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By: Shalabh Raizada, Chief Information Officer, Stellar Value Chain Solutions
The pandemic has catalysed a sudden growth in e-commerce, with billions of people stuck home. This spurt in online shopping has also pushed the consumer expectations to a new normal, especially in the case of the last mile delivery demands. Reports suggest that the emerging quick commerce model, which ensures delivery of goods like food and basics within 10-25 minutes, will grow by 15 times by 2025.
On the other hand, logistics companies have been aggressively adopting new age technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Artificial intelligence, the latest buzzword across the sectors, has evolved as the best solution to meet the customer demand in door-step deliveries. AI, with all its specific solutions like robotics, deep learning and machine learning, has become the game-changer in the logistics industry to make warehouses smarter and value chain operations seamless. As the result, the entire logistics ecosystem from supply to delivery has improved by optimizing the results and producing higher efficiency. We see how goods are received, identified, sorted, processed, packed, lifted for shipment and delivered almost automatically, reducing the margin for error and cutting down the manpower.
However, the biggest impact of AI will be felt on the delivery point, if integrated well. The delivery will become agile, faster, flawless and cost-effective with the integration of AI tools. The last mile delivery, in fact, is the most crucial and deciding element in logistics, eating up almost 50% of shipment costs as per some studies. With plenty of choices like delivering in the office or homes, same-day or designated times, the doorstep delivery has become the critical differentiator in measuring the customer experience. This has added pressure on the logistics players who have to optimize capacity and routes of vehicles and manpower according to the specific time window chosen by the customer for delivery. Shortage of resources obviously results in late deliveries, affecting the customer satisfaction, apart from higher expenses for the logistic providers.
AI and ML will play a pivotal role to address these challenges. First of all, AI can process the vast set of structured and unstructured data to make quicker operational decisions which used to be taken earlier by the human minds. Logistics companies deal with high volumes of data and AI can accurately organize them by understanding terms, phrases and jargons, and thus turning decision-making easier. Optimal data usage will naturally reduce the risks and cut down the costs. Moreover, data plays all important role in the quick commerce model.
Secondly, AI comes handy in predictive analysis. Logistics companies face challenges of shortage of resources for last-leg delivery, especially during fluctuating demand situations. Managing short-distance operations is harder than long-distance operations because of the crunch in resources at the local level. AI and ML algorithms help solve these issues, by evaluating different possible options and suggesting better routes and pick-up plans based on the historical data. This predictive advantage makes logistic players prepared for rising demand by optimizing routes and drop-sizes. The best part is that this process is refined every day, based on the data of deliveries on real-time basis. As the result, route optimization will make operations more efficiency, less expensive and managing the available resources better to ensure higher customer satisfaction. AI solutions thus provide a win –win formula both to the operators and the customers.
Disclaimer: Views are personal. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not represent those of The Indian Express Group or its employees.


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Eight out of ten will top up their online baskets just to get free delivery
More than half will always return at least one of those extra items
Millennials are at the forefront of a new ‘spend & return’ culture created by the widespread availability of free delivery and returns in online shopping, according to a survey by first direct.
Almost two thirds (63%) of millennials are now shopping online at least once a week, and one in five (21%) buy online every day, but the majority admit many of their purchases are short-lived.
A survey of 2,000 UK consumers found more than eight out of ten millennials (82%) are happy to buy more if it means they can get free delivery, and more than half (52%) say they always top up their online shopping baskets to take advantage of free delivery, only to then use free returns to get instant refunds on all those extra items.
Shoes and clothes top the list of goods they are happy to send back – even when the items have been worn. Almost half of millennial women (45%) admitted they had worn a dress before returning it to the retailer.
Rise of the retail apps
Almost one in four consumers (23%) now have at least five retailer apps on their phone (43% for millennials), and 39% say they are more likely to use retailers that have shopping apps.
While retail apps are often convenient, the research shows the direct impact of retailer apps on our spending habits, with more than one in four consumers (28%) saying they regularly spent more than they had planned because of the ease and speed of using an app. Among millennials, that figure rises to 58%. At the same time, just 37% always check their bank balance before shopping online.
Helen Priestley, Head of Marketing at first direct , said: “Roughly £1 out of every £5 we spend with retailers in the UK is spent online, and that proportion is increasing every year. The lure of free deliveries and returns is clearly adding to the growing appeal of online shopping.
“Our research also reveals just how attractive shopping apps are to consumers. More than half of us will respond to offers being pushed out by retailers via the apps, so we are often spending more than we intended.
“The combination of discounts and free delivery is very enticing, but it’s important to manage your finances. Even if you plan to return items, remember that it can be 10 days or more before the refund appears in your account.”
Money worry support
first direct is committed to supporting people with money worries, and if anyone is worried about money, the best thing to do is talk about it.
first direct customers can talk to us or check their accounts and move money online or through the app 24/7.
Non-first direct customers, or those who’d prefer to talk to someone independent, can contact a number of organisations who can also help, free of charge:
StepChange Debt Charity – free advice www.stepchange.org/Debtremedy.aspx

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The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria has said private terminal operators at the seaports invested N538bn in port development from 2006 after the concession of the ports to December 2017.
The spokesperson for STOAN, Dr Bolaji Akinola, said this in a statement made available to our correspondent while reacting to other issues he said were responsible for the Apapa gridlock.
He said, “The major challenges facing port operations in the country are dilapidated port access roads, poor traffic management, and manual examination of cargo by Customs.
“Terminal operators, like other business entities in Apapa, are victims of the dysfunctional state and chaos on the port access roads.
“Private terminal operators at the seaports invested N538bn in port development from 2006 when the ports were concessioned to December 2017.”
Akinola described the port terminals as well-organised and efficient, saying, “Concessionaires have done very well to ensure efficiency in their various terminals. The major problem is the road.”
He said, “Terminal operators do not have any role to play or responsibility to bear on the road. We don’t own the road; we don’t control the roads, and we don’t control happenings on the road. We cannot control the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of managing traffic on the road.
“Terminal operators, more than any other entity in the logistics chain, bear the brunt of the Apapa traffic congestion because it hampers the evacuation of cargo from the port.
“The business of terminal operators is to keep trade moving. We don’t make money from cargo sitting at the terminal. Our profitability is in the volume of cargo we handle; so, it is in our best interest for cargo to leave the port as soon as possible.”


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LOS ANGELES – Amazon has agreed not to sell foie gras in California from birds that have been force-fed and will pay civil penalties, investigative costs and restitution as part of a lawsuit settlement, a prosecutor said Friday.
The suit filed by prosecutors in Los Angeles, Monterey and Santa Clara counties accused the giant retailer of violating a 2004 state law banning sales of the fatty duck and goose liver delicacy if it was produced by force-feeding birds.
A judge approved the settlement on Thursday between Amazon and the three prosecutors, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said.
Under the deal, Amazon also agreed to pay $100,000 in civil penalties and other costs, Lacey said.
A spokeswoman for Amazon said the company was not commenting.
The prosecutors accused Amazon of illegally selling foie gras in California on its website. Lacey and Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo acknowledged Amazon took steps to stop those sales after it was contacted by prosecutors.
Making foie gras involves feeding ducks and geese through a tube to enlarge their livers – a process that animal rights activists said is painful and cruel.
A U.S. court blocked the ban in 2015, delighting chefs who wanted to serve the delicacy and leading to protests by animal rights groups.
But an appeals court ruled last year the ban was not pre-empted by federal authority to regulate poultry products and said California was free to enforce it.
Foie gras farmers in Canada and New York and a restaurant group based in California have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.
The high court has not yet decided whether to do so.


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Imation Corp., a leading global technology company dedicated to helping people and organizations store, protect and connect their digital world, and IronKey, a global leader in securing data and online access, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Imation will acquire the assets of IronKey's secure data storage hardware business.
The two companies also announced a strategic partnership whereby Imation will receive an exclusive license from IronKey for its secure storage management software and service, and a license to use the IronKey brand for secure storage products. IronKey will partner with Imation to provide its online cloud-based security services.
Approximately 40 employees of the privately held IronKey business are expected to transfer to Imation with the acquisition. Financial terms of the acquisition, expected to close within 30 days, were not disclosed.
"This acquisition is another important step in Imation's strategy to invest in leading technologies that enable us to deliver highly secure data storage solutions to our customers," said Mark Lucas, president and chief executive officer, Imation Corp. "IronKey's products meet the highest security, performance, and privacy standards of Fortune 500, enterprise, government, and military customers. Our new partnership with IronKey will also enable us to add a cloud-based security solution to Imation's offerings."
"IronKey's secure storage customers and partners will benefit from Imation's global reach in more than 100 countries," said Arthur Wong, CEO of IronKey. "IronKey will continue to build out solutions for providing secure online access by leveraging its online cloud services security platform to protect customers' assets, data, and transactions across multiple form factors such as portable USB devices, software, and mobile applications."
The secure storage products and technologies transferring to Imation include multifunction portable computing devices that protect stored data with strong hardware encryption. IronKey secure storage devices are validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to meet the stringent Level 3 criteria of FIPS 140-2. Combined with the cloud-based IronKey Enterprise Management Service, data security can be managed and audited from anywhere in the world.
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For the second quarter 2021, NORDEN reports an adjusted result of USD 32 million – the best quarterly result in six years, and is on track to deliver its best annual result in 11 years.
NORDEN has capitalised on the incredibly strong dry cargo market during Q2, thanks to record-high exposure, ongoing positioning and the ability to generate margins through strong operator activity. In addition, NORDEN has benefitted from significant increases in the market value of owned and leased vessels in the Asset Management unit, rising by USD 258 million during Q2, and has actively converted part of this market value to profit through vessel sales, with USD 29 million positively impacting H2 in sales gains.
NORDEN has positioned itself strongly to further capitalise on the exceptional dry cargo market. CEO, Jan Rindbo, comments: “We have built a very strong dry cargo position during the first half-year, which we will benefit from during the rest of the year, where we expect significantly stronger results. With recent increases in forward freight rates, this further adds to our strong outlook for dry cargo, and we, therefore, increase our guidance for the full-year Adjusted Result to between USD 140 – 220 million.”
Asset Management: Dry cargo portfolio value continues to increase – converting to sales gains
NORDEN’s Asset Management division – which handles buying, selling and leasing of vessels – reported an adjusted result for Q2 of USD 2 million.
Asset Management is benefiting from increased exposure towards dry cargo. The value of the portfolio (owned and leased vessels) increased by USD 258 million in the second quarter alone. Asset Management is now actively converting this market value to profit through vessel sales and by entering into attractive time charter covers. Four dry cargo vessels have already been sold with approximately USD 29 million in profits to be realised in the second half of the year.
Dry Operator: Capitalising on high market exposure in a strong market
Dry Operator generated a result of USD 34 million dollars in Q2. As the dry cargo market took off earlier this year, the business unit quickly adjusted its exposure from a short position (meaning more cargoes than ships), to an extremely long one. Dry Operator is today operating a record-high average of 343 vessels, servicing growing customer demand and is very well positioned to further capitalise on the strong dry cargo market in H2.
Tanker Operator: Adding optionality for medium-term improvements
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact global oil demand, Tanker Operator has been working to mitigate exposure to a historically low tanker market, reporting a Q2 result of USD -4 million.
Tanker Operator has further grown its commercial management services, with 10 vessels from International Seaways added to NORDEN’s pool management.
Improvement in the tanker market is expected to be slow and gradual, but Tanker Operator is positioning for recovery in the medium-term, chartering vessels at low market rates with optionality.


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This means gamers only have 1 more week before they say goodbye to their pockets in Steam Summer Sale 2020
Every summer, Steam always launches attractive promotional events to give the gaming community the opportunity to buy the cheapest game. This year is no exception, according to information from whenisthenextsteamsale.com, the biggest game discount event in 2020 – Steam Summer Sale 2020 will take place from June 23 to the end of July 9. This means that gamers only have 1 more week before saying goodbye to their money.
Of course, at the moment, there is no information on any games that will be discounted during the Steam Summer Sale 2020 event, but according to the usual year, there will be hundreds of different large and small titles. receive a huge discount during the event, even up to 70 – 90%. For PC gamers, this can be considered a better opportunity to own quality and expensive games.
Besides the traditional game series such as GTA, The Witcher, Dark Souls, or Assassin’s Creed, this year, Steam gamers are also very excited to wait for the super products from the Console to switch to PC. The list of discounted games will be updated quickly for you in our next news.
Currently, before the Summer Sale event, Steam is hosting a big event called Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition. Allow the gaming community to play free demos of 900 different big and small games from June 17 to June 22, which is also the time when Steam Summer Sale will take place. At this point, this is an opportunity for gamers to play free games before leaving their pocket money.
You can get this discount when you log in on Steam, Click HERE to get your game discount.


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Getting a cease-and-desist letter from a major corporation pretty much sucks, but it can’t exactly be a huge surprise if you’ve been using, say, the name Coca-Cola, only slightly modified. Delete the dash between words, add an extra “l” and there you have it: CocaColla, an Italian art and design blog.
Well, that was its name, until the Coca-Cola Company recently threatened the site with a legal battle. The soft-drink manufacturer has demanded that the blog — a curated selection of work by artists and designers, with a focus on street art — withdraw its registration of the CocaColla brand and give up its domain name within 15 days. A press release put out by the Italian bloggers quotes a portion of Coke’s letter, which cites “a serious risk of confusion for consumers who may be led to believe that the sign and COCACOLLA domain name … are intended to distinguish goods/services delivered, organized or sponsored by our customers.”
The bloggers, who say they were actually inspired by the Coca-Cola brand, in their words “a symbol of pop culture, industrialization and advertising,” consulted with a lawyer but decided they can’t afford a legal battle. CocaColla.it will shut down on March 5, and they’ll start up again soon under a new, as-yet-to-be-determined name.


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Dell’s got the swivel
Did we say Windows 8 onslaught? There’s an army of new laptops and tablets coming powered by the much-hyped Windows 8 OS and Dell’s XPS Duo 12 is so swiveling-ly cool, we thought we’d have to show you. The 12-inch screen of this laptop can be turned around on its back and folded down so you can use it like a tablet. Last week, we showed you the Asus Taichi, which came with two screens and which, when closed, turns into a nifty tablet. This one does two, only it’s got one screen which can swivel like crazy. No price details yet.
Still no love from Apple
Speaking of Windows Phone and Windows 8, Apple recently it’s very sexy iPad mini and fourth generation iPad 9.7-incher in an additional 34 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. Still no love for the UAE, yet, with the Apple UAE website still touting the so-yesterday iPad third gen. We’re watching you Apple.
HTC leads Windows Phone onslaught
Bring on the Windows Phone onslaught. Once a rising star known for its winning designs, HTC has recently been struggling to put its neck above water as far as smartphones are concerned, thanks to competition. Now, with the spiffy new Windows Phone OS that’s ready to rock everyone’s world, the Taiwanese company might have a winner on their hands with the stunning Windows Phone 8X and the 8S by HTC, recently launched in the UAE. Featuring a range of features, including a Beats Audio hook-up, the Windows Phone 8X will be available from November 10, priced at Dh1,999 while the Windows Phone 8S by HTC will be available from early December 2012. No price announced yet.
Go paperless with Doxie
Portable scanner experts Apparent have just released a brand new model under their Doxie like. The Doxie One does not need any computer to get started. All you have to do is run your documents through and wirelessly sync with your iPad, Mac or PC to transfer documents. It’s a paperless world after all. Dh547 (converted from US$). Go to getdoxie.com


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Federal Small Business Minister Fran Bailey has reportedly promised, if re-elected on Saturday, to amend the Trade Practices Act to prevent bullying tactics in franchising.
Her comments, reported in the West Australian newspaper, follow the dispute between Jack Cowin’s Competitive Foods, which operates 45 KFC franchises in WA, and Yum Restaurants International, which owns the KFC brand.
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Yum is refusing to renew the long-term franchise licenses held by Competitive Foods in Western Australia. The first to close was the Rockingham, Perth, store. It closed its doors on the weekend for the last time. The next franchise agreement is due for renewal late 2008. Yum has offered to buy the Competitive Foods’ KFC operations.
The Minister’s comments are surprising given the Coalition recently ordered a review of the Franchising Code of Conduct under the Trade Practices Act and adopted some of its recommendations.
More recently, the Coalition suggested there would not be any further reform of franchising law, according to its answers to questions on franchising policy posed to both major parties by a franchise industry newsletter.
The Coalition’s response does not make any promises for future law reform; although it does promise to assess the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s review of retail tenancy “very carefully”. Also it will introduce a bill to apply criminal penalties for serious cartel conduct.
Not everyone in the franchising industry supports further changes to franchising law. The Franchise Council of Australia has come out very strongly against the WA Government inquiry into franchising, announced following the public airing of Jack Cowin’s dispute.
FCA director Stephen Giles says if there is an issue in franchising it is a national issue, and a state inquiry will simply create additional red tape and bureaucracy.
Bailey’s office did not return SmartCompany’s call before publication.


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Blue Coast, Inc., a jewelry manufacturing company based in Cranston, R.I., today announced the availability of Wedding Vow Rings, bride and groom matching wedding bands that include entire wedding vows engraved on the inside and clearly readable.
This new product will be distributed direct to brides and grooms via the Internet. The web site, located at www.WeddingVowRings.com, offers prospective brides and grooms the ability to choose from either standard civil vows, various religious vows, gay partner vows, vows inspired by the Classics, love poems, or they can even write their own vows. The rings are tasteful simple bands in 14K yellow gold.
“This is a unique concept that makes a lot of sense. People have engraved and personalized rings before, but have never been able to include long passages of information. It is a difficult process and the results are exceptional,” said Jerry Biern, president and founder of Blue Coast, Inc.
Blue Coast, Inc. was founded in 1995 by Biern, a 30-year veteran of the jewelry industry and a specialist in the development of unique products introducing them to worldwide markets. Blue Coast is best known for developing the “Jewel of the Sea” necklace for mass distribution.Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle gets a new free versus mode
07 December, 2017, 22:34 | Author: Sammy Rose
Mario + RabbidsKingdom Battle is a brand new adventure to life featuring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi, and four Rabbids heroes: RabbidMario, Rabbid Luigi, Rabbid Peach, and Rabbid Yoshi.
The Nintendo Switch is quickly becoming the go-to console for games with couch co-op and local multiplayer. One big difference between Versus and the story mode is that each player will only have three actions per turn, making it a battle of strategy as you choose between using a turn to move all of your fighters, or putting all of your actions into one or two characters attacking.
Players can continue playing with good all-rounded started equipment load outs or specialize in one of the 16 unlockable variants.
Flu virus now widespread in Georgia
This winter all visitors to Vancouver hospitals and nursing homes once again must get a flu shot or wear a surgical mask. To find a location near you to get the flu vaccine, go to healthvermont.gov/flu or dial 2-1-1.
Players will freely pick three different heroes from amongst the eight from the main game. Will you move all your characters into strategic positions, or will you spend all your actions to, say, move Luigi into a sniping spot, activate his motion-attacking Steely Gaze, and then open fire on a juicy target?
Since launching back in August, Ubisoft's strategy crossover Mario + Rabbids:Kingdom Battle has enjoyed critical acclaim by bringing together the unlikely combination of Mario and the Rabbids, and tomorrow players will get to enjoy a whole new side of the game with a competitive edge. And if you're in a hurry you can limit battles to as few as seven turns, with time limits for each turn.
"And just to be sure that things heat up near the end, there's the 'Showtime, ' option, which kicks in as the match nears its end and turns regular items into super items, while also opening up new ways to get around the map, like pipes or trampolines", Reparaz said.
At least six people were hurt when a auto ended up on a sidewalk after crashing into two other vehicles in Lower Manhattan. This is a developing news story and NY1 will have more information as it becomes available.
The application also includes feedback option for any bugs or issues that you might encounter while testing the Oreo beta. No information when the global variant of the Huawei Mate 9 will be available but it should roll out soon.
Tre'Davious White thankfully did not suffer any serious injuries from the hit that earned Rob Gronkowski a one-game suspension. Clark, who played football at LSU with White, also said the Bills should have "jumped" the tight end as an act of solidarity.
Burning as well was the Creek Fire in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, which started at 3:42 a.m. One key facet of helping protect people from wildfires is preventing and avoiding them in the first place.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a "buy" rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. The average volume for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC ) has been 18.3 million shares per day over the past 30 days.
In preparation for the upcoming holidays, the chain is offering another sweet concoction with its Christmas Tree Frappuccinos . Customers will be able to buy the drink beginning Thursday, and it will be available until Monday - while supplies last.
Ford will build its next generation all-electric auto in Mexico, rather than at the plant in MI where it promised to build it. The move comes as Ford and other automakers place increasingly large bets on electrification and self-driving technology.
And Zoopla has revealed homeowners were selling their homes at nearly 4 per cent less than the asking price in September. Home sales grew by a modest 2% to 105,260 in October to reach their highest monthly level in 2017.
Dying Light getting Bad Blood standalone PvP expansion
Global Playtest is a closed online event that allows selected players to try out Dying Light: Bad Blood before its release. In a cruel set-up where everyone fights for the survival of the few, betrayal is not a question of "if", but "when".
R. Kelly Burglars Empty ATL Homes ... Cops ID a Suspect
Walker is now wanted on two counts of burglary, two counts of theft by taking and two counts of theft by deception. Officials went to check that home the next day and said they found it burglarized as well. " Many televisions.
MI gymnastics doctor gets 60 years in prison
Nassar was sacked from Michigan State University in September 2016, and USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians, cut ties in 2015. Nassar's sentencing on Thursday followed claims by gymnasts that they had been sexually abused by the former team doctor.


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iPhone 15: Although the Apple iPhone 14 lineup was revealed just a few months ago, rumors are already swirling about 2023’s Apple iPhone 15. People are speculating about everything about the Apple iPhone 15 before the iPhone 14 model has a chance to take over the market. After all, Apple continues to innovate and push the boundaries of a smartphone’s capabilities. So, it is not a stretch to say that the Apple iPhone 15 might come with many new additions.
The release of the iPhone 15 is yet to be announced, and people are talking a lot about it. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 pro have just been launched, yet people are already talking about the iPhone 15; This shows the iPhone 15’s madness. However, we don’t expect the iPhone to release before the second half of 2023. Apple has not confirmed the release announcement, but many news reports are talking about the iPhone 15.
Every year, Apple introduces a new iPhone line and its launch is the most important event in the Apple calendar. As Mac sales grow and Apple’s push into services increases, iPhone sales are at the heart of the company’s portfolio and serve as a driver for accessories like the Apple Watch and AirPods. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have just landed on store shelves, but rumors are already heating up about what to expect with next year’s iPhone 15 line.
iPhone 15 Specification Overview
Check out the full specification of the iPhone 15 below.
|Model name||iPhone 15|
|Release date||Coming Soon|
|Price||Rs77,000 to Rs 125000|
|GPU||Apple GPU (octa-core graphics)|
|Back Camera||Triple camera: – 12 Megapixels (wide), dual-pixel PDAF, sensor-shift stabilization (IBIS), f/1.5 . aperture – 12 Mega-pixel, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8 – 12 Mega-pixel, 16mm, (ultra wide), AF, f/1.8|
|Front Camera||Dual: – 12 Mega-pixel, 26mm, (wide), f/2.2 – SL 3D, (depth sensor / biometrics sensor)|
|Battery||Lithium-ion battery, not removable|
|Storage||128/256/512 GB / 1 terabyte, NVMe|
|Network||3G, 4G & 5G|
|Colors||Blue, gold, silver, graphite, and other colors|
iphone 15 Released Date
Considering Apple tends to launch its new iPhone in September every year, the iPhone 15 could be released in September 2023. In addition, there is a good possibility that the new iPhones will be unveiled in the first half of September next year. Of course, we’ll have to wait for Apple to confirm a specific date. Still, sources indicate that the iPhone 15 release date could be September 12, 2023.
iphone 15 Design
Several Apple fans were disappointed when they noticed that the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus used the same design as the iPhone 13. However, the iPhone 14 Pro models received a welcome design change, incorporating the new Dynamic Island and iPhone. Pill-shaped groove.
The entire iPhone 15 lineup could be equipped with a USB-C port. This comes with the EU mandate that all future smartphones must migrate to USB-C by 2024 Apple may also include a fingerprint scanner below the display This is a feature that can be found on most Android smartphones rather than a proper facial recognition system. Moreover, with the pandemic mandating the use of face masks, Face ID will require a companion unlock feature to ensure additional security.
iphone 15 Specification
There aren’t many updates on the specifications of the upcoming iPhone 15. However, rumors suggest that Apple may introduce the A17 Bionic chip in more premium smartphones in the lineup. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may get the A16 chip, which is found in the iPhone 14 Pro models. Furthermore, the move to the A17 chip signals Apple’s move to 3nm architecture. Apple has already introduced the 4nm A16 processor chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
With the A17, the new iPhones could get a 10 to 15 percent overall performance boost. This performance boost will be combined with a reduction in power consumption by 30 percent. However, this will only happen if the battery size of the new iPhone is not significantly increased. The best case scenario would be for the battery size to remain the same as the current battery life of the latest iPhones is relatively decent
iPhone 15 Cameras
The iPhone 14 camera, while decent in its own right, faces some stiff competition from Android flagships. Rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 may finally see an upgrade to the telephoto lens to make it equal to or better than the Android flagship smartphone’s camera. Moreover, the iPhone 15 Pro Max may also get a Periscope zoom update. However, we don’t expect any significant upgrades to the camera system for the baseline iPhone 15 model. If there’s a significant upgrade, expect to see it on the premium Pro models.
The rumored iPhone 15 Ultra is also expected to feature a dual front-facing camera system. Still, there’s little detail about what the extra camera might be used for or what the camera lens specifications might be.
The iPhone 15 can run the latest iOS out of the box. This means we will likely see iOS 17 in the iPhone 15 lineup. You can expect Apple to make an announcement about the latest iOS sometime in the second half of 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
All rumors about the iPhone 15, are expected in 2023. The 2023 iPhone 15 models are expected to have USB-C instead of Lightning, new camera technology, an Apple-designed modem chip, and more. Subscribe for regular MacRumors news and future iPhone 15 information.
The iPhone 15 is more than a year away, so nothing is set in stone yet, but USB-C, Periscope camera technology, and an Apple-designed modem chip have been suggested.


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Attorney General Ashley Moody News Release
|March 22, 2022
Contact: Kylie Mason
Phone: (850) 245-0150
|en Español||Print Version||Tweet|
VIDEO CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Moody Issues Alert About Cyberattacks Following Warning from Washington
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about potential cyberattacks due to growing tensions in Europe. This comes on the heels of a warning from Washington, D.C. that Russia is exploring options for a potential attack. Critical infrastructure is thought to be the most likely target of such an attack; however, attacks can be more broad, meaning anyone with information online could be affected—leading to losses in money, private information and use of digital devices.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Cyberattacks are not always narrowly targeted. In fact, many hackers cast wide nets in an effort to steal as much information as possible. With the growing tensions in Europe and new warnings out of Washington, I want to encourage all Floridians to remain diligent in their efforts to protect identities and financial information online.”
Cybersecurity experts know that hackers cast wide nets, often ensnaring small businesses, nonprofits and private citizens when launching these online assaults. Attorney General Moody is warning consumers about the possibility of widespread cyberattacks.
To guard against cyberattacks, Attorney General Moody recommends that Floridians:
- Use strong passwords and do not use the same password for multiple accounts;
- Use security software, and keep it updated;
- Connect a separate bank account to use online payment apps;
- Do not click on links from unknown senders;
- Closely check a sender's email address or phone number before responding; and
- Ignore and block illegal robotexts.
For additional online safety tips for Floridians, click here.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management cites Ready.gov as source for more tips to prevent cyberattacks and learn more about cybersecurity.
To view other recent Consumer Alerts, visit our Consumer Alert webpage at MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert.
Anyone who encounters a cyberattack can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, or contact local law enforcement.
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The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to inform Floridians of emerging scams, new methods used to commit fraud, increased reports of common scams, or any other deceptive practice. Consumer Alerts are designed to notify Floridians about scams and available refunds in an effort to prevent financial losses or other harm caused by deceptive practices. Anyone encountering a scam should report the incident to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.


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Flurry of biometrics rollouts and partnerships, payment cards to touchless access control
The markets for fingerprint biometrics in cards, facial recognition for physical access control systems, and both in mobile devices are gaining momentum. Fingerprint Cards leads the week with a U.S. patent and a rollout related to biometric payment cards, while Thales is in the news for payment and national ID cards and Idemia for the latter plus a smartphone-based identity verification service. The widely-read stories below contain a dozen new customer wins and partnerships, plus more than half a dozen new biometrics and digital identity technology launches.
Top biometrics news of the week
Fingerprint Cards continues to build out its intellectual property for biometric payment cards, patenting a method for integrating its fingerprint module with standard card production techniques in the U.S. Instead of soldering the module to an inlay and then laminating that in, the new method involves electric wire-bonds and connecting pads.
Consumers in the Philippines prefer using their fingerprints for authentication, then face and iris biometrics, according to a new survey from Visa. As the country’s PhilID biometric cards continue to roll out, meanwhile, the national press is pointing out the regulatory requirements for using it in authentication, including user consent.
Contactless biometric payment cards from Thales with Fingerprint Cards’ technology is coming to market from BBVA Mexico in the form of the Smart Key Visa. The card is being launched for two groups of BBVA customers to start, but is expected to be offered to all 23.7 million clients eventually.
Selfie biometrics for remote onboarding and authentication continues to be a rapid growth area, and Stripe wants in. As the new Stripe Identity launches, Idemia, TruNarrative and Yoti each signed up new customers, while Accura Scan and Pass unveiled new solutions. ID.me’s use of biometrics, meanwhile, is being targeted by a petition campaign arguing too many people are waiting too long for unemployment benefits.
A new report on face biometrics and digital commerce shows three quarters of millennials are happy using selfie biometrics for authentication, mainly because it is convenient. Trunarrative, Veriff, Sumsub and iDenfy have each signed up fintech service providers to help them meet their regulatory obligations and prevent fraud, while a mystery provider won a Malaysian social media customer.
Jumio VP of APAC Frederic Ho joins BFM’s Tech Talk podcast to discuss how Malaysia’s digital identity program will impact inclusivity, online service access, and the country’s economy. Ho emphasizes the importance of liveness, talks about what makes a good identity verification solution, and praises the Philippines’ rapid embrace of digital technologies.
iPhones are taking another step towards going passwordless, with Apple testing a new WebAuthn-based feature as part of iCloud Keychains that allows users to associate their Face ID or Touch ID biometrics with the login for a particular account across different devices. While the feature only works with other Apple products at the moment, the company is in talks to add support for cross-platform authentication.
South Korean biometric authentication startup Octatco, SK Telecom and one of the latter’s subsidiaries are developing a keycard utilizing fingerprints with a quantum random number generator for FIDO passwordless authentication. The EzQuant security keys has been through FIDO Alliance interoperability testing, and can be integrated with various enterprise software systems.
Call volumes during the pandemic spiked by 800 percent prompting more than three-quarters of fraud detection and security managers to change their protocols and policies, according to Pindrop data. CTO Collin Davis maps the altered fraud landscape, including tough terrain for fintechs, in a Biometric Update guest post.
Nepal is currently deciding between Thales and Idemia’s competing bids for its national biometric ID card contract after a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each bid is for between $14 million and $15 million to issue an expected 12 million cards, but Idemia ran the pilot, and was previously awarded a contract without a competitive process.
SITA, NEC and Star Alliance have formed a partnership to make flight boarding with face biometrics work across the Alliance’s member airlines with only one enrollment, and advance deployments of the technology throughout the world. NIC I:Delight and SITA Smart Path will be connected for combined use at up to 460 airports.
Biometric touchless access control deployments have been announced by Biosite for a construction site and Invixium for an industrial facility and data centers. Amid this booming market, new hardware products in the space have been developed by HID Global and Anviz, and ZKTeco has launched video access management software.
Olympic venues spread around Tokyo will be using NEC’s face biometrics to authenticate participating athletes, as well staff, media and volunteers during the 2021 games, putting the technology to the test in one of the year’s most intensely-covered events, E&T Magazine. The article considers the data collection implications, and says a strong performance at the games by the technology could inspire more extensive deployments, but the reverse may also be true.
In a pair of interesting webinars over the past week, BixeLab explained the concept and value of Red Teaming for testing biometric systems and the EAB went in-depth on the TELEFI facial recognition forensic data sharing system.
The Los Angeles Review of Books carries a review of Susan Liautaud’s ‘The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World’ by Rochester Institute of Technology Philosophy Professor Evan Selinger, who co-wrote an editorial recently for Wired arguing against identity verification with face biometrics. Selinger is not impressed with the arguments made by Liautaud, and takes umbrage at her dismissal of proposals to ban hazardous technologies.
Submissions have closed in the International Identity Day Design Competition, organized by ID4Africa and sponsored by Integrated Biometrics. An official design for ID-Day 2021 will be selected from among the submissions by African digital artists, and offered for re-use by the identity community, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $3,000.
Whether you are taking a helicopter ride over the mountains, or just racing your sportscar from one shootout to another, you can bring your belongings comfortably with Kabuto Luggage featuring a biometric sensor from Fingerprint Cards. The company’s latest high-production video promotes the new, larger entry in its fingerprint-secured luggage line, The Trunk.
Please let us know of any editorials, podcasts or other content we should share with the biometrics industry and broader digital ID community in the comments below or through social media.
access control | authentication | biometric cards | biometrics | digital identity | facial recognition | financial services | fingerprint recognition | fraud prevention | government services | identity management | identity verification | onboarding


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TAIPEI (CNA) — Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world’s biggest contract electronics maker, on April 18 dismissed concerns raised by international news media over the impact on the company’s operations in the wake of a presidential bid announced by Chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) a day earlier.
In a statement, Hon Hai, an iPhone assembler, which is also known as Foxconn in the global market, said all of the subsidiaries under the company’s corporate umbrella operate independently and every unit is run by professional managers, indicating that Gou’s shift into politics will not affect the day-to-day operations of these units.
Among the foreign media that voiced concern over Hon Hai’s operations, the Nikkei Asian Review cited Joseph P.H. Fan, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as saying that Gou’s presidential bid could pose a risk to the company.
“Gou is a strongman. The biggest concern will be whether his gigantic tech empire can be set in driverless mode and still run smoothly during his absence,” Fan said in the report.
“It remains a big question whether these senior Foxconn executives can cooperate with each other without a big boss, and there is no system to audit the decision-making processes,” Fan said.
Such concerns arose after Gou announced his intention to join the opposition Kuomintang’s (KMT’s) presidential primary, saying that the decision came from divine intervention from the Sea Goddess Mazu.
Despite the media reports, shares of Hon Hai, the second-largest stock in terms of market capitalization in Taiwan, extended its momentum Thursday on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
It seemed that investors were happy to celebrate Gou’s presidential bid, pushing up Hon Hai’s shares by 1.96 percent to NT$93.60 (US$3.03) on the local main board as of 12:20 p.m. Thursday when the weighted index was down 0.02 percent at 10,995.09 points.
Before Thursday’s gains, foreign institutional investors had registered a net buy for the 15th consecutive trading session Wednesday. In the previous 15 trading sessions, the net buy hit 157.05 million shares, according to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Before the presidential bid announcement, Gou had said that Hon Hai will allow board members more power to run the company, while he himself intends to reduce his personal influence on the company.
Gou said that how Hon Hai will develop will still be under his instruction, although he will retreat from the front line for the company’s day-to-day operations.
A source close to Hon Hai who asked not be named said that Gou will not retire any time soon since he is building up a succession for the company.
Under Hon Hai, there are 13 sub-business groups, including Internet-focused Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. Ltd. (FII), Japanese electronics giant Sharp Corp., smartphone assembler FIH Mobile Ltd., and flat panel maker Innolux Corp.
Hon Hai is integrating hardware production with software development capabilities, such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence, with its contract electronics operations set to expand beyond pure manufacturing.
By Chung Jung-feng and Frances Huang


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The Harrogate Advertiser has talked to several independent Harrogate businesses and the general feeling is relief that they can welcome back customers.
Managing director Hazel Barry, who owns H2K, the award-winning skin care products shop, said: “Yes,hharrog I’m so relieved we can open as it’s our busiest time of the year.
"Whilst we’ve had tremendous local support with the click and collect service, we’ve missed seeing our customers and trading in our wonderful Harrogate store."
With the slogan "skincare as natural as you", this high quality independent shop is still hoping that Harrogate returns to Tier 1 as quickly as possible after lockdown ends this Wednesday, December 2.
Hazel said: "We’re hopeful Harrogate will be in the safest tier as I think the town has worked extremely hard to stay safe, but I guess the statistics will speak for themselves.”
The Montpellier Quarter businesses are all set to reopen, with special attention to their Christmas windows and stocked with unique gifts. Most shops in this historic retail quarter are planning on opening on the three Sundays in December and are hoping that hospitality opens, as tourism will be a big boost to the town.
Meanwhile, Sophie Hartley, owner of gift shop Sophie Likes on Beulah Street which has featured in the Harrogate Advertiser #supportourindies campaign, said: “We can’t wait to reopen on December 3 and really hope that Harrogate comes to life again with the festive buzz.
“The town centre is looking lovely and inviting with the Christmas lights and is raring to go. Wouldn’t it be great if we could still have our busiest Christmas ever after the year we have had?”
Sue Kramer of Commercial Street Retail Group, whose new website www.commercial-street.co.uk was launched last week, said: “Despite trying Covid times, our street community spirit remains vibrant.
“It’s great we can now welcome customers in person in the Christmas season, as well as online.”
Georgia Eckert, who owns Imagined Things independent book shop at Westminster Arcade in Harrogate said: “I think if we were in a higher tier it would have a knock-on effect as it could mean less people in the town centre, but I’m more hopeful now that we’re able to open the doors again and we can make the best of Christmas.”
But Harrogate's business leaders are under no illusion what a possible move into even Tier 2 could mean.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, which has invested in this year’s dazzling new Christmas lights in the town centre, said: “The retail and hospitality sector is champing at the bit to reopen and welcome customers back into their premises.
“If we go into a tier 2, I suspect a number of pubs and bars may not bother reopening. And if it’s tier 3, I fear it may well sound the death knell for a great many hospitality businesses.”
Harrogate Advertiser's #supportourindies campaign
We are inviting our independent traders to get in touch with us so we can do our bit to help spread the word and give them a helping hand in promoting their business through lockdown.
We want to champion the positive things we can all do to help the the town’s economy overcome these troubled times.
Please contact us and let us know what you are doing and we will add you to our list of operational businesses online.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH...
Email: [email protected]
Or leave us a message on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/HarrogateAdvertiser
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September 06, 2023
Big Battle Victory in California…But the War is not Over
Last week, we shared an urgent call to action asking California Hemp Supporters to help block efforts to eliminate the broad and full spectrum hemp and CBD extract market in California. Thanks to stakeholders, consumers and advocates across the state, today we declare victory!
We are thrilled to announce that AB 420, the bill that was going to be used to impose an excessively stringent milligram cap of .001 on THC in hemp CBD products, is dead for this legislative session. California legislators listened to you!
Unfortunately, the war is not over. A milligram cap will likely be proposed legislatively in the new year. Further, the Department of Public Health has shown its hand by disclosing its desire to impose a .001 milligram cap. It is possible the department will employ its existing regulatory authority to impose a cap unilaterally. The good news is that rulemaking in California is a very lengthy and public process, which will afford us considerable opportunity to engage.
With only 9 days before the end of the legislative session this year, it is highly unlikely they can jam a cap into a bill this year. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure that something does not sneak into legislation before September 14 and will let you know immediately if something harmful surfaces at the last minute.
We appreciate all the Hemp Supporters that utilized our State Action Center to advocate against this legislation, and to our rockstar lobbyist, Rand Martin, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf of us. We’ll continue to monitor California and other states where monopolistic marijuana interests may impede on the hemp industry.
Stand by to enlist in future battles!
Visit our State Action Center to see active campaigns across the country!
Check out the latest hemp and CBD updates from across the states!
- Landmark Court Ruling In ARCheck out the latest legislative updates across the states and take action today! Arkansas As we previously reported, a group of plaintiffs recently filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Arkansas’s new … Read more
- Big Battle Victory in California…But the War is not OverLast week, we shared an urgent call to action asking California Hemp Supporters to help block efforts to eliminate the broad and full spectrum hemp and CBD extract market in California. Thanks to … Read more
- Urgent Action Needed in CA, New Rules in FL & Update in NCCheck out the latest legislative updates across the states and take action today! California URGENT call to California Hemp Supporters: There’s a concerted effort afoot to eliminate the broad spectrum and full … Read more


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Latest Newark Stories
High Speed Prime Wide-Angle Lens NEWARK, N.J., March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic is proud to announce the LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH.
The World's First 4K 30p Wearable Camera NEWARK, N.J., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation, a leader in video technology is pleased to announce the world's first 4K/30p
Eagles Prudential Center tickets are fast sellers in the secondary market, and QueenBeeTickets.com has unleashed an inventory of Eagles concert tickets for sale at a discount. GERMANTOWN,
NEWARK, N.J., March 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is showcasing its latest in innovative consumer products for the home at the 2014 International Home &
NEWARK, N.J., March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Seidler Chemical, a New Jersey-based supplier, distributor, blender, and re-packager of quality chemicals and ingredients, has recently
New interactive resource allows members to develop their own health program and get rewarded for doing so. Newark, NJ (PRWEB) March 11, 2014 Everyone
New ACO at 50 Central New Jersey practices to commence April 1. Newark, NJ (PRWEB) March 10, 2014 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon
Designed To Meet Professional Needs for Both Still and Video Capture NEWARK, N.J., March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a leader in Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) technology, announced
Hangar expands airline's maintenance capability for widebody aircraft by 33 percent at airport NEWARK, N.J., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Just weeks after opening its new Global Services
New Platinum Power AA and AAA Batteries are Designed for High Drain Consumer Devices COLUMBUS, Ga. and NEWARK, N.J., Feb.
- A poem in which the author retracts something said in an earlier poem.


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Imagine if every time you had car trouble, a message came up on your phone that said what was wrong and how much it would cost to fix.
Now, imagine if through the same technology, you could tell how your aging, out-of-state mother’s car was performing or how and where your teenage son was driving his car.
Finally, imagine if all that data could be shared between people and insurance companies and used car dealerships with a few touchscreen jabs and swipes, or then allowing instant insight into a car’s past and even its future.
That’s the brave new world a Sullivan’s Island man has in mind, and his company is now on the cusp of rolling out its “connected car” product.
It’s called Zubie, and it’s an on-board diagnostic plug-in (like the ones mechanics use to translate your “Check Engine” light) complete with wireless, accelerometer and global-positioning system chips.
It’s at once highly intriguing and a little scary.
“Once you plug it in, you’ll never know it’s there,” said Tim Kelly, the local CEO.
Zubie started at Best Buy last year as GreenLight Connectivity Solutions. But the big-box store’s wireless partners saw it as competition, according to Kelly, so Best Buy ceded majority control to a Kansas City venture capital group that injected some $5 million into the business.
Open Air Partners, cofounded by former Sprint executive Ron LeMay, in turn hired Kelly, another former Sprint executive, as a consultant late last year and made him chief executive officer in March.
Kelly, a 54-year-old father of five, liked what the GreenLight team had developed but thought the product’s focus — to create usage-based insurance information — was unnecessarily narrow, a “me, too, solution” given what insurers like Progressive already offer policyholders.
He said to “allow the customer to control that information ... seemed like a lot smarter way to go.
“That’s what we kind of saw in the business,” he said. “A bigger opportunity ... more for the long haul.”
This spring, Kelly has since supplemented the existing Minneapolis-based employees with a handful of former colleagues from Sprint and other businesses.
They changed the name of the company. Zubie is more memorable, fun and search-engine friendly, and UBI stands for usage-based insurance in the industry, Kelly explained.
And off they went.
The device is “fully developed” and has been in use on a trial basis via a web portal for almost a year, Kelly said. “But the market-ready product requires that we have the app, so we deliver the right experience,” he added.
The app for Apple’s iPhone is scheduled to come out this month and a version for Android-run mobile devices is due by the end of September.
On a recent morning, Kelly and Mark Angelino, another former Sprint executive who is now Zubie’s senior vice president for channel operations, sat in a conference room at their temporary offices a few doors down from the barrier island’s restaurant strip.
They were talking to potential investors, something that consumes much of their time these days. They believe they’ve got a good thing. Now, they just need to make it and sell it.
“We’ve got a huge market, very low penetration, no one’s really solved for the end user, and we’re trying to run there first,” Kelly said.
There are similar products in the marketplace now, Kelly noted.
For instance, you can buy an on-board diagnostic device from an auto parts store, and there are plenty of check-in and geolocation apps that tell you where your friends are, as well as websites that tell you when your car typically suffers which malfunctions.
There are also systems for fleets of delivery or laundry trucks, Kelly said, and there are some startups like Zubie aiming to deliver the “connected car.”
But Zubie brings it all together, he said.
The company has six patent applications being developed that would cover, among other things, how it collects and stores information and boasts of a “data partner that has been in this code-reading business for 15-plus years.”
Kelly wouldn’t identify that company but said its huge collection of car data provides the basis for the prospective reports Zubie will offer to drivers.
“We can give them a report that says over the next year, we estimate it’s going to cost you $1,200 to maintain this car,” he said.
Kelly said just “a tiny fraction” of the roughly 200 million cars on the road today, generally luxury vehicles, are “connected.” But even those that are, like the Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Jeep in his garage, face an obstacle.
“None of those talk to each other,” Kelly said. “Something like Zubie that can look across different vehicles.”
And it’s that combination of flexible and useful features that he hopes will spark the interest of the average car owner and maybe allow Zubie to share that information with other companies or even advertisers.
Kelly said getting the privacy components of Zubie’s opt-in system right “is absolutely critical and they have to be handled elegantly for this to work.”
Attracting people with the convenience and then selling them on the benefits of sharing is key to Zubie’s strategy.
Zubie will give away the app for free and then charge $99 per year for the deeper analytics. But if it can get paying customers to also give away information about their driving habits in exchange for savings or other incentives, then the Zubie can make money from several sources.
Insurers are also interested in the data so they can reward good drivers who volunteer their information. Undoubtedly there would be ways they could make money off the aggregate data, too, but Kelly emphasized his system’s privacy protocol.
“There’s no ability for them to get access to information the customer has not allowed them to get,” he said.
Kelly can see one day insurers bidding for safe-driving customers through Zubie or subsidizing the service for policyholders.
Dealerships could use the data to better gauge the value of the used cars they’re buying and selling. Or car owners who take good care of their vehicles could share the information to create a sort of “make me an offer” feature, which would give a suggested dollar-value based on an autmobile’s cumulative usage. As Kelly explains, a 2002 Chevy that’s been driven like a getaway car is worth a lot less than one that has been driven only to and from church for the past five years. But that might not be immediately evident without the driving history data.
Kelly said if the platform became successful enough, he could sell ads, say to Valvoline, that would appear when a driver’s low oil indicator lit up.
As the product rolls out, Kelly plans to eventually add staff to his 11-member team in the areas of marketing, sales and maybe engineering, like mobile software development. Angelino, the marketing executive, said they’re looking to move next year into office space on the peninsula, perhaps on Upper King Street. Kelly cited Charleston’s livability and flowering technology scene.
“This is where we plan to grow and build the company,” Kelly said.
It’s not hard to imagine how the Zubie system could transform car ownership and driving if it caught on.
But even though some people like new technology, millions more are set in their ways.
Reach Brendan Kearney at 937-5906 and follow him on Twitter at @kearney_ brendan.


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Akia, a customer experience automation platform, announced a $6 million Series A funding round.
Since launching in 2019, Akia has consistently achieved 3x year-over-year growth, operating primarily in hospitality. The current market conditions, ongoing labor shortage, and post-pandemic impact have increased demand for Akia's automated customer engagement framework. Akia has helped thousands of businesses eliminate monotonous paperwork, automate processes and drive engagement to better serve consumers and increase efficiency.
According to industry estimates, 75% of app downloads are not used more than once. Akia’s Mini Apps are mobile experiences that don’t require download or login. From the business perspective, where native apps fall short - costs, maintenance, and engagement challenges - Mini Apps fill these gaps with better accessibility and usability. Companies using Akia’s platform produce more results by leveraging Mini Apps to automate and expedite day-to-day processes like identity verification, security deposit collection, or even contactless hotel check-in.
The shift towards a contactless first approach and the ongoing staff shortages have created a prime opportunity for Akia to make a splash in the market. Akia is well-positioned to take advantage of these favorable conditions and will continue to expand its reach and impact.
Beaconstac, a QR code customer engagement platform, announced $25 million in Series A funding led by Telescope Partners, with participation from existing investor, Accel. The funding underscores the strong market demand from businesses for Beaconstac’s SaaS platform resulting in profitable revenue growth of 200% over the course of 2022.
Over the past 12 months, Beaconstac has helped businesses of all sizes create and track 1.8 million QR codes that were scanned over 150 million times by consumers. These numbers will continue to accelerate as the number of unique US smartphone users scanning a QR code is poised to reach 99.5 million by 2025.
This new funding will enable Beaconstac to further develop its platform, build a world class team, and ultimately enable new and existing customers to adopt QR codes as a means to create personal connections with a wide audience at scale, and bridge physical world customer experiences to digital.
Beaconstac is trusted by large enterprises such as Marriott, and is a leading QR code platform on G2 reaching 20,000 customers in September 2022.
Hospitality Has a New Labor Resource with Debut of shiftNOW
shiftNOW announced the launch of its software solution designed to connect hospitality's finest brands to quality talent.
Founded in 2022, shiftNOW provides a flexible solution to one of the hospitality industry's greatest challenges - talent. The industry is plagued by a labor shortage that is causing a ripple effect on businesses' operating hours, revenue, and overall success. According to the National Restaurant Association, 72% of operators ranked recruitment and retention of their workforce as their top challenge. Fractures in the industry's workforce have only been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and compounded by other macroeconomic factors, like inflation and the "Great Resignation".
With shiftNOW, hospitality businesses can remove the hassle from hiring by streamlining open shifts and controlling how their business is resourced. The easy-to-use platform enables businesses to post open shifts and select the best candidate from a network of qualified, vetted talent. Every verified candidate undergoes a thorough, one-on-one vetting process led by the shiftNOW recruitment team.
"Hourly workers are increasingly seeking autonomy over when, where, and how they work, making it challenging for businesses to find consistent, quality employees," said shiftNOW founder and CEO, David Wise. "shiftNOW is fulfilling a critical need in the hospitality industry - qualified talent that's available and ready to work. We're making shiftNOW synonymous with quality – we want our clients to have the best workforce and our users to have the best experience."
Exclusive hourly opportunities with competitive pay are now available to qualified individuals through shiftNOW's mobile app. Individuals seeking hourly opportunities can browse the Shifter by shiftNOW app for available shifts in their area and get matched based on their experience.
With a focus on serving restaurants and bars, hospitality groups, event venues, golf courses, and country clubs, shiftNOW is dedicated to bringing high-quality talent to premier establishments.
shiftNOW is currently operating in Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina with plans to expand throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Marriott International and Groups360 announced the launch of Instant Booking for Marriott’s portfolio of hotels in the United States and Canada. Marriott International is the first brand to have a direct integration with Groups360 to offer the “Instant Book” functionality for both guest rooms and meeting space at scale on GroupSync Marketplace, providing planners with a streamlined booking process at the click of a button.
As the meetings and events landscape becomes more dynamic, many planners are currently challenged by the lengthy sourcing and contracting process, especially for smaller events. The need to book meeting space separately from guest rooms only adds complexity. GroupSync’s direct integration with Marriott now offers planners access to real-time best available group rates and inventory at over 1,500 Marriott properties across the United States and Canada, with additional growth expected throughout 2023. Once the instant booking is completed on GroupSync, hotels receive instant notification for faster handling and execution of small meetings.* This new capability significantly reduces planning time and directly addresses the needs of Marriott’s group customers.
In addition, planners now have the benefit of viewing inventory availability before submitting an RFP for more complex events at all Marriott hotels globally. The combination of these new capabilities turns the “sourcing” process into the “shopping” or “buying” process, simplifying the way planners book meetings.
“Through our collaboration with Groups360, we can now deliver real-time instant booking through GroupSync Marketplace at hotels in the U.S. and Canada,” said Drew Pinto, Global Officer, Global Sales, Distribution and Revenue Management, Marriott International. “This offers our group customers what they have told us they are looking for, which is a much more seamless and efficient booking experience. Our industry-leading integration with Groups360 will also allow all Marriott hotels globally to receive and respond to RFPs quickly and efficiently through a two-way response process. This will be a win-win for both planners and hotels.”
“We are thrilled to have Marriott International join GroupSync Marketplace. Event organizers benefit not only from instant booking for rooms and space but from à la carte catering and equipment ordering, too,” said Kemp Gallineau, CEO, Groups360. “Their involvement is a testament to the commitment to reduce friction in group travel planning and help hoteliers, like Marriott, enhance their customer relationships. With the addition of Marriott International, we anticipate that over 20,000 leading hotel properties will be equipped to offer online group booking in the months ahead.”
Marriott is celebrating the GroupSync Marketplace launch by giving away 1 million Marriott Bonvoy® points with the Plan to Win Giveaway. To enter the giveaway, instantly book your small event for the chance to win 30,000 points, or book a larger event using GroupSync's streamlined RFP process at one of Marriott’s extraordinary hotel brands for a chance to win 20,000 points. Visit Marriott-GroupSync Giveaway for complete details and rules.
*A small meeting is defined as 10-25 guest rooms on peak and/or events for up to 50 attendees, starting 4 days out and up to 1 year out with a maximum length of stay of 7 days.
Optii Solutions Launches Data Analytics Team to Double Down on Advanced Predictive Technology
Optii Solutions, the leading cloud-based hotel operations software, announced today an increased investment and focus on advanced technologies and analytics, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
By creating a formal data analytics team, Optii Solutions will ensure that its use of these advanced technologies will continue to play a key role in its product development strategy going forward. After extensive conversations with customers over the last 12 months, it is clear that AI and ML are central to the increases in operational performances at Optii customer hotels. It’s also one of the main drivers of differentiation for the company in a field of static task management systems it competes against.
Dino Pietropaolo, Chief Technology Officer, Optii Solutions, said: “When we look at our competitors, it is clear that hotel operations technology based on digitizing traditional ways of working has reached a point of diminishing returns. We see the rate of performance improvements fall off a cliff just a few months after implementation with these solutions. While AI and ML has been a part of Optii’s approach, we have an exciting runway in how we leverage these technologies. Soon, Optii will be able to make an impressive set of decisions and predictions that can make operations the most advanced part of the hotel. And it will never stop learning.”
Hotel operations have been traditionally labor intensive, and while this will never go away, those in operations positions at hotels will soon have access to tools that will dramatically change the operational decision-making process.
Katherine Grass, Chief Executive Officer, Optii Solutions, said: “The micro and macro challenges facing the hospitality industry are real, and it’s our job as technologists to put our best foot forward and help solve these challenges. In this case, we recognize that the use of advanced technologies is optimial and Optii’s strength. The efficiency and productivity gains Optii customers are seeing today are really just the beginning. With the use of Optii, I foresee hotel operations leaders pushing the boundaries in new ways, and their roles within their respective organizations being elevated. Their level of impact on the business as well as guest experience will reach new heights.“
Carnival Corporation Expands Next-Generation Wi-Fi Connectivity with SpaceX’s Starlink
Carnival Corporation & plc announced an agreement for the next-generation of internet connectivity across its global fleet, the latest in a series of moves that have nearly tripled ship bandwidth since 2019. The company has signed a new agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink, the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology, to provide faster service, greater capacity and more reliable Wi-Fi on a global scale.
Fleet roll-out of Starlink began in December 2022 with Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises ships, with plans to expand Starlink to several of the company’s other world-class cruise brands, which include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Rivaling on-land connectivity experiences, Starlink greatly advances Carnival Corporation’s focus on providing the best available Wi-Fi experience for its guests to stay connected while on vacation, including sharing photos and videos, streaming movies and live sporting events, and enjoying other content onboard with a reliable connection at even faster speeds.
“For many of our guests, it has become more and more important to maintain the type of connectivity at sea that they’ve become accustomed to at home, and of course to share the unforgettable experiences of their cruise with friends and family,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “We are in the business of delivering happiness, and Starlink makes it as easy as possible for our guests to share all their great moments and memories, giving them even more joy out of their cruise vacation.”
According to Weinstein, “The added bandwidth will give the brands the capabilities and flexibility to introduce new guest services and features, as well as help boost operational functions like onboard equipment monitoring and real-time communications between ship and shore teams. And importantly, adding Starlink’s innovative technology to the company’s existing connectivity platform will also help our amazing crew stay in touch with friends and loved ones.”
“High-speed, low-latency broadband internet is critical in our modern age, and we’re excited to provide Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA’s guests an internet experience that makes their travel even more enjoyable,” said Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink sales for SpaceX. “In even the most remote waters, guests onboard Carnival Corporation ships will be able to share real-time updates with friends and family.”
Starlink joins a growing portfolio of world-class communications service, satellite and other technology providers that make up Carnival Corporation’s industry-leading, fleetwide connectivity ecosystem. As a global cruise company with nearly 100 ships visiting over 700 ports worldwide, Carnival Corporation’s innovative, multi-provider connectivity framework is designed to strategically route internet traffic to optimize network speeds across its fleet anywhere in the world.


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The deployment of 5G is underway in Spain for a long time, although it has intensified since September. In other countries the new network is being deployed as well, although it will not be until 2021 when it is really ready around the world. Despite this, the industry already has its sights set on 6G, also Google and Apple.
Countries such as Japan or South Korea have already set dates for the deployment of the 6G, which will not take place until 2030. Also in the United States they are already thinking about its deployment, because Google and Apple have joined the Next G Alliance, a group that seeks to promote 6G in the United States.
Samsung dates the 6G and explains some of its advantagesSamsung wants to be a pioneer in the advancement of telecommunications and has given some of the guidelines to consider for the 6G, to which it has already set a date.
Google and Apple are already thinking about 6G
Both Google and Apple join weeks after launching their first 5G phones on the market, being in fact one of the last companies in the segment to have a compatible phone. Both are now joining the Next G Alliance, a group where companies in the sector will join forces to work on advancing 6G in the United States in the next decade.
Other companies that are already in this association or group are: Charter Communications, Cisco, HPE, Intel, Keysight Technologies, LG Electronics, Mavenir, MITER, and VMWare, AT&T Bell Canada, Ciena, Ericsson, Facebook, Interdigital, JMA Wireless, Microsoft, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, Telus, Telnyx, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon. We meet many well-known names in the sector.
So far, only brands like Samsung have talked about the 6G, its advantages and its possible plans. Also Chinese brands such as Xiaomi or Huawei, although in the case of the second, their current veto prevents them from using 5G, which also prevents them from joining groups like the Next G Alliance. The fear that relations between the United States and China will not improve could cause us to have two different or incompatible deployments.
There is practically a decade until the deployment of 6G will begin, although it will also depend on each country. At least you can see that key firms in this segment like Google and Apple already have their sights set on the future.
The entry Google and Apple are already thinking about the future: they join the 6G alliance appears first in The Free Android.


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Mylan launches generic Cleocin
PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Friday launched its generic of Cleocin (clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride) solution. The drug is indicated to treat serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria and susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci and staphylococci when less toxic alternatives aren’t appropriate.
The product had U.S. sales of about $30.9 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, according to IMS Health. Mylan’s generic will be available as a 75 mg/5 mL oral solution.
Today’s launch is the fifth for Mylan in a week, having earlier launched generics of Vidaza injection and Rythmol capsules, as well as the first generics of Nuvigil and 50-mg Doryx.
Ky. WellCare, Ky. Pharmacists Assn. team on naloxone access
TAMPA, Fla. and LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Kentucky health organizations have teamed up in an effort to provide naloxone to patients who need it. WellCare Kentucky — a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans — is making 1,000 twist-on naloxone nasal atomizers available for free, and pharmacists will provide them to Medicaid recipients and patients who don’t have insurance without a prescription, to be given to parents, spouses, roommates or friends to administer in case of an emergency.
“WellCare and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association are being proactive in helping people battle opioid addiction,” WellCare SVP, division president and Medicaid product Kelly Munson said. “We believe in educating toward prevention, assisting and treating when needed, and being ready in cases of emergency.”
The atomizers are foam cones that can twist onto the naloxone syringe and allows the drug to be delivered as a nasal spray rather than as an injection. Pharmacists began picking up the atomizers Friday in Louisville. Medicaid recipients and individuals without insurance who want to receive a take-home naloxone with an atomizer can check with their local pharmacy for availability, and those who don’t receive Medicaid benefits can check with their health insurer for information about how to get naloxone.
“It's important for family and friends of people struggling with opioid addiction, especially those who are recovering, to have access to naloxone in an easy-to-use application,” Kentucky Pharmacists Association president Chris Clifton said. “We are grateful to WellCare of Kentucky for their generous contribution, which absolutely can save lives.”
Teva launches generic Lescol
NORTH WALES, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceuticals on Thursday announced the launch of its generic Lescol XL (fluvastatin sodium) extended-release tablets. The drug is indicated to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides.
“Our customers count on Teva for a continuous supply of new generic products,” Teva SVP and general manager U.S. generics Maureen Cavanaugh said. “With the launch of Fluvastatin Sodium Extended-Release Tablets, we add another quality product to our broad line of affordable generic pharmaceuticals.”
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XiaomiMi Some of these features include Streams in 4K; it has an android TV 8.1 and a Google assistant to save you some troubles.
As you all must know today was all about the Google pixel 3 and othter technological products that Google launched at their annual event in New York. Alongside Google there was another Enterprise that launched a new product. Xiaomi lauched the new and improved streaming device XiaomiMi Box S. This is an upgraded version of their previous model Xiaomi MI Box, a media streaming device that Xiaomi launched in 2016 and like the previous model the XiaomiMi Box S also streams in 4K and is built on Android TV.
However unlike the previous model, the XiaomiMi Box S comes packed with the lastest version of Android TV that Google has so far produced, the android 8.1 Oreo and has a built in Google Assistant Function and to make things more efficient it has a button at the top of its remote dedicated to give you quicker access to Google Assistant voice Commands alongside a dedicated button for Netflix and right next to that a button for Live TV which is innovative considering the fact that technology is getting less complex than before and now offers you simpler ways to carryingout multiple tasks.
With new models come upgrades and Xiaomi did not let us down, they upgraded their specs, included a quad-core CPU with a Mali-450 GPU which is deemed pretty powerful in accordance with the device, a Ram of 2GB , Bluetooth 4.2, 8GB Rom , one HDMI port, audio output and one USB 2.0 port and also comes with the feature of Chromecast.
In all honesty the Xiaomi MI Box S is set to deliver a very similar experience compared to its predecessor but with a relatively cheaper price than the XiaomiMi Box launched in 2016 which was $69 which is surprising. This new model however will cost you only $60 and considering more functionality at a lower price it seems like a good deal for the consumers who are willing to buy such products.
You can pre-order it now from the exclusive retailer Wal-Mart by going to thier website www.walmart.com with the pre-orders to start shipping by October 19 and the device set to launch in stores by early November it does sound like a perfect holiday gift idea!


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Wuunder guest at New Business Radio
More about Wuunder's entrepreneurial story
co-founders Bart Takkenkamp en Jeroen Gehlen were guests at the New Business Radio studio on January 13. There they spoke with presenter Ron Lemmens about the world of shipping solutions. In the Let's Talk Business program, Bart and Jeroen look back at the origins of Wuunder, look ahead to the future of the industry and share their personal experiences. You can listen to the podcast below.
The 'more savvy' world of shipping solutions
Always up to date with the latest Wuunder developments and logistics trends? Follow us on social media!


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Agriculture, Education April 01, 2021
The Nutrient Density Debate
Does healthy soil produce healthy food and then healthy people?
There's a growing realization among consumers that all foods are not created equal—and that's presenting a growing opportunity for farmers focused on soil health. Some of those farmers are finding that healthy soils payoff in more ways than they first thought.
“Consumers perceive a difference in food grown on healthy soil, and that's why they're willing to pay us $85 for a turkey compared to $25 for one from a grocery store,” says soil health pioneer Gabe Brown. Brown's son Paul markets livestock, poultry, honey and other products from the family's North Dakota farm under the Nourished by Nature brand (nourishedbynature.us)
The Browns, who sell pork chops at $19/lb and eggs at $4.85/dozen—four times the typical grocery store price—make no apologies for the markup. “We sell all we can produce,” says Gabe.
“We believe the quality of the food we raise depends on the quality of the soil on which it is grown or raised,” adds Paul. “Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, healthy animals, and healthy people. Our biologically active soils produce foods that are higher in vitamins and minerals and those are passed on to consumers who eat it.”
Nutrient density is beginning to look like more than a marketing pitch. Lab results from several researchers are confirming the link between healthy soil and healthy food and are hinting that the final link to improved human health also exists.
“Research increasingly shows a greater amount and wider variety of phytonutrients (natural chemicals that improve plant and animal health) are present in plants—as well as meat and milk produced from them—in regenerative agricultural systems,” says Stephan van Vliet, human physiologist at Duke University.
“The direct relationship of human health with soil health is an emerging area of study, but initial data suggests humans can also benefit by the consumption of plants or meat and milk from animals that were fed phytonutrient-rich feed,” he adds.
More research. Ohio State University soil scientist Rafiq Islam also believes healthy soil is linked to healthy food and healthy humans. Islam has been testing the food quality and nutrient density of corn and soybean samples submitted by several regenerative farmers in an effort lead by Carroll, Ohio, regenerative farmer David Brandt.
“We've found significantly greater levels of protein, amino acids and nutrient density in samples of corn and soybeans grown under a no-till/cover crop system,” says Islam, who compared samples to those taken from fields under conventional management.Grain samples were analyzed for 28 amino acids and a dozen macro and micro nutrients and the findings used to develop a food quality index. “Samples from no-till/cover crop systems scored significantly higher than conventionally-tilled systems and somewhat higher than systems using either no-till or cover alone,” says Islam.
“The protein content of our corn is running from 9-11% and soybeans are several % better, so we're getting a premium of $.40 and $1.35/bushel respectively from a nearby hog feeder. The beef we market directly also tests higher in protein and amino acids and is earning us $.20 per/lb more on a live weight basis. People are beginning to appreciate the value of quality food and are willing to pay,” says Brandt.
Brandt also believes soil health is helping plants resist disease—like last season's regional outbreak of vomitoxin—while also reducing veterinary bills for his livestock. He's helped 25 other regenerative farmers to submit samples to Ohio State and Islam invites any other interested growers to contact him by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
In the field. While a detailed analysis of nutrient density requires lab testing, growers can gather some basic data on the quality of their crop by using hand held devices in the field. The simplest of these is the Brix Meter, a refractometer long used by wine makers and others in the fruit and vegetable industry. Basically, Brix is a measure of how far light is deflected while passing through a liquid. In the case of plants, the liquid is squeezed from leaves and the refraction varies by the concentration of sugars, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and other solids in the juice.
Partridge, Kansas, farmer Jim French uses Brix measurements to determine the quality of his forage when planning grazing rotations. “On a healthy soil, the score will be 1 or 2 points higher on the Brix scale. That tells us there's more nutritional value in every bite that our cows take, so they'll eat less forage and we can plan on not having to move them as quickly," says French.
French says he's used the Brix meter a couple of years, but it's already proving to be a way to help get more benefit from the improved soil health that he's been able to build. Expect to pay roughly $150 for a kit including the instrument and vise grips modified to squeeze juice from plant leaves.
The ability to measure nutrient density of his grain and oilseed crops in the field provides Lincolnville, Kansas, farmer Clint Kroupa information he needs to fine tune his marketing decisions. Kroupa uses a GrainSense Analyzer to provide that information.
The handheld sensor uses near-infrared spectroscopy to determine the protein, moisture, oil and carbohydrate contents, then relays the georeferenced results to a cloud storage service through a mobile phone app.
“We're diving into regenerative agriculture," says Kroupa. “This year we planted green by seeding corn into growing triticale. In time this approach will improve our soil health and one of the benefits of that is increased grain quality," says Kroupa. “By testing in different areas of the field—or areas under different management—we're able to segregate higher protein wheat to take advantage of premiums in that market and also to utilize our highest quality corn through our feedlot."
Travis Kraft with Elevate Ag (elevateag.com), helped Kroupa utilize the sensor, which costs $4,300. “The unit can be used on wheat, barley, oats, rye, rapeseed, corn and soybeans. Only a small grain sample is needed and grains with larger kernels are put through a small grinder before testing," he explains.
Dan Kittredge is executive director of the Bionutrient Food Association (bionutrient.org), a non-profit focused on food quality and the role soil health can play in correcting dietary shortfalls. The association has launched the Real Food Campaign and developed the Bionutrient Meter ($377) to that end.
“The meter gives farmers a method to analyze the nutrient density of their crop and consumers to do the same in a store or farmers' market. It is a handheld spectrometer that flashes a light at a sample and then reads what bounces back to measure the elements and compounds it contains," says Kittredge.
The association kicked off their campaign in 2018 by using the meter to demonstrate the nutrient variability in two products—carrots and spinach—gathered from 50 stores and 68 farms and gardens in seven states. “In carrots we found as much as a 200:1 variation in polyphenols (organic compounds thought to help with digestion, diabetes and cardiovascular issues) and 90:1 in antioxidant. In spinach the variation was 75:1 and 90:1 for those traits respectively," says Kittredge.
The work continued in 2019 when the meter was tested and calibrated on four additional food products and last year the list was expanded to 20, including wheat, oats and potatoes. Plans are to expand to corn and soybeans, beef, chicken and milk as soon as funding allows. “We're seeking growers to help identify management practices that produce the highest quality crops by sending us samples during the season along with a soil sample at harvest," says Kittredge. “This will help us understand the links between nutrient dense food and soil health (realfoodcampaign.org).”
A Whole Different Rodeo
Farmers wrangle alternative livestock.
The new age of sourdough.


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This week, Joker's Stash, a major carding resource, published data on 30,000,000 bank cards owned by Americans and about 1,000,000 cards owned by people from other countries. Gemini Advisory Experts reportthat this dump, entitled BIGBADABOOM-III, is directly related to the compromise of the American Wawa chain of stores.
Wawa reported hacking back in December 2019. Then the company recognizedthat was subjected to a cyber attack, during which hackers introduced the malware into the PoS systems of its stores. Attackers remained in the system from March to December 2019, collecting and stealing data from customers who used credit or debit cards to pay for purchases in stores and gas stations. According to Wawa, the hacking affected all 860 stores of the company, of which 600 were combined with gas stations.
Apparently, a long infection period, along with the compromise of hundreds of different stores, allowed the criminal group responsible for the hack to collect a huge amount of data. Gemini Advisory analysts write that the Wawa hack may turn out to be one of the largest attacks of this kind not only in 2019, but throughout the entire history of observations. Researchers compare the leak with an attack on Home Depot in 2014, which resulted in the theft of data from 50 million customers, and with the hacking of Target in 2013, in which 40 million users leaked map data.
After a report published by Gemini Advisory, Wawa representatives rushed to release Press release, in which the company confirmed that the card data of its users are indeed already sold on the network. In fact, the company indirectly confirmed that the dump published on Joker's Stash is the data of its customers.
Also, the chain of stores said that it was only about information about payment cards, and PIN codes for debit cards, CVV2 numbers for credit cards and other personal information of users were not affected. Journalists of the publication Zdnet They note that according to the dump sample they received, this is not true, and CVV2 numbers still fell into the hands of hackers.
Currently, cybercriminals sell information on cards issued in the United States at an average of $ 17 per card, while information about foreign cards is much more expensive – an average of $ 210 per card.