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After close to one year of testing, Amazon has officially opened its checkout-free, queue-free, convenience store the public. Amazon Go, will allow consumers to enter the store using their cellphones, select their items, and walk out. Using sensors, cameras, and a computer vision system, the store monitors which customers select which items and charges their designated Amazon account after they complete their selections and walk out the door.
The technology used inside the store is the first of its kind and took Amazon four years to develop. The store underwent internal testing from Amazon employees for a year and heralds the kind of disruption Amazon has become known for. Amazon has made no public announcements of future implementations of the new technology into Whole Foods stores and has also not discussed opening more Amazon Go locations.
Click here to read the full article.
A2D Digital Feed
Acompanhe as principais novidades sobre transformação digital.


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The new BlackBerry Passport has received some notably snarky, even sneering reviews in the United States media. The Wall Street Journal plastered a square of American cheese on top of its display to demonstrate its size. Mashable branded the square build and relatively thin keypad design downright bizarre. But interestingly enough, BlackBerry’s share price ticked up another 2.5% the device’s launch day and it has now doubled from the dark days of December 2013. More →
BlackBerry wants its super-secure mobile messaging service to be available for any business users, no matter what platform they use. In an interview with The Hindustan Times, BlackBerry exec Sunil Lalwani revealed that BlackBerry has plans to start offering BBM Protected on both iOS and Android devices by the end of this year and that businesses will be able subscribe to it for an annual fee of $30 per device.
BlackBerry is up more than 5% on Thursday, buoyed by the CEO’s comments about partnerships that might mirror the recent Apple-IBM pact. That Apple-IBM alliance was seen by some as a fatal blow to BlackBerry, since it gives iOS another boost in the enterprise market. But BlackBerry has recently started resembling a mythical Canadian beast that absorbs fatal blows with polite disinterest, growing only stronger as its prospects weaken. More →
BlackBerry shocked Wall Street on Thursday by delivering a much narrower loss than expected. The company is now growing its cash pile even though it is shipping fewer than 2 million phones per quarter. This stabilization is a feat in itself, but where is future sales growth going to come from? Messaging app system BBM is the best bet. It now has close to 100 million active users — but some decidedly worrisome trends have emerged in recent months. More →
BBM is still a hugely popular messaging app and now there’s a new version of it that promises to be the most secure mobile messaging platform in the world. BlackBerry on Monday announced the availability of BBM Protected, which functions just as BBM does except it now has an added layer of encryption in the form of a unique encryption key that’s shared exclusively between a message’s sender and its recipient. Even more impressively, BlackBerry says that “each message uses a new random symmetric key for message encryption,” so even if one key gets compromised it doesn’t mean all your messages will also be exposed. More →
Earlier this year, BlackBerry announced plans to release a new messaging service called BBM Protected that the company billed as an even more secure version of its popular messaging app. CrackBerry draws our attention to a new set of videos that it’s posted on YouTube showing a live demonstration of BBM Protected that gives us an idea of how it will deliver even better security than standard BBM. One of the ways that BBM Protected will keep your messages more secure is by encrypting every individual message you send and receive with a random key, which means that even if one of your messages gets compromised somehow, the hacker still won’t be able to access all of them because they’ll have different keys. Be sure to check out both videos showing off BBM Protected below. More →
Just as BlackBerry appeared doomed to fade into irrelevancy, the company’s popular chat application BlackBerry Messenger stormed back on to the scene, making its way to the iOS and Android app stores. Pitting a well known brand against relative newcomers such as Kik, LINE and recent Facebook acquisition WhatsApp, BBM managed to quickly steal a huge segment of the audience for itself. In case you still haven’t given it a try, James Richardson makes a strong case for BBM in a recent article at CrackBerry, so we decided to share his favorite features to see if this list is enough to convert you. More →
When BlackBerry released BBM for Android and iOS last year, it gave the company a much-needed hit that helped spark hope that the one-time smartphone titan could get a fresh injection of revenue from its popular messaging service. On Tuesday, BlackBerry released a new update for BBM that delivers one of the many ways the company plans to make money from the service: Stickers. More →
Although BlackBerry posted a much narrower loss than analysts expected last quarter, this piece of good news was somewhat offset by the fact that the company’s revenues missed expectations and dropped below $1 billion. That said, there is one bright spot for the company that’s unblemished by any dark clouds for the moment: The success of BBM. On the company’s earnings call on Friday, the company said that BBM now had 115 million registered users and 85 million monthly active users, which shows BBM is still growing from the quarter before when it had an estimated 80 million monthly active users. More →
The messaging app market has really started to heat up after Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion and after Alibaba’s investment in the far more obscure Tango granted it a $1 billion valuation. As popular entries like Viber, WhatsApp and Tango have found big strategic partners, the number of stand-alone messaging apps with more than 100 million registered users has dwindled. BBM and Kik are among the most notable indie messaging apps left looking for sugar daddies and their futures will hinge upon whether they can show real potential to generate revenue. That’s why BBM is now at such a crucial juncture: It is dipping its toes in the advertising market for the first time.
No, you’re not going to see advertisements pop up in the middle of your BBM chats… but BlackBerry just delivered on new CEO John Chen’s promise to adjust its BBM strategy to include actually monetizing the product. Now that BBM has dozens of messaging rivals and is no longer a draw that can attract new business and keep current customers locked in, BlackBerry is tasked with finding ways to turn BBM into a moneymaker. The first step, as we reported recently, is to toss in some advertisements. More →

domain: news


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Reports from Australia surrounding the possibility of Chinese vegetables being contaminated with melamine have underlined how UK consumers should look to their own gardens, greenhouses and allotments to guarantee food safety.
Australian food authorities are investigating reports that the same chemical that poisoned more than 50,000 Chinese babies through baby milk could have spread beyond dairy products and entered the vegetable market, with products such as garlic, peas and mushrooms all on the risk list.
"We are taking this seriously," Food Standards Australia New Zealands (FSANZ) Lydia Buchtmann told AAP.
"Were investigating that, talking to overseas agencies and doing a risk assessment.
"At this stage, we can find no evidence that theyre unsafe, but its certainly something were looking into."
The possibility of melamine entering the UK food market may be remote but, as the news from Australia has proved, you can never be too careful with what you eat.
The only way to guarantee the safety of food is to grow it yourself in your garden or greenhouse.


text: For a few short hours last week, Apple TV software update 6.0 was available. However, due to a variety of glitches, had been pulled. The patched software has made its triumphant return today, featuring iTunes Radio along with a few playback and synchronization enhancements. While iTunes Radio is frequently compared to Pandora, it feels more like a platform to merely sell tracks – given prices displayed all over the place. And if I wanted to listen to music through my TV, I’d head over to the way more visually stimulating VEVO — MTV for the digital age. Of course, Airplay remains unrivaled… although Google’s $35 DIAL-powered Chromecast dongle looks real promising. But I’m still holding out hope for a more powerful aTV, sporting a full fledged app store and the ability to take advantage of iOS’ new gaming controller API – I think you know where I’m going here. Folders for ‘My Apps’ versus the current Roku-esque clutter would also be an appreciated enhancement.


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“Opera has officially announced its much-loved web browser will be appearing on Sony TVs and Blu-ray players . There’s no specific details, but it given its low-key presence at CES a few weeks ago (Sony Insider grabbed a video of it in action on the show floor — embedded after the break — unfortunately hampered by slow connection speeds) it will spread at least across the company’s 22 new connected HDTVs.”
Opera Browser Headed to Sony TVs and Blu-ray Players
Submitted by fran 2011-01-20 Opera 2 Comments
hope this makes it to current players, not just new ones … im tired of the pay-to-get-new-features some companies pay to death .. others are great, adding value to what you bought ..
Edit – actually given that Sony took linux away from PS3 … maybe I should shield my player from updates in case they take away some functions ..
Edited 2011-01-20 23:14 UTC


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SEATTLE -- Something is brewing at Starbucks, and it's not the coffee.
For years, the java giant has struggled to prepare food that its customers find appealing. So last year, the company bought a bakery chain in San Francisco for $100 million. And now, the pressure is on for profits to rise.
So now the company is turning to Pascal Rigo for a sales jolt. When Rigo mixes things up, it usually involves flour, sugar and plenty of butter. The baker, born in France, started the now-22-store La Boulange Bakery chain in San Francisco in 1999.
Recently, Rigo, who was doing well in San Francisco, received a surprise phone call.
"I almost didn't take the call," Rigo told CBS News' John Blackstone. "It was Howard Schultz from Starbucks."
The chief executive officer of the iconic company made Rigo an offer he couldn't refuse -- to buy his company for $100 million. The Starbucks team had a problem it wanted to solve.
"Today, only a third of the people who come into our stores buy our food," said Cliff Burrows, president of Starbucks Americas. "They buy coffee and they go elsewhere for their food."
While breakfast sandwiches caught on, the company's attempts to branch out into other meals fell flat.
Burrows said, "We have, for a long time, known that we wanted to upgrade our food, and here we met this guy with tremendous energy, real passion, and a dream."
By the end of next year, La Boulange food will be available in all of the nearly 8,000 Starbucks across America.
Blackstone asked Rigo, "Can you do it for 8,000 stores across the country?"


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UPDATE : see new information about this story here
Top outlets Fred Segal and Kitson have dropped her DVB denim range after poor sales and complaints about a lack of promotional work.
The news will come as a bitter blow to Posh, who is keen to launch a career as a fashion designer.
Her jeans are over ┬ú100 and when she launched the range, she said: “I want everything to be perfect.
“I’m not just a celebrity with a licensing deal. There isn’t a single rivet or button that goes on a pair of jeans that I haven’t designed or tested myself.”
Fraser Ross, owner of Kitson, said: “We asked her PR people so many times for her to appear but she didn’t. Celebrity lines are no different from an album or music tour. They have to be promoted to sell.”
Yikes! Do you think other stores will follow suit and drop DVB or are her jeans still hot enough to continue to sell?


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Everybody eats, but not all experiences are reflected in food media. When Kyla Pascal and Kathryn Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon started hanging out in 2018 they bonded over critiquing food magazines and television. As activists and organizers in their communities of Edmonton and Vancouver, and with long histories in the food industry, Pascal and Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon decided to act instead of complaining about what they didn’t like in food media, and Hungry Zine was born.
A city’s best food and restaurants is often celebrated annually in alt-weekly publications, but instead of highlighting great eats from various communities, Pascal and Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon saw an example of how marginalized communities are misrepresented. Gwun-Yeen 君妍Lennon comments on how Chinese restaurants fall under categories of best late night or hangover food and how those who are making food in those restaurants are referred to as cooks instead of chefs.
“I think that’s why this project is so exciting because instead of critiquing and seeing the things that are missing and why aren’t they better, we can try to offer an alternative model of what that could look like,” says Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon.
Pascal and Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon began brainstorming what their zine could look like when they saw a copy of Chinese Protest Recipes, a zine that could be purchased or downloaded and printed. They became interested in the accessibility and openness of the zine medium and in January 2021, they put out a call for submissions for the first issue. “We’re not trying to be a food industry magazine that’s about reviewing restaurants and that kind of thing,” says Gwun-Yeen君妍 Lennon. “I think by emphasizing more the literary and arts and zine aspects that kind of helps us put the focus on the community voices we’re hoping to gather.”
Showcasing marginalized voices and building relationships are the driving motivations for Hungry Zine. As food lovers who are moved to make changes around the cultural appropriation of food, Pascal and Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon know that having opinions and values about who owns ethnic restaurants, who is in their kitchens, and who grows and produces food can be isolating, but as the submissions came in, they saw that other people felt like there’s a need for the type of space they’re creating. The pair looks towards the future of Hungry Zine and the launch of the home cooking issue scheduled for this spring. Pascal hopes they can “hold on to that radical, that community, that the voices are from everywhere and on topics that are so broad and diverse and interesting.”


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It’s always a bummer when you see people around the country enjoying a store that your area doesn’t have. For some of us, that’s Costco; for others, Trader Joe’s. And for a handful of people in 12 states (at this point), that store is Aldi.
While Aldi has certainly made its presence known in much of the U.S., Colorado is one of the states where the company hasn’t yet ventured.
This might be surprising to many people, as cities like Denver and Boulder are very well known. So is Aldi coming to Colorado soon? Read on.
Is Aldi Coming To Colorado?
Aldi has no plans to expand into Colorado, Denver, or Boulder. Instead, the grocery chain is focusing its building efforts on the Gulf Coast while simultaneously refurbishing and renovating existing stores around in the Northeast region and along the eastern seaboard.
To find out why I don’t think Aldi is coming to Colorado, some cities where the chain would do well if they did, and even some suggestions for greasing the wheels of progress a bit faster and letting Aldi know their presence is requested, see below!
Why Isn’t Aldi Coming To Colorado?
Aldi has publicly confirmed their intention to focus on the Gulf Coast and Florida while simultaneously sinking part of their billion-dollar budget into refurbishing and renovating existing stores in the Northeast region and along the Eastern seaboard.
Louisiana, which marks Aldi’s 38th state, Mississippi and Alabama, are included in the expansion, which is getting a big boost from the distribution warehouse going in the city of Loxley. Construction broke ground there in February 2021.
Unfortunately, Colorado isn’t part of any targeted areas so far, despite abutting several states that already have Aldi stores. So hopeful fans of the chain will have to keep waiting.
Where Could Aldi Build Stores In Colorado?
I have to say; it’s surprising there aren’t any Aldi stores in Colorado already, considering the populous (and popular) cities that mark the state.
The capital, Denver, is ripe for Aldi development, and nearby cities Aurora and Boulder. Fort Collins in the north would be another great location, as well as Colorado Springs, just south of Denver.
Is There A Market For Aldi Stores In Colorado?
If you’re judging by the clamor on social media, there is absolutely a market for Aldi stores in Colorado. One Facebook thread (from 2016, no less) with over 200 comments contains scores of hopefuls begging the chain to come to their state.
A commenter bewailed, “Why is Colorado not on the Aldi radar?”; another simply said, “ALDI USA, we’re all waiting.”
A particularly enterprising commenter got really specific: “I found a great location: square footage, easy trucking access with loading dock, and good parking. Just pick up the lease when Spirit Halloween leaves. [Address redacted.]”
Still, another commenter left a clue for one reason why Aldi is so much desired in CO: “Moved to CO from IL, and all I miss from that awful state is ALDI…King Soopers and Safeway suck. Cant budget at all at these crazy expensive places.”
Despite these pleas, as of 2021, Aldi still has not moved into the state, and the desire has only grown.
In 2018, for example, the Coloradan ran a story called Fort Collins’ 5 most wanted retail stores and restaurants, and Aldi came in at No. 4.
How Can Shoppers Get Aldi To Come To Colorado?
Aldi is notorious for listening to its shoppers. When they clamored for the temporary everything bagel seasoning to stick around, they brought it back – and created two more flavors, to boot.
Even more recently, they announced that their $3.99 candles would be in stores year-round at the behest of customers’ requests.
So when it comes to bringing an Aldi store to Colorado, the quantity will win the day. Start contacting them regularly – and get all your friends to do so, too – about your desire to see an Aldi store go up in CO.
You can reach them via email or snail mail here.
To see other potential locations that Aldi might be expanding to, you can see our other posts on if Aldi is coming to Canada, if Aldi is coming to New Mexico or Albuquerque, and if Aldi is coming to Las Vegas.
While Aldi is not coming to Colorado any time soon, many feel the time has long since passed that they should.
With big, thriving cities and a lot of would-be shoppers constantly asking on their social media pages, Aldi would do well to include CO in their next expansion plan.


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U.S Judge Lucy Koh, who is presiding over two California patent cases involving Apple and Samsung including post trial motions for the landmark Apple v. Samsung jury trial, may put the second suit on hold until an appeals court comes to a decision on the first.
In a filing with a New York District Court on Wednesday, Apple offered a point-by-point counter to a suit being levied by shareholder Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn, who is looking to strike a proxy proposal regarding preferred stock issuance from an upcoming shareholders' meeting.
During a panel at the D: Dive Into Media conference on Monday, Samsung Executive Vice President David Eun outlined a bold initiative to drive innovative thinking at the intersection of hardware and software, and said the ongoing litigation with Apple is hurting such efforts as a whole.
Apple v. Samsung Judge Lucy Koh on Tuesday handed down some of the first rulings in the case's post-trial proceedings, granting an Apple motion to invalidate certain claims of a Samsung patent but denying five others, including a request for a new trial stemming from a contention that the Korean company willfully infringed on Apple's patents.
Samsung on Monday asked a Japanese court judge to conclude a patent infringement suit with Apple for which the Korean company won a favorable ruling in August, seeking to end the case without hearing an appeal from the Cupertino tech giant's lawyers.
In a request to the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, Samsung asked to see the source code for Apple's latest iOS, claiming that it needed access to the extremely sensitive data to confirm that the operating system infringes on a software patent.
The U.S. International Trade Commission announced on Wednesday that it will be reviewing an administrative law judge's initial determination that found Samsung to have violated a number of Apple patents.
California court Judge Paul S. Grewal on Wednesday handed down a ruling denying Samsung's request for documents from the Apple v. Samsung patent trial, which the company planned to use as proof-gathering in a separate patent case currently underway in Japan.
A California federal judge on Wendesday agreed with additional stipulations filed jointly by Apple and Samsung in which each party sought to supplement its case in an upcoming trial slated to begin in 2014.
Following in the footsteps of Italian regulators, a nonprofit consumer protection group in Belgium has taken issue with Apple's advertised product warranties, while a Russian rail company has filed suit over an alleged trademark violation.
Late last week, Samsung filed a document with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit outlining why Apple should not be allowed a full panel review of a previous court denial to block sales of the Galaxy Nexus.
In a joint policy statement issued late Tuesday, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said companies that own so-called standard-essential patents should rarely be allowed to garner sales bans due to infringement findings.
Coming on the heels of Google's agreement with the FTC, Apple on Friday filed a notice of appeal with a Wisconsin district court over its FRAND-related suit against Motorola, a case that was previously dismissed after the Cupertino company agreed to licensing terms laid out by the court.
In a response filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Wednesday, Apple accuses Samsung of filing a motion to strike to avoid "inconvenient facts" regarding company's conflicting decisions to withdraw SEP-related litigation in Europe but continue pursuit of identical claims in America.
Samsung products found to infringe on certain Apple patents may be subject to a sales ban if the U.S. International Trade Commission affirms and adopts an initial determination filed by one of its administrative law judges, who also recommended the Korean company post a huge bond worth 88 percent of its U.S. smartphone sales.
A court document filed on Friday revealed that Apple is dropping all claims against Samsung's Galaxy S III Mini smartphone after the Korean company said it has no plans to formally import and sell the handset in the U.S.


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BOZEMAN - Inflation: a concept most are aware of, but may struggle to find the words to describe. It’s all over the media, but just what is inflation and how does it affect us?
Associate professor at Montana State University, Carly Urban, says that inflation is when there is too much spending and too few goods.
“That could be population changes over time, and everyone wants more stuff because there are more people,” Urban said, “The general ‘cure’ for that, is that the Federal Reserve Board will increase interest rates, and make it more attractive to save, so the demand goes down.”
Urban describes the inflation in the 1970s as ‘textbook’, with an added stressor on the American producer. Most goods were manufactured in the United States at that time, so unlike today, ports and lead times weren’t a factor.
Today, the pandemic led to the ports closing, manufacturing plants to quarantine for an extended period of time, all while demand kept rising. Urban says that it’s hard to know now how large of an impact each factor has.
Inflation is a natural part of the life-cycle of the economy, usually hovering around 1-3 percent. Today, the inflation rate is nearly 6 percent, Urban said. With so many external factors affecting the economy, relying on the Federal Reserve Board is not a possible solution, Urban said.


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HTC U12+ sales show no impact; brand's August revenue declines over 50%30
For the period ending August 31, HTC has announced that its revenues totaled just $45.21 million. This number, when compared to July, represents a very minimal decrease in sales of just 0.77%. However, if sales from August 2017 are considered, the latest figures actually represent an annual drop of 53.72% – the company saw sales of $97.57 million 12 months ago. Unfortunately for HTC, though, that's not all. When looking at 2018 as a whole, the brand has accumulated revenues of just over $580 million. But. by this time last year, HTC’s numbers had already surpassed the $1 billion mark. In fact, the company’s 2017 revenues were almost 54% higher at just under $1.3 billion.


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#AceSocialNews – June.17: Do you ever imagine Heaven, and what it will be like to stand in His presence? “I Can Only Imagine,” first released by MercyMe on their 1999 album “The Worship Project,” was written and composed by MercyMe vocalist Bart Millard when, at the age of 18, he lost his father and had many questions. Millard…
Do you ever imagine what Heaven will be like?
Ace Worldwide News Group
Got email marketing? We’ve got best practices from LivingSocial and estate sale guru Everything But The House in our next Insight webinar. Mobile app developers can now more easily integrate Amazon Cloud Drive, Amazon’s cloud storage service for photos, videos, and other files, into their apps. Today Amazon announced new Android and iOS software development…
Japanese mobile messaging app Line has turned to keyboard apps as it looks to grow its service in the U.S. and other parts of the world outside of Asia. Read More
#AceNewsDesk- Social Report: USA:June.17: Smartphones and tablets are squeezing out television as a major source of news, according to a new report based on data collected from 20,000 people in 12 countries. Younger audiences give preference to social media over papers and TV.
Published on June 16, 2015 20:24
A quarter of the polled sample said the smartphone was their main device for accessing digital news, up from 20 percent in 2014. That figure rises to 41 percent among those under the age of 35, says the fourth annual Digital News Report, produced by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.
Smartphones in particular are described as having a “disruptive impact on consumption, formats, and business models.” People who get digital news from their phones tend to prefer a single news app or none at all, choosing instead to access articles through the browser.
The UK is an outlier, with over half the respondents relying on the BBC app. The British public service redesigned their website in 2015, citing that 65 percent of their traffic comes from smartphones and tablets. In the US, the top news app is Fox News at 14 percent, though 10 percent of all respondents use a local news app on their phones.
Television and online news are holding steady, while newspapers are in decline, with social media taking their place, the report reveals. Older audiences are using digital news as an “additional layer of choice and convenience” without abandoning television, radio and print, the report has found.
Younger audiences “increasingly expect the news to come to them through online channels and in new formats,” turning away from television. In the US, less than a third ‒ 31 percent ‒ of those under 45 now watch a scheduled TV newscast, compared to 42 percent in 2013.
(source: Reuters Digital News Report 2015)
“Social media are not seen as a destination for accurate and reliable journalism but more as a way of getting access to it,” the report notes.
Facebook leads the social networks in finding, discussing and sharing news, according to the research. “We seek news on Twitter, but bump into it on Facebook,” the report reveals, with 41 percent of global responders using Facebook “to find, read, watch, share, or comment on the news” each week.
While this has raised some concerns over online filters, respondents say these services “help them find more diverse news and lead them to click on brands they do not normally use.”
The US has the lowest level of trust in the media of all the countries included in the report. Only 32 percent of Americans trust the press, comparable to Spain (34 percent) and Italy (35 percent). Finns trust their media the most, at 68 percent.
“Many of the countries with the highest levels of trust also have well-funded public service broadcasters,” the report noted.
The public’s preference for online news content is giving advertisers and business managers a headache. Some 67 percent of Americans would not buy a digital-only news subscription at any price, and only 11 percent pay for content.
Unable to charge for access, many news sites have resorted to online ads. However, 47 percent of Americans use ad-blocking services to filter them out, and a third say they pay no attention to ads at all.
To cope with this problem, a number of outlets are turning to “advertorials,” sponsored content mimicking news reports or editorials. The report suggests this approach may backfire, as a third of respondents say they felt “disappointed or deceived after reading an article they later found had been sponsored,” while 28 percent feel “less positively about the news brand as a result of sponsored content or native advertising.”
(source: Reuters Digital News Report 2015)
Only 13 percent find sponsored content valuable, while half of the respondents don’t like it, but tolerate it as the price of getting free news.
Resentment of advertising is also a factor with audiences embracing video content. Almost a third of the respondents who don’t use video cited pre-roll ads as the reason. Four in ten say they find reading text more convenient.


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Huawei Business Group CEO Richard Yu announced the tech giant’s newest operating system HarmonyOS during the Huawei Developers’ Conference in Dongguan, China.
According to reports, the microkernel-based distributed operating system is set to launch later this 2019 for smart screen products such as TVs, smart watches and in-vehicle infotaiment systems. As the company seeks to lessen its dependence on American businesses, Huawei plans to expand HarmonyOS’ coverage in the next three years to smartphones and other devices.
During the conference, Yu claimed that HarmonyOS is “more powerful and secure than Android,” adding that its IPC performance is five times better than Google Fuchsia’s and that its microkernel has “one-thousandth the amount of code in the Linux kernel.”
“A modularized HarmonyOS can be nested to adapt flexibly to any device to create a seamless cross-device experience. Developed via the distributed capability kit, it builds the foundation of a shared developer ecosystem,” Huawei mentioned in a statement, revealing that it began exploring the idea of its own operating system a decade ago.
Although Huawei will continue to use Android for their devices, HarmonyOS will serve as a fallback in case of emergencies. “We will prioritize Android for smartphones, but if we can’t use Android, we will be able to install HarmonyOS quickly,” Yu said.
In other tech news, Uber’s stock plummeted after Q2 reports.


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Charts and Growth: Auburn Company Changes Ownership as Customers Abound | Local News | Auburn, New York State | Auburnpub.com
Matt Ferguson calls this “the A&M difference”.
This is what separates Auburn’s graphics business, which he now owns 100%, A&M Graphics, from the rest. Ferguson, who founded the company with Al Brunner in 2009, bought out his partner in December.
The transition comes as A&M continues to grow, even during COVID-19. Formerly a 12-by-12-foot office on York Street, the company now occupies 5,000 square feet on Grant Avenue. Along the way, A&M has built up an extensive portfolio of recognizable brands in Auburn and beyond, from the sign outside Cayuga Community College to Anheuser-Busch wall coverings in Baldwinsville.
Those brands have reverted to A&M, and the company’s reach has spread further and further across the region, as it can do just about anything, Ferguson said. He and Brunner pride themselves on being a one-stop-shop, offering all possible services in all areas from design to production. That, Ferguson told The Citizen on Wednesday, is the “A&M difference.”
People also read …
“It takes a lot away from our customers,” he said. “They know they can just call and A&M will take care of them, whatever their needs.”
The company started out by taking all possible clients. Before its prominent signs and ubiquitous truck wraps, A&M created designs as modest as the decals on cornhole planks, said Ferguson, 37. After a few successful first years, he and Brunner, 63, began planning the transition from a partnership to full ownership by Ferguson. Brunner retains an advisory seat on the company’s board of directors.
A key step in growing A&M from a “small sign store” to the company it is now, Ferguson said, has been obtaining 3M certification in graphics installation and film installation. architectural.
“We wanted to stand out from everyone who said they could do these things,” he said, “going through the toughest and most practical tests and certifications in the country”.
When it comes to their squad, however, Ferguson and Brunner have been careful not to grow too fast. They started with a third front desk employee, but even after 12 years and four location changes the company only employs five people. This is because A&M never wants to have to cut talent should slow down. Rather, the company wants to be known for attracting and retaining talent, a reputation it affirmed by recently hiring a project manager from a large Syracuse company. A&M is currently looking to add one or two employees, Ferguson said.
The company’s hiring philosophy extends to its creative work: quality rather than quantity. A&M clients range from national companies who need pre-fabricated graphics produced and installed to local businesses who need someone to walk them through the process. Or sometimes national companies want to refresh their brand, or sometimes local companies need help researching theirs, Ferguson said.
Whatever the job, he and Brunner have found it rewarding. Perhaps the most rewarding and important design in their portfolio is the “Prison City Brewing” sign on the silo outside the new brewery facility. After working on ideas with owners Dawn and Marc Schulz, A&M landed on the bold white lettering visible on North Street today. Before Ferguson and Brunner could install it, however, they had to apply for permits and then present it to the city’s zoning appeal board. It was a “real big project,” Ferguson said, but he thanks the board for approving it.
“It could be a ‘Genesee Beer’ sign for a new generation,” he said. “When that was done, people I didn’t know came to me and told me they had seen the silo and loved it.”
Other local breweries that feature A&M imagery, along with Prison City and Anheuser-Busch, include Next Chapter in Auburn and Lunkenheimer in Weedsport. But it’s another category of customers that has kept the business running uninterrupted during COVID-19. Design and production work done by A&M for hospitals like Auburn Community and Upstate Medical University, as well as adjoining healthcare manufacturers like Tessy Plastics and Currier Plastics, has earned the company an “essential” designation of New York state at the start of the pandemic, Ferguson said.
At first it was just him and Brunner rushing to their Grant Avenue facility. Later, the entire A&M team worked to make sure they could help their critical customers as best they could.
“We’re the kind of guy we’re not going to go home and see what happens,” Ferguson said. “We have learned to zigzag or zag in any direction.”


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ALTADENA – Faced with tight budgets and dwindling district resources, Pasadena High School is always on the lookout for good money makers.
Bake sales, coupon books and catalogs filled with assortments of holiday-season trinkets have all been mainstays for the school’s fundraising program.
But the tradition of sticking parents with the purchase of peanut brittle and wrapping paper might soon be on its way out. The Eagles are looking toward a new Internet model to bring in funds – and it won’t cost parents a dime.
PHS is the first PUSD school to partner with Altadena-based Freelanthropy.com, a search engine that gives half its profits to charities.
“It’s a win-win situation,” PTA President Tammy Jenkins said. “It’s just free money.”
The start-up, developed by Altadena resident Daniel Sheehy, is one of a few companies using a search-engine business model for philanthropy.
Charities sign up to partner with the Web site for free. The site runs a Yahoo-based search engine, and Yahoo pays Freelanthropy for every search it runs.
Not a nonprofit itself, the company takes half the profits per search and gives the other half, about 3 cents, to the selected partner charity. Throughout November, Sheehy is giving 100 percent of his profits to the charities.
Jenkins said PHS has only made about $25 since joining in September. But she anticipates making substantial money once parents understand the concept.
(626) 578-6300 Ext. 4494


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UK-based flexible organic photovoltaics (OPV) thin-film start-up Eight19 has secured a new round of funding totalling £1.3 million (US$1.69 million).
The start-up said that the new funding would enable the company to accelerate its business and technology momentum after two years of continued improvement in OPV performance and advances in manufacturing readiness.
“We are delighted to have secured the additional funding, which will allow Eight19 to accelerate commercial engagement with customers through the delivery of complete energy autonomous solutions utilizing our flexible OPV”, stated Claudio Marinelli, General Manager and VP Business Development. ”The funding will also enable the Company to accelerate the commercialization of a recent technology breakthrough at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University that could enhance the efficiency of conventional silicon solar panels by up to one quarter.”
Investors in this funding round were IP Group and Lucros Investment.


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For years, consumers have been teased with news that self-driving cars may be hitting the market soon. But a new startup is looking to take the technology behind self-driving cars even further.
Drive.ai is an autonomous vehicle tech startup founded by former graduate students working in Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. Using “deep learning” technology, the company is looking to make self-driving cars that react more like humans on the road – up to and including communicating with other drivers.
“Deep learning is the best enabling technology for self-driving cars,” Sameep Tandon, CEO and co-founder of Drive.ai, told Fortune. “You hear a lot about all these things on the car: the sensors, the cameras, the radar, and Lidar (light-sensitive radar). What we really need is the brains to make an autonomous car work safely and understand its environment.”
That’s right, these cars will be outfitted with sophisticated sensor arrays, computer and an LED sign to communicate with pedestrians and other drivers. The sign will be mounted on top of the car, signaling when it is safe to pass or cross in front of the vehicle. This is being promoted less as a means to communicate with other drivers – the cars will still use the traditional signals as with manned vehicles – and more of a way to interact with and assuage the fears of pedestrians, according to the New York Times.
“Most people’s first interaction with self-driving cars will not be as a rider, but more likely as a pedestrian crossing the street,” Carol Reiley, the co-founder and president of Drive.ai told the New York Times. “I think it is so important for everyone to trust this type of technology.”
That’s all for this TEKConn video blog. Tune in next time for the latest and greatest from the world of tech.


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In a time when the fast food industry once thrived on its promise of speed, convenience, and affordability, a new reality is emerging. Real estate expert Michael Bordenaro sheds light on the seismic shifts underway, signaling the potential end of an era for fast food giants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell.
As costs soar and consumer behaviors evolve, the landscape of fast food is undergoing a profound transformation.
Rising Costs and Economic Pressures
Historically, fast food has been synonymous with affordability, offering a quick and inexpensive meal option for consumers on the go.
However, as Bordenaro highlights, the cost of operating fast food establishments, particularly in California, is skyrocketing. With a staggering $250,000 increase in operating costs for McDonald’s franchises in California alone, small business owners are grappling with the prospect of absorbing substantial losses.
The driving force behind these cost hikes? Rising minimum wages, which are set to reach $20 per hour in California, a 25% increase from the current rate.
Impact on Consumer Behavior
As prices continue to climb, the value proposition of fast food is increasingly called into question. With menu items now rivaling the cost of casual dining experiences, consumers are reevaluating their dining choices. Bordenaro poses a critical question: What incentive do consumers have to patronize fast food establishments when affordability no longer sets them apart?
The allure of convenience may remain, but the affordability factor, once a cornerstone of the industry, is under threat.
In response to mounting cost pressures, fast food chains are exploring innovative solutions to maintain profitability. From the implementation of digital ordering kiosks to exploring franchising opportunities outside of California, industry players are adapting to survive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
However, these measures may come at a cost, potentially leading to workforce reductions and shifts in labor dynamics.
Uncertain Economic Outlook
Amidst these changes, uncertainty looms over the future of the fast food industry. While some chains like Taco Bell continue to resonate with low-income consumers through value meal offerings, others face mounting challenges in retaining customers amid rising prices.
Moreover, the broader economic implications of these shifts, from inflationary pressures to housing market dynamics, further compound the uncertainty facing both consumers and industry stakeholders.
One commenter has a solution for this: “Simple Solution: Do NOT buy overpriced things, food, clothes, cars, etc. Take a stand. Supply and Demand. They can raise their prices all they want BUT if there is NO ONE to buy them…then what..”
One fast food enjoyer said: “As someone who eats fast food regularly, Taco Bell and Little Ceasers are the only ones where I can still stomach the price, but I have noticed either due to me getting older, or due to cheaper ingredients, I can’t stomach the food anymore.”
Another person added: “I worked fast food when I was young. I was treated so badly that I don’t care whether they’re company or franchise. They all deserve to go out of business.”
“I live in Los Angeles and what I see people doing is avoiding the fast food places and eating more at the tacos stand street vendors that are practically on every corner now .
1 taco is 2.00 dollars a lot of meat you put whatever you want on it. And there you go” said another commenter.
As the fast food industry grapples with rising costs, shifting consumer preferences, and economic uncertainties, the landscape of dining is undergoing a seismic shift. While the allure of convenience may endure, the affordability that once defined fast food is under threat.
As franchise owners, consumers, and industry players navigate these challenges, the future of fast food hangs in the balance, with profound implications for the broader economy and dining culture.
What do you think? With fast food prices on the rise, will consumers be forced to change their dining habits? Can the fast food industry survive in the face of escalating costs and changing consumer preferences?
What strategies can fast food chains employ to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market? How might the shift towards automation and digital ordering impact the future of fast food employment?


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While the regulatory battle over Bitcoin’s validity rages, businesses are slow moving when it comes to adoption. While this is an obstacle for Bitcoin enthusiasts, there are companies, such as Gyft, who are blazing forward and offering loopholes. Now Pademobile, a global payment platform, is extending that versatility to our neighbors down south.
Pademobile is a platform that was developed in Mexico, with offices in Spain and Silicon Valley, that turns the user’s phone into a digital wallet. Users create an account which they top up using any number of payment methods like banks, credit cards, and of course, Bitcoin. Once you have an account you can send money anywhere in the form of a text message. The platform allows you to move between different currencies fluidly, which is important for users who want to pay with Bitcoin.
“We’re really interested in innovation, so that was one of our main reasons to look into Bitcoin. But we also wanted to give our users a tool to use Bitcoin in order to make purchases in their local currency, as well as make international transactions easier,” said Lucía Cangas, the Marketing and Communications lead for Pademobile.
Currently, Pademobile is using Coinbase as their Bitcoin wallet, which they integrated at the end of December, but they are taking steps to develop their own Bitcoin wallet. People in Mexico and Spain have been using the service for a variety of services.
“People are using it to do things like top up their mobile phone or buy coffee from 7-11. One guy paid for his water bill using Bitcoin. Places like 7-11 don’t take Bitcoin yet so we do the conversion into Pesos for the customer,” explained Lucía.
One of the most significant aspects of Pademobile’s service, and one that shines a light on the occasional bubble surrounding Silicon Valley, is that most of Pademobile’s transactions occur through text message. The average denizen of Silicon Valley might find this slightly archaic, but in Mexico only about 17% of people have smartphones. The text message has become a base technological function that most of the world can rely on and Pademobile has taken advantage of it elegantly.
Pademobile became part of the Bitcoin Foundation in February and they have partnered with the GRG Bank in China to develop their own Bitcoin ATM, which is very exciting for the people of Mexico.
“You’ll be able to use without a card because you’ll be able to use the code on your phone. We will make the conversion and the user will get pesos,” per Lucía.
Pademobile presented their technology at the recent Bitcoin Meetup at Plug and Play, where they connected to an affiliate in Mexico live and then watched them buy a cup of coffee from 7-11. Going forward, Pademobile is launching a campaign to make it easier for the Mexican community in Silicon Valley to send money to their families back home.
If you liked what you read, please share it with friends.


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Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5 to debut in Beijing
Two of the greatest future rivals, the Mercedes GLK and the Audi Q5 will make their world debut this week-end at the Beijing Auto Show.
Audi will unveil its Q5 SUV in Beijing because it sees China as a key growth market. Last year, China became Audi’s second-biggest market after Germany as sales grew 24.8 percent to 101,996 units.
Like Audi, Mercedes wants to take advantage of the growing popularity of SUVs in China. After showing concepts for its new GLK class at the Geneva and Detroit auto shows this year, Mercedes will unveil the production version in Beijing.
Audi parent Volkswagen group will debut two models developed for the local market by its joint ventures in China. One will be a family-sized sedan code-named the Model X, based on the Jetta/Bora. The other will be a more upscale sedan called the Lavida that eventually will replace the Santana. Both cars are based on the fourth-generation Golf platform and will go into production in the summer.
Source: Automotive News


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BOULDER — PopSockets, a Boulder company that makes popular smart phone mounts, has received support from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) as the company attempts to protect its patents from companies that sell knockoffs.
The Longmont Times-Call reported that a general exclusion order has been issued, which permits the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency to seize imported counterfeit products.
While owning a building seems like something every successful business should do, that’s not always the case. For many companies, it makes more sense to continue leasing space, freeing up time and capital that can be better utilized in other ways.
Such orders are rare, the company said. Only three of 117 intellectual property complaints filed in 2016 received such orders. PopSockets identified 14 Chinese firms that it knows are making knockoffs.


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Faced with having to raise prices or admit they are delivering less, food manufacturers are trying to persuade consumers that they are doing them a favor.
The more at the table, the more turmoil afterward. Here are a couple of ideas on making things easier.
Unfortunately they have a bad rep. Some folks flat-out refuse to eat them, as if last night's lasagna is today's Ebola factory.
Why it sometimes takes a real daredevil to get the best deals on airline tickets, tires, and other common things we buy.
Starbucks is giving away its new mini confections to celebrate its 40th birthday. At Dairy Queen, it's free … (we'll let you know when we find out).
Blogger set himself a frugal challenge to spend no more than $1,000 in February, including rent. He learned a few things.
Plus you can find free glasses, BOGO meals and treats, and a mystery from Dairy Queen.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
New rules mean that longevity annuities -- insurance against outliving your money -- are more attractive for retirement savers.
Six weeks later, most Americans have forgotten about the 2014 tax season -- except those who didn't file by the April 15 deadline.
MUST-SEE ON MSN
A charcuterie master shares his process for cold-smoking meat at home.
- Jetpacks about to go mainstream
- Weird things covered by home insurance
- Bing: 70 percent of adults report 'digital eye strain'


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At the African Union (AU) Summit in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic on Sunday, President Muhamadu Buhari signed the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) on behalf of Nigeria, joining 53 other countries. During the summit, AU member states launched the “operational phase” of a landmark free-trade accord creating what leaders hope will be the world’s largest free trade area.
The AfCTA agreement is an umbrella instrument for the trade negotiations between the 55 African Union (AU) member states. It is divided into two phases (Phase I and II).
Each phase requires its own instrument of ratification by AU member states. On March 21, 2018, following 10 negotiating rounds, 44 of 55 AU member states signed the agreement establishing the Phase I of AfCFTA. Notably, 54 AU states have signed the agreement (Phase I) while 27 states have ratified it. Eritrea is the only states still on the side-line. This development means that the Phase I of AfCFTA (which captures the protocol for trade in goods, services and dispute resolution) is now a binding legal instrument in those countries that have ratified the agreement.
While there are still key issues to be ironed out, such as setting common criteria to determine rules of origin for traded products as well as all Phase II issues (which are still outstanding), this agreement creates an avenue to boost infrastructural development and economic activities within the continent via increase trades, in the face of increasing protectionism in the rest of the world.
United Capital Plc Research (UCR)


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General Motors (GME) CEO: “No Plans to Invest in Bitcoin” But will Evaluate Accepting it as Payment
So, it was only natural that people want to know if General Motors (GM) is considering the same as the company reported its fourth-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations.
However, GM has no plans as such.
General Motors CEO and Chairman Mary Barra said the automaker has no plans for investing in Bitcoin. The silver lining here is that the company will be monitoring customer demand regarding accepting cryptocurrency to pay for its vehicles and services.
The company reported revenue of $37.5 billion, more than the expected $36.12 billion. GM is planning to accelerate its all-electric and autonomous vehicle development and rollout. “We are investing in the business,” Barra said.
“We see tremendous growth opportunities and we’re also accelerating EVs; $7 billion alone of the $9-$10 billion is focused on EV/AV. So we see tremendous opportunity there.”


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The gold rate today has been on the rise against the backdrop of a weakening US index which slipped by 0.6 percent. Spot gold went up by 0.42 percent to trade at $1290.25 for an ounce. Meanwhile, the domestic prices in India also followed global trends to increase by Rs. 100 to Rs. 32,800 per 10 grams. This is partly due to the growing demand for the bullion as the marriage season draws near.
Silver prices in India increased by Rs. 300 to Rs. 40,100 per kilograms when freshly procured from coin makers and industrial units. Local jewelers are rapidly buying more gold and silver to meet the domestic demands, which will increase during the wedding season in India, a festive occasion where families splurge a significant portion of their wealth on precious metals.
It’s unsure how the recent changes made to the Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) will impact gold prices in India. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a few tweaks to the GMC, which will now allow charitable institutions, state government, and central government to participate in the scheme.
GMS was first launched by the Indian government to mobilize gold held by institutions and households across the country. According to the scheme, people can deposit their gold holdings in bank vaults in exchange of interest that varies from 2.25 to 2.50 percent depending on the bank and the amount of gold placed.
The precious metals market as a whole seems to be on the rise, with Palladium meeting its all time high on Wednesday after the Chinese government talked about enforcing new policies to buy more domestic automobiles. Palladium surged by 0.49 percent to $1,325 for an ounce, briefly touching the record high of $1,342.43 earlier. Spot palladium settled around $1,273 for an ounce on Thursday.
The price difference between rival platinum and palladium is now more than $500 an ounce. This also means that palladium is now the best precious metal of 2018 and 2019.
As the Chinese government increases domestic spending on commodities such as home appliances and automobiles this year, it will automatically create more demand for palladium, a key ingredient in the production of environment-friendly catalysts. Analysts also believe that the supply for palladium in the market won’t increase to meet the demand anytime soon.
According to Citigroup, a large deficit to the tune of over 600,000 ounces in supply and demand will support rising prices. The trend will likely continue until 2020.
Palladium is rarer than most precious metals, with the bulk of it being mined in South Africa and Russia as a byproduct of platinum and nickel mining. If supplies don’t improve any time soon, the widening premiums might convince automobile manufacturers to switch from palladium to the much cheaper platinum, which may decrease further gains in the future.
The only problem is that making a switch to platinum isn’t easy and according to Rahul Mital, the Global Technical Specialist at General Motors. According to Mr. Mital, the process could anywhere between 18 months to two years.


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British sports car maker, TVR, has announced that the new production facility chosen to be home to a resurgence will be located in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone in South Wales. The Welsh Government will also invest in the car maker, meaning that the project as a whole represents £30 million of capital expenditure over the next five years.
Les Edgar, Chairman of TVR said: “This is a fantastic opportunity both for TVR and the Welsh Government. South Wales is becoming a major hub for automotive and motorsport technology and development and the area is a serious opportunity for business development and job creation. We have a sports car project that has garnered global approval and excitement, and we are delighted that the Welsh government wish to become a part of an exciting new era for TVR.”
The First Minister said: “This is yet another fantastic high profile investment for Wales and a great boost for our automotive sector. TVR is another iconic and much loved, world-class brand that still commands a strong and loyal international following. I am delighted the next generation of TVRs will proudly bear the label Made in Wales.”
“Today’s news follows hot on the heels of the Aston Martin announcement and sends out a strong, clear message that Wales is the location of choice for advanced manufacturing. It also illustrates that our pro-business approach is delivering results, attracting significant investment and creating high quality jobs and it is another huge boost for Wales, for our automotive sector and for our skilled workforce.”
The new TVR project, which was announced in early 2015, has already secured in excess of 350 deposits for the fantastic new launch edition car, which features innovative design and styling that maintains the distinctive TVR DNA, but also includes F1 inspired, ground-effect technology. The chassis and body has been designed by Gordon Murray of Gordon Murray Design Ltd. and will be the first production car to be manufactured using their revolutionary iStream® assembly process. Power is provided by a Cosworth tuned and enhanced V8 engine. The Welsh factory will be busy fulfilling orders that already run through to the end of 2018.


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June 11, 2014
San Mateo, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) will host Ready, Set, Succeed, a small business seminar for women, on Friday June 13, 2014 in San Francisco. The seminar is designed to help current and aspiring Bay Area business owners succeed and to overcome potential roadblocks.
The seminar will feature keynote speakers Julia Hartz, Eventbrite President and Co-Founder, and Donna J. Davis, Regional Administrator from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Breakout sessions will include crowd funding & micro financing, kick-starting your small business, motherhood & entrepreneurship, and “Dolphin Tank”, an opportunity for entrepreneurs to practice their pitch and get feedback from experts.
“While women entrepreneurs are the fastest growing segment in the small business community, a business owned by a woman typically makes 73% less than a similar business owned by a man,” said Speier. “We need to level the playing field so that women can succeed and as a result, America can succeed.”
Currently more than 8.9 million women-owned businesses in the U. S. employ over 8 million people and produce $1.3 million in sales annually.
Speier will address another group of women entrepreneurs at 2 pm during a Challenge Her event at 245 Market Street in San Francisco. Challenge Her is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express that helps women-owned businesses with federal contracts.
In late May, an amendment by Speier that strengthens the federal contracting environment for women-owned businesses passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2015.
“My amendment will give women more access to federal contracts,” Speier said. “Even though women own nearly 30% of all American businesses and are a fast-growing force in the private sector, they are underrepresented in federal contracting and receive less than 5% of the contracts available from federal agencies.”
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Eventbrite President and Co-Founder Julie Hartz
SBA Region IX Administrator Donna J. Davis
Representatives from Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Kiva, CAMEO, SCORE, CircleUp, Moolahoop, Women’s Start Up Lab, Speck Design, Mom WorkForce, Wells Fargo, SF Fire Credit Union and other businesses
Ready, Set, Succeed: A Women’s Small Business Seminar
Friday, June 13, 2014
8:30 – 11:30 am
155 5th Street, 7th floor


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Prime Day Fascination
July 11, 2022
Let’s be honest even though this is not RCT’s niche, aren’t we all fascinated with Amazon’s logistic magic? Their business model has permanently changed the way we shop and ship.
Prime Day has become an e-commerce behemoth over the last several years. Like most everyone, Amazon has not been able to escape supply-chain disruption. Many are watching to see if Prime Day promises of free and fast continue and how small businesses are impacted by Amazon’s initiatives.
See how Amazon is hedging its bets in an attempt to double sales on Prime Day.
Read Bringg.com article: 5 Logistical Challenges of Amazon Prime Day
The question this raises is should your company be following Amazon’s lead regarding shipping and supply chain?
Explore your options with a specialist at RCT!
Sign up for the latest news from RCT
Opt in- to stay up to-to-date with RCT New and the industry directly to your inbox.


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Two of the fashion industry's most authoritative voices team up this Saturday evening for what will likely be the most insightful non-Fashion Week fashion event this season. Cathy Horyn of The New York Times and Juergen Teller, the photographer whose accomplishments include, among other things, sticking Victoria Beckham in a paper bag, will meet on-stage at Chelsea's School of Visual Arts to discuss Teller's new exhibit, "Paradis," on display as of today at the Lehmann Maupin gallery.
Shot in a single evening at the Musee du Louvre in Paris, the works featured in Paradis are large-scale photographs of actress Charlotte Rampling and Brazilian model Raquel Zimmerman. Unencumbered by clothing, the two women are captured alone and together—very close together, in some shots—as they weave through the museum's sculptures and statues, ultimately standing face to face with the Mona Lisa, herself.
What better way to decompress after a long day of shows (and likely, rain) than taking a comfy seat and listening to two super smart people talk about fashion?
The talk begins at 7pm and is open to the public.
School of Visual Arts
333 W 23rd St. (btw 8th and 9th Aves)


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According to the New Your Times, Google and Apple are about to release a new application to provide voice searching on the iPhone. Google researchers have added sophisticated voice recognition technology to the company’s search software for the Apple iPhone. Users of the free application, which Apple is expected to make available as soon as Friday through its iTunes store, can place the phone to their ear and ask virtually any question, like “Where’s the nearest Starbucks?” or “How tall is Mount Everest?” The sound is converted to a digital file and sent to Google’s servers, which try to determine the words spoken and pass them along to the Google search engine. The search results, which may be displayed in just seconds on a fast wireless network, will at times include local information, taking advantage of iPhone features that let it determine its location.
via New York Times


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Digital collectibles company Candy Digital and Web3 production firm Palm NFT Studio announced a merger on Thursday, bringing the two powerhouse companies together to expand licensed non-fungible token (NFT) projects across sports, entertainment, art and culture.
According to a press release, the two firms will work together under the Candy Digital name to create digital experiences for sports franchises like Major League Baseball (MLB), NASCAR and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), as well as entertainment giants such as Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery.
Candy Digital is backed by Michael Novogratz’ digital asset firm Galaxy Digital and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, while Palm NFT Studio has received funding from Microsoft’s venture fund M12 and Warner Bros. The former raised a $100 million Series A round in October 2021 at a $1.5 billion valuation, while the latter participated in a $27 million funding round in December 2021.
While Candy Digital’s CEO Scott Lawin will oversee both companies post-merger, Palm NFT co-founder and CEO Daniel Heyman will be appointed as president of Candy Digital.
“We’re thrilled to bring together two teams that have been market leaders in innovation and fan engagement,” Lawin told CoinDesk. “Palm NFT Studio shares Candy’s excitement about the role that digital assets will play as the connective tissue between fans, brands and content in Web3, and we’re looking forward to bringing world-class brands like Warner Bros. Discovery and DC to the Candy platform and community.”
Heyman said in a press release that the combined infrastructure of Candy Digital and Palm NFT Studio will help carry forward its mission of building digital brand experiences.
“Candy Digital and Palm NFT Studio’s unified technology platform scales our ability to create transformative experiences for fans,” said Heyman. “We look forward to working with Candy Digital to build the next generation of digital media and engagement.”
The two companies have previously worked together to roll out NFTs and digital collectibles leveraging each other’s infrastructure. In January 2022, Candy Digital teamed up with MLB to release an NFT collection minted on the Palm blockchain, Palm NFT Studio’s native network. In May 2022, stock photo giant Getty Images tapped Candy Digital to release photography NFTs on the Palm blockchain.
In May, Palm NFT Studio rolled out the Palm Generative Art Maker, a tool to help creators mint generative art collections on the blockchain.
#Gary #VaynerchukBacked #Candy #Digital #Web3 #Production #Company #Palm #NFT #Studio #Announce #Merger


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The FBM Digital Systems website is now available with 20 online casino games to explore. The company brings the landbased expertise and reliability of the FBM brand to the online universe. Inside this new digital face, players and casino managers can try video bingos, slots and table games that FBM Digital Systems has been developing. […]
About Andre Costa
This author has yet to write their bio.
Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud Andre Costa contributed a whooping 9 entries.
The Multi-Game FBM expansion campaign started in Mexico. The newest product developed by FBM is now available at 18 casinos across the North American country. This is the beginning of a national expansion operation that will certainly cover more locations and regions during the next months. The Multi-Game FBM brought a new gaming experience to […]
Creating this year´s FBM Christmas message was particularly special. This year was a tremendous test to our resilience, grit and union. We are sure that we speak for all of us when we say that it was not an easy year. We stopped seeing our colleagues, friends and even our families as we used to. […]
Rui Manuel Mendes Francisco is an unavoidable name in the gaming universe and the figure that leads FBM in the casino industry. The brand´s legacy has almost 20 years and Rui Francisco spoke with GMB – Games Magazine Brasil about the past, present and future of FBM. A conversation published in the GMB website and […]
FBM slots arrived at the Philippines. The global gaming brand continues its global expansion campaign with a double entry in this Asian market. The global gaming brand enters the Dragon Club Casino Filipino Binondo with fresh new games and cabinets. The four gaming adventures of the Easy$Link® pack – Catch the Gold; RacinGo – Wild; […]
The final chapter of 2020 brings FBM Multi-Game – a Christmas gift to players and casino operators. Catch the Gold™, RacinGo – Wild™, Underwater Riches™ and Kingdom Gems™ are the four spin reel adventures now available to play in the same cabinet, providing a different gaming experience to the players. The global gaming brand is […]
The Philippines counts with a community of more than 500.000 Jeepney drivers, but only a small percentage of this group has been allowed to currently operate due to the Covid-19 restrictions. This context is threatening the survival of a symbol of the Philippines’ history, economy, and culture. That´s why FBM took a move to help […]
The society is opening progressively to the routines and the gaming industry is not an exception. After this, you may ask: where can I play casino and bingo games after the lockdown? In this article, you can access a list of the land-based casinos and bingo halls where you can already play the FBM games, […]
FBM starts 2020 bringing new games, gameplays and approaches for the online and landbased markets on ICE London. The titles with Easy$Link, Mythic Link and Multi Progressive features will be exhibited for the first time in Europe. The growing online portfolio will reveal eight new spin reel games and relevant updates in the video bingo […]


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Amazon has announced the creation of 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across the UAE this year, as it expands its footprint in support of the country’s acceleration towards a digital economy. As demand evolves, the expansion will help the company better serve customers and communities by delivering a smarter, faster, and even more consistent experience.
Amazon is fostering job creation as it increases its fulfillment centre storage capacity by 60%, offering a wider selection of products to customers. By the end of 2021, the company’s storage space in the UAE will be spread over more than 3.7 million cubic feet – which is equivalent to approximately 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools – enabling Amazon to store millions of products for businesses. The expansion also creates additional jobs through its sellers and delivery partners.
The company is adding four new delivery stations that will increase its total area by 70%, speeding up the handling of deliveries and bolstering reach. “We are scaling our operations to support the customer experience, getting people across the UAE what they want when they want, wherever they are. Our expansion is underpinned by our support of the UAE’s growing digital economy, as we continue to invest in people, process, and technology,” said Prashant Saran, Director of Operations for Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA). “As we accelerate our culture of innovation to better serve customers, we are excited to become an enabler of opportunity for talent in the UAE. We offer an enriching environment where employees can learn and grow all within a modern workplace that has an uncompromising focus on safety. Amazon’s investment reflects our long-term commitment to the communities in which we operate, as we continue to grow sustainably and responsibly.”
The company has a rich history of inventing and introducing cutting-edge technology to assist employees and keep them safe while delivering for customers. Amazon’s expansion in the UAE creates a diverse range of job opportunities, enabling new career paths to benefit the nation’s talent pool. The operations expansion in the UAE will be delivered through a pipeline of new openings, closure of older buildings, and upgrades, designed to deliver a better experience for Amazon’s customers. It is anchored by Amazon’s commitment to building sustainable operations as it expands across the region.
Today, the Amazon network across the UAE comprises two fulfillment centres, eight delivery stations, three sorting centres, and a network of Delivery Service Partners. As Amazon continues to grow its footprint in the UAE, the health and safety of its employees, customers, and partners remain paramount. The company has changed more than 150 processes in its logistics network to date and invested more than $11.5 billion globally in 2020 related to COVID-19.


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Genki has created its new Convert Dock for the Nintendo switch. The Nintendo Switch is known for its ability to connect to outside devices like a TV. However, the only docking mechanics capable were provided by Nintendo. Up until recently, there were no functioning third party docking systems for the Nintendo Switch. However, Genki's Convert Dock looks to be the first device to provide docking for the Switch that was not produced by Nintendo.
The dock will be able to produce 30W of power and the company states that it will also be compatible as a USB-C dock for other devices like laptops or phones. Genki is currently funding the device through a campaign on Kickstarter, with early pricing for the device set at $49.
Image Credit: Genki


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Apple's golden tickets, Anthropic raise $450 million, and Dr Who steps into Metaverse.
Also this week...PSVR 2 sales figures higher than first device, Meta close 'final' layoff wave, and an AR focused deal from the tech giant with Magic Leap might be in the offing!
Good morning Metaverse Business Brief readers. Let’s jump into the most relevant news from the immersive world in our weekly roundup.
Apple issue XR media invites to WWDC Keynote. As reported by UploadVR and RoadToVR, Apple have begun to invite XR industry media outlets to their WWDC23 Keynote on June 5th. This has been taken as an immediate signal that the much anticipated first ever Apple XR headset will be revealed at the event, a rumour reinforced by apple analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo. It remains to be seen however as to how much information will be issued by Apple at the event.
PSVR 2 launch sales figures beat original. In a presentation delivered by Sony, the company revealed that the PSVR 2’s first six week sales figures have beaten the first iterations. The original PSVR clocked around 500,000 units, while the PSVR 2 has delivered closer to 600,000. The news contradicts initial reports from March, which suggested that the headset would only sell 270,000 units in the same time frame.
Meta announce final layoffs. In what is being deemed the final major wave of layoffs, around 5000 staff have left Meta. This included more employees from the reality labs AR/VRA division, however it is thought that these employees didn’t hold technical roles. This round brings the total number of laid off staff members to around 20,000 since November, when the first of the three layout rounds took place.
Meta in talks with Magic leap on deal. The deal is reported to include a multiyear agreement, wherein Meta will gain access to Magic Leaps AR intellectual property, supply chain, and manufacturing capabilities in North America. The news comes amidst news of a slowing metaverse ambition at Meta during it’s ‘year of efficiency’, with the deal allowing Meta to save potential billions in product research and development plus tricky navigation of the current U.S. Chinese geopolitical breakdown.
Anthropic raises $450 million. The AI startup, backed by Google, raised the finance as the ramp up a battle against OpenAI for the competitive race to develop AI foundation models. This round brings the total funding for Anthropic to nearly $1 billion, ranking it as one of the highest funded AI startups.
Moonfire Ventures launch $115 million fund. The London based organisation, founded by former Atomico co-founder Mattias Ljungman, have raised the figure in order to continue investment in European startup organisations existing in the fields of Web3, AI and AR/VR. Moonfire first appeared in 2021 with an inaugural fund of the size of $60 million.
GoodGang Labs raise $2 million. Formed by former Facebook exec Doo-Kyung Ahm, and entrepreneur Jae-cheol Kim, GoodGang Labs offer a 3D avatar communication platform called Kiwi Town, which aims to replicate facial expressions via AI. There is a Web3 version of the platform, which allows users to embody NFT avatars through digital wallet integration.
Keep an eye on
BBC Studios and Reality+ launch Sandbox experiences. The move to push popular BBC properties like Top Gear and Doctor Who to The Sandbox will also be supported by a BBC events space on the same platform. The decision marks the first time in which the BBC has fully backed a step into the metaverse, with previous small experiments taking place on some platforms. The space will be launched in late 2023.
Microsoft bring avatars to teams enterprise customers. The organisation announced that avatars will now be available for Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise licenses in the teams desktop app on Windows and Mac. The option will be an alternative to video or non video use. Microsoft also launched Mesh in private preview, to attempt to mimic in person interactions on the teams platform.
Nreal become Xreal with new beam adapter. The rebranding of Nreal to Xreal is complete, with the organisation stating that the name change is designed to reflect a shift to working on ‘expanded reality’ experiences. Alongside the rebrand announcement came the launch of the ‘Xreal Beam’, an adapter for the existing Xreal Air product that allows users to connect the 201-inch display to games consoles, PCs and other devices.
4D smell-o-vision comes to VR? A team based in Hong Kong and mainland China has developed a small, wireless odour generator that can be worn as a mask or attached to the skin under the nose. Research from the City University of Hong Kong, Beihang University in Beijing and Shandong University suggests VR devices combined with the odour generators have the potential to even be used in medicine and education as a means to trigger memories or aid communication.
Events to be at
May 31 California | Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2023
June 01 Online | The 7th International VR Awards Nomination Webinar 2
June 13 Online | Insights Live: Metaverse vs Web3: A Convergence?
August 08 Online | Insights Live: How the Metaverse would Transform Education
October 24-26 Houston | The 10th Augmented Enterprise Summit
November 30 Rotterdam | The 7th International VR Awards
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news and comments to firstname.lastname@example.org.
May 29 2023 Edition - Issue 21
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Agriculture is undergoing a renaissance. IoT and artificial intelligence are enabling farmers to manage crops and livestock more reliably and efficiently. Autonomous farming equipment, livestock monitoring systems, and precision farming solutions are empowering farmers to feed our increasingly hungry and environmentally unstable world. As we begin 2019, it's exciting to reflect on all the Internet of Things--IoT--industry changes that occurred in 2018 and the trends that lay ahead in 2019. Many industries have been and will continue to be affected by the growth and maturation of IoT--school campuses will be safer, cars will be smarter, and homes will be sleeker and more intuitive, and businesses will deliver more value more efficiently.
I buckle my seatbelt, and then double check it, after I climb into the back of a white, black, and orange Toyota Prius V wagon. I'm tense, but the two engineers, one in back with me, the other riding shotgun, seem reassuringly relaxed. We roll forward, turning right out of the parking lot at the Hard Rock Hotel, and head into the streets of Las Vegas--with nobody in the driver's seat. Soon, the car is merging into traffic at 40 mph, the steering wheel spinning and the turn signals flicking on and off on their own. I've witnessed plenty of self-driving demonstrations, some of them here in Vegas, but never one without a human holding their hands over the controls, poised to brake, or swerve, if the computer struggles.
While self-driving vehicles are beta-tested on some public roads in real traffic situations, the semiconductor and automotive industries are still getting a grip on how to test and verify that vehicle electronics systems work as expected. Testing can be high stakes, especially when done in public. Some of the predictions about how humans will interact with autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads are already coming true, but human creativity is endless. There have been attacks on Waymo test vehicles in Arizona, a DUI arrest of a Tesla driver sleeping at 70mph on a freeway, and other Tesla hacks using oranges and aftermarket gadgets to trick Tesla's Autopilot into thinking the driver's hands are on the wheel. But are those unsafe human behaviors any more dangerous than the drum beat of technology hype, unrealistic marketing, and a lack of teeth in regulating testing of AVs on public roads, the factory and the design lab?
Wondering what Iridium would be doing with those Next satellites that SpaceX just finished launching? You now have an idea. Iridium has formally debuted Certus, a "truly global" satellite broadband service that promises to keep aircraft, ships and other vehicles (including self-driving vehicles) connected even in the remotest places. It's far from fast at 352Kbps for both downloads and uploads, but that's enough to keep crews online and provide reasonably high-quality voice services. The initial focus is on land and sea services, with aviation coming later in 2019 after Iridium receives the certification it needs to go ahead.
I love a good road trip. I've spent hundreds of thousands of miles in cars during my life, and the best times were when I knew it would be hours or even days before I reached my destination. Typically a friend (or friends) or family members would accompany me, but on a few occasions, it was just me, my music collection -- and scenery screaming past me at 70 miles per hour. In the past few years, more and more automakers have created semiautonomous systems so that you're no longer "alone" on these drives. One of the more robust (and most famous) is Tesla's Autopilot.
A major security flaw with the hugely popular game Fortnite left millions of players exposed to hackers, according to new research. Cyber security firm Check Point discovered the vulnerability, which allowed people to steal the login credentials of Fortnite players without them even knowing about it. For the attack to be successful, all the victim would have to do is click on a link shared via a chatbox on Fortnite or through social media. Once clicked, the hacker could gain access to a player's username, password, V-bucks currency and any data stored on their account – without the victim even having to enter their login credentials. The head of the Check Point research team believes it is entirely possible that these flaws could have already been exploited by hackers, despite no reported instances of attackers making use of the exploit.
BMW will offer virtual test drives including some stretches where the car drives itself in virtual reality, in a version of its new concept car, the BMW Vision iNEXT electric vehicle, at the upcoming 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 8 to Jan. 11. Navigating the transition to autonomous cars is a tough assignment for the whole auto industry. But it's especially ticklish for the BMW brand, given its iconic identity is "The Ultimate Driving Machine." BMW describes the interior of the BMW Concept iNEXT as "Favorite Space."Photo: An earlier BMW ad campaign showed a BMW driver arriving at work in need of a cooldown, as if he had just finished a demanding and exhilarating workout, instead of a boring commute.
Apple is working on a car. Or, maybe it's simply working on a complex set of technologies related to automobiles and driving… In any case, the endeavor (codenamed Project Titan) has been a facet of the Apple news sphere for years. Despite the fact that Project Titan is a poorly kept secret, it still remains murky. With that being said, there have been quite a few patents, hires, reports and other rumors revealing certain aspects of the initiative. Continue reading to learn eight things you need to know about the Apple Car.
DETROIT - Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday they will join forces on commercial vans and pickups and are exploring joint development of electric and self-driving technology in moves meant to save the automakers billions of dollars. Ford and VW announced their partnership against the backdrop of the Detroit auto show. The tie-up, which starts with sales of vans and medium-sized pickups in 2022, will not involve a merger or equity stakes, the companies said. "It is no secret that our industry is undergoing fundamental change, resulting from widespread electrification, ever stricter emission regulation, digitization, the shift towards autonomous driving, and not least the changing customer preferences," Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess told reporters and analysts on a conference call. "Carmakers around the globe therefore are investing heavily to align their portfolios to future needs and accelerate their innovation cycles," he added.
The autonomous driving world is about as incestous a place as Caligula's palace, and it got a little more so today, when Ford and Volkswagen announced a formal and long-anticipated alliance. "The alliance we are now building, starting from first formal agreement, will boost both partners' competitiveness in an era of rapid change," Herbert Diess, the CEO of Volkswagen, said on a call with reporters. He and Ford CEO Jim Hackett said the partnership--which is not a merger--will begin with the companies jointly developing and building medium-sized pickups and commercial vans, to debut as early as 2022. The automakers said the arrangement should "yield improved annual pre-tax operating results" by 2023. So hopefully, this makes everyone richer.


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The global value of the Kia Motors brand has grown by 12% over the last year, according to Interbrand’s exclusive list of the 100 ‘Best Global Brands’.
According to the 2016 study, released today, Kia has risen five spots to become the 69thmost valuable brand in the world. The Korean manufacturer’s estimated brand value grew from US$5.7 billion in 2015 to US$6.3 billion in 2016. This represents a seven-fold (603%) increase since 2006, the year in which the brand declared design-driven management as a key strategy behind the company’s future growth.
Mike Rocha, Global Director of Brand Valuation, Interbrand, said, “Kia’s impressive growth in brand value in recent years can be seen as a direct result of consumers’ strengthening attachment to the highly desirable designs and features of Kia’s product line-up, and engagement with worldwide communications activities centered on developing the brand’s image. Kia’s brand performance in the European market in particular has been driven by a strong SUV line-up, as well as engaging experiential customer communications programs, on- and off-line.”
ALSO SEE: Kia Rio wins NAJA Awards
This significant – and sustained – growth is a result of company-wide efforts to strengthen the brand and cultivate a more emotional attachment to Kia and its products among consumers. Since 2012, Kia’s global brand campaign, A Different Beat, has enabled the company to emphasize the vibrant, reliable and distinctive nature of its cars.
Kia’s rise to the top of this year’s ranking was driven by class-leading performances from the Sportage compact crossover and Soul urban crossover. Kia was also named by J.D. Power as the third highest ranking brand among all non-premium manufacturers in its Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) awards for new vehicle satisfaction in the USA.
Kia’s excellence in design continued to be recognized in 2016, with the all-new Sportage and Optima sedan both receiving influential ‘red dot’ and ‘iF’ design awards. Other new products and technologies further enhanced the brand’s image, with the company launching the Niro hybrid utility vehicle and the all-new Cadenza. At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Kia presented its vision for future autonomous driving technologies, and announced its new ‘DRiVE WISE’ sub-brand, embodying Kia’s philosophy to realize intelligently safe vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
To accompany the ongoing growth in the company’s product line-up, and increased capabilities of each vehicle, official partnerships with the world’s most high-profile sporting events have provided additional momentum to the growth of the Kia brand. Sponsorship arrangements with FIFA, UEFA, NBA, LPGA and the Australian Open tennis championship have provided the company with a wealth of opportunities to engage with the company’s young-at-heart target customers across the globe.


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When bars reopen after lockdown, we’re likely to see a major difference.
Social distancing rules could mean a transformation in the layout of venues, as well as restrictions on the numbers of people allowed in.
But a new app, available to download now to use in venues across Northern Ireland and the Republic, could help ease the pressure on business owners with customers able to order food and drinks from their phones to be delivered straight to their tables.
DrinkApp is available to download now to use in venues across Northern Ireland and the Republic.
In a Bar? Order via DrinkApp and get your drinks delivered to your table.
Sitting at home and would like drinks from your local off-licence?
Order via DrinkApp and get your carryout delivered to your front door.
DrinkApp director Ryan Fegan, who launched the software along with brother Mark at the end of last year, says they app will help get pubs up and running – and all our social lives back on track.
“It’s been a really hard year with everything that’s happened with Covid,” says Ryan, who is based in Armagh. “The changes we’ve all gone through are huge.
“But when things start to open up again, this app will mean customers sitting down in bars and restaurants can order drinks and food from their table without going anywhere near the bar.
“It works through GPS, and customers can log in to the app from whatever venue they’re in. If the venue is registered with the app, they’ll find the menu and be able to order and pay right there and then all you have to do is register your card once or you can also pay through Apple Pay or Google Pay.
“They stick their table number in, the bar staff drop off their order and it means no cash is exchanged. It’s contactless, there’s no queueing at the bar. It’s a hassle-free experience.”
And while Ryan says DrinkApp will help in the reopening of bars after lockdown, its original purpose was, more simply, to help people enjoy their time in the pub.
“If people aren’t up and down to the bar, it means everyone can have a better time,” he says
“When you’re coming to the end of your drink, you can order another one so there’s no big wait for the next one. The drinks keep flowing and it frees up the bar.
“I’ve used it myself as a customer, and even long before there were any restrictions in place it made a big difference for a really enjoyable and hassle-free experience. It’s a useful app, and especially now it’s exciting to think what difference it could make in getting the venues on their feet again.
There are no sign-up subscriptions or monthly fees, and venues can contact DrinkApp directly to get set up. DrinkApp can get any bar or venue set up within two days. Contact DrinkApp on their email firstname.lastname@example.org for more info.
For all the details, visit www.drinkapp.net.


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Kuehne + Nagel is the only logistics service provider among the 25 “world’s best companies”
On behalf of BusinessWeek magazine, A.T. Kearney ranked companies with a minimum turnover of 10 billion dollars (of which at least one quarter must come from outside the company’s home region) according to their sales growth and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) or value creation over the last five years. Further criteria were commitment to innovation and expansion, portfolio diversification, strong management leadership and clear vision for the future.
As the only logistics service provider and – together with ABB – as the only Swiss-based company, Kuehne + Nagel was ranked among the best 25. Further to this, the study counts Kuehne + Nagel among those seven companies who “in particular have proven by their success that they are not one-time wonders [and] have been able to defend their status as Global Champions. […] The consistently strong performance of these seven companies is a testament to the strength of their corporate strategies and the resilience of their business model.”
Further information on the A.T. Kearney Global Championship 2009 can be found at:


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Commonwealth Bank customers have had their credit balances wiped in a major digital blunder that has affected thousands of Australians.
Credit card histories vanished from the bank’s online systems at around 8am on Wednesday morning, according to Aussie Outages.
Home loans, travel money card accounts, payments using BPAY and personal loans also appear to have been affected.
‘None of my credit cards are showing up in Netbank and none of the scheduled transfers (including wages for my staff) were processed overnight,’ one customer said.
Commonwealth Bank customers have had their credit balances wiped in a major digital blunder that has affected thousands of Australians (stock)
‘Just tried to pay the mechanics to pick my car up – thanks cba I had to transfer money from my savings instead of use my credit card so now I’m overdrawn- no doubt I will get a charge for that,’ another wrote.
The Commonwealth Bank confirmed the outage and said it was working to fix the problem.
‘We’re aware some customers may be experiencing intermittent issues with NetBank, CommBank app and CommBiz,’ the Bank said, according to news.com.au.
‘We know that some merchant terminals are also impacted. For our customers impacted by this issue we are sorry, please be assured we are working on this as a matter of priority.’
More to come.


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Here you can find some of the latest developments in the various industries and sectors that we are involved in.
MALTESE STATISTICS ON THE CORONAVIRUS
Thought to have originated in Wuhan China, the Coronavirus has caused serious havoc across many countries, including Malta’s neighbouring friends, Italy. But, from sold-out face masks to setting up of screenings across borders; from some people stating that this is all an unnecessary fuss to some ...
DESIGN ON THE BIG SCREEN
From the worldwide controversies due to the lack of female nominees to Billie Eilish’s intriguing performance, the Oscars has always been and will surely be the talk of the town. In light of this, we couldn’t help but look back at the relat...
2019 GDPR STATISTICS
GDPR came into force on May 25, 2018, and everyone rushed to comply, fearing huge fines and other legal repercussions. Did it work as expected? Let’s check what the numbers have to say. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), for example, received 6,281 data protection complaints betw...
EMERGING BRANDS NEED AGILE BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS
Entering a market with a new product presents challenges in understanding consumer behaviour, in addition to opportunity. Read more to see how to utilise behavioural sciences to better predict performance in retail, amongst other consumer insights for new products.
SKEUOMORPHISM IS STILL ALIVE
There are many good examples of food websites. From goliaths of the industry such as Starbucks or Coca-Cola to less-known local bistros, we can stumble upon Read More →
2019 RANSOMWARE STATISTICS
Ransomware infection rates are dropping but almost half of victims pay the ransom.
Ransomware has been the core concern for cybersecurity professionals for years but in 2018 it finally started to decline in volume. However, it doesn’t serve us to get exci...


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Top 10 trending phones of week 28
Nothing finally made its phone (1) official this week and even started shipping it to the first invitees, which was enough to catapult it back to the front of our trending chart.
That meant the Xiaomi 12S Ultra had to settle for the silver medal this time around, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra retained the third spot for the third week in a row.
A phone that debuted at the end of last week – the Xiaomi 12 Lite took fourth, while the Galaxy A53 regained a couple of spots to place fifth.
The Redmi Note 11 stays sixth, while the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max restores its position from the two weeks in seventh.
HMD’s newly unveiled Nokia 5710 XpressAudio with its built in TWS earphones is the eight most popular phone in our database as the iPhone XR mounts another unlikely comeback to place ninth.
Yet another dose of Nokia nostalgia takes the final spot in this week’s edition of the chart – the 8210 4G.
A bunch of last week’s top 10 didn’t make it this time around, probably none more surprising than the second-placed Xiaomi 12S Pro. With the Ultra soaking up the limelight the other two members of the new 12S family have seemingly failed to make a lasting impact.
The Asus Zenfone 9 is another one to be relegated, but it will probably be back when it actually starts shipping. The Infinix Note 12 5G, on the other hand, may have just seen the end of its 15 minutes of fame.
See you next week!