside the Galaxy S8 smartphone and was billed as a major feature of the device. Since ... Read More »
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While Bixby is technically present on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, one major feature is still missing in the U.S.: Bixby Voice. But that is changing at some point in the near future, as Samsung appears to ramping up preparation for the feature’s arrival.
Samsung today announced a brand ... Read More »