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Image credits: Bryce Durbin
What could be more rewarding for an angel investor than paper returns in a startup? An acquisition that turns paper revenues into cash payments while retaining an equity stake in the company. “The diluted return was eight times my investment,” Selma Ribica said in a recent interview with TechCrunch. “I had some stock in the new company, but mostly in cash.”
Ribica currently serves as a general partner at First Circle Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in FinTech SaaS (FinTech 2.0 in her words). Sources familiar with her dealings said she made an angel investment in Expensya, an expense management startup based in Tunis and Paris, which in turn made a $100 million investment in private equity firm Medius last June. It was acquired for slightly more than that.
Only a few African or African-focused technology companies have been acquired for more than this amount, including InstaDeep to BioNTech, Sendwave to WorldRemit, DPO Group to Network International, and Paystack to Stripe. Similar to InstaDeep, the Expensya acquisition highlights the potential for products founded in Africa to serve global markets and then be acquired by larger companies.
For years, venture capital has experienced a bullish trend around the world, and Africa, although a latecomer, rode the wave before conditions worsened for the asset class in late 2022. Before the collapse, local investors were primarily encouraging African startups to focus on: We are committed to building solutions for the continent and ensuring capital will follow. Building global products often took a backseat, especially as local his solutions, especially fintech, presented an exit opportunity by only targeting markets within the continent.
But the past 18 months have seen a notable shift in this narrative. As African startups strive to develop solutions to local challenges, they now face headwinds and macroeconomic challenges beyond their control. The economies of Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt, the continent's most prominent technology markets, are currently grappling with the issue of currency devaluation, resulting in lower dollar-based revenues for startups operating in these markets. growth has stagnated or slowed, resulting in a decline in the company's reputation in the eyes of the world. investors.
In response, investors are now pushing startups to explore strategies to protect their bottom lines, encouraging local founders to adopt a global mindset when developing their products. There is a renewed debate about its importance. For founders like Expensya founder and CEO Karim Joyni, that mindset was essential from the beginning.
“Adopting a global focus has been in place almost from day one for a variety of reasons. Regardless of what we are building as a company, Tunisia is a very small company that is not well integrated with its neighbors. The market,” Juini said in an interview with TechCrunch. “This is a country with an average income level where companies are not necessarily mature enough to care about spending management. Their companies are still setting up their first CRM or ERP. So we started from the beginning. , we were looking to build a product for a market where companies are maturing and looking at employee productivity and spend management.”
From Tunis to Europe
Founded in 2014 by Jouini and CTO Jihed Othmani, Expensya specializes in automated expense management solutions customized for European businesses. Its software allows businesses to perform autonomous spending within predefined rules and limits, optimizing time and simplifying employee expense processing. Integrating Expensya with his ERP application enables finance teams to monitor and track business spending and streamline staff reimbursement procedures.
The spend management startup aims to help companies of all sizes automate professional expenses, and is launching in France first, leveraging the CEO's network and over 10 years of experience at Parrot, Musiwave and Microsoft. It was raised. Expensya's first customers were his 1,000 to 10,000 employees and operations in multiple European countries. As a result, the startup quickly adapted its product to work in other countries, handling local taxes and certificates along the way, which fueled the company's move. to Spain and Germany.
And while being close to Europe seemed to have its advantages, being a Tunisian startup had its challenges. First, navigating the European market, which is reasonably protected from external competition due to laws such as GDPR, has been a major hurdle. Complying with GDPR required setting up operations in Europe, and establishing a strong local sales and marketing team was essential for the startup to sell to larger companies. To address this requirement and compete with Concur, Nautilus, and N2F, we have established teams in France, Spain, and Germany.
“When using products developed by African start-ups, our large customers sometimes felt a little hesitation. I wanted to know if that was the case,” Juini added. “So we invested heavily to offer the best product in town. If you look at the public ratings for solutions like ours on the App Store and Google Play, you'll see how we stack up against our European competitors. You can see that we have the highest reputation in the market because we focus on never talking about quality.Going back, you are an African start-up, so the standards may be low.”
Setting up and maintaining a high-quality product often depends on a startup's talent base. Tunisia and Africa have a wealth of young talent, especially in engineering and other technical fields, but the lack of experienced managers and leaders is also compounded by the lack of successful local SaaS companies. Juini acknowledged that this is an obstacle for Expensya to scale up. .
In general, immigration has further reduced the availability of experienced talent in Africa, with many skilled workers choosing to pursue opportunities in Europe and the United States. These factors contribute to the challenge for African startups to compete with global startups.
Some of the global success stories
However, positioning talent is a double-edged sword. Despite the talent shortage, Expensya benefited from lower operating costs than similar companies operating in Europe. Moreover, even if Parisian startups struggle to attract top 5% talent due to fierce competition from tech giants such as Google and Microsoft in the region, Expensya is one of Tunisia's best-funded companies. Because it is recognized as one of the top talent in Tunisia, it has the potential to attract the top 5% of talent in Tunisia. and startups with resources.
Mr. Juini also said that while Expensya, a Tunisian-born and Paris-headquartered company, was seen as just another SaaS company among many European SaaS companies, the company's employees and early investors realized that the company He also emphasized that he believed he was contributing something unique in Africa and remained bullish on its potential.
“When our employees join and spend time here, they have an engagement that goes beyond their paycheck and their job. It's that sense of building something big, and that's really the big difference.” he said. “This is a sentiment that is probably not talked about enough. People in Africa, at least in countries I know well, have a passion to contribute to a global success story.”
The optimism shared by investors and employees last year has come true.
After more than eight years of operation and raising approximately $30 million, including a $20 million Series B at a 2021 post-valuation of $83 million, Expensya was acquired and its employees remain elusive to many of its peers. It became part of the experience. within the African technology ecosystem.
Of the 190 employees at the time of acquisition, 110 were based in Tunisia. Those employees, including former staff from Expensia's Tunis office, were among 180 shareholders who made a combined $10 million from the deal, Juini revealed during the call. It is said that He said two-thirds of this amount was in cash. “Some people made $200,000 to $250,000. It's not necessarily life-changing money, but it's certainly path-changing,” said Joyni, now head of product and technology at Medius. He talked about employees cashing out.
Medius, a Swedish conglomerate backed by a prominent European private equity firm, has long sought to create a global CFO automation conglomerate and has made several acquisitions in the UK, US and Sweden, including Expensya. Ta. Integrating these solutions creates a more consistent and robust product for Medius. Geographically, the private equity firm and its subsidiaries can gain a wider reach across Europe and North America, even though his Expensya, for example, continues to operate independently. Prior to the acquisition, Expensya said it had doubled its recurring revenue over the past two years and grown its customer base to 6,000 businesses in 100 countries and 700,000 active individual users.
Acquisition events such as Expensya and Instadeep are noteworthy as they demonstrate that African startups can complete a full cycle, benefiting business angels and venture capital as well as employees. Although this scale is far from the scale of Silicon Valley or more mature technology ecosystems, it represents a positive step forward. These stakeholders will likely invest in startups or even launch their own ventures to contribute to the growth of Africa's technology ecosystem.
“Expensya has been built very efficiently. When you look at return on capital, revenue-to-investment ratio, and number of employees, we have achieved double-digit revenue growth while maintaining a modest valuation compared to similar models in Europe. It turns out to be a super efficient structure that allowed us to scale up to 1 million,” said Ribika, a former M-Pesa executive who has invested in fintech companies such as Qonto and Bamboo. “We will encourage more African startups to set up and compete globally, create good-paying jobs at home, where local engineering talent is abundant, and encourage more African startups to set up and compete globally. No one should ever leave their home country for a job in Europe or the United States. This is the vision.”
For enterprise products like Expensya, growing domestically can be more difficult than expanding internationally due to less mature markets and slower decision-making. Jouini advises founders to focus on selling their products and make adjustments as soon as possible. “Don't spend too much time over-engineering,” he says. “Selling customers, closing deals, and learning from customers is how you make your SaaS product local or global.” Next, Jouini and Ribica urge founders to prioritize talent and at the same time and hire for their future, while encouraging them to share equity and make them feel part of the journey along the way.
“Stage 1: Build the product. Stage 2: Launch your product with a few customers to fine-tune, improve, and build your unique selling proposition (USP). Phase 3: Build, Adopt, Sustain, this is how you establish and then scale an enterprise sales machine,” he said.


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A toothbrush collection and recycling project from Perekrestok and SPLAT
In August 2020, Perekrestok and SPLAT launched a joint initiative to collect and recycle used plastic toothbrushes from all manufacturers into pavement tiles. Special containers for used toothbrushes were installed at 808 Perekrestok supermarkets, with the campaign scheduled to continue until August 2021. Part of the Zero Waste initiative, the project was designed to encourage people across Russia to take a more responsible and conscientious approach to waste recycling, while also making it easy and convenient for consumers to join in.
SPLAT was chosen to manage the toothbrush containers and transport them to recycling facilities. The resulting tiles are expected to be used for urban improvements in small towns across Russia. More than 2,5 tonnes of toothbrushes were collected during the campaign.

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Several member companies of the K-ICT Born2Global Centre were recently recognized in China for their marketability.
Hylium Industries has received the highest score among the 17 Korean ICT companies participating in the pitching competition at K-Global@China 2018, which was held in Shenzhen this year. MEDI FUTURES took second place, with third place going to Creative Bomb.
Hylium Industries is the first company in Korea to develop liquid hydrogen-related technology. It produces products related to the storage and shipment of liquid hydrogen.
This year’s pitching competition was part of K-Global@China 2018, a large-scale event that is attended by Korean startups, local Chinese entrepreneurs, VCs, and businessmen. Led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korean delegation was comprised of Born2Global, KOTRA, NIPA, and KIC China.
A total of 17 Korean ICT companies participated in the pitching competition. Those that were supported by Born2Global were MEDI FUTURES, VisualCamp, Innopresso, HAECHI LABS, IT & Basic, I-ON Communications, and Hylium Industries.
These companies introduced and explained their exclusive technologies and marketability to major Chinese VCs, angel investors, and startup incubators.
MEDI FUTURES received a high score for its leading position in the medical industry based on its work in ultrasound/biotechnology. With a big data platform that includes over 5,000 hospitals (plastic surgery clinics, dermatology clinics, etc.), MEDI FUTURES is expected to easily expand its business into China.
Creative Bomb, known as the creative force behind “Pink Dolphin Boto,” also gained significant attention for its AR technology-based smart educational content for children, which is expected to be well-received by Chinese consumers.
Born2Global Chief Executive Director Kim Jongkap said, “The Korean ICT companies, including our member companies, were well-received this year for their outstanding technologies and local business potential. Going forward, we will continue working to secure substantive business MOUs, contracts, and investments for our member companies through matching based on thorough analyses of Chinese investors and business partners as well as consistent communication tracking.”


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Creator and developer of the Rendez-Vous and Net-Z solutions, Quazal's teams have successfully launched and hosted online solutions for the leading publishers and developers of the interactive entertainment industry. Currently, their solutions are integrated in the development of the majority of Ubisoft's key titles, including Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, which was named "Best Online Multiplayer Game" at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
"Quazal and Ubisoft have worked closely together for several years now to create amazing online experiences for our major brands. The engineers at Quazal have honed their expertise over 12 years and this acquisition guarantees Ubisoft a solid technology that will help us to attain the ambitious objectives of our online strategy," stated Quentin Gallet, executive director of the Technology Group at Ubisoft.
"Today's announcement is the culmination of ten years of dedication by the teams at Quazal. Their talent, their passion and their commitment to developing online technology of the highest quality are the reasons for Ubisoft's decision to acquire our company," added Sylvain Beaudry, co-founder, and chief executive officer at Quazal.
"The close collaboration between the teams at Quazal and Ubisoft will facilitate the development and launch of new online services. We're happy to be able to continue to express our creative vision via the projects we'll be working on with Ubisoft," concluded Martin Lavoie, co-founder and chief technology officer at Quazal.
Within Ubisoft, Quazal will continue expanding their technology and services, which remain available for license to the interactive entertainment industry.
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 26 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2009-10 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of € 871 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.


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Posted Wed Nov 27, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by Steven Cohen
Amazon is offering the Logitech Harmony Smart Control Remote for 25 percent off today only!
For Amazon's Black Friday Countdown Deal of the Day, the online retailer is discounting the Logitech Harmony Smart Control Remote by 25 percent, bringing the price down to $89.99 from $119.99.
The Logitech Harmony Smart Control turns users' Android and Apple smartphones into a Harmony remote. The app offers one-touch universal control for home theater systems, providing access to volume, media playback, and more for up to eight components. A Harmony Hub is also included for closed cabinet support, and a basic Harmony remote is packed in as well for use when your smartphone is not available.
The discount will only last for the next 15 hours. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more holiday and Black Friday related deals, and don't forget to check out Amazon's Black Friday Countdown Page for all their latest sales and special promotions!
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Welcome New Suppliers to the Attainia Community! – K2 Scientific, Unified Brands, Triton
We are pleased to announce the addition of K2 Scientific, Unified Brands and, Triton to the Attainia Catalog.
- K2 Scientific, a leader in medical-grade refrigerators and freezers, has added 35 SKUs to the Attainia catalog.
- Triton, an industry leader in storage solutions, has added more than 100 products to the Attainia catalog.
- Unified Brands, a commercial kitchen specialist, has added more than 100 products to the Attainia catalog.
Attainia’s industry-leading medical equipment catalog contains more than 65,000 SKUs and represents more than 3,500 medical equipment suppliers in the US.
Please join us in welcoming our new members to the Attainia community by viewing their products in our PLAN or BUDGET applications. You can also reach out to our internal supplier team if you’re interested in scheduling a lunch and learn with any of our new partners.


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FOF #2564 – We’re Back
Glitter Day is a holiday we came up with to give folks a chance to unwind after the winter holiday season and celebrate joy in their everyday lives. So why has every Glitter Day seem coincide with some kind of catastrophe?
Today we take a look at the Hawaii Missile Crisis that took place on this year’s Glitter Day, which set off widespread panic in the state. What would you do if you thought the world was going to end?


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advised today that given the high level of uncertainty surrounding the spread, duration and impact of COVID-19 on the markets in which it operates, the Company is withdrawing its earnings guidance for FY2020.
Boral’s Managing Director, Mike Kane said: “While we have not yet seen a significant deterioration in demand for our products as a result of direct and indirect COVID-19 impacts, other than in our USG Boral China business, we are now starting to see signs of impacts in our other markets."
The Company is undertaking measures to respond to the expected demand interruptions and to conserve cash, including reducing all non-essential capital expenditure and discretionary spending.
Shares in Boral (ASX:BLD)
are trading 2.53 per cent lower at $2.31.


text: REUTERS Inflation in Ukraine in May 2019 amounted to 9.6% on year, accelerating from 8.8% in annual terms a month earlier, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine reports. May prices compared against the previous month were up 0.7% after rising in April 1% against March. Compared with December 2018, consumer prices in May increased 4.2%. The agency says the inflation rate in annual terms accelerated for the second month in a row, after rising in April to 8.8%, when the largest price increase was recorded for vegetables (47%). It is noted that in May, the highest price increase on year was also recorded for vegetables (53%), railway passenger transport (28.2%), road passenger transport (24.4%), sewerage services (23%), and bread (20.2%). Read alsoConsumer inflation in Ukraine continues to accelerate – NBU Price reduction was recorded for eggs (30.1%), fruit (12.3%), sugar (2%), and clothes (0.2%). The State Statistics Service recalled that the data are given excluding the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. As UNIAN reported earlier, inflation in Ukraine in March 2019 in annual terms was 8.6%, slowing down from 8.8% a month earlier. The state budget of Ukraine for 2019 is based on a macroeconomic forecast with real GDP growth of 3% with inflation of 7.4%. The National Bank of Ukraine predicts a slowdown in inflation to 6.3% in 2019, while the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank say it will be 7.3%. According to the consensus forecast of experts polled by UNIAN, this year Ukraine is expected to see a slowdown in consumer price growth to 7.2%.


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Closing City prices
Don't get mad, get even. Airtours boss David Crossland must have had that thought in mind when he lost an acrimonious £310m takeover battle for First Choice, in its previous guise as Owners Abroad, six years ago. It cost his company £8.99m. Revenge could now be just around the corner.
Rumours are rife that Airtours will soon launch a hostile 220p-a-share cash rival offer for First Choice which will scupper its agreed £1.45bn merger with Kuoni of Switzerland.
First Choice nosedived to 161p on details of the proposed nil-premium Swiss marriage, but took off yesterday to close 17 1/2p higher at 178 1/2p on turnover of 3.7m. Airtours dipped 6p to 490p.
Airtours would have to dispose of parts of First Choice's business to satisfy competition authorities. Airtours is the second largest UK package tour operator with 20pc of the market, while First Choice and Thomas Cook have 16pc apiece.
Thomson Travel, the UK's largest operator, cheapened 8p to 179p. Prudential bought 30.4m shares, or 3.04pc, on Wednesday.
P&O steamed 40p ahead to 790p. Good figures from its Nedlloyd operation augured well for its full-year results on Tuesday. BT Alex Brown expects a 10pc rise in pre-tax profits to £400m and the first dividend increase (5pc) since 1990.
EMI raced up the Footsie charts, closing 20 1/4p better at 418 1/2p. Buyers climbed aboard ahead of today's major institutional presentation. Fund managers will get a chance to meet new chairman designate Eric Nicoli and Martin Bandier, chief executive of EMI's music publishing business.
Confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes advanced 23p to 890p as broker Merrill Lynch advised clients to swallow stock. Its target price is 1125p.
Drugs group Zeneca zoomed 79p further to 2599p as the bullish newsflow continues ahead of its merger with Astra of Sweden. Apart from details of a herbicide deal with Monsanto, Zeneca revealed that Casodex 80mg, its treat-ment for prostate cancer, has received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. It will be the first non-steroidal anti-androgen available as a single daily tablet in Japan.
Glaxo Wellcome, which in January was strongly rumoured to be ready to gatecrash the Zeneca/Astra party, eased 29p to 1918p on US selling. SmithKline Beecham lost 15p to 8081/2p.
Elsewhere, weakness in overseas markets overnight and today's potentially dangerous UK and US triple witching expiry of stock options, index options and index futures, made dealers twitchy.
The Footsie lost an early 20-point gain to trade 65.7 lower. It recovered when Wall Street rallied from 33 down to 34 up to close 26.3 down at 6114.3.
The euro eased 1/4 cent to $1.0991 dollars and declined from 67.55p to 67.40p on sterling. Gilts edged a tick higher after weak February UK retail sales figures offered more scope for Eddie George and his Bank of England chums to cut interest rates again next month.
Marks & Spencer fell 133/4p to 379p. The former darling of the High Street is having a torrid time. Analysts say like-for-like clothing sales are down 10pc and there is now evidence of heavy discounting in both womenswear and menswear.
Debenhams dipped 17p to 471p, Arcadia 14p to 1871/2p, Next 13p to 719p and Selfridges 3p to 2401/2p.
Oil giant BP Amoco gushed 27p higher to 1028p on heavy volume of 32.6m and Shell rose 15p to 412p (on 64m) in sympathy with a further sharp rise in the Brent crude price for June delivery to $13.73 a barrel.
Russia said it would join Saudi Arabia and other big producers in cutting exports. Still awaiting the outcome of merger talks, Enterprise added 271/4p to 340p and Lasmo 33/4p to 1381/4p.
Upmarket car dealer HR Owen accelerated 22 1/2p to 165p on excellent results and following managing director Nick Lancaster's purchase of 968,627 shares, taking his stake to 4.5m, or 26.6pc.
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Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima says Miitomo’s delay will not affect Nintendo’s fiscal performance for this year.
The Peanuts Movie game tie-in, Snoopy’s Grand Adventure is out now for Wii U and other platforms.
Star Fox Zero has been delayed until next year, but Nintendo is releasing a teaser site to get you pumped for the upcoming game.
Xenoblade Chronicles X snagged the best RPG award from Paris Games Week 2015.
A new Pokken Tournament trailer has been released, revealing a new character at the end to be a new form of Mewtwo.
ZombiU’s servers have been offline for months now, but thanks to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 release, they’ve been resurrected.
Best Buy is offering $10 toward pizza if you pre-order Xenoblade Chronicles X with them.
Check out these new screenshots of Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, featuring Toadette!
Target is having a huge buy 2 get 1 free sale on games, starting next Sunday and lasting the entire week.
Watch this amazing fan-made short of Jessica Chobot as Samus Aran.
Nintendo’s 24 hour eShop maintenance period is under way today and according to a tweet, is due to server replacement.
Nintendo won two awards last night at the Golden Joystick Awards thanks to Splatoon, while Satoru Iwata was given a special honor.
Check out the level Shin’en Multimedia made in Super Mario Maker!
Check out this short look at gameplay of Guitar Hero Live on the Wii U.
Here’s a look at two new characters joining the Mario Tennis Ultra Smash roster. Don’t click unless you want to see spoilers!
Nintendo’s new president sat down with Nikkei to discuss his business strategy with Nintendo’s new mobile efforts.
Certain characters in Xenoblade Chronicles X appear to have had their outfits censored a bit compared to the Japanese release of the game earlier...


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For Hypebeast’s newest series, Garage Visits, we profiled Caleb Sok and his Sayber Design shop. Sok and his custom auto shop specialize in aerodynamic body kit development, which have designed special carbon fiber hoods, fenders, front lips and more for cars like the Toyota Supra. Sok and his team’s latest project, however, was a special kit for the new Toyota GR86 which debuted at this year’s SEMA in collaboration with DRVNmind, a motorsports themed content producer and community. As a lifelong car enthusiast and Toyota fan, Sok was an undeniable pick for our latest Garage Visits, as we not only took a closer look inside Sayber Design but also the Toyota 2023 GR86 through the eyes and experience of Sok himself.
The 2023 Toyota GR86 ticks all the boxes when it comes to look, feel and all-around drivability. Old school Toyota fans love its cool retro vibe, while more modern appreciators of the carmaker praise its state-of-the-art components. Overall, the latest GR86 stays true to its Toyota roots and pulls no punches whether driven on the track or on the streets.
Inside Sok’s garage next to a new “Track bRed” 2023 Toyota GR86 was his team’s newly constructed Sayber Design x DRVNmind Toyota Super GT GR86 build. “This one I’m really proud of,” Sok says. “It’s because it’s our first full aero, full body kit kind of project.” The look of the kit was inspired by the Super GT300 race cars that compete in the Japanese Super GT racing series. With this design reference, Sok and his team developed a widebody kit that included a carbon fiber lip, carbon hybrid chassis mount front splitter, carbon fiber side skirts, a carbon fiber swan neck GT wing and a number of other supporting parts. “We wanted to keep the motorsports heritage true to the car itself,” Sok said of their build. “We didn’t want to make something that took away from that, because this is Toyota’s sports car Gazoo Racing line so we wanted to make a kit that’s sportscar/motor sports theme.” Sayber Design’s kits are available for purchase in options of base, standard and aero price point levels. Performance wise, the Sayber Design x DRVNmind Toyota Super GT GR86 went Sub 2 with a 1.59.24 time record at Global Time Attack just this past November. The impressive lap times are proof of Sok’s ability to create quality performance-driven kits.
With its race-ready frame, fun-to-drive reputation and deep car culture influence, Caleb Sok and his team were enthusiastic about putting their spin on the new Toyota GR86. For one, the GR86 is as sporty as ever – it’s fun to drive with its aerodynamic shape and fierce exterior features. It boasts an aero-stabilizing front bumper and a MATRIX “G Mesh” Grille that not only reduces drag but also adds a touch of style to the car’s overall look. Technology wise, fans will be pleased with the convenient push-button start and keyless entry system. There’s also a 7-inch digital instrument panel for choosing driving modes and an 8-inch touchscreen entertainment system for connecting to various devices and apps. For the premium model, LED headlights offer adaptive front lighting, so visibility is always optimal even during tight turns and speedy maneuvers. The new Toyota 2023 GR86 also comes equipped with a full-ring rear frame, connecting upper and lower chassis together to provide optimal balance and control. Under the hood is a new 2.4 LL flat-four boxer engine that delivers 228 horsepower. Max torque also arrives earlier in the powerband at 3,700 RPM with zero-to-60mph times clocking in at 6.1 seconds for the manual transmission and 6.6 seconds for the paddle-shifted automatic.
There was a lot of thought poured into the making of the new Toyota 2023 GR86, especially with nostalgic fans of its AE86 predecessor kept in mind. This newly introduced ride, however, is a modern marvel which captures the spirit of the original with its lightweight feel and easy maneuverability. It’s really meant for both old and new Toyota fans.
“My favorite thing about Toyota from an enthusiast perspective is that they’re still making really cool fun cars and not just something that’s designed to sell,” Sok exclaims while sitting next to the Toyota 2023 GR86 in his garage. “The reason why I love the new GR86 is because it has so much heritage. It’s just a fantastic platform – you have a lightweight car that handles amazingly that’s real to drive. And it also looks great!”
As for Sayber Design’s Toyota Super GT GR86 build, Sok told the story of how a Toyota rep told them that their build was something Toyota would have made to go racing. “That really felt good to hear,” Sok added. “Because that’s exactly what our goal was.”
For more information on the newest Toyota GR86, visit Toyota.com/GR86.


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Through its partnership with Bugatti Rimac, it has entered an important new era, and the man himself, according to Mate Rimac, the famous French carmaker will prosper in the coming years.
Talk to you soon CarRimak said he will be able to control the costs of the Bugatti as it adopts electrification to be more relevant to the automotive industry.
“Bugatti is very successful in terms of driving,” he said edition. “People are amazed at how useful each one is [Chiron] is; Of course I was. ” However, Matt Rimak noted that Bugatti has spent a lot of money on the development of new models, partly outsourced the work to other companies.
“It’s worth it [Bugatti] To build a Bugatti Chiron from a Bugatti Veyron with the same W16 engine and eight-speed transmission is more than we spent on developing the Rimac Nevera from scratch, ”he said.
Also read: Did Bugatti and Rimac make two new models laugh?
Earlier this year, Mate Rimac said it would continue to sell Bugatti models with combustion engines “for a while”, but the next Bugatti’s power unit was “highly electrified”. Much of the information about this new model has remained secret, but it seems to have been working for the last 18 months and is expected to be Heron’s successor. If so, you can expect it to offer an excellent level of performance.
Deciding on the future of the Bugatti brand, Volkswagen had to choose between investing billions in electric cars or eliminating the automaker altogether. Then came the idea of uniting with Rimak.
“I think this new deal is a win-win,” Matt said. “It is a victory for us to have a great brand with a 113-year tradition. This is a victory for Volkswagen, because Bugatti has a great future, they have shares and we control the costs. This is a victory for employees as we expand. This is a victory for consumers, because we want interesting new products. We don’t just fight; we will prosper “.


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The Party City store in Salina is closing.
Store officials announced online that they received information this week the store will be closing its doors. The last day for the public will be July 23rd.
Customers are encouraged to come in and get what they need for upcoming celebrations, especially graduation, soon.
A liquidation sale will begin next Tuesday, May 3rd.
Party City is the leading party goods and Halloween specialty retailer in the country. The company designs, manufactures, and distributs party goods found in over 40,000 retail outlets worldwide, including Party City stores as well as independent party supply stores, mass merchants, grocery retailers, dollar stores and others.
Party City operates 830 company-owned and franchise stores throughout North America including 6 in Kansas.


text: Last December, Forbes ran an article titled "Here's Why You Should Turn Your Business Vegan In 2018," spotlighting the diet and lifestyle. It cited a plant-based food sector worth $3.1 billion and the explosion of dairy alternatives—expected to soar from 25 to 40 percent of the market over the next three years—among other market motivators. While Idaho may be home to fewer vegans than most (The Gem State raises more than 2.1 million in beef cattle, after all, meaning cows outnumber people here) Boise brunch and dinner hotspot Wild Root has joined the movement, offering some of the tastiest and most stunning vegan dishes around. The Nourish Bowl is a case in point: plant-based eaters (or meat-lovers stepping out) who order it can chow down on a huge portion of raw veggies, including rainbow carrots and radishes, topping a bed of warm riced cauliflower and crowned with half an avocado, a sprinkling of almonds and blueberries, and a drizzle of fermented garlic-honey-lemon vinaigrette. The menu also includes omnivorous options, but at just $11, the Nourish Bowl packs a vegan bang for your buck that anyone can appreciate.


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Performance sports eyewear brand Oakley on Tuesday announced the appointment of cricketer Rohit Sharma as its new brand ambassador for a period of two years in India. As a part of the partnership, Sharma will be sporting Oakley eyewear equipped with patented Prizm technology created specifically for sports lenses.
Ben Goss, Oakley global brand director, said, “Rohit Sharma is a world-class performer, an inspiration for the younger generation and an icon who has made his mark with his sporting excellence. A true game-changer, Rohit champions passion, progression, and performance—values that represent Oakley, thus making him an ideal fit to represent and lead the brand dialogue.” Operating in India since 2009, Oakley is present in over 2,000 retail stores across multi-brand outlets and large optical chains such as Titan Eye Plus. The brand is gradually growing its market in India investing in creating awareness about why performance eye wear is crucial for customers.
“The awareness of fitness eyewear for the active lifestyle is increasing among Indian consumers. The future is bright in the country as the number of running and cycling events have significantly increased in the past 10 years,” said Sahil Jandial, deputy brand business manager, Oakley India. Oakley has been associated with key running events as performance eye wear partner including Delhi Half Marathon and Mumbai Marathon among others.


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Ubiquiti has recently debuted the UniFi Protect AI Pro camera, which builds upon the AI Bullet camera with the addition of 4K video, 3x optical zoom and two way audio. Being an AI camera, it can detect people, vehicles and read license plates.
The AI Pro is listed on the various worldwide UI stores for £478.80 UK, $499 US and more. In the US it is currently sold out, but is listed as “coming soon” for the UK store.
One interesting thing we noted is that the AI Pro has a USB-C port on the rear, in the same place as the new G5 Pro camera. The G5 Pro can now be used with an optional floodlight and IR extender, so this may be something that Ubiquiti is working on for the AI Pro.


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New Board Chair Dianne Davidson AM is well known to the grape and wine community. Raised in Langhorne Creek, Di is an agricultural scientist who founded the highly regarded company Davidson Viticulture in 1987.
Di and her team provided consulting and management services to table and wine grape producers throughout Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Canada and India until 2012.
Di also has significant experience in irrigated agriculture, as well as natural resource management, particularly the management of water, soils and native vegetation.
As a vineyard owner, Di has first-hand knowledge of wine industry pressures, including biosecurity threats.
“It is so important that we keep anything that’s not native to Australia, out of Australia,” Di said. “Biosecurity is bigger than just phylloxera.
“I was the Director of the CRC for Plant Biosecurity for five years from 2014. One of the things we were very worried about was red fire ants. At that time, they were confined to Southeast Queensland, but were spreading rapidly.
“Now they’re in New South Wales and they’re horrible things. Humans can’t live and work around them. If they suddenly came to one of our wine regions, they would cause significant issues for visitors to our cellar doors and vineyard workers.
“So it’s not just about keeping the pests that impact vines or winemakers out of SA. It’s the broader things that could come in and change our landscape.”
The new Vinehealth board met for the first time on Monday 11 December and selected Di as its Chair.
Di applied to be a Director of Vinehealth Australia to contribute to the success of the South Australian grape and wine industry and help tackle some of the current pressures facing growers.
“It’s not just the loss of the China market that’s hurting the industry right now, but I think people are drinking less, I think wineries are much more particular in what they want grown and by whom, so contracts will be harder to find, and pricing will be very hard for a long time,” Di said.
“Unfortunately, I think we will see much more vineyard abandonment in our industry. As the times get tougher, some people will abandon their vineyards or spend less money and time on them. That’s another open door for pest, disease and weed problems for vines. We need to manage this issue collectively as an industry.
“Vinehealth must continue to educate the industry, new players especially, about not taking your eye off the ball for a moment and notifying Vinehealth or PIRSA about anything in your vineyard that you don’t want to be there.”
Di said the industry must also be vigilant about large machinery coming across the border to assist with vine removal.
“We will see bulldozers and bigger equipment in regions for cleaning up the landscape as the vines are pulled out and the land is converted to other crops,” Di said.
“The contractors coming into the regions wouldn’t necessarily know about phylloxera and other key grapevine pests. I think declining conditions in our wine industry are a high risk in the biosecurity space.
“I want to see continued dedicated work and interaction with regional associations and regional grower groups. I think that engagement with the industry and really understanding what’s changing in the industry as deeply as we can, from the very small grower’s perspective, as well as the larger and the corporates’ perspectives, is vital.
“We also need to keep a close eye on the development of the new South Australian Biosecurity Bill and ensure that anything we are worried about as an industry is addressed.”
Di has served on many industry boards throughout her career and is the author of two well-loved books in the viticulture industry: A Guide to Growing Winegrapes in Australia (1992) and The Business of Vineyards (2001).
In 2015, Di was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to the wine industry, horticulture management, and higher education administration.


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It is fairly well-known and well-accepted that the uptake of 4G LTE services launched by various telecom providers like Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, and Vodafone India is not impressive at all. While it is too early to pass the verdict, it is likely to be an area of concern for Reliance Jio as well. The low uptake will definitely be giving sleepless nights to the senior management of the company. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance... Read More
It is a fairly well known and well-accepted in the industry that the uptake of 4G services, launched by various service providers, like Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, is not impressive. While it is still early days to pass the verdict one way or the other, it is certainly likely to be an area of concern for Reliance Jio which is close to launching commercial 4G network soon. The... Read More
Mobile wallet can be a simple way to transact since it does not involve time-consuming issues like two-way authentication at the time of transaction. However, security and limited places where they can be used are some of the problems that afflict the segment. Freecharge has emerged as a prominent player in this segment. It was acquired by Snapdeal last year. In this interview Govind Rajan, Chief Operations Officer of Freecharge... Read More
Reliance Jio – Reliance Communications spectrum sharing pact: What does it really mean for the Indian telecom industry?
In a major strategic move, sparring Ambani brothers, who lead Reliance Communications and Reliance Jio, respectively, signed an agreement to share and trade spectrum in 800 MHz band across 17 circles. Reliance Jio will acquire nearly 33.75 MHz of spectrum from Reliance Communications in nine circles. “The spectrum arrangements between RJIL and RCOM will result in network synergies, enhanced network capacity and will optimise spectrum utilisation and capex efficiencies. Both... Read More
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has recently launched 4G LTE services for more than 1,00,000 Reliance Group employees, and is likely to launch for consumers very soon. The company is also bringing its own devices under the brand name of Lyf, and they are likely to be available in the market by the end of the month. As the company gets ready for the commercial launch after more than five years... Read More
Here’s wishing all TT readers a very happy and prosperous 2016. As the year 2015 comes to an end, we at Telecom Talk compiled trends for the coming year. Key trends that dominated 2015 were anticipation around launch of Reliance Jio’s launch; Call drops imbroglio; growing ecosystem of 4G; increasing affordability of smartphones besides regulatory guidelines for spectrum sharing and trading. Many of these trends are likely to continue in... Read More
With maximum growth being recorded by the circles of Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, and Assam, category `C’ are recording the maximum subscriber growth. However, this subscriber growth is not translating into revenue growth Jammu & Kashmir recorded a subscriber growth of 16% with the number of subscribers increasing from 8.25 million at the end of June 2014 to 9.6 million at the end of June 2015, as per data released... Read More
As per data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Kerala recorded the maximum revenue growth of 14 percent in the period between April and June of 2014 and AMJ 2015. The revenue of the state increased from Rs 1878.44 crore in the AMJ quarter of 2014 to 2135.4 crore in AMJ 2015. Idea seems to be the biggest beneficiary of this growth in the Kerala circle with the... Read More
India’s third largest service provider had a phenomenal year with the company recording as much as 17% revenue growth, when we compare the revenue of April-May-June quarter of 2014 and 2015. This is based on financial data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). In the same period the industry recorded a growth of 6%. In comparison to Idea, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India both recorded a revenue growth of... Read More
A strange phenomenon is taking place in China. Contrary to the global trend, Chinese telcos are unwinding their WiFi deployments. The three service providers, China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile have decommissioned 87,000 WiFi access points this year. While WiFi is shrinking telcos added 680,000 2G, 3G or 4G base stations in the country. On the other hand, there has been a marked increase in WiFi deployments in India.... Read More
Traditionally Indian telcos have shied away from venturing in the devices segment. They have hardly ever aped the western model of bundled devices. Predominantly, this is because of extremely low Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), high churn and dominance of pre-paid users. Now the new kid-on-the-block, Reliance Jio seeks to change this. Because of new technology it is almost imperative for the company to focus on the devices as well... Read More
With the telcos planning to focus on 4G services in the coming year, the market for 3G in India faces an uncertain future just four years after its commercial introduction and only five years after the telcos spent nearly $15 billion for their 3G licenses. While there is a little doubt that 3G services introduced India to mobile broadband and its vast potential, 3G has not led to mobile broadband... Read More
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THE DRINKS GIANT that owns Bulmers plans to reverse its slipping cider sales – by prompting publicans to lay off the ice.
In an interview with Fora, Belinda Kelly, the Irish marketing director of publicly traded group C&C, said the cider is performing well in off-licences, but the pub trade is “where the challenges are”.
Annual sales at C&C’s Irish operation took a hit last financial year, dipping 4.4% to about €312 million during the 12 months to the end of February 2018.
The outfit’s operating profit also declined, dropping 6.7% to just over €40 million. Volume sales for the Bulmers brands fell by 6%.
The company blamed the dip on increased competition from international rivals and the loss of several wholesale accounts.
In pubs – where “the battle is on” – Bulmers pint bottles are performing well, but C&C is struggling when it comes to selling the drink on draught, Kelly said.
In a bid to reverse the decline, C&C – which also owns or distributes several alcoholic and soft drinks brands like Tennent’s lager and Finches Sparking Orange – is concentrating its Irish marketing efforts on so-called ‘in-outlet’ campaigns.
“We’re going back into the pubs and really trying to get our brand back onto the counter as well as in the fridge,” Kelly said.
Naturally, Bulmers has less visibility in a fridge than on a counter top, which falls within punters’ “decision corridor” – marketing lingo for the last three feet before the bar.
“It’s us and Orchards Thieves on draught,” Kelly said, referring to the cider brand launched by rival Heineken in 2015. “Some outlets will only want one cider (on tap). We’ve been going back in and trying to grow our distribution (in pubs).”
C&C’s on-the-ground sales team is conducting a shoe-leather campaign to convince pub owners to sell the cider on draught as well as in pint bottles. They’ll be arguing a peculiar business case for why pub owners should add a Bulmers tap to their arsenal.
“The bottle is always served over ice. It’s our iconic pack. Some people just don’t like Bulmers over ice, so the draught consumer can just have a draught without ice,” Kelly said.
Although Bulmers accounts for about 50% of the Irish cider market, Heineken’s Orchard Thieves has taken a decent slice of the pie since its launch three years ago.
According to 2017 data compiled by consumer insights group Kantar Worldpanel, the brand owns a near-15% share of the market, with its sales growing faster than the overall cider market. Bulmers’ sales, in contrast, are lagging behind the trend.
Kelly has worked for the C&C Group for almost a decade and was appointed marketing director for the Republic and Northern Ireland two years ago.
Prior to joining C&C, Kelly spent eight years at the Irish wing of US behemoth Coca-Cola, an experience that helped inspire the annual Bulmers Forbidden Fruit music festival, which has taken place in Dublin every June bank holiday weekend since 2011.
“Coming from a background in Coca-Cola, experiential and events were a very big thing. We didn’t really have a music strategy (at C&C),” she said.
“We reached out to two different promoters to come up with a festival that would be our own. That’s where Forbidden Fruit came from.”
The beauty of events like Forbidden Fruit from a marketing perspective is that they create a year’s worth of social media fodder and other such ‘content’, Kelly said.
The company sponsors a number of music festivals, including next weekend’s Body & Soul in Co Westmeath.
The bit that ties it all together is the Bulmers 100% Irish stage at each event, which serves as a showcase for up-and-coming artists – and a chance for C&C to push its brand.
The campaign came out around the same time the group revamped its marketing message for Bulmers last year.
The group spent €10 million on a campaign that saw it replace its long-running ‘time’ campaign with a more humorous marketing message that featured “sharp, witty observations of life in Ireland”, according to Kelly.
“The ‘time’ campaign worked extremely well for us. But a lot of the time we were talking about how the product was made. The key of the campaign last year was bringing the product into people’s lives,” she said.
The Bulmers rejig coincided with the launch of Outcider, a more ‘youthful’ cider that rivals Heineken’s Orchard Thieves. Kelly was instrumental in bringing the drink to market.
“Before Orchard Thieves came, Bulmers was always a brand that people loved. We got to be seen as slightly older when Orchard Thieves came in … We’d never done a sweet apple cider. That’s what Outcider was for; to capture that youthful market that’s looking for a sweeter cider.”
The C&C group owns and distributes several other cider brands, like Wyder’s in the US and fruit-flavoured Hornsby’s cider, which was introduced to the Irish market but “didn’t necessarily stick”.
“Hornsby’s worked OK in the off-trade, but it’s a slightly different cider than what the Irish consumer is used to,” Kelly said.
“The Irish consumer is very much about apple cider. Flavoured cider is still very small here, it’s only about 5-6% of the total market. I think there’s probably newer innovations that we can do, but it’ll be an apple cider innovation in the existing family of Bulmers.”
When asked whether C&C plans to test other foreign ciders in the Irish market, Kelly said the group’s UK-based Orchard Pig craft cider – which it acquired last year – is “something that we’ll look at for over here”.


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New Delhi: The wholesale price-based inflation hit an all-time high of 12.49% in May. It stood at 10.49% in April. This is the fifth straight month of an uptick in the WPI inflation. Low base effect also contributed to the spike in WPI inflation in May 2021. In May 2020, WPI inflation was at (-) 3.37 per cent.
This is the fifth straight month of uptick seen in the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation. In April, 2021, WPI inflation hit double digit at 10.49 per cent.
"The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, was 12.94 per cent for the month of May, 2021 (over May, 2020) as compared to (-) 3.37 per cent in May 2020.
"The high rate of inflation in May 2021 is primarily due to low base effect and rise in prices of crude petroleum, mineral oils viz. petrol, diesel, naphtha, furnace oil etc. and manufactured products as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said.
The manufactured products inflation rose to 10.8% as against 9% in the previous month, while core inflation jumped to 10% compared to 8.3% in April (2021). Fuel and power inflation jumped by 37.6%. Primary articles inflation surged by 9.6%. The crude oil and prices of other commodities have been pushed by global recovery
However, inflation in food articles eased marginally to 4.31 per cent in May, even as onion prices spiked. Inflation in onion stood at 23.24 per cent in May, against (-) 19.72 per cent in April.
Siddhartha Sanyal, Chief Economist and Head – Research, Bandhan Bank, said: "The sharp rise in WPI inflation in May 2021 is not a surprise as it reflects rising global commodity prices including metal and energy prices. While domestic demand situation in India remains markedly weak, prices of such commodities typically are strongly influenced by global prices and, thus, will not likely soften in a hurry."
"CPI inflation will likely stay elevated in the coming months as well and the RBI’s current CPI forecast of 5.1% during 2021-22 clearly faces material upside risks reflecting global commodity prices, a sharp rise in prices of petroleum products in India and continued supply disruptions," he added.
The RBI in its monetary policy earlier this month kept interest rates unchanged at record lows and committed to maintain an accommodative policy stance to support growth.
RBI pegged retail inflation at 5.1 per cent in this fiscal ending March 2022, with upside risks from higher commodity prices and re-emergence of higher supply constraints amidst the current phase of lockdowns.


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Amazing news – The Janoskians have launched their own fashion line!
The guys – Beau Brooks, 20, Jai Brooks, 18, Luke Brook, 18, Daniel Sahyoune, 19, and James Yammouni, 17 – have named it Dirty Pig and designed everything themselves! In fact, Jai created the brand’s logo too!
“We started Dirty Pig because we have always dreamed of making cool clothing that we would want to wear ourselves,” The Janoskians said in a statement. “A fashion line is just another thing they said we couldn’t do but we believe you can do anything you want in life. Dirty Pig will be more than T-shirts and beanies and we are going to work hard to design all sorts of cool apparel: jeans, cardigans, socks .. you name it.”
The brand has already successfully released a set of t-shirts, beanies, and snap backs with plans for many more items in the near future!
TELL JJJ: Will you be picking up some of the guys’ items?
Bigger pic inside…
Posted to: The Janoskians


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OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee Nation has announced the launch of a new brand identity that coincides with the affirmed status as a reservation according to a press release sent out by the tribes communication department on April 26.
Statements from officials and the creative manager were included in the statement.
Principal Chief of the Muscogee Nation David Hill said the change coincides with the era of affirmed reservation status.
“The identity of the Nation and how we’re viewed in the public has been discussed several times over the years,” Principal Chief David Hill said. “With this announcement coinciding with our new era as an affirmed reservation, we thought the timing was right for an update on our brand.”
According to the press release, the rebrand is not changing the official name of the tribe.
“This campaign is not an official name change or a removal of the tribe’s seal, both of which are protected by the Constitution,” the release said. “The seal is intended for legal documents and anything representing the government, such as legislation, proclamations and executive orders. In many places, the seal and logo will appear together.”
The name in all official business will still be the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
This initiative is solely focused on the marketing and branding of the Nation to the public the statement said.
“We’re changing the general public’s perception of who we are and what we do,” Muscogee Nation Creative Manager Brian OnTheHill said. “The British coined the misnomer ‘Creek.’ When this alias appears in parentheses alongside the proper name of the Nation it creates confusion among the general public. In order to solidify the Nation’s identification and keep the connection to the tribal seal, we focused the brand on Muscogee.”
OnTheHill, a Muscogee citizen, created the new logo and took inspiration from Mississippian design on pottery and shell carvings, to connect the Nation’s current status to its history.
He said, “Each of the logo’s four components has a longer limb and each of them reach toward the other, just as many Mississippian motifs intertwine, to form a whole.”
“This is in reference to the union of the Muscogee-speaking tribal towns to create the Creek Confederacy and our maintained connectedness as a people,” OnTheHill said. “The four pieces of the logo refer to the sacred number within traditional Muscogee doctrine. Four represents balance, as in the symmetrical shape of the logo.”
The release also said the URL of the tribe’s website has also changed (www.muscogeenation.com) to reflect consistency with the branding update, and a new website design is in process.
The Nation revealed the announcement with paid television ad spots.
Mvskoke Media is conducting a small survey to collect data on citizens thoughts on this new branding campaign. The survey is anonymous.


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The company that once manufactured the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin says it would be wrong to switch back to more easily abused formulation because other companies were awarded a patent to produce the pills.
Randy Steffan, vice-president of corporate affairs for the Purdue Pharma Canada, says the firm spent eight years and “millions of dollars” to develop the tamper-resistant replacement, OxyNeo. That pill was created to help stem what some public health officials have called “epidemic” levels of opiate abuse across Canada. Switching back now is not in cards despite Health Canada awarding generic patents late last year, he said.
“That would be a step backwards,” he said in an e-mail to the Toronto Sun. “Purdue believes a higher safety standard has been established with OxyNeo and the same standard should now be applied to all new controlled-release oxycodone products, including generics.”
Generic patents for the highly effective but addictive painkiller were awarded late last November to Cobalt Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz Canada Inc., Pharmascience Inc., Laboratoire Riva Inc., Teva Canada Inc. and Apotex Inc.
Generic OxyContin produced by those companies has now begun to hit the shelves in the province, resurrecting fears that overdose deaths will once again increase.
Some legitimate users of the pills however are happy, saying Purdue Pharma’s OxyNeo formulation does not work as well for some patients.
But Steffan says there is no going back to the old Oxy. In fact, enhancing the safety measures on other painkillers is a priority.
“We know that we have been doing the right thing by replacing OxyContin,” he said. “With regard to the future, a new generation of opioid formulations with special features to make them less prone to manipulation or abuse is being developed and will gradually replace the older, potentially more abusable products.”
The company has called on federal Health Minister Leona to insist that any generic Oxy be required to have a tamper-resistant casing. Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews, who has been a vocal opponent of granting the generic patents, echoed that request to the pharmaceutical companies Friday afternoon.
“We would encourage any manufacturer of long-acting oxycodone products to develop drugs that include tamper-resistant features,” she said in a statement to the Sun. “This is an important step in addressing abuse and misuse, while ensuring access to appropriate care for patients.”
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NEW YORK (TheStreet) --
It seems like just last year that Facebook (FB)and Twitter were making ambitious deals to snap up nascent competitors they feared could invade the spaces that each company dominates in the social network stratosphere.
That's because it was just last year.
In the hyper-real time Silicon Valley petri dish of product development, startups can go from white-hot to negative Kelvin almost overnight, and Facebook - closing in on 18 months as a public company - and Twitter - hot on CEO Mark Zuckerberg's heels with an IPO of its own - are moving away from M&A transactions that simply better engage network users and more toward monetizing their habits.
Facebook's acquisition on Monday, Oct. 14, of Israeli mobile and data analytics firm Ovago - reportedly for $200 million, or about a fifth of what it paid in pre-IPO stock for Instagram Inc. - is the company's biggest buy this year to date and also the best example of the monetization race.
Facebook has struck more than a dozen deals since its acquisition of Instagram, and its IPO, but little has been spent in terms of capital and to focus on doing more to get users online. This is a take-off from the company's strategy as a private entity. Back then, Facebook bought startups like FriendFeed Inc. and Snaptu Ltd. as it was in hockey stick growth mode, tucking in peripheral apps that better organized and connected users. At more than 1.1 billion users, Facebook can now back away from that buffet.
Deals like Glancee and Threadsy still showcase Facebook's need to tuck in assets to bolster the user experience. But other buys, like Osmeta, Parse, Spool or Atlas Advertiser Suite, are focused on improving how Facebook's app performs within different operating systems, managing and presenting content to users, and, of course, ads.
Twitter is no different - except for the little matter of not yet turning a profit, a feat Facebook finally managed.
CEO Dick Costolo's "Instagram moment," similar to Facebook, was the micromessaging network's acquisition of Vine Labs Inc., the six-second video app, which it hastily integrated into its platform. The cost was a paltry $30 million, or about 1% of the size of the Instagram buy.
Twitter has laid out substantially more than $30 million in the time since it bought Vine - but it has focused not on adding more filters and followers, but instead on developing the company's new revenue lines.
There have been a number of different avenues for Twitter to develop lines of business outside of advertising, which currently makes up the lion's share of the company's revenue. Twitter's deals have includes startups in the geotargeting and app development spaces, two arenas with limited competition and substantial growth opportunities. And the company's decision to make deals and find partners in the mobile broadcasting space could do more to enhance its analytics platform.
But all of this was predated by a deal spree that went far and away from engaging strangers with one another's tweets. Twitter's M&A strategy shows that the company, unlike Facebook, has long focused on diversification, building lines of businesses that will appeal to corporate clients far more than individual consumers.
Acquisitions of Trendrr and the $80 million the company used to acquire Bluefin Labs Inc. showcases that Costolo & Co. are looking beyond simply having a billion users. The company just struck a deal with TV titan Comcast (CMCSA). where it will hitch a "See It" button to some of NBCUniversal's shows that will allow cable subscribers to view TV on their mobile device. What, on the face of it, appears to be a marketing maneuver will ultimately help Twitter compete head to head with Nielsen Holdings NV, should it look to invade the television monitoring service.
Other deals in the time since Twitter bought Vine: Spindle Labs Inc., for geotargeting, Cabana for app development, Lucky Sort and Ubalo Inc. for data analytics, even Marakana Inc., an open source training company - suggest how Twitter will grow beyond being merely a social network dependent on advertisements.
Previously, sources have suggested that launching an app store to compete with Google Inc. and Facebook, geotargeting (which would have Twitter going head-to-head with Yelp Inc. and Foursquare Labs Inc.), and big data could all contribute substantially to the micromessaging network's top line.
So while it helps to have friends when you're young, it is more crucial to have your health later in life. And that takes capital. Maybe companies are just like people, after all.
--By Jonathan Marino in New York


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Uber e-bikes hit Melbourne streets
Rideshare giant Uber has rolled out 400 dockless e-bikes across Melbourne's CBD.
The JUMP bikes can reach speeds of 25 kilometres an hour, will cost $1 to unlock and 30 cents per minute to ride.
Users need to use the Uber app to unlock the e-bikes.
Australia has a colourful history with share bikes, with previous companies such as Ofo and oBike receiving intense backlash after their bicycles were left dumped in streets and waterways.
To deter would-be-vandals, Uber's e-bike is fitted by the latest geo-fencing technology and remote monitoring to ensure they're parked in sensible locations.
Uber also said they would ban users for both their ride-share platform and Uber Eats should the bikes be damaged.
Parking the bike outside city boundaries, or in an undesirable location will also result in a $15 fine.
Today reporter Christine Ahern rode one of the bikes this morning and said they were a lot of fun.
"The great thing about them is every time you peddle you get an extra little boost," she said.
The City of Melbourne, City of Yarra and the City of Port Phillip announced that more bikes will be deployed throughout the year as part of a one-year-trial.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the bikes are welcome and hopes the "anti-social" behaviour previously seen won't be repeated.
"We are excited that Melburnians will have a new share bicycle scheme to use throughout Melbourne," she said.
"Share bike schemes are widely used around the world without the anti-social behaviour experienced previously in Melbourne. We believe locals and visitors will work with JUMP and our councils to make this a success."
Uber's JUMP e-bike already operates in more than 30 cities around the world.


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23-year-old caught selling 14 lakh online shoppers' personal information
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Greater Noida for holding/selling data of 14 lakh people. Nandan Rao Patel, according to an HT report, colluded with the employees of e-commerce companies like Flipkart and Amazon and stole the personal information of their customers. He then sold this data, allowing these unsuspecting shoppers to be targeted with different online frauds. Here's everything about the scam.
Shoppers' information collected through employees, then sold
As part of the attack, Patel, who's a final year MBA student and the 'Director' of a digital marketing company, partnered with the employees of different companies to gain access to the data of online shoppers. He paid them Rs. 2-3/customer to procure the information and then sold the details to fake call centers in Delhi-NCR, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab at Rs. 5-6/customer.
Then, the customers were targeted with different scams
After selling the data, Patel made his profit while sham callers got the details they needed to target unsuspecting customers with different scams. Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF), which nabbed Patel, revealed they had received various complaints about scammers who duped innocent people into financial fraud by using their details. They used to promise gifts, money and trick people into paying money.
Targets social engineered, says STF DSP Rajkumar Mishra
"The gang used to lure people by offering them fake lucky draws and expensive gifts against the online shopping they would have recently made. They further ask them to deposit a certain amount as registration fees in order to claim their gift."
Rs. 200 crore worth of fraud estimated
With Patel's arrest, STF officers are working to nab his accomplices and find the websites they may have breached. "According to the information received so far, the gang has committed frauds worth approximately Rs. 200 crore," Mishra said, noting that efforts are underway to learn more. They also plan to determine how the fraudsters created fake UPI accounts (like PhonePe/Paytm/Tez) to receive the money.


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This rise in client SSD prices is reportedly faster than that of 3D NAND wafers, the core component of SSDs. Factors contributing to this trend include SSD manufacturers' purchasing strategies, a decrease in sales of related products, and limited stockpiling activities in recent months. TrendForce attributes changes in production capacity utilization rates by major manufacturers such as Kioxia and Western Digital (WDC) as key influences on market pricing, noting that other significant players have adopted more cautious production approaches. While client SSD users are facing steep price increases, the situation is even more challenging for enterprise SSD purchasers. TrendForce's analysis suggests that enterprise SSDs could see price hikes of 20-25% in Q2 2024, driven by strong demand from communication service providers in the US and China, unmet needs for high-capacity products, and anticipatory inventory building among some sectors.
Industry analysts have released their latest projections for the NAND flash market, forecasting a significant price increase for Solid State Drives (SSDs) in the second quarter of 2024. According to the report, client SSD prices are expected to rise by up to 15% in Q2, following a substantial 23-28% increase in the first quarter. The report provides a comparative analysis of price trends for various NAND flash products, including mobile NAND (eMMC and UFS), client and server SSDs, and the raw NAND flash wafers. The first quarter of 2024 has already seen notable price increases, impacting consumers and potentially adding significant costs to PC builds or upgrades. Despite hopes for stabilization, the upward trend in SSD prices is likely to continue into Q2 2024, with an anticipated additional 10-15% increase.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Ice distribution company Reddy Ice Holdings Inc. frz priced a 4.6 million secondary share offering at $21.55 a share. Reddy Ice said the shares are being offered by existing shareholders and the company will not receive any proceeds from the offering. It added shareholders have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 689,000 shares to cover any over-allotment.
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Moms depend on daughters for fashion tips
London: When it comes to fashion mothers depend on their daughters, reveals a study.
According to the study conducted by vouchercloud, 48 percent of respondents confessed to looking for their child`s approval when purchasing new clothes, reports femalefirst.co.uk
The majority revealed that they took approval to ensure their purchases were age appropriate.
About 19 percent admitted that their clothing choices had caused arguments with their daughter in the past so her approval was sought in order to reduce the risk of fallout.
As many as 35 percent stated that they sought approval to avoid accidentally purchasing the same clothes as their daughter.
“`Like mother, like daughter` is a well-worn phrase. But should it possibly be, `like daughter, like mother?’ as it seems that many women take the lead in the fashion stakes from their daughters,” Matthew Wood of vouchercloud said.
“The results suggest that mothers are also likely to trust their daughters to be honest with their opinion,” he added.
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Everyone loves an underdog, and just as the year is coming to an end, a long-awaited sequel has shown just what it could offer when it returns in 2023–and if it lives up to what it promises, it could take the fight to the likes of Starfield, Redfall, Spider-Man 2, and maybe even The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
After “the most hard and unpredictable year” in the studio’s history, Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has finally shown gameplay from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl in its new “Come to Me” trailer, which aims to provide a better understanding of the adventure to come from its borderless open world and non-linear story.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was originally slated for release on PC and Xbox Series X/S–and day one on Game Pass–on April 28, but the war, which started in February, forced GSC to pause development and relocate to Prague. However, some stayed behind to defend their country; just this month, GSC developer Volodymyr Yezhov was killed in action near Bakhmut, as confirmed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
“We dedicate this trailer to our fallen heroes: the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Ukraine,” said GSC Game World. “We also want to take a moment to express gratitude for all the support we have been receiving from our players and partners during the past months. Even basic words can do miracles when the situation is dire. Thank you so much for being with us during these uneasy times.”
The trailer, which continues to keep a lot of things under wraps–notably its mutant threats, which continue to be restricted to Fleshes and Bloodsuckers–still shows just how far things have come with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.’s unique anomalies, which are arguably more dangerous than the mammals prowling the nuclear landscape.
Elsewhere, gunplay looks tight and powerful, its voice cast promises depth, its locations look believable and varied, and it appears to run smoothly–in 4K, the lighting and anti-aliasing are superb, though only time will tell how the framerate pans out.
Continuing its support for Ukraine against Russia–which, most symbolically, saw GSC change the game’s Russian spelling of “Chernobyl” to the Ukrainian “Chornobyl”–GSC Game World continues to encourage people to support by donating to the official charity fund established by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, United24.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl lands on PC and Xbox Series X/S in 2023, will still be available on Game Pass from day one, and pre-orders are now available on the GSC website, Steam, and GOG.


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ASUS’ Eee Pad Transformer Prime will launch on November 9, according to an investor conference presentation, with two further Eee Pad “hero products” expected in Q1 2012, as the company attempts to build on the success of the first-gen Transformer. Meanwhile, Windows 8 tablets are set to follow on later in 2012, according to the slide desk [pdf link], though the first such models won’t arrive until Q3 next year.
The presentation is short on technical details for the Transformer Prime, but the tablet is described as including “real touch” along with the “real keyboard experience” thanks to the removable keyboard-dock. However, unlike the original Transformer, the style of the new Prime is far slicker and in keeping with ASUS’ Ultrabook series, despite still offering connectivity like HDMI.
As for the existing Eee Pad models, according to ASUS’ estimates there will be 1.6m shipped altogether in 2011, with the first-gen Transformer expected to account for 85-percent of those sales. The Eee Pad Slider and Eee Slate together will make up the remaining 15-percent.


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As people buy products, seek information, plan their social lives, and make personal and business decisions, the lines between media channels in the 21st century have become increasingly blurred, according to the third annual U.S. Media Myths & Realities survey.
This melding of media means the content deliverables that were once owned by a specific medium are now found on nearly all platforms – a shift that has helped create an increasingly participatory and fragmented media landscape.
The survey, conducted in late 2008 and released on Monday by Ketchum and the University of Southern California Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center, revealed, for instance, a steep rise in the use of shopping Web sites among consumers, doubling from 2006 to 2008 (17 percent to 35 percent). More revealing still, about half of those (44 percent) who visit shopping Web sites read consumer reviews and comments found on the site, demonstrating that these sites have transformed into virtual social gathering places and information destinations, rather than merely being a place to purchase goods. Consumers are placing more trust in the experiences of their online peers than they are on the retailer’s product descriptions, which is one example of the broadening definition of a social networking site.
This burgeoning participatory media landscape means media audiences are having just as much influence, if not more, than the content providers themselves.
“If you look at sites like Amazon, for instance, and read through the product reviews, what you’ll find is not only are people posting their thoughts via consumer-generated reviews, but they are also responding to each other’s comments. The effect is the creation of pockets of social networks found all over the Web,” said Nicholas Scibetta, Ketchum partner and director of the agency’s Global Media Network.
“These networks extend beyond consumer-generated reviews on shopping Web sites,” Scibetta said. “Conversations among readers, information seekers, and reviewers can be found on sites from established outlets such as The New York Times and The Huffington Post, to YouTube, to the neighborhood blogger. What we found in this survey is that, with the widespread availability of such conversations, the lines that once separated mediums have now melded.”
The Media Myths & Realities survey, an annual study now in its third year, examines consumer use of more than 40 media channels, ranging from newspapers to podcasts. The Media Myths & Realities research has been conducted by Ketchum in partnership with the USC Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center since the study’s inception in 2006. This year’s survey shows how media has changed since 2006 in the U.S. Separate surveys were conducted in Brazil, which analyzed changes in Brazilians’ media usage from 2007 to 2008, and, for the first time in 2008, a study was conducted to examine media consumption in the U.K. In 2008, the university partnership has been expanded to include the Bournemouth University Media School for the U.K. study.
“The results of this survey confirm that it’s an exciting time to be a part of media in the 21st century,” said Jerry Swerling, founder and director of the USC Annenberg Strategic Public Relations Center. “It’s a transformative time in which we are seeing outlets move from single-media to multi-media. The ones that adapt most effectively will inevitably win out in this rapidly changing landscape.”
Consumers are using a wider variety of channels than ever before. Newer channels, such as blogs and social networking sites, are gaining more and more traction. The survey found that 26 percent of consumers use social networking sites, compared to 17 percent in 2006. The usage of blogs nearly doubled (24 percent in 2008 compared to 13 percent in 2006).
This is especially true among influential consumers – the 10 to 15 percent of the population who initiate change in their communities – of which 43 percent read blogs by nonjournalists (compared to 16 percent of the general population) and 32 percent read blogs written by journalists (8 percent of the general population).
Conversely, the use of more established media channels continues to wane. The survey revealed that 65 percent of consumers use major network television news as a source of information (down from 71 percent in 2006). Local television news saw a sharper drop – 62 percent in 2008 compared to 74 percent in 2006.
“As we’ve watched traditional mass communications give way to communications controlled by the masses, one of the greatest impacts of newer media formats, such as blogs and news feeds, is that they’ve given people additional channels through which to access established sources,” Swerling said. “All channels can now link with one another, allowing more collaboration and participation than ever. The melding of media is also demonstrated in the actions of legacy media, which are continuing to embrace and implement the principles of new media. Conversely, the journalistic principles that underline news organizations – accuracy, timeliness, objectivity and so forth – will move to other delivery channels. Regardless of where we get our information, we want the source to be credible.”
Search engines are maturing as a medium, becoming a ubiquitous source of information among consumers – from younger generations, to early adopters, to “surfing seniors.” Search is now a daily part of our lives – it is how we gather information.
“The more media melds, the more search engines will continue playing a prominent role in our daily lives,” said Gur Tsabar, Ketchum’s vice president for Interactive Strategies. “That’s why we’re now viewing Google as not just a search engine, but rather as one of the world’s largest publications. In a highly blurred media environment, search engines are consistently proving themselves as one of the most reliable forms of media for the masses.”
The use of search engines has remained steady over the last year – 59 percent of consumers use them regularly (compared to 60 percent in 2007). In addition, consumers awarded search engines a credibility score of 7.0 (on a 10-point scale), which was a step forward from 2007, when they scored 6.5.
Companies that do not have a search strategy are missing a great opportunity to reach consumers quickly and efficiently. In the U.S., 70 percent of influencers use search engines to gather information, which ranks third in a list of most-used sources of information, after local newspapers (74 percent of influencers) and major network television news (72 percent of influencers).
“Consumers expect that search engines will deliver all the relevant information on any given subject, so if a company’s point of view doesn’t turn up in a search result, it will likely be missed by those who aren’t inclined to go directly to a company Web site,” Tsabar noted.
Advice from family and friends is a significant source of information, with 47 percent of U.S. respondents saying they rely on this advice. Furthermore, when it comes to making critical decisions, the survey found consumers routinely turn to family and friends first for information on products and services.
“Knowing that advice from family and friends is perceived as authentic and credible, companies that can effectively tap into a word-of-mouth network in an organic and transparent way can reap great benefits for their brands,” said Scibetta.
In addition, the survey identified key differences in the ways people consume media in the U.S. compared to the U.K. and Brazil. These include that consumers in the U.K. read national newspapers at nearly three times the rate of consumers in the U.S. (53 percent compared to 18 percent). Brazilians are even higher, at 62 percent.
The survey compares the media usage habits of 1,000 adult Americans (including 200 influential citizens, or “influencers” – the 10 to 15 percent of the population who initiate changes in their community or society through a variety of activities) and 500 communications industry professionals.
In the U.K. and Brazil, 300 consumers and 200 influencers were surveyed in each country for a total of 500 consumers. The definition of an influencer was consistent for these countries, allowing for cultural and political differences within each country. The survey did not include communications professionals in these countries.
The survey was conducted through online distribution at various times between Sept. 30 and Oct. 18, 2008.


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China’s Huawei Sells 1.6 Million Mate 60 Series Handsets Amid Smartphone Renaissance
Huawei Defies Smartphone Slowdown with Strong Demand
Huawei Technologies has defied the smartphone slowdown by selling an impressive 1.6 million of its Mate 60 series handsets in just six weeks. This surge in demand highlights the Chinese technology giant’s successful high-end smartphone renaissance.
Mate 60 Pro Dominates Sales
Counterpoint Research reveals that the high-end Mate 60 Pro accounts for nearly three-quarters of the Mate series phones sold. This popularity solidifies Huawei’s position in the market.
Apple’s iPhone 15 Release
Interestingly, Huawei’s impressive sales figures coincide with Apple’s launch of the iPhone 15 in China. During the two weeks following the release, Huawei sold over 400,000 units, showcasing its resilience and appeal in the face of competition.
Huawei’s Breakthrough Amidst Sanctions
Huawei made headlines by launching the premium Mate 60 Pro smartphone in late August. Analysts speculate that this device, which features a domestically made chip, signifies a breakthrough for Huawei despite years of U.S. technology sanctions. The handset’s scarcity further adds to its allure, with stock running out quickly upon arrival.
Global Smartphone Market Overview
While major smartphone brands experienced subdued demand, Huawei, its former unit Honor, and Transsion Group were the only brands to achieve year-on-year growth. This success highlights Huawei’s ability to navigate the challenging global market.
China’s Smartphone Market
In China, smartphone shipments remained relatively stable in August, with a marginal year-on-year increase of 0.03% to 18.99 million handsets. This data, provided by the China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT), emphasizes the significance of Huawei’s exceptional sales performance.
In conclusion, Huawei’s Mate 60 series has captured the attention of smartphone enthusiasts, defying market trends and garnering impressive sales. The Mate 60 Pro, in particular, has emerged as the star of Huawei’s smartphone lineup. As the global smartphone market undergoes significant shifts, Huawei continues to thrive, demonstrating its resilience and innovation.


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Denison art gallery owner is one of twenty women to win Aerie Change Maker contest
“I won the 2020 Change maker for Aerie and American Eagle to make an impact in Denison and I’m super excited to be here,” Zapata said.
Zapata is a big supporter of the American Eagle clothing brand Aerie. That’s why a year ago, she applied for the “Change Maker” contest where they select 20 women to win $20,000 to help make a difference in the community. In May, she found out she won.
“The reason I applied is just because I thought this money would be able to help me make an impact in the community,” Zapata said.
The 23-year-old business owner bought the gallery in 2017. She’s been renovating the building out of pocket and opened in May, in the middle of the pandemic. She says this money kicked the renovation process into gear, and even helped inspire young artists.
“That money has been going to workshops for kids, having the supplies for that and renovating this space as it took us a little bit from 2017 when we bought the building and having workshop for entrepreneurs and things like that and still excited to see what the future holds,” Zapata said.
She’s hosted craft workshops for all ages, from kids to girl’s nights.
“I’m super passionate about getting people involved in the arts and feeling accepted and wanted and just having an inclusive space for anyone to participate so that’s kinda the goal of Zig Zag Galleries to celebrate the arts and other small businesses and things like that,” Zapata said.
Zapata says she’s grateful for the community’s support.
“Everyone has been super super nice in supporting me and that’s kinda why I came to Denison, it’s very hard to find a building at twenty three that I can open a business you know and everyone be so kind and welcoming so I’m really appreciative of that and so grateful to be here,” Zapata said.
To find out more information about Zig Zag Galleries, you can check out her Instagram and website.
Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved.


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WordBrain Hits 30M Downloads, and MAG Teases with a New iMessage Game Project
Swedish mobile developer MAG Interactive starts off 2017 with a big bang as WordBrain hits 30 million downloads, attracting the true word wizards seeking the ultimate puzzle challenge. With a high difficulty level, few have finished the game, but millions keep coming back for more and WordBrain remains one of the most popular MAG Interactive titles, raising the bar in the word game genre yet again.
In addition, MAG’s latest game Wordalot Express, released on Messenger and Facebook News Feed in November 2016, has already surpassed 1M players. With this successful start to the Instant Games initiative, MAG Interactive will continue releasing games and apps through new platforms, ergo soon users will be able to do a little “smacking” while chatting in iMessage in the next weeks – more details coming soon!
“We are thrilled by the current success of WordBrain and Wordalot Express, and we will keep bringing games players can’t get enough of to market. Stay tuned for more details about our new iMessage project, which will make chatting more fun and engaging”. said CTO Kaj Nygren
Plan of Attack on behalf of MAG Interactive


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Every week we highlight NVIDIA’s Top 5 AI stories of the week.
In this week’s edition we cover a new deep learning-based algorithm from OpenAI that can automatically generate new music.
Plus, an automatic speech recognition model that could improve Alexa’s algorithm by 15%.
5 – AI Model Can Recommend the Optimal Workout
Planning a workout that is specific to a user’s needs can be challenging. To help deliver more personalized workout recommendations, University of California, San Diego researchers developed a deep learning-based system to better estimate a runner’s heart rate during a workout and predict a recommended route. The work has the potential to help fitness tracking companies and mobile app developers enhance their apps and devices.
4 – AI Helps Improve the Shopping Experience
New York City-based startup TheTake, a member of the NVIDIA Inception program, recently unveiled a new deep learning-based algorithm that can automatically decode what a celebrity, athlete, or other public figure is wearing in a video in near real time.
3 – OpenAI Releases MuseNet: AI Algorithm That Can Generate Music
Trying to generate music like Mozart, Beethoven, or perhaps Lady Gaga? AI research organization OpenAI just released a demo of a new deep learning algorithm that can automatically generate original music using many different instruments and styles.
“We’ve created Musenet, a deep neural network that can generate 4-minute musical compositions with 10 different instruments, and can combine styles from country to Mozart to the Beatles,” the organization wrote in a blog post.
2 – AI Research Could Help Improve Alexa’s Speech Recognition Model by 15%
Researchers from John Hopkins University and Amazon published a new paperdescribing how they trained a deep learning system that can help Alexa ignore speech not intended for her, improving the speech recognition model by 15%.
“Voice-controlled house-hold devices, like Amazon Echo or Google Home, face the problem of performing speech recognition of device directed speech in the presence of interfering background speech,” the researchers stated in their paper.
1 – AI Can Interpret and Translate American Sign Language Sentences
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 360 million people worldwide with disabling hearing loss. To help with sign language translation, Researchers from Michigan State University developed a deep learning-based system that can automatically interpret individual signs of the American Sign Language (ASL) as well as translate full ASL sentences without needing users to pause after each sign. The work has the potential to help translate some of the 300 sign languages in use globally.


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Apple has announced that July was a record-breaking month for its App Store in terms of revenue.
The iPhone maker also told CNBC that a record number of customers carried out transactions on the storefront that month, but did not provide specific figures.
"Thanks to our amazing developer community! Apple says July was record-setting month for app store revenue," Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote on Twitter.
Apple also claims that the company has reached 75 billion cumulative App Store downloads and around $20 billion paid to developers, almost half of which was handed out in the last 12 months.
Cook noted during Apple's third-quarter financial results that iTunes is its fastest-growing business, thanks to the strength of the App Store, seeing a 12% increase year-on-year with $4.5 billion in revenue.
Elsewhere, it has been reported that Apple is planning to launch its iPhone 6 on September 9.


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Target Corp. launches a new line, The Collection, starting March 3.
If you call yourself a discount retailer, then it probably follows that you can market a $9.99 bottle of wine as “premium.”
Target Corp. on Thursday announced the launch of The Collection, an assortment of five “premium California wines,” which arrives in stores March 3. The wine is sourced from the Delicato Family Vineyards, one of the nation’s largest wine producers. Delicato offers exclusive private labels and produces more than a dozen other brands, including Gnarley Head and Bota Box. The family has been farming the land since 1924 with sustainable practices, according to its website.
The Minneapolis-based retailer joins other grocers and mass retailers to market private label adult beverages, including Costco and Trader Joe’s.
Affordably priced wines are in the sweet spot of the retailer's prime demographic. Wine sales in the United States are approaching $62 billion a year, and millennials are consuming 42 percent of it -- more than any other demographic group -- according to the Wine Market Council.
Target began marketing its own wines in 2017, when it launched California Roots at $5 a bottle. Target now is adding a Sauvignon Blanc to that line, its seventh variety. It also will add four-pack cans of Wine Cube and begin selling Crook & Marker, a line of fizzy, fruit-flavored alcoholic beverages in a can.


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To say we're obsessed with anything that's remotely doughnut-related, would be an understatement. From new launches to fruity variations and ring-shaped treats, we can whole-heartedly say that we love anything and everything in the doughnut realm.
So, you can imagine how we responded to discovering Aldi's latest ice cream offering... doughnut-shaped ice cream sticks!
Yep, thanks to @newestproductsuk on Instagram, it turns out that the latest treat to hit the budget supermarket's shelves is milk chocolate and white chocolate doughnut-shaped vanilla ice cream rings topped with sprinkles. Yum, or what?
On sale for just £2.29 a box, we can't wait to get our hands on these!
Perfect for the upcoming heatwave and pretty much the tastiest little mid-afternoon frozen snack, these aren't the only chilled treats Aldi has released recently...
Have you seen their Little Moon-esque Wao Mochi Balls?
That's right, back when these tasty treats were released last year, Aldi’s Wao Mochi Balls came in three super-summery flavours: Tropical, Mango and Coconut.
But now the budget supermarket has launched two new flavours, and they're giving us serious Häagen-Dazs vibes: Caramel and Strawberry Cheesecake.