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Ofwat to promote innovation with digital campaign
Ofwat is to seeking to channel innovation in the water sector with a new digital campaign aimed at encouraging water companies to fully embrace innovation and the opportunities it brings.
The regulator’s new digital channel - called Spark! - launches on February 6th and will run two programmes a week over a four week period with each week focusing on a particular theme. These will range from: highlighting the tangible benefits of innovation for companies and their customers, looking at how to create a culture which nourishes innovation and creative thinking, exploring the benefits of collaborating with others and finally, discussing how the water sector can keep pace in a rapidly changing and increasingly dynamic world.
Over the course of the campaign, Spark! will feature experts from a range of companies and sectors including BT, Microsoft and Bio-Bean, each of whom will be sharing their insights on the power and necessity of innovation, in order to inspire water companies to think about what might be possible in their sector.
This campaign complements other work Ofwat is doing around innovation, which is one of the main themes of the forthcoming 2019 price review (PR19).
Ofwat Senior Director John Russell said: “Innovation is happening all around us; disruptive technologies and new ways of doing things are having a profound impact on our lives, our interactions with one another and our expectations as customers. In the face of this change, water companies must not only keep pace with the exciting new innovations going on all around them, they must fully embrace them.
“Through this campaign, we are aiming to lead by example as the regulator, using digital channels to help water companies to learn from other sectors and to challenge themselves to think big about new and innovative ways of doing things, to ensure they are delivering the very best for their customers now and in the future.”
A trailer video giving more information on 'Spark!' is available here.
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- Ofwat sets out new charging rules for developers Ofwat has published a new set of rules that water companies must adhere to when determining how to charge developers for... Read More >
- Digital technologies ready to impact water industry efficiency ABB's UK water manager for drives, Clayton Mead, shares some ideas on tackling water industry challenges in 2020 and... Read More >
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- Anglian and ESW join forces on Innovate East Essex & Suffolk Water and Anglian Water came together to stage a three-day innovation event in September, producing a raft... Read More >
- Has offsite manufacturing's moment arrived? Rich Matthews, managing director at Siltbuster Process Solutions, believes it is time for the water sector to reap the... Read More >


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What makes you buy a phone? Is it when all the right parts come together for on one device? Or can singular, specific elements make the difference?
Samsung and Apple are currently battling over these questions, and the U.S. Supreme Court is left to determine where the line is drawn on what makes a consumer buy a smartphone.
Previously, Apple had offered to let Samsung, as a “trusted partner,” pay $30 for each phone sold because they believed Samsung had copied their patent designs. After they declined the offer, Apple sued Samsung in 2012 over 11 smartphone models that jurors found infringed Apple’s patents for iPhone designs. Samsung was then faced with having to pay “total profits,” thanks to a case about carpets dating back to 1885. This total amounts to $548 million, as agreed upon in December 2015.
But, Samsung appealed to fight the total profits ruling long enough for the decision to end up in the hands of the Supreme Court.
Kathleen Sullivan, representing Samsung, tried to urge the justices to institute some sort of test for determining how much a company should pay in damages when there is patent infringement.
Sullivan opened her oral arguments saying, “A smartphone is smart because it contains hundreds of thousands of the technologies that make it work.” In previous cases, Samsung argued that the three components they were sued over—the glass front screen with rounded corners, the rounded corners and aspect ratio of the entire phone, and the grid design setup of the display—factored in to only be around one percent of the phone’s value.
Apple, on the other hand, argued that external design is a major factor for when consumers purchase a smartphone because it is what they see first, so the use of their patented designs was means for obtaining the whole of the profits.
“It’s like a game of Battleship,” said Hugh Panero, former CEO of XM Radio and Shapiro Fellow at The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. “You constantly urge your team to file patents […]. You have to build up these patents to protect yourself.” According to Panero, companies have to plan to protect themselves when a company imitating their work comes along.
He said that designers—designers who have worked for everyone from Coca-Cola to NASA— were “obviously” falling to the side of Apple, so they could seek their own legal action based on the outcome of the case.
Meanwhile, tech giants like Google and Facebook along with other companies have filed an amicus brief in support of Samsung. Since they manufacture products that are made up many patented parts, including online platforms and operating software, this case has a lot at stake for them.
Panero asserted that “companies that are not hardware-based” were supporting Samsung for their own future endeavors into hardware, like Google’s most recent launch of their own smartphone.
A side-by-side comparison of Google’s Pixel and Apple’s iPhone shows many external hardware similarities.
If the ruling is made in favor of Samsung, Google could face far fewer headaches in the future with any patent conflicts with their own phone. But if Apple wins, that would open the doors for many more litigations.
“You don’t get much more precedent than the Supreme Court,” Panero said.
The Supreme Court will not return a verdict until June, allowing plenty of time for new products to launch that would be impacted by their decision.

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A Closer Look at Blockchain and Supply Chain Risk Management
“Build it in, don’t bolt it on” is a mantra we all learn when we study cybersecurity, yet we see it in practice far too rarely. Our adversaries also know this principle and have begun to implement it by infecting the supply chain – hardware and software – as close to the source as possible. DLT technology partners Crowdstrike and Symantec both note the trend in recent threat reports. In their July,2018 report1, Crowdstrike notes that:
Big Data Month: DLT Chief Data Scientist Shares Insights
At DLT, July is Big Data Month, where we will be highlighting all things big data in the public sector. To kick off Big Data Month, we sat down with DLT Chief Data Scientist Sherry Bennett to get her insights into what is going on the world of public sector data and analytics:
INTERVIEWER: So Sherry, what's your story and what led you to DLT?
Can Blockchain Help Agencies be More Efficient?
Blockchain is no longer just a buzzword or simply a “technology to watch.” This database technology is being explored by agencies across government, from the General Services Administration (GSA) to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), from the Federal Maritime Commission to military supply chain professionals across the Department of Defense (DoD).
The promise of blockchain is dramatic. It can help enhance agencies’ business processes and provide far greater transparency and efficiency.
Block Chain: The Next Big Thing?
There’s a lot of buzz about blockchain these days, even in government. In fact, we predict that 2018 will be the year of blockchain in government. Blockchain’s inherent security makes it resistant to data manipulation, making it a great tool for securely recording transactions between two parties, everything from medical records, contracts, transactions, even online voting.
This is Why 2018 Will Be the Year of Blockchain in Government
There’s been a lot of buzz about blockchain in 2017. It was only a few months ago in March 2017 that Betanews predicted that blockchain would be the buzzword that would take 2017 by storm. And it did, expanding beyond the financial community where it’s had a home for several years and breaking into other enterprise sectors.
But few foretold that blockchain would have such a hand in government digital transformation in 2017. In fact, the two go hand in hand.
What is Blockchain?
Blockchain Technology: A Primer for Government
The use of blockchain technology by government agencies is moving at a fast pace. In the past few months, both the Department of Defense and Department of State are reported to be eyeing the technology behind the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.
What is Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain to Help Department of State Reorganize
Earlier this summer, we wrote about how the Department of Defense is eyeing blockchain technology to improve cybersecurity.
Now, Meritalk reveals that the State Department is also seeking the use of blockchain (the technology behind digital currency like Bitcoin) to protect its cyber infrastructure, improve its IT platforms and restructure the agency.
DoD Eyes Blockchain Technology to Improve Cybersecurity
Could the technology that powers shadowy online cryptocurrencies used by terrorists, cyber criminals, and money launderers soon be deployed by the Department of Defense?
From Financial to Federal: Three Hot Technologies Impacting Government IT
Want a good idea of “what’s coming next” in federal IT? Look no further than the financial services industry.
Consider the similarities between financial firms and government agencies. Both are highly regulated and striving for greater agility and efficiency and better control of their networks and data—not to mention both are highly regulated. Meanwhile, cybersecurity remains a core necessity for organizations in both industries.


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One More Reason to Love the 2015 Corvette Z06 - It Might Keep Joe Biden from Running for President
Joe Biden made a stop at the 2014 North American International Auto Show and while he looked a little here and there at the various automakers, Biden spent a particularly long time in the Chevrolet display with the 2015 Corvette Z06. Biden is the proud owner of a 1967 Corvette so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that he would be so interested in the new Z06. While checking out the new C7 Corvette Z06 alongside new General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Biden was very impressed with the new top of the line Corvette. In fact, he was so impressed that he commented that the new Z06 could be one reason to not run for President of the United States in the next election.
“Everyone wants to know whether or not I’m going to run for president," Biden said. "There’s a lot of reasons to run for president, but there’s one overwhelming reason not to run for president. I’d like to get that Z06 with 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. 3.4 seconds! You tach that sucker up to six grand and this comes out of the hole like a bullet, man."
That’s right – Vice President Joe Biden stated that being able to drive the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was enough of a reason to not want to be President of the United States of America. You see, while Joe Biden owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, he hasn’t been able to drive his classic American sports car – or any other car – since he took office. Not being allowed to drive is one of the key items on the long list of security precautions taken to protect both VP Biden and President Obama. The President and Vice President don’t drive while in office so whenever they have to go anywhere, they have specially trained secret service drivers and a government vehicle that gets them around. That might sound nice to some people but for a car guy, not being allowed to drive must be pure hell and with Biden being as much of a car guy as any of recent high ranking US government officials – it must be tough of Biden to not be able to enjoy his ’67 Vette.
This means that should Joe Biden run for President and win the election, he would not be able to drive his 1967 Corvette for four more years (unless he was impeached or something) but he also wouldn’t be able to drive the new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.


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After months of anticipation, the Terraria 1.4 update release date has finally been announced by the developers. Hold onto your hats: you’ll be able to play the last Terraria patch on PC in only a few weeks.
Terraria has been around for nearly a decade and has had an incredible amount of content added since its original launch on May 16, 2011. The developers have been hard at work creating one final content update to bring the game’s lengthy post-launch development to a close — and it’s arriving on a most auspicious day.
When is the Terraria 1.4 update release date? You’ll be able to play the massive “Journey’s End” patch when it launches on May 16, 2020. That’s nine years to the day from when the game first graced our PCs.
The list of changes coming in Journey’s End are pretty astonishing. Of course, players will be able to craft or earn a boatload of new items. These include a “new and improved Star Cannon”, a brand-new sword that will serve as the game’s ultimate melee weapon, a new desert-themed pickaxe, and more.
Part of the fun of Terraria lies in decorating your world, and base builders aren’t being left out, either. Several new themes are arriving in this update, including:
- A spider theme
- A corruption theme
- A Vortex theme
- A Solar theme
- A bamboo theme
- A sandstone theme
Even the world itself will be changing. A new lawnmower will let you tidy up the world (and reduce enemy spawn rates, to boot). Also arriving in this update is new wind mechanics. It will have an effect on cosmetic features like rain. plants, and even the player’s wings. (As far as we can tell, it doesn’t look like it will have any gameplay effects on flying.)
Check out the Terraria wiki for a list of all the upcoming features we know about. You’ll be able to play with all of these fun new toys on when the Terraria 1.4 update release date finally arrives on May 16, 2020.
Terraria: Journey's End will launch on PC May 16, 2020! pic.twitter.com/cf1nGrzrrk
— Andrew Spinks (@Demilogic) April 13, 2020


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On Monday, Consumer Reports announced the results of their 2017 Annual Reliability Survey. While Toyota and its Lexus luxury brand finished first and second in the survey respectively, the big news is the brand that finished third —Show More Summary
Fisker teases its new EV's front end, and Toyota dabbles in city planning.
Like usual, the disconnected wiring harness can increase the risk of a crash.
The bus is but one part of the automaker's grand plan for improving mobility around the world.
We get dirty with Toyota's most capable Tacoma model.
Lexus, Toyota and Buick are the most reliable brands in Consumer Reports' latest survey, a reward for their conservative approach to new technology.
oyota has confirmed it will commence sales of fuel cell buses in japan from early next year. the toyota fc bus is a development of buses already created by sister company hino and the toyota fuel cell system (tfcs) was first seen in the mirai fuel cell vehicle. Show More Summary
We were initially skeptical of this article by [Aleksey Statsenko] as it read a bit conspiratorially. However, he proved the rule by citing his sources and we could easily check for ourselves and reach our own conclusions. There were fatal crashes in Toyota cars due to a sudden unexpected acceleration. Show More Summary
oyota promised its australian customers that a safer landcruiser 70 series was on the way, and now the carmaker has delivered. the australasian new car assessment program (ancap) has today confirmed a new maximum 5-star safety rating for the 70 series owing to safety (and general) upgrades for 2016. Show More Summary
Women protest Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and the GOP in front of Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The realities of Donald trump’s dumpster-fire political campaign has created a casualty – the Trump brand. Pivoting, the real-estate tycoon turned politician is renaming his properties [...]
The rugged Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series has been awarded the full five-star safety rating from independent crash-testing authority, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), along with the current-generation Toyota Prius.Show More Summary
We just went off-roading in the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, but what we didn’t mention was that we flew to Hawaii to do it. Here’s a brief highlight video of some of the sights we saw on our way to Hana Ranch for the drive.
Toyota’s most rugged mid-size pickup yet, the new Tacoma TRD Pro rides on 2.5? FOX Shocks, is wider, taller, has a 35º approach angle, and a 1/4? skid plate to protect components. We dig the blacked out grille, hood scoop, and overfenders. Read our full review on 95octane.
“JUST TURBOCHARGE IT ALREADY:” Review: 2017 Subaru BRZ Manual. “At this rate, the BRZ and its counterpart, the Toyota 86, are destined to suffer the same fate as the late Nissan 240SX—another coupe with a fantastic chassis that desperately needed an engine to match. The Nissan died at the hands of bean counters disgruntled about […]
When recommending cars to other people, it’s easy to fall into a pattern and suggest the same old BMWs, Hondas, and Toyotas. The problem with those picks is they tend to carry higher prices due to their popularity. Sometimes the key to finding great values is to look for cars that others forget. Read more...
By AMANDA VINCENT NASCAR confiscated the front jack screws from the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota team of Martin Truex Jr. at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Saturday as teams went through pre-qualifying inspection for Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 Sprint Cup Series race. According to rule 18.104.22.168.a in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series rule book, jack [...]
While the Toyota 2JZ isn’t quite the ubiquitous engine swap as the SBC or the LS, the straight-six still manages to make its way in between the frame rails of a good diversity of cars, trucks, and other vehicles, as this recent roundup from Stance is Everything shows. Mustangs, rat rods, even a Lada… […]
Stop by to say hi to BrooklynVegan and catch intimate sets by Little Scream, Shakey Graves, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, All Them Witches, a Chairlift DJ set, and more. Continue reading…
Along with Hyundai and Honda, Toyota has been one of the biggest exponents of hydrogen as an alternative to petrol and diesel power. As well as releasing the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car, it has invested in fueling stations and infrastructure...Show More Summary
It's the biggest Mirai around. Continue reading Toyota next fuel cell vehicle is a big ole bus Toyota next fuel cell vehicle is a big ole bus originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Oct 2016 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments


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Association aims to maintain sustainable, verifiable and transparent standards across the supplement supply chain.
CRN’s response to recent industry threats and the plan forward.
Can herbal supplements ride out the storm conjured by the New York Attorney General?
Twenty years since the passage of this landmark law, the industry has developed into a mainstream, $35 billion market.
Companies that can win the confidence of medical specialists will be positioned to capitalize on the next wave of growth in the practitioner channel.
Recent celebrity endorsements highlight the popularity of supplements, but could consumers be getting the wrong message?
A few well-designed steps can help build a solid scientific foundation.
Mr Griffin was formerly the owner of Grifcon Enterprises, a leading dietary supplement insurance agency.
These important minerals have a bright future across a range of health categories.
If you sell garbage, you’re going to get dirty. And it’s time to take out the trash.


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Have you lived your entire life in the wilderness Henry David Thoreau style with no connection to the outside world?
If the answer to that question is ‘no’, then you are familiar with The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO).
Coca-Cola is the global leader of the beverage industry.
The constant criticism on Coca-Cola stocks is that sodas are unhealthy and people are slowly switching away from them.
There’s a small bit of truth to that – but even if Coca-Cola only sold sodas, then it would be in about the same position as the cigarette industry. That’s not a terrible place to be… Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) – the U.S. cigarette industry leader and owner of Marlboro – has seen its stock price rise about 27% over the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 is flat over the same time period.
But the truth of the matter is that Coca-Cola is much, much more than a soda company. Coca-Cola has 20 billion dollar brands. Of these 20 brands, 14 are non-carbonated.
The growth story surrounding Coca-Cola is surprisingly simple. If people continue to drink beverages, Coca-Cola will continue to grow its earnings. That’s about as safe an investment as can be made.
Fortunately for Coca-Cola, more and more in the world are able to afford buying the company’s expensive (relative to tap water) beverages.
Over the next 5 years, the global middle class is expected to increase by 700 million. Personal consumption growth is expected to increase 20 trillion. The image below highlights this growth:


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Toyota Auris Hybrid Rolls Off UK Lines
“The UK has proved to be a valuable business partner. Building on almost 20 years of manufacturing experience, TMUK’s team members continue to deliver the quality, efficiency and flexibility needed to meet the exacting standards of our customers in Europe," Didier Leroy, Toyota Motor Europe president said in a statement.
"A new chapter is opening today as Britain, a traditional origin of industrial innovation, becomes home to the manufacture of the first full hybrid vehicle for Europe.”
The Auris hybrid will use the same drive train as the Prius, meaning a 1.8-liter Atkinson gasoline engine developing 98 bhp connected to an electric unit that also generates 80 bhp. The hybrid engine configuration allows for a 11.4 second time for the 0 to 62 mph(100 km/h) sprint and offers a top speed of 112 mph (181 km/h). The car returns a combined cycle fuel economy of 74.3 UK mpg (3.8 l/200km) and CO2 emissions are 89 g/km (when equipped with 15-inch wheels). The Auris Hybrid can run in all-electric mode for distances up to 1.2 miles (1.9 km) at speeds up to 30 mph (48 km/h).
The Auris Hybrid has a starting price of 18,950 pounds (EUR22,150, $27,278).
Toyota is splitting the production process of the European RHD Auris between its facilities. The Auris will be built on the same production line as petrol and diesel Auris and Avensis (Burnaston), while the engine will come from Deeside in North Wales.
“It is a proud day as we celebrate the official start of production of the [hybrid] Auris, yet another premium quality model to be built in Britain," added Katsunori Kojima, Toyota manufacturing UK director.
"To manufacture a world-class vehicle you need a world-class team and the commitment and dedication of our members has been crucial. As a model sustainable plant for Toyota in Europe we will truly be an eco plant with eco-minded people building eco cars.”


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Jul 29, 2022 – AAX, a cryptocurrency trade for all, is happy to announce its participation as a featured sponsor at Blockchain Financial system Istanbul Summit 2022, Eurasia’s largest blockchain occasion of the 12 months and a key assembly place for main world cryptocurrency corporations and entrepreneurs. . AAX marked its sponsorship of the occasion with a distinguished presence at Istanbul Airport, drawing consideration to the occasion for the 1000’s of people that will enter the nation over the subsequent few days.
Istanbul is a becoming host for the fourth annual Blockchain Financial system Summit. Trendy Turkey is among the many most receptive societies to cryptocurrencies. A current Forrester research commissioned by AAX discovered that 16% of Turkey’s inhabitants, roughly 13.6 million individuals, personal Bitcoin. It implies that Turkey is without doubt one of the most necessary areas on this planet that’s driving crypto adoption.
Keynote audio system at this 12 months’s summit embody Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, entrepreneur Carl Runefelt, MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, and plenty of extra. Additionally becoming a member of the speaker checklist are a number of representatives from AAX, together with its VP of International Advertising and marketing aka Head of Analysis and Technique Ben Caselin, Head of Influence Lab Timothy Wong, and Nation Director for Turkey Anadolu. Aydınlı.
“Our presence on the Istanbul summit additionally marks our growth into Turkiye as considered one of our goal markets. In Turkiye there may be an understanding of Bitcoin and digital property past buying and selling and investing alone. Digital property, together with stablecoins, are a necessity right here and AAX stands able to serve this market past the confines of its city facilities to convey the advantages of digital property to all,” stated Ben Caselin, Vice President of Advertising and marketing world chief and director of analysis and technique for AAX. .
AAX welcomes Anadolu Aydınlı as nation director for Turkey
Istanbul is a superb assembly level for the area’s rising crypto neighborhood. To be part of that, AAX has appointed Anadolu Aydınlı as its Nation Director in Turkey, the place he’ll lead the native crew in increasing AAX providers within the area. As a Turkish-American lawyer with an LLM in cryptocurrency arbitration, he has beforehand held positions at different main cryptocurrency exchanges resembling Binance, Bybit, and Glassnode/Accointing. Moreover, he’s a board member and advisor to a number of fintech initiatives, in addition to a columnist for Karar.
“All of them have a purpose of being as established as potential in a vital market like Turkey, however we’re taking it a step additional by expressly specializing in native partnerships, sustainability and philanthropy. We have now some of the crypto-native groups in Turkey proper now, with deep buying and selling and product information to assist speed up our development on this market we name dwelling. We’re prepared not solely to proceed the digital asset adoption journey in Turkey, but additionally to assist our customers attain their full potential via our product,” stated Anadolu Aydınlı, Turkey Nation Director at AAX.
AAX has a rising neighborhood presence in Turkey.
Simply previous to the summit, AAX hosted a profitable meet-and-greet occasion in Istanbul on July 26 the place the native crypto neighborhood got here collectively for a panel dialogue that includes audio system together with Eren Ozkan, Director and Vice President of Mastercard, Sima Baktas, founding father of CryptoFemale Turkey. and Max Lurya, CEO of EnoughTea, with AAX’s Caselin moderating the dialogue.
AAX is a premier crypto trade serving a world viewers, with a imaginative and prescient to convey the advantages of crypto to everybody. By means of an accessible vary of merchandise and by contributing to the dialog round crypto and tradition, we intention to empower the estimated 96% of individuals all over the world who don’t already personal Bitcoin and different digital property to construct higher, extra inclusive economies.
Favored by over two million customers in over 160 international locations, AAX is the primary trade to make use of the Satoshi Commonplace (SATS) to drive Bitcoin adoption. We’re additionally the primary to be powered by LSEG expertise, providing high-yield financial savings packages, over 200 spot pairs, deeply liquid futures markets, common reductions on main tokens, and a variety of entry and entry merchandise. exit.


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Nick Summers is a technology journalist for The Next Web. He writes on all sorts of topics, although he has a passion for gadgets, apps and Nick Summers is a technology journalist for The Next Web. He writes on all sorts of topics, although he has a passion for gadgets, apps and video games in particular. You can reach him on Twitter, circle him on Google+ and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Update: Update: Rovio is soft launching Angry Birds Epic today in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Finnish game developer has also released a new trailer to introduce Piggy Island and the RPG’s turn-based combat.
For its next installment of the Angry Birds franchise, Rovio is building a turn-based role-playing game. A teaser video for Angry Birds Epic was released a few days ago, but today the developer has released some tantalizing new details.
Firstly, the game will feature a campaign with a heavy focus on narrative. While the Angry Birds series isn’t known for delivering powerful stories, narrative is a driving factor for any successful RPG. Rovio says combat will be turn-based and there will also be a “challenging endgame,” which could suggest some form of boss, time attack or horde mode.
Secondly, the developer is promising a crafting system that will give players the ability to build weapons, armor and potions. Resources will be strewn throughout the game but also available to purchase, suggesting an in-app microtransaction system.
Angry Birds Epic will soft launch on iOS in Canada, Australia and New Zealand this week. Rovio expects it to be available in the App Store “quite soon” but has emphasized this will be an early version of the game. It said the initial app won’t be an alpha or an ‘early access’ build, but it’s a version that will be tweaked and refined ahead of its global launch.
When Rovio releases the game worldwide, it’ll be available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8. It follows the reveal of Angry Birds Stella, a female-focused spin-off that will feature Stella and her friends in various forms of entertainment including games, books and toys.
➤ AngryBirdsNest | Kotaku
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CIBC announced on Thursday product details, benefits and timing updates for the new CIBC Costco Mastercard, following on the announcement earlier this year that CIBC will become the exclusive credit card issuer for Costco in Canada.
Launching in March 2022, the card will offer strong new features and benefits for members, including more cash back, new insurance coverage, and flexible payment plans.
“Our top priority is to provide an innovative credit card offering that expands the value that Costco members receive, many of whom are new to our bank. We are looking forward to welcoming these members to CIBC with a card that offers richer rewards, such as enhanced cash back features, novel insurance coverage, and the flexibility of paying for large purchases at Costco at special lower rates,” said Diane Ferri, Senior Vice-President, Card Products at CIBC.
Almost three months after striking a deal to become Costco’s exclusive credit card partner in this country, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has unveiled details about what cardholders can expect when the plastic arrives in their mailbox next year – including at least twice as much cash back.
The CIBC Costco Mastercard provides valuable benefits built from Costco member feedback, including the following new features:
- More cash back on Costco.ca purchases and at Costco gas locations:
- New 2% cash back earned on Costco.ca on purchases up to $8,000 (1% thereafter),
- Earn 3% at Costco Gas and 2% at non-Costco gas stations on the first $5,000 spent on gas (1% thereafter),
- A full 1% cash back on every purchase everywhere Mastercard is accepted, including at Costco warehouses,
- Mobile Device Insurance coverage and other insurance protection available within CIBC’s credit card lineup will be included on the CIBC Costco Mastercard,
- Flexible payment plans through CIBC Pace It™ everywhere. Eligible Costco purchases at Canadian warehouses and at Costco.ca can be paid off in installments with special member interest rates and no installment fees.
Additionally, cardholders will continue to receive 3% cashback at restaurants and the card will continue to have no annual fee.
Costco has more than 10 million members across Canada, according to its website, though it is unclear how many of them are Costco Mastercard cardholders. Regardless of the exact figure, analysts believe CIBC’s main motivation for acquiring the card business is to bring the holders deeper into the bank’s suite of offerings, BNN Bloomberg reported.
“The real prize here for CIBC will be the cross-selling opportunities to millions of affluent card holders, only a small portion of which are current CIBC customers,” Scotiabank analyst Meny Grauman told clients in early September when the deal was announced.


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When Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 back in March, even though it didn't seem like a huge upgrade compared to the Galaxy S3, we knew that Samsung would sell boatloads of them. After all, they spend more on marketing than other OEMs make in profit. Then, just 25 days after their global launch, Samsung announced they had shipped 10 million units. Well that rate of growth will surely slow down over time right. Well, industry watchers see Samsung's latest hero phone racking up some record breaking numbers. In fact, according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark sue, Galaxy S4 sales will hit 80 million units this year alone.
"Galaxy S4 demand in the first month of availability has been incrementally better than our estimate of 10 million units" according to Sue in a note to clients on Thursday. "In comparison, the S3 took nearly 2 months to reach the 10 million mark. Our broad-based channel checks at US stores indicate that demand for the 16GB Galaxy S4 devices remain strong with 32GB Black devices mostly sold out and white 32GB devices not even making it to stores yet."
Sue also believes that the Galaxy S4 will be the biggest seller of 2013, well at least until the Galaxy Note 3 comes out this fall. He is predicting that we'll see global smartphone shipments growing 26% to 870 million units in 2013, and then growing a further 20% in 2014 reaching just over 1 billion units.
Samsung's success wasn't over exaggerated as we all expected the Galaxy S4 to be a huge seller. Especially after following in the Galaxy S3's footsteps from 2012 in which it was the top selling phone. If Samsung didn't market the Galaxy S4 at all this year, they could probably still sell around 80 million devices, but marketing the crap out of the Galaxy S4 is definitely going to help them hit that goal even faster.
How many of you have bought your Galaxy S4? Let us know in the comments down below.


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Online spending for Christmas rose by 17.8% compared to the previous year, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium. High Street spending only rose by 0.3%.
Experts say the convenience of shopping online for comparing prices led to a big increase in the internet sector.
Retailers knew they were facing a challenging Christmas. Some did better than others but they were generally well prepared for shoppers' limited spending power.
After a sluggish start, the final few days leading up to Christmas saw a last-minute sales boost.
More top news
The first building has opened at Welsh history museum St Fagans as part of an ongoing multi-million pound redevelopment project.
Horeb surgery in Treorchy is closing because the health board has been unable to recruit a GP to keep it open.
The Labour leadership candidate was accused of misogyny for calling on Labour to 'smash' the prime minister 'back on her heels'


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Jane McGonigal's new app helps players overcome health challenges and meet goals through game mechanics.
Is gaming like religion – a way of taking our minds off reality and indulging in unrealizable fantasies? Not according to Jane McGonigal, one of electronic gaming’s most articulate evangelists. According to McGonigal, gaming is real... Read Post
If you’re committing to losing weight, exercise more or live more healthily in 2013, there are loads of smartphone apps and accessories that can help you achieve your fitness goals.... Keep reading ? Read Post


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We spend so much time on our phones, one of our biggest concerns is keeping them charged. But could grabbing some of those inexpensive cables to charge our iPhones put your phone at risk?
They’re known as lightning cables and they seem to be available everywhere we go now from gas stations to drug stores, and when you’re down to a low battery, you might just grab what’s convenient. But many people don’t realize that in some cases that move could end up doing some serious damage to your phone.
We’ve seen the reports and home videos of damaged iPhones when cables overheat or catch fire.
Jessa Jones, owner of iPad Rehab in Honeoye Falls, NY, gets phones shipped to her from around the country that she says have been damaged by bad cables.
“Fake cables can and do kill iPhones, all day, every day,” Jessa said.
But what keeps your phone safe from this always happening? There is a little protective chip inside Apple approved lightning cables that guards your iPhone from a power surge or potentially overheating.
Experts say many cables on the market don’t have that chip.
Apple has a certification program called Made For iPhone of MFi. MFi cords made by other manufacturers have to include the protective chip, but how do you know what’s an MFi certified cable?
Apple has a database on their website where you can search brands and models to see if they’re certified.
To see what we would find, “GMA” Investigates bought eight cables: three from gas stations, one from a popular discount store chain, one from CVS, one from Walmart and two from Amazon.
We took those cables to Jessa to examine. She said, “You could maybe use [them] and be lucky your entire life but that one time a noisy voltage goes up the cable and damages the inside of your phone, your phone may be just totally dead.”
Jessa first opened our cables from Walmart and CVS and found they have the proper protective chip and are Apple certified. Jessa pointed out, “That is what a certified cable should look like.”
But our cable we bought from the discount store chain we bought for is a different story. It says on the box it “works with” certain iPhones and it doesn’t claim to be MFi certified. When Jessa opened up the lightning end of the cable to check for the protective chip, she said, “We can tell it’s the same copy style non-certified, probably should not use it, cheap cable.” And it is missing that protective chip.
Next, Jessa checked the three different cables we bought from gas stations. All of the cables were under $8. The first two are missing that important protective chip and the third, ABC News’ Gio Benitez pointed out, “Everything sort of looks legit when you’re looking at it.”
At first glance the packaging looks like a real Apple product.
Jessa laughed, “Maybe you guys got the deal of a lifetime.” Jessa pointed out that we only paid $7.99 at the gas station while the cable directly from Apple’s website is $19.00.
But Jessa confirmed the deal is too good to be true when she opens up the cable and there isn’t an Apple certified protective chip. She says it is counterfeit.
Our last two cables were sold on Amazon and claim to be MFi certified in the listing and on the packaging, but when she checked for the chips she finds that neither has the protective chips.
“That’s in direct contradiction to what we are being told by the advertising. It said it was certified. And it is not, clearly not. The chips really can’t lie.”
Out of all of our cables, Jessa found that six out of the eight cables we bought did not have the protective chip and could pose a hazard.
So now that our expert has taken a look, we sent them off to Apple to see what the company had to say.
And after examining the cables, Apple confirmed that those six cables were counterfeit or otherwise problematic and could damage your phone. They told us, “The safety of our customers is our first priority, and our teams are constantly working with law enforcement, merchants and e commerce sites around the world to remove counterfeit products from their stores. We encourage customers to buy directly from Apple or Apple Authorized Resellers.
For more information about where to buy genuine Apple products please visit: https://locate.apple.com/.”
We reached out to all the stores where we bought our cables and the manufacturers. We only received comment from Amazon and they told us: “Customers trust that they will receive authentic goods when they shop on Amazon and anything that diminishes that trust is unacceptable. Counterfeit is an age-old problem, but one that we will continue to fight and innovate on to protect customers, brands, and sellers.”
UL, one of the world’s largest product safety lab, which tests and writes standards for lightning cables, said the issue of uncertified cables is concerning. “You can potentially overcharge the battery which can cause a fire or explosion which is a safety issue. You can damage the phone to the point that you won’t be able to use it or get the data off it anymore,” said Randy Ivans, UL Wire and Cable Program Manager.
While Ivans and other experts say you could be fortunate and never have a problem, they also say it’s best to play it safe. “They are readily available, easy to get, nice on the pocketbook, but they have to be aware that you are going to get what you pay for and these cheap chargers may or may not have safety certifications on them. That’s a big concern,” Ivans said.


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US based GE has collaborated with AT&T, Cisco and Intel to increase the Industrial Internet service offering which will help customers analyse data better.
Intel and GE will collaborate to embed virtualisation and cloud-based, standardised interfaces within the GE Predix platform which will minimise machine software upgrade cycles and create an open infrastructure for communication service providers to connect to GE's industrial machines.
GE will also work with AT&T to connect its machines to the AT&T network and cloud to create a secure wireless communications system for GE's Industrial Internet.
Workers using the system will have access to remote monitoring, diagnostics and the ability to resolve maintenance issues virtually anywhere in the world.
As part of the service, the company introduced 14 new Industrial Internet Predictivity technologies that will allow industries to predict outcomes.
The service allows users to analyse large volumes of industrial big data using traditional database and software in order to assess the results that would help in reducing downtime, increasing productivity, lower fuel costs and reduce emissions.
GE chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said that the greatest challenge and opportunity is to manage and analse data in a secure way to deliver better outcomes for customers and society.
"We are developing more predictive solutions and equipping our products with sensors that constantly measure performance so our customers see major productivity gains and minimise no unplanned downtime," Immelt added.
"Observing, predicting and changing this performance is how the Industrial Internet will help airlines, railroads and power plants operate at peak efficiency."
The Industrial Internet service will enable users to track, monitor, and operate GE's machinery wirelessly through the cloud using machine-to-machine communications.
GE Global Software vice president William Ruh was quoted by the Times saying that everyone wants prediction about performance, and better asset management.
"The idea of speed, of information velocity, is what will differentiate the winners from the losers," Ruh added.
Following the launch, the company's predictive technology portfolio includes 24 total Predictivity products that help users to better mange machines and entire operations.
The company's current partnerships with Amazon's Web Services, Accenture and Pivotal are expected to complement the service.
GE forecasts that the expansion of industrial Internet would save $20bn per year.


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The American Association of Publishers, have reported that E-Books now account for nearly a quarter of all US book Sales (23%).
From 9% in 2009, it's pretty terrific growth and really interestingly, there's been a growth in books in general. Like ITunes has brought more music sales, so too has EBooks.
So instead of the Internet decimating Books and Music as predicted, it has brought a new life to them. Simply, the ease of access online has meant more people can buy more easily and they do.
At the time, the music industry particularly, instead of jumping onboard the download revolution, spent millions trying to stop it through law. When they should have encouraged it.
Interesting too that these stats on Ebooks show a real growth in children's/teen books which probably means, more younger people are reading - no bad thing.
EBooks are a real success - if you haven't yet got a Kindle, go get one now. You'll resist it at first and then fall in love with it. Stunning piece of kit.
New writers will be encouraged by these numbers too. It's all in all, great news for literacy (if that's how you spell it).


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Véronique Hyland, a fashion writer at The Cut, made the call and announced the time of death as 5:11 p.m. ET, April 20 ― not even 24 hours after Palin wore the shirt to visit President Trump at the White House.
Ted Nugent and Kid Rock were there to witness the shirt’s untimely demise:
Palin paired the white lace shirt with a bunch of bangles, a black skirt with a prominent zipper and opened-toed nude heels.
As Vogue has pointed out in the past, revealing one’s shoulders and wearing opened-toed shoes is generally frowned upon for White House visits (so technically, Nugent’s wife, Shemane, also committed a faux pas).
Perhaps Palin ― and the rest of her casually dressed crew ― were just taking former President Obama’s relaxed Oval Office dress code to the extreme.
However, we commend Kid Rock’s new fiancée, Audrey Berry, for nailing the White House visitor’s dress code.
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From tax breaks to take-out alcohol and trimmed-down events, bars and breweries transform their neighborhood ties.
For Jeremy Wilgus's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
For Japan’s craft beer, festivals and events are key to industry growth. Cancelations have left breweries and staff scrambling to make up lost income.
The Japan Times tried over 20 of the best burger shops in town, narrowing it down to five places that more than sate the hunger for a proper burger.
Craving a cold one while staying home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19? The Japan Times has you covered with 13 recommendations for where you can order craft beer delivered straight to your home.
Tokyo Aleworks offers periodic one-day brewing classes for customers to try their hand at making beer, just one way it opens its doors to young brewers and the local community.
In its first 25 years, Japanese craft beer has faced its share of challenges. Cultivating Craft wraps up with a look at how far the craft beer boom has come, but also what industry experts say needs to improve.
A desire to use perfectly edible produce deemed "unsuitable" for sale led Coedo Brewery to innovate with local ingredients in beer, and now its brews are on shelves nationwide.
Investment in the local Kanazawa Prefecture market and a focus on the quality of the beer are the keys to success for Shonan Beer.
Craft beer in Japan is experiencing a second renaissance. However, many of Japan's breweries are still trying to catch up to the innovation and skill level of their overseas counterparts. Could legalizing homebrewing help boost creativity?
With only one full-time employee, Chiba Prefecture-based Locobeer has kept its local focus for over 20 years, all the while brewing an award-winning and eclectic lineup of beer.


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This week almost every single game releases on a Friday. We’ve got RIME which looks like it’ll be an indie classic as well as Get Even which could be all kinds of horrifying. Lastly, we see the classic Super Street Fighter which will be releasing exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC Release Date: Friday, May 26th
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
Platforms: Nintendo Switch Release Date: Friday, May 26th
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One and PC Release Date: Friday, May 26th


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Balance bike maker Early Rider has begun production of its first pedal bike, the Belter. The assembly is taking place in a studio workspace in Henley on Thames. The initial build is 750 bikes, all of which have been pre-sold bike shops Evans Cycles, CycleSurgery, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and other leading independents.
The assembly is being done by Filipe Salbany and Rob Griffiths of AthleteService. Used to building small volume premium bespoke road bikes, this is their first time with a larger, production line approach.
Salbany said: “I’m in my element. I am assembling beautiful, lightweight bicycles for children that will provide the inspiration and opportunity for them to experience the freedom of cycling and the outdoors that I have loved all my life."
Completed bikes should begin shipping by the third week of November.
The balance bike sector in the UK has boomed in the last few years. BikeHub.co.uk has a long and detailed article on teaching tots how to ride bikes. The article advocates use of balance bikes rather than stabilisers.


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June 19, 2021
When the first Covid-19 case was announced in December 2019, nobody expected it to bring the world to a standstill. Few months down the line, industries are registering losses everywhere, with some closing shop altogether.
That's especially true for the sports betting industry, which has suffered from the suspension of professional sporting events. So, as countries continue to grapple with the ripple effects of Covid-19, it's time to take stock and see how the online casino and gambling industry, in general, has been affected.
As mentioned earlier, the sports betting industry is one of the most severely affected by Covid-19. As a result, authorities worldwide had to place a blanket ban on all physical sporting activities to maintain social distancing and other precautions.
For example, major soccer leagues like EPL, Serie A, and La Liga were suspended for several months due to the pandemic. In the US, NBA was suspended for up to a month and business hasn't been usual since then.
Overall, the closure of several sporting events dealt a massive blow to the sports betting industry. Fortunately, players and fans are slowly returning to the pitch, with the sector expected to pick up soon.
From mingling bettors and public washrooms to touching slot machines and handling cash, land-based casinos remain Covid-19 hotspots. So, similar to other physical non-essential services, land-based casinos were closed during the lockdown.
A good example is William Hill, which closed its 119 betting shops in the UK following Covid-19 restrictions. Even worse, there are reports that this online casino brand is planning to sell its betting shops in Europe after fears that gamers may not come back in the same numbers.
All in all, the current limitation on the number of punters who can be admitted into a land-based casino is leaving a negative mark. Also, open brick-and-mortar casinos are forced to invest heavily in Covid-19 precautionary measures. But still, the industry will be back on its feet, thanks to its rich tradition.
Unable to visit their favorite land-based casinos, players are now changing tact to enjoy their favorite games online. Often, online casinos offer all game varieties ranging from slot machines and scratch cards to blackjack and video poker. In fact, online casinos provide a more expansive game variety than their land-based cousins.
As if the improved game library isn't enough, gambling sites have gone ahead to include new technology, live casino. Here, players can enjoy the thrilling real-life experience of a brick-and-mortar casino right from their smartphones, tablets, and computers. The games are streamed in real-time from land-based studios and managed by professional dealers.
Another benefit is that players using online casinos are now spending less than what they spend on an in-person betting venue. Typically, online casinos allow lower betting limits than land-based casinos. Also, you don't get to spend on drinks, bus fares, gas, tips, and other costs associated with land-based casinos. To conclude, online gambling is here to stay.
For now, it's safe to say that online casinos are having a field day. But the question is, will it last? In general, industries are slowly picking up where they left in 2020. Even land-based casinos are making a comeback as authorities loosen their strict Covid-19 restrictions. And yes, these casinos are not going to give up their market share to online casinos without a fight. But be as it may, the online gambling sites are in it for the long haul.
Ethan Lim, a native of the Lion City, is Singapore’s rising star in the domain of online casino guide localization. He masterfully blends his intimate knowledge of local culture with international gaming standards to produce content that resonates deeply with Singaporeans.


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Besides the Galaxy S8, Note 7 and their respective Edge variants, Samsung may also launch the Galaxy X smartphone with a foldable display in 2017.
Samsung may launch five flagship devices in 2017, including a foldable smartphone. According to a report by Sammobile, the company will launch the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 7 smartphones and their respective Edge variants, along with the Galaxy X, which is rumoured to have a foldable display. The Galaxy X is tipped to sport a 4K resolution display with a diamond PenTile subpixel arrangement, while the remaining four devices might come with a 2.5K Super AMOLED display with RBG subpixel arrangement.
Rumours of Samsung making a foldable smartphone have been circulating for quite a while. Back in 2014, it was reported that Samsung had filed for a patent for a foldable smartphone. Last year, it was rumoured that Samsung was working on two such devices, under the codename Project Valley. As per the report, one of the devices was powered by a Snapdragon 620 SoC (later renamed to Snapdragon 652), and the other by a Snapdragon 820 SoC. Last month, Korean website, ETNews, suggested that Samsung may start mass producing foldable displays by the end of this year, with a smartphone being available by 2017. The report also noted that the phone might resemble a conventional 5-inch smartphone that converts into a 7-inch tablet when opened.


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In the first 3 weeks of September, the average Retail Store Facebook page added 110,000 fans to its tribe
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2011
Retail is one of the most active sectors on social media. Unmetric, the Social Media Benchmarking and Competitive Intelligence Company analysed the Facebook numbers of 15 leading US retail stores in the first three weeks of September, 2011; the list included popular Facebook pages like those of Whole Foods, Walmart, Kohl’s, Target, Home Depot, Gap, CVS, Costco, Foot Locker, Best Buy, Walgreens, Lowe’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom..
While it was observed that the average page added 110,000 fans to its tribe, brands like Best Buy saw especially high growth with a 16% increase in fan count. There were interesting differences in the frequency of updates with Macy’s posting almost twice a day on its Facebook wall while brands like Costco posted less frequently - once in four days, on an average. Walmart sees the most fan posts with an average of over 140 posts a day by their community. While Whole Foods, Walmart and Lowe’s seemed to be engaging best with their communities, Whole Foods and Nordstrom had the best “net positive sentiment” on their Facebook walls. Interestingly, many retail stores’ Facebook posts speak about their brand, current events and everything in between (unlike some other sectors on Unmetric where posts are primarily brand related content)
More data on retail stores’ social media and other sectors’ social media is available on Unmetric, thanks to its growing database of the social media analytics of over a thousand brands across the world. The company observes that most brands are flying blind on social media and that the absence of relative benchmarks so far has proved a detriment to big brands who are used to competitive benchmarking and intelligence on other media.
Unmetric is currently being evaluated by marquee brands from Fortune 100 companies. Unmetric’s analytics engine is powered by an interesting mix of intelligent algorithms and a team of human analysts who dissect the content strategies of brands on Facebook. More information is available at http://www.unmetric.com


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Home shopping group Findel aims to raise £80.5m via a rights issue and share placing as it plans to restructure its balance sheet and bids to improve performance.
Findel, which owns online sportswear retailer Kitbag and gift store Express Gifts, will use £40m to cancel debt. It will also arrange new lending facilities. The changes are expected to cut net debt by about £110.5m and allow better operational flexibility.
The retailer admitted it had faced challenges in recent years, during which its profitability had plummeted. “This has stemmed from a combination of the effects of the group’s previous acquisition-led strategy, difficult trading conditionscity, the effect of introducing more prudent accounting policies and accounting irregularities in the education supplies division,” it said.
A full company review last year identified areas where Findel could improve performance. The retailer plans to invest £35m in the improvements, which would involve “a significant level of operational change” to all the group’s businesses and were expected to include changes to key processes. Group sales are slightly behind the previous year.
In the 17 weeks to January 28, aggregate home shopping sales fell 1.7%. Sales at Express Gifts fell 4.3% but Kitbag was up 18%.
Shareholders will decide on whether to approve the rights issue on March 15. Findel’s two largest shareholders, Schroder and Toscafund, have agreed to take up rights representing 34.8% of the issue.
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Sandeep Goyal set to return to advertising, say industry experts
"We have heard that he is also in talks with Rediffusion and may pick up a stake in the agency where he once had a very successful stint," said one top industry source. Goyal declined to comment.
Goyal had sold his 26% stake in Dentsu India to its Japanese parent in 2011, bringing an end to his 25-year advertising career. A five-year non-compete clause stopped him from venturing into the advertising business on his own. So, when he set up Mogae Digital and Mogae Media in 2012, he positioned them as "mobile creative" businesses.
Sources said the total investment in setting up Dentsu in 2003 was around Rs 10 crore, of which Goyal had put in Rs 3 crore at his personal capacity. "When we first got to know that he has sold his stake forRs 250-300 crore it seemed like an unreal number.
But now it makes sense as Dentsu Inc put the man out of job for five years," the head of an advertising agency said on condition of anonymity.
In 2003, Dentsu Inc was looking for a partner to establish a joint venture in India and Goyal helped the Japanese agency build the business in the country. He got the first client, Toyota, and in the first year itself the agency clocked in a billing of Rs 200 crore.
By the end of the third year it was Rs 500 crore. By 2011 when Goyal exited the agency’s business had increased to Rs 1,200 crore. An MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies of Delhi University, Goyal started his career with Goodlass Nerolac Paints in 1984. His advertising career started in 1986 with HTA (now JWT). He also worked with Trikaya (now Grey).
A former president of Rediffusion DY&R, he was also group CEO of Zee Telefilms from 2001 to 2003.


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Current vacancies at Tech Mahindra
Tech Mahindra Limited is an Indian multinational supplier of data innovation (IT), organizing innovation arrangements and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) to different industry verticals and horizontals. Anand Mahindra is the Chairman of Tech Mahindra, which is headquartered at Pune and has its enrolled office in Mumbai.
Some portion of the Mahindra Group, Tech Mahindra is a US$4.6 billion company with more than 117,000 workers crosswise over 90 countries. It gives administrations to clients which incorporate Fortune 500 organizations. It is additionally one of the Fab 50 organizations in Asia, a rundown aggregated by Forbes. Tech Mahindra was positioned #5 in India’s product administrations (IT) firms and general #111 in Fortune India 500 rundown for 2012. Tech Mahindra, on 25 June 2013, reported the finish of a merger with Mahindra Satyam.


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The 2016 GMC Canyon Duramax and 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax represent a pair of hotly anticipated trucks finally coming to market. When put another way, it means the US market finally has a set of what some call “real trucks” (you know, the ones without spark plugs), in a far more manageable package compared to GM’s behemoth Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD trucks. […]Read more "2016 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel: First Drive"
Buick has announced a new Sport Touring version of the Encore. And more than a trim level or special edition, we’re glad to report that the new model packs a more potent engine. Instead of the 1.4-liter turbo four that produces 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque in the standard Encore, the new Sport […]Read more "Buick Rolls Out More Potent Encore Sport Touring"
Since announcing the new Chevrolet Colorado in late 2013, there has been absolutely no secret that the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel would wind up under the hood of the midsize pickup truck for the 2016 model year. It has been a long wait for those wanting the oil-burner, but thankfully, the anticipation is nearly at an end. Chevy is finally officially unleashing […]Read more "2016 Chevy Colorado Duramax"
On the street or on the trail, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado’s Midnight Edition and Z71 Trail Boss bring bolder choices to customers looking to make a visual statement with their truck. The special editions roll into Chevrolet dealerships this fall, with distinctly tailored appearances that blend custom design cues with Colorado’s popular options and accessories. […]Read more "2016 Chevy Colorado Special Models Dressed to Impress"
Following Chevrolet and Cadillac‘s announcement to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability comes Buick and GMC. The brands both announced Apple CarPlay support across select 2016 vehicles, while Android Auto will arrive at later dates on select nameplates. For GMC, expect to see Apple CarPlay arrive on the 2016 Canyon, Yukon and Sierra first, […]Read more "Not Forgotten: Buick And GMC Announce Apple CarPlay And Android Auto Capability"
The Chevrolet Impala Blackout Concept grabbed plenty of attention when it was unveiled at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. We’d heard whispers the Impala Blackout Concept may enter production, bringing its sleek-muted black tones with it, and it appears those whispers were truth. Chevrolet has decided to keep us in the dark no longer, and announced […]Read more "2016 Chevrolet Impala Midnight Edition Brings Black Back In Style"
A frozen computer is frustrating, but a frozen touchscreen in an automobile is a much bigger deal. That’s why engineers push the touchscreen buttons on the Buick IntelliLink infotainment system more than 2 million times every week, ensuring it consistently responds to user commands. Multi-function touchscreen systems, which bundle controls and menus for several systems […]Read more "Buick IntelliLink is tested Millions of times before you even touch a single button!"
We’ve known that GM’s Buick brand is in line to get a two-door convertible in the near future for some time, but details about the vehicle have been few and far between, until now. According to sources within GM’s dealer network, Buick’s convertible will be none other than the Opel Cascada. The Delta-based rag-top will […]Read more "Buick to launch a Convertible within the next 2 Years!"
Buick will be getting busy next year by adding a mid-sized crossover, a potential volume model slotted between the tiny Encore and jumbo Enclave for the demographic in China. General Motors also appears ready to add some fun to Buick’s lineup by bringing over the Opel Cascada convertible from Europe. Sources say GM is readying […]Read more "Buick to introduce new crossover in 2016!"
Every 2015 Buick model will come standard with Apple Siri Eyes Free and Text Message Alerts. Most 2015 Buick models will also come standard with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, powered by OnStar with 4G LTE. “People have become accustomed to having their mobile devices with them wherever they go, and that includes their vehicle,” said […]Read more "Convenience in Every Buick Model!"


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It looks like there’s a strange issue cropping up for some owners of Google’s latest flagship smartphone.
At least two owners of the Nexus 6P have reported that the camera glass on their device has spontaneously shattered.
And this isn’t in response to a sudden bash or drop: It apparently happens with no warning, even when the device isn’t in use. “It was sat on a table next to me when I heard the glass snap, leaving a little snowfall of shavings on the table under it,” one owner wrote on Reddit.
We first heard about these claims on 9to5Google.
The Nexus 6P is one of Google’s two new flagship smartphones — along with the Nexus 5X. The 6P is manufactured by Huawei, and has been slowly rolling out in different territories since an initial launch in late September.
Here’s how the camera glass is supposed to look on the device:
But here’s a photo of one Reddit owner’s smartphone:
Jonny_rat, the Reddit user who owns the device pictured above, says it happened like so: “Well that was a surprise. For me, and the cat. It was sat on a table next to me when I heard the glass snap, leaving a little snowfall of shavings on the table under it. It’s now continuing to crack away to itself..”
In response to subsequent questions, they say that the seller says the damages aren’t covered under warranty. Happily, the camera itself isn’t affected. “Just tried the camera and.. it’s, er, fine!” they said. “No cracks running across in front of it that I can see. So that’s something.”
A subsequent 6P owner has reported an identical issue:
Backglasscrack123 responded to Jonny_rat’s story by posting a photo of his smartphone, saying that they thought they were the only one this had happened to. “I have a case open with Google which they have forwarded to Huawei.”
What’s the problem?
Right now, it’s not obvious what has caused this apparent issue. We’ve reached out to Google to see if it has any ideas, and will update this story when they respond.
One Reddit user theorises that it is to do with the way that the glass was tempered — introducing “lines of internal torque and stress, leading to explosive results if the glass is impacted or pressed from the wrong angle.”
Another suggests says that “if I had to venture a crazy guess, I’d say the metal expanding and contracting due to heat. But other than that I’m out of ideas.”
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Celebrate the reigning NWSL Champion Washington Spirit with new commemorative Metro SmarTrip card
Washington Spirit fans can now travel to games with a new commemorative Metro SmarTrip® card celebrating their National Women’s Soccer League Championship. The card is available in selected stations and features an image of the team hoisting the championship trophy after the title-winning game.
The limited-edition cards are being sold at Navy Yard, Waterfront and Gallery Place stations in specially marked fare machines. Look for the sign on top. The NWSL championship cards arrive just in time for soccer fans headed to Saturday’s game at Audi Field against the NJ/NY Gotham FC.
“We are excited to honor the Spirit, reigning NWSL champs, with this commemorative card. The Spirit’s title run continues the winning tradition in the District of Champions,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Randy Clarke. “Metro is proud to support the team and fans getting to and from games.”
Metro has produced 10,000 commemorative cards, available at the designated stations only on a first-come-first serve basis. Each card costs $2, in addition to the fare value.
"We are honored to partner with Metro in recognition of the Spirit's first championship title," said Jonna Valente, Spirit VP of Communications. "These commemorative cards celebrate that incredible win for players and fans alike."
Spirit fans can join starting midfielder Anna Heilferty and Metro GM Clarke on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to get your Championship cards. They’ll be at the Gallery Place Station (7th & F sts entrance) on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. for a special meet and greet.
Heilferty is a native of the DC region and the first-ever Ambassador for Sustainable DC. The initiative’s focus on environmentalism and sustainability goes hand-in-hand with Metro’s commitment to providing sustainable transportation.
The Spirit worked with Metro to design the card for the start of the NWSL season; however, the SmarTrip cards were delayed due to supply chain issues related to the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Metro also released a limited-edition SmarTrip card to commemorate the Mystics’ 2019 Women’s National Basketball Association Title. The championship cards were released to kick off the Mystics’ WNBA season after the pandemic-limited games and attendance during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.


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Mad Genius lands Louisiana Hot Sauce
by MBJ Staff
Published: July 26,2011
RIDGELAND — Mad Genius has added management of the nationwide Louisiana Hot Sauce Facebook page to its portfolio.
Louisiana Hot Sauce, a popular condiment produced by Bruce Foods, a New Iberia, La.-based company, had over 45,000 Facebook fans at the time it hired Mad Genius; those numbers are growing under Mad Genius management.
“Clients like Bruce Foods understand the importance of a strong social media presence, and we’re able to help guide them through running a large-scale promotion like this and maintaining engaging content, long-term,” says Chip Sarver, Mad Genius president.
Source: Mad Genius
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JAPAN GOVT. AIMING FOR 12-MONTH APPROVAL DEADLINE FOR PROCEDURE KITS
JAPAN GOVT. AIMING FOR 12-MONTH APPROVAL DEADLINE FOR PROCEDURE KITS, pursuant to an offer made to U.S. pharmaceutical trade negotiators at an Oct. 11 bargaining session in Tokyo. Procedure kits, like Abbott's Add- Vantage system, which contain self-enclosed, ready-for-mixing packages of drug and diluent, have been treated like generic products in Japan, because they are generally composed of previously approved products. Generic drugs are approved within a 24-month period, under a schedule proposed by Japan. Ironically, new drug products will be approved within an 18-month period under the schedule offered by the Japanese ("The Pink Sheet" Sept. 16, p. 9). The U.S. negotiators had initially urged the Japanese to consider procedure kits as new drugs despite the status of their components, so that their approval time would be reduced to 18 months at most. Reportedly, procedure kits like systems currently marketed by Abbott and Baxter-Travenol, are expected to create substantial demand in Japan due to their cost-savings potential to hospitals. The Tokyo negotiation was the third session of the ongoing U.S.-Japan trade talks to focus on the pharmaceutical/medical device industry. "Expert" panels from both sides are tentatively scheduled to meet in November to discuss vitamin and blood product regulation. The two full delegations for the health trade segment plan a "wrap-up" plenary session in December to discuss resolutions to the issues. At the Aug. 20 talks in Hawaii, the Japanese delegation offered to establish by Oct. 1 an approval time clock by which new drugs would be cleared within 18 months, medical equipment within 12 months, in vitro devices within six months, and me-too products within four months. The Japanese explained at the Oct. 11 session that the four-month deadline applied only to generic devices and that generic drug approvals were subject to a 24-month time clock due to the substantial backlog of applications. Although the Japanese said the 24-month period was temporary and would be reduced as the backlog is decreased, they would not predict when the problem could be resolved. Because most Japanese patients are covered by a govt. health insurance program that reimburses MDs or hospitals for listed drugs, reimbursement-setting policy is crucial in U.S. industry's attempts to penetrate the Japanese market. In the past, Japan listed reimbursement levels annually, meaning a mfr. could wait up to a year before a newly approved drug would be marketed. The Japanese have agreed to publish its lists in the spring and fall; the U.S. was pushing for a quarterly publication schedule. Device mfrs., however, are in a Catch-22 position: Japan insists that high-tech devices, whose rates can be set less than once annually, must be shown to be available throughout the country before the govt. will set a reimbursement rate, but marketing is severely impaired without reimbursement. The U.S. has also requested that foreign firms be permitted to participate in the reimbursement-setting process. Japan insists that the sessions of the Chuikyo, or Social Insurance Medical Affairs Council, should not be made public because companies would exploit the opportunity to discover competitors' proprietary information. A Japanese proposal for handling "unfriendly" transfers of marketing approval from Japanese licenses to U.S. mfrs. was rejected by the U.S. delegation. Japan's proposal involved termination of the license and reapplication for approval by the U.S. form under relaxed requirements. The U.S. delegation argued that the Japanese data still required for approval were already submitted to the Ministry of Health & Welfare and that U.S. firms do not have access to it if former licensees are reluctant to relinquish approval to the U.S. firm. Japan said it would try to develop another proposal.
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Intu has hailed a resilient performance in its half year report, despite booking £503.4 million loss against what it described as a “challenging operating environment”.
Like-for-like net rental income rose by 1.3 per cent during the six months to June 30, driven by increased rents from new lettings and rent reviews.
The result was just below Intu’s full year like-for-like guidance of 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent, although Intu said it would maintain that figure.
The massive loss compare to a profit of £122.7 million during the same period of last year and was attributed to the £650.4 million charge from a decline in value of Intu’s shopping centres – which include the Trafford Centre in Manchester and the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex.
Nonetheless, the firm praised robust footfall rates despite the adverse weather during the period, which managed to outperform the ShopperTrak benchmark of a 3.3 per cent decline, with just a 1.3 per cent decline.
Intu also noted it has experienced “minimal impact” from the recent spate of administrations and CVAs to hit the retail industry, with its annual rent dipping just 0.9 per cent.
“During a period of weakening sentiment in the retail market which has impacted prime shopping centre valuations, Intu has delivered a resilient operational performance in the first half of 2018,” chief executive David Fischel said.
He added: “This reflects the high quality of our business which was able to perform in a challenging retail environment.”


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U.K. consumer spending looks set to make a healthy contribution to economic growth in the latter half of the year, with the retreat in inflation and the recent increase in employment sparking increased spending on big ticket items such as cars.
The latest Rightmove house price survey for the early part of October reported an increase of £8,310 ($13,364) as sellers sought to take advantage of increased demand for homes after a quiet summer period.
And, Autotrader, a similar website to Rightmove but for automobiles rather than homes, said the average price for a vehicle advertised for sale with Autotrader rose 3% in September from the previous month, the biggest single month rise since February 2011.
“The price of big ticket purchases seems to be increasing, as the Auto Trader Retail Price index is mirroring the rise in house prices,” said Tim Peake, director of strategy at Auto Trader.
The increase in asking prices and sales of homes and cars in the U.K. is certainly welcome news for the recession-hit economy which has contracted for the past three quarters. Though it raises questions about the likely success of the U.K. Government’s efforts to rebalance the economy towards production and exports.


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Credits: Bar Night Jar website
The owners of a cocktail bar in England have apologized for serving up a drink spiked with whale skin.
Bar Nightjar in east London used to serve a drink called Moby Dick, which had "a small amount of whisky infused with a single 2 cm X 5 cm strip of dried whale skin," the owners said in a statement.
“In hindsight, we realize that regardless of the legal framework around such products, it was an error of judgment on our part to include this on our menu and we would like to offer our apologies to anyone who may have been offended by it."
Hunting and trading of whales and dolphins is banned under European Union law.
Bar Nightjar's owners told the BBC that an employee bought the strip of whale skin while on a trip to Japan in 2011. They said that until the police arrived, they were not aware of the legislation and the drink has been removed from the bar's menu.
It said it was also going to train staff to ensure that "all ingredients on our menu are responsibly sourced."
Police seized the bottle of whisky for testing, but no charges have been laid.


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Huawei is the world's second-largest phone manufacturer by volume, but it has struggled to make a dent in the US, partly because of concerns expressed by the government, including the House Intelligence Committee., the and
The core issue with Huawei has been concerns over its coziness with the Chinese government and fears that its equipment could be used to spy on other countries and companies.
In May, President Donald Trump issued a national security orderfrom the US. , and other US tech companies have since broken ties with the Chinese company.
The embattled Chinese telecom giant had planned to unveil the laptop at the CES Asia 2019 trade show in Shanghai this week. A new date for the laptop's launch hasn't been set, Huawei employees, speaking anonymously told The Information.
Huawei didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.


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Largest Georgia Kroger store opens in Athens
Atlanta Business Chronicle – August 28, 2014:
A 123,000-square-foot north Athens Kroger store that employs 450 associates opened Wednesday.
The store is expected to attract customers from Clarke, Madison and Elbert counties, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
The paper adds that while the store at Trail Creek Village Kroger Marketplace is the biggest around, Kroger (NYSE: KR) Southeast Region President Bruce Lucia said the store will be dwarfed by others greater than 140,000 square feet by 2016.
Lucia, who attended the University of Georgia, said the store represents a $23 million investment in the Athens area.
The store includes a large Fred Meyer Jewelers store, an apparel section with women’s and men’s clothes, a toy section, a bistro featuring lunches and dinners prepared by a trained chef and a Starbucks.
Click here to read the original article by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.


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Listen to this article
Debenhams is considering closing up to 10 stores and exiting some international markets as the retail group focuses on growing its online business and revamping other outlets to improve the experience of its British customers.The group said on Thursday it was looking at closing the stores in the next five years, as well as shutting down 11 warehouse and distribution facilities. It added it is also considering leaving some “non-core” international markets, saying further details will be provided in October.
Debenhams wants to transform itself into a destination for “social shopping”, focusing on in-store “experiences” such as beauty makeovers and cafés to attract customers.
Although none of its 176 stores are unprofitable, the group said “we want to ensure they are fit for the future”. It added it was already deploying more of its staff to roles working with customers on the shop floor as well as reducing the number of products it stocks.
The announcement came following a strategy review overseen by Sergio Bucher, the former Amazon executive brought in to turn round Debenhams and who has led the group since October. He said the changes “will set Debenhams on course for a successful and profitable future.”
Debenhams reported a lacklustre set of results for the six months to March 4, albeit ones which were in line with expectations. Pre-tax profit fell 6.4 per cent year-on-year to £87.8m.
Although UK like-for-like sales rose 0.5 per cent year-on-year, which Debenhams said reflected growth in its online business and non-clothing items, UK earnings before interest, tax, debt and amortization were down 6 per cent. It added that the performance of its international business was also mixed.
Mr Bucher replaced Michael Sharp, who stepped down as chief executive last year after 25 years at the company amid criticism from activist investors of Debenhams’ performance.
Our customers are changing the way they shop and we are changing too. Shopping with Debenhams should be effortless, reliable and fun whichever channel our customers use.
We will be a destination for “Social Shopping” with mobile the unifying platform for interacting with our customers. If we deliver differentiated and distinctive brands, services and experiences both online and in stores, our customers will visit us more frequently and, having simplified our operations to make us more efficient, we will be able to serve them better and make better use of our resources.
To implement the changes the group said annual capex is expected to be around £150m between 2018 and 2020, compared to a current level of £130m. Exceptional costs between now and 2020 are expected to be around £50m.
Debenhams is still faces a plethora of issues which threaten its profitability. It is locked into long store leases, a legacy of its three years under private equity ownership during the mid-2000s, leaving it with less flexibility to close stores. Costs are also rising as a result of increases in business rates and the minimum wage.
(Image: PA Wire)
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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The owner of KFC and Taco Bell completed the spinoff of its China division, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as a separate company Tuesday.
The Shanghai company, Yum China Holdings Inc., will run the KFC and Pizza Hut chains in mainland China and plans to open the first Taco Bell there before the end of this year. In all, Yum China has 7,300 restaurants in China.
Yum’s China brand was stung in the summer of 2014 by reports that one of its suppliers there allegedly using expired meat.
In the final quarter of that year, comparable store sales in China had slumped 16 per cent and the company struggled to right itself in a massive growth market.
Yum China is trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “YUMC.” The stock rose 76 cents, or 3 per cent, to $25 in morning trading Tuesday. Shares of Yum Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, added 9 cents to $62.13.
As part of the spinoff, shareholders of Yum Brands received one share of Yum China for each Yum Brands share they owned.


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There’s no doubt that digital game delivery is here to stay. With services like EA Access and Xbox Game Pass and game streaming services like Google’s Project Stream and Microsoft’s Project xCloud on the horizon, it’s only a matter before of time before physical game discs become relics. On that note, Microsoft’s rumoured disc-less Xbox One S could be announced as soon as next month with a release following in May, according to a report from Windows Central.
Microsoft is reportedly set to call the disc-less Maverick console the “Xbox One S All-Digital Edition,” with preorders aiming for mid-April 2019 and with general availability coming in early May 2019. It looks as though it could be near-global simultaneous launch for almost all existing Xbox markets.Windows Central
Given there’s no disk drive, it could conceivably be thinner. Dubbed Xbox Maverick during development, the disc-less Xbox One S should be cheaper than the currently available models. That being said, I could totally see Xbox including a month or more of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold to push their online digital gaming. Of course, as is the case with most consoles, we could see a few bundle options which include a game or two as well.
Honestly, I haven’t used the disc drive in my Xbox One X aside from the odd game I’ve rented from the library. Given the hard drive space and how much more convenient it is to just purchase and download a game — or take advantage of the hundreds of games in Xbox Game Pass or dozens of games in the EA Access Vault — I really wouldn’t miss a disc drive on my console.
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.


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1. China’s digital economy was worth over 45 trillion yuan ($6.72 trillion) in 2021. Accounting for 39.8% of GDP, China’s digital economy has grown rapidly and ranked second in the world for several years. (CGTN)
2. China’s tech stocks the most attractive in the world? The long slump is reversing as loose monetary policy and an improving growth outlook outweighs concerns about the country’s covid zero policy. (Bloomberg)
3. China’s tech giants promise speculation-free NFTs! The China Cultural Industry Association, along with Chinese tech giants, jointly issued a “self-disciplined development proposal” for the “digital collectible industry”. (TechChurch)
4. Chinese regulators warn of online scams amid growing number of counterfeit financial services apps. The Cyberspace Administration of China said that it has removed 42,000 of these counterfeit apps since the start of this year. (South China Morning Post)
5. Nayuki launched its campaign to celebrate the first anniversary of its IPO by giving away virtual shares for every tea drink. Users are able to earn one Nayuki coin for every 1 yuan spent and become a virtual shareholder by buying/selling virtual shares with the company’s coins. (Pandaily)
6. Domestic travel demand is expected to rebound from the months-long impact of the resurgence of local covid cases. With the opening up of interprovincial travel and growing demand in summer, the domestic travel market is reaching an upward point of inflection. (China Daily)
7. Alibaba has been expediting the hype of NFT-powered technologies at full speed with Tmall launching a new zone dedicated to digital collectibles on its mobile app. More than 50 virtual collections from a total of 40 brands have debuted in the first round of issues. (Dao insights)
8. Bilibili shut down its short video app, Qing Video. Launched in 2018, Qing Video was intended to be a short video platform to rival Douyin, incorporating Bilibili’s famous “bullet comments” feature, live lines of users’ comments that shoot across the screen. (Technode)
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| Nov 18, 2013
| 11:11 AM
At this point, even a scorecard might not be enough to let one keep track of the patent litigation between Apple and Samsung. But let's try anyway.
Two courts have handed down separate rulings that gave Apple and Samsung partial victories in ongoing...
| Nov 15, 2013
| 1:04 PM
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| 8:47 AM
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| Nov 14, 2013
| 3:42 PM
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| Nov 12, 2013
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| Nov 11, 2013
| 12:06 PM
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| Nov 8, 2013
| 8:23 AM
Developing wearable tech devices is all the rage these days. Think Google Glass eyewear, Samsung's smartwatch. Now comes an idea that may beat them all.
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| Nov 6, 2013
| 2:26 PM
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| Nov 4, 2013
| 12:09 PM
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| Nov 1, 2013
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| Oct 31, 2013
| 11:35 AM
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Mumbai-based JusTap! has announced JusPocket, an NFC couponing platform that allows brands to run multiple coupon and deal campaigns in real time. JusPocket can be integrated into POS systems or accessed from a web browser, the company says.
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- Bluey Merino to use NFC tags to guarantee the authenticity of its clothing


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The HTC U11 isn't the most exciting phone of 2017, but for those in the market for a device with a stunning design, fast performance, and an excellent camera, it's still a really good choice. The U11 shipped with a close to stock build of Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and thanks to HTC's restraint of going too crazy with modifications of the OS, the phone is already scheduled to receive an update to 8.0 Oreo.
HTC's Vice President of Product Management, Mo Versi, took to Twitter on November 26 to announce that Android 8.0 Oreo would soon be available for the U11 and that it'll be rolling out on November 27. Update: It's now available.
This update will be available specifically for the unlocked model of the U11, but Versi says that HTC is working with Sprint (and presumably other carriers) to get Oreo out to other variants of the phone as quickly as possible.
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