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AMA Association reports industry development in the third quarter of 2021
Sensors and Metrology presents itself as a stable factor in the third quarter. Sales developed stably at plus minus zero percent. There was an increase of four percent in incoming orders. Short-time work continued to decline, although 79 percent of AMA members said they still had to cope with supply and material bottlenecks.
Berlin, December 16, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measuring Technology e.V. (AMA) surveyed its approximately 450 members on economic development in the third quarter. AMA members generated sales of plus minus zero percent in the third quarter, compared to the previous quarter. Comparing the sales development with the results of the third quarter of 2020 to 2021, there is a significant increase in sales of 25 percent.
New orders developed as predicted by AMA members, with an increase of four percent, compared to the previous quarter. It is striking that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported significantly higher new orders in the third quarter than large companies. The industry expects a moderate increase of a further two percent in the current quarter.
However, AMA members continued to report significant shortfalls due to supply and material bottlenecks. Nearly 80 percent of AMA members said they continue to suffer from material shortages from suppliers, and the industry expects this condition to continue through the middle, and many more likely the end, of next year.
AMA members were also asked about ordering restraint by their own customers due to their material shortages. 28 percent of AMA members confirmed such restraint on the part of their own customers.
"Around 80 percent of the companies in the industry are currently suffering from delivery problems due to a lack of materials, as a result of bottlenecks at their suppliers. Our members estimated that this will continue for another six months to a year," said Thomas Simmons, AMA managing director. "At the same time, the industry is doing very well right now. It's almost as if Corona didn't exist. Sales were flat in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter, but that was at a plus-25 percent level compared to the third quarter of 2020. AMA members expect sales to continue to increase in the current quarter, and new orders have been growing without interruption for the past year and a half," says Thomas Simmons, AMA executive director. "It remains to be seen if and to what extent these supply issues will impact sales."
Innovations from sensor and measurement technology sought
Berlin, Oct. 12, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) invites researchers and developers to apply for the AMA Innovation Award 2022. The search is on for innovative research and development results in sensor and measurement technology. The deadline for entries is January 26, 2022.
Individuals and development teams are invited to apply with innovative research and development solutions that demonstrate recognizable market relevance. The AMA Innovation Award carries prize money of 10,000 euros. In addition, companies can apply for the special "Young Enterprise" award if they have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people and generate annual sales of less than 10 million euros. The winner in this category will receive a free exhibition booth at SENSOR+TEST 2022.
For 22 years, the prestigious AMA Innovation Award has been presented to the developers themselves and not to the institutions behind them. The jurors from universities, research institutions and companies place particular emphasis on scientific achievement, the degree of innovation of the development and the expected opportunities in the market.
"We invite creative minds from Germany and abroad to apply and present their own developments to a broad and interested audience of experts," says jury chairman Andreas Schütze of Saarland University. "We are looking forward to applications from well-known companies and institutions as well as from newcomers, who can additionally apply for the special category 'Young Enterprises'."
Conditions of participation and tender documents for the AMA Innovation Award 2022 and the special category 'Young Enterprise' as well as brochures with the award winners and all applications from previous years are available free of charge at: https://www.ama-sensorik.de/en/science/ama-innovation-award/.
Deadline for entries is January 26, 2022, and the nominations and special award winners will be announced at the AMA press conference on March 10, 2022. The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2022 will be honored at the opening ceremony of SENSOR+TEST on May 10, 2022 in Nuremberg.
AMA Association reports industry development for the second quarter of 2021
Sensors and measurement technology recorded significant sales growth in the first quarter, with sales stabilizing at plus minus zero percent in the second quarter. Overall, the industry's incoming orders developed positively with an increase of eight percent. The proportion of AMA member companies that have registered for short-time work is falling significantly, with only one in five companies now employing people on short-time work.
Berlin, October 5, 2021 - The AMA Association for sensors and measurement e.V. (AMA) surveyed its approximately 450 members on economic development in the second quarter. According to its data, the industry generated sales of plus minus zero percent in the second quarter, compared with the previous quarter.
Catching up on sales, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) performed significantly better in the second quarter than large companies in the sector. Accordingly, the expectations of small to mid-sized AMA members are slightly more optimistic than those of larger members. Overall, the industry expects positive growth of four percent in the third quarter.
Short-time work is now only found among SMEs in the industry and mainly affects suppliers to the target markets: mechanical engineering, sensor and measurement technology, and the automotive and electrical sectors. Suppliers to the medical technology and energy industries are little or not at all affected. This is underpinned by above-average incoming order for suppliers to the medical technology sector. The aerospace sales market is also developing well. Below-average results are reported by suppliers to the sensor and measurement technology sectors.
The AMA Association also surveyd its members on the development of online sales during the COVID crisis. One in six companies is increasing its own online trade, especially suppliers to the energy and automotive sectors. The majority of companies that are establishing and expanding online trade report promising results.
"Encouragingly, our industry is bouncing back, with sales and new orders in particular performing as our industry expected the long-term trend to be before the Corona pandemic," said Thomas Simmons, AMA executive director. "Order books are well filled, short-time work has decreased significantly, sales are stabilizing and the industry is confident about the current quarter."
Industry grows more strongly than expected due to catch-up effects
Berlin, June 6, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensors and Metrology surveys its 450 members quarterly on economic development. The industry reports revenue growth of 13 percent for the first quarter, compared to the previous quarter. Incoming orders rose by seven percent at the beginning of the year. The industry is in a positive mood and expects further moderate revenue growth of four percent in the second quarter.
According to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, economic output contracted by 1.7 percent overall in the first quarter of 2021. However, the industry was on an upward trend again at the end of the first quarter and incoming orders continued this upward trend, in particular due to rising domestic demand. Sensor and measurement manufacturers reported much more positive developments for the first quarter. In particular, the large AMA members were able to increase revenue in the first quarter. In terms of incoming orders, on the other hand, the small and medium-sized industry representatives scored above average, while the major players reported stable incoming orders. Strong catch-up effects are having a positive impact on suppliers to the electronics sector and mechanical and plant engineering, while this effect has yet to materialize for suppliers to the automotive sector.
"Our statistics show that the drop in revenue from the Corona crisis has now been offset for a large part of our industry," says Thomas Simmons, managing director of the AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology. "Overall, our members' expectations are positive. In most cases, interrupted supply chains could be closed by alternative suppliers. The trend in new orders also supports the outlook for normalizing revenue growth in the current quarter."
First digital conference on sensors, measurement technology and metrology
Berlin, May 31, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology invited science and industry to Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI 2021), which was held digitally from May 3 to 6 due to the pandemic.
Research results and developments from the fields of sensors, measurement technology and metrology were presented in more than 160 lectures. Research institutes from the USA, Great Britain and Switzerland, among others, presented ongoing developments and those looking far into the future. These included four lectures on quantum metrology and sensor technology alone, lectures on new methods of materials characterization, and developments in further digitization and artificial intelligence.
Special highlights were the well-attended science slam sessions and the best paper awards, which were awarded to: Lara Hoffmann (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), Evgeny Melekhov (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg), Thomas Voglhuber-Brunnmaier (Johannes Kepler University Linz) and Leonhard Nitsche (Fraunhofer Institute IPM).
"We would like to thank our international speakers and a likewise group of participants for the successful start of our new conference," says Professor Gerald Gerlach, General Chairman of SMSI 2021. "The words of welcome from other international metrology conferences encourage us to integrate SMSI into the already existing international conference ensemble in the future."
SMSI will be held every 2 years and is planned for 2023 as an attendance event parallel to SENSOR+TEST 2023 in Nuremberg. With the SMSI conferences, the AMA Association for Sensors and Metrology supports and strengthens the leading international position of the German industry for measurement technology.
The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) awarded the AMA Innovation Award 2021 to two nominated teams. Due to the pandemic, the award winners were chosen digitally on May 3, 2021, at the opening event of Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI 2021).
The AMA Innovation Award 2021, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, goes this year in equal parts to two development teams. Both developments impressed the jury with their high innovative strength and clear market relevance.
Gas sensing with dielectric excitation
They have brought new gas sensing capabilities to conventional semiconducting metal oxide materials (SMOX) with the introduction of our sensor excitation scheme, which provides a up-to-date alternative to traditional resistivity sensing. Our excitation scheme offers linear gas response (R² > 0.99), a dynamic gas concentration range of six decades, high baseline stability, reduced humidity effects, and eliminated ambient temperature effects. We have already launched this product with one of our partners and are working with several other users in consumer, industrial, medical, homeland security and more.
The jury congratulates the development team from the USA: Dr. Radislav A. Potyrailo, Richard St-pierre, Dr. Aghogho Obi, Dr. Baokai Cheng, Dr. Christopher Collazo-Davila, Dr. Brian Scherer, Dr. Hilary Lashley Renison, Dr. Andrew Burns (General Electric Research Center)
Multi-parameter measurement as a cloud-based sensor for fermentation "QWX43"
Innovative, compact and easy-to-use multi-sensor system that provides the user full transparency at all times. Simultaneous output of density, viscosity, degree of fermentation, extract, alcohol, sugar concentration and other parameters. With the device, brewers can monitor this processes around the clock, logging, documenting and storing the progress. Valuable process evaluations such as the start and end of fermentation are carried out via web interface. The system is based on just two piezo tuning forks and strategically placed temperature sensors and is implemented in a hygienically fully encapsulated metal housing.
The jury congratulates the development team: Dr. Tobias Brengartner, Jan Schleiferböck, Dr. Sergey Lopatin, Andrey Dodonov, Pablo Ottersbach, Julia Rosenheim (Endress + Hauser Level+Pressure)
Sensor and measurement technology as innovation drivers
This year, 29 innovative research and development teams with top-class developments competed for the AMA Innovation Award, including 7 young companies. Together, they all demonstrate the innovative power of sensor and measurement technology.
"Both winning projects impressed with their sound solutions, convincing innovative strength and market relevance," said jury chairman Professor Andreas Schütze from Saarland University, explaining this year's selection.
Brochure with all submissions 2021
All accepted submissions will be published with a brief description of the innovation in the brochure 'AMA Innovation Award 2021 - The Applicants', which can be downloaded online free of charge.
Applications for the Innovation Award 2022
Application forms for the AMA Innovation Award 2022 will be available from the end of October 2021. Individuals or teams of developers from companies and institutes can apply. For more information, visit: www.ama-sensorik.de.
General Electric Research Center
Endress + Hauser Level+Pressure
Digital congress on sensors, measurement and metrology
Berlin, March 26, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology invites to the international congress: Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI) 2021. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the conference will be held digitally, in parallel with the SENSOR+TEST 2021 trade fair from May 3 to 6, 2021. The official SMSI 2021 program is now available online.
SMSI 2021 networks national and international representatives from research, science and industry. Current research results from the fields of sensor technology, measurement technology and metrology will be presented. Topics include: Innovative hydrogen sensors for fuel cell vehicles, novel approaches to modeling thermal-electrical behavior of pyroelectric infrared sensors, the development of non-invasive pressure sensors, and the evaluation of ceramic high-temperature sensor housings.
In addition to many technical presentations, SMSI 2021 invites all participants to attend international plenary lectures. Among them, for example, NIST on a Chip: Disseminating the SI through Quantum Sensors. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt reports on the revised SI for Innovation, Science and the Second Quantum Revolution, and the University of California on Invariance of Measured Quantities across the Science.
The full SMSI 2021 program, registration fees and registration now at: https://www.smsi-conference.com
AMA Association reports economic sector development 2020 and outlook 2021
Sensor and measurement technology recorded a two percent drop in revenue in 2020. For the current fiscal year, however, the industry is again expecting a much more positive development of plus nine percent revenue growth. In the past year, the industry invested ten percent less than in the previous year, the export ratio increased by ten percentage points, and the number of companies with employees on short-time work is 52 percent.
Berlin, March, 2021 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measuring Technology e.V. (AMA) surveyed its members in January 2021 on the economic development of the past fiscal year 2020. According to its own information, the industry generated an overall decline in sales of two percent. Revenue fell in the first two quarters, but picked up again in the third and fourth quarters. The industry closed the fourth quarter with a significant increase in revenue of ten percent compared to the previous quarter.
Investments cut back
Although the sector was previously considered to be particularly investment-friendly, many investments were scaled back last year. In particular, large companies with more than 250 employees were hesitant to invest. Small and medium-sized AMA members invested more than in the previous year. Overall, the industry plans to increase investments again by eleven percent in the current year.
Industry records significant increase in exports
The industry's traditionally strong export ratio recorded a further increase. Since 2016, however, export quotas to other European countries have been declining, while the export quota to non-European countries continues to rise. Overall, the export ratio was 61 percent in 2020. The export ratio to other European countries was 24 percentage points last year.
Fewer employees on short-time working
Due to the pandemic, the Sensors and Measuring Technology division also introduced short-time working. While 58 percent of companies were still using short-time working in the third quarter, the number fell to 52 percent in the fourth quarter. After around 38 percent of all jobs in the sector were on short-time working in the second quarter, the proportion of jobs affected was only eleven percent at the end of 2020.
Pandemic has a positive impact on digitization
The AMA Association surveyed its members on whether and in which areas digitalization is taking place due to the pandemic. 86 percent of AMA members say that the COVID 19 pandemic is leading to increased digitization in companies. Large as well as small and medium-sized companies indicated that they are digitizing their own sales in particular.
"2020 was not a good year for our industry either. In the first half of the year, revenue, investments and the number of jobs fell. Thanks to short-time work, it was possible to retain specialized staff from our members ", says Thomas Simmons, Managing Director AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology. "In the second half of the year, sales and incoming orders picked up again and the willingness to invest is growing. This puts the industry in a positive mood overall, expecting a nine percent increase in sales for fiscal year 2021."
Special 'Young Company' Award for 2pi-Labs GmbH from Bochum, Germany
Berlin March, 2021 - In this pandemic year, 29 research and development teams from Germany and abroad applied for the prestigious AMA Innovation Award. The winners receive prize money of 10,000 euros, which the jury can divide.
In the special category 'Young Company', companies that have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people and generate annual sales of less than 10 million euros were eligible to apply. The winners of the special award will receive a free booth at SENSOR+TEST 2021, which this year will be held as a digital trade fair. This special award goes to the know-how bearers of 2pi-Labs GmbH for the 2πSENSE - D-band FMCW software defined radar (126-182 GHz) and at the same time remains a contender for the AMA Innovation Award 2021.
Thus nominated for the AMA Innovation Award 2021 are (in alphabetical order):
2πSENSE - D-band FMCW software defined radar (126-182 GHz)
Simon Küppers, Dr. Jan Barowski, Dr. Timo Jaeschke, Prof. Dr. Nils Pohl (2pi-Labs GmbH).
The 2πSENSE technology platform meets the requirements of complex industrial and scientific radar applications with ultra-fast, network analyzer-like broadband frequency response measurements in D-band. The innovative multi-channel millimeter-wave IC and flexible hardware platform with advanced connectivity options, such as OPC-UA, usher in a new era of software-defined radar systems for even the most demanding applications, such as µm-accurate distance measurements, high-resolution thickness measurements (pipe extrusion), radar imaging (NDT), accurate material characterization (process control), and more. (brochure p. 8)
Gas sensing with dielectric excitation
Dr. Radislav A. Potyrailo, Richard St-pierre, Dr. Aghogho Obi, Dr. Baokai Cheng, Dr. Christopher Collazo-Davila, Dr. Brian Scherer, Dr. Hilary Lashley Renison, Dr. Andrew Burns (General Electric Research Center).
They have brought new gas sensing capabilities to conventional semiconducting metal oxide materials (SMOX) with the introduction of our sensor excitation scheme, which provides a up-to-date alternative to traditional resistivity sensing. Our excitation scheme offers linear gas response (R² > 0.99), a dynamic gas concentration range of six decades, high baseline stability, reduced humidity effects, and eliminated ambient temperature effects. We have already launched this product with one of our partners and are working with several other users in consumer, industrial, medical, homeland security and more. (brochure p. 8)
Innovative gas property measurement with breakthrough MEMS µ-sensing
Oleg Grudin (First Sensor Corp.), Andreas Niendorf, PhD Natalie Milahin (First Sensor AG).
The gas property sensor combines a MEMS μ-cavity and thermal flow sensor to measure viscosity, density, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of gases, enabling improved identification and differentiation of gas mixtures and determination of gas concentrations. This improved gas characterization is used to identify gases and gas mixtures to improve the performance of thermal mass flow sensors. This results in significantly more accurate flow measurements and provides cost-effective alternatives to very complex gas analysis for a variety of applications, especially when gas compositions change. (brochure p. 9)
Multi-parameter measurement as a cloud-based sensor for fermentation "InQGuard Brew QWX43"
Dr. Tobias Brengartner, Jan Schleiferböck, Dr. Sergey Lopatin, Andrey Dodonov, Pablo Ottersbach, Julia Rosenheim (Endress + Hauser SE+Co. KG).
Innovative, compact and easy-to-use multi-sensor system that provides the user full transparency at all times. Simultaneous output of density, viscosity, degree of fermentation, extract, alcohol, sugar concentration and other parameters. With the device, brewers can monitor this processes around the clock, logging, documenting and storing the progress. Valuable process evaluations such as the start and end of fermentation are carried out via web interface. The system is based on just two piezo tuning forks and strategically placed temperature sensors and is implemented in a hygienically fully encapsulated metal housing. (Brochure p. 9)
"We are pleased that we were once again able to review many outstanding developments from sensor and measurement technology in this special year," says Professor Andreas Schütze, jury chairman from Saarland University. "The four nominated teams particularly convinced the jury and show an interesting variety of developments and approaches to solutions. Together, they all represent the innovative power of sensor and measurement technology."
The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2021 will be announced on May 3, 2021, at the opening event of Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI 2021). This will be held digitally in parallel with SENSOR+TEST 2021 due to the pandemic.
The overview of all applications for the AMA Innovation Award 2021 at: https://ama-sensorik.de/fileadmin/Innovationspreis/Booklet/2021_Nominierte.pdf


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Netflix’s subscribers increased by 7.66 million in the fourth quarter of last year, surpassing 230 million as of the end of last year.
Netflix released a statement on the 19th (local time) and released its fourth-quarter 2022 results.
According to Reuters, Netflix’s new subscribers exceeded Wall Street’s estimate of 4.57 million in the fourth quarter, and global members reached 231 million as of the end of December.
Netflix explained that the number of subscribers increased as the drama “Wednesday”, the movie “Knives Out: Glass Onion” and the documentary “Harry and Meghan” by Prince Harry couple became popular.
Netflix launched a cheap advertising plan in November last year, and Wall Street has been paying attention to how the plan will be reflected in its performance.
However, Netflix did not provide figures on the current status of subscribers to the advertising plan and whether they contributed to the increase in membership in this earnings announcement.
Sales in the fourth quarter of last year rose 19% year-on-year to $7.85 billion, meeting market expectations.
However, net profit was USD 55 million and net profit per share was USD 12 cents, down significantly from earnings a year ago (net profit of USD 607 million and net profit of USD 1.33 per share).
In response, CNBC analyzed, “Although earnings per share were far off market expectations (45 cents) due to exchange losses in euro-denominated debt, the company’s margin still showed 7%, exceeding Wall Street expectations.”
Netflix shares closed at USD 315.78, down 3.23% from the regular market, but surged nearly 8% in after-hours trading after the earnings announcement.
CEO Hastings, who founded Netflix, stepped down from the management front after announcing his earnings on the same day.
He will step down as CEO and head the streaming company.
In a statement, Hastings compared challenges that took place during his tenure, such as the COVID-19 incident and the decrease in subscribers in the first half of last year, to “unblessed,” saying, “The executives and employees have done incredibly well, and now is the right time to succeed.”
Ted Surandos, CEO and Greg Peters, Chief Operating Officer (COO), who had led the company with Hastings, were appointed as co-CEOs.
Bella Verzaria, the representative of the global TV business, was nominated as the chief content officer.
Reuters reported that Netflix’s 10-year management succession plan has been completed, and that Hastings left with the results of adding subscribers in the fourth quarter of last year.

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Carnival didn’t waste any time implementing the first phase of the fleetwide review announced last week. The line is making significant investments to enhance the level of operating redundancies and the scope of hotel services that can run on emergency power, and further improve each ship’s fire prevention, detection and suppression systems. Today’s announcement focused on Carnival Triumph and Carnival Sunshine.
Carnival Triumph recently made headlines after a fire in the aft engine room disabled the liner at sea for several days. After the fire, Carnival canceled the next 10 sailings for the liner.
Today, Carnival extended the cancellations for 10 additional cruises. Guests impacted will receive a full refund, reimbursement for non-refundable transportation costs and a 25 percent discount on a future four- to five-day cruise. Carnival Triumph will return to service on June 3, 2013.
Carnival Sunshine is currently in the middle of an intensive, multi-week dry-dock to complete a comprehensive full-ship makeover at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. Following the cancellation of two European cruises, the ship will enter service on May 5, 2013.Guests on those sailings will receive a full refund, reimbursement for any non-refundable travel costs and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.
By extending these dry docks, Carnival is allowing time for the implementation of the enhanced operating redundancies and other measures.
Carnival apologized to all affected guests. “We sincerely regret canceling these cruises and disrupting our guests’ vacation plans,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ president and CEO. “We are fully committed to applying the recommendations stemming from our fleetwide review and to make whatever investments are needed despite the difficult decision to impact people’s vacations.”
Cahill also added, “I would like to provide continued assurances that all of our vessels have fully effective safety systems, equipment and training in place.”
Carnival Triumph operates year-round four- and five-day Mexico cruises from Galveston, Texas. After the summer season in Europe, the Carnival Sunshine will offer year-round seven-day cruises from New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Apple updates iOS7 with CarPlay support
Apple Inc. has released an update to its iOS 7 operating system that debuted in September, with fixes for bugs and support for its CarPlay vehicle service.
It was the first big update to iOS 7, which brought major changes from earlier versions of the software, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The update allows users to disable some features that had drawn criticism, such as the software's parallax and zoom functions.
It also offers support for Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) new CarPlay. Apple earlier this month unveiled its CarPlay service, which will link its iPhone with the in-dash displays in cars.
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Apple is expected to launch the service as a premium subset of its Apple News app later this year and remains hopeful it can win over holdouts in the meantime.
Apple's much talked about news subscription service could be going public soon.
For now, we will have to wait until Apple officially announces its new service to learn more. The service has been described as "Netflix for news", allowing members to read an unlimited amount of content from partnered publishers for a set monthly fee.
Apple doesn't typically hold more than one spring media event, though it could this year. Corroborating previous reports about Apple's TV plans, the report claims that Apple's original content will be available for free for iOS users and will also enable users to seamlessly sign up for streaming packages from other content creators.
According to the report, both the New York Times and the Washington Post have rejected deals because the terms are too poor. Apple has also used March events to introduce iPad updates for the past several years now, so there could be new hardware on deck, as well.
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Catherine attended the gala dinner in aid of " Mentally Healthy Schools " at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she arrived at the conference, dressed in a smart and stylish ensemble.
Ocasio-Cortez's 'Green New Deal' sounds like a 'high school term paper'
Ocasio-Cortez and Markey's offices did not respond to a request for comment. "Brilliant!", the US President wrote on Twitter. Republicans have used the Green New Deal to paint the rival party as shifting to the left and embracing extreme policies.
Kylie Jenner throws lavish bash for Stormi's 1st birthday
On Jenner's birthday, Kylie shared adorable photos and video of her little girl on Instagram , along with a special message. Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott's daughter, Stormi , will not remember her first birthday party, but she loved it.
"We believe there will be another event in April at which point we expect iPad and product announcements to be launched".
The tech giant told some news organizations it'd keep around half the subscription revenue from the rumored service, according to people familiar with the matter, the Journal said.
As far as this rumor goes, looks like we will have to wait until March to find out what Apple has in store for its customers, so stay tuned for more coverage from our side.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by ZDNet.
As for the original programming Apple has been working on, some of the projects in the works include a revamp of the 1980s hit Amazing Stories, a new comedy series from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, and projects from La La Land creator Damien Chazelle.


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This Saturday June 12, people around the world will celebrate Global Wellness Day, a day-long celebration of living well and healthy. How we choose to approach wellness is different for all individuals. Especially during this time of heightened health consciousness, Consumers for Safe CBD wants to remind all consumers that many of the CBD products on retailer shelves today that claim to improve health and wellness are not proven to do so.
This relatively new category of retail products is often marketed as healthful and wellness-promoting. They are sold at specialty supplement retailers, in high-end grocery stores, and at yoga studios. Many consumers mistakenly assume they pose no risks and can be used as part of a healthy lifestyle or to achieve health goals. The reality, however, is that they could potentially be harmful.
Unfortunately, there are countless health and wellness “experts” who often tout the benefits of CBD – particularly on social media – including NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, body builder Maddy Forberg, trainer Kara Arnold, yoga instructor Alex Carnevale, and trainer Shaina Feta. Though well-intended, these influencers may be putting your health at risk, and we know that the health-related claims made by these CBD products have not been scientifically tested or regulated by the FDA. Buyer beware! Click here for more information about the myths and facts of CBD.
We applaud efforts to improve health and wellness every day, especially on Global Wellness Day, and we want consumers to know that CBD is not yet a proven solution for health.


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Whole Foods Market Inc. plans to open its first 365 by Whole Foods Market , as part of the retailer's efforts to demonstrate that it can offer a cheaper option for consumers seeking healthy and sustainably produced foods. Aimed at helping revive sales, the affordable-but-healthy retail concept is designed to help Whole Foods compete in an organic food market that has gone mass-market. According to the company, the first 365 store will open in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles on May 25, 2016.
"Whole Foods Is Ready to Convince You That It Can Do Cheaper", Bloomberg, May 18, 2016
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. plans to sell more private-label brands, including those of perishable foods, such as nuts, spices, tea, and coffee. After working for several years to develop private-label lines, the online retailer will start selling them as early as end of May or start of June 2016. Sales of store brands in the US reached $118.4 billion in 2015, up by about $2.2 billion from the previous year, data from the Private Label Manufacturers Association revealed.
"Amazon to Expand Private-Label Offerings—From Food to Diapers", The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2016
The Financial Times, May 26, 2016


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We’ll be adding daily recaps throughout the week, so please check back for updates from MWC.
Added June 28, 2021
Spain’s King Felipe V and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were present today for the opening of the four-day Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, marking the opening of one of the first big technology conferences staged in Europe since the start of the pandemic. Today technology companies were busy announcing and demonstrating some of the latest advancements in their technology solutions and products. Worthy of note today were IBM and Telefónica Tech´s hybrid cloud business solutions based on artificial intelligence and blockchain, helping companies push their digital transformation through these two technologies. Covid19 pandemic rapidly accelerated digital transformation and these tow companies today showcased a Virtual Assistant with Artificial Intelligence that can streamline customer service services for companies and public entities allowing companies to now have 24×7 customer service. For companies operating more call centres and ecommerce helpdesks than before due to Covid19 pandemic, this solution received much interest.
5G technology today also took centre stage at MWC2021, as predicted, with companies like Orange showcasing an impressive 3D simulated reality experience that advances the future of communications by taking full advantage of fiber optic capacity. The operator carried out different demonstrations at its stand at the Mobile World Congress during which it shared two use cases of 5G technology in Spain. Similarly, Huawei launched a series of 5G products and solutions oriented towards promoting multi-antenna technology to all bands and all scenarios to build leading 5G networks.
Other companies like Lenovo used the timing of MWC2021 to introduce new tablets and a smart watch, designed to enhance the mobile experiences expected of today’s “hybrid lifestyle.” The Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 tablet stands out, it´s a premium device that is practically a portable home-cinema, designed for entertainment that works almost anywhere, on a kitchen table, held in the hand or hanging from a hook for pans, thanks to its stainless-steel foot. It features an anti-fingerprint coating, facilitates hands-free viewing in any room, and has an 8MP front camera, which facilitates excellent video calls with reduced background noise.
Off to a flying start, we can expect many more announcements in the next few days and evenings from MW2021. As this is a hybrid event with a mixture of physical and virtual presence by technology companies, some companies are yet to announce their latest developments. An anticipated one is that of Samsung´s virtual event this evening at 19:15 pm local Spanish time. The South Korean tech giant has teased the launch of new devices at the event. The company is speculated to launch a new smartwatch, among other things. While Samsung usually holds standalone Galaxy Unpacked events for its flagship models, like the foldable phones and the Galaxy S series, it will offer a glimpse at the upcoming models during the virtual event. So in summary, a strong start to the trade show today, with more news expected in the next few days. Watch this space!
Updated June 29, 2021
Although today is the day when the conferences and debates are taking place with the most illustrious guests of the MWC in Barcelona, like Elon Musk for example, numerous product presentations took place in parallel. There were many announcements made today, but perhaps a few stand out. An interesting and simply cool one was the new the Nova H1 Audio Earrings unveiled at MWC 2021 which, for the moment, are the only pair of wireless earbuds embedded in a pearl and mounted on a gold / silver clip. They are also characterized by being the smallest headphones on the market, the value of the equipment is that they are outstanding and at the same time headphones. They seem outstanding, but you can listen to music and make calls with them. To achieve this, there is some very clever technology which the firm has patented Directional Sound technology. This technology sends music or voice from the earlobe directly to the ear canal, preventing the diffusion and loss of sound and allowing music and conversations to be kept in total privacy, but still fully aware of what is happening around you thanks to out-of-ear technology. Pretty neat!
Surprisingly, another interesting product launched today came from a media company. Media heavyweight ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) unveiled its first smartwatch, in partnership with TV company Nickelodeon, a move which the company believes strengthens its position across the connectivity ecosystem. The launch of NickWatch as its called has been made specifically for the youth market, offering a range of entertainment features which tap into the company’s wide portfolio of media assets.
When it comes to handsets Honor, the mobile phone brand, now independent from Huawei, announced the restoration of Google applications and services on its phones, and plans to use the firm’s software in its new series of smartphones, the Honor 50. Honor 50 Pro is characterized by its two front cameras: one 12 mpx providing a 100 degree angle and the other 32 mpx. It has a 6.72-inch screen, compared to the Honor 50’s 6.57-inch screen. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate. Both models use the 5G Qualcomm 778G chipset and offer 100W fast charging. So better cameras, faster charging, and bigger screens, most definitely the direction of smartphones.
Finally, as is very typical in trade shows of this magnitude we saw many industry collaborations announced. One which was notable was that of Ericsson and Google Cloud detailing plans to jointly develop and deliver edge cloud solutions for operators and enterprise customers, combining the vendor’s 5G portfolio with the US company’s cloud compute platform.
What was evident today at MWC2021 is that attendance in post pandemia times may not be at 2019 levels for sure, but most definitely MWC2021 is rife with new products, technology developments and industry announcements. Today was testimony of that. We look forward to see what day three of MWC2021 brings.
Updated June 30, 2021
The businessman Elon Musk was interviewed at MWC2021 yesterday evening, and typical with Elon Musk, he has dominated the headlines. Undoubtedly, he has been the talk of attendees today, with international and Spanish media covering today´s pages with his speech. His announcement that Starlink, the satellite internet service of his company SpaceX, is growing rapidly and that it will arrive in the world in August made a big impact. A question many delegates were asking is why he chose MWC2021 to give everyone this news, and with this year´s congress theme being “Connected Impact”, Mr. Musk is betting hard his satellite system will be a key enabler of the mobile ecosystem. His project sets out to build an interconnected internet network with thousands of satellites delivering high-speed internet to consumers anywhere on the planet. In essence, it´s about ensuring that the whole world has Internet access, as telecoms networks both 4G and 5G cannot reach every single remote geographic region. An ambitious programme for sure.
But “connected impact” is a very wide theme, so what else took place at MWC2021 today around this theme? Key highlights today have centered around physical demonstrations of how connectivity translates and what impact it can make – there you go, connected impact! Three examples that caught my attention include. Verizon unveiling of 5G-Connected Robots, performing tasks whilst completely controlled over 5G. TCL also rolled out NXTWEAR G, which is a wearable OLED cinema display that approximates a 140-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio to give you an unparalleled experience. Finally, this caught my attention. Kursat Ceylan, a Turkish inventor who was born blind, rolled out a ‘Smart cane’ at MWC 2021. The stick informs blind persons about the obstacles as well as nearby shops and restaurants they are passing by. It uses ultrasound to detect obstacles, can be paired with a smartphone and gives voice feedback to help keep the user safe and informed. Indeed, very clever application of mobile technology.
That was day three at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Day 4 – Final day
Updated July 1, 2021
Today was the last day of the Mobile World Congress 2021, and whilst no exact figures are available yet on attendance, it is fair to say that the trade show delivered an important set of company technology and product announcements and has had several rock stars like Jon Bon Jovi and Elon Musk lend their attendance and presence to the show. So too have the top telecom industry figures with Jose Maria Alvarez, Chairman & CEO of Telefónica; Yang Jie, Chairman of China Mobile; Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange Group and Timotheus Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG all who attended. Few industry events can claim to bring such high calibre of individuals and unite them at a trade show, especially in Covid19 times.
So, this year what was the top take-away from the event? Undoubtedly, the industry realization and final acknowledgement that telcos have become technology companies, and that “mobile” doesn´t cut it anymore. All telecom companies, mobile operators, media companies, content producers, automotive manufacturers and the hundreds of start ups at the show in the 4YFN area are all pushing the boundaries of technology. Communications whilst important, seems to be less of a priority, it is now more than ever what the show called “Connected Impact”. Information and what we do with it to change and impact our work and personal lives in a constant drive for a better economy, society, and planet. These were the constant themes at this year´s show.
I suspect Mobile World Congress may in time not change its name or drop the word “mobile”, and I am also sure that next February the event will come back again in 2022.
MWC2021 was yet again a highlight in the technology calendar of the world.


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The Sarasota-Manatee Originals are proud to announce the dates for the 8th Annual Forks & Corks 2015.
Weekend festivities will take place January 23rd through 26th, 2015.
Winemaker Events will be held at Member restaurants on Friday, January 23rd and Saturday, January 24th. Forks & Corks University will be held on Saturday, January 24th. The Grand Tasting will take place at The Ringling Museum on Sunday January 25th. And The Trade Tasting is scheduled for Monday, January 26th.
We are confident that Forks & Corks 2015 will be the greatest food and wine event in Sarasota! Last year, Forks & Corks 2014 was a resounding success, surpassing all records from the past six festivals. Tickets to the anchor event, The Grand Tasting sold out in a record eight minutes! Don't miss your chance to experience this amazing celebration! Tickets to this four-day food and wine festival, presented by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals, will be available for purchase on Monday, November 11, 2014 Tickets are only sold through our website www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks
Did you miss out on this year's Forks & Corks? Maybe you just want to relive the experience? Here's a wonderful time lapse video thats provides a high-speed recap of the event:
Check out this great video recap of the Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival 2014, brought to you by the Observer Media Group:
From stuffed peppers to peanut chicken skewers, the choices were endless at this year's Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival. This was an event you did not want to miss, but for those of you who did, this article is a must-read. This author breaks down the top 10 dishes from Sarasota's premiere food event, with pictures that will leave you drooling. Click below to see the full article.


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Windows 13 Release Date by Microsoft
One of the most frequently searched questions among Microsoft Windows fans is when Windows 13 will be released. Here, we will cover everything you need to know about the upcoming update. It’s rumored that many Windows OS users have speculated that Microsoft will release Windows 13 in the future. Users are therefore searching for Windows 13 release date.
Windows OS users would expect an updated version of Windows anytime soon, as it has been several years since the last release.
However, Microsoft has not announced any plans to launch new versions of Windows OS, something that they have done multiple times.
The idea that Microsoft plans to shut down Windows is not something to be concerned about, what they plan to do in the future will be of interest to all Windows users. Let’s investigate Microsoft Windows 13 download in depth if that interests you.
What is Windows 13?
We will now jump right into what Windows 13 is, but first let’s try to understand precisely what Microsoft plans to do in the future with Windows 13.
Microsoft has made it very clear that there won’t be any such thing as Windows 13, it doesn’t mean that Windows OS will be no more.
Microsoft is in reality going to transform their Windows OS, as per official reports they will be moving with an approach similar to Apple OS.
Yes, that’s right instead of producing further Windows OS edition, Microsoft will be moving forward with Windows 10.
Wherein users will get two major updates once a year in the OS that will make their systems capable of carrying out advanced operations.
This model of updating OS editions is inspired by Apple.
Apple’s process of releasing new updates in its OS has been quite a successful approach.
Now Microsoft too senses that this way could potentially be easier for them.
Windows 13 Release Date
As you all know, the internet is full of fake claims and assumptions. It won’t be a surprise if you came across a website that tells you the release date of Windows 13.
In reality none of Microsoft officials have ever issued any statement regarding the Windows 13 release date.
Which makes as you have already learned above that there is no such thing as Windows 13 having the curiosity of knowing its release date doesn’t make any sense. Also see: Windows 11 Pro Lite.
That being said Windows 13 has no release date, on the other hand if we talk the updates users will be getting in their existing Windows 10, well that had already begun a few years back.
Windows 13 Features
Although the features that users could get in future updates of Windows 10 are still unknown, taking a guess at what could be new based on current gaps would be right.
So below are the few features that could be part of Windows 10 updates.
|2GHz or SOC or Other faster processor
|14 GB for 32-bit and 18 GB for 64-bit
|800 x 600 and above
|2GB for 32-bit and 4GB for 64-bit
|Microsoft DirectX 12 or WDDM 2.0 driver
These are the requirements that could Possibly come with Windows OS updates.
Windows 13 Download
Windows 13 download is nowhere on the Internet, but the fans are already looking for the Windows 13 ISO download to use it on their systems. If you find someone who is claiming for Windows 13 free download full version, then this is totally a fraud.
Some users modify Windows 10 with different skins to give it an attractive and upload it on the Internet to download. You shouldn’t download the new Windows 13, because it might contain a virus or any harmful software. Also see: Windows 11.1 ISO File.
Windows 13 Price
The short answer to those who are wondering about the price of Windows 13 is, when there is no such thing as Windows 13 operating system there can’t be its price.
Just in case if Microsoft does take on Apple’s approach for their Windows OS, then the price of that could be similar to what it’s now.
For the updates Microsoft hasn’t mentioned anything about the charges on update.
So, it is better to wait for the official announcement.
Frequently Ask Questions?
Is there Windows 13?
No, there is no Windows 13 operating system. Microsoft had officially made it clear that they do not plan to produce Windows 13. Not to worry they aren’t going anywhere at all, just that they have different plans for Windows OS, which you’ll get to know soon.
Is Windows 13 Available?
Not at all Windows 13 operating system is not available.
Does Windows 13 Exist?
To all Windows users, Windows 13 doesn’t exist.
Now you must be crystal clear about Windows 13 release date and Microsoft holds for the future of Windows OS. Time changes and similarly the process in no way had Microsoft decided to stop their OS. All they have planned is to change the landscape of Windows OS. In future the user will get to experience a faster and much more advanced OS that could easily execute complicated operations. They plan to do so with a different approach, where users would be getting two major updates in their Windows 10 version. This is what Microsoft is looking to do, as Windows users, let’s just wait for the exciting future.
Windows 13 Release Date, Features & System Requirements 2024 By Microsoft


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EDA working to develop guidelines for downtown rental subsidies
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency already has received several phone calls from businesses interested in the downtown rental subsidy program.
The agency is developing guidelines for the program and expects to have it ready by the end of the month, said Gabrielle Barone, vice president of business development for the EDA.
The state approved $200,000 for the EDA last month in small business programs. The money comes from the federal government through the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
That includes $60,000 for downtown rental subsidies. The EDA wants to target start-ups or businesses doing expansions for the program. To be eligible, the businesses need to move into a downtown business district in one of the four villages.
The EDA ran a downtown subsidy program before and about $20,000 was directed to businesses in the four village downtowns. The EDA started that program in 2009 and offered a maximum of $3,000 a year to help small business owners with their rent if they locate in the Albion, Medina, Holley or Lyndonville business districts.
The EDA hasn’t settled on a maximum amount for each business in the program. The specifics of the downtown subsidy program are being developed.
The grant also includes $100,000 for microenterprise grants/low-interest loans. That money will be available to qualifying small business owners who complete the 10-week small business training program through the EDA. Barone said the qualifying criteria is being reviewed. When the details are finalized, the program will be presented to the public, she said.
More than 400 entrepreneurs have completed the Microenterprise Assistance Program since 1999. The 10-week program gives an overview on taxes, record keeping, marketing, organizational skills, accounting and insurance, leadership and assists participants in developing a business plan.
The $200,000 overall grant also includes $30,000 for program delivery costs and $10,000 for grant administration expenses.


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The Japanese publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment shared details Hosting and broadcasting of the upcoming fighting tournament EVO 2022 (Evolution Championship Series).
As has been announced, the EVO 2022 broadcast will be called PlayStation Tournaments: EVO Lounge and will take place on August 5-6 this year. You can follow the progress of the event on youtube and Pull out.
The organizers promise announcements from Arc System Works, Bandai Namco, Capcom, SNK and Warner Bros. Games, news about games already presented and various teasers “what lies ahead”.
EVO 2022 itself will take place in Las Vegas (Nevada) from August 5th to 7th. Broadcasts of the competition will run parallel to the developer and publisher show throughout the weekend.
EVO 2022 will include Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Tekken 7, The King of Fighters XV, Melty Blood: Type Lumina, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Granblue Fantasy: Versus and Skullgirls: 2nd Encore.


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PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) – A health and wellness retail chain announced hundreds of store closings because of mall traffic trends.
GNC Holdings Inc. announced Monday that it’s closing between 700 and 900 stores nationwide. Locations for closures have not been announced.
There is a GNC inside the Southern Park Mall in Boardman and Eastwood Mall in Niles.
In and near the Valley, the company has other locations across the Valley including in Austintown, Hermitage and Cortland.
The company has a partnership with Amazon to optimize online sales.
GNC is a Pittsburgh-based company that sells vitamins, supplements and other health and nutrition products.


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Lately, there has been a lot of discussion and predictions about the future of the restaurant industry as meal-kit companies gain popularity and as grocery stores offer more options for the on-the-go consumer.
While we recently predicted that Amazon will evidently eat up restaurant market share, the grocery business is still seeing a slump as less Americans are cooking today.
According to recent research done by Eddie Yoon, a consultant for consumer packaged goods companies, only 10% of consumers love to cook. The majority of consumers, 45% hate it and 45% feel so-so about the activity.
Interestingly enough, consumers may be watching more food-focused television, but this is not inspiring them to get in the kitchen and cook.
So should restaurants really be that threatened by Amazon's recent purchase of Whole Foods?
"Despite all the buzz about the growth of pre-prepped meal kits like Blue Apron, or the promise of Whole Foods under Amazon’s management, cooking itself is on a long, slow, steady decline. The top 25 food and beverage companies have lost $18 billion in market share since 2009. Grocers are watching customers make fewer trips to stores, and many chains are in a prolonged price war, with prices declining 1.3% last year," writes Yoon for the "Harvard Business Review."
So with that in mind, how can consumer goods stay successful in today's market?
Yoon recommends that brands should consider going super-premium. He mentions Hormel as an example. The company owns products like Spam, but it outperforms other food stocks due to the other products in its portfolio, like Muscle Milk, Justin's nut butters, and Wholly Guacamole.
Grocery stores have already started to adapt to the majority of consumers who don't want to cook a meal from scratch. Most likely, they are looking for a relatively quick and easy meal options. That's why more stores are expanding their prepared foods sections, along with providing more ready-to-cook offerings.
Yoon also recommends that consumer goods companies embrace technology and new innovations.
"One promising innovation is MATS technology, or microwave assisted thermal sterilization, created at Washington State University. This FDA-approved technology creates multiple benefits. First, it sterilizes food with minimal heat, pressure, and time so that the texture and taste of the food remains restaurant-quality. Second, thanks to the minimal degradation of quality, there is a super-clean label (meaning the product will have few chemical-sounding, unpronounceable ingredients) and an incentive to add high-quality ingredients. Third, the food remains packaged at room temperature, and remains safe to eat for months on end," writes Yoon.
Read more tips on how consumer goods companies can compete in today's market here.


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PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) this morning announced that it has been updated with a report noting that its audit is nearing completion, with finalization expected by the end of this month. In anticipation of this milestone, PotNetwork is preparing for its Regulation A filing, which the company expects will allow for its uplisting to the OTCQB Venture Market, offering greater visibility before a larger group of qualified investors. “Our commitment to transparency involves keeping our investors fully informed,” Rick Goulding, CEO of PotNetwork, stated in the news release. “Although the process is time consuming, we believe that this will be one of the most important steps in achieving our goal.”
To view the full press release, visit http://dtn.fm/eeeJ8
Let us hear your thoughts: PotNetwork Holding, Inc. Message Board
About PotNetwork Holding, Inc.
PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC Pink: POTN) is a publicly traded company that acts as a holding company for its subsidiaries, First Capital Venture Co., the owner of Diamond CBD, Inc., the maker of Diamond CBD oils. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PotNetworkHolding.com
QualityStocksNewsBreaks provide a rapid summary of corporate news that catch the attention of QualityStocks. QualityStocksBreaks are designed to keep investors up to date on important and breaking news in the small-cap and micro-cap markets. Spanning all industries, including energy, entertainment, telecommunications, healthcare, retail and more, these news breaks deliver opportunities the investment community may have missed. Whether it is earnings results, mergers and acquisitions, or any other market-moving news, our news breaks keep you in the know. QualityStocks is committed to connecting subscribers with companies that have huge potential to succeed in the short and long-term future. It is part of our mission statement to help the investment community discover emerging companies that offer excellent growth potential.


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Popular independent shop saved from closure in a move that has delighted the store’s fans.
The Toy Shop has been taken over by one of its employees – just two weeks after its owner said she’d decided to close down to pursue other interests. Val Reynard (pictured) has stepped in to prevent the shutters coming down on the shop, and has pledged to preserve its appeal with a range of both traditional and modern toys and games.
Speaking to the Helensburgh Advertiser, Val commented: “I am very excited about it. I have been working in the shop for about five years or so, but have been a customer since the start. I have three daughters who are also excited at the prospect of running it with me as a family business.”
Owner Fiona Miller had taken the decision to close the store “with a heavy heart”, but in an announcement this week she declared: “It is with enormous delight I am able to say The Toy Shop will continue under the new ownership of our very own Val Reynard. Val has been with us every step of the journey; firstly as a mum-of-three she was a regular customer from the outset when her girls were little, while for the last five years she has been a key part of the team.”
“She is passionate about Helensburgh and has a strong desire to see independent retail thrive on our high street, I am confident she’s the best person to take The Toy Shop into the next generation and I wish her every success.”
Val added: “It’s important to get to know your customers. The Toy Shop has parents, grand parents and great grandparents coming through the door and it’s important to remember what they like and what they bought previously – it’s all about building on good customer service and maintaining good quality. We are always on the lookout for new products and we have a couple of exciting new suppliers which we are keeping up our sleeves at the moment but will make an announcement in due course.”


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Internet entrepreneur accused of being behind an online marketplace for illegal drugs has asked the government to return more than $30 million
in bitcoin seized from his computers.
Ross Ulbricht, of San Francisco, was arrested in October following a crackdown on the black market website Silk Road.
Silk Road is a website that can only be accessed through the anonymous Tor Web network. Users can purchase drugs, guns, forged documents and other illegal paraphernalia using the online currency Bitcoin.
Federal prosecutors in New York say Ulbricht went by the online handle the
Dread Pirate Roberts and turned the underground site into a place where
anonymous users could buy or sell contraband and illegal services.
In court filings, prosecutors say they seized 144,336 bitcoins from Ulbricht's computers.
Though subject to fluctuations in value, the virtual currency is exceedingly valuable, but lightly regulated.
Ulbricht says in a legal filing that the currency should be returned because it isn't subject to civil forfeiture rules.


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South Africa, the continent’s biggest corn producer, is close to starting its first exports of the yellow variety of the grain to China, according to the biggest organization representing local farmers of the crop. Talks between the governments are in the final stages, Grain SA chief executive Jannie de Villiers said in a June 25 interview…Full Article: Independent Online July 2014
- According to the article, South Africa may harvest 13.9 million tons of white and yellow corn during the 2014 season
- In 2013, China imported approximately 4 million MTs of corn for use primarily in their animal feed industry
- From January-Oct 2012, China imported 16.4 million MTs of soybeans from the U.S., 22.2 million MTs from Brazil, 4.2 million MTs from Argentina, and 1.3 million MTs from other countries (e.g. Uruguay, Canada, etc.). From 2006 to 2011, Chinese imports of U.S. soybeans increased from 9.8 million to 22.2 million MTs, or by 125%. The second largest supplier was Brazil, with Chinese imports rising from 11.6 million to 20.6 million MTs, or by 77%. Argentina, the third largest soybean supplier, saw their exports to China rise from 6.2 million to 7.7 million MTs, or by 25%.


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BEREA, Ohio — As the calendar turns from summer to fall, small business owner Angela Brooks is struggling.
“This is a very big challenge. It's a unique challenge this year," said Brooks.
Her Berea ice cream shop, Mootown Creamery, typically transitions its team at the start of every school year.
"I'm losing about half of my staff this week. This is their last week, going off to college," said Brooks.
But with ten new openings and help-wanted signs everywhere, Brooks is worried she won't have the staffing to maintain normal operations.
"People want their ice cream and we want to be open. We're usually open seven days a week all year long," said Brooks.
With larger retailers and restaurant chains offering hiring bonuses and increased hourly wages, applying for a job here may not be as appealing.
"We can't afford to pay that kind of money or a sign-on bonus, so it's really hurting us," said Brooks.
For the first time ever, Brooks is floating the idea of being open less or depending on manpower, not at all.
"So, the fact that we're talking about closing a couple of days is kind of scary, I don't like that," said Brooks.
Michael Goldberg, an entrepreneur and professor at Case Western Reserve University, said small business owners like Brooks are facing a greater challenge with classes back in session.
"This summer looks very different. It is a crisis for small business owners and there's not an easy solution," said Goldberg.
Goldberg said altered hours could change the buying habits of consumers.
"Maybe I'll take my dollars somewhere else where I know the restaurant or ice cream shop in this case is open more regular hours," said Goldberg.
And for those businesses already fatigued from the pandemic, Goldberg said it could mean the end of the road.
"There is a fear that you start to see businesses close," said Goldberg.
Meantime, Brooks is doing everything to keep the lights on in her ice cream shop and survive yet another storm.
"We thought we got through the pandemic and we all kind of breathed this big sigh of relief that we made it and now we're getting hit with the second wave and it's almost like the tsunami we weren't expecting," said Brooks.


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Waterloo names three new hires as the brand shifts focus; The Alkaline Water Company names director of operations; Regatta Craft Mixers adds four new members to marketing and sales teams; Alan Murray named chairman of the board at Sambazon; Brian Pear joins PUSH Agency as CMO.
In this roundup of People Moves, Essentia's SVP of sales moves to emerging hemp-infused beverage maker Recess. Meanwhile, ROAR Organics appoints a new VP of sales, while Riff Cold Brewed announces Julie Galbraith as its new CMO.
After four years at cold brew maker High Brew Coffee, CMO Mari Lee has announced her exit from the company, effective January 15. Lee joined High Brew in 2015 after serving as vice president of field marketing at KIND, and has previously held positions at Glaceau and Red Bull. High Brew’s brand manager, Miles Aghajanian, will take over after her exit.
Todd Berardi Exits Hiball; Rowdy Mermaid Names VEB, PepsiCo Vet as VP of Sales & Marketing; Mad Tasty Names Dan Holland as COO; Sprig CEO Michael Lewis Exits Company; Scott LaPorta Joins Sugarfina as CEO; Lemon Perfect Names VP of Sales, VP of Operations; Apple Rush Adds Randy Ornstein to Advisory Board
Fiji Water president Elizabeth Stephenson is no longer with The Wonderful Company, according to an email from the company. The company declined to comment further
OWYN Names Mark Olivieri President; Sweet Reasons Brings On Industry Vets; American Beverage Association Announces New Board Members; New Age Names Julie Garlikov as CMO; Rob Paladino Joins Sol-ti as President; David Kroll Exits COCO5
Upstart CBD brand Ojai Energetics has added two beverage industry veterans to its management team, with former Coke executive Tom Hicks coming on as COO and Jim Tonkin joining the company’s advisory board.
Adam Louras Steps Down as Iris Nova COO to Launch Consulting Agency; Matt Kahn Leaves CELSIUS; Death Wish Coffee Appoints COO; Dunkin’ Brands CMO Steps Down; Zing Zang Names Brent Albertson as CEO


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Hollow pumpkins bearing toothless grins guard front porches, and the candy section at the local supermarket has grown from one aisle to three. This can only mean one thing: Halloween is at the door.
Consumers are expected to spend $3.29 billion on the ghostly holiday, up 5.4 percent from $3.12 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2005 Halloween survey.
Individually, consumers will spend an average of $48.48 on Halloween, according to the survey.
Arrow Froese, co-owner of Gotcha, a costume shop at 32 N. Ninth St., says the estimate sounds accurate. “People want to be most cost effective,” he said.
The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that 74.3 percent of Americans surveyed planned to hand out candy. The research found that consumers will spend about $1.16 billion on Halloween candy. Bite-sized chocolate is the most popular form of candy to hand out, according to the National Confectioners Association. The survey ranks Halloween eighth against other holidays, in terms of spending.
Rebecca Tucker, 52, of Columbia said she has noticed an increase in Halloween spending since she was younger.
“It’s much more extravagant,” Tucker said. “When I was growing up, we bought masks and found clothes to go with it. We did with what we had.”
Tucker said she keeps decorating costs down for her home and child care business on Maplewood Drive by reusing Halloween decorations.
Consumers will spend the most money on costumes, an average of $31.88 per person, according to the retail federation.
“It’s a chance to be something that you’re not,” said Michelle Froese, co-owner of Gotcha. The costume shop, which is marking its 10th Halloween, makes half of its sales for the year in October and sees an array of customers, from families to college students.
“It’s one of the few holidays where you can spend money on yourself,” Arrow Froese said.
Tucker said that behind the candy and costumes is an opportunity for community members to get to know each other.
“It’s an activity adults can do with their children and friends,” she said. “It’s a chance to visit and get to know your neighbors.”
A portion of this report first aired Sunday during the “ABC 17 News at 10.”


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Carnival (CCL) - Get Report were climbing in late-morning trading on Tuesday after the company posted better-than-anticipated results for the 2016 fiscal third quarter.
Before yesterday's market open, the Miami-based cruise company reported adjusted earnings of $1.92 per share, topping analysts' estimates of $1.88 per share.
Revenue for the period was $5.1 billion, above Wall Street's forecasts of $5.06 billion.
"Revenues during the peak summer season were bolstered by strong performances from both our North American and European brands and across all major deployments including the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe," CEO Arnold Donald said in a statement.
Carnival now sees full-year earnings per share between $3.33 and $3.37 vs. its previous view for earnings of $3.25 to $3.35 per share. Analysts are expecting earnings of $3.39 per share for fiscal 2016.
The company is projecting fourth-quarter earnings per share between 55 cents and 59 cents, while analysts are looking for earnings of 58 cents per share.
The cruise ship operator said that advance bookings for the first half of next year are ahead of 2016 bookings at "considerably higher prices."
Carnival has gained from low fuel prices, higher prices and strong bookings in recent quarters, the Wall Street Journal noted.
Separately, TheStreet Ratings Team has a "Buy" rating with a score of A- on the stock.
The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, revenue growth, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins.
The team believes its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.
Recently, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author.
You can view the full analysis from the report here: CCL


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Ubisoft has revealed what players can expect from the Assassin’s Creed Origins Season Pass and DLC which includes story content and a horde mode.
Frontier Expo 2017 has shed new light on future Elite Dangerous updates which include squadrons and big improvements to the core gameplay experience.
Warner Bros. is bringing Batman: The Animated Series to Blu-Ray in 2018 according to news out of New York Comic Con recently.
Capcom have announced Street Fighter V Arcade Edition, a collection containing extra modes and DLC characters for PlayStation 4 and PC.
PlayStation have announced a limited time Gran Turismo Sport demo which will be available for four days and allow players to try several modes.
Sandbox crafting game My Time at Portia has been confirmed for PC and console as the developer teams with Worms creator Team17.
Assassin’s Creed Origins Discovery Tour offers players and those with an interest in history to explore a living, digital museum of Ancient Egypt with historical information.
The Star Wars Battlefront II beta is almost here and EA have announced a new Arcade mode players can get their first taste of.
New details have emerged regarding the DLC plans for the upcoming Fire Emblem Warriors for Nintendo Switch and 3DS.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon is coming to 3DS this year and The Pokémon Company has unveiled new details including a photo mode.


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predicted an optimistic fiscal year for the PlayStation 4, anticipating sales
around 5 million before the 31st of March. The company can now rest
easy, as console sales have reached 5.3 million units worldwide, with more than
a month left until the end of the fiscal year, and is quickly gaining ground on
the Wii U, which is sitting at 5.8 million sold units. This indicates that the
PlayStation 4 is selling four times faster than Nintendo’s home console.
Microsoft saw its console lose out on its traditional home ground as the
PlayStation 4 shipped “nearly double”
the amount of consoles in America than the Xbox One, which was reported in January 23rd to have sold 3.9 million units.
Source: PR Newswire


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Southeast Asian fintech company Omise today announced that it has acquired Paysbuy, a payment gateway and e-wallet services provider owned by Thai mobile phone operator dtac.
Following the acquisition, Paysbuy’s assets and services will be merged into Omise.
The companies said in a press statement that during the transition period, merchants can continue on using the platforms as per usual. But merchants will have the opportunity to “enhance their payment acceptance suite” by tapping into both companies’ solutions.
“Merging Paysbuy with Omise, brings together two of the strongest payment providers in the country – Paysbuy with its strengths in the depth of payment products, and Omise with its innovative solution focussing on best customer experience,” explained dtac Chief Strategy and Digital Officer Andrew Kvalseth.
“The combined entity will continue to be dtac’s online payment solution partner and will help improve online payment experience for dtac customers. This will be one of the key success factors for us to realise our ambition as the leading telco for online sales and service,” he continued.
Omise is currently available in Thailand and Japan, and has been looking to enter Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The company said that the acquisition will enable it to own a larger part of the market, and position itself to accelerate growth in the Southeast Asian markets.
The acquisition allows Omise to access “thousands” of online merchants across Thailand and Myanmar, as well as to tier-one enterprises in various industries, from telco to hospitality.
It will also enable Omise to further develop its recently announced OmiseGO (OMG) Wallet by adopting Paysbuy’s existing e-wallet service.
Recently Omise has integrated the Alipay payment method into its payment suite, anticipating the 9.8 million Chinese citizens which are expected to visit Thailand in 2017, based on a Tourism Authority Thailand report.
The startup has raised a US$17.5 million in Series B funding round led by SBI Investment, with participation from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures, Ascend Money, and Golden Gate Ventures in July 2016.
As for Paysbuy, the company was founded in 2004 with dtac being its majority shareholders in 2007.
It has a registered capital of THB200 million (US$5.8 million) and is licensed to operate e-money business and e-payment service.


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By Clive McKeef
This month, the U.S. economy will have been growing for 121 months, the longest run since records began in 1854. Yet history suggests that expansions don’t last forever. What might cause a recession?
Unemployment is at a 50-year low and inflation is subdued and the household-debt-to-GDP ratio is declining. There are few signs of excesses in financial markets like the subprime mortgage lending of a decade ago, but stock markets and real estate prices are propped up by historically low interest rates and the debt of non-financial businesses is at an all-time high of 74% of GDP.
The economy is now largely dominated by the service sector but manufacturers are very dependent on complex and fragile global supply chains, leaving them vulnerable to unpredictable policy changes by governments.
And it is these “cross-currents,” or government policy mistakes, that the Federal Reserve fears may bring the party to an end.
Last week Fed Chairman Jerome Powell was more specific in testimony to Congress — the “cross currents” are largely the result of the Trump administration’s trade wars which are disrupting manufacturers’ supply lines, undermining business confidence and business investment.
“The slowdown in business fixed investment may reflect concerns about trade tensions and slower growth in the global economy,” Powell told the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday.
“Apparent progress on trade turned to greater uncertainty, and our contacts in business and agriculture report heightened concerns over trade developments,” he added. “Moreover, a number of government policy issues have yet to be resolved, including trade developments, the federal debt ceiling, and Brexit.”
Living in the past and out of touch with realities of the modern economy ?
While many economists and businessmen agree that China’s misappropriation of U.S. intellectual property over the years, as well as its policy of forcing companies to disclose proprietary technology as a condition of doing business in China, need addressing, the blunt weapon of import tariffs is unlikely to resolve these issues, and is likely to harm the very U.S. companies they are designed to help, and will do little to alter bilateral trade deficits which President Donald Trump believes need rebalancing.
“Imposing a bilateral tariff on a trading partner is also ineffective to address aggregate trade imbalances (that is, the sum of a country’s bilateral trade balances with all its trade partners) because consumers will just switch their demand to other trading partners that face no tariffs,” IMF economists wrote in a blog this week.
“But this doesn’t mean that tariffs don’t matter. Increases in tariffs would particularly hurt output, jobs, and productivity. And the integrated nature of the current global trade system suggests that a sharp increase in tariffs would also impact other countries, creating a ripple effect from one another and leaving the world economy worse off,” the IMF said.
“Policymakers should therefore continue to promote free and fair trade by undoing recently enacted tariffs and enhancing efforts to reduce existing barriers to trade. They should also avoid policies that distort the economy, such as governments stimulating the economy with additional spending when demand is already strong or heavily subsidizing exporting sectors, that create excessive — and possibly unsustainable — imbalances,” they argued.
In 2017 U.S. manufacturers, especially auto makers, feared disruptions to their business due to Trump’s attempt to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement because so much of their production relied on Mexican inputs. While Nafta has been partially renegotiated, the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement has not yet been ratified by Congress. Similarly, Trump’s import tariffs on goods assembled in China includes many components made in South Korea or Japan, but that does not shift assembly back to America. U.S. companies just move production to other cheap sources of supply, like Vietnam.
“Trump’s ‘tariff men’ are living in the past, out of touch with the realities of the modern economy,” the Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman argued this week. “They talk nostalgically about the policies of William McKinley. But back then the question, ‘Where was this thing made?’ generally had a simple answer. These days, almost every manufactured good is the product of a global value chain that crosses multiple national borders.”
The dispute between the U.S. and China over trade policy is so important that a resolution one way or another could mean the difference of as many as 800 points to the S&P 500 stock index, J.P. Morgan’s chief equity strategist Dubravko Lakos-Bujas told MarketWatch in an interview.


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Legendary 127-year-old US brewer Anchor ceases operations
San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, one of the oldest craft breweries in America, is closing down after 127 years.
In a press release from the brewer’s PR company, it said that it was “an extremely difficult decision” and was made “after many months of careful evaluation.”
Spokesperson Sam Singer said: “We recognize the importance and historic significance of Anchor to San Francisco and to the craft brewing industry, but the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market left the company with no option but to make this sad decision to cease operations.”
The brewery, which produced Anchor Steam beer and Liberty Ale – which it claims is one of the first versions of the now infamous America pale ale style – was originally founded in 1896, and claims to be the first craft brewery in the entire country. In 2017, it was sold for $US85m to Japanese brewing giant Sapporo.
The deal at the time saw Keith Gregor, Anchor Brewing’s co-owner state: “Sapporo shares our values and appreciates our unique, time-honoured approach to brewing. With both a long-term vision and resources to realise it, Sapporo will keep brewing Anchor’s beers in San Francisco while expanding to new markets worldwide.”
Earlier this year, the company said that it would stop distributing its beers nationally, with the brewery seeing year-on-year declines during its ownership under Sapporo, with volume declining to 65,000 barrels in 2022 from 72,500 the previous year. Speculation had been mounting in recent days that an announcement was imminent.
Last year there was concern when Sapporo bought fellow Californian craft brand, Stone Brewing, in a US$165m deal that was described as the ‘ideal marriage’ for its long-term growth strategy by the CEO.
“I would like to have a production base on the west coast,” Hiroyuki Nose, vice president of marketing for Sapporo said in a Bloomberg interview. “We make and import most of [our beer] from Canada and there are logistical costs. This is a challenge for us.”
The Anchor brewery has given staff 60-days of notice and will sell-off its existing inventory, including its 2023 Christmas beer, in its taproom. Brewing operations have already ceased, but packaging and distribution will continue until the end of July while the firm goes through liquidation.
The company also acknowledged while it had been unsuccessful in the past year in finding a buyer, it could be picked up during the liquidation process.
Speaking about the news, beer writer Stephen Beaumont said on social media: “There is not, or should not be, a single craft beer aficionado in North America for whom this news is not a gut punch. I and many, many others have written extensively and repeatedly about how Fritz Maytag’s Anchor Brewing Company was the catalyst for the development of ‘microbrewing’ on this continent, and I have spoken to countless brewery founders for whom Anchor was an inspiration. Would there be craft brewing today but for Anchor? Probably, I think it was inevitable given the times. But would it take the same shape it has today? Almost certainly not.


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Ted Baker has announced a new licensing deal for Japanese retail with the UK fashion retailer planning to convert its existing directly-operated business into an exclusive retail license for Japan as of October 1.
Ted Baker updates used to be full of good news. But there's been little joy in recent periods and on Tuesday it reported a “difficult trading period with external challenges impacting performance” in the last 19 weeks.
A new UK partnership to develop and pilot a range of new circular economy business models such as clothing hire, product resale, repair and rental services launched on Thursday with Ted Baker and Farfetch on board.
Online search and merchandising specialist Attraqt has announced it reached a conditional agreement with a view to buying French company Early Birds, specialised in omni-channel customer experience personalisation.
Fashion and beauty e-commerce business The Hut Group has dived deeper into the hospitality sector by acquiring the Eclectic Hotel Group, which comprises two prestigious luxury boutique hotels in Manchester.
Womenswear retailer Oasis said Wednesday that Michelle Evatt will be joining the fashion retailer as Design Director later this year. She moves from Ted Baker where she’s Associate Director Womenswear Creative.


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Apple’s annual convention the World Wide Developers Conference will start this month. There are a lot of rumors about what the company will launch in its show this year. Here are few things that we thing will come in the market after Apple WWDC 2017.
Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference will start on 5th June 2017 in California. A lot of apple fans are waiting for this event. Apple unveils its new products in this event every year. Many rumors rise before it starts. So let’s see what products we can expect from Apple this year.
New Products at WWDC:
Ipad Pro: Apple may launch the iPad Pro in WWDC this year. Many people are confident that will year it will go into mass production and hence this event will be its showcase.
Macbook Pro: Last year apple introduced their new Macbook Pro with Intel 6th Generation Skylake processor. Later it launched the notebook with touch bar and touch ID features. This year we expect the new Macbook Pro with Intel’s 7th generation Kaby Lake processor.
Siri Smart Speakers: This new smart speakers are rumored to work on iOS. It will have an Ai system with integration of Beats technology. Siri Smart Speakers will have apple’s voice assistant in it with features like facial recognition and others. This will compete against Google’s Home and Amazon’s Echo. A lot of people excited for the products and we do not have to wait much longer for this.
Apple’s New iOS:
WWDC shows the features of its new iOS and this time it will be iOS 11. We will see the features of the new operating system and its related apps very soon. There is no official comments about what features will be in the new OS. However here are some features that we can expect in iOS 11.
Siri Update: Apple is planning some major updates in it. The updates will give Siri contextual learning capabilities. The integration with iMessage and iCloud will help in the AI capabilities.
New Music App: Apple music head has confirmed that people will see a new music app. This app will focus more in showcasing videos.
iPad updates: The new iOS will have some specific features for the iPad. Previous update did not focused on iPad. So we can expected some changes in this area. What will this include is not clear yet. We hope to get the answers in the upcoming WWDC.
Design changes: We are not sure what it would be but a lot of people are expecting some design changes in the new OS. There are no significant changes in the design since iOS 7 update. So this will be on our expectation’s list.
Facetime: Many fans are sure that apple will introduce group calling feature in their latest iOS. This feature can make them a big rival to skype and other video calling software again.
Availability of iOS:
iOS 11 is expected to be released in Fall of 2017. The first glimpse of the software will be featured in Apple World Wide Developers Conference. You can stream the show live in our apple devices.
We will soon have a detailed article after the show on this website. Keep checking this site for news on technology updates. Share your thoughts in the comment box below.


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Bookings for the new 2020 Hyundai i20 have ‘unofficially’ commenced at Hyundai authorized dealers. It must be noted that the upcoming model has been in news for a while now and if the story in IndiaAuto.com is to be believed, then the interested car buyers can pre-order the upcoming model by paying a nominal amount ahead of the new model’s launch around Diwali.
The India-spec 2020 Hyundai i20 will be offered with two BS6-compliant engine options: a 1.5-litre CRDI diesel and a 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol motor. The diesel engine could develop 100PS of power while the T-GDI engine could put out 120PS. We expect Hyundai to offer the petrol motor with a 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT while the diesel engine could be offered with a manual option only.
The 2020 Hyndai i20 is also expected to be offered with the tried and tested 83PS 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine.
In comparison with the outgoing model, the new Hyundai i20 will be better-equipped. One of the most outstanding features of the hatchback will be the wider 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system which supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Like Hyundai’s modern cars, the new i20 will come with Hyundai’s BlueLink connected car technology. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-speaker Bose sound system, digital instrument console, air purifier with virus protection and wireless charger might also be available.
The new-gen Hyundai i20 is expected to be priced from INR 5.8 lakh to INR 9.5 lakh (ex-showroom). Once launched in India, the new hatchback will compete against the Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz, Tata Altroz and Maruti Baleno.


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Force Friday II: Unlock 'Last Jedi' scenes at Grand Canyon this weekend
Fans don't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to experience the buzz around the upcoming "Star Wars: Episode VII The Last Jedi" movie. Thanks to Force Friday II, they can find their favorite characters around the world this weekend.
And, this time, it's not a trap.
As part of the global unveiling of "Last Jedi" products ahead of the film's Dec. 15 release, the franchise is introducing new characters through an augmented-reality experience called Find the Force.
“Force Friday II is a major milestone in the countdown to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars has always championed new technology, and we are excited that augmented reality will allow fans to experience the universe in a whole new way,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement.
Find the Force is one component of the second Force Friday event, which will take place Sept. 1-3.
How Find the Force works
Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park this weekend can participate in a global treasure hunt to find an out-of-this-world revelation.
The natural wonder is one of 20 famous landmarks where fans can point to the sky within a mile radius of a designated location to unlock an augmented-reality scene through the Star Wars app.
The spot, at geographic coordinates 36.061,-112.109, is near Mather Point on the South Rim.
Other locales in North America include Central Park in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Hollywood Sign, Niagara Falls and the CN Tower in Toronto.
The scenes will be available to view until Sunday, Sept. 3.
Unlock 'Last Jedi' characters
Fifteen augmented-reality images are available at participating in-store and online retailers during the program's three-day run. A list of retailers is on the Star Wars website.
Here's how to unlock fan favorites and new faces from the movie series:
- Download the Star Wars app and open the Find the Force feature.
- Locate graphics containing the red Find The Force logo at participating stores and websites beginning Sept. 1.
- Scan the graphic with the app's Find The Force feature to unveil a character and receive a data chip. Every graphic has a different experience each day.
- Unlock digital rewards as you collect more data chips.
An example featuring Rey (Daisy Ridley) on the Star Wars website conjures an image of three wide-eyed porgs, described as "small, flat-muzzled avians that flock about the rocks and roost in the cliffs of Luke Skywalker's secluded island."
Fans can snap photos, record videos and share their meetings with in-store augmented-reality characters on social media and have a chance to win tickets to "The Last Jedi" premiere in December by hashtagging their posts #FindtheForce and #Sweepstakes.


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Crypto New Media Press
At-A-Glance A new study disputes the myth that most crypto purchases are illegal goods. Four crypto leaders made Forbes’ annual list of the richest people in the world. Confidence in the upcoming ethereum upgrade led to a 20% one-day price boost. Reddit might be implementing a new points system based on a crypto wallet. Bitcoinist […]
The post Crypto News Roundup — April 11, 2020 – OKCoin Blog appeared first on Crypto New Media.


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After spending a decade scaling startups, serial entrepreneur Leonard Teo went in-house, taking a full-time role at Canadian software startup SoftImage. But shortly after he joined the company, SoftImage was acquired and Teo decided to step back into entrepreneurship.
“I wanted to start my own company again,” Teo said in an interview with Art Cafe.
Teo’s past ventures include CGSociety, a global platform for creative digital artists, and CGTalk, CGSociety’s forum for digital artists to discuss recruitment awards, artistic styles and more. His familiarity with the digital art community introduced him to a unique problem artists faced when trying to scale their portfolio sites.
“At the time, there was already Squarespace, Wix and a whole bunch of portfolio builders, but the problem was, they weren’t really connected into a hub,” Teo told Art Cafe. “Which was a big issue because many people weren’t able to get visits, because no one could find them online.”
In 2014, Teo teamed up with Kevin Strike, who brought nearly a decade of experience as a technical product and project manager, to co-found ArtStation. It would go on to be acquired by Fortnite operator Epic Games in 2021.
ArtStation gained 5,000 users in its first 24 hours
The plan was for ArtStation to operate not only as a portfolio site, but a global hub where artists could connect and receive commissions for their work.
“Within the first day, we had over 5,000 people sign up,” Teo told Art Cafe.
Over seven years, Teo and Strike built ArtStation into a large platform for creators in gaming, media and entertainment, with millions of users according to an archived description on Teo’s website. The community’s growth caught the eye of Fortnite operator and 3D game producer Epic Games. In 2020, Epic Games supported ArtStation with a “mega-grant” for an undisclosed amount that helped the startup navigate the pandemic, Teo said in a statement about the acquisition.
“Through our collaboration, we witnessed Epic’s deep respect for the ArtStation community and that we shared the same mission to empower creators,” Teo said. “It became clear that by joining forces, we would have a much bigger impact.”
The deal, announced in April 2021, allowed ArtStation to continue operating as its own entity with support from the Epic Games team. The platform immediately reduced its fees for marketplace sellers from 30% to 12%, which TechCrunch reported was part of a wider conversation on commissions.
“We’re excited for this next chapter of the ArtStation journey,” said Strike in a press release about the acquisition. “As part of Epic, we’ll be able to accelerate ArtStation’s growth and help the creative community in ways we could only imagine before.”
Both founders continue to work with Epic Games, with Strike serving as operations director for ArtStation and Teo as senior director of product development and engineering, according to their LinkedIn profiles. The co-founders did not respond to requests for comment for this story.


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HTC to launch Aria in Australia next week
HTC is all ready to launch Aria in the Australian market. Though the model is already available in the US since last June, Australians will able to own it only next week.
HTC Aria is similar to Wildfire in terms of touch control home, menu, back and search buttons and features the same general hardware as the HTC Legend.
Here is a look at the generic features:
– 3.2 inches touch-screen
– 5 MP camera
– Expandable memory upto 32 GB
– Weight 115 gms
– 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7227 processor
– 256K colored TFT LCD panel
Though some online stores have already started pricing the smartphone at $550, it will be interesting to see what the official rates are, considering the $349 Telstra run Wildlife is sure to give it some stiff competition.