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It just released new fintech tools to help with the implementation of mobile payments. Microfinance and super apps are also receiving tech support from the tech behemoth. These technologies were announced at the recent Huawei Connect 2021, along with eleven other digital advancements for the energy, transport, manufacturing, and public sectors. Here are three ways that technology could change the fintech sector in Singapore and the region.If you want to know more then try being good at money lending in Singapore.
1. Mobile payments
China has long reigned supreme in the field of mobile payments.According to Daxue Consulting, more than 776 million users sent money with a tap or swipe on their phones in March 2020.China outperforms the next three countries on the list by a wide margin.Nearly 80% of the population uses mobile payments.According to data from the People’s Bank of China, South Korea is second with 32.8 percent and India is third with 29.6 percent.Huawei is working to close the gap in other countries. Its new mobile payments technology has aided Myanmar’s largest local bank in the development of a cloud-based digital wallet.The wallet has attracted more than 8 million users in just two and a half years.
2. Bringing users and funders together
The new fintech tools will direct consumers to institutions that offer the services they require. Banks can even create apps that connect consumers and merchants, allowing them to reach out to customers more quickly and at a lesser cost. These can be super apps or more specialized apps for small businesses. Banks will be able to offer more services, including microfinance, thanks to Huawei’s new tools. In Kenya, for example, the firm collaborated with banks and telcos to offer micro and small loans to individuals and small enterprises. This has contributed to a rise in financial inclusion in the country from 23% to 85%.
3. Everything is digital
Huawei believes that improving digital banking services is the first of two phases toward scaling up fintech. The cloud will be used to rehabilitate banks’ existing IT systems in the second phase. Its Digital Core can aid in the cloudization of middle and back-end services, enabling even more digital services. As banks reconsider how to serve their clients, this is critical, according to Cao Chong, President of Huawei’s Global Financial Services Business Department, Enterprise BG. Financial services must keep up with other elements of life that have gone online.


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Prestige, tradition, style, and mystique: these continue to be the main reasons why people buy Swiss watches. Switzerland has been making watches since the mid-19th century, and over the years, built an unmatched reputation for high-quality craftsmanship, precision, reliability and longevity for their timepieces.
Nowadays, though, with people more dependent on the internet, Business Insider reported that the Apple Watch is eating into the Swiss watch market. Quoting analysts, the report said Apple Watch is a threat to Swiss watches brands, except for Rolex. Most threatened is Swiss quartz watchmaker Swatch, which caters to a similar market as the Apple Watch.
Traditional Swiss watchmakers hesitate to get into the smartwatch market, as they fear having to rely on tech firms to supply the electronics and chips. This is understandable given the history and behind Swiss watches, and their reputation that makes them the most expensive and prestigious watches in the world.
A Swiss watch is more than just a timepiece. It’s a status symbol, a work of art, a complex mechanical marvel, a family heirloom, and practically jewelry. Made from high-end materials including precious metals and stones, Swiss watches are built to last for generations.
That’s a contrast to smartwatches that keep us digitally connected but are designed to be obsolete in a few years. The need for new software, a dead battery, or rapidly changing pop culture tastes all come together to render a smartwatch old and so not trendy.
Still, the Swiss watch industry said it’s still going strong, even declaring that its downturn has passed. A report from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said that exports as of May 2017 were at nearly $1.8 billion, a nine percent growth from the same month last year.
A few Swiss watchmakers, interestingly, are moving into a compromise with the tech era. According to The Watch Gallery, Swiss brands Frederique Constant, Montblanc, and TAG Heuer have come out with hybrid watches that combine traditional craftsmanship with smartwatch technology and functions. Whether other Swiss watchmakers follow suit, only time will tell.
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Trade barriers no longer serve Caribbean countries & hinder food security – says Regional Academic
Caribbean countries hope to slash the US$6 billion annual food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 but these efforts are being hindered by longstanding trade barriers that do not serve Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries well.
This is according to Dr Kai-Ann Skeete, a Trade Research Fellow at the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services based at the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados.
Dr Skeete spoke at an event in Guyana last week, explaining that trade barriers implemented by individual countries may have previously proven beneficial.
Now, however, it does not appear as though these barriers serve the interests of Caribbean countries or the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as a whole.
“We have these barriers in place as a means of protecting local employment but a lot of these barriers are from 1960’s and 1970’s (and) this should not exist now in 2023.
“It requires that our politicians go back to the drawing boards, go back to Parliament and amend legislations because we cannot have regional substitution of goods unless we remove those barriers,” Dr Skeete said.
What CARICOM is hoping to do is cut its expensive food import bill by producing more food regionally. With more food produced, countries hope to intensify trade among each other.
This plan, that is led by Guyana, would see fewer food imports from traditional places of import like the United States of America (USA) and Europe.
Currently, however, certain trade restrictions impact this plan.
“A clear example [is] my own country of Barbados does not allow in sweet potatoes from Grenada; Trinidad and Tobago will not let in any CARICOM honey producing products; Grenada’s restriction as it relates to flour, rice and its quantity restriction for a 12 month period restriction for packages over 10 kilogrammes,” she said.
There has been some revitalised interest in removing these barriers, with Guyana’s leadership on agriculture and nutrition in CARICOM’s quasi-cabinet.
Dr. Skeete believes that these efforts will prove beneficial for the region.
This week Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali said the countries have to invest at US $7.5 billion to achieve the 25 by 2025 goal.


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Following the launch of this new website a week ago, two direct email enquiries have already been received from www.rentmyvillaorlandoflorida.com The owners are currently on holiday in the luxury villa but have made contact with the enquirors - awaiting success update!
New website launched for Moving Distance. The Manchester branch of the company operate business, commercial and office relocation services in the Northwest UK. Manchester movers has been set up to attract local house removal and business relocation contracts in the Manchester area. Having already worked for the NHS and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council amongst others the company is sure to make a real impact in the Northwest area. For more information and a free no obligation removals quote please visit the website at http://www.manchester-movers.co.uk


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PrivatBank is expanding its scope of open banking solutions by integrating Nordigen’s account data transaction categorisation engine. This allows PrivatBank to make faster, more precise and ultimately more responsible lending decisions.
As part of its open banking initiative, PrivatBank is leveraging customer transaction data to offer their customers better tailored digital banking services. To gain fast and accurate insights from this data and automate its lending decision processes, the Bank is using Nordigen’s transaction categorisation engine.
PrivatBank has launched its open banking platform with the help of global technology giant Tieto. The platform is expected to create “effective and innovative solutions” for its customers.
Nordigen’s transaction categorisation product helps PrivatBank to improve their customer onboarding, loan underwriting and increase its lending volumes.
“At the end of last year, PrivatBank started to offer consumer loans. The Bank’s cooperation with Nordigen is our logical step and strategic decision, which will allow us to improve the speed and accuracy of our credit decisions. Bank positively and with enthusiasm evaluates the cooperation with Nordigen as it will enhance the scope of use of cutting-edge technologies in FinTech. We are looking forward to a mutually successful cooperation,”
comments Una Jansone, member of the Board of PrivatBank.
“At Nordigen, we strongly believe that a worldwide adoption of open banking will greatly improve the financial lives of billions of people. PrivatBank is one of the first banks to deliver an innovative and competitive financial service offering to their customers in Latvia. Our technology helps PrivatBank to better understand their customers so that they can persevere on their mission to offer targeted consultations, tailored products and improve customer satisfaction,”
says Nordigen Head of Enterprise Sales Kristaps Driķis.


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The latest drone from Yuneec isn't targeted at drone enthusiasts, but at people who want to step up their Instagram game. The Yuneec Breeze is a $499 "flying camera" that can take 4K video and 13MP images that can easily be shared to your social media accounts through the accompanying app.
The Breeze comes with five automated flying modes (including a selfie mode), an indoor positioning system that utilizes optical flow and infrared positioning sensors so it won't crash into your TV, and it weighs in at less than a pound. Using the Breeze Cam app, which is available on iOS and Android, users can share their photos and videos directly to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, and WhatsApp as soon as the flight is over.
With a flight time of 12 minutes, the Breeze won't stay in the sky for long, but the company says you can fully recharge the drone in around 40 minutes. The Yuneec Breeze is available for purchase today at retailers nationwide, including Best Buy.


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The last few weeks have seen a gradual relaxation of the countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19 and with the opening up of non-essential retail businesses this week, the future of work is becoming more visible as people return to some sort of ‘normality’. So what does this mean for those in warehouse careers? We take a look at how warehouse jobs have been impacted during the pandemic and what the future prospects may be.
What might be the impact of COVID-19 on the future of work in the warehouse?
Short-term effects on the warehouse environment and warehouse jobs
In the early weeks of the pandemic, even before lockdown, we all saw the effect of panic buying by the public; the resulting empty shelves in the supermarkets and, of course, the lack of toilet paper. It is safe to say that in the retail industry, warehouses for essential food and household items have been busier than ever.
Initially the sector struggled not only to keep up with demand, but also to cope with absent staff due to self-isolating measures and the added hindrance of social distancing restrictions for those working in warehouse jobs. In some cases the thriving grocery, pharmaceutical and e-commerce sectors have even had to take on extra warehouse space for short-term expansion through this exceptionally high throughput period. This resulted in a wave of new warehouse jobs.
This is not the story for many other industries. Non-food retailers and wholesalers have been unable to move stock, warehouses effectively becoming storage units. In fact, some warehouses have faced becoming full and space has become a problem. April saw the volume of retail sales plummet by 18.1%1 as shops temporarily stopped trading.
The effect of this is that many people in warehouse jobs in the non-food industry were put on furlough as there was either not enough work or not enough space to safely allow everyone to be in their usual warehouse roles.
However, being confined to home, more people than usual have turned to online shopping resulting in an 18% increase in the volume of retail sales online1. Consequently, more retailers have since added e-commerce to their business model and stores such as clothing, that had initially closed their online shopping services and distribution centres, have since reopened. The immediate effect of this was the creation of new opportunities for warehouse jobs within various sectors of the retail industry and according to LinkedIn, job applications for Warehouse Operatives were in the top 5 most applied for jobs in the UK between March and April2.
For those with warehouse careers in the manufacturing sector, COVID-19 has also had a dramatic effect on jobs. Initially manufacturing was affected by the global supply chain, first impacted by the lockdown in China resulting in a reduction of parts being received by industry in the UK. This was then followed by disruption closer to home as our own manufacturers slowed or ceased production and consumer demand dropped.
To ensure the future of work for their businesses, some manufacturers have taken the initiative to adapt to the changing environment in order to survive the current climate. Rather than making their usual gin or beer, alcohol producers have been making hand sanitiser; instead of vacuum cleaners and cars, manufacturers have been making ventilators and many other industries have been making visors, masks, screens and other PPE equipment. In the same way, those in warehouse jobs may change the type of products they work with, but there is still the need for Warehouse Operatives in this important step of the supply chain.
Medium and long-term effects on the warehouse environment and warehouse jobs
Over the coming weeks and months those in warehouse careers will see further changes as manufacturing, import/export and retail all begin to get back to business. However, the reality for the future of work in any industry cannot fully be known right now.
The requirement for social distancing means that for those in warehouse careers it may be a slow return to normal as the viable number of employees could remain restricted as a consequence.
As in all other work environments, as people return to work, there are certain aspects of warehouse jobs that will have to adapt to meet the new requirements and recommendations. These may include:
- Increased handwashing and surface cleaning
- Social distancing – 2m where possible
- Use of screens where workers are close together
- Working in fixed teams or partners to reduce the number of people coming into contact with each other
- Reduced sharing of equipment
- Workstations used by as few different people as possible
- Wearing of PPE
- One way systems
- Restricted access to shared areas
Many warehouse jobs already involve shift work and it is possible that more shift options will be added by businesses to enable more Warehouse Operatives to return to work, while keeping the number of staff on shift low enough to meet social distancing requirements. Equally, staggered arrival and departure times and break times are also likely in an effort to reduce the number of people coming and going at the same time.
At this point there is no definitive information about how a potential recession might impact the future of work in the warehouse, but as more non-essential shops and businesses begin to reopen it is likely there will be at least an initial surge in consumer spending and an increase in retail demand.
As lockdown restrictions continue to be lifted and other industries get back to work, warehouse stock will need to be moved and skilled Warehouse Operatives and Forklift Drivers will be needed for those warehouse jobs. Movement of goods into and out of a warehouse is a significant part of the supply chain and having experience of handling and processing stock will be sought after skills. Having a forklift licence will be a real bonus as more jobs begin to open up.
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1 Retail sales, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics. 2020. Retail sales, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/april2020. [Accessed June 2020].
2 Retail Times. 2020. LinkedIn reveals top five most applied for jobs in the UK during pandemic – Retail Times. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.retailtimes.co.uk/linkedin-reveals-top-five-most-applied-for-jobs-in-the-uk-during-pandemic/. [Accessed June 2020].


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CRN: Toshiba Touts Linux, Ships Rack-Mountable ServersMay 24, 1999, 13:24 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Edward F. Moltzen)
"Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. is expanding its server line, including the release of its first rack-mountable model, and unveiling support for Linux."
"The Irvine, Calif.-based company's Computer Systems Division said it hopes to provide resellers with the new configurations and support in boosting its Magnia server line."
"Toshiba introduced its first servers to the U.S. market about a year ago and slowly has been ramping up its channels, executives said. It sells none of its products direct."


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Starbucks Corp. released a preliminary list of the 600-or-so “underperforming” stores it plans to close in the coming weeks, and none are in Oregon.
That means both Starbucks locations on Century Drive in the Safeway shopping center – one inside the grocery store, the other in its own building right across the parking lot – will continue to operate within a coffee bean’s throw of each other.
So far, stores affected by the closings are found in Alabama (four), Arkansas (two), California (eight), Iowa (one), Illinois (two), Indiana (two), Kentucky (one), Louisiana (two), Maryland (one), Minnesota (seven), Missouri (one), Nebraska (one), Nevada (five), New Jersey (one), New York (three), North Dakota (one), Ohio (two), Texas (five) and West Virginia (one).
“Much thought and consideration was given to each location, because we know the impact this has on our dedicated partners, customers and the communities where we operate,” the company said in a press release. “The determination of each store’s closure date is dependent on several operational and contractual factors and events. We will be as transparent as possible and each month, after closure dates have been communicated to all affected partners, we will post a list of the stores that are scheduled to close during that month.”


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Shop local, shop often! This year makes the 13th Petworth Art & Craft Fair on Upshur Street, with local artists, vendors, crafts, food and more. The event kicks off on Saturday, December 1st, 11am to 4pm on Upshur & 9th St NW. You can take part in gingerbread house or pie-making competitions, make a wreath or just chill out in the hot cocoa lounge!Read More
Latest Petworth News...
The Petworthpalooza show at the 2017 Celebrate Petworth Festival was a big success -- hundreds came out to enjoy free music from local area musicians, $5 beer and the pleasure of hanging out with their neighbors. So we're doing it again! Check out the line-up!Read More
After a fair amount of publicity on the story and new proposed legislation by the DC Council, DDOT has decided it's time to stop charging Farmers' Markets exorbitant parking meter fees. This is a big win for the Petworth Community Farmers' Market, which thought it would be forced to close after this year.Read More
The Petworth Community Market has its 2018 Kick-Off Fundraiser at Ten Tigers Parlour (3813 Georgia Ave NW) on Monday, April 23rd from 6:30 to 9:00pm. The market needs funds to help cover the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits at the market, along with the city's exorbitant fees.Read More
Now in its third year, the 14th and Kennedy Street Farmers' Market opens its 2018 season on Saturday, April 14th. Located at 5501 Colorado Avenue NW (between Longfellow and Kennedy Street), the market brings delicious pre-made foods, fresh produce, coffees, kids' activities and so more much.Read More
On SUNDAY, January 28th at 2pm, the market’s organizers will be holding an open community meeting at the Petworth Library, providing an opportunity for customers, vendors, local businesses and other community stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the future of the market. They're looking for your input as well.Read More
Shop local this holiday season with the 12th Annual Upshur Street Art & Craft Fair on Saturday, December 9th and again on December 16th from 11am to 4pm. Now produced by the Petworth Arts Collaborative (PAC), the event incorporates a series of new and free creative art experiences for everyone to get into the holiday spirit and connect with community.
Read more to see what this year’s Upshur Street Art & Craft Fair line-up includes...Read More
Saturday, November 18th is the last day of the season for the Petworth Community Farmers Market and the 14th & Kennedy Farmers Market. They're closing for the winter. But you've got one more day to get fresh produce, coffee, some awesome bratwurst and more. So come out to your favorite market!Read More
Games, apple pie and a live Thriller performance! Yaasss!
Calling all aspiring bakers! This Saturday, October 28th, the 14th & Kennedy Farmers Market is putting on it's first Fall Festival! Events will include a "Thriller" dance class, a moon bounce, pumpkin decorating, kids costume parade, scarecrow making and... an apple pie baking contest to benefit your pride and the market's SNAP program. Here's how to enter the contest and a look at the events.Read More


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executive officer of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), Pradeep Guha, has stepped into the OOH arena by setting up a new agency called Street Culture. Street Culture will be a part of Guha's firm, Culture Company, which creates entertainment products and manages talent; it has produced films such as Fiza and Tehzeeb.
Sriram Iyer is Street Culture's new CEO. Iyer was earlier with Outdoor Media Integrated (OMI), a part of Laqshya Media. He joined OMI in 2007 and, while there, helped to produce highly innovative campaigns for brands such as Dove and UTI Mutual Funds.
Swapna Desai is the chief operating officer of Street Culture. She moves here from Digiratti Media, where she was an executive director.
Iyer says Street Culture will be a pure-play agency; it will not own any media. The agency will use OOH in all its forms - bus shelters, ambient media, everything. "In every campaign, we will try and include as much of an ambient media element as possible. Today, people are spending more and more time outdoors. In fact, the research we have shows that Indians are spending a minimum of one and a half hours commuting. The weekends are spent in malls and multiplexes. So, that's a consumer touch point where a brand should be visible," says Iyer.
He adds, "A billboard can never be quantified. But ambient media, a below-the-line activity done for a campaign, can show results instantly and that is what we're looking at this time. We have a very robust monitoring system, not just for our campaigns, but also for our competitors, tracking, market reports, everything in place."
Is this the right time for Street Culture to come in? Iyer believes that this is definitely the right time because clients are looking to get the maximum out of their budgets in these times of inflation. Iyer says they do not have advertisers on board as yet, but are pitching for various businesses.
Street Culture was in the planning stage for about two and a half months and saw a soft launch on June 6. Based in Mumbai, it will have offices and representatives all over India.First Published : July 08, 2008


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Phillips Asia to launch gallery space
British auction house Phillips Asia will inaugurate its first gallery space at the St George’s Building in Central next Wednesday.
It is on the 14th floor of the same building where the 222-year-old auction house has just relocated its Asia headquarters. The gallery space will be a destination for global art connoisseurs with Phillips’ proposed calendar encompassing several exhibitions, auction previews, private sales, cultural programs and other special events.
Since its inaugural Hong Kong sale in November 2015, the number of Asian buyers in Phillips’ auctions across the globe has increased by 133 per cent. In the past two years, total sales in Asia have grown 13 per cent.
CEO Edward Dolman says the expanded headquarters in Hong Kong is an important addition to its business, along with its headquarters in London and New York.
To mark the inauguration of the Asia gallery, the company will host a cross-category selling exhibition, Hong Kong. Spotlight. Now., on view at the venue through to April 13. It will showcase works by artists such as Keith Haring, Marc Chagall, Peter Doig and Yayoi Kusama.
There will also be works of design, photographs, watches and jewels, with highlights from Phillips’ forthcoming Geneva and Hong Kong watch auctions.


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MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (Hypebot) – iTunes Gets A Worthy Competitor.
A series on announcements this week at Google's I/O developer conference could signal another seismic shift in how music is discovered, purchased and enjoyed.
Google's most direct foray into music comes via the announcement that it had purchased Simplify Media two months ago, and will incorporating its technology in a new version of Android that enables users to stream music directly from their home PCs. That's a very different approach than MP3Tunes, Spotify or Apple's soon to be defunct Lala and others who have focused on storing music in the cloud.
Just as importantly Google announced that a new upgrade for Android will enable over the air downloads and auto-synch to all Android powered devices. No word yet, if Google is opening its own music store or just opening its system to Amazon and others. Either way, it is a direct challenge to iTunes.


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PARIS (AP) — General Motors is selling its unprofitable European car business to the French maker of Peugeot, marking the American company's retreat from a major market and raising concerns of job cuts in the region.
With the 2.2 billion euro ($2.33 billion) deal announced Monday, GM is giving up brands — Opel in Germany and Vauxhall in Britain — that have given it a foothold in the world's third-largest auto market since the 1920s. The brands, however, have lost $20 billion since last making a full-year profit in 1999.
For PSA Group, which makes Peugeot and Citroen cars, the acquisition will turn it into Europe's No. 2 automaker after Volkswagen and caps a remarkable turnaround after it was bailed out just three years ago.
The deal is "a game-changer for PSA," said its CEO, Carlos Tavares.
GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra told analysts that the sale may not be GM's last. She said the company has work to do on some international businesses and could make a similar deal for them if they can't be fixed.
She told reporters in Paris that the decision to all but exit Europe "was a difficult decision for General Motors but we are united in belief that it is the right one."
Britain's vote to leave the European Union, which caused a plunge in the pound, weighed on the decision, Barra said.
With Britain's exit from the European Union and stricter pollution regulations coming in Europe that will require massive investments in electric vehicles, the risks of staying in Europe outweighed the benefits, GM President Dan Ammann told analysts.
Increased regulatory costs "will continue to be a burden for the foreseeable future" that would be a drain on capital, Ammann said, adding that GM wants to focus its finite resources on places where it is more strongly positioned.
Shares in General Motors Co. were down 0.6 percent to $38 in early trading Monday. They're up 10 percent since the first of the year, indicating that investors already were anticipating benefits from the deal. PSA's shares were up 3.4 percent at 19.46 euros.


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Little Known Questions About Trending Tech.
Gartner exposed its top 10 strategic innovation patterns for the next year at its IT Symposium/Xpo 2019 conference in Orlando. According to the company, a tactical technology pattern is one that has the prospective to disrupt the market and break out into broader effect and usage. Unlike in 2015's patterns, this year's trend does not fall into smart, digital and mesh classifications, but are rather structured around "people-centric wise spaces," or innovations that will impact individuals and locations they live, according to Gartner.
Instead of constructing a technology stack and then exploring the potential applications, organizations should consider the business and human context first. The top 10 patterns for the next year are: 1. Hyperautomation: Automation refers http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=tech gadgets to services that can automate manual human tasks. Hyperautomation describes automating jobs using sophisticated technologies such as synthetic intelligence and artificial intelligence.
As no single tool can replace human beings, hyperautomation today involves a combination of tools, consisting of robotic procedure automation (RPA), smart service management software application (i BPMS) and AI, with an objective of significantly AI-driven choice making, Garter wrote in an article. 2. Multiexperience: Rather of technology-literate people, multiexperience addresses people-literate innovation, Gartner explained.
The Only Guide for 2020 Trending Tech
The example the imbringingbloggingback.com/shopping/best-wireless-tech-gadgets/ research study company gave was Domino's Pizza exceeding app-based purchasing with self-governing delivery cars, a way to track the pizza and wise speaker interaction. Gartner predicts this will be called an ambient experience in the future, however presently focuses on immersive experiences (which ones one of Gartner's trends for 2019) like enhanced truth, combined reality, human-machine user interfaces and picking up technologies.
Democratization of expertise: Market leaders are constantly attempting to democratize a technology pattern for the more comprehensive set of individuals. Gartner thinks this will be a trend to look out in the next coming year as innovation is developed to offer users with easy access to technical or company proficiency without going through comprehensive and expensive training.
For instance, democratization would allow designers to create information designs without having http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection®ion=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/tech gadgets the abilities of an information scientist. They would instead rely on AI-driven advancement to create code and automate testing, Gartner wrote. 4. Human enhancement: Or technology that improves human cognitive and physical experiences. Physical enhancement refers to: https://en.search.wordpress.com/?src=organic&q=tech gadgets Sensory augmentation such as hearing, vision or understanding Appendage and biological functions augmentation such as exoskeletons and prosthetics Brain enhancement such as implants to deal with seizures Genetic enhancement such as somatic gene and cell therapy Cognitive augmentation refers to the ability to believe and make choices such as making use of information and applications to enhance learning and experiences, according to Gartner.
Rumored Buzz on Technologies To Watch
Transparency and traceability: Structure off of last year's digital ethics and privacy pattern, transparency and traceability will be common throughout the next year next year. "The evolution of technology is producing a trust crisis. As customers become more knowledgeable about how their information is being gathered and used, organizations are likewise acknowledging the increasing liability of saving and collecting the data," Gartner wrote.
6. The empowered edge: The empowered edge is making Gartner's list year once again as innovations like the Internet of Things continues to evolve and put details closer to the source of details. Gartner forecasts by 2023, there will be 20 times as numerous clever gadgets at the edge. "Much of the current concentrate on edge computing comes from the need for Io T systems to provide detached or dispersed capabilities into the ingrained Io T world for specific markets such as making or retail," stated Burke.
Complex edge gadgets, consisting of robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles and operational systems will accelerate this shift." 7. Distributed cloud: As cloud adoption continues to increase, Gartner is looking at dispersed clouds over the next year. Distribute cloud refers to "the circulation of public cloud services to places outside the cloud provider's physical data center, but which are still controlled by the company." The cloud provider is accountable to cloud service architecture, shipment, operations governance and updates, Gartner discussed.
Examine This Report on Top 2020 Technologies
Self-governing things: While self-governing things is lower on Gartner's list this year, the research company still expects drones, robotics, ships and appliances to be big next year. The firm expects autonomous things to evolve from controlled environments to open public spaces. "As self-governing things proliferate, we expect a shift from stand-alone intelligent things to a swarm of collaborative intelligent things where multiple gadgets will interact, either separately of individuals or with human input," said Burke.
In the delivery market, the most efficient option may be to utilize a self-governing lorry to move packages to the target location. Robots and drones latest innovation and environmental facts aboard the vehicle could then affect last delivery of the plan." 9. Practical blockchain: Blockchain has belonged of Gartner's leading 10 list for a variety of years now, however the firm expects it to go from experimental to totally scalable by 2023.
In spite of these challenges, the significant capacity for disruption and earnings generation indicates companies should begin assessing blockchain, even if they don't prepare for aggressive adoption of the innovations in the near term," stated Burke. 10. AI security: Instead of AI-driven development, this year Gartner it keeping a close eye on AI security.


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A smart day in the life
European appliances look to make living easier
Text by Yung-Hsiang Kao
Text by Yung-Hsiang Kao
European appliance manufacturers are making use of apps, connectivity and other technology to push the idea of a smart home life. Many of these innovations are already available in Europe and have begun making their way to Japan. So, what would a day with smart appliances look like?
Wake up at 6:30a.m. and, at exactly the same time, your cup of Nespresso coffee has just finished brewing, ready to give you that perfect start to your day. This is possible with the company’s connected machines: the first was the Prodigio, which debuted in Japan in April 2016, and was followed in September 2017 by the Expert, which has more advanced functions.
By downloading an app and linking your smartphone to the machine, not only can you set a timer, but you can customise the temperature, the amount of coffee down to the millilitre, and the style, such as Americano. The machine lets the app know the hardness of the water, when it needs to be descaled and how many coffee capsules you have left. The app also allows you to order capsules.
“Just to make an application because it’s now very in vogue to have connectivity, I think that wouldn’t make much sense,” says Alexander Schoenegger, president and representative director of Nestlé Nespresso KK. “I think it’s really about understanding the consumer and how we are adding value based on their needs.”
After coffee, load your Miele laundry machine before heading out to work. If you live in a smart home with solar power, the machine can operate during the peak period of energy supply. From the office, you can monitor the activity of your laundry machine with a smartphone app. Miele & Cie. KG, the German home and office products maker, plans to introduce such smart appliances to Japan, but not before 2019.
“The main reason is we have to adjust our appliances and systems to the Japanese IT infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for the firm.
Miele has a vision of using technology to assist in many aspects of daily life, including cooking.
“One example is an assistance system for cooking which facilitates the whole cooking process, such as sensors and/or cameras to prevent milk from boiling over on the hob, a virtual cook that gives you advice when preparing difficult dishes, or a system that creates recipes according to your personal diet,” the Miele spokesperson explains.
Tired after a long day at work, you pick up the kids and go home. You want to serve a healthy, home-cooked meal, but aren’t really feeling up to the task. T-fal, a brand of Groupe SEB, has helped in the kitchen for more than six decades, and has released a time-saving electric appliance called Cook4me. After you prepare the ingredients and toss them into the machine, as its name suggests, Cook4me does all the frying, stewing, steam cooking or pressure cooking, in line with its pre-programmed recipes.
“Because it’s smart, the electric appliance does all the work for you,” says Andrew Bubala, representative director of Groupe SEB Japan Co., Ltd. “You don’t have to worry about when to release the steam, for example.”
Cook4me was launched nationally in Japan in September 2016, and the Cook4me Express, with 150 built-in recipes, debuted last autumn. A model sold in the European market has connectivity functions that allow users to download recipes to their smartphones and send them to the machine. The Cook4me series has been a major hit, especially in France where it originated.
“At some point last year, we celebrated the fact that — in the five years it’s been available in France — we’ve sold over one million units,” Bubala says. “In fact, last year it was the number one selling appliance of all brands in France.”
T-fal’s appliances are smart in the traditional sense rather than in the AI-driven sense.
“We tend to define smart as something new or innovative that really helps your cooking or daily household needs,” Bubala says, citing T-fal’s electric kettles and garment steamers as other such appliances. “I think people are looking for more simplicity in their lives: how to reduce time, how to save time, how to make things easier.”
You have guests coming over soon, and you forgot to vacuum. Not to worry. The robotic vacuum cleaner is another smart appliance that combines technology, convenience and simplicity.
Electrolux unveiled a prototype robotic vacuum cleaner in the late 1990s, launching it commercially in 2001. Called the Trilobite, it was round and moved randomly, much like many robotic vacuum cleaners available today from other makers. But late last year in Europe, and in March this year in Japan, Electrolux introduced the Pure i9, a triangular machine that cleans smartly with “an eye that works like a human’s,” according to Noriko Ashida, product marketing manager of Electrolux (Japan) Ltd.
“Most of the simple models available move in a random way, bumping into a wall then moving in another direction,” she says. “Pure i9 first rotates in place to map the room, then moves intelligently, able to see low-lying objects and clean around them.”
The Pure i9 also recognises differences in elevation so it doesn’t drive itself off edges and can easily go from floor to carpet and vice versa. It also has connectivity features through an app.
“About half of the consumers use the smartphone capabilities, mostly to schedule it to operate from afar and to check where the Pure i9 cleaned,” Ashida says.
After another busy day, you can get into bed knowing that tomorrow is going to be a little easier. •


text: Rare’s classic fighting series Killer Instinct is coming to Xbox one as an exclusive, the game was last spotted in 1996 . Microsoft executive Phil Spencer confirmed this during the just concluded Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2013 press conference. “We listened and Killer Instinct is back,” said Spencer. The game is once again developed by Rare, even after it was last seen 18 years ago on the Super Nintendo, the trailer that was shown today, looks really cool and brings back old memories. Also, Mad Catz Tournament Edition Fightstick will be available for the game, check it out and let us know what you think.


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The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has increased the National Packaging Target for recycled content levels from 30 to 50 per cent, as outlined in its new Our Packaging Future report.
Appropriately sorted paper and cardboard will be exempt from the Federal Government’s forthcoming waste export ban, as announced by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). Read more
Despite the export ban commencing July 2020, the Federal Government could allow trade to continue under certain strict conditions. We speak to Trevor Evans, Assistant Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Minister.
Pact Group, one of Australia’s largest rigid plastic product manufacturers, will invest $500 million into plastics recovery infrastructure, research and technology over the next five years.
Pact Group Non-Executive Chairman Raphael Geminder made the pledge at the first National Plastics Summit at Parliament House this week, following news the company plan to develop a plastic pelletising facility with Cleanaway and Asahi.
According to Mr Geminder, the company will partner with government and industry to invest in new facilities for sustainable packaging, reuse and recycling initiatives.
“Our stated vision is to include 30 per cent recycled content across our product portfolio by 2025. Across our business, this would be the equivalent of keeping nearly two billion plastic containers out of landfill,” Mr Geminder said.
“Just as importantly, we will be creating jobs for Australians in the circular economy – a new and growing sector where we believe Australia can lead the world.”
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the commitment was encouraging, with industry leadership to reduce plastic waste, increase recycling and create jobs a critical outcome of the summit.
“Pact’s announcement at the National Plastics Summit follows announcements from major brands McDonald’s and Nestlé, with McDonald’s committing to phase out plastic cutlery by the end of 2020, removing 585 tonnes of plastic waste per annum,” Ms Ley said.
“This adds to McDonald’s previous commitment to phase out 500 million straws every year and takes the total annual plastic reduction to 860 tonnes.”
Furthermore, Nestlé will partner with waste management company IQ Renew on a soft plastics collection trial, to be tested at 100,000 homes.
“The recycling economy starts here, this is where we take what are now seen as problems and turn them into assets that create remanufactured products, which create jobs and which grow our economy,” Ms Ley said.
Additional commitments include $650,000 from PepsiCo to support Greening the Green, a program aimed at educating consumers on soft plastics, and Unilever announcing it will halve its use of virgin plastic in production and packaging by 2025.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation announced it would lead the development of the ANZPAC Plastic Pact, a new program within the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Plastics Pact Network.
“ANZPAC will provide the significant intervention required to meet Australia’s national plastic packaging target – that 70 per cent of all plastic packaging will be recycled or composted by 2025,” Ms Ley said.
According to Assistant Waste Reduction Minister Trevor Evans, the summit was an important step in working with industry to drive long-term practical outcomes, such as increasing Australia’s recycling rates and domestic reprocessing capabilities.
“We are looking towards fundamentally changing the way we think about and manage our waste, and creating new markets for recycled products,” he said.
“This transformation towards a circular economy will both create jobs and help our environment.”
Assistant Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Minister Trevor Evans will open the Australian Organics Recycling Association’s (AORA) 2020 Annual Conference.
AORA National Chair Peter Wadewitz said Mr Evans’ confirmation is another strong addition to an outstanding lineup of national and international experts.
Held 1 to 3 April in the Hunter Valley NSW, the conference will feature practical demonstrations, social events and plenary sessions focused on different aspects of the organics industry.
“The Annual AORA Conference features workshops, presentations, a gala dinner, networking functions and an equipment demonstration day. This is the prime opportunity of 2020 to network with industry leaders and gain insights into the latest opportunities in the organics recycling industry,” Mr Wadewitz said.
“Plenary sessions will cover a common vision for the future of the industry, community engagement and informed opinion sessions on food organics and garden organics, carbon, in the field and what’s next.”
The conference will also feature keynote presentations from Teaming series author Jeff Lowenfels and Aurel Lübke of Compost Systems Austria.
For more information click here.
Simply Cups, a coffee cup recycling program, has officially collected 10 million cups, with Assistant Waste Reduction Minister Trevor Evans depositing the milestone cup at an event in Sydney.
According to Mr Evans, the recycling scheme, founded by Closed Loop, collects almost one million cups every month, with nearly 1000 collection points at 7-Eleven stores, cafes, hotels, hospitals and universities across Australia.
“Australians love their coffee, so it’s vital that they can easily and reliably recycle their disposable coffee cup and reduce the huge number of takeaway cups that currently end up in landfill each year,” Mr Evans said.
“Rather than just being put into the rubbish bin and ending in landfill, Simply Cups collect and then reprocess the used coffee cups, transforming them into new items like outdoor furniture, coffee cup trays and even traffic solutions like roadside kerbing.”
By disposing coffee cups at designated collection points, Mr Evans said consumers could do their part to increase recycling.
“This is a great practical example of Australia’s growing circular economy in action, and shows how we will all benefit from an invigorated waste and recycling industry,” he said.
Closed Loop Managing Director Rob Pascoe said Simply Cups aims to recycle 100 million cups every year.
“It’s a practical solution that increases recycling rates and reduces waste, while creating supply and demand for products made from recycled material,” he said.
“Our circular economy will grow quickly if people choose Australian-made and recycled over other alternatives. After all, recycling doesn’t actually happen when you put an item in a bin, it only happens when that item is given a second life.”
7-Eleven Chief Executive Officer Angus McKay said that while saving 10 million coffee cups from landfill is a fantastic achievement, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“We encourage customers to up the ante and deliver any brand of used coffee cup or straw to our cup collection points at store, and we’ll make sure they get recycled via Simply Cups,” he said.
More than 900 local environment projects have received funding through the Federal Government’s $22.65 million Communities Environment Program.
Assistant Waste Reduction Minister Trevor Evans said he welcomed the significant proportion of waste reduction and recycling initiatives receiving funding.
“The Federal Government is strongly committed to increasing our recycling rates, turning our waste back into valuable products and encouraging innovation, so that resources are not lost to landfill,” Mr Evans said.
“It’s great to see that this commitment is shared by many in our communities, judging by the amount of applications seeking funding to deliver waste reduction, recycling and litter clean-up activities.”
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the government was pleased to see strong community interest in the program.
“People want to play a role in helping our environment, and it is fantastic to see such a wide range of not-for-profit community organisations, schools and local governing bodies engaged in identifying local priorities and opportunities,” Ms Ley said.
“Many are being encouraged to get involved for the first time in delivering small grant projects in particular, and we are also seeing how a number of individual projects can help address wider issues.”
Up to $150,000 was made available to each federal electorate during the 2019-20 financial year.
According to Ms Ley, applicants could apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 per project, with each electorate eligible for up to 20 community-led projects that address local environmental priorities in their jurisdiction.
Examples of funded projects include a new community recycling station for light globes and batteries in Aberfoyle, South Australia, and a Pumicestone, Queensland project that seeks to recreate lost shellfish reefs using old oyster shells.
Handheld batteries are a major fire risk in established recycling facilities and immediate action is needed to remove them from the general recycling stream, according to the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR).
ACOR CEO Pete Shmigel is calling on environment ministers to establish a national battery product stewardship and recycling scheme, with robust manufacturer participation.
“As a result of the digital age, battery consumption is going up by about 300 per cent per year and millions of post-consumer batteries are ending up where they don’t belong, which causes not only environmental harm but increasingly fires and occupational health and safety risks,” Mr Shmigel said.
“Analysis by ACOR shows that a national battery recycling scheme would cost less than one per cent of a typical battery’s retail price, and that seems a very small contribution for manufacturers to make to ensure better environmental and safety outcomes.”
According to Mr Shmigel, only three per cent of batteries are recycled in Australia, compared to 70 per cent in Europe, which has long-established, government-mandated schemes.
Mr Shmigel added that many batteries end up in household kerbside recycling bins as a result of “wishcycling.”
“Batteries that wrongly end up in our industry’s established materials recovery facilities for packaging or scrap metal recycling operations are known to explode as a result of heat and pressure from normal operations,” Mr Shmigel said.
“We are now consistently experiencing the operational and cost impacts, and should not wait to see somebody hurt.”
Outside selected retailer initiatives, Mr Shmigel said there is no alternative, comprehensive or accessible way for Australians to present used batteries for recycling.
“What we have in Australia is not recovery but malarkey. For nearly a decade, there’s been chain-dragging from major battery manufacturers and governments on setting up national programs, where all consumers can easily recycle their used batteries, just as they can their computers, TVs and mobile phones,” Mr Shmigel said.
Mr Shmigel said battery recycling solutions were put forward by industry and NGOs at the last two Meetings of Environment Ministers, however no substantive decisions were made.
“In the meantime, insurance premiums in our industry are known to have increased by five-fold per year in some cases due to increased fire risk,” Mr Shmigel said.
“Because we have very limited to no control of batteries coming into our facilities, that’s a totally inappropriate cost shift when producers are not taking appropriate responsibility.”
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to drive the delivery of the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Mobile telecommunication product stewardship scheme MobileMuster has released its 2019 Annual Report, to coincide with its 21st anniversary.
MobileMuster celebrated its 21st anniversary at The Mint in Sydney, with Telstra Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Chair Jane van Beelen and Assistant Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Minister Trevor Evans.
MobileMuster Manager Spyro Kalos said the report examines the schemes performance in 2019, as well as the significant progress of the organisation over the last 21 years.
After 21 years of operation, MobileMuster is Australia’s oldest product stewardship scheme.
“The success of the program to date demonstrates how the industry can work together voluntarily to deliver social and environmental outcomes,” Mr Kalos said.
“We are committed to continuing to invest in the next generation of mobile phone users, educating them about the impact of their mobiles and how to act for a sustainable future.”
Since 1998, the program has collected and recycled nearly 1500 tonnes of mobile phones and accessories, including over 14 million handsets and batteries.
“Further, in this year alone, MobileMuster collected and recycled 84.1 tonnes of mobiles, their batteries, chargers and accessories and through the process, recovered metals, glass and plastics, averting 188 tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of planting 4840 trees,” Mr Kalos said.
Through the program’s recycling processes, over 95 per cent of the material from mobile phones and accessories is recovered and used to manufacture new products.
“With an estimated 25 million mobiles being stored by Australians, we hope to get more Australians recycling,” Mr Kalos said.
“In addition, we are working towards zero waste to landfill, that means no mobiles will be disposed of in the general waste stream.”
According to the report, MobileMuster has an industry participation level of 92 per cent, including Alcatel, Apple, Google, HMD Global (Nokia), HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, Motorola and Oppo.
To read the report click here.


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AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — The former Bon-Ton in the Northtown Plaza has sat vacant for years. It will be coming down to make way for a Whole Foods, the first in western New York. But in it’s wake are some questions and concerns from local retailers.
Anthony Scioli is the manager of My Tomato Pie, serving up slices in Northtown Plaza for 17 years.
Cioli hopes lunch rushes like what he saw Wednesday will only increase with the addition of Whole Foods.
“We’re excited for the change, increased traffic in the plaza,” Scioli said.
But with that excitement comes some questions.
“You can only pass so much on to your customers, and your customers are used to paying a certain amount for an item,” he said. “We don’t feel like an increased rent should be passed along to our customers. So that is a concern, it depends on what we get from the increase rent also.”
WS Development promises to pump $90 million in improvements to the plaza, including $15 million for Whole Foods.
They say they’re hopeful some tenants stay on board, despite increased rent.
“As Northtown evolves with this reinvestment and their business improves, we foresee some existing tenants remaining in the center, perhaps in their current location, but not necessarily, especially in cases where a particular tenant’s present day needs are better served by a new premises elsewhere in the property,” the company said in a statement. “ We understand that while some tenants will remain and grow with us as Northtown is rejuvenated, others may leave, but we believe that a vibrant and unique retail destination includes a mix of local and national tenants.”
But they’re also asking the town’s industrial development agency for help in the form of tax breaks.
James Allen, executive director of the Amherst Industrial Development Agency, said the company is asking for incentives during construction only, or a period of four years.
“Northtown plays a real big role in our strategy for redeveloping the town,” he said.
Any incentive would be dependant on whether the developer can bring unique retail draws people from 50 miles away.
“The only way we could do it is if we can make a finding, they were comfortable with, that this is a tourism destination center.” Allen said.
He also said any current shops may already have a place to go if they choose to leave Northtown.
“We really believe that some of the other strip losses in the area that have some vacancies are really going to benefit for that. So we think that everything is going to work out for everybody,” Allen said.
Any decision on a tax break would likely be made by July, Allen said.


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Herkimer County news in brief
Lamp & Light Sale aids Arc Herkimer
The Arc Herkimer Goods Store is holding a special Vintage Lamp & Light Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, at the Arc Herkimer Business Park, 420 E. German St., Herkimer.
A wide variety of antique lighting including table lamps, chandeliers, pendant lights, wall sconces, lamp shades, bulbs and accessories will be available for sale. Prices are 80% off all tag prices and cash, check or card will be accepted.
Shoppers are asked to drive around to the back of the business park and use the rear east entrance.
This sale is possible thanks to an inventory donation from a successful Central New York business. All proceeds will help support people with disabilities through Arc Herkimer.
Workshops look at solar on farmland
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County will host a free online workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, through Zoom to discuss some of the implications of siting solar installations on farmland and how to support renewable energy while protecting agricultural lands.
This is the first of a two-part series organized by CCE of Oswego on the impact that climate change is having on the agriculture sector.
A second online workshop, scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. May 20, will give an introduction to climate science, why it matters from a global perspective and how climate change will impact agriculture in the future.
The workshop also will highlight practical solutions that the agricultural community can adopt in order to become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. This workshop does not assume prior knowledge of climate science.
Both workshops are open to all members of the public. For more information, contact Joshua Vrooman, Agricultural Community Educator for CCE of Oswego County at email@example.com or 315-963-7286 ext. 200.


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|Small businesses are the lifeblood of local communities across the country and in my constituency they remain the backbone of our High Streets, Village Centres, and Industrial Estates.
Last year there were a record 5.5 million businesses across the country and that is why I am delighted to be once again backing this year’s Small Business Saturday to showcase some of the amazing enterprise and innovation we have locally and the contribution small businesses make to our economy on a daily basis.
Since 2010 there have been over a million new businesses nationally, 99% of which are Small Medium Enterprises. Across the UK small businesses give 12.5 million hard working families the security of a weekly income. There are so many fantastic small businesses employing people locally and serving our community from day to day.
As someone who set up a family business, I know from first-hand experience the risks and challenges which people take. Since first being elected in 2015 I have had the privilege to meet many small businesses who are working hard to serve their customers, grow their business and play an active role in improving employment opportunities for local people.
I am proud of this Government’s record over the last eight years in its support for businesses and creating jobs. However, we can do more and we should do more. I am determined to continue to champion the needs of small business; support them in our local community and represent their views in Government.
This year’s Small Business Saturday will be taking place on Saturday 1 December and I will be out and about across Aldridge-Brownhills talking to some of the small businesses on our High Streets and in our Village Centres, but I also want to hear from you about what more the Government can be doing to ensure we continue to see increasing numbers of small businesses and jobs created in Aldridge-Brownhills.
If you are a local business, please feel free to get in touch with your thoughts and ideas or if you would like me to visit your company to learn more about the work you are doing. Businesses be they large or small, matter for jobs, skills and the prosperity of our economy.


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Google Glass Enterprise Edition, which is yet to be confirmed by Google has popped up on eBay after being sold to a San Francisco pawn shop. Google has been relatively quiet about its plans for Google Glass since the original was pulled last summer, but lots of reports have claimed the company is working on a new wearable for enterprise customers. Now that model has been pictured for the first time. Unlike the Explorer edition Google Glass, this model has hinges that allow its arms to fold in like they do on traditional spectacles, and a proprietary power and data connector that uses magnetic pins. It’s thought there also a larger display that shows more information.
“Glass” features like a folding hinge, an outward facing LED light, and a different charging interface. Additionally, we see the all caps word “GLASS” printed on the inside of the black plastic hinge, and the letter A in particular has an artful slant to it – which makes us wonder why Google blacked out its Glass related social media channels in January. With no confirmation from anyone in the Google or Alphabet camps, we can only go on how much this pawn shop’s hardware resembles that in the December FCC filing meaning, if this headset is a hoax, it’s an impressive one.
Google has previously reported the addition of a 5GHz Wi-Fi band for video streaming. The Google focused blog, who has been correct on several Glass rumors in the past, is also reporting Google has created an external battery pack, not yet photographed. Glass headset which is likely an internal unit for testing made it into a pawn shop hands. A representative for A to Z Pawnbrokers, which has multiple locations around the San Francisco Bay Area, confirmed that it was selling the headset on eBay, but could not provide information on where it came from. Google Glass is Google on your face. These early frames ship with the ability to take the very most recent communications from your smartphone or Google accounts and show them to you in a head up display. They take phone calls. They send texts, take photos and video, and show maps. They deliver search results. If you’ve played with, the Glass interface is strikingly similar.
CHECK OUT EBAY LISTING
Google will surely attempt to establish its origin, but as things stand, this Google Glass headset is still available on eBay.
Image Source: arstechnica.com


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The goal is to set up a voluntary take-back system for solar modules by the end of 2008, the group handling the project said.
"We will be the first in Europe to establish such a system. And I could well imagine that it will become a model for other countries," said PV Cycle President Karsten Wambach, who also heads SolarWorld's Solar Material division.
The new PV Cycle association embraces about 17 solar companies including Q-Cells, SolarWorld, Sharp, Kyocera and First Solar, as well as German solar industry association BSW and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA).
Recycling amounts are relatively low compared with annual installed capacity as the solar boom has taken off in the past four years while modules last up to 25. Mostly, only flawed or damaged modules have been recycled.
But PV Cycle expects the amount of solar module waste to surge to 223 megawatt peak (MWp), or roughly 16,000 tonnes, by 2015 in Europe from 31 MWp, or some 2,000 tonnes, last year.
EPIA and Greenpeace data show 0.05 percent of global electricity consumption derived from photovoltaic in 2006 and - based on continued political commitment at a global level - the share is expected to soar to about 10 percent by 2030.
By acting now, the industry association hopes to avoid seeing unfavorable, costly European regulation imposed later.
"It's probably better to do it with a scheme that is specifically designed for photovoltaic than if you have to conform to the European Union directive for electronic waste, for example," said Erik Alsema, senior photovoltaic researcher at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Under EU rules, producers have to take back and recycle electronic equipment free of charge.
Experts say the cost of producing a solar module from recycled ingredients rather than primary material is about the same.
But using recycled solar wafers takes up only a third of the energy needed to produce a module from first-hand material as purifying silicon to solar-grade level is energy intensive.
And as the industry is struggling with a silicon supply bottleneck, recycling provides another source.
"If the industry can show that the scheme is cost effective and environmentally good, then the EU doesn't have to lay down regulations," Alsema said.
There are only a few module recycling plants worldwide, with two in Germany, the world's largest solar market.
One of the German plants is run by a unit of SolarWorld.
U.S. thin film company First Solar operates the other, using cadmium telluride rather than silicon in its modules, protecting it from rising costs that hurt other solar equipment makers.
But as cadmium is highly toxic and may cause kidney damage and lung cancer, it has set up a recycling system on its own.
"The recycling process is very well controlled and does not pose a risk to employees or the environment," First Solar said.
For every module sold, it sets aside an allowance to meet upcoming costs for recycling, stored in a restricted investment account controlled by an insurance company, it said.
Such a financing model could be attractive for the whole industry, PV Cycle's Wambach said.


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There is no denying that the past year has been universally challenging particularly for the aviation industry, but there are positive developments on the horizon and recovery is in sight. Dani Hoppé, ESP’s new Head of Sales, Aviation Managed Services, offers insight into the changes that can be expected from the industry as it begins to recover, and how experienced support providers such as ESP can help facilitate this.
Reading, UK, May 2021
Over the past year airlines and airports have had to adapt their business models to sustain and support their heavily, yet temporarily reduced operations. They have adjusted as necessary to keep up with the constantly evolving international restrictions and demands placed on the industry during this time.
As well as sustaining continued operations, the industry is also being faced with the prospect of a different way of working once recovery is in full force, adapting to post-pandemic operations.
As travel restrictions slowly begin to ease our clients prepare for increased passenger demand over the up and coming summer months and worldwide, changes that will have to be made to accommodate a new post-pandemic way of travelling. As contactless travel becomes a requirement, technology will play an even bigger role than ever, physical space and distancing measures will be paramount, and efficiencies in time and cost will need to be increased.
The aviation industry is robust enough to manage these new requirements but will need all functions across the supply chain to play their parts in delivering this evolved approach to operations.
At ESP we have always understood that collaboration is imperative and working together now has never been more important, enhancing the agility and adaptability that we are already accustomed to delivering from our business model.
When the industry was hit the hardest, we continued to support customers in line with their changing requirements, recognising the importance of building on efficiencies and doing things differently early on. We saw both new and existing customers turn to us for quick solutions, next business day changes, flexible models, and leaner solutions.
Our experience of supporting biometrics has never been more important to support contactless travel, and we recognise more than ever the role this experience must play.
A shift in focus
The world changed significantly and, in many ways, permanently, almost overnight. Many of our customers worked from home and moved out of the cities and adapted their business and delivery methods to their end users.
There was an increase in online communication, remote IT support and we saw technologies play a larger role in business. A reliance on ESP’s robust business continuity, service desk solutions and alongside travel limitations there was a greater need for our genuine local resource and our centralised understanding of changing in-country government laws over this period.
We saw true innovation and adaptability from our customers over this period. Our airline customers used empty passenger cabins to transport much-needed items, and our airport customers adapted facilities to provide Covid-19 testing facilities. ESP was on-hand to support these vital initiatives and support our customers as we always have.
The aviation industry was hit hard but as our clients’ operations started to switch back on (and off again) during the year, they also at times had to had to stop and start their preparation too. At ESP we have relentlessly continued our preparation throughout this time.
Building on nearly 30 years of existing experience so that we can help you return in preparation your rapid demand driven bounce back.
About ESP Global Services Ltd.
For nearly three decades ESP Global Services has been providing IT support solutions to companies worldwide, be it day-to-day on-site support, service desk coordination, or system installation and integration for a range of industries. This has given us the ability, agility and mobility to place engineers where you need them, when you need them.
For aviation customers we offer targeted and tailored solutions to ensure we meet the requirements of this demanding and uncompromising industry for the best possible customer and passenger experience.


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OAKLAND (CBS SF) — Known for smash hits like “Closer,” Oakland-born singer songwriter Goapele is ready to open for Alicia Keys Saturday night at Super Bowl City.
“My first reaction when I was going to open for Alicia, I just said, Yes! Exclamation! Absolutely,” said Goapele.
The R&B singer says if she wasn’t opening for the star, you’d probably find her in the audience at City Stage Saturday night. While she lives Southern California now, KPIX 5 caught up with her in her hometown where she popped in some of her favorite spots.
One of those spots was Oaklandish, a downtown clothing and accessories store that celebrates all things Oakland.
Another was Red Bay Coffee, a roaster on East 10th Street that will soon open a coffee bar and art space.
“You’re the first coffee roaster I’ve ever met, you know what I mean? I’m getting the packages and I’m like, This is my friend that made this,” said the singer.
Goapele loves to support entrepreneurs that are building brands from the ground up.
“That just feels empowering and I feel like it goes with the Bay Area’s spirit, the singer explained. I’m an independent artist and put out my first album through our family label Skyblaze. Selling them at shows out of our trunk and at consignments like at Amoeba and Rasputins.”
No matter how busy she is these days, she always makes time to give back. She stopped by the Oakland School for the Arts to speak to aspiring musicians.
Who I am as an artist is who I am as a person. I can be honest and don’t have to fit into a box, she told students.
On Saturday night, Goapele will show thousands of fans she’s just that.
“It’s kind of like the last night to get the energy out there! And I would say, Bundle up, be there by 7 and be ready to have a good time. Yeah!” enthused the singer.


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The Quartz guide to making ads that don’t suck
Quartz, Atlantic Media’s business news site, is known for pushing the envelope on page design and visualizations, but it’s also applying some of those lessons to its advertising products as well.
Its two ad units, the jumbo-sized “Engage” displays ads and its “Bulletins” sponsored content units, are both built around creating ad experiences that take cues from the site’s editorial content: The Engage ads, usually built by Quartz’s in-house creative services team, are designed to fit seamlessly with the articles around them, and Bulletin ads frequently feature visualizations and other interactive elements, which Quartz has become known for. Quartz’s thesis isn’t that there isn’t a place for display ads online but rather that those ads have to be contextual, both in form and content, with everything else.
“Finding an compelling way to engage with audiences across devices and fit in naturally with their expectations is a tall order. We’re always thinking about our end-user,” said Quartz executive marketing director Marissa Hayes Aydlett.
Brands like what they hear. The site worked with 80 brands in 2014, including GE, Land Rover and U.S. Trust. Land Rover, for example, tapped Quartz for a story on the Scottish Highlands, which included interactive maps that let readers learn about locations in William Boyd’s “The Vanishing Game.” GE also used an interactive chart for a campaign about medical care in India, which tied to a larger series on GE’s role in promoting innovation in the country.
“I think what’s most compelling about the formats is the variety of storytelling tools they can employ — variety that matches the tack taken by the QZ editorial, and hence makes the branded content additive to the overall experience,” said GE global director of media strategy Jason Hill, who added that GE will continue working with Quartz this year.
Ultimately, Quartz is in a unique, fortunate spot among publishers. While legacy media brands, and even early digital-first ones are trying to retrofit their pages and business models to accommodate new ad formats and the rise of mobile, Quartz was designed from the get-go with those shifts in mind. Its Engage ad units, for example, are designed in HTML5, which lets them scale for the screen size — mobile, tablet, desktop, etc. — that they’re viewed on.
It is also taking a pragmatic, moderate approach to the native vs. banner ad debate that too frequently rages. Sites like BuzzFeed and Mic have painted display ads as the enemy. But for Quartz, display ads don’t have to be terrible. They just need a lot more attention — and, crucially, fit in well within the environment. By comparison, compare the seamlessness of Quartz display ads with the standard ads awkwardly interspersed into fellow Atlantic Media property TheAtlantic.com’s new photography section.
Of course, the biggest challenge for Quartz is being able to scale the creation of these custom ad products. While it’s in vogue for the industry to pile on the inefficiencies of display advertising, standards are inherently easier to scale than custom ad products, which fuels their popularity. Create one standard banner ad and its trivial to get it running on any other site on the Web. Quartz’s Engage ads don’t quite have that pull.
This, in turn, puts pressure on Quartz’s staff, which needs to scale up to meet increased advertising demands. Aydlett said that Quartz doesn’t share publicly how many designers, programmers and content writers it employs in its custom content division. “It’s a sophisticated but nimble team,” she said.
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Brands are getting in on Tea Lizard Mania, which hit social media on Tuesday morning after Good Morning America coined the term while referencing the popular meme of Kermit the Frog drinking Lipton tea.
The morning show asked if a picture of LeBron James crying after his Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals on Sunday night has the potential to reach the heights of other legendary memes, such as the one featuring Kermit, also known as the "but that’s none of my business" meme.
Does #CryingLeBron join other meme greats like #tealizard, #CryingJordan and #smockin / the mask? Tweet us! pic.twitter.com/4xoDahAk1Q— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 21, 2016
The internet, of course, went bonkers over the suggestion that Kermit is just another tea-drinking reptile.
When PRWeek contacted ABC to find out the story behind the tweet, a representative deferred to a Mediaite report that said Good Morning America mistakenly called Kermit a lizard. Meanwhile, some social media users are convinced it is a well-executed publicity stunt. After all, Disney, the parent company of the Muppets, also owns ABC.
Kermit – he has a verified Twitter account – waited until after 3 p.m. EST to respond with the following:
Don’t you hate when you get mistaken for someone you're not? Kermit #TeaFrog > #TeaLizard #ButThatsNoneOfMyBusiness #PutSomeRespeckOnMyName— Kermit the Frog (@KermitTheFrog) June 21, 2016
Various brands also decided to get in on the fun.
.@KermitTheFrog Don't let it bother you too much, mate! I know how it feels when they get your name wrong. #TeaLizard #GeckoNotGEICO— The GEICO Gecko (@TheGEICOGecko) June 21, 2016
why did seven teens just come in dressed as lizards and only order tea??— Denny's (@DennysDiner) June 21, 2016
Barnes & Noble
"It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to." - W.C. Fields #TeaLizard pic.twitter.com/nZTEKqW6uz— Barnes & Noble (@BNBuzz) June 21, 2016
Will the real #TeaLizard please stand up? Lizard+teapots all over Sandlin piece @americanart https://t.co/ttzrMYHFCR pic.twitter.com/NFDXYkuQkY— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) June 21, 2016
Death Wish Coffee
Kermit probably wouldn't have been called a #tealizard if he had been drinking coffee instead. - CT pic.twitter.com/ixcC2QKXb3— Death Wish Coffee (@DeathWishCoffee) June 21, 2016
The original #TeaLizard pic.twitter.com/WpNR9RTpan— The Splat (@thesplat) June 21, 2016
This story was updated on June 21 with comment from Kermit the Frog.


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Two young men have been identified in an armed robbery in Modesto, and police are hoping the public can help find them.
On Aug. 25 around 10:45 p.m. two armed suspects walked into the Frontier General Store along Tully Road, according to Modesto police. The pair tried to force a man into the business, but he was able to escape from the location.
The suspects then entered the store and took a variety of items from behind the register, police said.
One of the suspects is described as a Hispanic or light-complexion black man between the age of 15 and 18, police said, with curly black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded jacket, designer jeans and tennis shoes.
The other suspect is described as a white man, between the age of 15 and 18 as well, according to police. He was described last wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, designer jeans and tennis shoes.
Police are asking any who recognize the suspects to call Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.


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Coming up November 1st, World Vegan Day 2021 is cause for health conscious Crete to celebrate. With this spirit in mind, Heraklion’s Crumb Healthy Living bakeries are giving away prizes to customers.
The drawing, orchestrated by Crumb’s Mr. and Miss Pink Pig mascots, will see winners receive environmentally friendly thermos, contestants/customers can participate via Instagram, on Facebook, or by visiting Crumb stores and answering the following:
- What is veganism for you?
- What is your favorite vegan treat?
- Tell us one idea for a new Crumb vegan snack?
On November 2nd, Mr. Pig will hold a party until 3 PM at the Lion’s Square store. Prizes will be awarded including 6 winners of eco packages, and four winners of vegan brunches at the Papanastasiou store from November 11th. More surprises are in store, as well.
Cool Eco mugs will be among the prizes won from the drawings, but the big win will be helping save the planet and our health at the same time. As a steadfast meat eater, I can tell you honestly that many of the vegan habits are not mutually exclusive for those advocated the strict lifestyle. For me, vegan and vegetarian ideologies mix well with more traditional ideas. On Crete, this is the balance that lent itself to creating the world’s healthiest diet.
The annual World Vegan Day event is celebrated by vegans worldwide to help promote and perpetuate the benefits of veganism for humans and the natural environment. The event was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the coining of the terms “vegan” and “veganism”.


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AMC CEO Adam Aron has stated that the cinema giant will look to support Dogecoin movie ticket payments by the end of 2021, and real estate tokenization platform RedSwan is accepting DOGE too.
While the dogecoin’s token price has floundered during the last seven days, the meme-coin’s rival shiba inu (SHIB) has moved up the ranks in terms of weekly gains. Dogecoin has shed 5.8% during the last week, but shiba inu has spiked 21.3% duri
The infamous dogecoin was one of the first meme-based digital currencies and it’s safe to say that the coin inspired a myriad of meme-focused or joke tokens meant to be used for fun. However, while dogecoin has had a phenomenal 2021 rising
New York Attorney General Letitia James ends operations for Coinseed following complaints that client funds had been converted to DOGE without their knowledge.
The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk shared a picture of a Shiba Inu pup and said “Floki has arrived” to his 59.8 million Twitter followers. Of course, the tweet affected the price of a few specific meme-based crypto assets tha
On Wednesday, the stock and cryptocurrency trading platform Robinhood rolled out recurring crypto investments and now customers can purchase as little as $1 in crypto commission-free daily, weekly, biwe
The cryptocurrency solana reached another all-time high on September 9 at $213 per coin. The digital currency’s market valuation has swelled significantly, pushing dogecoin from its position in the top ten last week. Today, solana’s crypto market
Retail crypto traders on Robinhood can now set up commission-free recurring investments in multiple crypto assets on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.
Crypto assets have seen significant gains over the last month and one such digital currency, solana (SOL) has propelled itself into the top ten rankings and recently flipped the crypto as
Dallas Mavs fans who spend more than $150 worth of Dogecoin in one transaction will receive a $25 e-gift card that they can use for purchases on the team’s online store.


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Portuguese producer Herdade do Esporão had to recall 300,000 bottles because of an Osama bin Laden lookalike on the label.
The top-rated winery’s Tinto Reserva 1999’s label art (pictured) showed a reclining bearded figure in a turban – which executives thought might remind people of the world’s most wanted man.
‘The image could hurt sensibilities. After the events of 11 September anybody who looked at the label would be reminded of Osama bin Laden,’ spokeswoman Alice Quina said.
The image, by Portuguese artist Pedro Proença, was chosen in May last year – long before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Due to delays in shipping, the 12,000 bottles earmarked for New York arrived the day after the catastrophe.
‘We knew then we had to replace the image,’ said Quina. All the bottles of Esporão were recalled, and the labels replaced within a week with an image of a medieval king and queen drinking wine.
Esporão in Alentejo, owned by conglomerate Finagra, is one of Portugal’s most respected estates. Under Australian winemaker David Baverstock it produces top-rated red and white reserve wines and some 20 different varietals.
Written by Adam Lechmere14 February 2002


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More than five years after California legalized recreational cannabis, the state’s illicit cannabis market still makes up a majority of recreational cannabis sales. For example, in 2019, illicit cannabis sales reached around $8.7 billion while the legal market sold $3.1 billion worth of cannabis.
Governor Gavin Newsom has now signed a bill that would restructure California’s recreational cannabis program in an effort to combat illegal sales. Bill AB 195 will get rid of the marijuana cultivation tax and require that the excise tax not increase for the next three years, reducing the financial load on cannabis producers and theoretically allowing them to sell their products at lower price points.
The main reason California has been unable to curtail illegal cannabis sales is the high cost of legal recreational cannabis. The state levies a variety of taxes on cannabis along the entire supply chain, resulting in legal cannabis costing up to two to three more times than illicit cannabis. As a result, most cannabis consumers, especially those on a tight budget, choose to buy from the illicit market.
The cannabis tax provisions in the new bill have the potential to reduce operational costs in the legal recreational market, which could then translate into lower product prices. The new bill will also increase enforcement efforts against unlicensed cannabis operators. It grants county governments the power to take civil action against such operators for issues such as water diversion and pollution. Additionally, it will also levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 daily for property managers who knowingly lease or rent out a property to unlicensed businesses that produce, store or sell marijuana.
Businesses that qualify for social equity will be eligible for a tax credit of $10,000 and will be allowed to use 20% of their excise tax revenue for reinvestment purposes. The legislation also provides tax credits worth $40 million, with one-half going to eligible microbusinesses and retailers and one-half going to equity operators.
The bill also provides an additional $670 million in cannabis tax to programs dedicated to youth substance misuse treatment, education, school retention, law enforcement and illicit marijuana-related clean-ups and remediation.
Bill AB 195 will also provide $20 million for a one-time grant program request by Governor Newsom. The program will be crucial to fixing another issue plaguing the state’s cannabis industry, efforts by local cities and counties to block cannabis sales in their communities.
Nicole Elliot, director of the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), said that the law will bring some tax relief to the sector and support the development of an equitable, safe and sustainable cannabis industry.
It remains to be seen how big an impact these tax changes will have on the bottom line of licensed entities such as American Cannabis Partners that are operating within the borders of California.
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The all-electric Mahindra XUV300 will add to the clean energy vehicles portfolio of the homegrown automaker in addition to the KUV100 EV and the eVerito.
The Indian automotive industry must have started to warm up to the idea of budget electric vehicle but Mahindra has been at the forefront of clean energy transportation in our country since a very long time. The homegrown automaker already has the e2o Plus in its portfolio available for the generation population while the eVerito currently acts as its offering in the fleet vehicle segments.
In the near future, Mahindra plans to add two new all-electric vehicle to its portfolio. These will include the KUV100 EV, which we all caught a glimpse at the 2018 Auto Expo and rather interestingly, the all-electric version of its all-new sub-compact SUV, the XUV300.
Though the KUV100 is likely to make its debut by the end of this year itself, the Mahindra XUV300 EV will arrive sometime during the first half of 2020. When the latter goes on sale in the Indian market, it will have the option of two lithium-ion battery packs to choose from. It is however too early to comment on the electric motor set-up that this compact SUV will offer.
Ahead of the launch of its all-electric variant, the Mahindra XUV300 is going to launch in India with conventional power i.e. its petrol and diesel engine options. Though the exact launch date is not confirmed, the automaker has confirmed that the launch is going to take place sometime during the first half of February this year.
Measuring under 4-meters in length, the Mahindra XUV300 is going to fall in the sub-compact SUV segment. This will make it compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and the Tata Nexon. With this, its prices are expected to fall in-between the range of INR 8 lakh to INR 12 lakh. Recent communication released by Mahindra suggests that the top-end variant, which is going to come with features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, 7-airbags and sunroof is likely to pitch against some of the variants of the Hyundai Creta.


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The COVID-19 pandemic continues. Which means that there are still some changes that companies and people will need to work with. For example, following a surge in new exposures and cases, Apple has decided to close some of its physical retail stores in the United States and Canada.
Yes, again. This time, it’s not as big a sweep as the first time. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has opted to close stores in Miami, Florida; Annapolis, Maryland; and Ottawa, Canada. This is in light of the new coronavirus variant, and a surge in exposures and cases. As of right now, there are only three stores being temporarily closed.
However, it’s possible that will change depending on how the case numbers spread.
Apple provided a comment on the matter:
We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust our health measures to support the well-being of customers and employees,’ Apple said in a statement. ‘We remain committed to a comprehensive approach for our teams that combines regular testing with daily health checks, employee and customer masking, deep cleaning and paid sick leave.
As mentioned above, this is a temporary measure. Apple already has a plan in place for when stores reopen at some point in the future:
The company said that all employees will take Covid-19 tests prior to the stores reopening and that it’s staying in touch with the affected workers. Store closures due to a rise in internal Covid cases typically last for a few days.
Apple says that it’s possible these store closures will only be in place for a “few days,” but, of course, anything can change between now and then. For now, though, this shouldn’t be a longstanding change, and customers in those areas should be able to visit their stores again soon enough.
This is another change that Apple has made recently regarding the ongoing pandemic. Just yesterday, for instance, Apple reinstated the mask mandate at all of its retail stores in the United States.