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Mike has written for several noted international publications, including The Epoch Times, Everything PR News, RealtyBiz News, Argophilia Travel News, and others.
In addition, Mike is a niche writing expert, who has produced literally thousands of pages of content for all manner of niche websites.
Firefox Add-On Lightbeam Tracks Who’s Tracking You Online | SiliconANGLE
Mozilla has been feasting on the cookies, and now it wants to share them. The non-profit organization behind the popular Firefox web browser
The Internet Archives Delivers A Blast From The Past | SiliconANGLE
If you ever find yourself yearning for the days machines like the Intellivision console and Spectrum ZX first bought computing to the masses
Freedom With Open Source: How Nations Can Escape Their Dependence On US-...
Foreign nations have been left reeling by news that the NSA has been happily monitoring the private communications of at least 35 world lead
Apple Condones Piracy Because Free Software Has More Value | SiliconANGLE
Apple is deadly serious about its free software commitment. Following its announcement earlier this week that OS X Mavericks, along with iLi
DARPA Offers Up $2M Cash Prize To Anyone Who Can Build Hacker-Proof Soft...
There are few problems that money cannot solve. And with the US government waging a never-ending war against cyberattacks on its systems, th
Microsoft’s Scathing Attack On Apple Makes It Look Desperate | SiliconANGLE
Apple caused a bit of a stir yesterday when it announced that its iWork productivity software for Mac and iOS devices would be available to
HP Giving up Mobile Dreams to Focus on 3D Printers | SiliconANGLE
To bolster Hewlett-Packard's financial position, CEO Meg Whitman is said to be looking for buyers for the company's mobile-computing patents
Apple Sticks One Up To Microsoft With Free OS X & Productivity Apps ...
Few were surprised to see Apple's new iPads yesterday because of numerous leaks over the last few weeks, but the Cupertino-based firm manage
Facebook Moves To Ban Beheading Videos Once Again | SiliconANGLE
Earlier this week the BBC reported that Facebook had reversed a ban – imposed last May – on users posting videos of violent acts such as peo
Next-Gen Tablet Wars: Nokia Lumia 2520 vs iPad Air | SiliconANGLE
Apple and Nokia both came out with new tablets yesterday. For Nokia, this is its first entry in the tablet space, and probably its last sinc
3 Ways Driverless Cars Will Revolutionize Road Transport | SiliconANGLE
There's been a lot of talk about the potential benefits of so-called 'driverless' cars of the type that Google is working on, but much less
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2: Bigger, Better, But Its Battery Still Sucks |...
While Nokia's release of six new devices stole all of the headlines this morning ahead of Apple's expected iPad 5 unveil later today, Micros
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After years of waiting, Nokia has finally unveiled its first ever tablet, and of course, it's powered by the Windows operating system. But d
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Nexus 5 Briefly Appears in Google Play, Pricing Starts at $349 | Silicon...
Some Google Play users had a bit of a shock earlier today when they stumbled across the Nexus 5 device for sale alongside the Nexus 7 and 10


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Waplog has updated its iOS app to make navigation easier and increase the overall user satisfaction.
One of the biggest changes was the decision to remove the mutual opt-in for conversations. Singles can now message someone straight away, even before the other person has expressed interest.
While this speeds up connections, it may see some people receive a high volume of unwanted messages.
Stories have been made more prominent and visible on the app in an attempt to encourage more daily active users for the feature. It’s an update that the team at Waplog have been trying to push as it creates a more social community and helps to verify authentic users.
Finally, the filtering system has been renovated with more specific categories, which should make it easier to find desired singles, especially in other countries.
Co-founder Furkan Kuru said in a statement to GDI: “We will be focusing more on branding and user experience to increase our user base in the iOS platforms. Apart from the emerging markets, we will be targeting the developed countries.
“We are also going to work with advertisers and social influencers for a major push in Europe and the US.”
Waplog is also working on bringing one-to-one video calls to its service in September this year. User feedback suggested it was a highly sought after feature.
Bumble introduced video and audio calls at the start of July to help matches have a real-life interaction before they meet. The technology will soon be brought to Bumble’s sibling apps Chappy and Lumen.
Visit the Waplog website here.

domain: news


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The Esports Club, a popular Indian esports body, recently announced TEC Arena Connect, a LAN even for Tier 2 cities in India. The tournament will be hosted in 12 tier-2 cities across the country and will feature a prize pool of Rs 3 Lakhs and in partnership with Alienware and Intel.
The tournament is set to feature popular competitive titles such as CS:GO, Road to Valor: Empires, FIFA, Mortal Kombat and more. Several popular creators and influencers will also visit the tournament.
As reported by moneycontrol.com, founder of The Esports Club, Vamsi Krishna said, “India’s Tier 2 cities present untapped opportunities for the flourishing gaming and esports industry.
“Recognizing this potential, we at TEC have embarked on a massive initiative with TEC Arena Connect. Our goal is to bring high-level gaming experiences to these emerging regions, fostering the growth of a vibrant gaming community right at the grassroots,” he further added.
Although, this is not the first time the event is taking place. The first TEC Arena Connect took place in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The inaugural CS:GO LAN competition was won by Ampverse-owned 7SEA Esports.
Popular gaming influencers like Payal Gaming, Tamil Gaming, MidfailYT, and others attended the event as well. The upcoming event will take place in Pune, Maharashtra on July 2.
Event like these are some of the most recent advances in the Indian gaming sector and provide opportunities from gamers across the country to interact and have a shot at making a name for themselves.
While the inaugural event in Coimbatore saw a huge success, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming events in Pune and ten other cities will have even bigger participation or not, since the esports and gaming industry has grown to leaps and bounds in the country especially after the COVID-19 lockdown.


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We are pleased to announce the addition of another manufacturer’s representative firm! Gedmin Parker Equipment will serve as a manufacturer’s rep firm for Aquanomix and will be responsible for providing solutions in Maine and Northern New Hampshire.
To date, Aquanomix has signed more than 23 rep firms across the US and Canada.
To learn more about Aquanomix and its products, visit www.aquanomix.com.
For more information about Gedmin Parker Equipment, its services or distribution channels, visit http://www.gedminparker.com/.


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VE3D News for Battlefield 3 (PC)
Battlefield 3 First Gameplay Clips & Pre-Order Incentive
Feb 23, 2011 at 9:08 AM -
Today DICE and EA announced a pre-order incentive for Battlefield 3
, and DICE's new Frostbite 2 engine on which the game is being developed. Read on and check out the video below.
“We wanted ...
Game Informer Interviews DICE, Covers Bioware At D.I.C.E.
Feb 12, 2011 at 11:53 PM -
First up Game Informer flew out to Sweden to meet up with DICE General Manager Karl-Magnus Troedsson to chat about Battlefield 3. There are two clips of the chat, each clocking in at just a few ...
GamersMint Breaks Down GameInformer's Battlefield 3 Reveal
Feb 08, 2011 at 2:09 AM -
Some lucky folks have begun receiving the March issue of Game Informer, and as a result have begun plastering the details of the article to the interwebs. GamersMint put together a nice little ...
Battlefield 3 Teaser Trailer & PC Platform Details Released
Feb 04, 2011 at 2:15 AM -
Well butter my biscuits, it looks like DICE is dedicated to pleasing the community after all. According to the latest Battlefield Blog update
, Battlefield 3 will include jets, prone, and ...
Battlefield 3 Reveal Coming Up In March Issue Of Game Informer
Feb 04, 2011 at 1:42 AM -
According to a recent announcement
made by the staff at Game Informer magazine, the March issue of GI features the world exclusive reveal of Battlefield 3.
In our world-exclusive cover story, ...
DICE Cancels Two Battlefield Projects For PC, Commits To BF3
Feb 03, 2011 at 10:26 AM -
DICE announced today
on the official Battlefield Blog that Battlefield 1943 and Bad Company 2: Onslaught have been canceled on the PC platform. According to the announcement, DICE is looking to ...
Battlefield 3 To Be Unveiled At GDC 2011
Jan 10, 2011 at 3:34 PM -
EA has confirmed
that it will host an unveil event for Battlefield 3
on March 1st during GDC in San Francisco. In addition to the Battlefield 3 unveiling, EA will also have other announcements to ...
Battlefield 3 Image Leaked? Updated As Fake
Dec 07, 2010 at 11:38 AM -
BF3Blog.com has come across in image which is said to be from an alpha version of Battlefield 3
. The original source is a Swede who told the site that the image was taken at the home of a DICE ...
Medal of Honor LE Features Battlefield 3 Beta
Jul 30, 2010 at 4:44 PM -
Awesome sauce for peeps planning to snag the Limited Edition version of Medal of Honor
. EA has announced that the game will come with an invite to the Battlefield 3 beta. The Limited Edition will ...
Voodoo Extreme EA E3 2010 Press Conference Live Blog Has Ended
Jun 14, 2010 at 2:00 PM -
Our roving reporter, PlanetBattlefield
's Scott Dupler, is in the audience at EA's E3 2010 press conference, hoping, nay... praying for Battlefield 3
to make an official appearance. Whether it does ...


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Emily Ratajkowski has officially jumped on the pink trend, wearing the color head-to-toe at an event in New York City on Thursday. On the striped red carpet to celebrate the new Candy Crush game, she mixed up her nude and blush tones to create a look that was head-to-toe color, yet elegant and understated at the same time.
Emily chose a light nude sleeveless bodysuit, which was paired with cropped straight leg pink trousers. On her feet were nude strappy heels and from her right hand dangled a top-handle bag in a contrasting shade of pale pink. Her earrings, while not pink, were a metallic gold and perfectly complemented the warm tones of her look. While it was raining out in NYC and part of the carpet was uncovered, she even posed with a light pink umbrella at times to complete the look.
Pink has quickly become one of the hottest colors of the season with the Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenners, Adwoa Aboah, and more all in support. But, while others might opt for the neon statement pieces, we love that Emily chose to mix up tones making a look that could otherwise be overwhelming actually translate into an outfit that’s super chic.


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UPS confirmed the completion of a minority stake in UK-situated Electric Vehicle (EV) first Arrival in an act that saw an order placed of 10,000 electric carts designed by the multinational distribution company.
The development comes days after the news of Hyundai and Kia, the auto giants, have invested £ 85 m in that company and made the innovator of electric vehicles, EV, a valuable start-up in the United Kingdom.
UPS has agreed to buy 10,000 EVs for building with priority accessibility to buy new EVs-in addition to the investment by Venture Arm UPS ventures-financial information not revealed.
As a result, UPS will cooperate with Arrival to create a large number of EVs with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. The technology aims to improve safety and operating effectiveness, including the prospects in UPS warehouses for automatic movement.
Juan Perez, head of Information and Engineering, said: “UPS is still building an incorporated number of electric cars in conjunction with innovative, large-scale charging technology. “We acknowledged the requirement to work with partners worldwide to tackle both road traffic congestion and challenges in pollution for our consumers as well as the communities of our service. Super trends such as population increase, urban migration and e-commerce continue rising.’ Electric vehicles provide a foundation for our viable metropolitan delivery techniques. Substantial involvement in Arrival helps UPS to collaborate in the creation and manufacture of the most innovative electric vehicles in the world.
Arrival has invented the method of designing its primary vehicle parts, including the frame, the body structure, and electronic controls. Still, by using the simple design with integrated elements, the firm hopes to minimize the servicing and other ownership expenses. Consumers tailor custom cars.
Under the UPS deal, Arrival could manufacture vehicles in micro-works utilizing light-weight, robust components designed and created on-site by the manufacturer. UPS will afterward have an option as a shareholder to quickly track orders when moving to deploy vehicles in Europe and North America.
” UPS is a good strategic partner to Arrival, offering a valuable insight into the way electric transporters operate and, above all, how they can receive full optimization for motorists,” said Denis Sverdlov, Chief Executive Officer of Arrival. “Our groups have worked hard together to create customized electric vehicles on the base of our flexible skateboard systems that respond to the end-to-end demands of UPS, both in the fields of driving, loading/unloading, and backroom operations.


text: How many unit tests should you write? Just Enough. Posted on January 15, 2022 by Bob Bragg How many automated tests should you write? Just Enough. Just Enough Testing balances the need to ship with the quality your customers deserve. Source Post navigation Apache Software Foundation warns its patching efforts are being undercut by use of end-of-life softwareCarding site UniCC retires after generating $358 million in sales Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


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Vipshop Holdings, the Guangzhou, China-based flash-sales apparel retailer, is expected to keep riding a growth tailwind when it posts second-quarter earnings after the close Wednesday.
The consensus estimate of 22 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters is for Vipshop (NYSE:VIPS) to report earnings of 64 cents a share excluding options expenses, up 220% from 20 cents in the year-earlier quarter, on revenue of $791.55 million, up 125%.
Analysts expect Vipshop to post EPS minus items of 66 cents in the current quarter, up 35%, on revenue of $824.85 million, up 27%.
Vipshop saw a surge in flash sales events in Q2 and is likely to show solid stock-keeping unit, or SKU, growth, Beijing-based T.H. Capital said in a research note Monday. It expects that Vipshop's growth decelerated in July but is picking up in August due to promotions.
T.H. Capital is yet to assign a rating or issue a target price for Vipshop stock.
Daiwa Capital Markets said in a July 7 report that it's upbeat on Vipshop's upcoming Q2 earnings.
"Although (Vipshop's) share price has risen by 142% YTD, we believe there is more upside, as we continue to expect strong earnings growth backed by a rapid increase in the number of active users and operating-margin expansion," the report said.
Daiwa reiterated its buy rating and hiked its target price on Vipshop stock to 250 from 200.
Vipshop stock now is up 162% on the year, and it checks in at No. 35 on the latest IBD 50 ranking of top-performing stocks.
Vipshop stock was up 1% in afternoon trading on the stock market today, near 219.
Vipshop, BitAuto Lead Surge In China Internet Stocks.


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Fitpass has joined hands with taxi aggregator Uber to allow its users to book cabs from their Fitpass app itself. Users will see the option of booking an Uber right next to the address of their favorite fitness studio or gym.
Taxi aggregator Uber India has temporarily suspended surge pricing in Delhi-NCR region, following wide criticism for the increase in fares and the threat of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi that it will cancel the co
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today alleged that BJP was trying to foil the odd-even scheme by "terrorising" a section of auto and taxi drivers into striking work tomorrow, which it said would benefit only the app-based cab companies
Karnataka government today seized 12 more two-wheeler taxis of app-based cab aggregator Uber for reportedly violating the Motor Vehicles Act while operating services without obtaining permission. Government also increased the
Kolkata flyover collapse: The collapse of a portion of an under-construction two-km flyover on a congested road intersection here prompted app-based taxi operators like Uber and Ola to provide free or surge-free rides to and
App-based cab aggregator Uber still does not have the requisite permission to offer two-wheeler taxi service uberMOTO and did not consult the government, said Karnataka transport commissioner Rame Gowda on Saturday.
Cab aggregator Uber on Thursday said it has opened here its first engineering centre in Asia that will fix India-specific problems it has been facing. "The Uber engineering centre in Bengaluru is the first such centre all ove
Cab hailing app Uber is now looking at enabling private car owners in the city to car pool through its platform in order to meet the heavy demand expected once the state government implements its odd-even formula.
A Delhi court today deferred to November 3 the hearing on arguments and pronouncement of quantum of sentence in the sensational Uber cab rape case in which the driver has been convicted of raping a 25-year-old woman executive
A Delhi court is likely to tomorrow pronounce its order on the quantum of sentence in the sensational Uber cab rape case in which the driver has been convicted of raping a 25-year-old woman executive in his taxi.


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With the increase of concerns towards environmental issues, people are looking more towards environmental friendly cars. Though electric cars are available for customers from long ago, the trend of using electric cars is getting popular in recent years only. Several automobile companies are focusing heavily on the development of more environment friendly cars like hybrid cars, electric cars etc. Though there are several electric cars are lined up for release in 2014, only few of them(from reputed brands) are creating enthusiasm in customers. Here is a list of electric cars that will release in 2014 which are creating high expectations in the automobile users.
Fiat 500e 2014
Fiat is planning to release its small car Fiat 500e in the electric car segment. It actually planned to release 500e worldwide in 2013 but due to some technical reasons the company could not make it. 500e was awarded as the “Best Electric Car of 2013” by Road and Track. It can travel more than 85miles with single charge and 111-horsepower electric engine meets the acceleration demands of the city conditions. It is 100% environmental friendly car which is equipped with features like regenerative braking system and the quick charging technique etc. which made it as the top contender for the best electric car of 2014.
BMW i3 and i8
BMW is planning to launch its most awaited electric car i3, which is equipped with 125KW motor and boasting of a mileage of 150km on single charge. This comes under the sub brand of BMW i.e. BMW–i. BMW even planning to launch i8 sporty vehicle, which uses both combustion and electric engine and has the capacity to reach a speed of 150kmph. Both these cars weigh less than 1200kgs and 4 persons can easily travel without any discomfort. The company used carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and aluminum chassis and the engine is powered by Lithium ion batteries.
Chevrolet Spark EV
Chevrolet Spark EV is another electric car which has high expectations in customers. The DC fast charging technique enables its battery to charge more quickly and efficiently. This car gives approximately 90miles mileage on single charge. It can be charged through 240V outlet and 120V outlet. It perfectly suits city conditions and it can become a perfect choice for people who want to have environmental friendly, daily use low maintenance car.
The other electric cars that are coming in the upcoming year include but not limited to Kia Soul UV, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i-MiEV etc. Companies are concentrating heavily on low combustion, environmental friendly, less greenhouse emission engines and focusing their designs towards hybrid and electric engines. So, along with electric cars, the trend of hybrid cars is also increasing tremendously. As most of the companies are offering these cars on the contract basis, they are really affordable. Their use not only reduces the pollution and greenhouse gases emission but also ensures economic benefits to its users as their maintenance cost is very less compared to other cars. Several Governments are also promoting electric cars by giving tax incentives which is a welcoming phenomenon and we may see electric cars giving tough competition to normal cars in the near future.
Which is your favorite electric car? Share with us in the comments.
- best electric cars 2014
- electric cars 2014
- 2014 electric car
- best electric cars 2014 distance
- electric cars best distance on electric
- popular electric cars
- small electric cars
- Top EV\s in 2014


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The New York Times reports that Google has officially begun testing its book-searching tool. Called Google Print, it’s similar to the Search Inside the Book feature introduced on Amazon in October; surfers will be able to rummage through selected chapters of a book, as well as reviews and other related material.
As an author who writes about the Internet, I’ve often wondered when my own data would be uploaded into the fray. How would I feel about the piracy debate if people could be online swapping my book, Masters of Doom? At the moment, of course, no one’s swapping anything. Amazon and Google have no plans to make electronic versions of books available for searching; these are just image files, scanned copies of book pages. Either way, I’m looking forward to when my own book is up in the ether. Google and Amazon are providing an amazing tool for researchers, and I’m eager to be a part of it. If and when electronic versions of books start flying around the Internet, I might feel differently, but I doubt it. Books online won’t ever replace books offline, they’ll only expand the readership. The more readers, the better.
Here’s how a Twitter engineer says it will break in the coming weeks
One insider says the company’s current staffing isn’t able to sustain the platform.
Technology that lets us “speak” to our dead relatives has arrived. Are we ready?
Digital clones of the people we love could forever change how we grieve.
How to befriend a crow
I watched a bunch of crows on TikTok and now I'm trying to connect with some local birds.
Starlink signals can be reverse-engineered to work like GPS—whether SpaceX likes it or not
Elon said no thanks to using his mega-constellation for navigation. Researchers went ahead anyway.
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- Tesla blindsided many of its store employees with the announcement last week that it will close stores and sell its products exclusively online.
- Three Tesla salespeople and one salesperson who left the company this week told Business Insider that the mood inside the company is increasingly negative, with one even comparing it to a morgue.
- CEO Elon Musk said in an email to employees last week that "a small number" of stores would remain open as galleries.
- Tesla declined to comment.
Tesla shocked employees last week when it announced it will shift to an online-only sales model and close "many" of its retail stores.
One salesperson, away from his assigned store in California at the time, found out later that evening only after reading news reports about the plan.
"Every time there are layoffs, we are notified after the fact," the employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Business Insider. "It's a slap in the face. We should have been notified first, we're the ones building [Elon Musk]'s empire."
That's just one example of an outpouring of exasperation by Tesla employees, many of whom say they've been left in the dark about major business decisions that affect their ability to sell cars and energy systems.
Tesla advisers, as the company calls its salespeople, were taken off of separate energy and car focuses last year amid the company's push to post a profit in the third and fourth quarters. Taken out of the field, former energy salespeople told Business Insider that bonuses were drastically changed last year so that individual bonuses were tied to team performance inside the stores.
"It's empty in here right now," another employee, under the condition of anonymity, said of their assigned store. "This is usually an upbeat place to work, but now it feels like a morgue."
The decision to close stores — many of which in California, New York, Washington, DC, have already closed — might work for cars, the employee said, but energy systems need a more hands-on approach. Home energy systems can take 90 days to install.
"You can test-drive a car for seven days, but solar is a full-blown construction project," the employee said.
But even automotive salespeople say they're still necessary for Tesla to continue to grow.
"Electric cars are too new of a concept to not have a sales force," a former customer-experience specialist, who left this week, said. "The worst feeling was opening a store and three months later closing its doors. I've never been divorced, but that’s probably the best way I could describe what I felt was happening."
Overall, employees love working for Tesla, even frustrated workers are quick to say.
"We were working really, really hard because we were doing it for something above ourselves," a current salesperson said. "We were doing it for Tesla and for the mission."
Workers are invested not only morally in Tesla's mission — some have moved thousands of miles to work for Tesla — but also financially. Large fractions of many employees' pay are in the form of restricted stock units, which are shares given to workers on a predetermined vesting schedule. The ultimate value of the shares is dependent on the price the company's stock is trading at on the date of maturation.
"You've got people who are working their a---- off in jobs they weren't even hired to do," the employee said of salespeople who pitched in to deliver cars to customers last year. "And Tesla doesn't give a s---."
Tesla declined to comment.
Do you work at Tesla? Have a story to share? Get in touch with this reporter at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Report outlines challenges facing 3D printing
“There are almost too many options to explore” the report, from market research firm Additive Manufacturing Research, said.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for companies to develop and execute on 3D printing strategies involving polymers, a new report said.
According to the report, from market research firm Additive Manufacturing Research (AMR), “there are almost too many options to explore as many manufacturers are deciding how they can expand on their rapid prototyping efforts into more strategic manufacturing applications using polymer printing.”
The AMR report points to several companies involved in the industry that have significant potential to shape the 3D printable polymer market. “For example, we are seeing a continued decline in hardware sales from both Stratasys and 3D Systems,” it said. “But we are also seeing the 3D printing of polymers continue to be buoyed by new entrants.”
As a result, AMR believes that through 2020, “we will see the 3DP polymer segment returning to historically established levels of around 20 per cent compound annual growth rate. This will be driven extensively by the polymer powder bed fusion and photopolymerization technology subsegments.”
On the materials side in polymers, AMR notes that mechanically superior composites are beginning to truly take centre stage.


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Google yesterday disclosed a major security vulnerability it has found in the SSL 3.0 encryption protocol, that is still employed by many sites across the web, despite long being superseded. Dubbed POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption), it allows attackers to steal private data, like cookies, and, possibly, use it to access user accounts on vulnerable sites. The search giant says its Chrome browser should be safe, but warns that others may be vulnerable.
Firefox is one of the vulnerable ones. To address this issue, Mozilla reveals that the upcoming version -- Firefox 34, to be exact -- will feature code which makes it immune to the POODLE attack. For those who use lesser versions of the open-source browser -- most users, basically -- the organization provides an optional fix.
Most people who own expensive smartphones have the latest Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S or Galaxy Note device, which, at launch, costs at least $650 off-contract. Even though they are unattainable to the average buyer, tens of millions of consumers can still afford to get them. And that creates a problem for the elitist one percenters of the world, who are faced with an unusual dilemma: own a smartphone that even their chauffeurs may afford or turn to a proper luxury device.
For those who can pay €12,500 for a smartphone and just so happen to be Bentley owners or enthusiasts, renowned luxury smartphone manufacturer Vertu has unveiled Vertu for Bentley. It is the first device to come out of the new five-year partnership with the high-end British car maker. Luckily, for that much money, it certainly is special.
It is only natural for Wi-Fi transfer speeds to increase as we are getting closer to the Internet of Things (IoT). The new technology era will see virtually every single thing we can imagine being designed, from the start, to go online. That requires technologies which can cope with the extra load. But since what we have now is seemingly not good enough, Samsung, being heavily invested in IoT, has decided to take matters into its own hands.
As it works towards bringing its Smart Home concept to fruition, which is an integral part of its IoT plans, Samsung announces today that the new Wi-Fi technology it has developed, formally known as 802.11ad, will enable transfer speeds of up to 4.6 Gbs (575 MBps). In plain English it means that a 1 GB file will be downloaded in less than two seconds.
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is one of the greatest tablets for content creators. It can run full-blown software like AutoCAD, Lightroom, Office and Photoshop because Windows 8.1 runs the show, it rivals ultrabooks in the speed department, can double as a laptop with a Type Cover attached, offers good battery life thanks to efficient processors and, on top of all this, ships with a neat stylus as well, out-of-the-box, which Microsoft calls Surface Pen.
Surface Pen is a precise input tool, which comes in handy when users want to draw, sketch or take notes, for instance. Still, for those who would like to make the stylus even more precise in operation can turn to Microsoft's new app, Surface Hub, to adjust pressure sensitivity, among other things.
For a well-known and longstanding smartphone manufacturer, Sony has an unusual strategy in the US. Its presence is limited, and few of its devices make it in the country officially. And when they do, they are about to be superseded. Proof is Xperia Z2. Unveiled at CES 2014 in January, it went on sale shortly after, but only made it to the US in late-July. Its successor, Xperia Z3, was announced at IFA 2014, early last month, and went on sale just weeks later.
However, Xperia Z3 must be the smartphone that breaks the pattern for Sony, and finally show us that the Japanese maker can get its US strategy right, as it will soon be available at two of the largest mobile operators in the country. Yes, while it is still a hot device! After T-Mobile, Verizon was just revealed to also carry Xperia Z3, albeit in a slightly tweaked version called Xperia Z3v. Here are the details.
The PC market is not what it once used to be. Both shipments and sales are in the proverbial toilet. Old devices are still adequate years down the road, and more than capable of running newer versions of Windows, if users wish to upgrade -- many don't. Other types of devices, like tablets, can do the basic tasks just as well, if not better than the PC, and, for many in emerging markets, smartphones are what they buy these days to connect them to the Internet.
There are other changes afoot as well. Thanks to the increasing popularity of its Macs, Apple, once known as a niche vendor with a limited appeal, now ranks as the fifth-largest PC maker worldwide, according to a new report from research firm IDC. How did it get here? Well, blame the lower prices, among other things.
Today, Nokia officially brings HERE to Samsung Galaxy smartphones, expanding the reach of its powerful mapping software outside of Windows Phones and handsets that bear the Nokia branding. For the time being, the app is exclusively available in the South Korean maker's app store for Galaxy devices, but, later, it will make its way to other Android smartphones as well.
The HERE app may currently be labeled as a beta, but it does not skimp on features. It arrives with pretty much all the major features that Windows Phone users are enjoying from the HERE suite, which says a lot about Nokia's plans post-Lumia. Let's take a look.
When Microsoft took the lid off Windows 10 in late-September, the software giant showcased some of the new features that its new tiled operating system offers in the Technical Preview build. Chief among them was the revival of the Start menu, but virtual desktops, a beefed-up Command Prompt, and Task View were also demoed during the presentation. However, even though it has been an oft-requested addition, there was no mention of a notifications center being baked-into Windows 10.
That was a major disappointment in my book, as a notifications center is a must-have feature for any modern operating system, let alone one that is supposed to run on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones (perhaps, even wearables). But, rest assured, Windows 10 does come with a notifications center. Microsoft may not yet want us to see it, but it can be enabled. And here is how.
Galaxy Note 4 is not yet available in most markets across the globe, as Samsung has opted for a staggered launch. However, despite the limited market availability, a well-known Android modding enthusiast has already achieved root access for the phablet.
Chainfire, the developer behind dedicated modding tools like SuperSU, has announced on his Google+ page that a number of Galaxy Note 4 models, based on Samsung's own Exynos chip as well as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 805 processor, are now supported by CF-Auto-Root. The software has been designed to automatically enable root access on Android devices.
People do crazy things to get their hands on a new iPhone. They queue for days in a row, travel to another country or pay absurd amounts on black market imports. Still, none of those things is as expensive as the iPhone 6 prototype that is listed on eBay, for which some folks will go as far as paying over $60,000. That's just crazy.
At the time of writing this article, the latest bid for the iPhone 6 prototype -- a 64 GB model -- is $61,100. For the money, you get a hugely overpriced smartphone which may not even be legit. Normally, you would pay $750, off-contract, for a 64 GB iPhone 6, in Silver -- the same color as the prototype -- that is. But, wait, there is more.
When Microsoft took the wraps off Windows 10, the software giant informed us that its latest operating system, which officially launches next year, will run on all sorts of devices, including PCs, smartphones and tablets, and feature a unified app store. Both are firsts, as, so far, there was a Windows to suit everything: one for ARM tablets, one for PCs, one for embedded devices, one for smartphones and so on. Of course, the Server editions will not go away, but that's to be expected.
As a Windows Phone user and watcher, I am particularly interested in seeing Windows 10 in action on smartphones. Microsoft has talked quite a lot about what the new operating system brings on PCs and tablets -- it even released a Technical Preview build for x86 devices -- but kept quiet about its plans for smartphones. Well, that has changed, thanks to Joe Belfiore, the software giant's Operating Systems Group corporate vice president (better known as the head of Windows Phone).
While traveling, my smartphone's always running out of juice sooner than it normally does. This leads to some frustrating moments, like being unable to make calls, open a map or send texts, not to mention having to watch the percentage indicator. Not knowing where someone is, for instance, is never great news in such situations. I know I could use an external battery charger, but I tend to avoid them, and for good reasons.
They generally tend to be bulky, ugly, and almost fragile. Getting the impression that what can only be regarded as a tool is flimsy is not confidence-inspiring -- if it breaks, it's going to be a problem. Microsoft's new Portable Power appears to be different, however. And why wouldn't it be, when it has some Nokia DNA in it?
Microsoft has released Windows 10 Technical Preview, giving early adopters like you and me the opportunity to experience some of the lovely new features that the operating system will bring to the table when it officially launches next year. The highlight is, of course, the new Start menu, but the other changes add up to give us what could very well be the sleek and modern Windows we have all been waiting for: touch-friendly, yet still great with a keyboard and mouse.
This all sounds very intriguing indeed, especially if you have been holding off on upgrades so far. If you want to take the plunge and test Windows 10 Technical Preview directly on your PC, without taking the virtualization route, then you already know that your best install option is a bootable USB drive. Luckily, you came to the right place -- here is everything you need to do.
Nokia Lumia 830 is meant to act as a gap-filler in Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 line, slotting in-between the Lumia 930 flagship and the Lumia 735 budget-friendly offering. It's a mid-ranger, in both hardware features and price. It is also the successor to the two year-old Lumia 820, as its name implies.
Microsoft has high hopes for Lumia 830, calling it "the first affordable flagship" and marketing it as cheaper alternative to the likes of Apple iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S5. It's a strategy which could pay off in emerging markets, where consumers want premium devices but cannot afford the cost premiums. We will have to see how the market reacts to Lumia 830, which goes on sale starting this week.
By now I am sure that everyone with an interest in smartphones has heard about One Plus and its One phablet. It is undoubtedly among the most interesting Android devices launched this year, and one of the most hyped also. How did OnePlus, basically a new player in the mobile space, achieve that? Well, One managed to make a splash in no small part thanks to its $299 entry-level price, which allows it to undercut virtually every known rival, paired with some of the best and most powerful hardware around. That's a recipe for success in the Android realm, and OnePlus knows it all too well.
But, what tops its lovely hardware and the low asking price is that One has never actually been available to the general public, per se. Sure, people have been able to buy One, but they have been able to do so only through invites. As a way to sell smartphones -- commodities, really -- that is crazy. But, what is even crazier is that, even as One is still not generally available, OnePlus reveals a launch date for its successor.


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Walmartone of the largest distribution groups in the world, continues the trend of positive results in the second quarter of the year. The United States is going through a difficult period due to rising inflation and the company has managed to find the best strategy to overcome the difficulties: a low-price policy.
«We had another strong quarter. Around the world, our customers and members value value and convenience.” he claimed Doug McMillon, Chairman and CEO of Walmart, in a press release, adding: “Grocery is a strength but we are also encouraged by our results in general merchandise compared to our expectations at the beginning of the quarter. Our associates have helped increase the number of transactions and units sold, and profits are growing faster than sales«. The company’s sales totaled $161,600 million (around 148 million euros), which corresponds to one growth of 5.9% compared to the same period in 2022. The Operating profit increased by 6.7% reaches 7,316 million dollars (around 6,740 million euros). And the consolidated net income reached $7,891 million, a whopping 53.3% increase.
With this in mind, online sales in the second quarter made department stores happy E-commerce net sales increased 24% compared to the previous year. Worldwide reached Walmart’s online net sales volume $24,000 million, which is 15% of total net sales.
Another business area that reported good results for the company was advertising, which saw a 35% increase globally year-over-year.
Walmart’s international business was also doing well, posting $27 billion in net sales (up 11% year over year). The growth that the company attributes in its statement to the results of Walmex, China and Flipkart sales, e-commerce sales and advertising.
He also highlighted the results achieved with his brand Sam’s Clubs which ended the quarter with strong sales led by food and consumables, and a 7% increase in membership income.
Walmart outlook for 2024
For the next quarter and 2024, the US company remains optimistic. For the third quarter, consolidated net sales are expected to increase by 3%, while full-year growth is expected to be between 4% and 4.5%. «We are in good shape with inventories and are satisfied with our position for the second half of the year” said Doug McMillon, Chairman and CEO of Walmart.


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When one thinks of open-ended, “inflation targeting” one usually thinks of soaring markets, at least in nominal terms, exploding central bank balance sheet, and happy central planners. What one usually does not think of, is, well, inflation targeting. Because while the shadow banking financial system, perfectly devoid of deposits, has for now provided a sufficient buffer from trillions of reserve injections from spreading into the broader economy of the US and [...]
At the Petro station in Hempstead Turnpike on Long Island some drivers waited two hours to fill up. A gallon of regular gasoline was being sold for $5.99 on Friday morning.
Soon after Fox 5 News arrived on scene to report on long waits at the station, a man shut down the lights, put up caution tape and told a few drivers the station was out of gasoline.
Price gouging, or [...]
(CNSNews.com) – Average retail gasoline prices have more than doubled under President Obama, according to government statistics, rising from $1.84 per gallon to $3.85 per gallon.
The average gasoline price is calculated by the Energy Information Agency, and shows that over the past 43 months of President Obama’s term retail gasoline prices have more than doubled, rising from an average of $1.84 per gallon to $3.85 per gallon.
Rising gasoline prices were particularly prevalent [...]
Why save when one can spend (and, more importantly, why save when one has ZIRP)? This appears to have been the motto of American consumers in the past three months when the US Savings rate has plunged from 4.7% in December to a tiny 3.7% in February: the lowest since December 2007′s 2.6%, and just as the recession and the market crash was about to send everyone scrambling for the safety [...]
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Much noise has been emanating out of Israel vis-a-vis its Iranian intentions, with some opinions suggesting an attack is imminent, while others claiming that Israel will ultimately defer to D.C., and postpone an attack, and the eventual gasoline price shock, until after the election. The truth is nobody but a few select generals, knows: in warfare surprise is the key factor, so outright flashing invasion intentions [...]
We also note that the average price for a gallon of gas across the EU is inching ever closer to the $10 mark.
February 23, 2012
Could history repeat itself? That is a question uppermost in the minds of many Americans as they warily watch gasoline prices at the pump rise week after week.
After all, a spike in gasoline prices early last year helped nearly knock the economy back into recession.
The answer, economists say, is that this time is different: the recovery is in far better shape to absorb the blow.
From Zero Hedge:
Forget the weather, forget AAPL, forget American Idol, forget Greece, forget the Middle East, forget inventories, forget USD strength, forget the SPR, and forget the implicit tax cut we “received” in Q4 from low gas prices. The average gasoline price in the U.S. was the highest ever for January – is it any wonder that retail sales disappointed?
So as we all await the tax-cut extension to pass, perhaps [...]
Gasoline will hit $4 a gallon in the coming months due to seasonal factors, but some portions of the country could see chaotic spikes much higher, says Tom Kloza, chief analyst for the Oil Price Information Service.
Regular unleaded gasoline now averages $3.48 a gallon, up from $3.12 a year ago and $2.67 in February 2010, USA Today reports.
Prices will climb by $0.60 in May due to seasonal factors.
“I think it’s going [...]
By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times
November 8, 2011
If you think gasoline is expensive now, just wait until next year: A combination of growing global demand and rising U.S. fuel exports could send gasoline prices to record highs in 2012, analysts say.
Those factors have been pushing pump prices to historically high levels since the beginning of September, and the approaching holiday weekend is expected to present a painful roadside example [...]
U.S. producer prices rose more than expected in September to record their largest increase in five months as gasoline prices surged, a government report showed on Tuesday.
The Labor Department said its seasonally adjusted index for prices received by farms, factories and refineries, increased 0.8 percent after being flat in August. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to increase 0.2 percent.
Excluding volatile food and energy, wholesale prices rose 0.2 percent [...]
PALM BEACH, Fla. – President Obama has reportedly decided not to release post-mortem photos of terror chief Osama bin Laden, and radio host Rush Limbaugh believes at least part of the reason why no decision was made until today is because Obama was trying to distract people from the dismal U.S. economy.
“If the lead story, or close to the lead story, is the photo,” Limbaugh [...]
(NaturalNews.com) To most Americans it’s unthinkable that the U.S. dollar could someday be relegated to second-class status as a currency, but what they may not realize is that the transition is already underway.
Reports this week marked the dollar’s continued slide – it reached a 16-month low against the euro and slid to a historic low against the Swiss franc on Tuesday – while at the same time [...]
Since BP spill, anti-oil policy has been cited in only 3 network gasoline price reports.
By Julia A. Seymour
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 4:43 PM EDT
- Gas prices have risen almost $1-a-gallon since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, yet President Obama’s drilling moratorium and other anti-oil policies have barely been mentioned by the networks in that time span.
- Only 1 percent (3 out of 280) of oil [...]
Summer Transportation Fuels Outlook
Prices. EIA expects regular-grade gasoline retail prices, which averaged $2.76 per gallon last summer, will average $3.86 per gallon during the current driving season. The projected monthly average regular retail gasoline price peaks this year at $3.91 per gallon in early summer. Diesel fuel prices, which averaged $2.98 per gallon last summer, are projected to average $4.09 this summer. [...]
High grade crude for gulf delivery hit the highest price since the spring of 2008 this morning.
This is the raw material for gasoline, so look for another big spike at the pump over the next few months.
I think that premium gas will be at $5 by July first in many parts of the country.
If the trend towards ever higher crude does not turn around soon we are going to hit [...]
From Washington Times:
Feeling pain at the pump? Gas prices have doubled since Mr. Obama took office. According to the GasBuddy gasoline price tracking web site, the price of a gallon of regular gas was around $1.79 when Mr. Obama took office. Today the national average is $3.58. The lowest average price in the continental United States is $3.31 in Tulsa Oklahoma, the highest is $4.14 in Santa [...]
By Dian L. Chu
There was a debate recently between Rick Santelli of CNBC and James Bullard, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis regarding the inflation effects of the QE2 initiative.
Bullard, the economist, cited the core inflation rate, and even the headline inflation rate as illustrative of a lack of serious inflation pressures in the US economy. Santelli, on the other [...]
By Dian L. Chu
Crude oil market has been on a wild roller coaster ride ever since riots started escalating in Egypt and Libya. The latest LibyanÂ supply disruptions sent WTIÂ futures surging above $103 a barrel in New York on Thursday, Feb. 24, while Brent oil in Europe was also closing in on $120 a barrel.
However, both oil markers retreatedÂ mostly due to traders scrambling to [...]
by Cullen Roche, SA
Joe Weisenthal of Business Insider posted a good rule of thumb yesterday that helps quantify the impact of rising oil prices on the US economy. He posts a note from Deutsche Bank that says:
According to our analysis, a $10 increase in oil prices translates into roughly a 25 cent increase in retail gasoline prices. Every one penny increase [...]
By Dian L. Chu, EconForecast
Outlook 2011: Crude Oil & Gasoline, Escalator Up and Elevator Down
Just in time for Christmas, On Wednesday, Dec. 22, U.S. gasoline prices hit an average $3 a gallon for the first time in more than two years, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks and oil also climbed to the highest levels since 2008.
Crude = 71% of Gasoline Price


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In the dynamic landscape of the cannabis industry, a recent legal development is sending ripples that extend far beyond the courtroom. RAW Rolling Papers Lawsuit, a prominent player in the space, is making headlines not just for its legal battles but for the transformative impact its $1.5 million lawsuit proceeds are having on cannabis entrepreneurship.
Unraveling the Legal Threads
The crux of the matter lies in a lawsuit that RAW Rolling Papers Lawsuit has found itself entangled in. While legal disputes often signify discord and challenges, RAW is taking a distinctive approach. Rather than viewing it as a setback, the company is leveraging the proceedings to foster growth within the cannabis entrepreneurial community.
A Million-Dollar Investment in Innovation
RAW‘s decision to donate the entirety of its lawsuit proceeds – a staggering $1.5 million – towards supporting cannabis entrepreneurs speaks volumes about its commitment to the industry’s advancement. This injection of capital comes at a crucial juncture, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the financial fuel needed to navigate the complexities of the cannabis business.
Cultivating Cannabis Entrepreneurship
The impact of RAW’s philanthropic gesture extends beyond the immediate monetary support. It catalyzes cultivating a more robust and resilient cannabis entrepreneurship ecosystem. Entrepreneurs in this space often face unique challenges, from navigating complex regulations to securing funding. RAW’s donation aims to address these hurdles head-on, fostering an environment where innovation can thrive.
Nurturing Innovation in a Budding Industry
One of the critical areas where RAW’s lawsuit proceeds are making a difference is in nurturing innovation. The cannabis industries are rapidly evolving, with new products and technologies emerging regularly. The financial support provided by RAW empowers entrepreneurs to invest in research and development, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this burgeoning sector.
Fostering Social Equity
Beyond innovation, RAW’s commitment to donating lawsuit proceeds aligns with the broader goal of fostering social equity within the cannabis industry. Historically, marginalized communities have been disproportionately affected by cannabis-related legal issues. By directing funds towards supporting entrepreneurs from these communities, RAW is contributing to a more inclusive and equitable industry landscape.
Seeding Growth Opportunities
The financial infusion from RAW’s lawsuit proceeds as a seed for growth opportunities within the cannabis entrepreneurship sphere. Entrepreneurs often face challenges in securing funding due to the stigma surrounding the cannabis industry. RAW’s bold initiative not only provides a lifeline for existing businesses but also encourages potential entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in an industry that is gradually shedding its taboo status.
Navigating Regulatory Waters
Regulatory compliance is a perennial challenge for cannabis businesses. The landscape is often intricate and subject to frequent changes, making it a formidable hurdle for entrepreneurs. RAW’s donation is instrumental in assisting entrepreneurs to navigate these regulatory waters effectively. By offering financial resources and, potentially, legal support, RAW contributes to a more compliant and sustainable cannabis business environment.
Creating a Ripple Effect
RAW’s decision to donate its lawsuit proceeds is not just a one-time event but it has the potential to create a ripple effect within the industry. Other players may be inspired to follow suit, recognizing the role they play in supporting the growth and development of cannabis entrepreneurship. This collective commitment can reshape the industry’s narrative, positioning it as a driver of innovation and economic growth.
The Road Ahead
As RAW’s lawsuit continues to unfold, the impact of its donation on cannabis entrepreneurship is already becoming evident. The joint venture between legal proceedings and philanthropy is proving to be a powerful force for positive change. It underscores the notion that challenges, when met with a strategic and forward-thinking approach, can be transformed into opportunities.
In conclusion, RAW’s lawsuit and subsequent donation serve as a testament to the company’s dedication to the growth and sustainability of the cannabis industry. By redirecting the financial fallout of legal battles towards supporting entrepreneurs, RAW is not just rolling papers; it’s rolling out a blueprint for a more prosperous and inclusive cannabis entrepreneurial landscape. The joint venture between RAW and the entrepreneurs it supports is poised to leave an indelible mark on an industry that is rapidly coming into its own.


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Better Winnipeg is a regular feature that highlights people, events and organizations that make Winnipeg a great place to live. If you have a story idea send an email to firstname.lastname@example.org
After busting at the seams for years, Siloam Mission’s clothing program has moved to a new location. The new space at 309 Logan Ave. is nearly four times larger.
“With more space that means we can put more out for our community to select from,” said Lauren Ferguson, clothing program manager.
Every week close to 500 people visit the clothing room. For individuals experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg, this is a critical place to turn for clean, dry clothes.
Dawn Baker first visited the clothing room three years ago.
“It’s not trash clothes – it’s not clothes you get from a dumpster,” Baker said.
“These are clean clothes, they are well maintained. You just feel more human.”
Baker was 50 years old when she lost her apartment.
“I always had an apartment, I always kept it clean, managed my depression but one thing happened and I lost my cat and my depression spiraled out of control. And before I could get it in control I lost my apartment.”
Once a week people can book an appointment to pick out fresh clothes. Appointments are available six days a week. Each visitor has 15 minutes and can take one of everything including shirts, pants and outerwear.
But underwear and socks are the most sought after items.
“Once we get it in it’s off our shelves right away,” Ferguson said.
When it comes to underwear in particular, the clothing room just can’t keep up with the demand.
“Sometimes you know people will go a month without getting a new pair of underwear,”
Unlike donations of shirts and pants that can be used items, underwear and socks must be new.
Both layers of clothing are critical for protecting against the cold and infection.
Once socks get wet or sweaty, a person’s feet get cold fast. Frostbite is a very real risk during the winter.
Baker knows first-hand how important those items are to warmth, health and one’s dignity.
“Just because we’re homeless doesn’t mean we stop being people,” Baker said.
Clothing donations can be made to Siloam Mission’s new clothing room location at 309 Logan Avenue (drop-off on the Stanley Street side of the building).
- Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Weekends and holidays: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.


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Crawfish is all the rage as evidenced by the onslaught of events honoring the beloved Louisiana mudbug. The Louisiana Restaurant Association Greater New Orleans Chapter held its first King of Crawfish competition, a tasting event featuring notable restaurants serving their signature crawfish dish, at Generations Hall, May 8, to benefit the LRA Education Foundation. During the event, attendees sampled an array of dishes and voted on which one they thought should reign supreme.
Nearly 500 fans of Louisiana’s favorite crustacean were salivating over Galatoire’s crawfish risotto, Fulton Alley’s crawfish tater tot, Katie’s Restaurants’ crawfish beignet, Semolina’s crawfish cakes, Ma Momma’s Cornbread, Chicken and Waffles’ crawfish cornbread and Barcadia’s fried crawfish tails over spoon bread, just to name a few.
“This was a great event and I’m definitely in for next year,” said Michael Sichel, Galatoire’s Executive Chef. “Everyone was so happy and it benefiting culinary education made it even more rewarding.”
|Katie's Restaurant Crawfish Beignet, an|
overstuffed beignet filled with Louisiana
crawfish, jalapeno peppers, onions and
three kinds of cheese, fried then topped
with a jalapeno aioli. Served on the
restaurant's menu daily.
After the tickets were counted, the clear crowd favorite was Katie’s Restaurant led by Sous Chef Jonathan Laugand, who took home the title with the restaurant’s crawfish beignet. As event chair and LRA GNO Director Stanton Ripp announced Katie’s as the winner, the team was elated and the crowd cheered. Katie’s beat out Café Giovanni, who placed second with an Italian crawfish mole over creamy grits and Semolina’s who placed third, with a made-to-order crawfish cake with micro greens.
“It was a great time,” said attendee Meg May. “The cuisine was great and the LRA did an awesome job.”
Guests also had a selection of libations to enjoy courtesy of MillerCoors, Abita Beer and Glazer’s of Louisiana brands Pyrat Rum, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Lunazul and Crown Royal XO.
To see what you missed, visit the event's marketing sponsor, Where Y'at Magazine's Facebook page to view event photos here.


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Intel have yet to make an impression in the mobile market as they have with desktop CPUs. At yesterdays Intel Developer Forum, their new CEO, Brian Krzanich, announced firstly a product that they hope will become a mainstay of Android tablets, the Bay Trail SoC, and also a product built specifically for wearable technology, the Quark Processor family.
The Bay Trail is Intel’s first 22nm system-on-a-chip (SoC) built for mobile devices. It is designed to be high performance, low power, perfect for Windows and Android tablets, as well as 2-in-1 devices. Whether this translates to a better overall experience in a real world scenario is yet to be determined and as yet no product carrying this SoC has been announced. It does promise to shake up the market a bit with currently Qualcomm dominating, Nvidia fading and other chip manufacturers including Samsung still trying to find their own niche.
The Quark Processor is designed to be used in wearable technology. With the sudden lust for wearable devices such as smartwatches Intel may have released this at just the right time. The Quark Processor may lack the power the Bay Trail delivers but makes up for it with a smaller size and a much lower power consumption, perfect for devices which do not require the high performance of a smartphone or tablet. Intel highlighted the use of the Quark processor in a bracelet as something that was in development but it is’t much of a stretch to morph this into seeing it being used in a smart watch.
With more and more people ditching computers for a more mobile device Intel is now attempting to jump onto this cash cow that is the mobile device CPU market hoping they can make a splash and expand their already extensive business.
Do you think they will be successful? Would you buy a device with either of these chips in them?


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Automotive Semiconductor Market Overview:
The automotive semiconductor market size is poised for substantial growth, with the latest report from Market Research Future (MRFR) projecting an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.6% during the forecast period spanning from 2022 to 2030.
Automotive Semiconductor Drivers
One of the primary drivers propelling this growth is the increasing adoption of environmentally friendly alternative fuel vehicles, particularly hybrid electric vehicles. This trend is expected to significantly contribute to market expansion throughout the forecast period. Notably, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reported that global electric vehicle production surpassed 2 million units per year in 2018, with more than 80,000 electric vehicles sold annually.
Additionally, several other factors are enhancing the value of the automotive semiconductor market. These include the expanding production of automobiles, the growing utilization of automotive semiconductors in active safety systems and autonomous driving technologies, in-vehicle networking and connectivity solutions, LED lighting applications, efforts to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, advancements in vehicle electrification, as well as innovations in powertrain, interiors, and vehicle body systems. Furthermore, the development of connected cars equipped with advanced electronics is also contributing to the market’s growth.
Automotive Semiconductor Key Players:
Prominent companies featured in the global automotive semiconductor industry report include:
· NXP Semiconductor NV
· Infineon Technologies AG
· Renesas Electronics Corporation
· STMicroelectronics N.V.
· Toshiba Corporation
· Texas Instrument Inc.
· Robert Bosch GmbH
These key players are expected to play a crucial role in driving innovation and growth within the automotive semiconductor market.
Automotive Semiconductor Opportunities
Policies Imposing Perilous Safety Arrangements in Cars to offer Lucrative Opportunities
Various policies imposing greater perilous safety arrangements in cars like agile automotive proposals, airbags, and lane departure warning for more efficacy, communication systems, and directives for efficient route-finding will offer lucrative opportunities for the market over the forecast period.
Automotive Semiconductor Restraints
Rising Cost of Overall Vehicle to act as Market Restraint
The rising cost of overall vehicle and maintenance between quality and cost of product may act as market restraint over the forecast period.
Constant Optimization to act as Market Challenge
The continuous optimization of component size, high regulations, and shortage of semiconductor chips may act as market challenges over the forecast period.
Automotive Semiconductor COVID-19 Analysis
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the automotive semiconductor market experienced a negative impact as the key automotive fabricating plants have totally stopped their production due to the government imposed lockdown by numerous countries across the globe. Besides, the crisis caused unrealistic disturbance in the supply chain network and production. This essentially influenced on research and development investments and capital. Further, restrictions imposed by the government on transportation endured a boycott which impacted the Just in Time strategies that ended the production plans prompting standing by and also plan closure.
Automotive Semiconductor Market Segmentation
· The global automotive semiconductor market is segmented based on vehicle type, application, and component.
· By component, the integrated circuits segment will lead the market over the forecast period at a high CAGR.
· By application, the power electronics segment will dominate the market over the forecast period and at a significant CAGR.
By vehicle type, passenger cars will spearhead the market over the forecast period at a healthy CAGR for the high demand for passenger cars across the world. Improved disposable income and rising middle-class population have boosted the need for passenger cars in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and China among others.
APAC to Steer Automotive Semiconductor Market
The APAC region will steer the market over the forecast period. The region being a major automotive hub with the market share in terms of vehicle production and sales, growing Chinese automotive market, the market has evolved into the largest producer of vehicles, the region being the largest consumer of automotive semiconductor across the globe, increasing growth of automotive industry in China, Japan, and India, and the presence of leading semiconductor manufacturers in the region are adding to the global automotive semiconductor market share in the region.
North America is set to experience significant development within the automotive semiconductor market during the forecast period. Several key factors are driving this growth in the region, including rapid economic advancement, a rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs), increasing adoption of intelligent transportation systems, the integration of automated safety technologies, a surge in EV production, and the presence of numerous prominent industry players.
In the United States, for instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights the continuous evolution of automotive technology, with a focus on delivering enhanced safety benefits and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADS). Notably, American semiconductor pioneer Texas Instruments is currently at the forefront of the industry, offering top-notch solutions for applications such as ultrasound, Lidar, camera, radar, and sensor combinations. These advancements further contribute to the robust growth of the automotive semiconductor market in North America.


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The Future of Work in 2021 - digital-first, customer centric
- Rethinking what work means in 2021 with business as a platform for change, according to Salesforce's Steve Corfield.
No one could have predicted what 2020 would bring. Across every industry, we have learned the true meaning of digital transformation. That is, reimagining businesses to better serve customers and understand their needs, and having the agility to respond to changing circumstances. Where many organisations may have thought previously that digital transformation was a nice-to-have, today it is an imperative.
With a new year will come a new set of challenges. While there will always be unknowns, we can expect businesses to increasingly look to technology to help them survive, recover and grow. Flexibility will be key to delivering the digital-first experiences that customers demand. Access to data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will help companies to revolutionise their customer experience. What’s more, in 2021 customers will increasingly expect companies to deliver demonstrable positive impact on the communities they serve.
The development of technology will continue to shape the way we do business, the future of work, as well as provide opportunities for companies to make a positive difference to the world around them.
Serving the digital-first customer in a digital-first world
This year we learned just how quick consumers can adopt new technologies, to stay connected with loved ones, to shop, and access essential services online. As market trends and customer expectations evolve faster than ever, in 2021, businesses must innovate at pace. We’re likely witnessing the end of the 2-3 year digital transformation project, value needs to be delivered within months. In the digital economy, speed of implementation, cost and value to the organisation and customers, as well as competitiveness will measure the success of digital transformation.
As demand for online retail and consumer goods increases so will companies’ use of AI-powered technologies to engage and serve customers. Beyond restaurants and health service providers, we’ll see the continued rise of the appointment economy, guaranteeing convenience virtually and in-person. Bots too should become an integral part of company strategies to support customers 24/7. From virtual try-ons to smarter delivery and pickup options, every customer experience must be connected, personalised and seamless - from whatever device they’re using, and whichever store they’re visiting.
Technologies that fuel the needs of today’s customer
COVID-19 presented a moment of truth for businesses. Many were not as streamlined and resilient as they once thought. In 2021, saving costs whilst boosting resilience will be top of mind for every Chief Information Officer (CIO) and business leader. We can expect the simplifying, streamlining and digitalising of processes - including channel portfolios. How companies seek to provide all of the services and experiences that customers expect on their smartphones instead will have far-reaching impact upon their business models.
Companies leveraging cloud computing have shown us what it means to be resilient in time of crisis. These migrations will only accelerate in 2021 - enabling scalability, availability and accessibility of information from any location. When, where, and how a company deploys these tools will set leaders ahead of the pack. Increased automation, AI, as well as forecasting models will help them to better predict and prepare for the future may bring. To make the most of these technologies, data literacy skills must be foundational to every role at every level of an organisation.
The evolution of work-from-anywhere
It’s fair to say that how we work has changed forever. While many people will continue to work from home throughout 2021, ensuring the wellbeing of those who do return to physical workplaces will require a huge cross-functional effort. We can expect the office experience to be recreated, to become more intentional. The ways that companies communicate will evolve also. Those which have opened unprecedented access to their leadership team, providing regular updates to keep teams informed, engaged and productive, will want to keep these lines of communication open as we emerge from the pandemic.
With regard to where we work, this year has shown that working from home can be a legitimate option. In 2021 and beyond, it's important for employers to continue to explore new, flexible work models. We can expect businesses to create new HR packages and technical capabilities to attract and retain the hybrid worker - and brands to market new products which tailor to their lifestyle needs. Flexible arrangements can offer greater work-life balance and create a more equal workplace by increasing talent pools.
Business must be an even greater platform for change
We are in the midst of several crises at once - a health crisis, an economic crisis, and climate crisis. The importance of a business’s role in corporate citizenship has been cemented and the urgency for businesses to give back to communities has never been greater. Next year, the role of business as a platform for change will no longer be the exception, but the standard.


text: MercExchange (P) holds a number of patents, including a business method patent for an electronic market designed to facilitate the sale of goods between private individuals by establishing a central authority to promote trust among participants. P sought to license its patent to eBay (D) as it had previously done with other companies, but the parties failed to reach an agreement. P filed a patent infringement suit against D. A jury found that P's patent was valid, that D had infringed that patent, and that an award of damages was appropriate. The District Court denied P's motion for permanent injunctive relief. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed, applying its 'general rule that courts will issue permanent injunctions against patent infringement absent exceptional circumstances.' The Supreme Court granted certiorari.


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Seeking Alpha presents a cogent argument for HP producing 3D printers in the near future, even though no such announcements or signals have been emitted from that company, recently or in the past.
HP has had some involvement with 3D printers, in that it had an arrangement with Stratasys to resell HP-labelled Stratasys uPrint 3D printers, but only in Europe. It was kind of a strange test, that on the surface seemed to founder. This year it was announced that the two companies were terminating this agreement at the end of 2012.
There are two possible conclusions. First, one could suggest that HP didn’t do very well in this market (and indeed that is the rumor we’ve heard) and thus decided to exit the market before taking more losses.
The second possible conclusion espoused by Seeking Alpha is that HP used the Stratasys arrangement as a kind of experiment to learn more about the technology before launching its own venture. They say:
I think it could mean that HP wants more than just a distribution agreement. It might have needed a termination of the deal as a first step towards launching its own line of 3D printers or buying a company that leads in this new industry. There is a good chance that the agreement it had with Stratasys prevented it from manufacturing or selling other 3D printers, and that would be one of many reasons to terminate the deal. It’s possible that HP will announce a major foray into 3D printing in 2013, after the agreement has expired.
This certainly could be the case. With key patents expiring or about to expire, HP could leverage its massive manufacturing capability to produce machines at potentially lower cost than existing 3D print rivals. The question would be, which market would they strike? The large commercial 3D print market currently occupied by 3D Systems and Stratasys/Objet? Or the lower end MakerBot market?
We’d bet on the lower end. The higher end is more complex to enter and introduces a lot more technological and legal risk.
Via Seeking Alpha


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News stories featuring Barclaycard:
April 4th, 2017
Having information about how, when and why consumers seek to contact organisations through digital assistants and chatbots and understanding why they are gravitating towards doing so is critical to achieving the full potential of conversational commerce, according to Barclaycard’s managing director of future payments Nick Kerigan and director of future payments Sanjaya Shrestha.
March 27th, 2017
Fashion brand Ted Baker and Swiss luxury watchmaker Mondaine are to integrate NFC payments into a range of watches to enable customers to make payments using technology supplied by Tappy Technologies, which has also partnered with Barclaycard to offer bPay contactless payment technology in the UK. Tappy is also integrating NFC payments into watches supplied by Technos and Saga as well as smartphone brand Meizu’s Newatch. Mondaine began adding NFC payments to watches in February 2016.
March 3rd, 2017
British consumers made contactless transactions to the value of £25bn (US$30.6bn) last year, up from £7.75bn (US$9.48bn) in 2015, The UK Cards Association reports. One in four card payments in the UK was made using…
February 24th, 2017
Barclaycard’s bPay contactless payment technology is to be embedded into a range of high street jewellery and watch brands across the UK through new partnerships with fashion jewellery retailer DCK Group and payment technology provider…
February 20th, 2017
Transport for London (TfL) is aiming to extend contactless payments on its network to further areas outside of the capital, after Barclaycard announced it has retained its contract to provide payment processing solutions to TfL for at least another seven years. Some 800m journeys paid for with contactless methods have been made since the network launched in September 2014, with 1.8m now made every day — representing 39% of all pay-as-you-go journeys.
What’s New in Payments: Leading international innovators explain the latest payments trends and technologies in free special report
February 16th, 2017
Senior executives from Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Barclaycard, Swatch and CaixaBank are among 12 leading payments innovators who have contributed to What’s New in Payments, a 104-page special report that is now available to download free…
February 3rd, 2017
The average size of donations made to a UK charity using contactless collection tins was more than three times larger than the average cash donation, The Telegraph reports. The NPSCC participated in a Barclaycard trial from September 2016 and found the average donation using contactless cards or devices at the terminals, which could accept cash or contactless payments, was £3.07. People who donated cash gave on average £1. Barclaycard says UK charities could be missing out on up to £82m (US$102m) by not accepting contactless donations.
December 16th, 2016
Customers at Henry’s Café Bar in London’s Piccadilly have been testing a prototype self-serve beer pump that allows them to order drinks on a touchscreen and complete payment by tapping their contactless card or NFC…
November 29th, 2016
British accessories brand Tovi Sorga is working with Barclaycard to include contactless payment chips to their wallet cuff range, allowing wearers to make purchases across the UK. “Linked to any Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card registered to a UK address and managed by the bPay mobile app, users have full control and visibility of their spending,” Tami Hargreaves from Barclaycard says.
September 15th, 2016
Smartphone case manufacturer Case Station has integrated Barclaycard’s bPay contactless payment technology into its new range to allow consumers to make NFC mobile purchases with a tap of their handset at any contactless terminal. “All…
August 23rd, 2016
The amount spent by Barclaycard customers using contactless technology in the UK has multiplied 2.7 times so far this year, with usage increasing 173% by value and 112% by volume, the latest Barclaycard Contactless Spending…
August 18th, 2016
More than two thirds of UK consumers (67%) who use contactless payments would prefer the function to be added to something they already own or wear, rather than purchase a brand new wearable payment device.
August 11th, 2016
All British athletes competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are being given NFC payment bands that will allow them to make purchases by tapping their wrists against a contactless terminal.
July 7th, 2016
Barclaycard has unveiled Loop, the fourth product in its bPay contactless payment device range, which comes in the form of a contactless chip and lets consumers add NFC payment capability to the wearable devices they already own.
June 10th, 2016
UK fashion retailer Topshop has launched the second collection of Topshop x bPay, a range of accessories that incorporate Barclaycard’s bPay contactless payment technology and enable shoppers to make tap and go payments at contactless terminals.
May 20th, 2016
More than one in 10 (13%) of those using Barclaycard’s host card emulation (HCE) mobile payment service are over 50 years old, while 10% are aged under 25, Barclaycard has revealed. “2% of users are over 65 year olds and the oldest customer registered and using the service is 86,” the company says. “So far, over £600,000 has been spent through the app.” The service was launched in January 2016.
May 20th, 2016
The number of UK consumers aged over 60 using contactless payments has risen by 116% in the last 12 months, research from Barclaycard reveals. Among the 18-24 age group, the number of contactless users has risen by…
May 12th, 2016
Barclays is to begin rolling out a host card emulation (HCE) based mobile payment feature to its mobile banking app in June, the UK bank has confirmed to NFC World. The service — known as Barclays Contactless Mobile — will enable customers to make transactions at any contactless terminal as well as pay for services across Transport for London (TfL) with a tap of their Android device.
April 5th, 2016
Barclays bank debit cardholders and Barclaycard credit cardholders can now use Apple Pay to make mobile payments, nine months after the service launched in the UK without the participation of the ‘big four’ bank. “The…
March 23rd, 2016
“At this stage, we are not planning on participating in Android Pay in the UK,” British ‘big four’ bank Barclays has told NFC World. The bank was a notable absentee from Google’s list of banks…
Feed for stories featuring Barclaycard.
• Find a list of all the companies and other organisations that have been featured in NFC World in our directory.


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BARCELONA: With the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung is making a concerted effort to attract workers as potential buyers and to win the hearts of IT managers who have to wrangle with enterprise smartphone security and management.
Unlike most technology trends, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) phenomenon is tied closely to culture and norms. As a result, BYOD adoption varies widely country by country, as a recent Dell study on global workforce trends shows.
Bring your own device (BYOD) has become an accepted practice in business. Gartner predicts that by 2017, half of all employers will require workers to supply their own devices for work. Yet there are mixed reports about whether BYOD actually saves businesses money.
Employees who used to burn the midnight oil at the office now get to do so from the comforts of home, thanks to the proliferation of personal laptops, tablets and smartphones. Getting files to appear on and sync with multiple devices can be challenging, but a little bit of advanced planning can go a long way.
During a roundtable discussion on the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, a tech leader candidly offered this bit of real-world insight: "My wife is a nurse. There is no BYOD policy at the hospital. But all of the nurses communicate with each other via SMS, because that's the most efficient way to do their job."
In New York City, venerable companies give luxurious corporate cars to power brokers dressed in Armani suits driving down Wall Street. But across the country in San Francisco, you're more likely to see blue jeans-clad execs driving shared Zipcars to their wacky digs in SoMa, or south of Market.
With Microsoft moving into a "mobile first, cloud first" world, an Apple smartwatch coming any day now and everyone else buying into the cloud computing hype, it can be easy to lose sight of what all of these developments do: Drive business forward by enabling employees to be more productive. Essentially, it's about the future of work.


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Bold initiative promises savings of at least one million pounds in first year
Taulia Inc., the market leading provider for supplier financing, announced today the continuation of its Million Pound Guarantee programme for 2014. First introduced in 2013, Taulia’s Million Pound Guarantee programme has successfully demonstrated that customers will realise at least one million pounds in savings from dynamic discounting within the first year of implementation. The programme was initially slated to expire after 2013, but due to overwhelming market demand Taulia is reintroducing the saving guarantee for 2014.
Taulia has made achieving one million in savings even easier with the recent launch of Taulia Enhanced Discounting, which allows buying organisations to offer their suppliers early payments in exchange for a discount using either their own cash or 3rd party funds. Taulia customers have been tremendously pleased to receive this guarantee as part of the benefit of implementing Taulia’s solutions.
“With the Million Pound Guarantee, Taulia has put its money where its mouth is to show the effectiveness of its Dynamic Discounting solution,” said Pete Loughlin, managing editor of Purchasing Insight. “This type of guarantee puts to rest any concern organisations may have as to the cost savings potential of an early payment discounting initiative.”
“We are excited to continue offering the Million Pound Guarantee for 2014,” said Joe Hyland, Chief Marketing Officer of Taulia. “Our clients are realising tremendous benefits simply by automating early payments on approved invoices. This risk-free investment generates significant returns and helps to strengthen relationships with suppliers, who are in need of faster payment.”


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NVIDIA kicks off its GPU Technology Conference late next month and now we're hearing that the company will be launching its new Turing GPU architecture during GTC 2018.
Reuters is the source behind the news so we have some credit behind it, but the site says that Turing will be NVIDIA's new 'gaming GPU' which leads me to believe that my world exclusive story from a couple of days ago is right: NVIDIA will launch two new GPU series, with one focused on gamers and one for miners.
Turing is an interesting choice as the codename is a nod to Alan Turing who was "highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, providing a formalization of the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine" according to Wikipedia. Since Turing has roots in cryptography, it would make sense that the Turing-based card will be for miners, while Ampere will be aimed at gamers.
Another thing to consider is that NVIDIA could've changed paths as the new ARM-based CPU company, Ampere, has been unveiled in the last week. Maybe I was right on the money and NVIDIA will block crypto mining on its Ampere-based GeForce products, and instead have mining-focused cards with the Turing-based GPUs.


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Pret-A-Manger has become the first take-out food retailer to join Podback, the national coffee pod recycling service, as a member of the program.
Customers will now be able to recycle their Pret-A-Manger aluminum coffee pods at home by dropping off the return parcels at Collect+ or curbside collection points in certain areas of the UK. The Collect+ recycling bags needed for the return program will be available in Pret’s stores later this year.
In July 2021, Pret-A-Manger launched two aluminum coffee pod blends, which are now recyclable through the Podback program.
Guy Meakin, UK Managing Director of Pret-A-Manger, said: “Now that our coffee is increasingly popular in homes across the country, we wanted to find a solution that would help our customers easily recycle their Pret-A-Manger coffee pods. . We are excited to join the Podback program to make this possible.
Podback was set up by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts UK (JDE UK) and is the UK’s first national non-profit service enabling customers to recycle their aluminum and plastic coffee pods. Through Podback’s recycling program, aluminum pods are recycled into ingots and used to make new products, while used coffee grounds undergo anaerobic digestion to produce a combination of biogas and soil amendment.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Podback, said: “Pret is the first on-the-go food retailer to join Podback as a member. Expanding the program to include more brands has been a top priority since its launch last year, so we’re delighted to have Pret on board. We invite other retailers and brands to join us in making the program even more inclusive for consumers. »
KFC has partnered with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean and pledged to set up a new £40,000 fund to support local litter picking groups. The fast-food retailer will also partner with three local councils to test new ways to tackle litter in communities.
Announced as part of KFC’s partnership with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, KFC’s new waste commitments will see 3,000 restaurant team members across the UK take part in what the brand says be its biggest litter-picking mission. It aims to collect over 20,000 bags of waste, supported by local waste collection groups and local councillors.
As part of KFC’s campaign, they launched a hashtag, #Don’tBeATosser, aimed at encouraging people to avoid littering and be aware of how they dispose of their waste.
Jenny Packwood, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at KFC, said: “As the weather warms and we all spend more time outdoors, the visual pollution of litter in our local communities is more noticeable than ever. That’s why we’re partnering with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean to make sure more people can enjoy the outdoor space around them through our biggest ever litter collection mission with over 3 000 members of our team.
Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of leading waste management charity Keep Britain Tidy, commented on KFC’s new commitments saying: ‘It’s great to see our great UK partner KFC taking real action against the waste problem. , and it starts with their enormous litter. choose this week. Through our new grant scheme, funded by KFC and administered by Keep Britain Tidy, we will also provide some of the much needed kit to support local community waste collection groups in their efforts.
The Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund opened applications on April 1 for projects that promote the sustainable use of household waste and generate wider social benefits for communities in Greater Manchester.
Up to £220,000 is available and applications are welcome from community, voluntary and faith groups, schools, colleges, universities and other not-for-profit organisations. The fund is provided by SUEZ and supported by funds collected from Renew stores located in three household waste recycling centers.
Last year, successful projects included The Food Collective’s Zero Waste Community Supermarket, Future Directions CIC’s Green Superheroes Project and Rochdale Intraquest’s No Time to Waste.
The £220,000 community fund will be split between two different prize categories. A total of £180,000 is available for projects that will benefit individual areas of Greater Manchester council, with a maximum of £10,000 per project for projects in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside or Trafford (this excludes Wigan as they operate separate waste disposal facilities).
A Greater Manchester-level award will be open to projects that cover more than one council area or all nine councils (excluding Wigan). A total of £40,000 in funding is on offer with a maximum of £20,000 available per project.
All charitable, community, volunteer and faith groups, schools, colleges, universities or non-profit organizations can apply for funding online this year from April 1 to May 31.
The Community Fund is part of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF) which was set up to provide more sustained investment in projects that help create a cleaner, carbon neutral Greater Manchester and attract private investment. The Environment Fund, run by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT), aims to target funding for projects that improve nature, waterways and green spaces.
DS Smith has invested £750,000 in a lab to work with customers to optimize the circularity of their packaging.
The packaging company said the lab will be used to research technologies that improve the performance and durability qualities of fiber-based packaging, including coatings and barrier technology, wet-end chemistries, surface chemistries, re-pulpability and recyclability.
Alan Potts, Director of Design and Innovation at DS Smith, said: “By exploring new technologies and raw materials, we can expand our offering of innovative circular packaging solutions that have less impact on the environment. environment and support our customers’ transition to a circular economy. .”
The new lab also supports DS Smith’s goal of researching alternative fibers as sustainable raw materials for paper and packaging products. The Fiber and Paper Development Lab is the latest investment in DS Smith’s £100 million R&D programme, which was launched in May 2021, with the aim of accelerating its work in the circular economy.
Materials Development Manager at DS Smith, Nick Thompson, said: “At DS Smith, we are constantly developing new and innovative ideas to help our customers meet this challenge and the new Fiber and Paper Development Lab allows us to optimize the performance and circularity of our customers. ‘ packaging.”
A Müller & Waitrose partnership will see the retailer phase out colored milk caps in a move it says could increase availability of rHDPE by 1,560 tonnes a year.
Phasing out colored milk caps could increase market availability of rHDPE by 1,560 tonnes per year. Unlike fully recyclable plastic milk bottles, colored milk caps cannot currently be recycled into food-grade packaging, says Waitrose. He says the introduction of transparent caps “allows the material to be conserved for reuse in the food sector”.
Due to higher demand for rHDPE than supply, by keeping the material in a “closed loop” system, Waitrose says there can be more rHDPE available on the market, further reducing reliance to “virgin” plastic.
Müller says he has conducted research that shows consumers support the change if it further improves the availability of food-grade recycled plastics. He said the survey found that 8 out of 10 shoppers said that, given the choice, they would choose a milk bottle using a clear milk cap that could be recycled into a food-grade material rather than a colored bottle that could not.
After several years of collaboration, Waitrose and Müller are teaming up further to test the program in all 331 stores between April 4 and 30.
Liam McNamara, Commercial Director at Müller Milk & Ingredients, said: “In an industry that needs access to more rHDPE, we are really excited to be working with Waitrose across all of their stores and testing this additional solution.