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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which was at the time eagerly anticipated by enthusiasts and industry experts, was forced to be pulled off the market by the Korean giant due to exploding smartphone batteries, an issue for which he ultimately was unable to find a fix.
A couples of week ago, the well-known YouTuber Arun Maini, aka Mrwhosetheboss, about problems with the batteries of some Samsung Galaxy smartphones are causing a stir. He has issued a video outlining a problem he’s noticed with a number of his older Samsung phones.
However, there have been a several reports in recent days regarding another issue with the batteries of older Samsung smartphones. It appears that these models, which have been put aside and haven’t been recharged in a while, could pose a risk to users.
In particular, after so many months without charging, their batteries could be led to swell due to the creation of gas (due precisely to non-use), and, in certain cases, this could even cause a fire. According to what we have learned, this problem concerns not only the old phones of Samsung but also those of other manufacturers, although it seems that the models of the Korean giant are more subject to it.
What Should You Do In This Situation?
- One of the things you should avoid doing if your phone’s battery is also in danger of damage is charging it; if it is damaged, it may explode or catch fire.
- In these circumstances, it is best to avoid even disassembling the phone to remove the battery and, if you must, to store the phone in a fireproof bag.
- On the other hand, if the smartphone is still very new, you can get in touch with the maker to ask about the potential of getting a new one. If not, recycling must be done, of course, with all the essential safety precautions.
Samsung Responds About Swollen Batteries
At present, the Korean giant has not taken an official position on the problem of the batteries of his old phones that swell after a long inactivity and, according to reports of those who claim to have contacted the manufacturer, the service team has often wanted to pick up the device in question, and then provide general answers.
At the moment the Samsung team would be studying the situation but there does not seem to be a ready solution and, if you consider how extensive the problem could be, the Korean giant has a really bad cat to peel.
The hope is that Samsung will be able to find a remedy quickly while as far as the future is concerned, many are already wondering if it is not possible to return to the use of removable batteries.
Don’t miss our latest news on Samsung technology. Follow SamLover.com on your favorite social media platforms for instant notifications.
Passionate about technology at the service of digital entertainment that can be used through any platform. Music, movies and video games have always taken up a good part of his free time, but he doesn’t give up outdoor activities, from simple walks to cycling and skiing. He has been producing editorial content for SamLover since 2022 and has run a computer and telephony store for 3 decades.


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Today, mobile phone carrier Verizon Wireless made the DROID DNA by HTC smartphone available for purchase on its network as the most advanced DROID phone in its lineup. The smartphone was made official only a few weeks ago, when it also went up for pre-order, and it can be bought now via the... [ read more >> ]
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DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co unveiled a new version of its iconic Mustang sports car on Tuesday with an exterior that differs in every way from its predecessor, except for the roof panel.
Ford expects significant fuel economy improvements with the 2010 Mustang GT and improved horsepower over the current version that gets about 22 miles per gallon on the highway. But it will still be gas-thirsty.
Ford and fellow U.S. automakers General Motors Corp and Chrysler — which is owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP — were in Washington on Tuesday to plead for a $25 billion U.S. government bailout package.
Detroit’s Big Three have suffered plunging auto sales as consumers have abandoned their bigger, gas-guzzling sports-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans. The credit crunch has further hurt sales, as many consumers have found auto loans increasingly hard to obtain.
But Ford’s unveiling of the Mustang, ahead of an auto show in Los Angeles, was a sign that at least one of the three major U.S. automakers was pushing ahead with its basic program of building cars.
The new Mustang, a 2010 model year revamp from the Pony emblem on the front to sequential turn signals on the rear taillights, brings modern touches to the last major redesign that brought back familiar shapes from its 1960s origins.
“The design is very recognizable as a Mustang and yet everything is new,” said Peter Horbury, Ford’s executive director of design for the Americas.
“You ought to be able to see this car 100 yards down the road at night and know what it is,” Mustang chief designer Doug Gafka said.
Sales of the current Mustang, which can be found in various V6 and V8 coupes and convertibles, have been sagging and the new version is aimed to spark renewed interest in the muscle car. Mustang sales were down nearly 30 percent in 2008 through October at 83,557. The new version will be available in 2009.
Ford has built the Mustang continuously for 45 years and believes the new version will have notably better handling.
The No. 2 U.S. automaker also aimed for significant improvements in the interior, adding a soft instrument panel, improving the fit and finish of materials, and adding advanced electronics options.
Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Gary Hill


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The last time we touched upon Viaderma Inc (OTCMKTS:VDRM) was earlier this spring, when the stock had shot up over 800% after it received provisional patent numbers for FDA-registered Viabecline and Cannabis Technologies.
This week, we wanted to circle back around to VDRM after the company reported positive results from Phase I testing on those technologies, as well as the commencement of Phase II testing.
Viaderma Inc (OTCMKTS:VDRM) aims at developing an approved method for delivering medical and recreational cannabinoids to the body. The testing was performed in British Columbia, Canada with THC and has proven very successful.
The Company plans to conduct medical research and clinical trials to develop Cannabinoids-based pharmaceuticals and treatments for conditions including, but not limited to, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and migraines. The Company will also be pursuing the “Recreational Market” in Canada with expansion plans into the USA once the proper legal standards are addressed.
“THC, CBD, and CDN are more commonly known Cannabinoids found in the Cannabis and Hemp plants but there are over 100 known Cannabinoids that our technology can be used for. As pharmaceutical companies develop different cannabinoids for treating various medical conditions our delivery system, we believe, will be the premiere way of dosing and delivering the medication transdermally,” said CEO Dr. Chris Otiko.
ViaDerma will be begin developing unique delivery systems for the effective delivery and dosage of recreational and medical cannabinoids and plans to start a grass roots product for both THC and non-THC Cannabinoids, both in a patch form, roll on and spray. The plans include distribution in every dispensary across Canada to start with, and add a website for global distribution.
The Company’s success of its first round of testing is compelling and the company plans to start continued Clinical Trials to ensure that the delivery system meets medical standards. The idea is to continue and expand testing to include pure Cannabinoid isolates, including pure THC oil, to ensure that developed products will be accepted by the medical community to treat illness as well as providing the recreational market with a more favorable alternative to smoking or ingesting.
Otiko said, “We are very excited our initial tests absorbed THC into the body using our proprietary patent pending delivery system for Cannabinoids by applying the medication onto the skin in an ointment based topical solution. Plans are, in addition to our own products, eventually license the technology to global Pharmaceutical Licensed Producers of Cannabinoids
for their medical and recreational products as well as smaller companies that produce the Home-Grown Hand Crafted Strains of medical and recreational products.”
Earlier this year the Company signed a Licensing Agreement with a Canadian group with expertise in logistics and development that includes distribution for the new and anticipated products. The Management Company is developing the trial protocols, products, and eventually the sales for the new patent pending products to countries that have accepted “Medical Marijuana” and “Recreational Use” of cannabis products and technologies for the delivery of Cannabinoids. The management company will also target countries that allow the “Clinical Studies” for medical testing such as the United Kingdom and other Asian countries. (Source: Marketwired)
We like VDRM’s approach to the recreational market in Canada, which is certainly further along in the march toward full legalization than its American counterpart. While the US is dealing with an administration that has all but reversed that momentum, Canada plans to move ahead with nationwide legalization in 2018. It’s one more aspect that draws us to continue to keep an eye on VDRM. Stay locked to Street Register for updates, and we’ll deliver important developments on VDRM as they unfold. In the meantime, if you’ve yet to sign up for our 100% free newsletter, do so now! Just enter your active email address into the box below and submit!
Disclosure: No one at Street Register has been compensated in any way for the publishing of this article, nor do we hold any position in VDRM stock, short or long.


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Try this, try that and see what entices customers. That's the mantra for tablet makers that are experimenting with new tablet features in the elusive quest to deliver the next big hit.
Sony and Fujitsu are waterproofing their latest tablets, while Samsung is pushing multitasking by enabling users to simultaneously watch video, take notes and send email with the new Galaxy Note 8.0. Asus is bringing Android and Windows dual-boot capabilities to its Transformer AiO tablet-and-desktop hybrid, which was introduced last week.
Device makers are flooding the market with new tablet designs to see what consumers are willing to pay for, said Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.
"Part of the problem is nobody knows what's going to stick," Gold said. "It's really about vendors wanting to differentiate and how they can get an advantage."
The tablet market is very young, and will go through many changes just like the smartphone and PC markets, Gold said.
Given their penchant for introducing innovative features to gadgets, it's not surprising that Japanese tablet makers are the first to waterproof tablets. Sony will soon begin worldwide shipments of its Xperia Tablet Z, a waterproof and dust-resistant tablet running the Android OS, and Fujitsu will ship its Arrows Tab Q582/F tablet, which has similar features and runs Windows 8. The tablets can remain submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes and still work, according to Sony and Fujitsu. It's a handy feature for clumsy tablet users like me who tend to drop devices.
This feature could ultimately come by default as tablet makers add ruggedness to their devices.
The Xperia Tablet Z has a 10.1-inch screen, is 6.9 millimeters thick and weighs 495 grams. It has a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Android 4.1. Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. The screen displays images at 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. It will become available in the second quarter, though price was not immediately available.
Fujitsu's Arrows Tab Q582/F tablet has an Intel Atom Z2760 processor code-named Clover Trail and an integrated Fujitsu LTE modem. It has 64GB of solid-state drive storage and 2GB of RAM. The tablet provides an estimated 10 hours of battery life. It is due to ship in Japan for US$1,330 this month, though worldwide availability has not yet been determined.
Samsung is emphasizing the ability to do multiple things at once with its Galaxy Note 8.0, which will ship in the second quarter. In demonstrations, Samsung officials showed that users could watch video and take notes simultaneously on the tablet, and link a note to a mapping application while the video was playing. Samsung has added some software features and the multitasking was aided by extensive use of Samsung's S-Pen stylus.
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Things are going from bad to worse for Sony -- the Japanese company expects to lose billions of dollars this year as its smartphone business bleeds.
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(Bloomberg) -- Confidence among South Korean consumers improved for a third month and signaled optimism for the first time since April, as expectations for easing global trade tensions and an economic recovery buoyed sentiment, according to the Bank of Korea.
The data, released ahead of a BOK meeting Friday at which the bank is expected to stand pat, adds to recent signs the slump may be bottoming for an economy that’s been hit hard by a global tech slump and the U.S.-China trade war. Other signs include: a drop in semiconductor inventories, an improving forecast from Samsung Electronics and data last week showing exports may be headed for their smallest decline in seven months.
The BOK’s consumer sentiment index rose to 100.9 in November from 98.6 a month earlier, according to data released Wednesday. The index is based on a monthly survey of household views about income, spending and the economy. A reading above 100 signals optimism.
A gain in the index tracking people’s income outlook was the biggest contributor to the headline figure. Indexes measuring people’s views on the economy and living conditions also rose.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jiyeun Lee in Hong Kong at firstname.lastname@example.org
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Malcolm Scott at email@example.com, Jason Clenfield, Dave McCombs
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com
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Ocean Signal, a British marine communications and safety at sea specialist, has launched the world’s smallest AIS man overboard (MOB) device with integrated digital selective calling (DCS) transmitter, receiving a DAME award nomination.
According to the brand, the Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 is around 30% smaller than competing products making it more practical when required in emergency situations. It’s available preinstalled on lifejackets aboard, or it can be purchased separately and manually installed on a number of lifejackets with welded-in bladders.
Ocean Signal announced that the technology has earned a DAME award nomination in the ‘Life Saving and Safety Equipment Category’, with the winner announced at the upcoming 2015 Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS).
The device is activated automatically upon inflation of the lifejacket with the first signal sent within 15 seconds using two different forms of communication in order to increase the chances of rescue.
Knowing that rescue is typically most likely from the casualty’s own vessel, upon activation the MOB1 transmits an alert to all AIS receivers and AIS enabled plotters within a five-mile radius using an integrated GPS tracker to produce a precise location.
Secondly, the device is able to trigger a Direct Selective Calling (DSC) alarm, subject to differing international regulations. These regulations mean that the casualty is either able to contact the vessel itself, or to contact many at a time. The device also comes equipped with a high-intensity strobe light to attract attention.
METS will mark the 25th anniversary of the DAME awards.
For more information, visit Ocean Signal.


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The second annual Detroit Black Restaurant Week kicks off on Monday with several restaurants offering week-long deals.
Founded by Kwaku Osei-Bonsu, the founder of BlackMetroEats.com, the event highlights black-owned restaurants in the city of Detroit.
“Detroit Black Restaurant Week is a proclamation. It is a drop in the melting pot that deserves a bit of flavor and tenacity," he said. "In an effort toward bringing people of all backgrounds together Detroit Black Restaurant Week exposes people to establishments and owners that they otherwise may not have faced."
Click here to learn more. Participating restaurants include:
- The Griot: Music Lounge & Bar
- River Bistro
- Yum Village
- Central Kitchen + Bar
- The Block
- Duo Restaurant and Lounge
- Coop Caribbean Fusion
- The Jamaican Pot
- Le Crepe


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A Popular Beer Brand Just Issued a Recall for Bottles That May Contain Glass Particles
Read this if you have any Stella Artois in your fridge right now.
Check your beer stash, everyone! Stella Artois is recalling select packages of its bottled brew, because — major yikes ahead! — glass particles can break off the bottle and fall into beer, potentially injuring consumers. In a statement on Monday, April 2, the brand said its a precautionary measure, and the recall "impacts less than one percent" of its bottles, as the issue started in a third-party production facility.
According to Business Insider, Christina Choi, Stella Artois' global brand vice president, clarified the recall, saying, "While the number of potentially affected glass bottles is very small, we are recalling these Stella Artois packages as a precautionary measure. Our team of technical experts has been working with our third-party glass bottle supplier to ensure this packaging flaw has been addressed."
So, what bottles of Stella Artois are being recalled?
Stella Artois' voluntary recall includes select six-, 12-, 18-. and 24-packs of its 11.2-ounce bottles as well as its "Best of Belgium" multipacks.
To see if your Stellas are part of this batch, compare the packaging date with the codes listed in the company's full-length press release. If yours is on the list (eek), you're encouraged to contact Stella Artois for more information, or call the consumer hotline at 855-215-5824.


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Zumbox, a startup which is trying to set up a digital alternative to the postal system in the U.S., has raised $8 million in a first round of funding from a series of high-profile private investors, including Michael Eisner, the former CEO of Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Rick Braddock, the former CEO of Priceline.com.
The startup says it has set up a ‘digital mailbox’ for each street address in the U.S., so that mail typically sent via the postal service can be sent electronically via its network instead. The company launched its service in beta in February — and has signed up some municipal adopters. One town, the Village of New Lenox in Illinois, is using Zumbox to send water and sewer bills to its 8,000 residents, while several others have formally encouraged residents to set up accounts.
Why not just send e-mails instead? Zumbox says that because its system is based on an individual’s street address instead of their e-mail address, there’s greater “accountability and reliability.” It also touts additional security features.
Of course, individuals will actually have to check their accounts for the system to take off — likely a big challenge considering the myriad of electronic accounts they already need to check. But with the U.S. Postal Service trying to close branches and cut back on delivery in order to stem its losses, perhaps there will be some demand at least among mail senders.
Zumbox says it is planning a national rollout beginning in the fourth quarter of the year and says it is partnering with media companies, municipal governments, and national and local mail senders, so that it will be able to reach one million households. Release.


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Northern Ontario mining giant Vale has confirmed it has signed a long-term contract to supply Tesla with Class 1 nickel for its electric vehicles.
“This agreement is in line with our strategy to increase exposure to the electric vehicle industry, leveraging our low-carbon footprint and market-leading position as North America’s largest producer of finished nickel,” Vale said in a news release Friday.
Deshnee Naidoo, Vale’s executive vice president of base metals, said the company is pleased to partner with the leading electric vehicle manufacturer.
“This agreement reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and shows very clearly we are the supplier-of-choice for low-carbon and high purity nickel products essential for long-range batteries,” Naidoo said.
“Vale’s target is to deliver 30 per cent to 40 per cent of Class 1 nickel sales into the fast-growing electric vehicle industry,” the company added.
This comes just over a month after news that Canada is investing $2 billion in its mineral strategy for the electric vehicle battery supply chain.
In March, the Province of Ontario released its critical minerals strategy with an aim to position itself as a global supply leader.


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BlackBerry shipped 1.5 million units, research firm IDC said in a statement, compared with 1.3 million in the first quarter. The company's share of the global smartphone market held steady at 0.5 per cent as the overall market grew, IDC said.
Under Chen, BlackBerry has shifted its focus from consumer phones to selling software-based services to businesses and governments. Chen said in July he would begin hiring new employees, marking the end of a restructuring phase that eliminated about a third of the workforce.
The company's smartphone business is still much diminished, with shipments down 78 per cent in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to IDC.
BlackBerry last made a sequential gain in smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2013, the first full quarter of sales for its BlackBerry 10 operating system. Ultimately, the new software failed to lure back enough users who had already switched in droves to devices by Apple and
To boost smartphone sales by appealing to business users, BlackBerry is set to release the ultrawide Passport and keyboard-equipped Classic later this year. In December, the company signed a five-year deal to outsource the manufacturing of its devices to
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The Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana announced on Wednesday that they have sold one million packages of cookies so far this season.
Product Program Manager Jennifer Bradford said in a press release that the exciting milestone shows the hard work and dedication that thousands of Girl Scouts and volunteers in the council put toward the annual Cookie Program.
Cookies continue to be sold through March 22 and are $4 a box. You can find more information about Girl Scouts and the cookies at their website G-S-N-I-M.org. You can also go on the website and use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to see when local troops will be selling out and about.


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2015 has been a milestone year at ONA: We celebrated our fifth anniversary, introduced our inaugural collection of laptop briefcases, and (thanks to WeWork!) saw ONA displayed in front of thousands of New Yorkers on a billboard in the heart of Times Square. As if all of this wasn’t exciting enough, just last month we announced a new partnership with Kuzari Group and welcomed Garry Thaniel to the team as our new CEO.
As we reflect on the past 365 days, it’s safe to say that we have no shortage of things to be grateful for. We’re especially grateful for our team and for every one of our customers and every member of the ONA community. We’re confident that 2016 will be even more exciting, and we’re looking forward to having you join us as we embark on this new chapter. In the meantime, read on for a few highlights from 2015.
Every month, the ONA team enjoys some time out of the office by taking a field trip somewhere fun in or around New York City. To start the year off right, we hit the ice for an afternoon skate at the Standard Hotel.
In mid-February, Tracy visited Yokohoma, Japan for the CP+ Camera and Imaging Show. Our Japanese distributors had created a gorgeous ONA display, and afterwards, they took Tracy to visit some of the exclusive stores in Japan where ONA products are sold. Don’t forget to read Tracy’s Travel Journal feature from her trip.
In March, our marketing director Mark visited El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara, California for Photo Field Trip. We got to hang out with many of our Community members (shoutouts to Dan Cohen, Paul Octavious, Michael O’Neal, Dylan Howell, and Sara Byrne) and also introduced ONA to hundreds of photographers.
We welcomed Victoria to the ONA team as our new Customer Care and Administrative Coordinator. This girl knows her street art!
On June 3, we celebrated ONA’s fifth anniversary! As with most celebrations in the ONA office, Georgetown Cupcakes were involved. We also launched our first-ever lifestyle collection with the introduction of the Kingston briefcase.
WeWork offices have been our home since 2012 and we are so happy to be a part of this community. In July, WeWork included ONA and our founder, Tracy on their billboard in Times Square — pretty incredible, to say the least. We’d like to thank our dear friend and WeWork photographer, Lauren Kallen, for taking the photo that made it on the billboard!
Many of the greatest images ever posted on Instagram can be found at #ONAPets. So we decided to do our second annual #ONAPets contest — it did not disappoint! Congratulations to Doug as well as the honorable mentions.
September was a busy month for new products, with the introduction of our Black Collection of premium nylon bags.
We also launched a collaboration with Sony Electronics for the launch of their new flagship A7RII camera, with the creation of a messenger bag and strap set, customized for the Sony Alpha system.
In October, we launched two more new collaborations — a 100cameras edition of our ever-popular Prince Street messenger, as well as a collaboration Kingston briefcase, created with WeWork, one of the world’s largest providers of collaborative working space.
In November, we launched a special edition of our bestselling Bowery, designed to carry cameras from Leica, the legendary German brand.
We also announced our partnership with Kuzari Group and welcomed Garry Thaniel to ONA as our new CEO.
Happy holidays and happy new year from the ONA team!


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CHICAGO -- The Independent Grocers Alliance here is launching its first "Explore the Store" promotion to drive sales during the typical pre-summer lull.
"We're using this promotion to bridge the gap between Easter and Memorial Day," said Kim Barden, director of communications and advertising at IGA.
The four-week long program will run from April 20 to May 17. Thirty-three national manufacturers are working with IGA to make the promotion possible.
Center Store packaged


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PUBG Mobile is making a comeback to India, in the form of an application tailored for the country called PUBG Mobile India. The said development could be taking place sooner than people anticipated.
As per a tweet by a fan club account for PUBG Mobile India on Friday, the game will be available in a 'few hours' for downloading on the Google Play Store, as well as through a separate APK download for Android users. It, however, does not show anything about the Apple App Store or an iOS version of the game; it is not known when the game will be rolled out for iPhone gamers.
Having said that, there has been no official statement regarding the same from PUBG Mobile, making it unclear if the game would actually be available to download later today.
Also Read: Hyundai launches new i20 at Rs 6.9-11.18 lakh; aims to dethrone Maruti's Baleno
Ahead of its launch, PUBG Mobile India has proved to be highly popular. According to mobile gaming and game sharing community TapTap, PUBG Mobile India registered 200,000 pre-registrations, much more than the pre-registration numbers of FAU-G, the Indian alternative of PUBG that was rolled out after the former application was banned in September. Users of PUBG Mobile India will also not have to create new gaming IDs, and can continue with their old IDs, enabling them to retain all achievements, skins, and records from the older iteration of the game.
Copyright©2023 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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For over five decades, the longest running insurrection in the western hemisphere, the FARC-EP, have opposed the Colombian state. However, with peace about to become a reality, their 53rd birthday was their last as an armed group. The Bogotá Post were lucky enough to be invited to the celebrations and see what the future might hold.
As Verdi’s classic opera, Otello arrives to the Teatro Colón in Bogotá, Phoebe Hopson catches up with some of the stellar cast.
Attention beer drinkers!!! Don’t miss your chance to learn more about craft beers with the Bogotá beer champions The Monkey House. And the city’s pioneer pub is offering free beers to our readers, for more details on the offer continue reading...
The death of Fabián Herrera has put escopolamina and similar drugs such as benzodiazepine that cause memory loss and high levels of suggestibility back in the headlines.
With a six to four vote, the Jericó city council approved a draft agreement which prohibits mining in the territory, with others expected to follow suit.
Budget supermarkets D1, Justo y Bueno and Ara have made their presence felt on the streets of Bogotá. But behind the discount products, there are some heavyweight legal battles going on, as Emily Hastings finds out.
Every country has its own unique rituals that people use to attract good fortune and repel bad luck. In his latest column, our intrepid agony uncle Jazid Contreras explores some of these quirky Colombian superstitions and the magical thinking behind them.
As the Colombian high-end cacao industry continues to pick up steam, Phoebe Hopson visits an expert in Colombian chocolate to learn more about this prized bean.
On June 10, boutique record label OVERCAST will throw their fourth Get-Together party. The Get-Together is more than a party, it’s the celebration of OVERCAST, a label set up by five friends that share the same passion: music.
With the number of holidaymakers visiting Colombia growing rapidly every year, it is no surprise that food tours are fast becoming one of the top things to do. Laura Brown visits La Mesa and looks at some of what’s on offer.


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Manufacturing may be the next fastest-growing business sector in Northeast Florida, based on current interest in the area from companies looking for the best place to open or expand their operations.
The trend is driven by how the coronavirus pandemic changed the office market, said Aaron Bowman, senior vice president of business development at JAXUSA Partnership, the regional economic development division of JAX Chamber.
“Manufacturing is probably our strongest sector post-COVID. Before, about 65% of the inquiries were from companies that needed office space. Now, that has flipped. About 65% is related to manufacturing, transportation and logistics,” Bowman said.
Another factor driving the trend is the continuing strong migration of population to the state and the region from people seeking a better quality of life and opportunities.
“More than 1,200 people each day are moving to Florida and more than 100 per day are coming to Jacksonville. Companies realize where people want to live and what areas are growing,” Bowman said.
“Retirees are going further south. We are getting the younger crowd. They are more interested in where they live and they figure out where to work when they get here.”
Bowman specializes in recruiting advanced manufacturing and aerospace firms. He recently returned from the annual Farnborough International Airshow in England, where he saw a change in how prospects view Northeast Florida.
“There is an amazing amount of interest from aerospace companies. When we went there 10 years ago, we were begging for meetings. This year, people were asking us for meetings. We had 27 in three days,” Bowman said.
The business regulatory climate also is driving increased interest in the state and region, said Lake Ray, president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association.
“We are getting calls from prospects in the Northeast, particularly Connecticut and New Jersey. They tell us they want to expand, but the local government there is anti-business. We are business-friendly, so people are looking at Northeast Florida,” Ray said.
The current negative trend for the manufacturing sector is the challenge created by supply chain issues.
Components and raw materials sometimes may be difficult to acquire when needed to keep production moving. Delivering finished products to distributors and retailers can take longer than usual, based on ground transportation availability.
“Manufacturers feel the effects coming and going,” Ray said.
The association works with manufacturers having trouble on the front end of the supply chain situation to help them find other sources.
“If the widget you need is sitting on a ship, maybe we can find someone to make an equivalent widget,” Ray said.
Bowman and Ray said the region is positioned better than other parts of the country in terms of supply chain issues.
There is no backup unloading cargo ships, and the JaxPort infrastructure improvements, such as the recently completed channel deepening and the pier extension, put the area near the top of the list for manufacturers looking for new sites, they said.
“America is not going to stop manufacturing and companies like to come to Northeast Florida to manufacture,” Ray said.
Bowman said another indicator of continuing Northeast Florida growth of the sector is warehouse development.
More than 4 million square feet of space suitable for manufacturing and distribution is under construction. About half is already under contract for occupancy and the rest will be available for future prospects.
“We are in a good spot. It’s a good time to be in my shoes,” Bowman said.


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Nikola offered the public a look at the production line the company is counting on to start delivering trucks to customers in the wake of its founder being charged with securities fraud.
The U.S. manufacturer hosted an event Wednesday in Ulm, Germany, where its partner Iveco -- the commercial vehicle unit of CNH Industrial -- is preparing to start series production of Nikola Tre heavy-duty trucks by year-end.
The first battery-electric models will be delivered to customers in the U.S. early next year, with a fuel cell version slated to follow by the end of 2023.
Nikola is looking to turn the page on a tumultuous period after it went public by combining with a blank-check company in June of last year.
Shares of the truckmaker with virtually no revenue initially skyrocketed, briefly making the company worth than Ford Motor.
The stock came crashing down after a short seller accused founder Trevor Milton of misleading investors.
Milton stepped down as executive chairman in September and pleaded not guilty to fraud charges in July.
The company is keen to deliver a message of "focus and execution," CEO Mark Russell said during an interview in Ulm. "In spite of all of the challenges like COVID and supply disruptions, here we are."
Nikola shares rose as much as 8.8 percent before the start of regular trading and were up 3.6 percenmt to $10.27 as of 7 a.m. in New York. The stock has plunged almost 90 percent from its peak in June 2020.
Russell followed Milton to Nikola from metals manufacturer Worthington Industries, which acquired one of Milton's earlier business ventures.
Last month, the CEO cut Nikola's projection for initial deliveries this year to 25 to 50 trucks, citing shortages of semiconductors and other parts.
Although scarce supplies of chips could render the vehicles ineligible for sale, Nikola still plans to deliver them to customers for testing and charge for them once they're retrofitted with missing parts.
Next year, the Ulm facility will build as many as 100 trucks, with demand "far exceeding capacity," Iveco CEO Gerrit Marx said.
The plant will eventually be able to make 3,000 trucks annually across three shifts. Nikola plans to open its second site in Coolidge, Arizona, next year to produce fuel cell-powered trucks.
Nikola and Iveco have invested 40 million euros ($47 million) to upgrade the latter company's chassis engineering hub in Ulm for final assembly of the Tre.
The heavy-duty truck with a driving range of 560 kilometers (348 miles) is designed for shorter trips such as moving freight within industrial ports or garbage collection. It will be underpinned by an Iveco platform with modules from the manufacturer's factories in Spain.
Nikola is handling vehicle controls, including driver-facing software, and proprietary technology related to designing the Tre's 4.5-ton battery pack.
In addition to unveiling their joint venture facility on Wednesday, Iveco and Nikola announced an agreement with the Hamburg Port Authority to test up to 25 battery-electric Tre trucks starting next year.
Iveco has stood by Nikola while other big-name partners have pulled back.
General Motors dropped a tentative plan to take a stake in the company and produce an electric pickup called the Badger.
Their remaining agreement for Nikola to use GM's hydrogen fuel cell technology in its trucks now appears to be in limbo -- Nikola announced earlier this month it will source fuel cell systems from German supplier Robert Bosch.
"There were enough reasons to stop all of this -- the last 24 months would have equipped us with enough reasons, everybody would have understood," Iveco's Marx said. "But we never even considered it."


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The Apple Mail app on macOS stores encrypted emails in plaintext inside a database called snippets.db.
A glaring whole in macOS’ Apple Mail has been revealed In a blog post by Apple IT specialist Bob Gendler.
The issue revolves around the scanning of encrypted email by a process called “suggestd” that scrapes content for contact information. Once scanned snippets of material are then stored in plaintext, essentially storing portions of decrypted email on user’s computers.
Apple were informed about the issue in July but are yet to release a fix.


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Small ship and expedition cruise lines announced a number of new options for travelers this week.
American Cruise Lines announced plans to triple its capacity for coastal cruises in the Pacific Northwest. The line is launching two new itineraries for 2018 in Puget Sound—five-day Highlights of Puget Sound and 11-day Grand Puget Sound. These cruises are roundtrip from Seattle, WA, and will triple the line's capacity in the region, as the line already offers an eight-day cruise to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, as well as cruises to Alaska.
The abbreviated Highlights of Puget Sound cruise includes ports of call such as, Anacortes, Friday Harbor, and Port Townsend. The Grand Puget Sound itinerary spans a longer journey and cruises the San Juan Islands, including additional ports of call such as Olympia, Tacoma, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Offshore Outpost Expeditions (OOE), which is being billed as a “new type of expedition cruise,” is offering travel agents 10 percent commission, plus an inaugural season bonus commission of $500 per booking for up to four guests, and $1,000 per booking for five guests or more.
OOE’s Pacific Provider will sail out of San Jose del Cabo starting November 26, offering expedition cruises in the Sea of Cortez for the 2017 – 2018 cruise season. A second destination is expected to be announced later this year.
Finally, Zegrahm Expeditions has announced its 2018 President’s Cruise, Sea to Sahara. Guests will join Zegrahm President Van Perry to explore many of the islands and ports that the region has to offer.
The new itinerary will take guests from the gardens of the Cape Verde Islands and sands of the Sahara Desert to the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands and the bustling markets of Morocco.


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Scripting India’s Economic Rise
Indian economy will likely become the third largest economy of the world within four years from now surpassing the Japanese and German economies, according to the latest report published by financial institute Jefferies. On assessing the world economy, the report observed that while many developed nations are witnessing slower growth rates, India has been able to maintain a healthy growth rate for an extended period of time now. As a result, from ninth position, the country has risen to fifth position within a decade. At present, only countries like the United States, China, Japan and Germany are ahead of India. Anticipating that the country will be able to maintain the steady growth rate, the report has expressed hope that India will become a $5 lakh crore economy by 2028 and in the process will overtake Japan and Germany, the economies dominating their respective continents. It should also be noted that along with becoming the third largest economy of the world, India will also be the second largest economy in Asia after China. These are no mean achievements considering the hurdles that India has had to face in its journey towards prosperity. It is envisaged that India will become $35 lakh crore dollar economy by 1947 as targeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
To fulfill India’s dream of becoming an economic superpower, significant contribution from all three sectors of the economy is necessary. Moreover, along with infrastructure development by the government, private investment is required as budgetary resources are limited. Although the government has been working extensively to attract investment from capital-rich nations, Indian investors need to also come forward to partner in India’s quest for economic prosperity. Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a recent report has claimed that private investment is on the rise and such investment will further strengthen the economy, many economists believe that the private sector is not investing nearly enough in the country despite enjoying several financial benefits. The situation needs to be rectified at the earliest as neo liberal economic policy, which has been adopted by many developed countries in the world advises that the government should play the role of a catalyst, rather than an investor. It is important to note that by increasing expenditure on infrastructure projects, the government is playing the role of a facilitator in India’s growth story. Now, it is the turn of investors to reciprocate the same by investing generously in India instead of opting for foreign destinations.
Apart from preventing the flight of capital, another big challenge for India is to ensure healthy productivity in both the farming and industrial sectors as these sectors constitute major shares of the economy. The government should take necessary precaution to prevent any damage to crops due to natural calamities in the wake of global warming. At the same time industrial output should be emphasised upon as without contribution from the manufacturing sector, economic prosperity will remain a distant dream. Thus, India should ensure uniform growth in all sectors in its endeavour to script a new success story.


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DETROIT: Rising gasoline prices are forcing Americans to renounce their love affair with big vehicles - a situation that has compelled carmakers to trim their US sales forecasts for this year.
Toyota Motor, which ousted General Motors as the world's number one car-seller in the year's first quarter, had expected to shift just over 2.64 million vehicles from dealer lots in the US during 2008, but now warns that this figure will be reviewed mid-year.
Says Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe: "As of now we haven't changed our original annual plan yet, but we may have to scale back."
Rivals General Motors and Ford Motor Company are planning lay-offs as US demand for SUVs and pick-up trucks slackens. The market for the latter plunged 17% in the January to April period.
Toyota's Tundra truck sales were down 6% year-on- year in April, prompting the Japanese giant to rein-in production at plants in Indiana and Texas. In addition, it has postponed the opening of a new Mississippi factory to make the Highlander SUV.
The company expects the US vehicle market to shrink by around 1m units this year but still hopes to reach its 9.85m global sales target this year, thanks to growth in China and Russia.
Data sourced from Financial Times online; additional content by WARC staff


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Some Instacart Shoppers Are Going on Strike—Here's What You Need to Know
Today, some gig workers (think: shoppers and delivery drivers) across the country are going on strike for more protective measures and better pay as they work the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. A non-profit group, Gig Workers Collective, asked Instacart to provide workers with more sick leave, hazard pay and protective gear, among other requests to be honored during the pandemic.
"This is an extraordinary time in history, and as shoppers, those of us who are able—and have the means to protect ourselves—do want to help those in our community by delivering groceries and supplies," a spokesperson for Gig Workers Collective writes. "But with Instacart neglecting the basic wellbeing of its 150,000+ drivers, we believe there is no choice but to not only walk off, but to raise awareness to the company's practices. They are putting us directly in harm's way while profiting greatly. We cannot let this be considered normal."
Instacart announced over the weekend it would be providing workers with new hand sanitizer upon request and updates to its tip system (the app currently suggests a 5% tip per delivery), but did not address paid sick leave. This comes on the heels of another announcement the company made last week to more than double its independent contractors for the next three months to meet the high demands during the pandemic. The company reports nearly 50,000 new shoppers have joined the platform in the last week, but some customers are still having to wait days to receive their order.
Politicians, activists and other prominent figures have been speaking out in favor of the independent workers looking for better pay and protection during this crisis. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) tweeted over the weekend, saying, "@Instacart was last valued at nearly $8 billion. A company of this size should not be forcing its workers to put themselves—and us all—at risk. I stand with the workers, and encourage Instacart to meet their demands."
While some workers are going on strike for a day, others say they can't afford to take a day off. Summer Cooper told AP News she joined Instacart after losing her restaurant job in Tampa, Florida, saying she was "grateful to have some way to make money."
Others, like Shanna Foster, stopped contracting with Instacart two weeks ago, as she is a single mother and afraid of getting the coronavirus. She says even though Instacart has added more promotions—extra pay for full-service shoppers to accept certain orders—it's not enough to get her back in grocery stores.
"They need to give us hazard pay right now and it should be guaranteed," she told AP News.
How You Can Support Instacart Shoppers (and Other Gig Workers)
The Gig Workers Collective is also made of independent contractors from Uber and Lyft, takeout delivery services and Amazon Flex. You can support them by offering generous tips electronically and letting them leave goods at the door instead of interacting with you.
Additionally, you can reach Instacart directly at 1-888-246-7822 to let them know you stand with its independent contractors. You can also email them at email@example.com or tag them in a post on social media that highlights your concern for Instacart shoppers' health and well-being during this pandemic.


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PC Locs is pleased to announce that James Symons has been awarded the 2019 Western Region EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™, in the disruptor category. Symons joins other outstanding entrepreneurs from across Australia who will compete for the ultimate prize of being named 2019 Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™.
Perth School teacher, Paul Symons (James’ father) began the company in 1998 with a friend of his after inventing a device to lock down computers getting stolen from his classroom. The family’s back yard shed in Dianella became the manufacturing, sales, marketing and admin headquarters for the company when James began selling the devices to schools from the back of his car.
After running sales and marketing for the business, James took over as General Manager in 2006, with his father insisting he buy into the business to ensure he had “skin in the game”.
The rapid growth of the business required James to leave the company’s “backyard shed” beginnings behind and relocate to Wisconsin, USA in 2012. From here he established the US and European divisions of the business.
“It is an honour to be recognised among some of the most inspiring business leaders and entrepreneurs in the state”, says Symons.
Using the export brand name LocknCharge, the US and European units now contribute to more than 80 per cent of the company’s total revenue.
With innovation at its core, the company recently launched its new consumer brand, TechDen, which is the first product to combine software with hardware to teach kids positive habits for using their devices. With the adoption of mobile devices in the workplace, PC Locs is now transforming how businesses manage and track their digital assets through the PC Locs smart locker systems.
The company employs over 100 staff across 9 offices globally, selling products into more than 20 countries around the world. James’ father, Paul Symons remains as co-owner, director and occasional product designer.
“I have somehow convinced the incredible people that I work with that the journey is worth the sacrifice and I am so grateful for how loyal and passionate they are. They literally do the hard work. Having the support of my Dad as co-owner and business partner is more than I could ever ask for. He is the ultimate visionary, inventor and entrepreneur, and I am privileged to carry on what he started”.
PC Locs protects around two million devices for more than 22,000 business customers globally and has commercial relationships with some of the largest technology companies in the world, including Apple, Dell and Google.
James will join his fellow National finalists representing Western Australia at the regional national celebration dinner on October 24th in Sydney where National category winners and the 2019 Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ will be announced.
About PC Locs and LocknCharge
PC Locs and LocknCharge are privately owned, multi-national brands, with the main headquarters in Perth, Australia. The vision is to be globally recognised as the most innovative and trusted brands in developing solutions for managing deployments and healthy use of mobile technology. The mission is to make peoples’ lives easier – those managing deployments of mobile technology and those using it.
Learn more about the brands:
About EY Entrepreneur of the Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognises the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year™ celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognising them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program, launched in Australia in 2001, is one of the country’s leading business awards programs. It has so far recognised over 1,500 leading Australians for their entrepreneurial business success and each year, through its global program, acknowledges thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide. Founded and produced by EY, the program in Australia is sponsored by Commonwealth Bank (Principal sponsor), Qantas (Sponsor) and Austrade (Supporter).
Further information about the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program can be found at ey.com/au/eoy


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The survey by the Conference Board was released yesterday as the Federal Reserve opened a two-day meeting to decide whether to cut interest rates for the second time this month to revitalize the staggering U.S. economy. An announcement is expected today.
The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index dropped more than 14 points to 114.4 in January, the lowest level since December 1996, when it was 114.2.
The decline heightens fears about the fragility of the economy, with consumers decidedly more pessimistic about business and employment conditions, said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center.
"Since apprehension leads to caution and cautious consumers spend less than the confident ones, confidence levels in February will be carefully watched,'' Franco said. "Further erosions in consumer confidence will create more serious concerns about the overall health of the economy.''
But economists noted that consumers still view the current situation in relatively favorable terms, with their doubts focused on the future. The question is whether consumers will act on those fears.
"Historically, when we see confidence decline, we have to watch and see if it shows up also affecting spending,'' said Gary Thayer, chief economist with A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis.
The Conference Board index, based on a monthly survey of some 5,000 U.S. households, is considered a key indicator because consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity. The index compares results with its base year, 1985, when it stood at 100.
Consumer confidence has fallen four months in a row since the index hit 142.5 in September.
The Conference Board said consumers' expectations for the next six months have worsened. Of those surveyed, 15.7 percent expect business conditions to worsen, compared with 10.1 percent last month.
Only 12.4 percent of consumers expect conditions to improve, down from 16.9 percent last month. The board also said 21.8 percent of consumers expect fewer jobs to become available, up from 15.7 percent in December.


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Windows 10, the roundly praised OS released last week for free to PC users with Windows 7 or later, is the update that’s supposed to bring Microsoft back from relative obscurity. The company’s position as the lead desktop and laptop manufacturer has never been in question, but recent years have seen the company lose footing to Google and Apple in the all-important mobile market.
While both those companies had long ago conquered the idea of free, incremental annual updates—in contrast with Microsoft’s model of large, expensive OS updates every few years—Windows 10 stands to be “the last version of Windows,” according to Microsoft developer Jerry Nixon. Finally, Windows joins Apple and Google in the present.
The present, however, also means Microsoft is joining those companies in profiting as much from their users’ data as they do from original products. Windows 10 early adopters might be surprised to know the OS collects troves of information about their online and offline habits. As stated in its ominous privacy agreement, this includes “data about you, your device, and the way you use Windows” (i.e., your emails, contacts, instant messages, and search queries).
Perhaps most frighteningly, the company retains the right to preserve and disclose any user data “when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary.” Of course, Microsoft alone gets to determine whatever “necessary” happens to mean at the moment.
Before now, Windows computers were the last remnant of a time when every piece of our lives wasn’t bought and sold to the highest bidder. While we’re all aware that our smartphones are tracking our every move (as they say, there’s even an app for that), a simple Windows laptop should be just that: simple, not another tool for corporations to harvest our data.
To be sure, this is not much more intrusive than Google and Apple’s own privacy settings—and far less so than that of social networks like Facebook. Data is the currency of a surveillance economy, and Microsoft is certainly not straying from the climate of Silicon Valley by collecting such information about its users.
Of course, Microsoft alone gets to determine whatever “necessary” happens to mean at the moment.
But Microsoft caving into industry norms on privacy is a worrying sign of how comfortable we’ve become with how companies track us—even though most people are generally upset by it. A 2014 Pew Research Center poll found a vast majority of Americans are concerned about their privacy, and when using tech devices, only nine percent feel they have a great amount of control over what is shared; more than half feel they have no control at all.
What we have is not complacency so much as submission: Americans care about privacy, they just don’t think they can do anything about it.
This is why Microsoft likely felt OK about taking this giant leap into its users’ data. After all, Windows 10 is also the most well-reviewed piece of software Microsoft has released since the release of Windows 7 more than six years ago. Windows 8 was released to bad buzz and dismal reviews; one critic called the software a confusing “disaster.”
Likewise, the company’s mobile and tablet entries have been nothing short of dreadful. While the giants of iOS and Android battle above its head, the Windows Phone holds just a 3 percent market share. Such disappointing returns is one reason why Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was forced to layoff 7,800 people from the company’s smartphone division alone.
So what message is Microsoft supposed to take from consumers? That the company should continue to hold on to the old model of updating its software once every few years—or that should it join the race for user data that fuels the constant change in the devices of Google and Apple?
Although Apple CEO Tim Cook likes to pretend otherwise, Apple has become the most valuable company in the history of the Earth through no small part by collecting vast amounts of user data. While not quite as invasive as Google or Facebook, Apple regularly collects anonymized data about user locations, messages, phone calls, and online habits—with which the company can do whatever it pleases.
In fact, Apple might keep location data for as long as 12 years, according to one Wall Street Journal report. Google, meanwhile, has perfected the art of collecting user data, tracking your phone, your browser, your computer, and eventually your car. Because 90 percent of Google’s revenue comes from advertising, the company relies more than most on its massive collection of user data as part of its business model.
Although Microsoft’s mobile division is a complete dud, the company has something neither Apple nor Google could ever dream of: 1.25 billion PC users around the world, especially in emerging markets like China and India. Bringing those users (and their data) to the full utility of an Android or iOS user means treating Windows 10 just like Google or Apple would treat their mobile software; this was perhaps the sole reason Windows 10 was released as free upgrade, a historic step forward for Microsoft. Seeing as how consumers have done nothing short of rewarding Google and Apple for regularly spying on them, Microsoft would be missing a golden business opportunity not to join them.
Data is the currency of a surveillance economy, and Microsoft is certainly not straying from the climate of Silicon Valley by collecting such information about its users.
While it might be wrong to treat Microsoft like a cold, heartless entity guided by consumer will, it’s become the natural trend of our digitized lives. Companies (or government agencies) push further into our lives, and we feel powerless to stop it.
But until we take advantage of these options, companies will continue to profit off our data, while former havens from this eternal surveillance state will stop looking so safe after all.
Gillian Branstetter is a social commentator with a focus on the intersection of technology, security, and politics. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Business Insider, Salon, the Week, and xoJane. She attended Pennsylvania State University. Follow her on Twitter @GillBranstetter.
Photo via ToddABishop/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)


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People have been eagerly waiting for the Windows 10 Lumia update but the rollout of Microsoft’s latest operating system to old Windows phones kept getting delayed. After postponing its December 2015 release, Microsoft confirmed that the Windows 10 mobile upgrade will roll out this year. Early January, the company said that it will be released soon without any mention of dates.
Vodafone Australia has published a “Software Update Weekly Wrap” where the current status of Windows 10 Lumia update has been given. Following are the devices listed in the chart:
- Lumia 640,
- Lumia 640 XL,
- Lumia 735 and
- Lumia 930
In the current status section, the chart reads, “Testing complete, awaiting confirmation of rollout schedule.” This means that the work has been done on Vodafone Australia‘s part, but again, no dates have been given by Microsoft for a Windows 10 Lumia roll-out. But after the process is completed, Windows phone users can expect to receive the latest operating system soon.
The OS’ release on other Lumia handsets may also be around the corner. The company has confirmed that Lumia 430, 532, 535, 540, 640, 640 XL, 735, 830 and 930 will be among the first devices to get Windows 10. Phones running on Windows 8 come next. A few days ago, there has been stories around the web saying that select Lumia handsets have already received the Windows 10 mobile update. This seems to be only a rumor as there is no word from the company about such roll-out.
Keep your fingers crossed as we wait for Microsoft to talk about Windows 10 Lumia update and at last give us the dates of release.
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2019 iPhone clue hidden in iOS 13 beta and the future of 3D Touch
Will the next iPhone switch from Lightning to USB-C? Or will it include a fast charger in the box? The iOS 13 developer's beta hints at one of these becoming a reality and why 3D Touch could be left out of the iPhone 11 line-up.
Vanessa Hand OrellanaCNET Senior Editor
As head of wearables at CNET, Vanessa reviews and writes about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the team seven years ago as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site and then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. When she's not testing out smartwatches or dropping phones, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family.
Watch this: iOS 13 beta hints at USB-C iPhone in 2019
2019 iPhone lineup may switch to USB-C
2019 may be over, but it's left behind a trail of clues that hint at what Apple is planning for its next batch of product announcements. The latest clue could suggest a USB-C on the 2019 iPhones. This week Apple user Raphaël Mouton published a picture on his Twitter account of the recovery screen on an iPhone running the developer's beta of iOS 13. At first glance it just looks like an image of a Mac and the top end of a cable -- but that's no Lightning cable.
The existing iPhone recovery mode image clearly shows a Lightning cable tip, while the one in the beta looks more like a USB-C tip as pointed out by Forbes. This could be a sign that Apple is planning to swap out the Lightning port for the more widely used USB-C port in its 2019 iPhone lineup, a rumor that's been making the rounds since before the 2018 iPhone launch cycle. Also, it wouldn't come as too much of a shock considering Apple has already made the change from Lightning to USB-C on its 2018
The new features on the next batch of iPhones could come at a price though, as rumors about Apple eliminating 3D Touch continue to gain steam. After a visit with Apple suppliers in Asia, Barclay analysts, cited in MacRumors, seemed certain that Apple will eliminate this feature in the 2019 iPhone lineup.
This pressure-sensitive technology allows users to access more control options by pressing harder on the phone's screen. Apple first debuted 3D Touch in its
. It was meant to help with navigation once Apple decided to get rid of the home button with the
, but it hasn't proven to be critical. Apple replaced 3D Touch in last year's
with Haptic Touch (its fancy term for a long-press with a slight vibration) to make room for a larger, nearly bezel-less LCD display. And though it doesn't have as much functionality as 3D Touch, it's proved to be a good compromise for users.
Watch this: 5 best uses of 3D Touch on the iPhone
We won't know for certain whether Apple will eliminate 3D Touch until the iPhone 11 launch in September, but we can rest assured that the functionality will remain, at least to some degree (whether via Haptic Touch or otherwise). The developer's beta of iOS 13 includes even more use-cases for it, and it's unlikely Apple would add more ways to use a defunct feature in
At WWDC, the company said the new MacPro and 6K display would be available this fall, but didn't specify when. Then for a brief moment, if you clicked on the "Notify me" link above the Mac Pro on the Apple.com homepage, the pop-up read "Coming in September." But then if you clicked on the product page and did the same, it read "Coming this fall".
By the time Apple noticed and corrected the slip, it has already been published on 9to5Mac and MacRumors, and made its way around the internet. It has since been corrected to match the other notifications, and Apple has not responded to a query about when the new products will ship.
That said, I'd definitely put my money on a September release date for the Mac Pro, maybe even the day of the iPhone reveal.


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Lenovo's CEO said sales of its Windows 8 PCs have been "normal", neither surpassing nor falling behind expectations, but added that convertible devices using the OS are helping the company break into the high-end segment for the North American market...
Intel expects to see more innovation in PC design in the next year than there has been since the mid-1990s.
Tobii Technology will soon start shipping a device that allows users to control a PC using their eyes. Developers will be able to buy the REX next week, and Tobii will make it more widely available in the second half of the year, the company said Wed...
A former executive at Taiwanese LCD marker AU Optronics has been convicted of participating in a worldwide conspiracy to fix the prices of LCD panels, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Microsoft has launched a new anti-piracy campaign in China, which intends to highlight the security risks of buying counterfeit software.
The new Xamarin.Mac framework allows C# developers to build native OS X apps that can be sold in the Mac App Store and share code with apps build for Android, iOS and Windows.
Change in any industry involves conflict. Evolution and revolution in tech this year took place not only in the marketplace but also in the courtroom, the factory, and on the Web. Here are the top news stories of 2012 as selected by the editors of th...
Google's personal assistant for its Android Jelly Bean mobile operating system is coming to the Internet search leader's Chrome browser.
Advanced Micro Devices has cut orders to contract chip manufacturer GlobalFoundries, expecting a "choppy demand environment" in the next few quarters.
Windows 8 has delivered no bump to flagging consumer PC sales in the US, a retail research analyst said.
Dell on Thursday reported a sharp drop in revenue and profits for the third quarter as the weak PC market continued to weigh on its results.
Respondents largely opted for tablets over PCs in a survey asking which computer they had on their holiday wish list.
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has advised consumer customers not to downgrade new PCs equipped with Windows 8 to the earlier Windows 7.
Lenovo's net profit for the fiscal second quarter increased by only 13 per cent year-over-year, marking a shift from the high profit growth the company has previously seen.
Driven by millions of upgrades, Windows 8's global usage share climbed by a third last month, but the new OS's adoption pace remained lethargic compared to that of its predecessor three years ago.
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India's Early Unicorn Company Talks About Maintaining Startup Culture During Tough Times
Every big or mid-sized startup goes through its own trials and tribulations! From ecosystem worries to internal issues, but it takes immense entrepreneurial talent to overcome these challenges and sustain the company culture.
Backed by investors like Softbank Capital, InMobi co-founder Amit Gupta, spoke to Entrepreneur Media at World Startup Expo regarding what goes into sustaining company culture.
When asked as to how he keeps calm during turbulent times, Amit said that it’s not easy. “The fact that all of us appreciate and understand the value of it, we put extra emphasis on people. I am not saying it was always hunky dory, there was a lot of startup funding happening and a lot of people were getting offers. We were demonstrating that when we say people, we really mean it and people were able to see through that,” he said.
InMobi has seen several exits this year which raised questions about its future. However, Amit said that thankfully he ‘never lost good people.’
Amit, who is also the president at the digital advertising firm, said that his company prioritizes on company culture during tough times.
At the conference, Amit mentioned that InMobi always made sure to hire local people as country heads at the company’s global offices.
Should B2B companies focus solely on international geographies in its early days?
B2B startups from India have always seen more value from international customers versus local ones. Talking about this, Amit said that he had a different point of view on this! “There is an economic value of doing some business outside versus India. I agree with the fact that India is a small market from the consumer perspective. When you are working in a country with customers in that country, you have a better advantage about their problems better,”
“So if I am starting a company for consumers or customers in the US, I feel their problem closely. Whereas if I am here, my understanding and precision of the problem will be better!” he adds.
Amit believes that with VC funding coming in, the era of B2B is not over but rather becoming more interesting today! Amit said that InMobi will continue to bet on big markets like China, US, India and Indonesia in 2017.


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The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), the apex body of packaging industry in the country, will set up its sixth centre in Bangalore to offer fillip to the packaging and allied industries.
IIP Director N.C. Saha told presspersons here on Friday that the centre is being set up with the support of the Department of Industries and Commerce. He said that the new centre will provide training and consultancy in packaging technology to small and medium packaging enterprises in the State.
The centre will be located on a four-acre campus at Sompura Industrial Estate, Dobbspet, the foundation stone for which will be laid by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on February 15. Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma will attend the function.
The centre would be spread across 10,000 sq ft constructed area at a cost of Rs. 5 crore, Mr. Saha said. The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry will provide financial aid for the project.
IIP Bangalore Chairman and Manjushree Technopack Managing Director Vimal Kedia said that the centre will commence training activities this year itself. This will be followed by the setting up of a laboratory to test packaging material and finished packages. The IIP Bangalore centre will play host to the National Packaging Exhibition and the National Conference on Packaging in 2014.
A release from IIP said that Karnataka’s industrial advantage made it the obvious choice for the new centre of IIP. With 26 MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) clusters, 132 industrial estates and eight growth centres, Karnataka is in the forefront of industrial development in the country. A technology and quality centre for packaging will have an impact across several sectors, including FMCG, liquor and pharmaceuticals, that have come to rely heavily on it, the release added.


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Until only a few years ago, the act of questioning restaurant staff about the origins of a dish’s ingredients elicited little but irritation. A conscientious attitude towards food salved any concerns about the environment, but was largely thankless.
We just had to eat what we were given, meat and fruits from all corners of the world whatever the season. It was a reflection of a globalized society dedicated to churning out goods and services.
Fast-food chains such as McDonald's spread like wildfire, with hardly anyone giving a thought to the methods behind this quick, cheap food.
But today, eating habits in the West are changing radically. Health-conscious parents almost choke on their ginger tea if anyone suggests their children celebrate a birthday at McDonald's.
This new era is giving rise to trends such as the slow-food movement, proponents of which cook only with regional and seasonal products. In this new age, city dwellers sip lactose-free soya-latte, snip only organic vegetables and treat themselves with gluten- and sugar-free muffins.
Health & beauty – a prudent, ethically correct lifestyle – is the new status symbol.
Websites such as Hello Fresh, which delivers fresh, portioned ingredients along with a recipe to homes from Australia to Germany, are booming.
Such developments are causing many corporate rethinks. For example, Fabian Siegel used to be the managing director of Delivery Hero, a German online ordering service for pizzas and burgers. Today he touts healthy, regional foods and has set up the home-delivery service Marley Spoon.
Health & beauty – a prudent, ethically correct lifestyle – is the new status symbol. And that's why healthy eating is booming.
In this context, a McDonald's restaurant seems like a dinosaur. No wonder customers are staying away and revenues are falling. As a result, the company is giving itself a makeover and testing new strategies in Germany.
Now, customers in selected restaurants can order meals on a touchscreen. In the future, burgers and fries will be brought to the table, and it will be possible to make payments using a smartphone. The chain also hopes a new premium burger — fresher, plumper — will help it to compete with chic chains such as Germany’s Hans im Glück.
The showcase store for McDonald's new blueprint opened in Frankfurt in March. The new restaurant, fashionably furnished and free of the smell of deep-fried food, is supposed to kick-start the turnaround. But this new concept won't dig the U.S. company out of its hole.
The McDonald's strategists are ignoring the current trend in the food industry: The demand for healthy, ethically produced food. The McDonald's measures seem at best like a scramble to catch up.
Placing digital orders? That’s been the norm for a while at competitors such as the fast-food restaurant Vapiano. Eating quickly and cheaply? Plenty of fast-food joints now offer that service.
Yet each new day brings the opening of a new fast-food temple where customers dine on seemingly healthy food in style. In the United States, the most successful chains are Just Salad, Chop't and Lyfe Kitchen. Germany has Vapiano and Sattgrün. McDonald's has also ignored the growing market for a home-delivery service — except in Osnabrück, where a single restaurant is piloting the concept of McHome.
Premium burgers and premium inventory — all that will likely not be enough to lure customers out of the organic food temples. McDonald’s isn’t expanding its brand credibly in that direction. It remains a burger joint because, among other things, some customers’ only concern is cheap food.
That image is likely to continue to be lodged firmly in consumers’ minds. The fast-food chain has cleaned up its facade, but behind it the old McDonald's remains.
To contact the author: [email protected]


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On Thursday, December 11, 2014, the United States Department of Justice changed the landscape of the legal marijuana industry. They decided that Native American tribes across the country can grow and sell marijuana on their sovereign lands and must follow the federal guidelines in the four states where recreational marijuana is legal.
The Seneca Nation joined the growing list of tribes who have expressed interest in the legal marijuana industry. Seneca Nation President Maurice John, Sr., recently discussed his views on the industry and said the tribe has been monitoring it closely from the sidelines.
A Waiting Game
In mid-June, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (FSST) became the first reservation in South Dakota to legalize marijuana. This move comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Native American tribes can grow and sell marijuana on reservation lands in December 2014.
According to state law, any form of marijuana is illegal in South Dakota. Even though state law classifies marijuana as an illegal substance, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Indian Reservation legalized the use and sale of marijuana on tribal land last week.
The Colorado cannabis industry has continued to see incremental revenue growth during 2015. The tax data released by the Colorado Department of Revenue and the revenue reported by thejointblog.com prove that the success seen in 2014 was not a fluke; it was just the start of something much bigger.
United Cannabis Corporation (CNAB)
Earnings season has started to heat up; a number of companies have already announced results. A few companies have reported results that show significant improvement, while some others have reported very lackluster results. Technical420 expects 2015 to be an important year for these companies and the strong companies will show their true colors.
The cannabis industry is the most rapidly developing industry in the United States. New companies sprout up every day, companies change their name and symbol on a regular basis, and mergers and acquisitions routinely occur. These types of corporate actions happen frequently and that makes it difficult for an investor to follow and understand what is going on in this industry.
Less than two weeks ago, Michael Berger, president of Technical420, hosted a panel of marijuana experts at the World Moneyshow in Orlando. The panel included experts that serve in a number of subsectors in the cannabis industry.
In late January, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation made headlines when the tribe announced that they would take the Department of Justice (DOJ) up on its offer to grow and sell marijuana on sovereign land. When the DOJ announced this in December 2014, Technical420 recognized this event as a catalyst for industry growth. Investors are now claiming that at least 100 additional tribes are exploring the rapidly growing marijuana industry.


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Mixed-use retail and housing development included in proposed new masterplan for Straiton
A new retail park project is being planned which could deliver additional affordable housing and care for the elderly to Straiton.
Pentland Park Marine Ltd has submitted a proposal of application notice for a hotel, food retail, housing, elderly accommodation and commercial premises on the site, which adjoins the junction of the A701 and Pentland Road.
Developers said the New Pentland project could see more than £22 million invested in it, with 145 permanent jobs created and a further 172 required during its construction.
The ambitious plans, which are set to go out to public consultation, could be realised in just two years, according to developers, who say they have come up with an opportunity not previously considered by Midlothian Council.
Promoting the project on the newly created website, the developer said: “New Pentland will offer more than just commercial development. The proposals will also deliver new amenity greenspace, well-lit footpaths, a children’s play park and other community facilities as well as a range of new homes for the elderly.
“This is an exciting opportunity, which can be maximised to deliver a quality development that improves local amenity, delivers economic development and jobs and in doing so achieves the aspirations for this strategic growth corridor.”
Pentland Park Marine added: “This is an opportunity not previously considered by Midlothian Council. It has emerged as a result of sustained and established demand for new food retail development and other mixed-use commercial and residential interest in this particular location.
“We foresee a new development, which fits within its eclectic surroundings responding to the scale and connectivity opportunities of its setting and future development context, sitting within an important strategic growth corridor.”
A digital exhibition will be held on 10 February between 15:00 and 20:00 with a detailed planning application set to follow in the spring.


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The clear rise in adoption of cryptocurrencies can be noted across various sectors, such as tourism. Major heavyweights of the tourism sector, such as Blockchain Cruises and Expedia, are already offering services that accept payment in crypto.
Benefits of cryptocurrency payments are being realized at a global level.
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Snapchat released a new update yesterday allowing users to search for friends and groups. The update adds a universal search bar at the top of the app to search for stories and discover new publishers.
The update is rolling out across Android and will be added to iOS soon.
A quick click allows users to view friends to talk to in a quick chat and new friends that the user had added. Users can add new friends quickly with the search displaying current and new friends on the same search page. A small profile icon is present to help users identify their friends.
Users can keep snapping while looking for friends or new people to engage with.
“Quick Chat” suggestions allow users to chat with friends, view their story and do it all from the same screen. There’s no reason to swipe left to find the chat screen and swipe right to get to a user’s story. The update aims to make snapping faster.
Groups are displayed on the screen also. Improved search functionality allows brands and influencers to build their brand faster.
Users can navigate to their own profile by clicking on their own Bitmoji icon on the left. The story thumbnail is clickable and allows users to start watching their friend’s recent stories, too. Click and hold on a user’s card and a mini profile will display.
Daily additions are displayed for Discover channels.
People users chat with most will be part of their “best friends” list. There’s also a recent list underneath to send personal snaps to others to make sending snaps faster.
Snapchat is often criticized because of the difficulty users have trying to find new accounts to follow. The universal search bar eliminates these hardships, allowing users to quickly find new content to consume.
The addition of a universal search adds additional advertising potential for the company. No plans for ads in universal search have been discussed, but there is potential for paid search displays.


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The pricing reflects a $635 increase over the 2016 TT coupe.
Audi of America said the 2017 TT and TTS feature new design options and more standard equipment.
New for 2017, the TT will come with a standard rearview camera and power-folding side mirrors.
A Black optic package for the TT bundles a black grille surround, black exterior mirror housings and 19-inch five-double-spoke titanium finish wheels.
On the TTS, the Black optic package adds a black rear diffuser and 20-inch five-V-spoke design titanium finish wheels.
Edmunds says: More standard features and a modest price increase should be an acceptable combination for many car shoppers.


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The Vietnamese electric car manufacturer shipped its first 999 EVs to the United States Monday. VinFast executives called the shipment “a significant event” and a “historical milestone” for the company.
Nguyen Viet Quang, vice chairman and CEO of Vingroup, said he hopes this shipment is the first of many as the company attempts to break into the global EV market.
The company held a large celebration as the vehicles were loaded onto the ships headed across the Pacific Ocean including patriotic music, dancers, flags and a visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
VinFast, which is building a 1,700+ acre facility in Moncure, said the vehicles should arrive stateside in about 18 business days. This means the first U.S. customers can expect to drive their cars by the end of 2022, VinFast said. Those first customers are largely based in California where the company has six showrooms across the state and is planning three more.
Across the country, close to 17,000 orders have already been placed for a variety of models, VinFast said.
N.C.’s first car manufacturer will continue to build vehicles in Vietnam and ship them overseas until the Chatham facility is operational, which is expected to be by the summer of 2024. VinFast then plans to produce 200,000 electric SUVs each year in Chatham by 2027.
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AP Maersk has released its results and they're not good: they say that they're seeing a decline in shipping prices. Given that Maersk is the largest shipper of goods around the world (especially of containerised goods, mostly manufactures) this would seem to be a negative for both the Chinese economy and global demand and thus the global economy. But as Scott Sumner says, you should never reason from a price change. At least, not until you've understood what is driving that price change. The most important point being that prices are not determined solely by demand. The whole point of our basic economic model of supply and demand is that supply is also important. It's an entirely equal determinant of what prices are.
So here's the basic report upon the profits announcement:
The world’s biggest shipping container business, Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, has become the latest company to suffer in the global slowdown triggered by the slowing economy in China, where the government cut interest rates for the sixth time in less than a year.
Maersk issued a rare warning as bosses said that profits will be around $600m (£390m) lower than had previously been expected, down from an anticipated $4bn to $3.4bn.
The company said the container shipping market declined in September and October, with little chance of recovery during the rest of the year.
Fewer containers were carried than expected, with average freight rates 19 per cent lower than during the same period last year.
OK, so we've a drop in the price being received for each container being carried. And we've also a drop in the number of containers being carried. That would seem to indicate that global container trade is falling and thus we really do have a problem with China and the global economy. But another look at the same figures gives us this:
But they have also spent billions of dollars on giant container ships, which are cheaper to steam and more efficient when they are full, adding even more capacity to the world’s fleet.
Analysts estimate the industry operates up to 30% more shipping capacity than demand calls for on some of the busiest ocean trade routes. Container ships move more than 95% of the world’s manufactured goods.
“This year alone new ship deliveries will boost capacity by 1.7 million containers or 8.2%, while demand will be a maximum 2%, the lowest since 2009 when the global economy went into recession. It’s a grim picture for container shipping and it won’t change in the near term,” said Jonathan Roach, a container analyst at London-based Braemar ACM Shipbroking.
We actually expect the number of containers in total, not just those carried by Maersk, to rise. That is, we're not seeing a fall in global trade: nor a fall in global demand. And thus why we shouldn't be reasoning purely from a price change. We need to understand why the price change.
So, back to the beginning. A large shipping company announces lower profits than it thought it would make. They announce that both the price they get per shipment and the number of shipments is falling. We can now all freak out about how global trade is shrinking and it's a disaster!
Or, we can go and look at the industry statistics and see that trade is in fact increasing. The price drop is in fact because the supply of shipping is increasing, not because the volume of trade is falling. So, not a disaster.
And then we can point out what is really happening. There is a slow down in the growth of the global economy, at least in so far as talking about manufactured goods is concerned. But that is a slowdown in growth, not a reversal of growth, a shrinkage. What is really happening is that the shipping companies were predicting that the former levels of growth would continue and so are over supplying the market with new shipping capacity. Thus the prices being charged for shipping are declining even while the volume of shipping continues to rise.
At which point we finally arrive at the correct macroeconomic answer from our examination of shipping. Global growth is, in that manufactured goods area, slowing but not shrinking. So far, at least.
We can also go one stage further. Growth in the manufacturing sector is not the only thing we're interested in concerning the global economy. Services are by far the largest part of every developed economy and just on the verge of becoming so even in China. The thing we really want to know about is how much is all trade changing, not just manufacturing. For example, I and a new little company have just received a programming contract. We're in Central Europe, working on American code (Ruby on Rails since you ask, changing the mapping system that the software uses). This is undoubtedly international trade. It's a pretty small contract (a couple of tens of thousands of dollars, not something that will be troubling the international statisticians just yet) but it is indeed an increase in international trade. And as services become an ever larger part of the economy, manufacturing an ever smaller share of it, what's happening to services trade becomes far more important than manufacturing trade. It's not all gloom and doom just yet.


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Did you know that insects form part of the traditional diet of an estimated 2 billion people on the planet? And that even those of us who actively avoid all contact with bugs can’t avoid ingesting a pound or two of flies, maggots, and other bugs without knowing it every year? Insects aren’t the future of food–they’re very much part of our present reality!
The National Geographic and New York Times ran recent features exploring the role entomophagy (the practice of eating insects) might play in moving the United States toward a more efficient, less toxic food system. Edible insect startups are taking off in the United States, Canada, and Europe–notorious “anti-ento” markets–in 2014, Exo, the maker of cricket-based proteins, closed a $1.2 million seed round.
Through generous funding from the Erb Institute’s Cool Project Fund, Juan Pablo Garcia, Andrea Kraus, Julio Villasenor, and Monica Wyant, four dual degree students at the School of Natural Resources & Environment and the Ross School of Business, spent several months researching the current edible insect landscape in the United States and talking to entrepreneurs involved in the space. During this one hour special, they walk listeners through their findings by running through the full “insect farm to cricket taco” value chain.
At the start of the hour, Kevin Bachhuber from Big Cricket Farms describes the joys and challenges of raising millions of crickets for human consumption on his farm in Ohio each year. Kevin’s efforts have been highlighted by Tedx, The New Yorker, and Vice.
Next up, we travel down to Austin, Texas and talk to Josh Blaine, store manager of in.gredients, a community grocery store that sells several delicious products containing insects. Josh explains from a retailer’s perspective, why selling edible insects makes sense and what customers’ reactions are.
Lauren Allen, a native Austin cook who has experimented extensively with edible insects, shares some of her favorite recipes and some tips on getting over the “ick factor”.
Robert Nathan Allan, founder of Little Herds, a non-profit educating and empowering communities to support and promote the use of insects for food, wraps things up in Austin by outlining which barriers the industry must break down in order to reach scale.
Thoroughly inspired by all of the entrepreneurial entomophagy activity in Austin, the Erb team decided to host its own homegrown bug banquet back in Ann Arbor. Chef Nathan Brand whipped up a glorious menu for over a dozen first-time bug eaters that gathered to eat, talk, and celebrate entomophagy. We close the hour with Nathan’s description of what it’s like to cook with insects for the first time, as well as the reactions of our guests.