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How traditional businesses are disrupted by a spark of the digital
VS Parthasarathy, Group CIO & Group CFO, Mahindra & Mahindra, gives a perspective of how traditional businesses are getting disrupted by the digital phenomenon
The agility of technology has made its application spiral beyond all bounds and its seismic spread is evident and felt in every sector. VS Parthasarathy, Group CIO and Group CFO, Mahindra & Mahindra gives a perceptive of how traditional businesses are getting disrupted by just one spark of the digital.
Drawing a comparison, he shows a picture of a street in New York in the year 1900, where only one car could be seen among several horse-drawn carts; and then he swiftly changes the image to the one where there was only one horse-drawn cart among many motor cars in the year1913. “This is what happens when technology takes route. In 13 years, the tsunami of technology has changed the face of the street,” he stated.
Technology has changed the countenance of industry in phases. “We started with industry 1.0 which saw basic mechanisation. Then dawned industry 2.0 where mass production was the essence of the tenure. Industry 3.0 is a mesh-up of automation, computer, electronics. The forthcoming Industry 4.0 will be a period where there will be one human plant manager, but the rest of the workforce will be machines,” he informed. “According to a plant manager, today, machines can talk to each other enabling preventive maintenance, also the entire planning can be done online. The flow is automated and technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data can be put to use. Leveraging these technologies, mass production is possible more seamlessly,” he added.
Focusing on his area of expertise, he said, “The automobile industry is getting disrupted at a Sputnik speed. At one side, the car OEMs, are vying with each other and on the other, the IT companies are up the sleeves to build a technology-robust car by getting the OEMs to physically assemble the parts. And if this is not enough, there are ride-hailing companies like Ola and Uber, which already has a platform and may look to redefine the transportation industry. It is thus becoming increasingly difficult to define the levels and contours of competition and from where it is coming.”
Parthasarathy shared that car manufacturers, General Motors and Ford were big names in the automobile landscape for a long time. However, Tesla was launched in 2012 and over took the cap of General Motors and Ford in five years. This is an example of how traditional industry got disrupted by a spark of innovation.
Today the financial market is also not untouched by the technology paradigms. “You never heard of an ATM card before, but now we cannot do without ATMs. Not just that, crypto-currency, payment gateways and cash pooling among others are more commonplace than ever,” he pointed.
On the equation of job scarcity and wealth he said, “We often see jobs are scarce even though there is no scarcity of wealth. The trouble here is not wealth creation but wealth distribution. India’s GDP is 2600 billion, while it is 20,000 billion in the US. This accounts to 1200 dollars per capita per person. However, if we grow at the pace we are growing now which is about seven to 10 per cent while the US continues to grows at one percent, then by 2030 we will equal the GDP of the US. In tune with this process, people will invariably become wealthy. The only issue then will be wealth distribution.”
“Emerging technologies are impacting the society, people, governance and businesses,” said Parthasarathy, adding, “The future is about micro-entrepreneurship, whereby an individual will work for more than one company and company loyalty will derive new meanings.”
“The mantra to a successful business is not conglomeration but federation and enabling the workforce, by allowing them to learn and re-learn,” summed up Parthasarathy.
(The spokesperson was presenting at the Emerging Tech Conclave in Kolkata, organised by Express Computer)
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In a move that might show waning interest by potential buyers because of the backstabbing nature of the current partners in Hulu, someone ‘close to discussions’ has stated that whomever buys the company would have five years of access to the shows including two years of exclusivity according to a Bloomberg report. Let’s face it, given the problems that we have seen at the company in regards to content and the vocal jabs by CEO Jason Kilar, is it any wonder that buyers might be leery about entering into any negotiations with the parent companies? After all, if they’re willing to turn their backs on their ‘first born,’ what would they do to its potential foster parents.
Reporting from ‘people who weren’t authorized to speak publicly,’ and ‘people familiar with discussions,’ Bloomberg states that several buyers, like Amazon and Microsoft wouldn’t bid without some reassurances.
Duh! Hulu is nothing except a video delivery system if there is no content and both companies already have that so they wouldn’t need Hulu. It’s the rights to the content that they’re after surely.
During the two-year exclusivity the networks could still post to their own websites, but could not sell to other streaming services, a la Netflix, but there’s a loophole for on-demand pay TV.
I suppose that, from a common sense, logic perspective, those anonymous information leaks really didn’t say anything that the world didn’t know except for maybe the length of the content access and exclusivity contracts. Seriously, who would want Hulu if all the content was going to lapse and be pulled from the service anyway. It certainly wouldn’t make it more valuable.
What does make it more valuable is the partners’ enmity toward Netflix, who will be re-negotiating some contracts later this year or next. While citing they would not sell to Netflix because it would lower competition on one hand, they then turn and offer exclusivity rights to whomever owns Hulu in the future. No, that doesn’t limit competition in any way, does it?
What about selling to Amazon who has Prime, Microsoft who has Zune, and Google who has YouTube? Wouldn’t that also cut down on the competition? It seems there’s more to it than they would have us believe. Of course, we all knew that right?
Hulu is set to hit one million subscribers this month and at $7.99 a month that’s about $8M in revenue there. Plus with their heavy ad load (for online services) which shows over one billion ads per month, which at $1 CPM would be another $1M a month, but is probably closer to $10-15 CPM, they could be pulling down some $23M a month by the end of August. That’s roughly $276M in revenue, which is only half of what Kilar stated they might do this year citing growth trends.
While business is generally all about the Benjamins, the Hulu sale is proving content is king and thusly, it’s all about the Patrick Janes, Wilfreds and Gordon Ramsays…who are walking hand-in-hand with the Benjamins.

domain: news


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Crypto exchange Coinbase is adding web browser Brave's Basic Attention Token to its retail trading platform, less than a week after listing it on Coinbase Pro.
The exchange announced Thursday that customers would be able to buy, sell, trade or otherwise transact with the token on coinbase.com, as well as its Android and iOS apps.
Coinbase first said it was supporting the token on its professional trader platform Friday, making BAT the second ERC-20 token to be listed by the company, after 0x. That being said, not all customers can trade the token at press time.
The exchange noted that "BAT will be available for customers in most jurisdictions, but will not initially be available for residents of the state of New York.".
Coinbase Pro customers in the Empire State are similarly unable to trade BAT just yet.
The price of BAT saw an immediate reaction from the market upon official word of its listing on Coinbase, including a 5 percent jump in price in just a few minutes to reach $0.39, its highest price since July 24th. The spike was backed by $15 million of volume in a 15-minute span on the Binance exchange alone.
Profit-taking quickly ensued after the initial boost and the current trading hour is recording a loss of 8 percent from the initial high.
The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies.
CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.
Coinbase Users Can Now Buy and Sell Brave's Basic Attention Token
Published on Nov 8, 2018
by Coindesk | Published on Coinage
Mentioned in this article
How to Put Crypto In Everyone's Pocket in 2019
As blockchain businesses, we can make our consumer tools free, making cryptocurrency more accessible.
Wyoming Introduces a Bill Aiming to Define Virtual Currencies as Money
A bill meant to clarify the classification of cryptocurrencies has been introduced in the U.S. state of Wyoming Jan. 18, according to the official state legislature website.
CoinDesk's Crypto-Economic Data Is Now Accessible on GitHub
For more data and insights, visit the CoinDesk Crypto-Economics Explorer.
Total Value of Bitcoin Sent to Darknet Markets Increased by 70% in 2018: Report
During last year the value of Bitcoin sent to darknet markets increased by 70 percent, according to a Chainalysis report published on Jan. 18.


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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told a group of high school students “that they don’t have a right to health care, food and shelter,” WISN reports.
Said Johnson: “I think it’s probably more of a privilege.”
He added: “Do you consider food a right? Do you consider clothing a right? Do you consider shelter a right? What we have as rights is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Past that point, we have the right to freedom. Past that point is a limited resource that we have to use our opportunities given to us to afford those things.”Save to Favorites


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How to invest in Bitcoin companies?
American Express, Bain Capital, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, MasterCard, the New York Life Insurance Company, the New York Stock Exchange - all of them have poured millions of dollars into Bitcoin firms recently.
Overall, a record-breaking $1 billion so far has been pumped into Bitcoin-related tech startups. Banks are investing in the technology that powers Bitcoin, but not the currency itself.
This technology promises to change the way we trade stocks, send money to each other, get paid at work, and much more.
What powers the Bitcoin network is an incredible system called the blockchain. It's the reason the software can verify transactions all over the world. That's what's attractive to banks and high-tech firms.
It's essentially a perfect record log. That same record log lives on every computer on the Bitcoin network. And it gets updated every few minutes with a new "block" of transactions. The thing is, the next block is built on top of the old one, so you can't just go in and change old data.
It's a effective way to stop fraud.
That's hugely different from today, where records are centralized. Hack into a bank, and it's easy to falsify them. But the blockchain keeps the same record in lots of computers. A fake record would be immediately spotted by every other computer on the network.
There are all sorts of purposes for this kind of record keeping.
DocuSign, a company that specializes in electronic contracts, just unveiled a joint idea with Visa to use blockchain to track car rentals and reduce paperwork.
Next week, Microsoft (, Tech30)will unveil details about its venture into "smart contracts" that use blockchain technology. It's partnering up with Ethereum, a blockchain project that operates outside of Bitcoin but uses the same concept. Microsoft wants to incorporate that into its Azure service, which rents out computer servers.
Meanwhile, this new obsession with blockchain technology has reached a point that companies are even experimenting with creating smaller, "private blockchains" inside their own offices. They hire companies like BlockCypher, a startup out of Redwood City, California.
Among the top of the list is Chain, a company that helps others apply the blockchain to their business. Earlier this year, it raised $30 million from Capital One, Citi Ventures, the Nasdaq stock exchange, Visa and others.
The appetite became most apparent last week at Money2020, the largest financial conference in the world. One in five attendees at the conference thought Bitcoin's blockchain technology will have the biggest impact on financial services in the next three to five years, according to a Capital One survey.
What's driving that investment rally? Stodgy banking and venture capital companies are finally embracing the technology instead of demonizing it as weird and dangerous.
Sure, Bitcoin has anti-establishment roots. It's an all-digital currency. It belongs to no country. It's recognized by no government as "legal tender." It was created anonymously online.


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Expomoto: More than 70 thousand visitors expected in the largest national two-wheel exhibition
The show takes place between May 5 and 8 at Exponor, in Porto. Exhibiting brands finalize details for grand opening.
Preparations for the grand opening of Expomoto 2022 have entered the countdown. The major brands in the sector are finalizing the details of their spaces, where they will present the latest innovations to visitors. More than 70 thousand entries are expected during the four days of the event, which takes place between May 5 and 8 at Exponor, in Porto.
Around 2,500 motorcycles are on display, with 96% of the most important brands in the two-wheel world being represented. This year, the electric component occupies a prominent place among the proposals, making up 20% more of the vehicles on display.
Tickets for the event have been available for sale for several weeks and demand has been increasing day by day. "About 5,000 tickets have been sold through the digital platforms," reports the organization, which believes this first indicator as an omen of the massive adhesion expected in the coming days.
Four years after the last edition, Expomoto returns to the events with an imposing reinforcement of the brands and companies that make up the sector. This is the only national salon in this market segment, which demonstrates its expression and importance.
This year, Expomoto completes 25 editions. A special number for the organization, which throughout the last decades has always directed its bet on novelties and the presence of the brands most appreciated by visitors.
Everything is ready for the grand reopening of Expomoto, which will be on display until next May 8th at Exponor, in Porto.
More information about the tickets can be found at: https://ticketline.sapo.pt/eve...
Design de Exposalão


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Coronavirus Antibody Test Now Available – Direct To Customer
Quest Diagnostics has announced it is now offering a Cover-19 Antibody Test direct to consumers - no doctor visit required.
The COVID-19 Immune Response test is available at GetQuestTest.com.
According to the press release "With QuestDirect, an individual can request the test and purchase it online. Each test request is reviewed and, if appropriate, an order for testing is issued by a licensed physician. Individuals have the opportunity to speak with a licensed physician about their results.
With the QuestDirect service, individuals may gain insight into whether or not they have been exposed to COVID-19 and have developed antibodies. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, although we do not yet know whether the development of antibodies provides protection from re-infection, or how long such protection lasts, COVID-19 antibody testing may indicate whether "the person has been exposed to the virus and developed antibodies against it, which may mean that person has at least some immunity to the coronavirus."
CLICK HERE to read the complete press release.


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Expectations from Union Budget 2020-21
Different industry express their expectations
“The country expects some landmark decisions to be taken by the Government in order to ramp up our economy and catapult it to a stead- fast growth trajectory. The entire nation has a lot of expectations from the upcoming budget that will propel a faster GDP growth and put more money in the hands of consumers, at the same time create a robust ecosystem for easy business and amplify job creation. The government needs to make bold structural reforms to focus on small and medium business which will give an impetus to the macroeconomic growth. Additionally, there needs to be a structured policy to formalize the ‘large informal sector’. We need to create a system which can give the informal sector an access to economic facilities and enable easy and hassle-free accessibility of the MUDRA scheme to modernize their business and accelerate revenue. This will further strengthen our country’s economic position and create several employment avenues.”
- Arvind Mediratta, MD and CEO of METRO Cash and Carry India
“The current government has taken a few measures in the past couple of years focused towards creating enabling business environment. However, in order to improve the GDP and build a healthy economy, quick action is required from the Finance ministry by supporting easy tax structure, stable government policies, infrastructure facilities, skilled workforce, Research & Development investment, supply-chain upgradation and setting up of innovation facilities. Rationalising GST, reducing DDT, optimising CSR scope to Include all SDG’s and focused policy initiatives (skill development, credit availability and employment opportunity) across key sector will help getting growth momentum and help India realize dream of USD 5 trillion economy as well as ensuring India is at the centre of Industry 4.0.
There is a need to address the issue of inverted tax structure which is impacting the domestic industry adversely since the manufacturers pay higher price for raw material and are unable to get the same benefit when it comes to finished goods.”
-Mr. Avinash Bagdi, Director and Head of Finance, Covestro (India) Private Limited
“India becoming a 5 trillion economy by 2025 depends on policy decision that government takes now. While digitalisation will remain cornerstone of strategy, Government should put equal emphasis on building blocks i.e. Manufacturing and R&D, making Indian manufacturing as most favoured destination. As environment sustainability is the key to the future, government should provide incentive on the promotion of sustainable solutions that will help in reducing India’s carbon footprint and promote circular economy. The Union budget 2020 needs to be focused on forming policies that support the businesses working towards adoption of green practices. Promoting responsible use of plastics and efforts towards reducing carbon emission should be of prime importance and any budgetary intervention in this regard will be a positive step.
Also, to further accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicle, the government should eliminate the customs duty of 5 per cent from Lithium-ion cells which will help to promote local manufacturing of the batteries in the country. Besides this, the government needs to focus on incentivizing companies building EV ecosystems like installing charging stations, battery swapping stations and building robust EV Infrastructure for long term sustainability and reduction in cost.”
- Mr. Anand Srinivasan, Managing Director, Covestro (India) Private Limited
"The gems and jewellery industry is one of the most evolving and thriving industries in India and It is one of the major contributors towards the economy of India. This year has not been a good one for the industry with many losing their jobs due to the challenging times and insecurity prevailing in the sector. As a result the industry has not been able to utilise the full potential of technology and e-commerce. We believe if the industry receives adequate support from the government in the upcoming budget with policies that are business friendly for the sector, sentiments will change for the belter. With online shopping increasing by the day the government should come out with suitable policies in the e-commerce sector which would benefit the consumers and in turn the jewellery industry. With effective schemes in place the year 2020 could prove to be a turning point for the Gems and Jewellery industry."
- Mr. Shailen Mehta, Founder and MD eJOHRI
"The gems & jewellery industry has been largely neglected in the last few budgets. As with every sector, development is extremely important in the diamond industry. This industry has still not seen Vikas (development) in the way it is supposed to. In fact, it is the least digitalised sector and the upcoming budget should look into this.
Instead of taking the focus away from entrepreneurs, the industry should be attracting fresh talent and rewarding the deserving ones. People trying to bring about innovation and positive change need to be recognised and encouraged.
Despite being a traditional business in India, where more than 90 per cent of the world's diamond cutting and polishing takes place, the diamond industry has still not received enough attention from the government. We hope that the budget has more to offer to this industry. We need more focus on enhancing customer experience and fulfilment, improving the standards and bringing transparency by taking effective steps to organise this industry."
-Mr Jignesh Mehta, Founder & Managing Director, Divine Solitaires


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Apple is working on bringing major new features to its smartwatch later this year, reports Bloomberg. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 will reportedly feature a new display technology along with some updates to its ultra-wideband features. It will also feature a newer processor coupled with next generation wireless hardware.
Bloomberg has also received information about the Apple Watch set to release next year. Apple is reportedly planning to add a temperature sensor and blood-sugar sensor in the future models of the Apple Watch. The temperature sensor will be ready to be used in the 2022 version of the Apple Watch, however, it’s unclear whether the blood-sugar sensor will be ready for commercial launch by next year.
This year, Apple will be bringing a new laminated display which will reduce the gap between the display and the cover. Also, the borders around the display are expected to be slightly thinner compared to the current generation and previous versions of the Apple Watch. Bloomberg also adds that the Apple Watch Series 7 could be slightly thicker as well but it will not be noticeable outright.
At its annual developers conference WWDC, Apple unveiled the next version of the operating system that powers the Apple Watch. The new features of watchOS 8 include being able to unlock hotel room doors. Apple promises that all contact-free ways of accessing places will be safe, secure, and seamless.
“Apple Watch is the most loved watch in the world, keeping users healthy, active, and connected,” said Apple’s vice president of Technology Kevin Lynch. “With watchOS 8, we’re bringing more convenient access to places users live, work, and visit with significant updates to Home and Wallet, expanding support for both physical and mental well-being, and enabling richer personal connections with the new Portraits face and updates to Messages.”


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Intel recently launched its 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs. The Intel Core i5-12600K, Core i7-12700K, and Core i9-12900K all earned rave reviews. They're the talk of the tech world due to their performance and value. Many claim that these processors push Intel ahead of rival AMD or that they at least put them neck and neck. We'd like to know if you agree.
With the launch of Ryzen in 2017, AMD pulled ahead of Intel in many ways. From launch, Red Team's processors delivered excellent performance for their price, causing many to convert to AMD hardware. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with TSMC, Ryzen processors could utilize the 7nm process. In contrast, Intel was stuck on the 14nm process for years. Intel's 12th Gen chips are built on the 10nm process known as Intel 7, helping Intel close the gap with its rival.
Though the innards of the aforementioned subject are technologically complex, the point is that Intel's move paid off on a critical level. Reviews from several sites gave Intel's new CPUs high scores.
Apple's new M1 chips and Intel's 12th Gen processors are both in the news, but they don't exactly compete directly. Intel has only shown off its new desktop CPUs at this point, while Apple's new CPUs are laptop processors. There are elements that people can compare about the chips, but that wouldn't exactly be apples to apples. It'd be more Apple to Intel. Not to mention, Apple's ecosystem adds an additional dimension to any processor comparison that, in many cases, preemptively negates it.
When experts spoke with Windows Central News Editor Robert Carnevale, they echoed similar sentiments.
"It's unclear if 12th Gen will affect the adoption Apple M1 given the Apple ecosystem and existing user preferences for Apple products — but 12th Gen/Evo/Win11 may keep existing Windows users in the Windows camp and limit Apple's market share growth," said Alan Priestley, VP of Gartner Research. "I do not see Apple market share declining due to 12th Gen."
With AMD doing so well over the past few years and Apple's M1 chips being so impressive, some were saying that Intel was doomed. We'd like to know if you think Intel is back on top, in tight competition, or still behind other tech giants when it comes to CPUs.
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Let's wait for alder lake mobile versions to answer that question.
Alder lake got various chips for mobile ranging from 5w to 55w. Covering various category of devices like small tablets, ultra thins, mainstream tablets/laptops etc. performance gains will be there but what remains to seen is efficiency of the chips. Small atom cores are highly unlikely to be as efficient as arm small cores but let's hope for the best. It may come close to apple m1 in performance but highly unlikely to match it's performance per watt. If alder lake 5-7w & 9-15w deliver better performance than Qualcomm at respectable battery life then it would make windows on arm temporary irrelevant until Qualcomm comes up with next gen chips under nuvia. Just hope that intel would not screw the pricing of 5w & 9w chips so that midrange products like surface go would not have to compromise performance by using outdated chips to keep cost down.
I totally agree 12th gen mobile will show if Intel can compete. Performance with no power or thermal limit is great but it doesn't mean much until we see a mobile version where there are thermal and power limits that need to be met. If they do something big here than yes Intel is back!
It will also be very interesting to compare to what Apple delivers for their high end desktop chips next year. Rumors indicate they will be beasts.
The majority of Apple users will never switch, just as I would never use an Apple product... It doesn't matter to me how good Apple chips get I would never buy into their walled garden approach... Glad to see Intel and AMD doing well, this kind of competition makes for compelling Windows based products...
Exactly. It's not a competition because they're separate dimensions. They could have the best chip in the universe, and I still wouldn't get an Apple computer.
There is a huge market in the middle of the fanboys.
just because a moke performs well, not everyone is going to get one.
How exactly is macOS a walled garden?
Did Intel go somewhere?
Down to the market to fetch some milk, for which Apple charged it $32 per gallon.
They may hold the lead briefly, but they are no longer dealing with a Bulldozer-era AMD.
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Melody Maker has revealed its promised new format as a full-colour
A4 magazine - a move aimed at arresting declining circulation and
attracting new advertising categories.
It will also further differentiate the title from its IPC stablemate
NME, following efforts to reposition Melody Maker to attract a younger
’Melody Maker should be the next step after Top of the Pops and Smash
Hits but the format was wrong and it did not reflect the editorial
personality,’ explained publishing director Robert Tame.
’Young people have been weaned on colourful, glossy magazines and view a
cold-set newsprint product as a trade down,’ he added.
Advertisers - who were previously limited to a few colour slots - are
now to be offered colour on every page.
The magazine hopes to attract more female readers and is targeting youth
brands such as fashion, CDs, ’designer’ beer and mobile telephones. ’We
will also have better visibility on the newsagents’ shelves with -
hopefully - more trial purchase,’ said Tame.
The new format will launch on 30 October with a covermounted CD, Radio 1
Sound City, and a 5p price increase to pounds 1. The print run is being
increased to 80,000. The 80-page first issue will carry 27 pages of ads,
including the new accounts, HP Sauce, Nescafe and Peoplesound.com.
Melody Maker had an ABC of 34,068 in January-June, with a year-on-year
decline of 15 per cent. Meanwhile NME’s ABC declined by 2 per cent to
90,763 over the same period.
One million copies of a 24-page sampler of the new format are to be
distributed through Virgin, HMV and WH Smith, independent newsagents,
sixth form colleges and universities, also inserted in the other IPC
titles NME, 19 and Loaded.
The second issue, out on 6 November, will also have a covermounted CD,
compiling the best from Radio 1’s Evening Session with Steve Lamacq. The
next two issues will carry competitions, with prizes of pounds
5,000-worth of free CDs and 12 one-year passes to the top 12 indie
’It’s a high-profile relaunch which should guarantee maximum impact for
us,’ said Tame.


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Rihanna has fuelled speculation that she’s poised to launch a lingerie line, after it emerged that she has signed a deal with TechStyle.
WWD reports that the star has been working with fashion group TechStyle — which counts Fabletics and Shoedazzle among its brands — for a year and a half on the lingerie launch. Samples are also said to have been produced, although a firm launch date has not been revealed.
Both Fabletics and Shoedazzle are linked to celebrities — the former with Kate Hudson and the latter with Kim Kardashian — so a pairing with Rihanna is not improbable.
A lingerie launch will only add to Rihanna’s growing retail empire. Last September, she launched her make-up label Fenty Beauty, which has proved by critically and commercially successful. She also has her fashion line, Fenty Puma, which has previously shown during Paris Fashion Week and has been in operation since 2016.
From: ELLE UK


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German media have reported that bookstores nationwide have seen a 300% increase in sales of the book in recent months.
The book: Das Kapital, by Karl Marx.
Quite an achievement considering that at the same time:
* E-book sales rose 73% to $5.2 million.
* Adult mass market rose 6.3% to $65.3 million.
* Children's/YA hardcover rose 0.8% to $86.4 million.
* Professional and scholarly sales slipped 4.4% to $46.3 million.
* Audiobook sales dropped 9.1% to $18.4 million.
* University press paperbacks fell 13.9% to $4.2 million
* Children's/YA paperback fell 14.8% to $43.8 million.
* University press hardcovers dropped 20.4% to $6 million.
* Adult paperback dropped 23% to $95 million.
* Adult hardcover fell 25% to $246.2 million.
* Religious books fell 25.6% to $57.1 million.
Publisher of Das Kapital attributes the huge rise in the book's popularity to:
"The financial crisis brought us a huge bump."
He suggested that it was younger Germans who were buying the book unhappy with the direction their elders had led the country.
"There's a younger generation of academics tackling hard questions and looking to Marx for answers," Mr Schuetrumpf said.


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Originally introduced as a key feature of Apple’s iPad Pro, the Smart Connector was once thought to be solely for connecting 3rd party peripherals (such as keyboards) to the iPad’s Smart Connector port — from which, of course, power could be drawn and data could be transferred without wires.
However, as we begin to see Apple’s Smart Connector become integrated into other devices — such as the company’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro, it’s becoming all the clearer that Apple has much bigger plans for its Smart Connector. Heck, recent rumors even indicate that the company’s Smart Connector might be making its debut on the iPhone 7 this fall.
Well, believe it or not, since its debut last fall, several 3rd party accessory makers have shown us that they’re capable of creating other accessories that can draw upon Apple’s Smart Connector for power and data. One of these new accessories, in particular, which was unveiled just this morning, is Logitech’s ‘Logi Base’. In essence, the Logi Base is a Smart Connector-based wireless charging platform for Apple’s iPad Pro. This means that Logi Base could provide power to Apple’s behemoth iPad wirelessly, as opposed to via a traditional Lightning/USB connection.
Ironically enough, when Logitech took the wraps off its new accessory this morning, the company openly touted how Apple’s Smart Connector port has always been an open platform — for which accessories can be made that utilize low-power data transfer, and even feed power to or from these accessories.
Reverting to the issue of the iPhone 7 Smart Connector, however, one is perhaps left to wonder why? What’s the purpose?
Well, it’s very possible that Apple has some bigger plans for the iPhone’s Smart Connector. Given the iPhone’s size and the fact that Apple wants to make it impossibly thin, it’s not too unreasonable to assume that a Smart Connector-enabled iPhone could easily pair up with wireless charging docks, wireless headphones, maybe even camera accessories.
There are currently multiple rumors circulating, for instance, about how Apple will be axing the standard 3.5mm on its forthcoming iPhone handset. The rumors allege that Apple will be shaving a full millimeter off the thickness of the iPhone 7 — this in relation to the current iPhone 6s’ 7.1mm thickness.
Nevertheless, it’s speculated that Apple’s implementation of the Smart Connector on iPhone would open up a treasure trove of opportunity for 3rd party accessory manufacturers. For instance, an external battery charging case — such as those from the likes of Mophie — could provide for quick and easy charging without the extra bulk. Alternatively, Apple could simply create its own wireless charging dock, or wireless headphone adapter? Maybe a camera rig with larger flash and built-in optical zoom? I suppose the possibilities are endless, right?
It might not make complete sense to include a Smart Connector at this point in time, but if anything, Apple has shown us that it always has a good justification for doing what it does.
Learn More: Top 5 Things the iPhone 7 Needs
What do you think about the capabilities of Apple’s Smart Connector? Let us know in the comments!
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]


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South Korea fines Google, Meta over privacy violations
Sep 14, 2022, 12:53 AM | Updated: 9:22 pm
(Shin Hyun-woo/Yonhap via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s privacy watchdog has fined Google and Meta a combined 100 billion won ($72 million) for tracking consumers’ online behavior without their consent and using their data for targeted advertisements.
South Korea’s Personal Information and Protection Commission said it fined Google 69.2 billion won ($50 million) and Meta 30.8 billion won ($22 million) after a meeting where officials agreed that the companies’ business practices might cause “serious” privacy infringements.
The fines were the biggest ever penalties imposed by South Korea for privacy law violations, the commission said in a press release.
Both companies refuted the commission’s findings and Meta indicated it could challenge its fine in court. The fines can be appealed through administrative lawsuits, which must be filed within 90 days after the companies are formally notified of the commission’s decision.
According to the commission, Google and Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, didn’t clearly inform users or obtain their consent as they collected information about their online activities when they used other websites or services outside their own platforms. Such data was used to analyze their interests and create individually customized advertisements, the commission said.
The commission ordered the companies to provide an “easy and clear” process of consent giving people more control over whether to share information about what they do online.
“Google did not clearly inform consumers that it would collect and use their behavioral information about their use of other companies’ (services) when they signed up,” the commission said.
“Meta did not present the content of consent in way that could be easily seen by consumers when they signed up, and just included the content in their full data policy statement. It did not specifically inform consumers of the legally required notifications and did not obtain their consent.”
The commission said the companies’ practices seriously threatened privacy rights as more than 82% of South Koreans using Google and more than 98% using Meta have let the companies track their online activities.
Google, a search and email giant that also operates the YouTube video platform, disagreed with the commission’s findings. It said in a statement that it has always demonstrated a commitment to “making ongoing updates that give users control and transparency.” The company said it will review the commission’s findings once it receives the fully written decision.
Meta said it will consider “all options,” including seeking a court ruling.
“We are confident that we work with our clients in a legally compliant way that meets the processes required by local regulations,” Meta said in an emailed statement.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Emerging FinTech stars had their chance to shine with NatWest at Accenture’s FinTech Innovation Lab event last week.
‘Understanding our brands’ is a series of articles providing an overview of each of our brands. In this piece we look at Lombard, the largest provider of asset finance in the UK.
Lending data published today shows that RBS is a major supporter of the British economy.
NatWest research reveals 59 percent of female entrepreneurs in London have been branded with stereotypical gender labels when running their business.
The Start Up Loans Company will join a handful of leading alternative finance firms in an exclusive partnership with a NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland programme designed to help businesses access alternative sources of finance.


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Tax rates on marijuana grown in California will rise in 2022, even though the Golden State’s black market is still the dominant retail sector.
Experts believe that around three quarters (75%) of all California marijuana sales are made by unlicensed sellers and not legal dispensaries. California voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana cultivation in 2016. However, the implementation has been plagued by high taxes and harsh regulations.
One prime example is the New Year’s Day tax hike. California has a weight-based tax on marijuana cultivation. According to state legislators, the 2017 cultivation tax rate was tied with inflation in tax regulations. The cultivation tax rate will automatically increase if inflation increases.
Inflation increased in 2021 and it was not by a small degree. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that national consumer prices rose 6.8% in the period November 2020-2021. California’s new law will see cultivation taxes rise by 4.5 percent. Growers of cannabis plants will see their cultivation taxes rise from $1.35 per ounce to 1.41 per ounce. The cultivation tax is not included. There’s also a 15% excise tax and local sales taxes in the areas that permit dispensaries. A person attempting to legally buy marijuana in California can expect the price to balloon between 35–50 percent through tax add-ons, depending on the city.
This will obviously make it more difficult for legal sellers to compete on the black market. The fact that the tax rate has risen is absurd. It should not be considered a sign to tie any taxes to inflation.
The legal growers are rebelling and some have reportedly suggested withholding taxes from the state and asking for relief. This could be a good opportunity for them, considering the effort that local and state law enforcement agencies have put in to trying to end illegal marijuana grow operations. Rob Bonta, the Attorney General of Texas, boasted about an extensive multi-agency operation which resulted in the destruction of over 1.2 million marijuana plants. Bonta might also be interested in going after illegal growers protesting absurd state tax rates.
Bonta, before becoming California’s attorney-general was previously a Democratic assemblyman representing Alameda. He actually agreed back then with the marijuana vendors about how high California’s taxes were. He introduced legislation in 2019 that would have decreased the state’s excise and suspended the cultivation tax, until 2022. It did not make it to the committee stage. Bonta can now say that illegal growers cheat the state out millions in taxes dollars, but he is aware (or used to be able to see) that California’s tax rates are really what are at fault.
These marijuana regulations and taxes are so bad! These taxes and regulations are too high to be harmful. Los Angeles Times editorial board to thoroughly grasp—at least in this case—that oppressive government controls are what cause black markets. This Sunday’s editorial column by the board sounds at most partially similar to something that we would run at ReasonWe’d remove the demand for “ramping down enforcement”, but we’d probably also edit out the handwringing about the environmental impacts of illegal grow operations. This seems like a point that progressives and libertarians can use to their advantage. These areGiant drug busts happen somehow DiverseFrom ones that were launched over the last four decades by drug-war advocates):
California can escape this cannabis chaos by flipping the incentives. It’s just too lucrative to continue in the black marketplace and is far more expensive to move to the legal market. By easing licensing procedures or reducing taxes temporarily, and ramping up enforcement and penalties for illegal operators, the state has a better chance of coaxing fence-sitting operators to get licensed.…
Many cities and counties continue to ban marijuana businesses. Proposition 64 guarantees that right, which is why some advocates are floating the idea of another ballot measure to eliminate cities and counties’ veto power over marijuana businesses. It is unacceptable for local officials to refuse to recognise a legally-established industry. This only encourages the black market. Some areas are starting to move. Los Angeles County is one example. It has been considering reopening the ban on marijuana shops in unincorporated areas.
The members of my group would be most welcome to join me. Times‘ editorial board to go back and look at how they’ve written about other taxes, like those on cigarettes and those proposed for soda. They understand that marijuana is a product of a dark market and too many regulations are a problem. However, with soda and cigarettes taxes they are 100% certain that cities and states should increase them. They’re sure it will only lead to the thing that they want—fewer smokers and obese people—and not other unforeseen and negative consequences.
However, we are certain that this is not the case. New York City’s cigarette taxes are some of highest in the United States. There is also a huge black market in cigarettes that accounts for half of all sales. New York City considers cigarettes the same as marijuana. While some might have quit because of the high prices, there was also a marketplace for illegal bootlegging.
The fact that the marijuana crisis may have caused some to question their state’s excessive tax burdens and other regulatory burdens, and any downstream effects is great. These aren’t unique to marijuana. Because legal marijuana is still relatively new, it’s even more obvious.


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In an crusade to address the growing incidence of ATM frauds as well as boost digital transactions, India’s largest lender State Bank of Republic of Republic of India (SBI) today halved the daily ATM cash withdrawal bound to Rs. 20,000 from Rs. 40,000. The revised ATM withdrawal bound volition live on effective from 31st Oct 2018.
“In thought of the increase inwards the number of complaints received yesteryear banks only about fraudulent transactions at ATMs as well as to encourage digital as well as cashless transactions, it has been decided to decrease the cash withdrawal limits of debit cards issued or beingness issued on ‘Classic’ as well as ‘Maestro’ platforms,” the banking concern stated inwards an official announcement.
This restriction is applicable for solely the Classic Debit Card
holders. Whereas SBI Platinum International Debit Card
allows ATM withdrawals of upwards to Rs i lakh daily
piece the SBI Gold debit carte du jour
allows Rs 50,000
But these cards are issued to solely those customers, who are maintaining a higher minimum residual inwards their banking concern accounts.


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The popular Bitcoin wallet app Blockchain has been removed from the iOS App Store by Apple. Blockchain was the last Bitcoin app left that allowed users to send and receive bitcoins from the iOS mobile devices. Blockchain has been downloaded over 120,000 times and has been in the app store for 2 years.
U.K.-based Blockchain wrote Thursday on its website that Apple told it the application, which is a "wallet" that can be used to store and send bitcoins, was removed due to an "unresolved issue." Blockchain said it received no prior warning of a problem.
If you are one of the lucky folks who have already downloaded the app you can continue using it but don’t expect any updates. Blockchain isn’t alone as Apple has already removed BitPak, Gliph, and Coinbase as well. Some say it is because the currency is considered “illegal” in some
ignorant countries and some think it is because Apple may be working on their own mobile payment application.


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“As a physician it’s incredibly rewarding to use nutrition as the primary therapy.”
Dr. Joel Fuhrman MD, board certified family physician, New York Times best-selling author, and widely published nutritional researcher, presented a health diet plan that may be the answer to America’s diabetes and heart disease epidemic. On a PBS Special “Three Steps To Incredible Health”, which recently aired on WEDU Tampa Bay, Florida, Dr. Fuhrman says heart disease and diabetes are easy to prevent and reverse without drugs and surgery. Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D of The Dr. Oz Show says of Dr Fuhrman’s plan “A medical breakthrough. If you give this diet your complete commitment, there is no question in my mind that it will work for you.”
In this first step, Know the Power of Micronutrients, Dr. Fuhrman explains what micronutrients are and why they have the power to reverse disease.
Dr. Furhman explained that in 1930 scientists discovered about 14 vitamins and 16 minerals. They thought they had an easy fix for good health and put these discoveries in processed foods and supplements. But despite the billion-dollar growth in the vitamin industry, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune diseases continued to climb.
About 20 years ago scientists recognized that vitamins and minerals were not the major nutrient load in food. The major source of nutrient loads in food are phytochemicals, a variety of compounds found in fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, and other plants. There may be hundreds or even thousands of them, some yet to be discovered and researched. Some of the most common of these are well documented for their cancer and other disease fighting antioxidants; vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, beta carotene, bioflavonoids and lignans.
So as Dr. Fuhrman says, green vegetables don’t have twice as much nutrients as a piece of chicken but maybe a hundred times more nutrients. A strawberry may have 700 nutrients in it, not just 30 vitamins and minerals.
These are Micronutrients, which Dr. Fuhrman says do not contain calories, that Americans do not eat enough of, that our need of these nutrients for good health is not optional! Micronutrients are the secret to Incredible Health. Dr. Fuhrman says micronutrients will transform your health and your life. Even in your 70′s and 80′s and 90′s a major transformation can occur.
Macronutrients, on the otherhand means big, as Dr. Fuhrman explains. These are the nutrients that contain calories, fats, carbohydrates, proteins. These are the things Dr. Fuhrman says Americans eat too much of. Chicken may contain protein calories and fat but will have very little micronutrients which contain the cancer/disease fighting antioxidants.
Dr. Fuhrman says epidemiological studies have been done around the world and found that populations where they tend to eat simple natural diets, where they grow a lot of their own food, don’t have heart disease.
But almost 95% of Americans have heart disease by the time they are 45 in some degree. Autopsies have been done on fortyish Americans who have died from car accidents and they have been found to have atherosclerosis.
How do you know if you are getting enough micronutrients?
One way is to make sure you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
You may want to use a free online nutrient calculator such as The RightTrak.com. The RightTrak.com will calculate your Recommended Daily Allowances(RDA) for over 30 nutrients while it is calculating your BMI. You can select a variety of foods and The RightTrak will add up the nutrient values of your selected foods such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, beta carotene…and more. The RightTrak will turn Green if those allowances are met or Red if those allowances are not met.
Spend some time on The RightTrak.com and do several food searches. You will quickly learn and understand what favorite foods are giving you the most “Nutrient Bang for Your Buck!
Dr. Fuhrman offered an Incredible Health Combo Package which included some 6 DVDs of the program and additional information that was not aired, Incredible Health books, recipes and meal plans and memberships to Dr. Fuhrman’s health and wellness website as a donation gift exclusive to the viewers of this PBS Special. The package items were offered in various levels of donations. Please contact your local PBS Station, WEDU or Dr. Fuhrmans’s website to see how to obtain these products and services.
No related posts.


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Valley airstrip in Mumbai was once again the host for drag-race enthusiasts.
The 2015 Valley Run was held on January 10 and 11, 2015 with participants
coming from across India, astride machines with various cubic capacities in an
attempt to set the best quarter-mile time. Over 7,000 spectators congregated
for the two-day event at Aamby Valley City.
The event saw
many participants rolling in with their modified motorcycles and cars which
were stripped down to the bare mechanical essentials in an interest to reduce
weight. The Valley Run is one of India’s biggest drag racing events which takes
place on a secluded airstrip. The Valley Run 2015 was organised by Elite
Octane. The event attracted over 380 competitors, who were further divided into
different classes according to engine size, make and modifications of their
vehicles. Participants were entitled to one practice run in order to get their
launch right before their final run.
Run 2015 is the third edition of the event and saw cars and bikes of various
designs and engine classes blitz down the 402-meter drag strip to achieve the
fastest time. The record holder for last year’s Valley Run was a tuned Kawasaki
ZX-14R which set the record time of 9.843 seconds.
The highlight of this year's Valley
Run was a Nissan GT-R. In last
year’s edition the GT-R clocked the fastest time of 11.268 seconds. Some of the
other cars and bikes present at the event were Lamborghini, Aston Martin,
Harley Davidson, Ferrari, Porsche, KTM and an Audi R8. The Elite Octane
organised Valley Run has been approved by Federation of Motor Sports Club in
India (FMSCI). FMSCI is the only national motor sport federation recognized by
the Government of India for the promotion and control of motor sport in India.
In order to accurately time contenders the organisers
imported Professional Race America Wifi timing equipment (the only one in the
country). The Director of Elite Octane, Rongom Mukherjee said that the Valley
Run had stepped even further in terms of participation & partnership. In
terms of partners, the Valley Run 2015 also had International partners
supporting the event such as the film “Furious 7" from the Fast &
Reise Moto, a division of Mahansaria Group, announced the launch of their premium two-wheeler tyre brand ‘Reise’ in India.
In the future, Continental will offer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) solutions based on the “CV3”artificial intelligence (AI) system-on-chip (SoC) family from semiconductor company Ambarell...
Post a successful foray into the auto tech segment with the launch of the Smart Dashcam, Qubo, Hero Electronix’s consumer technology brand is expanding the portfolio with their latest Dashcam Pro 4K.


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5th February 2018
It may be like no other store in terms of consumer interaction, but a traditional look and design form part of Amazon Go’s compelling offering. By Ben Sillitoe
Amazon Go was unveiled in Seattle last month, nearly one year behind schedule but still with the same promise to fundamentally change the store shopping experience and remove the need for consumers to queue.
A convenience store with a difference, Amazon’s first own-branded bricks-and-mortar grocery offering sells a variety of food and drink products, and ready-to-go meals prepared by chefs in the store or supplied by local businesses.
To enter and purchase from the store, visitors need an Amazon account, the Amazon Go app, and a recent-generation iPhone or Android handset. The app is needed to record entry, but shoppers can then browse and choose products as they like before leaving without visiting a checkout – they simply exit through railway station-style gate lanes.
Amazon can monitor who purchases what based on an array of cameras and sensors that links to people’s mobile apps, and it charges the shopper on exit before sending them a digital receipt.
Juxtapositions and ironies
The irony was not lost on many industry analysts and initial customers that, on the day Amazon Go opened, there was a queue of people lined up outside to enter a store that was created to prevent people from waiting. But that is not the point here.
Retail futurist and founder of the Retail Prophet consultancy, Doug Stephens, says of Amazon Go’s potential impact: “Queues are a centuries-old convention that the industry has turned a blind eye to.
“Clearly, we’ve hit a watershed moment where the entire idea of lining up to pay seems suddenly archaic.”
One noteworthy juxtaposition for such an innovative-thinking tech company comes in relation to its store design. Whereas the likes of Zara’s new temporary, tech-heavy click & collect store in London, and 7Eleven’s unstaffed X store in Taiwan offer a futuristic, computer screen shininess, Amazon Go looks like many shops already in the market.
Whether by accident or strategy, it is a positive move according to consumer psychologist and founder of the Style Psychology consultancy, Kate Nightingale.
She says: “It’s all-singing, all-dancing technology, yet it is also quite rustic and basic, and warm and friendly with its wooden and charcoal element. There is lots of great signage and categorisation – it’s welcoming and old fashioned, even though its fully tech-enabled.
“Maybe they were trying to make people feel more comfortable and give the impression they were entering a standard store, even though they can just walk out. This approach arguably avoids visitors feeling alienated.”
Visual merchandising 2.0
Critics of Amazon Go cite the lack of checkout operators it requires as further evidence of machines taking the jobs of people, but staff are on hand at the Seattle site to aid shoppers and arrange merchandise. Amazon Go is also actively recruiting for a range of roles, including in-house chefs and shop floor staff.
If more stores like Amazon Go open over time, Stephens predicts it will add a new dimension to the role of retail merchandiser.
“Traditionally, visual merchandising has been human centred; that is to say we’ve merchandised to appeal to people,” he explains.
“Amazon Go is a harbinger of the fact that in the future we’ll need to also merchandise to accommodate machines. Technology-centric considerations will also have to be factored in. Merchandisers will not only have to develop plans and category formats that are visually appealing and logically contiguous but will also have to consider the needs and constraints of technologies like computer vision and RFID as well.”
Research by the British Retail Consortium and others, as well as the raft of store closures and job cuts announced by some of the largest UK retailers in recent weeks, all indicate that new retail will require fewer employees. Morrisons, B&Q and Marks & Spencer are among the latest big names to cut management role of various levels.
But in one store, Amazon Go shows the retail workforce is changing by providing both new employment opportunities as well as limiting the need for some traditional shop roles.
How will the Amazon store influence spread?
At the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York in January, there were a range of technology companies – including Cisco and IBM – exhibiting Amazon-esque solutions that enable speedier shopping.
Petrol forecourt retailer Shell is the first to put the new IBM self-checkout solution to use in the UK, using RFID sensors – not scanners – to instantly calculate the total cost of an order. Payment is then completed via Bluetooth-enabled mobile apps such as Apple Pay.
Stephens suggests the Amazon Go concept has made the wider retail industry sit up and think about how they position their stores. “I think just about every retailer, regardless of category, has felt this shot across the bow,” he explains.
“I believe retailers across categories will be scrambling to understand how such technology could fit into their retail environments. The catch is that it’s entirely possible that Amazon’s technological approach, which was patented in 2015, could have a 20-year lock on this specific method of cashierless checkout. And 20 years in today’s retail environment is an epoch.”
Nightingale expects that some senior executives will race to try and deliver Amazon-esque stores as a ‘me-too’ policy, but she believes true value for other retailers will come in realising Amazon’s success is due to its customer experience (CX) approach.
“Because Amazon’s brand is only about delivering what customers need quickly and conveniently, Amazon Go makes sense; but if it was John Lewis, for example, the concept wouldn’t work,” she explains, adding that it ignores hedonic aspects of shopping.
Amazon Go’s 167 sq m (1,800 sq ft) of retail space, which is open from 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, has been built to take away pain points from the typical shopping experience such as queuing and in-store delays. For Nightingale, that makes the company more human than many other retailers which prioritise pushing product over CX.
Keeping its cards close to its chest regarding further roll-outs, Amazon says it is focused on this single store for now, but it clearly has options. Could it introduce the Go format to its newly-acquired Whole Foods store network? Or, in a similar manner to its Amazon Web Services, might it sell the ‘Just Walk Out’ platform to third-party retailers looking to replicate the model in their own stores?
Stewart Samuel, programme director for grocery intelligence group IGD Canada, visited Amazon Go during its first week and says “there are likely to be further test stores before any decision is made on a wider roll-out”.
“The amount of technology, and its associated cost, required in each store, is likely to be a challenge, particularly given the relatively low basket spend within a convenience store,” he notes on IGD’s Retail Analysis website.
“However, as a marketing tool, and helping to raise brand awareness, this store has probably already provided a return on the investment.”
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Valley Processing, a juice supplier, was recently hit with a lawsuit over claims it sold juice to lunch programs that contained unsafe levels of arsenic and patulin.
Valley Processing of Sunnyside, Washington, was recently named in a lawsuit over claims it violated “food safety standards and sold juice products that were unfit for human consumption.” The suit was filed back on November 6 in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Washington. Unfortunately, the juice products were sold nationwide to companies and consumers alike. In fact, “apple juice originally processed at the Sunnyside facility eventually ended up in the hands of children across the country as part of a federal school lunch program — about three million servings every year,” according to the suit.
To make matters worse, during inspections, FDA inspectors “reported seeing dead rodents inside the facility, moldy fruit stored outside for months and juice products with high levels of toxins, including inorganic arsenic and patulin,” according to the allegations. It further states:
“Defendants have an extensive history of processing juice under grossly unsanitary conditions…Although Defendants claimed to be interested in making necessary changes, compliance with the law has not been a priority.”
According to the lawsuit, the FDA conducted annual routine inspections of the facility between 2016 and 2019. During those inspections, the agency found at least “14 violations of food safety standards at Valley Processing facilities.” It states:
“Defendants repeatedly promised, both orally and in numerous letters to FDA, to bring their facility into compliance with regulatory requirements…The most recent FDA inspection showed that Defendants kept none of these promises.”
The suit argues the company did not comply with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations for juice — HACCP — and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for food, known as CGMP.” Additionally, during the routine inspection in 2016, FDA inspectors detected high levels of arsenic. One sample of apple juice had “levels of inorganic arsenic at 88.1 parts per billion — nearly nine times the acceptable amount set by the FDA, which is 10 ppb.”
How dangerous is inorganic arsenic, though? Well, the federal agency said, “inorganic arsenic is a toxic substance and prolonged exposure to high levels of inorganic arsenic is associated with cancer, skin lesions, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity, and diabetes in humans.” At the moment, it is not known whether the contaminated apple juice was provided to schoolchildren.
In addition to arsenic, FDA inspectors also found elevated levels of patulin, “a mycotoxin produced by certain species of molds that grow on apples, pears, and other foods.” Exposure to large amounts of patulin can result in numerous health hazards, including vomiting, nausea, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
To make matters worse, inspectors also observed unsanitary conditions, such as bird feathers, animal droppings, “and insect fragments on top of barrels holding juice concentrate,” according to the lawsuit. During inspections in 2016, 2017, and 2018, FDA inspectors “observed numerous live and dead animals, including mice, rats, squirrels, and birds, throughout various buildings used for both storage and manufacturing.”
As part of the lawsuit, the government is asking for a “permanent injunction preventing Valley Processing from reopening and ordered any leftover juice products to be destroyed.” Additionally, the company must repay the costs of the FDA investigation.


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Intellectual-property chip firm
swung to a profit in the second quarter, besting analysts' expectations.
The San Jose, Calif., company posted sales of $8.5 million in the three months ended June 30, up slightly from the $8.4 million at this time last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting $8 million in sales.
Ceva earned $430,000, or 2 cents a share, in net income during the quarter, compared with a loss of $217,000, or a penny a share, in the year-ago period.
Excluding stock compensation expenses, Ceva earned 5 cents a share, ahead of the 3-cent EPS expected by analysts.
Ceva said it signed 8 new licensing agreements during the quarter, including one with a major Japanese maker of branded consumer electronics, which will use the company's technology in high-end digital televisions.
Ceva is also believed have a role in
iPhone, through chipmaker
, a Ceva licensee which provides the baseband chip in the new cell phone, according to various teardowns of the iPhone.
In a conference call Tuesday, Ceva CEO Gideon Wertheizer said he couldn't confirm whether Ceva's technology was being used in the iPhone, but said that if that were the case, the company would begin to see royalty revenue from the iPhone in the third quarter.
Ceva projected that sales in the third quarter will range between $8.2 million and $9.2 million.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting $8.8 million in sales with EPS of 5 cents in the third quarter.
Ceva shares were off 2.8%, or 26 cents, to $8.90 in midday trading Tuesday.


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New Delhi: India’s top smartphone and smart TV
said electronics component shortage, shipping charges and other cost pressures have forced the company to increase retail prices of its products.
“Since the last one year, we have witnessed shortages across the supply chain. Due to massive demand-supply mismatch, the majority of components used in smartphones, Smart TV and other electronic gadgets (chipsets, display panels, display driver, back panels, battery, etc.) have seen constant upward movement in their prices,” a Xiaomi spokesperson said in a statement.
Xiaomi has increased the price of two variants of the Redmi Note 10 by Rs 500.
ET had reported in April the shortage is now spreading to other components beyond chipsets and displays, leaving little room for further absorption by brands.
The cost of display panels for handsets had already doubled in the global market in September last year due to sudden outburst in demand for phones.
But most recently, memory chipsets are seeing 20% increase in cost, battery packs prices have risen by 10% and others, including camera modules and sensors, are also costlier by 5%, industry experts said.
“This, coupled with an unprecedented increase in shipping charges has had an effect on almost all the technology players including us. While we have tried to absorb the increasing costs, some of our products including the Redmi Note 10, have witnessed a price hike,: the spokesperson said.
The brand also warned that it foresees an inevitable increase of 3-6% in prices of its smart TVs from July 1 onwards.
ET had reported that prices of televisions are set to go up by 4-6% from July, making it the third round of price increase this year. Companies have already hiked prices by 10-12% since January, making it the highest price increase in a single year.
Debasish Jana, research analyst at Counterpoint Research
warned that if this hike continues, it may dent demand, especially given the stressed economic situation after the second wave of COVID-19.
“The primary reason for the situation is the increasing Open Cell or Panel prices globally due to a prolonged shortage in the market. India mostly imports Open Cell, which accounts for almost 70% of the cost of a TV, from countries like China and Vietnam,” he said.
According to Counterpoint
, Xiaomi is the number one smartphone brand which held 26% share. In the TV market also it is the top-selling brand with 17% market share.


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In a world where artists are dishing out everything they have in their repertoire to pander to the audience, a DJ from Kolkata is keeping it simple.
Google has offered to display rival comparison shopping sites via an auction, as it aims to stave off further EU antitrust fines, four people familia
Intel is working with Waymo -- formerly the Google self-driving car project and now with Google's parent company Alphabet -- to advance self-driving
Brace yourselves. iOS 11 is going to roll out later today. The latest iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system will hit iOS devices including iPh
WhatsApp Beta has added granular storage management -- which was earlier available only on iOS -- to Android that will allow users manage their chat
As Apple gets ready to ship iPhone 8 and 8 Plus before it opens iPhone X for pre-orders, a top analyst with Taiwanese business group KGI Securities h
A new Silicon Valley startup claims to have taken wireless charging to the next level. Pi, a newbie in the valley has apparently developed the world’
Copyright @ 2017. Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Times Syndication Service.


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PSCU to Offer V.me by Visa to Member-Owner Credit Unions
Digital Wallet Service Enables Secure and Convenient Credit Union-Branded Purchases Online
St. Petersburg, FL and Foster City, CA (November 14, 2012) – PSCU and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today announced that members of the CUSO’s Member-Owner credit unions will soon have access to Visa’s new digital wallet service, V.me. Initially, members of three PSCU credit unions that are participating as early adopters of V.me will be able to sign up for the service to make simple and secure online payments, without the bother of repeatedly entering account number, bill-to and ship-to information.
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union (St. Paul, MN), Listerhill Credit Union (Sheffield, AL) and CEFCU (Citizens Equity First Credit Union, headquartered in Peoria, IL) are participating as pilots by having their card art displayed in the V.me wallet.
Members of the three participating credit unions will be able to enroll their existing Visa and other payment card accounts, allowing them to pay online by simply entering a user name and password at checkout, whether transacting on a PC or mobile device. The ability for additional PSCU credit unions to participate in the V.me wallet will be announced in early 2013. As V.me acceptance continues to gain momentum at a growing number of eCommerce merchants, PSCU and Visa will work closely to broadly deliver the service to PSCU’s entire base of Member-Owner credit unions.
“PSCU’s participation with Visa and their V.me digital wallet service reflects our commitment to continue giving Member-Owners multiple options for engaging members in the payments value stream,” said Michael Kelly, PSCU President and CEO. “Brand presence, particularly in the emerging mobile channel, is essential to keep credit unions at the center of their members’ lives.”
V.me presents an opportunity for credit unions to strengthen member relationships by offering them a new service that addresses a growing desire to shop online – from any device with ease and simplicity. Through credit union branding and Visa-backing, members can shop with comfort knowing they’re protected by layers of security within Visa’s industry-leading network. Once logged into V.me, all that’s required to make a purchase is a simple click of a mouse, touch on a mobile browser, or in the future, a wave at the physical point-of-sale.
Established in 1977, PSCU (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the nation’s leading credit union service organization (CUSO) and serves more than 1,500 financial institutions nationwide. The company is owned by nearly 700 member credit unions representing 16 million credit, debit, prepaid, online bill payment, mobile and electronic banking accounts. Comprehensive 24/7/365 member support is delivered through four Contact Centers located throughout the United States that handle more than 18 million inquiries a year.
PSCU’s MōPRO initiative marries emerging technologies with proven strategies and empowers the CUSO to lead the industry in developing innovative payments solutions. This new culture of engagement, agility and energy can enhance both revenue and market share for Member-Owner credit unions. For more information, visit the PSCU website at www.pscu.com.


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Wondering how to dispose of that household battery or unused hot tub chemical?
If your answer is simply to throw it in the trash, you could be sparking potentially dangerous fires at the Hartland Landfill.
Recycle BC has reported an increase in fires from improper disposal of hazardous waste in BC in 2019, with many creating unsafe situations for staff and forcing temporary closures at facilities, explains Russ Smith, senior manager of the CRD’s environmental resource management team.
Just what’s sparking these fires?
Propane canisters and lithium ion batteries from cell phone and laptops are two of the most common causes of these recent fires around the province.
Here in the capital region, about half of landfill fires are caused by batteries, especially lithium ion batteries found in consumer electronics, and half from household hazardous waste such as hot tub and pool chemicals.
These items MUST be properly disposed of. For residents in the capital region, drop off of these items is FREE at the Hartland Depot.
“What you put in the garbage matters. While we haven’t had a large fire at the Hartland Landfill since 2015, small fires remain a monthly occurrence, despite landfill material bans and strong, safety-focused operational practices,” Smith says.
“Although most fires are quickly contained by staff, there’s always potential for a fire to grow to an unmanageable level, especially in early fall, after a dry summer and before the rains arrive.”
The good news is that landfill fires are easy to avoid if residents keep hazardous household items out of the trash. Here’s how to do that:
- Household batteries – These contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, zinc, manganese and lithium that can be re-used if they’re recycled properly. Batteries can be collected and dropped off for free at one of more than 50 convenient locations across the region that collect these items for recycling – visit Call2Recycle.ca to find the drop-off location closest to you.
- Household electronics – The electronics that contain most of these batteries are also easily recyclable – both at the Hartland Depot recycling depot and at various other community sites.
- Hot tub and pool chemicals – The only safe place for pool chemicals is in your pool or hot tub. Old, unused or expired chemicals can be dropped off six days a week at the Hartland Depot for FREE, keeping them out of the landfill and away from potential fire sources. Learn more about this free disposal program at crd.bc.ca/hhw.
And learn where you can drop off these items and more at myrecyclopedia.ca!


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Swiss transnational food and drink company, Nestlé, has lost a bid to trademark the shape of the four-finger KitKat bar in the UK.
For years, Nestlé has been in a long and strenuous legal battle with Mondelez, a US-based business that owns the multinational confectionery company Cadbury, over the unique shape of Nestlé’s popular KitKat bar.
However, on Wednesday, a court of appeals ruled against Nestlé and their trademark, saying the shape of the candy bar could not be protected. A spokesperson for Nestlé said the were obviously disappointed in the results but will push on to take the next step.
“Nestlé is disappointed by the court of appeal judgment and is considering next steps. KitKat is much loved around the world and its four-finger shape is well known by consumers. Nestlé’s four-finger shape has been granted trademark registration in many countries of the world, for instance, Germany, France, Australia, South Africa and Canada, further protecting it from imitations.”
Nestlé’s next step could possibly be the Supreme court. Nestlé had had originally registered the three-dimensional shape of its four-fingered chocolate bar in 2006. However, Cadbury appealed to cancel Nestlé’s registration and won in 2012. Now the fight has gone all the way to the court of appeals, with the next step being the Supreme Court.
A Mondelez spokesman was obviously happy with the court’s decision on Wednesday and said they do not believe the shape of the KitKat should be protected in the UK.
“We are pleased with the Court of Appeal’s decision today and welcome their conclusion. As we have previously stated, we do not believe the shape of the KitKat bar should be protected as a trademark in the UK.”
During an interview with The Guardian, Clare Jackman, an intellectual property lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright, said the fact the two multinationals were prepared to battle through the courts for so long showed the value of what was at stake.
“Trademarks are very important and valuable business assets. They confer monopoly rights, so I can see entirely why Nestlé thought, ‘our four-finger bar KitKat has been around for ages, let’s register it because we can stop anyone from producing a bar in four fingers’”, she said.
“It is typically brand owners in this space that will spend the money and push the boundaries, in trying to get as much protection as possible, because at the end of the day trademarks can potentially last forever, so it really is a significant monopoly right.”
Jackman also said she would not be surprised if the two companies took their fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
“I’m not going to rule it out because I think these are two brand owners who are prepared to push this as far as it can go.”


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While Tesla does maintain a manufacturing facility in Shanghai, it be no longer anticipated to start out producing vehicles until later in 2019. Till it ramps up in earnest, the company will prefer to import EVs. BMW and Mercedes, meanwhile, ship many SUVs to China from American vegetation.
The recent round of tariffs also slaps 5 p.c extra on US vulgar oil and soybean imports starting September 1st.
The timing for the car tariffs is no longer if truth be told coincidental. It lines up with a deliberate US action that might possibly well perhaps apply tariffs to phones, laptops, consoles and a spread of devices on the same day. China needs to reward that US tariffs also can no longer dash unanswered, and it be seemingly hoping to make consume of this as a bargaining chip for deliberate negotiations in September. If there is now not any progress, even though, the tariffs might possibly well perhaps every hike costs for tech sold in the US (a mammoth quantity of it being made in China) and wretchedness US automobile gross sales in China.


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How does Samsung plan to keep its hold on the insanely competitive market for Android devices? One obvious way will be through using its enormous marketing budget but the company is also investing in other differentiators that don’t involve ads about Santa Claus sexting with his wife. The Wall Street Journal has done an in-depth preview of Samsung’s big developer conference that kicks off in San Francisco this week and has found that the company is encouraging developers to make apps that are “more than just Android” as it seeks to create a hefty suite of Samsung-centric software that rival Android manufacturers won’t be able to top.
Although the Journal says Samsung executives admit “privately” that building a separate Samsung app ecosystem will be a tall order, the company has already had success in getting Twitter to develop a Samsung-exclusive app designed to take advantage of the company’s stylus-equipped devices such as the Galaxy Note. The Journal also says that Samsung has come to an agreement with Dropbox that “gives customers of Samsung’s high-end smartphones an extra dollop of storage space on the popular cloud-based service, which is integrated into Samsung’s interface.”
The trouble, though, is that Samsung will essentially be trying to pull the same trick that Microsoft and BlackBerry have been trying to pull in getting developers interested in investing money making apps for platforms other than iOS and Android. Microsoft has had some success in using large piles of cash to grease developers’ palms and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Samsung take a similar approach. Even so, dishing out cash to get today’s hottest apps is no guarantee that you’ll get tomorrow’s hottest apps, so it looks like Samsung has a lot of work to do.


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The Voice of The Salvation Army in Canada and BermudaView RSS Feed
Nov15ThuSherbrooke Community Church raises $1,625 to provide food to individuals and families in need. November 15, 2012
Sherbrooke Community Church, Que., held a fashion show in October to raise money for the corps' soup kitchen. The event was the brainchild of Sylvie Genesse, a volunteer who organized the show.
- Filed Under:
- Territorial News
The collection of clothing presented at the fashion show was as varied as it was creative, using new and gently used clothing from The Salvation Army's thrift store in Sherbrooke.
“This event highlighted our recycled products,” says Lieutenant Anne-Marie Racicot, corps officer. “As our organizing team was able to show, the clothes we accept at the thrift store are in good condition and wear well.”
This popular community event raised $1,625, which will be used to provide food to individuals and families in need in the region.
“Beyond raising money, the fashion show bolstered the pride and self-esteem of our volunteers and young people who participated in the event,” says Lieutenant Claude Dagenais, corps officer.


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Balearic authorities adopt new legislation for tourism developments
Tourist establishments will be forced to change.
Balearic authorities have passed a law that will ban the creation of new hotels and other tourist accommodation on the popular holiday islands until at least 2026, as part of a bid to engage a new model of tourism that values quality over quantity.
With a financial injection of €60 million, the new legislation comes as part of a broader commitment to tourism sustainability, making the most of the resources the islands have, improving working conditions for those in the industry, the modernisation of pre-existing establishments, and the introduction of a new hotel classification system.
The freeze on new hotels, but also on any tourist ‘space’ including rental services like Airbnb, is part of an attempt to improve the quality of life of residents and the tourist experience of visitors, and will affect hotels and tourist rental establishments on all the islands.
According to thelocal.es, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera’s tourism accommodation now totals more than 18,000 ‘rental units’, of which almost 8,500 are in Mallorca, 7,000 Ibiza, and more than 3,000 in Formentera. Menorca has a considerably lower number of tourism establishments.
Local media have also reported that the Balearics want to become the first circular economy tourism destination in the world, and tourist establishments will, moving forward, be required to have a ‘Circularity Plan’ that incorporates energy, waste, water and food.
In terms of energy, tourist establishments will be forced to change their fuel oil boilers for natural gas or electric ones, emitting 57,600 fewer kilos of CO2 per year per establishment.
Within the field of water, the standard establishes the obligation to install double button systems in WC cisterns in hotels, as well as the installation of water-saving devices in taps in sinks, bathtubs and showers. The use of rainwater will also be promoted, which will be a factor to take into account in improving the classification of the establishment, and tourist accommodation must measure water consumption.
In terms of waste, the rule will prohibit the use of single-use amenities (bathroom sanitary amenities). At the same time, hotels will have to replace the use of paper with QR codes and will also be obliged to measure their waste consumption. In addition, the establishments must control the temperatures of the buildings in an integral way, also in the areas reserved for staff, especially in the kitchens.
Within four years, it will not be possible to build new beds beyond the available stock in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Existing hotels will be allowed to increase their infrastructure by 15%, eliminating up to 5% of their beds. In Minorca, where no beds are available, freezing will affect new construction.
By the end of the four-year period, the councils will determine, with reference to their individual territorial plans, whether they wish to create new tourist units. There are a total of 18,718 beds on the islands - 8,486 in Mallorca, 7,000 in Ibiza and 3,232 in Formentera.


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TimeShift Demo Warps Onto Xbox Live
Long trapped in the space-time continuum, the Sierra shooter finally emerges.
A demo for TimeShift, Sierra's upcoming world-warping first-person shooter, is scheduled for release today on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
TimeShift allows players to control time using an experimental Beta Suit as they track Dr. Aiden Krone across the space-time continuum in the bleak and rain-soaked Alpha District.
In addition to a campaign mode, TimeShift features an online 16-player multiplayer mode. Players can battle it out in online matches with time-manipulating gameplay found in the single-player campaign.


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The entire Global Disney Ambassador team assembles to find the meaning of the holidays and share what the spirit of the season means to them at their parks and resorts around the world to come to the rescue when a Disney Ambassador has lost the holiday spirit!
All around the world, join the Disney Ambassadors as they try holiday treats, decorate with festive decorations, spend time in the Disney Parks, sing holiday tunes, give gifts, help those in need, watch their favorite holiday movies, and celebrate the holiday season together to bring back the holiday spirit.
Other Disney Parks News:
- Disney has released some new promo images showcasing many of the performances for their annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade on ABC.
- New episodes of Disney Insider, the Disney+ show that gives a behind-the-scenes peak at the newest projects throughout the company, have been released. Many of these new episodes highlight new projects from and related to the Disney Parks.
- Disney Parks have released a small teaser for their annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade television event on ABC.


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The Irish Government will still invest €500,000 in tech start-ups despite emergency measures that will transform its economic landscape.
EU members will provide Ireland a €67 billion loan bailout to help weather a massive banking crisis. The Irish government will in turn initiate a extraordinary four-year plan of spending cuts and tax rises, intended to save the country €15 billion. Both initiatives have sparked debate, criticisms and protests.
Yet Ireland will still launch a €500,000 fund designed to assist technology-driven start up companies get off the ground.
Known as ‘The Internet and Games Competitive Start Fund’, the scheme is said will provide “critical early stage funding” to various game and tech firms, according to a Games Politics report.
Ten Irish companies in the internet and games business can apply for “an equity investment of €50,000 for a 10 per cent equity stake.”
Those that apply have to meet strict criteria, such as proving they are able to realise €1 million in exports and be younger than six years old.
Enterprise Ireland, which runs the fund, said each start-up will benefit from being assigned an “an experienced business mentor”.
Said Enterprise Ireland CEO Frank Ryan: “A key focus of our Software Strategy is to further stimulate the emergence of internet based companies in Ireland and to broaden their international base and scale.
“This new fund will help a new cohort of internet and games entrepreneurs to set up and grow successful international businesses.”
Applicants have until December 16 to apply, and have to prove they are:
* Introducing a new or innovative product or service to international markets.
* Involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services.
* Capable of creating 10 jobs in Ireland and realising exports of €1 million within three to four years of starting up.
* Led by an experienced management team.
* Headquartered and controlled in Ireland.
* Less than six years old.


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The government has acknowledged that lending to the sector has stalled and assured of steps to encourage banks to push loans
Automobile companies, who were banking on a Goods & Service Tax (GST) cut to bail them out from the slowdown that has gripped the sector, are likely to be disappointed as the Centre may dash their hopes after evaluating their snail-paced compliance to Bharat Stage-VI roll out.
The GST Council is unlikely to ease rates as it faces revenue deficits and given that such a step would also require states’ approval, the report added.
The government has, however, acknowledged that lending to the sector has stalled and assured of steps to encourage banks to push loans and make up for the vacuum created by the exit of many Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) from the space, the report stated.
Expectations had risen after the GST Council heeded demands for a GST cut from the real estate sector. But, the cut did not help much as the problem lies elsewhere, a source told the paper.
The Centre noted that automakers dragged BS-VI implementations till it became apparent there would be no extension and that the Supreme Court respite would not extend beyond April 2020. Sources told the paper that companies would need to consider resale value for buyers who were reluctant to invest in options that would soon be obsolete.”Companies should already have put in place a product mix, which allowed consumers to choose between BS-IV and BS-VI emission standards. This is taking the ‘just in time’ model a bit too far. You can’t get all your BS-VI models close to the switch-over date,” the source added.


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USB 3.0 Promises Faster Speeds, Backward Compatibility
January 6, 2009 (PC World) Nearly a decade after USB 2.0 was first introduced, this practically ubiquitous technology is poised for its first major upgrade in years. Symwave, a semiconductor start-up, and hard-drive maker Seagate are showing the first working demonstration of SuperSpeed — otherwise known as USB 3.0 — at CES 2009. The company's demo setup includes an adaptation of an external Seagate FreeAgent hard drive equipped with the new interface, and shows the high read/write throughput and streaming video performance potential of USB 3.0.
Google, Microsoft say they still support Net neutrality
December 15, 2008 (IDG News Service) WASHINGTON – Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. said today that they have not backed away from their support for Net neutrality principles, despite a report to the contrary.
Both companies denied much of the information contained in a Wall Street Journal story that suggested that both companies have abandoned their support for Net neutrality rules. The article reported that Google is trying to negotiate with broadband providers for an Internet fast lane for its content, apparently in conflict with its support for Net neutrality rules prohibiting broadband providers from blocking or slowing content from some applications or companies.


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Arizona’s Legislative Action on Meat Labelling
In a significant legislative move, the Arizona House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs has voted in favour of House Bill 2244. This bill, if passed into law, would prohibit the use of the term “meat” for products not derived from traditional livestock or poultry. The committee’s decision came through a 6-3 vote.
The Drive Behind the Bill
The bill, championed by Representative Quang Nguyen, addresses concerns over consumer confusion in meat labelling. Rep. Nguyen argues that the current FDA labelling requirements for cultivated meat are insufficient, necessitating clearer legislation.
Another Bill on Cultivated Meat
In related developments, a second bill concerning cultivated meat, proposed by Representative David Marshall, was initially scheduled for discussion.
However, Rep. Marshall has temporarily withdrawn this bill to work on amendments. This proposed legislation aims to completely ban the production and sale of cultivated meat in Arizona.
Next Steps for House Bill 2244
Following its committee approval, House Bill 2244 is now set to be presented to the entire Arizona House for consideration and potential approval.


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Cashless payments now account for 37% of all transactions made on vending machines equipped with USA Technologies’ ePort Cashless Payment System, data from the company’s 2015 Cashless Knowledge Base Study has found. There was also a 32% increase in average ticket values when consumers make cashless purchases – including those using mobile wallets – compared to those made with cash.
- Wearable payments specialist Tappy opens NFCW Expo showcase
- UK charities leverage open banking to cut donation transaction costs
- Antelop Solutions opens NFCW Expo showcase
- Klip digital wallet goes live in UAE
- Digital payments specialist Dejamobile opens showcase in the NFCW Expo
This article is more than five years old


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Peer to peer video service Joost is in talks to embed its software into consumer hardware. Right now the beta product runs on a Mac or PC, but Joost wants to put the streaming internet television service in its natural home: Your TV.
Joost has already been run on the Apple TV, and Joost CEO Mike Volpi has gone on record saying "We would love to put Joost on the Apple TV platform. We know we can make it run on any operating system". The logical step is to embed the software into a set top box; a cable box or DVR. It's great to have instant-on TV on a computer, but that stuff is still for geeks. There's no way I could convince my mother to watch Coronation Street on a laptop, but the Joost interface is so slick and easy it's just like using a television.
Joost everywhere, embedded in hardware [Register]


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Zest Kitchen Store, located in Ontario, Canada, recently celebrated its fifth business anniversary. And while the Prince Edward county store is thriving, the business also suffered its share of setbacks that could have affected its sales much more than it did.
“As with any business, it’s not without it’s challenges (we just survived a year of water main construction in front of our store!), but we love cooking and food and talking to our customers about cooking and food,” said Jenny Otsuka, who co-owns the store with her husband, Kyle.
In this edition of “60 Seconds With…”, Otsuka spoke to GOURMET INSIDER about what makes the store stand out among competition as well as what she feels has been its keys to success during the last five years.
The new video series, “60 Seconds With” was launched by the Gourmet Insider team to encourage gourmet store owners and operators to continue to share tips and strategies that have lead to retail success.