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From colorful sprinkles and puffy marshmallows to glorious glazes and luscious fruits, the sky’s the limit for creative donut dreamers as Bashas’ Supermarkets launches its second Donut Flavor Craze Contest. (Last year’s winning donut was Smores-inspired and oh-so-delicious; Bashas’ bakery team cannot wait to see what kids dream up this year). Arizona’s hometown grocer is calling again on kids ages 5 to 15 to come up with Bashas’ next great donut flavor.
Now through May 12, children and teens have the chance to get creative in the kitchen and share their thoughts on what should become the next great donut to be added to Bashas’ roster, which currently consists of 59 different varieties.
The winning donut will be announced on May 30, and it will be featured in Bashas’ bakery cases across the state during the entire month of June, joining the grocer’s other made-from-scratch treats, including donuts, fritters, croissants, Danishes, brownies, frosted cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and more.
Entrants are asked to share a 100-word description of the donut they would like to submit to the contest, including the proposed name, key ingredients, and why their donut should win. Entrants are also encouraged to share a photo of themselves enjoying a Bashas’ donut.
Submissions will be accepted now until 11:59 p.m. MST on May 12.
A baker’s dozen (13) finalists will be selected on May 15. The public will have a chance to vote on their favorite creation via social media from May 16-19. The winning donut will be announced on May 30, just in time for National Donut Day on June 2. This year, 10 percent of all Bashas’ donut sales on National Donut Day will go directly to the Salvation Army in honor of the Donut Lassie’s 100th Anniversary.
In addition to having their winning donut featured in Bashas’ bakery departments across the state in June, the winning entrant will receive one dozen donuts every week for a year, a Bashas’ gift card, and the title of Bashas’ Official Donut Ambassador. Each of the 12 finalists will also receive a Bashas’ gift card.


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America’s busiest shopping weekend isn’t just about buying new TVs and Christmas gifts. Multiple studies show that spending money on experiences rather than things makes people happier—so this Black Friday, give yourself a gift by planning your next trip.
Much like all other Black Friday deals, the savings vary quite a bit. We pored over hundreds (literally, hundreds) of deals and “deals” to find these worthwhile promotions.
Chain, Chain, Chain
Hotel chains big and small always put on a show—some more substantial than others—of slashing prices.
Outrigger, known for its island rentals and beachside hotels across Hawaii and the Pacific, has already jumpstarted its sale this week with network-wide deals that bring down rates to as low as $127 per night—even in places as far-flung as dreamy Fiji.
Marriott kicks off its Black Friday/Cyber Monday promo on Thanksgiving Day with a dedicated page listing more than 3,500 individual hotels across 20 brands throughout the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Also starting Thursday, Thompson Hotels will take up to 50 percent off its suites and 30 percent off standard rooms for stays through December 1, 2018, directly on its homepage thompsonhotels.com. Its Seattle property (which we love, especially its rooftop bar) has its own code, “HFTH” used at checkout, that will knock 25 percent off its guest rooms that start at $189. Book a stay next August or September when the weather is at its best.
Destination Hotels, with properties across the U.S. from Vermont to Hawaii (and some especially beautiful ones like L’Auberge Del Mar and Carmel Valley Ranch in California) is taking up to 40 percent off the rates in its entire portfolio. Bookable until November 29 at destinationhotels.com.
Wyndham even bought a unique web address to tout its promotion, which will take up to 55 percent off rates when you use the code HCYB17.
The Peninsula Hotels is taking 30 percent off certain rooms and suites in New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, and Paris.
Omni also has rates starting at $79, to be booked by November 28, at omnihotelscom.
It’s standard for cruise companies to toss in credits when you book, sometimes generously offering free air connection or two-for-one deals like Viking does. Over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, you might see even more deals than usual.
Norwegian, for instance, is bundling several deals as a “Take 5 Free” promotion. For those booking an ocean-view or balcony cabin, or a suite through November 24, will get perks like unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi.
For those of us who get anxious about how much to tip, Cunard is offering free gratuitiesthrough November 30—and in case you’re planning that intergenerational trip, the offer also includes 50 percent off third and fourth guests on select cruises.
Silversea is shaving 5 percent off, which you can combine with existing promotions this week as well.
Booking sites love to promise deals, some of which actually deliver (while others are just mediocre “packages”).
From Friday through Cyber Monday, Expedia promises to cut up to 90 percent off hotels, $100 off cruises, and $750 off packages. The deal starts at noon EST on Black Friday here.
Priceline kicks off its promo on Wednesday, November 22, with 10–15 percent off hotels. But here’s the catch: The deals are valid for Priceline Email Insiders—so you’ll need to sign up for their spam, I mean newsletters, if you want to partake.
For the most intrepid of us—or those of us who want to gift something to the wanderlusty daredevils in our families—the medical transport program Medjet is taking $50 off individual membership and $100 off family annual membership at medjet.com/Cyber17.
Trains and Tours
Group tours come in all shapes and configurations, with specific target demographics. Some deals that shine this weekend:
Azores Getaways has had island packages under $700 this week that include round-trip flights from Boston and seven nights (!) of accommodation in this island eden in the Atlantic, just west of Portugal. Check the site for regular air-inclusive deals.
Intrepid Travel, which also offers some itineraries specifically catering to solo travelers, is now offering 15 percent off more than 1,000 trips around the world.
Contiki, targeting the under-35 set, is cutting up to 30 percent off select trips and $150 off all worldwide flights on its homepage, contiki.com.
Eurostar, the high-speed rail link between the U.K. and continental Europe, returns with Cyber Week savings of up to 30 percent, with Standard Premier fares from $108 one-way, bookable from November 23 to December 3.

domain: news


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Those looking for a copy of the school’s current “Alter Ego” literary magazine are out of luck. This year’s edition, “Opulence” has sold out.
“We’ve never sold out in previous years,” said junior Brittany Cho, the magazine’s editor in chief. “There are always at least 20 copies left over.”
Senior Cindy Thaung was surprised the magazine sold so fast.
“I wasn’t expecting such a quick response at all,” she said. “But it’s not all that surprising in retrospect since this year had an incredibly organized sales approach and the tasks were evenly delegated.”
The success of the magazine has been attributed to several factors.
“We finished earlier than last year, which gave us more time to publicize the magazine, we had a wider window of opportunity to sell and distribute with more staff members and we also had a more conscious effort to include more artists and writers, broadening our demographic,” Thaung said. “And of course, the aesthetic for ‘Opulence’ was pretty dope if I do say so myself.”
“This is the best magazine we’ve ever printed. We featured over 50 artists and writers as well as completely restructuring the magazine,” Cho said. “I think these big changes really make a difference.”
Cho said she’s already planning for next year’s literary magazine.
“I’d like to increase from 80 pages to over 100 and conduct a lot more fundraisers,” she said.
She said she remains amazed the magazine has sold out.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” Cho said. “I never thought this day would come. I think we’ve come a long way.”
By Sara-Renee Weatherby


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KIEV, February 5. /TASS/. Bread prices in Ukraine may go up by 14% in February following the rise in flour prices, Alexander Vasilchenko, director general of Ukrkhlebprom Association of Baking Industry Companies, told Ukraine’s Vesti periodical published on Thursday.
"Another leap in bread prices is expected in February as we have run out of cheap flour," he said.
Among reasons behind the price rise, he cited a steadfast devaluation of the national currency hryvnia /which sends rising domestic wheat prices depending on global prices/and growing prices on raw materials, logistics services and electricity. "Bakers have all economic reasons to raise prices by 14% Flour prices have jumped by 28% in the past three months, and flour accounts for a half of the cost," he noted.
According to the Vesti, gradual price rise has already started. By the end of February, bread prices may rise up to ten hryvnias /0.61 U.S. dollars/. As of January 20, a loaf of rye or wheat bread weighing 600-700 grams was sold at from 6.75 to 7.03 hryvnias. By January 30, the prices went up to 6.85-7.22 hryvnias.
Bread market players hope the government, in particular the Agrarian Fund, will be able to bring to the market cheaper flour from its reserves, which was bought at lower prices last year. Experts however forecast that the fund’s reserves will get more expensive too.


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Sears Tabs Woo to Head Marketing at Sears Stores
August 4, 2011,
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--Monica Woo has been named vice president and chief marketing officer for Sears stores, effective Aug. 15.
According to a Sears spokesman, Woo will assume responsibility over all of the marketing, brand and advertising programs for Sears stores. Mark Snyder, chief marketing officer for Kmart, is continuing in this role, also responsible for marketing, brand efforts and advertising. Both will report to David Friedman, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Sears Holdings, parent company of the two chains.
Before joining Sears, Woo was chief marketing and strategy officer for FreshDirect, the online grocery retailer. Her career also includes positions as president of the flagship consumer floral division of 1-800-Flowers.com, chief marketing officer of Deutsche Bank's online retail bank in Latin America, and president of global brands at Bacardi
Other Articles By Author
Von Tobel Cites Brass Textures Among Top Trends
HFN's DIGITAL EDITION
2017 State of the Industry Report
Cautious Optimism, Mixed Results
Many expected 2016 would be a banner year, but the political and economic climate softened consumer confidence. It was also a year consumers spent more lavishly on home remodeling rather than decorating.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- TJX Unveils First U.S. Homesense Store - In a time when retailers are reducing store counts, TJX continues to get physical.
- Ikea’s Fluid Spaces - The retailer’s new intros reflect multifunctional rooms.
- N.Y. Home Fashions Market Preview - Textile textures get soft and cozy, colors warmer.


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Jeremy Langmead, editor-in-chief of luxury menswear etailer Mr Porter, has been confirmed as the final speaker at the Drapers Digital Forum in London on February 25.
Since Langmead joined the launch team in October 2010, Mr Porter has set new standards for a transactional website with its stylish mix of commerce and content, combining weekly product updates with the online magazine The Journal, which contains a broad spectrum of features, shoots and advice.
In conversation with Drapers editorial director Eric Musgrave, Langmead, who was previously editor of Esquire, Wallpaper and The Sunday Times’ Style magazine, will discuss how the concept has evolved during the past three years and how he sees the ecommerce sector developing.
It is likely to be Langmead’s last appearance in his Mr Porter role as he is soon to join auction house Christie’s as chief content officer.
The day-long Drapers Digital Forum, the newly revamped version of the Drapers Ecommerce Conference, now has a full programme of international experts in all aspects of ecommerce, social media and related fields.
More than 200 delegates are already confirmed for the event, which will be held at 30 Euston Square, alongside Euston Station in London.
Only a few places remain. Contact firstname.lastname@example.org for booking details.
For more details see https://www.drapersfashiononline.com.


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Apple has lodged a complaint against Australian supermarket chain Woolworths over its logo, which Apple says is too similar to its own.
A Woolworths spokeswoman told AFP that Apple had objected but had not made a case. She added that the supermarket’s swirly green logo was intended to represent a ‘W’.
"We absolutely say it is a stylised ‘W’ that can be any kind of fresh produce. Some people say it looks like a lettuce, some people say it can be a pumpkin," the spokeswoman said.
Apple filed its complaint with IP Australia, the governmental intellectual property agency.
Apple is reportedly concerned that Woolworths’s trademark application would allow it to use the logo on all its products, including electrical goods such as music players and computers.
The Woolworths logo was launched in August last year and is still being rolled out nationwide.


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GameSpot have word that there is a new action-RPG game announced, Champions of Norrath, for the PS2 based off the EverQuest franchise. Here's some of the details:
Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Champions of Norrath is currently in development for the PlayStation 2 at Snowblind Studios--the same development company behind Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. The game will be an action-RPG that's based on the EverQuest universe and it will feature both single-player and multiplayer modes. The multiplayer mode will support the same online match making service found in the upcoming real-time strategy game Lords of EverQuest that will let four players participate simultaneously.


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On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Saks Fifth Avenue retail luxury store’s spinoff e-commerce business was in the process of launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO) next year. The Journal cited sources who said that the valuation would be at $6 billion. Just about seven months ago, the e-commerce arm had a value of $2 billion and its value has tripled, since March.
The report also cited that sources had told the outlet that potential underwriters for the IPO would be interviewed this week. The public offering could be on an unspecified exchange by the first half of 2022.
In March, the privately held company—Saks Fifth Avenue, which is owned by Hudson’s Bay Company of Toronto, had separated its e-commerce component and valued it at $2 billion. It had sold a $500 million stake in this entity to Insight Partners, which is a venture-capital firm. The flourishing business was reportedly separated to unlock its potential value.
During the pandemic, the iconic stores of Saks Fifth avenue remained closed or opened for short durations of time due to lockdowns as well as due to the switch by customers to online buys due to fear of catching COVID-19, by visiting stores. Retail business was also slow. However, online sales were excellent. The company said that online sales surged by 82 percent in the second quarter, when compared with the pre-pandemic sales in 2019, according to the WSJ.
Although the e-commerce entity is in charge of online sales, customers can pick up or return items bought online in brick and mortar stores of the retailer.
When asked for comment, Saks told Reuters that it does not comment on rumors or speculations.
Jana Partners asked Macy to spin off its online business but Morningstar analyst David Swartz said the iconic store would find the idea of splitting its brick and mortar stores and its online retail against its “Polaris plan.”


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Recent reports from German motoring publication Auto Motor und Sport have revealed that the blue Tesla Model S Plaid prototype has broken the company’s previous unofficial record on the Nurburgring, with the vehicle completing a lap around the track in 7:13. The Model S was able to accomplish this feat not just once, but twice.
What is even more impressive was that Tesla accomplished this feat with a unit that previously completed a 7:40 lap around the Nurburgring in September. During that time, Tesla was able to finish a reported hand-stopped lap of 7:23, though it used its red Model S Plaid prototype, a vehicle that unfortunately crashed during a hot lap in recent weeks. Fortunately, the red Model S’ driver, Andreas Simonsen, was unharmed during the accident.
As noted by the publication, the blue Model S Plaid prototype was driven around the Nurburgring by Nordschleife expert and racing driver Thomas Mutsch. For its record-setting runs, the Model S was equipped with its large rear diffuser and a small rear spoiler. A large spoiler spotted by photographers previously had reportedly been removed by Tesla after a short session around the track. The vehicle was equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Cup R sports tires for its record-setting runs as well.
That being said, the blue Plaid Tesla Model S’ two 7:13 records are still unofficial lap times for the vehicle. Thus, for now at least, the electric car maker simply has the knowledge that its upgraded Tesla Model S is capable of beating the already-stellar 7:23 record it set for itself during its first excursion into the track over a month ago. Nevertheless, the blue Plaid Model S’ recent unofficial record is still 8 seconds shy of the 7:05 estimate that Tesla announced on Twitter when it left the Nurburgring for the first time in late September.
Auto Motor und Sport noted that the Tesla team has departed the iconic German racetrack for now, with the team likely not coming back this year. The two vehicles used for the test — the red Model S Plaid that crashed, as well as the blue Plaid unit that set the 7:13 record — are reportedly being sent home to the United States. With this in mind, it appears that Tesla might be preparing to return to the Nurburgring with new Model S Plaid units next year, perhaps finally ready to set its own official lap record.
What is particularly interesting is that Tesla’s new unofficial lap time around the Nurburgring is already 29 seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo prototype that set an unofficial 7:42 record of its own around the German racetrack prior to the all-electric sports car’s official release. Considering that the blue Model S Plaid reportedly left the track last September with a 7:40 lap, the vehicle’s current 7:13 time is quite a notable improvement.
After all, it appears that Tesla was testing two Plaid Model S variants in the Nurburgring this time around. Based on the initial track times of the two prototypes, it appears that Tesla was actually benchmarking the red and blue Model S against each other. And between the two vehicles, it almost seemed like the blue Plaid Model S was the more conservatively-specced vehicle. Either way, Tesla’s return next year would likely be incredibly exciting, as the company would likely come back with a vehicle that will be very close to the actual production Plaid Model S that’s set for release next year.
At 7:13, Tesla’s Model S Plaid prototype has already exceeded the lap time of the 2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8, which completed the Nurburgring in a blazing-fast 7:21. That’s the fastest four-door vehicle around the Nurburgring to date, not counting the prototype monster that Porsche brought over to the track recently, the Panamera “Lion” project, which reportedly completed a 7:11 lap. Quite interestingly, it appears that no laps have been done by Porsche with the Taycan Turbo S as of yet.


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Carrefour has revamped its e-commerce offer in Italy, introducing new services and a new look.
The changes are aimed at simplifying the customer experience, and Carrefour claims to have made the shopping process easier and quicker. The service now also allows customers the option of a Drive service (apart from the regular home delivery).
The online shop offers more than 20,000 products, including major brands, fresh sushi prepared in-store, or a customised bowl Grom ice cream (only in Milan and Rome).
Carrefour delivers to 370 postal code areas throughout Italy, offers store pickups at more than 230 outlets in 130 cities and towns in the country, and its Drive service is available at the Hypermarket in Nichelino (TO)


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KANSAS CITY — Fresh, frozen, thick or thin, America loves pizza. Americans consume 3 billion pizzas each year, an average of 46 slices per person. Eighty-three percent of consumers eat pizza at least once a month, while 40% enjoy it every week, according to Technomic. Pizza is clearly one of... read full story
"We're seeing dramatic changes in consumer choices due to price inflation, and some consumers can't purchase the same amount of food and beverage items as they would have before,"


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Virgin Media O2 have announced they will not be introducing roaming charges this year while other major networks will be. The announcement comes after speculation that mobile data users would face the reintroduction of EU roaming charging following Brexit.
The lack of additional charges means mobile users of Virgin Media O2 will be able to use mobile data, make calls and send text messages on the same deal that they have in the UK.
Consumer champion Which? urged the UK and EU to “strike a deal” on charges.
Before the UK left the EU, users were able to use their calls, texts, and data allowance in their mobile plans in any EU country after the bloc removed roaming charges in 2017.
However, the EU trade deal of December 2020 gave mobile operators the option of reintroducing charges.
For business mobile users, this comes as a welcomed announcement. With many UK businesses travelling across Europe, the additional charges could add a significant amount to their overheads.
EE and Vodafone – two of the UK’s four biggest networks – said they were reintroducing roaming charges for customers travelling to the EU in January, and Three is set to reintroduce them in May.
Virgin Media O2’s Gareth Turpin said: “We’re starting the year by giving our customers some certainty: we will not be reintroducing roaming fees in Europe for customers on O2 or Virgin Mobile.
“Unlike all the other major mobile networks who are bringing back roaming fees, we will not be following suit.
“With many now looking to plan a trip abroad, we’ve got our customers covered and extra roaming charges will be one less thing to worry about.”


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Sensory attributes that, unfortunately, are innate drivers of liking, are salt and fat
A recent survey of commercial baby food products in the United States conducted by some researchers on the team revealed a lack of variety in the types of vegetables offered.
Most notably, there were no commercially available single, dark green vegetable products. Instead, dark green vegetables often were mixed with fruits or red/orange vegetables — such as squash — that provide additional sweetness.
For the liking of vegetables to be learned, the flavors from the vegetables must be perceptible within the mixture, explained Alyssa Bakke, staff sensory scientist in Penn State’s Department of Food Science, who spearheaded the research.
She pointed out that the study was an effort to understand the sensory profiles of vegetable-containing, stage 2 infant products commercially available in the United States, and how ingredient composition affects flavor profiles.
There are understandable reasons why vegetables are not preferred. They tend to be more bitter than other foods, and they tend to have less intense, more subtle flavors than most other foods. Sensory attributes that, unfortunately, are innate drivers of liking, are salt and fat.


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Like a strong circus pole, 2023’s year in VR has been heavily weighted towards both ends. The last twelve months ended with the release of two excellent VR headsets (although only one is really relevant to us PC gamers) and a whole bunch of great VR titles. However, the summer was the quietest I’ve known in a long time, to the point where I ended up playing two VR mini golf games for lack of anything better to do. Fortunately, the past few months have made up for that, providing enough great VR games to feed us well into next year. So it’s an unevenly weighted set of barbells, the kind that would give our mustachioed muscle man a barbell.
It has also been a year of interesting changes. What was heralded as the inevitable future of VR eighteen months ago – the Metaverse – is now dead in the water. Or at least, it crawls feebly towards the sea while our hero follows a little behind, almost feeling sorry for the poor wretch, but still intent on drowning the malignant charlatan in the shallows. Meanwhile, the headsets that have dominated this year point to the growing platform-based nature of VR. Where a few years ago you only needed a headset and a PC to access the full suite of VR games, now you need the right headset (and a PC). It’s a trend that could have significant implications for PCVR in the future, even if we’re not quite there yet.
This was practically demonstrated at the 2023 start line by the launch of the PSVR2, Sony’s follow-up to its previous headset designed to take advantage of the power of the PS5. While the original PSVR was a bit too weedy to draw PCVR gamers away from the Rifts and the Vives (which sound like a rock ‘n’ roll band from the 1950s), the PSVR2 is a groundbreaking headset and brought with it some tasty exclusives . Most notable were Horizon: Call of the Mountain and an exclusive VR version of Resident Evil: Village. Although the one that really sticks out is the recently released VR version of Resident Evil 4 Remake. There are now two VR versions of Resident Evil 4, and you can’t play either of them on PC. Rotters.
Meanwhile, Meta has spent the last few years buying up VR developers and signing either outright or timed exclusive Quest headsets, meaning PCVR gamers have had to wait for some of its biggest hitters to land. And even then, some of them landed belly first, like The Walking Dead: Saints And Sinners Chapter 2, a disappointing sequel to one of the best VR games out there. There were some fun highlights from smaller developers in the spring, like the VR villainous The Light Brigade, and the charming perspective-based adventure Another Fisherman’s Tale, but by late summer, PCVR’s cupboards were starting to look pretty bare.
It was rumored that the reason for Meta’s purchase round was so that these developers could make content for their Metaverse platform Horizon Worlds. Metaverse dominated the headlines last year and was destined to be the future of VR, if Mark Zuckerberg’s attempt to mimic the human emotion “enthusiasm” was to be believed. But the prospects for Horizon seemed dim from the start, and while Horizon Worlds is still theoretically in development, with Meta still pouring billions of dollars into it, the Metaverse has had its lunch thoroughly eaten by this year’s tech fad, AI. As noted by the Verge, at this year’s Meta Connect, Horizon Worlds received significantly less attention than Meta’s AI initiatives, such as a virtual assistant that can be integrated into chats across the company’s messaging platforms. Well, at least everyone in Horizon Worlds has legs now.
But while Meta’s vision for the Metaverse remains waterier than American tea, the company remains at the forefront of VR headset design. In October, Meta launched Meta Quest 3, which offers a significant hardware upgrade from Quest, along with improved passthrough and mixed reality features. The higher price and lack of decent launch titles puts me on the fence about whether it was worth the upgrade, but now that it has a host of games like Assassin’s Creed Nexus, Samba Di Amigo: Party Central, Lego Bricktales and Asgard’s Wrath 2, it’s a much more viable suggestions.
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In fact, VR gaming has been saving all good things for the past three months. Alongside Quest 3’s slightly delayed titles, we’ve seen PCVR releases for Arizona Sunshine 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 (which, like it or not, is a massive VR game), and the wonderful the remake of ye-olde ghostly puzzle the 7th guest. If you own a Quest 2 or 3, you’ll have access to almost all of this thanks to Quest Link, making for one hell of a Christmas list for VR fans.
In short, 2023 has gone from being a fairly dry affair in VR land, to a bit of a bumper year right at the death. But the quality of your harvest depends a lot on the headset you have, and the big question going forward is how much further the existing VR platforms are likely to drift apart. Right now, if you own a Quest headset, you can access both Quest’s exclusive library and all of PCVR via Quest Link and Air Link. But will it stay that way? Meta has been pushing to make Quest its own platform for years now. At what point does Quest completely disconnect from the computer?
I think this may well happen eventually, but it is unlikely in the short term. Alongside its baseline audience, Quest also has a huge user base on Steam. According to Steam’s own hardware survey, it’s actually the most popular PCVR headset by far, accounting for 40% of VR users between June and November 2023 (Valve Index by comparison is the second most popular at 19%). Quest access Steam gives the headset significantly more functionality, and there’s no logical reason why Meta would want to stop it provided it can still sell exclusives in its own store.
And while Valve has its own headset it wants to sell, it also seems to understand the importance of Meta’s continued presence in the PCVR scene. Earlier this month, Valve partnered with Meta to update its Steam Link application to stream to Quest 2 and 3, sort of a reverse system to Quest Link and Air Link. In addition to providing additional PCVR functionality for the Quest, it points to continued overlap between Meta headsets and PCVR.
As for what else the future holds, the short answer is: more headsets and more games. It is likely that we will see Apple’s Vision Pro next year, possibly as early as January. Apple’s headset probably won’t have much relevance in these parts, but it will be interesting to see the response to it anyway. More significant is Valve’s mysterious “Deckard” project, allegedly some sort of follow-up to the Valve Index. There are no firm details on Deckard, although some cryptic word spoken to James by Valve designer Lawrence Yang hinted that it may draw inspiration from Valve’s work on the Steam Deck. “Just as Steam Deck learns a lot from controllers and VR, future products will continue to learn from everything we’ve done with Steam Deck.” My money’s on a Valve equivalent of the Quest, a standalone, inside-out tracking headset that can connect wirelessly to your PC (which, by the way, Steam Link would be ideal for).
But let’s wrap up 2023 with a quick look at what we’ll be playing next year. Titles on the cards for 2024 include Bulletstorm VR, cyberpunk detective sim Low-Fi and the giant adventure Behemoth, from the creators of Saints And Sinners. But by far the most exciting VR prospect for next year is Taskmaster VR. Getting chewed out by a virtual Greg Davies for playing VR Jenga badly? That alone is worth spending £500+ on some nice goggles for your face.
#Reality #Bytes #good #year


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ISLAMABAD: Hopes of those Pakistanis who had lost their hard-earned money to the online Rs18 billion cryptocurrency fraud have risen as global crypto exchange Binance has assured the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of full cooperation in its investigators into the scam.
In a statement, FIA cybercrime wing Additional Director Imran Riaz Tuesday confirmed that Binance had made telephonic contact with the FIA and officially sent an e-mail, assuring them of their cooperation in the investigation related to the fraud.
The international crypto exchange has appointed two of its officials for cooperation into the probe, he added. Without giving names, Imran Riaz said that the two officials of Binance were former employees of the US finance department and had been investigating financial crimes.
Billions of rupees were transferred from Pakistan to China through 11 mobile applications, revealed Imran Riaz.
The FIA had detected an online fraud of USD100 million (Rs17.7 billion) using a cryptocurrency and issued a notice to the local representative of Binance to appear in person on Jan 10, local media had reported on January 8.
Sharing details of the fraud, FIA's Additional Director Imran Riaz had said that those involved in the online fraud transferred the money abroad via cryptocurrency.
“We launched a probe after receiving complaints regarding a fraud involving billions of rupees being committed using nine online applications,” he had said and added that they had sought answers in this regard from a representative of the cryptocurrency in Pakistan.
He had shared that people invested between US$100 to US$80,000 in fraud applications. “Those who developed these apps were linked to cryptocurrency,” the FIA official had said.
He had said that they have sought details of all those linked to the fraud with the Binance cryptocurrency and their crypto accounts would be suspended. The FIA official had further shared that cryptocurrency is being used in money laundering and terror financing.
According to details some mobile applications were offering Pakistanis to invest in the virtual currency. These applications were linked to Binance, the leading virtual platform for buying and selling Bitcoins and other similar cryptocurrencies.
However, these applications suddenly vanished and investment of around Rs17.7 billion made by Pakistanis were lost. The authorities said the unique way was adopted for fraudulent activity. The persons who launched the applications had connections with the crypto exchange.
The clinic, where the attacker pretended to visit as a patient, is owned by a Chinese dentist
COAS Bajwa tasks all formations to maintain strict vigil to guard against any threat
The victim's family received her body this morning
PTI says new audio leak only confirmed that an attempt was made to hide the US cable from Imran Khan
Shahbaz Sharif leaked the audio, says PTI chairman
Ishaq Dar says fake case was filed against him


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Blog: We can't go on, with suspicious wines
Chris Brook-Carter | 21 June 2004
We’ve had Bob Dylan wine. We’ve had Jerry Garcia wine. Now, it’s time for the Big One…
Signature Wines in California has formed the Graceland Cellars Line, featuring wines called Blue Suede Chardonnay, A King Cabernet Sauvignon and Jailhouse Red Merlot, in honour of some American singer or film star or somesuch from a few years back.
Chief executive of Signature Wines Scott Cahill said: “We are very proud of the wines we have created to honour the King of Rock and Roll. Our wineries have worked hard to put the same care into our wines that Elvis put into his music. We think fans of wine and Elvis will agree.”
Cahill then wiggled his hips, sneered a bit and dropped to his knees as the assembling journalists screamed wildly and tried to touch his feet. Or possibly not.
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Unethical buying practices worst nightmare for apparel workers
The livelihood of hundreds of Bangladeshi apparel workers working for western retailer Global Brands Group (GBG) has fallen into uncertainty. GBG has cancelled work orders worth $4.61 million due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
These cancellations or work orders on hold, and delayed payment or nonpayment, have forced suppliers to cut jobs at their factories.
GBG is a fashion accessories and apparel company which designs, develops, and sells products under a diverse array of brand names like Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, Frye, Kenneth Cole, Reiss, Sean John, Jones New York, and many more.
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) data, GBG and its importer Li-Fung have cancelled orders worth $4.61 million from 11 suppliers.
One such supplier, Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, is fighting against unethical buying practices and trying to establish workers’ rights. With work order cancellations worth $247,136, Mostafiz Uddin is facing a cash crunch to pay his 2,000 workers.
Denim Expert Ltd in Chittagong made 24,462 pieces of jeans for Sean John and Jones New York, which was cancelled by GBG.
“In my factory, hundreds of boxes of jeans are crammed against walls and packed to the ceiling. These were supposed to be shipped off by now, but the buyer cancelled the orders,” Mostafiz told Dhaka Tribune.
He said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, global buyers, including GBG, Arcadia, Asda, Burton jeans, Peacocks, owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop, have either cancelled or put a hold on work orders and payments worth $10 million.
Like Mostafiz, some 1,150 BGMEA apparel makers and suppliers have seen work order cancellations of $3.17 billion from global retailers and brands, as have many other Asian countries.
Workers worst victims of unethical practices
“Unfortunately, we all saw that after the Covid-19 pandemic surfaced some cruel unethical practices and decisions were taken by some fashion brands and retailers. The decision to cancel work orders has made the workers' jobs vulnerable and they are on the verge of losing their jobs,” Mostafiz said.
According to Industrial Policy data, over 20,000 apparel workers in Bangladesh have already lost their jobs as of June 22, 2020. People in the apparel industry say the figure will rise as owners downsize due to a lack of work orders.
“Clothing brands and retailers have cancelled orders ignoring their financial responsibility towards workers. This decision increases worker’s job losses through dismissals and temporary layoffs from factories,” said China Rahman, general secretary of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council.
“They [clothing brands] have a responsibility to stand beside workers in this crisis period. Keeping in mind the workers’ lives and livelihoods, they should clear payments and reinstate work orders,” she added.
Businesses fall due to cash crunch
“The effects of the order cancellation from GBG have left my factory in grave trouble in more ways than one. First, GBG gave the factory a sales contract but with the condition that we had to buy fabrics and accessories from their nominated suppliers under letter of credit (LCs). When they cancelled the orders, I still had to pay the suppliers for the raw materials.
“Second, due to their cancellation of orders, I could not settle the payment with my bank and as a result my factory is cash strapped,” the Denim Expert owner added.
Suppliers are also facing problems in opening LCs to import raw materials for new or existing work orders due to a shortage of cash.
“The brands in European and other western markets have started to open slowly, but there is no commitment from brands and retailers to reinstate work orders or pay for goods already shipped to retailers,” said a supplier wishing to remain anonymous. He has also faced order cancellations of $1.88 million from GBG.
Suppliers are also unable to open Letters of Credit (LCs) for new orders as they do not have funds in hand to procure raw materials, said the apparel maker.
Discounts add salt to wounds
Now in this difficult time, buyers have added yet another unethical practice, namely discounts.
“Buyers are demanding a 10% to 50% discount on work orders already produced and kept on hold. We are making at best a 3% profit. How is it possible to agree to the demand for discounts, and who will bear the bank liabilities?” said another manufacturer, who is having to deal with cancelled and work orders put on hold, worth over $2 million.
Giving a discount on such slim margins is much harder to deal with than a cancelled order, he added.
Fashion supply chain shaky
“Suppliers work for retailers and brands. Protecting the supply chain of suppliers and workers in a crisis is in the best interest of brands,” said a top official of a renowned apparel brand, wishing not to be named..
“If suppliers cannot sustain themselves, the whole fashion industry will be in trouble. Building ethical buying practices and maintaining a relation of trust is going to be very critical in a post-Covid world,” he added.
“Whatever happens, we should think about our workers. Leaving them in uncertainty will ultimately hurt moral standards and end consumers will not be on the side of the industry as a whole, he said.
How to absorb the shock
“It is a global problem, which comes from both sides—demand and supply. Buyers think about their survival as we think of ours,” said Arshad Jamal Dipu, vice president of BGMEA.
“Buyers will come back to us as we have a well-established capacity to supply, while a good number of work orders will fly from China and it will create new opportunities for us as well,” Arshad added.
The government has to play an important role with cash support as well as policy for us to remain afloat, the BGMEA VP said.
“Buyers should think about our workers and continue placing orders and reinstate cancelled orders, when the Covid-19 situation is brought under control,” the business leader said.
He expressed hope that buyers will come back with more orders.
Consumers protest unethical practices
While apparel retailers who face order cancellations or have work orders on hold, are on the verge of collapse due to non-payment or delayed payments by global buyers, social media campaigners and consumers have taken a stand against these unethical practices.
US reality TV star Kylie Jenner and Rapper Cardi B, who create garments for their Kendall+ Kylie fashion, have faced a lot of criticism on social media for reportedly refusing to pay workers in Bangladesh.
GBG owns Kendall+ Kylie, which is refusing to pay Bangladeshi factory workers who make garments for their fashion line.
Consumers have already taken a stand on social media platforms against bad practices of giant brands like GBG. Maybe soon they will hit the streets, said brand representatives.
“Kylie Jenner is the perfect example of performative activism, posting about Black Lives Matter (BLM) on her social media account just to appease her fans. But behind the scenes, her companies are unwilling to pay poor (mostly female) garment workers in Bangladesh. Make it make sense,” a fan tweeted.
Kylie is being criticized, especially for not dipping into her own funds, to pay those factory workers who are struggling financially.


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State senators encouraged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to mandate accurate labels for milk and dairy products, in one of the last acts of the first session of the 106th Legislature.
The use of the terms milk, yogurt, butter, ice cream, and cheese should be used for real dairy products, the legislature declared in LR 13.
Sen. Dave Murman sponsored the resolution. He said products derived from rice, nuts and other substances are sometimes labeled as milk, giving consumers the impression they are buying real dairy products when they are not. The legislature approved the resolution, 28-3.
Murman also noted that 10 dairy farms have closed in Nebraska just since Jan. 1. He said negative economic returns are related to misleading labels.
Meat labels should be accurate too
The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska strongly urge the FDA to label meat accurately. Meat lookalikes derive from plants or from cells cultured in a laboratory, including so-called “clean meat.” But the products do not come from meat producing livestock.
A pending bill in the Legislature, LB 594, amends Nebraska’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act to make it a crime to mislabel the category of meat.
The Legislature’s Agriculture Committee advanced LB 594 to the floor during the session, but time ran out before it could be debated.
The sponsor, Sen. Carol Blood, told ICON that the bill “will be one of the first bills up next year for a vote” in January 2020.
ICON will hold its annual convention on June 21, featuring the leading research analyst for the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee, Rick Leonard. He will discuss ways to make meat labels more accurate.
ICON’s convention will be held Friday, June 21 in Broken Bow at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, beginning at 1:30 p.m.


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TEAM Industries along with technology development company, Fallbrook Technologies (Fallbrook) recently announced their partnership to develop electric vehicle transmission prototypes. The first initiative under the agreement is for the Tomberlin Anvil, a street-legal Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) offering a range of more than 40 miles.
"We are equally committed to improve both the performance and battery life of electric vehicles," said Rob Smithson, Fallbrook's vice president of business development and CTO. "Our NuVinci product line is ideal for this purpose and designed to allow an electric car motor to operate in a more efficient manner by continuously optimizing the electric powertrain for driving conditions."
Production of the resulting powertrain will occur at TEAM Industries' Minnesota-based facilities. "Working with Fallbrook on this initiative makes perfect sense for us," said Tony Passanante, senior director of marketing and strategic planning for the company. "Our core competency is designing and manufacturing systems that transmit power and put it to work quietly and efficiently."
Unlike conventional gear and clutch transmissions, the NuVinci continuously variable planetary transmission (CVP) uses a set of rotating and tilting balls positioned between the input and output components of the transmission that tilt to vary the speed of the transmission resulting in a seamless and continuous transition to any ratio within its range. "TEAM Industries is committed to developing innovative products that advance electric vehicle driveline systems," Passanante said.
"We're continually searching for leading suppliers capable of providing technologies to make our eco-friendly automobiles more compelling and exciting than anything else like it on the market," said Michael Tomberlin, CEO of Tomberlin. "That means offering improved hill climbing, acceleration and towing capacity as well as other rider benefits in our vehicles. Developing systems that enable electric vehicles to enhance performance is a key step towards achieving that goal, thus we are very pleased to support the Fallbrook-TEAM development initiative for that reason."


text: Fertiliser manufacturer Nangoku Agriculture Development, a Japanese-Cambodian joint venture, launched operations on November 21 with the aim of supplying locally manufactured fertilisers to Cambodian farmers at affordable prices. Cambodia’s Bayon Heritage Holding Group Co Ltd holds a 60-percent stake in the $2.2-million joint venture with partner Japanese feed and fertiliser producer Nangoku Kosan Co Ltd. Chan Sokheang, CEO of Bayon Heritage Holding, said on November 21 that the company has built a fertiliser plant on three hectares of land next to National Road 4 in Kandal province. The factory will produce up to 30,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser during its first year of operation, and has the potential for further expansion. He said Bayon has imported fertiliser from Nangoku Kosan for re-packaging and distribution in the local Cambodian market since 2007. The decision to invest in a local production facility came after observing the steadily growing demand for fertiliser in the market, where a 50-kilo bag fetches a relatively high $25 on average.


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IBM forecasts that in five years, computers will gain the five senses and experience the world as humans do.
With the 2012 Paralympic Games nearing its final stretch, these devices show what lies ahead in prosthetics, from bionic limbs to incredibly sophisticated robotic hands.
In the age of the Apple rumor mill, almost nothing the technology giant announces is a total surprise. It wasn't always that way.
From slick, touch-enabled remote controls to robots that clean your floors for you, these cool gadgets are the most droolworthy devices out there.
Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in renting, buying or remodeling your home.
Microsoft is making a bid to own the living room with its new entertainment device.
As well as the 5 best.
Retiring boomers are helping the recreational vehicle industry get back on track. Here are 8 choices for traveling in style.
Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in the investing world, from beer can makers and ETFs, to Chinese technology and more.
From a restaurant owner who hid cash receipts in "seasoned octopus" boxes to a self-proclaimed governor of Alabama who buried gold coins in his yard, here are some of ...
These cars and trucks double as cabs, cargo vans, and everything in between.
These millennials take issue with the 'entitled' stigma - and no, they aren't just whining.
Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in Bordeaux, coffee, lobster and more.
|Sony shares boom on spin off speculation|
|Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console|
|Apple grilled about tax havens|
|Bank of Japan maintains policy, cheers Abenomics|
|Judge rules Airbnb illegal in New York City|


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Ancient amphibian arcade hit Frogger is being updated for the 21st century with the inclusion of real-time traffic from a New York street.
5th Ave Frogger includes cars and trucks from the real 5th Avenue, tracked via webcam and turned into 8-bit obstacles for you to avoid.
New York creative chap Tyler DeAngelo is the brains behind the new game. He's been charting its progress via the 5th Ave Frogger blog, documenting the game's car-scanning technology, day and night modes and giant rats.
"This year is Frogger's 30 (ish) birthday," DeAngelo explained. "To celebrate, I wanted to imagine what Frogger would be like if it was developed today."
Footage of 5th Ave Frogger's car-tracking tech lies through the link below.


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Pfizer says it’s making progress on COVID-19 vaccine, even as its profits are hurt by pandemic
By Linda A. Johnson
Oct 27, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Drugmaker Pfizer saw its third-quarter profit plunge 71%, mainly due to an $8.1 billion gain a year earlier from selling its consumer health care business to a GlaxoSmithKline joint venture, but managed to top Wall Street expectations.
Meanwhile, the New York-based company on Tuesday said disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic reduced medicine sales in the U.S. and China by about $500 million. Still, Pfizer raised and narrowed its profit forecasts slightly for all of 2020.
The maker of the world’s top-selling vaccine, Prevnar 13 for preventing pneumonia and related bacterial diseases, reported net income of $2.2 billion, or 39 cents per share, down from $7.7 billion, or $1.36 per share, in 2019′s third quarter.
Excluding one-time items, adjusted income came to $4.1 billion, or 72 cents per share. That beat Wall Street expectations by 2 cents, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.
Revenue totaled $12.1 billion, down 4% from $12.7 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Pfizer said it now expects 2020 adjusted earnings per-share of $2.88 to $2.93, tweaked from its July forecast of $2.85 to $2.95. It expects revenue of $48.8 billion to $49.5 billion, narrowed from its previous forecast of $48.6 billion to $50.6 billion.
The biggest U.S. drugmaker by revenue is in the process of spinning off its established products business, which sells mostly off-patent medicines, to combine it with generic drug maker Mylan.
That deal is expected to close by year-end, leaving Pfizer roughly 20% smaller, nimbler and more focused on developing innovative medicines. Pfizer expects to be able to grow revenue at least 6% annually through 2025 as a result of the transformation.


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The Switch hacking scene has been steadily growing for quite some time now, with it getting its start not too long after the console first launched back in early 2017. Fast-forward to now, and many different projects have come about from the Switch hacking community. One of the more ambitious projects has been getting Android to run on the system. Efforts have been made in the past, but now things have really taken off with a port of LineageOS.
LineageOS is a ‘flavor’ of Android that is free and open-source. It can be flashed onto a variety of devices, and now that includes Nintendo Switch systems that have been hacked. This is the first publically available Android release for the Switch, and it came about mostly thanks to the Nvidia Shield TV also supporting Android. The Shield TV uses the same Nvidia Tegra X1 chip that powers the Switch, so the developers of this Switch Android ROM were able to use the coding from that to create this port of the OS.
LineageOS on Switch functions just as you would expect any Android tablet to perform. Features like the Play Store and a browser are present, along with full support for the Joy-Con and even (basic) Bluetooth audio. Apps that are still missing from the native Switch like Netflix are also now accessible.
Here it is in action:
Not all hacking is bad
The topic of Switch hacking has been discussed extensively here on Nintendo Enthusiast, and most of it has been negative as a lot of it has revolved around reports of piracy. But, this is one of the rarer instances where hacking has led to something cool, rather than it being nefarious. Seeing Android running on Switch just goes to show that Nintendo itself could do way more with the actual Switch OS, as the system is clearly capable of it. But, for some reason, the company has still kept SwitchOS extremely bare bones. Perhaps that has to do with optimizing for speed more than anything else. Regardless, the X1 has enough power to handle more, as evidenced by this Android ROM.
Nintendo cannot really do anything to stop projects like this from happening (and who knows if this specifically is that much of a bother?) Though, the upcoming revised and improved Switch model along with the Switch Lite feature a different chipset than the units we’ve had up until now. That new chipset is a slightly enhanced version of the same Tegra X1, but it now goes by the codename of ‘Mariko’. The Mariko-based Tegra X1s have been said to feature coding that is completely different than the first-gen Switch units, so all of the exploits that hackers have found would be impossible to use with the ‘new’ Switch units. There’s no telling if the Mariko chipsets will be hacked as quickly as the original Switch was, but Nintendo is likely hoping that is not the case, in addition to most likely taking more precautions this time around.


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The Novell-sponsored Mono Project on Tuesday will offer a beta version of Moonlight 4, an open source Linux implementation of Microsoft's Silverlight rich Internet application plug-in that tracks the most recent Microsoft release, Silverlight 4.
Oracle executives talked up on Thursday the planned Solaris 11 release due in 2011, with the Unix OS upgrade offering advancements in availability, security, and virtualization.
Office 365: A revamped offering that combines the features of BPOS with Office 2010. From what we've seen of the Office 365 beta, it still has a long way to go before it can be considered a true turnkey solution for business.
The iPhone leads the pack when it comes to using the Web over mobile devices, according to a new study released today by Informa Telecoms & Media.
After all the hype about the new MacBook Air releases last week, all the oohing and aahing over the engineering that slipped a significant amount of power and capability into such a tiny package, I was ready to be somewhat disappointed by the new 13....
One of the best ways to see what's changed with the ninth and newest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer is to tune into beautyoftheweb.com and watch the words, images, and DIVs bounce around, luring the world into pretty images and information...
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


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Fans of Red Dead Redemption have been anxiously awaiting news of when the next installment in the series is going to be released and if this rumor turns out to be true, it may be coming soon. The image below was leaked by the Danish retailer Coolshop, who previously leaked the accurate release date of GTA V. So, if they turn out to be correct again, it looks like you’ll be able to start playing on June 8th, 2018.
Who remembers this Danish Retailer who revealed the #GTAV (PS4/XB1) Release date months before its announcement?
They've now listed Red Dead Redemption II to release on June 8th 2018.
📷 @therealjackster pic.twitter.com/UdifiFg5cS
— Red Dead News • RockstarINTEL.com (@RDonlineNews) December 28, 2017


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Three states have authorized digital plate technology, and Colorado is included on the expansion list.
So, you’re parked on I-25’s usual rush hour traffic jam, and you get a hankering for pizza. Why? If there’s any truth to swirling rumors, the people stuck all around you could be advertising Dominoes through their cars’ license plates.
Far-fetched you say? Not anymore. Reviver Auto has designed and tested a brand-new, digital license plate that has already been approved in Arizona, California, and Michigan. In Arizona, the approval came on the heels of more than a year-long testing period to see how the plates would work.
The company has said that it plans to expand the pilot program to Colorado.
“Reviver Auto has brought license plates into the 21st century, offering modern conveniences to improve the overall driving experience,” said Neville Boston, CEO, Reviver Auto, which is based in Foster City, CA.
Its benefits are numerous, from efficiency to what the technology can actually do.
“We have completely reinvented the 125-year-old stamped metal license plate into a connected car platform that digitizes and can automate the costly, often frustrating, and time-consuming Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) registration renewal process,” the company says on its website.
Digital plates have the potential to save a lot of money by eliminating paper mail and registration stickers. It also gives display space to a host of messages, including amber alerts, stolen cars, and pretty much anything you can think of. A plate could also be set up to pay tolls automatically, which would likely be welcome by our E-470 and Express Lane drivers. Geofencing and mileage tracking are also available, meaning you can’t fudge those mileage expense reports any longer.
Courtesy of Reviver Auto.
That also could mean advertisements on parked cars, which walks that thin line between benefit and inconvenience. Personally, if I am selling insurance through my car’s license plate (which I paid for), I better be getting a piece of that advertising revenue pie and a say over what wares my car is hocking.
There is also some concern over privacy and data with the new technology, specifically how safe is data connected to the plate and is it easy to hack into and steal. It also has the potential to reveal where you are at all times you are driving.
In addition, the cost might cause a few roadblocks for those wishing to try out the technology. Plates in the Arizona pilot started at about $499.
In response to the concerns, the company told NPR that the location feature can be turned off manually at a driver’s discretion, and any alerts would happen in quick, less-distracting flashes. It also says that information is not shared with DMVs, law enforcement, or other third parties and is held to the same standards as banks use on their online systems.
Check out Reviver Auto’s project overview to learn more:
What do you think? Would you be one of the first to try out a digital license plate? Do you have concerns? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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The little building at 745 Bennett Road has been home to a number of food and beverage businesses over the years. It was the original location of Redlight Redlight before that popular beer bar moved to Corrine Drive. I believe there was a barbecue restaurant at one point, and in the 1990s it was a gay bar.
More recently it served as the first location for the Smiling Bison, which opened a second location in Sanford in 2015 then last year made that its only location by leaving Bennett Road.
No food trend has hold quite as strongly as tacos. Not that tacos are new. The taco as its known from its roots predates the arrival to Mexico of Spaniards, who apparently were able to just walk in because there was no wall to keep them out. And some of those early tacos were just as creative in their fillings as some of our tonier craft tacomongers, with such things as whole, small fish in a tortilla wrapper.
Paul Bocuse, one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, named Chef of the Century in 2011 by the Culinary Institute of America, and one of the trio of famous cooks who opened Les Chefs de France at Epcot, died Saturday, Jan. 20 in France. He would have turned 92 on Feb. 11.
Because of his restaurants at Epcot, Bocuse maintained a home in
If you missed out on the April dates for our trip to France, take heart: New dates have been added for June.
We’ll be traveling to Paris and Lyon June 23 through 30. Chef Kevin Fonzo and I will lead the tour, which is being curated by Art in Voyage — Beyond Travel. We have a lot planned — even if you’re a frequent visitor to France, you’ll love some of the “insider” things we have planned, including an exclusive dinner at Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower, a day-trip to Champagne country, and a cooking class using the ingredients gathered from a local market. In Lyon, we’ll pay our respects to Paul Bocuse by visiting his famous restaurant.


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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority-DVLA has issued a long press statement in an address to Nana Aba Anamoah’s fake Range Rover registration number brouhaha on social media.
The ace journalist took over social media on her birthday last Friday when she received a brand new Range Rover with the registration number GR 2050-20 as a special birthday gift from an unknown person.
Soon after the pictures of the Range Rover went viral, an analogous shot of the registration details of the another car’s license plate GR 2050-20 which pointed to a Nissan Rogue registered somewhere in January 2020 surfaced.
This raised suspicions on social media as the majority of netizens could not fathom why a big personality like Nana Aba Anamoah, now the General Manager at GhOne TV on her birthday fake the car gift.
As we all know, nothing can be hidden on social media. Concerned social media secret investigators went on a search to find the purported Nissan Rogue SUV that bears the same registration number as Nana Aba’s.
Surprisingly, the very car was found parked by the roadside having the same number plate as the Range Rover car that was gifted to Nana Aba by an unknown person as a birthday present.
See photo of the Nissan Rogue SUV and the Range Rover car with the same number plate;
This issue caught the eye of the Authorities of DVLA as the car number seen on the Range Rover birthday gift was also seen on the Nissan Rogue SUV car that went viral on social media. Hence issuing a statement.
The DVLA in reaction to the social media tumult said the issue has come to their attention and that Nana Aba could face up to 12 months jail sentence if she attempts to put the car into use without registering it.
Read the full press statement below;
Meanwhile, Nana Aba Anamoah is yet to react to the reaction from the Driving and licensing institution – DVLA. GhPage News is monitoring to bring you the updates.


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MG Motor India and Fortum Charge and Drive India have undertaken the first step towards creating DC Fast Charging infrastructure (50 KW) in the country. The carmaker announced a tie-up with Finland-based Fortum to install the country’s first 50 KW DC fast-charging EV stations, ahead of the launch of its debut EV in India – the MG EZS global pure electric SUV.
Fortum will install 50 KW CCS/CHAdeMO DC fast public charging stations for electric vehicles across MG’s showrooms in five cities. Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “The upcoming launch of MG eZs is aligned with the government’s long-term objective to have more electric vehicles on the road in the next few years.”
Sanjay Aggarwal, Managing Director, Fortum India, said, “We are happy to collaborate with one of the world’s leading automotive companies to bolster the adoption of EV which has been greatly promoted by Government by bringing out various enabling policy measures and guidelines.


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Crafted using volcanic spring water from an inactive volcano near the city of Tequila, Mexico, Vida de Louie’s Tequila Blanco is distilled from agave that has been cooked for 32-36 hours in brick ovens and stainless-steel autoclaves.
Company to sell, distribute and merchandise Italian sparkling water in January 2020
November 11, 2019
Danone Waters of America, White Plains, N.Y., announced that it will sell, distribute and merchandise Ferrarelle, an Italian sparkling natural mineral water, in the United States as of January 2020. The long-term master distribution agreement will focus on building the brand in the United States and includes Ferrarelle glass formats through on-premise channels.
As consumers avidly are awaiting the summer season, their thirst for premium bottled water remains high. In the Readers’ Choice: New Product poll for April, Beverage Industry readers’ selected Poland Spring ORIGIN bottled water as their favorite new product release.
As consumer preferences continue to trend toward better-for-you options, industry experts are seeing the connection between consumers wanting healthy-halo beverages and the continued growth of bottled water sales.
Los Angeles-based Icelandic Glacial announced that its sustainably sourced spring water has added thousands of doors in the convenience and grocery channels nationwide. This is in addition to its on-premise growth the company has seen in restaurants and hotels, it says.
Keeping their talent all in the family, four of the five Griffin sisters have been bottling pure, natural water sourced from underground limestone springs at the family owned Highbridge Springs Water Co. for the past 36 years.
AMC’s popular TV show “The Walking Dead” has been captivating viewers for eight seasons now. But now when family and friends gather for viewing parties, they also can imbibe with The Walking Dead Wine collection.
With the first Readers’ Choice: New Product of the Month in the books for 2018, it looks as though readers of Beverage Industry still have health and wellness on their minds. For the January poll, the Top 3 vote-getters tap into healthy hydration trends.
In the July 2020 issue of Beverage Industry, the magazine highlights how Calypso Lemonade is looking to follow up its 2019 success with more great releases. Also in this issue is the 2020 State of the Beverage Industry report, features on plant water beverages, clean label ingredients and THC usage in beverage formulations.


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Accenture raises business outlook for fiscal 2021; now expects full-year revenue growth of 4% to 6% in local currency; GAAP EPS of $8.17 to $8.40; adjusted EPS of $8.02 to $8.25; and free cash flow of $6.0 billion to $6.5 billion.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has created a significant amount of volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption. Accenture’s second-quarter and full-year 2021 business outlook reflect its assumptions, as of today, regarding the continued effect of the coronavirus pandemic. The extent to which this continues to impact Accenture’s business, operations, and financial results, including the duration and magnitude of such impact, will depend on numerous evolving factors that are difficult to accurately predict, including those discussed in the Risk Factors set forth in Accenture’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accenture’s business outlook for the full 2021 fiscal year now assumes that the foreign exchange impact on its results in U.S. dollars will be positive 3% compared with fiscal 2020; the previous foreign-exchange assumption was positive 2%.
Maya Grinberg is a careers Reporter for Tech News vision make it. Prior to joining Tech News Vision, she worked as a fiction stories and a freelancer for magazine, where she eventually worked her way up to careers editor. During this time, she created daily content for own website and worked with the research team to create content. she developed some own Newswebsite.


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A woman who was arrested seven times for shoplifting is now facing a felony charge after being caught stealing again, this time using a garbage can, officials said.
Jennifer D. Banato loaded men's clothing and five Xbox video games into a 32-gallon garbage can and tried to leave without paying at the Walmart store at 2926 Nazareth Pike, Lower Nazareth Twp., Northampton Co., around 8:15 p.m. Friday, said officials. The total cost of the merchandise -- including the garbage can -- was $151.59.
Court papers show Banato was out on bail after being charged with shoplifting on Nov. 8, 2012. She was convicted of shoplifting in March 1990, February 1995 and December 1998 and has been arrested three other times for the crime.
Banato also is wanted on drug charges in the state of Indiana, according to court records.
Banato, 41, of 125 Chestnut St., Bath, was arraigned on a charge of felony retail theft and committed to Northampton County Prison on $40,000 bail, according to court documents.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 5.


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TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — With a new general manager and a ground-up grassroots plan in place, French tire company Hutchinson is focusing on growing its North American market in 2014. Hutchinson is one of the world's oldest tire manufacturers, founded in France in 1890.
Roy Hough was hired to take the helm in the U.S. in November 2013. Formerly the national sales manager at Advanced Sports International, which owns Fuji, Kestrel and other brands, Hough said that while Hutchinson has always been regarded as an excellent tire company in the U.S., it has also flown under the radar.
“In the past, the company relied on a top-down distributor model for getting product out there, with the hope that retailers would buy it,” he said. “And it was always hard to get momentum that way.”
Hough said that the new strategy includes growing from the ground up, primarily by expanding dealer focus and "influencing the influencers." Through its “Tubeless Nation” campaign, Hutchinson hopes to get more people riding its tires. “The goal is to build brand loyalty to help drive demand and dealer sales,” he said. “So we will be sponsoring events and teams as well as providing a purchasing program for shop employees.”
Hutchinson will also work to strengthen relationships with IBDs and distributors. “Even though its a French company, there won't be a disconnect,” said Hough. “We have a great team on the ground here that can work directly with IBDs and distributors to support them in every way, from product availability to a painless warranty process.”
“We hope to win by providing great customer service and a great product,” he continued. “We'll also be shouting our message from the rooftops.”
Hough also said that aggressive OE sales are also part of Hutchinson's plan for U.S. growth, and that it's looking toward increasing its spec' with a number of companies in 2015. Hutchinson is a pioneer in tubeless tire technology and was one of the first companies to bring it to market. Road and tubeless road tires currently account for the majority of Hutchinson's U.S. sales, but Hough hopes that increased brand loyalty will drive sales up in mountain and cyclocross as well.
“It's important to us that consumers know that Hutchinson makes all tires in all sizes,” he said. “Which is why we are making a big push to sponsor athletes in all disciplines and support all kinds of events, from triathlon to downhill mountain biking.”


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Sunny Beach, Bulgaria and Marmaris, Turkey are the joint-cheapest of 16 popular European resorts, according to Post Office Travel Money’s annual Family Holiday Report.
The report’s Beach Barometer, produced with travel company Tui, estimated a cost of around £86 for 12 common holiday expenses including a family meal, drinks, sun cream, insect repellent and beach items ranging from buckets and spades to lilos, ice-creams, and pedalo rides at the two destinations.
The report suggests local prices have doubled in Marmaris compared with summer 2019 but the collapse of the Turkish lira since then has helped to reduce the impact.
However, Britons can expect to pay almost 11% more than three years ago in Maramaris, compared with 8% at Sunny Beach.
Despite the rises, costs at the two destinations were over 20% lower than in the cheapest Eurozone resort, Portugal’s Algarve, which came in at £108 for the 12 items.
Funchal, Madeira was next cheapest at £125, followed by the Costa Del Sol, Spain at £127 and Corfu, Greece at £133.
The most expensive was Ibiza, with a cost of roughly £186 on the barometer, followed by Puglia, Italy at around £185.
However, prices have fallen in both Ibiza and Puglia since 2019, by 4.9% and 5.2% respectively.
The biggest price increase was seen in Crete with a 37.7% rise in prices, now costing around around £161.
The report shows prices have risen in three quarters of the 16 European destinations included as a result of higher resort charges for meals and drinks and sterling’s fall in value.
The average rise across those which saw increases was 13.3%.
British tourists are suffering a recent tumble in the value of the pound, currently trading at 1.17 euros after reaching a 2022 high of 1.21 euros in April.
Nick Boden, Head of Post Office Travel Money, which accounts for one-in-four UK foreign exchange transactions, said: “Sterling’s recent fall against European currencies and ongoing uncertainty about how it will perform in the coming weeks means that keeping a tight rein on resort spending will be crucial for families this summer to avoid busting the holiday budget.
“We found big price variations in the 16 destinations surveyed, particularly across 13 Eurozone resorts. This makes it doubly important for holidaymakers to do their homework and budget carefully to cover costs in the holiday resort they are visiting. We also found that prices can vary dramatically between resorts in the same country. In Greece, for example, barometer costs were 17% lower in Corfu than in Crete.”
The report also revealed that almost three-in-five (59%) families are planning trips abroad this year but over three-quarters (76%) of them bust their budget by almost 38% on their last holiday, spending £243 extra on the average budget of £644 they had set.


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The Nintendo Switch has continued to be the best-selling console despite the release of next-gen hardware.
In November, according to NPD Group data, sales of the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite hit 1.35 million units in the US. As a result, the console has remained the top-selling console for 24 consecutive months.
The Japanese hardware broke the record for consecutive months back in October after it crossed the 22-month threshold.
It is worth noting that Black Friday played a big part in the success of Switch sales last month. Overall, games for the console made up 38 per cent of Black Friday week sales.
Switch it up
So far this year, Nintendo has shifted 6.92 million Switch consoles in the US. Recently, it was revealed that 1.3 million had been sold in China so far this year.
“Nintendo Switch offers a unique proposition for shoppers this holiday season with the ability to play on the TV or portably in handheld mode,” said Nintendo of America SVP sales and marketing Nick Chavez.
“We continue to see unprecedented demand for Nintendo Switch, and we are pleased that people of all ages and gaming skill levels will be experiencing Nintendo Switch this holiday and beyond.”


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While the PSN is still down, as I type, Sony are already previewing what gamers will get once the network goes up again.
While gamers, like myself, have been robbed of the opportunity to play online for games such as Portal 2, and Mortal Kombat, not to mention "old" favourites like Black Ops, many may suffer far worse consequences with the theft of personal details and credit card info.
As such, Sony will hope to placate angry gamers, and future potential victims of identity theft, by offering a free one year subscription to an identity theft protection service, currently confirmed for the U.S., but likely to be offered for other regions as well.
The other part of the compensation comes in the form of free games. Out of five games, gamers will be able to select two to download, via PSN once it's back up again no doubt. There will also be two free PSP games to choose from, from a list of four, for those with the portable console. No clues has been given as to the names of the titles, but with Sony eager to make up for their mistakes, hopefully the games will be of high quality.
And along with the free 30-day PlayStation Plus subscription originally announced, on top of the free days being given to cover the outage, Sony will hope these freebies will be enough to make gamers happy again.
Update: Sony spokesman Shigenori Yoshida has hinted that the PSN may not be back until 31st of May, although this is apparently the deadline for the "full reboot" of the system, with suggestions that a limited version of the network may be up and running sooner.
Nobuo Kurahashi, an analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities, estimates that the total financial damage to Sony in relation to the PSN hack may amount to more than $1.25 billion in lost business!


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The Met Gala is here – the most prestigious event for fashion across the globe – where A-list celebrities walk the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for a high-end fundraiser. Under this year’s theme, In America: An Anthology Of Fashion, attendees can only hope their designer’s interpretations bag them a spot on best-dressed lists.
Selena Gomez was a regular fixture at the event between 2014 and 2018 but her absence in recent years has been duly noted by fans.
The actress and singer, renowned for her works with Disney, is somewhat of a fashion icon, and social media users have taken to their platforms to, er, “manifest” her return. Is this enough to make Selena Gomez at the 2022 Met Gala happen?
Attendees confirmed for 2022 Met Gala
Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda have been named as this year’s co-chairs of the event, which guarantees their spots on the guest list. Lively attended the Met Gala between 2008 and 2018 so tonight (2 May 2022) will mark her first appearance in four years.
Megan Thee Stallion’s attendance has been confirmed by Page Six, which reports she will be wearing Moschino.
Katy Perry is also on the 2022 Met Gala’s guest list. While she has been noted for her “kooky, crazy, wild, big, fun, colorful” looks in the past, this year she is “going to play a different card”.
To fans’ delight, 2022 marks the year every Kardashian/Jenner sister will be in attendance. Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift also hold spots on the guest list.
- TRENDING: Cecil Hotel’s eerie history – tragic deaths and people vanishing without trace
Fans want Selena Gomez there
So far, Gomez’s attendance is unconfirmed. Gomez didn’t show up to the previous two Met Galas, where her absence was made public beforehand by her make-up artist, Hugo Vanngo.
This year, Vanngo has not made an announcement, but he did post a video on his Instagram story captioned “Met Prep”, which was tagged in a New York location. He has also worked with JLo, Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls and Katy Perry in the past, which suggests he may not necessarily be prepping for Gomez’s 2022 Met Gala look but someone else’s.
During her appearance in 2018, Gomez suffered a tanning mishap where the lotion she applied gradually turned more orange as the night went on. Her appearance made headlines.
In response, Gomez told Newsweek: “As the evening kept going on it was getting a little darker and darker, and I didn’t notice it. And I’m at the Met Gala – basically one of the most prestige, beautiful events – and I’m walking trying to look all beautiful.
“And I look at a photo of myself when I sit down and I’m completely orange. I was like, ‘This is going to be terrible because I’m gonna get eaten alive about this.'”
And although Selena posted a lighthearted video in response to the tanning error, suggesting it didn’t affect her, some fans feared the incident was the reason she dodged future events.
On 1 May 2022, the day before the fashion event, Selena Gomez announced her make-up company, Rare Beauty, was launching a campaign for Mental Health Awareness Month entitled Your Words Matter. Some fans theorised she might make use of her Met Gala invite to promote the initiative and attract awareness.
One user wrote on Twitter: “Selena better go to the Met Gala to at least promote Rare Beauty! Like her impact is insane.”
Someone else said: “Selena’s make-up could never go wrong with Rare Beauty, there’s no way the last Met Gala disaster could ever happen again. I don’t know why wouldn’t she wanna attend.”
Another said: “I want Selena to attend Met Gala so bad.”
- VIRAL: Naomi Judd’s battle with hepatitis revisited as country singer dies age 76
Selena Gomez’s most iconic Met Gala look yet
Selena Gomez’s most iconic Met Gala look occurred in 2017, when she wore an embellished white Coach gown under the event theme Rei Kawakubo/Comme Des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between.
A small white purse, rose gold kitten heels, and a matching choker completed the look.
Alongside Anna Wintour, Rihanna, Jaden Smith, and Rose Bryne, Gomez was noted in E News’ best-dressed list. She turned up to the event with her then-boyfriend The Weeknd.


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Norway's NattoPharma is celebrating after gaining permission to use its vitamin K2 ingredient in functional foods and supplements throughout the European Union.
The company said it was "extremely proud" to have finally won approval for MenaQ7 after a three-stage process which began almost a year ago with the granting of a positive scientific opinion by the European Food Safety Authority in November 2008. This was followed by Novel Food approval in April this year and, earlier this month, formal endorsement of the ingredient by the European Commission.
MenaQ7 is extracted from fermented soybeans, which provides natural vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7, a long chained molecule said to offer superior bio-availability and health effects in low doses, and which has been linked with benefits to bone and cardiovascular health.
The ingredient will appear on EU's list of approved ingredients as vitamin K2 specified as menaquinone-7 and traces of menaquinone-6. Nattopharma said this was a particular form of Vitamin K2, which meant it alone was able to market this ingredient in the EU.
"With interest in the vitamin K2 market growing rapidly, NattoPharma now has an important competitive advantage, as the EU approval has been given based on our production process and product specifications," claimed Nattopharma CEO Thomas Christensen. "When the new official vitamin list is published, which will be soon, we will be the only company that can legally sell vitamin K2 in the EU, which is a must for success in the market."
The EU did not publish branded product names in its legislation, he said, warning: "We are aware that the description might confuse actors in the market to believe that all products with this vitamin K2 content are now legal. However, no other vitamin K2 products than MenaQ7 are presently approved for sale in the EU. Our competitors must recognise that it is their responsibility to apply for relevant authorization and to comply with all relevant Community food laws. We are extremely proud that NattoPharma's clinical investment and regulatory work over several years has finally resulted in a positive regulatory position for our vitamin K2 product . Customers are now able to introduce MenaQ7 products in all EU countries."


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March 1, according to VentureBeat reported that the 2018 Mobile World Congress on the major announcements of 5G have been settled, there are two very clear: First, the 5G network faster than recently expected; the second , Based on the current relationship with 5G modem suppliers, before the introduction of 5G iPhone, Apple is facing difficult challenges.
In 2007, when the first iPhone was released without 3G network support, or in 2012, when the iPhone 5 was launched just two years after the 4G network appeared, the second or even tenth of the market for Apple came to market Not important. But things have changed a great deal since then. Apple is currently the world's No. 1 or No. 2 smartphone maker, depending on Apple's quarterly results, while iPhone's revenue accounts for 1/2 to 2/3 of its revenue.
In addition, Apple's current flagship handset is a leader in technology and sales. So if Apple decides to wait for the 5G technology to mature (undoubtedly 2019's biggest new technology), it could hurt both its share, its market share and its reputation for innovation. I will not tell you what Apple is going to do because it is the business decision of its chief executive, Tim Cook, that Apple may need to work with its partners it does not like. But let me outline four of the four paths that Apple will choose and tell you what direction I think is most likely to be chosen.
The first choice: Qualcomm
Under normal circumstances, Qualcomm will become Apple's most suitable 5G partner. Qualcomm's modems have been used in the iPhone for years, sometimes even exclusively, until Apple introduced Intel modems recently. The San Francisco-based chip maker has been working on the development of 5G technology for many years, pushing 5G standardization ahead of schedule and signing dozens of 5G customers.
Figure: Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon announced that 19G manufacturers and 18 operators will use Snapdragon X50 modems on its 5G devices to customers in 2019
However, Apple and Qualcomm are on the issue of 4G royalty costs. In the past year, 4G patent fees have evolved from "mainly a matter of funding" to "an international antitrust war." At present, the legal dispute has escalated. Apple claims to completely abandon the use of Qualcomm chips in the new iPhone launched in 2018 and has been striving to remove some Qualcomm products from its products. Given the different networking needs of the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, this is not an easy task.
So why is Qualcomm the first to be on the list for Apple's 5G iPhone? One solution to such disputes is that both parties rely on each other and Qualcomm recently struck a similar patent with another major customer, Samsung Licensing issues. As discussed below, Apple may not have a better choice when it comes to launching the first 5G handsets, and reconciliation with Qualcomm will make future device development easier.
The second choice: Samsung
The traditional view is that Apple does not really like Samsung because the lawsuits over the years have shown that Apple sees the Korean company as a "plagiarized artist" and often plagiarizes Apple's innovations. However, Samsung's components are used inside many Apple devices, sometimes screens, sometimes chips, and sometimes even ideas. Apple's latest flagship phone iPhone X uses a super retina screen that relies entirely on Samsung supplies because of rival LG Corp.'s inability to meet Apple's quality requirements.
Samsung has publicly announced plans for a 5G device with a prototype tablet released earlier this month, and the Galaxy S10 will almost certainly support 5G technology. Not surprisingly, Samsung has also made 5G modems and now has CDMA support as well as hardware that can be used to provide 5G wireless services for the entire home, including the optimized performance of Samsung handsets.
This is bad news for Apple because Apple recently dropped out of the wireless router business and although Samsung no longer has the peculiar optimization of Apple, Apple is also losing the chance to build friendly relationships with major South Korean suppliers. With all these things in mind, I think Samsung may be the "dark horse" for Apple's 5G iPhone. It's hard to imagine Apple giving up its pride and relying on another Samsung solution to solve the iPhone's key problems. But considering the current legal dispute with Qualcomm, it may not have other realistic options.
The third choice: Intel
Intel is listed as Apple's third path, and in two cases it can easily become Apple's 5G companion: If Intel's 5G modem is better known than the public or if Apple is willing to wait for the first generation of 5G devices first Listing. Both of these situations are possible.
In the 4G era, Intel's modem has lagged far behind Qualcomm, so that Apple had to disable Qualcomm chips on some iPhones in order to use Intel's modems with other iPhones. Without the detailed specifications of the upcoming XMM8000 Series 5G modem from Intel, many people think this may be a mistake and Intel will once again try to keep up with Qualcomm.
Figure: February 27, 2018, Visitors Visit Intel Mobile World Congress booth, the first to see is the concept of support for the concept of 5G PC
The biggest question now is whether Intel will have any 5G modem that supports smartphones by 2019. This week, Intel said it will have a 5G modem for laptops by the end of 2019, which will be a long wait. Unlike rivals that already make early 5G chips, Intel may miss the 2019 mobile phone market opportunity. Of course, Apple and Intel know more than the details they talk openly on this topic, but Intel does not have any 5G handset announcements at a big show like the MWC, suggesting that Apple needs to pick another path.
The fourth choice: Apple
The last road is also a way I do not quite believe, that is Apple's next year to launch its own 5G modem. As we all know, Apple is actively committed to the development of wireless chips, Apple W series chips have appeared in Apple Watch, AirPods and Beats headphones.
However, a complete modem will be a big step forward for Apple, and 5G modems are now almost unthinkable. Just as Apple is likely to enjoy having this particular component in its device, the 5G is so complex from an engineering and test standpoint that I do not believe Apple will use its own modem on the first 5G iPhone . 2020 or 2021? Maybe.
One of the problems is antenna design. Qualcomm pointed out to reporters at MWC that 5G equipment makers will need to find ways to keep multiple antennas accessible to avoid drastic data loss. To solve this problem, especially on 5G millimeter-wave modems, Intel's notebook solution at MWC is a huge pair of stand-offs for use as an antenna. Apple will never accept such a solution, but it requires the help of engineers and test its own smarter design.
Which way will Apple go?
It's easy to conclude that Apple may first rely on Qualcomm, Samsung or Intel to launch its first 5G iPhone, as long as it has confidence in network compatibility and performance, it will switch to using its own modem. But this conclusion poses two key questions: Which company will become its first 5G modem supplier? When will this cooperation begin?
If I can only choose one of the companies as Apple's most likely partner, I may choose between Intel and Qualcomm, which is based entirely on publicly available information. Although Intel is hyped about its 5G technology at sports events, it has not yet announced the fact that the smartphone transaction shows it may lag behind its competitors in certain key areas. For Apple, this means either waiting for Intel to introduce new technology, or choose Qualcomm or Samsung. Apple and Qualcomm disputes are funding problems, although there are still funds and plagiarism with Samsung, but the two sides did not stop the cooperation. Solving the lawsuit with Qualcomm will allow Apple to immediately get 5G chips to launch 5G iPhone.
Of course, it is also possible Apple sit back and see the first generation of 5G equipment market, then shot again, which has precedent in 3G and 4G. I think the current risk of Apple's involvement in the 5G is too high, but we expect to see the 5G iPhone in 2020 if the company is willing to launch new phones at a risk of reputational and stock price damage. If so, Samsung will be the loser in the high-end 5G smartphone market.
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PlayStation 4 UK’s best selling home console in 2013
Since its launch on November 29, PlayStation 4 has sold over 530,000 units in the UK, making it the best selling home console in 2013. In the final week of 2013 it was a tight race between Xbox 360 and PS4, with Sony’s console just edging it in the end by a few thousand units. The PlayStation’s impressive sale record in just five weeks has made it the fastest selling machine in UK history.
Speaking to MCV, PlayStation UK MD Fergal Gara stated, “We are delighted with the very strong sales of PS4 to date.”
“Since we unveiled the console, gamers have shown huge interest in the PS4. Our focus now is rebuilding stock levels so those have not been able to get a PS4 can finally experience the next-gen. I’d like to thank the gamers, our retail and publishing partners who played a big part in making this success possible.”
While Sony’s next-gen console outperformed its predecessor, it seems the same can’t be said for Microsoft with the Xbox 360 having more sales than Xbox One in 2013.
However despite being the best selling home console in 2013, the PlayStation 4 didn’t sell the most gaming devices through the year. The Nintendo 3DS managed to sell more devices, however sale figures aren’t currently available.
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News - Mercedes-Benz - E-class - E200K Classic sedan
Revised E-class here end of year
Mercedes-Benz is enjoying a successful year in Australia and its fortunes may improve further as it launches the A190 and updates the E-class range
25 Jun 1999
MERCEDES-Benz will boost its lineup with the A190 and a revised E-class range during the second half of this year.
Due here in August, the A190 will supplement its cheaper A160 stablemate at the lower end of the Mercedes-Benz range.
Priced around $46,000, it will be marketed as a niche model, according to Mercedes-Benz Australia public relations manager Jeff Fisher.
"The A160 will continue to be the volume seller of the range," he says.
Mr Fisher says the A190 is likely to be offered in one specification level only, the range-topping Avantgarde trim.
As such, it will come well-equipped, with alloy wheels, leather upholstery and a rear spoiler supplementing the usual features such as dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking and electric windows.
The A190 is powered by a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine that develops around 100kW, which should give the baby Benz a handy performance boost over its lesser A160 sibling.
Mercedes-Benz's strong-selling E-class range will also gain impetus when it makes way for a revised version around December.
Although the newcomer is said to benefit from more than 1800 improvements, external changes have been kept to a minimum.
The new model features a sleeker nose, thanks to a lower bonnet, along with a grille and bumper that blend seamlessly into the bodywork.
The guards have also been reprofiled to accommodate a lower positioning of the headlights.
A new six-speed manual transmission will be available in the European-spec E-class but Mr Fisher says Australia-bound cars will continue to be offered only with a five-speed automatic.
However, the automatic has been upgraded with an electronically monitored push button switch that is claimed to make shifting easier.
Inside, the new E-class will benefit from a multi-function steering wheel incorporating buttons that enable the driver to adjust the stereo controls, operate the in-car phone and change other settings as well.
The car's safety levels are enhanced by window bags, which will supplement the existing front and side-impact airbags.
The model lineup in the new E-class range is expected to remain unchanged, but it is not yet known whether pricing will be revised.
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