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Listening to voicemails could become a thing of the past if Apple has its way.
Apple is testing a voicemail service called iCloud Voicemail that uses Siri to transcribe voicemails, according to a Business Insider report. Once transcribed, voicemails are then as text messages to iPhone users.
The report states that iCloud Voicemail is an internal testing feature and isn’t available to the public yet, but could launch next year as a feature in iOS 10. In addition to transcribing voicemails, Siri will reportedly gain the ability to answer calls when you can’t pick up and "relay information about where you are and why you can’t pick up the phone to certain people." Read more…
The post You may never have to listen to another voicemail again, thanks to Siri appeared first on Elite Limo Blog.


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Community Night will be special
STEUBENVILLE – Steubenville-Weirton Community Night at PNC Park is always a great event, and a special package being offered to area fans will make the evening even better.
Between Monday and May 24, fans who purchase four tickets for the July 13 game between the Pirates and New York Mets at the regular price will receive four Steubenville-Weirton microfiber Pirates T-shirts for free, organizers have announced. The shirts will be available in limited sizes and quantities while supplies last, and prior purchases are excluded, officials added.
The evening will include optional bus transportation to Pittsburgh, a Roberto Clemente jersey, fireworks, prizes and great seats for the 7:05 p.m. game, according to Cindy Kotsch, community events coordinator for the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.
Everyone who purchases a ticket to the game through the newspapers will be seated in the all-you-can-eat section of the stadium, Kotsch said. Food in that section will include hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, sodas, peanuts, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream sandwiches and more.
Fireworks will be presented after the game, and prizes, including autographed items and Pirates promotional materials, will be given away between innings, Kotsch explained.
Tickets that include bus transportation are priced at $65 each. Fans who would prefer to find their own transportation can purchase tickets for $55 each, Kotsch explained. All tickets can be charged by phone or are available at the newspaper offices during regular business hours. Call (740) 283-4711 and ask for Dianna Brown to purchase tickets. For information, visit the website of either newspaper, Kotsch explained.
Joining the newspapers in sponsoring the evening are EmMedia, the Health Plan, Trinity Health System, Hancock County Savings Bank, the Fort Steuben Mall, Choice Brands of Ohio, Iron City Distributing and Wine and Beverage Merchants of West Virginia.

domain: news


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Tesla has a system that guarantees safe and fast charging of electric vehicles. Automakers understand that the White House has tried.
The electric vehicle charging system proposed by Tesla was adopted by General Motors last Thursday, writes xrust. Previously approved by Ford. GM has already promised fans of the brand access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
GM's decision follows a similar move by Ford. Three car manufacturers are now covered by the common charging standard. Investors welcome standardization with a 4% rise in Tesla shares, and analysts predict significant commercial consequences.
Behind the standardization, the White House looms, promising federal injections into the organization of a new charging network. True, the Ministry of Transport reminds about adaptation and charging that do not belong to Tesla.
Today, Tesla, GM, Ford sell 70% of sales of electric vehicles in the United States. In an effort to increase sales, the management ran into an obstacle — technically different connectors are used at charging stations of different brands. Standardization will only save GM $400.
Other news. Acer computers are secretly imported into the Russian Federation — here. Who blew up the hydroelectric power station — there. Equipment for farmers — here.


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Camilo Casas, candidate for city council in Boulder, Colo., has promised to hand over his voting power to his constituents by way of a smartphone app should he be elected.
Casas is running on a platform based solely on “liquid democracy," and if elected, he will vote the way the residents of Boulder tell him to on the app he created for this exact purpose, parti.vote. Optimal as it sounds, there are reasons to pursue Casas’s idea with caution.
In response to security concerns about voter fraud, Casas has stated that the parti.vote application will use facial recognition software to ensure that each voter is the person they claim to be.
The threat of voter fraud, exaggerated as it may be, remains a major reason why mobile voting is so foreign to American politics. Any application that allows an individual to vote by phone would need to be thoroughly secure and proven.
This leads to a second flaw: Apple’s facial recognition program, Face ID, was only recently introduced alongside the release of the iPhone X. If the app parti.vote will require a similar program, it will likely only be available on expensive smartphones (the iPhone X is currently listed on Apple’s site at a cost starting at $999).


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Raise a glass! Yesterday was National Drink Wine Day, and the long list of vino benefits is definitely something to celebrate.
Numerous studies have shown that drinking red wine (in moderation) can be a healthy part of our diet.
Red wine contains antioxidants called polyphenols, which according to the Mayo Clinic, can “help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart.” So for those who consume light to moderate amounts of wine might experience some of its health benefits.
The Mayo Clinic has reported that one specific polyphenol named Resveratrol, that’s found in red wine, may help “prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and prevent blood clots.”
Resveratrol is a compound that some plants produce to fight off bacteria and fungi, and to protect against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, as defined by Medical News Daily.
Centuries back, wine was used treat a number of different health conditions. Medieval monasteries were convinced that monks lived longer than everyone else partly because of their moderate, regular consumption of wine. In recent years, science has indicated that this could be true, according to Medical News Today.
Red wine has also shown to levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells. These are usually what we get from fish that protects against heart disease.
Studies have also shown that doses of Resveratrol can reduce the size of bowel tumors, by different amounts depending on the dose. So wine could actually play a part in preventing colon cancer. However, experts note that the negative effects of alcohol (it’s strongly linked to several types of cancer) will probably outweigh the preventative properties of the compound.
Some other cancer related benefits of wine include preventing breast, lung, prostate cancer, and even preventing liver disease.
Red wine may also prevent prevent cavities by getting rid of bacteria on our teeth according to research published in 2014, in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (ACS).
Also, due to Resveratrol’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it may also be a big help in treating acne.
For more details on all these benefits, check out the list on Medical Daily Daily.
Of course these benefits would only apply to moderate drinking. The United States (U.S.) Dietary Guidelines 2015 to 2020 define moderate drinking as: “Up to one drink per day for women, and up to two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.


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Kickstarter hacked: Passwords, phone numbers, and phone numbers stolen
The breach has since been fixed and no credit card details were accessed, the crowdfunding site said
The crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has said that some of its customers' data was hacked earlier this week. The breach has since been repaired.
“No credit card data of any kind was accessed by hackers,” Kickstarter Chief Executive Officer Yancey Strickler said in a blog post on the website. “There is no evidence of unauthorized activity of any kind on all but two Kickstarter user accounts.”
The website does not store credit card data.
The information accessed by the hackers included usernames, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and encrypted passwords, Kickstarter, which was informed of the breach by US law enforcement officials on Wednesday night, said.
While only passwords in their encrypted form were accessed, they could now be deciphered, Kickstarter added, recommending that users change their passwords for the site and any other accounts for which they use the same password.
The company said it had increased security in recent days and was working with law enforcement officials.
Recent data breaches at Target Corp and Neiman Marcus have sparked concern from US politicians and consumers on how to improve cybersecurity and over who should cover the cost of resulting consumer losses.
Kickstarter launched in 2009 as a platform for funding of creative projects, with contributors often rewarded with an edition of what they have contributed to, discounts and credits.
More than 100,000 projects have been funded since launch, with hundreds of millions of pounds pledged.
Additional reporting from Reuters
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Future 50: Upside report aims to aid retailers preparing for 2022
- Credit: Upside
Retailers have faced two years of ups and downs through the pandemic – so what’s coming next? The people behind the innovative Upside app, which uses open-banking technology to reward shoppers for each purchase, have produced a white paper called Retail Predictions for 2022, to help businesses prepare.
“Our research found that it is becoming more difficult each year to retain loyal customers. On average, loyalty has decreased by 41% coming out of the pandemic,” explains Upside CEO Andries Smit. “For Retail Predictions 2022 we asked industry experts about the macro trends faced by retailers and what they can do to win customer loyalty.”
Three key themes emerged, Mr Smit says. First is that the changes to customer behaviour created by the pandemic are here to stay. Second is that while a lot of customer activity has moved online, stores cannot be neglected. Finally, increased competition makes it more important than ever to harness data to target more-effective marketing.
“In 2022, the stakes will be higher in the face of challenging market conditions, as retailers fight to win back customer loyalty through personalisation, an improved customer experience and brand values,” he concluded.
The full Retail Predictions for 2022 white paper is free to read at www.upsidesaving.com


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Lane Bryant's #ImNoAngel Campaign Shows Sexy Knows No Size
Lane Bryant's models proclaim that they are not "angels" — that is, they are women with curves just as sexy as the competition's supermodels.
Their racially diverse campaign for their Cacique lingerie collection features prominent plus-size models Candice Huffine, Ashley Graham, Marquita Pring, Victoria Lee, Justine Legault and Elly Mayday.
"Our #ImNoAngel campaign is designed to empower ALL women to love every part of herself. Lane Bryant firmly believes that she is sexy and we want to encourage her to confidently show it, in her own way," Lane Bryant CEO Linda Heasley said in a statement to Bloomberg.
Whether you want to keep or drop the plus, Lane Bryant's #ImNoAngel campaign is shattering the myth that only certain types of bodies are sexy.
"How boring would it be if we were all the same?" one models asks in the campaign video. Another adds that sexy is "all about how you feel." Indeed, sexy is a state of mind, and a powerful one at that.
Their media campaign asked women to "share your sexy," and they have, by the hundreds on social media, from Tumblr to Twitter. The company has promoted these images, including ones of their own models, on their site in order to foster a collective feeling of empowerment.
Many on Twitter and Instagram are celebrating the new campaign — and Lane Bryant's perceived dig at Victoria's Secret:
Lane Bryant, for its part, contends that they "aren't throwing shade" at Victoria's Secret:
The company is turning a new leaf on the current body positive, #EffYourBeautyStandards movement. Let's hope that in the vein of affirming all body types, they keep their playful banter above the belt, because what they're doing is monumental.


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That’s the conclusion of a new study from the University of Michigan, which found that 56% of U.S. respondents had positive opinions of self-driving vehicles.
The technology sounds like science fiction — 29% of Americans surveyed hadn’t heard of it before the study — yet it’s not far from becoming reality.
Google (GOOG) has been working on the issue for years, unveiling a self-driving prototype in May. The system probably won’t be widely available for five or six years, but executives have predicted that one day “a significant number of cars will carry Google technology.” Nissan, meanwhile, said last year that it hopes to have a self-driving car on the market by 2020.
Read More At Reuters.


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- Keep your eye on that banana! Prey Mimic Madness trailer released
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Fancy A Date?
Developer- and Publisher-specific Articles: Lumines
Ubisoft is going all-in on Sony’s upcoming PlayStation Portable successor, PS Vita. The studio has announced six titles currently in development, including some from their biggest franchises. Vita owners can look forward to diving into new entries of Asphalt, Assassin’s Creed, Dungeon Hunter Alliance, Lumines, and Michael Jackson the Experience, as well as the upcoming Rayman Origins.


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Turkey’s domestic car project will be officially introduced this week. Days before the launch of the domestic car models continues to come to information. Working on the domestic car project ,“Turkey’s Automobile Enterprise Group” continues to share new information on its official Twitter account, which it recently launched.
First of all, let us remind you that domestic car models will be introduced in two days later, i.e. on Friday in Gebze. As Webrazzi, we will provide you with all the details shared at the event. According to the hears we have received, the model will be introduced with less than one and the models introduced will be 100 percent electric. No details have been shared regarding the cars to be introduced in the present.
Let’s go to the details shared today from the official Twitter account of Turkey’s Automobile Venture Group. If we look closely at the shared image, we see a tulip flower-like pattern right next to the car’s differences. In the tweet, we werevery serious when we said, “#TürkiyeninOtomobili! You’re the inspiration… ” and“#DoğumYeriİstanbul” are included.
It would not be wrong to say that tulip flower is the first flower that comes to mind when it comes to istanbul. Therefore, it is not surprising that tulip is included in the details of the local car. On Friday, we will provide you with all the details about domestic 100 percent electric cars.


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CBD was proven to improve Fragile X Syndrome conditions
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is now increasing in value as they conduct clinical trials of a skin gel containing the main component CBD. This study is being conducted with the goal of treating Fragile X Syndrome. This is a genetic condition that affects cognitive and developmental capabilities. It’s characterized by delays in speech, intellectual disability, as well as behavioral problems in some cases. It’s been found that the CBD gel significantly improved behavioral symptoms among those with the syndrome. This is a major breakthrough as this disease’s symptoms are very difficult to manage and control.
Cannabis’ medical benefits and its legalization
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is one of the major components of marijuana. Just like the other component, THC, it boasts of many health benefits. Both are currently being used in the treatment of stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, chronic pain, and other conditions. CBD is generally regarded as superior to THC in terms of overall efficacy as it is not a psychoactive substance. Thus, the side effects are very minimal. It also doesn’t affect behavior or cognition.
Because of the increasing popularity of cannabis and CBD, as well as the ongoing conduct of various scientific research and clinical trials backing their potential medical benefits, more states are leaning towards the federal legalization of cannabis.
Now, investors are seeing great potential in the medical cannabis/CBD industry that wasn’t too evident in the past. Around $57 billion is spent on legal cannabis globally in just a span of a decade. Because of the increasing demand for both recreational and medical marijuana, as well as the trend towards legalization, it’s projected that the numbers could increase up to $23.4 billion in the U.S. alone by the year 2022.
Canaccord Genuity on Zynerba’s CBD Gel
Zygel is currently the first pharmaceutically-produced cannabinoid that’s created as a topical gel. It’s targeted towards patients with Fragile X Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and epilepsies. Its unique quality is its ability to permeate through the skin faster than most topical preparations. They were able to formulate a substance that allows the active ingredient to permeate into the skin in less than a minute, allowing for higher bioavailability. This route of administration also spares patients of the potential gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Because of this breakthrough, Zynerba’s shares (ZYNE) have increased tremendously. Furthermore, their shares have skyrocketed after they win their patent for their CBD gel. An analyst has given Zynerba a buy rating, target $18. They estimate that Zynerba stocks are a great pick for investors who are rather more tolerant of risks. Canaccord Genuity predicts a 50% approval for the newest Fragile X treatment. Just Friday morning, the shares increased by 3.07%. The shift in opinion of many people with regards to CBD has definitely affected its potential to be a good investment opportunity.


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Today Monday has been one of those days when Apple updates its operating systems. This time beta versions have been released, the first to be more exact: at the same time as the first beta of iOS 9.3.3, Apple has also released first betas of OS X 10.11.6 and tvOS 9.2.2, the operating system for Apple computers and the fourth generation Apple TV respectively. But one guest is missing for the meeting to be complete.
At the time of writing these lines still watchOS beta not released, that we remember that at the moment it goes by watchOS 2.2.1, so the next version should be watchOS 2.2.2. All the releases, with the exception of the version of the operating system for the apple smartwatch, have arrived only a week after the launch of the last official version, so it seems that Apple is going to continue with its usual roadmap (and , incidentally, annoy hackers who are considering launching a jailbreak).
New OS X and tvOS betas now available for developers
That no one has discovered any notable news for any of the operating systems released today can only mean one thing: there are no notable developments. Being advanced versions of the third figure, we can only think that its launch will occur with one idea in mind: fix errors and keep polishing the system.
As you all know, the WWDC 2016 It will begin on June 13 and the next versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS will be presented at that event. Although we are less than a month away from the event, I will not say again that these will be the last versions to be released of the current operating systems. With how unpredictable Apple has become in recent months, anything can happen. Place your bets.


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Kate Moss will be celebrating her 40th birthday by stripping for Playboy in the upcoming January issue – the magazine's 60th anniversary edition.
Having modeled for the likes of Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, and Chanel, among other fashion lines over her 25 year career, Moss will go full-frontal nude as the magazine's centerfold.
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The news was apparently broken by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's son, Cooper Hefner, who made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday.
Playboy’s editorial director, Jimmy Jellinek, subsequently confirmed what Hefner wrote in an interview with The Los Angeles Times
"This is a massive global brand," Jellinek said of Playboy to the Times. "You need a global icon in order to celebrate that — that was the impetus. You’re talking about the face of Burberry, the biggest supermodel in the world on the cover of Playboy. She’s the perfect partner for us to help launch the next 60 years."
When asked why Moss had been approached by the magazine for its 60th anniversary edition, founder Hugh Hefner told the LA Times, "She’s a worldwide celebrity and iconic and crosses the boundaries from sexual imagery to upscale modeling. ... It’s a natural for us."
The British model, known for her emaciated physique, was often linked with "the 'heroin chic' look in the '90s and initially pilloried in the tabloids as a 'waif model' thanks to her androgynous body and gamine look," the Los Angeles Times wrote.
She will reportedly appear on the magazine's cover in January dressed in a Playboy bunny outfit wearing French cuffs and silk stockings.
This isn't the first time Moss has posed nude in a photo shoot, notes MSN.com
In the December 2012 issue of Vanity Fair,
Moss discussed prior photo shoots in which she bore her chest, telling the magazine that she had "never felt very comfortable about it," adding, "I hated my boobs! Because I was flat-chested. And I had a big mole on one."
Urgent: Will Obamacare Hurt Your Wallet? Vote Here Now
Israel Bans Thin Fashion Models
Kate Upton Wins Model of Year, To Be Crowned at Fashion Week
© 2016 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


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Chandigarh’s December 2022 GST collection jumps 33%
Chandigarh: UT administration’s goods and service tax (GST) collection in December last year went up to ₹218 crore, a significant 33% jump from the ₹164 crore collected during the same month in 2021.
The same comes in the backdrop of the gross GST collection for November having dropped by 3% in comparison to the revenue earned during the same month in 2021 — a first for the fiscal. The collection stood at ₹175 crore, ₹5 crore lower than the ₹180 crore collected in 2021.
In October, meanwhile, the UT had registered 28% growth in GST collection — which stood at ₹203 crore, ₹45 crore higher than 2021’s ₹158 crore.
One of the biggest jumps was witnessed in September 2022, when the UT saw 35% more GST collection at ₹206 crore, ₹54 crore higher than the ₹152 crore revenue generated in the previous year.
The finance ministry did not release the state-wise data for January.


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, developer of wireless products, has launched its Parrot Mambo FPV, a minidrone providing a unique first-point view racer experience. More details of the new drone technology featured on TechNutty
, a source of tech, gadget & gaming news.
RealWire Influence Rating
create content covering a wide range of technology related news and reviews. Aimed at a UK market, the site's news and reviews appeal to anyone with an interest in consumer technology.


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Take our poll: However, fans desperate to get their hands on the new handset have been warned they can expect to pay up to Dh12,000 for the phones once they arrive on the Emirates' grey market.
Apple fans in the UAE count hours to iPhone 5 unveiling
DUBAI// Apple enthusiasts in the UAE are counting the hours to the official unveiling of the eagerly awaited iPhone 5 tonight.
However, fans desperate to get their hands on the new handset have been warned they can expect to pay up to Dh12,000 for the phones once they arrive on the Emirates' grey market.
"It's a simple case of supply and demand," said Sheriff Rizwan, the chief executive officer for the online retailer ALshop.com.
"Certainly, for the first 15 days after the release import prices will be very volatile and I wouldn't be surprised if they hit around Dh12,000."
No information about the new phone's specifications have been released by Apple, but based on unofficial reports the consensus is that the new device will be slightly longer and feature a more powerful A5 central processor.
It will also have version six of Apple's mobile operating software installed and come with a smaller dock connector and newly designed headphones.
"We don't know the full details of the new specifications and I think that will be a big thing for people," said Mr Rizwan.
"There has been talk that Apple might get rid of the 16gb version and introduce a 128gb model."
He said the store had directly contacted its highest spending customers to ask if they wanted first choice on the new phones.
"We have about 200 or so premium customers. These are the people who bought the iPad 2 and 3 as well as the iPhone 4 and 4S.
"All of them said they want to buy the new phone and most of them want phones with a 64gb memory."
He said the company will be able to get the phone into the country within 24-hours of its official release.
Ashish Panjabi, chief operating officer for Jacky's electronics, said the UAE should recevied an official launch just a few months after North America and Europe, as was the case with the iPhone 4S and the new MacBook Pros.
"The supply chain is a lot better now than when we had to wait six months for a new iPhone to be officially launched here," he said.
"In that respect, I would imagine most people will probably wait a few weeks after the frenzy has died down and buy when they are at a more reasonable price."
The Apple's iPhone 5 announcement is scheduled to take place in the US at around 5pm GMT.


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Coolpad Invites Parents to Beta Test New Monitoring App
Coolpad today announced FamilyLabs, a new app that lets parents communicate, locate, and provide remote support to multiple family members, on both Android and iOS phones. The first phase of FamilyLabs is launching on Indigogo, where available bundles include the app, a new Coolpad phone, and service from Mint Mobile. Bundles start at $99 with 1 month of service. Larger bundles include up to three months of service (unlimited talk and text plus 8 GB of 4G data per month). The initial version of the app will offer location tracking, geo-fencing with alerts, content filtering, remote setting of alarms and reminders, and panic alerts. Coolpad will actively solicit feedback and ideas from Indiegogo supporters in order to refine the app before a wider launch beyond Indiegogo. The included phone is the Coolpad Model M, which is based on the REVVL Plus for T-Mobile. Coolpad will make both iOS and Android versions of the app available for Indiegogo customers to download and test on other phones. The target shipping timeframe for Indiegogo customers is June. Beyond the app, FamilyLabs is also a platform and brand Coolpad will use for additional family-oriented products. The company launched Dyno, a smartwatch for kids, in January.
Nov 15, 2018
AT&T plans to cease offering AT&T Smart Limits, a service that allows parents to control their kids' phones, on November 26. Smart Limits will no longer be available after that date.
Dec 4, 2017
Facebook today rolled out a new messaging service for children under the age of 13. Messenger Kids is a mobile application that gives kids the power to communicate via text and video with approved family members and friends.
Sep 13, 2018
Coolpad today announced the Dyno One, a smart wearable meant for kids. The product is made from bright-colored materials and boasts a kid-friendly user interface.
Jun 18, 2019
Facebook today announced Libra, a new digital currency that aims to combine the best features of other cryptocurrencies in order to be more consumer-friendly. The currency will be administered by the Libra Association, a new non-for-profit based in Geneva.
Jun 4, 2018
Apple today announced iOS 12, its next-generation platform for the iPhone and iPad. Apple says it spent time improving the performance of the operating system, which in claims will work well on iPhones and iPads that went on sale as far back as 2013.


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Sonos’ Chief Legal Officer testified at a US antitrust hearing this week concerning Google and Amazon.
Tile, Spotify, and Match Group have testified in a similar hearing held back in April. The hearing this week was titled, “Protecting Competition and Innovation in Home Technologies.” During the hearing, Sonos’ Chief Legal Officer outlined some of its concerns with competitors like Amazon, Google, and Apple.
Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus says platform openness is key to third-party success.
“Our success is based in significant part on elevating the idea of an open platform facilitating consumer choice rather than a walled garden experience,” Lazarus said during the hearing. That’s an argument Spotify made back in April against Apple’s payment system rules.
“Sonos customers can choose audio content to play on our systems from more than 100 streaming services, including Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Google’s YouTube Music. They can also choose between one of two leading voice assistants, Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. Moreover, we provide these services with a strong emphasis on quality and privacy, focusing on using customer data to enhance their experience rather than aggressive monetization.”
Lazarus argues that regulations are needed to avoid every smart home becoming controlled by one of a few dominant companies. “Consumers will find themselves channeled into the siloed ecosystems of a Google or an Amazon in a self-reinforcing dynamic of network fueled dominance,” he argues before the subcommittee.
“In an alternative scenario, revamped antitrust law and enforcement level broaden the playing field. The second future is one in which companies like Sonos and countless others innovate and bring novel experiences to customers. A multitude of companies will compete based on the merits of their products and services – with the best ideas rising to the top.”
Lazarus also highlights how Apple’s offers to open its Siri virtual assistant to third-parties is misleading during the antitrust hearing.
“Apple will only license Siri to companies that utilize the HomePod as a central hub to connect with Siri. Thus, Apple is conditioning interoperability with Siri on companies placing a competitive Apple product alongside their own.”
Sonos is not alone in this argument. Tile says Apple’s new AirTags are destined to kill its business. Spotify argued that only Apple had access to voice controls for music – successfully getting Siri open to third parties. Sonos is asking lawmakers to act soon, saying, “venture capitalists are loath to invest in startups that drift too close to the ‘kill zone’ by dominant platforms.”


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For those seeking to get in on the British supermarket sector it could be argued that J Sainsbury(LSE: SBRY) is the most attractive destination at present.
For the period to March 2017 the London chain deals on a P/E ratio of just 12.2 times. This reading beats Tesco's forward multiple of 28.7 times, as well as Morrisons' equivalent ratio of 21.5 times.
Without doubt the entire grocery sector faces huge challenges in the months and years ahead, and the more attractive valuations at Sainsbury's leave it less susceptible to a crushing share-price collapse, at least in theory. But this is in itself not reason enough to invest, of course, and particularly as sales data continues to slide.
Latest Kantar Worldpanel numbers, for example, showed till activity at Sainsbury's down 0.7% during the 12 weeks to November 6. This pushed the company's market share to 16.3% versus 16.6% a year earlier.
The supermarket may have to embark on further rounds of price-cutting to attract shoppers back through its doors. This is particularly worrying as margins are already under huge pressure, and are likely to come under further attack should Brexit troubles continue to dent sterling and encourage more and more suppliers to hike what they charge Sainsbury's to stock their goods.
BDO announced at the weekend that like-for-like sales in the fashion segment grew by 1.5% in November, the first increase since January. But the researcher warned that buoyant consumer appetite amid better-than-expected economic data may be about to fizzle out.
Indeed, BDO head of retail and wholesale Sophie Michael warned that "we're facing a year of unprecedented political, social and economic uncertainty both at home and overseas." She added that "the challenges facing retailers continue to mount, which will inevitably impact on retailers' costs and consumers' disposable incom. The question is 'when' not 'if' the spending squeeze will come."
Britain's retailers are already having a tough time of it as they're having to embark on heavy discounting to separate shoppers from their cash, not to mention cope with an increasingly-competitive marketplace.
Next has already slashed its profit forecasts more than once in 2016, and advised in September that sales of its full-price items slipped 1.5% between January and October.
And things are much worse at Marks & Spencer as its many attempts to reinvigorate its fashion ops keep on failing. It most recently saw like-for-like sales of its clothes and home products falling 5.9%
Like Sainsbury's, both firms deal on P/E ratios well below the FTSE 100 forward average of 15 times, suggesting the risks facing each business are factored into the share price. Next deals on a forward P/E reading of 11 times for the current period, while its high street rival changes hands on a ratio of 11.9 times.
I don't share this train of though in however, and reckon all three retailers are in danger of searing earnings downgrades as difficult trading conditions look set to become still tougher. I reckon shrewd investors should give these businesses a wide berth.
Avoid these rookie mistakes
But Sainsbury's et al haven't always been basket cases. Indeed, their flagging fortunes illustrate how even the biggest companies can turn from stock stars to doomed duds in the blink of an eye.
There are a multitude of traps share investors can fall into, however, from picking shares on the basis of a hunch through to timing their trades incorrectly. And this is where The Motley Fool can help.
Our crack team of boffins has drawn up a report titled Worst Mistakes Investors Make that outlines the key things you should consider before taking the plunge.
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Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.


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Will you be smoking BAT, JTI, Philip Morris or “some brand I can’t see as it’s under the counter” cigarettes?
Smoking is an evocative subject and can raise some strong emotions for both the pro and anti smoking brigade.
Any government faces a bit of a tricky situation when it comes to smoking.
On the one hand the VAT and duty raised by selling cigarettes helps the government coffers whilst on the other hand there is an increased burden on the health services as a result of smoking related illnesses.
In the UK for example, the 21% of the population that smoke contribute in excess of £10 billion in terms of VAT and duty whilst there are an estimated 80,000 smoking related deaths per year in the UK.
It was national No Smoking Day last week and the government took the opportunity to announce that cigarettes will soon have to be kept out of sight in shops in England. The argument is that when cigarettes are on display at shop counters they tempt certain people to make impulse purchases of cigarettes.
From April 2012 large shops and supermarkets will have to keep cigarettes out of the public eye and store them hidden “under the counter”. Smaller shops will need to do the same in 2015.
It was also announced that a consultation into whether cigarettes should only be sold in plain wrappers without any distinguishing colours, logos or designs will take place shortly.
If a “plain wrapper rule” was introduced this would follow Australia where it has been announced that from next year cigarettes can only be sold in plain wrappers.
Ignoring the rights or wrongs of smoking, this raises an interesting challenge for the tobacco companies as to how they deal with the branding and promotion.
As we speak, these companies are no doubt focusing on techniques for enhancing promotion before the point of sale. The key will be changing the promotion so that people make the purchase decision before they enter the shop rather than rely on impulse purchases.
With cigarette advertising banned in England expect to see these companies developing their brand loyalty via social media such as facebook and twitter as well as viral marketing.
If you’re a smoker who really feels that you need to be tempted or reminded to buy at the counter then one option is to move to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland as although these are part of the UK they have separate smoking rules to those found in England and the under the counter rule will not be introduced.


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More Coffee Stain news with the Swedish games firm purchasing a majority stake in Gone North Games.
The Stockholm-based studio behind Goat Z and Waste of Space spin-offs of Goat Simulator is going to be rebranded Coffee Stain North. The exact sum of money is not disclosed.
“We discovered Gone North Games when they pitched us on their first game - A Story About My Uncle, and we saw a lot of potential in their team already back then,” Coffee Stain CEO Anton Westbergh said.
“The game ended up being our first foray into games publishing, and a successful one at that! Since then the talent behind Gone North has played a major part in carrying the Goat Simulator brand into the future through their seemingly endless creativity and vision. We welcome them into the Coffee Stain group with great excitement to soon be able to share more on their upcoming project."
Gone North chief Sebastian Eriksson (pictured) added: “When we first approached Coffee Stain we already knew we had a lot in common. And over the years we’ve worked together we’ve discovered a deeper personal connection in everything from humour to game design sensibilities. All these commonalities have given us true creative freedom, and with the resources and support of Coffee Stain we’re currently working on our biggest project to date."
Coffee Stain rose to prominence with 2014's Goat Simulator which went on to be a big hit the firm. Last year the company announced its intention to support other developers with its new publishing arm, hiring Mojang alum Dan Kaplan to this end.
Only yesterday did it announce a fund to encourage greater gender diversity within games development.


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Technology has been taking some major leaps in the last few years. The advent of the Apple iPhone brought about a change in the way we use our cell phones to communicate, with many of us relying on them to provide everything from texting to email. Now, it appears that Motorola will be bringing us the nest big advance in the field of mobile technology.
The company, owned by Google Inc., has just received a patent for a something far more interesting than a simple headset or earbud. According to reports, the company has patented a tattoo that can be applied to the throat. This tattoo will be able to connect to a smartphone, much the same way that a Bluetooth headset or earpiece does. Once connected, the tattoo would allow you to control your phone using nothing but your voice.
More Than A Tat
According to the patent, the tattoo would be able to connect to other devices besides phones as well. The theory is that users could incorporate the tattoo into their gaming, Internet surfing, and phone calls by connecting to multiple devices. It would use NFC, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or some other similar communications stream.
Oddly enough, Motorola also claims to be able to use the tattoo on animals. If this is the case, then products like electronic doggy doors may not be far in the future.
Motorola Not The First
While the idea of using a tattoo to control your phone may seem like an outlandish idea, Motorola was not the original creator of such a device. In fact, Nokia patented a similar device last year. The tattoo designed by Nokia is a “vibrating tattoo” that is designed to allow users to “feel” when someone calls them. Personally, I would prefer to simply hear the phone ring and pick it up.
Google, Apple's arch-enemy is also working on a tattoo that can be used in several ways. However, aside from being used to control smartphones, this tattoo could also double as a lie detector. I personally have a list of politicians who should be forced to get this one.
What do you think? Should we be experimenting with tattoos that connect to electronic devices? Let us know in the comments section below.


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Israeli insurtech firm Lemonade to roll out car insurance for US drivers
Company sets sights on $800b global vehicle insurance market with new service that will leverage telematics to set affordable rates
Ricky Ben-David is The Times of Israel’s Tech Israel editor and reporter.
Israeli-founded insurance tech firm Lemonade announced Wednesday that it will begin rolling out car insurance for US drivers nationwide, starting with Illinois, as the company’s newest offering.
Lemonade has been making waves in the traditional insurance industry since 2015 when it was founded in Tel Aviv by entrepreneurs Shai Wininger, also a co-founder of Fiverr, and Daniel Schreiber. The company uses technology such as artificial intelligence and chatbots, as well as behavioral economics, to deliver affordable homeowners, renters, life, and pet insurance across the US, all via a mobile app. Some of its offerings are also available in Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
Lemonade claims its simplified claims process and rates — it offers renters insurance starting at $5 per month, and homeowners insurance starting at $25 per month — resonates strongly with younger consumers. It also runs a charity element called the GiveBack program, where its users select a non-profit organization they care about and, once a year, Lemonade tallies up unclaimed money pooled from policyholders who chose that same cause and donates it to the organization. The program was featured in TIME magazine’s 100 best inventions in 2019.
Lemonade had raised close to $500 million with leading investors such as SoftBank — its biggest backer — Aleph VC, OurCrowd, Google Ventures, and Sequoia Capital, and had one of the most successful IPOs (initial public offerings) in 2020 on the New York Stock Exchange at a valuation just short of $2 billion.
The company’s newest service, Lemonade Car, eyes a close to $800 billion global car insurance market. It will leverage telematics, a field that combines telecommunications and informatics, to measure how much people drive, and how safely they do so, to provide better rates for safe and low-mileage drivers, the company said. The app will also offer real-time crash detection, access to 24/7 roadside assistance, and the ability to dispatch emergency services.
Drivers of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) are set to get special discounts on their car insurance, as will existing users of Lemonade’s other insurance offerings.
“The target audience is anyone underserved by the current car insurance industry,” Wininger told The Times of Israel via email. “By pricing based on how much and how safe you drive, Lemonade Car will be able to provide better prices – and fairer prices- rather than how it’s currently done (broad stroke proxies like credit scores, age, gender – all parameters that don’t indicate how much and how safe one drives). Also, we’re looking at our current Lemonade customer base- homeowners, renters, pet owners, etc who can now bundle their insurance with Car, get discounts, and get all their insurance needs from one place.”
Lemonade Car is the company’s “biggest project ever,” Wininger wrote in a blog post on Wednesday announcing the new service.
“We stood up entire teams to handle tows, repairs, body shop services, as well as support for the 24/7 roadside assistance and emergency services we now offer,” he said. “Providing a best-in-class car claims experience means being there for your customers 100 percent of the time, with surprisingly fast service and lots of empathy.”
The claims process for Lemonade Car will allow users to file quickly, access tow services and emergency EV battery recharge, and track repairs, the company said.
And there’s an environmental element.
“We wanted to introduce a product that will not only reinvent how people buy car insurance, manage their policy, and file claims, but also do something good for the planet. Since we can’t stop using cars just yet, we will help compensate for the CO2 emitted from our customers’ cars by financing reforestation on an ongoing basis. Using the telematics technology in our app, we’re able to estimate how much carbon dioxide is emitted by each ride, and plant trees accordingly,” said Wininger.
Lemonade is headquartered in New York, with offices in Tel Aviv and Amsterdam. The company employs close to 1,000 employees.
It reported annual revenue of $94 million in 2020 but the company is not yet profitable. Lemonade is set to announce third-quarter 2021 financial results next week.


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It’s been a while since we’ve been able to drive an officially-licensed Toyota road car in a game other than Gran Turismo Sport or Project Cars 2, but the Big T is finally set to make a push back into the world of mainstream gaming.
Announced earlier today, the fourth-generation Toyota Supra will be added into the vehicle lineup of Forza Horizon 4 in an update scheduled for December 12. That means all of you long-suffering Supra fiends will be able to spend the bulk of your Christmas break hooning around a virtual England at the helm of one of Toyota’s most iconic sports cars.
Why is this big news? Well, Toyota has been largely absent from car games in recent years, and a rumoured deal with Polyphony Digital, creator of the Playstation-exclusive Gran Turismo Sport, is the likely reason why.
In GT Sport players are able to enjoy a bevy of notable Toyota vehicles, including the classic Toyota Sports 800 and 2000GT, the drift icon AE86 Sprinter Trueno, the Toyota 86 in various forms, the Mk4 Supra and the present-day GR Supra - not to mention a bevy of Toyota racecars.
Most other games either don’t feature Toyotas at all, or they’re unlicensed and un-branded facsimiles of the real deal. Project Cars 2 is one notable exception and offers a driveable Toyota 86 road car, while Forza Motorsport 7 gives you… a jacked-up Hilux.If you’re a die-hard Toyota fan, you’re basically railroaded into buying a Playstation 4.
READ MORE: Is Forza Horizon 4 still worth playing?
Why did Toyota go gun-shy on gaming? After all, earlier titles like Need For Speed Underground 2 allowed you to drive and modify the Supra, Celica and Sprinter. A recent tweet by Toyota UK stated that the company didn’t condone games that “promote illegal street racing” (a response to a question about why the new Supra was absent from Need For Speed: Heat), but that tweet was retracted soon after.
The imminent addition of the Supra to Forza Horizon 4, a game entirely based around street racing, suggests that wasn’t the reason anyway, and the presence of the AE86 Sprinter in upcoming drift title Drift 19 also throws water on the “Gran Turismo exclusive” theory.
Does this mean we’ll soon see more Toyotas on non-Gran Turismo titles? Here’s hoping, but the question is which Toyota should they add next? Let us know.


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Scottish First Milk producers have been left shell-shocked after the processor announced its intention to sell its Arran and Campbeltown creameries following a strategic review of the business.
The processor is seeking buyers for the two sites which supply the Isle of Arran and Mull of Kintyre brands respectively, but it is understood there will be no immediate changes for First Milk suppliers.
See also: UK dairy has highest processing investment in EU
Last month First Milk harmonised its four milk pools into a single price, so Scottish members would not see prices change disproportionately to members in England and Wales.
However, Farmers Weekly understands a prospective deal for the creameries could include producers supplying the creameries in the future.
“Following a strategic review, we have determined our branded consumer-facing businesses in Campbeltown and on Arran are not a strategic fit for First Milk moving forward,” said First Milk CEO, Shelagh Hancock.
Ms Hancock added the review did identify markets for the premium Mull of Kintyre and Isle of Arran brands, but First Milk was not prepared to deliver the significant investment necessary to capture these opportunities.
“However, we are confident with the right focus and investment under new ownership the businesses would prosper,” she added.
“A sale would enable us to continue with our focus on developing our major creameries in Haverfordwest and the Lake District, creating value through broadening and strengthening our strategic partnerships and delivering best value for our members’ investment.”
The two creameries would continue to run as normal during this sale process First Milk said they would work closely with buyers to ensure a smooth transition.
“We appreciate this decision will affect some of our colleagues, but we hope that under new ownership the sites will thrive, offering good employment prospects for the future,” said Ms Hancock.
By Jack Yates
Source: Farmers Weekly
The Coca-Cola Co. has promoted Evguenia (Jeny) Stoichkova to president of global ventures, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Ms. Stoichkova joined Coca-Cola Bulgaria in 2004 and was most recently the president of the company’s Eurasia & Middle East division, a role she has held since 2021.
US-based Perfect Day, is partnering with Onego Bio, which specializes in creating animal-free eggs, aiming to accelerate the timeline to bring the eggs to the market. The business, with the use of its technology, plans to commercialize animal-free ovalbumin, the most abundant egg white protein extracted through precision fermentation.
Food waste costs the EU €143 billion per year (US$141.7 billion), with a report by Feedback EU raising the alarm of how it’s vital to reduce waste from farm to fork 50% by 2030 and the only way this will be achieved is by enforcing a mandatory directive forcing the food industry to do better and retailers to pay a tax of food waste.


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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 are coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, Activision announced today.
“The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series is a big factor in the evolution of modern skateboarding tricks and inspiring many of the pro skaters you know and love today,” said Tony Hawk in a press release. “I’m excited to help inspire a new generation of skateboarders and gamers – and existing fans – to grow the sport even further.”
Coming to the remake are features from across the franchise like wall plants, lip tricks, revert, and original multiplayer game modes — both online and local play. Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater are also said to return, along with iconic songs the original franchise and classic pros like Bucky Lasek, Geoff Rowley, and more.
“Getting the chance to bring back the original two games which had such a meaningful impact not only on gaming, but on an entire sports genre, has ben an epic experience for our team, many of whom worked on the original series,” said Studio Head at Vicarious Visions Jen Oneal. “We’re taking what you knew and loved from the original games and mixing that with enhanced creative tools which will allow gamers to invent brand new ways to play the game they love.”
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 are set to retail for $39.99, with a digital deluxe version for $49.99 and a collector’s edition for $99.99. For more information, feel free to click the following link.


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These past few months a lot had happened in the SEO community and in the online marketing business as a whole. In particular, everyone has already known that the search engine giant, Google, had blatantly announced that online press releases used to manipulate search rankings are now useless. That links on those press releases that were published on PR distribution websites have no value anymore. That the use of the no-follow tag for links in press release articles should be implemented to avoid penalties.
Looking at these restrictions, anyone can tell how serious the big G in neutralizing (and ultimately discrediting) any types of SEO tactics to improve SERP ranking. The thing is, this is backed-up by a lot of conformists who agreed that online press releases these days are indeed losing their value. But, the truth is, it isn’t. I believe Online Press Releases can still help improve SEO.
How Online Press Releases Can Still Improve SEO
Remember to whom press releases are originally written for. In the past they were only written for journalists from Print, TV, and Radio. Nowadays, they are not only written for journalists alone, but for other media personalities as well – bloggers, online news editor, social media influencers, and the like.
To scrap online press release for good because Google says that it can no longer help improve search rankings is not a good move. If you would try to look closely, most journalists nowadays go online to search for the latest news from organizations and companies that they might think have stories that need to be covered.
Since bloggers, online news editors, and social media influencers are parts of the main target audiences, it is just safe to expect that getting a write-up or mention from these new type of media platforms can boost up SEO. An editorial link (http://searchengineland.com/google-links-in-a-press-release-should-be-nofollowed-like-advertisements-168339) from them is considered by Google as highly valuable.
Also, it is worthy to note, that links and mentions (http://socialmediatoday.com/stephaniefrasco/1901891/6-reasons-social-media-critical-your-seo) from social media networks are now slowly being recognized by big search engines as a form of vote that serve as an indicator of the level of quality and engagement of a content or website. Since social media influencers usually hang out on the net, the easiest way to reach them is through online press release.
The editorial links from blogs and online news websites, and the mentions and links from social media networks would undoubtedly help improve your search rankings.
Are Online Press Release Distribution Services Still Important?
Of course. This type of service can help a lot in lessening your work load most especially if you are the only one who manages your small or start-up business. This would allow you to focus more on the main core of your business. Also, press release distribution service providers have more resources in helping you disseminate your press releases online.
Lastly, always put into mind that like every content strategy, your press release must be newsworthy, interesting, and can elicit response from its readers to that point that they would write a story about it.


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Growth for tubes and aerosol cans in first half
Despite the challenging economic situation in Germany, deliveries of aluminium tubes and aluminium aerosol cans developed positively in the first half of 2023.
In the case of aluminium tubes, continued strong demand from the pharmaceutical sector and stable development in the cosmetics and food sectors led to a year-on-year increase of 4.4%. Overall, deliveries of aluminium tubes to the German market amounted to around 424 million units.
Regarding aluminium aerosol cans, the two largest market segments; deodorants and hair care products, recorded significant growth compared to the same period of the previous year. This resulted in a 9.5% increase in shipments of aluminum aerosol cans, amounting to 309 million units.
Raw material and energy prices still a burden, shortage of skilled workers is even more acute
The industry welcomes the positive development in both raw material and energy prices noticed in 2023, but still hopes for further improvement. The prices remain significantly higher than the rates before the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, putting a strain on the German tube and aerosol can industry.
In addition, the shortage of skilled workers remains one of the biggest challenges facing the industry, and no improvement is foreseeable soon. The chairman of the association, Clemens Behrenbruch, explains, “It is becoming increasingly difficult to replace retiring employees. The continuation of this trend can have lasting effects on the German economy and threatens Germany’s standing as a leading industrial land.”
Planned bans on the use of BPA and PFAS
The European Commission’s planned ban on the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in food contact materials seems inevitable. Despite significant industry efforts to replace BPA coatings, it will be very difficult to switch both interior and exterior coatings to alternative systems in the medium term. Mr. Behrenbruch states “BPA is found virtually everywhere in manufacturing operations: in tanks, production lines and even in water. It is very important that legislators distinguish between the intentional and unintentional use of BPA to enable compliance with the law.”
In addition, the Commission is currently considering a proposal to ban the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS). A ban on the use of the entire PFAS group of substances, which consists of some 10,000 different chemicals, would probably be the most comprehensive regulatory intervention in history. The ban is expected to have a significant impact on many branches of industry.
Uncertain outlook for the second half of 2023
Despite the market growth recorded in the first six months, there has been a noticeable slowdown in demand since the end of the second quarter. In addition, persistently high inflation rates and the IMF forecast stating that Germany will be the European country with the lowest growth rate in 2023 are both casting shadows on the market.
However, manufacturers of aluminum tubes and aerosol cans remain cautiously optimistic in the medium term, as the main sales markets for these aluminum-based packaging solutions have always proved resilient even in times of crisis.


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It took just four days for German researchers to trick the Samsung Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner into accepting a mold of a fingerprint instead of a real finger.
The fingerprint sensor in Apple's new iPhone 5S has the potential to enhance the security of the device, but the devil will be in the details.
Consumers often fail to perform transactions online due to authentication failure. But while they struggle, they also distrust websites with weak authentication procedures.
Fujitsu Technology Solutions has named European bank UniCredit as the first major customer for its PalmSecure authentication system, which is on display at the Cebit trade show in Hanover, Germany, this week.
The U.K.'s largest airport, Heathrow, will install facial recognition scanners by September for international and domestic passengers to prevent illegal immigration in the country.
TAMPA -- The U.S. military is taking cloud computing into rugged terrain in Afghanistan, where according to Lt. Gen. Richard Zahner, the basic hardware and software technology is being packed into mobile boxes that later this year will start to play ...
Taiwanese software manufacturer EgisTec is showing a product here at CES that lets you use your laptop's built-in fingerprint reader to launch applications, manage passwords and encrypt files.
The NSW government has spent more than $5 million issuing police with portable digital fingerprint scanners to stop criminals weaseling out of fines, arrest warrants, court appearances and breaches of bail.
The European Parliament signed up to a plan Wednesday to introduce computerized biometric passports including people's fingerprints as well as their photographs, despite criticism from civil liberties groups and security experts who argue that the mo...
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Apple to Launch Ringtone Service?
NYPost reports that Apple will be launching a ringtone service for iPhone users next week.
The service - expected to be unveiled when Apple announces its new lineup of iPods - would allow users to turn almost any song sold through iTunes into a ringtone for an additional fee. The exact price was unclear.
The service is said to allow users to convert songs they have previously purchased to be turned into a ringtone, with user-controlled ability to choose which portion of the song to use. Beyond that, Apple is said to plan on offering traditional ringtones as well.
Much of this reiterates a rumor earlier this week also suggesting that Apple will introduce ringtone support during the September 5th media event.
The rumors are also consistent with a previous report about Apple's plans to sell custom ringtones.
In the meanwhile, 3rd party developers have stepped up to fill this custom ringtone demand. Ambrosia Software has released their ringtone tool (iToner) for the Mac. Of interest, Ambrosia's iToner is said to install ringtones "the proper way, without any hacks" which should be resilient to future iPhone updates. Windows users have had the option of using iPhoneRingToneMaker.
While both tools are shareware, they do not have a per-ringtone fee that is expected with Apple's service. More adventerous users can use various hacking tools such as iFuntastic.


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SCLAA announces ASCL Award Gala Dinner MC
Mike Gallacher, CEO Ports Australia
The SCLAA is proud to announce that Mike Gallacher, CEO Ports Australia, will MC the 58th Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards (ASCL Awards) Gala Dinner to be held in the Ballroom, Luna Park, Sydney on Friday, 23 November.
Following an intensive and varied 16 year career as a Police Officer, Mike Gallacher was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council in 1996.He has performed the Shadow Ministerial role across a variety of portfolios including Ports, Industrial Relations, Transport and Police.
Winning government in 2011, Mike was appointed Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter and later the further role of Minister for Industrial Relations.
Mike is widely recognised for his robust approach to policy development and his preparedness to strongly advocate the need for reform. As Minister he led on behalf of Government the public debate on issues such as measures to reduce alcohol related violence, rampant gang/gun related crime and introduced initiatives to change driver behaviour.
Leaving Parliament in 2017 he has now taken the role as CEO of Ports Australia, the peak industry body for the Ports industry. Mike is already well underway in lifting the awareness of the Port sector and the important role it plays in Australia’s future.
The following Awards will be presented at the ASCL Awards Gala Dinner:
Future Leaders Award
Industry Excellence Award
Environmental Excellence Award
Supply Chain Management Award
International Supply Chain Award
Training Education & Development Award
Information Technology & Management Award
Sydney September 20, 2018 – Dematic, a leading global supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimise the supply chain, has announced the opening of a new distribution centre (DC) by the Toll Group, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) company in Australia. The Toll Group needed a highly automated DC to meet increasing demands from its customers for efficient e-Commerce and omnichannel order fulfillment and looked to Dematic for the right solution.
The DC features several Dematic solutions integrated with best-in-class technologies. Dematic Multishuttles store, buffer and sequence 80,000 SKUs. Workers pick orders at 24 ergonomic Dematic goods-to-person workstations. Ten Dematic AGVs handle repetitive transportation tasks safely and automatically. In addition, the Toll Group worked closely with Dematic to define and implement support systems from other vendors to ensure complete integration.
As a 3PL, the Toll Group had some stringent requirements for automation. Robert Charles, General Manager of Speciality Retail at the Toll Group explains, “We look at the occupation, health and safety requirements. We look at order accuracy to prevent returns coming back to the facility.”
Charles continues, “we also look at the customer experience to make sure they get their product in an efficient manner. Because it’s all about the speed to market today.”
The new Toll Group DC is another great example of Dematic’s unique ability to deliver global solutions, but with a local touch. To view a video about this Dematic success story, visit dematic.com/toll.
Further information: Dematic Pty Limited, 24 Narabang Way, Belrose NSW 2085, Australia. Tel: +61 2 9486 5555. Fax: +61 2 9486 5511. www.dematic.com.au
Dematic is a leading supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimise the supply chain. Dematic employs over 6,000 skilled logistics professionals to serve its customers globally, with engineering centres and manufacturing facilities located across the globe. Dematic has implemented more than 4,500 integrated systems for a customer base that includes small, medium and large companies doing business in a variety of market sectors.
Virulent bug threat to horticultural industry stamped out
An alert warehouse manager has helped save the horticultural industry from a potentially devastating pest after an exotic Italian stink bug was found in electrical equipment.
After the discovery, a long control and monitoring program was launched by Biosecurity officers, and it’s now been declared the Brown Marmorated stink bug is no longer a biosecurity risk.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said the bug was spotted in Glendenning late last year by warehouse manager John Matakaiongo in a shipment of imported electrical equipment from Italy.
“The quick identification and eradication of the stink bug highlights the success of NSW’s shared responsibility approach to biosecurity. Community reports of suspicious finds are the best weapon we have in the fight to protect the NSW environment, economy and community from the threat of pests and disease.”
For a full copy of this article: https://www.theland.com.au/story/5650578/stinky-situation-averted-as-biosecurity-team-nabs-hostile-stink-bug/?src=rss
SCLAA Announces Board Advisory Task Force
During 2017 the SCLAA Board decided to establish a SCLAA Advisory Task Force comprised of leaders in the Supply Chain and Logistics fields who would be able to provide varied expertise to assist the Board with the new Strategic Plan and further development of the SCLAA.
After careful consideration and review, seven people were approached and offered positions on the Task Force. Fortunately for the SCLAA, all of these amazingly experienced and talented people agreed to serve on the Task Force and assist the SCLAA. The SCLAA is extremely thankful to each of them and the Board looks forward to working with them.
More benefits for Australian Trusted Traders announced
Five new benefits for Australian Trusted Traders, were announced at the annual symposium held on 8 August 2018.
There are over 200 accredited Trusted Traders who are able to access these benefits with estimated savings of $3.2 billion projected for Australian business over the 10 year period to 2025.
The Australian Trusted Trader program is a partnership with industry and offers a range of benefits including streamlined border clearance saving time and money, as well as the opportunity to be a part of the conversation about future benefits and trade modernisation.
The new benefits available only to accredited Trusted Traders include:
- Duty deferral: improving cashflow and reducing delays at the border by enabling Trusted Traders who defer GST to be able to defer the payment of some customs duties on goods.
- Origin Advance Ruling: a special advance ruling exclusively for Trusted Traders who import goods under the China‑Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Preliminary estimates by one Trusted Trader in the pilot indicate that they could save up to $1.6 million each year due to reduced payments for the Certificates of Origin and time spent doing the paperwork. The ruling will be applied to multiple tariff classifications and rules of origin criterion.
- Full implementation of the Republic of Korea Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA): improving predictability, certainty, and speed to market for Trusted Traders through an agreement between Korean and Australian customs administrations. Now the MRA has been fully implemented, Trusted Traders will receive priority treatment of goods at the border through expedited clearance, reduced documentation and cargo inspections, and minimised disruption to trade flows.
- Implementation of a unique Trader Identification Number (TIN): making it easier and more effective for Trusted Traders to be recognised by MRA partners—reducing red tape and improving the efficiency of the border clearance process. This requires standardisation of numbers globally and acceptance of the TIN by the systems used by MRA partners.
- An even lighter touch at the border: providing faster border clearance for Trusted Traders in recognition of the lower risk that they present at the border. This will enable the Department and ABF to have a greater focus on areas of greater or unknown risks.
There has also been improvements to the application process, reducing red tape and improving accreditation timeframes with most businesses able to be accredited with access to the benefits within 60 days of applying.
The new benefits and improved application process complement the existing benefits already in place for Trusted Traders, including a dedicated ABF account manager, a ‘seat at the table’—providing an opportunity to help shape the program and the associated benefits, priority trade services, streamlined access to the Temporary Skilled Shortage (TSS) visa, streamlined access to the APEC Business Travel Card, Consolidated Cargo Clearance and fee-free monthly reporting.
Trusted Traders can also benefit from the growing number of MRAs that provide priority treatment at the border—estimated to provide industry with benefits of more than $175 million over the next 10 years. There are now six MRAs in place with New Zealand, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. Preparations for a MRA with the United States of America, Japan and Thailand among other partner countries are underway.
Trusted Traders are recognised worldwide as being Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) compliant—providing a globally recognised mark of trust for their security and trade practices. Trusted Traders have reported that this provides a competitive advantage, attracting new business and opportunities.
To find out more about Australian Trusted Trader or start an application
go to www.abf.gov.au/trustedtrader
TOYOTA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF FORKLIFT SALES IN AUSTRALIA
National forklift distributor Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) has recently celebrated 50 years of Toyota forklift sales in Australia with a series of golden anniversary functions that kicked off in Sydney earlier this year.
Toyota sold its first forklift in Australia in 1968 and now holds almost 40 per cent of the Australian market.
Highlight of the golden anniversary celebrations was a function at the Shangri-La Hotel and Sydney Harbour dinner cruise – attended by senior Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) executives, TMHA management, the consul-general of Japan in Sydney Keizo Takawaka, Toyota Group guests and major fleet customers.
Speakers included TMHA chairman Tom Nakazawa, TICO Senior Managing Officer Toshifumi Onishi and newly appointed TMHA President Steve Takacs, with guest presentations by sleep expert Dr Carmel Harrington, “altruistic marketer” Peter Sharp and McGrath Foundation President Glenn McGrath.
Mr Takacs thanked all TMHA customers and paid tribute to the former Toyota forklift dealers who contributed to the 50th anniversary being realised.
Mr Nakazawa said Australia is an important player globally for TICO, with Toyota Material Handling Australia’s sales holding the number eight position in the world for overall Toyota forklift sales.
“This is an outstanding achievement, considering the smaller population in Australia compared to the many countries it has outranked,” he said.
TMHA now has 17 branches and 750 staff, the majority in product support roles and has flagged continued expansion, including a new branch recently opened in Toowoomba.
Toyota forklifts have come a long way since the first rugged and dependable 5LR models imported into Australia in 1968.
A water-shed moment occurred in 1999 with the launch of the 7-Series forklifts which featured Toyota’s world-first System of Active Stability, a computer-controlled stability device protected by over 300 patents and developed in with technology from Toyota’s automotive division. It was not only ground-breaking technologically, but a true innovation in improving forklift productivity and efficiency, and most importantly enhancing operator safety.
The magnificent 8-Series has built upon the legacy of the Toyota 7-Series and become the leading counter-balance forklift model in Australia.
Toyota’s counter-balance forklift models have been Australia’s number one consecutively since 1987, representing 31 years of undisputed market dominance. To date, more than 50,000 Toyota forklifts have been sold into the Australia market.
The company is continuously adding new products to its portfolio, with the latest additions being industrial sweepers and scrubbers, lift platforms, and more exciting new products to be added later this year.
In terms of the overall material-handling market, TMHA sees continued expansion in the driverless forklift range and automation markets.
Other events to mark the golden anniversary milestone included the Megatrans and Hire 18 exhibitions earlier in the year in Melbourne and Brisbane respectively, and will culminate with a major presence at the National Construction Equipment Convention in Sydney this November.
The August 2018 issue of the SCLAA Newsletter is now available .
For all the latest SCLAA news, events and information , click here…
The SCLAA is proud to announce that Commissioner Mr Michael Outram APM, Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) will be the guest speaker at the 58th Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards (ASCL Awards) Gala Dinner to be held in the Ballroom, Luna Park, Sydney on Friday, 23 November. For information on the ASCL Awards, including Award categories, criteria, submission close and the ASCL Awards Gala dinner, click here.
Michael brings to the ABF over 30 years of law enforcement experience in a diverse range of specialised areas, including community policing, covert operations, criminal intelligence, protective and major event security, public order management, and the investigation of terrorism, transnational organised crime, corruption and other serious crime types.
Michael was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding service in law enforcement. In 2014 he was also awarded a Master of Business & Technology degree by the University of New South Wales and won a university prize for academic achievement. In April 2018, Michael completed the Harvard Kennedy School executive education programme Leadership in Crises: Preparation and Performance, which he attended having won a Sir James Wolfensohn Public Service Scholarship.
For information on the ASCL Awards, including Award categories, criteria, submission close and the ASCL Awards Gala dinner, https://sclaa.com.au/awards/
New SCLAA National Partner – Zinc Consulting (Australia)
The SCLAA welcomes our newest National Partner, Zinc Consulting (Australia). As a not for profit Industry Association, run by members for members, our ability to support the SCLAA infrastructure and to expand is highly dependent on our National Partners. We ask all our members to support our valued National Partners where they can.
Zinc Consulting Overview
Zinc Consulting specializes in real world application of Automation Intelligence for Back Office systems using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI.
We help companies to achieve significant EBIT improvement through a combination of cost reduction plus revenue acceleration outcomes utilising existing IT infrastructure, work processes and databases.
All Robots developed are 100% eligible for Federal Government R&D Grants which Zinc can also provide assistance in securing for the project.
The ability to manage costs whilst increasing sales & revenues is now mandatory if a business today is to remain competitive, which is why Zinc Consulting has specialised in Automation Intelligence as part of your organisations Digital Transformation.
0425 772 100 / 0419 375 834
Gallagher has partnered with the Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) to offer risk management advice and insurance solutions to its members.
SCLAA is Australia’s largest association for supply chain and logistics professionals and practitioners, with more than 3000 members nationwide. Gallagher, meanwhile, is a global broker with a network of 25+ regional and metropolitan branches across Australia, giving a unique perspective on the risks faced by business owners across a broad spectrum of industries.
As well as a wide range of business and personal insurance solutions, Gallagher is offering all SCLAA members a no-obligation insurance review to ensure they have adequate protection for their businesses and livelihoods.
SCLAA Chairman Amanda O’Brien said that the partnership with Gallagher provides a valuable opportunity for members to gain relevant and timely access to insurance advice that is specifically tailored to the challenges they face.
“SCLAA is committed to ensuring we partner with organisations who offer knowledge, expertise and advice to our members,” said Ms O’Brien. “Gallagher’s significant presence across Australia, means our members can expect to benefit from a high level of local expertise on risk management matters, backed up by access to outstanding insurance products to safeguard their businesses.”
Gallagher’s Brendon Kropp, who serves as a dedicated point of contact for SCLAA members, added: “Supply chain and logistics businesses play a pivotal role in the Australian economy, but are also subject to a complex and ever-changing regulatory environment.
“In particular new Chain of Responsibility legislation comes into force in October. This will place a burden of responsibility on all supply chain and logistics professionals to ensure their risk management processes and procedures are watertight and enforced to avoid potentially significant legal penalties.
And of course it’s essential that every business in the sector has the right level of insurance cover for their motor liability and professional risks. We can help ensure that SCLAA members have no gaps in cover and can avoid common pitfalls such as under-insurance, which can be devastating in the event of a major claim.”
SCLAA members can find out about Gallagher’s service offering, or request an insurance review, here.
4/16 Beenleigh Redland Bay Road,
Loganholme, Qld 4129


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The Good The BlackBerry Q10 boasts a superb physical keyboard, the latest BlackBerry OS (version 10.1), smooth performance, and long battery life.
The Bad The BlackBerry Q10’s screen is small. Its camera is average, not exceptional. BlackBerry 10’s learning curve is long and its app selection trails behind those of its competitors.
The Bottom Line The BlackBerry Q10 is a great phone for QWERTY diehards and e-mail addicts, but anyone who doesn't need a physical keyboard should skip it.
The BlackBerry for keyboard diehards
Say hello to the BlackBerry Q10, which offers a larger and more spacious QWERTY keyboard and a fresh infusion of the. It builds on the greatness of past BlackBerry messaging machines, yet blends this with modern smartphone software powerful enough to run multiple apps at once without skipping a beat. It also surfs Web sites like a champ and has a battery that goes the distance. Of course, the BlackBerry ecosystem lacks a wide app selection, but the Q10's hybrid approach should satisfy traditional BlackBerry addicts who crave a practical upgrade.
The Q10 is sold onfor $199.99 (with a two-year contract) and for $99.99 down plus $20 per month (plus service) for 24 months. It will also be coming to AT&T and Sprint soon.
A deep and luscious all-black, the slablike Q10 has an appearance that's all buttoned up and ready for business. If you've used a or even an ancient Curve handset, the BlackBerry Q10 will feel like an old and familiar friend. I know I felt waves of nostalgia flood over me when I scooped the machine up for the first time.
If foldable phones catch on, you can thank an unlikely source
When it comes to creating phones that take new shapes, little-known handset maker ZTE wants to lead the charge.
'Awesome' Nokia phone or home device launching Feb. 25
A tweet teases something "awesome", but it's the official invite that lays on the hints.
All the phone news from CES 2018 in one place
The scandal, the intrigue, the devices and what it all means for the coming year.
Huawei CEO: Lack of US carrier support a big loss for you
Huawei addresses the controversy over a failed deal to have AT&T sell its flagship phone at its CES keynote.
Huawei's superhero in big US push: Wonder Woman's Gal Gadot
The Chinese phonemaker hopes star power will help it break into the US.
BlackBerry phones are surprisingly, amazingly, still a thing
Budget phone maker TCL, which licenses the BlackBerry name, says it plans to release at least two new keyboard phones this year.
Dear tech companies: Please stop shipping unfinished shit (I'm asking nicely this time)
Commentary: Shipping early is still not OK.
The 6 best phones of 2017
From wallet-busters to wallet-friendly.
The BlackBerry curse is alive and well
Chinese phone maker TCL started selling BlackBerrys this year -- and its US market share is sinking. Motorola, on the other hand, is making a comeback.
The all-screen BlackBerry we were promised is here... sort of
The BlackBerry Motion is the first water-resistant BlackBerry, really big, and headed for Canada.
All-touchscreen BlackBerry Motion officially announced
New handset sports a 5.5-inch HD display, 4GB of RAM and a 4,000mAh battery.
All touchscreen BlackBerry Motion unveiled in leak
Perennial leaker Evan Blass shows off the latest BlackBerry phone made by Chinese company TCL.


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Apple is now reported to launch the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display in the second quarter of this year. This means that the company is not expected to announce any new products on March 23, as heavily rumored over the last few weeks.
The DigiTimes report claims that Epistar is the exclusive supplier of mini-LED chips for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with volume shipments expected to start in Q2 2021. Jon Prosser, who had earlier leaked March 23 as a potential date for an Apple event, backed the report and claimed that Apple will be holding an event in April.
The event is in April. 🤦🏼♂
I’ll explain on FPT.
RIP my eyebrows. 🥸
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 17, 2021
Apple was rumored to launch the third-gen. AirPods, AirTags, and new iPad Pro with 5G connectivity this month. However, as days passed by, these rumors were shot down by reliable sources. First, Kuo confirmed that Apple wouldn’t be launching the AirPods 3 until the second half of this year, which another reputed Apple leaker then corroborated.
It was then expected that Apple would be launching the 2021 iPad Pro, AirTags, and iOS 14.5 at an event on March 23. However, if Apple indeed planned on holding an event on March 23, the company should have sent out press invites for it yesterday, but that did not happen as well. Now, this DigiTimes report claims that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is also not ready to ship until the second quarter of 2021.
Ultimately, it looks like Apple won’t be having any major product launches this month. If anything, we could see Apple announce the 2021 iPad Pro and AirTags via a press release sometime next month.
The 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is rumored to feature a mini-LED display, 5G connectivity, and A14X Bionic chipset. It is going to be an incremental upgrade over the 2020 iPad Pro, with major changes coming in terms of performance and connectivity. There’s no word on whether the 11-inch iPad Pro will also get a mini-LED display or not.
Are you looking forward to the release of the new iPad Pro?[Via DigiTimes]


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Lately the next week lists have been coming out earlier, so this post is a day early as well. For the record, the Feb/Mar Tokyopop books are still MIA from our friends at Diamond Comics.
So what do we have? Well, Dark Horse has a new volume of Gantz. Comic readers love Dark Horse Manga, and Gantz is a good reason why, with a story and art that is as close as you can get to Image Comics without actually being it.
And Kodansha Comics! Remember them? They have the 5th volume of Akira out, for those who never bought the Dark Horse release. Yes, it's still just Akira for now. Only 2 more months...
And Seven Seas, much to the surprise of those who got it from Diamond two weeks ago, is sending us the second and final Inukami! omnibus and the first volume of Toradora!, which I reviewed the other day. I understand in a couple of weeks they may have non exclamation-point titles for us as well.
And this isn't on Midtown's list, but it's on my local shop's: Diamond is finally shipping the 12th Evangelion manga, which most bookstores got last month. It continues to grind its way towards the climax at a snail's pace, but we're in the end run now.
Anything appealing to you?


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Keep up to date with the latest news and adventures of Carrs Pasties – from new shops to coverage of the brilliant events we attend.
As we are all more than aware, 2020 has been different. It has been the kind of year that many of us have never known or ever thought we would experience.
Although it has been a hard year, what we have seen is communities coming together, people having socially distant celebrations in the streets, ringing bells on doorsteps to thank our wonderful NHS, foodbanks overflowing with donations and people shopping local more than ever.
2020 threw a lot of curveballs our way, but it also allowed us to add some new services too. We introduced our new online shop where customers can order online for delivery or click & collect – it’s been great and the frozen delivery service helped a lot of people who were isolating in lockdown which we were really happy to be able to do.
After years of searching for the right way to do it, we finally launched our nationwide delivery service too! Our customers have been asking for our pasties to be sent to different parts of the country for years and we have finally found a way to do it. The response was fantastic, and it was brilliant to see people enjoying their small taste of home in so many different areas.
We couldn’t be more grateful to our customers who have supported us throughout this year. In all our 80 years, we’ve never had to close our bakery for longer than a few days so to shut our doors back in March and April was a really difficult decision. But it was one we had to make to keep our staff and customers safe. We knew we needed to come up with a plan if we were going to reopen again, so in some ways, the hibernation period did us a favour. It gave us the chance to make our bakery and three shops COVID-19 secure so that we could return to do what we love, but it also gave us clarity on where we wanted to take the business too. We want to be able to serve families everywhere. Our staff have been brilliant too, they’ve adapted to all the changes we’ve had to implement and worked so hard throughout the year.
So, while 2020 has been a difficult year – we have had some positives too and we are thankful that we can still make pasties for families in Bolton.
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers, thank you for showing your support when we had to close our doors and for welcoming us back when we reopened them again. Thank you for adapting to the changes and for adhering to the measures in place, we appreciate each and every one of you.
We hope 2021 is a better year for all, if all goes to plan we have some very exciting projects coming up!
Thanks again for all your support this year!


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It is with a heavy heart today that we announce that our original downtown Ann Arbor brewpub is closed and will be relocating elsewhere in Ann Arbor. It opened in 1995 as one of the early pioneers in craft beer, and this year marked an incredible 25 years in that same space.
***Note this does not affect our Ypsi and Plymouth locations or our packaged beers. See Below***
Many batches of beer have been brewed in the original brewhouse, but more importantly many pints shared among friends and many new friendships created. However, the businesses realities of operating in this location have changed over the years. They had grown increasingly challenging even pre-COVID-19, and we expect there will be even more challenges on the other side of the shutdown. With the end of our lease in sight we have made the decision to move out of this location.
But with endings come new beginnings and we will be reopening soon in a new location. Ann Arbor is in our DNA and it is important to us to be here. We are evaluating multiple locations now and hope to have more news on that soon. In the meantime we are offering all of the brewpub employees positions at our other locations.
As noted above, closing the Ann Arbor brewpub does not impact our other locations in Ypsilanti or Plymouth. Both continue to be open for curbside and delivery and will open for dine-in service when it is permitted. We continue to brew and package beer for statewide distribution out of our Ypsilanti brewery, so there will not be any impact to availability of your favorite Arbor beers.
We look forward to safely sharing beers with you again soon in Ypsi and Plymouth, and to sharing more news on a new Ann Arbor location soon.
Arbor Brewing Company


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A year after planting an outpost in the city, a Goochland cidery is growing its flagship location.
Courthouse Creek Cider is planning an expansion of its facility at 1581 Maidens Road in Goochland that will more than double the size of its tasting area.
Owners and married couple Liza Fierro-Cioffi and Eric Cioffi started Courthouse Creek on their farm in 2016, only to be forced to temporarily shut down after a 2017 fire destroyed their neighboring family home. After rebuilding and resuming operations, the Cioffis opened a tasting room in The Highpoint at 3300 W. Broad St. in Scott’s Addition.
Now they’re staying busy with the addition of a 1,200-square-foot space that will serve as a new, larger tasting room with seating for 75 people.
“Our (current) tasting room is only 500 square feet; it’s pretty tiny,” Eric Cioffi said. “On these hot summer days, there’s not a lot of seating available inside, so we decided the time has come to expand.”
With county approval for the project in hand, Cioffi said they’re looking to break ground soon, hoping for a late-fall completion. Once the new space is open, Cioffi said the existing tasting room will be used as an event space.
Courthouse Creek also is mulling the addition of a commercial kitchen at the Goochland facility. The cidery currently offers charcuterie and cheese boards to its customers in Goochland, but Cioffi said they’d like to develop a bigger food menu.
“We are toying with the idea of going through the Department of Health and putting in a commercial kitchen. We’re still running numbers on that to see if it’s something that we want to pursue,” Cioffi said. “We’d have to go back to the county and get that approved … but we’re leaning in that direction.”
Courthouse Creek also added beer to its offerings this year. In March, it fired up a one-barrel brewing system to make gluten-free beer at the farm location. It has produced an Irish red ale, honey gose and an IPA, and Cioffi said they’re going to soon start bottling their beer, to be sold at the Goochland location.
“We’ve been pushing out at least three beer options at the farm only, since we can’t bring it downtown because of ABC permitting rules,” Cioffi said. “We’re not with a distributor, but we’ll see. If someone approaches us, we’re certainly open to it.”


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Coin and MasterCard and partnered to bring payments to a wide array of fitness bands, smart watches and other wearable devices.
Atlas Wearables, which designs advanced fitness trackers, Moov, a personal fitness coach on your wrist, and Omate, maker of fashionable smartwatches, are the first set of companies working with MasterCard and Coin to implement payment technology in their products.
This collaboration builds upon the MasterCard announcement in October introducing the ‘Commerce for Every Device’ program.
Coin will provide hardware and software technology that is integrated with the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) and can be embedded into devices to enable manufacturers to quickly and easily implement payment functionality into their consumer products.
Leveraging the MasterCard Digital Enablement Express (Express) program, the addition of Coin’s technology simplifies commercialization and enables participating issuers to expand to a whole new category of devices.
For a complete archive of more than 58,000 articles published since 1995 visit CardWeb.com’s CardFlash® Library.


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SEOUL—South Korea requested from the United States incentives such as tax deductions and infrastructure construction to ease the U.S. investment of Korean firms including leading chipmaker Samsung Electronics, its presidential office said on Friday.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, in Washington for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, told a gathering of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, her South Korean counterpart and CEOs of Qualcomm, Samsung and other executives that both countries can benefit by strengthening supply chain cooperation.
Biden has advocated for support for the U.S. chip industry amid a global chip shortage that has hit automakers and other industries.
He met with executives from major companies including Samsung in April and previously announced plans to invest $50 billion in semiconductor manufacturing and research.
Samsung plans to invest $17 billion for a new plant for chip contract manufacturing in the United States, South Korea’s presidential Blue House added in a statement, confirming plans previously reported.
In February, documents filed with Texas state officials showed that Samsung is considering Austin, Texas, as one of the sites for a new $17 billion chip plant that the South Korean firm said could create 1,800 jobs.
There has been no new public documentation filed on the potential Texas chip plant application since March, the website for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts showed on Friday.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Korean industry ministry agreed on Friday that for continuous chip industry cooperation, policy measures such as incentive support, joint research and development and cooperation on setting standards, and manpower training and exchange are needed, the Blue House said.
Meanwhile, DuPont announced plans to establish an R&D center in South Korea to develop original chip technologies such as photoresist for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, the Blue House said.
By Joyce Lee