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Google today enabled free voice calls from its Google Home speaker. Google Home is powered by the Google Assistant. Google says Home owners in the U.S. and Canada can initiate free voice calls to anyone in their contacts, as well as any business, by simply asking Google Home to make the call. The calls are completed over the Home's WiFi connection. For now, those who receive a call made via Google Home will see "unknown" or "no caller ID" when it rings their number, though Google hopes to let people display their mobile device number in Home calls by the end of the year. People who subscribe to Google Voice or Project Fi can use their Google number with Home right away.
Google today said it is adding a question-and-answer tool to Google Maps and Google Search for Android devices. Users need only search for and open business listings within Maps or Search to see the Q&A feature, which taps into data provided by Google Local Guides and others. Google says existing answers will be visible first, but people can ask (or answer) their own questions. Questions posed by users may be answered by the community at large or the business owner in particular. Google suggests business owners post their own FAQs and/or answers to common questions that might concern hours, accessibility, and so on. Google says the new Q&A feature is rolling out on Maps and Search for Android worldwide.
Google today announced a significant update to its G Suite productivity apps, including Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets. Specifically, the apps gain new powers for collaborating with others. First, users can now save version numbers of documents in order to keep track of their progression from initial draft to final. Users can also preview what the clean version of the document will look like, as well as accept or reject all suggested changes at once. When it comes to mobile devices, Docs, Sheets, and Slides now allow Android and iOS users to suggest changes from their phone or tablet. Google says new templates should help speed up the process of creating documents and spreadsheets, and users can now create their own templates with the proper add-ons. Last, enterprise and education users gain access to a new cloud search tool that integrates across G Suite properties, including Drive, Gmail, Calendar, and others. The new features are rolling out over the next few weeks.
The FCC recently approved a handset made by HTC that could be the next Pixel smartphone from Google. HTC manufactured last year's Pixel and Pixel XL handsets for Google. The FCC confirms that the new model in question, G011A, includes LTE support for all four major U.S. carriers via bands 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 30, 41, and 66. The phone supports CDMA BC 0/1/10, providing full support for Sprint voice service. The FCC also confirms that the phone will have Bluetooth, GPS, and dual-band WiFi. Some sample screenshots provided by HTC for the phone's FCC e-label provide a few more details about the device. The G011A runs Android 8.0.1. Google-branded handsets, including the Nexus series and Pixel series, will be the first to run Android 8, suggesting the G011A could be a Pixel. According to these same screen shots, the device runs a baseband radio (Qualcomm part MW8998) that would only be paired with the Snapdragon 835 processor (Qualcomm part MSM8998). The wide LTE band support and potential Snapdragon 835 processor earmark the G011A as a flagship handset of some sort. Last, the screenshots from HTC reference something called "Active Edge" that can be used to "squeeze for your Assistant." The Active Edge sounds a lot like the Edge Sense that HTC pioneered on the U11 smartphone from earlier this year. On the G011A, Active Edge may activate the Google Assistant. Neither HTC nor Google has confirmed any aspect of the G011A or 2017 Pixel.
The Asus ZenFone AR for Verizon is the first phone in the U.S. to support Google Tango, the advanced AR (augmented reality) platform for Android. It supports a small variety of apps so far. The most useful so far are online shopping apps that display virtual items for sale (such as furniture, decorations, fixtures, and appliances) in the room you're currently it. We take it for a spin by decorating a dingy subway station. Check out the full video to see Tango in action.
Google today brought its assistant-backed Allo messaging application to the web. Allo on the web requires Google's Chrome browser and can only interact with Allo on Android smartphones for now (iPhone support is coming later.) Google says Allo web access requires the latest version of the mobile Allo app on your handset in order to function. The setup process includes a unique, scannable QR code to link the phone and web accounts. There are some limitations. For example, Google says Allo for web only displays what's in the mobile app, meaning if the phone runs out of battery or the user quits the app, the web client will cease to work or show conversations. Moreover, a significant number of features are not available on the web at all, such as adding/removing group members, notification/privacy settings, and select chat tools including taking photos, deleting conversations, and blocking contacts. These limitations aside, the web version of Allo allows Android device owners to send messages to one another from their web browser. Allo is free to download from the Google Play Store.
Apple and a handful of technology companies are asking the Supreme Court to carefully consider the potential adverse outcomes if law enforcement is given warrantless access to personal information, such as location data. The companies filed a brief with the Supreme Court, which will soon hear a case about how law enforcement gleaned a suspect's location by taking the data from a third party without a warrant. The case, and the companies' collective opinion, hinges on the third-party doctrine, which has been in place since a 1979 case. The corporations that signed the brief together collect, transmit, and hold terabytes of data and meta-data generated by their customers' use of their services. If the Supreme Court decides data held by third-parties should still be up for grabs, the corporations may have to provide it whenever law enforcement asks. They feel this violates the spirit of the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees certain expectations of privacy, and could in turn convince people to use their online services less. "This transmission of data will only grow as digital technologies continue to develop and become more integrated into our lives. Because the data that is transmitted can reveal a wealth of detail about people’s personal lives, however, users of digital technologies reasonably expect to retain significant privacy in that data," argued the companies. "Fourth Amendment doctrine must adapt to this new reality." The signees include Airbnb, Apple, Cisco, Dropbox, Evernote, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Nest, Oath, Snap, Twitter, and Verizon. The companies filed the brief through the ACLU, which is participating in the upcoming case.
Google this week made its Contacts application available to Android devices other than the Nexus and Pixel lines. Moving forward, any phone running Android 5.0 Lollipop and up can download and use Google Contacts. The app relies on Google's Material Design and makes it easy to merge duplicate contacts directly on your phone. It also provides automatic suggestions for adding info to your existing contacts. Google Contacts is free to download from the Google Play Store.
Qualcomm today announced a major expansion of Spectra, its effort to offer manufacturers a drop-in hardware and software solution for easily and affordably adding advanced camera technology to phones and other devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. The expanded Spectra suite includes three new hardware camera modules. The flagship module is an active depth-sensing camera that uses an infrared projector and camera to create a 3D map of its environment, much like LIDAR. The other two new modules are a passive depth-sensing version using two standard cameras, and an iris-scanning front camera. Previous Spectra modules focused on photography, while the new modules enable and enhance additional phone functions, including biometric security, advanced AR, room-scale VR, and AI-powered object recognition. Spectra hardware modules are designed with Qualcomm's guidance, but are made by third-party vendors. Each type of module is offered in one version from one vendor. The Spectra suite also includes ready-to-go driver software tuned to each hardware module, and uses unique ISP technology built into the company's Snapdragon chips. The three new camera modules rely on a new version of the ISP — to be found in future Snapdragon chips — that has been redesigned from the ground-up to be optimized for depth-sensing. The active depth-sensing hardware and software is compatible with Google's Tango AR platform, and should enable Tango phones that are smaller, cheaper, and have much better AR performance. When used for VR applications, the active depth-sensing can be used for position tracking that's good enough to enable room-scale VR in phones. This new version of Spectra also includes advanced new algorithms to reduce noise and improve low-light performance in both still photos and video, by intelligently analyzing multiple frames. The new capabilities will be part of the next generation of Snapdragon chips, which has yet to be announced.
Opera Software today said it has pulled Opera Max from the Google Play Store and will no longer update the service. Opera debuted Max in 2014 as a way for Android device users to manage and control their mobile data use. "The product had a substantially different value proposition than our browser products, and represented a different focus for Opera," explained the company in a blog post. Opera said Max will remain up and running for existing users for a while longer, but Max will eventually be shuttered entirely. Opera will inform users before it fully discontinues the service.
Google today updated its Google Search and GBoard applications for Android devices and expanded the number of languages supported in voice typing by 30. Google said it worked with native speakers of these languages from around the world to build the needed speech sample data. In this round of additions, Google targeted African, Indian, and other Asia-Pacific dialects to help those who are coming online perhaps for the first time. Some of the bigger additions include Amharic and Swahili in Africa; Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu in India; Javanese and Sundanese in Indonesia; as well as Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Khmer, Lao, Latvian, Nepali, Sinhala, Tamil, and Urdu. Google says these same languages have been added to the Google Speech API, so developers can add support for them to their own apps. Further, Google will soon support voice dictation for these languages within Google Translate. Separately, English speakers in the U.S. can now use voice dictation to find and insert emoji into text. People can utter phrases like "winky face emoji" and GBoard for Android will find the proper emoji and drop it in. Google says it will add voice-dictated emoji support to more languages soon. GBoard is free to download from the Google Play Store.
Samsung has made a version of its mobile browser available to non-Samsung handsets. The company has been beta testing Samsung Internet Browser on Nexus and Pixel phones since April. The latest build, v6 Beta, is compatible with all Android devices running version 5.0 Lollipop and up. Samsung says its browser can sync bookmarks with Chrome on desktop machines, or other machines via the Samsung Cloud. The Samsung browser also includes content blockers, high-contrast mode, CSS Grid (for control over certain layouts), and the latest Chromium engine. Advanced users might take advantage of several beta features, including WebVR, web-based Bluetooth, WebGL 2, and Gamepad extensions. The Samsung Internet Browser Beta can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store.
The native Google Camera application, most often found on Nexus and Pixel phones, now includes a selfie flash. The flash works similar to that of the iPhone in that it fires a burst on the screen itself. The flash does not appear to test for white balance like the iPhone's does, and instead maintains an off-white cream color when it fires. The selfie flash can be set to on, off, or auto, and can help provide more light when taking selfies in dark spaces. The Google Camera app also gains a new zooming behavior. Quickly double-tapping the screen will cause the camera to zoom in. Double-tapping again will cause the camera to zoom out. A single tap still sets focus and exposure. Google Camera 4.4 is rolling out in the Google Play Store now.
Google today said its Gmail app for iOS devices now relies on similar anti-phishing technology already available to Gmail for Android. Google began using a new algorithm earlier this to spot possible phishing attacks and emails with suspicious links. Google will spend extra time evaluating emails in transit to see if they are in fact phishing attacks before delivering them to end users' inboxes. Google will also warn users of potentially harmful links buried in emails. It will display one warning for suspected bad links and a second warning for known bad links in order to prevent people from clicking. This change is rolling out to all Gmail users for iOS over the next two weeks.
Deezer this week said its music streaming service will soon be available for streaming on the Google Home smart speaker. Deezer competes with Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Music, and Amazon Music Unlimited. It offers some 43 million songs, personalized playlists, and recommendations. Deezer subscribers can simply say, "Ok Google, play Deezer" to get going. The service supports skipping tracks, finding song/artist names, and more. Deezer said its music service will go live on Google Home in France and Germany this week, with the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia coming soon. The addition of Deezer to Google Home benefits Cricket Wireless customers. Cricket preinstalls Deezer on many of its handsets and offers discounted service plans to Cricket subscribers. According to Cricket and Deezer, the music service is popular with their U.S. customers.
Google today updated its YouTube mobile application and made the process of sharing videos far simpler. Moving forward, people can share videos directly with one another within the YouTube app itself. Shared videos appear in a new tab in the app, bypassing third-party apps entirely. Further, senders and recipients of shared videos can discuss them in the new chat feature that is part of the shared tab. Google says people can respond with videos of their own, as well as invite others to join the conversation. Users will still be able to share videos through third-party apps (Facebook, messages, etc.) if they wish. The new feature, which Google has been testing in select markets since last year, is available in the YouTube mobile app for Android and iOS. YouTube is free to download from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store.
Google today made its monthly security patches available to select Android devices. This month's patches plug a significant number of security holes that threaten most Android devices. Google found dozens of vulnerabilities, including a number of which classified as critical, or able to remotely execute code. Some of problems are related to specific hardware and the associated software drivers that control them. Google is pushing two separate patches to cover these vulnerabilities, one dated August 1 and the second dated August 5. As always, Google is delivering the patches directly to its own Nexus- and Pixel-branded devices first. Google has already posted factory images for download from its web site. Google's handsets will receive both patches in a single download. As far as Google is aware, none of these security holes have been exploited by hackers or other entities. Google has already given the patches to its device-maker partners. Phone manufacturers are responsible for updating their own smartphones with the patches.
Google updated its YouTube Music application recently and made it possible for users to create their own playlists for offline listening. Before the update, YouTube Music would create mixtape for subscribers using its own algorithms — subscribers could not pick and choose individual songs or albums for offline playback. Now, users can select songs or videos and create their own list of tunes to listen to when the device is offline. YouTube Music is a separate music video-focused application. Offline playback requires a $10 monthly subscription fee, but is included at no extra cost to those who subscribe to YouTube Red or Google Play Music.
Google has pushed out a minor update to the Android Messages application and given it a useful new feature. Now, users can opt to mark messages as read directly from the notification shade. Prior to this change, people had to open the message within the app itself to mark it as read. The app is also now compatible with Android O, including Android O functions such as notification channels. Android Messages 2.3.x is free to download from the Google Play Store.
Google today said it has taken steps to improve the quality of apps that appear in Play Store searches. Google has adjusted its search algorithm to account for app performance metrics. Google found that apps with excessive battery usage, slow render times, and frequent crashes were poorly rated and often uninstalled or unused by consumers. Moving forward, Google will account for these metrics as it performs searches. Google says this change "results in higher quality apps being surfaced in the Play Store more than similar apps of lower quality." Google encourages developers to ensure their apps are of high quality in order to rank higher in search results. It lists several tools developers can put to use in order to improve their apps. Google claims developers who reduce crashes, in particular, will see average app ratings go up. Higher app ratings generally lead to more downloads and engagement.
You can finally get a phone with Google's "Tango" AR technology in the US. The Asus ZenFone AR goes on sale with Verizon today. With support for Tango apps, it can scan the room and show you life-size, realistic virtual objects placed in the room in real time. It's also a powerful high-end phone with decent specs, especially in the camera department. What's it it like? We checked it out in person and have first impressions to share.
The Asus ZenFone AR is available to U.S. consumers today from Verizon Wireless. The phone, initially announced in January, is the first to support both Google's Project Tango augmented reality platform and Google's Daydream virtual reality platform. Triple cameras on the back support Tango applications with a 23-megapixel main camera, depth camera, and motion tracking camera. Asus says its PixelMaster 3.0 camera system uses Sony IMX318 sensors with a TriTech autofocus system. It includes 4-axis optical image stabilization for photos and 3-axis electronic stabilization for videos. Additional camera tools include low-light shooting, optimized presets, manual controls, and 4K video capture. Multiple microphones capture Hi-Res Audio and DTS virtual surround sound. The phone sports a 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, and a vapor cooling system. Other features include NFC, memory card slot, USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, and Cat 12 LTE. The 3,300 mAh battery supports Quick Charge 3.0. Verizon is selling the phone for $648, or $27 per month for 24 months on an installment plan. The phone will include the Wayfair augmented reality shopping application, which lets ZenFone AR owners add furniture and other items to their home virtually to see how it will look before making a purchase. People who order the phone from Verizon will be rewarded with a $25 Wayfair gift card. Asus is also selling unlocked versions of the phone directly to consumers with different RAM / storage combinations. The 6 GB / 64 GB model costs $599, while the 8 GB / 128 GB model costs $699.
Facebook today said forthcoming changes to the news feed will see it showing more stories that load quickly and fewer stories that load slowly. The change is being made based on user feedback. "We’ve heard from people that it’s frustrating to click on a link that leads to a slow-loading webpage," explained Facebook in a blog post. "In fact, even more broadly on the internet, we've found that when people have to wait for a site to load for too long, they abandon what they were clicking on all together." Moving forward, Facebook will take into account the estimated load time of web sites that are accessed via links posted to Facebook. The social network will factor in the individual's network connection as well as the general load times of the web site in question. Web sites that have shorter load times will appear higher in the news feed than those that have longer load times. Facebook said it is making this change slowly over the coming months. Google already prioritizes faster web sites over slower ones, particularly on mobile devices.
Microsoft today said the latest version of Skype for Android and iOS devices makes it possible to send funds to other Skype users via PayPal. Users will be able to send money through PayPal without leaving the Skype app. The sender will need the new version of Skype to send PayPal funds, but the recipient can accept funds from older versions of Skype. Both the sender and the receiver, however, will need a PayPal account in order to fund and accept the money. If the recipient does not have a PayPal account, they'll be prompted to create one in order to access the funds. The service is available in the U.S. and 21 other countries, and supports the ability to send funds in various currencies. The new version of Skype is free to download from the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store.
Google today released a brand new version of Google Earth for iOS devices. It's the same app that Google made available to Android devices and the web back in April, which represents a complete overhaul of the app that Google spent two years developing. This revised Google Earth is all about giving people more ways to view things thanks to changing perspectives, new zooming behaviors, and, of course, plenty of ways to share. Google Earth now includes Voyager, a tool for exploring and taking guided tours on the planet's most famous locations, such as Paris and Rio de Janeiro. Natural Treasures from BBC Earth will take you to caves and jungles, or you can walk through dozens of museums. The Voyager section includes some 140 tours available in eight languages. The refreshed "I’m feeling lucky" search button will randomly select an interesting spot and tell you everything. Maps includes a wider variety of Knowledge Cards that provide details about places around the globe. Google Earth gains more 3D content, as well, allowing people to swoop through the Grand Canyon or check out European castles from every angle. Last, Google Earth explorers can send "postcards" to friends and family by taking 3D pictures within the app for sharing. The new Google Earth is available for free from the iTunes App Store.
Google today added a new tool to image search that should help clarify what type of content is available within the individual search results. Moving forward, people will begin to see small badges in the bottom left corner of image results that indicate what's behind the image. For example, an image search for "cupcakes" may include pictures, recipes, videos, and more. The badges will call out the image category, providing some clarity on what will happen if you tap the image. Tapping a photo marked "recipe" will open a search result with cupcake recipes, and so on. Google says some image search results may be marked as videos, products, or as GIFs. The new badge tool is being made available to Google image search on Android and the mobile web.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 and S8+ are now compatible with Google's Daydream virtual reality platform. According to Google, an update should reach both handsets this week that initiates Daydream services. Daydream is Google's VR program that brings together content from varied sources, such as YouTube, Netflix, CNN, and much more. It requires two separate apps, including Google Virtual Reality Services and Daydream. Daydream content is accessible only from Google's own Daydream VR headset. The S8 and S8+ are already compatible with Oculus VR content and the Samsung Gear VR headset.
Google this week updated Google Calendar so that it interacts more fully with Microsoft Exchange Server. Specifically, Google Calendar now supports real-time free / busy lookups between Google and Microsoft servers within businesses. This means people will be able to search for common meeting times with colleagues and collaborators even if they use different email and calendar systems. Google says this has been a top request from users. This change targets Google's G Suite, which is the business-grade version of Google Calendar. It requires IT admins to configure it properly, so it is not meant for consumers at this time. Google didn't say if or when the same functionality will be made available to free users. The improved hybrid G Suite / Microsoft Exchange integration is coming to both mobile and the web over the days ahead.
Google today released the Nearby Connections 2.0 API to developers, which will eventually help Android devices find, connect to, and communicate with other nearby devices all on their own. The vision is to make it possible for Android handsets to automatically share information with internet-of-things-type devices, such as personal temperature preferences with thermostats, Netflix playlists with connected television sets, and so on. According to Google, the Nearby Connections API makes use of WiFi, Bluetooth LE, and standard Bluetooth to discover and talk to nearby devices. An internet or other network connection is not required. The API relies on the strengths of each connection type while sidestepping the weaknesses. This means it will always find the best way to connect and transfer bytes, files, and streams of data. The API supports two connection topologies: stars (with one central node) and clusters (mesh-like). Google has been testing the API with several partners, including Hopstar, which has created a way for people to share media files when their devices are offline, such as on airplanes. Developers can download the API from Google. It is supported on all devices running Google Play Services 11.
Google today updated its GBoard application for the iPhone and gave the keyboard some powerful new tools. Moving forward, a tap of the "G" button calls up not only Google Search, but YouTube and Google Maps as well. Google says this should make it easier to share video content or location details when composing messages. The YouTube link lets GBoard users jump into YouTube to grab video links and put them into emails or other messages. The Maps tool is chiefly for sharing your location instantly with others, but also allows users to insert a local address or point of interest. GBoard now includes a doodle tool for fun. Tapping the emoji button and then the new pen button makes it possible to create drawings for sharing. Last, GBoard picks up support for Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew. GBoard for the iPhone is free to download from the iTunes App Store.
LG today said the Q6, the first phone in its new Q series, will soon be more broadly available. The phone is launching in South Korea this week and will follow in key markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. The company did not say in which countries the phone will be sold, but indicated that country-specific announcements will be made closer to launch. The Q6 features a 5.5-inch, 18:9 display with full HD+ resolution (2,160 by 1,080 pixels) and minimized bezels. The phone is protected by a 7000 series aluminum frame with rounded corners that match the curvature of the display, much like that of the G6. It carriers over many the G6's software features, such as Android 7.1 Nougat, the square camera, and Google Assistant, while adding facial recognition for unlocking the phone. The main camera has a standard-angle 13-megapixel sensor and the front camera has a 100-degree, wide-angle 5-megapixel sensor. The Q6 is powered by a Snapdragon 435 processor and includes a 3,000mAh battery, microUSB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC.
Google is eliminating its instant search feature, which generated search results in real time as people typed their search queries. The feature was introduced in order to save time, but as the majority of searches are now performed on mobile devices the tool doesn't make as much sense. "We launched Google Instant back in 2010 with the goal to provide users with the information they need as quickly as possible, even as they typed their searches on desktop devices," explained Google in a statement provided to Search Engine Land. "Since then, many more of our searches happen on mobile, with very different input and interaction and screen constraints. With this in mind, we have decided to remove Google Instant, so we can focus on ways to make Search even faster and more fluid on all devices." The move makes Google Search more cohesive between desktop and mobile devices. Google will continue to offer search suggestions in the search box as people tap out their queries.
Google plans to shake up its music offering and ad-free video service, according to statements made by Lyor Cohen, the head of Google Play Music. As it stands today, Google Play Music is available to a single person for $10 per month and families for $15 per month. YouTube Red allows people to enjoy an ad-free YouTube experience for $10 per month. Purchasing YouTube Red, however, gives people access to Google Play Music at no extra charge. Google also offers YouTube Music and YouTube TV, which are separate services for music videos and live TV, respectively. Moving forward, Google Play Music and YouTube Red will be offered together. "The important thing is combining YouTube Red and Google Play Music, and having one offering," said Cohen. Cohen didn't provide any details on what the merged service might look like, but he did say Google will give customers plenty of warning. "Music is very important to Google and we’re evaluating how to bring together our music offerings to deliver the best possible product for our users, music partners and artists. Nothing will change for users today and we’ll provide plenty of notice before any changes are made," said Cohen in a statement provided to The Verge. YouTube TV is the newest of these media services and is only available in 15 markets around the country. It costs $35 per month and will continue to stand on its own.
Google today made Waze available within Android Auto. The new integration means those who prefer Waze to Google Maps can take advantage of Waze via their car's in-dash infotainment center. In order to use Waze, Android users will need to download the latest version of Android Auto and Waze, and then connect their phone to their car via USB. Waze is a popular alternative to Google Maps because it provides real-time information about accidents, construction closures, and other events that may impact navigation. It relies on crowd-sourced data to provide the most up-to-date information. Google says Waze fans will be able to navigate to their favorite destinations saved in Waze (work, home, etc.), receive visual and audio alerts about hazards, check the estimated time of arrival along with alternate routes, and of course help other Waze users by sharing information about accidents and traffic jams. Google said it is working on a version of Waze that works within Android Auto directly on smartphones, but for now Waze integration is limited to in-dash access.
Google today brought its Trusted Contacts app, available to Android devices since last year, to iOS handsets. Trusted Contacts lets people share their location with others during emergencies. The app simplifies the process of adding friends and family as emergency contacts. It allows those added to the list to request location at any time, and works even when offline or the phone's battery is dead. Users can proactively share their location if they feel unsafe or become involved in an emergency situation. People added to the Trusted Contacts list will see the phone's activity status to know the owner is okay. The app is an alternative to Facebook's Safety Check, which allows users of the social network to mark themselves safe during times of crisis. Trusted Contacts is free to download from the iTunes App Store.
Adobe today said it will stop updating and distributing the Flash player in 2020. The web plugin is widely used across the web to power experiences such as video and gaming. Adobe says new, open standards such as HTML5 and WebGL have already begun to replace Flash in web browsers. Adobe is working with partners including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla to help with the end-of-life process. Adobe will update and patch Flash up until the end-of-life moment arrives in order to ensure users are protected. It is already encouraging content creators to adopt the new open standards ahead of the change. Flash was once a flashpoint in the mobile space after Apple debuted the iPhone. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously penned a blog post entitled "Thoughts on Flash" in which he explained Apple's reasons for not supporting Flash within iOS. It was a major point of contention, as it prevented the iPhone from accessing some web content. Apple is now helping Adobe with the transition away from Flash.
Google today announced its Google Maps and Google Search apps will soon show critical information regarding natural and other disasters that may strike. The SOS Alerts, as they are called, will appear at the top of search results and within maps as people look for information concerning the disasters or impacted areas. In Google Search, results will include pertinent news stories or broadcasts, emergency numbers, and relevant web sites. Those close to disaster areas may receive push alerts with the same information. In Google Maps, Google will showcase data concerning the event, phone numbers and web sites, as well as placement on the map and real-time information regarding road closures or changes to mass transit. Google partnered with agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to gain access to the information. Google is bringing SOS Alerts to its mobile Search and Maps apps for Android and iOS. The same information will also be available to desktop machines.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company's handset partners have new Daydream-compatible devices in the pipeline and there should be a total of 11 such phones available by the end of the year. At the moment, only four phones are able to use Google's virtual reality headsets, including the Pixel and Pixel XL, ZTE Axon 7, Motorola Z, and Huawei Mate 9. It's not clear if Pichai was including the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, which are primed to receive Daydream compatibility through a software update. The figure likely does include Google's 2017 Pixel devices, whatever they may be. Daydream has certain hardware requirements, particularly where the display is concerned. For example, the display must be between 4.7 and 6 inches, must have a 60 Hz or greater refresh rate with low-persistence mode, and must have at least full HD resolution, with quad HD preferred. Companies including Motorola, HMD Global, Samsung, Sony, Huawei, and LG all have major device announcements lined up between now and early September. It is possible these forthcoming handsets will be among those supporting Google Daydream.
Google today made Android O Developer Preview 4 available to application developers and said this is the final preview before Google releases Android O to consumers later this year. This build contains the final user interface system behaviors, the latest bug fixes and optimizations, and the final set of APIs. Google says along with the penultimate version of Android O, it is offering developers the stable version of the Android 26.0.0 Support Library along with incremental updates to the SDK, Android Emulator, and other developer tools. Among the new tools is a way for developers to test their applications for Android O preparedness. Those who have enrolled their devices in the Android Beta Program should receive Developer Preview 4 over the air in the next few days. Google has already made the system images available for those who prefer to manually install updates. This new preview can be installed on the Nexus 6p and 5x, Pixel, Pixel XL, and Pixel C, and the Nexus Player. Some of the core features of Android O include picture-in-picture, notification dots, widget picker, new emoji, and revamped settings tools. Google said the final version is expected to arrive later this summer. Google still has not revealed what dessert the "O" will be.
Amazon is making Alexa, its artificial intelligence, available to the Android mobile shopping application beginning this week. Any Android device with the Amazon app aboard will have access to Alexa, allowing people to search for and buy goods simply by asking Alexa. Amazon brought this functionality to the iOS Amazon shopping app earlier this year. Amazon says Android users can search for paper towels or reorder batteries and Alexa will do those things within the confines of the Amazon app. The app also lets people listen to music and play Kindle books, ask basic questions, add skills, access Smart Home features, and check the news, weather, and traffic via voice requests. The app works with Android users' Amazon accounts and subscriptions to services such as Amazon Prime. Android device owned can access Alexa by tapping a microphone built into the app. Separate Alexa-powered devices, such as the Amazon Echo, are not required. The Amazon mobile shopping app for Android is free to download from the Google Play Store.


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|By PR Newswire||
|December 18, 2012 08:00 AM EST|
ISTANBUL, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The world jewelry and watch industry will gather at the most important event of the year at Istanbul Jewelry Show March on 21-24 March 2013 in 5 halls of Istanbul Fair Center (CNR Expo). Gold jewelry, diamond jewelry, all kinds of precious and semi-precious stones & pearls, silver jewelry, mountings, watches & clocks, machinery, tools & equipments, display units, packaging, security devices and softwares will be displayed just for industry professionals.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/12/17/20121217203845869633.html )
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/12/17/20121217204404203385.html )
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The Ultimate Jewelry Superstore
The four-day event, occupying more than 40.000sqm of exhibition space, will gather over 1000 exhibitors from 25 countries with an extensive display of the latest products and trends. There will be 6 National and Group pavilions from Belgium, China, Hong Kong, India, Italy and Thailand.
Seperate and Interconnected Halls for Different Product Groups
Halls are designed and grouped productwise to save time and increase effectiveness of buyers touring around.
- The Largest Fine Gold Jewelry Pavilion in two halls of 19.000sqm
- Diamond Jewelry, Gems studded Jewelry, Gold Mountings, Diamonds, Loose Stones, Pearls and Watches under same roof of 14.000sqm
- Silver Jewelry and items, Machinery and Equipment in one hall of 10.000sqm
The must-visit marketplace
The unique positioning of Istanbul Jewelry Show as an important marketplace for Europe and Middle East, provides the best opportunities for suppliers and exhibitors meet buyers, build business & sales contacts with Turkey, EU, Middle and Near East, Russia & CIS Nations, Eastern European, North Africa and Mediterranean markets.
Turkish Design Jewelry
The Turkish art and craft of Jewellery, inspired by 5000 years of cultural and historical heritage of Anatolia combined with the latest technology, outstanding craftsmanship, immense variety, flexible production capacity, excellent finishing quality, competitive prices and shortest delivery time make Istanbul Jewelry Show an ideal place to source products on every category of price and quality, from price point merchandise to high-end design jewelry.
Turkish Jewelry Industry
Turkey, being one of the major players of the world jewelry industry as a leading manufacturing and export base, offering lots of opportunities due to its strategic location in the crossroads of three continents and a vital center for neighboring countries. In the past 25 years, Turkish gold jewelry producers had important success and Turkey had become the second biggest exporter of the world after Italy, the fifth largest importer and the third biggest producer after Italy and India. The export had passed over 1.8 billion US dollars in 2011.
Great Support to Istanbul Jewelry Show
Supported by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy, Istanbul Precious Minerals and Jewellery Exporters' Association (IMMIB), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB), Jewellery Exporters' Association (JTR), certified by the Union of International Fairs (UFI) and the Quality Management System ISO-9001, Istanbul Jewelry Show is an outstanding international trade event serving to the fast growing domestic and international markets surrounding Turkey.
State-of the-Art Exhibition Services
On-line pre-registration at www.istanbuljewelryshow.com, on-site registration, travel & accommodation services, visa invitation letters, free shuttle bus services, cloakroom / left luggage, customs assistance, security, Press Center, Buyers Lounge, exhibitors catalogue, complimentary Buyers Guide, Cafes and Restaurants.
Pre-registration for visiting the show is highly recommended, making access to the show a quick and easy process. With new registration system, visitors pre-register online at www.istanbuljewelryshow.com and get their e-badges e-mailed before the show to avoid long queues on registration counters.
Travel & Accommodations
Show attendees fly to Ataturk Airport which is two minutes away from the Fair venue. Turkish Airlines offers flights daily from all European cities and direct daily flight from New York City. Various travel & accommodation choices are available for every need of price, quality and distance to the fair ground. Please visit www.istanbuljewelryshow.com for details.
Doing business is not the only reason to visit Istanbul Jewelry Show. The city's unique atmosphere of history, nature, culture and entertainment attractions make it a must-see destination for all the travelling buyers.
Notes to Editors
About UBM Rotaforte (www.ubmrotaforte.com)
UBM Rotaforte, a joint-venture company formed by UBM Asia and Rotaforte International Fairs Inc., owns the Istanbul Jewelry Show, an international exhibition for jewellery, gems , watches and related equipments. Now in its 26th year, the exhibition is held twice a year, in March and in October. Overall, the shows attract almost 60,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors, occupying net show floor space of more than 35,500 square metres. Products covered include gold, diamond and silver jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold mountings, watches and clocks, machinery, tools and equipment, display units and security devices. The business is supported by the Turkish Jewellery Association JTR, a national trade body which represents more than 1,100 jewellery companies, including the major manufacturers. UBM Rotaforte also publishes a supporting magazine RFJ (in Turkish and English) and organises Turkish jewellery pavilions at a number of third-party events in Dubai, Italy, and India, as well as selling exhibition space into jewellery events in Russia and Ukraine.
About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.
Ms.Tulin Bozkurt Bulut
Marketing Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +90 212 519 0719
Fax: +90 212 513 3038
SOURCE UBM Rotaforte
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domain: news


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AI forecast turns franchise success on 7-Eleven.
Ever since “Clerks,” we’ve been dreaming of our own convenience store where we can hang out with our buddies, philosophize about life, and do good business on the side. For the latter, however, the store has to be on the right corner, otherwise you’ll just wilt your sausages. An AI now reveals whether the location has the potential to become a gold mine – at least if you want to open a 7-Eleven in Korea.
With AI matchmaking to the top location
This is because 7-Eleven in Korea has recently started using artificial intelligence to give potential franchisees an idea of their potential for success. To this end, the convenience store chain of the Korean retail giant Lotte Group has developed an AI solution in collaboration with the start-up platform Oasis Business to support potential franchisees in their decision to start a franchise business.
Tell me where the convenience stores are thriving.
To do this, the AI analyzes data on population density, sales figures for neighborhoods near shopping centers, local rental prices and traffic volumes.
Sounds as obvious to us as the candy bars in the quench zone. While people in Korea are generally open to the craziest things, they understandably like to err on the side of caution when it comes to the not entirely risk-free decision to open their own franchise store.
The AI knows what works – and where.
Choi Byung-yong, Digital Transformation Innovation Team Manager at 7-Eleven sums it up, “With Oasis Business, we will be able to conduct a digitized analysis of the business unit. We plan to offer data that can minimize the risk of failure when starting a new franchise.”
Not only Jay and Silent Bob give it a thumbs up, but also we at GROW Digital Group. After all, it really doesn’t get much more useful than 7-Eleven and Oasis Business’ idea of an AI solution in the B2B space. We’re toasting to that now with an extra large Slurpee.


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Vietnam boosts search for export opportunities
13:00 | 25/04/2022 Trade
(VEN) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has been developing various export promotion activities to increase the presence of Vietnamese goods in the world market. The budget for export promotion accounts for 80.41 percent of total funding of the 2022 National Trade Promotion Program.
Progress in probe of scam
06:00 | 25/04/2022 Trade
(VEN) - A positive development has been reported in the suspected scam involving millions of dollars in Vietnamese cashew nut exports to Italy, following the recovery of 12 out of 35 containers whose original documents went missing.
Malaysia, Vietnam talk trade, Halal industry cooperation
06:00 | 20/04/2022 Trade
(VEN) - Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s March 21-22 visit to Vietnam has created an impetus for stronger cooperation between the two sides ahead of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Vietnam feels rising inflationary pressure
13:00 | 11/04/2022 Trade
(VEN) - The National Assembly has a GDP growth target of 6-6.5 percent in 2022 and 4 percent on average for the consumer price index. In the first quarter of the year, input prices, especially gasoline and oil, have risen sharply, and along with other factors have been putting great pressure on inflation.


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Recent and archived articles by Christian Hetrick
Jeff and Jennifer Salvage were the kind of customers whom companies dream about: early adopters who bragged about buying a new product.
Philadelphia will become the first major US city to force shops to take cash after Mayor Jim Kenney signed off Feb 28 on a law that would ban so-called cashless stores.
It's the most wonderful time of the year for scammers.
Google users get different results when they search for the same terms, even when logged out of their Google account and in private browsing mode, according to a study by DuckDuckGo, a Google rival based in Paoli, Pennsylvania.
Children talk to their toys as if they're really listening, sometimes confiding in dolls and stuffed animals.
Amazon's blockbuster deal to buy Whole Foods Market for US$13.7bil last August was met with much fanfare about lower prices.
The mysterious hacker claimed to have the goods on Ed Eisen and threatened to release a video of him watching porn unless he paid US$7,000 (RM28,732).


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California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Visalia, Calif., the state's largest dairy processing cooperative, announced on Feb. 28 that it will increase its processing capacity with the addition of a third evaporator at its Visalia plant. The company said the project "will align CDI’s assets and capabilities to produce the value-added milk powders the world market demands."
CDI's announcement follows that of other dairies that have added drying capacity to meet international demand.
In January, Hilmar Cheese Co. announced plans to build a milk powder processing facility in Turlock, Calif. "We are expanding our ingredients business to meet strong global demand for milk powders,” said Hilmar CEO and President John Jeter. “The U.S. dairy industry, and specifically California, is well positioned to be a consistent supplier to the world."
Dairy Farmers of America's new powder plant in Fallon, Nev., is expected to open in July. According to the company, the $85 million Greenfield project will use a state-of-the-art evaporator/dryer process to produce powders for domestic and export use.
Darigold got back in the game last spring with new dryer
Last April, Seattle-based Darigold, completed the construction of a new milk powder dryer at its Lynden, Wash., processing plant to replace the one destroyed by a fire in February 2012. Darigold, the marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association, exports two-thirds of its milk powder production and three-quarters of its whey products. In 2012, Darigold exported 800 million pounds of bulk dairy products or 8,200 20-foot equivalent containers. Its milk powders are used in a wide variety of products from infant formulas to baked goods and nutritional products to confectionery items.
The new dryer will be able to produce 16,800 pounds of powder per hour, approximately 6% more powder annually than the dryer it replaced.
CDI's new dryer in Visalia is expected to be online February 2016. It will be able to produce condensed milk powders, such as non-fat dry milk powder and skim milk powder and whole milk powder for domestic and export markets.
“Management continues to look for new ways to add value to its member-owners' milk through the expansion and improvement of its assets and product offerings,” said CEO Andrei Mikhalevsky.
“The addition of a new evaporator combines increased capacity and improved capabilities to offer CDI the flexibility to adjust product portfolios as market demands shift, which will grow market share and maximize member-owner profits.”
The U.S. dairy's most significant development is making whole milk powders
Writing in the September 2013 Dairy Foods, CEO Tom Suber of the U.S. Dairy Export Council wrote "the birth of the U.S. whole milk powder (WMP) industry to the mix of the most significant, game-changing developments of the last 20 years.
"WMP has always been an afterthought in the United States, so you’re forgiven if the basic stats aren’t front of mind. Global production of WMP is roughly 4.6 million tons annually. Last year, more than 2.1 million tons of WMP was traded around the world, worth in excess of $8 billion – a larger market than skim milk powder by far. It’s mostly used for reconstitution in developing markets where fresh dairy is not abundant. New Zealand dominates the category, with 2012 exports of 1.3 million tons. China is the major importer, with purchases of 406,000 tons last year."
Hilmar Cheese expands Dalhart, Texas cheese and whey plant
Hilmar Cheese also has expanded its cheese and whey processing facility in Dalhart, Texas. The Hilmar, Calif.-based cheese processor said the expansion includes additional capabilities on an existing 40-pound natural American-style cheese production line, and improvements to a variety of processes to better serve domestic and international customers. Each day, the facility processes almost 1 million gallons of milk into cheese and whey products.
On the whey processing side, additional equipment enhanced the whey protein product offering from four varieties to nine varieties. Shipping options expanded to include a Union Pacific rail line to the shipping dock of the facility.
“We continue to invest in cheese to meet the need of our growing customers domestically and abroad,” David Ahlem, vice president, cheese. “One of our core values is constant improvement and innovation. The company walks the talk by investing in new equipment and processes each year,” he said in a statement.


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Specialist business and communications services franchise Mail Boxes Etc. (UK) Ltd is celebrating the recent renewal of its master licence for the UK and Ireland after two decades of sustained growth. The agreement has been extended for ten years, with further options to renew again in the future.
The first British store opened in Marylebone, London, 21 years ago and there are now 130 stores in the franchise network across the UK and Ireland. The franchise is facing the next decade with confidence following consistent expansion and development, particularly over the last three years in which group turnover has grown by almost 15 per cent – despite the recession and difficult trading conditions in the retail sector.
Announcing the renewal of the master licence, Michael Hawkins, sales and marketing director, commented: “We are delighted with our recent results of opening more stores and improving revenue and also the knowledge that we have expanded through effort on everyone’s part, demonstrating that we are a cohesive team. We strongly believe there is potential for really significant growth in the future and are committed to further development in the UK.
“This is an exciting time for Mail Boxes Etc. Going forward, we have innovative marketing strategies and ambitious sales targets for growth. At the same time, we are consolidating our existing operation and building on the firm foundation of our mature network of dedicated franchisees.”
However, he also warned that the company will not be resting on its laurels followings a string of high-profile town centre casualties in recent years. “With the changing face of the high street, our historic store model may need to change too,” Michael explained.
“Whilst high streets remain the most favoured positions, looking to the future, we are considering other types of location. For example, the first university campus store has been very successful, encouraging us to look at other campus sites and university towns.”
The company says its number of new franchisees was at a record high last year, with more than a quarter of UK stores now owned by franchisees who have more than one outlet.


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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 27
By Zeyni Jafarov - Trend:
The number of pay cards increased by 27.9 percent from January through October 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, reaching 9.13 million units, Trend reports citing a statistical report of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).
“Most of the cards (8,100 units) are debit cards, especially, 3,420 cards are social, 2,480 are salary cards, and 2,160 are other card products. The number of debit cards in annual circulation increased by 26.4 percent,” said the report.
The number of credit cards as of late October 2020 amounted to 1.07 million units, the bulletin said.
During the reporting period, 2,655 ATMs operated in the country, of which 1,392 are in Baku, and 1,263 in other cities and districts of the country. The number of ATMs in Azerbaijan increased by 1.6 percent year on year.
The number of POS terminals in the country amounted to 57,002, of which 37,230 were installed in Baku, and 19,772 - in other cities and regions of the country. Since the beginning of 2020, their number in Azerbaijan has decreased by 8,606 units or 13.1 percent.


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BankBazaar.com, an online financial marketplace has raised $60 million in Series C funding round led by Amazon. Other investors like Fidelity Growth Partners and Mousse Partners and existing investors Sequoia Capital and Walden International took part in the funding round.
Founded in 2008, BankBazaar is one of India’s first neutral online marketplaces that provides consumers with access to customized rate quotes on loans, credit cards or personal finance products like that of insurance policies, bank loans and credit card offers. These services can be availed through web and mobile platforms. Twenty-three top financial institutions of India has partnered with BankBazaar.
This round of funding is considered to the biggest funding in the online financial products market. Last April, PolicyBazaar, online policy aggregator had raised $40 million in Series D which is the second highest so far. This investment in BankBazaar is Amazon’s second investment in the e-commerce space in India. The company plans to use the new funds to expand and widen its product category and position the company as the one stop shop for all financial decisions. The funds will be used for technology integration, hiring and strengthening partner relationships and to improve the end-to-end customer experience to grow in the online financial services category as market leader.
Adil Shetty, founder and CEO of BankBazaar said, “Amazon is an innovative company that perceives consumer needs and innovates on their behalf. We share the same belief and we are committed to enabling an easy, convenient and trustworthy purchase experience for consumers focusing on financial products be it loans, credit cards or any other personal finance products. We are encouraged by Amazon’s faith in us.” He also added, “As the digital economy in India develops, Amazon will be an important investor in the robust and rapid growth of BankBazaar.” Shetty was a former Deloitte Touche Tomahatsu executive who co-founded the company with two others.
To strengthen its working in the online loan and credit card market, BankBazaar is now planning to launch other personal finance products to help consumers ‘clinch best deals.’ The startup is widening its portfolio offerings and working to provide more options to its consumer. the startup is investing heavily on the mobile app to be available on Android and iOS platforms. Since the last round of funding, the business model of the startup has evolved. The reason behind the major focus on the smart phone app is because more than 40% of the users connect to Bankbazaar through smartphones.
“With the rapidly evolving online consumer segment across categories, we have seen great demand for this platform. We are currently looking to expand the category as we reinvest all earnings in growing the business intelligently,” said Shetty.
Gautam Mago, managing director of Sequoia Capital said, “The company has made great strides in the last two years and become the premier consumer destination for financial products. With this fund raise, BankBazaar plans to innovate even more to provide the best and fastest experience for consumers.”


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EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alcanna Inc. (the “Company” or “Alcanna”) (TSX: CLIQ) today reported its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Third Quarter Financial Results
- For the third quarter of 2021, Alcanna’s same-store liquor sales from continuing operations was $145.4 million, 5.1% lower than Q3 2020 but an increase of 7.1% from Q3 2019.
- The operating profit before depreciation, remeasurements and provisions for the Company’s Liquor and Corporate Segments for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $10.4 million compared to $13.9 million in Q3 2020 and $7.2 million for Q3 2019.
The Company’s condensed interim consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (“MDA”) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 will be available in the “Investor Centre – Financial Reports” section of the Company’s website at www.alcanna.com and will be filed on SEDAR and available at www.sedar.com.
|(In thousands of Canadian dollars
except per share amounts, unaudited)
|Three months ended
|Nine months ended
|Operating profit before depreciation, remeasurements and provisions||9,344||15,957||21,441||34,433|
|Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations||(3,722||)||1,112||(18,896||)||121|
|Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share from continuing operations||(0.04||)||0.03||(0.37||)||0.01|
i) The financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 have been restated to exclude the results of the Company’s discontinued operations comprised of the British Columbia operations, which have been disposed as part of the Company’s coordinated plan to exit the British Columbia convenience-format retail liquor store business.
Since the March 22, 2021 spin out of Alcanna’s retail cannabis business into a separate publicly traded company, Nova Cannabis Inc., the Company indirectly participates in the retail cannabis business through its approximately 63% ownership of Nova. As a result of this majority investment, Alcanna must consolidate the financial results of both companies as per accounting practices. For discussion of Nova’s financial results, business updates and outlook, refer to Nova’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 at www.novacannabis.ca.
ABOUT ALCANNA INC.
Alcanna is one of the largest private sector retailers of alcohol in North America and the largest in Canada by number of stores – operating 170 locations in Alberta and British Columbia. The Company’s majority-owned subsidiary, Nova Cannabis Inc. (TSX: NOVC), also operates 71 retail cannabis stores in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Alcanna’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CLIQ”.
Additional information about Alcanna Inc. is available at www.sedar.com and the Company’s website at www.alcanna.com.
For Further Information
Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer


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First of all, no, that is not a typo in the title of this post. The fact of the matter is that retail sales have reached a seasonally adjusted $433.9 billion in the month of March. This is a growth rate of 1.1%. This is the best monthly gain since September 2012. That is 18 months, or a year and a half ago. The Wall Street Journal predicted a .8% increase last month. This was based on February’s gain of .7% in the retail area. To put this in perspective retail spending has grown 3.8% since March 2013. The Washington Post reports that two of the larger contributors to this growth were in automobiles and furniture. Automobile sales rose 3.1%, and general merchandise grew 1.9%. An example of general merchandise would be Wal-Mart or Target. This is the largest that general merchandise has seen since March 2007, which was before the recession.
According to the New York Times, we are in a “Great Moderation”. This means that we are experiencing the same steady growth in economic activity and jobs that we saw before the Great recession. During this “Great Moderation”, the economy is less likely to experience a slump, or anything like that. The economy could be on track to being what it was before the financial crisis.
In a few of my other posts, I discussed the retail market in this country and how it is important to the economy. Without a doubt, the harsh winter definitely weakened it. As the winter thawed, so did the retail market. With sales increasing, that means that consumption is on the rise too. This is important for increasing output. Consumption is an important part of output and is integral in helping a troubled economy recover from a slump. Apparently, March 2014 was a month of record numbers. It also exceeded expectations.
Taking all of this into account with the idea of a “Great Moderation”, I would say that Americans can be a little more optimistic about their nation’s economy. As previously mentioned, March was a month of record growth rates. Furthermore, we are seeing the same kind of economic activity that we saw before the drastic downturn in 2008. Before the recession, the United States economy was very strong. We are seeing similar signs of that today. If this were to continue, then the recession would be a thing in the past. This could very well be the light at the end of the tunnel that America has been dying to see since 2008.


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Christopher Manning, the D.C. attorney who represented the Chungs in the $54 million lawsuit brought by former Administrative Judge Roy Pearson, has issued a statement on behalf of his clients now that Pearson has lost his appeal:
Today the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruled resoundingly in favor of the Chung family and denied Mr. Roy Pearson’s appeal of the case completely. The DC Court of Appeals held that the trial court correctly ruled that Mr. Pearson’s claims had no merit whatsoever.
Mr. Jin Chung said “We are very very happy with the result and thank everyone for supporting us. The past three years have been very difficult but we hope this nightmare is finally over.” The Chungs also hope the vague and often unfair DC Consumer Protection Act (which was the primary statutory basis for the lawsuit) will be changed so that others do not suffer like they did.
Mr. Pearson may request that the appeal be heard again by the entire panel of DC Court of Appeals judges and also may petition for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is the Chung’s hope that Mr. Pearson will not attempt to appeal any further and will end his frivolous and baseless attacks on the Chung family.
The three and a half years this case has been pending and appealed have been very difficult for the Chungs. They lost two of their dry cleaning stores and their realization of the American Dream.
The Chungs simply want to quietly return to their one remaining small dry cleaning store at 7th and M streets and to rebuild their lives.
Manning Sossamon law firm handled the appeal for the Chungs on a pro bono basis.
Earlier post: Roy Pearson Loses Appeal; Hung Himself Out to Dry (The original headline used the “hanged” past tense, which isn’t right, since we were trying to metaphorical, not murderous.)
More at the Blog of the Legal Times.
Latest posts by Carter Wood (see all)
- Farewell from a Blogger - May 25, 2011
- Activist Ignore Evidence to Back Shakedown Suit Against Chevron - May 25, 2011
- More than a Lawsuit: A Circle of Political Pressure Against Chevron - May 25, 2011


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International exhibition of the hospitality industry
The leading trade fair for Ho.Re.Ca and Retail world
· 133 thousand attended over the five days of the event (+7% compared to 2011)
· 38.7% international attendees (+21% compared to 2011)
· Double-digit confirmations from the US (+28%), Russia (+64%), UAE (+141%), Japan (+24%), and Germany (+14%)
· 1,700 exhibitors from 48 countries (+6.5% with 350 new entries), of which 559 international (+16.5%)
The business of professional hospitality has been largely spared the economic crisis. The results of Host 2013 confirm Italian leadership in the industry, with 133,000 professional visitors arriving from 162 countries during the five days of the event, which was held at the fieramilano pavilions from Friday, 18 October to today.
Compared with the 2011 edition, attendance registered a rise of 7%, with a boom in international professional visitors to 51,600 (+21%) demonstrating the importance of the biennial appointment at fieramilano. The increase in professional visitors is constant and stretches across all 162 countries, with peaks in countries with a high degree of growth such as the UAE (+141%) and Russia (+64%), and historic nations, such as Japan (+24%) and Germany (+14%).
Fiera Milano had a winning idea with its Expo Matching Program, which had a hand in organising 38,400 engagements between manufacturers, suppliers and retail.
“Strong signals confirm the world leadership of Host in the professional catering industry,”noted Michele Perini, President of Fiera Milano S.p.A. “The entire world considers this event a key engagement to build and reinforce business opportunities. The results assume a relevant value for the country system and remind players not to fall prey to the mindset of decline. For Host operators, it represents an opportunity to project into the global markets, because the five days give attendees the ability to make contact with all the industry players and recognise the excellence of this industry. Our commitment does not end with this event: Fiera Milano continues to be a partner of companies that want to remain on the global markets.”
There was also a major increase in exhibitors from historic countries such as Great Britain (+33%), the Netherlands (+28%), Spain (+19%), and the U.S. (+17%). For the first time, Host welcomed exhibiting companies from Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Hungary, Taiwan, Venezuela and Vietnam.
More than 400 events were organised as part of the event, including workshops, seminars and demonstrations by five-star chefs. Finally, there was plenty of space allocated to the issue of training, in the view that focusing on development and expertise is a winning strategy to maintain and reinforce Italian leadership in the industry.
The next edition of Host will take place from 23 to 27 October 2015,during the World Expo in Milan.
Numbers were up, right across the board: from the total number of visitors to participants from foreign countries. A veritable army of 51,600 foreign presences (+21%) confirms yet again just how important this fair is for the sector globally.
Thanks to the 133,000 international, business-oriented visitors, the 2013 edition generated great satisfaction among exhibitor firms, who had an opportunity to present their new ideas to buyers from all over the world.
Smart Label competition is now closed. Products that were awarded are going to become part of the "SMART Products" group that is attending HOST 2013. "SMART Products" want to offer a sign of innovation and dynamism to their respective sector.
Discover the names of the designers who have been selected and will take part in the second stage of the competition. (Selected projects)
Host - International Hospitality Exhibition - merges with Tuttofood - food processing exhibition - in order to create Food Hospitality World: the most important food processing and hospitality industry in the world.
The event takes place every year in three different continents.
Download Host logos and banners for your on-offline communication
The Host-NPD monitor provides trends and data on Out of Home markets thanks to the partnership between Host and The NPD Group Inc. Specifically, NPD CREST (CREST®) offers insight on consumer purchases of commercially prepared meals and snacks. It tracks purchases in the commercial restaurant industry, as well as ready-to-eat foods/beverages purchased from other retail establishments such as convenience and food stores.
The online anti-counterfeiting service, made available by Host and run by Studio Jacobacci & Partners, this time deals with compensation for damages incurred from design counterfeiting, and funds for enterprises.


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, Internet media company targeting Spanish and Portuguese speakers, reported a fourth-quarter loss today that missed Wall Street's slightly lowered estimates by a penny.
For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, StarMedia lost $33 million, or 49 cents a share, excluding noncash charges. The company lost $27.8 million, or 44 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Nine analysts surveyed by
First Call/Thomson Financial
expected the company, which is based in New York, to lose 48 cents a share.
StarMedia's fourth-quarter revenue more than doubled to $20.1 million from $9 million in the same quarter one year ago.
During the month of December, StarMedia had 27.4 million unique users. The company recorded 3.9 billion page views in the fourth quarter, up 20% from the latest third quarter and more than double the same quarter last year.


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Dexerto Originals, which was launched on YouTube on January 25th, was created to deliver compelling documentaries every two weeks, giving fans the inside story on the world’s biggest games and gaming personalities. Leading off the series was famous Fortnite streamer Ali “SypherPK” Hassan, who took us inside his new gaming venture, Oni Studios. With over 5.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 5.4 million followers on Twitch, SypherPK is a veritable star in the Fortnite community. He discussed his long-term vision to help other streamers reach a similar level of success.
“We wanted to create a place where we can facilitate [creators],” said SypherPK in the first-ever Dexerto Originals documentary. “If you want to run a podcast, do a show, really up your production… You need a space like this. You can’t run everything from home. That’s if you want to take it to the next level, and some people do. That’s what we’re going to be providing.”
As well as showing off his exciting new project, SypherPK took us inside his current gaming studio in Austin, Texas, where he showed off his amazing setup. He also shared more of his own story, opening up about how he changed his lifestyle to become a fit and healthy gamer, and gave us his thoughts on the state of Fortnite.
You can watch the SypherPK documentary on the Dexerto Originals YouTube channel.
(All information was provided by Dexerto)


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With Valentine’s Day officially over, there’s no longer pressure to celebrate the holiday of love, but it’s still well within the timeframe where it’s acceptable to indulge in chocolate and heart-shaped food items. If you’re not too busy clearing out the grocery store shelves of its half-priced chocolate boxes, there’s plenty of art, Chinese New Year performances, and nerd culture to be enjoyed.
Chinese Lunar New Year Gala
The San Antonio Chinese Alliance is hosting its 2019 Chinese New Year Gala at Our Lady of the Lake University’s Thiry Auditorium on Friday evening. The nonprofit has more than 1,000 members in the San Antonio region and has invited artists from China to help put on a show. Friday’s gala will have traditional Chinese festivities, such as Beijing Opera, martial arts, magic, and more. The gala starts at 7:30 p.m. and will last about two hours. Tickets cost $10, $20, and $40 depending on how close you get to the stage, and can be purchased at the door. Find more information here or call 210-288-5019, 210-218-9099, and 210-518-7840.
411 SW 24th St.
$10 – $40
On & Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour
The 12th annual On & Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour runs Saturday through Sunday and will feature 70 artists in 44 locations both “on and off” Fredericksburg Road. The tour kicks off with a Friday night opening party from 6 to 9 p.m. at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Rd. Buy a catalog online here, or a paper copy at Bihl Haus Arts on Saturday and Sunday for $15. One catalog gets two people admission to the various Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour exhibits, save for theater events. The studios and galleries will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. So bring a friend, grab a catalog, and explore artists at your own pace this weekend.
Friday – Saturday
Are you a nerd? Do you like anime? Artists? Author and journalist Shea Serrano? Because all of those things are going to be at Pop Con, hosted at the San Antonio Public Library, on Saturday. There will be panels with artists and writers, merchandise for sale, and a cosplay contest with categories for adults and children ages 17 and younger. Find more details on the event’s Facebook page or webpage. Best of all, the entire day is free.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
600 Soledad St.
San Antonio Commanders vs. Orlando Apollos
Missed the first-ever game of the city’s new professional football team last week? Don’t despair because the Commanders are back at the Alamodome on Sunday. (The Commanders defeated the San Diego Fleet last Sunday 15-6.) And Alamodome officials say they have learned from last week’s attendance of nearly 28,000 people and will have enough staff on hand to anticipate large crowd size needs. Buy tickets here. Or if you just want to tailgate, make a plan ahead of time – this Facebook group is a good start to organizing your game-day watch party in the Alamodome parking lot.
100 Montana St.
$14 – $235.50
Pancakes for Paws
Breakfast food plus adorable dogs does not constitute sweetness overload. The San Antonio Humane Society is hosting a fundraiser and bringing some pups who are ready to find forever homes to Magnolia Halle on Sunday. Pancakes are $5 per person, and all proceeds benefit the Humane Society. You also can skip the food and just adopt the dog, but partaking is probably more fun (and nourishing). There will also be samples of dog food and toys from H-E-B. Please leave your own dogs at home, as there will be plenty of furry friends at the event.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
10319 Huebner Rd.


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Financial services firms should be required to automatically upgrade loyal customers left sitting in poor value products, a body which advises the City regulator has suggested.
Some consumers sticking with existing deals could be incurring “loyalty penalties” which equate to more than 5% of their annual income, and possibly as much as 10% in some cases, the Financial Services Consumer Panel said.
It has asked the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to consider the merits of introducing a new automatic upgrade rule.
The duty of care suggested by the Consumer Panel would mean customers on poor deals who are paying high costs and charges or receiving low returns could be moved onto better, comparable products offered by the same provider.
This could involve a firm automatically upgrading its customers into its best available product or offering them a choice of better quality and better value products within the firm’s portfolio which suit their needs.
The Consumer Panel is an independent body which advises the FCA on the interests and concerns of consumers and its views do not represent those of the FCA.
Its research focused on eight products – current accounts, cash Isas, credit cards, mortgages, investment products, pensions, home insurance and income protection.
Panel chair Wanda Goldwag said: “The research demonstrates the detriment for consumers of remaining in poorly performing products and the need to ensure that all consumers are treated fairly.
“Loyal customers are often those who are too busy to search for and switch to better products, those who do not switch due to behavioural biases, those trapped with their existing provider or those who are not aware that better alternatives exist.
“Consumers should not be penalised for this loyalty. An automatic upgrade rule would level the playing field.”
The call follows a recent super-complaint from Citizens Advice to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about long-term customers paying more for goods and services.
The CMA looked at the five markets highlighted by the super-complaint – cash savings, mortgages, household insurance, mobile phone contracts and broadband – and found a total loyalty penalty of around £4 billion a year.
The Consumer Panel said the FCA and CMA have often proposed solutions based around making it easier for people to switch deals, to address shortcomings in the way markets work.
Switching should always be easy, timely and convenient for consumers who choose to move – but it should not allow firms to treat their remaining or existing customers unfairly, it said.
The Consumer Panel suggested the FCA should calculate the total detriment to consumers from failing to auto-upgrade across products and use this to indicate where to prioritise its resources.


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Asia Bizz: Yahoo Inc. major search engine website after Google, is said to start shutting down its subsidy websites like Yahoo Delicious, Yahoo Buzz, AltaVista etc, as the company is on a move to streamline its infrastructure. Websites that will be soon chopped down include Yahoo Picks, AlltheWeb.com, Yahoo Bookmarks, MyBlogLog. Website planned to be merged include Fire Eagle, Upcoming, Sideline, FoxyTunes, Yahoo Events, and Yahoo People Search.
A yahoo spokeswoman stated that one of the main moves to streamline the company includes shutting down under-performing and unproductive products, and concentrate more on core business strategies which will help the company build strong revenue.
The Spokesperson also added that Yahoo has been consistently monitoring its products and has decided to shut down some selected websites that have proved to be unproductive for the company. Even though the company is looking forward to strong growth on the basis of shutting down incapable websites, many are just not happy with this decision of yahoo.


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“Consumer education is essential in translating salon-quality products to the consumer for do-it-yourself application,” Hirsch says. “We are adding ‘tele-beauty’ options that include things like professional video color consultations and how-to videos from our in-house world-renowned colorists.”
The Self-Care Beauty Shopper
“Today, beauty is a critical link to acts of self-care and wellness,” asserted Mary Dillon, CEO of Bolingbrooke, Ill.-based Ulta Beauty, in a December 2020 call with analysts.
Hunkered down in their homes and feeling the anxiety caused by the pandemic, consumers have been purchasing health and beauty products to relieve stress. Sales of sleeping remedies (27.9%), vitamins (18.2%), body scrubs (6.8%), bath products (8.3%) and soap (41.8%) have all grown over the past year, according to IRI.
So have sales of candles, home scents and massaging appliances, according to the NPD Group, based in Port Washington, N.Y.
“Massaging appliances can solve a variety of consumer wellness needs that have escalated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” notes Joe Derochowski, NPD’s home industry adviser. “Whether it is to relieve stress, soothe a sore back from a makeshift home workspace, or just find some much-needed relaxation, these products fit into the consumer’s broader quest for comfort during challenging times.”
In addition to massaging appliances, both candles and home fragrance have seen double-digit dollar gains, as have body-exfoliating skin care products.
“Through products such as body care and home scents, consumers are creating a spa-like environment at home and finding new outlets to de-stress and capture a sense of normalcy and balance,” says Larissa Jensen, NPD’s beauty industry adviser.
This past December, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Unilever partnered with Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart to develop and launch Find Your Happy Place, an exclusive line of candles and body care products. The goal: to create value-priced aromatherapy products sold in stores and online.
The In-Store Beauty Shopper
Despite strong growth in online sales, most beauty shoppers still want to shop in-store. When Ulta reported third-quarter results in December, Dillon said that the company’s priority is to reimagine how the physical store shopper experiences and discovers beauty in “the new normal.”
“Product discovery is a hallmark of the beauty shopping experience, and we’re welcoming more guests to experience the fun of GLAMlab, our virtual try-on tool,” she noted. “Our store associates have done a great job introducing GLAMlab to guests as a safe alternative to testers in stores, which are currently for display purposes only. To help facilitate even more in-store engagement, we’ve introduced new QR codes on select shelf strips that take guests directly into the GLAMlab experience, making it even easier for guests to virtually try on products while they’re in stores.”
This beauty shopper still really wants the in-store shopping experience, but now the rules of the game have changed. A great in-store beauty experience is no longer about fancy lighting and lots of testers. For food retailers, the way to win this shopper now is via a safe physical store experience aided by virtual tools, as Ulta has done; using signage promoting sanitation protocols; and providing plenty of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.
The Inclusivity Beauty Shopper
With the United States on its way to becoming a multicultural majority country by 2044, multicultural beauty shoppers are naturally a major force driving U.S. beauty sales. These consumers are looking for value-driven products that they can relate to not only in terms of individual personalities and lifestyles, but also in terms of gender fluidity, disability and agelessness. That means fine-tuning messaging and merchandising to the diversity of today’s beauty consumer, whether it’s merchandising Black-owned skin care, or brands that cater to disability-focused beauty.
Some grocery retailers are working with suppliers to attract the inclusivity shopper. This past November, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer hosted its first virtual Supplier Diversity Summit, giving diverse-owned businesses an opportunity to showcase their offerings for Meijer merchants. Certified minority-, LGBTQ-, woman-, veteran- and disability-owned businesses in the beauty and personal care categories were invited to attend.
“At Meijer, we believe our partners should reflect the communities we serve,” explains Jamie Akemann, the company’s group VP of indirect procurement and supplier diversity. “This event gives us the opportunity to partner with diverse suppliers to empower them and provide economic support that will be felt throughout our communities, allowing us to better embody our mission of enriching lives in the communities we serve.”
The window of opportunity for grocery players to grab market share in the lucrative beauty category is wide open in 2021. First, however, food retailers must understand the six new types of beauty shoppers, and connect with them.