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Consolidated Communications today unveiled enhancements to its unified communications solution, based on collaboration with BroadSoft. The offering, to be known as Consolidated ProConnect, offers video conferencing, web meetings, desktop sharing, mobile client, instant messaging, presence, call handling and other features that easily integrate into many of today’s most common business applications.
“Having the power to easily connect from anywhere is essential to today’s mobile workforce,” said Doug Abolt, vice president of commercial product management at Consolidated Communications, in a prepared statement regarding the company’s latest announcement. “When there’s a disjointed communications process, businesses may experience up to a 40 percent drop in productivity. Our comprehensive Unified Communications solution helps businesses move forward and improve communications with a seamless experience. According to Forrester Research, businesses that implement a UC solution report a 72% increase in productivity and a 91% uptick in improved collaboration.”
Today’s news about Consolidated ProConnect continues a trend of Consolidated Communications building its business portfolio over the last several months.
A month ago, we reported that the company had moved into northern New England with the telecom company’s security solution, giving businesses a fully-managed, highly-available security option. The Consolidated On-Site Secure package includes four core feature sets that together secure user applications in addition to thwarting threats that impact business continuity.
In May, Consolidated Communications joined the parade of companies offering SD-WAN, software-based network technology that provides simplified management and automation of WAN connections.
A month earlier, the company announced the launch of BusinessOne, a new bundle of broadband and voice services for the SMB segment. A primary goal of the new offering is to differentiate the telco’s business broadband service from growing competitive cable business service offers.


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Apple King Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote (dubbed "Stevenote" by techies) wasn't well-received on Wall Street: the company's stock fell 5.5 percent following the annual address, more than twice the
2.5 percent decline of the larger Nasdaq Composite Index. Apparently, a new ultra-thin laptop, a video rental service, a new-look Apple TV, and a bunch of new software upgrades weren't enough for the
legions of Mac-hungry investors.
Indeed, it would be hard to trump last year's iPhone unveiling, but industry critics believe this year's Macworld was just as impactful as the 2007
edition. "Even in a year where there were no tsunamis coming out of Macworld, the company showed that it can still make waves," Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said. With the 0.8-inch
thick MacBook Air (cost: $1800), "they're creating products that hard-core fans and new customers can love, too," he said.
In an interview, Jobs said: "This time, I think we
nailed it," with regard to the movie rental service and Apple TV. 20th Century Fox CEO Jim Gianopolous characterized the movie rental arrangement as a "no-brainer." The News Corp. studio and four
other majors agreed to rent movies through iTunes. "I think this will be a transformative version of the rental model," Gianopolous added.
Jobs said the rental service is something Apple had been after for some time. "We think this is the way most people are going to want to get their movies. The lightbulb went off for us on this quite a while ago."

domain: news


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|By PR Newswire||
|January 17, 2013 08:00 AM EST||
TYSONS CORNER, Va., Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MicroStrategy® Incorporated (Nasdaq: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence (BI) and mobile software, today announced that it will host its 16th annual conference, MicroStrategy World 2013, on January 28-31 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
MicroStrategy World 2013 will bring together some of the foremost software technology visionaries, experts, and practitioners in one forum, presenting valuable opportunities for learning and networking. Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy and New York Times best-selling author of The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Software Will Change Everything, will discuss the future of mobile technology and how its impact will transform our lives. Featured speakers will also include Ivan Brockman, Senior Managing Partner at Blackstone Advisory Partners, the world's premier asset management and advisory firm, speaking on "The Emerging Software Landscape: An Investor's Perspective," as well as executives from a number of MicroStrategy's customers.
This four-day event will showcase MicroStrategy's leading platform for BI, mobile reporting and commerce, and Big Data analytics delivered either on premises or in the cloud. At the conference the Company will also be highlighting its disruptive new products that provide: real-time insight into consumer preferences; mobile retail commerce; robust data discovery; and effective identity management and cyber security. Conference attendees will learn about MicroStrategy's seven core product areas, including:
- MicroStrategy's leading BI Platform and why companies continue to choose it to deliver mission-critical reports and dashboards to business users via the web and Microsoft desktop tools. A large number of MicroStrategy customers will be discussing how MicroStrategy's BI products have dramatically improved their operating results or corporate performance.
- MicroStrategy's acclaimed mobile platform and how it has helped hundreds of enterprises rapidly build mobile apps for Apple and Android™-based smart phones, tablets, and other devices. The event will highlight mobile solutions for field sales reps with pre-meeting analysis, product videos, sales presentations and access to sales force automation (SFA) systems, making them more effective and productive.
- MicroStrategy Cloud™, a BI platform-as-a-service offering, and how it allows companies to deploy BI apps and mobile apps using MicroStrategy's BI Platform and MicroStrategy's Mobile App Platform more quickly and with lower financial risk than with traditional on-premises solutions.
- MicroStrategy Express™, the fastest way for companies, departments, and small businesses to build and deploy MicroStrategy-caliber BI and mobile apps without the assistance of IT. Learn how MicroStrategy Express guides business people through a streamlined flow -- from data-to-discovery-to-dashboard-to-distribution -- and is available as a cloud-based service to allow instant start up.
- MicroStrategy Wisdom™, an analytic application that provides an instant focus group of 18 million people and enables companies to derive insights that can make marketing activities ten times more effective when targeting consumer segments by using the full power of the Big Data residing in social, mobile, and cloud-based networks.
- MicroStrategy Alert, a mobile commerce application designed to help retail companies compete and win in the new mobile world by providing a mobile channel for marketing, commerce, and loyalty. Attendees will learn how this world-class mobile commerce and loyalty app can be up and running in a few weeks.
- MicroStrategy Usher™, an application that offers an effective new model for identity management and cyber security. Learn how Usher provides businesses with a mobile app that can replace plastic employee IDs and customer cards with a mobile ID which, in turn, offers a more effective way to manage workforces, provides more secure customer service, and reduces the threat of cyber attacks.
More than 25 world-class companies will present their best practices on how they use MicroStrategy to improve operational efficiencies, increase revenues, and enhance business performance. Among the companies scheduled to present are: Adobe Systems, Alarm.com, American University, Angel.com, AutoTrader.com, BMC Software, Boston Children's Hospital, Catalina Marketing, Con-way Freight, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Dell, Domino's Pizza, Eagle Investment Systems, eBay, Enova Financial, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, HMS, Huntington National Bank, Ingram Micro, Kinross Gold Corporation, Netflix, Novation, PPL, SWIFT, Tapjoy, The Container Store, Time Warner Cable, and Yahoo!.
At MicroStrategy World 2013, participants will be able to attend any of the 100+ informative sessions and interact with MicroStrategy's ecosystem of technology partners in the exhibit hall. Conference attendees will learn about complementary solutions and services from MicroStrategy technology partners, including: Accenture, Actian, Adastra, AirWatch, Analytics8, AT&T, Business Elements, Cisco, Cloudera, DataMeaning, DataFactZ, Datastrong, Deloitte, Denovo Services, emids Technologies, ESRI, EZ Data Systems, FMS, Fuzzy Logix, Good Technology, HCL, High Impact Technologies, HP Vertica, IBM, Indigo, InfoCepts, Informatica, Invexer Technology, iOLAP, Keystrata, Kognitio, Lancet Software, Longview Solutions, Pandera, ParAccel, Project X, Qstride, Scalable Systems, Smartbridge, Software by Design, Southport Services Group, Syncsort, Systech Solutions, Talend, TDWI, Technosoft, Teradata, Third I, Visual Crossing, and VMware.
"MicroStrategy World provides a great opportunity to hear about MicroStrategy technology breakthroughs in cutting-edge business analytics, market-leading mobile solutions, and innovative cloud services that can enhance the performance and efficiency of your business," said Michael Saylor, Chairman and CEO of MicroStrategy. "Attendees will hear real-life enterprise-scale customer case studies from leaders in each industry and take home valuable business strategies that will help them to seize growth opportunities."
Registration information and a preliminary agenda for MicroStrategy World 2013 are available at http://www.microstrategy.com/microstrategyworld/. Members of the media can attend the conference free of charge and should RSVP to [email protected].
About MicroStrategy Incorporated
Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a leading provider of enterprise software platforms for business intelligence, mobile intelligence, and social intelligence applications. MicroStrategy's BI platform enables leading organizations worldwide to analyze the vast amounts of data stored across their enterprises to make better business decisions. Companies choose MicroStrategy BI for its ease-of-use, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. MicroStrategy's mobile intelligence platform helps companies and organizations build, deploy, and maintain mobile apps across a range of solutions by embedding intelligence, transactions, and multimedia into apps. MicroStrategy's social intelligence platform includes a number of applications that help enterprises harness the power of social networks for marketing and e-commerce, as well as a suite of free consumer friendly apps that use MicroStrategy's enterprise technologies. The MicroStrategy Cloud offering combines MicroStrategy and third-party software, hardware, and services to enable rapid, cost-effective development of hosted BI, mobile, and social applications. To learn more about MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR), visit www.microstrategy.com and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/microstrategy) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/microstrategy).
MicroStrategy, MicroStrategy Cloud, MicroStrategy Express, MicroStrategy Wisdom, and MicroStrategy Usher are either trademarks or registered trademarks of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE MicroStrategy Incorporated
The BPM world is going through some evolution or changes where traditional business process management solutions really have nowhere to go in terms of development of the road map. In this demo at 15th Cloud Expo, Kyle Hansen, Director of Professional Services at AgilePoint, shows AgilePoint’s unique approach to dealing with this market circumstance by developing a rapid application composition or development framework.
Dec. 20, 2014 01:00 PM EST Reads: 1,060
SYS-CON Events announced today Isomorphic Software, the global leader in high-end, web-based business applications, will exhibit at SYS-CON's DevOps Summit 2015 New York, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Isomorphic Software is the global leader in high-end, web-based business applications. We develop, market, and support the SmartClient & Smart GWT HTML5/Ajax platform, combining the productivity and performance of traditional desktop software ...
Dec. 20, 2014 01:00 PM EST Reads: 1,069
"BSQUARE is in the business of selling software solutions for smart connected devices. It's obvious that IoT has moved from being a technology to being a fundamental part of business, and in the last 18 months people have said let's figure out how to do it and let's put some focus on it, " explained Dave Wagstaff, VP & Chief Architect, at BSQUARE Corporation, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held Nov 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 20, 2014 12:00 PM EST Reads: 1,921
The major cloud platforms defy a simple, side-by-side analysis. Each of the major IaaS public-cloud platforms offers their own unique strengths and functionality. Options for on-site private cloud are diverse as well, and must be designed and deployed while taking existing legacy architecture and infrastructure into account. Then the reality is that most enterprises are embarking on a hybrid cloud strategy and programs. In this Power Panel at 15th Cloud Expo (http://www.CloudComputingExpo.com...
Dec. 20, 2014 11:30 AM EST Reads: 2,356
"Our premise is Docker is not enough. That's not a bad thing - we actually love Docker. At ActiveState all our products are based on open source technology and Docker is an up-and-coming piece of open source technology," explained Bart Copeland, President & CEO of ActiveState Software, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at DevOps Summit at Cloud Expo®, held Nov 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 20, 2014 11:00 AM EST Reads: 1,935
The Internet of Things is not new. Historically, smart businesses have used its basic concept of leveraging data to drive better decision making and have capitalized on those insights to realize additional revenue opportunities. So, what has changed to make the Internet of Things one of the hottest topics in tech? In his session at @ThingsExpo, Chris Gray, Director, Embedded and Internet of Things, discussed the underlying factors that are driving the economics of intelligent systems. Discover ...
Dec. 20, 2014 11:00 AM EST Reads: 2,234
SYS-CON Events announced today that Windstream, a leading provider of advanced network and cloud communications, has been named “Silver Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9–11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Windstream (Nasdaq: WIN), a FORTUNE 500 and S&P 500 company, is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, p...
Dec. 20, 2014 10:45 AM EST Reads: 2,217
The move in recent years to cloud computing services and architectures has added significant pace to the application development and deployment environment. When enterprise IT can spin up large computing instances in just minutes, developers can also design and deploy in small time frames that were unimaginable a few years ago. The consequent move toward lean, agile, and fast development leads to the need for the development and operations sides to work very closely together. Thus, DevOps become...
Dec. 20, 2014 10:00 AM EST Reads: 2,003
Verizon Enterprise Solutions is simplifying the cloud-purchasing experience for its clients, with the launch of Verizon Cloud Marketplace, a key foundational component of the company's robust ecosystem of enterprise-class technologies. The online storefront will initially feature pre-built cloud-based services from AppDynamics, Hitachi Data Systems, Juniper Networks, PfSense and Tervela. Available globally to enterprises using Verizon Cloud, Verizon Cloud Marketplace provides a one-stop shop fo...
Dec. 20, 2014 09:00 AM EST Reads: 1,932
AppZero has announced that its award-winning application migration software is now fully qualified within the Microsoft Azure Certified program. AppZero has undergone extensive technical evaluation with Microsoft Corp., earning its designation as Microsoft Azure Certified. As a result of AppZero's work with Microsoft, customers are able to easily find, purchase and deploy AppZero from the Azure Marketplace. With just a few clicks, users have an Azure-based solution for moving applications to the...
Dec. 20, 2014 09:00 AM EST Reads: 945
“In the past year we've seen a lot of stabilization of WebRTC. You can now use it in production with a far greater degree of certainty. A lot of the real developments in the past year have been in things like the data channel, which will enable a whole new type of application," explained Peter Dunkley, Technical Director at Acision, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 20, 2014 08:00 AM EST Reads: 1,272
SYS-CON Events announced today that IDenticard will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. IDenticard™ is the security division of Brady Corp (NYSE: BRC), a $1.5 billion manufacturer of identification products. We have small-company values with the strength and stability of a major corporation. IDenticard offers local sales, support and service to our customers across the United States and Canada...
Dec. 20, 2014 07:00 AM EST Reads: 2,083
SYS-CON Events announced today that AIC, a leading provider of OEM/ODM server and storage solutions, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. AIC is a leading provider of both standard OTS, off-the-shelf, and OEM/ODM server and storage solutions. With expert in-house design capabilities, validation, manufacturing and production, AIC's broad selection of products are highly flexible and are conf...
Dec. 20, 2014 07:00 AM EST Reads: 1,860
Leysin American School is an exclusive, private boarding school located in Leysin, Switzerland. Leysin selected an OpenStack-powered, private cloud as a service to manage multiple applications and provide development environments for students across the institution. Seeking to meet rigid data sovereignty and data integrity requirements while offering flexible, on-demand cloud resources to users, Leysin identified OpenStack as the clear choice to round out the school's cloud strategy. Additional...
Dec. 20, 2014 06:30 AM EST Reads: 1,935
The cloud is becoming the de-facto way for enterprises to leverage common infrastructure while innovating and one of the biggest obstacles facing public cloud computing is security. In his session at 15th Cloud Expo, Jeff Aliber, a global marketing executive at Verizon, discussed how the best place for web security is in the cloud. Benefits include: Functions as the first layer of defense Easy operation –CNAME change Implement an integrated solution Best architecture for addressing network-l...
Dec. 20, 2014 05:00 AM EST Reads: 1,297
“We help people build clusters, in the classical sense of the cluster. We help people put a full stack on top of every single one of those machines. We do the full bare metal install," explained Greg Bruno, Vice President of Engineering and co-founder of StackIQ, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 15th Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 19, 2014 11:45 PM EST Reads: 1,304
DevOps Summit 2015 New York, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that it is now accepting Keynote Proposals. The widespread success of cloud computing is driving the DevOps revolution in enterprise IT. Now as never before, development teams must communicate and collaborate in a dynamic, 24/7/365 environment. There is no time to wait for long development cycles that produce software that is obsolete...
Dec. 18, 2014 09:45 PM EST Reads: 1,102
“DevOps is really about the business. The business is under pressure today, competitively in the marketplace to respond to the expectations of the customer. The business is driving IT and the problem is that IT isn't responding fast enough," explained Mark Levy, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Serena Software, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at DevOps Summit, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 18, 2014 08:00 PM EST Reads: 1,292
Mobile commerce traffic is surpassing desktop, yet less than 20% of sales in the U.S. are mobile commerce sales. In his session at 15th Cloud Expo, Dan Franklin, Segment Manager, Commerce, at Verizon Digital Media Services, defined mobile devices and discussed how next generation means simplification. It means taking your digital content and turning it into instantly gratifying experiences.
Dec. 18, 2014 12:00 PM EST Reads: 1,179


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Posted by: Luke Jones in Apple news, iOS News, iPhone News, tags: iPhone News, Other Apple News, Samsung
The idea of Apple catching up with Samsung in terms of how many smartphone it sells seemed almost impossible less than a year ago. Samsung was completely in control of the market and Apple was just happy in its own place in the market selling big numbers and making huge amounts of money. However, in the last quarter Apple managed to reel in its great rival and both companies sold 74.5 million units.
The October to December quarter saw Samsung’s decline continue while Apple sold record amounts of the iPhone. Samsung fell from 86 million devices from 2013 while Apple increased from 51 million in 2013. An amazing turn of events saw Apple meet Samsung head on, and sure it is probably not going to last in future corners, but this is a severe bloodying of the nose for Samsung. Interestingly, I like to remind that Apple only has five smartphones on the market, while Samsung has nearly 40… it’s amazing to think that many really thought Samsung would end up ending Apple’s dominance over the industry.


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We have been hearing rumors for some time that Apple is working on a new iPad with a higher resolution display, possible a similar Retina display to the one found in the iPhone 4.
Now more references to a higher resolution display have been found in the iOS 4 SDK, with references to an iPad screen resolution of 1536 x 2048, something that have been found previously in earlier versions of Apple’s iOS SDK.
There have been a number of rumors that Apple would launch the iPad 3 some time near the end of 2011, and that it would feature this new higher resolution display.
Samsung recently unveiled a new prototype tablet display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels which is designed for tablets, considering that Samsung supplies Apple they could also be producing the retina display for the iPad 3.
Apple launched the iPad 2 earlier this year, and it featured the same resolution display as the first generation iPad, it could be possible that Apple would launch the iPad 3 later this year, and we suspect that it would be called the iPad HD, and could be sold alongside the existing iPad 2 rather than replacing the iPad 2.
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 more.


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Ford to invest billions in EV
BBC reports that Ford will boost its investment in electric vehicles to £8bn in the next five years, more than doubling a previous commitment.
Chairman Bill Ford said the car maker would have 40 hybrid and fully electric vehicles in its range by 2022.
Speaking at the Detroit Auto, Bill Ford said the firm would offer 16 fully electric vehicles by 2022 and 24 plug-in hybrids. ‘We’re all in on this and we’re taking our mainstream vehicles, our most iconic vehicles, and we’re electrifying them,’ said Ford. ‘If we want to be successful with electrification, we have to do it with vehicles that are already popular.’


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|Weekly News Digest
March 30, 2017 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIís Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
Amazon Buys Middle Eastern Web Store
Amazon will acquire Souq.com, a Middle Eastern ecommerce site. Amazon can use Souq.com to increase its product offerings, and Souq.com can grow its business. Closing conditions are expected to be worked out in 2017.
The companies “share the same DNA—we’re both driven by customers, invention, and long-term thinking,” says Russ Grandinetti, Amazon’s SVP of international consumers.
“By becoming part of the Amazon family, we’ll be able to vastly expand our delivery capabilities and customer selection much faster, as well as continue Amazon’s great track record of empowering sellers,” says Ronaldo Mouchawar, Souq.com’s CEO and co-founder.
For more information, read the press release.
Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor


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Chandigarh, December 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) A total of 187.23 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy was purchased in Punjab during the Kharif season, Food and Civilian Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said on Wednesday.
In addition, 97,000 MT were purchased by private traders.
The minister said Rs 36,257.30 crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of 820,174 beneficiaries.
He said the state had established 3,109 purchasing centers for the supply of paddy.
He said the Union government had postponed the purchase of paddy until October 11, which would have caused huge losses to farmers. With the intervention of Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, the Central government withdrew the decision and started purchasing from October 3. The shopping season ended on November 30.
The state had formed 150 flying squads to verify false invoices and unauthorized imports of paddy from other states. A total of 4,695.20 quintals of paddy were seized from 21 vehicles during the journey.
Ashu said that in order to tackle the shortage of jute bags, the state government specially organized West Bengal bags.


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Finally after years of speculations the Apple TV is going to unveiled soon. According to rumors, the current Apple’s TV product is known as Apple TV set-top box, it expected to be released in soon. The Apple TV set-top box is having 4K resolution and with additional features like game controls more.
According to reports from Bloomberg the Apple TV set-top box will be launcher anytime soon in the ongoing year. The Apple TV set-top box will support HDR for more vivid colors, the HDR technology is now getting popularity on upcoming TV supporting 4K resolution.
As mentioned above the Apple TV also supports casual gaming, not only this but it has developed a game controller for the best gaming experience. Apple always have focus on something more innovative devices, the live stream service will also be available through this device.
Apple is also celebrating it’s 10 Anniversary with many surprises, the release of iPhone 8 is also expected even earlier then usual. The Apple TV set-top box is expected to be unveiled at Worldwide Developers Conference this June.


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Police last month arrested John Grassano, 42, and 20-year-old Sean Loychik, after Grassano allegedly put three breast pumps valued at nearly $1,000 into a shopping cart. Loychik pushed the cart out of the store as Grassano talked to a cashier.
Police last week learned of about a dozen other instances dating to July in which Grassano or Grassano and Loychik absconded with more than 40 breast pumps valued at about $15,000. Investigators applied for warrants in the cases, which were documented on surveillance video.
A store manager on Oct. 11 noticed the two men and thought they looked looked "exactly like" two men who'd stolen breast pumps and baby monitors Oct. 5.
After being shown the video at the time, Loychik started crying
and told police Grassano paid him $50 for his "illicit efforts".
Grassano and Loychik on Oct. 11 had breast pumps and video monitors in their cart, though left them near an exit after Grassano noticed police.
Grassano initially said the pumps were for his daughter, who is carrying Loychik's child, according to a report. After an officer asked why he needed four breast pumps, Grassano said he sells them on eBay.


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If you've been looking for a product that will help you understand circuitry and coding, the Pi-Top modular laptop might be for you. The new laptop has several enhancements from the previous model.
Although CES is a little way off, it appears that Dell isn't shy about showing off something new before its official release. The firm gave a sneak peek at its latest XPS 13 in a new color and design.
Chuwi has been around for some time, offering an array of laptops, tablets, and other computing products. Now, it appears that it will be releasing a laptop that looks similar to Apple's MacBook Air.
Lenovo's Legion Y920 is the flagship of the pack, and with a 17.3-inch 1080p display that supports Nvidia's G-Sync technology, a GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, and an HK-series processor, it's a beast.
Along with the very likely introduction of new luggage screening procedures by the TSA for domestic flights, Homeland Security may ban all laptops in the cabin of any flight into or out of the USA.
Acer has launched its self-proclaimed "world's thinnest laptop," the Acer Swift 7, which measures less than a centimeter thick. With this model, Acer takes the title back from HP's Spectre ultrabook.
More details have been leaked out about Xiaomi laptops. The leak reveals what CPU could be used, and how much RAM is inside. The devices will be announced July 27 and could ship with Windows 10.
At the Computex event in Taipei, MSI has announced powerful new gaming laptops with Windows 10 out-of-the-box. The devices are VR-ready and will be available for retail in August.
New images have surfaced showing a new Samsung Ultrabook weighing just 1.9 pounds or 860 grams and measuring half an inch thick. The new laptop will likely be introduced at CES next week.
If you're in the market for a hybrid laptop, you might want to take a look at the Lenovo's latest, the Yoga 700. The '700' will be offered in an 11 and 14-inch variant and will start at $699.
HP has announced that in collaboration with 3M they plan to offer native privacy protectors in laptops, toggle-able via a keyboard shortcut. Currently, the company plans to offer the displays by 2016.
Another security breach was found in Lenovo's computers. The company was found automatically reinstalling its own software even when a computer had been wiped clean on an installation of Windows.
A research organization has found that smartphones are now the preferred method of Britons when going online. Also, it was revealed that over a billion selfies were taken in the past year.
Dell has announced that it will start shipping its Windows 10 devices on July 28, one day before the OS officially launches. The company is also celebrating the launch with a "#DellLounge" event.
Samsung has confirmed that it is discontinuing sales of all laptops - including Windows notebooks and Chromebooks - in Europe, but says that it will continue to sell these devices in other markets.
HP is recalling around six million power cords that it shipped with notebooks and accessories, citing a "risk of a fire and burn hazard to customers", after 29 instances of the cords overheating.
The USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced the completion of the USB Type-C spec allowing new devices to have far slimmer USB cables and connectors. It also supports SuperSpeed and USB power upto 100w
US-bound passengers will be required to prove that their mobile devices turn on, as the TSA increases airport security to deal with the 'credible threat' of a bomb disguised as a phone or tablet.
Microsoft and Toshiba have announced that the PC maker will release two notebooks with 4K displays and Windows 8.1 in mid-2014 including one, the Satellite P50t, with a touchscreen.
An advisory committee to the Federal Aviation Administration has reportedly recommended more relaxed rules on electronics like laptops and tablets on commercial flights.
Samsung has announced it has begun to mass produce the first 3D Vertical NAND flash storage chips, which will support as many as 24 cell layers stacked vertically.
A new survey of college students shows that 82 percent of them own laptops and 80 percent own smartphones but just 18 percent of them own tablets, which could be a big help to the PC market.
Samsung says it will be showing off new displays this week that will include a 2560x1600 WQXGA LCD for 10.1 inch tablets and a 3200x1800 WQXGA+ LCD display for 13.3 inch laptops.
When choosing the right laptop it all comes down to what you are willing to spend and what you plan to use it for. This guide will help you navigate through the countless options out there.
HP has revealed its new range of Ultrabooks as part of its premium Envy line. The five new super-sleek Windows 7 notebooks will all be released before the end of June.
A new report claims that Microsoft is working to integrate its Kinect motion gesture technology inside some Asus prototype notebooks that are running on Windows 8.
Vizio, best known for their affordable flat screen televisions, will be announced plans to release both Windows-based desktop and notebook PCs in 2012 at what may be very cheap prices.
CES is almost here, and Lenovo's showing off their new range of 2012 notebooks. There's quite a few, and the company didn't want to be left out of the Ultrabook fad, bringing the new chassis to light.
A new study claims that men who use WiFi-enabled laptops near their reproductive organs could be risking the loss of their sperm due to the electromagnetic radiation generated by the WiFi signal.
According to the organizer's of January 2012's CES expo, anywhere up to fifty new Ultrabook models could pour onto the market after the show.
Many of us have been here: You are driving down the road and you realize that you left your smartphone or laptop at the last place you were, or someone may have stolen it. What can you do?
This laptop from Samsung claims to be a powerhouse portable. Can it really be one, or is it all for show? Find out as Neowin puts the Samsung RC512-S01 through its paces.
Jumping around in front of your TV? That's not cool. Alienware is claiming that only real PC gaming is cool, and that they're the only ones that can save you from a depressing life of casual gaming.
According to Network World, Samsung has been installing key logging software on its laptop computers. On May 1 Mohamed Hassan, a graduate of the Master of Science in Information Assurance (MSIA) program at Norwich University,...
Last week Neowin reported on a shocking case at the Lower Merion High School district in Pennsylvania, U.S. The FBI confirmed later that they will be opening up a criminal investigation over the matter. Students issued...
On Thursday Neowin reported on a shocking case at the Lower Merion High School district in Pennsylvania, U.S. An FBI official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, confirmed they will be opening...
With 3rd quarter sales, revenue, and earnings posted and evaluated, several surprising facts come into play. iSuppli, a market research firm, has evaluated desktop and laptop sales, and for the first time ever, laptop shipments...
Hewlett-Packard early next year will begin offering a new line of "Enviro" batteries for laptop users who want to upgrade to longer-lasting and more sustainably designed batteries. HP and Boston Power have been testing the...
Sony is recalling 440,000 Vaio laptop computers worldwide because of wiring faults that could cause overheating. The recall concerns 19 Vaio models in the TZ series manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008 -...
As the release of low-cost laptops based on Intel's upcoming Atom Processor draws near, Microsoft is getting boxed into a corner. The software company plans to stop selling most Windows XP licenses after June 30,...


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From an article by Peter Aldhous in the BuzzFeed News web site: “Ancestry.com, the largest DNA testing company in the world, was served a search warrant to give police access to its database of some 16 million DNA profiles, but the company did not comply. “Ancestry received one request seeking access to Ancestry’s DNA database through a search warrant,” the company revealed in its 2019 transparency report released last week. […]
After years of wrangling in courts, Facebook finally has settled a lawsuit over its privacy-invasive use of facial recognition. Last year it agreed to stop turning on the tech to scan photos by default, which built a template of your facial data, and automatically suggested tags in photos based on it. Details may be found in an article by Richard Lawler in the engadget web site at https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/30/facebook-photo-tagging-facial-recognition. In other […]
An interesting article about privacy may be found at https://www.cityam.com/privacy-cannot-be-a-luxury-good-says-google-boss-sundar-pichai/.
Several governments, including the U.S., are pressuring Apple and other manufacturers to add “back doors” to all products that offer encryption. The latest example is a demand on Monday of this week when the FBI sent a letter to Apple requesting assistance to extract data from password-protected iPhones used by a suspected mass shooter. You can read more about that “demand” in an article by Kif Leswing published in the […]
According to an article in the Reuters news agency: “Brazil’s Ministry of Justice said on Monday it fined U.S. tech giant Facebook Inc 6.6 million reais ($1.6 million U.S.) for improperly sharing user data. “The ministry’s department of consumer protection said it had found that data from 443,000 Facebook users was improperly made available to developers of an App called ‘thisisyourdigitallife.’ The data was being shared for ‘questionable’ purposes, the […]
From the Associated Press: MOSCOW (AP) – Russia has banned the use on its territory of a smartphone app widely used like a walkie-talkie to organize demonstrations and other gatherings. The app, called Zello, reportedly has been popular among long-distance truckers in Russia who are conducting strikes to protest a road tariff system.
Facebook Tells US Attorney General It’s Not Prepared To Get Rid Of Encryption On WhatsApp And Messenger
Facebook said it would not weaken end-to-end encryption across its messaging apps, despite pressure from world governments, in a letter to US Attorney General Bill Barr and UK and Australian leaders. From a report by Ryan Mac in the BuzzFeed News: “People’s private messages would be less secure and the real winners would be anyone seeking to take advantage of that weakened security,” the company wrote to leaders in the […]
There’s no surprise here: More than 18 months after the scandal first broke, the Federal Trade Commission has officially ruled that Cambridge Analytica deceived consumers through its data-gathering practices. Details may be found in an article by Colin Lecher in TheVerge web site at: https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/6/20999078/ftc-cambridge-analytica-facebook-users-official-ruling-privacy-scandal.


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Australia – Insights consultancy company Bastion Insights has recently announced the appointment of Steven Howlett as its new managing director.
He will be leading Bastion’s Melbourne and Sydney insights teams and is expected to bring his 20 years of industry experience to the role.
Prior to joining Bastion Insights, Howlett held the role of executive director of commercial excellence at data, insights, and consulting company Kantar. He was also a partner at the global brand consulting agency Hall & Partners.
“What appealed to me most about joining the business, is that Bastion Insights provides a great mix of commercial, social, government and cross-cultural insights,” said Howlett.
He added, “Providing expert and considered advice to help every sector of the Australian economy. Couple this with being a part of Australasia’s largest independent marketing and communications group, the Bastion Think Wide strategy is exciting and market leading.”
Jack Watts, CEO of Bastion, also said, “It is terrific to have someone of Steven’s calibre and experience come on board to lead our Insights consultancy offering.”
He further explained, “Steven has made an immediate impact with our team and clients, and I look forward to this continuing as we work to grow our capabilities across commercial and brand clients, cross-cultural insights as well as nation changing government and social behavioural change campaigns.”


text: A crazy Thursday evening at the Sault Ste. Marie Walmart, with the parking lot so packed people were walking from down the I-75 Business Spur to find spaces. The store was packed wall to wall, especially in the center aisles where customers ripped plastic wrap off special Black Friday displays at 10 p.m. The Sault Ste. Marie Auxillary Police were called in beforehand to help handle security for the biggest shopping day of the year.


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Google and parent company Alphabet lost an appeal Wednesday against a landmark €4.3 billion antitrust fine in what lawyers described as a triumph for the aggressive antitrust enforcement approach pursued by competition czar Margrethe Vestager.
The decision from the General Court centered on a 2018 fine imposed by Brussels officials on the Mountain View, California-headquartered company for allegedly placing anti-competitive restrictions on manufacturers of mobile devices and mobile network operators to protect and bolster the dominant position of its search engine, Google Search, and the revenue from search advertisements. The fine was the largest ever given by a competition authority in Europe.
This is the second appeal the U.S. tech giant has lost against a billion-euro EU antitrust fine. Last year, the Luxembourg court of first instance for EU law sided with the European Commission in a challenge to a 2017 antitrust fine of €2.42 billion centering on Google’s comparison shopping service. A third appeal against a €1.49 billion antitrust fine over Google’s anti-competitive behavior in the online advertising space is outstanding, with a decision not expected before 2023.
In its judgment, the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union largely sided with the commission but lowered the fine to €4.13 billion, representing a 5% decrease.
Google was represented by a heavyweight quartet of elite law firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Garrigues, and White & Case, as well as London-based Monckton Chambers’ David Gregory and Meredith Pickford KC. The European Commission was represented by its own legal service.
In a statement sent to Law.com International, a Google spokesperson said, “We are disappointed that the Court did not annul the decision in full. Android has created more choice for everyone, not less, and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world.”
Dieter Paemen, a partner at Clifford Chance’s Brussels office who filed one of the complaints that led the commission to open the investigation that resulted in the 2018 fine, was pleased with the decision.
“I expect there will be some serious reflection in Mountain View,” he said. “Vestager’s stance regarding enforcement in the tech sector is already pretty bold—this win gives her cover to continue on that path. Hopefully, she will now focus on enforcing the remedies in the decision in a serious way.”
Google has two months and 10 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Justice, and Paemen said it was likely to do so. “The decision as upheld by the General Court is pretty solid though, and it’s hard to see Google getting a better outcome at the Court of Justice.”
Max Seuster, counsel at Reed Smith’s Brussels office, told Law.com International that the decision proves that anti-competitive practices in the online world can still be addressed through traditional antitrust enforcement.
“[The decision] brings comfort that antitrust enforcement can be an effective tool to address certain practices in the digital sector,” said Seuster, who was not involved in the Google case. “Getting these things right requires more diligence in the European Commission’s substantive, economic analysis and in the way the European Commission conducts its investigation and it ensures defense rights are sufficiently protected.”
He noted that the court also took issue with the commission’s flawed economic analysis in a recent decision over a €1 billion antitrust fine imposed on U.S. chipmaker Intel. Describing the commission’s analysis as “incomplete,” the court sided with Intel and scrapped the commission’s fine in its January 2022 decision. The commission has filed an appeal against the General Court’s ruling.


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Tag: Reebok Page 1 of 3
MISBHV presents its latest project. Hand in hand and again with Reebok the Polish brand presents a capsule with a clear focus: sport.
Adidas wants the sale signed, sealed and delivered by next March.
Reebok and Ubisoft announce their partnership and present a capsule collection inspired by the popular Assassin’s Creed saga. The result: ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA x REEBOK that will transport the user to a world of fantasy.
The cult skate firm Palace has teamed up again with Reebok to reinvent a classic. This time they have launched a version of the Classic Leather model: the…
This new release of the Reebok by Pyer Moss collaboration represents the final chapter in the “American, Also” story that inspired this collection.
Last October 11th was Cardi B’s birthday. To celebrate it, she posted a photo on his Instagram announcing his new collaboration. Can you guess with whom?
The collaboration between Reebok and Chromat is already on the market, we saw for the first time their joint version of the Instapump Fury at the FWNY.
Reebok, in partnership with Illumination, the global phenomenon Minions and Universal Brand Development, officially presents its new collection “Minions: The Rise of Gru”.
Reebok and Maison Margiela have made their partnership official based on this dream. A perfect mix between haute couture and streetwear.
C. Tangana has just appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine. Given his potential, the artist is considered one of the 100 most creative Spaniards in the business…
Reebok’s Instapump Fury, first introduced in 1994 and designed by Steven Smith, is still going strong after 26 years.
Reebok reinvents a classic. The new Classic Leather Legacy silhouette, inspired by 70s running shoes, is presented as the ideal everyday sneaker.
Eric Emanuel has once again joined forces with Reebok to launch the new Reebok Ready Colorful Club C capsule collection.
Reebok is redefining the concept of recycled clothing and footwear with [REE]CYCLED, its new collection of sustainable products.
Eric Emanuel and Reebok present a new model of the iconic Question Mid. This is a new version of the shoe of the legendary ex-basketball player Allen “The Answer”.
Reebok and Los Angeles urban fashion firm PLEASURES have presented their new collaboration based on the Beatnik.
Reebok collaborate with BlackEyePatch, one of Tokyo’s top fashion brands, in the collection: “Reebok DESIGNED BY BlackEyePatch”.
After multiple teasers during the spring, Nice Kicks and Reebok have announced the official release date of their Question Mid “Bubba Chuck”.
Since 1985 Reebok’s Club C has been positioned as a #must. The shape has lasted for decades and now in summer it’s the perfect time to get some.
Reebok presented its new collaboration with fashion brand Charli Cohen. In it, both brands explore the concept of exoskeleton.
Reebok returns to 1995 with basketball star Montrezl Harrell to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kamikaze II.


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New information about the Fujifilm X30 has been revealed ahead of the compact camera’s official announcement event, detailing the specs of the built-in electronic viewfinder.
The rumor mill has revealed that Fuji is working on a Sony RX100 III competitor a long time ago. It should have been launched earlier this summer as a replacement for the X20 and bearing the X30 retail name.
Eventually, the compact shooter has been delayed and now it is expected to become official at the Photokina 2014 or a few days prior to the world’s largest digital imaging event.
As the Cologne-based show is nearing quickly, sources familiar with the matter have leaked some new Fuji X30 specs, confirming that the device will pack an electronic viewfinder that is available in higher-end mirrorless cameras.
More Fuji X30 specs revealed: electronic viewfinder will be identical to the one found in the X-E2
A highly-trusted source is reporting that the built-in electronic viewfinder of the Fujifilm X30 will offer a 2.36-million-dot resolution. This feature is also provided in a couple of X-mount mirrorless cameras, such as the X-E2 and X-T1.
In addition, the EVF has been confirmed to offer a 100% coverage, which is certainly an improvement from the 85% coverage offered by the optical viewfinder of its predecessor.
Among the newly-leaked Fuji X30 specs, we can find that the viewfinder will provide a magnification rate of 0.62x. This puts the camera on par with the X-E2, which comes packed with an identical magnification.
This can only be good news for the people who have been disheartened upon hearing that the company will ditch the optical VF in favor of an electronic model.
Now that we can be certain that the X30 will sport a high-quality EVF, we can also be sure that the shooter will definitely be appealing to many photographers.
Fujifilm X30 will come packed with a 2/3-inch-type image sensor
Previously, the rumor mill has revealed that the X20 successor will feature a 2/3-inch-type image sensor. This information stills stands and there are no chances for the compact camera to employ a 1-inch-type sensor, as claimed at the beginning of the year.
The lens specs are still unknown, so it remains to be seen if the 28-112mm (35mm equivalent) optic will be improved in any way by Fujifilm.
For the fans of the X20, we should mention that stocks are emptying fast, as the shooter has been discontinued at most retailers. Amazon is still listing the camera, but shipping is estimated to take four to six weeks.
Thankfully, the Photokina 2014 is coming soon and Fuji’s future plans will become clearer. Stick with us to find out more details!


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Edtech startup BYJU’S has acquired TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson. The partnership is focussed on expanding the international reach and creating a diverse product portfolio.
Update [14 March 2018]: The Rise Of India’s Billion-Dollar Club: Edtech Startup BYJU’S Turns Unicorn
The announcement comes just three months after BYJU’s raised additional funding from Belgium-based diversified investment holding company Verlinvest. The funding was raised to boost BYJU’S international expansion and acquisition plans, announced earlier this year.
It was also reported that the company was in talks to acquire US-based gaming and learning startups to expand its footprints internationally. The focus is on companies providing learning solutions for lower grades starting from kindergarten. The ticket size of the potential acquisition(s) was reported to be in the range of $5 Mn-$30 Mn.
TutorVista is an online tutoring brands catering to school and college students in the US and gets millions of visitors every month on its website from across the globe. As mentioned in the press statement, about 70% of the visitors on the website are from the US. TutorVista had acquired Edurite in 2007. Edurite offers a wide range of self-paced learning CDs with content based on a cognitive learning approach.
Pearson had acquired 17% stake in TutorVista from K Ganesh and Meena Ganesh (Growthstory) in 2009. Later in 2011, Pearson further acquired 59% stake in the company for INR 577 Cr. and got the controlling stake of 80% post that.
Commenting on this acquisition, Byju Raveendran, founder & CEO, BYJU’S said, “This partnership will enhance our product offerings and give us access in some of the new markets when we launch our international products. We are excited to work with the talented and experienced team who will come on board as a part of this acquisition.”
“With increased brand awareness, our core offering – BYJU’S The Learning App – has witnessed massive adoption amongst students across grades (classes 4-12). We strongly believe that a product like ours can change the way students learn all across the world. Today, with a wider bandwidth, we have started creating similar products for the international markets that further boost our reach as well as product portfolio,” Byju further added.
Deepak Mehrotra, Managing Director of Pearson India said, “Edurite and TutorVista are pioneer brands in their respective spaces and enjoy great customer goodwill. We are pleased that a leading online education company in India sees value in the Edurite and TutorVista businesses, brands and employees. We hope that the businesses and employees thrive under the new ownership and wish them all the very best.”
Founded in 2011 by Byju Raveendran, BYJU’s offers learning programmes for class 4-12 & test preparation for JEE, AIPMT, CAT, IAS, GRE, & GMAT. It launched BYJU’s–The Learning App in 2015. With a reported 8 Mn users and 400K annual paid subscribers, BYJU’S creates personalised learning programmes for individual students based on their proficiency levels and capabilities which help them learn at their own pace and style.
Earlier, in December 2016, BYJU’s raised an undisclosed amount of funding from the investment firm International Financial Corporation (IFC). Prior to that, in September 2016, BYJU’s raised $50 Mn funding led by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), which was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan, along with Sequoia Capital. This investment came in close after Sequoia India and Sofina infused $75 Mn in the company, in March 2016.
Edtech in India
With the growing smartphone users, Internet penetration, more than 900 startups in edtech have managed to come up in the past two years.
According to a recent report by Google, KPMG, online education in India will see approximately 8x growth in the next five years and will have a significant impact on the market. The report mentioned that edtech market in India has a potential to touch $1.96 Bn by 2021 from where it stands now i.e. $247 Mn.
As per an Inc42 DataLabs report, around 125 Startups were funded between 2014 and 2016, garnering a total investment of $256 Mn, an average year-on-year growth of 49% in deals and 149% in total funding. Also, by Q1 2017, about $21.34 Mn (disclosed funds) was infused in the Indian edtech space across 11 deals. However, still, the average ticket size of funding in edtech is comparatively less than other major sectors such as ecommerce.
Other players in the edtech space in India include – Embibe, Toppr, Avagmah, iProf, Meritnation, Simplilearn, among others. Let’s see how the acquisition of TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson will help BYJU’s enhance its product offerings and the launch of its international products.


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Over the last month we have discovered some fantastic developments within the hemp industry in Australia.
Queensland Hemp Association AGM Last week Queensland Hemp Association annual general was held in Brisbane which was well attended by local industry stakeholders. A record of the meeting will be available soon on the QHA’s website. Some key points included the objective of the Association to have the QLD government enact hemp legislation for the state. Currently QLD is the only state that has the hemp industry under the Misuse of Drug Act. Also, the QHA will be asking the QLD government to support the establishment of industrial hemp as an approved carbon sequestrator on the ESG list of approved plants. The executive will be seeking a meeting with the QLD minister for agriculture.
Processing facility for industrial hemp fibre Also, we learnt about the Wandarra Pty Ltd project plans establishing a processing facility in the Townsville region for industrial hemp fibre. This is a major development for the industry and Wandarra have been working on this project for a number of years securing key processing technology, industry funding and markets.
Synergies with the sugar cane industry During my travels throughout Queensland I managed to catch up with 6 growers and viewed some of their crops which were growing very nicely. Mostly through the Burdekin region, where out of season plantings (winter planting) were producing great seed bulking crops for fibre varieties. In this region I saw evidence of important synergies with the sugar cane production system. If you are interested, you can read Jo Muscat’s Nuffield report on the subject on the Nuffield website which covers this in detail.
Fibre processing projects During my last 6 weeks of travel I have discovered that there are no fewer than 6 major fibre processing projects in the pipeline, right across the eastern seaboard, all these projects are in excess $1M investments each. With all this activity, we need the government to understand the significance of the growth of the Australian hemp industry and provide more effective support through increased research investment and provide a more favourable legislative environment.
Hemp Industry Cooperative Research Centre Another industry highlight last week was the stakeholders meeting for the hemp industry CRC bid lead by Professor Gavin Ash, Hemp CRC Bid Interim CEO from the University of Southern Queensland. With around 60 attendees we were given an update on the research proposals which the group reviewed. The content was well structured and comprehensive, which will be further improved before submission. The CRC presentation will be available to view on the AHC website. To date the CRC has funding commitments of $45M, if the CRC application is successful we can expect corresponding government contributions, with the addition of in-kind contributions we are looking at a research investment of $180M into the Australian hemp industry over the next 10 years. This is very exciting news for the industry and will set Australia as a world leader in hemp research, thus placing us in a very competitive position internationally. Only with an easing of government regulation and restrictions on the hemp industry with legislative review, will Australia be able to take full advantage of the opportunities before us.
August Council Meeting News
Jaimie Milling (president ihemp NSW) has been having discussions with Selena Sylvester, a Tamworth based vet who works mainly in the equine sector. Selena has been doing a lot of R&D into the use of hemp products and lobbying to allow for further use of hemp products for the benefit of animals, in particular horses. The AHC is very much in support of her work and she has seen a significant amount of evidence of hemp oils devoid of any cannabinoids having their own benefits on the animals.
Tasmania In Tasmania things are quiet during the winter. The Tasmanian government, which has been a great supporter of our industry, has granted the Tasmanian Hemp Association $100,000 to run a social media campaign promoting the benefits of Tasmanian hemp food to the community. This is an industry first and we are looking forward to a boost in sales of Tasmanian hemp, and hemp products in general. The THA has engaged Kingthing Marketing based in Launceston, who have been developing their marketing plan, the campaign will start in earnest in the next few weeks, so keep an eye on your social media. We have learnt that nationally there is still an oversupply of hemp seed, which seems to be the case in New Zealand as well. However, current expectations on planting area for Tasmania seem to be similar to last years. ECS Botanics have sold their food division to Ananda foods, and currently have their Tasmanian assets on the market.
South Australia In South Australia, it looks like hemp seed plantings will be minimal this year due to the current oversupply. There is news of a major fibre processing facility being established in South Australia with plans to grow around 300ha of fibre crops.
Victoria We are pleased see growth in membership for Regenerative Hemp Victoria, which is important for industry support. Here also there are plans for establishment of a hemp fibre processing facility at Pyramid Hill. There is already a hemp growers group led by Leigh Fletcher in the Barham district who are keen to be part of the industry and take advantage of the emerging opportunities, more of Tim’s visits with Leigh will be on the blog section. The Victorian government has at last passed updated hemp legislation which brings it in line with other states on less than 1% THC levels for industrial hemp. For some reason the Victorian legislation also included a tightening of regulations around licensing of the crop permit system, suggesting that perhaps they need to understand our industry a little better which can produce more appropriate legislation. The Victorian government did consult with the AHC and Victorian representative groups, but unfortunately did not take on any of our suggestions. Click here for information on current State legislation regarding hemp.
Best Management Practices Guide The Agrifutures supported ‘Best Management Practices Guide’ project is coming along well. In our most recent meeting last week, good progress has been made, with a contents list formulated and literature reviews being conducted. This major project, being administered by the AHC is being project managed by Stuart Gordon with a team of 8 supporting him who are all leaders in the Australian hemp industry. This project is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year with the production of an up to date Australian hemp production guide available for growers and agronomists looking to grow hemp.


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- 3 min read
Amazon to get $1 billion in tax breaks for 5 new data centers in Oregon
Amazon to receive tax relief for five new data centers in Morrow County, where it already has four, sparking controversy and investigations suspecting foul play.
An Oregon county to give Amazon tax breaks worth an estimated $1 billion for five more data centers there.
The vote by Port of Morrow’s five commissioners was the final step in securing the enterprise zone incentives, allowing companies in the state to receive property tax exemptions. The event took place on Wednesday, reported by Oregonian/OregonLive. Companies in the state can receive property tax exemptions through local enterprise zones.
Local officials anticipate $12 billion in new Amazon spending in the county, which is situated along the Columbia River. Amazon already has four giant data centers in Morrow County and several hundred local jobs tied to its operations.
The state is also looking into some potential conflicts of interests among port officials and a former county commissioner who owns Windwave Communications, a company that provides fiber-optic service to Amazon’s local data centers. Amazon and Windwave have not made any comments on the issue.
Jerry Healy and Marv Padberg, port commissioners, wrote to the state ethics commission saying their company has a deal to provide the bulk of the fiber-optic service to one new Amazon data center. They stated to only have a “potential" conflict of interest in the voting regarding incentives for the other four facilities.
These incentives exempt the company from paying nearly three-quarters of the property taxes other businesses pay. Even so, Amazon is still Morrow County’s largest taxpayer.
Its data centers account for one third of property tax revenue, with payments of $26 million in 2021, according to the company.
Amazon has not commented on its data center operations.
“We’ve been an active member of eastern Oregon communities since 2011, investing more than $15.6 billion while supporting thousands of local jobs," said the company, after the vote.
David Sykes, chairman of the Morrow County commission, believes Amazon to be fitting into a “nicely diversified economy." It’s a good blend of industries that rescued the county from its dependency on natural resources after a sawmill and coal plant shut down, Sykes added.
Data centers are among the state's fastest-growing industries, fueled partly by tax breaks worth $180 million last year alone. Oregon's enterprise zone program, which was originally designed for small manufacturers in the 1980s, has become dominated by data centers with high-end computers that have billions of dollars in value.
The program has no restrictions on how much local governments can offer in negotiations with businesses. This has critics concerned about the ability of small counties to negotiate with large tech companies and the significant variations in the value of the tax breaks.
For instance, the deal between Morrow County and Amazon is twice as valuable as the one between The Dalles officials and Google in 2021.
The program is set to expire in two years, and lawmakers are looking into possible reforms, including limiting the duration of incentives, tying tax breaks to job creation, and requiring public notice before voting on the deals.


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The nearly 100 year old car manufacturer is seeing a rebirth, in part due to the success of it’s electric vehicles.
MG has been focusing on offering affordable EVs to the British public, and the efforts have been paying off. In recent years, MG has had numerous obstacles to overcome as competitors have taken over the land with cheaper cost vehicles, with better brand recognition. However over the last 18 months, MG has seen some of it’s best growth. Making them Britain’s fast growing car manufacturer. In 2020, MG grew by 41%, doubling sales from 2018. The success has not slowed down for the British car maker as 2021 is already seeing nearly 90% growth.
One third of all vehicles sold have been electric. Those sales have been for the MG ZS EV, the MG5 EVs and the MG HS Plug-In model. Competitive pricing and a 7 year warranty is making the vehicles worthy options for Britain, and maybe rest of world one day.


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Zomato, which filed preliminary IPO papers with Sebi in April, obtained its observation on July 2, an update with the regulator showed on Monday.
Sebi's observation is very necessary for any company to launch public issues like IPO, follow on public offer (FPO) and rights issue.
The online food delivery segment has seen significant growth in the last few years with Zomato and Swiggy competing head-on to grab market share.
Zomato's 2019-20 revenue had jumped over two-fold to USD 394 million (around INR 2,960 crore) from the previous fiscal year, while its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) loss was around INR 2,200 crore.
In February, Zomato had raised USD 250 million (over Rs 1,800 crore) in funding from Tiger Global, Kora and others, valuing the online food ordering platform at USD 5.4 billion.
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, Morgan Stanley India Company Pvt Ltd and Credit Suisse Securities (India) Pvt Ltd are the global coordinators and book running lead managers to the issue.
BofA Securities India Ltd and Citigroup Global Markets India Pvt Ltd have been appointed as merchant bankers to the public issue. The shares the company will be listed on BSE and NSE.
Last year, Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal had told employees that the company was planning to go for an IPO in the first half of 2021.


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Lexus, Toyota’s luxury arm, hasn’t been in the electric market for so long. Over the years, the Japanese car manufacturers have paid more attention to hybrids and this is why electric cars are something new for Lexus.
Yes, they have the UX300e, but it is merely a variant of the current UX and does not run on a dedicated platform.
But this is soon to be changed. As Lexus will go for electric cars and the LF-Z Electrified is the concept car to show us what the future will look like in the Lexus range.
We don’t know if Lexus will build a production variant of the LF-Z Electrified, but it will definitely be the base in the design structure of future electric cars.
Also, Lexus didn’t disclose the performance values and the electric powertrain details of the current LF-Z Electrified. So, in my opinion, take a close look at the pictures and wait for a future Lexus electric car to spot some of those details.


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Meredith Corp. has sold the 60% stake it owns in ad tech company Viant to its co-founders.
Meredith acquired the stake when it bought Time Inc.
The companies agreed to extend their long-standing commercial data agreement.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
"Our new independence will allow us to further expand our identity resolution capabilities by creating additional partnerships similar to what we’ve accomplished with Meredith,” said Tim Vanderhook, Viant co-founder and CEO. “Our current momentum speaks volumes for our outstanding team and the incredible opportunity that exists in this industry.”
The deal comes at a time with ad tech companies are being acquired as scale becomes more important to the advanced advertising business.
"We are pleased to find a great outcome for what is a very strong ad tech business," said John Zieser, chief development officer at Meredith."Viant will remain an on-going data partner as we continue to jointly engage in value creating opportunities."
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Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.


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Bridgestone Receives Environmental Award From Honda
Bridgestone Corp. has received Honda Motor Co. Ltd.’s Environmental Award, which is given to suppliers who conduct initiatives in line with the Honda Green Purchasing Guidelines.
The award also recognizes suppliers for engaging in outstanding efforts to reduce the environmental impact during the lifecycle of their products. The award is part of the Honda Excellence Appreciation Awards, which are presented to Honda suppliers that perform remarkable initiatives in five fields, including quality.
This is the first time that Bridgestone has been the recipient of an Environmental Award from Honda. Yutaka Yamaguchi, Bridgestone’s vice president and senior officer responsible for safety, disaster prevention and quality, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Yamaguchi made the following statement upon accepting the award:
“We are extremely honored to receive the Environmental Award from Honda Motor. In order to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, Bridgestone has established long-term environmental targets looking ahead to the world in 2050 based on our Environmental Mission Statement, and we are promoting group wide environmental activities to achieve these targets.
"Going forward, we will continue to advance environmental activities that span the entire supply chain, including our business partners and customers, in order to realize a sustainable society.”


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By Subrata Majumder
Donald Trump is not the first US President to hatch a trade war against its rival. In 1985, Ronald Reagan took an assault on Japan, skyrocketing the yen value to nail Japanese exports. The challenge was to uptick the yen value artificially in a coterie with five countries under the Plaza Accord. Reason! Intransient Japan refused to buckle down to reduce exports, which caused wide trade deficit with USA. Now, it is China’s turn, for defying US warning on trade deficit, causing damages to US industry and employment.
Nevertheless, the paradox of the two trade conflicts is that while Japan abstained from taking any retaliatory measure against USA’s attempt for artificial hook up of the Japanese yen, China is assertive to retaliate against the US actions on equal terms. In a counter move, China decided to slap 15 percent tariff on 120 items of products imported from USA, including fruits and related products and 25 percent tariff on eight products, including pork and related products.
Hit by the Japanese yen appreciation, Japanese products lost cost competitiveness. Till 1985, Japan was the biggest contributor to USA trade deficit. In 1985, Japan accounted for 37 percent of USA’s total trade deficit in goods. Instead of wading in retaliation, Japan decided to thwart USA’s move by shifting plants in low cost countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and in USA to balance the trade deficit. Later, China became the hotbed for Japanese manufacturing.
As a result, Japanese investment overseas soared. It spiked by over 430 percent in 1988, three years after the Plaza Accord and continued to spur till Japan countered the bubble burst in 1993.
While both Japan and China are export-based economies and vulnerable to trade barriers, the difference between the two is that any trade sanction on China may boomerang on several US companies. A number of US companies invested in China for cheap production and re-import into USA or export to third countries. Who wins and who loses will be determined after the tariffs will actually be imposed.
Given the relation between USA-China and USA–Japan from the angle of political and economic levels, China has more leverages to retaliate against USA than Japan. Japanese hands were tied as it was a close ally to USA. Besides, USA was the biggest importer of Japanese goods in 1985. One-fifth of Japanese exports were shipped to USA.
In contrast, politically China is an adversary of USA. Even though USA is the biggest importer of Chinese goods and not vice versa, there are ample reasons which may haunt USA exporters if China takes retaliatory measures. China is the biggest buyer of US soybean. About 60 percent of US soybean exports go to China. China is the biggest buyer of US sorghum. Trump administration stuck a compensatory trade deal last year with China to balance the trade. USA would export beef and natural gas to China against imports of cooked poultry. The deal may turn dud if China retaliates. China may divert purchasing of Boeing aircrafts to Airbus. In November 2017, a purchase deal of 300 Boeing was made by China, which is the biggest buyer of US Treasury bonds worth US $ 1 trillion. Selling a chunk of these bonds will distort the market. China has close monopoly of 17 rare earth minerals. They are used for cell phones, displays, automobiles and atom batteries. Any sanction of these minerals may prove hardship for US industries.
Nevertheless, USA is more significant to China than China to USA in terms of economic dependence. China is an export-based economy and not vice versa. In 2016, exports accounted for 18.6 percent of Chinese GDP, compared to 11.9 percent of USA’s GDP. USA is the biggest destination for Chinese exports, accounting for 18 percent of Chinese exports in 2016. In contrast, China accounted for 7.5 percent only of USA exports in 2016.
Given the unbalanced economic inter-dependence, China should be wary of USA’s onslaught on its currency management as the next step for retaliation, taking a leaf from the experience to thwart Japanese exports in post Plaza Accord. USA may mount further pressure on Chinese renminbi, alleging that it has been kept under-valued in proportion to Chinese growth. USA has already forced China to unpeg its currency to US dollar and caved into floating rates in a basket of currencies. Since then Chinese renminbi value spurred by over 22 percent while Chinese wages leaped high. Chinese goods fell prey to expensive products. Toeing the Japanese formula, China opted for a go-out policy by investing abroad instead of investing domestically. Chinese out-bound investment surpassed its in-bound FDI. Chinese investments abroad surged to US $ 170 billion in 2016, against inward FDI of US $ 134 billion. This exemplifies that China lost the paradise of cheap production, similar to Japan in post-Plaza Accord.
Does this mean that China’s heydays are in jeopardy? Given the USA’s significance as linchpin for China’s export and holding the mantle for global currency balancing, can China afford to retaliate against USA and make a smooth run of its economic growth?
To circumvent the trade war, China should increase its overseas investment in low cost countries and re-route its exports to USA. India can become a preferable destination for Chinese investment. For the past few years, China has emerged as a big ticket investor in India, despite security concerns. In 2015, Chinese investment in India leapfrogged eight times and Beijing became the eighth biggest foreign investor in India. In 2016, Chinese companies proposed US $ 2.3 billion worth of investment in the country
In mobile phone manufacturing, China has already established a strong base in India. More than half a dozen Chinese mobile manufacturing companies have set up their plants in India Upstart brands like Goinee, LeECo, Oppo, Vivo, Meizu, One Plus and Coolpad have also announced their plans for India.
India’s attraction snowballed after China lost its status as the low cost workshop of the world. According to FDI Intelligence, an outfit of Financial Times, India replaced China in receiving FDI in greenfield projects in 2015. This unraveled India’s strength in attracting FDI among the low cost countries. (IPA Service)
The post China Has Lessons To Learn From US-Japan Trade Tiff appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.


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HR Processes To Undergo A Radical Shift With Blockchain Technology With companies like Microsoft and Accenture keen to adopt Blockchain the process has become more streamlined
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
The applicability of blockchain technology has evolved manifold, having already moved beyond cryptocurrencies and the like. Being a decentralised digital ledger, it is being tested and adopted by a variety of businesses in several different industries, all around the world.
In light of that, it is quite evident that with blockchain, information exchange is never going to be the same again. It has opened up a world of opportunities and possibilities, with real-time information sharing, collaboration, and cross-border payment transactions, thereby making crucial advancements at the workplace.
The capabilities of blockchain technology are far-reaching and can be further leveraged in sectors like logistics, healthcare, fashion, and more. Some of the primary reasons behind the massive popularity that blockchain has gained in the recent past are the information security, credibility, and ease of access that it provides. Transactions of all kinds, involving the exchange of information, contracts, records, cryptocurrencies, and more, are stored and maintained in a public ledger, that is completely anonymous to those who aren't directly involved.
An October 2017 report from CompTIA found that early adopters have already been utilising blockchain for digital identity (51%), asset management and tracking (49%), regulatory compliance/auditing (49%), distributed storage (48%), smart contracts (45%), and cryptocurrency/payments (44%).
While blockchain has been primarily identified as an enabler of secure transactions in the BFSI sector, it is interesting to note that Microsoft and Accenture have partnered with each other to address a more humanitarian cause - ID2020. Having created a blockchain solution that acts as digital identification for refugees, the two technology giants will together be able to provide access to education, banking, healthcare, housing, and more, to around 1.1 billion people worldwide.
How Can HR Benefit from the Blockchain Technology?
Since it is a decentralised, distributed system, all the information stored on blockchain can be accessed from anywhere, and at any time, while being secure, authenticated, and verifiable, with appropriate visibility. Being a platform possessing such enhanced cybersecurity capabilities, it is also changing the way payment transactions are carried out, with the added potential of helping streamline and amplify key aspects of HR processes, in an efficient, error-free way.
- Talent Acquisition and Onboarding
One of the most important areas where blockchain can find a high potential of applicability is Talent Acquisition. Any information stored on the blockchain is unalterable, so no piece of data can be modified or deleted. In this space, this means that a candidate's background information, including his resume, educational certifications, work experience, salary slips, and the like, are carefully validated. Equipped with that level of trust, organisations no longer need to invest time in third-party agencies to check for information accuracy. Candidates have complete ownership of their data and can store and share it with employers, whenever they need, through a secure platform.
With blockchain, the entire onboarding process has become almost completely paperless. KYC identification and documentation is faster, verified, and accessible, on a real-time basis. When coupled with Machine Learning, organisations can, in fact, filter through validated and qualified resumes, get accurate candidate suitability predictions, and expedite the search for the perfect candidate.
- Travel & Expense
In the example shared above, on ID2020, the technology used biometric data, such as a fingerprint or iris scan, for legal ID and record-keeping. Similarly, blockchain can use employee data (fingerprint, face recognition, and iris, for instance) to track attendance and expenses, which can be used to process claims, with enhanced visibility to the HR, in real-time.
- Payroll Processes & Final Settlements
A PwC UK report on "How blockchain technology could impact HR and the world of work' suggests that organisations have the potential to create their own corporate currencies, and manage employee mobility, including international expenses and tax liabilities.
Blockchain also offers cross-border payment flexibility, while eliminating errors, third parties, and multiple intermediary banks. Remote employees can benefit as well since payroll processing is done on a real-time basis.
Additionally, it eliminates back office functions and helps realign the focus on core business functions and objectives. It presents multiple benefits in terms of cost and time saving, for the organisation, thereby contributing towards the business outcomes, and even strengthening the role of HR as a business partner.


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Antler is extending an aggressive expansion with the opening of a Korean office. The Singapore-based incubator and VC investor has set up 11 overseas bases since its inception in 2017.
Operations in India and Vietnam were launched in June with plans to raise a $50 million India fund. This built on a global footprint that now spans the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands,...
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is the largest participant in a KRW223.6 billion ($187 million) investment in Naver Z, the metaverse platform unit of Korean internet giant Naver Corporation.
Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has led a A$129 million ($92.3 million) Series B round for Australia’s Harrison.ai, a clinical artificial intelligence (AI) developer.
Airbus Ventures has led a $25 million Series B round for Australia’s Q-Ctrl, a quantum computing developer increasingly geared toward space tech and orbital infrastructure.
STIC Investments has led a KRW1 trillion ($840 million) investment in Iljin Materials, a Korean producer of electric foils used in lithium batteries and consumer electronics, to support the international expansion of its manufacturing footprint.


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After a year of shutdowns and staying in, Americans are getting vaccinated and cities are opening up—and, as they do, Uber is starting to come back.
As we recover, we want to reinvest in drivers.
We’re launching a $250 million driver stimulus to boost already high earnings for drivers. Boosted incentives and guarantees will help welcome existing drivers back to Uber and ensure first-time drivers do well as they learn the ropes.
In 2020, many drivers stopped driving because they couldn’t count on getting enough trips to make it worth their time. In 2021, there are more riders requesting trips than there are drivers available to give them—making it a great time to be a driver.
Here’s how much drivers are making right now in several cities. These figures are before tips—and before a single dollar of the $250 million stimulus has been spent:
|City||Median earnings per hour*|
|New York City||$37.44|
We want drivers to take advantage of higher earnings now because this is likely a temporary situation. As the recovery continues, we expect more drivers will be hitting the road, which means that over time earnings will come back to pre-Covid levels.
We also want drivers to know that we’re working to keep them safe. One-third of adult Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but we’re continuing to require that all riders wear face masks. We’ve also made it easier for drivers to navigate the vaccination process with streamlined appointment booking through our partnership with Walgreens.
We hope drivers new and old will take advantage of this opportunity over the next few months and join us as cities get moving again.
*The figures above represent median hourly earnings, after Uber’s service fee, for all time on the Uber app (not just engaged time) for drivers spending 20 hours online per week. These earnings do not account for expenses, which are drivers’ responsibility. While costs vary based on vehicle choice, fuel prices, and other factors, we looked at the two most popular vehicles on the Uber platform: the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry. According to our nationwide estimate, costs hover around $3-$4.50/hour if you own one of these two vehicles. This is not a guarantee of future earnings. Earnings can vary depending on many factors, including time spent driving with Uber, rider demand and other factors.


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If you missed Nintendo’s E3 keynote and were looking to take a another glance at the upcoming Nintendo Wii U console, you’ll be pleased to see this little gem. Nintendo has released a lovely infographic which displays official specs for both the Wii U console and its touchscreen controller – in visible format.
We still don’t know when Nintendo are going to release this exactly, as the company chose not to give out a release date at the event. Instead they focused on showing off more upcoming games for the system, as well as unveiling a secondary Wii U Pro Controller which will make it easier to play fighting games on the system as opposed to the touchscreen controller which is obviously more difficult.
An upgraded official spec sheet is now available to view though courtesy of Nintendo, who have posted it on the Nintendo Europe Twitter page. We see spec breakdowns for the console and Touch controller and it reveals that the console will be compatible with the list of existing Wii U accessories, while also carrying support for up to four of the new Pro controllers.
Nintendo are now not so secretive in unveiling that the system will be powered by an IBM multicore processor and an AMD Radeon-based High Definition GPU. Prior to E3 we saw leaked pictures of the new-look touch pad and we can now see that the button located between the battery light and power buttons has now been revealed as a button for ‘TV control’.
Another area which was up for debate was directly below the D-pad. This button has now been detailed as the location for the NFC chip, which will allow you to use your touchpad for Near Touch Communication features, which we’re guessing Nintendo will unveil at a later date.
What we didn’t see at the event though and what we’re most looking forward to is that Wii U Zelda game. We saw a tech demo last year which promised big things, but unfortunately the game wasn’t deemed fit for a second appearance this year, so hopefully Nintendo will give us an update on that soon.
Going back to this infographic though, what are your thoughts on the capabilities of the Nintendo Wii U? Are you surprised that Nintendo isn’t revealing exactly what IBM processor and what AMD graphics is being used?
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Panaji: Goa Cricket Association has sold the instadia advertising rights for the ODI between India and Australia on October 24 here to Prerna International, Delhi for Rs 1.26 crore, he GCA secretary Prasad Fatarpekar said today.
The overall revenue the association would generate is put at around Rs 2.25 crore with the sale of tickets earning around Rs 95 lakh.
Giving a break-up of tickets for the match, GCA said only 9,180 will be sold in denominations of Rs 2500, Rs 1500 and Rs 500, while 14,320 will be given as complimentary passes. 1,915 are for officials and 200 for the media thus making a total of 25,815.
"The tickets for Rs 2500 and Rs 1500 denominations would be sold on-line through Federal Bank from October 1 to 15. The remaining tickets would be sold over the counter at the bank`s branches at Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Ponda.”
Tickets of Rs 500 denominations will be on sale from October 15 at these counters.
Keeping in mind the interest of the handicapped cricket lovers, the association has allotted 180 tickets of Rs 500 denominations.
GCA treasurer Vinod Phadke who provided the ticketing details informed that various steps have been taken to avoid duplication of tickets and a scanner will be used that will grant access to the stadium.


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By Alexa Peters
Since the onset of the pandemic, one thing is clear: Virtual events are an impactful way to build engagement with your cannabis consumer, particularly as in-person cannabis festivals and tradeshows have not fully returned—and that doesn’t show signs of changing.
After all, in 2020, virtual events took off as all industries looked for ways to adapt to the constraints of quarantine, and the cannabis industry was no exception. Even as we return to a more “normal” style of business, many cannabis entrepreneurs, organizations and enthusiasts will continue to support virtual events. Here’s why:
• Overall data projects the virtual events industry is only going to expand in the next decade. In fact, data suggests this industry to have a compound annual growth rate of 23.2% from 2020 to 2027. Currently, some of the biggest in-person events in the cannabis industry have transitioned to virtual events—including the upcoming USA CBD Expo in Chicago—and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of that ending anytime soon.
• The pandemic has changed the way we live and the way we work. As a result, there’s been a shift toward working from home and many companies are considering sticking with the work-from-home or a hybrid model even after the pandemic, and according to the report of cannabis business trends, the 420 industry is making the same considerations. In this way, virtual events are a perfect way to meet cannabis enthusiasts where they spend the most time—at home.
• Putting on virtual events is cost-effective. In fact, data shows that putting on a virtual event is about 75% cheaper than doing an in-person event, freeing up budget that would’ve otherwise been spent on staff, venue, setup, travel, accommodations and more. With virtual events, cannabis companies can cut out those costs and redirect that budget somewhere else—like more time to plan your keynote speech or on marketing.
• Many large cannabis organizations have become accustomed to managing events virtually during the pandemic and they’ve found ways to put on fantastic, personalized virtual events that can be more impactful than ever before. More tools and platforms—which utilize virtual reality, augmented reality, livestreaming, and video—have emerged, making it possible for cannabis businesses to hold cannabis events and conferences that rival previous in-person iterations. Plus, by removing the constraints of a centralized physical location, people from all over the world can engage with your event from their device. “To ensure during pandemic times that marijuana entrepreneurs can continue to meet up to share ideas, conduct business and engage with consumers and clients, the industry has turned to Zoom, Instagram and conference-specific virtual platforms,” reports Marijuana Business Daily.
• Virtual event platforms often optimize a cannabis company’s ability to collect data by easily tracking your ROI with virtual event analytics, or real time measurements of your audience and what they are engaging with. After all, when everyone is online almost everything can be captured, tracked and reported, which gives companies a very accurate measure of event success and ROI, as well as valuable data about your cannabis consumer for future marketing efforts.
As beneficial as the move to virtual events can be, they’re not without their challenges. Here are some strategies for traversing these challenges and making virtual events succeed for you:
• While you’ve probably already incorporated virtual events into your marketing approach, it’s time to think even bigger. How might you harness the power of virtual events to fortify your bottom line? What data are you collecting during virtual events that you can use to target high-value customers and build stronger customer relationships overall?
• Virtual events are not that same as webinars, so try not to think about them that way. Profit-driving virtual events are those that go above and beyond a Zoom presentation with a Q&A—often by building in immersive livestreaming, polls, and other tools that keep audiences engaged. For instance, in 2020 The Emerge Virtual Cannabis Conference unveiled a captivating 3D virtual platform from Hyperfair that provided audiences with the ability to play with life-like, interactive, customizable avatars, and created an imaginative virtual reality ecosystem.
• Invest in cybersecurity and a strategy for implementing it, because cyberthreats are skyrocketing and cannabis companies are particularly at risk. As Rolling Stone reports, cannabis companies are prime targets for cybercriminals because they are often scrappy start-ups using unsophisticated systems. Don’t let your company be part of that generalization! When planning your virtual event, make sure you work with a reputable virtual event platform and have a plan in place if any security breaches should arise.
• However virtual your event, take a human-centered approach in hosting it. This means making audience members feel seen and acknowledged as humans. The best ways to create this human-centered feel is to create opportunities for human connection in your event like Q&A, polling, Zoom breakout rooms and other personalized touches. These additions add an element of surprise to your cannabis event and help audience members feel like more than just avatars on a screen.
In the end, mastering the art of virtual events is a sound business decision for any cannabis company—because they aren’t going anywhere and they have the capacity to offer a hefty ROI to cannabis companies. Just remember, in implementing this new type of event, keep strategy, security, imagination, and human-centeredness at the helm. From there, expect success.