text:
AT&T is in active talks to buy DirecTV for around $50 billion, multiple outlets are reporting, with the deal potentially coming in a matter of weeks. The move could have implications for Comcast's purchase of Time Warner, because anti-regulators may want to look at both deals together, the New York Times reports, adding that the AT&T talks actually began in earnest right after the Time Warner deal was announced. "With DirecTV they are getting a national TV presence—they can sell TV with wireless nationwide," one analyst tells Bloomberg.
The exact price is still up in the air; Reuters sources say it's in the "low- to mid-$90 per share" range, while Bloomberg says it could be as high as $100 per share. Also still in the air is the fate of DirecTV CEO Mike White, who isn't expected to step down—but does reportedly plan to retire after 2015. Some industry sources speculate that the entire deal is a feint intended to land the real apple of AT&T's eye, Dish Network. Last week Dish said it could see the logic in merging with its competitor, but said it couldn't outbid AT&T for DirecTV. (Read more AT&T stories.)


text:
: A portion of Sims Park in Coonoor has been cordoned off by the Horticultural Department, after two tourists were gored by a startled gaur at the... ...http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/gaur-attack-portion-of-sims-park-cordoned-off/article9278828.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
Tragedy struck a Chennai couple when they were attacked by a bison in Sim's park on their honeymoon trip to Coonoor in neighbouring Nilgiris... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/newly-wed-woman-injured-in-bison-attack-dies-116102700799_1.html
(Photo: ANI/AFP) The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the matter. New Delhi: The Delhi Police... ...http://www.asianage.com/international/pak-high-commission-staff-held-allegedly-stealing-defence-documents-351
Leveraging on the recall value of the muppets in widely-watched childrens TV show "Galli Galli Sim Sim", a five-year initiative is aiming to reach... ...http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a689243.html
Videocon has launched Ultra50, which the company is calling its flagship smartphone. It has a 5-inch HD display, is powered by 1.3 GHz quad-core... ...http://www.fonearena.com/blog/201428/videocon-ultra50-with-5-inch-display-3gb-ram-fingerprint-sensor-4g-volte-launched-for-rs-8990.html
Capture all Nokia Dual sim Phones...
swisscom sim factory unlock
unlock sunrise switzerland sim with...
att lumia 1020 sim unlock
Vodafone Postpaid Mobility Sim Cards

domain: news


text:
Vodafone will use AI instead of people and close more than 1,000 storesChristian Fernsby ▼ | October 9, 2019
Vodafone will shut 15% of its 7,700 stores in Europe and upgrade some of the remaining outlets, chief executive Nick Read said.
Europe Chief executive Nick Read
Topics: Vodafone store
Customer service offered by Apple and Amazon had changed expectations, and Vodafone hopes to improve its services faster than former incumbent rivals like BT, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica with targeted and personalised marketing, he said.
“If you believe that 40% of your transactions are going to be digital, then how does that impact why someone goes to a store. The journeys and the purpose of the store changes,” Read told reporters at a briefing in Duesseldorf, Germany.
“(That) means that we will have more ‘experience’ stores, less standard format stores (and) more convenience, and kiosk and click-to-collect stores.”
Read said the group would use new technology such as its AI-powered chatbot to help customers buy products and services in just three clicks. ■


text:
AMD has been detailing more and more about its next-gen RDNA 3 GPU architecture, but now leaker "Greymon55" has said when the launch will take place.
The next-gen RDNA 3-based AMD Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs will reportedly be launching in "late October, no later than mid-November" with a nice 'wink' emoji at the end. The leaker quickly followed it up with a tweet, starting with a 'whisper' emoji and then '3rd gen DNA'.
Before AMD unravels and releases its new Radeon RX 7000 series CPUs we'll see the company push out its next-gen Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. The new Zen 4 processors will be on a new AM5 socket, with the upcoming X670E + X670 motherboards packing both next-gen DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 technologies. The new RDNA 3-based GPUs are rumored to be new PCIe 5.0 x16 on the flagship Navi 31-based graphics cards.


text:
Foodpanda, Grab and Deliveroo form association, aim to launch industry code of practice
The Digital Platforms Industry Association will also identify areas of improvement and collaborate with government and industry stakeholders.
SINGAPORE: Food delivery platforms Grab, Foodpanda and Deliveroo on Thursday (Aug 18) jointly launched an association aimed at strengthening the frameworks, guidelines, and policies supporting delivery staff and merchants.
Called the Digital Platforms Industry Association (DPIA), it will identify areas of improvement and collaborate with government and industry stakeholders, the three platforms said in a statement.
“It will create solutions that reflect the voices of its delivery partners and merchants, both of whom are core to platform companies’ operations,” said the statement.
The association intends to launch an industry code of practice to be adopted by its members. The code will incorporate industry best practices and “principles related to the health and safety” of its delivery staff and merchant development, added the companies.
“Globally, the food delivery industry has grown rapidly, rising to a peak in public consciousness during the pandemic. It is today both an essential service and an exciting new economic sector,” said the three companies.
Food and beverage businesses have turned to food delivery to generate additional revenue, while delivery riders have benefitted from flexible earning opportunities. Such trends will continue to drive digitally-centred economies in Singapore and globally, said the statement.
“For platform companies, the well-being of our delivery partners and merchants across the marketplace is paramount. That’s why DPIA was established – to consolidate the deep industry expertise of platforms and shape the development and growth of the industry within Singapore’s national economy,” the companies said.
Apart from tapping on the expertise and experience of each company in the DPIA to support Singapore’s digital economy, the association will also provide upskilling opportunities and strengthen existing health and safety standards for delivery staff and merchants, the statement added.
Since last year, DPIA members have contributed to the consultation process with multiple government stakeholders, the National Delivery Champions Association, and other industry stakeholders.
They are also working with the Workplace Safety and Health Council on guidelines for platforms and employers to boost road safety practices among delivery partners.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, advisor to the National Taxi Association, National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Delivery Champions Association, said the associations welcome the DPIA "joining the conversation on how to secure a better future" for workers.
"With more voices on board, it will add to the diversity of input and help shape our recommendations to better support our workers," she added.
"We recognise that there have been significant shifts in the gig industry, bringing to the surface various issues that need to be addressed. These include better work terms, working conditions and enhanced medical and injury coverage."


text:
Tag - Glacier
Pogoplug is starting up a new cloud backup system using Amazon Web Services for storage. The Family service will use a combination of the Pogoplug device and Amazon Glacier to backup multiple computers and handheld devices to both on-site and off-site storage, with all backups viewable through web browsers.
Amazon has added a new tier to its cloud services. Amazon Glacier is being marketed as cloud-based backup storage for enterprise with considerably lower storage costs than the similar Simple Storage Service, however it lacks the immediate file retrieval found in S3. Instead, a job submission for files must be submitted and can take hours to process, as well as suffer a charge for backup retrieval.
T-Mobile's Project Emerald may be a different device than the HTC Vision but could still be the fastest phone ever, tests show. A new HTC device, the Glacier, was spotted in since-pulled online GLBenchmark results outperforming every existing smartphone in sheer CPU power. With a score of 1,432, the Glacier was over 67 percent faster than a Motorola Droid X and 41 percent faster than an iPhone 4; only the Samsung Vibrant came close.
Now AAPL Stock: 94.19 ( -0.99 )
Apple mandates June 1 app IPv6 support
Apple has set the deadline for IPv6 support for App Store-supplied software. On June 1, apps thast use a custom networking stack and that are submitted to the app store must support IPv6-only networks. The rule, announced last year as coming soon, will only affect a small portion of submitted applications that do not use the NSURLSession and CFNetwork APIs. http://apple.co/24yBTIY
YouTube Unplugged OTT service coming 2017?
As part of the continuing YouTube evolution, the video streaming service is reportedly considering a paid subscription service that would provide users "over the top" cable TV service. According to sources familiar with the matter, the service has been in the works since 2012, has already made changes to accommodate the live video feeds, and could debut the offering as soon as 2017. http://bloom.bg/1rvx8BW
Kohls Apple Pay integration with loyalty program
Kohl's customers are now able to pay for their purchases with Kohl's Charge and simultaneously earn loyalty program Yes2You Rewards in conjunction with Apple Pay. The service is currently available in approximately 250 Kohl's stores and is expected to be in all Kohl's stores nationwide later this month, making Kohl's the first retailer to deliver a one-tap checkout that integrates both its private credit card as a form of payment and a loyalty program with Apple Pay. http://yhoo.it/21wEUI6
AirMap iOS app for drone operators
Provider of airspace information and services for unmanned aircraft AirMap announced today the release of the AirMap app for iOS and Apple Watch. Operators can now access low-altitude airspace advisories, create flights, file digital flight notices to over 80 airports, and manage unmanned aircraft. Building on the success of AirMap's Digital Notice and Awareness System (D-NAS), the AirMap app brings to iOS devices a fully integrated airspace management solution for recreational and commercial drone operators. The app is free. http://apple.co/21wCadD
BlackBerry video calling available on iOS
BlackBerry has made its video calling feature available to Android and iOS users. The company reports limited availability of the new cross-platform feature for now, citing "because this is the first time we're launching BBM Video calling, and we want to monitor performance, gather feedback, and iron out any kinks that may arise before we roll it out globally." http://blck.by/1ruu4pC
Apple loses iPhone brand exclusivity in China
Apple has lost its exclusive rights to the 'iPhone' brand in China, the Beijing Municipal High People's Court has ruled. According to Quartz, Chinese company Xintong Tiandi is now free to continue selling its non-smartphone "IPHONE" branded products, which include smartphone cases, among other leather goods. The Chinese court ruled that Xintong Tiandi, which registered the "IPHONE" trademark in 2007, could continue to use the trademark because Apple did not start selling the iPhone in China until 2009. Apple also could not prove that Xintong Tiandi's ongoing use of the trademark would cause Apple material harm. The latest ruling by the Chinese government follows its recent decision to shut down the iTunes Movies and iBooks Store. http://bit.ly/1SNhRmB
Bowers & Wilkins bought by EVA Automation
High-end UK audio equipment maker and fixture in Apple retail stores Bowers & Wilkins has been bought out by a California "smart home" tech firm, EVA Automation. Fomer Bowers & Wilkins owner Joe Atkins will continue as CEO of the joint venture, with EVA Automation founder Gordon Yu acting as executive chairman. The two companies said the merger will combine EVA's AV technologies and Bowers & Wilkins' acoustic engineering talents to grow the now-combined firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and it is expected that the Bowers & Wilkins brand name will continue. http://yhoo.it/1SLt6zj


text:
Redmi K40 series price, livestream details
The Redmi K40 series can be launched at an initial price of CNY 2,999. This price in Indian rupees is 33,600 rupees. Earlier on March 2020 last year, Redmi K30 Pro was also launched at the same starting price. The company will also do livestreaming of this event. The Redmi K40 Series launch event will begin at 7:30 pm CST. This time is 5pm according to Indian time. Apart from this, you will also be able to watch the event live on the Mi.com website. On Gadgets 360 Hindi also you will get all the information related to this launch event.
Redmi K40 series specifications
Both Redmi K40 series phones Redmi K40 and Redmi K40 Pro have a 6.81 inch display with a resolution of 1,440×3,200 pixels. This phone can come with a hole-punch cutout for selfie camera. The new teaser for photography is different from the old leaks. In the old leaks, it was said that both these phones will be equipped with quad rear camera setup, but triple rear camera setup can be seen in 40 variants of the latest Redmi. Apart from this, Redmi’s 40 phones can be equipped with 4,500 mAh battery and Redmi’s 40 Pro phone with 5,000 mAh battery. According to the leaked report, the Redmi K40 Pro smartphone will be given Snapdragon 888 processor, while the Vanilla Redmi K40 phone will be equipped with Snapdragon 870 processor.
Download the Gadgets 360 Android app for the latest tech news, smartphone reviews and exclusive offers on popular mobiles and follow us on Google News.


text:
REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR: A STORY ABOUT REDEMPTION AND SALVATION
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Mon, Apr 25, 2011
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
Since its release, Chris Paine’s “Who Killed the Electric Car” has worn heavy around the shoulders of General Motors and in particular, former GM Vice Chairperson Bob Lutz. GM received a lot of heat for destroying its entire fleet of EV1 electric vehicles. The movie is credited in part for galvanizing both Lutz and GM to green light the Volt project, the company’s “extended range electric car.” Five years later, Chris Paine has a new movie, “Revenge of the Electric Car.” Both GM and Lutz achieve redemption in this sequel—and the electric car achieves salvation. The film focuses on four main characters: Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman at GM; Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors; Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan; and Greg “Gadget” Abbott, an auto enthusiast who independently converts gas cars into electric vehicles. For two years, the film crew followed these individuals and the stories of the electric cars they have been struggling to create and bring to market, including the Chevy Volt, the Nissan LEAF and the Tesla Roadster and Model S.
“Revenge of the Electric Car” is the new feature documentary film about electric cars by Chris Paine, director of the 2006 film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Released on Earth Day, April 22, 2011, “Revenge of the Electric Car” tells a new story of the global resurgence of electric vehicles and takes audiences behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors: documenting the high-stakes race to be the first to bring electric vehicles to the masses. The film is not a sequel to “Who Killed the Electric Car?” but rather follows a new chapter in the history of electric cars with all new characters, cars, and stories. The film’s production company, WestMidWest Productions, is self-distributing the film instead of relying on a larger studio for the release: a new trend in films released outside of the traditional studio system. “We want to create a link with the film’s fans and connect to them directly,” says Executive Producer Stefano Durdic, “a Facebook promotion like this and other efforts online are part of a new era of promoting films independently, and we’re excited to be a part of this new generation of filmmakers who are taking control of more aspects of a film’s distribution.”
WestMidWest Productions is a Chicago-based film production company, producing “Revenge of the Electric Car” and distributing the film. For more information about the film, go to www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com


text:
While dual sim seems to get the maximum weightage when it comes to a must have feature in smartphones in India, a lot of vendors have been launching phones with projector capabilities off late with lot of local vendors including Intex, Techberry and Spice already having projector phones. Even Samsung is present in the space with its Samsung Galaxy Beam
iBall which has been trying to establish its foothold in the ever competitive smartphone market has officially launched its own projector phone named iBall Andi 4a.
iBall Andi 4a Specifications
With a 35 Lumens projection capability, iBall Andi 4a definitely trumps the Samsung Galaxy Beat which has a 15 lumens projection which suggests that the projection quality from iBall Andi 4a should be much more brighter and clear.
iBall Andi 4a also features a powerful Dual Core 1Ghz cortex A9 processor and a 8MP camera. The phone will run Android Jelly Bean 4.1. A 32GB expanded memory support should make it a breeze to leverage the projector capabilities of the phone and use it as a family entertainment device.
Will A High Price Deter Customers
With a price tag of Rs 18,999, iBall Andi 4a despite its top notch projection capabilities and strong specifications especially when other projector phones such as the Intex V.Show Mini and Spice Popkorn are priced closer to the Rs 6000-7000 range. However, if you are really keen Flipkart is offering the phone for Rs. 17,990
The company is also shipping a free tripod with iBall Andi 4a to allow customers to instantly get the projector experience from the phone.
The question to ask is whether launching a projector phone can help iBall push its mobile sales in India and operate in the space dominated by the likes of Micromax and Karbonn. On the other hand, given the professional benefits of a phone that can double as a projector, if the phone is really good it might help iBall get some brand recognition in the mobile phone segment.


text:
U.S. Cold Storage opened a 215,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in June 2008 in the new Humboldt North Industrial Park.
Last October, the company opened a 145,000-square-foot expansion to the plant that is creating 65 new jobs.
The new section has a special feature - LED (light-emitting diode) lighting that is saving the company $8,752.60 a day.
Mike Lynch, vice president for engineering for U.S. Cold Storage, said the new lights are much cheaper to operate and last longer.
"We have 484-watt, metal halide fixtures in the original part of the building," Lynch said. "In the new section, we have 162-watt LED fixtures. The metal halide fixtures cost us $92.60 each per day to light. The new fixtures cost us $10.80 per fixture, per day."
Using the LED fixtures is a no-brainer for many reasons, Lynch said.
"Using the metal halide lights means we have to not only provide the energy to light the light, but also to cool the heat it creates," he said. "About 95 percent of our facility maintains a temperature of minus-20 degrees. The big benefit with the LED fixtures is that the amount of heat it generates the amount we have to remove - is much less. And the bulbs last much longer. We got two to three years out of a conventional bulb. We believe we will get eight to 10 years out of an LED bulb."
Ryan Horvath, plant manager, said the new lights are managed by an intelligent computer system that is equipped to go on automatically when someone is working in that section of the warehouse.
"We have LED motion sensors connected to the lights," Horvath said. "When you enter an aisle, the lights go on. When you leave an aisle, they go out."
Lynch also said U.S. Cold Storage obtained $45,000 in rebates from PPL for using the LED lights.
They have been such a success that Lynch said the firm plans to replace the lights in the rest of the facility "by the end of the third quarter" this year.
Both men said Brian Hansbury, director of grants and loans for CAN DO Inc., helped the firm with the expansion after one of CAN DO's outreach visits, which the organization makes to all the plants in its industrial parks on a regular basis.
Hansbury said he introduced U.S. Cold Storage officials to the Governor's Action Team, and helped the firm obtain tax credits along with a grant for job creation and one for stormwater work along Scotch Pine Drive.
The expansion is increasing the plant's total workforce to 83. The company is taking applications for the new jobs, all of which have not yet been filled.
Lynch said the size of the expansion is "typical for our company." He also said there is an opportunity for another 250,000-square-foot expansion on the 33-acre parcel where the facility sits. The facility also has rail access, although it is not being used at present.
Horvath described the facility's mission.
"We are a third-party storage and distribution facility for food," he said. "We store and ship ice cream and other foods for a variety of companies, including Red Lobster and Olive Garden, as well as some local businesses."
Horvath said the facility has done very well since it opened.
"The logistics have worked out very well," he said, noting its location is near both interstates 80 and 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension (I-476).
U.S. Cold Storage is headquartered in Voorhees, N.J., and has similar facilities in a dozen states. The parent company is Swire, which has facilities in a half-dozen foreign countries, including Australia and China.
LED or fluorescent?
While LED lights provide more light and cost a lot less to use, the fixtures for fluorescent lighting cost a lot less.
But the future of commercial and industrial lighting is in LED, according to an expert.
Chris Covell, of SmartWatt - a firm that does energy audits for commercial and industrial customers - said LED lighting is improving at the quickest rate.
"It will surpass T-8 as the predominant lighting. T-8 and T-5 are fluorescent, and are the cheapest. But LED is the newest," he said.
When Simona America, which manufactures and distributes thermoplastic products from its Hazleton facility, completed an upgrade of all interior lights, they used T-5 and T-8 fluorescent lighting.
Simona President Ron Denoo said the light fixtures were cheaper.
"The up-front costs for LED lighting is quite a bit more expensive," Denoo said. "We are very happy with the results."
Bob Szumilo, project engineer/process engineer at EAM Mosca Corp. in the Valmont Industrial Park, said the facility - which manufactures shipping strapping and the equipment to produce it - said in a cost-saving move, the facility was recently converted to T-8 lighting, including motion sensors to turn off lights in unoccupied places.
Szumilo also said LED lights go on almost instantly, while fluorescent lights take a few seconds to "warm up."
Denoo said the new high-efficiency lights at the 180,000-square-foot Simona facility have slashed the energy requirement for lighting by 60 percent versus the previous light fixtures, and will reduce the amount of energy required by 601,514 kilowatt-hours per year.
The lighting retrofit is equivalent to an annual reduction of 902,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or removing 62 cars from the road.
In addition to the state-of-the-art lights, motion sensors were installed in several areas of Simona's plant and office to further reduce energy demands.
"This project is in perfect alignment with Simona' s culture and long history of environmental awareness," Denoo said. "Sustainability in our production methods is one of our strategic initiatives."
Denoo noted that the project was beneficial for the company's processes as well, as the whiteness of the light makes it easier to assess product quality.
Simona officials undertook the project with the help and advice of CAN DO, the area's industrial and economic development group, which has established the CAN DO Energy Solutions program to help industries reduce energy consumption and costs through the use of a pre-screened provider network and to help companies finance their energy efficiency projects through federal, state and private funding sources.
Simona officials learned more about CAN DO Energy Solutions during a seminar, then worked with one of the program's certified providers, H.T. Lyons of Allentown, which hired GreenTech Energy Services of Maple Shade, N.J., to complete the project.
"The seminar provided an excellent starting point for Simona as we began considering energy-efficiency projects for our facility," Denoo said.
"Since energy is an area where small and mid-sized companies can benefit from assistance, CAN DO Energy Solutions is a very valuable program to industries in Greater Hazleton. Knowing that all providers in the program had already been vetted streamlined the process for us and gave us confidence going forward."


text:
Originally slated for release in late 2016, the Xbox One exclusive Scalebound by Platinum Games has been pushed back to 2017.
An update on the game was released on Platinum Game’s website:
“In order to deliver on our ambitious vision and ensure that Scalebound lives up to expectations, we will be launching the game in 2017. This will give us the time needed to bring to life all the innovative features and thrilling gameplay experiences that we have planned.”
The game was officially announced at E3 2014 and first gameplay footage was shown at Gamescom 2015. You can read the full announcement here.


text:
Auto sales in China, the world's second largest car market, soared in the first nine months of the year to 4.58 million units, a 24% increase from a year ago, state media reported Oct. 15.
Sales of passenger vehicles in September rose 17% from the previous month to 561,000 units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Meanwhile, sales of sedan cars leaped 26% to 3.44 million units for the January to September period while sports utility vehicles rose 52% to 251,700 and multi-purpose vehicles were up 21% to 165,300 units.
Volkswagen's China joint venture -- FAW Volkswagen -- was the top seller, selling 684,786 units, the report said. Shanghai Volkswagen, the firms other venture with SAIC, was behind with US's General Motors ranking third. Fast-growing domestic automobile company Chery took fourth spot.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007


text:
While Amazon continues to rake in billions each quarter, the company also continues to miss analyst expectations, as shown by Thursday’s Q3 financial earnings report.
Amazon reported more than $110 billion in revenue, up 15% from the same period last year. However, that falls just short of analyst estimates of nearly $112 billion. CFO Brian Osofsky says that while Amazon’s operations are normally well-staffed and optimized, “labor shortages and supply chain disruptions upset this balance and resulted in additional costs to ensure that we continue to maintain our service levels to customers.”
Additionally, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expects this to continue into Q4 with “several billion dollars of additional costs” incurred from labor shortages, increased wage costs, and higher costs of shipping and freight. However, he notes that Amazon is doing what it can to minimize the impact on customers. “It’ll be expensive for us in the short term, but it’s the right prioritization for our customers and partners,” he says in a press statement.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.


text:
Last week, we brought you the news about the BlackBerry Rio Z20 becoming the new BlackBerry Leap, and even though at the time it was just a rumor, it seems we were spot on. The BlackBerry Leap was introduced to the public today at the Canadian company’s press conference, and the all-touch phone is rather impressive, although it’s not what we’re excited about. If you read our BlackBerry Leap news last week, you might remember me saying something about a hidden keyboard smartphone that I was expecting to see at the MWC 2015. Well, it seems BlackBerry agreed with me on the need for such a smartphone, and has unveiled the new BlackBerry Slider, which is exactly the phone I’ve been talking about, even though I had no idea I was right about it. Neat, huh? I’m very excited about this, how about you?
Let’s get the BlackBerry Leap out of the way first, as we were fairly sure about that phone coming to the MWC 2015. We expected a mid-range all-touch smartphone from John Chen and co, and that’s exactly what we got, maybe even a bit better. BlackBerry is targeting those who are just planning on entering the smartphone world with the Leap, and didn’t even say too much about the phone at their conference in Barcelona. Their exhibit and showed focused more on enterprise and software solutions that the company is planning to implement in the future, and with good reason. BlackBerry seems to have much more pull in the smartphone and mobile security industry than in the smartphone industry itself. Nonetheless, we’re glad to see that new non-conventional phones are on their way from the Canadian company.
BlackBerry Leap specs include a 5 inch display which has a pretty neat resolution of 1280*720, which adds up to 293 ppi pixel density. The ideal ppi pixel density for the average human eye is above 350 ppi, but the Leap actually looks rather nice, even though it’s below that threshold. The company slapped an 8 MP camera on the rear, which canr ecord 1080p video. The front camera is a standard 2 MP sensor which can also record 720p video if needed. Under the hood, the BlackBerry Leap comes with a Qualcomm Snapdraon S4 Plus processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, and honestly, it’s a rather outdated CPU to put on a current generation phone. Alas, it’s a mid-ranger targeted at young people, according to the speakers at the MWC 2015, so we’ll let that slide this time. When it comes to memory, the Leap gets 2 GB RAM to work with and 16 GB internal storage, which can be expanded to 128 GB with the aide of a microSD card.
The BlackBerry Leap benefits from a 2800 mAh battery unit, which should make for decent usage, but sadly, it’s not user replaceable. It seems new smartphones are gradually abandoning this trend, even though there are many users out there who would rather switch out their batteries whenever they are depleted. Alas, there’s nothing we can do about it, even though there’s tremendous demand. Moving on, the BlackBerry Leap runs on BlackBerry 10 OS, completely equipped with all you need, including BlackBerry Blend and BlackBerry Link. Moreover, the mid-ranger is equipped with LTE. Luckily, the company decided that it would be nice to reveal all that could be necessary about the Leap. That includes pricing. The BlackBerry Leap price is set at around $280, unlocked, which is an acceptable price for a mid-ranger. We would have advised for an even lower price-point for the Leap, because it’s definitely not that special and the mid-range smartphone market is even more competitive than the flagship market, especially when we’re talking about BlackBerry.
On to the star of the show! We have little information about the BlackBerry Slider, aside from a few demo units we’ve seen on the MWC 2015 floor. But those were enough for us to determine that the BlackBerry Slider is a behemoth of innovation, honestly. As Samsung launched the Galaxy S6 Edge, John Chen is going to counter with the Slider, which has similar dual-edge curved displays, but with the added benefit of a slide-out physical keyboard. That simply makes the BlackBerry Slider one of a kind, and one of the most practical smartphones I’ve ever laid eyes on. To be fair, I’m easily impressed with technology, but hey, who wouldn’t be?
The Slider wasn’t really up for grabs, as BlackBerry still hasn’t finished working on the device, but our insiders tell us that the company will be ready to launch the BlackBerry Slider by the end of April. Take that with a grain of salt, though, because we don’t have confirmation from the company on that. It’s a truly remarkable device and I honestly BlackBerry pairs it with neat, sleek software that will take advantage of both the curved edge displays and the sliding keyboard. As I wasn’t impressed by the HTC One M9, Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge, I didn’t expect to feel awed by what BlackBerry unveiled today. This might just be my next phone. I hope it will be priced decently, below $800 unlocked, at least. I would definitely prefer a price as close to $500 as possible, but come on, the BlackBerry Slider price should reflect the innovation and the premium design, not to mention the many uses we might have for this tech. That being said, I’m saving up, that’s for sure. BlackBerry, here I come!


text:
RIM Claims It Can't Find an LTE Chipset, Delays BB10 Half a Year
December 16, 2011 11:22 AM
Massive delay does not sit well amid falling earnings
Waterloo, Ontario-based Research in Motion, Ltd. (
) tried to put on its most cheerful face reporting its fiscal Quarter 3 2012 earnings (calendar quarter 4 2011). The numbers weren't great, but they weren't worse than expected either, living up to analysts' somewhat grim predictions.
I. RIM Can't Find an LTE Chipset to Save Its Life
The biggest story was not the earnings itself, but the earnings call in which RIM announced its BlackBerry 10 OS would be delayed half a year.
Canadian brokerage firm National Bank Financial, "RIM confirmed the BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be delayed until the latter part of calendar 2012. This could be game over for the BlackBerry franchise."
Nomura analyst Stuart Jeffrey in a research note to investors concurred that this could be the end for RIM or at least was a huge hit. He writes, "We see a high risk that this is too late to turn around RIM's position and believe the risk of further delays is meaningful. Even in the best case, however, it seems unlikely RIM will have large volumes of its BB10 devices on sale within 15 months."
BBX -- or should we say "BlackBerry 10" -- has been delayed half a year.
RIM's co-CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, defend the decision to push the future of the company, well... into the future. They said that RIM would "bounce back" from "some of the most difficult times in the history of this company".
In the conference call Mr. Lazaridis blamed the delay partially on RIM's inability to find an LTE capable chipset, a somewhat astounding excuse given the volume of LTE chipsets. He
As I said on the last earnings call, we are focused on delivering a high quality, fully featured user experience when these products are launched. This means having a well-developed ecosystem of publications and services both in the hardware specifications, industrial design, and application features that will meet the expectations of consumers in the competitive US market. To achieve this goal, we need a highly integrated dual core LTE platform. The processor we selected offers industry-leading power and efficiency, and also allows us to deliver the industrial design that we believe is critical to the success in this market segment.
This chipset will not be available until mid-2012
, and as a result of this and certain other factors, we now expect our first BlackBerry 10 smartphones to reach markets in the latter part of calendar 2012.
For their failure the pair of co-CEOs have agreed to take pay cuts down to a $1 USD/year salary, effectively immediately.
II. "I find your lack of confidence disturbing"
Investors' patience with the pair is waning. Several high profile investors have put together plans advising the company to revamp its bizarre management structure. They also suggests
exploring the option of a sale
RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie may be all laughs and grins, but his company's increasingly abysmal U.S. sales outlook has given investors little to crack a smile about. [Image Source:
To recap the latest developments:
a major service outage
, leaving customers without messaging.
free premium apps as apology
unveils its great OS hope
, "BBX", a new smartphone OS based on QNX.
News arrives that
RIM has been sued
for scooping the name from an American software company's trademarked and active product.
security is breached
allow jailbreaks, and raising concerns about BBX
it will miss its Q3 2012 revenue outlook
due to poor QNX (PlayBook) tablet sales.
More flaws in QNX's security are revealed,
RIM's feeble patching attempt.
RIM is barred from using the trademarked "BBX", is forced to rename operating system to "BlackBerry 10".
The NPD Group reports that RIM is fading fast in sales and only has an
8 percent market share
in the U.S., down from its peak of almost 50 percent.
It's hard not to be skeptical of RIM's future given its increasing abysmal string of misfires and embarassments in the last three months.
All this seems very ironic given Mike Lazardis's 2009
-- "Sometimes we have to put the brakes on. We've shown that we can handle annual 100% growth. I'm not sure we could handle more than that."
It's certainly done a remarkable job putting the brakes on its growth, that can be said for it.
III. The Financials
Now back to the financials themselves.
For the revenue RIM cheerfully highlights, "Revenue of $5.2 billion, up 24% from last quarter."
That $5.223B USD (GAAP adjusted) is a far cry from RIM's original outlook of $5.3B-$5.6B, which it was forced to adjust downwards just weeks ago, in an effort to soften the blow. It's also down 4.95% from the company's
$5.495B USD in fiscal Q3 2011, a year ago.
Why compare to fiscal Q2 2012 only, when Q3 revenue has always been higher than Q2 revenue for RIM? Such quarter-to-quarter comparison are not unusual, but companies typically put both the quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year numbers in the highlight, if they differer substantially.
RIM reports a "GAAP net income of $265 million or $0.51 per share diluted; adjusted net income of $667 million or $1.27 per share diluted."
This is down from a net revenue of $877M USD ($1.67 USD/share) in Q3 2011, a plunge in profits of 22.7 percent.
About the only hopeful numbers for RIM come in its subscribe counts, which rose 35 percent on a year to year basis, hitting "almost 75 million", with 14.1 million BlackBerry smartphones sold in Q3 2012. But that optimism is tempered by the fact that the global smartphone market is growing is
to have grown 55-57 percent in 2011.
In other words, the comprehensive picture from the earnings report is that RIM may be growing its subscribers, but it's falling behind its competitors in growth and is seeing its profitability plunge.
[Image Source: LihPao]
Perhaps most telling is the fact that RIM has only $1.5B USD in cash on hand. That means that just one or two quarters in the red could sink the veteran firm. For that reason, it's hard not to agree with the analysts at the NBF -- this could be "game over" for RIM.
“We do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone.” -- Steve Jobs
Four Out of Five U.S. Smartphones Sold Run Android or iOS
December 14, 2011, 4:02 PM
RIM's Attempt to Block "Dingleberry" Jailbreak on PlayBook Fails
December 7, 2011, 10:38 AM
RIM to Miss Financial Targets Again, Weak PlayBook Sales to Blame
December 2, 2011, 8:58 AM
Hackers Find Crack in RIM's Security Armor, BlackBerry PlayBook Gets Rooted
November 30, 2011, 3:50 PM
Uh Oh -- RIM May Have to Change BBX Name Due to Trademark Issues
October 21, 2011, 10:30 AM
Xiaomi Mi 6 - Flash Sale on April 28 in China
April 26, 2017, 7:45 AM
Apple Watch NikeLab Limited Edition unveiled.
April 22, 2017, 6:20 AM
What is the Apple’s iPhone 8 specifications and release date?
April 14, 2017, 5:43 AM
Xiaomi Mi Pad 3 tablet with Hexa –Core SoC, Android Marshmallow
April 6, 2017, 6:40 AM
Vivo launches V5 Plus IPL edition smartphone
April 4, 2017, 11:10 AM
Samsung S8 and S8 Plus: On Sale April 21 at Major Wireless Dealers
March 30, 2017, 7:35 AM
Most Popular Articles
Surface Pro 5 Rumors - New Release Date and Price
April 22, 2017, 6:45 AM
Apple Watch NikeLab Limited Edition unveiled.
April 22, 2017, 6:20 AM
Motorola Moto G5 Pus – Well Worth Considering Over the Others
April 25, 2017, 7:06 AM
SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GD5 – Great Value for the Money
April 20, 2017, 7:47 AM
Meet the Smartphone with four cameras - Alcatel Flashphone
April 5, 2017, 11:20 AM
Latest Blog Posts
Galaxy Note 8 – Available Second Half 2017
Apr 28, 2017, 7:30 AM
Google Android App – Huge improvement on Nighttime Photography
Apr 27, 2017, 7:40 AM
Google Co-Founder, Sergey Brin has an Airship
Apr 26, 2017, 6:43 AM
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus – Lots of Glass that Breaks Easily
Apr 25, 2017, 7:20 AM
Samsung Galaxy S8 – Warning for Pet Owners
Apr 24, 2017, 5:59 AM
Sound Bars and the Costs?
Apr 23, 2017, 6:30 AM
Link your Brain to Your Computer – In Four Years…Maybe
Apr 22, 2017, 7:03 AM
Google Home can now identify users by their voice.
Apr 21, 2017, 7:15 AM
Amazon Lex – Now Available for Developers.
Apr 20, 2017, 6:58 AM
You can now use Instagram offline on your Android Smartphone
Apr 19, 2017, 8:00 AM
Now you can livestream to YouTube from your mobile device.
Apr 18, 2017, 8:05 AM
Google Home – Is It a Spy Device?
Apr 17, 2017, 7:30 AM
Apple added to self –driving test permit list
Apr 15, 2017, 6:21 AM
Project Scorpio – Coming on June 11
Apr 14, 2017, 6:20 AM
Looks Like Samsung Has Been Forgiven.
Apr 13, 2017, 6:50 AM
United Airlines - Blasted on China’s Social Network and the Stock Market
Apr 12, 2017, 6:50 AM
Amazon's Third-Party Sellers Hacked
Apr 11, 2017, 6:25 AM
Microsoft Surface Pro5 Details Revealed
Apr 9, 2017, 6:41 AM
Own An Android Phone? Then you could be hacked over Wi-FI
Apr 7, 2017, 6:47 AM
Apple confirms iOS 10.3 bug and its effect on iCloud Services
Apr 6, 2017, 6:30 AM
Apple Rolls Out New Version of Apple Music
Apr 5, 2017, 10:35 AM
Apple in the News
Apr 4, 2017, 9:03 AM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2017 DailyTech LLC. -
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information


text:
The Ahlers Group— a privately owned Belgium-headquartered company— is into freight forwarding by ocean and air, has a presence in more than 15 countries, including India and employs 800 people worldwide. With a global annual turnover of over 205 million euros, Ahlers India contributed around 9 per cent to total company revenues.
Although the Ahlers Group started its operations in India 13 years ago, as a traditional forwarding and agency business, its roots in trade to India go back more than 100 years. Today, it provides sophisticated supply chain solutions and special expertise in project cargo worldwide. Ahlers India employs more than 100 professionals over seven strategic locations in India and has bagged the Freight Forwarder of the Year in 2012 and in 2014, by the South East CEO Conclave & Awards.
Jitendra Srivastava, CEO and Managing Director, Ahlers India, is proud of his company’s progress and achievements. “Over the years, we have helped Indian shippers become successful by serving difficult markets ranging from Russia to Africa. Today, we are implementing the digital shift into intelligent supply chain services, which will benefit shippers with extensive usage of data analytics and IT platforms. We are recognised as a specialised solution provider for projects and heavy shipments.”
While India is a promising and stable market for Ahlers India, the logistics industry in the country is reeling, following the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), which has especially hit this internationally operating service centred industry. But Ahlers India remains positive about GST. “Yes indeed, the market is rapidly evolving. The implementation of GST in India is a positive signal and we expect a new redesigned and redefined logistics model to emerge. Smart logistics will play an important role as the service efficiency and logistics cost optimisation to customers will come from infrastructure, technology and innovative solutions from service providers.
More such moves and initiatives from the government will help us in our investment plans in India as we are keen to introduce new ideas and solutions with new technology in the Indian market,” he added. The company has already introduced some innovative products into India. Informs Srivastava, “We are working on various innovative products and solutions developed within the group worldwide. This includes our IT platform for easy tracking of shipments via data analytics capacities to devices acting as sensors on goods, which require specific safety or security measures. We are committed to increase our presence in India.”However, the company has faced some logistic challenges in India, especially around low usage of information technology, inadequate integration of transport networks and limited warehousing and distribution facilities, while dealing with government regulatory bodies has often been an uphill task.
Srivastava elaborates, “Besides infrastructure and technology, government regulations which is sometimes different at the state level, continue to create complications in offering a world standard one-India service. Even scarcity of skilled manpower within the industry at strategic levels specially into IT, data analytics, warehousing, project handling etc. is a challenge although new talent is joining the industry through campus recruitment programs.
A single window clearance system for new proposals and investments can certainly favour business expansion plans in India while ease of business in dealing with regulatory bodies in India can certainly aid fast decision making,” Srivastava suggests.


text:
Whenever there’s a boom in any business sector, it is always expected that there would be an increase in the availability of jobs. This is what is seen presently in the Indian iGaming Industry. As the iGaming market increases, more gaming companies are investing and trying to reach Indian players. This has opened more employment opportunities for people in India.
The growth of the iGaming Market
The online gambling market in Indian is increasing yearly in India. Several millions of Indians are already playing at online casinos and many more are joining daily. Four major factors have driven this growth. The first is access to reliable internet in India. In fact, Internet users in India are expected to rise by 40% by 2023. A number that is resutlet by faster internet. With the availability of good internet services, Indians can easily visit these online casinos and even get downloadable formats.
Another factor contributing to this massive growth is the availability of affordable smartphones. A larger percentage of new gamers are doing so with their mobile devices. Many online casinos also have their websites optimized for mobile browsers. Players can easily sign up at the casinos and play games with their browsers. Some casinos even offer downloadable apps for iPhones and Androids. With the apps readily available on smartphones, Indians are playing games on the go.
The two other factors driving the growth of the iGaming market are the availability of mobile payment methods and access to online casinos made for Indians. You will find many casinos specially developed to meet the needs of Indian players. Some of these casinos accept payment in Rupees and some are even making their live games available in Indian languages. This is making it easier to play and attracting more Indian players to online casinos. Coupled with the fact that there are easy payment methods on these online casinos, there’s nothing stopping Indians from gaming.
Most available jobs are outside India
While the online gambling market in India is flourishing, most of the jobs are located outside India. Many of them are located in Malta where these online casinos are operated from. These companies are calling for Indians to join them as they need more content for players in India.
They are also in demand for staff to help them maintain and increase their growth in the country. Many new games are being developed to suit Indian players and culture. With more Indian-themed games, they are most likely to attract many more Indian players and keep them interested.
For example, Indian card games are being developed by many game developers around the world. Some of these developers are located in Malta. These companies are putting efforts to make the games available in Indian local flavor. For this reason, they need Indians to be part of their team and calling for Indians to join them in Malta and other locations. However, as the demand of Indian staff increases, many more jobs will also be available in India.
Indians are already being recruited by iGaming Casinos
There are Indians who are already working at some iGaming studios and more companies are recruiting people. Evolution Gaming, a leading live casino game developer is calling for Hindi speakers to join their team.
The gaming company demands Indians with fluent knowledge and understanding of Hindi. They require these Hindi speakers to help host a variety of live casino games targeted to Indian players. They are offering attractive pay and extra benefits for candidates who qualify for the job.
Recently launched under the company’s service were three Bollywood-themed games. These consist of two blackjack games and one roulette game. However, the company is not stopping its effort in reaching more Indian players. They are doing all they can to maintain their growth in the Indian online gambling market.
More Casino Gaming Studios are coming to Indians Hub
Thousands of gaming job opportunities have been open this year alone to Indians. Gaming companies like Moonfrog Labs and other big names are hiring in India. These companies are offering salaries of between Rs 3 lakh to a little more than Rs 40 lakh. Some gaming startups are also employing workers. Very soon, many casino gaming studios will be open in places like Bangalore and Pune. The presence of these casino gaming studios in India will further boost the growth of the online gambling market in the country.


text:
NEWBURY, UK - Vodafone agreed Friday to sell its struggling Japanese cellphone business to local internet and telecoms group Softbank. The agreed price is ¥1.8 trillion ($15.53bn; €12.73bn; £8.84bn) - one of the largest acquisitions ever seen in Japan.
Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin hailed the price as "attractive".
The unit has been losing customers in the face of fierce competition from domestic operators such as NTT DoCoMo and KDDI. The deal is expected to be completed early next year.


text:
The week’s news included; EU to ban eco-claims in ads without evidence, Uniqlo sues Shein for copying “Mary Poppins” bag, Justice Sec to reverse “effects” of Supreme Court litigation funding ruling.
Below are our top 10 stories that you need to know about. Be sure to check our twitter page, Facebook page and Instagram Page, for regular posts of important headlines. Get all the important stories and insights straight into your inbox by subscribing to our mailing list here.
Opinion articles of the week:
- BBC News – AI to hit 40% of jobs and worsen inequality, IMF says
- ESportsinsider – What makes a video game an esport?
- City A.M – The top three threats facing companies in 2024 – and how to prepare
- BBC News – How AI is helping to prevent three buses turning up at once
1. EU CLAMPING DOWN ON GREENWASHING
The EU is clamping down on advertisers making eco-friendly claims. A new directive will require companies that claim products are “environmentally friendly”, “eco”, or “biodegradable”, to provide evidence for these claims. Furthermore, if the company relies on carbon offsetting they will be banned from using terms such as “climate neutral” or “climate positive”. Carbon offsetting is where organisations give money to emission cutting projects to counter the carbon emissions they produce in their own processes. For example, where car makers claim they offset the emissions of vehicle production by planting trees. The EU claims these schemes mislead consumers about the true sustainability of products.
A recent Guardian investigation found that 90% of offsetting projects it sampled were worthless. Furthermore, products will need certification by the EU in order to be marketed as “environmentally friendly” or the like. The directive should be in place by 2026.
2. CMA WINS INFORMATION REQUEST APPEAL
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has won a legal case which grants it the power to demand evidence from foreign jurisdictions. The CMA is investigating the UK subsidiaries of car makers BMW and VW. During this investigation, BMW said the the CMA did not have the authority to oblige it to respond, as it is a foreign company. According to BMW, the CMA’s powers, outlined in section 26 of the Competition Act 1998, did not grant it that power to compel foreign companies to produce documents located overseas. The Competition Appeal Tribunal agreed with BMW but the CMA appealed. Last week, the Court of Appeal held that the CMA did have power to force foreign companies to provide documents from overseas. The court deemed that section 26 was intended to have “extraterritorial effect”. Furthermore, if it did not , there would be a huge limitation in the effectiveness of the CMA given the multi-jurisdictional nature of the companies it investigates.
3. UNIQLO SUES SHEIN OVER COPYCAT MARY POPPINS BAG
New year, New copyright infringement allegations. Shein is being sued by Japanese giant Uniqlo for selling replicas of its “Mary Poppins” bag. The bag is dubbed “Mary Poppins” because it can fit a deceptively large amount of items in it. It has become hugely popular on social media and now Shein has released its own version. Uniqlo claims Shein’s closely resembles its own and could harm its brand. The retailer has filed a lawsuit in Japan and demands Shein to stop selling the bag and is seeking damages. Uniqlo is Japan’s largest clothes retailer and posted 146.7 billion yen (£791m) in profit last quarter.
4. JUSTICE SECRETARY TO REVERSE LITIGATION FUNDING RULING
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has pledge to reverse a recent controversial Supreme Court ruling on litigation funding. The Supreme Court ruled on a case last year that threw the litigation funding sector into jeopardy. It essentially held that litigation funding deals were no longer enforceable without meeting strict criteria. Our previous top 10 explains the case in detail. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has said the “damaging effects” of the ruling will be reversed “at the first legislative opportunity”. Litigation funding deals often are the only way that individuals and smaller entities take on financially superior adversaries in court. Litigation funders bankroll lawsuits in return for an agreed percentage of the winnings. The announcement by the Justice Secretary has been welcomed by a number of lawyers.
5. FUJITSU TO COMPENSATE POSTMASTERS
The tech company at the centre of the postmasters scandal has confirmed its plans to compensate affected individuals. Fujitsu offered an apology to the postmasters and is cooperating with the UK public inquiry into the matter. Between 1999 and 2015 postmasters were sacked and prosecuted for embezzlement after the Post Office’s system showed missing funds. It transpired that Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system, introduced in 1999, was faulty and no money was stolen. In these 16 years however, over 900 postmasters were prosecuted. The government said that Fujitsu had a “moral obligation” to provide financial redress to victims. Emergency legislation will be brought in to expedite the exoneration of the wrongfully convicted postmasters.
6. SAINSBURY’S TO WIND DOWN BANKING BUSINESS
Sainsbury’s is shutting down its bank and plans to focus on its supermarket business. Over the next few years, Sainsbury’s will undertake a “phase withdrawal” from the banking market. The supermarket has said it plans to concentrate on its core retail business following the launch of its “food first strategy”. Sainsbury’s opened its bank in 1997 in a joint venture with the Bank of Scotland. Sainsbury’s took 100% ownership of the bank in 2014. It currently services 1.9 million customers, offering loans, credit cards and savings accounts. No specific timeline for the closure has been revealed. The company confirmed that there will be no changes for now but it will inform customers in advance about any changes. Tesco is also plotting a sale of its banking business as supermarkets seek to step out of the market.
7. WIZZ AIR PAYS OUT OVER FLIGHT DISRUPTION
Budget airline Wizz Air has paid out £1.2 million to customers after failing to pay out for flight disruption. Wizz Air rejected 25,000 claims for passengers traveling to or from the UK and were ordered to review them by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). 6000 of these claims saw additional pay outs to customers. These are predominantly those who had to pay for new flights and accommodation due to disruption. Wizz Air said it has made amends to procedures and all payouts to entitled passengers have now been issued.
Under UK law, passengers travelling to or from the UK are entitled to refunds or alternative flights where flights are cancelled by the airline. Passengers can also receive compensation if their flights are delayed. Check out the CAA’s page on compensation for disruption here.
8. TRAIN DRIVERS GO ON STRIKE
Train drivers are set to go on strike again as the disputes rage on. Aslef members will go on strike between Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5th February. Different operators will be affected each day. Drivers will also not work overtime between Monday 29 January and Tuesday 6 February. No strikes will take place on Thursday 1 February or Sunday 4 February. The dispute is over pay and working conditions. Aslef claim they are being offered downgrades to working conditions for a below-inflation pay rise. To date, drivers have been offered a 4% pay rise for 2 years.
The RMT, which represents other railway staff, agreed a deal for its members in November. Workers will receive a 5% backdated pay rise for 2022-2023. It is hoped a deal with Aslef can also be reached to bring an end to disruption to the railways.
9. APPLE OVERTAKES SAMSUNG
Apple has officially overtaken Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone maker. According to new figures by the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple now holds over 20% of the market compared to Samsung’s 19.4%. This marks the first year since 2012 where Apple has shipped more phones globally than Samsung. Apple sold 234 million phones last year. Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion are the next three largest phone makers. These three have been making huge progress in emerging markets as they provide a more affordable option to Samsung’s premium priced phones. Overall however, demand for phones has fallen 3% globally as the cost of living crisis has hit consumer demand.
10. UK’S LARGEST NIGHTCLUB OWNER TO CALL IN ADMINISTRATORS
The largest nightclub owner in the UK is falling into administration. Rekom owns the Pryzm and Atik brands and operates 35 nightclubs in the UK. The cost of living crisis has significantly hit their finances. Students across the country have cut back on nights out due to the increased cost of living while overheads also increased. This sustained period of financial pressure has led to the company announcing that administrators will be called in. Management recognized that the company could not continue in its current form. Some clubs may be permanently shut. Administration will help the company restructure its business and debts.


text:
Goldman Sachs intends to launch a digital banking division to lend to small businesses and consumers, broadening its clientele from its blue-chip base.
Facebook on Monday unveiled a new feature that allows smartphone users to privately share photos of friends, by sifting through images with facial recognition technology.
NASA is using the skies around the Hawaiian island of Kauai to test new technology that it wants to use for landing larger spacecraft—and eventually astronauts—on Mars.
What do "cloud computing" and "terra firma" have in common? A suite of mobile phone applications ("apps") that, once all are released, will connect agricultural producers around the world and provide them with shared knowledge ...
New technology developed at The Ohio State University makes cell phone batteries last up to 30 percent longer on a single charge.
Japanese researchers have significantly improved the performance of a gamma ray-imaging "Compton" camera. The new technology has potential applications in scientific research, medical treatment and environmental monitoring, ...
Two ASU criminology and criminal justice professors are the primary authors of a new online tool kit for police departments nationwide to implement the use of body-worn video cameras.
President Barack Obama is embracing short-form communication. Twitter has a new account: @POTUS. Spelled out, that's President Of The United States.
Retailers are testing high-tech elements in stores, from virtual dressing to interactive shelves. Here are three trends that shoppers will see this year:


text:
The 2016 MacBook is capable of driving a 4K display at 60 Hz via a single USB-C cable. Such a feat is achievable via an easy-to-apply IOKit patch.
One of the great things about the new Intel hardware inside of the 2016 MacBook is that it’s capable of supporting 4K resolution at 60 Hz. The jump in refresh is a big deal, as anyone who’s tried to put up with running a 30 Hz refresh rate can attest to.
Operating at 30 Hz results in jerky and choppy cursor movement, and in some cases can induce headaches after prolonged use.
Sadly, the MacBook only supports 30 Hz out of the box for 4K resolution. It’s not immediately clear as to why this is, but on its support page, Apple makes it known that 4K resolution is limited to 30 Hz.
The good news is that it is possible to enable 60 Hz at native 4K resolution and 1080p (HiDPI/Retina) resolution on a 2016 MacBook. In fact, I just did so on the LG 27UD88 4K USB-C monitor that I recently reviewed. Watch the step-by-step process in our video tutorial for the details. expand full story


text:
In a tweet last night, Bethesda said the following:
We are finalizing manufacturing plans for replacement canvas bags for the Fallout 76: Power Armor Edition. If you purchased the CE, please visit https://t.co/S5ClEZuQrxand submit a ticket by Jan. 31, 2019. We’ll arrange to send you a replacement as soon as the bags are ready.
And there you have it. If you got the collector’s edition, you can now specially order the Canvas bag you were owed. I have to wonder exactly what Bethesda was thinking when this whole thing started. I mean, they couldn’t have been so stupid as to think people wouldn’t notice, would they? Or was it that they figured the game would be good enough that no one would care?
Well, whatever possessed them to pull this stunt, it’s certainly backfired on them now. Fans will no doubt know about this, so almost everyone who got the crappy nylon bag will be getting the Canvas bag as well, which will cost Bethesda big bucks, considering the shipping and everything involved. So I hope the rest of the games industry learns a lesson and… and…
…Ugh, nevermind. I forgot this is 2018, where nothing means anything and actions don’t matter.


text:
September 21, 2018
A crew of some 45 to 50 converged on the Albion College campus Thursday, September 20, to film portions of a television advertisement for Jackson-based Consumers Energy.
Preparations began before dawn and included a number of vehicles that brought everything from cameras, lighting, electrical equipment, monitors, miles of cable, food and, yes, even a fog machine.
Filming took place primarily in the Science Complex with Towsley Lecture Hall and one of the lab/classrooms in Kresge Hall as the primary locations. There was also exterior filming done outside Robinson Hall and on the Quad in front of Kresge Gymnasium, where the ad’s director recruited a number of students for an impromptu football game.
The spot was developed by Daniel Brian Advertising of Rochester, Mich.
Saudia Santure, director of brand management for Consumers Energy, said this ad is one of four the company has commissioned as it rebrands itself as an alternative energy source. The ad on campus focuses on Consumers President and Chief Executive Officer Patti Poppe and the early portion of her career as a college student.
Filming at Albion was recommended to Santure by another Consumers employee, Becky Domingo, who knows the campus well since her father-in-law, Joe Domingo, was Albion’s mayor from 2008-16.
When completed, the ad will begin running on all TV platforms starting the week of Nov. 11, Santure said.


text: You might have heard that Alaska is one of five states without a statewide sales tax. But plenty of cities and boroughs do levy a tax — the state has 106 sales tax jurisdictions — and those communities have worked out a plan to collect on out-of-state online purchases, The Anchorage Daily News reports. (The state’s two largest cities, Anchorage and Fairbanks, don’t have a sales tax.) The online sales tax plan, which would go into effect in 2020, would ask affected localities to join a statewide sales tax commission administered by the Alaska Municipal League. A Colorado-based software company hired by the commission would be in charge of collecting sales taxes from retailers, and both the commission and the company, MuniRevs, would take a cut for their troubles. Companies would need to make at least $100,000 worth of sales to customers in Alaska, or 100 separate transactions, to be required to remit sales taxes.


text:
A tourism court will open in Pattaya, 5 September, to speed up cases involving tourists.
An online media specialist will work with Mekong Tourism planners to create a manual for tour operators on how to sell tours to the six-country Mekong Region.
Cambodia hosted here on Aug. 31 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh the 3rd ASEAN-Japan conference to disseminate the ASEAN-Japan Socio-Cultural Association’s research outcome.
Today is the National Day of Vietnam. This event commemorates Ho Chi Minh's recital of the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, the country's capital, in 1945.
NEW DELHI - The 21st edition of SATTE, South Asia's leading travel & tourism event, will be held in New Delhi at Pragati Maidan from 29-31 2014. Over the last decade, SATTE has become an extremely
ADELAIDE - The spectacular new fly-through provides a bird’s eye view of the Riverbank precinct along the River Torrens from Adelaide Oval through to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. It then returns
HONG KONG - Sino Group of Hotels, the hospitality management arm of Sino Group and an affiliate of Sino Land Company Limited operates and manages a growing portfolio of hotels, a yacht club, serviced
HAINAN - "We are very proud to become one of the five management divisions of Starwood Greater China in the year 2012, Hainan area now can operate itself as an independent business!" Bao Bochu,
NEW DELHI - ixigo.com, India's leading travel planning and search engine, organized the second edition of its community initiative "mixigo" in Gurgaon on August 31. A key highlight of the event was an
CHRISTMAS ISLAND - Birdwatching mecca Christmas Island was dealt a blow to its annual Bird'n'Nature Week when Facebook refused to run the Tourism Boards Advert. The social media site claimed the
KUCHING - The union of Malaysia saw the independence of Sarawak and Sabah from the British and come 16th September, will celebrate its 50th year. History tells of warring tribes who fought one another
SYDNEY - Luxperience travel show attendees adjust their luxury travel products and services to meet the needs of China. Destinations such as Australia, UK and America need to understand how to service
DARWIN - AEG Ogden announced that Janet Hamilton will replace Malu Barrios as the General Manager of the Darwin Convention Centre.
DENPASAR - Bali governor I Made Mangku Pastika said the planned Miss World beauty contest on the island later this month would increase the number of forest tourists coming to the island.
HONG KONG and MACAU - Renowned for its attentive "Asian Heart" service, StarWorld Macau is dedicated to promoting Asian culture with a premium dining experience at affordable prices for its guests.
BANGKOK - Best Western International continues its rapid expansion across Indonesia with the signing of a new hotel in Malang, East Java, the first International hotel in town.
MELBOURNE - Melbourne made it three years in a row as the world's most livable city, according to the 2013 Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Livability Survey.The top cities and indeed much
CHICAGO - JBT Corporation announced that its JBT AeroTech business was awarded a contract exceeding $4 million by the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam
PYONGYANG- It sounds rather like a joke. The country which recently said that it could use nuclear weapons to defend itself against imperialist forces (means South Korea and the United States) is now
HONG KONG - Key new insights into Asian corporate travel trends will be revealed at a special one-day business travel forum during ITB Asia 2013, hosted by the Global Business Travel Association
NOIDA - To further add to the destination attractiveness of Greater Noida, HOME-LIKE Hotels is adding the 500-key H2O RESIDENCY to its portfolio. Created by Imperia Structures Ltd, H2O RESIDENCY, at
MANCHESTER - In a little over five weeks' time World Routes, the 19th World Route Development Forum takes place in Las Vegas and organisers of the event are expecting more senior industry figures to
BANDAR BENTAN TELANI - Murli Rao, the Estate Manager of The Sanchaya announced three further appointments for the Luxury Estate, slated to open in the first quarter of 2014 on the Indonesian island of
BANGKOK - As part of its international "Find Your Fabulous" wellness and medical tourism campaign, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is unveiling a friendly global competition intended to salute
BANGKOK - The TAT has prepared a state-of-the-art series of infographics to show the world the variety, abundance, and different types of Thai food available throughout the Kingdom.


text:
The state of air cargo and global trade
The COVID-19 pandemic is a health and humanitarian crisis, and it is also an economic shock. We will be providing weekly updates throughout the COVID-19 crisis on air cargo capacity changes based on actual flight movements.
With our comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date demand and supply databases, Seabury Consulting, now part of Accenture's travel industry practice, is able to provide insights and data on air, express and ocean freight demand and capacity on a global basis.
Belly capacity is increasing during Q4 and is currently 'only' down 57% of 2019 levels
Over the last two weeks, 10,000 tonnes of air cargo capacity have been added; 11,000 tonnes correspond to increases in widebody belly and 7000 to integrators' capacity, offset by a 7,700 decrease in airline freighter.
Europe outbound capacity has increased primarily to Asia in the last two weeks
Europe capacity to Asia Pacific grew by 6%. China remains as the main destination from Europe, with an increase of 2,100 tonnes in the last two weeks compared to the previous two weeks.


text:
Interactive Advertising Bureau seeks proposals to advance brand advertising, as Seth Godin spreads his own ad message.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau has called on advertisers, publishers, and others to advance ideas for new ad units.
Proposals will be accepted through Nov. 15 in the IAB competition.
"Let's make 2011 the year of digital branding in our industry," said IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg at IAB's MIXX conference during Advertising Week in New York City. Currently, seven of IAB's ad units represent about 80 percent of all online ads in the United States, Rothenberg said.
"It is critical that we fashion an environment where both the art and science of advertising can flourish and deliver engaging experiences that resonate with consumers and build brands," Rothenberg said in a prepared statement.
Agency creative directors, media executives, and ad operations specialists will judge the entries. Plans call for "rising star" ad units to be evaluated in-market during 2011. New IAB standard ad units will be named by the end of 2011.
During a keynote speech, marketing guru Seth Godin said advertising is no longer about blasting the most messages to the most people. Instead, he said: "Ideas that spread, win."
Waving what appeared to be an iPhone, Godin said: "No one bought this phone because it's a good phone. Everyone got it because it's a badge that you're on this team, not that team."
"Marketing management is now tribal leadership. It needs to be renamed, re-measured," he said. The job of CMO, he said, today stands for "chief movement officer" and not chief marketing officer.
Anna Maria Virzi, ClickZ's executive editor from 2007 until 2012, covered Internet business and technology since 1996. She was on the launch team for Ziff Davis Media's Baseline and also worked at Forbes.com, Web Week, Internet World, and the Connecticut Post.
US Consumer Device Preference Report
Traditionally desktops have shown to convert better than mobile devices however, 2015 might be a tipping point for mobile conversions! Download this report to find why mobile users are more important then ever.
E-Commerce Customer Lifecycle
Have you ever wondered what factors influence online spending or why shoppers abandon their cart? This data-rich infogram offers actionable insight into creating a more seamless online shopping experience across the multiple devices consumers are using.
October 13, 2015
1pm ET/ 10am PT
November 12, 2015


text:
On a balmy night at Archerfield Airfield in Brisbane, a group of trucks was unveiled, driving in line, the new K220 models emerge out of the dark and into the doorway of a massive hangar, filled with the Kenworth faithful.
The excitement was palpable and the expectations were realised as the line of shiny new Kenworth K220 trucks nosed into the lights in the hangar, and the shadowy shapes became the new range of cabovers, which we will be seeing on our roads in the near future.
The launch of any Kenworth truck model is something special, so many of the trucks the brand produces have become iconic in the Australian truck industry. This year sees a significant change coming through for one of the brand’s top performers.
Kenworth unveil the new K220, bringing the brand’s flagship cabover up to date with the requirements of the modern trucking industry, without compromising the model’s 50 year history.
The arrival of the Kenworth K220 has been widely anticipated this year, and there has been broad speculation about what’s coming and some dodgy leaked material on video and posted to Facebook. Nothing this big can arrive without some seepage onto social media.
In the lead up to the launch, there were a few things we could be sure of, the basic cabin design would remain relatively unchanged. Since the decline of the cabover in North America, the number of K200s produced in the world, would not justify a massive research and development program within Paccar. It would have to be a small evolution.
Changing preferences in the market and upcoming legislation, also made some changes imperative. Euro 6 emissions levels are the prerequisite for many of the larger corporate contracts and ADR 80/04 is back on the government’s agenda and expected in the next few years.
There are also modern electronic safety systems being mandated like advanced emergency braking and all of the radar and camera system which comes with it, plus electronic stability control, compatible with EBS systems.
Paccar is also a global truck maker and would be reluctant to be building a large number legacy trucks with different systems. Any global player needs the massive costs involved in developing new truck system to be amortised across as many trucks as possible remain viable. Global players like as many of their models as possible using common systems.
There were also some other influences, pushing for changes from the Kenworth cabover. The competition has got much fiercer in the last five or so years. The European cabovers, with which the K series directly competes have come on in leaps and bounds in areas like fuel economy, safety and sophisticated control systems.
In essence, the market has changed during the 11 year lifetime of the K200, something had to change, and changed it has. The crucial calculation for the designers at Kenworth became one of balancing the expectations of cabover customers, with the strengths of the Kenworth brand, which have led to it dominating the Australian heavy duty truck market for the whole of the 21st century. No pressure there.


text:
As many as 12 people of Indian origin have made it to a list of 100 dealmakers with 'midas-touch', prepared by the renowned business magazine, based on the value of the companies these people have taken public or sold in the past five years as well as the capital and involvement it took to get there.
Ram Shriram, a founding board member of internet search giant Google, has been named at the third position in the renowned US-based business magazine's Midas 100 List. The list has been topped by L John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, whom Forbes has described as the "mentor and money man to founders of Google, Amazon, Intuit and Sun Microsystems." Shriram, who currently runs venture capital firm Sherpalo and has made a fortune by making early investments in Google, has moved up one position from his fourth rank last year. He has also invested in travel portal Cleartrip and internet-based photo service provider Xoom.in, in addition to online money management firm Mint.com.
Eleven other persons of Indian origin accompany Shriram on the list, including Navin Chaddha (10th) - an IIT graduate who heads India investments of Mayfield Fund, and well-known venture capitalist Vinod Khosla (70th). Chaddha, ranked 58th in the previous year's list, has successfully managed deals like IL&FS Investsmart and India Infoline in financial services space and Provogue in fashion. Others on the list are Aneel Bhusri (16th), Parag Saxena (31st), Arjun Gupta (51st), Rob L Soni (58th), Deepak Kamra (69th), Raman Khanna (74th), Ravi Adusumalli (77th), Shirish Sathaye (82nd) and Rob S Chandra (96th).
Bhusri was formerly vice-chairman at business software firm PeopleSoft and sold off stakes in start-ups like Data Domain, OutlookSoft and Polyserve. Software engineer Arjun Gupta worked as a consultant at global giant McKinsey and founded TeleSoft Partners in 1996.
According to Forbes, his major deals include Salesforce.com, Sierra Design Automation. Vedanta Capital's Parag Saxena has invested in sectors ranging from wireless to biotech and has successfully raised USD1.4 billion fund - New Silk Route.
The report further added that Delhi-born technology investor Deepak Kamra of Canaan Partners has tapped into telecom and software markets with successful IPOs Acme Packet and SuccessFactors.


text:
As subscription-based companies change into more and more prevalent in our digital lives, automakers at the moment are venturing into the realm of month-to-month charges for automotive options — nonetheless, People are displaying resistance to this development, significantly contemplating the excessive price of latest automobiles.
With vehicles changing into extra related to the web and cloud companies, automakers see the potential for substantial income from these add-ons. But, a recent study by Cox Automotive revealed that 75% of respondents consider these “options on demand” (FoD) are primarily meant to spice up automakers’ income.
Moreover, 69% of members said that if particular options had been solely out there by means of subscriptions for a selected model, they might seemingly discover various choices, and this resistance poses a major problem for automakers who’re banking on producing billions in income from subscription companies.
Regardless of the pushback, automakers stay decided to pursue this enterprise mannequin as a brand new frontier for revenue technology — Alistair Weaver, the editor-in-chief of automotive analysis agency Edmunds, emphasised that it’s not solely luxurious manufacturers adopting this method, with Normal Motors and Ford additionally actively exploring subscription-based options.
BMW might cost a month-to-month charge for activating heated seats
One controversial instance that precipitated a stir was BMW’s introduction of subscription pricing for heated seats, though the seats had been already put in in most BMW fashions. Whereas this function was solely carried out in worldwide areas and never within the US, many BMW fans expressed frustration on the notion of getting to pay additional to activate an integral part that got here with the automobile.
Though corporations like Tesla have employed subscriptions or “options on demand” for choices resembling Autopilot and full-self driving (FSD) beta options, these are usually software program add-ons that improve the automotive’s capabilities. In distinction, the subscription-based mannequin for bodily options has raised considerations amongst shoppers who query why they need to pay additional to allow functionalities which might be already constructed into the automotive.
As the controversy surrounding subscription-based automotive options continues, automakers might want to navigate shopper sentiment rigorously whereas exploring progressive methods to spice up income in an evolving trade panorama.
Filed in Cars and Subscription.. Learn extra about


text:
This beginning of the year, WhatsApp users have begun to receive a notification with the changes that as of next February 8 will have the terms of service and security policies. A fact that has generated multiple criticisms in social networks and serious questions about the amount of data that the application collects.
This has even triggered the download figures of the app have decreased by up to 11 percent in the first days of January, according to the specialized Sensor Tower platform, and that other messaging platforms have gained thousands of new users.
(You may be interested in: What are the new changes to WhatsApp policies?)
The main change that is recorded in this update is that WhatsApp notifies its users that all the information they store will now also be available to the companies that belong to Facebook, which in this case are the social networks Facebook and Instagram.
In addition, it has generated greater awareness in people about the amount of metadata that the platform collects, which ranges from the phone number, list of contacts, location, how to interact within the app, between what is contemplated the time, the frequency and the duration of the communications that are had.
As well as the IP of the connection, what is the model of the device from which the person connects, its battery level, the time zone, among others. In addition to this, it saves the information of transactions and payments, in the case of countries that already have this function activated. In this, Get details of the payment method, shipping details and the purchase amount.
This behavior has been carried out for many years, different is the topic that they are telling us so far that it will be shared with Facebook companies
The computer security expert and director of Adalid, Axel Díaz, that this is not new, since the application has always collected this type of information and has it contemplated within its privacy policies.
“This behavior has been carried out for many years, different is the issue that they are telling us so far that will be shared with Facebook companies. What this change has done is that people are more aware of how much data they are having access“, Says Díaz.
It is worth clarifying that the messages that the person makes and receives have end-to-end encryption, which means that the company does not access them, nor are they stored on its servers, but only on the user’s device.
The company said they have no plans to incorporate advertising into the platform. “This means that it will not include banners or advertising-type messages within the application,” says Díaz.
But the controversy lies in the fact that although advertising will not be used within WhatsApp, the expert points out, user data will be available to other companies, which, as is known, do have advertising systems, so the collected data could serve this purpose.
Likewise, it puts on the table the importance of people reading more carefully the terms and conditions of the applications they use, since the fact that it is free, most likelyDiaz highlights, is that the user pays for the service with their information.
(We recommend you read: Don’t want to use WhatsApp? Meet Telegram and Signal)
You may also be interested in:
– Facebook indefinitely vetoes Donald Trump’s account
Twitter: @ TecnósferaET


text:
EVEN AS LOCKDOWNS confine Americans to their homes, no one is in danger of running out of things to watch on television. Netflix, the leading video-streamer, offers more than 36,000 hours of programming. If that is not enough, viewers can tune in to new offerings from tech firms, such as Amazon and Apple, and old media companies, from Disney+ to HBO Max, owned by AT&T. So viewers may barely blink their square eyes at the news that yet another streamer, Peacock, hatched on July 15th. And unlike its rivals, this bird is free.
It needs to be, for it is late to the party. The average American household paid for three streaming services last year and has taken on a fourth since the pandemic hit, reckons Deloitte, a consultancy. In a recession few want a fifth. So Peacock, launched by NBCUniversal, part of Comcast, a cable provider, is letting them pay not with money but with their time, by watching ads.
NBCUniversal’s back-catalogue is certainly deep—13,000 hours of TV and film, from “Psycho” to “30 Rock”, or 20,000 on a paid, “premium” plan. But, says Peter Supino of Bernstein, a research firm, it is designed for the old days of linear television and the cinema. Online, with near-infinite choice and personalised recommendations, niche is king. Comcast is not putting much money into Peacock originals: the service…
Link to article: www.economist.com/node/21789798?fsrc=rss%7Cbus


text:
Skip to Navigation
Skip to Main Content
Skip to Related Content
More than 6,600 Americans have died from the virus
Super Mario is getting his own Lego set
In The Know
March 12, 2020
Nintendo and Lego are teaming up for a Super Mario set that lets you play the game in real-life!
Popular in the Community
Snag these highly-rated home printers for under $100
Man writes song about quarantine to pass the time
Send a friend Mrs. Fields cookies for up to 50 percent off
Kristen Bell says she was told she wasn’t ‘pretty enough’ at 'every single audition'
Support artists globally and shop Society6’s site-wide sale
Anxious at home? Planting your own fruit tree can reduce stress — and grocery trips
This flower delivery service will bring blooms right to your door
Laverne Cox’s makeup artist dished on her favorite products
Gamer perfectly recreates music videos on Animal Crossing: 'These are amazing'


text:
It’s still too early to say for sure, but it’s variously estimated by European plywood importers and distributors that the Covid-19 pandemic will slice 10-20% off their 2020 profits.
Trade has since seen a bounce back, varying in degree from country to country, but companies don’t expect it to make up for the sales lost when the health crisis first hit.
Looking ahead, the sector is hopeful about continued market recovery, although there’s awariness about making more than short-term forecasts and concern about the economic fallout as European governments wind down pandemic business support measures.
There is some preoccupation too about the potential impacts on the European economy of Brexit if the UK does come to the end of its transition period to depart the EU on January 1 and leaves without a trade deal.
The better news, however, is that, while plywood companies across Europe acknowledge that they’ve taken a significant hit from the pandemic, the general view is that the contraction in trade has not in fact been as severe as expected earlier in the year.
“In normal circumstances, losing a tenth to a fifth of sales would be seen as a bit of a disaster,” said one importer. “But if you’d offered us that when we were at peak lockdown, we’d have grabbed it with both hands. At one point we were trading at between 30 and 35% of normal levels.”
This expressed the general consensus. Some companies closed for a period late March into April. Most kept trading, but report that they were mainly dealing with outstanding orders.
“There was new business coming into the pipeline, but it was significantly down and more hand to mouth,” said an importer/distributor. “Very few customers were committing more than a few weeks ahead. We actually kept all our staff on, but it was as much to keep communications channels open with customers, as to actually do business.” B
ut the worst of the crisis was, in the words of one company, ‘surprisingly short-lived’. Business was reported to have started recovering as early as May and picked up from there.
“An indicator that things didn’t turn out quite as bad as customers expected was that we got calls in April asking for longer payment terms, then in May they came back to us and said that they no longer needed them,” said an importer distributor.
Some businesses report that they were already back to preCovid trade levels by June and that momentum continued to build in July.
“Early on, part of the uptick in activity was due to delayed supply shipments coming in and completing outstanding orders that we’d been able to fulfill before,” said an importer. “But new orders also started to increase.”
The post EU plywood trade recovers, but Covid-19 to slice 10-20% of 2020 profits appeared first on Timber Industry News.


text:
(Photo by Stephen Babcock)
The first sessions of an accelerator focused on health and fitness startups are being held this week at Johns Hopkins‘ FastForward East space.
M-1 Ventures kicked off Tuesday with a cohort of five companies. The following companies were selected to participate, according to the accelerator:
- BurnAlong An Owings Mills–based startup developing a video platform allowing people to remotely link to fitness classes and work out together. (Read our profile here.)
- b.Well A Betamore-incubated health platform that seeks to offer access to health data such as medical records, insurance info and health history. (Read our profile here.)
- EduMD A startup founded by surgeons at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland that makes Milemarker, a web-based platform which assists with medical training.
- MotionVibe An app that connects users to a community of fitness consumers and professionals.
- RoundTrip A Philly-based startup that makes a platform to provide on-demand, non-emergency medical transportation.
The orgs behind M-1 Ventures are putting their own spin on the accelerator model. Along with honing in on a specific vertical, the program is designed to help companies who are past the idea phase and building on initial traction, investor Paul Singh, who is co-directing the program with entrepreneur Tony D’Agostino, told us earlier this summer. For instance, BurnAlong has already raised $1 million and is looking to scale.
Companies who are participating receive $25,000. Using a peer review model established by program supporter Village Capital, two companies will be selected by members of the cohort for additional investment at the end of the four-month program.
Along with programming, participants also get time with one-on-one mentors from Johns Hopkins, Plank Industries and the University of Maryland. Brown Advisory and the Abell Foundation are also supporting the program.-30-
Meet the Aerium: An algae air purifier created by IMET PhD candidates
5 questions with Jason Becker: Leading product development through an equity lens at Allovue
These 9 companies are entering Conscious Venture Lab’s accelerator
Why two eminent Baltimore higher-ed institutions collaborated to create this unique dual degree program
Medical device company Sonavex receives $3M grant from NIH
Johns Hopkins is launching an accelerator for student startups
How to run your own team retreat: The prep
What Asymmetrik is doing to help lead healthcare’s digital transformation
Sign-up for daily news updates from Technical.ly Baltimore


text:
The HOME OF LUXURY by ITB is celebrating its in-person debut at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show ITB Berlin. It offers luxury tourism buyers and providers a unique environment and features networking events and meetings in a special atmosphere as well as panels and lectures at the ITB Berlin Convention
Deborah Rothe follows in the footsteps of David Ruetz as exhibition director of ITB Berlin, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. In December 2022, Ruetz became senior vice president of Travel + Logistics at Messe Berlin, in which role he oversees the ILA Berlin Airshow as well as the global ITB brand family, along with its strategic development.
ITB Asia is one of the world’s largest travel trade shows. With thousands of pre-qualified international buyers, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with people and businesses and establish long-term partnerships. Last year, over 42,100 business exchanges and meetings were held during the three-day trade show, which broke all previous ITB Asia records.
ITB Asia, Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore), has announced an exciting line-up of conference and keynote sessions for this year’s ITB Asia Conference.