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LOS ANGELES — Ofelia Lopez scrutinizes the hem on a hot-pink shirt fresh off the assembly line, making sure the stitching is just right. All around her, rows of workers rapidly attach sleeves, adhere labels and churn out piles of garments.
Lopez, a Guatemala native, has worked in the apparel industry for 22 years. Now a team supervisor, she keeps a watchful eye on her group toiling on a vast factory floor, where the whir of sewing machines and the hiss of industrial steam irons drown out most other sounds.
(PHOTO: Alicia Luisjuan works at the American Apparel factory in Los Angeles, California.)
This could be a clothing factory in Guatemala, China or Vietnam. But it’s in an industrial area of downtown Los Angeles, where American Apparel Inc. is engaged in an epic — and, so far, money-losing — struggle to prove that clothes can still be made for a profit in America.
The company’s seven-story factory, a former Southern Pacific Railway freight depot, is the biggest garment-making facility in the U.S., according to an industry trade group. Here, 4,500 workers staggered over two shifts cut, sew, fold, box and ship clothes to the company’s 253 stores and other clothiers worldwide.
American Apparel may be best known for its hip stores, racy ads and controversial chief executive, Dov Charney. But this factory and the thousands it employs are what truly make the company stand out, said Sarah Y. Friedman, executive director of the National Association for the Sewn Products Industry. Few other U.S. clothing manufacturers employ more than a few hundred workers, she noted.
“American Apparel is very, very remarkable,” she said. “Any time you have a retailer with thousands of employees still in the U.S. — that is pretty remarkable.”
At the helm is Charney, 43, an outspoken advocate for local manufacturing who founded the company 14 years ago. In a recent interview he acknowledged pressure from other company executives, board members and consultants to move manufacturing abroad.
“I want to prove myself,” he said, “and I want to prove ‘made in America’ is a smart business.”
Charney conceded that the company’s finances could eventually push it to start making some products overseas.
“To say that I’m never going to import from overseas would be unreasonable,” he said during an interview at his colorful factory office strewn with new designs being tested for fit. “At this time our business concept is to make everything here. But I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
A native Canadian who attended Tufts University in Boston, Charney started selling T-shirts under the label American Apparel in 1987 with seed money cobbled together from his father, family friends, former classmates and parents of friends. Charney began his manufacturing operations in South Carolina before settling in downtown Los Angeles in 1997.
In recent years, Charney has battled multiple wrongful-termination and sexual harassment lawsuits brought by at least eight employees. The latest two suits, filed by five retail employees last spring, are now in arbitration, according to company lawyer Peter Schey. The company denies wrongdoing, but it acknowledged in response to a previous lawsuit that it operates “a sexually charged workplace” where employees deal with “sexual conduct, speech and images as part of their jobs.”
It was an unusual admission for a publicly traded company, but investors are more likely focused on the firm’s finances. American Apparel has suffered nine straight quarterly losses. The company booked sales of $547.3 million in 2011 but posted a net loss of $39.3 million. Shares closed Friday at 87 cents, down from their 52-week high of $1.13 last July 15.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about the importance of American companies employing American workers. But when it comes to fashion items, that doesn’t necessarily resonate with shoppers,” said Anthony Dukes, a business professor at the University of Southern California who has studied the retail industry. “There’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that ‘made in America’ is a great model.”
Marty Bailey, 52, is out to prove him wrong. The burly Kentucky native, who is the company’s chief manufacturing officer, has seen both sides of the problem. His 28-year career includes 15 years at underwear giant Fruit of the Loom, where he oversaw factories in Kentucky, North Carolina and Mississippi. When many of those factories closed, he supervised the company’s transition to manufacturing in lower-wage countries such as Honduras and Mexico.
Bailey joined American Apparel in 2002 and quickly set out to retool the retailer’s operations. His key innovation, borrowed from his years at Fruit of the Loom, was implementing a “team-based” manufacturing method that upped productivity and — he says — positions the company to successfully make it in America.
On an open factory floor with light streaming in from large windows, workers are divided into teams, with each responsible for sewing one style of clothing from start to finish.
A team, made up of 5 to 20 workers with their sewing machines pushed together, starts with fabric that has been cut on the fourth floor. The first person sews the sleeves. The next may attach a zipper. The items are passed among the team members, one after another.
At the end, there’s a finished shirt or skirt that is inspected by a quality control worker and then boxed up and sent down a conveyor belt to the distribution warehouse next door.
American Apparel’s skilled workforce can churn out 120,000 T-shirts in a day and quickly whip out new designs. Bailey said the fast turnaround from design to factory to store is a key advantage when jockeying for shoppers with competitors such as Forever 21 and H&M.
“I’ve had ideas on Monday and had them hanging in a storefront on Friday in Manhattan,” Bailey said.
The company’s products cost more than its fast-fashion rivals’ — a simple cotton T-shirt can sell for $21 if it comes from American Apparel and as little as $8 if from Target. Bailey said superior fabrics and better designs justify the higher price tag.
In the factory, motivation is key: Employees are paid for each completed garment, at a “piece rate.” Although everyone is guaranteed minimum wage — $8 an hour — factory workers typically earn $11 an hour, on average, and the fastest teams can earn $18. Supervisors clock their teams several times a week and devote time to training slow workers.
The company provides a welcoming workplace for its largely immigrant workforce. Banners such as “Legalize LA” hanging on its downtown factory building proclaim corporate support for immigration reform, and Charney has marched for workers’ rights. Supervisors are generally bilingual.
There is a medical clinic staffed with a doctor and nurses. Factory employees also get subsidized meals and free massages; masseurs in light blue American Apparel tops are sprinkled through the factory.
“They’re all here because they want to earn, and the more successful they are, the more successful the company is,” Bailey said. “These people are professional apparel workers, and they are better and faster than training people in Honduras how to operate a $5,000 machine, who don’t even know how to flush a toilet because they haven’t seen one.”
Besides paying higher wages, the company has faced other drawbacks of managing a U.S. workforce. Productivity slipped dramatically after the company was forced to dismiss 1,600 workers from its downtown factory after an immigration audit in 2009, Bailey said. The company had to hire and train thousands of new workers. It has tightened its hiring practices to ensure that all its employees are working legally.
Lopez, the team supervisor, jumped to American Apparel four years ago after toiling in other Los Angeles outfits, many with sweatshop conditions. She now earns $12 an hour.
“The pay is better here than at previous places I have worked,” said Lopez, 43. “If you are a fast sewer, you can earn a good salary.”
Oishang Mai, a 60-year-old who worked for decades as a mechanic at garment factories in Guangzhou, China, says conditions are better than busing tables at Chinese restaurants, the only job he could find after moving to the U.S. two years ago.
“I’ve been working at clothing factories for decades,” Mai said. “I’m glad to have a job doing something I’m trained in.”
In addition to the two large buildings downtown, the company owns four smaller manufacturing operations in Southern California. Fabric for the company’s trademark cotton T-shirts, which come in 52 colors, is knit and dyed in those facilities before getting trucked downtown for sewing.
Charney argues that the “made in America” model is not just a marketing gimmick but also a smart long-term strategy for retail.
American manufacturing will prove to be cost-effective as international transportation costs shoot up and overseas wages rise, Charney said, pointing to China as a prime example. “As that happens to the worldwide economy,” he said, “it’s going to make a lot of sense to manufacture in the United States or in Los Angeles.”
Even at night, the downtown L.A. factory’s huge parking lot is often jammed with cars. Light glows from its windows, and workers inside are still hunched over sewing machines.
Charney insists that the company is heading into an upswing, cautiously estimating that it may show a profit by next year. He rejects any suggestion that moving operations overseas may cure what ails American Apparel, but it’s an option that analysts say the company has to consider if its struggles continue.
“In 50 years, would you say American Apparel will be around?” Charney said. “Levi’s has been around for a long time, and I hope American Apparel will be around for that long. There’s still lots of tricks up my sleeve.”
No one knows whether those tricks will keep its factories open in Los Angeles. The company might go the way of San Francisco-based Levi’s, which closed its last U.S. factory in 2003, moving like much of the industry to find cheap labor in Asia and Latin America.
Economists say the city would benefit from American Apparel’s staying put.
“American Apparel occupies an important niche in the job market in Los Angeles,” said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at Cal State Channel Islands and vice chairman of Forever 21. “Some immigrants qualify for high-paying jobs, and others qualify for only minimum-wage jobs. They provide employment to a lot of immigrants who don’t qualify for the high-paying jobs.
“If they were to move out of L.A., that would be a shame,” he added.


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Thanks to ADAM on the official boards for this!
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Muse DVDs And Portable DVD Player
Muse are currently locked in a studio working on their new album. In the meantime, they've released 'Absolution Tour' on DVD to sate their fans appetite until next year's release. Recorded at last year at the Glastonbury festival and London's Earls Court, the DVD features blistering live versions of 'Hysteria', 'New Born', 'Sing For Absolution', 'Muscle Museum' and 'Plug In Baby'. To celebrate, we've got five copies to give away. One lucky reader will also bag a nifty Philips portable DVD player to watch it on. To stand a chance of winning, simply tell us:
What is the name of Muse's debut album?
Email your answer to firstname.lastname@example.org with 'Muse Comp!' as the subject header. Don't forget to include name and address.
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(21st band in list of 26!!! - they advertise them first and then put them 21st!)
The follow-up to 2003's hugely successful 'Absolution' looks set to be Muse's biggest and maddest album to date. In a recent interview, frontman Matt Bellamy said that it will include songs inspired by "the oil crisis" and "medieval ghosts". "We all think this is going to be something special", he added. The band will hit the road when the album emerges during the spring, accompanied by left-field US punk mob The Exit; the band's own choice.

domain: news


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Google Enterprise became Google for Work a year ago. The company opted for the name change because “enterprise is old business,” says Amit Singh, president of the division at Google. Singh reflected on Google for Work’s accomplishments since the rebranding in a blog post.
Dell and EMC made official what had been reported since last week: an acquisition for the ages. Now that we know the full details, we can take stock of just how big a transaction this is. The short version? Very, very big. In fact, it’s arguably the biggest in all of tech. Under the terms of the deal, EMC stockholders will receive approximately $33.15 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately $67 billion. While you may not be familiar with EMC, it’s one of the largest cloud services and storage companies in the world.
For a decade, Box has built its business on selling cloud storage services, but the company is now making a move in a slightly different direction.
The No. 1 problem, or trend, facing IT departments today is nonstop demand, according to Gartner. As more devices connect to the Internet, the need for more computing capability, storage and networking is increasing at a rapid rate.
The robots decidedly have it. They will help run businesses, make decisions for you and maybe even be your boss. Those were just some of the predictions put forth by Gartner vice president Daryl Plummer at the consultancy’s always interesting prediction of future IT technology directions.
Gartner’s list of all things future looks like this:
The end of the BlackBerry handset is nigh -- or at least it will be if the company can't get its phone business in the black before 2016 is out. BlackBerry CEO John Chen already said he'd think about giving up on handsets if the company's situation didn't improve. At Code Mobile on Thursday, Chen added a loose deadline for the end of BlackBerry phones.
Budgets of IT departments have been flat to negative for the last five years despite the ever-increasing importance of technology for creating new products
IT budgets globally are due to grow by 2.2 percent in 2016, the largest jump in the last five years, according to Gartner's survey of nearly 3,000 CIOs globally. In the North America, the projection is 2.3 percent.
Microsoft today changed how it will report its financial performance, reducing the number of operating divisions to three, in an effort to align with CEO Satya Nadella's emphasis on the cloud and productivity platforms, and opportunities to reap revenue from customers after they've moved to Windows 10.
The three operating segments -- Intelligent Cloud, Productivity and Business Processes and More Personal Computing -- replace six earlier divisions, which were roughly organized on a consumer versus commercial basis.
On Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emailed staffers to update them on a series of executive changes at the company—changes that seem to have been a long time coming.
Cisco this week announced intentions to acquire Piston Cloud Computing, its second OpenStack cloud computing buyout in less than a year.
Terms were not disclosed.


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AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. shares
rose 6.1% in premarket trade Thursday, after the cinema chain operator blew past earnings estimates for the second quarter. The company said it had net income of $49.4 million, or 17 cents a share, in the quarter, after earnings of $22.2 million, or 17 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $1.506 billion from $1.443 billion. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 14 cents and revenue of $1.463 billion. The company said attendance came to 97 million tickets sold, a quarterly record, boosted by the popularity of "Avengers: End Game." "We are seeing meaningful recovery in Europe, and our efforts in the United States have been greatly aided by the soaring popularity of our AMC Stubs loyalty program, which recently crossed 21 million member households, our AMC Stubs A-List subscription program now with more than 900,000 subscribers, and our AMCTheatres.com web site and smartphone apps now being visited at a pace of more than 1 billion times annually," Chief Executive Adam Aron said in a statement. Shares have fallen 8% in 2019 through Wednesday, while the S&P 500
has gained 15%.


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China's previous impressive growth rates may have slowed in recent years, but the central government is still targeting annual growth of 6.5%. As such, it is not a market that should be ignored by UK businesses, says Janet Henry.
A large part of the Chinese slowdown can be attributed to a significant shift in emphasis from investment and export-led growth to an economy that will increasingly be driven by consumer spending.
"China is in the middle of a transition period and inevitably growth rates are going to be slower as the country moves towards consumer-led growth," says Henry.
"It is important to remember, though, that initially the Chinese government was deliberately slowing growth as the property market was in danger of overheating."
While at the turn of the year the markets became concerned that the Chinese economy was perhaps slowing too much, the government has demonstrated that it does have the tools in its locker to stabilise growth again. Over the last few months there has been a revival in credit growth, along with an improvement in the property market and infrastructure spending has started to pick up again.
China is in the middle of a transition period and inevitably growth rates are going to be slower as the country moves towards consumer-led growth
China's transition, though, will have reverberations on the world economy, explains Henry.
"When Chinese investment is growing strongly, it's supporting a lot of other countries in the world particularly commodity producing countries, but also capital goods producers.
"As China's growth is going to be more focused on the consumer, it means some of the countries that will benefit from the next stage of the China story won't necessarily be the same ones that were the big beneficiaries of the last decade of growth."
From a UK standpoint, the relative slowdown in China hasn't had a huge impact as the majority of UK exports still head to Europe and the US. However, the UK, along with other more value-added economies could stand to benefit from China's ongoing transition.
For Henry, the most important message is that the China story still has a long way to run.
"China still has huge productivity catch-up potential, the urbanisation process still has decades to run and standards of living will continue to rise," she says.
"China's growth may have slowed but it is still contributing over a quarter of global growth and is going to continue to be a phenomenally important global market."
For further information about trading internationally, visit the HSBC Connections Lounge at the International Festival of Business in Liverpool where an HSBC Trade Specialist will be on hand to answer your questions or call +44 (0)800 78 31 300.
Lines are open from 9am -5pm, Monday to Friday and calls are recorded for security and training purposes.


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In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter we’re reporting as retailers from Debenhams to Net-A-Porter give us the latest status update on their multichannel development.
Debenhams says that mobile is driving its online sales growth, while Carpetright is seeing online play an increasingly important role in a sales strategy in which the store remains vital. Meanwhile, the Yoox Net-A-Porter group is developing artificial intelligence solutions and says it is working to move to mobile-only in search of the most profitable and engaged customers.
Some of the science underlying retail decisions is exposed in today’s report from marketing personalisation specialist Qubit as it shows exactly which personalisation tactics have the biggest payback.
Today we’re also delighted to announce that InternetRetailing’s first IREU Top500 Strategy and innovation report is now available online, featuring our research team’s performance-led investigation into ecommerce and multichannel strategies.
Today’s timely guest comment comes from Richard McCrossan of Genesys, who argues that omnichannel is vital in a good customer experience.
Find out more about upcoming InternetRetailing webinars and register for free on the InternetRetailing webinar page. You can also catch up with past webinars on the page: recent sessions have come from IBM Watson on using AI to improve the customer experience, and from SmartFocus and The Entertainer on using social to reach digital customers.


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According to the entreprenuer, skin care products featuring parabens, ethanolamines (MEA, TEA, DEA), sulfates, formaldehydes (BHT, DMDM Hydantoin), hydroquinone, butylene and propylene glycols are those likely to irritate skin that is already sensitive.
“Certain medications and treatments compromise the skin’s condition as they can change and interfere with the exchange of information between the cells so that ingredients in normal skin care products are deemed no longer effective,” says Parrinello.
“These suffocate the skin, inhibiting cellular respiration and inhibit the absorption of vitamins and nutrients in the skin care formula," she adds.
As a result, Parrinello set up San Diego based company Wai Hope, to offer a seaweed infused alternative that she says will gently repair, replenish and restore the complexion in those undergoing chemotherapy or taking anti-depressant and cholesterol medications.
Benefits of seaweed…
According to the former nurse, while all products in the Wai skin care line feature rare peptides, minerals and enzymes that restore the skin’s appearance, the rare Red Fijian seaweed in particular has been proven to have anticancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties.
“There is no mistake that focusing on the enhancement of cosmetic chemistry, the primary ingredient the water, and its delivery into the skin must be significant in order to have formulations that will have dramatic positive effects on the skin,” she explains.
In vitro research and tests have, according to Parrinello, revealed the Wai Restructured Water in their formulations, in addition to the seaweed and botanical stem cells increases cellular regeneration up to 60 percent and increases collagen and elastin production up to 45 percent.
“They are not studied by the FDA; however, the products are manufactured in a USA FDA Organic Manufacturing Facility. This facility helps offset the possibility of cross contaminants of other harmful chemicals,” she concluded.


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In a recent Minnesota Daily letter to the editor, Terry Scott Niebeling writes of a conflict of interest he sees between The University of Minnesota’s emphasis on student health and its offering of “sugar utopias” around campus. Niebeling voices his concerns over the consumption of products with high levels of sugar. “It seems illogical that we, those at the University, pay homage and money to an industry that potentially markets products that attribute to deteriorating the health of American citizens. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America,” he writes in the op-ed.
He goes on to say, “They (the university) offer programs and counseling for mental health, sexual health and safety, though they do not outlaw or prohibit the sales of a product that could cause major health issues.”
Editor’s note: The vending industry has taken great strides over the years to introduce and offer a plethora of healthy items. Research presented at the NAMA OneShow found that 76 percent of vending operators actively promote better-for-you snacks in their portfolios and 86 percent have added food or beverage items to address concerns about nutrition. Our industry has always been about convenience and offering the consumer a choice of products.


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After launching Premium plans, YouTube is planning to bring a short video platform. In fact, the company has already started testing a platform called Clips that will allow users to create short videos and from live streaming. The upcoming feature is expected to be available on both Android and desktop users.
“Today we are launching an experimental version of Clips on YouTube. Check out videos on the Creator Insider channel and test it out yourself! Clips are 5-60 sec, shareable, segments of content (Live/VOD) that live on top of the original video,” Lester, Global Head of Gaming creators, YouTube shared this update via his official Twitter account.
Clips will also users to share bits from Live YouTube videos, reports XDA developers. The report said that this feature will enable users to share selected bits from a video. Besides, YouTube will allow users to edit small clips from videos and live streaming. Users can edit the favorite part between 5 to 60 seconds.
“If you’re viewing content from one of the channels in this experiment, you’ll see a clip icon under the video that will allow you to select a portion of the video that you want to clip. The clip will be played on the original video and loop repeatedly,” YouTube said in the blog post.
However, to use this Clip feature, users have to go through these steps or procedures. You need to open the video first and look for the Clip icon under the video you want to share. Then, you have to click on that icon and tap on create Clip option. This option will allow you to select the video between 5 to 60 seconds. Now, you are allowed to give a title to that clip and you can also share it on your social media platforms.


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Tekken fans will be happy that Tekken 7 will be playable at a special event in North America later this month.
Madcatz Community manager, Mark Julio, tweeted the following announcement:
“Playable for the first time in North America, TEKKEN 7 will be heading to FINAL ROUND 18!”
The arcade version of Tekken 7 will be coming to North America for the very first time. The game had only previously made appearances in Japan and South Korea.
Final Round 18 is a special fighting game tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia. The event is happening from March 20th until March 22nd.
It was announced a few weeks ago that Tekken 7 will also be making a return to North America during the EVO 2015 tournament too. Final Round 18 will be a good opportunity for professional gamers to prepare for EVO 2015.
Bandai Namco has yet to announce if Tekken 7 arcade machines will be coming to North America outside of special events like Final Round 18 and EVO 2015. One might hope that they will eventually be coming later this year.
Bandai Namco is still keeping very quiet about a console version for Tekken 7. Hopefully an announcement for the console version is made at E3 this year.
For more information about Final Round 18, you can visit the official website by clicking here.


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As fast as Core i7-6700K
A monstrous flagship
It looks like Intel is soon going to make their upcoming flagship Core i9-7980XE available. According to the latest rumors, the Core i9-7980XE features 18 cores and 36 threads, and it might be combined with 24.75 MB of L3 cache. The base clock is set to 2.60GHz which is a pretty significant step down from the Core i9-7900X's 3.3GHz. According to OverclockersUK, the upcoming chip is available for pre-order now and it should hit the streets in September or October time frame.
Tested on an ASRock Z370 Pro4
Apparently the rumor mills are going crazy when it comes to Coffee Lake and according to the latest rumors, Intel might release this upcoming series in October. Apart from that, Coffee Lake is also supposed to require a new Z370 chipset. Meanwhile more information on the performance these six-core chips are capable of achieving appears to be making it through.
We’re very much looking forward
Coffee for the win
Intel might soon be officially introducing their Coffee Lake chips but for the time being we have to still do with what information we can find out there in the web. Since there are plenty of leaks making it through on a rather regular basis that is actually not the hardest of tasks to accomplish. Meanwhile information on upcoming mobile - U-series - parts has made it through and which we’re about to share with you here.
New leak from ChipHell
10nm Ice Lake
It’s been a few years that Intel thoroughly presented a roadmap, showing what’s to come when in the foreseeable future. On of the most interesting points on the agenda is certainly Ice Lake, which is supposed to follow the 8th generation Intel Core processor family. Intel notes that the processors are "a" successor to the eighth-gen, not "the" main successor, which leaves a lot of room for speculation.
New score in Geekbench database
We have covered sofos1990 breaking records in the past and apparently the Greek overclocker did it again. This time he pushed an Intel Core i9-7960X CPU to 5.40 GHz using a Gigabyte X299 SOC Champion motherboard and liquid nitrogen cooling. The clock speed was achieved running 102 MHz BCLK and a multiplier of 54. Keep in mind that the scores done on Geekbench v3 and on Geekbench v4 are not comparable on a 1 to 1 basis.
For data center
Intel has announced new products that should help transform storage in data centers. Intel unveils three product lines; the new "Ruler" form factor SSDs, Dual Port SSDs and SATA SSDs for data centers. The most interesting part of the announcement is the upcoming Ruler SSD, which looks like a ruler but are a bit fatter.
Another unlocked Core i3?
The acclaimed launch date of Coffee Lake based CPUs is in the near future and therfore news leaks are making it through on a rather frequent basis. This time an AnandTech forum user is jumping the gun - again - posting some details on two upcoming Intel Core i3 processors. Both models should feature four cores and four threads.
Facebook Live event
On August 21st, Intel is going to unveil their eighth-generation Core CPUs, codenamed Coffee Lake. Chipzilla is going to stream the announcement live on Facebook starting at 11:00 AM CEST (8:00 AM PDT). Intel didn't provide many details on what exactly they’re going to reveal related to Coffee Lake. Nevertheless since the live stream is going to take place two days before Gamescom 2017 opens its doors to the public, we’d guess it won’t just be notebook processors we’re going to see.
Up to 18 cores
During the PC Gaming Show E3, Intel has revealed the Core X series of CPUs. While the first Kaby Lake-X and Skylake-X chips are already available since last June the flagship models will become available in October. According to the latest information, the Core i9-7980XE features 18 cores and 36 threads, and it is combined with 24.75 MB of L3 cache. The base clock is set to 2.60GHz which is a pretty significant step down from the Core i9-7940X's 3.1GHz.
Still based on socket LGA1151
First Core i3 with four cores and eight threads!
Although the acclaimed launch date of Coffee Lake based CPUs will be somewhen during the upcoming weeks news leaks are starting to make it through on a very frequent basis. This time Videocardz is jumping the gun again posting up a screenshot showcasing an Intel Core i3 processor called i3-8300 with four cores and eight threads. This could be the first quad-core Core i3 from Intel. However we believe that the microcode could be just wrong or not updated.
New monstrous flagship
It looks like Intel is going to release their upcoming flagship Core i9-7980XE in few months. According to the latest rumors, the Core i9-7980XE features 18 cores and 36 threads, and it might be combined with 24.75 MB of L3 cache. The base clock is set to 2.60GHz which is a pretty significant step down from the Core i9-7900X's 3.3GHz.
Pretty high single core clocks
Turbo boost up to 4.7GHz
Judging by the sheer number of rumors, that are surfacing these days regarding the upcoming Intel mainstream desktop processors, we’re closing in on the launch of these new parts. This time, the forum user "Sweeper" has posted details on the upcoming Core i7-8700K in different discussion boards all around the globe. According to him, his information comes from a reliable source.
According to Geekbench database
Although the acclaimed launch date will be somewhen during the upcoming weeks news leaks related to Threadripper are making it through almost every day. This time OC3D jumped the gun and they have found some leaks in the Geekbench database. Comparing the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X to the upcoming Intel Core-i9 it looks like the latter is quite a bit faster.
Still compatible with socket LGA1151
Judging by the sheer number of rumors, that are surfacing these days regarding the upcoming Intel mainstream desktop processors, we’re closing in on the launch of these new parts. This time it’s an asian website leaking information including clock speeds, TDPs and core count. The CPU-Z screenshot shows that the processors is still based on the socket LGA1151.
Let the motherboards burn
Intel has released its latest CPU price list which first shows the Core i9-7920X. According to the picture, the Core i9-7920X features 12 cores and 24 threads, and we now know it comes with 16.5 MB of L3 cache. The base clock is set to 2.9GHz which is a pretty significant step down from the Core i9-7900X's 3.3GHz base clock.


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Malaysia: a watchout market in 2015
Ecommerce is on the rise. Studies across our advertising network show that in 2013, 60 per cent of Malaysians shopped online; increasing to more than three quarters of Malaysians who claim to shop online by mid-2014.
This comes as no surprise as the Internet’s vast potential has made it easier for merchants to reach a larger pool of people. Conversely, shopping via the Internet offers consumers convenience and a larger range of products to choose from. What surprised many is how fast it has evolved into a new shopping experience, one where shoppers refer to online information, reviews and competing offers before visiting shops. And the steps are repeated again while at the shops!
Transactional Internet banking began in 2000 and ecommerce gradually grew since then. By the end of 2014, nearly 20 million Malaysians on our network are connected to the Internet via their mobiles, most (more than 80 per cent) through their smartphones. This relatively high smartphone penetration has helped to spur recent growth of electronic commerce and this will continue increasing as competing telco operators lower data rates and competing manufacturers lower smartphone prices.
To date, a large number of purchases made online are still paid for in cash. Of the online payment methods, credit or debit cards and online banking are preferred. Further growth in e-commerce will come as more consumers and small businesses migrate to electronic payment systems. In 2009, 66 per cent of Malaysians on our network said they didn’t have a debit or credit card. This dropped to 48 per cent in 2012 and 33 per cent in 2014. Electronic payments will only increase as ‘agent banking’ gains momentum; giving more people access to bank accounts and debit cards, particularly in rural areas. At the same time, more point-of-sale terminals are expected to be deployed among lower-tier merchants to promote the acceptance and usage of debit cards.
- The Rise of online entrepreneurs: With lower start-up costs and a broader reach, more entrepreneurs are turning to online retail instead of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. This is further encouraged by a business environment favourable to making and receiving payments online – particularly with online wallets.Notable among these entrepreneurs, is their Internet marketing skills, particularly search engine marketing, and their ability to adapt to new trends in consumer behaviour, launching blog shops followed by Instagram shops. Some like JelitaSara.com are way ahead of the curve – starting online, then opening brick-and –mortar stores and appointing agents as a means of addressing consumer demands.
Their prevalence and success will in turn influence mainstream promotions and the education of consumers in digital commerce. As these entrepreneurs gain more attention, more traditional retailers will appreciate how an online channel is a low-risk way to test new products and complement existing presence.
- Manufacturers to sell online: In the past year or so, manufacturers that make and sell consumer products have begun to strategise direct–to-consumer online sales as they learn to balance their relationships with retail partners. Many more will do so in the coming year but it is important for them to realise the challenges of direct retail (e.g. customer service, order fulfillment) and the need for dedicated e-commerce staff.
- Advertising & consumer awareness: Mobile has practically become the first screen in Malaysia. As more products and services go online, more searches and purchases will be made via mobiles. This will bring about more changes in marketing and consumer education as merchants look to mobiles not just for consumer awareness but for transactions. But the increasing numbers of merchants with an increasingly forensic digital marketing approach will demand quality, accuracy and cleanliness from their marketing agencies and ad networks. This will bring major changes in the way we run mobile advertising. With consumers spending more time online and on mobile, it’s no surprise that advertisers are also shifting resources as agencies also set up new units to create digital content and convert TVCs for wider distribution.Mobile creatives will no longer only be the banner ads that we are used to but will include more interactive rich media content.
Internet savvy merchants will practice cross channel optimisation for mobile across search, social and display will be key. At the end of the day, the advertiser does not care about what channel closed the sale as long as there is sales.
- Online expansion strategies: While many are considering the internet as an option, others have used the channel to great advantage. For some Malaysian companies, the race to expand online into international markets began as early as 2004 with Jobstreet and continues with myTeksi’s recent expansion into regional markets. Online shopping may yet change how Malaysian retailers develop their regional expansion strategies to deliver services and goods beyond national borders.


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Profile of Andrew Conry MurrayDirector of Content & Community, Interop
News & Commentary Posts: 360
Drew is formerly editor of Network Computing and currently director of content and community for Interop.
Articles by Andrew Conry Murray
posted in May 2009
Our exclusive InformationWeek survey shows that IT and executives are on the same page when it comes to information security threats, policies and more.
The user conference is labeled "EMC," but its VMware that has the potential for world domination.
EMC launches a new online storage service based on Atmos, its cloud storage platform. AT&T also announces it will sell online storage using Atmos.
Analysts didn't have many good things to say about the recent announcement that ECM vendor OpenText will acquire Vignette, a maker of Web content management software, for $310 million.
Oracle hopes its Beehive collaboration platform will lead to sales of other Oracle products. And if it happens to shove Microsoft Exchange out the door, that's a bonus.
Jive Software taps Amazon EC2 for collaboration in the cloud, but the real goal is to get customers to upgrade to premises software.


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What if you bought a piece of meat on the market then suddenly, it began to move like it was alive, what will you do? I’m sure you’re going to freak out, just like what happened to a Chinese woman from Shandong Province, who bought a chunk of beef meat on the market and out of nowhere it crazily moves as if it was alive!
Ms. Cheng was about to the cut the raw steak when she noticed a strange movements that horrified her.
She bought the slab of meat at around 8am and then cut it at 9am but she’s not aware of the time the beef is butchered.
Even though it’s been an hour since she bought the meat it appears to be pulsating, like it was still alive with a heartbeat.
Some suggested the zombie steak was infested with maggots which give it a pulsating effect.
“It looks like it is still alive or that there are worms or something inside. However when I cut it open I didn’t find any worms, just twitching,” said Ms. Cheng.
According to Lv Suwen, an expert at the local animal health department said: “The spasms were caused by nerve endings that had not died yet.”
“You can rest assured, this piece of meat is very fresh and is from a freshly slaughtered animal. The central nervous system is dead but the nerve endings in the muscles are still firing resulting in the jumping, because the nerves are not yet dead. This will stop after a short time.”
“From my many years of experience, I have never encountered this type of tampering. Using medicine or other means to make muscles twitch is unnecessary.” she added.
Watch the freaking video
The video of the pulsating meat has garnered more than 11 million clicks since it was uploaded last Friday on Weibo, the Twitter version of China. Some user said that the pulsating was a sign of “freshness.” Somehow, some social media users are considering turning vegetarian after watching the spine-chilling footage.
Facebook user Jake Ganymede even said: “I am turning into an vegetarian after this.”
However, the animal health department officials ensure the public that the meat is safe to eat.
What others are reading: Chinese Woman Forced To Eat Braised Mice By Her Mom Who Believes It Is Highly Nutritious


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Luke’s Lobster Turns Five
They started with 250 square feet in East Village and no restaurant experience. Today, they’ve grown into a small empire with 13 different locations across the Northeast–including Philly. And now, Luke’s Lobster is turning five.
So to celebrate, on Wednesday, October 1st, Luke’s will be giving a $5 discount to any order of $15 or more (while supplies last).


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Bengaluru, Apr 29: The Karnataka executive has sought the assistance of ISRO on bettering the potency of highway delivery companies within the state, the use of its era. Deputy Leader Minister Laxman Savadi, who may be the Minister in-charge of Shipping Division, met ISRO Chairman Ok Sivan on the house company’s headquarters on Wednesday and held discussions about rejuvenating the dep..
Make stronger was once sought on bettering high quality and earnings, bringing down bills and arresting leakage, whilst keeping up transparency.
“Discussions excited about additional reviving the standard of functioning of the delivery division, and a plan to give a boost to the earnings of state delivery companies like- Karnataka State Street Shipping Company (KSRTC), North East and North West- KSRTC, Bengaluru Metropolitan Shipping Company (BMTC), via bringing down its bills, the use of ISRO’s era,” Savadi’s administrative center stated in a remark.
Noting that passenger bus and items services and products of state delivery companies are important, it stated, the DCM asked ISRO to offer clinical beef up in putting in era in opposition to additional bettering the potency of those services and products. He additionally sought ISRO’s beef up and steering in keeping up transparency and to arrest leakages in delivery companies, it added.
The dialogue additionally excited about results of the coronavirus pandemic at the financial system, particularly in rural spaces, and chances of the use of house era in mitigating this. “ISRO chairman has undoubtedly spoke back to problems raised via the DCM and has confident required era beef up,” the remark added.


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The Delhi High Court has asked Chinese smartphone maker Vivo to approach the PMLA Appellate Tribunal in relation to the freezing of its bank accounts pursuant to a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate.
Justice Prathiba M Singh asked Vivo, which has already filed an appeal before the tribunal, to file a plea there itself for interim relief and clarified that until a decision, interim or final, is taken by the tribunal, the high court’s earlier orders asking the company to furnish bank guarantee of Rs. 950 crore and to maintain the credit balance of over Rs. 251 crore to be able to use the bank accounts shall continue.
The proceedings on interim applications as also the final adjudication may be conducted expeditiously before the Appellate Tribunal within four weeks either from filing of the appeal or from first listing of the appeal along with the interim applications, added the court.
“The interim arrangements, which have been directed by this Court … shall continue till the time the Appellate Tribunal decides the interim applications or till the final decision in the Appeals, in terms of the orders that may be passed by the Tribunal,” the court said in its order passed on March 28.
Justice Singh observed that since the initial debit freeze orders have now merged with a final order of the Adjudicating Authority in December 2022, it is deemed appropriate to relegate Vivo to pursue the remedies before the Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The court passed the same order on the petition by Grand Prospect International Communication, a Vivo distributor facing the probe, as well.
Vivo had approached the high court last year for quashing of the orders freezing its bank account. It also sought permission to deal with the frozen bank accounts for making payments towards certain liabilities.
The ED has filed the money laundering case after taking cognisance of an FIR of Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing against a distributor of an agency based in Jammu and Kashmir where it was alleged that a few Chinese shareholders in that company forged their identity documents.
The ED suspected the alleged forgery was done to launder illegally generated funds using shell or paper companies and some of these “proceeds of crime” were diverted to stay under the radar of Indian tax and enforcement agencies.
The probe agency had earlier raided several places across the country in the money laundering investigation against Vivo and related firms.
On July 13, 2022, the high court had allowed Chinese Vivo to operate its various frozen bank accounts subject to furnishing of a bank guarantee of Rs. 950 crore with the agency and maintaining a balance of Rs. 251 crore in the bank accounts.
Vivo’s counsel had contended that the ED can only seize what they have discovered in their search operations and not the company’s bank accounts which were already disclosed to all the authorities.
He had said that freezing of the bank accounts brought the functioning of the petitioner to a standstill and there were crores of rupees that have to be paid as statutory dues apart from the payment of salaries to its employees.
In response, the ED said that 22 firms related to the India unit of the Chinese company are being investigated for suspicious transactions to China and these 22 entities are held either by foreign nationals or foreign entities in Hong Kong.
From smartphones with rollable displays or liquid cooling, to compact AR glasses and handsets that can be repaired easily by their owners, we discuss the best devices we’ve seen at MWC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.


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When asked “how much is Facebook?” it was impossible until now to give a precise answer. In the past there was an initial indication of the value of the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg (26 years). After all, Fritz Lanman, director of Microsoft’s strategy, recently admitted that his company had tried to buy the social network in 2007. The Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer went to the Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California: he had met Mark Zuckerberg, who has confessed that at 23 he had been trying to raise money on basis of a valuation of $ 15 billion.
This figure does not seem so fanciful that Steve Ballmer, since it began offering $ 15 billion to Mark Zuckerberg to get their hands on 100% of capital. Not wanting to lose control of his company, the president of Facebook declined. Steve Ballmer did not throw in the towel for Facebook completely and in October 2007, the publisher acquired a 1.6% share in the company equal to $240 million. A quick rule of three gives a valuation of $ 15 billion. At that time, the social network had 60 million subscribers, was valued $ 250 each. Since then the number of people on Facebook has exploded and it has now reached 600 million. The value of Facebook has not been multiplied by ten so far, “only” by 3.3.
The complex financing package raised some questions about the valuation of Facebook. The U.S. bank has not actually invested $ 450 million directly in Facebook. A fund, which was created for the occasion of the acquisition connected to these FBDC Investors LPis said to be registered in Delaware. If this proves true, the choice of this American state is not without reason: it is considered a tax haven for companies that are registered, non-taxation of profits made out of Delaware. The objective of Goldman Sachs was to offer its “best customers” to invest in this fund, according to its statutes can acquire up to $ 1.5 billion of securities Facebook, pocketing the passage of juicy commissions.


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80 Monopoly sets made with real money inside
(NEWSER) – It's been 80 years since Monopoly first made its way to France, and to celebrate, manufacturers are hiding 80 games with real money in a new printing of 30,000 sets. While 69 of the 80 will have five 10-euro notes and five 20-euro notes, and another 10 will have five real 20-euro notes, two 50-euro notes, and one 100-euro note, the jackpot game replaces every game note with the real thing—a windfall that totals $23,268. "It wasn't easy to get the notes; they had to be escorted discreetly," Hasbro France's brand manager said. The new sets were introduced yesterday, reports AFP.
Monopoly is available in 43 languages across 111 countries, adds the Independent. In France, 500,000 sets are sold every year, making this particular run of 30,000—which includes classic, junior, electronic, and "vintage"—valuable in and of itself. The operation to switch the notes was top secret, carried out in the small town of Creutzwald before the games were distributed throughout France. And while the weight isn't noticeably different between the sets with cash and those with play money, the lucky boxes do reportedly bulge a bit. (Check out how the game helped POWs escape during World War II.)
This story originally appeared in Newser:
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Newser is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.


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Photo/Courtesy of Li Dongsheng
From June 27 to 29, the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (also known as the "Summer Davos Forum") of the World Economic Forum was held in Tianjin. NBD had an interview with Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL.
Courage, altruism, and big-picture thinking key entrepreneurial traits
"In the past few years, many enterprises have faced great challenges and those who survived are heroes. Maintaining development in adversity reflects the resilience of enterprises, which is mainly empowered by their boss." Li Dongsheng said.
In his mind, entrepreneurship has three keywords, respectively, "courage", "altruism" and "big picture thinking ". Among them, "Courage" means that in the face of various challenges such as anti-globalization, entrepreneurs should find ways to actively adjust the strategic direction, and explore new paths for development. And "altruism" means that enterprises should grow together with the industrial chain, "if there is no altruistic thinking, enterprises can not go far." "Altruistic thinking enables enterprises to remain competitive in the construction of industrial ecology."
The "big-picture thinking" is that entrepreneurs should have a global thinking and long-term vision, and drive development with strategy.
Going Green is a must
In the past few years, the epidemic and deglobalization trend hindered exchanges and cooperation among countries to some extent. How to promote multilateral cooperation and achieve common prosperity is also an issue that this Summer Davos Forum hopes to address.
Li Dongsheng believes that the global operation of enterprises is an important way for China to connect with the world, and China's manufacturing industry should actively adapt to the changes in the globalization situation and adhere to "going out". "We must continue to promote a new model of globalization and remain committed to globalization." TCL's globalization strategy includes shifting from exporting products to exporting industrial capabilities, he said. It should take the initiative to go out and establish supply chains and industrial chains in target markets, which is an effective way for Chinese enterprises to counter deglobalization.
At the same time, TCL's globalization should adhere to green development. "Now, going green is not an option, it's a must." Li Dongsheng also explained in detail to NBD that TCL's green development focus is in four aspects: green production, green products, the construction of a green industrial chain, and green operation.


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Sears Holdings Corp. can add a shrinking consumer electronics line to its list of problems.
Buried in a Wednesday announcement from Sears US:SHLD about a pension plan amendment was a third-quarter sales and profit warning, which the company blamed, in part, on cuts to the consumer electronics assortment across Sears and Kmart stores.
Third-quarter sales totaled about $3.7 billion, the company said, down from $5.0 billion a year ago. Total same-store sales fell 15.3% for the quarter with Sears’ same-store sales falling a whopping 17% and Kmart dropping 13%. In addition to a reduction in its consumer electronics merchandise, the company said results were hurt by fewer pharmacies in Kmart.
Sears has bigger issues than consumer electronics.
“Those who have been shopping at Sears know that the inventory has been depleted and various vendors have limited what becomes available,” said Chuck Tatelbaum, senior attorney in the bankruptcy and creditors’ rights department at the Tripp Scott law firm. He notes the poor condition of stores and unenthusiastic sales associates.
“Consumers are very much aware of what is going on, and with other sales opportunities, they are going elsewhere,” said Tatelbaum.
Read:Sears will reconnect with its oldest customers with holiday Wish Book, but won’t attract new ones
Once known for appliances among other things, Sears has now stopped selling Whirlpool
And with the holiday season getting underway, shopping and savings database Offers.com says Sears’ Black Friday ad (available here) has just one page out of 43 featuring electronics and tech deals. Retailers like Target Corp.
“Their electronics selection has dwindled as they’ve been unable to compete with the rise and popularity of big name consumer tech brands like Beats Electronics, Amazon, Google, and the like,” said Carson Yarbrough, savings and retail expert at Offers.com, referring to Sears.
See also:Whirlpool earnings miss sends its shares – and credibility – plummeting
In and of itself, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for Sears to scale back its consumer electronics offerings. Evan Neufeld, vice president of intelligence at L2 Inc., a business intelligence firm, said that the company could choose to sell high-end items like flat-screen TVs and some discretionary items as a way to “avoid the middle ground, especially if it’s a sophisticated sell.” In-store associates are not equipped with the tools to sell those items.
Also:Why Apple’s iPhone X is bad - for the environment
And:Apple is one milestone closer to $1 trillion market cap
“It’s relative to what they need to do to move consumer electronics,” he said.
A few experts said Sears hasn’t done the best job of bringing digital capabilities to the shopping experience. Neufeld said retailers now need to maximize the space in their stores and find relevancy in today’s marketplace to draw customers.
But largely, he thinks, based on Wednesday’s announcement, the company is “bailing water out of the Titanic.”
The question now, if there’s going to be any saving the sinking ship, is what Sears stands for and how it’s relevant to shoppers after decades of being an iconic retail name.
“They can have all the goodwill from the past, but they have to tie it to what they’re delivering today and in the future,” said Aaron Shapiro, chief executive of Huge, a digital marketing agency. “What will make shoppers come back again and again? It’s hard when they’re losing inventory for things they’re known for.”
Sears shares are down 62.4% for the last 12 months. The S&P 500 index


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Local travel players have mixed reactions to China's new tourism law to enhance protection for travellers from the country, which takes effect on Oct 1.
While many have welcomed the changes as it could boost travel to Singapore, others felt otherwise as tours to the city-state are often packaged with other regional destinations, which may be affected by the new law.
The changes, made known to agencies here through circulars sent out last week, stipulate that tours sold in China for domestic and overseas travel clearly list itineraries, duration and details of transport, hotels and meals.
The law also puts a stop to "zero- or negative- fare tours" - a phenomenon that the local Chinese media has described as rampant in China.
These land tours target shoppers and are sold at or below cost to boost sales. But there is a catch - travellers are often forced to tip tour guides, pay more for add-on tours, or herded to designated shops and given the hard sell. Travel agencies then get kickbacks from shops or, in some instances, own them. Hotel stays are typically replaced with overnight coach rides to neighbouring countries.
Such tours are commonly offered for travel to places like Thailand, Yunnan and Hong Kong, said industry players here. When implemented, the law could result in higher prices for travel to these places.
A handful of agencies in Singapore also offer such shopping tours, added industry players. They sell them to Singapore- bound tourists in China through partner agencies there. A regular two-day, one- night tour in Singapore, excluding airfare, typically costs about $300.
National Association of Travel Agents Singapore chief operating officer Anita Tan hailed the changes. She said they will benefit professionally run local travel agents as they will help weed out black sheep here and elsewhere that are responsible for the "unreasonably" low-priced tours.
"Agencies which survive on such shopping tours have to change the way they operate or get out of the market," said Ms Tan. "This levels the playing field for our agents."
The impact from the new law cannot be underestimated as the number of Chinese tourists visiting Singapore - the second biggest group after Indonesians - has been growing rapidly in recent years.
Singapore Tourism Board figures show that Chinese visitors to Singapore had surged from nearly 940,000 in 2009 to a record 1,578,000 in 2011. In the first nine months of last year, there were 1,515,000 Chinese visitors - on track to beating 2011's record. The full-year figures for last year are yet to be released.
Major inbound travel agencies here - including Hong Thai Travel and Travcoach which have sales representatives in China - agree that the law will benefit Singapore as a standalone destination.
Hong Thai's director Alex Chan said: "Tourists always compare our prices to those of Thailand and Malaysia. They say ours is too high. This will narrow the (price) gap (for travel to Singapore)."
But some have questioned if the changes would mean fewer Chinese visitors to the region as a whole. Mr Chew Chong Choon, Travcoach's managing director, said: "Singapore tours are usually packaged with Thailand and Malaysia tours. If prices go up in those countries, then we will be more expensive and less attractive as a region."


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Ford employees produce an electrical F-150 Lightning pickup on the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electrical Car Heart (REVC) on Dec. 13, 2022.
Michael Wayland | cnbc
Detroit – ford motor has as soon as once more raised the beginning worth of its electrical F-150 Lightning, citing excessive uncooked materials prices for the pickup truck.
The brand new worth for the F-150 Lightning Professional, an entry-level mannequin geared toward industrial and enterprise clients, will probably be $55,974 – up practically 8% from earlier pricing, or $4,000 and a 40% enhance from the unique $39,974 introduced Might 2021 In.
A Ford spokeswoman mentioned Friday in an emailed assertion that the corporate adjusts car pricing “as a standard course of enterprise as a result of rising materials prices, market components and provide chain constraints.”
Ford initially made waves when it introduced that the beginning worth for the Lightning could be round $40,000, making it extra inexpensive than many EVs in the marketplace. Wall Road praised the car, and it was a serious enhance for the corporate on the time.
However the price of crucial uncooked supplies reminiscent of cobalt, nickel and lithium has elevated considerably amid rising demand and provide chain issues.
The newest worth hike — not less than the third this 12 months — follows Ford’s effort to broaden manufacturing of the electrical pickup to 150,000 items by subsequent fall. The corporate mentioned earlier this week that it stays on observe to take action, because it lately added a 3rd shift of employees on the Michigan plant making the car.
“Whereas demand for this breakthrough car is powerful and persevering with to develop, we’ll proceed to observe pricing via the mannequin 12 months,” the spokesperson mentioned in an emailed assertion.
By the tip of November, Ford had offered solely 13,258 F-150 Lightnings.
#Ford #F150 #Lightning #electrical #pickup #worth #hike


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LAS VEGAS — When it comes to how content marketing impacts a company's website, The Sales Lion has some answers.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based EECU said it surpassed the $1 billion mark in loans at the end of 2012.
Credit union members are increasingly demanding more online interaction from their institutions. The request is forcing credit unions to adjust websites and self-service portals to accommodate members.
Unlike mortgages and business loans, for many financial institutions, including credit unions, auto loans are probably the least likely to have a flood of new competitors entering the space.
League says multi-channel marketing effort dependent upon member credit union participation.
Mobility Matters is by veteran tech reporter Robert McGarvey. This week's topics include stopping mobile fraudsters and the cool factor in tap-and-go.
For some Gen Yers, the call to be their own boss is much stronger than working for someone else.
The numbers dazzle. There are 850,000 enrollees in online banking and in any given month, there are around 400,000 unique member visitors. That is why, for Pentagon Federal, the $15 billion Alexandria, Va.-based credit union, its newly revamped online banking site is a big deal.
Forty-five credit unions in British Columbia ask young adults to share business ideas and goals and giving the best micro loans of up to $5,000.
Record sales of its core products in 2011 helped Wescom Resources Group take in $939 million and maintain average annual growth of 25% through its 10-year history.


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Among Nintendo’s announcements at E3 this year was a new addition to their Super Smash Bros franchise. While the game is coming to the 3DS and the Wii U, the BIG news was on the revelation of the first new fighter, Capcom’s Megaman.
The Blue Bomber was the focus of the new Super Smash Bros Trailer:
Megaman, who originally came to prominence in a series of games for the NES in 1987 has starred in over 50 games across several Nintendo platforms. His apprentice in the Smash Bros franchise, essentially throwing Nintendo’s most popular characters into an arena and making them fight, makes a lot of sense. Like Solid Snake and Sonic before him, Megaman often pops up in the arguments this game was meant to resolve.
Throughout the trailer Megaman can be seen using several of his bosses weapons (The Metal Blade sticks out) and his robot dog Rush to pretty much DOMINATE the field. No word yet to a release date.


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(Jackson, Mississippi) -- Lawmakers in Jackson have just introduced legislation to exempt gold and silver coins, bars, and rounds from Mississippi's state sales tax. Rep. Jill Ford reintroduced House Bill 508 at the beginning of the 2023 session.
This year's legislative effort seeks to build on last year's momentum. Last year, Rep. Ford's sales tax exemption bill passed out of the Mississippi House of Representatives overwhelmingly but it missed a deadline in the Senate needed to receive a hearing.
Two similar Mississippi bills have already been introduced this session (HB 23 & SB 2019).
Imposing taxes on the exchange of Federal Reserve notes for monetary metals (i.e. gold and silver) has become an unusual and outmoded practice in the United States... only 8 states still engage in it.
Most recently, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia last year passed legislation to exempt or extend current sales tax exemptions on precious metals. With 42 states now having eliminated sales taxes on purchases of gold and silver, Mississippi may be the next state to do so.
Under the status quo in Mississippi, citizens are discouraged from protecting their savings against the devaluation of the dollar because they are penalized with sales taxation for doing so. No state bordering Mississippi has the same policy.
Passage of HB 508 would remove disincentives to holding gold and silver -- a move that has become especially pertinent at a time when inflation is ripping through the economy and wreaking havoc on family budgets.
Eliminating sales taxes on gold and silver is good public policy for several reasons:
- Levying sales taxes on precious metals is inappropriate. Sales taxes are typically levied on final consumer goods. Computers, shirts, and shoes carry sales taxes because the consumer is "consuming" the good. Precious metals are inherently held for resale, not "consumption," making the application of sales taxes on precious metals inappropriate.
- Studies have shown that taxing precious metals is an inefficient form of revenue collection. The results of one study involving Michigan show that any sales tax proceeds a state collects on precious metals are likely surpassed by the state revenue lost from conventions, businesses, and economic activity that are driven out of the state.
The harm is exacerbated when you consider that all of Mississippi’s neighbors (Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee) have already stopped taxing gold and silver. Most recently, Tennessee ended this tax in 2022, and Arkansas eliminated this tax in 2021.
- Taxing gold and silver harms in-state businesses. It’s a competitive marketplace, so buyers will take their business to neighboring states, such as Alabama or Louisiana (which have eliminated or reduced sales tax on precious metals), thereby undermining Mississippi jobs. Levying sales tax on precious metals harms in-state businesses that will lose business to out-of-state precious metals dealers. Investors can easily avoid paying $136.50 in sales taxes, for example, on a $1,950 purchase of a one-ounce gold bar.
- Taxing precious metals is unfair to certain savers and investors. Gold and silver are held as forms of savings and investment. Mississippi does not tax the purchase of stocks, bonds, ETFs, currencies, and other financial instruments.
- Taxing precious metals is harmful to citizens attempting to protect their assets. Purchasers of precious metals aren't fat-cat investors. Most who buy precious metals do so in small increments as a way of saving money. Precious metals investors are purchasing precious metals as a way to preserve their wealth against the damages of inflation. Inflation harms the poorest among us, including pensioners, Mississippians on fixed incomes, wage earners, savers, and more.
Meanwhile, no states have permanently reversed their existing exemptions. The state of Louisiana and Ohio both experimented briefly with reimposing sales taxes on precious metals purchases. They both quickly reversed course (within two years) and reinstated their sales tax exemptions on precious metals -- because businesses, coin conventions, and state tax revenues were leaving the state.
Currently, Mississippi is tied for 45th out of 50 in the 2023 Sound Money Index. Passage of HB 508 would allow the state to increase its ranking dramatically.


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NEW YORK: Visa, the payments company, is seeking to become a "liquid" brand that moves well beyond plastic credit and debit cards to be present everywhere consumers want to undertake transactions.
Chris Curtin, the organisation's chief brand/innovation officer, discussed this subject at the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands Round Table event in New York.
"We are sitting back and thinking about Visa as a 'liquid' brand," he said. (For more, including details of the new skills required by its marketers, read Warc's exclusive report: Visa aims to become a "liquid" brand.)
More specifically, the advent of technologies like near field communication, smartphone apps and wearable tech has provided an increasingly diverse array of opportunities for the company.
"For us at Visa, we're very, very, very focused on: how do we make sure that we live up to our promise, which is 'Everywhere you want to be'?" said Curtin.
"And if you want to pay with your watch, if you want to pay with your card, we're going to be there."
The firm's initiatives in this space have thus spanned everything from tapping into Apple Pay to creating "shoppable" videos with home-products group Williams-Sonoma and partnering with ecommerce start-up Stripe.
It has even worked with Pizza Hut, the restaurant chain, and Accenture, the consultancy, to test a new payment model by building a proof-of-concept connected car.
The scope and nature of these efforts indicates why being a "liquid" brand is so important to payments providers like Visa, as their services are increasingly integrated into different experiences.
"Payments used to be … a bolt on to a shopping or browsing experience. And now it's becoming endemic to that experience," said Curtin.
In response, Visa needs to be "a brand that can find its way into a watch, a brand that can find its way into a phone, a brand that can find its way into a car that is far more intelligent than perhaps even the cars we drive today, and a brand that can find its way into this phenomenon of the internet of things."
Data sourced from Warc


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As younger generations take a stand against global warming, fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M are changing some of their practices. But for some, it's a little too late.
In July, Zara pledged to use 100% sustainable fabrics by 2025. This month, H&M released plans to become climate positive by 2040, meaning it wants to do more than achieve zero carbon emissions.
But Forever 21, a similar clothing chain known for affordable, trendy apparel for teens, filed for bankruptcy in September.
Factors such as online competition and brand dilution likely contributed to the upcoming closure of 178 U.S. Forever 21 stores, but the company's manufacturing process could be another reason the American retailer was struggling.
Fast fashion, the practice of manufacturing trendy, non-sustainable clothing in mass quantities to be sold at cheap prices, has become a worrisome practice to people who are concerned about climate change.
Although fast fashion makes clothing cheaper for the consumer, experts say its effect on the earth comes at a much bigger price. According to the UN environment program, 8% to 10% of the world’s global greenhouse emissions are produced by the fashion industry.
Timo Rissanen, an associate professor of fashion design and sustainability at New York's Parsons School of Design, told ABC News that Forever 21 fell behind the curve on sustainability.
“I tried to look on what Forever 21 was doing three years ago, and they had very little happening," said Rissanen. “They did hold some panels in California, and that’s good, but it doesn’t actually deal with the real issues, like the emissions from chemicals.”
Rissanen, who is originally from Finland, explained that he felt Forever 21’s bankruptcy was the result of two things: a shift to online shopping and an ethical awakening.
“It doesn’t seem to me that [sustainability] was ever a priority for them,” said Rissanen.
Forever 21 responded to the criticism in a statement to ABC News.
“We strive to have a positive impact not only within our stores and corporate family, but also upon hundreds of vendor manufacturing facilities throughout the world which make our products, as well as on their employees,” the company said, adding that it has launched sustainable product lines, made recycling a priority in its stores and warehouses and has employed energy efficient lighting, solar panels and efficient transportation to reduce carbon emissions.
Rissanen said his fashion students care more about the environmental impacts of their designs than ever before. Parsons also requires students to take a class on sustainable systems.
To Rissanen, the heightened awareness is partially due to youth climate activists like 16-year-old Greta Thunberg.
“It’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen in my career. I know a lot of men my age are annoyed by her,” he said with a laugh. “But I think she’s brilliant. She has a clear message.”
Other climate activists are following Thunberg’s lead by protesting what they call harmful fashion industry practices, including the use of unsustainable materials or fabrics, toxic dyes to treat fabrics and plastics to package goods — all of which contribute to carbon emissions.
Kate Glavan, a climate activist and 20-year-old student at New York University, gathered with a group of friends to take part in the Global Climate Strike, a protest led by Thunberg, which took place in 150 countries across the world.
She told ABC News that millennials and Generation Z care a lot about a brand’s ethics.
To Glavan, Forever 21's bankruptcy is not just an example of a business falling behind in revenue. “It’s a pushback,” Glavan said.
“I think [they] are standing up to something – something that aligns with their values – and that’s against fast fashion," she said.
While brands like Zara and H&M have made plans to change their carbon footprint, Ana Andjelic, a New York-based strategy executive, told ABC News that the problem is much deeper, starting with their business models.
“It’s difficult for them because, yes, they can start using less materials, they can have cleaner supply chains and establish more efficient distribution models, but the problem is over production,” said Andjelic, who has worked with brands like Rebecca Minkoff, Topshop and Aldo.
“They create unbelievable amounts of unbelievably cheap things that are disposable,” she said. “So I don’t know how they are going to change their business model.”
H&M told ABC News that 57% of materials in its products are recycled or sustainably sourced. H&M said it wants to increase that number to 100% by 2020 and “to become climate positive by 2040 through energy efficiency, investments in renewable energy and climate resilience.”
Zara defended its practices, telling ABC News, "The idea is to understand what your customer wants and to fit to this demand with a very integrated and efficient supply chain -design, procurement and manufacturing, logistics and stores. Our design team takes care of every detail (fabrics, patterns) in short production runs, we make our own patterns and most of our sourcing is in proximity areas, keeping low levels of inventory. All of this is what allow us to meet customers’ needs in a responsible and sustainable manner.”
Barbara Kahn, a professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, explained that Forever 21’s bankruptcy was an example of how big brands have to pay attention to emerging trends like sustainability.
“Once a trend like this takes hold, the legacy brands better be paying attention,” she said.


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ChangeWave poll finds 93% satisfied with their new iPhone, down from 99% last year.
Given the intense attention paid to the iPhone 4's antenna in the weeks after its release, the issue played a surprising small role in a survey of 213 new owners begun three days after Steve Jobs offered them a free case.
Although one in five said it was "somewhat" or a "very big" problem, 64% of the respondents MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Aug 4, 2010 11:12 AM ET
Apple issues $29 refunds and launches an app that gives customers a choice of 8 free cases
Apple (AAPL) on Friday made good on the promise Steve Jobs made -- with some ill humor -- a week earlier. It issued refunds to customers who had purchased its $29 Bumper and it launched a free app that gives iPhone 4 owners who have a problem with its external antenna a choice eight MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Jul 23, 2010 12:21 PM ET
The analysts this morning were piling on superlatives. Will the market follow their lead?
Apple's (AAPL) record quarter inspired a flurry of glowing reviews and rising price targets. Here's a sample; more as they come in:
Oppenheimer's Yair Reiner: Antennagate Schmantennagate. "We were expecting Apple to deliver a strong F3Q10. But we hadn't girded ourselves for a mammoth revenue forecast, and neither, we believe, had the Street. To those (like us) MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Jul 21, 2010 8:00 AM ET
Analysts issue a flurry of last-minute adjustments in advance of Tuesday's quarterly report
Apple's (AAPL) one-two punch -- Steve Jobs' "Antennagate" press conference Friday and the company's Q3 earnings report scheduled for Tuesday -- left analysts struggling to stay on top of two competing narratives.
On one hand they had the firestorm of negative press coverage that helped carve nearly $30 billion out of Apple's market cap over the past three weeks MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Jul 19, 2010 1:10 PM ET
The company was quick to post the "Antennagate" press conference. It's about that link ...
[UPDATE: The problem I describe below was fixed shortly after this was posted, which may explain why so many readers suggested in their comments that I'd finally lost my marbles.]
I'm as sick of writing about the iPhone 4's antenna as you probably are of reading about it. But since nobody else seems to have taken note MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Jul 18, 2010 9:55 AM ET
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On 20 August 2014 the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provided a number of rulings on Bitcoins.
What is a Bitcoin?
Essentially, Bitcoin is a digital currency used online as a method for payment. It is not physically printed, and it is not controlled by any banks.
Unlike conventional currency that is based on gold or silver, Bitcoin is based on mathematics which can be freely calculated through available software.
What is the ATO’s view of Bitcoins?
The ATO in its ruling has expressed that it does not view Bitcoin as a foreign currency. However, the ATO does view Bitcoin as ‘property’, which therefore opens Bitcoin up to a number of tax consequences.
What has the ATO ruled about Bitcoins?
The ATO has provided a series of rulings in relation to the use of Bitcoin, which provide guidance for those using Bitcoin. Some of the areas which are impacted include:
- Goods and services tax (GST) implications;
- Capital gains tax (CGT) implications; and
- Fringe benefit tax implications (where businesses are using Bitcoin to pay employee salaries).
Is your business using Bitcoins in Australia?
If your business is using Bitcoin in Australia, it is imperative that you are aware of the additional obligations that have now been placed on Bitcoin compliance.
In its recent rulings the ATO has stated that it views Bitcoin as a taxable supply, which means it is subject to GST.
If your business is:
- using Bitcoin in any exchange transactions;
- accepting Bitcoin in exchange for goods or services; or
- using an agent/intermediary in exchange for goods or services,
it is imperative that your business model and strategy takes into account the ATO’s recent rulings on Bitcoin.
The profile of Bitcoin is rising very quickly, especially with the announcement on 23 October 2014 in the Sydney Morning Herald that Bitcoin company, Independent Reserve, has launched Australia’s newest exchange for Bitcoin holders.
If you are conducting business in Australia using Bitcoins, and are unsure as to whether you are complying with the ATO’s rulings in relation to Bitcoins, please do not hesitate to contact us.


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Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and MCPI Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a textile park in Odisha. The agreement was signed during the Petrochemical Investors Conclave held last week in Bhubaneshwar.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the event that aims to attract investments in the high-potential eastern states. It was organised under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The Odisha Government recently took various steps such as establishing a Yarn Bank, speeding up the process of setting up an Apparel Incubation Centre at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, to boost textile industry in the state.
Additionally, the State Government recently announced operational guidelines to implement the new State Apparel Policy.
The latest guidelines issued by the Government makes obtaining an identification number through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department of the Government a must for those who want to set up a textile manufacturing factory in Odisha.


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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Visa return this year with the fourth annual instalment of “Thailand Splash and Spice 2016”, introducing more world-class restaurants in one of the world’s top gourmet destinations – exclusive to Visa cardholders.
In addition to the long-standing partnership with Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), Visa introduces new participating restaurants along Bangkok’s skytrain line at shopping malls such as The Emquartier, Siam Paragon, Terminal 21, and MBK Center.
The food festival runs from today until May 30, offering international Visa cardholders exclusive deals at some of the country’s leading restaurants. More than 150 restaurants will participate in this campaign.
Visanu Jaroensilp, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business: “This campaign will strengthen Thailand’s reputation as the global culinary destination, and help to promote restaurants in key tourist centers in Thailand. For 2016, we have upped the ante by focusing on four-star-and-above restaurants, known for their signature dishes.”
Suripong Tantiyanon, Visa Country Manager, Thailand, said: “We are excited to be working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand once again to promote Thailand Splash and Spice 2016. Recently many interesting restaurant concepts have emerged in Bangkok, attracting gourmands from around the world while boosting tourism numbers. This event celebrates the best the country has to offer and provides some excellent choices for all Visa cardholders.”
From left to right: Kinan Suchaovanich, Director of Corporate Communication and Suripong Tantiyanon, Country Manager, Visa Thailand joined Visanu Jaroensilp, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Manatase Annawat (right), Deputy Managing Director of the Emporium Shopping Complex to launch Thailand Splash and Spice 2016, a premium dining extravaganza exclusive to Visa cardholders at more than 150 selected establishments.
The festival complements a number of other high profile events, such as the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale in June and Spectacular Year end Sale in November. For 18 years, Visa and TAT have been working together tirelessly to promote Thai tourism to the world.
Exclusive offers include special price for set menu and discount of up to 50 percent at participating restaurants. For a full list of offers, please visit www.visa.co.th.


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A man was smacked on the head with hammers as two men robbed a mobile phone store in St Albans in a "frightening ordeal".
The incident occurred on Sunday, March 19, when it was reported that two men rushed into Fone City shop - located on Spencer Street in St Albans - with hammers and stole mobile phones.
A shop worker was threatened and suffered a minor hand injury, which did not require hospital treatment. The offenders are described as two black men, who were wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered.
Fone City's Muhammad Fahad was assaulted by the two robbers. He said: "I run a mobile phone shop called Fone City at 4a Spencer street St Albans. Two guys came with hammers and hammered on my hand and took all my phones."
Herts Police are seeking witnesses and information following the robbery in St Albans. Detective Sergeant Mark Chipchase, from the St Albans Local Crime Unit, said: “We are carrying out enquiries into the incident which was a frightening ordeal for the shop staff. It took place in the middle of the day and so we are asking for any witnesses or anyone with information about it to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to report it online here, speak to an operator in Herts Police's Force Communications Room via their online web chat here or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/22597/23.
Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form here.
- Man jailed for 10 years after police found shotgun in abandoned van
- Three 'dangerously out of control' dogs kill another in 'frightening' incident
- St Albans home which sparked a bidding war with almost 40 aspiring homeowners
- Watford home hit with 3-month closure order after neighbour complaints
- 'Reckless' teens sentenced after admitting to causing Frogmore Paper Mill fire


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Sandwich chain Pret A Manger has said it plans to create at least 500 new jobs in the UK this year, as part of a plan to add 1,000 new staff worldwide.
Its announcement came as it reported a 17% rise in profits to £61.1m in 2012, with sales also up by 17% to £443m.
Chief executive Clive Schlee said 2012 had been a "strong year" for the firm.
He also responded to criticism that the firm was not hiring enough UK citizens, saying it had 15% more British employees this year than last year.
The group - which was bought by private equity fund Bridgepoint in 2008 - has 323 stores, mainly in the UK, but with others in Hong Kong, the United States and France. The firm said average weekly sales in Paris were bigger than in any other region.
Pret plans to open another 50 new shops worldwide this year, up from 36 new launches last year.
Earlier this year, London Mayor Boris Johnson said that an increasing number of workers at food outlets like Pret were not "native Londoners".
But Mr Schlee told Radio 4's Today programme: "We've responded to a lot of criticism like that.
"It depends on what market you're talking about. Outside London Pret is predominantly British," he said.
"Inside London it's a much more cosmopolitan economy and our staff reflect the nature of the people in London," he added.
Pret started a school-leaver's programme last year aimed at encouraging more British applicants to join the firm.


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French group Saint-Gobain has extended its £3.6bn ($6.3bn) bid for UK plasterboard-maker BPB.
BPB products have been used at a range of sites across the globe
The building materials firm said it would extend the bid until 2 December, adding that less than 1% of BPB's shareholders had accepted its offer.
BPB shares rose 1% on the news to 741.5 pence during early trading in London.
The extension follows press speculation that the French group may raise its current offer of 720p per share by 5.5% to 760p, making the bid worth £3.8bn.
More to come?
Over the weekend, news agency Reuters quoted unidentified sources close to the deal as saying Saint-Gobain would raise its offer if BPB's board backed the bid.
BPB rejected the French firm's previous approach saying it massively undervalued the group.
Instead, BPB's board claims the group is worth at least 800p a share.
Saint-Gobain mounted its campaign to take over BPB in July when it tabled a 675p a share offer.
It is keen to snap up BPB to expand its global presence, merging its insulation business with BPB's plasterboard operations.


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Microsoft's dispute with the US Department of Justice (DoJ) will proceed to the Supreme Court, a judge ruled yesterday. The decision deals a blow to the software giant's wish for the case to go to the...
Engineering sample among the most powerful CPUs ever tested on the SiSoft Sandra system analyzer
US companies can continue doing business with Huawei until 19th August
Around 100 companies in 50 countries are currently getting user data from Facebook
Hotel group is overhailing its tech stack to meet demand for more tailored services


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Senior Commerce Department official John Costello recently offered insights into his department’s evolving security role and the goals of the pending information and communications technology supply chain rule. Multiple business groups have pushed back on the Commerce Department’s pending rule. In this article, we distill Costello’s comments, made during a fireside chat with Mayer Brown partner David Simon, including his perspective on the current economic and threat landscape and how supply chain risk affects U.S. companies. See “Managing Legal Risks to U.S. Companies From Foreign Cyberattacks
” (Jan. 22, 2020).


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March 28, 2020
Selena Gomez knows very well that everything which goes up to your social networks ends up becoming a viral phenomenon. Among other things because, taking into account that accumulates neither more nor less than 171 million followers only in Instagram, it is quite simple that any photo or video his work as pete in the networks.
But of course, if you decide to hang it on your account Instagram a video in which we see her in her nightgown, the madness among his followers is evident. That is what has happened now with its latest release of Instagram.
The video of Selena Gomez
The case is that the singer has released a new line of products related to your song Dance again. But of course, Selenaas well points in the publication, knows very well that perhaps is not the best time now that the coronavirus is causing havoc around the world, to launch something as well.
That is why, with very good view, has managed to turn it around and has announced that a portion of the profits from the sales of these products will be destined to a project that raises funds for the fight against the COVID-19.
“It’s a little strange to release something so joyful in the midst of a moment so heavy for our world, but I also think that it is a good reminder that what we will overcome together. ? For every purchase of the new merchandising Dance Again in my shop, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the relief Fund MusiCares COVID-19.”, points in the text that accompanies the images.
A video that has gotten neither more nor less than more than 7 million reproductions in just a day, and, as was to be expected taking into account the sensual, which appears in him Selenathe comments have been fired also.
“If it is above pretty and list, this girl is in solidarity…has everything”, “I am totally into you you and I love the initiative you’ve ever had”, “Yay Selena”, “is the best” or “I Wish they were all like you” are some of the many views in that regard.


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A new distillery will open its doors tomorrow in Erie.
The idea of Altered State Distillery was developed by two friends with backgrounds in craft brewing. They wanted to take it to the next level.
Once it opened up, the distillery will have craft whiskeys and organic vodka for people to try out. The location is at 1535 West 8th Street in the new Greengarden Plaza.
“We have live music that’s going to be happening here. We have a beautiful tasting room that was constructed by a local craftsman. We are pretty much just looking to have a really great time with the City of Erie,” said Aaron Hetz, Vice President, Altered State Distillery.
Altered State Distillery is set to open up at 3 p.m. tomorrow.


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Apple enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the latest version of the company’s operating system for iPhones and iPads as technology evolves. iOS 17 is expected to bring a host of new features that will advance mobile computing and enhance user experience In this article, we explore the key features of Apples upcoming iOS 17, potential privacy and security improvements, updates to Siri and Maps, and the projected release date.
iOS 17: Features, Release Date, and More
Redesigned Control Center in iOS 17
A leaker cited by MacRumors reports that iOS 17 will introduce a revamped Control Center, along with speed and stability enhancements. The Control Center, introduced in iOS 7, is accessible by swiping down from the top left corner of the iPhone screen (or swiping up on the iPhone SE 3). It offers quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, brightness, volume controls, and more. Additional features such as Focus, Flashlight, and Screen Recording can be added through settings. This would be the first update to the Control Center since iOS 11 in 2017.
The leaker did not provide further details but suggested a fresh design and new functionality.
Additional Features in iOS 17
Bloomberg reports that Apple is heavily invested in developing AR/VR headgear, which may take precedence over iOS 17 and other software platforms. The headgear, Apple’s first major new hardware and software platform since the Apple Watch, could be unveiled at WWDC.
However, Bloomberg also notes that iOS 17 will include “nice to have” additions, with rumors indicating that the Control Center may be a primary focus.
iOS 17 Release Date
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 17 at WWDC in June of this year. At this annual developer conference, Apple releases the latest versions of its operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. The first keynote presentation of WWDC 2023, focused on recent developments, is scheduled for June 5.
After the announcement, Apple will release the beta version of iOS 17 to developers, followed by a public beta in July. The official release, possibly alongside the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, is anticipated in September.
iOS 17 Supported Devices
Speculation surrounds device compatibility with iOS 17. An initial rumor suggested that iOS 17 would not support certain devices including:
- iPhone 8,
- iPhone 8 Plus,
- iPhone X, iPad (5th generation),
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
However, a second source claimed that all devices compatible with iOS 16 would also support iOS 17. Due to conflicting reports, we recommend awaiting official confirmation.
Users worldwide are looking forward to the upcoming release of iOS 17, which will bring subtle enhancements and a streamlined user experience for iPhone and iPad users. Follow us on social media for updates and news on iOS 17. Experience the latest innovations with Apple’s mobile operating system upon release. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to sharing more with you soon.


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A handful of Silicon Valley’s noteworthy figures are backing a application startup looking to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance.
The startup, termed The Browser Company, is led by Joshua Miller, who earlier served as the Obama White House’s director of Solution and is currently an trader at Prosper Cash, an investment business founded by Josh Kushner.
The New York startup has elevated just north of $5 million in funding, a source tells TechCrunch. The company’s backers include things like LinkedIn’s Jeff Weiner, Medium’s Ev Williams, Figma’s Dylan Discipline, Notion’s Akshay Kothari and GitHub’s Jason Warner.
The startup has been rather imprecise in public about what just they’re functioning on. They are creating a new browser that appears to reject bare bones simplicity and embrace some of the additional versatile interfaces of contemporary web apps. The browser’s backend is developed, in component, on the bones of Chrome, employing open up-source Chromium, which lets the upstart solution to boast seamless assistance with broader website specifications at launch.
“We enjoy the world wide web, but it can be too much to handle,” the startup’s web page reads. “What if a browser could aid us make sense of it all?”
In a telephone contact, Miller wasn’t much much more illuminating on what just the eventual release could look like.
“I’m going to be a very little cagey just due to the fact we do have rivals that have much more engineers and much more funds than we do,” Miller mentioned in response to a issue relating to item abilities.
The Browser Company’s team of 6 isn’t the only younger startup aiming to obstacle Chrome’s one particular-size-matches-all strategy to the browser marketplace. For Added Crunch, I dug into a range of the young browser startups that buyers are backing. (Subscription needed.)
Google’s Chrome flat-out dominates the browser industry. In 2016, Google thorough that they experienced about 2 billion energetic installs of the application. Considering that then, as consumers of rivals like Firefox and Internet Explorer have dropped off drastically, the item has only cemented its guide.
Google’s endeavours to build a model of Chrome suited for billions of persons across the globe has led to a harmless products that Miller claims isn’t really “opinionated” about how persons ought to use it. The Browser Corporation isn’t aiming to exchange Chrome, he says, but is searching to discover a subset of Chrome people whose wants it can greater fulfill.
“I consider a single of the reasons that web browsers have remained relatively stagnant in phrases of their features is that the business enterprise product is constructed on prime of is just one of search advertisement earnings,” Miller suggests. “I believe of Chrome and Safari as Toyotas or Hondas. They are dependable, they’re inexpensive, they’re obtainable and they are straightforward. We’re striving to make the Tesla of web browsers.”
Miller suggests The Browser Corporation is hoping to start out bringing on users to beta examination the software package later this yr.