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Microsoft rAge expo highlightsBy Hanleigh Daniels 28 September 2010 | Categories: news
The annual South African tech and games expo rAge is almost upon us once again. This year Xbox gamers can amongst others look forward to getting a preview of Microsoft’s controller-less, motion-based gaming add-on Kinect, as well as the forthcoming Fable 3.
Visitors to the expo will get the opportunity to experience Microsoft’s new gaming system at the Xbox 360 stand before its launch in November.
They will also be able to play Fable 3, which is the latest installment in the popular RPG series. It will also be on display at the Xbox 360 stand at rAge, allowing fans of the franchise to get an early look of the title before being released later in October.
The highly anticipated game also features some well known actors doing the voice acting including Stephen Fry, John Cleese and Sir Ben Kingsley.
“Visitors to rAge range from 10-year old gamers that are just starting out, hard core enthusiasts who want to play the latest games on display, and families looking for a great day out together,” says Yvette van Rooyen, Xbox product & marketing manager in South Africa.
“Xbox 360 is using rAge to give visitors a sneak peek at some of the year’s most anticipated releases.”
The rAge expo will run from 1-3 October 2010 at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg.
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What new tech or developments are you most anticipating this year?
New smartphone announcements (18 votes)Technological breakthroughs (16 votes)Launch of new consoles, or notebooks (10 votes)Innovative Artificial Intelligence solutions (11 votes)Biotechnology or medical advancements (18 votes)Better business applications (84 votes)


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| Jun 27, 2013
| 2:18 PM
Paula Deen may be in crisis mode, but who better to call a supporter than fellow Food Network alum and domestic comeback queen Martha Stewart? On Wednesday night's episode of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Stewart expressed sympathy for Deen's current...
| Apr 30, 2013
| 10:10 AM
Blackstone Group, the New York-based private equity group, announced Tuesday it would hire 50,000 military veterans over the next five years across its various businesses.
The company said it is partnering with the White House, which is leading an...
| Jul 15, 2013
| 5:00 AM
She's an American icon with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But it has been four decades since she had her own prime-time TV show, on which her courage, loyalty and knack for saving the day endeared her to millions of baby boomers.
| Jun 13, 2013
| 5:00 AM
Wild Oats Markets Inc., the closed purveyor of organic and natural foods, is planning a comeback this year, potentially aided by local billionaire Ron Burkle.
The company, which has been out of operation since 2007, now says on its website that it is...
| Feb 25, 2013
| 8:48 AM
Earlier this month, influential mommy bloggers gathered in a penthouse suite at Manhattan's Royalton Hotel for a brunch of bloody marys, mimosas and a buffet. Their host was Matt Petersen, a Mattel Inc. vice president who runs its North American boys'...
| Jan 18, 2013
| 3:28 PM
Confidence among American households unexpectedly fell to a one-year low in January, as higher payroll taxes create a risk that the biggest part of the economy will slow in early 2013.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of...
| Dec 13, 2012
| 3:25 PM
Gift cards are popular during the holiday season, but Chicago police today announced the arrests of two men charged with using them in a large-scale fraud operation against Target stores.
The arrests come as part of an ongoing fraud investigation...
| Dec 15, 2012
| 1:05 PM
Santa Claus arrived early for about 30 lucky children who got to go on a shopping spree Saturday morning with Chicago police officers at a Target retail store on the South Side.
The "SHOP WITH A COP" event was hosted by the Chicago Police Department and...
| Mar 15, 2013
| 12:25 PM
Landmarks Illinois celebrated its seventh and largest fundraiser at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on March 7, with more than 500 patrons in attendance. Leslie Hindman, John W. McCarter Jr. and Target Corp. were named "Legendary Landmarks."
| May 7, 2012
Starbucks is once again planning to open a freestanding location in Airport Center. This is like de-ja-vu for many that remember the popular Seattle-based coffee chain initially planned a location in the Hanover Township, Lehigh County, shopping center...
| Feb 7, 2011
| 5:49 PM
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Engaged Capital is showing some muscle, pushing for more independence in the makeup of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s board.
The hedge fund, which owns nearly 0.6 percent of the outstanding shares of Abercrombie, on Thursday disclosed its five nominees for election to the Abercrombie board at this year’s annual meeting. The five are Alexander P. Brick, former chief executive officer of Specialty Retail Group; Robert D. Huth, former ceo of David’s Bridal; Michael W. Kramer, former chief operating officer of J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and former ceo of Kellwood Co., as well as a former executive at Abercrombie; Diane L. Neal, former ceo of Bath & Body Works and the former president at Mervyn Stores when owned by Target Corp., and Glenn W. Welling, chief investment officer and managing member of Engaged Capital.
Welling said the company needs a board of independent leaders who can “set a new direction for Abercrombie.” He added: “For far too long, stockholders have suffered under the failed leadership of a board that has lacked the independence necessary to properly act as our fiduciaries.”
Last month the teen retailer split the positions of chairman and chief executive officer and named Arthur Martinez, 74, non-executive chairman. Michael Jeffries, 69, who had been chairman for 18 years, remains chief executive officer and a director.
Abercrombie also moved to bolster its retail talent on its board, increasing the number of board members to 12 with the appointments of Martinez; Terry Burman, chairman of Zale Corp., and Charles R. Perrin, former chairman and ceo of Avon Products Inc. The three are considered independent directors.
Abercrombie’s Martinez said, “As we have communicated during numerous discussions with Engaged Capital, I am committed, and the entire [Abercrombie] board is committed, to continue taking significant steps to strengthen and enhance corporate governance as the company moves into the next phase of growth.”
Sources said all incumbent directors are expected to run for reelection. Given the length of tenure for nine incumbents, these sources said should all five of Engaged Capital’s nominees get elected, along with the three newly appointed directors earlier this month, Abercrombie’s board would be controlled by a majority of independent directors for the first time in years.
One source familiar with Engaged’s position said the hedge fund is looking for new leadership that can effect a viable strategy to turn around the company, particularly the positioning of its core Abercrombie and Hollister brands to the female consumer. This individual also said that “Engaged has never said it was pushing for a sale” of the company, and that it wants a “new team that would be open to evaluating all options to creating value” for shareholders.
Michael Appel, president of restructuring consultancy firm Appel Associates, said, “The issue at Abercrombie is whether you really have an independent board, given the current composition. They just gave Jeffries a new contract. How independent are they? Take a look at how long it took them to separate the chairmanship from the ceo position. So the question is, did the board do enough with that change, or did they do this as a defensive measure to entrench themselves?”
@deciem is all about transparency and approachability. At this year’s WWD Digital Beauty Forum, the brand's co-CEO @nicolakilner said talking to customers directly about the ingredients in products and how they work is key. #wwdsummits #wwdbeauty
‘We didn't know how relevant our film would be when we were making it. When Steven [Rogers] wrote the script Trump wasn't president, class divide in America wasn't as evident as it is now, though it was present. The Time’s Up movement hadn't began and the way we look at women and treat women who speak out — thankfully that is something that seems to have shifted in the last year. I think we just need to continue making art that provokes the conversation and do what we can,’ said ‘I, Tonya’ actress @margotrobbie. Head to WWD.com to see all the celebrities who walked the red carpet @bafta #timesup #wwdeye (📸: Neil Hall)
Gemma Arterton is joined on the @bafta’s red carpet by Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis, the two women who started the fight for the pay-gap. ‘They represent a normal person speaking out for what is right. Speak out, we will listen and anyone can speak out,’ said Arterton. #eebaftas #timesup #wwdeye (📸: David Fisher)


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During the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco today, Google discussed the future of its “Chrome OS” platform, as well as some future products that will soon hit the market. Google has improved the performance of Adobe Flash playback within the browser, and the OS will now recognize I/O devices — such as cameras — when they’re plugged into the computer. Other new features include Google Music integration, a new photo manager that allows you to send directly to Picasa, and an option to upload files directly to Box.net. Google’s bread and butter, Gmail, Calendar, and Docs are all now accessible while offline. Hackers will also appreciate a new built-in jailbreaking feature. Samsung and Acer will both introduce “Chromebooks” on June 15th for $429 and $399, respectively. Samsung will also sell a 3G version of its Chromebook for $499. Those prices sound a bit high to us considering that you can get a full-fledged Windows 7 netbook for that price, but we’ll see if the market agrees.
Google is partnering with OEMs to come up with a new range of Chromebooks. Last night, it launched its cheapest Chromebook yet priced at $149 (Rs 9,286 approximately). More →
Google's ChromeBook Pixel announcement took many by surprise even when there were all indications that something of this sort was bound to land, it was not known that it would arrive so quickly. Of course, the ChromeBook Pixel, is not only Google’s first proper laptop, but it is a marvelous example of industrial design molded with an incredible display. Google says that the 12.85-inch touch-display on the ChromeBook Pixel has a resolution of 2560x1700 converting to the most pixel dense laptop display with pixel count homing in at 239ppi. Of course, when we talk about pixel dense laptops then one cannot keep out the MacBook Pro with Retina display out of the game. This time we compare the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display with the ChromeBook Pixel. Read on to find out the differences. More →
When it comes to business centric notebooks, then Lenovo’s ThinkPad brand is perhaps the first and foremost option for most. Lenovo already has a number of products under the iconic branding including an 11.6-inch model – the ThinkPad X131e. Today, ZDNet is reporting that Lenovo has announced ChromeBook variant of the same that is powered by Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS. More →
Google and Samsung have again joined hands to create a new Chromebook and Chromebox and as usual both run Google’s cloud based Chrome OS. The new Samsung Chromebook - the Series 5 550, flaunts a 12.-inch display, an Intel Core series processor, 4GB of RAM, an HD camera, two USB 2.0 ports, and a rated battery life of six hours. On the other hand, the Chromebox which admittedly, is a Mac Mini look alike now get four USB 4.0 ports and gets built-in dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Gigabit ethernet. More →
Apart from showing a slew of Ultrabooks and OLED televisions Samsung sneaked in its latest series 5 Chromebook and series 3 Chromebox at CES. Both the devices boast of identical specs namely dual-core Celeron processors, 2GB of RAM and 16 gigabytes of solid state memory. The series 3 Chromebox is very different from the one Google had unveiled back in May 2011, though the new Chromebook series 5 shares more or less the same design as its predecessor. More →


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Investors found a lot to be happy about in Apple’s latest earnings report, which was released by the company this afternoon. While Apple didn’t shatter any records, the company beat expectations for the quarter with a total of $45.5 billion in revenue.
That’s well ahead of Wall Street’s expectation of $43.5 billion. iPad sales proved one of the biggest surprises of the quarter, with shipments rising 15 percent year-over-year. Apple CEO Tim Cook was definitely happy with the results.


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Så er der åbnet op for innovation
Heidelberg drives printing industry’s digital transformation with new Innovation Center
The new Innovation Center (IVC) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) for the graphic arts industry is now “Open for Innovation” at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site.
A former production hall has been converted to create the industry’s most state-of-the-art development center. By opening the new Innovation Center, Heidelberg is looking to accelerate the digital transformation at print shops and its own company.
- The digitization of the graphic arts industry is progressing at top speed and we are actively driving this process with our “Heidelberg goes Digital” strategy, so our new Innovation Center plays a key role in safeguarding the future of Heidelberg and the entire industry in a number of ways.
- Our technology leadership is continuing to grow thanks to the unrivaled expertise of the center’s highly skilled workforce of around 1,000. What’s more, we are increasing the speed of the entire industry’s digital transformation. The IVC’s proximity to our production operations also encourages an agile, multidisciplinary development process, explains Stephan Plenz, member of the Heidelberg Management Board responsible for Digital Technology.
- The Innovation Center is the new hub of our company and the future high-tech campus we are gradually creating at our Wiesloch-Walldorf site, he adds.


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ad:tech New York 2015, an event for marketing and media, will run from November 4-5. It will feature displays from 200+ major Fortune 500 brands like IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, eBay, Dish Network, American Express, Grant Thornton, alongside up-and-coming technology startups like Koncept VR, Tagazu, Thinaire and StatSocial.
ad:tech New York expo floor will include ”The Playground,” the “Needle Bus,” two “think:tech” theaters and international pavilions.
The Playground: Located at the back of the exhibit hall and sponsored by Growmobile and Buzztala, ”The Playground”,” is a dedicated networking area where attendees can play a game of beer ping pong, air hockey or Jenga while mixing and mingling with fellow attendees.
The “Needle Bus:” here you’ll be able to watch retail and branding experts interact with shoppers in real-time, highlighting how Needle’s revolutionary offering can drive ROI for all businesses.
Two think:tech Theaters: There will be two think:tech theaters running parallel classes, covering a diverse range of topics including marketing to the price-conscious shopper and uncovering real value in data.
International Pavilions: 16 % of all exhibitors hail from different parts of the globe, including the U.K., Israel, China, Mexico, Australia and more.
“We are thrilled to welcome both world-renowned brands and newer players alike, in the advertising and marketing technology industry at ad:tech New York this year,” said Kimberly Smiley, marketing director for ad:tech (pictured top left). “Our goal is to continue to facilitate an environment of learning and networking on the expo floor. The new features and activities will help attendees engage and interact with their peers, while inspiring them with creative approaches and ideas for their future digital advertising and marketing campaigns.”


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5 weeks ago, iOS 7 was unveiled at Apple’s WWDC and is now on its 3rd Beta. It’s only officially available to those who are registered developers and the rest will have to wait until is public release date. So when will that be? Here we have a roundup of the latest iOS 7 news including release date.
It’s looking more and more likely that iOS 7 will be released, in all its final glory, in September. There’s talk of a new iPhone coming out then as well and it’s likely that both will be released at around the same time. Predictions say it will be officially announced at a Media event on 10th September, released for pre-order on 13th and fully released on 20th September. Once released, all of those with compatible devices will be able to upgrade free of charge OTA or via iTunes.
iOS 7 contains many new features and a great deal of upgraded existing ones as well as a completely new suit of armor. A colorful one at that. Some of the new features look a lot like jailbreak tweaks.
At a glance, these are some of the Features in iOS 7:
- New Control Center
- Upgraded Notification Center and Multitasking app
- AirDrop has been included
- New security in the shape of Activation Lock
- Overhauled Maps app with Full Screen and Night Mode
- Ability to block numbers from contacting you in FaceTime, Messages and Phone apps
- And much, much more….
If you want to get a look at iOS 7 without actually downloading it and you have a jailbroken device, you can download some of these tweaks, Cydia Themes or iOS 7 Wallpapers (works on non-jailbroken devices as well).
As soon as the official release date is confirmed we’ll let you know.


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Fiat500USA.com Has Just Posted the Following:
Fiat USA recently unveiled the new Fiat 500c GQ Edition, continuing Fiat's
European tradition of releasing high end special editions of the 500. The new
Fiat 500c GQ Edition Cabrio combines elegant good looks with the potent
driveline of the Fiat 500 Abarth for a car that is geared towards those who
value sophistication as well as performance.


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Australians are drinking less alcohol than at any time in the last 15 years with beer consumption dropping to a 69-year low, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
More “local partnerships” are needed to help reduce the UK’s £21 billion “alcohol harms” bill, according to Minister and MP Norman Baker.
A Scottish veteran has launched a drinks brand with the aim of donating 20% of profits made from its vodka to three military charities.
International drinks group Quintessential Brands has bought First Ireland Spirits Company, which claims to be Ireland’s biggest independent producer of cream liqueurs and Irish county creams.
Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2014 will reflect Asia’s position as the world’s biggest spirits consumer with the launch of a new bar concept at next month’s fair.
The Banks Rum ambassador talks cocktails, how has Banks “reinvigorated” the blended rum category and its plans to make its mark with consumers who treat spirits like a fine wine.
A 19-year-old UK whisky enthusiast has won the inaugural Ian Murray Scholarship, created by William Grant & Sons in honour of a former employee who passed away last year.
Wine and Warfare returns for a look at clan warfare in the Scottish Highlands and the Battle of Glenlivet.
Pernod Ricard is bringing a splash of carnival colour to the Absolut vodka range as it launches the latest in a series of limited edition expressions for travel retail.
The spirit category is home to some of the world’s most opulent bottlings with their value rising high into the millions.
© 2014 Union Press Ltd | Unit 122, 30 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS, UK | Registered in England and Wales No. 03606414 | Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420


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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga., March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For busy families challenged by the daily stresses of meal planning, SeaPak is reaching out with a new message to bring more mindfulness and calm into their everyday lives. Called "Chillax, you've got this," the brand's new campaign is designed to help diminish the pressures that typically surround mealtime.
"Our plan is to help families answer the age-old question, 'What's for dinner?,'" said Megan Grinstead, Director of Marketing for SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co. "In today's hectic world, it's a constant challenge to find the time and energy to come up with a quick and healthy recipe that everyone will like. It creates a lot of anxiety around meal planning, and in the end, families often find themselves struggling to maintain healthy eating habits."
Through SeaPak's website and social media channels, along with advertising, couponing and in-store activity, the campaign shows how SeaPak can provide tasty, healthful and convenient meal solutions, letting parents "Chillax, you've got this."
"The new campaign really underscores SeaPak's commitment to being an authentic seafood brand that understands our consumers' wants and needs," Grinstead explained. "We have a long heritage as an innovative and family-focused provider of convenient, tasty, quality seafood options, and we're using that strength to build consumers' confidence and save time and money."
New video vignettes created for the Chillax campaign feature a fun-loving "inner-self" character who offers convincing words of encouragement to frazzled moms. The upbeat, 15-second spots appear online at SeaPak.com and across numerous media platforms such as Hulu, Pandora and Spotify.
Additionally, the videos and recipes displaying the new campaign message will run across several online and social sites including Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
SeaPak has been using coastal-inspired recipes to make great-tasting shrimp and seafood for nearly 70 years. The company is committed to helping busy families reduce stress and increase wellness by offering mindful, authentic, quality seafood products. The trusted name for delicious seafood products since 1948, SeaPak today produces America's No. 1-selling retail frozen shrimp brand within the specialty seafood category. SeaPak is highly regarded within the seafood industry for its adherence to the utmost in quality standards and for its commitment to resource management and sustainability. Learn more about the brand and its commitment to sustainability here.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-favorite-seafood-brand-wants-you-to-chillax-at-mealtime-300422930.html
SOURCE SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co.


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Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
The Consumer Analyst Group of Europe conference dominated news this week with updates from Kraft Foods Group, Glanbia and Nestle. Elsewhere GM was back in the spotlight with the UK Prime Minister's scientific advisers arguing the technology is safe. Also this week the political tensions in Russia and Ukraine saw Metro Group delay an IPO of its Russian cash-and-carry unit and Lidl announced the departure of chairman Karl-Heinz Holland.
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- Why personalisation will take-off in US food
- US food next wave on display at Winter Fancy Food
- Comment: Meal kits in US - don't believe the hype
- Interview: The Soulfull Project's mission
- General Mills sales woes continue - analysis
- Post Holdings 'close to acquiring Weetabix'
- Kraft Heinz cuts jobs in US, Canada
- Recipe-kit firm HelloFresh launches into UK retail
- UK, EU food faces "more costly" trade, warns study
- Mondelez set for union crosshairs next week


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US CFTC has given ErisX the DCO license, which allows for the US crypto exchange's upcoming clearinghouse to clear crypto futures contracts.
Clients will be unable to trade and access their Bitfinex and Ethfinex accounts during a platform upgrade that may take up to seven hours on June 26.
KuCoin makes a "smart move" by showing support for its rival exchange Binance's products: Binance Coin (BNB) and Binance Chain projects.
Starting June 21, US-based traders will lose access to 32 crypto markets on Bittrex, and are therefore advised to know all steps to take before the change.
XRP United will shut down in July, only seven months since it began operations. Clients are advised to withdraw all their remaining assets before July 1.
TaoTao customers will be able to trade BTC and ETH upon the new crypto exchange's launch this week, along with XRP, LTC, and BCH for margin trading.


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HTC Vive Goes Wireless $220 to Add – On booking from Friday
Oculus may be closed in 2016, as the touch controller, but HTC will launch in 2017, there are some special: a peripheral device, make its Vive wireless earphone.
HTC today announced a tether-less VR upgrade kit for its SteamVR device, made by TPCAST, one of the first of 33 companies to join the Vive X Accelerator. A preview version of the kit was shown off today at Alibaba’s “11/11” global shopping festival in Shenzhen, China. This is not the wireless prototype device in the works at Quark VR.
Below we have exclusive footage of the upgrade kit being sampled by Alvin W. Graylin, China Regional President of Vive at HTC. There are no wires connecting the headset to the PC behind the monitor.
Said in a telephone interview, Graylin, this experience will “greatly improve the overall” Vive experience, to delay factors such as there is no “significant differences”. The product will be able to use standard cell reservation, although Graylin says, will eventually sell more batteries. We were told the standard battery can provide power for about an hour and a half. A bigger battery will be on the user’s pocket.
HTC expects the device to be adopted by “avid” Vive users, though it could also be useful for businesses. Arcades, an area that the company is placing a big emphasis on of late, could have multiple Vive units without worrying about tangled wires and fewer tripping hazards, for example.
The upgrade kit will be available to pre-order on Vive’s Chinese website “in limited quantity” for 1,499 RMB ($220.33). The kit is said to ship starting in Q1 2017. According to HTC, pre-orders go live at 7 a.m. Pacific on Friday. Graylin said anyone could order the unit from there and pay for shipping. According to HTC, in a press release, “order fulfillment will give priority to existing customers, they can provide effective Vive serial number.”
Graylin said plans for local releases haven’t been discussed and he wouldn’t confirm if the tech could be integrated into future versions of the Vive, though he does “imagine technologies like this will become an option for future products.”
VR is based on the wireless PC industry in the third type of wireless VR cordless headphones, the other is the use of mobile phones and completely independent system equipment. The latter category is quickly gaining interest, with major players like Oculus recently showcasing their own solutions. Products like this upgrade kit might hit a nice sweet spot, allowing people to immerse themselves in complex virtual worlds with hand controls and full freedom of movement throughout a room.


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- WEB STARTUPS
- WEB JOBS
- ALL TOPICS
Qik Cracks the iPhone 3G – Live Streaming on Jailbroken Phones
Live video streaming service Qik has announced that they have cracked the iPhone 3G and you can now record live video on your iPhone. This will only work on jailbroken iPhone devices – that means if you are a good little boy or girl, this won’t work for you.
Back in June, Qik announced live iPhone video streaming support for the first generation iPhone. We were first to report on competitor Flixwagon launching live iPhone video streaming support earlier that day.
Here’s Michael at Qik explaining how the new video streaming support works:
Of course there’s also that little issue of iPhone 3G battery life to deal with.


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Goal: Improving supply chains
The Defense Department will release a new logistics enterprise architecture next month as part of its effort to connect 3,000 computer supply systems so managers can more easily order goods and troops can receive them more quickly.
The Enterprise Integrated Data Environment, which is part of DOD's overall logistics architecture and will be completed by June, will help officials in the military and the Defense Logistics Agency manage implementation of logistics systems. It will tie systems together by giving users a common interface for exchanging logistics information across the military, said Gary Jones, acting assistant deputy undersecretary of Defense for logistics systems modernization.
"This has to be a success," Jones said.
DOD officials hired Science Applications International Corp. and Enterprise Warehousing Solutions Inc., a systems integrator based in Chicago, to help create the framework.
To build the data architecture, company officials started by following certain steps developed through their work with government and commercial clients, such as defining requirements of the architecture. They then chose commercial software that would meet key objectives, including scalability and performance, said David Marco, the company's president.
Top logistics generals, testifying before Congress last week, stressed the need for a logistics architecture and common computer protocols to help solve the many problems troops encountered when ordering and delivering clothing, ammunition, water, food and parts during last year's invasion of Iraq.
The military does not require new supply systems — just connections among existing ones, said Lt. Gen. Claude Christianson, the Army's deputy chief of staff for logistics, during a March 30 hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's Readiness Subcommittee.
He said DOD officials need to define an architecture and adopt information technologies used in industry to track supplies. The military is conducting pilot tests of such technologies, including radio frequency identification devices, which recognize goods in shipping containers by scanning electronic tags on them, and software embedded in logistics systems that sense when supplies are running low and automatically orders more.
DOD has been able to improve logistics since the first Persian Gulf war, but it still lags behind industry standards. The private sector generally has a one- to two-day average for domestic deliveries and two to four days for international ones.
NEXT STORY: Sixty percent of tax returns have been e-filed


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Seoul has affirmed that Vietnam is central to South Korea’s New Southern Policy (NSP) that is aimed to elevate its ties with ASEAN and India to the level of Korea's traditional four major diplomatic partners (the US, Japan, China, and Russia).
|Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (left) and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. Photo: Baoquocte|
South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong told Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at a teleconference held on April 28.
At talks, the two top diplomats have stressed the importance to all-sided relations. They agreed to boost exchanges between high-ranking officials via virtual meetings and phone talks.
They also discussed measures to make the trade target of US$100 billion by 2023 attainable and to have more selective investment inflows from South Korea.
The two top diplomats talked about the strategic cooperative partnership with the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.
They also sought ways to facilitate trips by essential workers including business people.
In South Korea NSP, Vietnam is geographically closer to Korea than India, and it has a robust Korean community, with more than 7,000 Korean companies and 200,000 Korean expatriates. Moreover, Vietnam has many favorable conditions for manufacturing industries, including qualified and cheap labor, good infrastructure, and well-developed industrial zones, Françoise Nicolas said in “The Economic Pillar of Korea’s New Southern Policy.”
In 1989, South Korea and ASEAN set up dialogue relations. Since then, the two-way trade has rocketed almost 20-fold. In the recent years, South Korea-ASEAN trade is thus heavily skewed towards Vietnam. In 2019, Vietnam became South Korea’s 4th largest trade partner just behind China, US, and Japan.
By country, South Korea’s trade with Vietnam grew at the most rapid pace. In 2018, Vietnam accounted for 42.7% of Korea-ASEAN trade.
Among these countries, Vietnam receives the lion’s share, with some 44 percent on average of Korean ODA in ASEAN over the last decade (2010-2018).


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There's a telecom expo going on right now in Hong Kong, which helps o explain all the recent cellphone announcements and groovy mockups we've seen. Now Samsung is getting into the mix with a smartphone of its own, the SGH-i718. Running on Windows Mobile 5, the i718 has a 2.0-megapixel camera, microSD support and the like, but because it's only scheduled to be released in China as of yet, it also features Chinese voice recognition. They've also thrown in some sort of business card reader. It also looks pretty decent. So good, in fact, there's a few more shots after the jump.
How long the i718 remains exclusive to the Chinese market is unknown, but considering a Samsung smartphone launched just a few weeks ago, it might be a little while before we see this here—if we see it here at all.
Samsung SGH-i718: Chinese Smartphone [SlashPhone.org]


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Amazing Lash Studio
32932 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 9, Dana Point. www.amazinglashstudioorangecounty.com. 949.342.
Amazing Lash Studio recently opened their newest location in Monarch Bay Plaza. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate.
Amazing Lash offers eyelash extensions to offer longer, fuller and darker eyelashes.
Owner Christina Geraci said she’s excited to be in the area.
“We want to make women feel confident,” Geraci said.
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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Acuity Brands AYI, -2.45% surged 11% to $56.41 after the maker of lights for commercial and residential uses said it earned an adjusted profit of 82 cents a share for the quarter ended May 31. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated 79 cents. "While we are optimistic about our future prospects and ability to outperform the markets we serve, we do see the potential for continuing volatility in demand due to the weak pace of economic recovery in the United States and globally," CEO Vernon Nagel said in a statement. Acuity shares are up 1% over the last 12 months, even with the gain for the S&P 500 SPX, -1.07%
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Bates White client Epic Games wins unanimous verdict against defendant Google
Douglas Bernheim was retained on behalf of Epic Games in its antitrust litigation against Google related to Google’s app store practices. Epic, the maker of Fortnite, alleged that Google monopolized the market for app distribution on Android smartphones, allowing it to charge supracompetitive commissions on app downloads and in-app digital purchases.
Dr. Bernheim submitted two expert reports analyzing the antitrust allegations. In those reports, he assessed market definition, market power, competitive effects, and consumer harm from Google’s conduct. He testified twice in the final week of the four-week jury trial, and his rebuttal testimony ended the proceedings until closing arguments one week later.
Within hours of closing arguments, the jury returned a unanimous verdict for Epic on all counts, all claims, and all forms of conduct. It agreed that Epic proved the existence of two relevant antitrust markets, that Google “willfully acquired or maintained monopoly power by engaging in anticompetitive conduct” in the identified markets, and that Epic “was injured as a result of Google’s violation of the antitrust laws.” Interviewed after the verdict, one juror praised Dr. Bernheim’s testimony for helping to make sense of the case, noting that “he was a pretty powerful tool for the Epic team.”
The full verdict is available here.
 Xu Yuan, “Google’s Failure to Preserve Internal Chats ‘Concerning,’ Juror from Epic Games Trial in US Says,” MLex, December 12, 2023.


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Easton Town Center designer Yaromir Steiner, whose Steiner + Associates operates the 4-million-sq.-ft. retail mecca in Columbus, read the news about Amazon talking with Simon and thought perhaps he should give them a call.
“It would be incredible if Amazon could develop a ten to twenty thousand-square-foot retail component. That would give them a brand presence and create some traffic for the mall, while using the rest of the space as a fulfillment center,” Steiner said.
Chances are that more mall owners will be calling on Amazon because Amazon is going to be calling on them. When online grocery purchases rocketed up in April and May, a survey of consumers conducted by the research firm Escalent found that 77% of them were happiest with Walmart. Next came local supermarkets, and then came Amazon.
Amazon isn’t used to being in third place.
“Ninety percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store,” Penfield pointed out. “They have the ability to placate the needs of online shoppers right then and there. The only way for Amazon to catch up is to establish all those mini-DCs—and empty department stores are their prime opportunity to get them.”


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A couple of hours ago, we brought you a report on some leaked hands-on images and specs of an upcoming Huawei device which was at that time believed to be either the Huawei Nova 3 or Nova 2s. Today, the company has tactically confirmed our doubt by sending out media invites for an event on Dec 7, where it would launch the Huawei Nova 2S.
The Press invite doesn’t much, but it does expressly hint that the Nova 2S will be launched on Dec 7. The Huawei Nova 2S will bring the full-screen design, a flagship Kirin 960 chip and a few other improvements to the Huawei Nova series.
In case you missed the earlier leaked specs and hands-on images, the Huawei Nova 2S is expected to pack a 6.0-inch display with the resolution of 2160x1080p fitting in the current 18:9 standards, while it will be powered by the Kirin 960 processor with a 6GB RAM. Much like the Nova 2 and Nova 2 Plus, the Nova 2S will feature a dual camera setup; a 20MP+16MP rear unit, as well as a dual front camera setup.
Gizchina News of the week
The device will boot EMUI 8.0 UI based on Android Oreo out of the box with support for facial recognition, NFC for contactless payment as well as a built-in Hi-Fi chip. The device will arrive on Dec 7 in Black, Gold, Silver and Blue color options.


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For the first time in more than five years, Michael Allmandinger will not be tending bar at The Parlor.
Allmandinger, who has been running the show at the well-respected cocktail spot since late 2013, has taken a sales job as a Spirit Specialist for Pacific Edge
, a wine and craft spirits distributor based out of Southern California. The company maintains a spirits-only portfolio in Arizona, and the largest chunk of the company's selection lies in agave-based spirits — a departure from the whiskey and amaro-heavy stylings Allmandinger emphasized at The Parlor. Pacific Edge’s portfolio, he says, is consistent with the craft style and quality he first honed while working under Joshua James, now part-owner at Phoenix’s The Clever Koi, who opened and pioneered the restaurant's cocktail program.
This will also be Allmandinger’s first formal sales job.
“I like to prove that I can do something that I thought maybe I couldn’t,” Allmandinger says. “What better way to do that than sales?”
The move comes just a month or so after ex-Parlor running-mate Libby Longlott left the restaurant to open up The Bees Knees
, a Prohibition-era cocktail bar at new The Camby Hotel, which lies just up the street from the Parlor in the Biltmore neighborhood.
Allmandinger’s departure is also consistent with a recent shift in Phoenix’s current generation of cocktail program managers, who are beginning to move to the other side of the bar — the sales and brand representation side. In the last few months, Arizona Culinary Hall of Famers Travis Nass left his post at the The Hermosa Inn to team up with Tempe-based CaskWerks Distillery
. In the same month, Andrew Calisterio left Okra
and moved to California to become a brand representative for House Spirits, best known for their Aviation gin.
Whether they'e ready or not, the next generation of bartenders at these popular cocktail bars will have big shoes to fill. The Parlor, Allmandinger says, is close to making its decision on who will fill the bar manager position. We can only hope they have as much of an affection for amari, and the drive to maintain The Parlor as a top-five Valley cocktail program
Until then, Allmandinger says he'll continue to work in some capacity with The Parlor. There’s a possibility he’ll continue to work a weekly weekend shift or two in the upcoming months as well.
“I do have [a] wedding coming up,” he says.


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Ecommerce giant Amazon will open a four-day “Home of Black Friday” pop-up store in central London to mark the start of the festive trading period.
Customers will be invited to explore the best of Amazon’s Black Friday Sale, as well as take part in themed workshops, play a range of games to win prizes and sample new products. Entry to the pop-up, which will run from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 November, will be free on a “first come, first served” basis.
Online Amazon’s Black Friday Sale will run for 10 days from Friday 17 November until Sunday 26 November. The retailer will run “Deals of the Day” throughout the period and there will also be “Lightning Deals” flash promotions on some products for a limited time. Prime customers will receive a 30-minute early access period to all Lightning Deals.
Amazon has been investing in its UK infrastructure throughout 2017 to prepare for Black Friday, and has opened four new distribution centres in Doncaster, Warrington, Tilbury and Daventry.


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WATCHING YOUR WASTE If food wasn’t wasted, there would be enough for everyone. That’s the message from waste not want not cafés. Kath Hudson reports
ifteen million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK. On average, consumers waste about one third of the food they buy, which equates to about £30 a week, either because it goes beyond sell by dates, they don’t know what to do with it, or don’t have time to cook. Avoidable household food waste in the UK is associated with 17m tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. The food industry’s obsession with sell by dates and the supermarkets' insistence on perfectly formed vegetables exacerbates the problem, and has sparked a burgeoning trend for waste not, want not cafés. They are popping up all over the UK and the US and projects are afoot in South Africa, France and South America. These cafés operate on the principle of transforming intercepted food – which would otherwise
be thrown away by supermarkets and wholesalers – into tasty dishes. Menus change daily, using whatever food is available, so if there’s no sugar for coffee, there’s no sugar for coffee. Customers pay according to what they feel the meal is worth and occasionally offer services instead. The operators agree that they want to be out of business within 15 years, hoping that by then policy changes will have occurred which will make them redundant. The French government has already seen sense and in May announced a law to crack down on food waste to avoid 7.1m tonnes of wasted food a year, at a cost of €20bn. All French supermarkets will be banned from throwing away or destroying unsold food and must instead donate it to charities, or for animal feed. The measures are part of a wider drive to halve the amount of food waste in France by 2025.
This summer, Skipchen took the café on tour with its food rescue ambulance
Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital
ISSUE 1 2015 © cybertrek 2015


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It is undoubtedly evident that there is an ever increasing market for the security and alarms market. One company that has proven that the market for security systems will continue for as long as people exist is the ADT Alarm Systems. The company has been around for over 140 years now. The continued presence of ADT Alarm Systems in the industry has brought a sense of urging for other companies to open and expand their territory.
In Nashville, Tennessee, one prominent security systems player in the area is the ADS Security. It has recently announced that it will expand its market reach to the Southeast part of the nation. It has altogether acquired about 3,200 customer accounts from the Professional Alarms. According to the president and CEO of the company, 70 percent of the accounts acquired were residential.
The president of the company told the Security Systems News that the company has a good mix of market. The acquisition of the Professional Alarms by ADS Security adds about $70,000 in RMR to the company. The amount brings the total value of the company to about $2.5 million.
On a buying spree
With the ADS headquartered in Tennessee, it has increased its presence in seven different states. The company has recently been in a buying spree. It just acquired five security companies in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama last year. The CEO said in an interview that the company has fully planned every acquisition move. They are at a very steady pace and their main focus is in dominating the Southeast states. They will continue to branch out and acquire more companies until they fill in all the gaps. Their ultimate goal is to be a local company but with the strength of a very big company.
It is one of the top priorities of the company to retain the as many employees of the acquired company. The CEO further added that they enforced this ruling when they acquired Professional Alarms. They even aim at keeping within the team the owners and creators of the acquired company.


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The COVID-19 crisis has compressed years of technological disruption into the space of just a few months. Taken as a whole, it is likely that businesses and consumers will reap long-term benefits from the Mach-speed innovation we have seen in videoconferencing, tele-medicine, ecommerce, biotechnology, and streaming media since January.
Unfortunately, the march forward comes at a price. For example, the COVID lockdown has magnified long-standing business model challenges for shopping malls and retail stores. Oil producers are suffering mightily from a simultaneous supply glut and demand collapse. Restaurants which lack the ability to offer delivery or pick-up services are finding it nearly impossible to generate revenue without paying customers. And travel-related companies cannot generate revenue without travelers.
At the time of this writing, rental car company Hertz (HTZ) is reportedly contemplating a bankruptcy filing. Car rentals have fallen off a cliff over the past several weeks, as a direct consequence of the 90% decline in business and pleasure travel. Although COVID-19 may be the “straw” that breaks Hertz’s back, this chart shows that both HTZ and Avis (CAR) have been in decline for years. In large part, the demise of the rental car industry is due to the concurrent rise of ride-hailing services Uber Technologies (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT). The combined market capitalizations of HTZ and CAR total less than $1.5 billion, down precipitously from $20 billion as recently as 2014. Meanwhile, the combined market caps of UBER and LYFT are more than $60 billion.
In our opinion, the current crisis increases the risks of permanent impairments to certain businesses, especially within the travel, dining, and energy industries. While it is true that many of these stocks appear cheap based upon traditional valuation metrics, we advise caution. After all, both HTZ and CAR have been fundamentally inexpensive stocks for years. With the full benefit of hindsight, it is now apparent that they were cheap for valid reasons.


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Kodak’s 'No Show' at Trade Shows
The latest member to join the exodus from IPEX is Kodak, which says it is also shelving plans to attend Print 13 this September. The company says it will make not attending mainstream print trade shows part of its standard operating procedure.
Industry observers will recall that this is not the first bold trade show move by Kodak. Almost a decade back, when On Demand was still an important show, Kodak announced it would not have any of its big print engines on the show floor. “How can Kodak not have equipment at On Demand?” the critics roared. Competitors were quick to point out that maybe it was because there was nothing to see. But Kodak stayed the course and even at Print 05 their stand was a largely equipment-free zone with an emphasis on workflow tools and software integration. A mistake, perhaps, given what has transpired since then, and there has been Kodak equipment at most shows over the past few years. People do, after all, come to shows to shop and kick tires.


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Any Domino’s customer who orders pizza online now through April 11, 2021, will receive 30 days of free access to Epix Now — the subscription streaming video service owned by MGM with more than 2,000 movies and 300 hours of original series and specials.
“Pizza and movies go hand-in-hand,” Art D’Elia, EVP and chief marketing officer, said in a statement. “Whether you’re looking for a fun way to entertain your family at home or you want a date night in, Domino’s has you covered. The best part is, no credit card is needed and you won’t be charged after the month is up. All you need to provide is an email address and you’re good to go.”
Customers who place an online order can claim their free 30-day access of by clicking through the link on their order confirmation page, Domino’s Tracker page or order confirmation email. After the 30 days of free access is up, customers must subscribe in order to continue streaming.
“We’re thrilled to offer customers … access to movies such as Creed II or Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as our growing slate of original series commercial-free,” said Michael Wright, president of Epix.
Nielsen reports that 25% of consumers added a streaming service during the second quarter of 2020, while one-fourth of consumers’ TV usage was spent streaming.
“Individuals are using streaming services now, more than ever, as many of us have been spending more time at home,” D’Elia said.


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As the EPA considers PFAS drinking water standards, the impacts of ‘forever chemicals’ become increasingly dire
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed national drinking water standards for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances are certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to addressing the growing PFAS crisis. But as the EPA gathers feedback on the proposed standards, the impact of toxic PFAS chemicals – and where they might be hiding in everyday consumer goods – continue to underscore the importance of urgent action with a ‘whole-of-government’ approach.
We have known for some time now that exposure to PFAS chemicals has been linked with numerous health complications, including thyroid issues, various cancers, auto-immune disorders and more. We also know that the family of man-made ‘forever chemicals’ have been used in a number of industrial practices, and have been found in firefighting foam and household products, like non-stick cookware, waterproof shoes and flame retardants. Research continues to find more and more sources of PFAS chemicals in consumer products, posing more risks for our health.
A recent study found PFAS chemicals in soft contact lenses revealing that 100% of 18 popular contact lens brands tested at an EPA-certified facility had ‘various levels of organic fluorine’ in them. Organic-flourine is an indicator of PFAS. Now, contact lenses join the list of PFAS-laden consumer products that already includes feminine hygiene products, yoga pants, and dental floss.
Another recent study conducted by Mount Sinai Health System found exposure to PFAS chemicals via drinking water and everyday household products can lead to reduced fertility in women of as much as 40 percent. According to the Guardian, the study considered “women’s age, education and smoking status” and “how many children they had already had.” The study did not account for PFAS levels in the women’s partners, but PFAS chemicals have been known to affect male fertility as well. To think about these chemicals being present in so many products Americans use every day is truly frightening and underscores the importance of addressing the PFAS crisis.
As momentum has built around taking action to address toxic PFAS contamination, much of the conversation has been focused on protecting drinking water – and rightfully so. Access to clean, safe, affordable water to drink is a human right and paramount to healthy communities. However, we must also expand our focus to ensure PFAS chemicals are stopped at the source and kept out of consumer products.
While there is surely much more to be done to address the PFAS crisis, the EPA’s proposed drinking water standards for PFAS would go a long way towards protecting our water resources and health. The proposed drinking water standards would set a limit for PFOA and PFOS at four parts per trillion (ppt) and a single, low standard for PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX chemicals. Tackling the PFAS crisis will require a whole-of-government approach, and the EPA implementing these standards would go a long way towards making that a reality.
The EPA is currently accepting comments for its proposed drinking water standards and Michigan LCV’s partners at the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN) are working to make sure these standards are fully implemented. Please take a moment to add your name to this sign on letter, which will be delivered to the EPA.


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Nvidia is hurtling toward the billion-dollar club as the AI frenzy drives chipsets up
Nvidia’s breakout sales forecast showed the Silicon Valley company would become the first chipmaker to be valued at more than $1 billion, as rising demand for artificial intelligence processors boosted semiconductor inventories on Thursday.
Shares of Nvidia jumped 23 percent in New York on Thursday morning after its sales forecast of $11 billion for the three months ending in July beat earlier Wall Street estimates by more than 50 percent.
Nvidia added about $170 billion to its market value after Wednesday’s quarterly report, more than the total value of Intel or Qualcomm and the biggest one-day gain ever for a U.S. stock, according to Bloomberg data. With a market capitalization of $927.2 billion, Nvidia is within reach of Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Saudi Aramco in the elite group of over $1 billion companies.
In addition to Nvidia, chip suppliers including Taiwanese manufacturer TSMC and Dutch equipment manufacturer ASML reported increases of 3.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
Wednesday’s results bolstered Nvidia’s claim that it is the only company whose technology can meet the industry’s need to create generative artificial intelligence systems capable of creating human content. The group pointed to “exponential growth” in demand for computing power from cloud and Internet companies, as well as the automotive, financial services, healthcare and telecommunications industries.
Products like Nvidia’s most powerful H100 processor have become highly sought after, not only by Big Tech companies, but also by a new wave of AI startups like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have raised billions of dollars in venture funding in recent years. in months.
“We’re obviously seeing a huge spike in AI demand, and Nvidia is at the forefront of that,” said Geoff Blaber, CEO of CCS Insight, a technology consultancy, calling its chips and related software tools “picks and shovels.” ” is the “generational shift in AI”. “They are undoubtedly in the pole position because they provide a comprehensive tool chain that no other company can currently do.”
AMD, which like Nvidia makes specialized chips best suited to train massive data sets for artificial intelligence, jumped 8 percent in early trade, while Micron, the US memory chip supplier, faces new trade restrictions in China amid rising tensions with the US in the middle of it. It rose by 4 percent. Shares of Microsoft and Google also rose.
Several U.S. and Japanese equipment suppliers to chip makers also rose. Tokyo Electron rose 3 percent, while Tokyo-based Advantest, which makes semiconductor test kits, rose 16 percent. In the US, Applied Materials and Lam Research were slightly higher in premarket trading.
But Intel, which investors say has lagged behind in the AI transition, fell 5 percent in early trading as investors bet that artificial intelligence will accelerate a fundamental shift in data center technology at cloud providers such as Microsoft, Amazon and the Google. internet groups including Meta.
Even before Thursday’s move, Nvidia shares were set to double in 2023 as concerns last year about a slowdown in cloud spending after Big Tech surged in the pandemic era gave way to frenzied enthusiasm for a new generation of artificial intelligence, led by chatbots such as such as OpenAI. The Bard of ChatGPT and Google.
Even though Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft are all investing in their own custom AI chips, analysts say few companies can match Nvidia’s technological advantage.
In recent years, Nvidia shares have risen and fallen amid previous waves of hype around cryptocurrencies and previous generations of artificial intelligence, such as autonomous driving, that failed to live up to their original promise.
But Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on a call with analysts on Wednesday that with 15 years of investment and expanding production capacity, Nvidia was in the right place at the right time as ChatGPT kicked off an even bigger investment cycle by the world’s wealthiest companies. .
“When generative AI came out, it launched a killer application on this computing platform that has been in the pipeline for some time,” he added.
“As generative artificial intelligence becomes the primary mission of the world’s most information-producing data centers, it is now abundantly clear that . . . data center budgets are shifting very dramatically towards accelerated computing, and you’re seeing it now.”


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As the one year of many countries going into lockdown approaches, new research from the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol reveals that 69% of brands and retailers believe that the pandemic has emphasized the importance of environmentally friendly products to customers – with two thirds (61%) also noting that there has been an increased demand for sustainable products.
This comes as brands and retailers look to the future with a sense of optimism for increased consumer spending and investment in environmentally friendly practices – with 28% of brands and retailers committed to setting new industry standards for sustainability.
The research also found that 63% of brands and retailers stated that the pandemic has had a positive impact on their company’s proactive investment in sustainability with the following main areas of focus:
· Sourcing sustainably produced raw materials (42%)
· Manufacturing sustainability and reducing impacts of chemicals, water and energy (42%)
· Safe working environments (40%)
Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol said: “We’re encouraged to learn that so many brands and retailers are looking to set new standards for the industry, instead of simply following what currently exists. As we work towards recovery in many sectors, systems like the Trust Protocol are available to provide the data needed to verify that sustainability targets are being met.”
As the vaccine rollout picks up pace across the world, consumers are beginning to think about the ‘new normal’, with half (50%) of brands and retailers expecting to see an increase in customer spending on sustainable apparel over the next 12 months. They attribute the most common drivers for this increased spending to a need for people to get back to normal (62%) and that some consumers will have saved money during the pandemic (67%).
As brands and retailers work towards providing more sustainable options to meet growing consumer demand, there is a greater need for data as it provides the needed proof points and transparency.
With two thirds (65%) of brands and retailers agreeing that data is important to their future sustainability goals, the Trust Protocol will provide brands and retailers the critical assurances they need to show the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk.
Adams concludes: “It is undeniable that the pandemic has caused unforeseen challenges for brands, retailers and consumers alike – but this research reaffirms the commitment to a continued focus on sustainability.”


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For a more in-depth discussion of how the CPI will determine next year's postal rates, see "Who's it gonna be, me or the PRC?"
Deflation of consumer prices means that next year's postal rates will almost certainly average less than 4%, rather than the 5% that most commentators were expecting until recently.
The Consumer Price Index decreased 1.9% in November, the Department of Labor announced today, following a 1.0% decrease in October. The average increase in prices for most classes of postage will generally be capped by the change in the average monthly Consumer Price Index for 2008 versus 2007. The new rates are scheduled to be announced in February and implemented in May.
Another 1.9% decrease in December would yield a rate cap of about 3.75%. No change in the December CPI would yield a cap of about 3.9%.
Recent deflation isn't all bad for the Postal Service: Lower energy prices will probably save the USPS at least several hundred million dollars, perhaps a billion dollars, this fiscal year.
The Postal Service reported that every 1% change in diesel and natural gas prices cost it $29 million during the last fiscal year, which ended on Oct. 31. With the average diesel price being down 22% and the average natural gas price being down 27% so far this fiscal year, that suggests energy savings of about $150 million so far this year.
Current prices are even lower -- down 37% for diesel and 39% for natural gas, according to the Department of Energy. The Postal Service's energy costs would have to be down an average of 35% this fiscal year for the savings to reach $1 billion.
By business standards, the Postal Service is a big gambler when it comes to energy costs. Unlike most freight and delivery businesses, the Postal Service cannot use fuel surcharges to pass higher energy costs along to its customers; its prices can be adjusted only once per year in accordance with changes in CPI.
Most major businesses facing that kind of situation would hedge their risk, using futures markets to minimize the uncertainty and fluctuations in their energy costs. But that's not the way government agencies operate, especially when there's a risk some Congressman will try to grab headlines by attacking USPS for playing around with derivatives.
That leaves the Postal Service benefiting greatly when energy costs are low but at risk of needing a Congressional bailout when energy prices spike. Sounds as if the Postal Service learned its risk-management techniques from the investment-banking industry.


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Doncaster principal and CD Motor Group managing director Cameron Doidge told GoAutoNews Premium that the exit from Holden, effective July 1 this year, was triggered by many “underlying issues”.
“It was caused by issues including the size of the site and the market share of Holden that combined, didn’t help the business model,” he said.
“It means we are out of Holden sales and we won’t continue with service and parts either.”
Mr Doidge said Penfold would take over the lease of the Holden site at 825 Doncaster Road and make it a Volkswagen dealership. He said about 90 per cent of staff will retain their jobs.
Penfold director Greg Johnstone said the company will also take over the adjoining Hyundai dealership on the same site as the Holden showroom.
Mr Johnstone said the Holden showroom would be redeveloped for Volkswagen. When completed, he would move Penfold’s existing Volkswagen Doncaster at 584 Doncaster Road to this new location.
CD Motor Group will continue with Hyundai and a Kia dealerships in Ferntree Gully, and a Suzuki dealership in Heidelberg.
Penfold was not expected to continue with Holden after also handing back its franchise in 2015. It took on Holden in 1987 and was the brand’s top-selling Victorian dealer for 10 years.
In 2015, GoAutoNews Premium wrote that “Melbourne’s best-known Holden dealers, Penfold Motors, has reluctantly handed back the franchise to GM because it is unable to reach agreement on a plan to downsize the Holden dealership to meet current sales expectations.”
The report said: “In addition to Holden, Penfold Motors has Mazda and Audi franchises and is opening a Volkswagen dealership in Doncaster. The company handed back the Mitsubishi franchise in 2012 and operates a fast-stock-turn used-car operation from that site.”
By Neil Dowling


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Samsung India, as expected, on Thursday launched its Gear S2 smartwatch in India. Priced at Rs. 24,300, the smartwatch will be available via Samsung physical retail channels starting Thursday. Apart from the Gear S2, Samsung also launched the Gear S2 Classic edition, priced at Rs. 25,800.
The South Korean company at the same event also announced the availability details of the Gear VR headset, which has been priced at Rs. 8,200. It will also go on sale starting Thursday. The Tizen OS-based smartwatches will be available online exclusively via Flipkart.
At the launch, the company confirmed that the Gear S2 will come with dial faces with Indian themes for users to choose.
The Samsung Gear S2 is the company's first Samsung smartwatch with circular design. The company at the event stressed that the rotating bezel is a highlight of the new wearable as it will allow users to easily access all required information. Additionally, the new smartwatch sports the Home and Back buttons.
To refresh, the Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic smartwatches feature a 1.2-inch circular Super Amoled display with a screen resolution of 360x360 pixels and a pixel density of 302ppi. The new wearables are powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor. Tizen OS-based smartwatch comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Both are IP68-certified which means the Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic are dust and water resistant. They also feature accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate, ambient light, and barometer sensor. The smartwatch supports wireless charging and pack a 250mAh battery with a typical usage of 2-3 days.
To recall, Samsung initially detailed its new Gear S2 smartwatch ahead of IFA. At the event, Samsung however revealed more details about the new Gear S2 apart from the Gear S2 Classic smartwatches, including the prices.
The Gear S2 works with Android devices running Android 4.4 and above and with the devices that sport more than 1.5GB of RAM. The company recently announced that the Tizen-Based Gear S2 will soon be compatible with iOS devices as well.


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Welcome to the second edition of The VoiceBeat, a monthly newsletter by Pulse Labs. Once a month, we curate a selection of the latest developments in the voice ecosystem to share with our voice-first community.
VOICE Summit 2019 Wrap Up
Last week, several members of the Pulse Labs team were able to spent four days fully immersed in VOICE Summit 2019. Read more about our experience and highlights of the largest voice conference of the year.
A Case Study of Esme & Roy by Xandra
The Esme & Roy skill was HBO's first skill designed for kids. Find out how Pulse Labs helped Xandra create a delightful experience by conducting usability testing on the Emmy-nominated Esme & Roy Alexa skill.
Read more on our blog
Voice-First Must Reads
For Individuals with Paralysis, Google Nest gives Help at Home
Google has announced that they’re partnering with the Reeve Foundation to give away 100,000 free Google Home Minis in an effort to use technology to benefit people living with paralysis. It also celebrates the 29th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act.
Read more on Google's Blog
Exploring Voice Design: UX Designers Move Beyond the Screen
Smart speakers and voice-first platforms such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home have brought voice interfaces to the masses. Developers have been driving skill creation of voice experiences, but now UX designers need to lead the voice revolution.
Atari founder's Alexa-powered Board Game is Out Now
The Alexa-powered board game St. Noir by X2 Games has now been released.
Exclusively available on Amazon, it's a immersive murder mystery enriched by background sounds and the performance by voice actors portraying 12 different characters.
Read more on engadget
Pulse Labs in the News
Dylan Zwick, our CPO, joined Pete Erickson on the VOICE Summit Speaker Interview Series to chat about Pulse Labs and his upcoming talk and presentation at VOICE 19. Dylan also appeared on Chad Oda’s The Bot Podcast to discuss his experience as a startup co-founder and journey in the voice-first ecosystem.
Save the Date
September 15-18: Abhishek Suthan, our CEO, will be presenting "AI in Grocery: Marketing and Personalization" at Groceryshop in Las Vegas, NV.


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Warby Parker is not only “disrupting eyewear” — it’s taking on the point-of-sale (POS) industry too and building its own POS system.
The hot e-retailer of eyewear is known of being one of the most tech-savvy fashion brands out there. Warby Parker makes stylish eyeglasses and sunglasses that sell for $95. The brand’s success not only stems from its stylish, reasonably priced product but also from its savvy use of the Internet to “disrupt eyewear.” According to a report in AllThingsD today, Warby Parker is now building its own point-of-sale system after failing to find an existing vendor that would accomodate its needs.
Before Warby Parker, most people avoided buying glasses online because physically trying on frames was a key step of the process. Warby got around this by setting up an at-home try-on service where shoppers can sample five pairs of glasses for five days as well as offering virtual try-on feature and placing Warby glasses in “pop up” stores. These steps gave consumers the real-world experience they craved but kept their transactions online.
The company recently closed $41.5 million and investors include big names like General Catalyst Partners, First Round Capital, Lerer Ventures, Menlo Ventures, SV Angel, and Millard S. Drexler of J. Crew and American Express. The money was slated to expand its product offerings, marketing efforts, and open brick-and-mortar stores.
Warby Parker stores opened in New York City this spring and more are on the way. Director of retail Kyle Ashley told AllThingsD that the company looked into multiple point-of-sale systems, but it found nothing that suited its unique requirements when it came to payments or customer management. While most physical retailers charge at the point-of-sale, Warby wanted a way to charge when a purchase actually shipped. It also needed an integrated system for entering and storing prescription information. Warby’s sales process is also unique because customer interactions are spread across so many different channels — there are e-mail and web communications; billing, shipping, and payment data; and now in-store information, and it all needs to be consolidated to provide a cohesive, positive consumer experience.
Instead of customizing existing software or picking-and-choosing from multiple products and assembling something piecemeal, Warby has decided to build its own. The system is still in progress and may be expensive to build, but it will ultimately pay off when Warby doesn’t have to pay expensive licensing fees to multiple vendors over an extended period of time.
The point-of-sale industry went undisrupted for a long time and only recently began seeing some innovation. Square led the charge with its “dongle,” or small card reader that plugs into iOS devices to process credit card transactions. Since then a number of startups around the world have built solutions that provide cloud-based, flexible, cost-effective alternatives to legacy vendors, which are traditionally bulky, expensive, and not connected to the Internet.
Warby Parker is part of this trend of direct-to-consumer e-commerce startups that cut out the middleman to reach consumers with quality products at a lower price point. Operating a physical store is expensive and the Internet provides a cheaper (and more expansive) alternative for marketing, sales, and distribution. Bonobos and Julep are both well-funded, successful examples of this approach, and interestingly, they too are experimenting with real world commerce. Bonobos is opening Guideshops around the country and Julep has opened multiple salons.
The gap between online and offline commerce is becoming fuzzier with every passing month. Retailers that start out online have different requirements than brands that go the other direction, and the available POS systems haven’t adopted to this new breed of brand. In true form, Warby is figuring out a way around these barriers.
Warby Parker is based in New York.
Photo credit: Cullen Wilson


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Rumors have it that the Air Jordan 6 ‘Black Infrared’ is going to make a glorious return in early 2019 to once again commemorate Michael Jordan’s first championship.
While not often mentioned among “favorite Air Jordans” by hypebeasts, the 2004 Air Jordan 19 is an on-court beast. Now, rumors have it that it will be back next year.
Nike is, once again, commemorating Michael Jordan’s Chicago finale with limited edition Bulls jerseys.
ESPN Films and Netflix announced today that they will be creating a 10-part documentary series entitled The Last Dance. The anthology will highlight one of the most successful dynasties and icons in the basketball world, Michael…
For the latest episode of iCollect, George Kiel III traveled all the way to Australia to meet Michael Fan, the owner of one of the most incredible collections of Air Jordans.
We got a first look at the Air Jordan 1 Flyknit ‘Clay Green’ late last week. Now, official images have surfaced and they give us a much better idea of what to expect with this…
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s last shot and Jordan Brand is celebrating. With the Air Jordan 32 Low ‘Last Shot’ already scheduled, the Jordan Flyknit Elevation 23 ‘Last Shot’ is the latest to…
Jordan Brand’s ‘Best Hand in the Game’ collection honors Michael Jordan’s greatest achievements and introduces four new builds of the classic Air Jordan 1.
The Air Jordan Fly Lockdown is one of the latest budget performance models from Jordan Brand. Its latest colorway celebrates the iconic Air Jordan 14 ‘Last Shot’.
Most people know that the Air Jordan 14 ‘Last Shot’ celebrates Michael Jordan’s fateful game-winning shot that gave the Bulls a second 3-peat and their sixth NBA Championship in the ’90s. Now, Nike has unveiled…
We needed a comparison between the OG Air Jordan 10 ‘Shadow’ and the 2018 Air Jordan 10 ‘Shadow’ Retro and MJO23DAN came through for us!
The classic Air Jordan 9 ‘Olive’ received a new build and became a winterized boot dubbed the Air Jordan 9 NRG this past winter. For the coming winter, we’re getting the original back.
Official images of the Air Jordan 1 High Premium ‘Mica Green’ have surfaced online and we’ve got a look at the latest premium build.
The Air Jordan 18 was the last signature sneaker Michael Jordan laced up on court. In 2003, he played his final minutes against the 76ers in Philadelphia.
The Black Cat (Michael Jordan) theme has returned and Jordan Brand is paying homage to his early days with two upcoming builds of the Air Jordan 32.
Lathered in premium red suede, the Air Jordan 18 ‘Toro’ is a new look for this often-overlooked Air Jordan silhouette.
Back for a fourth time, the 2018 Air Jordan 14 ‘Last Shot’ Retro will be here for the start of summer — and release on the date of his last shot.
Everyone knows the basic history of the Air Jordan line — Michael Jordan was a rookie, signed a deal with Nike, and then came the birth of the Air Jordan line. But even for those…


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Skype released details of its new payment scheme today, which pushes users toward a premium “Unlimited” service that may help eBay start recouping its $2.6 billion investment in the Web phone service.
You can still make Skype-to-Skype calls free, but calling from Skype to a landline or mobile phone carries connection fees. In the U.S. the fee is $0.039 per minute.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to the unlimited service for $29.95 a year and pay no connection fees. Skype is also offering a 50 percent discount if you sign up for unlimited service by Jan. 31.
“In the U.S. and Canada, we are continuing to focus on delivering customers the best value and saving through our Skype Unlimited Calling plan,” Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America, said in a release.
It’s still cheap calling, but it’s not quite as free, and it’s getting a little confusing. I wonder how much that will limit uptake.
Skype’s also in the news today, indirectly, because its founders are making the press rounds with their new venture, an Internet television service called Joop.


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This year’s Davos has been and gone. While the headline act was president Trump’s America first speech, the meeting’s theme of “Creating a shared future in a fractured world” was designed to recapture some of the high ground lost last year. As the WEF warned in the 2018 program, “citizens yearn for responsive leadership; yet, a collective purpose remains elusive.” Not a new message but a timely reminder of the implicit social contract that exists between business and society. The importance of nurturing it has never been more pressing, as many businesses found to their cost last year.
Hong Kong’s local businesses have traditionally taken a pragmatic view on why they exist. With 98% of the economy’s 330,000 businesses in the small to medium category, many of them family owned and operated, their purpose is to provide for their family. The wider community is served by their success, enabling the continued growth of an upwardly mobile middle class.
Today, there is an opportunity for Hong Kong businesses to reflect on the values that have made them successful in the past – resilience and entrepreneurialism – and embrace a new purpose fit for new times. Business, at its entrepreneurial best, can be an avenue for self-expression and individual purpose. This is exactly what is needed to reignite the spirit of Hong Kong: A business-led renaissance that gives youth hope for the future – one they have a role in shaping.
Some businesses in Hong Kong are already doing this. Apple, for example, through deliberate programming, is creating experiences to inspire people to learn and create something new. It wants to extend people’s thinking and imagination beyond their current experiences and create forums for the exchange of ideas.
It also using its stores to provide education in creative disciplines such as photography, movie making and coding. Of course Apple’s motives aren’t entirely altruistic; these initiatives get people spending more time in stores, while deepening Apple’s relationship with a group of authentic, and therefore powerful, consumer influencers. But that’s the point. Purposeful business can be smart business. A win/win. Fulfilling both shareholder demands and a brand’s social contract.
The communications industry is well placed to help business create a shared future for Hong Kong’s youth. We can be the bridge between young people and business, helping to provide platforms for engagement and an environment conducive to creativity. Here are five ways we can harness the creative energy of Hong Kong’s youth, starting with people in our own circle of influence:
Rachel Catanach is senior partner and president, Greater China for FleishmanHillard and a board member of PRHK.


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The Times of London has lost a huge volume of its web traffic since erecting a restrictive paywall around its site in July, and converted only 14 percent of its web readers into subscribers (a figure that's deceptively high, as it counts pre-existing print subscribers).
So when News Corp.'s digital chief, Jon Miller, said Friday morning that the paper's "total economics have improved," it came as a surprise to many at the Business Insider Ignition conference, where the remark was made. Could Miller possibly have meant that the paper is already making more money, in the form of subscription sales and higher ad rates, than it lost from all those ad impressions?
Not quite. I caught up with Miller after his interview and he clarified his remark. The Times, he says, is "on an immediate path" to replacing the lost revenues, and will get there in a matter of months, not years. "It's predictive," he says.
In other words, for the moment, the Times is still in "the gap" that Miller said awaits newspapers and other publishers that try to switch from an all-free online model to a dual-revenue one involving subscriptions. That's exactly where The New York Times is headed early in 2011, when it will roll out a metered model for its website, requiring regular users to subscribe.
While Miller's boss, Rupert Murdoch, is surely hoping the Times (the one he doesn't own) falls on its face, Miller himself believes it has an excellent chance of being able to get across the gap. "The Times, in my view, has a very loyal base," he says. "I think it's less replaceable than many other papers."
Murdoch has said he wants all News Corp.-owned websites to charge consumers eventually. The Wall Street Journal is already doing so, of course, but with a different model than the Times: The Journal offers a certain amount of free content for sampling, and its articles are all indexed in Google. I asked Miller: Since the UK Times is claiming such rapid positive results from its paywall experiment, does that influence the company's thinking about its other properties? Is the Times model the one to clone?
"It's a question," he said. "We don't know that part of the debate. I'm not sure a once-size-fits-all model is right."
During the onstage Q&A, Miller was asked about reports that News Corp. is about to introduce an iPad-based news product called The Daily. Miller refused to confirm the existence of The Daily, calling it only "a rumor," but teasingly offered some information about the timing of the launch: "Hypothetically speaking, it wouldn't be this month. Q1 is the timeframe people should think about."


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Ultra-Processed Foods Are Ultra-Bad for Your Heart
TUESDAY, March 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of the food Americans eat is "ultra-processed" -- and it's making them sick.
Higher consumption of these highly processed foods is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a new study, and yet they account for 58% of calories in a U.S. diet. Each additional serving increased the risk.
You might not even realize that a food you're chowing down on is ultra-processed.
"Ultra-processed foods are ubiquitous and include many foods that are marketed as healthy, such as protein bars, breakfast cereals and most industrially produced breads," noted Filippa Juul, a faculty fellow at the New York University School of Public Health and lead author of the study.
Because people can easily move away from such sugary or fatty fare, heavily processed food "represents a critical target in prevention efforts" to keep Americans healthier, she added.
One nutritionist agreed. "Consuming foods that are high in salt, saturated/trans fats, refined sugars as well as processed foods can all increase our risk for cardiovascular disease," noted Nicole Roach, a cardiac dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
What exactly is an ultra-processed food? "This study defined ultra-processed foods as 'industrial formulations made with no or minimal whole foods and produced with additives such as flavorings or preservatives,'" Roach said.
As Juul's team noted, processing foods in factories can remove beneficial nutrients while adding in those that aren't, and it also changes the physical structure of food. Eating these foods is linked with being overweight/obese, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
In their study, Juul's group looked at data from a long-running U.S. study that included more than 3,000 middle-aged adults. They averaged just over 53 years of age and one-third had a college-level education. About one-fifth of the group had high blood pressure and nearly 6% had diabetes. Two-thirds were former or current smokers, and most were white.
The researchers assessed their diets with a questionnaire asking about the consumption of certain foods over the previous year.
During an average of 18 years of follow-up, study participants had a total of 648 cardiovascular events, including 251 cases of hard cardiovascular disease and 163 cases of hard coronary heart disease, and 713 participants died, including 108 cardiovascular disease deaths.
Participants with the highest intakes of ultra-processed foods had a higher incidence of "cardiovascular events," such as heart disease and deaths from cardiovascular causes. And there seemed to be a relationship between the amount of processed foods eaten each day and an individual's heart risk, the study found.
For example, for each daily serving of ultra-processed food, there was a 7% increase in the risk of "hard" cardiovascular disease (involving an event such as a heart attack), a 5% increase in overall cardiovascular disease and a 9% increased risk in death from cardiovascular disease.
The study also broke down risks for specific processed foods including bread, ultra-processed meat, salty snack foods and low-calorie soft drinks, all of which appeared to help raise heart risks.
Shifts in priorities
So what can and should be done?
According to the authors, "population-wide strategies, such as taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages and other ultra-processed foods, and recommendations regarding processing levels in national dietary guidelines are needed to reduce the intake of ultra-processed foods."
Stephanie Schiff is a registered dietitian at Northwell Health's Huntington Hospital in Huntington, N.Y. Reading over the findings, she said that, over the past decades, Americans have gotten further and further away from "real" foods.
"We have become a society that accepts food additives that we can't pronounce or explain, foods that mimic other foods, foods that are reduced to a shadow of the original product. We don't question, we just grab for the ease of getting our next meal," Schiff said.
And while these foods are undoubtedly less healthy, "many studies have shown the benefits of consumption of foods that are as close to their natural form as possible," she said.
According to Schiff, one of the silver linings of pandemic lockdowns may have been the resurgence of the family meal, and a return by many to home cooking using whole food ingredients.
"We can take a lesson from these times, where we are forced to stay inside and contemplate our eating habits without as many outside distractions," Schiff believes. "Where even social media tempts us to bake our own bread, roast our own veggies, brew our own coffee."
How can this healthy shift continue even after the current crisis eases? Roach said simple steps can help.
"A great tip when food shopping is to shop the perimeter of the super market," she said. "Usually located within center aisles will be canned, packaged and processed foods, while the outer perimeter tends to have fresh foods."
Another tip: "Reading the food label is also important when shopping," Roach said.
"When looking at the food label the ingredient list will tell you exactly what's in the item your consuming. The ingredient list is written in order of the highest ingredient quantity to the lower ingredient quantity. When reading the list if an item is made with many non-beneficial ingredients/nutrient, processed/refined sugars and food additives, it may not be the best option," Roach explained.
"Sometimes, we need to go backwards to move forwards," Schiff added.
"We need to go back to our parents' and grandparents' and great-grandparents' days. We need to prioritize, and put our health first. We need to make the consumption of whole foods a pleasure, and a fun activity, rather than a chore," Schiff said.
"We need to realize that we don't lose anything by eating healthfully, but succumbing to the lure of ultra-processed foods may lead to consequences we may not be able to recover from," she said.
The findings were published March 22 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a "shopping list" of heart healthy foods.
SOURCES: Stephanie Schiff, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist, Northwell Health's Huntington Hospital, Huntington, N.Y.; Nicole Roach, RD, CDN, cardiac dietitian, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; American College of Cardiology, news release, March 22, 2021