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According to the latest estimates, we generate around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. That’s 2.5 followed by 17 zeros — or rather 2.5 trillion million — a number that’s impossible to visualize intuitively, but nonetheless has massive implications for our privacy online, our security and our ability to keep our digital identities within our own personal control.
A new cryptojacking malware has the ability to disable cloud-based security measures to avoid detection on Linux servers, research by information security company Palo Alto Networks Jan. 17 reveals.
The malware in question mines Monero (XMR) and is reportedly a modified version of one used by the so-called “Rocke” group, originally discovered by cybersecurity firm Talos in August last year.
HBUS, the strategic partner of top crypto exchange Huobi, has hired a former executive of venture capital (VC) firm Draper Athena, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph Nov. 13.
The HBUS trading platform, which currently employs around 40 people in their headquarters in San Francisco, has officially announced the appointment of Jay Ryu,
Visa is readying its blockchain-based digital identity system for cross-border payments for launch in the first quarter of 2019, according to a press release published October 21.
The system, dubbed Visa B2B Connect, will provide a blockchain-based digital identity solution for financial institutions to securely process cross-border payments. The system reportedly tokenizes sensitive business data – such as banking details and account numbers – granting them a unique cryptographic identifier that will be used for transactions on the platform.
Nebeus, the London-based crypto platform, has launched a 1.1 million pound ($1.45 million) crowdfunding campaign as they set out their ambitious goal of bringing financial services to people around the world. According to the World Bank, there are 1.7 billion adults globally who remain unbanked, yet two-thirds of them own a mobile phone that they could use for online banking.
South Korea’s LG UPlus, a mobile carrier owned by the country’s fourth largest conglomerate LG Corp., is launching a blockchain-based cross-carrier overseas payment service, Korea Times reports today, September 16.
Last Thursday, September 13, LG UPlus had signed an MoU to develop the new service alongside three global partners: Taiwan-based Far EasTone Telecommunications,
A new Ripple (XRP)-based decentralized crypto marketplace, DCEX, has now opened registration for retail and institutional accounts, according to a press release published July 30.
The new San Francisco-based platform runs on technology developed by blockchain firm AlphaPoint, and will initially offer 15 crypto-crypto trading pairs, all against Ripple as a base currency.
The Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA) will deploy a blockchain-powered solution on its registrar service platform, local news agency Bangkok Post reports July 28.
The new registrar service platform, which is scheduled to be introduced this year, intends to provide a faster bond certificate issuance and, in turn, boost the liquidity of the secondary market,
Singapore Airlines has officially launched its blockchain-based loyalty program for frequent customers.
KrisPay, a digital wallet developed in partnership with KPMG and Microsoft, allows Singapore Airlines customers to turn travel miles into units of payment, which can be used with partner merchants in Singapore. Most notably, however, the newly dubbed KrisFlyer program utilizes a blockchain to underpin its clients’
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched its own airline loyalty digital wallet that uses blockchain technology, it announced July 24. The software has been co-developed by Microsoft and KPMG Digital Village, according to the press release.
The new wallet — dubbed ‘KrisPay’ after SIA’s ‘KrisFlyer’ loyalty programme — converts frequent flyer miles into digitized ‘KrisPay miles’ that can be used to pay for retail purchases via a mobile app.


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Microsoft Unveils DirectSR API to Streamline AI Upscaling Integration for Nvidia, AMD and Intel
PC gaming’s future shimmers brighter with the announcement of Microsoft’s DirectSR, a revolutionary new Windows API poised to democratize cutting-edge AI upscaling across GPU brands. Acting as a universal compatibility layer, DirectSR provides seamless integration of Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS super resolution technologies through a unified code framework.
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Microsoft Unveils DirectSR API to Streamline AI Upscaling Integration
This represents a massive quality-of-life breakthrough for game developers and GPU vendors alike. Rather than grappling with disparate SDKs tailor-made for each solution, developers can leverage the versatile DirectSR standard to activate advanced upscaling features with just a few lines of code. Microsoft tempts developers with a streamlined “one API fits all” approach to illuminate AI’s transformative potential while eliminating laborious per-vendor optimizations.
Early glimpses of DirectSR integration will be showcased by Microsoft at GDC 2023, joined by Nvidia and AMD to demonstrate interoperability between sworn rivals. But the API’s true measure of greatness will materialize in the months ahead – if adoption proves frictionless enough to make AI upscaling ubiquitous.
Still, in an era where bleeding-edge graphical muscle strains even the mightiest rigs, DirectSR’s arrival couldn’t be timelier. Democratizing the most advanced upscaling and reconstruction techniques paves the way for tomorrow’s games to realize photorealistic new frontiers, unburdened by the hardware limitations of today.

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The impact of COVID-19 on the world is unmissable and extreme. A pandemic brings everlasting effects to the planet every time. Coronavirus is changing the world since December 2019. After its huge impact on industries last year, the fashion world is disrupted.
Many of us are still unaware of the differences visible among fashion retailers. Shopaholics are buying their favorite items online. After the vaccination of this virus, things are normalizing. You can visit eCommerce websites to buy almost all items easily.
For instance, the DealMeCoupon offers ample shopping deals from retailers. But if you visit an outlet, the effects of COVID-19 are prominent.
Plenty of retailers have closed down their doors. Some are still struggling to stay afloat, and the smart ones are adapting to the new normal. For a detailed discussion, let us look at how most industries acted at the start of the pandemic.
Fashion Retailers in 2020
Last year, the pandemic gave a hard hit to most industries. In response, ‘Work from Home’ became the new trend. While most offices closed down and shifted to remote working, fashion brands found a new gateway to revenue.
Folks were ready to buy WFH clothing to add a tint of adventure to their quarantined lives. Fashionists shaped their stocks from professional to casual. Nevertheless, it was a downfall for most ventures.
As a result, market leaders like Brooks Brothers, JCPenny, and J Crew filed for bankruptcy. On the other hand, retailers moved to digitalization and online business. This step was crucial for every venture to stay in the race and escape downfall.
Shopping Deals And Revenue Generation Trends Of The Fashion Industry
Most marketers gave attention to different ways of digital marketing. Also, plenty of brands stopped retail only to produce healthcare items like sanitizers and face masks for contributing during the pandemic.
Coronavirus also affected international trade. It led to abrupted, canceled, and postponed consignments. Many brands stopped overseas work and focused on local trade. It also led to a major decrease in revenue and sales.
This year, the pandemic has further impacted fashion brands shopping deals. Major retailers are creating strategies to overcome the loss.
Shopping Deals Fashion Brands in 2021
Since the planet has been covered with viruses, people are hunting for eco-friendliness. Experts think taking care of the environment can lead to a healthy world again. Thus, fashion brands are now adapting to social and green products.
Almost 70% of clothing brands use synthetic fibers. These require more than two centuries to decompose and lead to harmful greenhouse gases. Thus, manufacturers are trying to produce recyclable items.
Some other practices are going to follow the next year. These include,
Most brands are now using ways through which customers can engage in recycling products. The famous footwear brand Nike has launched collection points with the tag, “Reuse a Shoe!”
This feature is available on particular Nike stores now. Through this, retailers are recycling leather, rubber, and foam from old shoes to create a new ones.
Apple is also following the same strategy. It is encouraging iPhone users to recreate their smartphones. For a used but working smartphone, users can apply for an Apple Store gift card and refurbish their iPhones. If a customer is unable to do so, the brand is willing to recycle it for the better.
Not only these two, but other retailers like Hunkemöller and H&M are also up with ways to recycle their products.
This overall is known as a circular fashion model. It is different from the linear model and makes the world go greener. While brands are repairing, renting, reselling, and returning one dress or pair of shoes more than once, more value is added to the model.
No More Fashion Mid-Seasons
Alessandro, the creative director of Gucci, shared his views about fashion mid-seasons. He said these fashion walks are held 4-5 times annually. As a result, plenty of crowd gathers on a single platform to function and promote.
Professionals including seamstresses, journalists, models, designers, and makeup artists are required to organize these events. With the pandemic being a hot topic, he has reduced the number of mid-seasons.
Likewise, other retailers may be limiting their fashion walks and shows. It will bring a change in the industry soon.
The Recognition of #BlackLivesMatter
Racism is not hidden from the world. People were busy demoralizing others in terms of money, power, standard, and most importantly, race. The pandemic, however, has changed the mindset of many.
Witnessing plenty of deaths from close by taught people their worthlessness and helplessness at times. In response to COVID-19, major designers took part in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Rather than enslaving black people, brands like Chanel, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and Kenneth Cole are promoting black designers.
Also, brands are pitching relief efforts. This may bring a positive change in the environment.
How To Work for a Circular Model
While the pandemic has encouraged most fashion brands to follow a circular model, the only way is to stick with this trend.
- Designers can try to give a green signal while manufacturing garments. Rather than using synthetic fibers that go to waste in the end, getting creative can help. A brand must learn how to reuse an item more than once.
- Likewise, manufacturers new to the world of recycling can learn how to reuse their products. The best example of this strategy is recycling plastic for a better tomorrow. Last year, a famous cosmetic brand recycled their plastic packages and recreated them for further work.
- Finally, the role of customers is not to be missed. This model requires strict client involvement. Brands can encourage users to return used items for shopping deals. Also, manufacturers can guide customers about separating valuables from waste.
The impact of COVID-19 on the fashion industry is bigger. Brands cannot reverse what the pandemic has given to the planet. Nonetheless, many retailers are trying to stay afloat.
Keep in mind, while many brands are trying to focus on the positive ways to prevent downfall, some ventures are greenwashing too. Thus do not get involved in fake marketing and always research about a brand before buying any of their items nowadays!
Also Read This Article: How to Select the Best Professional SEO Services


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Many car dealers are doing more with fewer people in today’s market. This is leading to day-to-day roles in the dealership combining like never before. Today on CBT News, guest David Kain discusses new efficiencies for car dealers and the importance of versatility. Kain is the President of Kain Automotive and host of the CBT original show Kain & Co.
Dealership employees are now being asked to do more than their traditional responsibilities. In 2020, car dealers let go of several team members because of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. However, the industry as a whole was able to recover quickly, and many car dealers experienced record-breaking profits. Car dealers are now taking elements of 2020 and piecing them into current strategies.
One of the adopted strategies from last year was digital retailing. Kain says that car dealers and salespeople must be properly acquainted with the online car-buying experience. Studies have shown that less than 5% of customers come into the dealership without any prior online research.
Kain says he and his team have seen more car dealers taking their salespeople on “digital field trips”. These are educational sessions in which salespeople gain a better understanding of buyer behavior on digital platforms. In the past customers have been willing to fill out online forms. However, modern buyers are more aware of soliciting and choose not to complete the online forms. Instead, customers collect data online that they can leverage at the dealership to lower the price of vehicles or negotiate the trade-in value of their vehicles.
To meet the demands of customers who have conducted online research, Kain says that salespeople must educate themselves on the same data customers collect. Then they are able to offer the next steps in the process once the customer walks into the dealership.
Kain concludes the conversation by talking about the importance of quality relationships. When customers buy a vehicle, they often remember the experience they had with the salesperson, regardless if it was a good or bad experience. Customers are less likely to feel connected to a specific dealership if the salesperson they trust is no longer employed by the dealership. Car dealers must be willing to improve employee retention if they want to see improvements in customer retention.
Did you enjoy this interview with David Kain? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic by submitting a letter to the editor here, or connect with us at email@example.com.


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The 2014 Paris Motor Show is only a few days away but Honda have revealed a renovated version of its Civic Type R concept and shared some details about the extreme looking new hatch. Other than a new paint job, the exterior still remains dramatic (which I am sure will carry over to the production car) and according to Honda, the all-new Civic Type R “has been developed and engineered for European driving tastes”.
No exact power figures have been released but we were told that it will have more than 276 horsepower with a 7000 rpm redline. Honda have opted to go against the trend of semi-automated dual-clutch transmissions by stating that the Type R will come with a short shifting six-speed manual gearbox. Honda will also debut a new “+R” button which will be located on the side of the steering wheel and will be able to re-calibrate engine response, steering and a new Adaptive Damper System. There is no doubt this car will be very capable but I am not sure the styling will be most-welcomed. I think it looks great but I know a lot of people out there think it looks absurd with that wing.


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- Facebook has outgrown its valuations through effective monetization strategies.
- Barron's recently generated a buzz after claiming that Facebook stock could rise by a further 20%.
- What factors will drive Facebook stock higher over the coming months?
Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) stock price has risen steadily over the last one year, gaining over 50% in value. In comparison, the NASDAQ composite is up by a good 16%. However, this pales in comparison to the advances made by Facebook stock (See the chart below). With Barron's recently claiming that the world's leading social media company could rise a further 20%, it is important to understand which key factors are driving the current momentum in the Facebook stock.
Facebook's Effective Monetisation Strategy
Facebook, Inc has effectively executed on its monetization strategy which is reflected in the company's growing operating metrics. CPC and CPM rates and their trends, in combination with the no. of clicks and impressions, are the key metrics which underlie Facebook's growth. However, all of these metrics can be summed up as Facebook's average revenue per user (ARPU).
Facebook has seen a strong growth in its ARPU, which is a proof of the effectiveness of its monetization strategy. With an LTM (Last Twelve Months) ARPU of $13.84, the company has registered an average annual ARPU growth of 30.7% over the last couple of years.
The company has increased ARPU through steady growth in its CPC and CPM rates while also increasing the ad loads over the last few quarters, which essentially increases the number of ads shown to its user base. On the Q2 2016 earnings conference call, David M. Wehner, CFO, Facebook listed rising ad load to be a key factor in the company's recent growth momentum. Quoting from the earnings call:
Additionally, we anticipate ad load on Facebook will continue to grow modestly over the next 12 months, and then will be a less significant factor driving revenue growth after mid-2017. Since ad load has been one of the important factors in our recent strong period of revenue growth, we expect the rate at which we are able to grow revenue will be impacted accordingly.
With ad loads being less of a factor going ahead (as the company cannot increase this infinitely), what exactly will fuel Facebook's growth, and by corollary, its stock price?
The Huge Potential Of Facebook's Pipeline of Apps
The answer lies in the strong product pipeline of popular apps which Facebook has assembled over the last couple of years. With slowing ad loads on its namesake property, Facebook (the company) can start ramping up the ad loads on its other popular apps, which have achieved a significant critical mass of their own. These apps should provide Facebook with more than enough fuel to drive its growth momentum going ahead.
There is a lot written on how each of the products/apps mentioned above could create value for Facebook. However, there is another product which is in Facebook's pipeline and doesn't get enough attention. Facebook search has achieved huge volumes and as per comments from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, monetization of this product shouldn't be too far into the future (Google take notice). Quoting the Facebook CEO from the Q2 conference call:
A growing way that people use search is to find what people are saying about a topic across the more than 2.5 trillion posts in our network. Now people are doing more than 2 billion searches a day between looking up people, businesses, and other things that they care about.
So when we talk about our strategy, I often talk about how when we develop new products we think about it in three phases. First, building a consumer use case; then, second, making it so that people can organically interact with businesses; and then third, on top of that, once there's a large volume of people interacting with businesses. Give businesses tools to reach more people and pay, and that's ultimately the business opportunity.
So, I'd say, we're around the second phase of that in search now.
Facebook's Growth Is Far From Slowing Down
It is no secret that Facebook has been growing rapidly. The company has reported rapid and steady growth across its key metrics. However, what is surprising is the fact that Facebook's growth has accelerated over time. While it is generally expected that companies slow down (in percentage terms) as the base increases, Facebook seems to be gaining further momentum.
The company seems to be growing faster, even as the revenue and earnings base has grown larger. The company reported a 56% YoY revenue growth in the first half of 2016 (1H 2016) which was significantly higher than the 40% YoY growth in the year-ago period. On the earnings front, the company did even better. Growth in Non-GAAP Net Income came in at 92% YoY for 1H 2016 compared to 28% in the year-ago period. Is Facebook defying the law of large numbers?
Facebook Stock Will Outgrow Current Valuations
The company today trades at a forward PE multiple of 24.7 (based on FY 2017 earnings estimate), which does seem high at a first glance. However, a look at the historic valuations tells us that the company has successfully outgrown its past valuations. The company has traded at an average PE multiple of 178 over its life as a publicly listed company. It won't be surprising if the company quickly outgrows its current valuation.


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The late July recall of both cantaloupes and honeydews by a North Carolina grower-shipper because of the finding of Listeria monocytogenes in the packing facility has not had an impact on the overall marketing of the product at this point, according to a California shipper.
Steve Patricio, president of Westside Produce in Firebaugh, CA, told The Produce News Aug 15 that “the general marketplace has slowed recently, but I don’t think the recall of the North Carolina melons has affected our sales at all.”
Mr. Patricio said, however, that it appeared that the three-week-old story was starting to get play again “as CNN just ran a story again today as if it was new. It remains to be seen what impact that will have.”
The situation arose in late July when a routine inspection in New York discovered the pathogen on cantaloupe. An investigation by the Food & Drug Administration traced the cantaloupe back to Burch Farms in Faison, NC. Shipments ceased and over a several-day period the recall was expanded to include all melons shipped from that facility this season after the FDA found "unsanitary conditions" in the company's packing facility.
The last melon shipments from Burch Farms occurred July 27, with product going to distributors in 18 states all in the eastern half of the country. At this point, all recalled cantaloupes are no longer in the marketplace and no illnesses from eating those melons have been reported. The FDA said that the incubation period for a Listeria infection is normally between one and three weeks, but can also be as long as 70 days.
Mr. Patricio said that the industry is hoping there are no illnesses for both the sake of consumers and the cantaloupe industry at large. Last year’s Listeria cantaloupe contamination problem at a farm in Colorado resulted in many deaths and illnesses, as well as creating a significant negative impact on cantaloupe shipments for many months.
Commenting on the FDA’s reported finding of “unsanitary conditions” at the North Carolina farm, Mr. Patrico said that is very disheartening news. He said the industry has made a concerted effort to establish cantaloupe guidance and best practices, and it has distributed that information as broadly as possible. He said that food scientists continue to say that there are no inherent problems with cantaloupes themselves.
The Listeria contamination of last year, and apparently this year as well, was introduced in the handling process. Mr. Patricio indicated that adherence to good agricultural practices can mitigate that issue.


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LONG BEACH, N.Y. - There was plenty of sunshine down by the shore in Long Beach where beach goers took to the waters one last time as Monday marked the last day for lifeguards on duty even though swimming at state beaches including Jones Beach and Robert Moses is extended for another two weeks.
"People seem like they're a little looser, like they're spending a bit more," said Lori Maslavi, the co-owner of Cover Girl Fashion.
Dry days in July and August definitely helped boost business especially for seaside shops.
"The season took a while getting started but by the time July hit, the weather was awesome and people were down at the beach," Long Beach Surf Shop owner Luke Hamlet said.
Spending also seems to be up at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park where families like the Hillenbrands picked sales over sunbathing. Shopping experts suggest searching for promo codes, using cash back reward sites and seeking out end-of-season sales.
Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge said in addition to typical sales this year, unexpected sales offer deep discounts because of overages related to supply chain issues.
"In laptops, we're seeing up to $400 off Macs. We're also seeing good deals off HP and Lenovo," Bodge said. "If you are in need of a laptop, this is a good time to take advantage of those savings."
Taking advantage of savings and saying so long to summer.


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HBO Max confirms 'yes, it was the intern' after a mysterious test email was mistakenly sent to subscribers
No, HBO Max isn't releasing a new series called "Integration Test Email #1." The streaming service said the test email was an intern's mistake.
Quibi memes are nearly non-existent outside of those roasting the app itself. That doesn't bode well for the new streaming service.
Mobile streaming platform Quibi launched just over two weeks ago, but there are still no good memes about its content. That may become Quibi's doom.
The partnership could disrupt the live-streaming business, which, thus far, has focused on gaming content.
A leaked Netflix synopsis of 'Resident Evil' has sparked a frenzy of speculation that the TV adaptation is coming soon
A synopsis of the show — since taken down — appeared without explanation on Netflix's website.
Sling TV is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a sale. Through February 11, you can get your first month of Orange or Blue for just $5.
Ruslan Meshenberg ensured Netflix's catalog of movies and TV shows ran reliably.
A new bill would force Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services to put 25% of French revenue into funding French cinema
France is reportedly finalizing a bill that would make streaming services like Netflix put 25% of their French-generated revenue toward local cinema.
The massive popularity of Baby Yoda memes highlights just how successful Disney Plus has been, one analyst says
Rosenblatt Securities raised its first-quarter subscriber target for Disney Plus to 25 million from 21 million, and reiterated its "buy" rating.
I was planning to give away my old, 'dumb' TV until a $35 streaming device brought it back from the dead
All it takes is a Chromecast device — or similar products from Amazon or Roku — to revive an old TV.
Hackers have reportedly figured out how to reactivate people's canceled Netflix accounts and start charging them again for monthly subscriptions
The hacks were reportedly enabled by the fact that Netflix stores customer data for 10 months after someone cancels an account.
Vizio smart TVs still don't have the Disney Plus app, but the company is rolling out a major update that will let anyone with a smartphone stream Disney's new service
With the update, both Android and iOS users can cast Disney Plus to their Vizio smart TVs until the Disney app becomes available.
Disney's answer to Netflix is mostly great. But for some reason, you can't see what movies and shows you've finished or started.
With the Disney Plus app, you can download and watch shows and movies without Wi-Fi on up to 10 mobile and tablet devices. Here's how it works.
Stadia, Google's new game-streaming service, would be way more compelling if it was truly unlimited like Netflix
Google thinks it can make an impact in the gaming world with Stadia. But the service doesn't sound compelling; it sounds expensive.
Here's what Disney Plus, the company's $7-a-month answer to Netflix, looks like when you open it for the first time
Disney Plus launches on November 12, for just $7 a month. If you're familiar with Netflix, you should have no issues navigating this new service.
The biggest question mark about Apple's new TV service is price — and it's going to be a huge factor if Apple hopes to compete with Netflix and Disney Plus
Apple should consider rival services like Netflix, HBO Now, and Disney Plus if it hopes to draw the largest possible audience for Apple TV Plus.
HBO just threw shade at Netflix's computer-based recommendations with a new website showing fan testimonials
HBO's new site features more than 100 show recommendations from real people, and it's a clear call-out against Netflix's AI-based suggestions.
Hulu customers are furious after the company's live TV service experienced an outage during the Democratic debate
Subscribers of Hulu + Live TV were not thrilled when their viewing was interrupted by a streaming glitch during the Democratic debate.
Apple is teasing fans with a playful live stream of the Steve Jobs Theater ahead of its big TV event
Apple, expected to announce its new TV streaming service on Monday, is building hype by live streaming a series of cryptic messages.
Apple reportedly wants to sell subscriptions to HBO, Showtime and more premium channels for $9.99 a pop
Apple is expected to unveil its new subscription TV service tomorrow, and it will likely include options to subscribe to premium cable channels.


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Both banks and credit unions continue to lose market share to digital lending platforms that offer better user experience and more personalization.
Fintech startups issued 38% of all US personal loans in 2018, while banks provided 28% and credit unions accounted for 21%, according to TransUnion. This is a significant change from 2013, when fintech startups issued only 5% of US personal loans, banks issued 40%, and credits unions 31%.
Fintech: Build, Partner, Grow
Over the last ten years, fintech startups have targeted single underserved financial products with better UI, digital marketing, and branding. These fintech companies put their focus on personalization and use digital channels to deliver services more efficiently and holistically.
Today, fintech is moving beyond a one-product model, with companies launching new services to expand the customer’s digital footprint. This includes improving connectivity by partnering to grow their line of business beyond the initial use case.
Big Banks & Fintech
Over the last few years, mega-banks including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan have actively invested in fintech startups across data analytics, alternative lending, personal finance lending, and more. The Goldman Sachs AI lending platform, Marcus, is the fastest lender to reach $2B issued, just a year after its launch. For the largest banks, they have the means to take up their own digital capabilities. Now, the largest consumer banking institutions are building out and launching their own products to compete.
Leveling The Playing Field
So what is the solution for credit unions and banks? It involves finding the ‘sweet spot’ by identifying the customer segments most important to their banking strategy. Financial institutions are then forming partnerships with fintech providers to align these competencies.
One of the most compelling reasons to partner with fintech providers is it enables you to stop turning away the kind of business that builds high-value relationships with customers you need most. Second, financial institutions should evaluate providers that easily sync with their existing infrastructure. This includes loan origination systems, new account opening software, and home banking. Lastly, seek out fintech with a core focus on innovation. Offering personalization and real-time engagement with AI, along with robotic process automation (RPA) means you can service customers after business hours.
To compete, credit unions and banks must partner with fintech providers to offer an elevated user experience to meet the rising demands from fintech incumbent.
To learn more about Fintech partnerships with Shastic, visit our homepage.


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Interest is continuing to grow around the upcoming launch of the new large screen Apple Iphone
Interest is continuing to grow around the upcoming launch of the new large screen Apple Iphone. Reports are that Apple has asked manufacturers to produce between 70 million and 80 million units combined of two large-screen iPhones with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays by the end of the year. This figure would represent the largest initial iPhone release in the Company's history. The move is all centred around the move to larger screens - which have allowed Samsung to claim significant market share by meeting previously untapped demand. Apple has just released their 3rd quarter sales results which has seen the stock trade lower on the back of below expectation growth outlook. To put things in perspective last quarter Apple sold - 35.2M iPhones, 13.3M iPads, 4.4M Macs and 2.9M iPods. They finished the quarter with $164.5 billion in cash and securities. Up from $146.8 billion a quarter ago. (VIEW LINK)
Livewire is Australia’s #1 website for expert investment analysis. We work with leading investment professionals to deliver curated content that helps investors make confident and informed decisions. Safe investing and thanks for reading Livewire.


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A September 2019 study by navigation software Waze found that Filipinos will need five minutes to travel a one-kilometer stretch of road due to the country’s traffic woes.
According to a Monday report by Saleema Refran for 24 Oras, this figure heightens the possibility that Metro Manila will be named the worst city in the world to drive in for the second year in a row.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) pointed to vehicle volume as the cause of traffic.
“The problem is volume. So we can only do so much to manage such number of cars on a limited road network,” said MMDA’s EDSA Traffic chief Bong Nebrija.
According to a volume count survey by the MMDA in July, a 23.8-kilometer trip from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard through EDSA will take one hour and 11 minutes for private cars and nearly 2 hours for buses.
At present, an estimated 405,000 vehicles ply EDSA daily.
Waze data show that this number rises by 10 percent during November and December due to the holiday season, with most motorists heading to shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, banks, and grocery stores.
Last year, the busiest time for supermarkets in the country was the weekend before Christmas. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News


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Acumen Holdings | Ecommerce and Online Technology
Acumen Brands is an aggressive Arkansas startup operated by three young entrepreneurs with delusions of grandeur: a physician who quit practicing medicine the day he finished seven exhausting years of training, a lawyer who only keeps his law license in order to get friends out of speeding tickets, and an injury prone professional golfer who is unquestionably the nicest human being in the world.
Nobody is over 40, but we have built and sold multiple businesses with total revenue exceeding $50 million. Our experience is eclectic: we built our first ecommerce store in 1995 to sell quiz bowl questions to high schools; we used a pay-per-click arbitrage scheme to quietly accumulate over 1 percent of Google's partner revenue at the time of Google's IPO; and we pioneered the field of retail shopper marketing while sitting at the nexus of Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart.
- Information Technology
- Internet Specific
Trent Atwood's Civik enables elected officials to use targeted questions, based on ZIP code or demographics, to survey constituents on specific issues.
Students from eStem Public Charter High School in downtown Little Rock spent Friday morning pitching startup ideas designed to innovate the current educational model.
Cameron Smith, whose efforts to place women on corporate boards of directors was the subject of a front-page story last week, says it's not always easy persuading denizens of New York and Silicon Valley to move to Vendorville, the Bentonville-Rogers-Springdale-Fayetteville metroplex that's home to 1,390 suppliers to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The ARK Challenge startup accelerator last week concluded its fourth installment, and first in Little Rock, with Demo Day presentations of company pitches held inside the Clinton Center's Great Hall.


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CBD Oil products, business in Asia markets: China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India and more
Those Weterners not in-th-know about Asian countries will be surprised to learn that some of the world’s most viable markets for CBD products are located in the Far East. In South Korea, Japan, Thailand and China, over-the-counter CBD products have been legal for years – well longer than in much of the USA. And while Korea and Japan may be driving the hipness quotient of CBD oil-infused beauty products, it’s the overall demand and production of China that will be key in the 2020s.
Meera Chopra's question comes at a time when the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is probing the drug angle into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, and has summoned aSource: mid-day.com
HONG KONG -- Cannabis may be illegal in Hong Kong, but a new cafe is offering a range of food and drinks that contain parts of the cannabis plant without breakingSource: abcnews.go.com
Giffin, his brother Jordan and Jack MacDonald, all Halifax men in their mid-20s, established Giffin Technologies in 2017 to make value-added products from hemp seedSource: capebretonpost.com
BANGKOK — Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal from the Public Health Ministry that would allow health professionals, farmers and medical patients to grow, produce and export cannabis andSource: timescolonist.com
In order for cannabis and its hundreds of constituents to contribute to mainstream healthcare in a quantifiable way, it needs research-backed legitimacySource: greenentrepreneur.com
Marijuana and hemp companies of all stripes – from growers to retailers – are likely to join other global industries feeling the fallout from the coronavirus outbreakSource: greenentrepreneur.com
The coronavirus outbreak in China likely will benefit American hemp companies that compete with Chinese suppliers on the global and domestic marketsSource: greenentrepreneur.com
'Reality check' for Canadian cannabis as capital crunch makes lower-cost growing nations more attractive
The North American cannabis industry has a capital crunch — and this might channel investment to low-cost growing nations like Uruguay, according to veteran pot entrepreneur Jordan LewisSource: business.financialpost.com
NONTHABURI, Thailand -- Thailand on Monday opened its first two full-time clinics dispensing cannabis oil for medical treatment, a step forward in the government's policy of promoting the licensedSource: abcnews.go.com
NONTHABURI, Thailand (AP) — Thailand on Monday opened its first two full-time clinics dispensing cannabis oil for medical treatment, a step forward in the government's policy of promoting theSource: chron.com
This week’s Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance Conference in Calgary, AltaSource: theglobeandmail.com
Southeastern Grocers, parent company of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has started stocking the company’s products in Florida and South CarolinaSource: denverpost.com
Shopping for CBD oil, especially when you’re new to all things hemp and cannabis, can be overwhelmingSource: greenentrepreneur.com
As health officials search for the missing link between vaping and a mysterious illness, California’s cannabis community is blaming untested products and devices sold to unsuspecting consumers on theSource: mercurynews.com
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1Source: mysanantonio.com
Since late June, according to the CDC, 94 people in 14 states have come down with serious lung illnesses that may be linked to use of e-cigarettes, which heatSource: time.com
Kings County is warning vape users to avoid buying cannabis e-cigarettes on the street after seven people in Hanford were hospitalized in the intensive care unit with a potentiallySource: sfgate.com
Afternoon Tea Week is here and we’re craving a cuppa. This year, skip the traditional Earl Grey and scone, in favour of something a little differentSource: metro.co.uk
Thirteen people were injured after nearly a dozen shootings across Toronto over the long weekend, one of which sparked chaos as gunshots rang out in a packed nightclubSource: alaskahighwaynews.ca
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug worldwide and is increasingly being made legal for recreational and medicinal purposesSource: sciencedaily.com
Recently cbdMD announced a branding partnership with Bellator Events, which broadcasts mixed martial arts (MMA) fights via the Paramount and DAZN networks to over one billion MMA fans in overSource: greenentrepreneur.com
AURORA, Ore. – A unit of wheat is called a bushel, and a standard weight of potatoes is called a century. But hemp as a fully legal U.SSource: medicinehatnews.com
AURORA, Ore. (AP) — A unit of wheat is a called a bushel, and a standard weight of potatoes is called a century. But hemp as a fully legal U.SSource: sfgate.com
Cannabis is one of the most infamous plants on the planet today, especially in light of rapidly changing legislation surrounding its legalisation in Europe and AmericaSource: sciencedaily.com
In Western business circles, the Asian CBD oil product market is habitually called “untapped,” but this contention simply isn’t true. “Untapped” the large markets of Asia may be by European Union- and US-based companies, but China is already dominating the market in most niche areas and is by far the world’s no. 1 producer of CBD oil itself and the no. 1 exporter of CBD product.
Overall, the global CBD market was forecast to hit $1.735 billion, expected to grow from $1.454 billion in 2018, a CAGR of a whopping 36.3%, according to an industry report of July 2019. The same report notes that the Asia Pacific region is experiencing the highest growth rate, and that an “increasing number of agreements and partnerships between the companies operating in the market” are strengthening prospects in Asia for the CBD industry.
Estimates from the US in 2019 reckoned that CBD products could account for as much as 15% of the , $167 billion (or $25.05 billion) global skincare market alone by 2029 – but China’s market in this area is already valued at $15 billion, and this country will likely be buying all its CBD oil products from within China. The US estimates are also counting on limited expansion of Chinese exports, while the opposite is the most likely outcome.
And check this out: A report of 2018 specifically devoted to the Asia Pacific Cannabis testing market shows that this sub-niche will be worth nearly $423 million by 2025, a rise of some 15.8% CAGR.
The point here is that the CBD product market in a dozen Asian nations in healthy and ready to expand over the coming decade. Exciting times for CBD adherents…


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Why Cybersecurity Is So Vital for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Mitigating Security Risks on the Biggest Shopping Weekend of the Year
Over 165 million people shopped over the Black Friday weekend in 2018, and the proportion of shoppers ordering online is rising significantly.
Online sales over 2018 Black Friday weekend:
Each day saw increases in online shopping, with year-over-year growth of 27.9%, 23.6%, and 19.3%.
With the growing tendency of consumers to shift their shopping online, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the weekend has become one of the most lucrative periods of the year for cybercriminals.
Cyberattacks Rising Over Black Friday Weekend
Businesses will be familiar with the increasing number of attacks that they have to defend themselves from.
Major shopping periods like Black Friday serve up additional cyber risks to businesses and consumers as hackers become more active.
With people spending over $300 on average, elongated shopping hours, and increased mobile commerce, there’s a perfect storm of cyber vulnerability that attackers will look to take advantage of.
Consumers themselves are aware of the dangers to some degree. Two-thirds of shoppers have expressed concern that their data may be stolen as a result of shopping online. Whether they will take the necessary precautions is another question.
Impact of Cyberattacks on Business
Cybersecurity is a much more prominent issue for SMBs in 2019 than in previous years.
Related Post: 10 Cybersecurity Stats You Need to Know for 2019
You might recall major data breaches, like the one that affected Equifax back in 2017, as examples of what hackers are capable of.
What is more concerning, however, is an apparent lack of vigilance from small and midsize organizations—mostly because they don’t believe they will ever fall victim to an attack.
With attackers upping their efforts over Black Friday weekend, it’s more important than ever for businesses and consumers alike to stay vigilant and protect their data.
Black Friday and Mobile Security
If you’ve ever done a Black Friday spree on your smartphone, then you’re not the only one. 33.5% of online sales last year were made on phones, an increase from 29.1% the year before.
With this comes added security risks for shoppers and businesses such as:
Studies suggest that apps downloaded from Apple’s App Store and Google Play are highly likely to have bugs that compromise privacy. 90% of apps in the US have the potential to leak one or more pieces of personal information.
Everybody wants to save their data and use Wi-Fi whenever possible. Free wireless networks are often unsecured and pose a threat to anyone who conducts purchases over them.
Network spoofing is when people set up Wi-Fi networks (usually under an innocuous name like an establishment) in public places that are in fact fake access points. Once users connect, hackers will use methods to gain details and information about the target, like credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords.
Businesses on Black Friday
With the biggest weekend of the year coming up, this is the time when businesses and consumers must be wary of threats and not open themselves up to attack.
Related Post: 10 Reasons You Need a Managed Security Service
After all, we know how much damage can be done to an organization that is not prepared for the consequences of an attack.
Cybercriminals follow the money. 71% of attacks so far this year have been financially motivated.
Financial loss, reputational damage, and legal sanctions for not meeting compliance with regulations like CCPA are all at stake.
It’s more important than ever for companies to take every precaution to ensure they’re safe over Black Friday weekend.
Biggest Dangers for Businesses on Black Friday
The majority of security breaches occur because of human error. According to IBM, it was the main cause in 95% of cases.
Staff represent a big weak spot for organizations, and they should all be trained correctly in how to prevent cybercrime.
This is one of the most popular and effective methods for duping unsuspecting victims into handing over sensitive data.
Hackers take advantage of the sales fervor by using social engineering to manipulate people during the busy four-day period. Staff must be on their guard and prepared for the flurry of phishing attacks across the weekend.
Clicking on a bad link can cost you a lot more than needing to re-scan your computer. Ransomware poses a big threat, especially during busy times of the year for businesses.
Attacks are expensive and increasing in number—organizations should be extra careful around the holiday shopping season that they invest in the right solutions to mitigate these cyberattacks.
- Cyberattacks spike during the Black Friday weekend
- Many businesses are still lacking effective measures to prevent the dangers associated with these attacks
- Organizations have a responsibility to protect the data of their customers, meaning breaches must be avoided at all costs
- Staff should be trained effectively so they can spot and deal with a threat during one of the most dangerous periods of the year
Are you concerned about your business’ security online? Impact Networking’s Managed Security program provides vital cybersecurity protection for clients, keeping their minds at ease in the knowledge that their IT infrastructure is being monitored and maintained by our security experts.
We’ve vetted 100s of vendors to ensure that our program utilizes best-in-class solutions for our clients. In today’s landscape, a comprehensive cybersecurity program has never been more important. Learn more about Impact’s offering here.


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With the holiday season's arrival, many Torontonians are likely making room in their storage spaces so that they can add some of their old belongings, anticipating lots of gifts will be waiting for them Christmas morning. And a new online survey indicates when holiday gift givers will be shopping for these presents.
According to eBay Canada, November 27 is projected to be the busiest online shopping for Canadians in 2011, with an estimated 500,000 shoppers expected to shop the online auction site. This translates into two gifts being purchased every second – a 17 percent rise compared to 2010.
But it's not just eBay that consumers will be visiting to shop. Over the entire holiday season, 40 percent of Canadians said they anticipate doing some or all of their holiday shopping online, a sharp rise from the 29 percent who said the same thing last year.
"Canadians are craving convenience when it comes to holiday shopping," said Kevin Wolfley, of eBay Canada. "It will commonly take the average shopper less than an hour to make their purchase transactions online, whether it's from a computer or a mobile phone."
Speaking of electronics, these items are particularly good to keep in storage, as friends or neighbors may be able to use them at some point.


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Credit card issuers, banks waive fees for Japan relief donations
Credit card companies and financial institutions are putting their muscle behind Japanese relief efforts, making it easier for people to make donations and charities to be spared credit card transaction fees.
Visa, MasterCard and Discover announced they were waiving their usual transaction fees on donations to a number of U.S.-based charities. The charities vary, depending on the credit card you use, but include the American Red Cross, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity and Doctors Without Borders.
American Express will rebate charges for donations to Japanese relief organizations listed on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) website.
Discover is also allowing cardholders to donate their cashback bonuses to the American Red Cross. Capital One sent out an e-mail blast to its customers Thursday encouraging them to donate their rewards. The e-mail reminds cardholders that donating rewards creates a tax deduction whose size "is determined by the cash equivalent of your rewards donation as detailed in your receipt, not the quantity of No Hassle Miles or Points redeemed."
Banks and credit card companies have also stepped forward with relief donations of their own. MasterCard is donating $250,000 and says it will double-match employee contributions to disaster relief.
Meanwhile, American Express is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and Save the Children, and matching employee contributions to those organizations.
JP Morgan Chase has committed $5 million to Japanese relief and said it will also match employee contributions. The company also said customers with Chase Sapphire, Ink from Chase and Chase Freedom credit cards will be able to make relief donations through the company's Ultimate Rewards program.
Wells Fargo pledged an immediate $500,000 donation and said it will match employee contributions up to $500,000.
Banks did not waive their fees immediately after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010, but quickly did so after some public scolding.
- Chase cardholders can charge advance horse-racing bets – A decision by Chase to allow credit card transactions for online wagering on horse races is expected to prompt rivals to come out of the starting gate ...
- Video: How to set up your mobile wallet – Follow these steps to learn how to add your favorite credit cards to the mobile wallet on your smartphone ...
- Headed abroad? Which US issuers offer chip-and-PIN cards – Chip-and-signature cards may leave you in the dust at kiosks and terminals abroad, so arm yourself with a true chip-and-PIN card from one of these issuers ...


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Mac OS X Lion showroom copies are believed to be winging their way around Apple stores in time for an official launch expected this week. Apple will later today announce its third-quarter results and it is likely the new OS will be on sale via the Mac App Store from tomorrow.
Apple announced during its WWDC in June keynote that the next version of OS X – Lion – will be available from July for around US$29, exclusively via the Mac App Store. This represents a massive drop in price from the US$129 it would have cost for the packaged version in stores.
It has been rumoured that Apple will also reveal a new MacBook Air and Mac Pro kitted out with the new OS and Thunderbolt I/O connectors.
Apple revealed that Mac sales have grown 28pc in the last year while PC sales have shrunk 1pc.
What to expect in the new Mac OS X Lion
The new Mac OS X Lion will come with 250 new features.
These will include:
- A ‘Resume’ feature, first demonstrated last year, that restores all apps on the desktop when you shut down or restart your machine and all documents will save themselves automatically via an Autosave feature.
- Using Time Machine, you can cycle between previously saved versions of documents.
- The new AirDrop feature allows you to drag and send documents to other people in your network.
- A key new feature is multi-touch, will allow users to swipe through webpages, as well as click with the mouse, drag and scroll.
- LaunchPad provides a bird-eye view of all installed app icons.
- Mission Control will provide users with a birds-eye view of all documents and apps.
- Mail has been completely revamped, offering users the ability to create a two or three-column view of messages.


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Have you seen the headlines about the severe drought the western half of the US is having?
Don’t assume these water shortages won’t impact your business. Do you realize it’s not only the west, but populations all across the country who are being impacted by the water supply?
Several cities, including some you wouldn’t expect such as Cleveland, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. are predicted to experience severe water shortages in the not too distant future according to studies from Columbia University Water Center and NOAA's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).
It’s not just agriculture and the fishing and gaming industry that’s being impacted. According to an article by Bettina Boxall in the LA Times (1/31/2014), “for the first time ever, the State Water Project that helps supply a majority of Californians may be unable to make any deliveries except to maintain public health and safety.”
The shortages are getting dangerous. And they’re not solely created by drought. Population expansion and demand increase is the major culprit.
Yet, no one seems to be discussing the impact water shortages could have on manufacturing.
An Ernst & Young corporate sustainability study recently found that 76% of corporate representatives think water is the top resource at risk.
Will prices go up? Will you have to ration usage? Monitoring usage and reducing consumption could soon become a competitive advantage – or even a “right to do business”. But, if a main ingredient of your product is water, there’s nothing you can do to reduce consumption, right?
You don’t know until you start monitoring your consumption. Reviewing consumption and cost in a monthly statement from the water department won’t give you the real-time data you need to monitor, measure and manage consumption. And, that monthly statement certainly won’t help you figure out where you’re using the most water.
How do you prepare for impending legislation and regulations that are sure to result? At a minimum your company will likely have the obligation to report and demonstrate that you have utilized water in a responsible manner. That starts with understanding how and where you use water in your business. Do you know how much water your company consumes?
If you monitor water usage by plant, by area, by line, even by product, then you can really know how your company is using water. And, when you measure, you can manage. And, when you manage, you can improve.
Now is the time to incorporate water management into your Sustainability Program.
Entegreat’s new eMagazine (eZine), Turning Water Consumption Management into a Competitive Advantage reviews how real the threat of water scarcity is. It also explores how water consumption can not only be reduced, but how monitoring can be used to increase bottom-line business results. We also provide a few tips for where to look to reduce your water consumption and what you can do now to reduce your risk.
Photo Credit: PhotoAlto Photography


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China Blocks Google Access; Confusion Over Internet Filter Remains High
June 25, 2009 5:25 PM
comment(s) - last by
Companies still frustrated with Chinese order to install filtering software
As China continues to cause Internet privacy advocates to shake their heads in disbelief, access to Google has been blocked in some parts of the country.
Google has been accused of spreading pornography -- breaking strict Chinese law -- and now both the Google.com and its Chinese language counterpart have been unavailable. Furthermore, Gmail and several other Google-based services also were disabled since Wednesday afternoon China time.
To avoid the ban in China, Microsoft's Bing search engine is reportedly filtering out some sensitive searches carried out through the search portal written in traditional Chinese. Any IP address based in China filters out content deemed inappropriate by the Chinese government, allowing the search engine to continue operating in the country.
Foreign companies operating inside China must tread carefully, with YouTube,
, and a handful of news web sites also facing temporary bans.
The temporary Google block comes at the same time PC manufacturers are working to install the mandatory "Green Dam Youth Escort" software on all desktop PCs and laptops sold in the country. The filter has drawn international criticism, with US officials pleading with China to leave behind its plans to use the filter.
There has been concern not only because of major censorship issues, but possible security holes and
pirated software used in the filtering software
. But since the Chinese market has so many tech consumers, manufacturers are willing to install the filter and put up with other unusual demands.
"Mandating technically flawed Green Dam software and denying manufacturers and consumers freedom to select filtering software is an
unnecessary and unjustified means to achieve that objective
, and poses a serious barrier to trade," according to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Hacker united
6/26/2009 7:46:10 AM
maybe the chinese are just trying to hide the death of michael jackson? I mean the chinese are just about up to the 80's in culture and dress sense? He could have a posthumous career over there.
RIP michael, we loved you, too bad you loved little kids and not us.
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Halloween is just around the corner, so you know what that means -- time to vote for your favorite freaky fish! While we may only spend one day a year donning frightening costumes, these creatures are terrifying all year long.
And for more check out some tips to green up a typically orange and black holiday.
- Celebrate National Seafood Month with This Sustainable Recipe: Wild Salmon with Spinach Posted Thu, October 16, 2014
- Photos, Video: Oceana Wraps Up Canary Islands Expedition after Discovering Vast Biodiversity Posted Mon, October 20, 2014
- Introducing the Nudibranch: Multicolored Mollusks that Dazzle the Seafloor (Photos) Posted Wed, October 15, 2014
- Ocean Roundup: Seafood Fraud Ring Uncovered in Australia, Fish Species Found to Change Skin Color, and More Posted Fri, October 17, 2014
- Ocean News: Sea Turtle Nesting in Florida Sees Steady Increase, 2014 Could Be Hottest on Record, and More Posted Tue, October 21, 2014


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RICHMOND, Va. -- Many new laws are set to take effect in Virginia on July 1. Among those new laws are seven that impact the Virginia ABC and state liquor laws. Here's a breakdown provided by Virginia ABC:
ABC License Reform and Off-Premises Beer/Wine (HB1845)
This allows restaurants and other ABC license holders to either deliver wine and beer or sell it to people who can then drink elsewhere.
Virtual Fundraising Events (HB1973)
This allows nonprofits or associations to sell and deliver wine to people taking part in virtual fundraisers.
Criminal Blight (HB2131)
This bill expands what is considered criminal blight and could cost an establishment its ABC license. It now includes people carrying illegal drugs and illegal firing of a gun.
Special Event Licenses (HB2266 and SB1471)
This allows cities and counties to obtain a “designated outdoor refreshment area” license that will allow the sale and drinking of alcohol in designated
entertainment or walking districts.
Low Alcohol Beverages in ABC retail Stores (SB1428)
ABC stores will stop selling low alcohol beverages (spirits-based drinks consisting of 7.5% or less ABV) unless they were made by a Virginia distiller.
EAT IT, VIRGINIA restaurant news and interviews.


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The digital landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and businesses across industries are compelled to adapt and embrace innovative solutions to stay competitive. Seamless Middle East 2023 which took place on the 23rd-24th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, was a seminal event that brought together industry leaders, experts, and technology enthusiasts. In its 24th year, Seamless has been a meeting place for the brightest and most innovative minds across the payments, fintech, identity, banking, retail, e-commerce, home delivery, and digital marketing industries. It is renowned as one of the largest marketing events in the region and rightly so. This year it garnered over 30,000 attendees, 800+ exhibitors, and over 800 speakers over the course of two days.
We at Home of Performance proudly registered a remarkable presence at the event through our participation as an exhibitor and conference speakers. Our experience of meeting so many enthusiastic visitors who came to meet us at our stand and presenting our range of innovative digital marketing solutions to them has been very rewarding.
Let’s delve into our experience and the remarkable insights gained during this innovative dynamic gathering.
Embracing the Future of Digital Commerce
At Seamless Middle East 2023, the theme of “The Future of Digital Commerce” resonated with the Home of Performance team. We understand that the digital landscape is not just transforming businesses; it is also redefining customer experiences and expectations. By participating in this event, we aimed to showcase our expertise in leveraging digital marketing strategies and technologies to empower businesses in this evolving environment.
A Thriving Exhibition Stand
Our exhibition stand at the event served as a vibrant hub for engaging discussions and knowledge sharing. With eye-catching visuals and interactive displays, we captivated the attention of the visitors, enticing them to explore the services and solutions we provide. From search engine optimization, performance, and app marketing to social media management and creative content production, we highlighted our comprehensive suite of digital marketing offerings that are tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses in the digital era.
Moderating a discussion panel on ‘Empowering Marketers with AI: Making Content Curation Smarter and More Efficient With Machines’
Our Strategy Director, Warren LaRey was a speaker and moderator for the Seamless Middle East Conference, where he moderated a discussion panel on the topic – Making Content Curation Smarter and More Efficient With Machines. He was joined by Antonio Ricciardi, SVP Consumer Intelligence & Engagement, Etisalat UAE By E&, Marwa Hassan, Head Of Marketing, Global Food Industries/ International Beverage and Filling Industries, and Ahmed El Gamal, Senior Director Of Marketing, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. It was a very insightful session attended by a packed hall and followed by a highly interactive audience interaction.
Engaging with Visitors
Seamless Middle East 2023 provided an excellent platform for us to connect with professionals from various industries and exchange insights on the future of digital commerce. We engaged in thought-provoking conversations with entrepreneurs, marketers, and technology enthusiasts, learning from their experiences and sharing our expertise. These interactions fostered valuable connections, opening doors to potential partnerships and collaborations.
Unveiling Innovative Solutions
Our participation in the event allowed us to showcase our latest innovative services that align with the future of digital commerce. We talked about our focus on employing data science to craft ROI-driven business marketing strategies for our clients. Additionally, we demonstrated the power of personalized marketing campaigns, leveraging data-driven insights and dynamic tracking and reporting to create tailored experiences for customers. By presenting these solutions, we aimed to inspire businesses to embrace the digital revolution and harness its potential for growth.
Key Insights and Takeaways
Seamless Middle East 2023 provided a rich environment for learning and gaining valuable insights into how the region is adapting to the advents of business automation and digital marketing. We observed a significant shift towards mobile commerce, with an increasing emphasis on frictionless, secure payment solutions. This directly ties in with our agile App marketing projects. Artificial intelligence and machine learning emerged as transformative technologies, enabling businesses to automate processes, analyze vast amounts of data, and deliver personalized customer experiences at scale. Furthermore, the importance of data privacy and security was highlighted, with businesses urged to prioritize the protection of customer information.
Participating in Seamless Middle East 2023 was an invigorating experience for us. It was an incredible platform for Home of Performance to showcase our digital marketing prowess and engage with industry leaders in exploring the future of digital commerce. We return from the event with valuable knowledge, new connections, and a reinforced commitment to empowering businesses in the digital era. Digital Marketing holds immense potential, now more than ever, and we are excited to continue partnering with organizations, leveraging our expertise to drive growth, innovation, and exceptional customer experiences. As we look ahead, we remain committed to empowering businesses, leveraging the transformative power of digital marketing to navigate the evolving landscape and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.
We look forward to participating in the upcoming Seamless Saudi Arabia that is happening in Riyadh from the 4th-5th September 2023.


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Confirmed HTC EVO 4G LTE arrival on Sprint May 18
There have been many people waiting avidly for the release of HTC’s next EVO handset and at last we can now give you a confirmed release date of May 18 for the HTC EVO 4G LTE on Sprint. Although this date had been rumored previously, Sprint made the news official today so for those of you eager to get your hands on it there’s not too much longer to wait.
The HTC EVO 4G LTE is an impressive Android smartphone and is the Sprint variant of the HTC One X, already released and proving a smash hit. Although the EVO 4G LTE is, as its name suggests, LTE-equipped the Sprint LTE network is not yet up and running. Nevertheless there is plenty to attract people to this phone before it can start making use of its LTE capabilities. We had previously reported the May 18 release date following leaks from some marketing materials so its good to see this now confirmed by Sprint itself.
The price will be $199.99 on the usual two-year contract and its sleek and stylish design will surely have mass appeal. Summarizing the key specs and features we can tell you that the HTC EVO 4G LTE has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, 4.7-inch Super LCD HD display, 8-megapixel camera featuring HTC ImageSense technology along with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It has 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, NFC support, a 2000mAh battery and runs on Android 4.0 ICS skinned with HTC Sense 4.0.
News of the official release date announcement comes from BGR where you can also see the official Sprint press release for this smartphone. Pre-orders are already available at this Sprint product page where you’ll also find plenty more information about this notable smartphone. Those who purchase the HTC EVO 4G LTE are able to use the Sprint Everything Data plans beginning at $79.99 monthly.
Sprint’s 4G LTE network and enhanced 3G service is expected to arrive in Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio by the middle of this year. You may also be interested in the video that we have embedded below this story showing a hands-on experience and first look at the EVO 4G LTE. Have you been waiting for the official release date for the HTC EVO 4G LTE? What has made you choose this smartphone over others such as the Samsung Galaxy S3? Let us know with your comments.


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Starlink: Battle for Atlas Getting Free Holiday Content
Ubisoft announced today that Starlink: Battle for Atlas will get a large content update before the holidays.
In this update, all planets that are in the Atlas star system will see new enemy types, which will bring with them unique gameplay mechanics. Outlaw fortifications will also start appearing across the entirety of Atlas. Finally, for the creative among us, a photo mode with personalization options will also make its way to the game.
You can view a trailer below:
Starlink: Battle for Atlas: Holiday Update | Ubisoft [NA]
This free update will be available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on December 21.
Get a new look at the gameplay of DotEmu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games’ Streets of Rage 4, courtesy of IGN
Get a firsthand look at the many characters players will come across in NIS America’s Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories with the latest trailer for the game


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In Pictures: 15 hot Windows 8 hybrid notebooks and tablets
Microsoft's Windows 8 launch on October 26 is nearly here, and new device announcements are coming so fast you need a scorecard to keep up. One of the big themes with this touch-centric Windows release is touchscreens on everything including Ultrabooks, tablets with keyboard docks, or new all-in-one convertible PCs. Some critics aren't buying the hybrid device craze that Windows 8 is inspiring, but if you ever wanted to a touch-enabled laptop, there's never been a better time to buy.
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- 8 things we learnt about big data analytics from the Adobe Summit
- AdRoll secures US$70 million to ramp up retargeting platform development


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WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed a class-action lawsuit to proceed against Hewlett-Packard that alleges that Compaq, now a part of HP, sold defective computers.
The court’s action lets stand a 2005 ruling by an Oklahoma state court.
The case involves a lawsuit by two Oklahoma residents, Stephen and Beverly Grider, who allege that Compaq Computer sold them a defective computer and didn’t repair or replace it, as called for in the company’s warranty.
The Griders sued in June 2003 and their lawyers asked the state court to certify a class of 1.7 million people who had bought similar computers. Their request was granted in 2005.
Compaq was purchased by Hewlett-Packard in 2002.
Class-action suits allow numerous plaintiffs with similar claims to proceed in a single trial. Businesses usually oppose such designations given the greater damage awards that can result.


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A breakdown of the shared decision: NPR
Patrick Semansky / AP
A federal judge on Friday delivered a much-anticipated ruling in Fortnite-maker Epic Games’ legal battle with Apple over its policies on the App Store.
Both sides are using the 185-page decision to double their own positions, which is possible because the details are complicated.
If anything, however, Apple and Google had small victories, but neither got what they wanted.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple is breaking the law by forcing people to pay for apps and in-app items through the App Store, where it typically takes 30% of the payment. as a commission. Gonzalez Rogers told Apple to relax and allow other payment options, within 90 days. Apple will like it, but it’s nowhere near what Epic was looking for.
For Apple, Gonzalez Rogers kept the overall structure of the App Store as legal, a major victory for the tech giant. She also said that Apple does not have an illegal monopoly on how developers can process payments for mobile games, which Apple applauded.
“It’s a split decision,” said Mark Lemley, a professor at Stanford Law School who studies antitrust issues and technology. “It will improve competition around the edges, but it’s not the fundamental change that Epic and the antitrust advocates would have hoped for.”
OKAY. But what does this mean for people who buy apps for their iPhones and iPads?
This means that when you pay for, for example, a Spotify subscription on your iPhone, or a cool new outfit for your avatar in the mobile version of Roblox, you may have the option to pay through Spotify or Roblox’s own systems.
Apple has long banned app developers from offering these alternative payment methods. Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple was hiding information from consumers and limiting choice. It is prohibited by California competition laws.
So will this make apps and built-in items cheaper?
It could. When Epic broke Apple’s rules and allowed people to buy credits for Fortnite through his own system, he offered a 30% discount, as there was no Apple tax involved.
If developers are no longer forced to use Apple’s payment system – and can avoid the 30% commission – they could lower their prices. Or, they could just pocket the savings.
Will there be any visible changes in apps downloaded from the App Store?
May be. You might see a new button in some of your favorite apps that lets you buy things through the developer’s own payment system, for example. Or, there could be a link inside the app asking customers to make a payment on a browser. Either way, Apple will only control what critics call a “toll booth” in the App Store.
The appeals process will likely cause delays, so don’t expect changes anytime soon.
Apple’s 30% commission going to disappear?
No, but Apple can choose to lower the rate, and for some developers it has.
Epic Games considered Apple’s take on most purchases to be “exorbitant” and an abuse of its market power. The judge did not completely buy this.
Yvonne-Gonzalez was skeptical of the 30% fee during the trial, and in the ruling, she was suspicious of Apple’s justification for the commission, writing that “the 30% is not tied to anything in particular and can be changed” , but did not order Apple to do so.
She noted that even though Epic had chosen to target Apple (and Google) rather than fees, it seemed odd given that Nintendo’s Switch, Microsoft’s Xbox, and Sony’s PlayStation all charge a similar discount on sales of. games.
âAntitrust law doesn’t allow you to complain that the prices are too high,â said Lemley of Stanford. “You have to show that some kind of conduct prevents competition.”
A separate case that Epic has filed against Google is expected to go to trial this year.
So why is this such a big blow for Apple?
Apple’s App Store and the commission critics call the “Apple Tax” are just one aspect of the tech giant’s empire. But complaints from developers about feeling mistreated and getting a rough deal on the App Store have escalated in recent years. South Korea recently banned Apple and Google from forcing developers to use its payment system. Congress has introduced legislation to curb the tech giants‘ strict App Store policies.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ ruling on Friday could trigger the most significant changes to date in the multibillion-dollar mobile economy. While it didn’t go as far as Epic Games had hoped, it still made a dent in the all-powerful fortress that Apple has built and maintained on the way apps are distributed on iPhones and iPads.
âApple has so far been granted a pass in the Big Tech antitrust review for the past few years, but that says it’s not going to continue,â Lemley said. “Apple’s control over what goes on the phone and at what cost can become difficult for Apple to maintain.”
Apple and Epic Games both won the decision and both are likely to appeal the decision. Eh?
Apple is expected to fight Gonzalez Rogers’ determination that it is breaking the law by blocking other means of making payments, known as the “anti-management clause.” Have you ever noticed why Netflix makes you visit their website to purchase a subscription on iPhone and iPad? That is why. He wanted to avoid the Apple commission.
Epic was unhappy with the judge’s ruling that Apple is not an illegal monopoly because it has competitors in its definition of the ârelevant marketâ – the $ 100 billion world of digital game transactions.
In antitrust cases, the term ârelevant marketâ is important. That’s legal jargon for: what exact part of the economy are we talking about?
Gonzalez Rogers said this fight is not about how digital video games are distributed, as Epic has argued, but how payments for digital video games are handled. And in that market, which includes games outside of iPhones and iPads, the judge said there is a lot of competition, so Apple is not a monopoly. Epic should try to convince an appeals court that the judge was wrong.
“An appeals court can look at the definition of the market and say ‘wait a minute,'” Lemley said. “And if that coin were toppled, Apple could turn out to be a monopolist.”
The price to pay to challenge control of the App Store
When Epic introduced its own payment system for Fortnite, breaking App Store rules and effectively sidelining Apple, the judge ruled that he had broken his contract with Apple.
During that time, Epic made over $ 12 million in revenue. None of this went to Apple. So now the judge has said that Epic owes Apple 30% of that amount, according to the terms of its contract.
Epic turned Apple’s decision to start it from the App Store not just into a lawsuit, but into a publicity stunt dubbed “Project Liberty” with the hashtag #FreeFortnite and a video poking fun at a famous Apple ad from 1984 .
Barring review by an appeals court, Friday’s ruling means the cost of its public relations crusade against Apple has just risen to an additional $ 3.6 million.
Editor’s Note: Apple is one of the financial backers of NPR.


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Record inflation and the energy price shock weighed on the German economy at the end of last year. According to the first findings of the Federal Statistical Office, there are signs of stagnation for the last three months of 2022 after three quarters of growth in a row. The Wiesbaden authorities published preliminary figures on the development of gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter today.
Overall, Europe's largest economy held its own last year despite the headwinds resulting from the Ukraine war. According to preliminary figures, GDP rose by 1.9 percent. That is less than a year earlier, when economic output increased by 2.6 percent after the Corona crash. But the long gloomy forecasts did not come true. Despite all the burdens, the German economy exceeded the level before the Corona crisis for the first time.
Consumers and companies more confident again
Economists are no longer assessing the prospects for 2023 as bleakly as they did after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in February last year. Consumers and companies are also somewhat more confident again.
According to many economists, the German economy will at best shrink slightly this year. Some economists are expecting slight economic growth because the state is providing billions in relief for private households and companies in connection with the sharp rise in energy costs. The federal government is anticipating a 0.2 percent increase in GDP.
According to the federal government's annual economic report, the slowdown in economic momentum at the turn of the year 2022/23 is likely to be shorter and milder than expected in autumn. Government stabilization measures for households and companies as well as their adjustments to the high energy prices and the associated gas savings also contributed to this.


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The Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd (ICBL) today announced an agreement with Bitt, the Caribbean digital payments company will deploy blockchain technology solutions for ICBL to boost efficiencies on behalf of customers.
The partnership includes strengthened compliance monitoring and reporting, the issuance of insurance claims using blockchain technology, and increased automation of client information. One client-facing component of the agreement is a new digital payment solution using Bitt’s mobile wallet app, mMoney. ICBL customers will be able to make secure payments using their phones and have convenient access to payment history.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”Geoff Scott, ICBL’s Managing Director and CEO” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We have sought input from our customers and have paid attention to their responses and their needs. They expect convenience from us at all points of interaction and they are specifically asking for a menu of payment options that’s accessible worldwide. Another key feature of this particular app that is attractive to us, is the ability to potentially accept and convert regional digital currencies; that’s huge.”[/perfectpullquote]
All components of the agreement would be backed by an anti-money laundering (AML) Compliance System, Know Your Client (KYC) Compliance System, a Financial Operations Management Panel that enables financial operators to monitor company activity and Bitt’s Management System that is designed to maintain product data and ensure data integrity.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”Rawdon Adams, Bitt’s CEO.” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“At our core, Bitt is a FinTech company. ICBL has selected solutions from our suite of products and services that has the capacity to utilize ledger technology to positively impact its operations. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our range of capabilities. For the customer, this is all mainly back-end, behind the scenes stuff – but it will result in greater efficiencies for ICBL, all adding to improved customer experiences.”[/perfectpullquote]


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Since July 14th, YouTube’s prime advertising real estate the ‘Masthead’ that reportedly costs Rs 1.4 crore per day since January, has been dominated by smartphone players, Vivo, Samsung, and Xiaomi. Currently, YouTube is the massiest digital platform in India with 265 million monthly active users and reaching 80% of Internet users across age groups.
Sara Ali Khan Vivo S1
As a price sensitive market, Indian consumers are enchanted by Chinese smartphone players who have offered great value and great prices in every consumer segment. As Sanjay Sharma, Head of Strategy & Managing Partner, BBH India puts it, “Affordable flagships as they’re rightly called have become darlings of the market.”
“The segmentation is now clearer than ever. For a largely value-conscious market its only obvious for the budget phone segment to dominate volumes, but what we’re witnessing is the demand veer increasingly towards mid-tier and premium segment”, he adds.
OnePlus has emerged as a de facto leader in this space, as Counterpoint Research reported that OnePlus 7 series achieved 43% shipment share in the premium segment recording overall shipment growth by 33% in Q2 2019.
“This clearly indicates that consumers are willing to splurge on smartphones, and Original Equipment Manufacturers certainly are leaving no stone unturned by offering them the best of both worlds: value plus flagship level features”, concludes Sharma.
A once segmented market is moving towards consolidation with the rise of so called ‘Flagship Killers’ in the market. Xiaomi began the trend with the launch of their Pocophone and other players followed suit quickly thereafter.
As players compete in the same space, there have begun sharpening their communication strategy on digital and exploring new opportunities to build brand connect with their customers.
Look at this campaign launched a couple of weeks back by Vivo Z1 Pro.
Techies Review the Vivo Z1Pro
The brand leveraged Tech YouTubers @AllAboutTechnologies (149,349), @mobiscrub (144,344), @C4ETech (1,628,468), @Mr.Phone , @GeekyRanjit (195,389), and @iGyaan (982,432) all talking about the product in a compilation video.
All these tech vloggers have between 15k to 1.5 million followers on YouTube at the time of filing this report. They are micro influencers who have a dedicated audience base and while they may deliver fewer impressions, with their endorsement, brand engagement reaches record highs.
Tech YouTuber, @DhananjayBhosale says, “While I work with all types of tech savvy brands, smartphone brands are whom I collaborate with the most. I recently tied up with one of the leading smartphone brands to test and showcase their new phone’s high-performance features.”
Dhananjay who normally edits his own videos partnered with an expert video editor, to create an enhanced viewing experience for the audience. The resulting video garnered 300,000 views, 5000 likes and several thousand comments.
Dhananjay has been building his brand on YouTube since 2013. When he recommends a product to his viewers, it has a much greater chance of being picked up. While Vivo has picked up high profile celebrities like Aamir Khan and Sara Ali Khan to build their brand in the past, they are also leveraging micro-influencers to greater effect.
“The game is all about casting the net wide and deep. While the former (celebrity influencers) serves in cultural imprinting the attempt with the latter is to speak to the individual in ways, they find most relatable. Roping in celebrities is a tried and tested method that’s here to stay, but increasingly the use of social media, macro/micro influencers from different areas of expertise not only adds credence but also puts the product/technology at the front and center” explains BBH India’s Sharma.
Samsung picked up celebrity influencer Diljit Dosanjh to promote their product in a lighthearted digital film. They have used the friendly personality of Dosanjh to drive higher engagement with users and made tedious unboxing videos a little more fun.
Diljit Dosanjh Samsung A8 unboxing
Xiaomi got employees of Xiaomi India including Managing Director, Manu Kumar Jain to promote their Mi Beard Trimmer turning a regular unboxing into something more personable in a bid to turn up engagement.
The thing about executing influencer campaigns on digital is that they can be executed at a global scale with great success. Look at how Xiaomi promoted its Redmi K20 phone by roping in renowned Tech reviewers on YouTube. Once again, their undermined the value proposition of the OnePlus 7 Pro just as they had in the year prior with their Pocophone F1.
What the world has to say | Redmi K20
The mix of macro/micro influencers in the video include @UnboxTherapy (14,995,705), @MrWhoseTheBoss (2,520,289), and @FrankieTech (86,671).
Right now, @UnboxTherapy is the biggest Tech Channel on YouTube and @MrWhoseTheBoss is the biggest Tech YouTube in the UK that is run by Indian YouTuber Arun Maini. Unbox Therapy has admitted that many of his followers are Indian as they are crazy about Tech.
Sharma says, “Xiaomi’s attempt to make a dent in the premium segment with their sub-brand POCO and now their plans to make Redmi into a sub-brand specifically targeting the mid-premium segment is only emblematic of this shift.”
“From effective use of scarcity to exclusive e-commerce tie-ups, online has increasingly become the preferred mode of purchase given how internet users across the spectrum are mobile-first now more than ever,” he adds.
He breaks down smartphone brands marketing mix as the following, “Now, OEMs are spending around 70% of their digital marketing budget on mobile platforms and the rest on web platforms. Search turns out to be the single most important channel accounting for nearly one-third of the budget (SEO, Keyword bidding), followed by social media channels, performance/programmatic and now increasingly influencer marketing.”
Influencer Marketers’ Speak
We reached out Buzzone and Chtrbox to better understand the myriad ways smartphone brands leverage influencer marketing.
Pranay Swarup, CEO & Founder, Chtrbox said, “Many of our smartphone brands collaborate with recommended influencers to introduce a product, create rich unboxing & review content, drive purchases via discounted sales and create extended advocacy content.”
Sangram Dasgupta, Co-Founder & Sr. Vice President Business development, Buzzone Influencer Marketing said, “The digital touch-points are Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Blogs. YouTube, Facebook and Blogs are usually used for tech reviews and unboxing videos of the phone, while Twitter is used for generating conversations, creating buzz and trending during launches. Instagram is used to highlight camera features.
Keeping in mind the features of a smartphone, we leverage influencers from different genres like Technology influencers for review purpose, Photography, Fashion, Lifestyle, and Food influencers to highlight the camera and design of the smartphone.”
Swarup says, “Traditionally, smartphone brands utilized influencers who specifically specialized in the domain of technology, but of late brands are working with all types of influencers. Social media is one of the most used features in smartphones, and who better to showcase it than content creators!”
Like Vivo collaborating with content creator Bhuvan Bam (@BBKiVines) where the product was mentioning during the sketch.
Young Netizens are the major consumers of such content and the primary target of smartphone brands. As Dasgupta puts it, “The core T.G smartphone brands try to reach out to through influencer marketing are the digitally active audience from the metro and non-metro cities which includes college students, professionals, and homemakers. The age bracket smartphone brands target is from 15 to 45 years but the core age bracket would be 15 to 35 years”
Swarup points out that collaboration with influencers usually achieves 3 objectives for the smartphone brand. Firstly, it highlights a unique product feature. Second, since most influencer created content organically ranks higher on YouTube search results, brand integrations optimize product discovery. Lastly, they drive brand consideration and drive conversation during the launch period.
As the importance of digital media grows, the role influencers play becomes even more crucial, “brands are now leveraging Influencers for research (even before they plan and launch their campaigns), for event launches, press conferences, store-activations, and on occasions even for reputation and crisis management”, he adds.
This article was originally published on AdGully


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Peleton, manufacturer of an in-door cycling fitness platform featuring live-streamed video instruction, Dec. 4 announced first-time distribution of its app to Amazon Fire TV.
The Peloton App offers a collection of live and on-demand health and fitness classes, including strength training, cardio, toning, yoga, stretching, meditation, running, and cycling classes streamed to the living room television.
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Amazon Fire TV enables online content migration to the television.
Access to the app on Fire TV is free to Peloton members and $12.99 monthly after a free 30-day trial.
The Peloton App is available on Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen), Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV (3rd Gen Pendant design), Fire TV Cube (1st Gen) and the all-new Fire TV Cube. It will also be available on Insignia and Toshiba Fire TV Edition Smart TVs and Fire TV Edition sound bars. The Peloton App is not compatible with Fire TV (1st and 2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick (1st Gen).