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Sennheiser, the company that provides the microphones and IEM systems for Morten’s solo tour, has posted a new press release on their website which goes into detail about the technical setup currently being used.
The press release includes comments from production manager James Maillardet, monitor engineer Kursten Smith and FOH engineer Gerard Albo.
“The key thing for me when working with Morten – and many other artists for that matter – is consistency. Once we have a system in place that works, I am always keen to replicate it as closely as possible everywhere we go. Being able to carry a full Sennheiser microphone kit and IEM system along with our backline means we can easily achieve the consistency that Morten demands”, Maillardet says.
Gerard Albo is Morten’s FOH engineer for the first time on this tour, and follows Sherif El Barbari (a-ha tours 2009-2010) and the legendary Sven Persson (a-ha tours 2000-2008). Kursten Smith has worked with a-ha and Morten since 2009.
The whole press release is available at sennheiser.com.
In other news, Magne has bought his third so-called AX24 system from Danish company Digital Audio Denmark.
“We bought our first DAD AX24 systems in summer 2011 for recording and post-production in our Oslo studio. They feed into an Apple Mac workstation running Avid Pro Tools. We were absolutely thrilled by the transparent and natural sound quality of the AX24. My engineer found it hard to believe the recording could so closely match the experience of hearing the live performance.
The third AX24 is being used for recording live stage performances on location. It is configured with eight high-specification mike preamps which make the system ideal for capturing a wide dynamic range. In my book, it is the best solution around today”, Magne says in a press release posted at digitalaudio.dk.
The press release also includes a few comments from Magne’s assistant Tor Einar Krogtoft-Jensen, who seemed to be the drummer for Apparatjik at Roskilde.

domain: news


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Canadian cannabis sector still growing despite supply glut two years after legalization
Two years after Canada legalized recreational cannabis, the country is awash with the stuff.
Hundreds of thousands of kilograms of cannabis sit idle in producers' vaults. Warehouses operated by provincial wholesalers are filled to the brim with finished products. Meanwhile, illicit growers remain active and add to a country-wide stockpile that is far outpacing market demand.
The mountain of pot is expected to balloon further once producers – both legal and illicit – finish their "Croptober" harvest, the term used within the cannabis industry in reference to the period around October when outdoor cannabis crops are chopped down and processed.
"There has been too much cultivation in Canada," said Rahul Sarugaser, managing director of equity research at Raymond James, in a phone interview. "But that is secondary to the fact that there have been too many players and as a result, there's too much competition in the market."
There are 507 producers that Health Canada has licensed to grow cannabis legally, with roughly 60 of them selling into the recreational market. That's created a market where there are 45 million packaged cannabis products held by cultivators, processors, distributors, and retailers across the country, roughly four-and-a-half times the amount being sold in June, according to recent Health Canada figures.
That supply imbalance is causing major headaches for the industry.
More than a dozen cannabis companies have filed for creditor protection and major producers like Canopy Growth Corp. and Aurora Cannabis Inc. have written down billions of dollars in inventory and assets. Meanwhile, industry woes accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to hundreds of layoffs. Even the eagerly-anticipated "Cannabis 2.0" rollout of vapes and edible products was met with early delays and launch stumbles.
Sarugaser expects the supply glut to ease in the coming years as companies that aren't able to produce cannabis in an economically viable manner fade away.
"There are big names that maintain the largest market share that produce negative gross margins quarter-over-quarter. That's simply not a way to run a business," he said.
There have been some notable successes, however, with spending in the legal recreational and medical cannabis market now eclipsing the illicit market, according to recent figures from Statistics Canada. Total sales have risen steadily each month and the Canadian market is currently forecasted to produce annual sales of about $2.8 billion.
Retail is also turning a corner after a myriad of stumbles in the first year, notably in Ontario. The country's most populous province now counts 200 stores open and is adding 40 new shops a month, while there are more than 1,200 licensed pot shops available nationwide.
Even the illicit market has found itself in the crosshairs of nationwide police investigations that seized hundreds of thousands of cannabis plants over the past year, including a recent bust in August where $42 million worth of illegally-grown pot was captured in Ontario’s Niagara region.
Combating the illicit market has not been an easy task, but some producers are going toe-to-toe with their unregulated counterparts, growing cannabis for less than $1 per gram while others have turned to the great outdoors to produce it for pennies. More than 1,200 acres of land is being used to grow outdoor cannabis this year, more than twice as much as last year, according to Health Canada.
"How else do you beat the black market? You do what they do," Geoff Benic, chief executive officer of Aleafia Health Inc., told BNN Bloomberg as he stood in the middle of the company's property outside of Toronto where 50,000 cannabis plants would soon be harvested.
"You play their game, just with more sophistication."
To prepare for their harvest, Aleafia’s staff was busy earlier this month strategizing over PowerPoint presentations while other workers put the finishing touches on a 35,000-square-foot dry room complete with a customized ventilation system that would soon host some of the company's crop.
Benic allayed concerns that the company was only adding to the existing glut of cannabis in the market, noting that a good chunk of the plants grown at Aleafia's facility contain high levels of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-impairing chemical compound used to treat pain and inflammation. It's part of a bet he made that Canada would soon deregulate CBD for over-the-counter products and eventually allow exports to foreign markets. When that day comes, the company will have plenty of products to meet demand.
"I truly believe that CBD will be no different than what Omega-3 is to eggs," Benic said.
John Fowler, principal of consultancy Blaise Ventures and founder of Supreme Cannabis Co., argues that companies shouldn't be blamed for growing too much cannabis. Instead, he said producers didn't do enough research to understand what products consumers wanted in the first place.
"There are companies out there that have inventory that they can't sell, that they're producing, and are actively buying other inventory that they sell, which means there's a mismatch between their production and what their customers want to buy," he said.
While production doesn't appear to be slowing down, next year should bring some optimism to the beleaguered sector
Raymond James' Sarugaser expects growth to continue in the space, propelled by ongoing cannabis store openings and more familiarity with new products that should hit the market.
"We're starting to see a loosening up of the markets," he said. "We're seeing an opening up of retail, we're seeing the value segment drive top line revenue for the good operators, and then we should see the eventual adoption of Cannabis 2.0 products into 2021."


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Allegiant Air increases ancillary fees
Ancillary fees are nowadays being seen as key to profitability by various carriers in the United States. Following into the footsteps of Spirit Airlines, now Allegiant Air is also aggressively trying to find out ways on how to drive up its revenues from the ancillary fees.
Now, passengers booking air tickets on Allegiant Air should be prepared to pay yet another fee onto their purchases. The airline recently announced it would be charging for using a credit card on the purchase of their flights tickets online. The passengers are so far being charged fees to check a bag, pick a seat or board early.
The new ancillary fees are likely to quickly increase the airline’s revenues in a significant way. Allegiant Air is expected to fly more than 1,7 million passengers in a quarter. According to the airline, with more than 90 percent of passengers purchasing their air tickets online the revenues of the airline would boost.
The airline, however, said that even though its ancillary fees have gone up the total price of tickets would continue to be as low as possible for all the passengers. According to the airline, the customers pay a low base fare and then add on only those services that they actually want.


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Brendan Moran decided to set up MinuteBuyer five years ago to “bridge the gap" between what businesses paid for telephone and internet charges and the cost-price of those services.
“I realised there was a huge opportunity to gap the difference between what was available in the wholesale and retail markets,” said Moran who previously worked for the telecoms service provider, Interoute.
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We’re thinking this could become a permanent line item for us under the medical division. The comments we’ve received have been overwhelmingly positive.
CIRAS Project Manager Kim Anderson told Dickson federal regulators issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) in the early days of the pandemic to help meet an overwhelming PPE demand. Dickson made the gown decision after extensive conversations with CIRAS about what it would take to meet governmental safety standards going forward. CIRAS also provided training focused on growth option in medical manufacturing during the pandemic.
The combination of an existing supply chain and local manufacturing capability meant the company could be incredibly flexible and able to pivot quickly. Dickson also had existing relationships with medical supply distributors, making it easy for hospitals to purchase from the company. The company began producing hospital isolation gowns to fill emergency shortages and has since decided to continue.


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HEFEI, China — Walk around the sprawling auto factory in central China, and the wealth pouring into the country’s electric car industry quickly becomes clear.
Rows of bright orange, 15-foot-tall robots — 307 of them, mainly from Sweden — whir with activity. They glue lightweight aluminum panels to vehicle frames using aerospace-grade adhesives. In an industry in which speed can mean cost efficiency, the assembly line plods along at half the pace of many lines elsewhere.
Even by the standards of the $1.6 trillion global car industry, an operation like this doesn’t come cheap. In fact, the Chinese operator of


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Looking for a new Ford F-150 diesel? Good luck.
The 3.0-liter Power Stroke, which made its debut in model year 2018, had not been coming up as an option for the 2020 F-150 on Ford’s website for the past few months. The vehicle configurator had not been listing it for any models.
But that was Wednesday. And now on Friday it’s back as a $4,000 option–at least on Ford’s build-and-price page.
The 2020 F-150 diesel is still nowhere to be found on any dealer websites that we searched which includes 5 Star Ford in Dallas, Texas and Galpin Ford in Los Angeles, both of which consistently rank as some of the most prolific Ford dealers by volume.
As it turns out, COVID-19 played a roll in the oil burner’s temporary disappearance from the nation’s favorite 1/2-ton line-up.
“We need EPA approval on the diesel engine every year, even if there aren’t any changes to it,” said Ford truck communications manager Dawn McKenzie. “Approval is dependent on the EPA’s timetable. We were waiting on EPA approval before we could sell the diesel engine and received it just before COVID-19 hit globally, which caused a delay. It should be back on build and price soon.”
By comparison, 2020 Ram 1500, 2020 Chevy Silverado and 2020 GMC Sierra can be optioned with 3.0-liter diesel engines according to their respective OEM build-and-price websites.
Ford’s configurator also offers the following engines for the 2020 F-150: 2.7-liter EcoBoost (325 hp, 400 lb.ft.); 3.3-liter Ti-VCT V6 (290 hp, 265 lb.-ft.); 3.5-liter EcoBoost (375 hp, 470 lb.-ft.); high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost (450 hp, 510 lb.-ft.); and 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 (395 hp, 400 lb.-ft.).
New diesel-equipped 2019 F-150s are still for sale. A nationwide search on truecar.com revealed 64,847 new gas-powered 2019 F-150s for sale versus 207 diesel models.
Galpin Ford in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s largest Ford dealers by volume, is not offering a diesel F-150 at least as of Tuesday night. Of the 364 F-150s on their lot, none are diesel either for MY 2019 or MY 2020.
Same with Five Star Ford in Dallas, Texas. Their website also showed none available on Tuesday night. Of the 570 trucks listed, none are diesel. All are gas.
This isn’t the first time Ford’s dabbled in diesel with less than heavy-duty trucks. Ranger was available with a diesel engine for model years 1983-1986.
According to dieselhub.com, a 59-hp 2.2-liter naturally aspirated Perkins (also known for their stout marine engines) could be optioned with 1983-1984 Ranger. An 86-hp 2.3-liter Mitsubishi turbo diesel replaced it for model years 1985-1986. After that, diesel was killed off for the popular midsize truck. More recently, the rumor mill has swirled with talk of Ranger returning with a diesel offering, which is available outside of the U.S. That would put Ford in step with GM which is the only OEM offering a diesel-powered mid-size truck in the U.S.
Note: This story was updated from an earlier version this week which at that time had noted that the diesel option was not showing up in Ford’s online build-and-price tool.


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General Motors' announcement last week that Cadillac will become its lead brand for electric cars is a radical change in strategy.
When America's largest automaker launched its first electrified car, the Chevrolet Volt, company leaders said their electric cars would have to be sold under the Chevrolet brand, reasoning that electric cars would have to be mainstream, and thus sold under GM's largest, most mainstream brand.
Now, seemingly feeling the pressure from Tesla, the company has changed tack and plans to focus its electric cars efforts under its most expensive brand, Cadillac. At the Detroit auto show on Monday, Cadillac showed its first electric-car concept, a largish mid-size SUV that looks likely to seat five passengers, though details from the company were scant.
The new electric Caddy SUV will be GMs first electric car to use GM's new third-generation electric-car architecture, with a versatile "skateboard" chassis and a battery-pack design that can accommodate different capacities in the same format. As with Tesla, the high-end vehicle is designed to allow GM to spread the costs of converting to electric drivetrains over more expensive models that can absorb the cost, after federal tax credits for the auto giant's plug-in cars run out.
It isn't expected to go on sale until 2022, however, and by then more automakers will be bringing a wider selection of more affordable electric cars to market.
That led us to wonder whether our readers would be likely to buy an electric car from Cadillac. A key question is whether the Cadillac name still carries enough cutting-edge cachet to attract high-tech early adopters, or whether those are even the buyers who might be looking for an electric luxury car by 2022.
Certainly, Cadillac will face no shortage of competition among luxury electric SUVs by then, with new models hitting the market from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz this year.
So, our Twitter poll for this week asks readers simply: "Would you buy an electric car from Cadillac?"
Would you buy an electric car from Cadillac?— Green Car Reports (@GreenCarReports) January 14, 2019
Some may answer, "Absolutely." Others may have grown weary of the brand's repeated stuttering revival efforts and answer, "Never."
In between, we expect many readers might consider it only if they don't have Tesla as an option ("Not over a Tesla"), or if the price is cheap enough to compete with the host of more affordable options that will be on the market by then: ("Only if it's cheap.")
As always, remember that our Twitter polls are unscientific, as our respondents are self-selected and too few in number to constitute a nationally representative sample.


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May look like a spaceship, but it's the interior of the Kith pop-up shop at 1638 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
As of Monday, February 23, 2015
New York sneakerhead boutique Kith took its high-end shoes and streetwear looks out west on Feb. 20. It opened a pop-up shop at Venice Beach’s stylish Abbot Kinney Boulevard with a party.
Kith Founder Ronnie Fieg presided over the opening shindig, which was reportedly attended by Victor Cruz of the New York Giants NFL team. The party also might have been an after-party for Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs, which wrapped up its major Las Vegas show only a couple of days before.
Sam Ben-Avraham, Liberty’s founder, hung out at the party with Liberty Partners Sharifa Murdock and Stephanie Seeley. Ben-Avraham said it was no surprise that the Liberty team would party together after the Feb. 18 close of the curated, but still very big trade show. “This is relaxation,” Ben-Avraham said of the party. “This is my family.” So much for a quick getaway to Hawaii or Mexico.
Also not unusual, the closeness of Kith and Ben-Avraham’s boutique, Atrium. Kith locations are adjacent to Atrium locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. If Feb. 20 party seemed like an after party, there were many fashion industry faces at the gathering which were familiar to people walking the Liberty show.
Seen at the party, Maxwell Osborne, co-founder of the brand Public School, Groovy Lew, an influential stylist, Stephon Torrence of Jock Hall, a branding and public relations agency, and Brian Nyilas, head buyer of Fred Segal Man in Santa Monica.
The pop up will do business at 1638 Abbot Kinney Blvd., until March 20. Then it is scheduled to revert to its permanent identity, mens boutique, Prize of Venice, said Colin T. McCarthy, a partner in Prize of Venice.


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These are extraordinary times. The lives of billions of people around the world have been affected to varying degrees by covid-19. Being a public health crisis of massive scale, it has necessitated stringent containment measures such as lockdowns that have sent the global economy into a shock. There is enough evidence to suggest that a significant global recession is staring at us. Not immune to the effects of the pandemic, India too will have to take measures to stem the slide across sectors and revive the economy. After the immediate focus on controlling the contagion and providing whatever immediate stimulus is feasible, the government’s efforts must turn to strengthening the nation’s socio-economic foundations and prepare a blueprint for a new India. Measures are also needed to enhance the economy’s attractiveness to fresh investment essential to drive the economy forward. That is one thing that India sorely lacks today.
According to a recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development investment trends report, covid-19 will hurt foreign direct investment (FDI) in most countries. This coupled with falling demand and disrupted supply chains will exacerbate their economic troubles. Already, many multinational enterprises have slowed capital expenditure in the wake of declining profits. This would also likely result in lower reinvested earnings, which form a major component of FDI (bit.ly/2ysWoSu).
In this backdrop, any fresh foreign investment in the economy is welcome, and the Facebook-Jio deal is no exception. Facebook’s $5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms has attracted the attention of the world, which is watching to see if this could mark the first step towards turning India into a digital giant. There are critics, though, who believe that the deal may distort the market. At this juncture, however, any such big FDI flow is welcome. It will promote both job creation and consumption, thus helping a post-covid economic revival.
India’s attractiveness as an FDI destination has surged in recent times. In 2019, it was among the top 10 countries attracting foreign funds, receiving billions of dollars in a variety of sectors, including services, technology, IT and telecom, and construction. Several factors have placed India in a better position than some other much larger economies such as China or the United States. A swift response in combating the covid crisis, favourable demographics, impressive mobile and internet penetration, massive consumption and technology uptake are among them. With global corporations disillusioned with China, there is an opportunity for India to capitalize on the corporate impulse to move out of that country. Leveraging fresh investments along with the existing investment base will go a long way in establishing India’s position as a leading digital economy.
It may thus be a good time for the government to treat foreign investment at par with domestic investment. The role of FDI in the Indian economy cannot be overstated. It plays a critical role in providing resources to upgrade supply chains and remove inefficiencies. This coupled with the technology and experience that foreign players bring can go a long way in helping India’s economy scale new heights. Take the example of Amazon and Walmart. Their infrastructure and technologies would help farmers and consumers. While the government’s concern about protecting small traders are valid, evidence from countries such as China shows that traditional and modern retail can coexist and grow.
As a part of its Make in India initiative to promote domestic manufacturing, India deregulated FDI rules for several sectors over the last few years. A part of its attractiveness also lies in the way it treats existing foreign investors. The government should now ease regulatory hurdles for foreign investors as far as possible to boost the economy in a post-covid world. Also, foreign investors need to be provided security and continuity in the business environment. India’s current policymaking environment is marked by significant uncertainty, which may not help the cause of attracting potential investors. This is more so when other Asian countries are vying for attention from companies thinking of leaving China.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises provides non-binding norms of responsible conduct for national governments and multinational enterprises. It recommends an inter-linked and balanced approach in the way governments treat FDI. It also advises governments to provide national treatment for foreign-controlled established enterprises to avoid conflicting requirements being imposed on such enterprises in its home and host country jurisdictions. It also calls for cooperation on investment incentives and disincentives (bit.ly/2zfRjgb). Although India has limited participation in the OECD, it may be in its interest to consider incorporating some of these rules to attract FDI in the critical days to come.
The author is president, Society of Indian Law Firms


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The ongoing battle between Apple and Spotify has taken a new turn. Earlier this year, Spotify had filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission. Spotify also launched a campaign aided with a website titled “Time to Play Fair.” Apple has now responded to Spotify in the form of new filing with the European Commission.
In the filing, Apple accuses Spotify of knowingly presenting false information with respect to the fees it pays Apple in the form of App Store commission. A bit of context, on March 2019, Spotify had accused Apple of charging as much as a 30 percent fee. According to the latest filing by Apple, Spotify is not paying 30 percent fee on any of its subscribers.
Apple has detailed that Spotify offered the ability to sign up for a subscription via the iOS app. This method has been enforced only from 2014 to 2016. Apple had levied 30 percent fee for the first year and then it transitioned to a 15 percent fee each year. Apple claims all the subscribers that Spotify has gained via the iOS app are beyond the 1-year subscription time frame.
Apple further substantiated its stand by adding that Spotify only pays Apple fee on a little over 0.5 percent of its total subscribers. In other words, Spotify has nearly 100 million paying subscribers and Apple says that they acquired 680,000 users via the iOS app. The math tells us that only 0.68 percent of Spotify subscribers have been acquired via the iOS app.
This is the first time Apple has formally responded to Spotify’s claims. The previous response was aimed at clearing the air publicly and lacked revenue statistics. It will be interesting to see how Spotify responds to the filing. Meanwhile, it seems like Apple’s battle with Spotify is treading similar to its battle with Qualcomm.[via CNET]


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Tesco clothing store F&F has released a stylish double breasted blazer, in a pretty pale blue colour.
Shoppers are going wild for the jacket, which they say they 'need' for their spring wardrobes.
Now that March is finally here, it's surely the perfect time to jazz up your wardrobe with pastel colours and pretty outfits.
Read more: Get the latest Tesco news
F&F said in their post on Instagram: "Add smart layers in spring shades."
The model in the picture pairs the jacket with a white shirt and blue denim jeans.
One fan commented: " NEED this blazer," with two heart-eyes emojis.
For the latest Tesco and F&F releases and deals, click here.
Another added: "Nice," with the 'okay gesture' emoji.
Some shoppers tagged friends, and others simply commented with multiple red heart emojis.
The jacket will cost you £29.
You can purchase F&F clothing in your local Tesco store. A limited selection is online through Next.
For more information, visit F&F's Instagram page here.
Find out how you can get more news from HertsLive straight to your inbox for free HERE .


text: On Tuesday, April 23rd, Ms. Koller's 4th grade science class returned to Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club for a special harvest meal featuring produce planted back in December. The students got a chance to sample various items grown in the garden including Parsnip, Radishes, Escarole, Orange and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula, Mint, Carrots, Sorrel, Edible Flowers, Cucumbers, Pineapple and much more. The kids also voted on their favorite veggies and favorite dip. We discussed how long it takes for food to get from farms that are far away versus growing produce right in your backyard. We also discussed health and nutrition. At the end of the meal, the students took a trip to the garden to harvest the remaining items and got to bring home their harvest. A special thank you goes out to all the students and teachers from Beth Am and a special thanks goes out to the various Staff and Members who were involved in the event. Believe it or not, we had just as much fun as the kids did!


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Fintech PayTile offers peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms that use geo-location for safe, and private, transactions between users without sharing personal information. And now, those mobile wallets will be powered by Cross River Bank.
On Feb. 2, Cross River announced it’s partnering with PayTile to provide core banking infrastructure and leading payments capabilities.
PayTile is perfect for situations where using cash would be preferred – think tipping, supporting your favorite band by buying a t-shirt at a show, shopping small or cruising Facebook Marketplace. It functions like the AirDrop function on Apple’s iPhone, allowing users physically near each other to send funds without having to exchange usernames, legal names, email addresses or phone numbers.
“PayTile’s mission is to make digital payments as private as cash and as safe as a card,” CEO Anu Vora said in a statement. “While traditional P2P apps exist to pay the people you already know, PayTile exists to safely pay people you don’t know.”
Moving beyond just peer-to-peer payments, PayTile is simultaneously introducing its proprietary Money Drop technology, Cross River said in its announcement. Without hardware, it allows PayTile to digitally place cash – or other goods – at an exact location for users to pick up or redeem. For business partners, the incentive can be used to draw a physical crowd.
“Anu and the team at PayTile are revolutionizing peer-to-peer payments,” said Cross River Founder, President and CEO Gilles Gade. “By partnering with innovative companies like PayTile, Cross River creates real time solutions to empower consumers and their finances.”
Cross River is PayTile’s first and exclusive banking partner. According to the Fort Lee-based company, PayTile’s customers will use Cross River’s digital infrastructure and payments capabilities, like ACH to fund their PayTile wallets, and Push-to-Card to move funds digitally and replace cash.
Fort Lee-based Cross River is a technology-driven financial services organization that provides core infrastructure and embedded financial solutions. This, according to the company, allows growing fintechs to innovate and expand, while also maintaining a focus on regulatory compliance and consumer protection.
In the last two months of 2021, Cross River announced partnerships with San Francisco-based fintech Astra Inc. to develop a point-to-point debit transfer product for other institutions, and with Austin’s Payment Approved, a fintech that brings payment solutions to money service business, e-commerce and retail clients.


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For anyone who was unable to attend or wasn’t able to attend or listen to the sessions or keynotes at NRF 2020 Retail‘s Big Show last week in New York City, don’t worry our partner LS Retail has it completely covered!
Read LS Retail COMPLIMENTARY NRF 2020 report to discover the hottest trends and find out where the industry is at and what’s coming up.
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SIS Global is a trusted LS Retail Partner. With our combined Microsoft Dynamics excellence and retail expertise we deliver first class retail solutions to our clients. There’s much more to discover about LS Retail tech and SIS Global retail solutions, and how we together can help you solve your business challenges.


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Windows 8.1: Now the Hardware
With the OS out in the wild, tablet and laptop makers are lining up to stock store shelves with compatible devices.Microsoft did its part delivering Windows 8.1 several days before the one-year anniversary of the Windows 8 launch. Now the company's hardware partners are stepping up with new tablets that leverage the operating system's new capabilities. Oct. 17 marked the release of Windows 8.1, a free update for current Windows 8 users. The first batch of PCs and tablets based on the OS officially start shipping on Friday, Oct. 18, setting the stage for new Windows-based devices ahead of the crucial holiday shopping season. At the forefront of the impending flood of new 8-inch tablets are Acer and Lenovo. The newly announced Acer Iconia W4 is an 8-inch tablet with Windows 8.1 preinstalled. Featuring a fourth-generation, 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor (code-named "Bay Trail"), the 0.91-pound device delivers up to 10 hours of battery life. The Iconia W4, which ships this later month, costs $329.99 for a 32GB model or $379.99 for a 64GB version. It sports an IPS display (1,280-by-800 resolution at 16:10 aspect ratio) with Zero Air Gap technology that closes the distance between the touch panel and LCD component, improving visibility outdoors. It also features microSD storage expansion, a micro-USB port, a micro-HDMI port, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel shooter on the back. Another draw: Microsoft Office.
Brandon LeBlanc, a Microsoft spokesman, noted in a blog post that the tablet "comes with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 so you can edit Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint slides right out of the box."


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TDAP urges exporters to tap world's textile markets
He said this while addressing a meeting of Sialkot exporters held at Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) office here on Saturday.
He assured all out efforts to be made for ensuring the early solution to their problems, besides, removing all hurdles in the way of exports and trade in the country.
Muneer asked the Sialkot exporters to hold an international standard "Expo Exhibition" of the Sialkot-made export products including sports goods and surgical instruments to lure the foreign buyers.
On this occasion, President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Zubair Farid Tufail said that the prime obligation of the commercial counselors was to promote Pakistan exports.
SVP FPCCI Aamer Ata Bajwa, VP FPCCI Manzoor Ul Haq Malik, Chairman Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) Khurram Aslam, Central Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ejaz A Khokhar, Sialkot business community leader Riazud Din Sheikh, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Majid Raza Bhutta, Chairman
Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) Malik Muhammad Ashraf, Director Sialkot WFSGI Dr Nouman Idrees Butt and Executive members PSGMEA attended the meeting. - APP
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December offers fail to cheer auto cos as sales fall up to 50%
- Tanzanian student was not stripped, paraded naked: K'taka Home Minister
- National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul Gandhi move SC challenging Delhi HC order
- Budget session of Parliament to begin on Feb 23; Jaitley hopeful of GST
- Suspended UP chief engineer Yadav Singh arrested, Congress, BJP say probe links
- Will stand by Pakistan if it acts on terror: Rajnath Singh
In a year marked by high interest rates, surging fuel prices and a slowdown in economic growth, major auto companies, including Hyundai Motor India, General Motors, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Tata Motors, saw passenger car sales fall in the range of 10-50% in December.
Tata Motors' passenger vehicles sales fell over 50% in December 2012 to 14,185 units compared with 28,916 units a year ago. Sales of the Nano, Indica and Indigo combined were 11,257 units while that of the Sumo, Safari, Aria and Venture together were 2,928 units. The company did not provide a further break-up of the sales figures.
While Maruti Suzuki did not announce sales numbers till late evening, Hyundai Motor India saw its domestic car sales fall by 10% to 26,697 units in December 2012 against 29,516 units in the corresponding month last year.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor's domestic car sales fell 24% for December. It sold 12,071 units in December 2012 compared with 15,948 units in the corresponding month in 2011.
GM India, on the other hand, saw its domestic car sales decline by 22% to 7,067 units in December, 2012 over 9,039 units sold in the same month of 2011. In a statement, GM said the fall was despite it running offers on sales.
"The market continues to remain depressed on account of various negative factors, including high interest rates and poor economic conditions," said P Balendran, vice-president, GM India.
Automobile makers are now pinning hope on the forthcoming Union Budget for some corrective measures to improve the economic environment. "The only hope now is on Union Budget. We hope it to address some of the concerns of the industry and announce some positive measures to bolster the economic recovery," Balendran said.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) registered an 18% growth domestically in its passenger vehicles segment (which includes the UVs and Verito) to 22,761 units in December, against 19,341 units during December 2011. It saw a flat growth in the sale of its commercial vehicles in the domestic market to 13,706 units in December over 13,757 units sold in December 2011. Mahindra Navistar Automotives saw a de-growth of 40% in its sales for December to 631 units, over 1,049 units sold in the same month last year.
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- ICDS, the primary scheme targeting malnutrition, needs to be broadened
- Rohith's death must focus attention on the rites of exclusion in the university
- Telescope: State in the bedroom
- The economy is best served by lowering interest rates and blocking protectionism


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Lane15 Software, a developer of InfiniBand(TM)management software, today announced that it is delivering standalone management software for heterogeneous InfiniBand fabrics to IBM, Intel, Banderacom, QLogic, InfiniSwitch and OmegaBand. All of which are using Lane15’s Fabric Manager(TM) to test their products for interoperability.
InfiniBand Architecture is a new channel-based, switched fabric technology designed to solve the input/output (I/O) bottleneck that slows down data transfers between servers and peripherals in corporate data centers. Before InfiniBand hardware can be made available to network administrators, the products must be tested using management software.
“We have accomplished a significant milestone in becoming the first company to deliver standalone management software to InfiniBand vendors,” said Alisa Nessler, president and CEO of Lane15 Software. “Lane15’s Fabric Manager is assisting the engineering efforts of several leading InfiniBand hardware vendors, including IBM, Intel, Banderacom, QLogic, InfiniSwitch and OmegaBand. Over time we expect our fabric management software to play a key role in the development, testing and deployment of all InfiniBand products.”
“IBM is using the Lane15 Fabric Manager to test IBM DB2 solutions using the InfiniBand I/O fabric and IBM eServer xSeries servers,” said Dr. Tom Bradicich, director, Architecture and Technology, IBM eServer xSeries. “Lane15’s Fabric Manager enables us to integrate into our system quickly and efficiently. We are enthusiastic about the enterprise capabilities and interoperability of InfiniBand subnets.”
This developer edition of Lane15’s Fabric Manager is the first in a series of product releases from Lane15 Software.


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Small firms' struggles keep employment weak
Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Lagging small-business revenues may explain why job creation remains so weak.
Small businesses - firms with 500 or fewer employees - generated nearly two-thirds of all new jobs over the past 15 years, according to the Small Business Administration.
But Main Street firms seem to be suffering as consumer spending remains weak, while many Wall Street giants benefit from growth in Asia and the developing world, said Brian Pretti, senior investment manager at Mechanics Bank in Richmond.
"The really big blue chip guys have a lot of business in Asia and their earnings are good," he said. "The economic story is not so good for the local businesses."
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Up-to-date facts about small-business performance are hard to come by because small, private firms don't report their earnings each quarter as do publicly traded companies.
But new data from the North Carolina accounting software firm Sageworks offers a lens into small-business finance.
Based on its analysis of thousands of anonymous financial returns from firms throughout the country with $10 million or less in annual sales, Sageworks estimates that revenues for small businesses fell 5 percent in 2009 and continued to shrink by 6 percent midway through 2010.
Sageworks Chief Financial Officer Drew White said that as sales fell owners reacted quickly to cut expenses to maintain their profit margins. "Unfortunately that means cutting salaries and jobs," White said.
The notion that small firms face a revenue squeeze is corroborated by the most recent monthly survey of the National Federation of Independent Business.
More than a third of respondents told the group that their revenues were down from the prior quarter. Nearly one-fourth that said revenue rose while the rest said sales were more or less flat.
Federation economist William Dunkelberg said until small firms see a pronounced upturn in sales, they are unlikely to do much hiring.
He said the current economic situation differs from past rebounds. It used to be that small businesses led the nation out of recession because they were the first to benefit from rising consumer spending and the recovery of the housing market.
Once small-firm sales turned around, they picked up hiring, helping to fuel the general recovery, he said.
But in this economic cycle consumer spending and housing both remain weak, while global factors like stimulus spending in China and the speedier growth of developing economies benefit multinationals.
As a result, the nation's small-business job engine is stalled in a way that is not easy for government to influence.
"How do you stimulate revenue growth?" asked White at Sageworks, framing the question he thinks policy makers should be asking.
Small-business revenues down, hiring stalled
This chart summarizes the finances of thousands of businesses with $10 million or less in annual revenues. Still waiting for revenue growth midway through 2010, small firms are holding down payroll expenses to maintain profitability.
|Sales, percent change||7%||5%||3%||-5%||-6%|
|Net pretax profit margin||6||6||5||5||6|
|Payroll as % of sales||18||18||17||14||14|


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One day after announcing Delaware’s participation in a landmark climate prosperity project, Gov. Jack Markell awarded a workforce training grant to AutoPort Inc. that will allow the Fortune 500 company to begin converting gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles in the First State.
The conversion of electric vehicles has the potential to create jobs in the long-term and is an example of how Delaware businesses can adapt to the new energy economy. Environmentally conscious customers wanting to purchase cars that do not pollute and that reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil present new markets for Delaware businesses.
The Markell administration awarded the grant to AutoPort to get the company’s automotive workers trained in assembling and handling high-power electric components for electric cars. This is a first step toward establishing an electric vehicle industry in Delaware and a first step in Markell’s climate prosperity initiative.
“Delaware must have a public policy that places sustainability at the forefront of our economic development efforts,” Markell said. “When I was a kid, we worried about how many people we could squeeze into our car. Now, we worry about how many miles per gallon we can squeeze out of our family vehicles to protect our beach towns from global warming. Our economy needs to keep up with these changing attitudes, and my administration is committed to keeping Delaware on the leading edge of the Green Economy. We must encourage companies like AutoPort to train their workforce to produce sustainable products if we are going to meet the significant economic and environmental challenges facing our state.”
Specifically, the funds will pay for AutoPort employees to travel to a California manufacturer for hands-on training in producing electric vehicles, and for technicians from the California plant to then come to AutoPort to assist in the making of electric vehicles. The funding comes from the Delaware Economic Development Office's Blue Collar Grant program, which helps Delaware businesses train their workers in specialized skills.
“Despite tough economic times, it’s important to invest in companies like AutoPort that continue to rely on a stable, experienced workforce to make their businesses successful,” DEDO Director Alan Levin said. “Our Blue Collar Grant Program ensures Delaware’s workforce is equipped with critical skills in today’s business world and helps our state’s employers improve bottom line performance.”
New Castle-based AutoPort, according to DEDO analysis, contributes $4.5 million to the state’s Gross Domestic Product and employs approximately 70 people. The company, founded in 1981, is a leader in the auto-processing and vehicle-modification industries.
“AutoPort wants to thank the Governor for allowing us to be a part of this green initiative in the state of Delaware,” said AutoPort President Roy A. Kirchner. “We look forward to helping move our country toward energy independence and a cleaner environment.”
On Monday, Markell announced that Delaware was the only state participating in a national project that places sustainability and environmental health and welfare squarely at the center of economic development efforts. The Climate Prosperity Project, sponsored by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Global Urban Development, seeks to demonstrate that innovation, efficiency and conservation of resources are the best ways to create jobs and increase incomes, productivity and competitiveness. Project participants will develop best practices and provide expert advice for pilots that are pursuing environmentally sustainable economic development strategies.
Markell last year released a Climate Prosperity strategy that aims to make Delaware a leader in sustainable economic development. The state will implement strategies that reduce energy costs for businesses, making them more competitive, and for homeowners, returning dollars to the local economy. It will also implement strategies to help Delaware’s existing businesses become participants in the green economy, and it will create a workforce trained to power green industries in Delaware, such as electric-vehicle manufacturing and the constructing of parts for wind turbines.
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Legal cannabis sales in the United States eclipsed Starbucks Corporation sales, reported MJBizDaily, which cited the 2022 MJBiz Factbook. The development comes even though coffee is legal in all 50 states.
The cannabis industry saw an increase in sales of 30% in 2021. Starbucks’ annual revenue in North America grew by 25%.
Legal recreational and medical cannabis sales landed in a range of $24.5 billion to $27 billion in 2021, while Starbucks raked in $20.5 billion in sales, the report said.
In comparison, sales of over-the-counter sleep aids — a commonly named reason for using cannabis — increased by less than 1%, and sales of pain relievers grew 5% in 2021, the report said.
Legal, Adult Use Cannabis Sales Surpass $3.7B In 2021
In April, the Marijuana Policy Project released an updated report on tax revenue generated from state-legal, adult-use cannabis that includes totals for the entirety of 2021.
In 2021 alone, legalized states generated more than $3.7 billion in cannabis tax revenue from adult-use sales, which is a 34% increase in revenue over 2020.
As of March 2022, states reported a combined total of $11.2 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales since 2014, when sales began in Colorado and Washington state.
RELATED: Cannabis Sales Are Expected To Climb This Much In 2022
Global cannabis sales for 2022 will reach just over $35 billion, a jump of approximately 22% over 2021 sales of $29 billion, according to BDSA’s most recent five-year rolling market forecast update. BDSA forecast global cannabis sales will surpass $61 billion in 2026, for a compound annual growth rate of more than 16%.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.


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- Recap: Ford Motor Co. set the world precious metals market on its ear last week, saying it had found a substitute for platinum in catalytic converters. Prices for gold and platinum slumped, with the latter metal down nearly $100 from its recent peak of $614 an ounce. In takeover news, Federal Express Corp., the overnight package-delivery firm, offered $880 million for Tiger International Inc., the world`s biggest air freight company. The Federal Reserve Board established higher bank capital requirements, to take effect in 1992.
Copyright © 2019, Chicago Tribune


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A ‘yes’ vote on Brexit would weaken the UK’s wine and spirit trade, industry players have warned.
The country’s part in the European single market has a positive impact on the sector, according to an overwhelming percentage of Wine and Spirit Trade Association members, with 91% backing the claim in a survey by the organisation.
The poll of 300 members on key concerns surrounding Brexit found 85% felt the EU had a beneficial effect on their business, while 69% believed it had a positive impact on consumers.
Four out of five (81%) WSTA members worried that a departure from the EU would create an uncertain trading environment, and 78% cited concerns about restricted access to the common market.
“While all views were represented by our membership, the vast majority is clear that the industry will better be able to invest, grow and create jobs if the UK remains in the single market,” said WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, who insisted that the wine and spirits industry needed a strong voice within the EU “to ensure we can shape and influence regulations that will impact on the trade and its access to the EU’s 500 million consumers.”
He added: “It is clear… our place at the centre of the international wine industry is hugely positive for the UK and its consumers. There is real concern that this would be put at risk as a result of exiting the EU.”


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The neighborhood pharmacy encourages flu and COVID-19 vaccination before Halloween to get protected ahead of winter and the holiday season
PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) warns of early increases in seasonal influenza cases, Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) addresses common misperceptions about vaccination and stresses the importance of staying up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations before Halloween.
“People are looking forward to celebrating Halloween and the upcoming holiday season,” says Karen Staniforth, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Rite Aid. “But, with flu season looming and new COVID-19 variants lurking, the thought of getting sick has communities spooked. To ease fears, our pharmacy team at Rite Aid is here to share best practices to fight the flu and COVID – before they creep up on you.”
Rite Aid’s pharmacists offer the following seasonal tips:
For more information on flu vaccination, COVID-19 vaccines, and more seasonal health tips – including how to schedule your immunizations – visit Riteaid.com.
About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid is a full-service pharmacy that improves health outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the modern pharmacy by meeting customer needs with a wide range of vehicles that offer convenience, including retail and delivery pharmacy, as well as services offered through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Elixir, Bartell Drugs and Health Dialog. Elixir, Rite Aid’s pharmacy benefits and services company, consists of accredited mail and specialty pharmacies, prescription discount programs and an industry leading adjudication platform to offer superior member experience and cost savings. Health Dialog provides healthcare coaching and disease management services via live online and phone health services. Regional chain Bartell Drugs has supported the health and wellness needs in the Seattle area for more than 130 years. Rite Aid employs more than 6,300 pharmacists and operates more than 2,300 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. For more information, visit www.riteaid.com.


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There’s a new heavy duty brand in town and from a new source country, South Korea. On first impressions, people might be surprised by the sophistication of the new Hyundai Xcient prime mover which has recently arrived from South Korea.
The design suggests the Hyundai team has been closely examining top of the range European prime movers and it seems to have done a good job. This is a spacious, comfortable and well built cabin, coupled with an effective driveline.
A batch of production trucks have arrived and are touring the country’s small band of Hyundai truck dealers. This is not a big splash launch, this is a ‘bring the trucks into the country and let people touch and feel the new product’ campaign for customers to see what they think.
Hyundai have been active here in Australia for some time, but at the lower end of the GVM scale. The current models being offered come in at 4.5 or or 6.5 times GVM. They are the kind of light duty truck we have seen arriving from many Asian manufacturers.
They have had some success, so far this year Hyundai has recorded 62 truck sales, according to the figures published by the Truck Industry Council on a monthly basis. This is not earth shattering but at least the brand has been able to bother the scorers.
The new Xcient prime mover is something completely out of the box. It is a full blown European-style cabover prime mover with a 520 hp Engine coupled with the tried and tested ZF ASTronic automated manual transmission, including an effective four stage retarder.
Diesel News took the opportunity to test drive this new heavy duty brand in town and put it through its paces on the roads of Southeast Queensland. The tests that included an ascent and descent of the arduous Cunningham’s Gap. It is on climbs this where you can demonstrate the true mettle of a driveline, the quality of the power, torque and retardation available from the Hyundai engine.
For a full report on the test drive and this all new prime mover, go to www.dieselnews.com.au and subscribe to Diesel Magazine.


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Utahns lost a total of $72 million to online scams in 2021. Among the methods claiming more victims than before was catfishing, and we spoke to a woman who nearly fell prey to one such scam.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the largest federal nutrition assistance program, which provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via an Electronic...
‘The motivation was greed, unrestrained greed’: Ex-Nigerian official sentenced to 5 years for stealing from U.S. disaster relief funds
Prosecutors say Abidemi Rufai used stolen identities to apply for millions in aid for Covid-19 and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma despite living in Nigeria.
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When MoviePass first launched, offering people a chance to pay a flat monthly fee for infinite movie tickets, it seemed too good to be true. It ultimately was, of course, with “infinite movies” eventually becoming “a couple of predetermined movies and only at certain times” as the company started to bleed money, and then the company died. According to the Securities And Exchange Commission, though, some of the company’s founders made it “too good to be true” on purpose and knew going in that it
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ORLANDO — Pallet provider CHEP USA here and Capgemini Consulting, New York, are leading an initiative aimed at optimizing the use of floor-ready displays (FRDs) by manufacturers and retailers.
The initiative is looking at issues such as how to reduce the waste associated with FRDs as well as how to increase their value. Participants will attempt to “understand how FRDs move through the value chain, who touches them and how they are measured,” said Alexander Christen, senior manager, Capgemini Consulting, during a session last week at the Supply Chain Conference here, hosted by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
“We need to understand this and map it out,” said Kim Rumph, president of CHEP USA.
Current participants in the initiative include three CPG firms — PepsiCo, ConAgra and Nestle — and seven food retailers — Food Lion, Meijer, Supervalu, Publix, WinCo, H-E-B and Save-A-Lot. More participation from the industry is being sought.
For more information, contact Vishal Patell, CHEP USA's senior director of marketing strategy, at [email protected]
|More from Supermarketnews


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February will see the availability of the recently announced GeForce RTX 3060. Sources now claim to have learned the final availability to be in late February.
A precise date is not claimed as typical for NVIDIA, it can shift slightly, but February 28 would be indicated by Wccftech. However, since that is on a Sunday, that's not going to happen. Considering all NVIDIA launches are on a Tuesday or Thursday, it would be far more logical to see either Tuesday the 23rd or Thursday the 25th. The reviews of the cards should also come online around that time, and with confusing seeding dates (19th), all doesn't line up well just yet.
|Nvidia RTX 3060|
|December 30th||Nvidia partners provide a press review sample list.|
|January 5th||The first communication between Nvidia partners with the press||-|
|January 12th||Initial communication between Nvidia partners with retailers||-|
|January 12th||Nvidia and partners can announce products||-|
|February 19||First review samples are sent to the press|
|End of February(Wccftech: February 28)||Reviewer's embargo is lifted|
|End of February||First GeForce RTX 3060s on the shelves|
The reference model's suggested retail price is $329. The Word is that there will not be a Founders Edition this round. The more customized cards will likely be more expensive than that $329. Earlier leaked etailer prices have indicated card to become as expensive as a founder edition GeForce RTX 3060 Ti ($399).
Updated: new information now strongly suggests a February 25th release date.
In the CES presentation, you will have spotted a single blower style product, but that one was for illustrative reasons solely, it now seems. The card will be based on an 8nm fabrication APmpere GPU that offers 3584 shader cores, 28 RT Cores, and 112 Tensor Cores, a 1320/1777 MHz GPU and which integrates 12 GB of 192-bit GDDR6 memory.


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Small businesses have been left in financial ruin due to the pandemic, with one in 12 unsure they will ultimately survive, according to new research.
The data from Santander found that 21 per cent of small businesses expect they may collapse before any changes in restrictions kick in.
Those who will survive, do not expect to to recover to pre-pandemic levels until the summer of next year.
Small businesses operated by people with an ethnic minority background were also disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, researchers found, with 47 per cent experiencing a fall in business activity.
The findings pull the future of the high street into more uncertainty, as 29 per cent plan to leave city centre’s this year.
“With the growth of remote working, small businesses across the country will be at the forefront of our economic revival, but 2021 will be a crunch year for many, with a lot riding on a successful vaccine rollout,” said head of business banking at Santander UK, Susan Davies.
The UK’s vaccination programme provides a slither of optimism for some, but businesses in northern parts of the UK are set to see disproportionately low profits by March.
The data revealed that Covid-19 will likely widen regional disparity, with London firms forecasting a profits dip of 3.8 per cent as opposed to the East Midlands predicting a drop of 11.6 per cent.
Davies added: “While there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution, extensions to VAT deferrals, the furlough scheme and business rates relief could provide businesses with additional breathing space.
“We have been working tirelessly to support small business owners throughout the pandemic – from online workshops, ecommerce training and mental health support – and we will continue to help them find solutions to the huge challenges they are currently facing,” she concluded.


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“There’s got to be a catch,” John Gruber writes for Daring Fireball. “That’s what everyone has been thinking ever since Apple announced the iPhone XR alongside the XS and XS Max on September 12. Right? The iPhone XR seemingly offers too much of what the XS provides at a significantly lower price.
“Well,” Gruber writes, “there is no catch.”
“The iPhone XR is everything Apple says it is, and it’s the new iPhone most people should buy. I’ve been using one as my primary phone for the last week, and it’s a lovely, exciting device,” Gruber writes. “Even some of the things I thought were compromises don’t feel like compromises at all in practice. Overall, yes, the XS and XS Max are better devices, but in a few regards the XR is actually better.”
“The difference here isn’t about the XS models being A-team phones and the XR being a B-team phone. It’s more like the XS models are a bit luxurious — an extra camera, stainless steel frames instead of aluminum, OLED instead of LCD — and the XR is a bit more practical. But they’re all on the A-team in terms of quality and performance. The XR is actually better in some ways, notably battery life and low-light Portrait Mode photography,” Gruber writes. “It sounds too good to be true, but the XR is almost as good as the XS models at a far lower price. Dollar for dollar, the XR is almost certainly the best iPhone Apple has ever made.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s iPhone Xr is clearly the best value in X-class iPhones.
Gizmodo reviews Apple’s iPhone Xr: ‘Affordability done right’ – October 23, 2018
It took Apple less than four days to sell out initial iPhone Xr supply – October 23, 2018
Some of Apple’s iPhone Xr models are already sold out – October 19, 2018
Apple’s 6.1-inch iPhone Xr looks set to become a huge blockbuster – October 16, 2018


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Adidas has announced Futurecraft 3D, a 3D-printed running shoe midsole that can be tailored to the cushioning needs of an individual’s foot.
Printers & Imaging
MIT has built a 3D printer that can print with multiple materials and has an integrated machine vision system for self-calibration of print heads, 3D scanning and a closed-feedback loop to enable print corrections.
Cheap-as-chips all-in-one printers are not a new concept. Nor is the task of paying more for ink than the printer is worth. It’s how the manufacturers make their money on these products. But what is new with HP’s DeskJet 3630 all-in-one printer is th...
HP has introduced a new breed of LaserJet printers that are smaller in footprint and more efficient when it comes to toner usage and energy consumption. The cornerstone technology of these laser printers is HP’s JetIntelligence cartridges, and it’s a...
XYZprinting has launched what it claims is the world’s first all-in-one 3D printer for consumers, and it will soon be available to buy in Australia. The da Vinci 1.0 AiO is capable of not only printing 3D objects, but also scanning them, and will be ...
It might not exactly sound appealing to live in, but a Chinese company has constructed two buildings using a 3D printer that recycles industrial waste to form new building material.
3D printing has lost its novelty value a bit, but new printing materials that MakerBot plans to release will soon make it a lot more interesting again.
Hardcotton is set to launch a kickstarter campaign for its pressure controlled stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer.
Hewlett-Packard has confirmed reports that it plans to break itself into two companies.
Canberra 3D printing start-up, Hardcotton, has developed what it claims is the world’s first pressure-controlled 3D printer, a device which requires minimal human interaction.
A total of 26,800 3D printers were shipped globally in the first quarter of calendar 2014, and while enterprises still represent the majority of customers, the consumer sector is gaining traction, according to Canalys.
Epson has launched its PrecisionCore inkjet technology in Australia and claims the technology poses a major threat to the laser printing industry.
Online retailer, Kogan, has announced that it will be selling XYZ’s da Vinci 1.0 3D Printer at a price of $699, significantly cheaper than the $1499 price tag of the only notable 3D printer available in general retail, Officeworks’ Cube 3D Printer.
In one of the more entertaining printer surveys we’ve seen recently, HP polled 1051 office workers in 2013 to find out ‘how Australians use their printers’. The research, conducted online by Lonergan Research, came out with all sorts of interesting n...
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A Raleigh dentist is apologizing for an ad she called “ignorant and offensive” that ran in a local magazine.
Dr. Jill Sonner with Renaissance Dental Center said there was no ill intent behind the ad that shows her and two other dentists advertising a free whitening system.
In the ad, Sonner is dressed in a Native American costume while the other dentists are in a geisha costume and a Scottish outfit.
The ad appears in the May/June edition of Midtown Magazine.
“The idea behind the ad was just the message that a smile is universal, and we all smile in the same language. We did not realize at the time that it would be offensive or insensitive. We are truly sorry,” Sonner told CBS 17.
The ad has been removed and replaced from Midtown’s online version with an ad they created for March Madness.
An apology was posted to the Renaissance Dental Center’s Facebook page Thursday morning.
“In one of our recent advertisements, we attempted to focus upon something that unites us…the warmth and joy behind a smile. We now realize it was ignorant and offensive, and we are truly sorry. We have learned a valuable lesson in this situation. Again, our sincere apologies.”
Sonner said they hope to learn and grow from this.
“We are a family practice and we always try to create ads that appeal to different patients of our practice, and after running this ad and realizing the impact, we are definitely going to be more thoughtful and intentional when we do our future ads,” she said.
Midtown Magazine publisher and editor Connie Gentry said the ad should not have run.
“In hindsight, clearly this was an inappropriate and insensitive ad to run. That was never our intent and it certainly wasn’t the intent of the advertiser,” Gentry said.
“As soon as it was called to our attention, that people were offended, we removed and replaced it. Obviously we can’t change it in the print edition, but we did change it instantly in our digital version and we would not run this ad again.”
Gentry said Midtown Magazine will improve as a result. She said the incident shows the magazine needs stricter guidelines and a more thorough process in the way ads are placed into the magazine.
WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:


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TAMPA - The iPad 2 is in high-demand. At the Tampa Best Buy location where Lee Wilson works, he says it sold out in fewer than two hours the first day the iPad 2 was available. "The iPad is huge when it comes to popularity. It's a gaming console. It's a library," said Wilson, a Best Buy Geek Squad Agent.
And it's going to be even harder to come-by. Five key iPad parts are made in Japan including semi-conductors and the touch screen components.
"The main panel is what you're touching on, on the iPad itself, it's reactive to your touch, it makes the screen move left to right, up down, if you're playing video games," said Wilson.
Most Best Buy stores are taking pre-orders, but the wait may be around six-weeks. The wait time online is about the same.
When it comes to Japanese-made cars, price increases could be in the future for some hybrid and fuel-efficient cars like the Toyota Prius. The Prius was already hard to find because of rising fuel prices.
Now production is stopped at two Japanese plants where Prius hybrids and some Lexus luxury models are made. An analyst with TrueCar.com says a Prius that may have sold under invoice a few weeks ago will soon be sold for more than the sticker price.
Analyst Jesse Tropak says there are about 20 cars that are only made in Japan, so they may become harder to find or go up in price. The list includes the Toyota Yaris, the Honda Fit, Insight and CRV and some Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura models.
It's not just Toyota keeping a close eye on its Japanese plants. Companies like Nissan and even Ford say it's a fluid, unpredictable situation.
A Ford spokesperson says they rely on a Sanyo plant in southern Japan for batteries for three hybrids including the Ford Fusion but so far he says the plant has not been affected.
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The lawyer for the woman who accused Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston of sexually assaulting her is calling for the Florida Attorney General to investigate the rape case and the Tallahassee Police Department.


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Former US Denver Broncos quarterback, John Elway, plans to launch his new Internet venture during American Football’s Super Bowl week next January.
The MVP.com Web site is still under development, but will focus on sports, fitness programmes, health information and nutritional and financial planning, with the concept of setting personal goals.
No details were available on Elway's personal investment, although he owns 50 per cent of the new company, but it is also partnering with Florida based JW Genesis Financial, a brokerage and financial services company.
The two time Super Bowl champion will become co chairman with Marshall Leeds, JW Genesis’ president, while Joel Marks, JWGenesis’ chief operating officer will take over the same role at the company's Atlanta headquarters.
Elway said: "This isn't a hobby for me. This is the beginning of a new life and I'm committed to making it successful. This is my next career and I expect MVP.com to become a portal that offers high quality information that is fun and valuable to visitors."
He continued that he only bought his first PC last year and had no expertise in the Internet or ecommerce, but he has invested in other Internet ventures and holds an stake in the Spanish language Internet company, QuePasa!com.
"The Internet is the means by which products, services and information are being delivered now and will continue to be delivered into the 21st Century. My goal is to pass along my experiences and relationships to MVP.com customers by bringing the best features and brand name products to a single cyberspace location," he added.
Among the companies helping to develop the site are Tanning Technologies, Third Millennium Communications and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Campaigners want US authorities to break-up Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger into separate companies
The perception of the industry as "a white man in a hard hat" is limiting new applicants, says Hayaatun Sillem
Almost two years late - and just as AMD is readying 7nm Zen 2 for early 2019
Eye-wateringly expensive smart speakers take just six per cent market share, claims Strategy Analytics


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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Shows Badass Side with Buff Look
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Told You I'm a Tech Buff!!!
7/14/2017 10:08 AM PT
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is putting a whole new meaning to being a hardcore nerd.
The tech giant boss showed off his impressive biceps Thursday in a tight black polo and vest -- cool shades, bro! -- as he headed to the third day of the annual Allen & Company Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful businessmen showed up for the weeklong conference. The 53-year-old and third-richest man in the world won't ever need bodyguards.
Not with those guns.


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By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The suspension of Brazilian fresh beef imports by the United States announced in June should have a minimal impact on Brazilian exports, according to the director of the Department of Statistics and Export Support at the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC) Herlon Brandão.
The decision, however, has led another country, China, to increase its inspection on imported Brazilian meat products.
“The export to the U.S. of fresh beef accounted for about two percent of Brazilian exports of this type of product. Brazil exports to more . . .
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The holiday season is officially over and people are trying to kickstart the new year with a healthier life style.
Dr. Justin Scharer from Wausau Weight Loss shared tips Tuesday morning on Wake Up Wisconsin to make your New Year's resolution stick.
Scharer said the first step someone should take is to create a plan for themselves. He said he recommends setting up a doctor supervised program.
"We want to make sure it's healthy, safe, and effective," Scharer said. "Losing the weight is one thing, regaining the health is another."
Healthy food such as lean meat, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats will also help you lost weight, according to Scharer.
"It's really about what you put in your mouth," he said.
Scharer said when looking for a new diet plan it's important to do research on it.
"Go with a program that has been shown and tested to be safe and one that you will be able to maintain for a long time," he said.
Along with eating healthy, Scharer said exercise can be done to help you lose weight but you should always start by changing your diet.
"It won't be effective if you just work out but don't eat healthy," he said.
One year after a deadly shooting rampage in Marathon County, the community and businesses honored the four lives lost in different ways.
1908 Grand Avenue, Wausau, WI 54403
News Tips: firstname.lastname@example.org or 715-842-9293


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SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) CEO Brian Krzanich said on Thursday he planned to expand his company’s small contract manufacturing business, paving the way for more chipmakers to tap into the world’s most advanced process technology.
With Intel far behind rivals in making chips for smartphones and tablets, many on Wall Street have urged the company to expand its contract manufacturing business, which currently contributes little to its overall revenue, and to open its factories to high-volume clients making mobile chips.
“We’re going to go much further. If we can utilize our silicon to provide the best computing, we’ll do that,” Krzanich told analysts. “People who can use our leading edge and build computing capabilities that are better than anyone else’s, those are good candidates for our foundry service.”
At his first annual investor day since taking over as chief executive in May, Krzanich said the slumping personal computer industry, Intel’s core market, was showing signs of bottoming out.
“Our view is that it’s declining but it’s beginning to show signs of stabilization,” he said.
Krzanich said that during his six-month tenure as CEO, Intel had improved its chip offerings for tablet makers and he pledged to quadruple the number of tablets with Intel chips in 2014.
Tablets with Intel chips would range in price from less than $100 to more than $400, he said, adding he recently gave every Intel board member a $149 Android tablet made with an Intel chip to demonstrate the progress the company was making in mobile.
Intel is the world’s top chipmaker and it dominates the PC industry, but it was slow to adapt its processors for smartphones and tablets, markets now dominated by rivals like Qualcomm (QCOM.O) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS).
Intel shareholders and its board are betting that Krzanich, a veteran from Intel’s cutting-edge manufacturing operation who replaced retiring CEO Paul Otellini, will be able to steer the company back on track.
“When we began our search for the CEO a year ago ... I was embarrassed that we had lost our way,” Intel Chairman Andy Bryant said at the event.
Intel also unveiled two upcoming mobile chips from its Atom line designed to easily interchange features to create different versions of the component.
A high-end version of the new chip, code named Broxton, and is due out in mid-2015.
Krzanich pointed to SoFIA, a low-end version, as an example of Intel’s new pragmatism and willingness to change how it does business. He said that in the interest of speed, SoFIA would initially be manufactured outside of Intel, with the goal of bringing it to market next year.
Intel will later move production of SoFIA chips to its own cutting-edge 14 nanometer manufacturing lines, Krzanich said.
Manufacturing chips on behalf of other companies is a major departure for Intel, which for decades had based its business on using its factory prowess to offer its own PC chips that were superior to rival products.
As PC sales shrink and with Intel’s fabrication plants operating at less than full capacity, Krzanich sees an opportunity to fill idle production lines while earning new revenue. He appears much more willing than his predecessor, Otellini, to open Intel’s factories to a wide range of companies, including potential competitors.
“Wow,” Raymond James analyst Hans Mosesmann wrote in a note to clients. “It’s very refreshing to see Intel make this move and could have important implications for the industry.”
Those companies currently rely on Taiwanese contract chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, or TSMC (2330.TW).
Otellini agreed early this year for Intel to manufacture programmable chips on behalf of Altera (ALTR.O), a Silicon Valley neighbor it does not compete with.
That deal, seen as allowing Intel to eventually take on larger customers, spurred speculation that Intel could do a much bigger deal to make iPhone or iPad chips for Apple (AAPL.O), which currently depends on Samsung to manufacture its chips. (Editing by Bernadette Baum and David Gregorio)


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IBDs and online specialist retailers alike won retail prizes in the BikeBiz Awards 2012 last week.
Taking place on Wednesday September 26th, over 200 members of the trade gathered for the Awards night at the Hilton Metropole NEC.
See the full list of winners here.
This year the Awards offered more chances to win in the distribution category, splitting the category down into five separate awards. Seventies Distribution picked up the prize in the new Specialist Distributor category, honouring firms best known for servicing a particular sector or piece of the cycle market. Next up, Hertfordshire-based Fisher Outdoor Leisure took the P&A Sales Team prize, while Upgrade Bikes won the P&A Marketing Team award. On the bikes side, CSG UK scored the Bike Distributor Sales Team prize, while Madison picked up the Bike Distributor Marketing Team award on the night.
Platinum Partner for the BikeBiz Awards 2012 was Gatorade, with Event Partners NRG4, Cycle-SOS and Mio also supporting the trade prizes as Event Partners. Competition Partner Cycleguard awarded a case of wine to one lucky attendee on the night.
View pictures from the night here and here. We’ve also now uploaded a gallery of pics from the night onto our Facebook page (‘Like’ us on Facebook to view them all).
The Awards were lobbied for and voted by the cycle industry. The 50+ judges will be listed in the November issue of BikeBiz, out in three weeks time.
Register for the BikeBiz News Digest at the registration page.
Follow BikeBiz on Twitter at @BikeBizOnline or ‘Like’ the BikeBiz Facebook page here.


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For decades, low-income urban and rural communities have faced limited opportunities to purchase healthy food. In the 1960s and 1970s, white, middle-class families left urban centers for homes in the suburbs, and supermarkets fled with them—taking jobs and tax revenues along with their offerings of healthy, affordable food. Low-income urban residents with limited transportation options did much of their shopping at small local stores that had limited selection and high prices. Rural communities, like underserved urban areas, confronted limited and highpriced food options, and did not benefit from the jobs and revenues a grocery store could bring. Advocates sought to increase access to healthy food, but for decades the problem seemed intractable. The poor paid more for their food and had fewer healthy, affordable options. There were few examples of successful strategies to improve access to healthy foods.
Disparities in access continue today, contributing to obesity and related health problems. In recent decades, obesity rates have risen dramatically. The good news, however, is that there are now many strategies being implemented across the country to address this issue. Many of these strategies highlight unique opportunities for health advocates, community residents, and policy-makers to partner with the private sector.


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Advertising in a time of disruption hasn’t been easy for brands, and many have tiptoed around the issues with generic promises and platitudes. But — surprise, surprise — consumers prefer a direct message with meaningful content.
Kantar’s new survey picks out some clear winners from the pandemic. First in line is Heinz’ “Breakfast isn’t going anywhere” campaign to provide 12 million breakfasts to vulnerable children in the UK.
Tesco’s “Some little helps” ad, which is a friendly version of a customer service announcement, prepared viewers for the covid-friendly in-store experience, and scored well for its helpfulness.
Aldi’s “We’re here for you” TV ad even risked a little humour, with Kevin the Carrot popping up to say “Go easy on the carrots everyone,” while reassuring customers that supplies were plentiful, and announcing priority shopping hours.
Guinness’ St Patrick’s Day ad was about celebrating safely and promised, “We’ll march again,” while informing customers that it had just signed a 9,000-year lease on its brewery, so, “We’re not going anywhere.”
Kantar has also come up with eight core principles for advertising in a time of disruption: 1. Talk about what you’re doing to help. 2. Be reassuring. 3. Be distinct. 4. Be enjoyable (don’t resort to “sadvertising”). 5 Give the brand a clear role. 6. Rethink media planning (people are consuming it differently). 7. Avoid the pitfalls (don’t exploit the situation). 8. Pay attention to changing consumer mindsets, because some new attitudes are here to stay.
Who would be most offended by your Freudian slip? Lidl or Aldi?
Corrected now Mark, thanks.


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June 8, 2021
BERLIN (AP) — German technology company Bosch on Monday opened a $1.2 billion chip factory in the eastern city of Dresden to help meet the growing demand for semiconductors.
A global shortage of semiconductors has forced major auto companies such as Volkswagen and BMW to slow vehicle production in recent months.
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The company that revolutionized social networking on the Internet has teamed up with some of tech hardware's biggest names -- Hewlett Packard Co, Dell Inc, Advanced Micro Devices, and Intel Corp -- to launch the "open compute project."
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the project aims to offer specifications and designs for more power-efficient computers that are specifically geared toward running Internet services, shared openly with other companies.
"What we found over time is that a lot of the stuff that the mass manufacturers put out wasn't exactly in line with what we needed and what other social apps needed," Zuckerberg said at a media event at Facebook's Palo Alto, California headquarters on Thursday.
By sharing design specifications, he said he hoped to increase availability and demand for the specialized servers.
Dell will build servers based on those technical specifications, while Synnex Corp will act as overall vendor for the systems. The technology will power servers in the social network's first custom-built data center, in Prineville, Oregon. Until now, Facebook has leased data centers for its infrastructure.
With more than 500 million users, Facebook is the world's No. 1 Internet social network and is increasingly challenging established Web companies like Google Inc and Yahoo Inc as a top destination for Web surfers and a compelling advertising channel for marketers.
The technical infrastructure that powers websites such as Facebook, on which more than 30 billion photos, videos and other types of content are shared by users every month, play a key role in a service's performance.
According to Facebook, the new servers will be 38 percent more energy efficient and cost 24 percent less than off-the-shelf products used to power its service.


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A woman was forced to miss her best friend’s wedding after her travel agent booked her on the wrong flight.
Nejat Buist, 45, and eight-year-old daughter Sabrina were due to fly from Edinburgh to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia after booking the trip with travel agents Thomas Cook.
But when the pair arrived at the airport on June 29 they were told an error had been made and the Turkish Airline flights had been booked for three days earlier on June 26.
The blunder meant Nejat and Sabrina, who was due to be a flower girl, couldn’t fly to the African country until July 3 – missing the wedding on July 1.
Nejat and husband Ron, 68, from Dunfermline complained to Thomas Cook, who organised the trip, and the travel company has now apologised.
Ron said the initial booking summary print out showed Nejat and her daughter flying out on June 29 – the day they were meant to. But a later confirmation document that Nejat had displayed the error.
In a letter of complaint to the travel company, Nejat said the travel giants “wasted my daughter’s and my time” and that she was “totally depressed and distressed”.
She wrote: “In short what a mess your company made by me missing the wedding, hassles at the airport, luggage expenses, travel and parking, expenses for outfits. It’s caused big distress, depression, anxiety and my daughter cried for three days because she never got to Ethiopia for the wedding. She was to be a flower girl. I have totally lost confidence and trust in Thomas Cook.”
Nejat and Sabrina were re-booked on an Arab Emirates flight on July 3 from Glasgow and are now with family in Ethiopia. But the devastated pair have missed the wedding they had been looking forward to.
Ron said: “My wife picked up the tickets the day before the flight but was very busy packing so didn’t look at the date on the ticket. She had been looking forward to going to her best friend’s wedding. It was stressful and annoying.”
Ron, who met Nejat while working overseas in Ethiopia and married her in 2000, said the mix-up left his wife devastated. Nejat was particularly looking forward to her best friend’s wedding after losing both of her sisters in the last two years.
Thomas Cook have said the flight mishap was a result of human error. A company spokeswoman said: “We made a mistake when booking flights for Mrs and Miss Buist by making the booking for the wrong day. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused to their travel plans and we rebooked them on the next available flight. We are also contacting the customer to offer a further gesture of goodwill.”


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The functionality of SmartDate thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) coders has been extended with an optional add-on that prevents product recalls and scrap by verifying the presence, position and quality of printed codes directly on film packaging.
MULTIVAC was presented with the 2019 Supplier of the Year award by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI). The award was given at the Annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon during the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga.
The cannabis packaging market has undergone significant growth, and various companies in many segments have recently launched recyclable packaging — such as metal cans, compostable cellophane bags and compostable pouches. Product marketing through packaging should be a focus, but meeting local and federal laws is critical for success.
Robots have done — and will continue to do — wonders for the labor force, in terms of helping relieve repetitive work and more mundane tasks for workers. But are we taking too many jobs away from people?
Packaging is constantly changing, and to keep up with consumer and retail/CPG demand, we have to look at the future as "now." Thinking ahead in order to make trend predictions and how machines and materials can be used is one way to help stay ahead in the ever-changing market.
With each passing year, the legalized cannabis industry grows as the stigma associated with it decreases. Ten states currently permit recreational marijuana, over 20 more permit medicinal use, and annual nationwide spending on legal cannabis is projected to reach nearly $50 billion in the next decade.
ProMach has expanded its labeling and coding solutions portfolio with the acquisition of Code Tech Corp. a leading provider of inkjet marking and coding solutions for companies in a variety of industries.
Active and intelligent packaging platforms serve different roles. Active packaging acts directly with the packaged product by interacting with it chemically or biologically. It has an effect on the product in the pack to extend shelf life, maintain quality and inhibit microbial or fungal growth, or it provides information about the condition of a product.
Advancements in active and intelligent packaging technologies are helping to ensure that oral solid dose (OSD) drug delivery — which comprises both capsules and tablets — remains the most popular delivery method in use today.
In this issue of Packaging Strategies, we cover the Top 100 food & beverage packaging companies, 3D technology for experience and brand packaging, linear transport systems, case and tray sealing, frozen food trends and more!


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Atari to Put Two Games on the Blockchain
December 20, 2018. Atari, an iconic video game company is putting 2 of its mobile games on the blockchain with the help from blockchain startup, Animoca Brands Limited.
The two companies signed a licensing agreement that will grant Animoca Brands the rights to produce and publish blockchain versions of two Atari mobile games. The two games are RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch and Goon Squad. These two will get published globally excluding China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.
The agreement that will extend until March 31, 2022 and will integrate non-fungible tokens (NFT) into the two games. It is expected to be delivered in the latter half of 2019.
“We are proud and delighted to enter into this long-term and strategic relationship with Animoca Brands, which also allows us to become a shareholder in one of the most exciting innovators in the world of decentralized gaming. We hope that this agreement paves the way to further cooperation on other Atari products.” – Mr. Frédéric Chesnais, CEO, Atari
Atari and Animoca Brands also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a strategic partnership in order to explore mutual opportunities in gaming, product development, blockchain, etc.
“This deal marks a special moment for me because I started my career working with Atari and using Atari computers. The RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise is, like many of Atari’s properties, a true evergreen, having been around for two decades. Given the strategic and commercial elements of this incredibly fun simulation, it is a perfect candidate for blockchain adaptation.” – Mr. Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands
Aside from Atari, a known brand, Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, has signed a one-year collaboration with PlayGame to deliver its games to PlayGame’s blockchain-based gaming platform. The two will collaborate to put a collection of game titles that will include popular Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Olaf.
The Managing Director of Gumi Asia, Mr. Ronnie Tan, believes that “Play to Earn” is the future of blockchain gaming and gaming in general during his speech at the 2018 GameFest Conference.
This article originally appeared on BitPinas:


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Party Pieces, the website owned by Kate Middleton's parents Carole and Michael, has been accused of selling party goods made in Mexican ghettos by families making as little as 10 pence (15 cent) per hour.
The products in question are candy-flled pinatas.
An investigation by The Daily Mail found that the pinatas are being produced in hillside ghettoes surrounding Tijuana, by families who say they are providing "slave labour" to produce the items.
A spokesman for the company said that as a responsible retailer, it took the allegations "very seriously and we will work with our suppliers to carry out investigations into these claims".Party Pieces was founded in 1987 by Carole Middleton, after she gave up work as a British Airways stewardess.She built up the firm with her husband, Michael, and it now employs more than 30 people, including their daughter Pippa.
Party Pieces has made the Middleton family fabulously wealthy.
Their three children were educated at Marlborough College, where fees are £27,000 a year. Before Kate was married, her parents bought her a £780,000 flat in Chelsea; and they holiday on the paradise island of Mustique, from which they and Prince William have just returned.


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Walmart wants to hire 80 associates at Beaver Dam distribution center, starting pay $17.50/hour
BEAVER DAM — Walmart announced on Monday, Sept. 16 that it is hiring 80 associates, including order fillers and other key roles, to support its Beaver Dam regional distribution center. Applicants have the opportunity to be hired on-the-spot — with conditional job offers.
A news release indicates the regional distribution center serves 87 Walmart stores throughout the Midwest. Wages for full-time hourly associates start at $17.50 per hour and can reach more than $19.25 an hour based on work area, shift and schedule. All positions are considered full-time — qualifying for benefits, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, a quarterly incentive program and access to a college degree for $1 a day.
Anyone interested in learning more about these positions is invited to attend a hiring event at 115 Distribution Way, Beaver Dam from 2 p.m. through 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Walmart officials say attendees will learn details on the jobs available, benefits, the application process and have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with the management team.
Applicants can also apply for roles at careers.walmart.com.