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Altcoin News: Chinese Residents Shows Increased Interest for Facebook’s Libra
China has unexpectedly become one of the leaders in the field of public interest in the cryptocurrency Libra developed by Facebook, CoinDesk points out.
Although cryptocurrencies are banned in China, as is Facebook itself, the number of Libra-related queries in the country’s largest search engine Weibo is growing rapidly. Currently, Facebook’s cryptocurrency ranks third, recently dropping from the second.
A similar picture reflects the statistics of search queries in the Google Trends service. The most active in the Google system for the keywords “Facebook Libra” users showed during the announcement of the project on June 18. At present, China is confidently leading in the context of the popularity of the query by region, the United States is in 33 positions.
It is also interesting that the search query “Facebook Libra Regulation” is still insufficiently popular for determining geographic trends, despite the active discussion of this topic in the media. At the same time, users are actively looking for information about the cryptocurrency rate, which can be left for more than a year before its launch. By “Facebook Libra Price” query leads Singapore, South Africa and Pakistan.
In general, interest in Libra at Google remains insignificant against the background of search queries related to Bitcoin.


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Huawei Watch Buds seems an amazing 2 in 1 smart wearable, which has now leaked in a short hands-on. It’s the first time, the smartwatch has appeared in public but is yet to announce officially.
According to the short video, Huawei Watch Buds come with a design similar to Huawei Watch GT 3 series. However, the watch consists of two earbuds inside.
To access earbuds, you first need to open the smartwatch from the bottom side and lift it upwards just like a box or a suitcase. Resting inside, there are two cylindrical earbuds.
On the other hand, there are no special designs on earbuds and they are pretty tiny. As you can see in the video, there’s a placeholder for them to fit in.
Huawei Watch Buds hands-on leak pic.twitter.com/wLuWRdUmbq
— Deng Li (@MrDengLi) November 26, 2022
Press and release button:
The video also shows that there could be a press-to-release button on the above side of the smartwatch. Once pressed, it could release the lock to reveal the inside. Still, the watch is simple and there’s no significant gain appearing in the width.
Previous retail box reveals that the smartwatch will be powered by HarmonyOS operating system.
Huawei has not revealed any specific details of the launch of this new smartwatch but we’ll have to wait to find out more information.
The Huawei Watch Buds is surely an amazing smartwatch and the leaked hands-on has excited us even further. However, this led us as a reminder of the past innovation that Huawei has made in the world of smart wearables.
Huawei Talk Talkband B6 is a prime example, which allows you to convert the smart band into an in-ear Bluetooth earphone. The recently released Huawei Watch GT Cyber could allow you to release the watch dial out of the frame.
We’ll keep you updated with new inputs, until then, do follow us on our social media handles and on Google News.

domain: news


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Are You Eating Sustainable Fish? Blockchain May Provide the Answer
Eco-conscious diners can rely on restaurants to tell them their fish comes from a sustainable source, but it can be hard to know for sure.
That’s why a new certification system, launched by blockchain company Viant and the World Wild Fund for Nature, is intriguing: It provides a step-by-step way to verify a fish’s journey from the ocean to the market to the dinner plate.
The new initiative, announced in late December, is the latest example of how blockchain technology—a type of software that creates a permanent, tamper proof ledger—can transform supply chains and preserve the integrity of the food supply.
In the case of sustainable fish, you can see the beginning of the process in the photo above. The picture shows a wild yellowfin tuna caught off the waters of Fiji, which has been tagged with a QR code supplied by Viant.
The code means the fish is ready to be be logged into Viant’s blockchain system, which will record its progress to Los Angeles and allow groups like the WWF and its partner SeaQuest to verify the harvest is from a sustainable fishery.
“It’s immutable, verifiable proof that the yellowfin tuna you got in a restaurant was caught in Fiji, went through X distributor and arrived at the restaurant you’re now eating it today,” said Tyler Mulvihill, co-founder of Viant.
Mulvihill added it is up to the participants to decide what they want to upload to the blockchain and how they want to track the shipment. In the case of the tuna, for instance, the first recording to the blockchain could be a video of the fish being caught, while the distributors could use RFID instead of a QR code to access the ledger.
All of this is a reminder that, despite so much silly hype around blockchain right now—the restaurant chain Hooters’ effort to rebrand as a blockchain outfit is just the latest example—the technology is making real progress on the ground.
In the case of Viant, which built its Ethereum-based blockchain platform with the help of Microsoft Azure (MSFT) and the Brooklyn-based incubator ConsenSys, the fish tracking tool is just one use of its technology.
Viant is also providing its tracking services to pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline, which will use it to improve transparency in the licensing process, and to oil and gas companies. Mulvihill says Viant was operating in stealth during a year long trial period, but that all of its users are paying customers.
Viant is not the only one using blockchain technology to remake the supply chain process. Other notable examples include Walmart (WMT) and other retailers, which are using Hyperledger Fabric, an open source project developed in part by IBM, (IBM) to improve food safety safety.
There are also promising niche cases. These include a gem service called Everledger that has inscribed more than one million diamonds to a blockchain, helping to eliminate counterfeits and conflict stones.


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Peer-to-peer car sharing service Getaround unveiled the Getaround Carkit, the first all-in-one device for enabling car owners to safely and easily share their cars and potentially generate thousands of dollars per year in rental income. In tandem, Getaround announced the release of its new iPhone app and an agreement with insurance giant Berkshire Hathaway to provide premium insurance coverage on every Getaround rental.
Getaround enables car owners to "un-idle" their cars and offset the cost of vehicle ownership by sharing with friends, co-workers, and neighbors, while people seeking cars are provided easy, affordable access to vehicles everywhere.
The Getaround Carkit combines GPS, Wi-Fi, and keyless remote technology to allow safe and simple sharing of cars, and is the first device designed exclusively for peer-to-peer car sharing. The Getaround Carkit and iPhone app together make it possible for users to easily conduct entire transactions, including reserving, paying for, and unlocking cars using nothing but their iPhone.
The Getaround Carkit is simple to install-for many car models, it can be installed directly by the owner in a matter of minutes. Getaround's peer-to-peer car rental marketplace can provide meaningful financial benefits to both owners and renters. Owners can earn, on average, $2,000 per year for every hour per day their car is rented. Meanwhile, according to the research firm Frost & Sullivan, the average renter saves over $1,800 per year by using a car sharing service over owning a car for the same number of miles driven.
Unlike services that require owners to surrender their car to the fleet, Getaround lets car owners maintain complete control over their cars. Owners set the pricing and availability, and can optionally approve each rental request individually. Meanwhile, renters are given a broad selection of vehicles and pricing, and the ability to rent nearby cars instantly. In addition to the keyless remote technology, the Getaround Carkit ensures safe and proper use of the vehicle through its tracking and reporting features.
To further enhance the safety of its service, Getaround also announced that it is working with Berkshire Hathaway, one of the nation's largest insurance groups, to provide premium insurance coverage throughout every Getaround rental. Berkshire Hathaway is an A++ rated carrier, the highest, most secure rating available to insurers. This policy includes liability, collision, and comprehensive (theft, fire, etc.) coverage and supersedes the policies of both owners and renters throughout the rental period. In addition, Getaround provides 24/7 roadside assistance through The National Automobile Club.
In California, Getaround has over 240 owners and approximately 1,500 renters currently active in its system, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, with over 1,500 additional car owners nationwide having signed up to share their cars through Getaround once the service becomes available in their area. Requiring no membership fees, Getaround members can sign up and begin renting immediately. Owners interested in making their cars available can complete the form at http://www.getaround.com, where they can also find answers to frequently asked questions.


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The Manhattan district attorney says his office will no longer prosecute turnstile jumpers criminally, opting instead for community service programs.
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
MARCH 27, 2014
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
2014 - FIGHT NYC TICKETS INC
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NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO – Amazon.com Inc is seeking to partner with U.S. venue owners to sell event tickets, four sources have told Reuters, a move that could loosen Ticketmaster’s powerful grip on the lucrative ticketing business. If Amazon moves ahead, it would represent the latest attempt by the world’s largest online retailer to use its...
- Diamonds Aren’t Forever: 5 Bygone Ballparks of New York
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These ballparks and stadiums — some of which were built early in the 20th century — seeded much of the game’s history before being torn down.
- A Gray Puff, and the Old Kosciuszko Bridge Is No More
By ANDY NEWMAN and PATRICK McGEEHAN - Sunday Oct 1, 2017
The bridge, which stitched Brooklyn and Queens together through 78 years of congestion and complaint, was brought down in a carefully controlled explosion.


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Planes are all well and good, but have you ever wished you had some Microsoft Flight Simulator helicopters to fly instead? Well, the upcoming 40th anniversary update has you covered, as it's adding those very vehicles, as well as new airports, missions, and more.
So this big update will include Microsoft Flight Simulator helicopters?
That's right. For the first time in series history, the upcoming Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th anniversary update will bring helicopters into the mix, as well as gliders. These features are apparently two of the most frequently-requested community additions, so Flight Sim fans are likely to be happy with this development. Previous updates have overhauled country geography and significantly improved the install efficiency of the game, but the 40th anniversary update is promising to be one of the biggest yet.
As well as helicopters and gliders, you're also getting a "true-to-life airliner" in the form of the Airbus A-310 (another highly-requested community feature), and as you'd expect from a game with this kind of attention to detail, "nearly every single button works as expected". I sure hope the ones that keep the aircraft airborne work, or else you're going to have a problem on your hands. You can check out a trailer showcasing some of the new features coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator in the 40th anniversary update right here.
Of course, it's not just these new vehicles you're getting. Seven historical aircraft are also coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator, representing some of the most exciting developments and moments in aviation history. Here they all are in their glory.
- 1903 Wright Flyer
- 1915 Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
- 1927 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis
- 1935 Douglas DC-3
- 1937 Grumman G-21 Goose
- 1947 Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
- 1947 Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
Four classic airports are also on their way, including the iconic Chicago Meigs Field, which has appeared in several previous Microsoft Flight Simulator installments. The 40th anniversary update will also include new commercial airports and glider airports, new heliports (obviously, or else where would you land your helicopter), and 20 "classic missions from the franchise's past". If you're a Microsoft Flight Simulator fan, it sounds like there will be plenty to love in this update.
When is the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th anniversary update release date?
Happily, we know exactly when the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th anniversary update is coming. Microsoft has confirmed that all of these new features will be available at no extra cost for game owners and Game Pass players on November 11th, so make sure you're looking out for that. In addition, be sure to download the new German city update, which overhauls five German cities with new photogrammetry and makes them much more realistic. You'll notice the difference when you're flying over the cities of Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, and Hanover.
You can pick up Microsoft Flight Simulator right now on PC and Xbox Series X|S. If you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, the game is also available to you as part of your subscription, and it's available via Xbox Cloud Gaming if you're a Game Pass Ultimate member.


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SEOUL, South Korea (Jan. 28, 2002) — Group Michelin has agreed to acquire a 10-percent share of Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. under a partnership agreement that includes Michelin licensing its Pax extended mobility tire-wheel system to Hankook, which in turn will manufacture tires for the French firm.
The partners will cooperate in areas of research and development, manufacturing and distribution under the deal signed Jan. 28 in Seoul, according to a Michelin statement. The agreement was inked by Choonh Hwan Cho, Hankook president, and Jean-Marc Francois, president of Michelin Asia-Pacific.
Buying a 10-percent stake would cost Michelin about $35 million, according to analysts who cover Michelin.
The partners plan to implement the deal in several phases, though they have still to hammer out its precise terms, according to Michelin. The main focus. however, will be “for Michelin to license its Pax run-flat tire system to Hankook and of an agreement for the fabrication of tires for Michelin by Hankook, as well as on the optimization of the distribution of their respective products in certain markets.”
The Korean deal is “yet another step in Michelin's development plans in Asia," according to Mr. Francois, in the company statement, which also cited “Hankook's potential to grow as one of the major tire companies globally.” Seoul-based Hankook is the world's 11th largest tire maker with 2001 tire sales of around $1.1 billion, compared to $13.4 billion for market leader Michelin.


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Jack Ma, founder and chairman of e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, is China’s richest person, according to a Bloomberg report.
Ma is worth $21.8 billion, a figure that includes his 7.3% stake in Alibaba and a nearly 50% stake in Alipay, a payment processing service.
To learn more about what Alibaba does, check out these infographics.
In May, Alibaba filed for an IPO in the United States. When that happens, Ma’s net worth will undoubtedly skyrocket.
Yahoo, an early investor in Alibaba, has realized the company is growing so quickly that they’re holding onto more of their shares to sell them in the future when they will be more valuable.
Alibaba will IPO on the New York Stock Exchange next month. Bloomberg reports that their post-IPO valuation could approach $200 billion.
Given that, Jack Ma could be China’s richest person for quite some time.
1,143 total views, 2 views today


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The last two days have seen two high-end headphone manufacturers release brand new over-the-ear headphones. Firstly, Focal, who have announced the world’s first beryllium headphones retailing for $4999. Alongside this, Meze Audio have released a more affordable high-end pair of open back headphones priced at $799.
SAR believes that these new releases are interesting as there are rumours of the TWS market reaching saturation with more interest returning for on ear and fully enclosed headphones.
Currently SAR estimates that the TWS market is shipping just over 300 million devices per year, however, the growth curve is expected to begin to round off at around 500 million shipments in 2027. This estimate has dropped since last quarter due to growing fears of a recession through 2023. Growing interest in headband headphones could explain the numerous new headphones that are coming to market more recently, alongside a anticipated slow in the adoption of TWS earbuds.
Keep an eye out for SAR’s 3Q22 database updates and in particular DATAbase: TWS FORECAST


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30 Cebu establishments receive Bagwis Awards from DTI-7
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Thirty establishments in Cebu were received Gold Bagwis Awards given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cebu Province on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in a hotel in Cebu City.
These establishments were involved in the business of department stores, supermarkets, and service/repair shops.
Esperanza Melgar, assistant regional director of DTI-7, said that they were recognized for their efforts in upholding the rights and welfare of consumers and the practice of responsible business amidst the pandemic.
Of the 30 establishments, 25 were new awardees while 5 were reassessed for their continuous compliance.
“Among the criteria that we’re looking at are their compliance to consumer laws, effective customer relations, efficient store management operation, corporate social responsibility, and quality orientation management,” Melgar said.
The recognition will last for three years, then afterward, they will be re-evaluated by the agency if they maintained their compliance with these criteria.
She said that since the start of the Bagwis Awards in 2006, 168 establishments had already received the award.
Establishments were given a marker as proof of their compliance with consumer laws.
Among the recipient of the Bagwis Awards was the Philippine Seven Corp., which manages the 7/11 convenience stores in the country.
Osmeño Faner, marketing support and consumer relations specialist of Philippine Seven Corp., said that the award would give confidence to consumers to continue to patronize their stores.
“Actually napakagandang programa yan ng government kasi unang-una, kapag nakita ka nang costumer, window pa lang, may logo ka nang Bagwis Award, may logo ng DTI, may logo ng consumer desk, hindi na magdadalawang isip ang mga customers nga pumasok ug bumili ng ano mang bagay na bibilhin sa 7/11,” Faner said.
(Actually, this is a good program of the government because first of all, when the customer sees at the window that there’s a logo of the Bagwis Award, the logo of the DTI, the logo of the consumer desk, the consumer would not have second thoughts to enter and buy whatever they would want to buy inside 7/11.)
Of the more than 200 7/11 outlets in Cebu, Faner said that 40 were recipients of the award.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.


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Tagged: news reader
Google Reader, is once again stepping up to fill in the vacancy left by the apparently popular feed subscription service. Feedly is now offering it's API so that other app developers can create their own feed reading apps to add value to Feedly's cloud platform.
Reader would be shutting down as of July 1, 2013. Since that point we have seen a bit of uproar from die-hard users. It seems that Google Reader has a fairly loyal bunch of users. So much so that we have seen a "Keep Google Reader Running" petition launch.
Google Reader officially shuts down, however with the date set -- now may be a good time to start looking. Sure, that petition is still kicking, however we are not counting on that. It would be nice to see, but our minds have already begun looking elsewhere and we have a few options to share. In total we have five to present. The first two will be the closest to Google Reader, the second two are a bit different and the last is well, just different. We should also point out that our criteria was that we could access our feeds on our Android devices.
Google is planning to shut down Reader as of July 1, 2013. We also know there at least 50,000 users that were willing to sign a petition in an attempt at keeping it around. What many might not know is why. The first thought for many is in regards to money and the bit about Reader not making anything for Google. Simply put, that is not the case.
Google announced the latest wave of shutdowns yesterday evening and while many of the items on the list seem to have attracted little attention, one product did. That one, as you have likely already guessed -- is Google Reader. For those who missed that bit, Google Reader will be shutting down come July 1, 2013.


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Mediacom Communications, which has been a vocal proponent for new retransmission agreement guidelines, announced this morning that it had reached new agreements with LIN TV and Vaughan Media. With LIN TV and Vaughan onboard, Mediacom has also signed retransmission consent agreements with ABC and Fox TV Holdings this year.
Netflix is tapping into six new markets Monday hoping to gain a big subscriber base around Europe, but is facing a frosty welcome in France. Well-established French competitors are trying to head off a Netflix wave, the government wants oversight and the cinema industry wants Netflix to invest heavily in French productions.
If its acquisition of DirecTV is approved, AT&T plans to dedicate spectrum for a fixed wireless broadband complement to satellite TV services, according to comments AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega. He also said signaled that AT&T has no interest in building out Wi-Fi networks.
Nagra said Dish Network is first customer to deploy its new security system, which hardwires conditional access into set-top chips. The approach should frustrate pirates who infiltrate control word networks, steal control words, then distribute them, enabling anyone to hack into content.
HBO Europe is delivering HBO Go to affiliates through ActiveVideo’s CloudTV StreamCast platform, an arrangement that will allow video distributors to distribute HBO Go directly to any set-top box. HBO Europe operates in 14 territories in eastern and central Europe and the Netherlands.
Elemental Delta is based on the company’s transcoding technology, and can be configured either as an edge server or an origin server. The system combines JIT packaging, origin services, intelligent caching, dynamic ad insertion and replacement, and end-to-end encrypted content protection functions.
Due to burgeoning sports programming costs, Cable One has added a monthly sports surcharge of $2.94 across its footprint. The surcharge, which will take effect in the next billing cycle, impacts all residential standard cable tier subscribers.
TiVo has strengthened its sales team in Europe with new offices and staff in Austria, England, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. The new offices will help TiVo better serve its European customers, which include ComHen in Sweden, Ono in Spain, and Virgin Media in the UK.
The consensus at the CTIA Day 3 sports panel discussion is that mobile is fundamentally changing how sports fans experience the game. Andrea Kremer, chief correspondent for the NFL Network, spoke with Colin Smith, managing director of digital media at NASCAR; John Kosner, executive vice president of digital and print media at ESPN, among others.
Thomson said it collaborated directly with Intel on a new product in its ViBE line, the ViBE XT1000 Xtream Transcoder. The XT1000 employs Thomson’s own Mustang video encoding algorithms and is based on Intel’s Iris Pro Graphics 5200 and Core i7 processors.
Cloud vendor ActiveVideo has joined the cable industry’s Reference Design Kit (RDK) initiative, which would provide a virtual bridge between devices and cloud-based user interfaces, applications and services. ActiveVideo will integrate its Nano Client software into the RDK common framework for testing.
CSG announced this morning that it was providing the content monetization and management platform for Comcast’s Xfinity On Campus service. After several years of trials, Comcast officially launched the IP-based Xfinity on Campus service last month. The service allows college students to watch live TV and VOD content on their IP-enabled devices, including, laptops, tablets and smartphones while on campus.
EVS integrated Aspera FASP high-speed transfer and Elemental video processing technologies to create what the three are positioning as an end-to-end production system capable of near-live distribution of live action sporting events to streaming networks.
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) and CableLabs announced today that they would collaborate more closely on improving energy management issues for the cable industry, including strategies and innovations designed to reduce energy consumption and costs in facilities, plants, and fleet, as well as in the home.
A media monitoring company distributing television clips and snippets of transcripts to customers hasn't violated broadcasters' copyrights by letting its customers search its database, but it's unclear whether all facets of its business will get a judicial stamp of approval. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan ruled in a copyright case filed by Fox News Network against TVEyes Inc.
Broadcom announced a family of eight hybrid satellite and terrestrial SoC devices for STBs, all with HEVC encoding. The chips are fully capable of supporting ultra HD content, but are more likely to be used by direct broadcasters to double the number of HD channels they are able to offer.
In addition to helping prepare Com Hem networks for an IPv6 migration, the Incognito Software products will also assist the cable operator as it rolls out “TV everywhere” services that will allow subscribers to view and control their television services on multiple devices.
Armstrong has signed up for TiVo's cloud-based service, using the Pace MG1 whole-home gateway DVR and Pace MI3 IP STB client and TiVo Stream, as well as TiVo's iOS and Android mobile applications. Armstrong plans on an early 2015 launch of the co-branded products as part of Armstrong's bundled services offered primarily to residential and businesses subscribers across Pennsylvania.
ActiveVideo’s CloudTV is now running on servers based on Intel QSV, which quadruples session density, which in turn helps reduce the capex cost of virtualizing set-top functionality in the cloud to as little as $1 per instance. In other words, the moment individual subscribers make a single $1 VOD purchase, those subscribers would be paid for.
As plans are made for the transition to CCAP and DOCSIS 3.1, questions and concerns about how these new technologies will fit into existing financial, architectural, and operational paradigms need to be addressed. With Jorge Salinger (Comcast), David Claussen (Charter), Carol Ansley (Arris).
Adobe announced its Primetime DRM is now available across apps on connected devices, including set top boxes, and via HTML5 on major web browsers. The company said it has collaborated with Intel, Broadcom and AMD to enable hardware-based DRM that protects HD and Ultra HD content.
Gainspeed has brought onKrish Padmanabhan as its CEO. Prior to Gainspeed, Padmanabhan was senior vice president of products and solutions at Harmonic, where he oversaw overall strategy for its video playout and compression portfolio. He replaces Drew Perkins, a co-founder of the company.
Verimatrix introduced a new iteration of its Video Content Authority System (VCAS) architecture that supports embedded security, Ultra HD (UHD / 4K) television, and the migration to virtualized, cloud-based video delivery techniques. VCAS Ultra will also feature extended support for new distribution models and integration options.
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers has broadened its reach abroad with the recent addition of Liberty Global to SCTE’s Corporate Alliance Program (CAP) as well as the formation of an international-based training program. The training and certfication program is called the International Society of Broadband Experts (ISBE), which will serve as an international gateway to the SCTE’s library of resources.
If bigger is truly better then TiVo has the consumer DVR market cornered with its new “Mega” model. The six-tuner TiVo Mega has a mind-boggling 24 terabytes of storage, which is the equivalent of over 26,000 hours of SD storage space and 4,000 hours of HD space.


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By MATT JARZEMSKY
NEW YORK—Upbeat earnings from Boeing
helped the Dow industrials rise for the first time in four days.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 58.73 points, or 0.5%, to 12676.05. The blue-chip benchmark had fallen at least 100 points in each of the previous three sessions.
The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, meanwhile, edged down 0.42 point, or less than 0.1%, to 1337.89, its fourth-straight daily loss. Technology shares led declines in four of the index’s 10 sectors as Apple,
the world’s biggest company by market capitalization, posted its biggest drop since October.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index retreated 8.75 points, or 0.3%, to 2854.24.
Apple reported earnings and revenue that missed analysts’ forecasts, as iPhone sales rose less than anticipated. That marked only the second time in the past 39 quarters that results missed expectations.
Shares of Boeing rose, leading the Dow higher, after the company raised its financial projections for the year on higher international defense and commercial-jet sales.
Caterpillar gained 1.4% after the world’s biggest seller of bulldozers, excavators and other earth-moving machinery boosted its profit forecast, despite widespread fears the global economy could worsen.
“The industrial side of the economy is putting up good numbers in the face of weakening economic data,” said Mike Gibbs, co-head of the equity advisory group at Raymond James Financial, which oversees $380 billion in assets.
Weighing on the broader market, sales of newly built homes in the U.S. dropped more than expected, to the lowest level in five months in June, according to the Commerce Department.
“Housing data kind of put a damper on the direction of the day,” said Seth Setrakian, co-head of U.S. equities at First New York Securities, a brokerage firm. “People are realizing the slowing economy is starting to weigh on various sectors.”
European markets bounced between gains and losses. The Stoxx Europe 600 shed 0.1% amid muted economic readings. But Spain’s IBEX 35 added 0.8%.
Asian markets fell on the back of extended losses in the U.S. and Apple’s disappointing results, with Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average shedding 1.4% and China’s Shanghai Composite losing 0.4%.
Crude-oil futures gained 0.5% to settle at $88.97. Gold futures climbed 2% to finish at $1,608.00 a troy ounce, the biggest advance in nearly a month.
In other earnings news, Netflix
tumbled, the biggest slide among S&P 500 components after giving a downbeat outlook for the third quarter.
rose after the pharmaceutical company reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised its full-year earnings outlook.
plunged after the electronics seller reported a surprise second-quarter loss on lower consumer-electronics sales and a disappointing gross margin rate, and suspended the payment of its dividend.
poised to be the largest U.S. health insurer after its planned acquisition of Amerigroup,
slid after lowering this year’s projections for earnings and membership.
Health-food store chain Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
jumped on its first day of trading. The company’s initial public offering priced at the high end of its expected range.
Write to Matt Jarzemsky at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Bonus #2: Barge Rail
This isn’t a passenger transportation option, but it’s one of our favorites. Just south of the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park is one of New York City’s infrastructure survivors: a floating barge freight train line that runs from the 65th Street Rail Yard to the Greenville Yard in Jersey City across the Hudson River. The New York New Jersey Rail, founded in 2005, is operated now by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Although the line is only four miles long, it serves as a small, but growing critical link for freight in the New York region, and cements the city’s commitment to bringing industry back to the waterfront. The ride takes 35 to 40 minutes and by crossing the Hudson River, the floats take trucks off the highways and give freight a more direct route between New York and New Jersey.
New York and New Jersey Rail transports a large amount of local lumber and building materials, as well as food products like soybean oil and Washington state apples, separated recycled materials from the SIMS Municipal Recycling Facility nearby and other solid waste like scrap metal. Special cargo have included New York City transit subway cars and oversize pieces for the Willis Avenue Bridge, which spans the Harlem River
Earlier this year, it was announced that Cross Harbor Partners will carry out an environmental impact statement (EIS) looking at two alternatives for the expansion of freight movement here in New York: the construction of a cross harbor freight tunnel under New York Harbor and the expansion of this existing railcar float operation.
Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of the NYC Subway.


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Indian shrimp prices are stable as buyers move to secure limited stocks before harvesting pauses until September. Raw material prices have been fairly stable since the first week of August
August 19, 2015Anakkawatt Kiatwikrai
Landings of Indian farmed vannamei had been expected to pick up from the beginning of May, but diseases and hingh temperatures have prevented this from progressing as planned.
May 7, 2015Anakkawatt Kiatwikrai
Prices for Indian vannamei shrimp increased across all sizes this week, driven by demand from China and Vietnam and low availability.The rate of increase varies from size to size and comes after several weeks of falling prices, as packers liquidated inventory.
March 24, 2015Anakkawatt Kiatwikrai
Some Indian shrimp farmers are trying to get rid of product to free up space ahead of a new production cycle, according to sources.The development comes as the market is in a wait-and-see mode ahead of the Seafood Expo North America show March 15-17 in Boston.Packers on the Indian east ...
March 13, 2015Anakkawatt Kiatwikrai
Tom SeamanPrices for Indian shrimp raw material are firming fast on a tighter than usual supply picture, despite a weak demand.Sources are presenting a bearish picture on demand in the US, ...
January 6, 2015Anakkawatt Kiatwikrai


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It uses 101,791 pieces, took six months to build, takes up 3,400 square feet of space, and is among the hundreds of showcases at this year's Art-a-Whirl in Northeast Minneapolis.
The brainchild of local artist Austin Granger and housed at Brickmania Toyworks at 1620 Central Ave., it is being claimed as a record-breaking ball machine made from the construction toy K'nex, sending balls on two 500-foot-long circuits through loops, lifts and drops.
According to Granger's YouTube page, the machine is still under construction and is expected to be completed later this summer, but is already 85 feet long, 40 feet wide and 13 feet high.
And don't despair if you don't get to Brickmania this weekend, with Granger saying on Reddit: "The machine will be on display for quite a long time, we are hoping. At least through the end of this year."
Visitors will get their first chance to take a look at the exhibition space – which also features a 25-feet-long Lego model of the USS Missouri – when Art-a-Whirl starts at 5 p.m. Friday.
Thousands expected for Art-a-Whirl
Northeast Minneapolis will be buzzing with activity throughout the weekend as more than 50 studios, art galleries, homes, stores, restaurants and other businesses open their doors and exhibit the work of more than 600 local artists.
The annual art crawl started 20 years ago and attracts thousands of people to the northeast of the city for the "largest open studio tour in the country," according to its website.
It's not just about the art either, with the area turning into one giant party zone, as bars and restaurants put on live music and host block parties complete with craft beer and food trucks.


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KARACHI: The auto industry showed a robust performance in the year 2015, and kept itself amongst the top 10 performers in 2015, posting 13 percent return.
The automobile sector remained in the limelight due to improving car sales volume amid Punjab taxi scheme, launch of new Corolla model, and increasing car financing due to lower interest rates.
The total auto sales for the 11 months of 2015 stood at 206,097 units as compared to 143,062 units in 2014. Pak Suzuki Motor Company was the market leader with 121,276 units sold during the 11 months of 2015, as compared to 77,817 units in 2014.
Indus Motor sold 59,803 units in 11 months of 2015 as compared to 41,701 units in 2014. Similarly, Honda Cars sold 24,626 units till November 2015 as compare to 22,263 units in 2014.
There has been a surge in demand of the passenger car segment. Passenger vehicles demand reached 250,000 units at the closing of the year 2015, said Aamir Allawala, former Chairman Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories (Paapam).
All the leading local auto manufacturers witnessed an increase in their sales. Among individual companies, Pak Suzuki Motors was the market leader, followed by Indus Motors and Honda Cars respectively. Similarly, there has been an increase in used car demands as well, said Allawala.
Indus Motor spokesperson said the year 2015 saw a remarkable turnaround in the business environment for domestic automakers and parts suppliers, who had been besieged with two consecutive years of volume decline. A general feel good factor was witnessed in consumer sentiment on account of improving macroeconomic indicators, falling inflation, lower interest rates and relative calm in the law and order situation across the country, enabling the demand for locally manufactured vehicles to remain robust throughout the year.
While commenting on the upcoming auto policy, he said, a stable and consistent application of policies is crucial to allow for unhindered growth of the automotive sector. “We hope that the new auto policy will be a step forward to promote the ‘Made in Pakistan’ vision so the industry can attract credible new investors providing greater choices to the customers, and improving Pakistan’s economy by facilitating the manifesting segment, thereby creating thousands of additional jobs in auto and allied industry,” he added.
Tahir Saeed, auto analyst, said the auto sector witnessed volumetric sales due to the Punjab government’s taxi scheme, which boosted the Suzuki sales. Indus Motor’s new corolla was a big hit too and is still in demand. Another reason is the increase in auto financing, owing to 42-year low interest rates and overall improvement in the country’s economic situation, he added.
Weakening of Japanese yen against rupee by three percent year to date, benefited the auto assemblers.
Auto financing has increased to 30 percent and there is still scope for increasing it. The expected reach is 50 percent in 2016, if the interest rates remain low.
HM Shahzad, Chairman of All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA), said the demand of used cars increased from July 2014 to June 2015, as 40,000 units were imported during the period, whereas 23,000 units were imported and sold from July 2015 to December 2015.
He said heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, also show an improvement and posted an increase of 39 percent to 2,115 units during the five months of the fiscal year 2015.
As government has controlled the import of used trucks, bowsers, and sprinklers, which helped the business of the local assemblers, including HinoPak, Ghandhara Nissan limited, Daewoo Pak Motors (pvt) Limited, and Master Motor Corporation Limited. It is expected that the demand will cross 4,000 units. This surge in demand is attributed to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and improving law and order situation in the country.
However, on the other hand, the tractor sector faced severe challenges during 2015. An official said that the year 2015 was a challenging one for the tractor industry. “We faced steep decline in sales, stringent anti-industry measures by the government, low production, new taxes, closure of plants, layoffs, threat of import of tractors, and other issues.”
He said that the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab did not initiate their tractor schemes, which piled up further inventory of CBU’s entailing huge cost of inventory, and then imposed new taxes that brought the industry to the edge of temporary closure and perhaps layoffs as well. It is said that the Punjab government diverted the tractor scheme fund into its Orange Line train.
There are two major factors for the decline in the sales of tractors. Firstly, the farmers faced a setback in all major and minor crops including cotton, rice, and sugarcane, and their prices declined.
The second reason was the delay in the launch of the provincial governments’ tractor subsidy schemes. It is pertinent to mention that Punjab and Sindh governments in Budget FY16 announced a subsidy of 25,000 and 29,000 tractors.
He added the federal government through the introduction of SRO-1178(I) 2015 imposed 1 percent tax on the imported raw materials, and this tragically included the tractor Industry, though it falls under agriculture. On top, the Sindh government has started sending circulars, demanding to impose 10 percent surcharge/tax on the commission paid to the dealers.
The year 2015 remained stagnant for the motorcycle segment as well. Chinese motorbike assemblers have shrunk 70 percent, now there are only four to five major bike assemblers, whereas others are assembling very small numbers. However, Honda Atlas launched a new model which boosted the sale by 10 percent. The motor bike sales are to hit 1.8 million units at the end of 2015.
Tahir Saeed analyst at Topline Research forecasted local car sales to grow at 13 percent in FY16 to reach 203,941 units.
The volume and profitability is expected to decline in 2016. This lower growth is due to the completion of taxi scheme in February 2016 and also because rupee appreciation against Japanese yen and US dollar in 2015 might not support it in the new year. The hype of the new model Toyota Corolla will fade away, and decline in Civic volumes in anticipation of new model is expected to hit the market in July 2016.
The advantages of international steel and other commodity prices might not be there in 2016.
However, the local auto assembler might get some cushion in the profitability of the auto assemblers in the new auto policy, as the government has proposed decline in the duty of CKD from 32.5 percent to 30 percent. But that is relevant, if the auto policy is approved.
LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday welcomed a State Bank of Pakistan decision to remove...
KARACHI: Gold prices in the local market dropped by Rs1,800/tola on Saturday.According to All Sindh Saraf Jewellers...
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: The banking crisis set off by the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has exposed a sharp...
LAHORE: Successive governments in Pakistan have regularly abdicated their powers that have created numerous security...
Brussels: The European Union and Germany on Saturday said they had struck a deal after a dispute over the planned...
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia are working jointly on seed potato production through Aeroponics technology and 2nd...


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Dear Wireless Network Operators: Stop The Bloatware!
Wireless network operators are using system updates to add unwanted software to smartphones.
Sprint is providing an update to the HTC EVO 4G right now. Owners of that device can manually seek out the update and have it pushed to their phone. They might want to take a look at the changelog first, however, because the system update adds a number of new applications that weren't there before.
Here's what the update does: It provides the latest versions of Telenav, the Sprint visual voicemail application, the Sprint TV application and the Sprint Zone application. That's fine, updates to existing apps I can live with. But the update also includes new software, the Kindle eReader, the Blockbuster app, a new 4G scanning widget and, worst of all, a new trial version of a game called NOVA.
Verizon Wireless pulled similar hijinks with recent updates to the Droid X and the Droid Incredible. On the Droid X, Verizon added its Madden NFL Football game, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the My Verizon Mobile app, and a new data widget to the home screen.
It's bad enough that the carriers are loading bloatware on the phones before they ship, but sticking more on there with software updates is inexcusable.
The Madden NFL app that Verizon installed on the Droid X, for example, takes up 92Kb of storage on the phone's internal memory. That's not the worst, but the app is unremovable. It can't be deleted, uninstalled, or even moved to the microSD card. Same goes for the My Verizon Mobile application, which takes up a more egregious 1.21MB.
Smartphones have limited memory available to them. Increasing the number of base apps that can't be uninstalled eats into the allotment available to end users to install the apps that they really want. It also clutters up the phone's menus, can mess up a user's home screen appearance, and can lead to performance problems, depending on the system resources needed by the bloatware.
I am sure I am speaking for the majority of smartphone owners when I beseech the wireless network operators and handset makers to stop pre-loading bloatware, stop loading it after the fact, and for Pete's sake allow users to remove any and all unwanted software from their smartphones if they so desire.
InformationWeek Elite 100Our data shows these innovators using digital technology in two key areas: providing better products and cutting costs. Almost half of them expect to introduce a new IT-led product this year, and 46% are using technology to make business processes more efficient.
The UC Infrastructure TrapWorries about subpar networks tanking unified communications programs could be valid: Thirty-one percent of respondents have rolled capabilities out to less than 10% of users vs. 21% delivering UC to 76% or more. Is low uptake a result of strained infrastructures delivering poor performance?


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BluJay Solutions, a provider of global supply chain software and services, and Uber Freight announced a partnership furthering their shared commitment to help businesses build global supply chains with cutting-edge freight technology. By integrating directly with BluJay’s Transportation Management via API, shippers can instantly access Uber Freight’s real-time pricing and tendering capabilities.
“It’s become more important than ever for supply chains to be flexible and dynamic to keep pace with a constantly changing market,” said Laurent Hautefeuille, Head of Business Development at Uber Freight. “Together with BluJay, we’re making our tech-forward approach to freight available to more businesses looking for increased foresight and control of their operations.”
“At BluJay, we aim to help our customers achieve operational excellence by providing the tools they need to make immediate, informed business decisions. With Uber Freight’s transparent marketplace, our TMS customers can easily access a new level of capacity with real-time visibility so they can plan for the weeks ahead and account for last-minute market shifts,” said Bryant Smith, Global Product Manager at BluJay Solutions. “This integration and the responsiveness it allows shippers is a ‘right now’ solution for customers facing today’s challenges, but also during the more traditional market fluctuation.”
Uber Freight integrates with the BluJay platform to power instant quotes, booking and carrier matching. The API-based integration can be turned on within hours for shippers, allowing for access to end-to-end supply chain visibility.
BluJay Solutions helps companies around the world achieve excellence in logistics and trade compliance – it’s in our DNA. Through a blend of Data, Networks, and Applications, delivered in the BluJay Way, our DNA platform powers the Frictionless Supply Chain for thousands of the world’s leading manufacturers, retailers, distributors, freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, and logistics service providers.
About Uber Freight
Uber Freight is a logistics platform built on the power of Uber with the goal to reshape global logistics and deliver reliability, flexibility and transparency for shippers and carriers. Since launching in 2017, Uber Freight has built one of the world’s largest digitally enabled carrier networks and transformed legacy practices around pricing and booking freight to reduce inefficiencies and increase opportunities for business growth and industry collaboration.
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The creators of the famous Mr Potato Head toy have announced a name change. It will now be known as just Potato Head.
Hasbro, the company that makes the toy, said the new branding is being “reimagined for the modern consumer”.
Mr Potato Head first went on sale in 1952 with Mrs Potato Head launched in 1953.
The new rebranded toy will also come with different body parts and clothing options.
The company said the toy will allow children “to imagine and create their own Potato Head family”.


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The electric car is still a relative novelty on American roads. There are half a million EVs on the road, sure, but there are 253 million cars on the road in America alone. Seeing an electric car beside you on the freeway is a rarity. But over the last week, it’s pretty clear that by 2020, if you want to be done with the gas station for good, you can be.
Today, China, the biggest market for cars in the world, slapped a large target on gasoline’s back. China’s air pollution is literally killing people, so China has become keenly interested in ending air pollution. As part of that, they’ve announced a new cap-and-trade system where an ever-increasing percentage of vehicles produced and imported to the country have to be zero-emissions. It’ll start at 10% across all manufacturers in 2019, inch up to 12% in 2020, and keep rising from there as part of the country’s goal to get rid of emitting carbon altogether by 2030.
That capped off a week of big news for tailpipe-haters. Honda and Mazda teamed up to build an electric car platform that could scale down to the cute little two-seaters we all imagine or up to the mighty SUVs that your dad still insists on buying for his golf clubs. Meanwhile, gadget company Dyson announced it’d be selling a luxury electric car by 2020, giving Elon Musk’s Tesla a little competition.
All this is neat, of course, but why would it put electric cars over the top? The most basic reason is that as a technology spreads in a market, it gets cheaper and better. It’s sort of like buying stuff in bulk, the more of it you make, the cheaper it is. The cheaper it is, the more widespread it is. And the more people buy something, the more money there is in making it better and cheaper. For example, within six months, between June 2015 and January 2016, the efficiency of the best solar panels went from 18.2% to 29.8%. Between 2012 and 2015, that went up less than one percent. As a result, solar power from a roof grid costs, on average, about the same as getting it from a central power plant. Really, ask people if they want solar panels or a smog-belching eyesore down the road powering their phones, and it’s no contest.
The stage is set for the same improvements for the electric car. There’s already a massive gold rush to build big, powerful batteries. Dyson’s luxury car may never see the light of day, but the $1 billion or so he’s investing in solid-state batteries? Those are going to be everywhere. And now, China’s told the entire world that yes, they would like to buy as many superefficient batteries as possible.
Keep in mind, too, that there’s far more demand for electric vehicles beyond your parking spot. UPS has been fighting to cut the billions it spends on fossil fuels for years, and electric panel trucks are becoming popular not just because they save on gas, but because you don’t wake up half the neighborhood with a idling diesel grunting up the street when you deliver something at 6am. The main roadblock has been the range and durability of the industrial batteries you need to keep these trucks going, and while we haven’t plowed through that roadblock yet, China’s standards make it a matter of time.
You won’t see gas-powered cars disappear overnight, of course. But technological changes tend to snowball as they roll downhill, and electric cars just picked up a heck of a lot of momentum.


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Honda has upgraded to PCX150 with a new engine and downgraded the scooter to PCX. The Honda PCX 2022 scooter has a 157cc engine that Honda describes as “highway-friendly.” We don’t have all the details about the new engine, but it is an oversquare design, and Honda says that “the engine remains smooth, quiet and extremely efficient.” Selectable traction control is part of the engine package. The PCX has a new chassis that is lighter and, according to Honda, better when cornering. The Honda PCX 2022 has a more spacious storage space under the seat, as it will now have capacity for 30 liters of cargo. Urban cyclists after dark will notice the all-LED lighting.
scooters 2022, honda 150 price
The 2022 Honda PCX will be in dealer showrooms in March with an MSPR of $ 3,799 for the standard model, which is $ 100 more than the PCX150 it replaces. The ABS version of the new PCX adds just $ 200 to the price. You won’t have to worry about which color to select as the PCX will only be available in Pearl White. Honda will also bring back two 50cc scooters, each of which skipped the 2021 model year and has a devoted following: the sophisticated European-style Metropolitan and the genuinely one-of-a-kind Ruckus.
The 2022 Honda Metropolitan hasn’t completely changed since 2020. Color options, Pearl Soft Beige and Coastal Blue, and the $ 2,499 MSRP are identical to the ’20 edition. “Scooters and small-displacement motorcycles continue to play an important role in American Honda’s on-road lineup, attracting new riders and serving as fun and affordable transportation,” explained American Honda Powersports Senior Marketing Manager Lee Edmunds. . “With the introduction of the new PCX and the return of our stylish 50cc scooters, there is something for every trip and trip around town.” We have tested the Honda PCX150. We have tested the Honda Metropolitan.


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Apple may be putting in a bid to buy Hulu
Apple certainly has enough cash on hand to buy Hulu (about 35 times over), and if successful in its bid Apple would gain a huge foothold in video media services. Put together with iTunes, an Apple-Hulu deal would be a serious competitor for Netflix.
Other entities interested in buying Hulu include Google, Yahoo, and AT&T (shudder). Microsoft has dropped out of the bidding, and Bloomberg's sources say Amazon is unlikely to bid unless it gets guaranteed access to shows. Several of the media companies associated with Hulu are offering a five-year extension of program rights that includes a two-year exclusive deal, so it's a very lucrative target for all interested. Hulu went up for sale last month, and Yahoo reportedly made a US$2 billion bid for it already.
Whoever buys Hulu, I have just two requests:
- Make the service available to the roughly six billion humans who don't live in the United States.
- Like John Gruber says, get rid of the Flash-centric interface.
According to Bloomberg, the online video service Hulu is up for sale, and Apple is reportedly considering bidding on it. Apple...
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The supply of Windows Small Business Server is drying up, but SMBs can embrace Windows Server 2012 Essentials instead.
Microsoft reported its earnings for the June quarter on Thursday, and they were downright awful by Wall St. standards. The blame falls on Windows RT.
A new Microsoft deal offers a free year's subscription to Microsoft's Xbox LIVE Gold service. Read the fine print on this one.
Microsoft outspent all other tech companies during the first quarter as it promoted Windows 8, Nielsen said Tuesday.
A free utility tweaks the Windows ISO image file, thus letting you install whatever version matches your product key.
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer outlines how Microsoft plans to reinvent the future of documents, collaboration, anticipatory data, and gaming.
Microsoft's reorganization is the biggest shot yet fired against the company's core partners, the computer makers who have made the software developer a technology giant, analysts said today.
Microsoft realigns groups by function rather than platform or product, aiming for a smoother development cycle internally, and a smoother user experience externally.
Microsoft just overhauled its entire organizational structure to focus on a vision of ubiquity—a vision that could pay dividends to YOU down the line.
Microsoft consolidates power in a few major executives, as the company refocuses itself on the "devices and services" vision Steve Ballmer previously described.


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Despite Mario Draghi’s pledge to save the single currency and more rebalancing in the periphery, the European economy still has some way to go for a clean bill of health. However judging by the talk of growth from the show floor last week, the prognosis is good for Europe’s food industry.
Health Ingredients Europe 2012 welcomed guests and exhibitors from around the world to Frankfurt, Germany for three days of health ingredient innovations. Featuring over 500 exhibitors, the show provided great variety without ever becoming repetitive. Every corner had plenty of activity, including two seminar theatres and a New Products Zone showcasing all finalists from this years NUW 2012 Excellence Awards. Most stands at the show were of a relatively modest size with the exception of DSM, GNT, Beneo & Nexira, but even these were smaller in scale to those seen at last years Food Ingredients Europe. However the quality of the exhibits and exhibitors were among the best.
Botanicals and plant extracts
As predicted, natural ingredients dominated the show. One category in particular, botanicals and plant extracts, promises huge potential for food producers. Sales specialist Vera Du of Layn Natural Ingredients, one of many Chinese companies at the show, spoke to us about the Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit). For centuries Luo Han Guo has traditionally been brewed as a sweet ‘cooling tea’ and used as a remedy for sore throats. Now a 12 year study has revealed the Luo Han Guo’s true properties resulting in Gu-Luo, a natural zero calorie sweetener extract that when concentrated to 50% mogroside-v is approximately 250 times sweeter than sugar.
We also spoke to Jared Zhang, Export Manager, Seian food & Technology who sees huge growth potential for tea within Europe. Where tea has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, the product category has only recently begun to grow in popularity in Europe. A recent report by Rabobank proposes that the USD 5 billion alliance of Tingyi and PepsiCo will fuel competition in the Chinese beverage market where herbal drinks have been the fastest growing (35+ percent) over the past 5 years. Beverage companies who can succeed in bringing ready-to-drink tea to the Europe by capturing the growing demand for healthier drinks, have the potential to gain a share in this growing global market.
Naturex, a specialist in natural ingredients who operate globally, were exploring the potential for tea extracts with their Lift energy drink concept. We tried Lift with Sales Manager, Ludovic Galloti and were very impressed with the taste. Antoine Dauby, Group Marketing Director, spoke to us about the growing trend in demand for functional products with natural ingredients. Through the concept of natural energy, not only can a beverage producer target the current energy drinks market, but also re-engage consumers who were previously put off by artificial ingredients. This could include older consumers who unlike their younger counterparts could genuinely benefit from a boost of energy.
It was a busy show for Naturex with a stand that featured a fully functional bakery. Here chefs baked indulgent and delicious petit fours, which included natural ingredients such as vegetable powders. The company was very keen to communicate the importance of taste which until now had been somewhat lacking in healthy foods. This was a recurrent theme at this years show as many companies have finally succeeded in producing great tasting products without the ‘interesting‘ textures or after tastes. The stand also displayed Naturex’ Highly Commended NUW 2012 Excellence Award for Sustainability & Environmental Initative
There were some great innovations in protein at the show, with the whole product category seeming to broaden beyond its traditional body-building market. One ingredient we were very keen to take a look at was Hydro 365. From Arla Food Ingredients we met Troels Laursen who explained that Hydro 365 is a hydrolysed whey protein, developed for serious athletes. This new processing technology allows for the ultra fast absorption of Hydro 365’s amino acids. This enables athletes to train harder as recovery time is reduced. This highly stable and transparent protein can be applied in a range of products including clear beverages, which could play a key factor in further developing the female protein market where on the go beverages are preferred to heavier protein shakes. Troels Laursen explains further,
There is a lot of positive noise in the dairy industry regarding the returning consumer perception of dairy as a healthy food source. Natalie Meijers, Communications Manager, DMV shared this view. At the show they were also focusing on performance nutrition with a muscle boosting drink. Containing 50g of protein per 100ml, this great tasting strawberry shake was based upon Excellion Calcium Caseinate for a prolonged release of amino acids to boost muscle mass build up. DMV were also diversifying further with their proteins to produce a fruit flavour weight control drink. Weight control seems to be a growing area in the protein category, where the traditional, and to some people intimidating, buckets of body-builder protein on store shelves are being reconfigured to meet demands in new market segments.
Sports & Active Nutrition
With their first show since the acquisition of Solae (soya), and also Danisco (probiotics & fibres), DuPont were keen to show their new soya protein muscle builder and weight management drinks. The company has recently invested in a market survey looking at attitudes to active lifestyles in adults aged 35-65 in 13 countries. The company is now championing ‘Active Nutrition’, a term which we can really see catching on as it encompasses not only sports, but everyone wishing to maintain an active lifestyle.
A surprise entrant into the sports nutrition category was Nexira. Originally a specialist in acacia gum, their recent acquisition of botanical extracts producer Tournay Biotechnologies has vastly expanded their portfolio. Our good friend US Sales Director, Health Division, Franck Gillet and Communication Assistant, Véronique Asselin explained Vinitrox at a lavish champage reception on the Nexira stand. This nitric oxide enhancer combines apple and grape polyphenols. In two clinical trials Vinitrox has shown to increase physical training time by 10% and delay fatigue onset by 13%. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant.
On the subject of antioxidants, I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Lambrecht of Kaneka on Ubiquinol, the active form of coQ10. Like health ingredients such as Omega-3, Ubiquional offers a diverse array of health benefits. Ubiquinol can be viewed as a fountain of youth as not only is it a powerful antioxidant in its own right, but it is also a strong re-activator of other antioxidants. As Ubiquinol improves heart and physical performance, Kaneka is exploring more into how it can be applied in sports nutrition. In training for the London 2012 Olympics, the Japanese Olympic team used Ubiquinol supplements to aid recovery and improved from a top 10 to a medal position. Peter explains in more detail,
Green light for sodium reduction
We are predicting the next major challenge for the food industry is sodium reduction, and with new food labelling standards set to be introduced, no-one wants the red light. We met with Claire Fraux of Armor Proteines who spoke to us about Lactosalt, a salt alternative extracted from milk, not potassium chloride. It has a wide variety of applications across food and has even been introduced in a salt cellar in France. We sampled the product in a salmon pâté, and whilst we’re not the biggest salmon pâté fans, we found it to be well seasoned. Lactosalt also bucks the stigma of nutrition for the elderly therefore broadening its market. Here is Claire explaining further,
The general feel from the show was one of a vibrant and dynamic industry innovating to maintain the benefits of natural ingredients both to overcome existing health issues, and to develop new emerging markets beyond the traditions.
The only negative from the show was the issue of Wi-Fi. As if charging the extortionate fee €40 per day wasn’t bad enough, Messe Frankfurt also required visitors to use a laptop or desktop computer to pay for the privilege. In a world of webmail, social media and over 100 million iPad users, this just wasn’t good enough. That said, we were fascinated to learn how few European exhibitors actually use social media compared to the UK and the US.
But Wi-Fi rants aside, Health Ingredients Europe 2012 has been one of the best shows we have attended this year, and it is to the credit of all the great people who exhibited and attended. Stay in touch via our social media on the top right of the site, and we’ll see you at the next show!


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Now that April is winding to a close, it’s time for the weekly Game Rant Open Discussion. Within the comments section of this post, we create a space for our readers to discuss the happenings of the week, whether they happen to be related to the gaming industry or not.
This week was a hectic one for gaming news, and we’ve compiled several hot topics so that gamers can easily catch up on some of the bigger news item from the past week. Within the last week of April, Nintendo revealed a large console announcement, and no shortage of news came out regarding The Division, Fallout 4, Outlast 2, and more!
Without further ado, here’s some quick synopses of this week’s biggest happenings:
Nintendo NX Gets A Release Window
Nintendo has finally revealed the date of the oft-speculated Nintendo NX, which financial documents reveal to be sometime in March 2017. The official documents seem to shut down a popular rumor that predicated that a Nintendo NX handheld peripheral would come sometime later this year.
Despite the massive amount of mysterious patents and disc-less device plans that the company has been involved in, very little is actually known about the Nintendo NX itself. The late Satoru Iwata said that the console would “change the video game life“, so expectations are high for the new console. Many longtime fans are upset that the company seems to be pulling support away from the Wii U, which featured comparatively lackluster sales when next to the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
The upcoming console will be completely absent from E3 2016, which leaves Nintendo with just the upcoming Zelda game to show during the convention. It’s a slim menu when compared to their rival companies, which means Nintendo is putting a lot on the line when it comes to the console’s success.
Hacker Woes Continue For Those Playing The Division
It looks like Drake isn’t the only part of popular culture consumed by woes: Ubisoft Massive has had one fire pop up after another for The Division when it comes to dealing with game-breaking glitches, incursion exploits, and the prevalence of so many hackers that the hackers themselves are getting annoyed by one another.
The studio has promised to crack down on cheaters with both improved an cheat detection system and a tough two-tier strike policy: gamers caught cheating once will face an automatic 14 day ban, and those caught cheating again after their first time-out will get themselves a straight-up permanent ban from the game. The studio also changed the way the first incursion plays out to eliminate bullet-based exploits entirely, and were able to fix the game-breaking glitches somewhat shortly after identifying them.
With many gamers still complaining about hackers and glitch-based drama still at the forefront, Ubisoft Massive has a long road to go before such problems are truly in the metaphorical rearview mirror. The problems didn’t slow down sales in the initial release month, but they may harm the longevity of the franchise if not properly addressed. Network specialists have indicated that fixing the client-side problems would require a complete do-over of the game, so only time will tell how Ubisoft plans to keep the game running long-term.
Pokemon Go Footage Leaks; Looks Amazing
The footage runs for an impressive 9 minutes, presumably courtesy from one of the game’s expanded field test operations. Gamers who watch the recent leak will get a sneak peak at the introductory portion of the game, which lets players customize their individual trainers. Once a player finishes this process, they must go out and hunt for their own starter Pokemon in real life – it looks like Professor Oak has other things to do, and won’t be on-hand to give players a freebie.
The video also shows off features like gym battles, leveling up, and even egg-hatching, so it’s certainly worth a look for those curious about Nintendo’s second large foray into the mobile marketplace (the first being the lovable social network, Miitomo).
Pokemon GO is currently scheduled for a 2016 release for both iOS and Android devices.
Fallout 4 Console Mods Are Coming
It’s been a long time in the works, but Bethesda Game Studios has finally confirmed that gamers exploring the Boston Commonwealth via console will be able to access fan-made modifications within the next two months. It was almost a year ago that Bethesda promised that PC mods would be transferable to console, so it’s good to see the company make good on the promise – especially since modifications are traditionally a PC-only enterprise.
Those playing from the Xbox One will be able to start using Fallout 4 modifications starting in May, while those playing from PlayStation 4 consoles will be granted access sometime in June. Within the same announcement, Bethesda also finally gave details about the Creation Kit open beta, which makes it much easier for fans to create modifications and modify portions of the game itself. The creation kit – commonly called the GECK – should lead to a massive wave of new fan-made content. More impatient console gamers will be happy to know that Survival Mode will be rolling in via an update as soon as next week.
Outlast 2 Gives A Terrifying First Look
Gamers eager for another horrifying survival game from Red Barrels Studio can give themself the jitters with the first look at Outlast 2, which will take gamers down South for a jump-scare filled adventure they won’t soon forget. The studio released a 4-and-a-half minute gameplay trailer which certainly demonstrates that the studio hasn’t lost its touch, and we’d like to take this opportunity to warn our readers that the linked video isn’t for the faint of heart: it’s just as horrifying as it is thrilling, and it’s very thrilling.
The highly anticipated title is due to arrive later this year, where it will compete with other survival horror games like Friday the 13th and 7 Days To Die. Once again, players will assume the role of a camera-toting protagonist who gets mixed up in a situation that will have them running for their life as psychotic murderers pursue the character through a variety of Southern-themed locales, including a cornfield as depicted in the above trailer.
Outlast 2 has a tentative late 2016 release date for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.
Join The Conversation
Now that May is almost open us, gamers are free to reflect all that happened this April – and there was quite a bit to talk about. With console announcements, jump-scares, hacker drama and leaked content, it’s safe to say that the last full week of April has provided plenty of excitement! Gamers interested in talking about gaming items of the week – or anything, really – can click the Comments button below to join the conversation.
We’d like to take this opportunity to ask our readers to please refrain from discussing inappropriate topics or posting any inappropriate photos or video content. We try to keep the conversation civil here at Game Rant, and while our moderators do a bang-up job, we’d like to make it easy on them.
See you in the Disqus-sphere!


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Apple Music costs just ?120 ($1.8) per month in India, family plan priced at ?190 ($3)
Apple launched its new Music service in India yesterday, with monthly plan starting from just ?120 ($1.8). The family plan is also aggressively priced at ?190 ($3) as Apple is trying to carve out a chunk of the streaming market share.
Full story from the iMore Blog...
- By Closingracer in forum iOS 8Replies: 33Last Post: 07-08-2015, 12:48 PM
- By Peligro911 in forum iOS 8Replies: 6Last Post: 07-03-2015, 04:49 PM
- By oxfordbags in forum Apple MusicReplies: 1Last Post: 07-01-2015, 02:00 AM
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While the Scottsdale real estate market was going fast and furious at the beginning of the summer, the July market saw some slowing. This is in keeping with the real estate market for the rest of the state, too. There were 617 closed home sales in Scottsdale in July. This is a dip of 15.83% compared to July 2015 and 24.94% compared to June of this year. The median sold price for Scottsdale real estate was $390,000. The median price dropped 2.26% from last year and 3.41% from June. The average selling price of a home was $498,194. This is down 1.22% from last year and 1.65% from June. Houses are also staying on the market longer. The average home sold in 114 days in July, which is 6.54% longer than last year and 2.7% longer than June 2016.
Paradise Valley Home Market is Looking Strong
The Paradise Valley home market looks rather different from Scottsdale. Twenty four homes were sold in July of this year, compared to 36 last year. In June, there were 37 home sales. The median sold price of a house in Paradise Valley was $1,050,000 in July. This is a drop of 16% from June but a gain of 23% from July 2015. The average sold price in July was $1,369,896. This is an increase of 34.72% from last year and 6.26% from June. Homes sold in an average of 121 days in July. This is down by almost 46% from last year and 17.68% from June.
Please contact our office to discuss your home buying or selling plans in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the surrounding area.


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Chinese tech company, OnePlus, is well-known in the industry for its smartphones, but the company recently announced that it plans on adding smart televisions to its product portfolio going forward. Through a post on the company’s official forums, Founder and CEO, Pete Lau, revealed that the company intends to be a player in the smart home industry that’s expected to grow exponentially in the coming days.
While the upcoming product is being referred to as the ‘OnePlus TV’ for now, that’s not how the company plans to eventually market it. That being the case, OnePlus has opened a contest for users to name the product. The company says it will choose its favorite among all the suggestions rather than just selecting the entry that gets the most votes.
OnePlus is also giving away prizes to those who will submit the best suggestions. As per the terms and conditions of the contest, participants will have to submit their preferred name before October 17. On October 31st, the OnePlus team will choose its 10 favorite suggestions. According to the company, each of those finalists will receive a pair of OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones.
The OnePlus team will also choose 10 top entries from OnePlus’ Chinese community, following which, the grand-prize winner will be selected from the combined top 20 entries. The grand-prize winner will receive the first OnePlus TV product and an all-expenses-paid trip to the OnePlus TV launch event.
The company reportedly plans to leverage AI and voice commands for its upcoming smart TV lineup, but according to Lau, the OnePlus TV assistant would have “more of a visual element” and won’t be an invisible presence like Alexa or Google Assistant.


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Mobile Suit Gundam may have just passed its fortieth anniversary since the arrival of the franchise via its first anime series, but this year celebrates another big anniversary for the series in the launch of the first Gundam plastic model, aka Gunplas, and it seems as if an English Guide on how to build these hot ticket items is finally being released! Having sold hundreds of millions of figures over the course of forty years, Gundam fans have been able to snag plastic models that represent mech suits from the original series and the numerous stories that have been told within the franchise.
The guide itself, titled "Handbook of Gunpla Modeling", was written by Ken-Ichi Nomoto and walks potential builders through the ins and outs of assembling their own Gundam plastic models. During the coronavirus pandemic, Gunplas have become a much sought after item as fans look for ways to pass the time during quarantine, and it certainly is no surprise considering the intricacy that Gundam fans can experience when putting some of these models together. Having sold over 500 million Gunplas to date, the Gundam franchise has certainly discovered new and exciting ways to reach out to fans with these models that are built by collectors.
This year was originally supposed to see the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise hit one of the biggest sporting events of all time, with a "Gundam Satellite" becoming a part of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Obviously, with the Olympics being delayed in Japan due to COVID-19, so to did the G-Satellite's big introduction. Though fans of Mobile Suit Gundam have a big event to look forward to later this year with the arrival of Japan's "Walking Gundam", a life sized statue that will have the ability to walk under its own power unlike any other statue we've seen.
One of the big strengths of the Gundam franchise has been the ability to translate the mech suits into new and compelling stories, with the likes of Gundam Wing, Gundam Thunderbolt, Iron Blooded Orphans, and G Gundam being only the tip of the iceberg of anime series that arrived following the debut of the franchise in 1979.
The Gundam Guide can currently be purchased for the Amazon Kindle for around $14 USD, so if you have an interest in building your own Gunpla, this is certainly the way to go!
Are you a big fan of Gundam Plastic Models? If so, what is your favorite? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of Gundam!
Note: If you purchase one of the awesome, independently chosen products featured here, we may earn a small commission from the retailer. Thank you for your support.


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Mid and East Antrim Borough Councillors will be told on Monday that The Gobbins project will open to the public on July 9 2015, with an official opening date to be confirmed later in the summer.
A report due to be presented to the council’s Economic Growth and Development Committee on Monday June 15 says that by July 9 the Gobbins Visitor Centre will be open and complete.
However, the report reveals that the path will only be “90 per cent” complete.
The final suspension bridge will not be in place by the public opening date and so the report proposes that tours be terminated prior to this point.
Additionally, it states that the Cliff Top Path and associated interpretation will not be completed, but that this will not affect the opening of the cliff face path on July 9.
The estimated time for completion for this phase remains mid- August 2015.
The viewing platform will be complete by July 9.
The report also reveals that a Gobbins website is in construction and will be complete by the end of June.
The website will contain a number of sections detailing the history of the site, its flora and fauna, geology, travel information and other attractions within the area.
The website will also contain a booking and payments section allowing visitors to book their tours on line.
Read the full report in the Larne Times, on sale from June 17.


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While the Steam Controller has only been here for around a month, Valve is adding new features into their peripheral. Valve's Steam Controller is now capable of a touch menu, which will let players consolidate their hotkeys to a single interface.
Valve also added gyro support to make leaning easier in shooters, as well as other games. For RTS games, customizable mapping is now capable on the trackpad, which will make scrolling through menus much easier. An improved HUD will help you operate your controller better, with pop-ups now sprouting up on how button presses and other inputs correspond to the game that you're playing at the time.
The community was a big part of these new improvements to the Steam Controller, thanks to a suggestion from a member on the NeoGAF forums. Valve added the mouse-like joystick feature, where it has the accuracy of a mouse to the peripheral, helping manipulate cameras. Steam users are also wanted to see the Steam Controller include the ability to program specific configurations for non-Steam games, something that will be coming soon.
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Wincanton has secured a multi-million pound extension on its contract with B&Q, taking on management of an additional warehouse. The firm will manage B&Q’s one million ft² showroom fulfilment centre in Burton-on-Trent, which provides warehousing for the retailer’s bathroom, bedroom and kitchen range. Under this new agreement, it is estimated that Wincanton will handle nine million cases of merchandise per year. “We are delighted to be extending our long term relationship with B&Q, which further demonstrates our ability to support […]
Trailer manufacturer Montracon has revealed that it has become the sole distributor of trailer-mounted container lift Swinglift in the UK. Ashleigh Wight
This year’s winner of the Haulier of the Year award was Wincanton, the UK’s largest logistics operator, which has seen a remarkable turnaround in performance after a difficult few years.
Spatial Global has won an e-fulfilment contract with Practical Publishing International, covering warehousing, imports management and international distribution. Ashleigh Wight


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Although a majority of Western social media platforms are inaccessible in China due to the “Great Firewall,” the Middle Kingdom boasts the highest number and activity of internet users worldwide. The Chinese culture has embraced social media, particularly the younger generation, but for ex-pats or newcomers, navigating this realm can be bewildering. This quick guide to Chinese social media platforms aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the essentials.
What are some facts about social media in China?
Over time, a number of Chinese social media platforms have faced significant criticism for their stringent censorship measures targeting political content. In contrast to Western platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which are commonly used for political discourse and organizing protests, users of mainland Chinese social media encounter a range of techniques and approaches designed to restrict and discourage open discussions on political matters.
WeChat, for instance, employs a blend of automated and human censorship methods. These employ filters with blacklisted keywords to automatically restrict the transmission of messages containing “politically sensitive” references that violate government regulations.
What is China’s stance on social media?
Travelers who have visited China can attest to the fact that numerous websites and apps commonly used in the Western world are inaccessible due to blocks imposed in China. Utilizing workarounds becomes necessary to access platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and several others.
China initially implemented restrictions on Western apps by banning Facebook in 2009, followed by Twitter and Google. Subsequently, this led to a series of limitations on foreign websites and applications.
Recent instances of Chinese censorship include the expulsion of three Wall Street Journal reporters. The reporters were accused of using “racially discriminatory language” in an opinion piece published on February 3rd, 2020. However, there is now a reversal of roles as other governments ban Chinese apps. For instance, India banned 59 Chinese apps due to escalating political tensions at the disputed China-India Himalayan border. India cited concerns over data, security, and privacy issues.
All these restrictions lead to the fact that in order to comfortably stay in China or access Chinese social networks, you will have to make VPN settings for Android. It’s not that hard to figure out how to set up a VPN on Android, even on your own. You need a powerful Android VPN app with multiple servers and strong security. The best app according to user reviews is VeePN. After installation, you need to enter the application to connect to a remote server. So you can unblock previously inaccessible sites.
Which social media is most used in China?
WeChat serves as the primary Chinese social network and boasts one of the largest user bases in the world, with over 1.26 billion monthly active users. Originating as a messaging platform, it has evolved over time by introducing numerous innovative and advanced features, elevating it beyond a mere online chat application.
Weibo, the second most popular social media platform in China, combines the features of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, positioning itself as a micro-blogging platform. As of 2023, it boasts a user base of 573 million active monthly users, with 94% accessing the platform through their mobile phones.
Known for its openness, Weibo provides an ideal avenue for brands to connect with potential customers, surpassing the reach of WeChat. Consequently, it serves as an excellent platform for viral marketing campaigns and influencer collaborations.
Douyin, also known as 抖音, is a popular short video app often hailed as the Chinese equivalent of Tik Tok. It stands out as the only Chinese social platform to successfully penetrate the Western social media landscape. Douyin attracts over 700 million monthly active users, primarily consisting of individuals under 30 years old. Its appeal lies in the playful mini-videos that keep users entertained. International brands looking to tap into the Chinese market find strategic value in leveraging Douyin’s widespread influence among young netizens seeking leisure and entertainment on Chinese social media platforms.
Little Red Book, also known as Xiaohongshu in Chinese, blends the features of a social network and cross-border e-commerce, catering primarily to Beauty, Fashion, Luxury, and Lifestyle Brands. This platform has gained popularity among Chinese users for seeking product recommendations and reviews.
With over 200 million monthly active users, the majority being Chinese women, RED focuses on user-generated content revolving around beauty and fashion topics. Apart from establishing connections and creating content, users have the convenience of directly purchasing the showcased products.
Zhihu, a prominent Chinese question-and-answer platform often compared to Quora, allows its users to generate, respond to, modify, and categorize inquiries. Translated from Classical Chinese, the term “Zhihu” denotes the phrase “Do you know.” As one of the top 10 social media applications in China, this platform boasts immense popularity, attracting a vast user base of over 100 million individuals. Most Zhihu users are highly educated consumers with incomes above the average, rendering it an ideal platform for businesses targeting this specific demographic.
Dianping, a relatively new platform, combines elements from Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Groupon. It offers crowd-sourced reviews and rankings of businesses worldwide. Users can not only vote for their preferred restaurants but also engage on a more detailed level, such as voting for their favorite dishes within those establishments. Additionally, Dianping frequently provides substantial discounts through shared deals.
Despite being referred to as the “failed Chinese Facebook,” Renren continues to have a considerable number of users in China. It achieved massive success upon its launch in 2005 after Facebook was blocked by the Chinese government. Renren essentially replicated Facebook’s design, and color scheme, and failed to adapt to industry advancements such as mobile integration. Consequently, numerous Renren users have migrated to alternative Chinese social networking platforms, yet a group of dedicated supporters still remains.
Now you know that social media is not banned in China. It is evident that Chinese social media platforms offer a range of advanced features, allowing businesses to reach out to their target audience. With an ever-growing user base across China’s borders, the importance of these platforms in international marketing cannot be understated. To successfully establish a presence on Chinese social media channels, brands must understand and embrace cultural and digital idiosyncrasies.


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Pic of the Day: Sunset over Jacó
Preciosa Johnson captured these stunning photos of a recent sunset over the Pacific Ocean in Jacó, Puntarenas.
“It was my third trip to Costa Rica — mi país favorito!” she told us.
Johnson, who lives in Dallas, says she plans on returning to Costa Rica this month.
Want your photos featured in The Tico Times? Send them our way: email@example.com.
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Everything related to e-commerce is constantly experiencing monumental change. Some of the “change trends” include:
- New Service providers and improved service offerings directed at the consumer seem to be announced daily and you can’t deny that new technology and seemingly unlimited investment dollars are driving most of the change.
- Going vertical with the intent of controlling all parts of the e-commerce customer experience is driving competitors to enter-into services where they have limited or no direct expertise.
- Merchants, fulfillment, and delivery service providers suggesting that consumers are demanding ultra-fast solutions—such as 15-minute to 2-hour same-day delivery. This is about differentiating their offering to survive in the marketplace. However, the question begs, how practical are some of these service offerings that drive increased cost and seemingly endless losses for most of the new, VC-funded providers?
- Recent reports are telling us that, generally, e-commerce merchant profitability is trending downwards. While part of that condition is the result of intense competition, it is also driven by costly new service offerings that the consumer is not necessarily demanding.