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With a mix of fresh malt to give the drink its dark colour, Two Heads Brewing has released its refined Miller’s Porter for purchase outside the brewery.
The porter, which was originally an old home brew recipe, has been refined with a strong mix of different malts, including chocolate, and ingredients that have been sourced locally.
Miller’s Porter joins its stablemates in cans – Piper XPA, India Papa Alpha IPA and Paleface Pale Ale.
The porter takes over three weeks to make, according to Two Heads Brewing co-owner Greg Hedley.
“It takes about a day to brew, but then takes another three weeks to ferment and condition, before it is put in cans and kegs,” he said.
“Most of the malt in the Miller’s Porter is sourced from NSW, such as Voyager Craft Malt in Griffith.
“With the new, fresh malt, the flavour is more prominent than before.”
Mr Hedley, who co-owns Two Heads with his brother Campbell, said there is also chocolate malt in the porter, which has been roasted like coffee beans.
Miller’s Porter takes its name from the brewery’s home – Crago Mill – which was built as a flour mill in 1906.
The mill was restored a number of years ago after it ceased operation in the 1950s.
The porter is made with a healthy addition of toasted malt, giving it its distinctive black colour.
The brewery’s four canned beers have all been well-received.
“These four beers comprise our core range, which is complemented by a number of seasonal brews and some keg-only beers,” Campbell Hedley said.
“The past 18 months have been spent refining the beers.
“Having the brewery with tastings and tours available has given us the perfect channel to get feedback directly from customers; it’s proved invaluable and given us the confidence to package the beers and push forward in this exciting and growing market of craft beer.”
Two Heads Brewing opened its doors in April, 2016, when the opportunity arose for the Hedley brothers to set up a brewery in the historic Crago Mill.
Two Heads will be at Brew and Bite on Saturday night.


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When it comes to fraud, financial institutions (FIs) find themselves trying to address competing priorities. On the one hand, the need for strong authentication and security continues to rise. Fraud and hacking attempts become more sophisticated each year, and new laws and regulations require stronger customer authentication security – potentially adding more friction to the customer experience. However, consumers have… Read more
June 4, 2018 -
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Artefact explores climate change and talks to one of the activists risking arrest to raise awareness of the issue in London.
Tag Archives: Climate Change
With the effects of global warming already being felt, will young people be the generation to save our planet?
We meet some of the designers using fashion as a platform to share their values and have their voice heard
How young fashion designers, and the industry as a whole, is responding to the issue of climate change and responsible consumer behaviour.


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Esker ha comunicado que la empresa Techtronic Industries France ha elegido su tecnología para automatizar los procesos de envío de facturas de sus clientes. En el futuro, la empresa francesa espera utilizar soluciones de Esker para automatizar otros procesos documentales como accounts payable y órdenes de venta.
Noticia en inglés:
Techtronic Industries France Selects Esker to Automate Customer Invoices
Esker, a worldwide leader in document process automation solutions, announced today that Techtronic Industries France, a leading supplier of power tools and subsidiary of Techtronic Industries (TTI), has selected Esker to automate the processing and sending of its customer invoices via a fully automated, cloud-based Accounts Receivable (AR) solution. Thanks to Esker, TTI France can now integrate electronic invoicing, group paper invoices into one envelope and utilize international sending capabilities.
TTI France was previously outsourcing invoice delivery to an external provider, but encountered many pitfalls (e.g., lack of invoice tracking, unreliability, irregularities in sending procedures, etc.). A strategic decision was made to find a more reliable solution capable of completely automating the delivery of paper and electronic invoices. Esker was able to meet TTI France’s needs, automating the delivery of electronic invoices to company subsidiaries — a combination of electronic and paper invoices to repair centers and paper invoices to customers.
“We experienced a significant decline in the quality of invoice delivery, and this had a direct impact on our customer and partner relations. It was crucial that we found an alternative solution to automate invoice processing,” said Jean-Christophe Bavcevic, IT Project Manager at Techtronic Industries France. “Having already worked with Esker and being confident in their service quality and reliability, they were the logical choice. Esker brought us not only true business expertise, but other sophisticated solutions like electronic invoicing, the capability to group invoices for the same customer in a single envelope, and the ability to print invoices destined for Belgium from a Belgium production facility.”
With the help of Esker, TTI sends over 180,000 invoices annually to customers, repair centers and company subsidiaries. The yearly invoice breakdown consists of over 170,000 paper invoices sent to customers by postal mail (4,200 of which are sent in both paper and electronic format to repair centers), and over 10,000 electronic invoices sent to TTI subsidiaries.
The global Esker cloud-based AR solution offers TTI France numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced document sending time and fewer payment delays thanks to daily invoice delivery
- Significant time savings for subsidiaries and repair centers who are now able to autonomously track invoices on the web portal
- 24/7 invoice tracking capabilities
- Improved customer, partner and subsidiary relations thanks to a reliable and transparent invoice process
“In the past, we were not able to track our invoices from the time they left our ERP — we spent hours looking for lost invoices or sending duplicate ones,” said Bavcevic. “Today, we are certain our customers receive their invoices and can know at any time where the invoice is. We have also received positive feedback from our subsidiaries and our repair centers who are pleased to benefit from a reliable and responsive system.”
TTI plans to extend their use of Esker solutions to the automation of other strategic business document processes such as accounts payable and sales order processing.


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This year vendors are pushing expensive 3D displays, but the technology may not be as ready as they claim. We look at what's available and who needs it.
There will always be people who are driven to acquire the newest bleeding-edge technology, and those people have probably already bought a 3D TV. For the rest of us, it makes sense to wait until some of the kinks have been worked out of home 3D display technology.
The truth is that 3D isn't going to replace 2D - because there are plenty of reasons to keep 2D. It's practical, effective and above all cheap. Almost every 3D technology in existence today comes at a cost premium. Even when the costs fall, it will still be tougher to create 3D content - especially original 3D and not something merely resynthesized from 2D.
What 3D has done and will continue to do is create a small but significant market for specialty content. It won't eclipse 2D but rather will complement it - the way netbooks and the iPad are flanking and accompanying conventional desktops and laptops. And the move toward 3D that doesn't require anything but our own two eyes to see it means the adventure into a new dimension has barely begun.


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Five former South Korean owners of the Galaxy Note 7 are not dropping charges against Samsung Electronics even after the largest phone maker in the world has dismissed them as frauds, The Investor reports. On Tuesday, a lawyer at Harvest Law Office that's representing the group described the current situation as "favorable" for their clients, especially after Samsung admitted that faulty batteries are to blame for the Galaxy Note 7 fires and the South Korean government corroborated their findings. The lawyer also revealed how their plaintiffs have no intentions of settling with Samsung outside of the courtroom, especially after the company's customer service representatives told them they're "frauds" who are making false claims about the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung's employees allegedly accused the plaintiffs of trying to extort money from the Seoul-based tech giant, Harvest Law Office's representative revealed.
The same source also claimed that Samsung refused to sincerely apologize to the plaintiffs even before the matter was taken to court. All five plaintiffs initially filed individual lawsuits against Samsung with the Seoul Central District Court, but due to the similar natures of their disputes, they've all ended up being represented by Harvest Law Office. In addition to monetary compensation for the damages incurred from their faulty phablets, these consumers are now also seeking compensation for the fact that Samsung's employees allegedly damaged their reputations by accusing them of lying and being "frauds." The trial is expected to start by mid-2017, presumably during the second quarter of the year.
In addition to this dispute, Samsung is currently facing numerous other legal battles all over the world. From class action lawsuits to individual filings made against the company, it seems that the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco still isn't over as some consumers still feel wronged by Samsung and aren't willing to drop the matter. The South Korean tech giant will likely want to wrap up many of its legal battles concerning the Galaxy Note 7 as quickly as possible seeing how the company is currently preparing for the launch of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus, meaning that it must strive to avoid negative publicity at all costs.


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What you need to know
- Intel confirmed that its Tiger Lake has Xe graphics.
- Tiger Lake and Xe could be built on XE-LP microarchitecture.
- Intel moved its 10th Gen mobile CPU line into 45W hardware.
A wide range of devices announced at CES 2020 run Intel processors. These new hardware announcements illustrate the evolution of Intel's chips and show where manufacturers are in terms of catching up with Intel's latest processors. Intel shared with Anantech that the company is moving its 10th Gen mobile CPU line into 45W hardware. In addition to information regarding 45W hardware, Intel shared some details about its upcoming Tiger Lake line of chips.
Several PCs announced at CES 2020 use 45W CPUs and are powered by mobile Intel chips. These mobile chips are from the Comet Lake line and, according to Intel, will hit 5.0 GHz when paired with 45W Core i7 hardware. They will also hit more than 5.0GHz when paired with Core i9 hardware. Anandtech speculates that these figures indicate that Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and Velocity Boost technology will make their way to the mobile platform.
Much fewer details were shared regarding Tiger Lake, but there are some noteworthy pieces of information confirmed by Intel. Intel confirmed that Tiger Lake has Xe graphics. Tiger Lake with Xe graphics would be on the Xe-LP microarchitecture, according to Anandtech. This architecture targets sub-25W power on the GPU.
We'll have to wait for more details about Intel's upcoming chips and its mobile platform, but at least for now, we've gained some glimpses into the direction that Intel is going.
Get early access to Windows 10 October 2020 update – here's how.
In this guide, we'll show you the steps to upgrade your computer to the final release of the Windows 10 October 2020 Update before it's officially available to everyone.
Windows 10 October 2020 Update moves closer to launch with Release Preview
The Windows 10 October 2020 Update is nearly ready for primetime. Microsoft began shipping the update to Release Preview Insiders today, which is the last stop before it will start its full rollout to the public.
Join us LIVE for the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30PM ET
We're LIVE with the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30pm ET, make sure you're there!
Use these motherboards with Intel's Core i5-10600K
Picking the best motherboard for the Intel Core i5-10600K processor is a relatively straightforward task as the best motherboard is one that ticks all your requirement boxes. We've rounded up a few recommendations to point you in the right direction.


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Spending is estimated to advance another 7.1% in 2018 and will expand to $1.7 trillion total by 2022.
BERLIN – Blacklane has raised its largest investment to date with a Series D round that will fund new cities, global airport concierge services, and product innovation, the company announced Jan. 24.
ALFAHIM, a UAE-based automotive, hospitality and travel, real estate and industrial conglomerate, is a new investor. Existing investors Daimler AG, through subsidiary Daimler Mobility Services, and btov Partners also contributed sizably. Exact amounts were not disclosed.
Six years ago, Blacklane created a new way for travelers to book chauffeur services. Its model lowers fares to a fraction of legacy companies’ costs while maintaining top quality.
Blacklane’s global network of professional driver partners covers more than 250 cities and 500 airports in 50 countries. This year, Blacklane will reach more than 300 cities, with major growth across the Middle East and Africa.
“Combining our nationwide expertise and diversity with Blacklane’s reinvention of the professional driver industry for the benefit of travelers, drivers and partners, will bring unequivocal innovative luxury services to the Middle East and Africa,” said Ahmed AJ Al Fahim, Chairman of ALFAHIM. “Blacklane’s ambition and brand strength make it the ideal company to add to our global portfolio.”
Related: TechCrunch article here
Related Topics: airports, Blacklane, capital, client markets, concierge, customer service, finance, German operators, Global operators, investment, luxury travel, mobile applications, on-demand service, vehicle apps, VIP service
Industry leader Scott Solombrino calls the measure ‘crazy’ and a ‘crisis’ for luxury transportation operators.
The event provides a wide platform for the industry to promote its safety, comfort, and convenience advantages.
LMCPays will be the newest agent office for the major industry credit card processor.
AUG. LCT: A panel of operators learned all about handling operations during extreme natural events.
AUG. LCT: Here’s how to ease one of the most difficult transitions your operations may ever have to make.
AUG. LCT: The top operators in the luxury transportation industry who attended this year’s exclusive annual executive conference offer some best practices that can work in your operation.
A package of bills passed Aug. 8 will shake up for-hire transportation in New York City.
AUG. LCT Cover: Two-time Operator of the Year Award winner Harry Dhillon grows revenues by taking some risks.
eNews Exclusive: Johnny McBride would have never been exposed to the idea of a luxury transportation company if he hadn’t gotten his start as a part-time driver.
AUG. LCT: You find a way to be good all of the time instead of perfect some of the time.
Here are 13 steps you should follow after one of your cars is involved in a collision.
The city plans to enforce a limit on the number of private ground transportation vehicles allowed.
AUG. LCT: After April 1, 2018, drivers found out of compliance with electronic logging devices could be ordered out of service. Is your service at risk?
AUG. LCT: Affluent buyers are more likely to want an experience and a feeling, along with safety and convenience.
The world's No. 1 online marketplace and trader for professional chauffeured and chartered vehicles, including all types of motorcoaches, buses, vans, stretch limousines, sedans, SUVs, exotics, and classics. New and used vehicles are available from sellers across the nation.
The best online networker to find quality affiliates worldwide and market your company.
Click on any state to see the latest industry news and events in that region.


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Ever since Destiny showed that modern day, big budget games can make an obscene amount of money during launch day, we’ve come to expect popular titles to help construct Scrooge McDuck-style money vaults for game developers and publishers. Fallout 4 is obviously a popular, bid budget title, and it was no surprise that Bethesda would make out like bandits when the game finally hit tangible and digital shelves. It turns out Bethesda made out not like bandits who robbed a bank, though, but bandits that robbed a chain of them. Bethesda’s nuclear post-apocalyptic opus shipped a staggering $750 million worth of copies on launch.
That three-quarters-of-a-billion-dollars number amounted to 12 million copies of the game. That number isn’t likely to plateau just yet, as Bethesda has already begun sending out restocking shipments. We don’t yet know the actual sell-through numbers, but the shipment numbers are pretty ridiculous, and they’re already being followed up with new shipments.
Bethesda games — like ’em or not — are always extremely sought after, considering the breadth of the games and bang-for-your-bottle-cap they provide. Considering the massive size of the worlds and sheer amount of activities to do in them — whether mindlessly looting office buildings or creeping on every teddy bear diorama in the game — new games take a long time to come out, especially in this current industry climate of yearly installments of blockbuster franchises. Those long waiting periods help build hype for already extremely hyped games, and Fallout is arguably the best instance of this.
The game only officially released a few days ago, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer for Bethesda to reveal more concrete figures. In the meantime, we’ll be collecting our own concrete in order to better provide for Commonwealth settlements.


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OGPlanet today announced that their increasingly popular free-to-play online RPG game, the cute anime-style La Tale, is now available to download and player through the hugely popular digital platform, Steam.
La Tale is no stranger to the MMO scene. A long-running MMO that has enjoyed many years of regular updates and a dedicated community that continue to show their appreciation day after day. The Steam launch of La Tale comes complete with Steam Trading Cards, full Steam Wallet support and a variety of other iconic features of Valve's Steam service.
Following La Tale's Greenlight campaign, players flooded the official servers as thousands of new players prepare to begin their journey in La Tale. Steam players can now join the adventure alongside existing La Tale players complete with an exciting list of launch events planned by the GM's.


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CE industry veteran Lou Gervolino Sr. passed away this month. He was 75.
Gervolino, born June 10, 1940, began his career with Revlon. He moved to ITT in 1975, where he was a founding member of its consumer camera and flash division, Gervolino’s son told TWICE. After the divestiture of the Bell operating companies in the 1980s, Gervolino became a founding member of the consumer telephone division of ITT, and he later became president of Pacific Bell’s consumer phone division.
He consulted for various companies until he retired in 2006.
Gervolino is survived by his wife Anne Marie, five children and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 25, at Graham Hitch Mortuary in Pleasanton, Calif., from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at St. Isadores Catholic Church in Danville, Calif.
Those seeking to express condolences can contact his son, Lou Gervolino Jr., at [email protected].


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This is pretty funny, and even more so because Pitbull has a sense of humor over the whole thing. Walmart is currently running a promotion on Facebook that will bring Pit to whichever Walmart in the country receives the most “likes” on its respective Facebook page. Being that you can essentially like any Walmart page regardless of your location, some pranksters found it funny to start up their own little campaign…this one getting everyone to “like” Walmart’s location in the remote town of Kodiak, Alaska…accessible only by plane or ferry! And guess what…their prank is working! Get the 411 and Pitbull’s response below.
Via CBS Local:
A few pranksters took the opportunity to organize a campaign to make sure that Walmart is in Kodiak, Alaska. Kodiak is the main city off Kodiak Island and it is only accessible via ferry or airplane. To date, the Kodiak Walmart has over 44,000 likes — but the population of the island is only around six thousand people.
A #ExilePitbull campaign has also popped up on Twitter, encouraging people to like the Kodiak Walmart’s Facebook page and generating some jokes at the singer’s expense.
The contest continues until July 16, so you can still exile Pitbull…or perhaps try and get him to your local Walmart instead.
Pitbull is being pretty cool about it, though:
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Posted by DJ Yeroc on 11:23 PM


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In Defense of Brand Journalism (and Bob Garfield’s Involvement)
Bob Garfield did a great job moderating our SXSW panel last week: “Brand Journalism: The Rise of Non-Fiction Advertising.” He got called out in Twitter, in blog posts, and in private conversations as one of the better moderators of the whole SXSW show, and I completely agree with the assessment.
We knew when we submitted the panel idea last summer that we would need to explain and perhaps even defend brand journalism—it’s not a practice that many are familiar with, even though we at JWT have done it with huge clients like Microsoft and Ford. And we knew that brand journalism, and branded content in general, would be a hot-button issue at SXSW this year.
As such, our best bet for having a successful, insightful panel would be to find someone like Bob to be an independent, skeptical moderator. The panel needed to incorporate its toughest potential critic, who would serve as the audience’s stand-in, asking questions and poking at the panelists the way the audience would want to. The SXSW crowd is a sophisticated one, able to smell BS a mile away; anything less than an unvarnished look at brand journalism would be called out as such. So we paid an independent expert (Bob) to keep us honest, and we involved Pepsi’s Shiv Singh to provide another perspective. We didn’t ask either one to pull their punches; quite the opposite, in fact.
This panel was brand journalism in action, and the crowd responded accordingly. I was tracking Twitter conversations during the panel, and saw several tweets that praised us for being so open and engaging. I think we drove actual perception shifts, thanks to a great moderator and an attitude of honesty, openness, and a very public search for truth.
Bob, in light of your column today, it’s worth pointing out that Chrysler wasn’t doing brand journalism last week. You were.
- Chrysler’s Twitter Controversy Teaches Us ‘Brand Journalism’ Is a Lie (adage.com)
- Recaps from Brand Journalism: The Rise in Non-Fiction Advertising (adgeek.us)
- Brand Journalism: Ethics, Opportunities & Outcomes (prnewswire.com)
- Brand Journalism: The Rise in Non-Fiction Advertising recap (digitaria.com)


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Earlier this week, Netflix announced a new feature called Profile Transfer after months of testing in a few countries around the world. The feature allows users to move their “personalized recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, and other settings” to a new account, according to the company’s press release.
There are two reasons this feature exists, only one of which Netflix would probably like you to think about. The first is users who share an account with a roommate, a partner, or their parents, and then eventually, you part ways, but you’re still stuck awkwardly staring at their name every time you log in. Do you quietly change your password and lock them out? Do you call them and tell them to get their own account? Netflix wants to ease that transition so newly solo users aren’t starting from scratch.
The second reason is that Netflix is doing its very best to make sure a lot of people are soon required to get their own Netflix account. Cracking down on password sharing is one of the company’s primary directives going forward as it looks for more ways to increase subscribers — Netflix has estimated that more than 100 million households are accessing the service through shared accounts.
In both cases, Profile Transfer guides you through the process of starting a new Netflix account from an existing profile. The setup flow is full of upbeat guidance about how you can now “own your account and keep everything you love about this profile” and leaves a backup copy of the profile in the existing account. (There’s plenty of opportunity for passive-aggressively starting this process for the person you’d like off your account, just saying.)
Profile Transfer has been in testing since March in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. Now it’s rolling out more broadly. It’s just one of Netflix’s many moves in figuring out how to make more money from the password sharers, too. The company is testing ways to “add an extra home” to your account, to charge you a few extra bucks a month for an extra user on your account, to use verification codes to see who belongs on an account and who doesn’t, and more.
One way or another, if you’re a hanger-on in someone else’s Netflix account, the company is coming for you. But at least the app won’t forget how much you loved Is It Cake? anymore.
Source: The Verge


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Insure-tech startup Coverfox.com raised $22 million as a part of its Series C funding. The round was led by IFC and Transamerica along with other existing investors. As part of its ongoing fund-raiser, it was reported in June last year that the Mumbai-headquartered company had raised close to $15 million as a part of Series C led by US insurer Transamerica. The company is expected to use the funds to expand insurance coverage into Tier II and Tier III cities.
Chai Point has raised Series-C funding of $20 million in a round led by Paragon Partners. Existing investors include Saama Capital, DSG, and Eight Roads, the private equity arm of Fidelity India. According to the company, some of the investors invested super pro rata, which means these investors have the option to increase the percentage of their stake in the company in the follow-on rounds. The funding is aimed at further strengthening the brand’s multi-channel go-to-market. Chai Point had raised around $13 million before the current round.
Big Data is big. According to IDC, Big Data revenues are estimated to cross $187 billion in 2019. It is said that the amount of data in the world doubles every two years, and by 2020, the digital universe will reach 44 zettabytes, or 4 trillion gigabytes, in data. The biggest revenue opportunities are in manufacturing and banking sectors. But, almost all major organisations are heavily invested in Big Data now.
Phonebook app Truecaller crossed 100 million daily active users (DAUs). DAUs are a key metric that determines the stickiness of an app and its relevance in the everyday lives of its audience. It has taken just a year to go from 100 million monthly active users to 100 million DAUs. In 2017, Truecaller is said to have blocked over 300 crore spam messages.
Ibibo Group Private Limited, which operates travel properties like Goibibo, redBus, YourBus (a vehicle tracking application), and others, secured a fund infusion of Rs 65 crore from its Singapore-based parent ibibo Group Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd, recent filings with Registrar of Companies showed. Since the beginning of this calendar year, it has infused more than Rs 161 crore into its India subsidiary.
Running design consultancy Perdix in Kolkata, and a move to Bengaluru had the founding team of GrabOnRent in a fix. Buying furniture, and office supplies like laptops and printers was proving to be too expensive and second-hand goods came with compromises. Says Shubham Jain, Co-founder, GrabOnRent, “All of us have been told that the only way of consuming a particular product is by buying it. We wanted to challenge that and provide an alternative consumption model in which a person can pay per use.” And GrabOnRent came to being.
A new report in Reuters has confirmed that Facebook plans to update its Terms of Service in the near future to keep GDPR rules from affecting the vast majority of its global users. According to the report, the updated ToS will mean that 1.5 billion users in Asia, Africa, Australia, and Latin America will be governed by US law instead of the stricter GDPR rules of the EU, which come into force on May 25, 2018.
In 2017, Amazon created more than 130,000 new jobs, Amazon Prime reached more than 100 million users globally, Amazon Web Services launched 1,400 new products and services, over 300,000 new US-based small and medium businesses joined Amazon Marketplace as sellers, and more – all these insights, and more, into Amazon’s stellar year, were revealed in CEO and Founder Jeff Bezos’ annual letter to shareholders.
Want to make your startup journey smooth? YS Education brings a comprehensive Funding and Startup Course. Learn from India's top investors and entrepreneurs. Click here to know more.


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Sould Budweiser's Web site starring Louie the Lizard (shown here) steer young "netizens" down a path that leads to underage drinking? A Washington, D.C.-based children's advocacy group thinks so.
The Center for Media Education last week issued two reports criticizing sophisticated online advertising techniques that it claims help market alcohol and tobacco products to children.
Of the 77 beer, wine and spirits sites examined, 62 percent appealed to youths, the alcohol study found. Similarly, of 66 tobacco sites studied, 23 percent featured chat rooms and message boards which young people would find attractive, and many glamorized smoking.
"We are appealing to the industry and want to call for responsible advertising," said Kathryn Montgomery, CME president.
CME sent copies of the studies to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Congress has asked the FTC to prepare a report on how well industry self-regulation works when it comes to alcohol advertising. The report is due out next year.


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A special mix of Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ will arrive on vinyl on Black Friday in conjunction with Record Store Day’s November releases
By now, Nirvana enthusiasts are well aware that the pioneering grunge band’s third and final studio album, “In Utero,” is available in a deluxe 20th anniversary reissue. The set was released last month in honor of the 20-year landmark, and surviving band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were in full support of it.
Now, vinyl lovers can score a newly remastered and remixed version of the release on Nov. 29. The fresh version will be unleashed as a 45 RPM, 180-gram limited edition double vinyl on Black Friday in conjunction with Record Store Day’s “Back to Black” event. The release’s original producer, Steve Albini, mastered this new mix at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. The release also features some alternative artwork just for the reissue.
For more on the 20th anniversary set, head to Nirvana’s official website.
In other Nirvana news, Novoselic recently revealed that he laid down some bass lines for the upcoming Modest Mouse album. “It’s pretty edgy,” Novoselic told Spotify regarding his recording with Modest Mouse’s. “I’ve got my big Gibson bass and a Rat distortion pedal busting out … this bass riff.”
- Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain + Alice in Chains’ Layne Staley – Remembering the Legacy
- Smile Empty Soul’s Sean Danielsen Talks ‘Rarities,’ Covering Nirvana and More
- Nirvana Singer Kurt Cobain Would Have Turned 50 Years Old Today
- Nirvana Compilation ‘Incesticide’ Turns 25 in 2017
- Krist Novoselic on What Kurt Cobain Would Think of Modern Music


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- Gmail, Google Drive are suffering a global outage, say reports and tweets.
- The two services should be restored shortly.
It appears two of Google’s biggest offerings are suffering an outage globally. According to numerous reports, Gmail and Google Drive have not been functioning right since 10:08 PM EST (7:38 AM IST). A quick look at Downdetector’s outage map tells us that the regions most severely hit by the Google Drive outage are parts of North America, Malaysia, and Australia while Gmail seems to be down mostly in parts of Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and India.
Google Drive outage map
TikTok app back on Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India, in-app Safety Quiz, security improvements introduced
Google Pixel 3a included in list of Pixel devices slowed down by Digital Wellbeing
Google I/O 2019: Next-gen Google Assistant announced with offline features, driving mode and others
How a team of Google web developers plotted to kill IE6 off ten years ago
Google celebrates Star Wars Day with a May the Fourth sale on Play Store
Users affected by the outage have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration. While some of the tweets are cries of irritation and helplessness, many others are jokes. According to a CNET report on the matter, Google posted a message on its G Suite Status Dashboard a couple of hours after the first reports of an outage started flowing in, “We're investigating reports of an issue with Gmail. We will provide more information shortly. The affected users are able to access Gmail, but are seeing error messages, high latency, and/or other unexpected behavior.”
This isn’t the first time Google’s services have seen an outage like this. Online services like Facebook, Gmail, and even Twitter occasionally suffer global outages but usually resume operating as usual after a few hours. In fact, WhatsApp suffered a temporary crash as recently as two months ago. When the messaging service went down on January 22, users promptly took to Twitter to share jokes and funny GIF images.
Gmail outage map
Interestingly enough, yesterday marked the thirtieth anniversary of the World Wide Web. It was on March 12, 1989 that Sir Tim Berners-Lee had submitted “Information Management: A Proposal” to his boss, which eventually led to the creation of the modern day internet as we know it. “Today, there are nearly 2 billion websites online. Whether you use it for email, homework, gaming, or checking out videos of cute puppies, chances are you can’t imagine life without the Web,” Google remarked, celebrating the milestone with a Google Doodle. In contrast to Google’s message from yesterday, today’s Gmail and Google Drive outage seems like a live demonstration of its words.


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End of month, deliveries and further acceptance of the 2023 supply story. February 28, 2023
Month-end selling, deliveries against the March contract, an expectation for a Ukraine export deal renewal and now acceptance of the long term supply change story hit corn today. Today's trade was important on the charts as May broke the last support, the 12/7 low of 636 3/4. Additionally, old crop has now retraced more than 50% of the July to October rally and is officially in a downtrend. New crop December remains in its downtrend with new lows posted today. This confident selling was conducted despite a worsening Argentine forecast.
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Updated : 2 years, 5 months ago IST
Washington D.C. [USA], Sep 8 (ANI): You may want to add whole grains, such as brown rice or whole-wheat bread, to your diet as according to a recent study, they reduce colorectal cancer risk, with the more you eat the lower the risk.
Updated : 2 years, 6 months ago IST
New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): In the wake of various companies withdrawing their registration plea to evade the levy of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the GST Council will take up the matter of tax avoidance on Saturday.
Kohima (Nagaland) [India], July 14 (ANI): India's Northeast is mostly based on an agrarian economy with more than 70 percent of the population engaged in the agriculture sector.
New Delhi [India], July 5 (ANI): Citing the case of Pakistan taking over the European Market in the export of Basmati rice to the European Union after its virtual ban on the import of Indian rice, the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking
Washington D.C. [USA], June 27 (ANI): Attention women! High intake of barley, brown rice, oatmeal, soya and tofu for long-term may protect you from early menopause.
New York [US], June 25 (ANI): A new study suggests drinking non-cow milk- soy, almond or rice milks - is linked to shorter kids.
Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand) [India], June 11 (ANI): Yet another case of plastic rice in Uttarakhand has been witnessed.
Haldwani (Uttarakhand) [India] June 7 (ANI): The food retailers in Uttarakhand's Haldwani district are openly selling plastic rice in markets.
Haldwani (Uttrakhand) [India] June 6, (ANI) : Food retailers in Haldwani distict of Uttrakhand are openly selling plastic rice in markets.
New York [U.S.A.], June 5 (ANI): Former United States president Barack Obama's national security advisor Susan Rice has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections.
Washington D.C. [United States], May 4 (ANI): Former U.S. National Security Advisor (NSA) Susan Rice has turned down the request to testify before a Senate judiciary subcommittee investigating Russian attempts to influence the U.S. election, CNN reported.
London [U.K.], Apr. 6 (ANI): David Axelrod, senior advisor to former president Barack Obama, strongly criticised President Donald Trump for suggesting without evidence that former national security advisor Susan Rice may have committed a crime by trying to unmask the names of Trump's as


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When Apple announced at its closely-watched September product launch event that it would soon introduce an Emergency SOS feature powered by a network of satellites orbiting above Earth, Brooklyn probably wasn’t the secluded location most had in mind for using it.
But on a rainy afternoon last week, I found myself trying to stay connected to one of the satellites from Prospect Park as part of a demo of the upcoming feature. I stepped out from under a giant oak tree and the rain started to come down harder. Then I moved my device slightly to the right and quickly regained access to the signal and continued messaging with an emergency dispatcher.
The rain wasn’t the issue; it was the foliage limiting my phone’s view of the sky.
On Tuesday, Apple
(AAPL) will launch the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature for those with an iPhone 14 in the United States and Canada, with plans to roll it out in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland next month. The free feature promises to let iPhone users contact dedicated dispatchers in emergency situations via satellites when a cell phone network is unavailable.
Hikers, emergency responders and intrepid travelers may be well versed in the existing world of satellite phones, which provide voice, SMS, and data services anywhere on Earth. But existing satellite phones often have large protruding antennas. Apple said it wanted to invent a technology that would allow communication directly with satellites still within the form factor of the iPhone.
“It started with us finding frequencies that would work on iPhone that were also available for use on satellites,” Arun Mathias, vice president of wireless technologies and ecosystem at Apple, told CNN Business. “Then we made the necessary hardware modifications on iPhones, but with no bulky antennas.” Apple, he added, first built new software that enabled the iPhone to communicate with the satellites and then designed the user experience around that.
The effort is part of a broader pitch this year to consumers that its devices don’t just help them live better, but also live safer. In the process, it could make its pricey products seem a bit more indispensable in an uncertain economic environment that has some rethinking expenses.
Apple recently invested $450 million in Globalstar, a global satellite service, and other providers to support the development of 24 low-orbit satellites flying 16,000 mph at a higher altitude than the International Space Station. The investment is part of Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund, which has previously been used for glass production with Corning and laser technology for facial recognition.
During my test with an iPhone 14 provided by Apple, I attempted to call 911 but was automatically redirected to Emergency SOS via Satellite dispatchers for the purposes of the demo. When the device was unable to connect to cellular service, a small green icon appeared at the bottom right of the call screen to initiate a text conversation with emergency services.
I was prompted to fill out a questionnaire and tapped through a handful of short multiple choice questions; I noted I was lost but not injured. Apple said because the user may be in a distressed state, a questionnaire helps to gather critical information more quickly. (It’s the same set of questions a 911 dispatcher ask.)
“When we’ve gone out and tested this with dispatchers in the field, they’ve even told us that in some situations the answers they get from the questionnaire, along with the user’s location, could be enough for them to actually make a dispatch decision, right at the beginning, and that’s huge in terms of reducing to get help to get field responders out to the user,” said Trey Forgety, software engineering manager of emergency systems at Apple.
Nearly 20 seconds later, I received confirmation that my geo-location coordinates were sent to a dispatcher, along with my medical ID, emergency contact information and the answers to my questions. I was told to keep responses short, likely to cut down on the amount of data needed to transfer to the satellite and back down to a dispatcher. I was also asked to identify nearby landmarks and where I entered the park. My total exchange lasted about four minutes.
Apple said the size of the texts are reduced down to about a third of their original size, by running it through a compression algorithm. This allows the satellite to more efficiently route messages to ground stations located all over the world. Once received, texts are sent to local emergency services or a relay center with Apple-trained emergency specialists who can send help.
But even in a city, I lost access to the satellite several times when I wasn’t in clear view of the sky. A grayscale circle with a green signal image showed up when connected but turned yellow when conditions were poor and red when connectivity was lost. I walked about 200 feet away from my original location to find a satellite. Once there, I held the device naturally in my hand; Apple said there’s no need to raise or wave it around.
“Since the satellites are moving, the phone might sometimes need to move from one satellite to another, and there might be short gaps where no satellite is available,” Mathias said. “The phone knows this and will make it very clear to the user that there is such a gap and let them know when the next satellite is going to be available.”
When it works, the lifesaving potential for such a feature is obvious. But there are some caveats. To start, it’s text only; users will need to physically have the device in their hands to start an exchange, which may not always be possible if injured. The tool does, however, work with the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch’s crash detection feature, so it could automatically dial emergency services or send coordinates to a dispatcher when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.
For now, Emergency SOS via satellite only works in English, Spanish, and French, although the dispatchers have professional interpretation services available for many more languages. Apple said it also may not work in all areas, such as in places above 62° latitude, including northern parts of Canada and Alaska.
For iPhone 14 users who want to see how the tool works, and test out the process for searching for a satellite, a demo is now available in Settings under “Emergency SOS via satellite.” Apple said the feature is available for free for two years and then it will reevaluate the offering based on what it’s learned about usage during that time.


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Garriott awarded 28 million USD from NCSoft
A US court has awarded Richard Garriott 28 million USD in damages from NCSoft as the result of his recent lawsuit over his dismissal in 2008.
The award came on the grounds that he was forced to exercise his stock options in unfavourable conditions after being fired from the Korean MMO giant .
NCSoft had claimed that Lord British had left to pursue "new interests" but it later emerged that he had been fired after he returned from the International Space Station.
Garriott said: "I am extremely pleased with the jury's decision. The facts were clear that my departure from NCsoft was not voluntary. I am very pleased with the final award."
Thanks Edge Online.
- Hearthstone win-traders will be permanently banned says Blizzard
- Evolve Big Alpha delayed on PS4 due to issues with system update 2.0
- Your PC will need this much power under the hood to play The Crew
- LittleBigPlanet 3 will be fully backwards-compatible
- PS4 sales soar past the 13.5 million mark
- Resogun is coming to the PS Vita
- Smaller, cooler Xbox One processor in the works
- Prey 2 finally gets officially canned
- SEGA confirms the rumoured PC version Valkyria Chronicles, gives a release date


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Whole Foods and Cahill's Farm Cheese recalled a variety of specialty cheddar cheeses due to possible Listeria contamination.
Whole Foods stores in Denver recalled Little Hatch's Jalapeño Cream Cheese after a product tested positive for Listeria bacteria.
Blendtopia recalled a variety of Superfood Smoothie Kits that were sold at Whole Foods due to a risk of Listeria contamination.
Whole Foods recalled dozens of pre-made foods from the salad bar, hot bar, and chef's case due to a risk of Listeria bacteria.
Whole Foods Market stores in 7 states recalled Dorset cheese due to a risk of contamination with Listeria bacteria.
Whole Foods grocery stores in 8 states are recalling salads, pizza, sandwiches and wraps that contain baby spinach due to a risk of food poisoning with Salmonella bacteria.
Whole Foods recalled French Triple Crème cheese that may be contaminated with Listeria.
Whole Foods is recalling cheese from 9 stores across a half dozen Midwestern states due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes severe foodborne illness.
Whole Foods Market is recalling 440 pounds of “buffalo-style chicken salad” after it was found that the product actually contains tuna instead of chicken.


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When we think about businesses that blockchain technology will reform, we probably think about cross-border transactions, energy sourcing, supply and demand, and maybe even polling booth security. A refugee camp in the Jordanian desert probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Even so, in a few exclusive initiatives, the United Nations is adopting blockchain applications to assist many destitute people living life in survival mode in the first of its kind in vital humanitarian programmes.
Assistance for refugees: The Building Blocks Project
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started a project to ensure safe and fast transactions between refugees in natural disasters or war-struck nations and charitable donors. Known as the “Building Blocks Project,” it employs blockchain technology in collaboration with UNHCR’s biometric identification system to assist refugees in buying from the camp’s supermarket safely and hassle-freely.
Members of the programme are identified by their biometric eye-scan data. The spent amount is recorded on a permanent and secure blockchain ledger, which is shared with the supermarket. The programme not only cuts the local banking costs by a whopping 90% (2018 data) but also sets up beneficiaries to establish a credit history, so refugees can transact without the risk of getting caught up in the bureaucracy of official financial institutions.
The programme supports 1 million people in Bangladesh, Lebanon, and Jordan by allowing them to safely access numerous aid items, including money, food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, medicine, and more, from multiple humanitarian groups in one “move”. At the same time, thanks to the underlying blockchain technology, no confidential material such as names, dates of birth, or fingerprints are saved on the ledger. The system employs anonymized identifiers to protect the cybersecurity of those served.
As one of the biggest supply chain blockchain projects, Building Blocks has been expanded to offer US $325 million in financial payments to 1 million refugees in Bangladesh and Jordan since 2017, making it the world’s greatest blockchain-powered humanitarian aid project.
Assistance to smallholder farmers: Decapolis
Farmers in most countries still have a limited understanding of best agricultural practices, food quality standards, and safety. Such knowledge is usually even lower for smallholder farmers, especially those from disaster-struck countries. Moreover, in such places, agricultural production is greatly hampered by structural difficulties such as a lack of water, energy shortages, and inadequate farming areas. Sadly, access to markets for smallholder refugee farmers in war-torn countries is further restricted by systemic problems such as fractured marketplaces, poor distribution networks, insufficient transportation and transportation networks, and business instability induced by factors such as strife in neighbouring nations, leading to these people having to cut down on profits and live harvest-to-harvest for their entire lives.
The WFP Jordan Innovation Hub initiated a trial study with Decapolis in November 2020 to develop a supply chain blockchain that records food products and tracks their production and distribution chains from farms to retail outlets. The remarkable ability of Blockchain technology to maintain an anonymous record, along with the nearly impregnable ledger, helps here too to keep the food quality and safety under constant supervision.
On top of this, Decapolis educates small-scale Jordanian peasants on agricultural best practices such as pesticide management and application and bacterial infiltration prevention strategies. Laboratory testing is done twice during the crop cycle to evaluate the soil and water conditions. On the other hand, smallholder farmers can employ the same Decapolis portal to enrol and confirm that their goods meet domestic and international food quality regulations. This blockchain application employs tracking features to allow merchants to browse and buy only verified commodities.
So far, the Decapolis programme has helped 100 farmers, and more are coming on board. As a near-future project, Decapolis is developing a single-track food health system to facilitate monitoring health troubles that can result from eating food from unverified suppliers, which is a scorching issue among refugees.
Inclusion of the unbanked: EMPACT
The gross volume of the online gig economy is predicted to touch $455.2 billion by 2023, and yet, even now, more than 170 million young individuals from low- and low-middle income economies, as well as refugees and internally displaced people, do not have adequate exposure to technological education, equipment, and online job markets to take advantage of this expanding market.
EMPACT connects these individuals to the digital gig economy, allowing them to develop viable employment opportunities and improve their living conditions. The programme also trains students from various third-world countries in the latest IT skills and links them to private companies and online job marketplaces.
A recurring concern for this initiative has been that young people in many such countries are “unbanked,” i.e., financially excluded, with no access to official banking institutions, credit, or even simple savings accounts. Although cash transfers can be an option, they come with hefty transaction costs, making receiving money for microwork outrageously exorbitant. EMPACT is working with a startup to use blockchain applications to resolve the entire issue, just like it did for the Decapolis project. Blockchain technology manages the financial records and supply chain and tracks the transactions. The whole system will become much less complex for the organizers and more accessible and supportive for its users.
The future of blockchain applications in the humanitarian sector
The final goal of the humanitarian and development sectors of the UN is to achieve worldwide sustainable development. To accomplish this goal, the organization plans to employ a series of blockchain technology projects soon, and to materialize this future, they have created a collaboration platform, The Atrium, which enables the sharing of expertise and learning from each other. The Atrium is a collaboration platform designed for research and exploration that allows participants to cultivate new ideas and study each other’s blockchain applications. The Atrium comprises a web-based social interface with instructional material, a discussion board, a GitHub library of UN blockchain apps, and the architecture layer for setting up and running blockchain trials.
Ready to learn more about Blockchain Development? Contact our team of experts today and arrange your free consultation with a member of our friendly team.


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Chapter 8 Case Study
Why did TPB believe it was not violating copyright laws? What did the Swedish court rule?
TPB claims it is merely a search engine providing pointers to existing P2P networks that it does not itself control. It says that it cannot control what content users ultimately find on those P2P networks, and that it is no different from any other search engine, such as Google or Bing, which are not held responsible for the content found on sites listed in search results. From a broader standpoint, TPB’s founders also claim that copyright laws in general unjustly interfere with the free flow of information on the Internet, and that in any event, they were not violating Swedish copyright law, which they felt should be the only law that applied. And they further claimed they did not encourage, incite, or enable illegal downloading.
The First Swedish Court in Stockholm declared TPB’s four founders guilty of violating Swedish copyright law, and sentenced each to one year in prison and payment of $3.5 million in restitution to the plaintiffs, all Swedish divisions of the major record firms (Warner Music, Sony, and EMI Group among them). The court found that the defendants had incited copyright infringement by providing a Web site with search functions, easy uploading and storage possibilities, and a tracker. The court also said that the four defendants had been aware of the fact that copyrighted material was shared with the help of their site and that the defendants were engaged in a commercial enterprise, the basis of which was encouraging visitors to violate the copyrights of owners. In fact, the primary purpose of TPB was to violate copyrights in order to make money for the owners (commercial intent).
How has TPB managed to continue operating despite being found in violation of copyright laws?
TPB has appealed the court judgment, has not paid any fine, and its founders have only just begun to serve jail sentences. It has moved its servers into caves in Sweden and dispersed multiple copies of its program to other countries. Although it has been hounded by lawsuits, police raids, and confiscation of servers in various countries, as well has having its top-level domains shut down in Sweden and other countries, it has for the time being found a safe haven on the Caribbean island Saint Maarten.
How has the music industry reacted to the problems created by pirates like TBP?
The music industry has reacted by suing companies and individuals who it believes are involved in piracy, and encouraging strong government enforcement of copyright laws. In addition, the music industry has had to drastically change its business model and decisively move towards digital distribution platforms. They have made striking progress, and sales of music in a purely digital format now account for more revenue than sales of music in a physical format. To achieve this, the music industry employed a number of different business models and online delivery platforms, including Apple’s iTunes pay-per-download model, subscription models, streaming models and now music in the cloud.


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Shark Tank star Daymond John has announced the return of “Black Entrepreneurs Day” in a bid to give black business owners a boost for the fourth year running. The day is intertwined with business and entertainment to celebrate and empower black entrepreneurs who own and operate small businesses.
The event will return on November 1, 2023, and will feature a lineup of celebrity guests such as Whoopi Goldberg and Shaquille O’Neal and insights from top Black business leaders, according to CNBC News.
The event will take place at the Apollo Theater in Manhattan and be broadcast online via livestream. Also, the event is free to attend and will be available across Black Entrepreneurs Day’s website and social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube.
“This year is special because of the list of returning sponsors, including JP Morgan Chase, The General, Shopify, T Mobile, and Lowes,” said John in an interview with BET.com. “I’m starting to get excited about it. As you start to get into your groove, you start to see who are your friends and cohorts and who are the people who really have your back. These brands have got my back.”
Black Entrepreneurs Day was first created to address “frustration over injustice” following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. It was launched later that year to “celebrate” Black business owners amid a focus on systemic racism and economic inequities, according to CNBC News.
The event has attracted big corporations like JPMorgan Chase’s Chase for Business and Shopify. However, the enthusiasm among corporate sponsors has gone down compared to when it was launched in 2020, according to CNBC News.
“It was very easy [to get corporations on board] the first year,” John said. “I said, ‘Will you stand by me and say that you are on the right side of this discussion?'”
This year’s celebrity speakers and other influential voices will join John on stage to share their entrepreneurial experiences. There will also be a musical performance by Rick Ross in honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, BET reported.
John’s event has also partnered with the NAACP to give eight entrepreneurs $25,000 issued through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Energy companies will need to keep up-to-date records to prove they are running the nation's aging pipelines at safe pressures under a new set of guidelines the federal government announced Monday in response to a deadly natural gas explosion in a San Francisco suburb.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal jury failed to agree on a pivotal issue in Oracle's copyright-infringement case against Google, blunting the impact of its finding that Google relied on another company's technology to build its popular Android software for mobile devices.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Highway deaths declined again last year, reaching their lowest rate when compared to miles driven since such record-keeping began in 1921, according preliminary government data released Monday.
Q: I want to apply for Social Security benefits on my ex-husband's record. I called Social Security to ask how to do this. The lady on the phone told me they can't even talk to me until I have original copies of the marriage certificate and divorce papers. I have the divorce papers but don't have the marriage records. When I called the office of the county where we were married, the people there said they can't send the original, only a copy. I told them that Social Security wants the original. The county employee told ...
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Canadian company trying to build the disputed Keystone XL pipeline in the U.S. submitted a new application for the project Friday after changing the route to avoid environmentally sensitive land in Nebraska.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Scott Thompson's reign as Yahoo's CEO is in jeopardy after just four months on the job because he allowed an inaccuracy about his academic credentials to recur for years.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Buoyed by a pair of big-budget superhero films this summer, retailers and publishers are poised to give away more than 3.5 million free comics at events aimed at building communities among longtime fans and at capturing new readers.
NEW YORK (AP) - Facebook, the company that turned the social Web into a cultural and business phenomenon, is worth as much as $95 billion, according to the price range for its upcoming initial public offering of stock.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A disgruntled Yahoo shareholder questioned the qualifications and integrity of recently hired CEO Scott Thompson after exposing a misrepresentation about the executive's education.
NEW YORK (AP) - Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest Galaxy phone will have a high-definition touch screen that's nearly twice the size of the iPhone, while being thinner and lighter than Apple's phone.
NEW YORK (AP) - PepsiCo Inc. is going on a reunion tour with The King of Pop.
NEW YORK (AP) - Target Corp. is phasing out Amazon.com Inc.'s e-reader Kindle at its more than 1,700 stores and its website.
NEW YORK (AP) - Visa said Wednesday that its profit for the first three months of the year was up 30 percent from the year before, primarily because credit card use rose in the United States and overseas.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A private survey shows U.S. businesses sharply reduced hiring in April, a cautionary sign two days before the government reports on monthly job growth.
NEW YORK (AP) - One of the art world's most recognizable images - Edvard Munch's "The Scream" - sold Wednesday for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's respite from troublesome health care inflation is ending, the government said Wednesday in a report that renews a crucial budget challenge for lawmakers, taxpayers, businesses and patients.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A pair of Utah women dedicated to pushing back against the objectification of women say Carl's Jr. has gone too far with its long-running line of TV ads featuring women in bikinis eating the company's burgers in seductive poses.
NEW YORK (AP) - Home Depot may be the latest retailer to suffer a major credit card data breach.
NEW YORK (AP) - Squeezed into tighter and tighter spaces, airline passengers appear to be rebelling, taking their frustrations out on other fliers.
DETROIT (AP) - Big discounts. Six- or seven-year loans, in some cases to buyers who would have been turned down in the past.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (AP) - Google is hoping a new brand will help sell more of its services to other companies.
WASHINGTON (AP) - People who use Facebook and Twitter are less likely than others to share their opinions on hot-button issues, even when they are offline, according to a surprising new survey by the Pew Research Center.
GENEVA (AP) - Governments should have tougher rules for electronic cigarettes - banning their use indoors and putting them off limits for minors - until more evidence can be gathered about their risks, the U.N. health agency said Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. consumer confidence this month reached its highest point in nearly seven years, boosted by strong job gains.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Malibu region's growing wine industry, made up of some 50 commercial vineyards, could be squeezed by proposed regulations that would prohibit new grape growing in a large swath of the Santa Monica Mountains.


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Redmi says it will launch its first flagship gaming phone this year
- Redmi has confirmed that it will launch its first flagship gaming phone this year.
- It also said the new Dimensity 1200 chipset will debut inside a Redmi phone.
- It’s unclear if the gaming phone and Dimensity 1200 phone are the same device.
Redmi is traditionally known for delivering budget phones, but the Xiaomi sub-brand has switched to offering affordable flagships in recent years too. Now, it looks like the company is eyeing another segment as well.
Redmi general manager Lu Weibing revealed in a machine-translated Weibo post that the brand will launch its “first flagship gaming phone” this year at a “price that cannot be refused.” Furthermore, the executive also noted that the newly announced MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor will make a “world premiere” inside a Redmi phone, echoing previous hints of a new MediaTek-powered flagship handset.
It’s unclear whether this MediaTek-powered phone and Redmi’s aforementioned first gaming phone are the same device. For what it’s worth, the Dimensity 1200 features the same GPU found in last year’s flagship silicon, but it also offers software-driven ray tracing and 168Hz refresh rate support.
In any event, any decent gaming phone should deliver a high level of sustained performance, gaming-focused software tweaks, and physical inputs of some kind (such as shoulder triggers). So hopefully Redmi’s first device ticks all the boxes in this regard.
We’ve asked Xiaomi to confirm whether the Dimensity 1200 phone and Redmi’s first gaming flagship are the same device, but the company declined to comment.


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Despite not landing lucrative tax credits, Kalamazoo-area video game development company S2 Games has moved 12 of its employees from the San Francisco area to Southwest Michigan.
Shawn Tooley, chief scientific officer of S2 Games, told me in a brief email message Friday that the company was determined to grow its operation in Michigan.
"We ended up moving 12 of our staff members from the California office here anyways and just hired another designer out of L.A. (Los Angeles)," Tooley said. "… we'll still grow this industry in the state even without help."
The Oshtemo Township company, which released its third online game “Heroes of Newerth” this year, had applied for Michigan Film Office incentives that are supposed to be good for game developers as well as filmakers. But the application was turned down without explanation, Tooley has said.
But while S2 Games didn't have success, another Michigan video game company has had luck.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Film Office last week approved incentives for the first time for a video game company.
The Free Press reported:
"Royal Oak-based Pixofactor Entertainment, which began in 2009, plans to spend $2.7 million developing a Nintendo Wii game, interactive Web site and smartphone apps focused on the lessons and life of golfer Ben Hogan."
The tax credits give game developers and filmmakers a 42 percent rebate on money spent in Michigan.
But they're controversial.
In September, the Senate Fiscal Agency reported that the state handed out $37.5 million in rebates for about $98 million in spending by filmmakers in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Spending by filmmakers was estimated to have sparked about $4 million in additional economic activity.
The Free Press also reports that the only two other applications for rebates from game developers weren't approved:
"One company dropped out. The other, Scientifically Proven Entertainment of Farmington Hills, was denied in June because the company did not own or control the intellectual property rights to produce a "Man vs. Wild" game. Scientifically has sued the state."
S2 Games had hoped to move all 20 workers from its California operation to Michigan before its film credit application was denied.
According to its job-opening page, S2 Games is looking to hire a programmer.


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Global revenues from social media are projected to hit $16.9 billion in 2012, a 43.1% jump over the previous year, according to Gartner.
The bulk of that will come from advertising, which will contribute $8.8 billion. Social gaming revenue is next at $6.2 billion and subscriptions account for another $278 million. The researcher predicts "moderate growth" for the segment in coming years, though Gartner declined to share specific figures.
The advertising figure appears to be in line with a similar projection by eMarketer, which predicts $7.7 billion in social media ad revenues for 2012 and $11.9 billion by 2014. The U.S.'s share of such revenues will stay at around 53% over the next couple of years, according to eMarketer, which does not have an aggregate figure for social media revenues.
To put the figure in perspective, the Interactive Advertising Bureau estimates that global ad revenues for Internet advertising were $31 billion in 2011. Display ads accounted for $11.8 billion. The IAB didn't break out figures for social media advertising.


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TOP OF THE CHARTS: A glut of underperforming product variants is hogging valuable shelf space in Hong Kong and other markets, according to NielsenIQ.
The industry’s measurement giant is finally responding to calls from media buyers and owners for a consistent cross-channel measurement solution.
Jamie Moldafsky will spearhead the integrated global function for Nielsen’s global media business.
Data and analytics maven Siddharth Sankhe has introduced innovative digital intelligence solutions to keep his company growing during a downturn.
Three market watchers—Nielsen, Digimind and Euromonitor—provide some fresh insights on how consumers are thinking, acting and spending.
ASIA's TOP 1000 BRANDS: An ageing population, shrinking economy and pandemic worries means Japanese shoppers will become exceedingly selective for value and services, according to Nielsen.
Top news, insights and analysis every weekday
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what we’ve been doing, thinking and observing
Jantastic, the New Year fitness challenge that in 2014 saw over 21,000 people log 356,000 runs and cover in excess of one million miles, has hired Threepipe to launch Jantastic 2015 and help to drive a significant increase in participation.
Jantastic is a unique and exciting digital challenge that gives individuals and teams the structure and motivation to achieve their personal fitness, health and performance goals through the tough winter months, through a combination of swimming, cycling and running. Threepipe will be implementing a combination of digital marketing, PR and social media engagement to raise awareness of Jantastic and encourage new people to sign up.
Eddie May, co-founder of Threepipe, said, “Jantastic is a brilliant initiative that really helps to encourage and motivate people to get active during those challenging winter months. It was a big success in 2014 and we’re excited about helping to make it even bigger for 2015.”
Martin Yelling, co-founder of Jantastic, said, “Our goal is to be the ‘go to’ New Year’s fitness campaign, with participants challenging themselves by making and meeting personal health, fitness and performance targets that can bring about life-changing results. Jantastic is free to participate in, can be done in your own time and own your own terms, making it suitable for everyone. I’m delighted to be working with Threepipe who really understand and share our vision for Jantastic 2015”.
We’ve all heard a lot about content marketing recently, haven’t we?
The truth is, it’s not a panacea or a box to be ticked, but it is a very important part of the mix when it comes to engaging your audience and getting your message across.
Of course, the content has to be good in its own right; and that means being interesting, engaging, disruptive, entertaining, funny, informative, useful, or all of the above (if that’s even possible).
But even the best content rarely does its job well in isolation. Great content needs a great amplification strategy around it, ideally involving earned, social and paid media to really make it fly. That’s where we believe Threepipe is a bit different from all the other people out there telling you “content is King”.
Click here for a look at some of the work we’ve done recently in creating and amplifying content across multiple media channels.
In 2014, the platform for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life campaign was: ‘Cancer, We’re Coming to Get You.’ We were tasked with using social media to amplify the message, creating an emotional connection and encouraging women to sign up for Race for Life.
We created a Twitter campaign inviting people to “let cancer know what they think of it” by tweeting their message to cancer using hashtag #OiCancer.
With so many campaigns existing purely within the confines of social channels, we also felt that a physical, real-world dimension would be essential in helping to cut through, encourage participation and provide opportunities for media coverage. So, each tweet sent helped to inflate a giant physical #OiCancer speech bubble (the size of a double decker bus) positioned next to Tower Bridge in London.
We got celebrities and other social influencers involved, helping the campaign to reach 28 million people through Twitter and drive sign ups to Race for Life in 2014.
We have worked with Rachel’s for several years, using PR, content and social media to connect the brand with its core female audience, driving awareness, engagement and frequency of purchase.
Product PR, blogger relations, recipe videos, brand partnerships and influencer engagement all play their part in keeping Rachel’s front of mind and maintaining the brand’s premium positioning.
Sitecore wanted to reach C-Level executives in the UK, demonstrating the value of creating one-to-one personalised consumer experiences across multiple digital channels.
We developed an integrated brand and lead generation research campaign to investigate how individual business leaders at consumer-facing FTSE 350 businesses are embracing digital channels to create a ‘Personal Touch’ for their businesses and, in doing so, encouraging a two-way dialogue with stakeholders Threepipe developed an integrated brand and lead generation research campaign to investigate how individual business leaders at consumer-facing FTSE 350 businesses are embracing digital channels to create a ‘Personal Touch’ for their businesses.
When 4Music asked us to help launch their new online simulcast player, we used a multi-channel paid digital strategy to drive interest amongst existing and prospective 4Music fans (who were moving away from traditional broadcast channels).
Understanding that different channels bring different benefits, taking an integrated approach across display, search and social advertising allowed us to deliver against all core campaigns KPI’s from reach, to engagement, to traffic acquisition and finally conversion.


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Lambert Airport’s “Hometown Favorites” shuts its doors.
Our extremely weird obsession with the infamous Mark Mulder jersey at Lambert Airport officially came to a close on Tuesday night. Or, did it?
To catch everyone up to speed: a prominent shop titled “Hometown Favorites” at Lambert Airport has featured an autographed Mark Mulder jersey in its front window for the past few years, even though he hasn’t thrown a pitch since 2007. Heck, this oddity even prompted us to do a short video piece on the matter.
It was weird, sure. But the jersey marked a mainstay at Lambert Airport. Most direct flights out of St. Louis have been cut, but the Mulder jersey remains. It’s strong and durable. Ironically, the opposite of its real life counterpart.
Nearly two weeks ago, we received notification that the Mark Mulder jersey had moved. Did someone purchase it? Was Mulder attempting another comeback? The possibilities were endless. Actually, those were the only possibilities we conceived, but nevertheless, the jersey’s absence was notable.
And then, Tuesday night, we received verification that “Hometown Favorites” was shutting its doors. Forever.
And thus, the life of the Mulder jersey remains in flux. Was it packed away? Thrown out? Did a Lambert employee take it home and use it for a car wash rag? Now, the possibilities are endless.
Who knows. One thing is for sure, if that puppy pops up on eBay this week, you know what to get me for Christmas.


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EV startup Workhorse has abandoned its lawsuit protesting the United States Postal Service’s decision to let Oshkosh Defense build the next-generation mail truck. The court accepted Workhorse’s voluntary dismissal late Tuesday — just one day before the first oral arguments were scheduled to begin regarding the USPS’s attempt to dismiss the case.
Workhorse filed the protest in the US Court of Federal Claims in mid-June, nearly four months after the USPS announced that it had awarded the contract to build the next-generation mail truck to defense contractor Oshkosh, ending a contest that started in 2015.
“We are pleased to learn that Workhorse Group has withdrawn its bid protest of the award of the United States Postal Service Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (“USPS NGDV”) contract to Oshkosh Defense,” a spokesperson for Oshkosh said in an email to The Verge. “[W]e are proud that the USPS selected our solution to fulfill the needs of the NGDV program. We look forward to working with our partners across the country to get these highly capable and efficient vehicles to the carriers who need them.”
In a statement, the USPS said it “remain[s] committed to modernizing our delivery fleet in service to our customers. The Postal Service is working diligently with our supplier, and looks forward to the production of our Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV).”
Workhorse did not explain the decision and hasn’t responded to recent allegations of fraud
Workhorse’s decision to drop the suit comes just two weeks after a short-selling research firm published a report on the startup, alleging fraud and accusing the company of hiding a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation from investors. Workhorse did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the dismissal and has not answered any questions about the accusations.
The dismissal also comes after Workhorse replaced its CEO and the company announced plans to redesign its flagship electric delivery van, which it had only just started making.
The USPS set out to replace its current mail trucks in 2015, hoping to make the fleet more fuel efficient and give mail carriers modern amenities like advanced safety features and air conditioning. Workhorse was one of the few companies that stuck it out to the final bids last year, and it claimed to be the only one proposing to build an entirely electric mail fleet.
But the Ohio-based company struggled as the contest dragged on, despite having some big-name companies like UPS and FedEx test some of its earlier vehicles. To keep itself afloat, Workhorse borrowed money from hedge funds and sold off parts of its business — including licensing the intellectual property for an electric pickup truck it never built to a new company started by its former CEO, Lordstown Motors.
The Postal Service selected Oshkosh in February, and the agency and the defense contractor revealed a new vehicle that is supposedly able to run on both gas and electric drivetrains. Oshkosh has agreed to make 50,000 to 165,000 of the trucks over 10 years. Only around 10 percent will be electric at the outset, and the ones that aren’t are supposed to be “fuel-efficient [and] low-emission,” though neither Oshkosh nor the USPS has backed up those terms with any numbers. The USPS has said it would need billions more dollars in funding to increase the number of all-electric vehicles it orders from Oshkosh.
Workhorse initially lodged an appeal with the USPS after the award was announced and then filed its bid protest in Federal Claims Court on June 16th. The USPS (and Oshkosh, which joined the case to support the agency’s defense) argued Workhorse was supposed to go through at least one more official step as laid out in the contest rules before it filed a federal lawsuit and tried to have the case dismissed on these grounds. Oral arguments on the USPS’s motion to dismiss were scheduled for Wednesday.
The USPS has been highly secretive about the particulars of the contest and its decision to go with Oshkosh. Workhorse has alleged that Oshkosh changed its plans at the end of the contest, and that the design revealed in February was never subject to the tests that the USPS required by its own rules. Workhorse also revealed in one of its own filings that the USPS told the startup there was at least one other all-electric entrant, and that even if the agency hadn’t selected Oshkosh, Workhorse still wouldn’t have won the contract.


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Microsoft has this week unveiled its new Project Scarlett games console which will be launching during the holiday season of 2020 and will be launched alongside the new Halo game Halo Infinite. Check out the announcement trailer below to learn more about what you can expect from the Xbox Project Scarlett.
Unfortunately Microsoft has not yet revealed many specifications for the new Xbox Project Scarlet system but explains that :
“Project Scarlett will set a new bar for console power, speed and performance, arriving Holiday 2020 alongside Halo Infinite. With a custom-designed AMD processor, high bandwidth GDDR6 memory, and a next generation solid state drive (SSD), Project Scarlett will give developers the power they need to bring their creative visions to life. Thousands of games across four console generations will look and play best on Project Scarlett. Unmatched power and speed ushers in a new level of game play performance and the future of gaming. With four generations of content that looks and feels unlike anything before.”
As soon as more details are announced, leaked or revealed we will keep you up to speed as always.
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Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.


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The Federal Trade Commission is calling out technology firms and gig-based companies such as Amazon and Uber for potentially deceiving or misleading those in financial distress with money-making pitches during the pandemic.
The commission on Tuesday put over 1,100 businesses — including gig-based companies such as Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacart, along with multilevel marketing companies such as LuLaRoe, Avon, and Mary Kay — on notice for potentially breaking the law through deceptive money-making schemes. The companies face penalties of up to $43,792 per violation.
“As the pandemic has left many in dire financial straits, money-making pitches have proliferated,” FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan tweeted. “From ‘gig’ firms that promise a steady income to multi-level marketing firms that offer the chance to own a business, Americans are bombarded with offers that can prove deceptive or misleading.”
The commission cited examples of unfair pitches made by companies, including marketing companies offering individuals the dream of business ownership, investment “coaches” with promises of secrets on how to beat the odds, and part-time “gigs” that advertise a steady second income on flexible hours.
DEMOCRATS UNVEIL PLAN TO SOAK MUSK, BEZOS, AND ZUCKERBERG TO PAY FOR BIDEN BILL
Companies like Uber and Lyft, for example, are known for not paying a minimum wage, in part because they legally define drivers as independent contractors and not full-time employees, but oftentimes make promises of paying drivers thousands of dollars a month and good working conditions, which some drivers have contested.
The notice of penalty from the commission says that just because a company has been put on its list of companies that may have engaged in unfair conduct doesn’t mean they have actually done anything wrong but serves to make them aware of where the law stands.
The commission voted to authorize the notice and its distribution on a bipartisan basis, with both Democratic and Republican commissioners voting in favor of it.
“Preying on consumers and workers with bogus promises of big earnings should never be profitable,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Today’s announcement helps ensure that companies that cheat struggling Americans will pay a heavy price.”
Companies receiving the warning notice also received a copy of the recently issued notice of penalty offenses concerning endorsements and testimonials, as gig companies and marketing firms frequently use misleading testimonials to advertise money-making opportunities.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Both FTC notices are intended to make clear to companies that it is illegal to use testimonials or advertisements to mislead consumers about the payoff of participating in a money-making opportunity.
Washington Examiner Videos
Tags: News, Policy, Economy, fraud, Lina Khan, FTC, Uber, Amazon
Original Author: Nihal Krishan
Original Location: FTC goes after gig economy and multilevel marketers for pandemic exploitationInternet Explorer Channel Network


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Wegmans is hosting a virtual hiring event for businesses in North Carolina
Wegmans Food Markets is hosting a virtual hiring event for four central North Carolina stores next week.
The company is seeking to fill more than 80 part-time and full-time positions in its Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Wake Forest and West Cary locations.
The event will take place on Tuesday, October 12th, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Positions available include merchandising, front-end, culinary, and perishable customer service.
Interested parties should apply online in advance. A member of the Wegmans recruiting team will then contact the applicants to schedule an appointment for the telephone interview.
All interviews are conducted virtually, by phone, without video.
Copyright © 2021 WTVD-TV. All rights reserved.


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Despite the global technology sector facing constraints related to semiconductor shortages and uncertain economic prospects, Apple has made the most significant gains in the smartphone market share over the past year as competitors struggle to catch up. The tech giant’s growth seems to be a direct impact of the company’s focus on innovative devices targeting different markets.
Data presented by Burga indicates that Apple’s estimated global smartphone market share surged 20% between 2021 Q1 and 2022 Q1, from 15% to 18%. Apple’s competitor, Samsung, has recorded the second-highest growth in market share at 9.09%. Despite Apple leading in market dominance growth, the company still trails Samsung, which controls an estimated 24% of the market as of 2022 Q1.
Elsewhere, other manufacturers led by Oppo and Vivo have both recorded a drop in market share by 20%. Xiaomi’s share dropped 7.14%, while other manufacturers have seen their share plunge by 3.57%.
The manufacturer’s market share represents sales in shipment estimates released in April 2022. Data on smartphone market share is provided by the technology market analyst firm Canalys.
Drivers of Apple’s market share growth
Apple’s growth in market share is likely a direct impact of general factors like growing disposable income, development of telecom infrastructure, the emergence of budget-specific smartphones, and an increase in the number of new smartphone launches.
Amid Apple’s growth, the smartphone space is still faced with challenges, including component shortages, price inflation, and the overall economic uncertainty resulting from the pandemic recovery.
Interestingly, Apple is gaining ground in market share despite the company’s smartphones mainly being considered expensive compared to competitors. It can be assumed that the devices are gaining more appeal with the company leveraging its loyal consumer base that is attracted by the devices’ regular new features and the overall innovative designs.
However, Apple has significantly expanded its reach in recent years by exploring new opportunities like capitalizing on the growing used smartphones sector, especially across the emerging markets.
Despite trailing Samsung, Apple’s growth in market share is a positive sign, with the company reaping from its strategy of diversifying the iPhone and iPad lineup.
Additionally, Apple continues to benefit significantly from specific markets like the United States, maintaining a lead by solid margins. The dominance in North America is from the increasing discretionary spending and introduction of 5G at lower price devices.
Furthermore, the iPhone 13 has led to Apple’s resurgence in the Chinese market mainly due to relatively low prices. Besides the iPhone 13 series capturing the consumer demand, the iPhone SE is also standing out as a critical mid-range smartphone driving Apple’s market share.
Samsung retains top spot despite slowed growth
Elsewhere, Samsung’s strategies amid the economic uncertainty have helped the company retain its market dominance. For instance, the South Korean giant has managed to keep the process of its Galaxy premium phones unchanged despite the pressure for upward pricing. The move has catered to a broader audience.
One of the strategies adopted by the manufacturers is to focus on segmented parts of the market to remain competitive. In this line, Samsung has ramped up its production for the A series phone targeting the mid-to-low end markets.
However, Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo continue to struggle despite expanding their distribution networks in key markets across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The companies aim to capitalize on the market share left behind by LG and Huawei.
Overall, the majority of the manufacturers recorded a decline in market share, mainly due to several supply and demand factors. The constraints have resulted in other secondary effects like increasing the average device replacement cycle that has become longer in markets like China. Notably, the delay in purchasing newly released smartphones is an emerging dilemma for most brands seeking to maintain their grip on the market.
Although most manufacturers have been hit with shortages like semiconductors, their strategies to adapt to the changes will influence their overall market share. However, some companies are moving to put in place mitigation measures like establishing semiconductor manufacturing facilities to minimize shortages.


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New ADA Light
Hey have any of you guys seen the next light ada is coming out with. I guess it suppose to be an led but have an aesthetic more similar to the solar series
Heres what was said on the Deutschland Facebook page
"Latest News from ADA Japan:
The new ADA lighting system it’s a pendant style LED lighting fixture characterized by high light intensity and optimum color rendering properties.
ADA is committed to developing this new item for launching in Spring 2016."


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Forecasters’ crystal balls are working overtime as experts attempt to predict the ongoing, far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraud has been a major concern (Off-site), including phishing and other digital scams against socially distanced consumers and businesses. This trend may accelerate as pandemic-related financial assistance comes to an end and individuals and businesses experience greater financial stress.
In an effort to help combat the emergence of synthetic identities, financial institutions, processors and fraud solution providers are putting a new tool to work: an industry-recommended definition of synthetic identity fraud (SIF) announced earlier this year by the Federal Reserve, which has already been incorporated into the FraudClassifierSM model. Awareness of synthetic identity fraud is greater than ever before across the payments ecosystem, according to fraud experts who participated in a Fed-convened focus group and helped develop this definition.
“Awareness and a common definition of synthetic identity fraud are particularly important for the small to mid-size financial institutions we serve,” said Jack Lynch, senior vice president and chief risk officer of PSCU, a cooperative serving 1,500 credit unions. “Fraudsters don’t decide to go after your credit card department alone – once they’ve used a synthetic identity to obtain a credit card, they can open a bank account and get an auto loan, too. Credit unions using a common definition across all departments can better see suspicious patterns across multiple channels and avoid misclassification of fraud as a loan loss.”
Since the definition was published, PSCU has provided information to its member credit unions and advised credit unions to educate (Off-site) end users about the importance of safeguarding personally identifiable information (PII) and signing up for credit monitoring. Synthetic identity fraud is the use of a combination of PII to fabricate a person or identity to commit a dishonest act for personal or financial gain. The record number of data breaches over the past few years has made consumers’ PII readily available to fraudsters. “Members need to know that fraudsters don’t need their entire identity to commit fraud – just fragments of information.”
The industry-recommended definition also is being used in TransUnion educational and marketing materials, said Lee Cookman, senior advisor of global fraud solutions at TransUnion. He added that the definition has provided “common ground” and facilitated “deeper conversations” about synthetic identity fraud with TransUnion customers and in fraud data exchanges offered by his company and third parties, where participants share information about potential fraud trends.
“In developing the definition, our focus group recognized that not all synthetic identities are created by the user with the intent to commit financial crimes or “bust out” fraud. Sometimes, people create identities to obtain credit despite previous bad debts or to apply for employment and housing,” Cookman said. “That’s one reason financial institutions may choose to apply our common definition in different ways. One bank may set a policy that minimizes false positives by screening for identities where there is a higher risk of loss, while another bank may have a zero-tolerance policy and seek to identify as many potential synthetics as possible. In either case, a bank will create a separate workflow to step up its Know Your Customer compliance and identity verification as needed to differentiate synthetics from identity theft and ‘real’ customers.”
In addition, Cookman credited the Social Security Administration’s electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service (eCBSV) (Off-site) as a tool that is helping reduce synthetic identity fraud. Launched in 2020 and expanding this year, eCBSV enables registered financial institutions to verify a customer’s Social Security number with the customer’s electronic consent.
Claire Le Gal has a bird’s-eye view of global fraud trends as senior vice president of fraud intelligence and strategy at Mastercard. Her role ranges from analyzing and understanding fraud trends globally to refining Mastercard’s network rules and products to defend against fraud by closing “loopholes.”
“Minimizing reliance on personally identifiable information is a core component of our Privacy by Design approach,” Le Gal said. “At the same time, the security of our network depends on our ability to look holistically at information related to transactions to validate a purchase or indicate possible fraud, including a number of the elements found in the synthetic identity fraud definition such as the digital footprint of a customer.”
“Consumer education is very important. Mastercard encourages its card issuers to educate their customers about how to protect themselves from synthetic identity fraud,” she added. “Fraudsters take the path of least resistance. The United States is often more lucrative for fraud than other countries as the purchasing power of U.S. consumers tend to be higher than in other countries. Using this new definition is a step toward a common understanding of how to speak to consumers about SIF.”
Read more about the focus group’s efforts, the development of this definition and additional ways the industry may apply it.


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Iress, the financial software company, has developed a new feed handler for pan-European retail exchange Equiduct’s Volume-weighted Best Bid and Offer (VBBO) market data feed, which will act as an alternative feed from traditional exchanges and consolidate 15 European markets, including Equiduct’s own central limit order book.
The new solution will be available with Iress’s QuantFeed and ConsolidatedFeed market data solutions and will provide pre-trade, real-time transparency for best execution services. The new feed-handler for VBBO was launched for end clients at the beginning of March 2023. Iress and Equiduct plan to co-promote the new solution to retail banks and retail brokerages across the UK and Continental Europe in the coming months.
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According to the company, accommodation services are themselves responsible for collecting and paying VAT.
Italian police suspect Dutch accommodation broker Booking.com of evading VAT for € 153 million. According to the news agency Reuters.
Booking.com acts as an intermediary between the accommodation services and their guests. Private accommodation services often do not have a VAT number, so the Italian tax authorities consider the intermediary service to be responsible for paying the taxes.
However, according to two Reuters sources, Genoa police have found out that Booking.com has unpaid VAT in Italy between 2013 and 2019.
Company has acknowledged receipt of the tax audit report and intends to discuss the matter with the Italian tax authorities.
According to the company, hotels and other accommodation services using the platform it provides are themselves responsible for collecting and paying VAT in Italy and other European Union countries.
The criminal investigation into the case is ongoing and the Italian tax authorities are launching a separate lawsuit, at the end of which Booking.com will have to decide whether to pay taxes or deny abuse.