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Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will be offering a new online professional outdoor industry certificate beginning this spring.
“This new, one-of-a-kind professional online certificate program taps into a key strength and economic growth area in Western North Carolina and nationwide: the human desire to be in the great outdoors,” said Andy Coburn, a member of WCU’s research and graduate faculty and one of two faculty liaisons to the outdoor industry.
The certificate program provides participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to grow their businesses, sharpen their leadership skills, design and develop unique outdoor products, and shape the future of the outdoor industry for years to come.
Two tracks will be offered: small business/entrepreneurship and leadership.
Participants will take five core courses from their chosen track and choose three electives from a selection of leadership, communication, business and entrepreneurial courses.
The courses are offered ala-carte, and once the eight courses are completed, a certificate will be awarded.
The registration fee is $129 per course or enroll in the entire program for $825 (a 20 percent discount).
For information, visit learn.wcu.edu/outdoor-certificate or contact WCU’s associate director of professional development, Jill Thompson at email@example.com or 828.227.7397.


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The Six: Maryam Nassir Zadeh shows off at New York Fashion Week
Updated 11 February 2019
DUBAI: New York-based designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh showed off a colorful collection at fashion week and we’ve picked out some of our favorite looks.
Layering with lime
With an oversized frill and circus-inspired sleeves, this lime green-and-pink shirt is an eye-catcher. The designer matched the top with nondescript brown trousers in an unusual runway pairing.
The designer, who is of Iranian descent, sent a bevvy of diverse models down the runway, including one who showed off a sporty blue ensemble.
While the fit of this grey pantsuit leaves much to be desired, the oversized collar is quirky and harks back to a bygone era in rural American fashion.
A cut above
The sweep of the beautifully cut neckline is the focal point of this blue-and-white printed dress.
Subtle rouching on the waist and shoulder create a desirable silhouette in this shocking pink number. While the silky sheen of the fabric adds extra oomph, the dress does seem flimsy.
Harlequin watercolors make up this bold, lace-edged top. Pleated grey trousers that end at the ankle and snakeskin boots also made appearances in this wildly eclectic look.
Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh dies of cancer
LVMH said Abloh, 41, had been battling cancer privately for years
Updated 01 December 2021
NEW YORK: Designer Virgil Abloh, a leading fashion executive hailed as the Karl Lagerfeld of his generation, has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 41.
Abloh's death was announced Sunday by the luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) and the Off White label, the brand Abloh founded. Abloh was the men’s wear designer of Louis Vuitton.
“We are all shocked after this terrible news. Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom,” Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH said in a statement.
A statement from Abloh's family on the designer's Instagram account said for the last two years, Abloh battled cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare form of cancer in which a tumor occurs in the heart.
“He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture,” the statement read.
Abloh is survived by his wife Shannon Abloh and his children, Lowe and Grey.
Saudis embrace curly look in post-pandemic hair revolution
COVID-19 lockdowns sparked trend toward natural beauty in Saudi Arabia
Updated 14 August 2021
JEDDAH: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns have brought about many changes in daily health and beauty routines with many Saudis opting for a more natural look.
And the enforced closure of hair salons in particular has resulted in millions of people adopting new approaches to managing their tresses.
For many Saudis, haircare has become a source of therapy and experimentation, changing their relationship with their locks in ways they could never have imagined.
Ameera Hassan, 25, from Jeddah, told Arab News that she had been hiding her tight, springy, natural curls for the past 10 years with straightening chemical treatments.
Our image as people with beautiful natural curls is always used as the before picture in salon advertisements for chemical treatments, and these photos are being posted online over social media and on printed banners at salons. I wanted to reverse that, and that is what I’m doing.
“Not going to a salon for months was a terrifying experience for me. I have hated my hair from a very young age, but the global trend toward natural hair due to the pandemic gave me a sense of solidarity and the confidence to accept my big hair,” she said.
Another convert to the natural hair movement, Sarah Ahmad, 28, also from Jeddah, said: “The lockdown experience left me with no choice but having to deal with my natural hair texture, and working from home gave my oppressed curls a break from the flatiron.
“For many years I thought my hair was frizzy, however, it turns out it is just curly. I would never have discovered that without lockdown. I had never been alone with my natural hair for so long and it allowed me to experiment and discover different products, treatments, and routines for my hair texture. It’s been a learning curve for sure.
“I’ve learnt that it isn’t just hair, it is part of who I am, how I was truly meant to look,” she added.
During the past year, social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram along with regional online influencers have been the inspirational driving forces behind the curly hair style revolution.
And a shortage of hair products in local markets has prompted some entrepreneurs to set up their own internet businesses selling items such as brushes, microfiber towels, shampoos, conditioners, gels, foams, silk and satin pillowcases, and bonnets.
Many people have found the freedom of going natural to be more appealing and healthier for their hair, a trend that has brought about genuine diversity in the global and regional beauty industry, including in Saudi Arabia.
• For many Saudis, haircare has become a source of therapy and experimentation, changing their relationship with their locks in ways they could never have imagined.
• During the past year, social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram along with regional online influencers have been the inspirational driving forces behind the curly hair-style revolution.
• And a shortage of hair products in local markets has prompted some entrepreneurs to set up their own internet businesses selling items such as brushes, microfiber towels, shampoos, conditioners, gels, foams, silk and satin pillowcases, and bonnets.
Hessah Al-Sharif is a hair specialist and founder of Curl Boutique, the first salon in Jeddah to focus on natural, curly hair.
She decided to move away from the straight hair standard offered by many salons and beauty centers in the Kingdom, preferring to encourage the younger generation to embrace their natural beauty.
After receiving professional training in cutting curly hair at the DevaCurl Academy in New York, Al-Sharif opened her boutique during the pandemic.
“I started with an Instagram page where I shared curly hair care tips, recommended products, and posted reviews; however, people kept asking me where in Jeddah they could get their hair cut and I didn’t have an answer.”
Similar to many other women with curly hair in Saudi Arabia, she found herself bombarded with recommendations for treatments to straighten her hair when visiting salons or was given the option of a wet cut which she pointed out was not the best way to manage big hair.
She said: “While a lot of businesses were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, I was affected in a positive way. Around 70 percent of my current clients just started their transition journey to natural hair during the pandemic.
“Our image as people with beautiful natural curls is always used as the before picture in salon advertisements for chemical treatments, and these photos are being posted online over social media and on printed banners at salons. I wanted to reverse that, and that is what I’m doing.”
Al-Sharif also aims to make natural hair products and services affordable to all by promoting local brands.
And it is not just women who have been embarking on the curly hair journey.
Abdullah Sami, 30, said: “My experience is more intimate than going natural. I was going through the anxiety about what was happening during the pandemic and the stress it had imposed on my professional, educational, and personal life. So, exerting effort on taking care of my hair was an attempt to ensure that I had everything under control and an escape to overcome everything.”
And he would never go back to having short hair. “My hair now is an extension of me, of who I am, of my personal experience, and I wouldn’t ever accept cutting it again. It gives a completely different impression when you start growing out your hair. It’s a personal statement,” he added.
Sami’s hair transition experience encouraged his sisters to try out new hair styles too.
Chalhoub Group’s Fashion Lab to award Saudi fashion newcomers
Local entrepreneurs offered the chance of winning $15,000 in funding to help establish their fashion brand
Updated 11 July 2021
JEDDAH: Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group has set up an initiative in Saudi Arabia offering local entrepreneurs the chance of winning $15,000 in funding to help establish their fashion brand.
The Fashion Lab, a first-of-its-kind in the Kingdom, is focused on sustainable fashion, contemporary design, streetwear and accessories, and nurturing new designers who are set on disrupting the fashion status quo.
Applications are now open and successful participants will get to take part in a two-week “boot camp,” which will help them navigate through different elements to develop their brand, including marketing, supply chain management, content creation and media exposure.
Fashion sales in the GCC amount to around $50 billion a year, according to a McKinsey report in December 2019, with the average spent per capita amounting to around $500 in Saudi Arabia.
With online fashion sales booming as a result of people stuck at home during the pandemic, Statista estimates that the Kingdom’s online clothing segment will be worth $1.484 billion in 2021 and is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 5.19 percent for the next four years.
Namshi, the online e-commerce site owned by Dubai’s Emaar Malls, told Arab News in February it had seen 50 percent growth in revenues from Saudi Arabia in the last year and is set to expand into a new warehouse facility in Riyadh to capitalise on surging sales. While parent company Emaar Malls recently reported a 24.8 percent fall in revenues for 2020 to AED3.51 billion ($960 million), Namshi saw sales increase 28 percent to AED1.316 billion over the same period, with the Kingdom representing 70 percent of sales.
On top of the $15,000 funding, applicants may also be offered equity partnerships after the program finishes at the end of the year, and may also access the Chalhoub Group’s online and in-store retail network to sell their products.
Dina Sidani, chief innovation officer, said that she believed the Fashion Lab “will have long-term positive impact in promoting innovation in the fashion industry locally, while creating young fashion champions from the Kingdom for the world.”
Based in Dubai, the group has been a major operator in Saudi Arabia for more than 50 years. It is active in 14 countries, with around 700 stores and 12,000 employees.
Up to five brands will be selected to take part in the Fashion Lab and the deadline for submissions for the first cohort is July 25, 2021.
Applications are now open and successful participants will get to take part in a two-week ‘boot camp,’ which will help them navigate through different elements to develop their brand, including marketing, supply chain management, content creation and media exposure.
The initiative is part of a wider push to develop the Saudi fashion sector and nurture homegrown brands. On Wednesday, the Kingdom’s Fashion Commission announced the finalists chosen to take part in its yearlong Saudi 100 Brands program. The initiative will include training, advice and mentorship from experts in the fashion sector.
A shortlist of 400 was whittled down from an initial 1,348 applicants.
The program offers a one-year brand development initiative with training and mentoring, individual and group consultancy and advisory sessions, and virtual and in-person training workshops.
NEW DELHI: Indian model Adline Castelino believes that coming third runner-up in the recent Miss Universe pageant in Florida will provide the springboard to follow her dream of becoming a peace envoy.
The 22-year-old beauty queen recently told Arab News about her childhood years growing up in an Arab culture, the need for peace between rival nations such as Pakistan and India, and her plans to spend time with family and enjoy food when the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic subsides.
She said: “I would love to don the role of an ambassador of peace. If that opportunity comes to me, I would be the first one to grab that and make the most of it, because I believe that’s what the world needs now.”
Born and raised in Kuwait, Castelino returned to her homeland as a teenager to study in Mumbai and pursue a career in modelling. The multicultural experience of growing up and having the “most comfortable and loving childhood” in the Gulf state has never left her, instilling a deep respect for others.
“I am very grateful to have had the experience of growing up in an Arab culture and I learnt a lot. The amalgamation of both cultures made me the person that I am. I think people over there give lots of importance to children and they really sacrifice a lot for children. I remember how we were so protected from the start,” she added.
With that sense of safety and protection, Castelino, a native of Mangalore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, could grow up Indian, although away from India. “Even though I was very far away from my motherland, I always had the values and tradition intact.”
She was also able to make friends with Pakistanis whose country has long been a bitter rival of India, the two nations having been involved in periods of armed conflict since the independence and partition of the former British-ruled subcontinent in 1947.
Castelino said: “I don’t think this enmity, this animosity needs to continue. There is such a wonderful relation we could share, because of our history, because of where we come from.
“I truly feel that they are part of our family. I have a family in Pakistan, and I really want to tell them that I see a future there where both countries actually join hands and to have very mutually respectful relations. Because we share the same history, because we have shared the same pain and struggle at one period of time.
“In Kuwait, I have lived alongside Pakistanis, Bangladeshis. And they have been my best friends, they are my family, people who have cheered for me and had my back,” she added.
Her main source of support, however, has been her parents. When she became only the second Indian in two decades to achieve major success in the Miss Universe competition – after actress Lara Dutta won it in 2000 – Castelino immediately called her parents who still live in Kuwait.
“They were very supportive even though they were not there in the entire journey, they were always supportive and trying to guide me. I called up my mom soon after the crowning. It was early in the morning. She was excited and so proud of me,” she said.
As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic has been brought under control, she will be off to Kuwait to see her parents and friends, and to enjoy her favorite and “amazing” Arab dishes.
“When I go back, when I think of going back, that’s the first thing I think of after my family. I am going to have amazing shawarma; I am going to have amazing falafel. I am just waiting for the opportunity to go back to Kuwait,” Castelino added.
KSA Fashion Commission backs luxury designs with 100 Saudi Brands program
The authority invited those wishing to take part in the program to register before June 20
The program offers a one-year package of training and guidance programs
Updated 04 June 2021
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission has launched the “100 Saudi Brands” program, which aims to support the business development of 100 Saudi designers and luxury brands, providing Saudi fashion products with international competitive standards.
The authority invited those wishing to take part in the program to register via the website https://saudi100brands.com before June 20.
The program offers a one-year package of training and guidance programs, and includes sessions for groups and individuals, along with virtual and physical training workshops to develop competitive business advantages in the Saudi fashion industry.
Course topics will include brand review and mentoring, training in defining brand concepts, sales performance strategies, public relations and marketing strategies, methods for finding and identifying particular clients, innovations, technology and leadership skills.
The program’s stages include activities presented to the consumer to encourage sales in the local market, the first of which will be held in Riyadh in December, the activation of electronic sales outlets in January, and a campaign targeting wholesales in order to activate international sales in February.
The program will help build 100 Saudi brands that are able to compete regionally and internationally, within the framework of the Fashion Commission to develop the fashion sector in the Kingdom in all its legislative and regulatory aspects, and to support and empower its workers, including creators and investors.

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The sale of controversial payment protection insurance (PPI) alongside loans and credit cards is to be banned in 2010, the Competition Commission said today.
Under the new rules, lenders will have to wait seven days before they can contact a customer to offer them the insurance, which covers a borrower's repayments should they lose their job or find themselves unable to work as a result of sickness or an accident.
The move, which follows a two-year inquiry into the £4bn a year market, is a victory in the campaign against the cover, which is often expensive and can be a waste of money for borrowers who find they are unable to make a successful claim.
PPI sales have proved a profitable sideline for loan and credit card companies, with the vast majority of the 12m policies in operation sold alongside loans and other credit agreements. Five years ago Guardian Money revealed how banks kept up to 80% of the premiums they sold.
Todays announcement is designed to increase competition by encouraging consumers to shop around for the best deal. However, while consumer groups said it was the beginning of the end for the market, lenders warned it would mean higher borrowing costs for consumers and could leave them exposed to difficulties if they were unable to work.
Several lenders have been fined for mis-selling the cover, including Alliance & Leicester which received a record £7m fine in September.
Consumers often buy PPI because they think it will enhance their chance of getting credit, and most are unaware that if they do want the insurance they will often find a cheaper standalone policy. While these can cost as little as £2.65 for every £100 being covered, some lenders charge as much as £28.
The commission is also banning the sale of single premium PPI policies, in which the cost for the entire term of the policy is paid upfront and usually added to the debt being taken out.
These policies have typically been the most expensive and are hard to cancel without losing money, making it difficult for consumers to switch to a better deal.
Another change being introduced is a requirement for PPI providers to give consumers a personal quote, clearly setting out the cost of the policy both on its own and when added to the repayments.
If this is not given when the original credit agreement is taken out, the firm must give it to the consumer if they make contact. These measures are set to come into force in April 2010, with the ban on single premium policies and immediate sales coming into force in October of the same year.
The commission stopped short of introducing a temporary price cap on the cost of the cover, which it said it was considering last year.
Peter Davis, who chaired the inquiry for the commission, said: "These are significant measures carefully designed to address the serious competition problems that currently exist in this market.
"The 'point-of-sale' advantage has meant that leading providers have faced little competition for PPI and, as a result, have charged persistently high prices.
"Consumers' interests are not best served when the only choice the vast majority have is whether or not to purchase their credit provider's PPI product."
The consumer group Which? said the changes helped "sound the death knell for PPI", but that lenders should not wait for the 2010 deadline to change their practices.
Head of campaigns, Louise Hanson, said: "PPI has been thoroughly investigated for years and everyone knows its failings, so what's the industry waiting for?
"We're finally seeing the light at the end of this very long tunnel, but it is now time for the industry to develop useful products that consumers actually need to protect their finances."
However, some groups have warned that the banks could try to recover money lost through PPI sales by raising charges elsewhere, and lenders and insurers suggested borrowers could be left vulnerable if the changes persuaded them not to buy cover for their loans.
Nick Starling, the director of general insurance and health at the Association of British Insurers, said: "We remain extremely concerned that the fundamental risks to borrowers have not been addressed. Our job now is to work with our members and the regulators to minimise these risks and make it work. The devil will be in the detail."
The commission was originally considering forcing companies to wait 14 days before contacting a policy holder, but said it had decided seven days was long enough for consumers to shop around.


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Apprenticeship Training that Delivers The Final Mile
Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and the host of other seasonal holidays and perennial occasions show how consumers are prepared to cast aside worries over the economy, Brexit and rising prices to spend, spend, spend, with a significant amount of it via online shopping, says System Group.
And the transport and logistics sector continues to gear up to meet the challenge and ensure the wheels of the retail industry don’t fall off in the drive to deliver to consumers’ front doors.
Indeed, consumers spent an estimated £1.1bn on gifts and cards for loved ones in the UK alone on Valentine’s Day, much of which was probably purchased online. This year’s peak was fully expected to hit all records for the first quarter of express deliveries - 25% in terms of extra loads.
Over the last festive period, online trade was the main driver of retail growth (up by 11% on the previous year), with an estimated 40% of Boxing Day e-retail sales made through mobile transactions in the growing shift from lap-top to smartphones.
The 14 February and other dates are the ones to watch, says the Director of Business Development at System Group, in terms of both the impact on the online shopping phenomenon and the wider economy, and by extension, the transport and logistics sector, where companies are striving to deliver billions of orders to millions of households.
They said delivering a hundred billion-pound holiday and special occasions’ bonanza has consequences for final mile delivery: “e-logistics operations rely on the final leg of the last miles for success and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.
“This relies on the whole process from order processing through package picking in the warehouse or at the fulfilment house to producing shipping labels and fast and effective final delivery being right first time, every time, to achieve the eternal balance between cost and speed.”
In turn, this is transforming the role and occupation of those involved in driving to deliver -and training companies such as System Group, which is a leading national provider of Express Delivery Trailblazer apprenticeships, are in the vanguard of bringing the skills and talent to the fore, which are required for the new frontiers.
These apprenticeships are designed to meet the needs of industry and commerce and will equip a new generation of highly motivated people with the skills, professionalism and confidence to meet employers’ needs; introducing them to the heady world of final mile delivery and routing them firmly on the road to a rewarding career and a professionally recognised industry qualification.
They quoted: “The phenomenal growth in online shopping, the increasing demand for next day, or even same day, home deliveries, and the focus on efficient, safe, and responsive customer service has meant that those coming into the industry need to be highly trained and highly engaged.
“The training and learning we offer covers the knowledge, understanding, skills and behaviours that will guide future generations into the industry and support them through the challenges and adventures that express delivery offers.”
It’s clear that the phenomenon of online shopping will only continue to grow in the foreseeable future, and it’s critical that the transport and logistics sector is ready, willing and able to respond with a highly skilled, adept and professional workforce. It’s also clear that the training sector is responding, with apprenticeships that will drive success and go the extra mile.


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ABCC crypto exchange partners with Tron to become the first trading platform to list TRC10 tokens. ABCC cryptocurrency exchange has partnered with the ninth largest cryptocurrency Tron (TRX), according to a tweet posted Jan. 15. Tron's founder and CEO Justin Sun subsequently confirmed the news on Twitter. As per the announcement, the partnership has made ABCC the first crypto exchange to list tokens based on Tron’s TRC10 technical standard. The announcement was made a few days after the exchange first revealed that its was in the process of adding support for tokens based on both the TRC10 and TRC20 standards. According to Tron’s guide for developers, TRC10 is a technical standard for tokens that are supported by the crytpocurrency’s native blockchain without the deployment of the Tron Virtual Machine (TVM). On the other hand, TRC20 is a technical standard used for smart contracts that implement tokens with the TVM. It is also fully compatible with Ethereum’s (ETH) ERC-20 stand..
Newly launched Belarus-based platform will allow traders to buy shares and other traditional assets with digital currencies. Belarus has launched a trading platform that enables customers to buy tokenized versions of shares, gold and other traditional assets, Reuters reported Jan. 15. The project is reportedly backed by two companies, Larnabel Ventures and VP Capital. According to Reuters, the government of Belarus has not yet commented on the launch of the platform, but it was covered by the state news agency BelTa. The platform will allow traders to buy shares, precious metals, foreign exchange and other traditional assets from Belarus, as well as from other countries, with cryptocurrencies. Since its launch, the platform has reportedly issued 150 different types of tokens, with each corresponding to a traditional financial instrument. The company expects to eventually grow this number to 10,000. According to the Reuters’ article, the government of Belarus has exempted transactions ..
sponsored A cryptocurrency exchange wants to make crypto trading accessible in over 100 countries within 2019. Despite the downturn that shackled the crypto markets in 2018, there is a renewed sense of optimism, as some experts believe the crypto market could fare better in 2019. Canadian-based CoinField plans to make crypto trading more accessible and cheaper for investors — irrespective of where they live — so they can take advantage of when crypto prices go green. The exchange intends to become one of the largest trading platforms for cryptocurrencies. It is already available in 101 countries and the team plans to expand the service to more regions in 2019, including the United States. World-class trading dashboardCoinField was launched in April 2018 by Central Crypto Exchange Corp. The platform says it provided both advanced and simplified trading dashboards for beginners and professional traders to buy and sell any cryptocurrencies in just a few clicks. The trading platform says..
Israel’s largest cargo shipping company Zim has opened its blockchain platform to all clients in select trades, following a successful pilot. Israel’s largest cargo shipping company Zim has opened its blockchain platform for electronic bills of lading (eB/Ls) to all clients in selected trades. Global shipping news outlet TradeWinds reported the news today, Jan. 14. Following a successful pilot of its blockchain-powered eB/Ls platform that lasted for over a year, the shipping firm has claimed that blockchain can not only replace the currently existing paper-based processes, but also improve the workflow conducted via email, fax, and other channels. According to TradeWinds’ report, two recent transactions on the platform were successfully conducted in less than two hours each — as opposed to multiple days or weeks that the process usually takes — with electronic bills of lading being delivered via the blockchain-based system. As part of Zim’s new initiative, blockchain-based trades will..
HSBC has been operating blockchain-based forex payments for just ten months but has seen huge growth. International banking giant HSBC settled $250 billion of forex trades using blockchain technology in 2018. The company has revealed the figure in a press release quoted by the Financial Times (FT) Jan. 14. Through its proprietary blockchain platform dubbed “FX Everywhere,” HSBC handled 3 million transactions, which translated into 150,000 payments since it launched in February. The technology allows HSBC to “conduct thousands of foreign exchange transactions within the bank, across multiple balance sheets, in dozens of countries,” FT quoted Richard Bibbey, acting global head of currencies as saying. “FX Everywhere uses distributed ledger technology to drastically increase the efficiency of these internal flows.” The release did not mention the overall payment volumes for the bank last year, Reuters referencing Bibbey as confirming the $250 billion represented a “small” portion of the ..
Previously targeting a launch on Jan. 24, Bakkt has acquired certain assets at futures commission merchant Rosenthal Collins Group. Bakkt, the digital assets platform backed by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), has acquired certain assets in futures commission merchant Rosenthal Collins Group (RCG). The acquisition was announced in a Medium post on Monday, Jan. 14. In the post, Bakkt CEO Kelly Loeffler hinted that the company’s latest move is part of Bakkt’s ambitious plans to become the first integrated and institutional grade exchange-traded markets and custody solutions. Loeffler also stressed that the acquisition means that the company is slowing down operations while awaiting regulatory approval by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for the launch of regulated trading in crypto markets. Loeffler stated: “Our mission requires significant investment in technology to establish an innovative platform, as well as financial market expertise to deliver the m..
Overstock’s tZERO has began allowing investors to choose where to put their security tokens. The security token exchange subsidiary of e-commerce retail giant Overstock, tZERO, has started releasing control of its tokens, according to a letter to investors released on Jan. 11. Last August, the subsidiary had announced that its security token offering would close, having raised $134 million out of the maximum amount of $250 million previously specified. In June 2018, tZERO had also signed a letter of with investment company GSR Capital for the purchase of $160 million in tZERO Security Tokens. According to tZERO CEO Saum Noursalehi’s letter, investors now have the option of choosing where to hold their security tokens, either by creating a brokerage account with Dinosaur Financial Group, a tZERO partner and broker dealer, or holding them in a person wallet with a two-step verification system. He wrote: “As you are aware, on October 12, 2018 we completed the issuance of the tZERO securi..
The ex-SEC attorney David Labhart will also act as co-general counsel for the platform. Blockchain platform TRON has hired a former United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) supervisory attorney as its first chief compliance officer. The company has revealed this to Cointelegraph in a press release on Jan. 9. David Labhart, who previously worked as an attorney for the U.S. regulator, will also take on the role of co-general counsel at the company. TRON, along with its associated TRX token, has built a major presence over the past year, in part due to the continued, and at times controversial, publicity efforts centred around CEO Justin Sun. Designed to offer an alternative platform for decentralized applications (DApps) to Ethereum, TRON celebrated its one millionth user account last month. TRX has risen 6.4 percent in the past 24 hours according to CoinMarketCap data, making it the best daily performer in the top twenty cryptocurrencies by market cap. Evolving regulatory..
Qtum is introducing Bitcoin atomic swaps to its blockchain infrastructure, which will enable exchange without requiring a trusted third party. Blockchain platform Qtum is introducing Bitcoin (BTC) atomic swaps to its mainnet infrastructure, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph Jan. 9. Atomic swaps are a technology that enables the exchange of one cryptocurrency for another without the need for a trusted third party or centralized exchange infrastructure. The implementation of Qtum-to-BTC atomic swaps has been achieved with the use of the Hash Time-Locked Contracts (HTLCs) technology and is based on the code of the open-source cryptocurrency Decred. HTLC — according to Qtum’s announcement — are the most secure way of implementing the swaps. The team has also announced plans to release “0 Value UTXOs,” which will allow users that don’t hold Qtum tokens to interact with smart contracts while a third party pays the fee. As Cointelegraph reported in February, Qtum is a cr..
This is a paid-for submitted press release. CCN does not endorse, nor is responsible for any material included below and isn’t responsible for any damages or losses connected with any products or services mentioned in the press release. CCN urges readers to conduct their own research with due diligence into the company, product or service mentioned in the press release. Karaoke is presently one of the most interactive entertainment forms in the world. It was originally developed in the year 1970 in a small town in Japan. Karaoke allows users to recreate popular songs over pre-recorded music using a microphone. From Karaoke machines to user-friendly and convenient applications, over the years, this globally reckoned entertainment form has witnessed the tremendous transformation. Its popularity is growing with every passing year and presently there are over 500 Million active participants of the Karaoke application. Loopholes Associated with the Existing Karaoke System While karaoke is..


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A small band of equipment suppliers in the secondary woodworking market have banded together to create their own tradeshow. Called the Woodworking Fair Midwest, the open house-style event is scheduled for Aug. 26-28, 2020 in Borden, Ind.
The initiative started with cancellation of the IWF 2020. Two suppliers who have a working relationship, Northtech Machine and Vecoplan Midwest began discussions on how to see numerous customers effectively in light of the IWF’s cancellation, according to the companies.
‟Bill (Miller, COO of Vecoplan Midwest) and I got to talking about what a bummer it was to miss out on the opportunity to see customers and prospects,” Northtech president Brandon Koetter said in a statement. ‟I had mentioned hosting an open house at my facility, and Bill thought maybe he would do one too since many of our customers are the same. One thing led to another, and we found an empty warehouse that could serve as the venue for us, leading to the opportunity for other suppliers to be part of the event. We figure that more exhibiting companies translates to more attendees for all of us.”
Another supplier to the market, JKL Machinery, the North American importer Casadei-Busellato NA, joined in on the brainstorming. The trio formed a steering committee, and after addressing how to manage covid-19 precautions, the group decided to move forward. Vecoplan’s marketing department was enlisted to help implement the vision to the market.
The event has an active website, woodworkingfairmidwest.com, for attendees to register free-of-charge and for potential exhibitors to express their interest.


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1 week ago
BlackBerry announces new Android support in enterprise management suite
The better part of the CrackBerry crew are at BlackBerry Live 2013 this week, and there was a bit of news for Android fans amid the general session. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.1 was announced, which includes support for Android devices. That means your IT guy can roll out apps and lock down BlackBerry devices throughout the company just as easily as it can with any Android devices.
1 week ago
TuneIn Radio now lets you buy music you hear from Google Play
Direct links to the Play Store make music buying easier
TuneIn Radio has just released an update to its streaming radio service that lets users quickly find and purchase the music they're listening to in Google Play. The app has simply added a Google Play icon to the action bar between the share and search buttons, and tapping it brings you to a pre-populated search page in Google Play where you can purchase the track being played. Presumably the button doesn't show up when it can't find a match for the music (it doensn't show up on talk radio, for example), but in our few tests it always returned results.
The update is available for both free and paid versions of TuneIn, and is certainly one to update right away if you find yourself trying to remember and search for music to buy later. You can grab the free version from the Play Store link at the top of this post, and the $4.99 paid version right here as well.
1 week ago
Airbnb adds new host tools, calendar management
Approve, deny and request information on guests right from the app
In an attempt to bring its Android app up to parity with the features of the iOS version, Airbnb has added a few new features that should make the experience of setting up travel arrangements a bit easier. The main focus is on the hosting side of the service, where you're setting up a residence to have others come and stay at. The new update now lets hosts pre-approve, deny or request information about the guests without going to the web, which is a huge improvement. You can also now completely manage your calendar from the app, making it easier for guests to find availability dates for residences.
Airbnb also says it has made a "truck full of bug fixes", including a fix for push notifications. Along with the new features and a nice visual refresh, the app has really come together to feel like a more complete experience. If you're an Airbnb user this update will be a worthwhile one to get.
1 week ago
Bringing it all together: Gmail, Drive and G+ Photos to share 15GB common storage
New 15GB shared storage replaces old 10GB for Gmail and 5GB for photos on Google+ and 5GB for Drive
The Google goodies are already coming our way, before we even get to Google I/O. Announced today, no longer will your Gmail storage sit at 10GB for free, or 5GB on Google+ photos and Google Drive. Google has introduced a new, 15GB free allowance which covers all three products.
This is great news in particular for anyone who uses little of their allowance on Gmail -- like myself -- but is much heavier on photos and Drive usage. As the storage is shared across all three services, you get to use as much of it as you like, wherever you like.
In addition to changing how your storage works, Google is also changing how the Google Drive storage page helps you understand how you're using your storage allowance. Hovering over the pie chart will show you a breakdown of how much you're using across each of the three services. And, because of the changes, heavy Gmail users are no longer limited to a 25GB upgrade only. Any Google Drive storage you buy will become available there too.
Source: Google Drive Blog
1 week ago
SoundCloud updated with Google login and Google+ sharing
Audio streaming app gets new Google account capabilities
The Android (and iOS) version of popular streaming and music discovery app SoundCloud has been updated with new Google account features. The new version lets you log in with any Google account credentials on your phone, in addition to the ever-present Facebook login. What's more, you can now share directly to Google+ through the app, allowing you to send your favorite tracks directly to people in your circles. It's a relatively minor update, but both could be important changes if your big on Google's ecosystem. Google account login in particular makes signing up extremely painless on Android devices, as you just need to tap once to confirm the account you want to use.
SoundCloud users can head to the Google Play Store app to update to the latest version. Alternatively, hit the Google Play link above to view the full listing.
1 week ago
Google Play Sound Search now available in Australia
Google Now "What's This Song?" also reported to be working for some users
Following the branch out of the Google Play Sound Search widget from the U.S. in selected European countries such as the UK and Ireland, the next to receive it are our friends down in Australia. Ausdroid reports that the widget is now available via the Google Play Store to download. Google's answer to Shazam, Sound Search will attempt to tell you what song is playing when you tap the homescreen widget.
The Google Now "What's This Song?" feature also appears to be working now for some Australian users, though reports suggest this may still be rolling out. When trying it some are still seeing a message of "action not supported in your country," while others are seeing more successful results.
Grab a copy now from the Google Play Store, and if the latest rollout has hit you somewhere other than Australia, be sure to drop us a line in the comments below.
1 week ago
Apps of the Week: Pudding Camera, 1-800 Flowers, GroundLink and more!
Let's stick with the app picks for just a little while longer
So we gave something new a whirl last week in place of the standard "Apps of the Week" post -- we tried to expand out beyond just apps to highlight the best of Google Play. Well, we may not have planned that one out the best considering what we have coming up. As things are getting pretty heavy for the next few weeks (and lets be honest, the last few weeks too) with Google I/O and then CTIA, we think maybe we should stick with the tried and true app picks for just a little while longer until we can get a good system ready to expand.
After the break you'll find the best apps from all different genres that the Android Central staff are using on a daily basis. They may not be the flashiest or the best of their kind, but they're what works for us and often that means they'll work for someone else too. Read along and see how we did this week.
1 week ago
Carmageddon lands on Android, free for the first day
Classic pedestrian-masher now available on Google Play, and you can get it for free if you're quick
Over-the-top driving game Carmageddon has finally hit Android today, following a Kickstarter campaign to bring it to mobile devices. The Android version, featuring pedestrian-mashing, cow-crushing gameplay across 11 environments, looks every bit as ridiculously violent as the 1997 PC original.
As a "thank you" to Kickstarter backers, the Android version is available for free for the first day, so grab it while it's hot at the Google Play link above. If you want to support the developers, the full paid version is also available, priced $1.99 or £1.49.
1 week ago
Facebook quietly adds Facebook Home support (and unofficial support) for Galaxy S4, HTC One, others
New persistent notifications also part of undocumented update
Facebook -- facing increasing negative reaction to its Facebook Home launcher as AT&T (at least temporarily) dropped the price of the HTC First to a mere 99 cents -- has silently added support for the HTC One as well as unofficial support for the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The change comes as the official Facebook app received an update just hours after Facebook held a small press conference at its campus in Silicon Valley, touting some 1 million total installations, apparently without listing how many active installations it has. (And that still wouldn't account for anyone who has installed Facebook Home but isn't actually using it.) Following that event, the Facebook application itself received an update. The Facebook Home launcher has not been updated as of April 22.
That brings us to the Galaxy S4, which you see above. Without a mention in any changelog in any of the Facebook Apps, our Galaxy S4 now show the option to "Use Home Anyway." Tap it, and Facebook Home launches just fine. Same goes for the Sony Xperia ZL.
Additionally, Facebook Home is working without this "Use Home Anyway" intercept on the HTC One. It wouldn't surprise us in the least to see it working -- with or without the warning -- on other devices. Both the HTC One and Galaxy S4 were listed as "supported" devices when Facebook Home was announced, but until now they'd been unable to officially run the launcher.
Also, the Facebook app update has added a new notification -- a persistent "ongoing" notification that lives in your notification pull-down. You can turn it off in the settings menu.
If you've been waiting to try Facebook Home but your device hasn't been supported -- and let's face it, that's probably not a whole hell of a lot of you reading this -- give it a shot now.
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1 week ago
OpenTable v2.5 brings new maps, calendar integration
Interface improvements that make booking and managing reservations easier
OpenTable has taken a big step forward in interface design today with an update to v2.5 of its app, which makes several much-needed changes. First up is the mapping experience, which is dramatically improved thanks to Google Maps v2, and now gives you more freedom to browse the map in different areas and have reduced pin clutter from lots of restaurants. Next are the restaurant pages, which have received a facelift as well. You can now modify your reservation -- date, time and party size -- right from the restaurant page rather than your account. OpenTable has also improved the load times of menus and reviews for restaurants.
A much-awaited feature of being able to add reservations to your calendar has also been added -- no more excuses for missing a dinner reservation. All of these new features can be accessed much easier as well thanks to general improvements to the navigation elements in the app that have been moved to the top action bar, reducing the number of times you have to jump back and forth between the settings. You can grab a download of the new OpenTable app from the Play Store link above.


text:
The currencies of the NAFTA nations, loonie and peso, spiked after sliding overnight following Trump’s announcement of solar and washing machine tariffs – after Trump offered some clarification comments on what many assumed was the first shot in a trade war deal, telling reporters in the Oval office that “Nafta talks are moving along pretty well.”
“I happen to be of the opinion that if it doesn’t work out we’ll terminate it, but I think you’re doing pretty well, Bob,” Trump added, referring to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
“We’re renegotiating our deal with South Korea, which has turned out to be a disaster for this country.”
That alone was enough to send a bid behind the peso and loonie.
Trump spoke during the signing of the new executive orders to impose tariffs on imported washing machines and solar products, announced on Monday and which sent shockwaves across EM currencies, which have promptly rebounded on what appears to be a modest conciliation by the president.
With Bloomberg also quoting Trump as reminding that he is looking at potential tariffs for both steel and aluminum, Reuters adds that Trump does not expect a trade war to result from any new tariffs and notes that his upcoming “special address” in Davos will be about investing in the US.


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Realme Narzo 50 is all set to launch in India on February 24. It will be a budget phone powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset. We are still a day away from the launch and pretty much everything about the Realme Narzo 50 has now surfaced on the internet, including its specifications and live images.
The upcoming Realme Narzo 50 has now passed through the FCC certifications. It reveals the design and some key details. The device has a flat display with a punch-hole cutout at the upper-left side for the selfie camera. Around the back, Narzo 50 has a rectangular camera module, housing three sensors and an LED flash. The camera island is pretty much similar to Realme 8i.
Realme Narzo 50 has a headphone jack, speaker grille, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom, while the power button on the right edge seems to be doubling as a fingerprint scanner. The adapter images confirm that the device supports 33W fast charging.
The specifications of Narzo 50 have already surfaced revealed by tipster Yogesh Brar (via RMLeaks). According to him, the device will have a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with FullHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It is likely to be offered in 4GB/6GB RAM options with 64GB/128GB internal storage. The camera setup on the back might consist of a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP B&W lens, and a 2MP macro shooter. For selfies and video calls, there’ll be a 16MP snapper.
A 5,000mAh could be housed inside the Narzo 50 with support for 33W fast charging over a USB Type-C port. It is tipped to have a microSD card slot for additional storage. The device is likely to boot Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0 skin. As of now, there’s no official word on pricing. However, it is anticipated to be priced under Rs 18,000.


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Update as of September 29: At a recent weekly Q&A session on its forum, Realme confirmed a few features that originally arrived on Realme UI 2.0 but will be dripping down to Realme UI 1.0 as well. It includes minimized banners for incoming calls that will get rid of filling up the entire screen when an incoming call arrives. Next up, it is confirmed that the Realme UI 2.0 will not arrive based on Android 10. The Realme UI 1.0 will get an icon pull-down feature along with it. Next up, Realme UI 2.0 sports System Cloner app that unfortunately, it will not dribble down to Realme UI 1.0. [Source]
Update as of September 16: The Super Power Saving Mode is making it to all devices running on Realme UI 1.0 through a future software update. It uses several strategies like throttling CPU frequency to save power and adjusting brightness among others. Just like any other mode, they can engage and disengage the Super Power Saving Mode. It allows six predefined apps to work on the device which includes Messages, Phone, browser as per user discretion. [Source]
Update as of August 28: Realme has added another feature on Realme UI that brings parents an enhanced parental control feature to monitor their kid’s phone usage. Here more about it.
Update as of August 27: Realme UI from Realme has reached almost all the Realme devices by now. It sets it apart with the features it either arrived by default or the ones added over time. In an OS QnA With Devs, users asked several questions and the developer gave a few hints about what we can expect with Realme UI future updates. Starry Mode for flagship devices is in the works. When asked if there could be a Chroma boost filter for the selfie camera, the developer added that it is reserved for rear cameras although they are working on enhanced AI beauty features for the front cam.
Another feature that the company is working on is the ability to convert photos into PDF without needing any third-party apps to do it. The filter will arrive embedded in a text scanner although there’s no ETA available around it as of now. Another feature that Realme developers confirmed is a Movie Mode that changes the aspect ratio to 2.39:1 aka Cinemascope ratio in the camera app. [Source]
[Restored] Update as of June 25, 2020: Many Realme and Oppo users are facing “No network connection” issue when they are trying to check for any software updates. According to Realme, this is a temporary issue caused due to huge influx of users trying to check & upgrade their phones. The OEM has put its OTA servers for maintenance to improve service. The interface will work as normal once the servers are back online. The problem is likely to stay put for an estimated two days before the servers could swing back to normalcy. [Source]
Realme as a brand was officially introduced on May 4th, 2018, in China with the founder Sky Li. The brand offers high-end specifications in its budget smartphones that are treated to be the best in class, modern, stylish pieces of smartphones available in today’s market. Realme has an impressive lineup of smartphones released from its inception to date which includes some of the power devices sporting upper mid-range Helio and Snapdragon processors that drive the cost of smartphones while optimized enough to make it a competitive device available today.
At the moment, almost all the smartphones released this year run the latest Android Pie 9.0 which increases the chances of these phones to get bumped to the upcoming Android 10. Similarly, there are a few smartphones from last year’s line up that are waiting in tow to get the update as well, although the timeline is pretty extensive and no exact date but only the quarter has been confirmed yet. Thus, here’s a list of smartphones that are likely to get Android 10 driven on the specs sheet.
Android 10 brings a copious amount of features and APIs onboard starting with native support to foldable devices and 5G while a dark mode has found a way to become a system-wide native feature as well. Android 10 will have enhanced biometric-based logins for the system and apps installed while a new permission-based system will allow users to see the permissions used by any app transparently arranged in a simple list. The upcoming OS will also feature a boatload of features such as Live Captions which will be integrated into several video playback apps and will transcribe the video automatically.
As per the timeline is concerned, Android 10 was announced officially on September 3rd as “Android 10”. This came as a surprise since it was earlier speculated that Google would name it on a dessert as it does every year. Anyways, Google has made it official that all the future Android OSes will have numerical identifiers such as Android Q becomes Android 10, Android R becomes Android 11 and so on. Post its release, the update has been rolled out for Pixels and Essential Phones the same day followed by smartphones signed up under its Project Treble where Realme 3 Pro has already received the beta update. It will be followed by a global rollout that will be based on the nature of the OS i.e. stock or custom, brand, model, region and other factors so this might take some time.
- List of Android 10 supported Realme Devices
- Realme C21Y
- Realme C20A
- Realme C20
- Realme V15 5G
- Realme 7
- Realme 7 Pro
- Realme X7
- Realme X7 Pro
- Realme V3
- Realme 6S
- Realme X50 Pro Player Edition
- Realme X3 SuperZoom
- Realme Narzo 10A
- Realme Narzo
- Realme 6 Pro
- Realme 6
- Realme 6i
- Realme X50 Pro 5G
- Realme X50m 5G
- Realme C3
- Realme X50 5G
- Realme X50 5G Master Edition
- Realme 5
- Realme 5i
- Realme 5s
- Realme XT
- Realme 5 Pro
- Realme X2
- Realme X2 Pro
- Realme 3 Pro
- Realme X Master Edition
- Realme X Lite
- Realme X
- Realme C2
- Realme 3 MT6771
- Realme 3
- Realme C1 (2019)
- Released in the Year 2018
- Realme U1
- Realme C1 (2018)
- Realme 2 Pro
- Realme 2
- Realme 1
- What should you do if your Realme phone isn’t eligible for Android 10?
- AOSP Android 10 for Realme devices:
Android 10 Features
Android 10 packs in a lot of features that are either enhanced over the years or have been introduced as new ones.
Live Captions: The feature transcribes everything from audio to video to recording in a clear subtitle-like caption which makes it easier for people to read. It can be handy for those who have hearing issues although it does have a varied range of features onboard.
Dark Theme: Introduced as a system-wide Dark theme, it paints the UI black which is, of course, a huge power saver when it comes to battery consumption which is usually higher when the screen is lit up brightly. It also reduces the amount of glare and blue light that passes through it thereby reducing the strain on the eyes as well.
Gesture-based Navigation: Available as an option amidst others, this newly introduced gesture-based navigation uses gestures across the display to get things done. It uses the left & right edges to ‘go back’ while the bottom edge can be used to retreat to the home screen or open app drawer and previews as well and that’s all with just a gesture.
Privacy & Location Controls: Android 10 brings enhanced Privacy & Location controls onboard where users have control over what apps use which permissions and if it is required. Further, users can select whether to completely deny or accept or allow applications to use location services only when the app is running among other features and more.
Smart Replies: You have already tried this feature if you use Gmail where now, AI predicts the possible answers based on the context of the email or message sent. With Smart Replies, it will apply to all messaging apps and the number of apps it supports is increasing allowing users to simply tap and send an automated reply or actions.
Foldable & 5G Ready: Yes, Android 10 is compatible with varying foldable displays and it is 5G ready so you just need to plug and play to get access to these two latest technologies.
Focus Mode: Don’t get distracted as the Focus Mode allows users to concentrate on their work rather than getting annoyed with notifications from apps that you don’t want to hear from at the moment.
List of Android 10 supported Realme Devices
Note that the given list is of Realme phones released this year and is highly likely to get Android 10 without any doubt although there could be exceptions.
The Realme C21Y packs in a 6.5-inch display with a UnisoC T610 SoC under the hood. The device has a 5,000 mAh battery. It arrives with a triple rear camera setup with a 13+2+2MP along with a 5MP selfie shooter. The device has an Android 10-powered Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box as it arrives in India.
Realme C20A packs in a giant 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with 720×1600 pixels resolution. It has a Helio G35 SoC under the hood paired with 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. The device runs on Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box.
The Realme C20 is the latest addition in the affordable C-series smartphone from Realme. It brings on-board 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel and it is powered by MediaTek Helio G35 SoC with 2GB RAM with 32GB storage. It has Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box.
Realme V15 5G
Realme launched the V15 5G in the first month of 2021 with a giant 6.4” FHD+ AMOLED display, a sturdy Dimensity 800U SoC under the hood along with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. There’s a 4,310 mAh battery mounted on it with 65W power adapter. Finally, the device arrived with Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box.
Realme 7 launches with a 6.5” FHD+ IPS panel with 90hz refresh rate. The mid-range device gets gaming prowess thanks to the Helio G95 that it packs in. The device gets a 64MP quad-camera setup with a 5000 mAh battery bundled with 30W fast charging. The device gets Android 10-based RealmeUI 1.0 out-of-the-box.
Update as of December 18: Talking about the screen flickering issue on Realme 7, Madhav on his episodic series AskMadhav said that the developers are constantly working on providing a permanent fix to this issue. He mentioned that the update bearing version number A.71 did have a bug fix to curb this issue, however, if the users are still facing the same screen flickering issue, they can submit their feedback and Realme will look after fixing the same with another update in the coming days. [Source]
Update as of December 20: Just yesterday, Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth stated that the A.71 update will fix the screen flickering issue with the Realme 7 for good, but it didn’t. Perhaps, there are abundant reports of users claiming that the screen flickering, ghosting issue is still apparent on Realme 7 even after upgrading to A.71. The Chinese manufacturer will have to offer yet another update to fix this issue for good. As of now, a user posted on Realme Community that turning off the Super Nighttime Standby on Realme 7 appears to be working so do try it out. [Source 1, 2]
Realme 7 Pro
The Pro variant for Realme 7 packs in quite a few powerful muscles thanks to its Snapdragon 720G SoC, a 6/8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device packs in a hefty 64MP primary sensor clubbed with three others aka 8MP+2MP+2MP sensors at the back while the front has a 32MP sensor. The device sports a 6.4” FHD+ Super AMOLED panel and runs on the latest Android 10-based RealmeUI 1.0.
Realme 7 made it in India on the 1st of September with a MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G processor under the hood. The device sports a 6.4” AMOLED panel with 32MP front and a 64MP quad camera setup at the back. It arrives with a 4,300 mAh battery under the hood with 65W fast charging tech. Above all, the phone runs on Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0.
Realme X7 Pro
The Realme X7 Pro gets a slightly powerful specification with a Dimensity 1000+ 5G chipset under the hood. The phone packs in a vibrant 6.55” AMOLED panel with 120hzx refresh rate, a 32Mp front and a 64+8+2+2MP rear quad-camera setup. A 4500 mAh battery sits under the hood with a 65W SuperDart Flash Charge. The phone comes with Android 10 flavored Realme UI 1.0 on-board and no doubt it will also get Android 11 for sure.
Realme V3 5G is the most affordable phone powered by 5G at just $205. The phone is powered by Dimensity 720 chipset and has a 6.5” HD+ LCD panel with a water drop-shaped notch. The device arrives with a hefty 5000 mAh battery under the hood. The phone runs on the latest Android 10-based RealmeUI 1.0 in China and other variants are expected to join soon.
The mid-range Realme 6S made it official earlier in the first week of June with Android 10-based Realme UI out-of-the-box. It is up-to-date and will be getting Android 11 too.
Realme X50 Pro Player Edition
Realme X50 Pro Player Edition is the gaming-oriented flagship smartphone with the latest Snapdragon 865 SoC on-board. The device runs on the latest Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 and thus, it is up-to-date.
Realme X3 SuperZoom
Realme X3 SuperZoom is a flagship-grade smartphone that made its debut earlier in June 2020. It too runs on Android 10 out-of-the-box and in fact, it will be among the first Realme smartphones to get bumped to Android 11.
Realme Narzo 10A
Hailing to the budget category, Realme Narzo 10A runs on Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10 which is the latest and up-to-date.
The affordable Realme Narzo that was launched earlier in May sporting an Helio G80 processor runs on the latest Android 10 out-of-the-box i.e. it is updated.
Realme 6 Pro
Realme 6 Pro made its debut in March 2020 with Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 and thus, it is up-to-date.
Just as Realme 6 Pro, the Realme 6 arrived in March 2020 with Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box. Thus, it is up-to-date.
Just as its siblings Realme 6 and 6 Pro, the Realme 6i too runs on the latest Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0, and therefore, it is up-to-date for now. It will also get Android 11 sometime next year.
Realme X50 Pro 5G
The Realme X50 Pro 5G arrived earlier this year in February with Snapdragon 865, up to 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of UFS 3.0 RAM. The device runs on the latest Android 10 OS based Realme 10 out-of-the-box and thus, it is up-to-date already.
Realme X50m 5G
Another of the higher mid-range phones from Realme, the X50m G runs on the latest Android 10 when it made its debut, and thus, it is already updated.
The budget-category Realme C3 arrived in February this year with an Helio G70 processor on-board. It runs on the latest Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 out-of-the-box already.
Realme X50 5G
The vanilla Realme X50 5G runs on the latest Android 10-based ColorOS 7 out-of-the-box.
Realme X50 5G Master Edition
Just like its vanilla version, the Realme X50 5G Master Edition too arrived with Android 10 out-of-the-box.
Realme has been following the Android 10 roadmap quite closely with Realme 5 getting its major Android 10 upgrade last month. Realme rolled out the stable update via OTA to a limited number of users to assess it. Now that it has received feedback from satisfied users, it has released a manual link to download the Android 10 build in India with version number RMX1911EX-11.C.47 while other countries have already started getting their set of updates as well. Here’s a download link for the same.
Update as of June 25th: Realme 5 is now getting June 2020 Androidi security patch for all devices bearing software version C.49. Check out for update bearing build number RMX1911EX_11.C.49 and install the new version for the latest security patch.
Just like Realme 5, Realme 5i was promised to get the stable update in May 2020 and the Chinese manufacturer didn’t fail to update a limited number of devices via OTA upgrade. With that being said, the link for downloading and manually installing the Android 10 in India bearing version number RMX1911EX-11.C.47 for which the link is available here.
Update as of June 25th: Just as Realme 5, the Realme 5i too has received June 2020 Android security patch bearing build number RMX1911EX_11_C.49 to install the patch.
Realme 5s is the last device in the Realme 5-series to get its share of upgrades. Although Realme released the Android 10 stable update via OTA last month in May 2020, it was a limited rollout. Only after getting the feedback from users that Realme is now pushing a manual installation of the stable update in India that you can download here. If you have already received the OTA update, do go through with it already. Download the installation file by clicking here.
Update as of June 25th: Realme 5s too has received the latest June 2020 Android security patch as on June 24th that updates the security definitions. Look out for an update bearing build number RMX1925EX_11_C.49.
Realme XT started receiving Android 10-based ColorOS 7 on January 17. Although it was previously announced to get Realme UI 1.0, the latter was unavailable. Realme XT intercept Android 10 bearing version number RMX1921_11_C.01 in India on the same day as Realme 3 Pro and a few days later, Realme UI was rolled out on Realme XT devices. Soon on January 18, the OTA update was rolled out to users. Here’s a link to download the global stable ROM. Realme XT also received LineageOS 17.1 based on Android 10 as of March 9 that you can download here.
Update as of June 25th: Realme XT is getting its share of June 2020 Android security patch bearing build number RMX1921EX_11.C.05. Along with it, Realme XT users will get a bunch of new features including its digital financial services app called PaySa, a Realme Link, charging decimal display feature, enhanced transparency in the slide back gesture and more. [Source]
Realme 5 Pro
Realme 5 Pro was originally slated to receive Android 10 Q in February as per the roadmap that the Chinese smartphone maker released. Just at the end of February, Realme 5 Pro users have finally started receiving Android 10 Q updates on their phones via OTA update with software version number RMX1971EX_11_C.01 and alike in other regions as well.
Update as of June 15th: After a few months of Android 10, Realme 5 Pro is getting another upgrade and this time, it is June 2020 Android security patch that arrives on 5 Pro in a phased manner bearing build number RMX1971EX_11.C.04. It also brings features like Realme PaySa (India), Realme Link and others on-board.
Realme released an Android 10 roadmap a few weeks earlier that gives the tentative date when any Realme device would get its update. Realme X2 received its Android 10-based Realme UI upgrade as of March 26 and was rolled out across all units so a delay of a few days was expected. The OTA update arrived in all Realme X2 units with version number C.05 among others. The update soon arrived in China on March 31 followed by its Indian stable version roll out on April 02 bearing software version number RMX1992AEX_11.C.05. Download the Indian Stable Version here.
Realme X2 Pro
Just as Realme X2 intercepted the Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 update, its Pro variant aka Realme X2 Pro too started receiving the update by the end of March bearing build number RMX1931EX_11.C.23. It was a batch rollout so people did find out a bit of delay intercepting it. On March 31st, the China variant of Realme X2 Pro too intercepted its Android 10 update. Download the Indian Stable Version here.
Realme 3 Pro
Realme 3 Pro is a phone listed under Project Treble which means it has already received Android 10 beta updates several times. The device is in tow to get Android 10 updates after Google releases the same. It runs on Snapdragon 710 SoC with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage. The device with its 6.3-inch IPS display came with a 4,045 mAh battery and runs on Color OS 6.0 based on Android Pie 9.0 before upgrading to Android 10.
Realme 3 Pro was originally a part of the Android Q beta program, however, Realme yank it away to roll out its custom-made Realme UI which in-turn is based on ColorOS. With that being said, Realme 3 Pro released Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 in January in India bearing version RMX1851_11_C.02 and it was a global update too. Fast forward to March 6, Realme 3 Pro users in Europe with build number C.03 got their hands on Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 with February 2020 and gone through one or more iterations by now.
Update as of June 25th: After waiting for a few months, Realme 3 Pro is finally getting its June 2020 Android security update bearing build number RMX1851EX_11.C.06. It is a phased update and thus, it will take some time to arrive on your device. Along with the patch, Realme 3 Pro will get features such as Realme Link, Realme PaySa, and various optimizations and additions to the UI. [Source]
Realme X Master Edition
Next in the list is the Realme X Master Edition which is apparently a top-notched variant of Realme X. The device runs on the same Snapdragon 710 SoC but has 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It has a 6.53-inch AMOLED display powered by a massive 3,765 mAh Li-Po battery and has Android Pie 9.0 onboard. It is also in tow to get Android 10 for sure. As per the latest information, the Realme X already received its Android 10 upgrade, Realme X Master Edition runs on the latest OS.
Realme X Lite
With Snapdragon 710 SoC octa-core with 128GB storage and 6GB of RAM, Realme X Lite is just a light version for namesake. The device has a massive 4,045 mAh battery along with 25MP front waterdrop-notched with 16+5MP rear camera setup. As Android Pie 9.0 is active on Realme X Lite, let’s say it is highly likely to get bumped to the latest Android 10 without any doubt.
Update: Realme X Lite is a rebranded version of Realme 3 Pro. Users should have received the update by now since the latter has already received the Android 10 upgrade. Check out this space for updates.
With a 6.53-inch AMOLED display on-board along with a 3,765 mAh Li-Po battery, the standard Realme X comes with a front pop-up camera. The device is slated to go on sale this month and will bring Snapdragon 710 SoC onboard coupled with 4/6/8GB RAM and 64/128GB of internal storage. It has a ColorOS 6 based on Android Pie 9.0 and thus, will be bumped to the latest Android 10 as well.
Update: Realme X was slated to get its share of Android 10 Q upgrade in February and it did as on February 28, the OTA update bearing Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 with build number RMX1901EX_11_C.01 weighing 3.52GB has begun to intercept on Realme X devices.
Update as of June 25th: Realme X is receiving June 2020 Android security patch bearing build number RMX1901EX_11.C.04 which includes the security patch along with features like Heyfun, Realme PaySa, Realme Link among others. [Source]
Realme C2 has a MediaTek Helio P22 SoC onboard along with a 13+2MP rear dual camera and 5MP front camera setup. The device falls in a budget category with a price tag as low as 6,000 INR. Although it has an Android Pie 9.0 OS, it is a question of whether it might get boasted to Android 10 or not.
Update as of June 25th: Most of the smartphones from Realme have already upgraded to Android 10. Talking about Realme C2, the device is yet to get the update. As per a recent update, albeit it is expected to arrive sometime in Q3 2020, according to a video series with Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth, the update is scheduled to arrive as early as September 2020. Note that the exact date isn’t available, however, at least we have the month when the update is scheduled.
Update as of July 23: Realme C2 is still waiting to get Android 10 and as per the expected timeline, it could arrive in September. However, Realme C2 had another shock today when Realme pulled back the July 2020 security patch and suspended it until the next announcement. This was confirmed on Mi Community by a moderator and a different public announcement will be made when the July 2020 security patch OTA update is resumed. Realme hasn’t added any specific reason why the OTA update was pulled back. [Source]
Update as of July 25: Days after suspending the July 2020 security patch rollout, Realme has resumed unleashing the July 2020 security patch bumping up the software version to A.28 from the suspended vA.27 while those who have already upgraded to the suspended patch would also get bug fixes via OTA. [Source]
Update as of August 10: Just as Realme 2 Pro intercepted the Android 10-based Realme UI 2.0, the new user interface will now be tested on C2 as well via an early access. The Realme C2 users will get the early access of the UI although it will be limited and will be rolled out to those who are selected from the submissions made on Realme’s early access info form available here and here. As per the timeline, users must fill up the form by August 12 and a day later, qualified users will start receiving it although the first phase only covers 1,000 slots. This will be carried on to the second phase that will commence soon.
Update as of August 18: A week after Realme commence taking submissions for beta testers on Realme C2, Realme C2 users who signed up for the Android 10-based Realme UI beta are now intercepting the update bearing version number RMX1945EX_11_C.41 or RMX1941EX_11_C.41 weighing at 2GB. It is rolling out via OTA for the beta testers with July 2020 security patch on-board.
Update as of August 26: Realme support on Twitter responded to a user stating that the stable Realme UI custom skin based on Android 10 will arrive on Realme C2 soon. It further added that the users can register for the beta program which is active at this moment. [Source]
Update as of September 25: Realme C2 is originally planned to get Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 by Q3 2020 which is between July to September 2020 and we are in the last week of September now. Apparently, when a user asked about when could C2 get an Android 10 update, the Realme Support said that the update will arrive by this month. This should put a smile on the face of Realme C2 users. [Source]
Update as of September 30: The Android 10 update has been elusive on Realme C2 although we did receive a revised timeline a few days ago. Turns out Realme is pushing Android 10 via its Application channel allowing users to apply for it and get the update. The recruitment already started on September 29th. There are a few things that users have to keep in mind that you can find here.
Apart from that, the users must have their phones upgraded to RMX1941EX_11.A.29 which is the latest firmware in order to be able to upgrade to Android 10. To check out the trial version via Application channel, users need to visit Settings >> Software Updates >> Tap on the top-right button >> Enter Trial Version Upgrade >> Choose Stable Realme and it is done. [Source]
Update as of October 14: According to the latest update coming from Realme India Support handle on Twitter, the Realme C2 will soon get its hands on Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0. Although there’s no ETA available but expect the update to arrive in following weeks if not more. [Source]
Update as of February 05: Last September, Realme begun testing Android 10-based REalme UI 1.0 on Realme C2 which was the last device to get the upgrade. Cut to now, the Realme C2 users can rejoice as the company appears to roll out the stable Android 10 build on C2 devices. This was confirmed by some of the users where they are receiving software version C.53 tied with January 2021 security patch on-board. The update comes with a size of 2.1GB and brings Android 10 on-board. If you are a beta tester, the new update carries a size of 164MB. [Source]
Realme 3 MT6771
Next in the list is Realme 3 MT6771 which by the name suggests that it sports an Helio P60 octa-core processor and has 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB internal storage options. The device has recently received a security update with Android Pie 9.0 being out-of-the-box.
Although the Realme UI was on the beta stage for Realme 3 and 3i, the stable Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10 started officially releasing by April 22. Realme started rolling out a stable update to Realme 3 MT6771 which sports an Helio P70 processor on-board by the end of April 2020 as per its schedule. The phone received the update as software version number RMX1821EX_11.C.09. Download the Indian Stable Version here.
Next up is the Realme 3 which possesses a MediaTek Helio P70 octa-core processor and has similar features to the P60 variant. Since the device runs on Android Pie 9.0 based ColorOS 6, it will get the upgrade after the company made it official some time ago.
Update: The story for Realme 3 with Helio P60 SoC is the same as the one added above. This version too received its Android 10 upgrade by the end of April 2020. Download the Indian Stable version.
Update as of June 17th: Realme released the June 2020 Android security patch for Realme 3, however, it has since removed the manual link although the program hasn’t been suspended yet. According to Realme, manual installation link for the security patch for Realme 3 will commence soon.
Realme C1 (2019)
Realme launched an upgraded C1 in January 2019. The device sports a Snapdragon 450 octa-core SoC with 2/3GB RAM option and 32GB storage. The device offers slight upgrades over the C1 released last year and runs on Android Oreo 8.1. Realme C1 is in tow to get bumped to Android Pie 9.0 this month. Apparently, the Chinese smartphone maker has dictated that Realme C1 will not get Android 10.
Status: It will not get Android 10
Released in the Year 2018
The Realme U1 is also a budget-range smartphone that was introduced back in December 2018 and has an Android Oreo 8.1 out-of-the-box. Realme has started sending out Android Pie 9.0 updates to all Realme U1 users, However, Realme has confirmed that Realme U1 will not get Android 10 for sure.
Status: It will not Android 10
Realme C1 (2018)
The Realme C1 that was unveiled in September last year sports the same Snapdragon 450 as seen in C1 (2019). The device as a budget phone hosts a 16GB storage and 2GB RAM and packs in a 13+2MP rear and a 5MP front sensor. Since we are talking about a phone that was launched a year ago and sports Android Oreo 8.1 out-of-the-box, it might not be able to make it to Android 10 unless Realme makes the update available before it’s support period ends in September of 2020 which it won’t as per Android 10 roadmap it made official several days ago.
Status: It will not get Android 10
Realme 2 Pro
Next is the Realme 2 Pro that offers Snapdragon 660 onboard with a dual 16+2MP rear and 16MP front camera setup. The device has a 128/8GB, 4/64GB, and 6/64GB storage variant and has recently started getting Android Pie 9.0.
As per the schedule, Realme 2 Pro must start receiving an Android 10-based Realme UI upgrade sometime this month i.e. June 2020. Once the update is released via OTA or by manual installation, you can check out this page as we will notify you unless Realme notifies you before we do. The beta recruitment for Realme 2 Pro Android 10 is already on its way so it is high time that Realme 2 Pro who has been restless ever since June rolled out, get Android 10.
Update as of June 25th: After almost a year since Android 10 release, Realme 2 Pro is finally getting its Android 10-based Realme UI update bearing builder number RMX1801EX_11.F.07. Note that this is a phased roll out and thus, it could take a few days to weeks before it arrives on your Realme 2 Pro smartphones. You need to ensure that your latest software version is C.31 to intercept the upgrade. [Source]
Update as of June 30: Realme has announced the commencement of an application channel from June 30 that will allow users to upgrade to the latest Realme UI stable release just when it drops on the air. Users must have Realme 2 Pro running on software version number RMX1801EX_11_C.31. They can check out the Settings >> Software Update to find more details on the new application channel and install for use. In other news, Realme 2 Pro has started getting the Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0 on a wider scale.
Update as of August 10: After facing a rough terrain with its Android 10-based Realme UI update with F.07/F.08 software version, Realme has finally issued another update to Realme 2 Pro to fix the bugs and provide a much cleaner experience. The software version number RMX1821EX_11.F.09 is now arriving on Realme 2 Pro via OTA for those who are upgrading from Android 9.0 while those who updated to the Android 10 version will receive a big fix package. You can wait for the update or tap here to manually download and flash it.
Realme 2 is one of the five devices that are getting bumped to Android Pie 9.0 this month. The device already has a Snapdragon 450 SoC and features a 64/4GB or 32/3GB storage configurations. Realme has confirmed that the device won’t get upgraded to Android 10.
Status: It will not get Android 10
Realme 1, the first phone from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer does come with a 6.0-inch IPS LCD display with Helio P60 12nm octa-core processor. The device has a variety of storage options ranging from 6/128GB, 4/64GB, 3/32GB. Since the device was launched last year in May, it has started receiving Android Pie 9.0 just this month which means it will not get Android 10 since we expected that to release for Realme 1 sometime in June of 2020 which will throw the device out-of-support unless Realme has different plans for its maiden smartphone.
Realme 1 made its debut with Android 8.1 Oreo in 2018. As per Realme’s update policy, it will not get an Android 10 upgrade officially. However, Pixel Experience, the popular custom ROM, has released an Android 10 custom ROM for the same. This includes both Pixel Experience and Pixel Experience Plus that Realme 1 users can get unofficially. Note that you can encounter bugs and issues when you upgrade so beware. Note that there’s a LineageOS 17.1 which is based on Android 10 is available for Realme 1 as well.
What should you do if your Realme phone isn’t eligible for Android 10?
Although all the smartphones from Realme run Android 8.1 Oreo and above which is a hint that these phones might get Android 10 which will be its second and last major update, it is not the case. In fact, it is possible that many of the phones are left out to get the Android 10 update due to any XYZ reason which means even though you purchase the Realme 1 this year, you might be stuck to Android Pie 9.0 in fact the manufacturer excludes it from the list of Android 10 supported Realme devices.
The question is, what could you do in such a case? Since you cannot try your hands on official update from Android, maybe you can try your luck at custom ROMs or if Realme provides further updates for its ColorOS although it won’t be much more than a slight update.
You can try custom ROMs for your Realme smartphones if you want. Subjected to support, you can check if your Realme phone supports any of the custom ROMs such as Paranoid OS, Pixel Experience, Resurrection Remix OS or LineageOS among others. These custom ROM developers usually take Android OS as the foundation while developing a further version such as LineageOS 17.0 will be based on Android 10. Thus, you can check if LineageOS or any other custom ROM support your phone or not.
Note that your device must be listed on these custom ROM’s supported list or else, you can either to the phone you have or upgrade to a new one if you will.
AOSP Android 10 for Realme devices:
- Realme 3 Pro: Click Here
- Realme 5 Pro: Click Here
- Realme 2 Pro: Click Here
- Realme X2 Pro: Click Here


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An unlikely partnership between a multinational food giant and a small group of growers has secured a brighter future for English mustard – five years after the handful of eastern region farmers who grow the iconic crop almost called it a day.
Grown for Colman’s of Norwich, which is owned by Unilever, mustard is undergoing something of a revival. Colman’s is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year and the 19 farmers who supply the company with mustard are looking forward to a successful harvest later this summer.
See also: Top tips when choosing a niche crop
It is a marked contrast to the situation in 2007 when yields plummeted due to falling investment and a lack of plant breeding. The disaster led to the creation of English Mustard Growers (EMG) cooperative, which now has 19 members and works closely with Unilever to develop the crop.
All farmers who grow for Colman’s live within 80 miles of the factory, which is just south of Norwich. Some of the farming families involved have been growing mustard for the company for more than 100 years – long before Unilever took over the business in 1995.
“We don’t have any financial ownership of the Colman’s brand but we still consider it to be ours,” says EMG chairman Michael Sly, who farms at Park Farm, Thorney, Cambridgeshire. “Without any English growers, there wouldn’t be any English mustard.”
Mr Sly helped establish the growers’ co-operative to improve husbandry and marketing. The co-op was the preferred option for Unilever, too. It wanted to maintain its strong “English” brand and its local growing base, and was looking for ways to support and encourage farmers.
Farm consultants EFFP helped the growers develop a business plan aimed at re-establishing mustard as an important and profitable crop in the east of England. Elsoms Seeds of Spalding came on board, and quickly increased productivity by pelleting the seeds into uniform sizes.
“We were able to rejuvenate one of the varieties from a retained sample in the Colman’s library,” says Anthony Keeling of Elsoms. “We went right back to square one. One of the varieties, Gedney, is 25 or 30 years old.”
Two main varieties of the crop are grown: brown mustard and white mustard. Both are vital ingredients in Colman’s Mustard – milled into mustard flour and blended at Norwich using a process that has remained largely unchanged for two centuries.
In total, the co-operative supplies about 1,400t of mustard seed to Colman’s every year. Delivered to the factory at no more than 8.5% moisture, it undergoes strict quality control tests before being accepted and dried down to 3-4% moisture.
In its first year, the co-op invested in mobile crop drying and cleaning equipment to ensure mustard production was as efficient as possible. Today, the farmers are benefiting from improved long-term profitability and reduced risks, growing an important break crop on a commercial basis.
There are benefits for Unilever, too. By handling administration, the co-op simplifies contract management. When the crop is delivered to the factory in Norwich, the co-op does the invoicing, so Unilever doesn’t have to deal with 17 growers individually.
Further developments are in the pipeline. Despite the niche nature of the market, Elsoms sees a future for the crop and is developing new mustard varieties. If all goes to plan, they are expected to be made available to growers within the next year or so.
“We have got the crop back to where it used to be,” says Unilever’s David Pendlington. “We have new varieties coming through and we are looking at ways of increasing the yield. But it is about growing the business as well.”
“If we need more growers then that is what we will agree with English Mustard Growers. Some of the farmers who are growing mustard today, their grandfathers also used to grow the crop. But they stopped and now those farms have started growing it again – we are in a good spot.”
Mustard cuts it as cereals break crop
Farm manager Phil Warham is growing 20ha of mustard for the first time on the Claxton Manor Estate, eight miles south-east of Norwich.
“We moved away from sugar beet because we didn’t like mauling the ground around in the winter,” he says. “We needed a good break crop against cereals and we are eight miles from the Colman’s factory – why wouldn’t we grow mustard?”
A low-input crop, mustard is drilled in 15cm rows with a conventional Horsch Pronto drill. “We subsoil it, cultivate it and drill. It’s had one pre-emergence herbicide and two insecticides for pollen beetle and that is all – it is very like a spring oilseed rape to manage.”
The crop is usually drilled from March to mid-April. Yields can vary, although most growers try to target 2t/ha. Mr Warham says he expects the gross margin to be a little better than spring oilseed rape.
“We’re on a fixed price with Colman’s – but it is about more than the money. Our sandy land will work easily but it will drought as well, so it is all about finding the right sort of break crop.”
Mustard is harvested just after wheat. “It fits in well with the combine and doesn’t impact on storage because it is low-yielding,” says Mr Warham. “After we’ve combined it, we will dress it and take it into the factory ourselves. It’s that simple.”


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Brand conscious, Indians drive gray market product demand
Demands from brand conscious Indians have led to the increase in sale of gray market products particularly appliances and accessories in India to between 10 to 20 per cent, inflicting economic losses on corporations and tax revenues, according to a new report.
The consumer products, traded through these illicit channels, is between two and 10 per cent, said A T Kearney in a report "Combating the Gray Market Menace," released here on Monday.
"Gray market thrives because of three reasons: demand for brands is much more wide spread than the ability of companies to supply in a cost-effective manner; popular brands enjoy decent margins creating an incentive for grey marketers, copying formulations is difficult but not impossible and extensive usage of third parties in the supply chain creates possible risk of leakage of intellectual property," said Subhendu Roy, Partner at A T Kearney India and a co-author of the report.
Gray market comprises of counterfeit products, genuine products that are diverted to unintended markets or channels and damaged or expired products, cautioned Kearney.
The global gray market has grown by about 15 per cent over the past few years and is expected to reach more than $1.5 trillion in the coming years. Gray market is a growing threat for all participants in the consumption ecosystem, including corporations, customers, and governments, it warned. For corporations, the danger is in lost sales, brand value, and market share. For customers, the issue is purchasing gray products and then feeling cheated and distressed by money wasted.
For governments, the struggle is to control spread as not only is gray market commerce a crime, but also loss of tax revenue when products are purchased in the shadows, said the global management consultancy. It calls on the companies to limit the number of expired and tampered products that remain in the market long after their "sell by" dates.
It also calls for stronger controls on intellectual property and materials critical to the production process will help keep new ideas and materials off the gray market.
"Preventing gray market sales will require finding solutions in existing processes and ways of working while also collaborating with other industry stakeholders to shape the external environment. It s time to fight back, to root out illicit sellers that are damaging India and its citizens," Subhendu Roy added.


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Samsung has rolled out a new update for the Smart Switch application. For starters, the Smart Switch is one of the very useful applications that allows users to easily transfer data from one device to another. Whenever you want to switch devices, you can easily take all the data from the other device.
The most special thing about this application is that it is capable of transferring data even across platforms. Now, to improve the capability, Samsung has rolled out a new update for the application.
Samsung updates SmartSwitch
Samsung has rolled out the new update of SmartSwitch, which comes with version number 184.108.40.206. The latest update doesn’t bring any new changes to the device, but it is expected that the update will surely improve the overall performance of the app.
The latest update is now available on the Galaxy Store with 34.65 MB of software. It doesn’t seem like any significant changes have been made; however, we hope it will swiftly increase the stability of the functions that were causing lags in the previous version.
If you are transferring data via cable or wirelessly, you should keep these points in mind:
- To transfer data, both devices must have a minimum of 500 MB of free space in their internal memory.
- If you are using a wired connection, your device must support the ‘Transferring Media Files (MTP)’ USB option to allow content to be transferred.
- If you have a non-Samsung device that constantly disconnects from the wireless network, go to Advanced Wi-Fi on your device, turn off the “Wi-Fi initialize” and “Disconnect low Wi-Fi signal” options, and try again.
Don’t miss our latest news on Samsung technology. Follow SamLover.com on your favorite social media platforms for instant notifications.


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State's 9th pot shop set to open as Boston's first shop gets zoning OK
Boston’s first recreational marijuana shop has gotten the green light as another shop is getting ready to open.
The Cannabis Control Commission said Northeast Alternatives, Inc., in Fall River can begin adult-use operations for cultivation, product manufacturing and retail as early as Sunday.
The Fall River shop will be the state’s ninth recreational marijuana dispensary to open.
The company Ascend Massachusetts has been given approval by the Boston's zoning board to begin construction on a vacant building it purchased at 272 Friend St. near the Garden.
If it stays on schedule, the Boston shop will open later this year.
Although they have zoning approval, the company still needs approval from the state's Cannabis Control Commission.
The company has other operations in Illinois and Michigan. The company’s local chief executive is former Suffolk County sheriff and former State Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral.


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Ryvita has undergone a brand relaunch in collaboration with branding consultancy Coley Porter Bell.
Targeting the health market, the brand revamp includes a new packaging design that aims to give consumers a reason to choose it over the brand’s competitors, according to Ryvita.
The brand is pushing the health benefits of rye in the design by stating that a diet high in rye fibre will contribute to normal bowel function as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
The new design will hit retailers’ shelves this month and will be showcased across its Pumpkin Seeds & Oats, Currant Seed & Oats and Dark Rye crispbread variants.
Mia Hartwell, senior brand manager at Ryvita, said the company was incredibly excited to see its bold and vibrant new pack design hit the shelves.
“Coley Porter Bell have brought to life ‘Rye Goodness’ that is intrinsic to every slice of Ryvita Crispbread,” said Hartwell. They have done this in a bright, confident way that modernises the brand and will drive fantastic standout at [the] fixture.”
Coley Porter Bell believes that the Ryvita rebrand will give its product a “new lease of life”.
Ryvita introduced a new Three Cheese flavour addition to its Thins range in July 2017.