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In a quick statement published on the Xbox Wire website, the company revealed that the franchise developed by San Diego Studio, one of Sony's first-party studios, will make its way to Xbox for the first time ever, having previously released exclusively on Sony platforms since 2006.
Fans were expecting news ever since 2019, when the Major League Baseball and Xbox revealed that MLB had reached an agreement with Sony regarding a multi-year multi-platform deal that would see San Diego Studio continue developing the title, with the promise that it launched on other consoles "as soon as 2021."
MLB The Show 21 - Release date
(Picture: San Diego Studio)
The game will release this upcoming 20th April on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series XIS, and Xbox One consoles.
Microsoft has confirmed that all versions of the game will be available via Game Pass. On top of this, fans will be able to take MLB The Show on the go with xCloud on Android devices.
MLB The Show 21 - Price
With MLB The Show 21 coming to Game Pass, fans are wondering of Sony will drop the cost of the title on PlayStation. The answer is no.
As of right now, it's expected that MLB The Show 21 sells for a suggested retail price of £59.99/$69.99 on PS5 and £49.99/$59.99 on PS4 and Xbox (in case you decide to buy your copy), with the Jackie Robinson reaching £74.99/$84.99 on both platforms.


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The growth of the IT industry in China has created new opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
That has meant a virtual revolution, with new ideas and products challenging traditional business models.
One such product is TouTiao. “You only receive news that you care about,” explains Zhang Yiming, founder and CEO of customized news application.
Within just 90 days of its launch in 2012, the app had acquired nearly 10 million subscribers. That number has grown to 170 million as of Oct. 5, 2014.
The key to this success is the simplicity of the concept behind TouTiao. The app essentially works as a news aggregator. However, it goes beyond mere aggregating. It analyzes user preferences through their social media accounts and then delivers customized news.
“It’s meaningless to go through the massive information online. A personalized reading platform saves time for users,” explains Zhang Yiming.
And his contemporaries seem to echo that sentiment.
Zhang Peng, founder of GeekParka, a popular tech community in Beijing, says that reading habits of people are changing and growing fragmented.
One of the key drivers of this change in reading habits is technology. By the end of this year, China is expected to be home to over 500 million smartphone users. This means three out of 10 smartphone users in the world will be Chinese, according to a recent report by market research institute eMarketer.
It is within this context that Zhang Peng believes that it is increasingly important for content providers and deliverers to focus on getting “the right information to the right person.”
In such an environment, apps like TouTiao seem poised to flourish.
However, that success would not necessarily come easy. In fact, TouTiao has had its fair share of controversies ever since it was launched.
Considering that it does not generate content but only aggregates it, in its early days, several traditional media outlets had raised concerns about copyright violations.
The controversy was around some of the content published by TouTiao, which was linked to trans-coded webpages (deep linking), instead of taking users back to the original content provider’s homepage.
That led to an uproar, with media originations claiming that it was a violation of their copyrights.
In response, TouTiao decided not to adopt a confrontationist approach and offered to tweak its systems and work in collaboration with the organisations.
Although the journey to a compromise was arduous, the controversy didn’t seem to bother Zhang Yiming too much. The man who’d started out as a programmer decided that it would be best to keep his focus on improving the product.
It is not surprising then that nearly 50 percent of his staff comprises technical personnel.
“The goal is to perfect our product though improving our technology,” he explains when talking about the future.
When he started out, the goal for Zhang was to see his vision through to its logical conclusion. And what he’s learned over the years is that it takes not just creative thinking but also a qualified and dedicated team to ensure that dreams can come true.
So with Chinese IT companies booming and going global, raising billions internationally, is a TouTiao IPO in the offering anytime soon?
“It is not my current concern,” Zhang responds with a smile.
Would you like to get in touch with Zhang Yiming and share your thoughts and suggestions about TouTiao? Write to him at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Share your stories of change in China @CCTVNEWS or via email@example.com.

domain: news


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Contempt Action Against Dietary Supplement Marketers
FTC lawyers require that dietary supplement marketers possess a “reasonable basis” for making representations pertaining to the purported health benefits of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. More specifically, marketers must possess “competent and reliable scientific evidence.”
The Federal Trade Commission also requires that marketers comply with stipulated settlement orders.
Defendants companies that market dietary supplements are facing a civil contempt order being sought by the FTC and the State of Maine. The regulatory agencies allege that the defendants have continued to promote their products using unsubstantiated claims that they can treat and cure diseases in violation of a 2018 settlement order for permanent injunction.
The agencies’ contempt motion alleges that that the defendants – a company and its owner – brazenly ignored the court’s order barring them from making unsubstantiated claims for their dietary supplements, and have continued to promote their products with “outrageous claims” that they effectively cure, mitigate or treat life-threatening diseases, including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension, neuropathy and diabetes.
The 2018 order requires the defendants to possess at least one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (“RCT”) testing the same product or an essentially equivalent product prior to making various claims.
The order bans the defendants from making any of the seven “gut check” weight-loss claims that the FTC has publicly advised are always false with respect to any dietary supplement, over-the-counter drug, or any product rubbed into or worn on the skin. In addition, the order prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting the existence or outcome of tests or studies, as well as the he existence of consumer testimonialists and expert endorsers.
The defendants “have a troubling history of making unproven claims that their products can treat serious diseases,” said FTC attorney Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We’re delighted to work again with the Maine Attorney General to hold these defendants accountable and enforce our 2018 order.”
In November 2017, the defendants settled charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Maine that they deceived consumers with unsubstantiated promises that their products could treat everything from arthritis to memory loss. The FTC alleged that, through direct mail marketing campaigns targeting consumers across the United States and Canada, the defendants advertised represented products could treat arthritis, relieve joint and back pain, cause significant weight loss, protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, reverse memory loss, and improve memory and cognitive performance. The FTC also alleged that direct mail brochures were styled as scientific journals featuring fictitious medical doctors and consumer testimonials – and highlighted the results of a clinical study that was never actually conducted.
The current civil contempt motion filed by the FTC on December 17, 2019 was filed jointly with the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Marketers of dietary supplement and nutraceutical products must take care to consult with a qualified FTC defense attorney to ensure that all express and implied advertising claims are properly substantiated. Those that fail to do so risk investigations and enforcement actions by state and federal regulatory agencies. This matter also illustrates the aggressive stance that the regulatory agencies such as the FTC are willing to take to enforce court orders.
Work-From-Home Operators Settle SPAM Charges
The Federal Trade Commission has recently announced that the operators of an alleged work-from-home scheme and the CEO of their main affiliate marketing network will pay nearly $1.5 million to settle allegations by FTC attorneys that they used misleading SPAM emails to lure consumers into buying work-from-home services.
In the complaint, the FTC alleges that the corporate defendants and various individuals worked with an affiliate marketing network to promote a work-from-home scheme by sending bulk unsolicited email to consumers, which purportedly generated more than 50,000 sales of the corporate defendant’s program. According to the complaint, the emails included “From” lines that falsely claimed they were coming from news organizations like CNN or Fox News, and “Subject” lines that falsely suggested the opportunity was endorsed by celebrities such as investor Warren Buffett and personal finance expert Suze Orman.
The company “used phony celebrity endorsements, made-up news reports, and spam email from fake senders to push a work-from-home scheme,” said an FTC lawyer. “Consumers should be on alert for scams promising lots of income for little or no effort—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
The FTC alleges that the emails linked to websites displaying fake news stories and false celebrity endorsements that were previewed in SPAM emails. Consumers who clicked on the links in the purported fake online news stories, as alleged by the FTC, were then routed to the corporate defendant’s sales websites, which allegedly pitched the company’s work-from-home schemes.
The Federal Trade Commission also alleges that the corporate defendant made money by selling consumers’ contact information to third-party telemarketers who tried to sell those same consumers business-coaching services that cost thousands of dollars. One of the third-party telemarketers who bought consumer contact information from the corporate defendants settled with the FTC in 2018.
According to the FTC, the corporate defendant furthered the alleged scheme by utilizing shell companies and straw owners to obtain merchant accounts used to process consumer credit card payments. “Credit card laundering” and attempts to evade merchant monitoring programs by credit card associations are frequently the subject of regulatory enforcement.
The FTC alleges that the defendants violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by engaging in unfair and deceptive practices, and that they violated the CAN-SPAM Act by disseminating SPAM emails containing misleading header information and “Subject” lines.
As part of the settlement, one individual defendant will pay $1.3 million, is permanently banned from marketing or selling any work-from-home program, and is prohibited from providing any affiliate marketer with ads containing false or misleading representations about celebrity endorsements, objective reviews or news-source affiliations.
The settlements with to other individuals and the company impose an $11.3 million judgment, which will be suspended upon payment of $25,000 by and $121.948, respectively due to their inability to pay the full amount. They are both permanently banned from marketing or selling business opportunities or business coaching products and are prohibited from making any misrepresentations in the marketing or sale of any product or service. The three defendants are also permanently prohibited from violating the CAN-SPAM Act and engaging in credit card laundering.
Informational purposes only. Not legal advice. May be considered advertising material.


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Blizzard is releasing a Warcraft mobile game this year. The company announced this in announcing the quarterly results of Activision Blizzard. The publisher’s quarterly revenue declined and games from Activision and Blizzard had fewer monthly active players.
Blizzard will release “substantial new content” for the Warcraft franchise in 2022, including a new Warcraft mobile game. Blizzard does not provide further details about the mobile game. Blizzard announced the mobile game Diablo Immortal in 2018. That announcement received a lot of criticism, as players expected the arrival of a new Diablo game. The developer delayed the release until 2022. Blizzard reports that Diablo Immortal’s public testing period has been completed and has generated a lot of positive feedback.
Blizzard announced the arrival of the Warcraft mobile game during the publication of Activision Blizzard’s quarterly earnings. Activision also reported that Call of Duty: Vanguard is less popular than its 2020 predecessor Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War. Call of Duty Mobile was more successful, with players spending more than $1 billion on the game in 2021. According to the publisher, the game is especially popular in China.
Activision Blizzard’s revenue fell 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021 to $2.16 billion, or $1.88 billion. The good results of subsidiary King, maker of Candy Crush, compensated for the poor results of Activision Blizzard. The number of monthly active players for Activision games fell 16 percent to 107 million and for Blizzard games by 17 percent to 24 million. The number of players of King games remained stable at 240 million.


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Micro General Corp. said it expects fourth-quarter earnings and revenue to exceed third-quarter figures.
The Santa Ana company, which provides information technology services, said its third-quarter earnings totaled $1.1 million on revenue of $28.5 million. In the fourth quarter a year earlier, the company lost $2.7 million on revenue of $23.2 million.
The company, which designs escrow software programs, also said it expects to turn a profit for the year. Micro General posted losses of $7.1 million, or 92 cents a share, in 1999 on revenue of $95.1 million.
The stock climbed $1.19 a share, or 15.7%, to $8.75, in Nasdaq trading.


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WILL U.S. MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BEGIN TO ALLOW CBD ADVERTISING? | TRICHOMES Morning Buzz
July 16, 2020
Today’s cannabis news stories go from major leagues to major pain in the you-know-what lawsuits, and if you’ve thought about taking some online classes while you’re stuck in the house, you’re definitely not alone.
The Morning Buzz presented by TRICHOMES brings you late-breaking news that tells you what’s happening within the cannabis industry.
First up today, looks like Major League Soccer is Looking to Approve CBD Sponsorships in 2020
It’s no surprise that cannabis reform is spreading all over, including professional sports. Some professional sports leagues are no longer testing for cannabis, and many are looking to enable forms of CBD advertising. The MLS is said to start looking into allowing CBD as a commercial opportunity.
The NHL was a pioneer when it comes to cannabis policy, in that it has not included cannabis on its list of banned substances for many years. Other leagues are warming up to the idea. One front of cannabis reform in sports that has been problematic is cannabis-based advertising.
Sports leagues, and teams within those leagues, bring in a lot of revenue from advertising and sponsorships. Numerous cannabis companies would love to support professional sports teams in that manner; however, such advertising is prohibited in most leagues.
Major League Soccer might be changing their policy soon and allowing CBD advertising. Per Sports Business Daily:
It is “likely” that the MLS Board of Governors will approve CBD as a new commercial opportunity for teams by the end of 2020, according to multiple sources.
Commissioner Don Garber last month said that the league would suffer a $1 billion loss in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sources said that allowing even more commercial opportunities, like with CBD, would help teams and the league recoup some of that money, albeit only a small fraction.
**Next, METRC is continuing its Legal Battle with Missouri State Officials Regarding “Tag Fees”
According to MJ Biz Daily, cannabis track-and-trace company METRC continues its legal tangle with Missouri state officials over the right to charge “tag fees” to medical cannabis dispensaries.
In the latest development, METRC wants a Missouri appellate court to overturn a lower court’s decision that would prevent the Florida-based company from charging fees for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, Law360 reported.
The dispute dates back to last year, shortly after METRC was awarded a $5 million contract by the state after a competitive bidding process.
Almost immediately, a rival protested to the state that Missouri’s deal with METRC could contain hidden costs.
State regulators rejected the notion, saying METRC’s contract did not allow the company to charge tag fees to medical licensees. METRC later sued in court, claiming that Missouri’s medical program rules do allow such fees.
The track-and-trace dispute is one of several controversies hampering a Missouri medical program that has been already delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the track-and-trace discussion, Missouri faces hundreds of licensing appeals and investigations into possible misconduct by state regulators. More on that situation as it unfolds.
**Lastly today, University of Colorado isn’t the only institution seeing an influx in interest in continued cannabis education
According to Businesswire, Cannabis Training University, an all-online cannabis industry training platform, reports a dramatic increase in course enrollments since the pandemic began in March. April, May, and June saw year-over-year enrollments more than double. The trend is holding strong and suggests quickly changing attitudes around the cannabis industry and a willingness for people to invest in job training during economic uncertainty.
CTU founder and CEO Jeff Zorn said “we’ve seen a huge influx of new students wanting to learn how to become budtenders, open cannabis businesses, and make cannabis products for resale,” and went on to explain “one of the trickiest parts of looking for work or creating jobs in the cannabis industry is keeping up to date on the changing federal, state or province-specific legislation, especially in the U.S. We’re working very hard behind the scenes to meet the increased demand from students and update our course content as things change.”


text: The Indian automobile sector continues to face a severe slowdown. There is little expected from the government by way of help, and so the industry has to continue to ride this storm. That was the mood at the annual SIAM convention. Concurrently, Hyundai has driven in its latest car, the Grand i10. The car is well loaded and carries a stunning price.


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|By Marketwired .||
|March 14, 2014 01:16 PM EDT||
EMERYVILLE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 03/14/14 -- Elemental LED announced the launch of the EQUIFLUX Display Graphics Lighting System, a specialized LED solution for tension fabric displays and back-illuminated hollow core frame displays (retail display systems, light boxes, and aluminum extrusion systems). The rapidly growing LED Company continues to expand its industry-leading B2B commercial program by offering a broader range of lighting solutions for the retail and merchant display fabrication marketplace.
The EQUIFLUX LED Display Graphics Lighting System was specifically designed and engineered by Elemental LED to provide the highest quality center illumination for display graphics with all the inherent benefits of LED technology.
"The EQUIFLUX System is really innovative. We combined our expertise in LED lighting with some pretty slick optics to throw a fanned beam of high quality light up to five feet between panels, to deliver illumination coverage without hot spots, scalloping, or shadows," said Elemental LED Vice President of Marketing Jim Puchbauer. "As a leading lighting supplier to the retail display fabrication marketplace, we are continually designing new products and services to meet the unique needs of our customers."
The EQUIFLUX LED Display Graphics Lighting System is a high-powered LED linear light mounted on rigid metal PCB that provides bright, even, cohesive lighting for retail and trade show display graphics. The EQUIFLUX fixture has two custom fan optic options. The EQUIFLUX 1055 has a 10 degree by 55 degree optical LED array, and the EQUIFLUX 1545 has a 15 degree by 45 degree optical LED array. Both are specifically designed to produce uniform illumination without hot spots or shadows. The bright, evenly distributed light renders whites cleanly and colors vividly.
The optical lens directs the light in intersecting parallel beams that create a column of consistent illumination. Each LED is covered by a specialized optical lens that creates an optimized elliptical light throw that maximizes the lumen output and coverage. The 10 or 15 degree beam angles maximize the vertical light throw to provide light within a narrow framework, while the 45 or 55 degree beam angles maximize the spread for overall side-to-side coverage. The result is an ultra-bright uniform distribution of light designed specifically for narrow display frameworks.
LED lighting is ideal for illuminating display graphics. LEDs are more durable, cost-effective, and reliable than other display graphics lighting. LEDs produce no UV light that can damage or fade graphics and the superior lifespan of the LEDs significantly reduce maintenance costs. EQUIFLUX delivers superior lighting using only 9 watts per foot. The low profile LED arrays and cool operating temperatures increase the options for placement and eliminate the need for ventilation. The lightweight bar mounts directly to extruded aluminum and other narrow display frame systems using the slot-mounted compression screws.
"Critical to our customers was a lighting solution that was compatible with existing extrusions as well as custom designs," said Elemental LED National Sales Manager Craig McCauslan. "Our customers were struggling with what was available in the market, so we started building from scratch with the highest quality LEDs available, added customized optics, and used an iterative design process incorporating customer feedback. The result is a high-impact LED lighting fixture that was economical, robust, and easy to install."
For more information about Elemental LED's new EQUIFLUX LED Display Graphics Lighting System or other commercial services, please call 1.877.564.5051 (option 2) or visit: www.elementalled.com
About Elemental LED
Elemental LED is the recognized U.S.-based leader of innovative LED solutions. We partner with our customers to understand their needs and deliver tailored products, services, and education. "We make it easy." We are dedicated to helping customers understand, adopt, and benefit from LED lighting solutions through our combined LED lighting technology, customized product portfolio, and extensive support services offering. Learn more at www.elementalled.com.
Vice President of Marketing
Your homes and cars can be automated and self-serviced. Why can't your storage? From simply asking questions to analyze and troubleshoot your infrastructure, to provisioning storage with snapshots, recovery and replication, your wildest sci-fi dream has come true. In his session at @DevOpsSummit at 20th Cloud Expo, Dan Florea, Director of Product Management at Tintri, will provide a ChatOps demo where you can talk to your storage and manage it from anywhere, through Slack and similar services ...
Mar. 26, 2017 06:45 PM EDT Reads: 4,231
SYS-CON Events announced today that Ocean9will exhibit at SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Ocean9 provides cloud services for Backup, Disaster Recovery (DRaaS) and instant Innovation, and redefines enterprise infrastructure with its cloud native subscription offerings for mission critical SAP workloads.
Mar. 26, 2017 06:30 PM EDT Reads: 2,025
The taxi industry never saw Uber coming. Startups are a threat to incumbents like never before, and a major enabler for startups is that they are instantly “cloud ready.” If innovation moves at the pace of IT, then your company is in trouble. Why? Because your data center will not keep up with frenetic pace AWS, Microsoft and Google are rolling out new capabilities In his session at 20th Cloud Expo, Don Browning, VP of Cloud Architecture at Turner, will posit that disruption is inevitable for c...
Mar. 26, 2017 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,094
Building a cross-cloud operational model can be a daunting task. Per-cloud silos are not the answer, but neither is a fully generic abstraction plane that strips out capabilities unique to a particular provider. In his session at 20th Cloud Expo, Chris Wolf, VP & Chief Technology Officer, Global Field & Industry at VMware, will discuss how successful organizations approach cloud operations and management, with insights into where operations should be centralized and when it’s best to decentraliz...
Mar. 26, 2017 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 3,569
Providing the needed data for application development and testing is a huge headache for most organizations. The problems are often the same across companies - speed, quality, cost, and control. Provisioning data can take days or weeks, every time a refresh is required. Using dummy data leads to quality problems. Creating physical copies of large data sets and sending them to distributed teams of developers eats up expensive storage and bandwidth resources. And, all of these copies proliferating...
Mar. 26, 2017 03:30 PM EDT Reads: 6,512
DevOps is often described as a combination of technology and culture. Without both, DevOps isn't complete. However, applying the culture to outdated technology is a recipe for disaster; as response times grow and connections between teams are delayed by technology, the culture will die. A Nutanix Enterprise Cloud has many benefits that provide the needed base for a true DevOps paradigm. In his Day 3 Keynote at 20th Cloud Expo, Chris Brown, a Solutions Marketing Manager at Nutanix, will explore t...
Mar. 26, 2017 03:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,787
DevOps has often been described in terms of CAMS: Culture, Automation, Measuring, Sharing. While we’ve seen a lot of focus on the “A” and even on the “M”, there are very few examples of why the “C" is equally important in the DevOps equation. In her session at @DevOps Summit, Lori MacVittie, of F5 Networks, explored HTTP/1 and HTTP/2 along with Microservices to illustrate why a collaborative culture between Dev, Ops, and the Network is critical to ensuring success.
Mar. 26, 2017 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 10,528
Interoute has announced the integration of its Global Cloud Infrastructure platform with Rancher Labs’ container management platform, Rancher. This approach enables enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation and infrastructure investments. Matthew Finnie, Interoute CTO commented “Enterprises developing and building apps in the cloud and those on a path to Digital Transformation need Digital ICT Infrastructure that allows them to build, test and deploy faster than ever before. The int...
Mar. 26, 2017 02:45 PM EDT Reads: 933
SYS-CON Events announced today that SoftLayer, an IBM Company, has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 18th Cloud Expo, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York, New York. SoftLayer, an IBM Company, provides cloud infrastructure as a service from a growing number of data centers and network points of presence around the world. SoftLayer’s customers range from Web startups to global enterprises.
Mar. 26, 2017 02:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,735
SYS-CON Events announced today that Conference Guru has been named “Media Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on June 6–8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. A valuable conference experience generates new contacts, sales leads, potential strategic partners and potential investors; helps gather competitive intelligence and even provides inspiration for new products and services. Conference Guru works with conference organizers to pass great dea...
Mar. 26, 2017 02:15 PM EDT Reads: 4,355
SYS-CON Events announced today that Technologic Systems Inc., an embedded systems solutions company, will exhibit at SYS-CON's @ThingsExpo, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Technologic Systems is an embedded systems company with headquarters in Fountain Hills, Arizona. They have been in business for 32 years, helping more than 8,000 OEM customers and building over a hundred COTS products that have never been discontinued. Technologic Systems’ pr...
Mar. 26, 2017 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 3,375
SYS-CON Events announced today that CA Technologies has been named “Platinum Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and the 21st International Cloud Expo®, which will take place October 31-November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. CA Technologies helps customers succeed in a future where every business – from apparel to energy – is being rewritten by software. From ...
Mar. 26, 2017 01:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,819
With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.
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SYS-CON Events announced today that Telecom Reseller has been named “Media Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on June 6–8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Telecom Reseller reports on Unified Communications, UCaaS, BPaaS for enterprise and SMBs. They report extensively on both customer premises based solutions such as IP-PBX as well as cloud based and hosted platforms.
Mar. 26, 2017 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,112
Deep learning has been very successful in social sciences and specially areas where there is a lot of data. Trading is another field that can be viewed as social science with a lot of data. With the advent of Deep Learning and Big Data technologies for efficient computation, we are finally able to use the same methods in investment management as we would in face recognition or in making chat-bots. In his session at 20th Cloud Expo, Gaurav Chakravorty, co-founder and Head of Strategy Development ...
Mar. 26, 2017 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 3,555


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Mahindra XUV400 receives over 10,000 bookings in just 4 days
Mahindra XUV400 has reportedly received over 10,000 bookings in just four days after the company opened its bookings in the market.
Mahindra XUV400 has reportedly received over 10,000 bookings in just four days after the company opened its bookings in the market. The bookings for the all-electric SUV officially started in 34 cities at 11:00 am on January 26, 2023.
The electric SUV was launched in September last year with an introductory price of Rs. 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for the first 5,000 units of each of the two variants namely EL and EC. The deliveries of the EL variant will commence in March 2023 while the latter would reach the buyers during the upcoming Diwali festive season.
On January 26, Mahindra opened the order books for the XUV400. Now, the carmaker claims that the XUV400 has an approximate 7-month delivery period.
The Mahindra XUV400 has a similar exterior look as its ICE version, the XUV300. It has received a few cosmetic tweaks like the copper accents on the bumper, door sills and grille, along with a copper twin peaks logo.
The interior of the electric SUV includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also features electric ORVMs, automatic headlamps and wipers and an electric sunroof.
The XUV400 comes equipped with an electric motor that produces 148 BHP and 310 Nm. It comes with three drive modes tuned for steering, throttle response and regeneration. The company offers two battery options that can offer up to 375-456 km of range (MIDC).
Meanwhile, Mahindra is also auctioning the one-of-one, exclusive edition of the All-Electric XUV400. This is a product of a creative collaboration between Mahindra Chief Design Officer Pratap Bose and the award-winning fashion designer, Rimzim Dadu. The auction started January 26, at 11 am and will conclude on January 31, 2023, at 11.59 pm.


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Ever imagine yourself outrunning law enforcement and a bunch of competitors in a banzai run across the country? Well, you'll soon be able to, at least in digital form.
Formally announced to be available this November is the latest edition of the Need for Speed series, titled simply "The Run." The goal, avoid police and beat competitors in a cross country race from San Francisco to New York City. What makes this installment of NFS unique is that players assume a character, in this case Jack. Meaning that The Run won't just be an arcade smash 'em up or a straight simulation, but a blending of the two into a mission-based journey across the country.
Just as impressive will be your choice of steed. Here's a list of what's currently confirmed to be available: Audi R8 Coupé 5.2 FSI Quattro, BMW E92 M3 GTS, BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Dodge Challenger R/T, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Lamborghini Aventador, Mazda MX-5 & McLaren MP4-12C.
The Need for Speed franchise is arguably the oldest and longest-running driving/racing simulation. Given the graphics and game-play quality of the current NFS release, Shift 2, The Run promises to be both graphically stunning and eminently playable. Given the epic proportions of the quest this might just be the biggest hit of them all.
Long story short, I haven't been this excited about the release of a racing-inspired video game since Gran Turismo 4 back in 2005. Here's the trailer.
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Looking at the year ahead for the auto industry
The 2014 North American International Auto Show is just around the corner.
Reporters from around the world will descend on Detroit's Cobo Center next week for the media preview days, the big black-tie Charity Preview is on Jan. 17, and the doors open to the public on Saturday, Jan. 18.
With that in mind, we wanted to see what the upcoming year might bring for the auto industry. For that we turn to Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com, and Michigan Radio’s auto reporter, Tracy Samilton.
*Listen to the audio above.


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Nipissing First Nation — and the North Bay area — could see its first licensed cannabis dispensary open by the end of the month.
Kana Leaf has announced it is scheduled to open Feb. 29 on Osprey Miikan, just off Highway 17 in Nipissing First Nation.
Co-owner Garet Avery says the business just had an inspection done by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and is waiting for the paperwork to be filed.
As of the end of Friday, Kana Leaf’s cannabis retail store application was still listed as being in progress.
But after about a year in the making, Avery says it he feels relieved to have the store open soon.
“We will be the first one in the area and that’s pretty exciting in itself, because people get to see what we’re about and they get to choose,” Avery said in a phone interview with The Nugget.
One other cannabis store on Nipissing First Nation, Northern Zen Cannabis, also is moving through the approval process, as is a Tokyo Smoke outlet planned for North Bay that was brought forward by a Toronto lawyer.
Avery is currently in business with a few family members. He says all are Nipissing First Nation members.
In total, six applicants from Nipissing First Nation were invited to apply to operate a store.
Avery says he wanted to get into the industry because he believes it is an exciting and different opportunity for him, his family and the community.
Kana Leaf is expected to have all of the “top flowers” out there now, Avery says, as well as CBD oils and accessories.
But he also views the business as a chance to better serve the community.
“For myself, I was looking at it and I was seeing other First Nations and seeing how they were operating. It was not legitimate and you never know where it’s coming from,” Avery said.
“So we kind of wanted to be the first ones to actually give legal cannabis that’s health and safety inspected, that’s not illegal.”
Nipissing First Nation passed its own Cannabis Law last year which sets the legal age to purchase cannabis at 21.
Chief Scott McLeod also has spoken about his concerns around having a safe and legal supply of cannabis, something Avery says he wants, as well.
It’s why, he says, they chose to go through the Ontario system and “get the ball rolling” in order to have a framework that First Nations can follow.
And while he may not have the same type of money behind him as some of the larger cannabis companies, Avery says he believes what will separate them from everyone else is the hands-on knowledge of the staff and the customer experience.
“We really want to try to educate people too,” Avery says, “because there’s such a stigma against it still to this day.”
In December, the provincial government announced it would remove the limit on the total number of cannabis stores allowed in the province as part of a broader move to expand the retail market.
The current 93-store cap will be lifted March 2, at which point the AGCO will begin accepting applications for retail store authorizations from those interested.
The province also disbanded its previous lottery system, as well as the process governing First Nations’ applications, last month and has begun accepting applications from anyone wanting to obtain a retail operator licence.


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It seems that EA is set to revive the Dead Space IP. The publisher may announce the game at the EA Play Live event on July 22.
Amazon Prime Day continues with the retailer restocking the Xbox Series X on day two of its annual sales event.
You can buy a Razer Blade 15 for just $1,599 on Amazon Prime Day, but the sale lasts for only a few hours.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits combines an inventive East Asian fantasy world with gameplay that you've probably experienced before.
Nintendo’s surprise Metroid Dread announcement excited me, cutting through the constant noise of new game announcements.
Microsoft and Bethesda's killer E3 2021 showcase paints a rosy future for the Xbox Series X even though the console was barely mentioned.
E3 2021 gave us plenty of new details about Back 4 Blood — here's everything we know about the upcoming co-op shooter.
After seven months of waiting, Call of Duty: Warzone on PS5 got a framerate upgrade to put in on par with the Xbox Series X version. Here's how to enable it.
Microsoft’s Xbox Design Lab returns, offering gamers various customization options for their Xbox Series X/S controllers.
Those lucky enough to find a PS5 can now sign up for a sneak peek at new features and system updates.
Battlefield 2042 will include AI bots for the first time in the series, but it doesn't make up for the lack of single-player.
E3 2021 is in the books, and we've got lots of great games to look forward to, from Metroid Dread to Elden Ring.
Here are the best Android games for your phone or tablet. Some games are free, others are paid, but every one of them is awesome.
Redfall is a new co-op shooter from Arkane and Bethesda coming exclusively to Xbox Series X and PC in summer 2022.
Sony's next-gen PSVR 2 is reportedly targeting a holiday 2022 release and will sport OLED panels instead of LCD like some rivals.
We've put together all the information so far about Ubisoft's upcoming Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora video game.
Bandai Namco had the last major press conference of E3, and it was all about The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes.
CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be returning to the PlayStation Store after being delisted.
Learn how to watch Metroid Dread's intriguing trailer, as well as when the game comes out and how to pre-order its special edition.


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Blake Moret has an optimistic outlook for manufacturing heading into 2021.
“I think it’s going to be a good year, let me just start there,” said Moret, chairman and chief executive officer of Rockwell Automation Inc.
The Milwaukee-based provider of industrial automation and digital transformation technology in November forecasted its sales would be up 6% to 9% in fiscal 2021 after a 5.5% decline in fiscal 2020.
Moret said the manufacturing sector had shown signs of recovery prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and he expects to see the recovery continue across a variety of industry verticals.
The continued growth of electric vehicles will help spur automotive manufacturing, demand for wireless and smart products will drive the semiconductor sector, food and beverage and life sciences will be boosted by continued consumer demand and interest in green technology and sustainability will fuel industries like water treatment, renewable energy and recycling, Moret said.
“I think that has hit a watershed moment,” he said of sustainability.
He also noted oil and gas and mining are showing some signs of recovery.
“They typically lag some of the other industries in terms of recovering by maybe half a year,” Moret said.
Even before the pandemic hit, global supply chains were facing disruption from the trade war between the U.S. and China and trade disputes with other countries. COVID-19 scrambled the flow of goods even more as borders shut down and normal methods of transportation were disrupted.
One result from all of this uncertainty is companies are building more resilience into their operations, Moret said.


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Apple is one of the most profitable companies in the world and has several wildly successful devices. Many people have Apple Retail Stores in their city or nearby sell all sorts of things from Mac computers to iPads and iPhones. The stores have many employees who work there to help people choose the right products and to teach people how to use the gear they’re buying.
A report has surfaced that Apple retail employees in the UK who were hired recently have been laid off. The report also indicates that similar layoffs to recently hired staff have occurred in other countries as well. At the same time, reports indicate that part-time staff in the US and Canada have had their hours cut back.
If these rumors are correct, it’s interesting that layoffs would be occurring and hours would be getting cut back when Apple recently increased the salaries and other benefits for its retail workers. One of the reports indicated that all employees at a specific UK store with less than six months of service had been laid off. Among that group were workers who had been hired only a month before and had just completed training.
The report indicates that new hiring has been halted, and transfers between stores were placed on hold. Another report claims similar dealings with new employees being laid off and workers who had been promoted recently not receiving the promised pay raise and being demoted back to their previous position. One unnamed employee had been laid off from the UK store said that three different training groups had been laid off in their entirety within the past week. All the workers in this case were still within their probationary period as new employees according to the source.


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Worldline is empowering the cashless society at Money20/20 Europe 2018
Today Worldline issued a press release, announcing its presence at Money20/20 Europe from the 4th until the 6th of June 2018. This year, the world’s largest fintech event will take place in the capital of the Netherlands, at convention centre RAI Amsterdam.
During the three days, visitors will be able to meet major experts and Senior Executives from Worldline and equensWorldline when visiting booth A70, where innovation is in motion.
Read the full press release on the Worldline website.


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New 2009 Fusion this November???
It would include new front and rear designs as well as a brand new interior.
Engine choice will be a new 2.5 Liter (Also used in the new Mazda6) and finally the 3.5 Liter V6.
They claim a quiter, better riding car with much higher quality materials inside.
We’ll see. I’ll be there to report….


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India is on the verge of becoming an economic superpower, but the road ahead is not easy
The country denoted for being a superpower has the extensive ability to exert influence on an international scale. The country’s government is in a state of possessing immense power, in terms of both, economic and military, and can exert superiority over other countries. As per the ‘World Population Review of 2021’, the most powerful country in the world is the United States, followed by China, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The survey ranks the top 80 most powerful countries in the world on the basis of international and military alliances, political and economic influence, and leadership skills. Now, new reports suggest that India might soon become the next superpower and extend its economic superiority over other countries. The US might have made it to the top of the list for quite a long time, but India is definitely making its way to gaining economic superpower status and might overtake other superpowers quite soon enough.
The rise of China into a superpower is the biggest story in the global economy in recent decades. But amid concerns around its stumbling property market conditions and global fears around inflation, the emergence of its neighbor, India, as an economic superpower might become truly freakish. We are all quite aware of Chinese business giants like Jack Ma, but Indian industrialists and business leaders like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani have also been contributing to the revolution of global industries. Adani and Ambani, in particular, vastly represent India’s growing economic strength, thanks to the rapid expansion of their massive conglomerates, which covers everything, starting from ports to airports, from solar powers to television.
India’s Journey to Becoming Economic Superpower is Not Easy
According to reports, India’s gross domestic product has grown by over 13% in the Q2 of 2022 after the pandemic controls were lifted and manufacturing and services boomed. Although a dramatic change and growth in the country’s GDP might not happen, India is still on track to expand by over 7% by the end of 2022 as it continues to benefit from economic liberalization in the private sector, a rapidly growing working population, and the realignment of the global supply chains away from the prying eyes of China.
Recently, India has overtaken the UK to become the world’s fifth-largest economy, and experts predict that in the coming years, the country will surely rally up the ladder to overtake Germany and Japan to become the third-largest economy in the world. They believe that the primary trigger that will help India to rise above the ranks is its growth in the manufacturing sector and challenging the world’s largest exporter, i.e., China might just be the right start. India is already benefitting from a large, well-educated, often English-speaking middle-class, helping the country to develop world-class IT and pharmaceutical sectors. It is only a matter of time before the country becomes the largest country with the highest economy, marching hand-in-hand with the United States.


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By 2030, Lego aims to make all of its bricks from sustainable materials, such as sugar cane and wood.
Niels B. Christiansen, the company’s chief executive, wrote in a LinkedIn post that inventing the solution “is incredibly difficult and will take time.” However, the announcement has already generated kudos for the effort.
Here are today’s top stories:
Chief departures at LinkedIn, Credit Suisse and Aurora Cannabis
The three companies are losing their chief executives, for reasons as vastly different as their business lines.
Credit Suisse Group AG’s former chief, Tidjane Thiam, resigned after taking the fall for a surveillance scandal involving the investment bank’s chief of operations and head of security, who later stepped down. Thiam will be replaced by Thomas Gottstein.
In a press release, Thiam said:
I had no knowledge of the observation of two former colleagues. It undoubtedly disturbed Credit Suisse and caused anxiety and hurt. I regret that this happened and it should never have taken place.
Aurora Cannabis’ former chief, Terry Booth, stepped down in a restructuring effort that will involve laying off hundreds of employees. The company’s executive chairman, Michael Singer, will be the interim chief.
Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian cannabis company that invested heavily in global expansion, announced late Thursday a comprehensive “reset” of the firm that included the resignation of CEO Terry Booth, the elimination of about 500 jobs, a drastic scale-back of expenses, and a narrowed focus on core markets.
Jeff Weiner, chief executive for LinkedIn, is also stepping down after 11 years of running the social media platform, but the decision comes on his own terms. The company’s global head of product, Ryan Roslansky, will take the chief executive reins June 1 as Weiner becomes the executive chairman.
While I’ve been thinking about the timing of this transition for some time, over the last year or so, several factors converged that led me to conclude now is the right time to make this change. For starters, our business has never been better, our culture has never been stronger, and our future has never been clearer. Additionally, my passion for initiatives beyond my day-to-day role as CEO has continued to grow. Most importantly, after working with Ryan for nearly two decades, spanning two companies and countless roles, it’s become clear to me that going forward, his vision, drive and passion are exactly what the role requires.
Why it matters: Though a planned and prepared exit of a chief executive is much easier to handle than sudden departures, leadership changes require well-crafted crisis responses and careful PR considerations. As much as you can, prepare to respond to unexpected executive resignations as well as those months in the making. It will enable you to focus more on the rest of your crisis response and reputation management efforts.
Twitter is no longer calling its members “users,” in an effort to “make Twitter a happier, cuddlier place to be,” Engadget reported. The social media platform recently reported that its “Monetizable Daily Active Usage” had grown from 126 million in 2019 to its current 152 million.
Twitter also said tweets that violate its policies were down 27%, but Engadget reported that much of that credit should be given to the machine-learning tools that remove the offending tweets before users people file reports.
Ancestry lays off 6% of employees
After 23andMe laid off roughly 100 employees, main competitor Ancestry is cutting 6% of its workforce.
In a blog post titled, “Our path forward,” the company’s president and chief executive, Margo Georgiadis, wrote:
At the same time, over the last 18 months, we have seen a slowdown in consumer demand across the entire DNA category. The DNA market is at an inflection point now that most early adopters have entered the category. Future growth will require a continued focus on building consumer trust and innovative new offerings that deliver even greater value to people. Ancestry is well positioned to lead that innovation to inspire additional discoveries in both Family History and Health.
Today we made targeted changes to better position our business to these marketplace realities. These are difficult decisions and impact 6 percent of our workforce. Any changes that affect our people are made with the utmost care. We’ve done so in service to sharpening our focus and investment on our core Family History business and the long-term opportunity with AncestryHealth™.
Why you should care: It’s not just retail and fast-food chains that are struggling to keep up with current trends and consumers’ changing behaviors. Even organizations that offer new solutions and products must anticipate consumers’ needs and wants and innovate if they want to thrive. Ancestry’s announcement also carries a lesson about delivering bad news: It will lead headlines, no matter how much corporate-speak you use or how deeply in the announcement you bury it. (Ancestry let the ax fall after three lengthy paragraphs.) Hopefully, Ancestry’s employees didn’t discover the news that way.
You might soon see Reddit posts pop up on TV news programs. The social media platform is partnering with Tagboard to enable broadcast networks to display “Ask Me Anything” overviews and other popular threads. The NFL Network and local TV broadcast company Tegna have introduced Reddit content to their programs.
[Reddit], now visited by 430 million people monthly, is often home to breaking news and interesting stories, but hadn’t yet offered a way for this content to be easily sourced and shared with broadcasters. Tagboard’s solutions allow clients to search across social media, curate content, then use its tools to help design and produce their stories.
Many reporters already use Reddit to source story ideas, but PR and marketing pros should use caution when seeking engagement on the platform. Redditers don’t respond kindly to advertising gimmicks.
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Please take five minutes to let us know about your content preferences and needs, and we will enter you in a drawing to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards.
Readers who complete the survey will also get a discount code to receive $150 off a Ragan conference in 2020.
WHAT YOU SAID
We asked how important it is for communicators and PR pros to develop a “personal brand.”
Many said this work can help you in career but that it’s not a make-or-break proposition:
How important is it for PR pros to have their own personal brand? Share your thoughts with our hashtag #MorningScoop.
— PR Daily (@PRDaily) February 6, 2020
However, almost no one believes the effort isn’t worth the time. If you are a PR pro looking to get ahead in your career, developing that personal brand might be your ticket to more responsibility and industry accolades.
When you are asked to fill out surveys or offer feedback to your leaders at work, how open and honest are you?
Also, do you think internal surveys can extract the truth and help engage employees?
How honest are you in answering questions in your organization’s internal surveys? Do you worry about reprisals and hold information back? Do you feel safe to offer feedback? Share your thoughts with our hashtag #MorningScoop.
— PR Daily (@PRDaily) February 7, 2020
Share your thoughts with our hashtag #MorningScoop.


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Mr. Ernest (Ernie) Blom, one of the most experienced and envisioned leaders the global diamond industry today, is President of World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Honorary Life President of WFDB, Chairman of Diamond Dealers Club of South Africa and associated with many other trade bodies.
Here in an exclusive talk with G2J, Mr. Blom touches up on various issues of the global diamond industry. The excerpts:
The WFDB’s mission statement states that it would lead, advise and manage its affairs with the objective of securing a growing, profitable, respected, and sustainable international diamond industry… How far have you been able to uphold this statement and be instrumental in progress of the global diamond industry during your term as its president?
Ernie Blom: I don’t think there is any doubt that the WFDB is the ‘go-to’ voice of the diamond industry today. We are a federation of 30 bourses with around 30,000 members. In addition, approximately 95 percent of all the diamonds traded globally pass through the hands of our members.
Over the past year, we have created a comprehensive business and communications strategies, with industry professionals running them.
The WFDB plays a leading role in the World Diamond Council regarding the Kimberley Process.
It also is at the forefront in holding talks with industry and non-industry players on issues such as money laundering and powerfully communicates views on behalf of the industry.
We consistently maintain the need for industry transparency and self-regulation: there are not just concepts, but issues that the industry today takes very seriously and works towards.
How far has the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDM) been successful in promoting consumer desirability and confidence in diamonds since its inception in 2012? How its work differs from the Diamond Producers’ Association (DPA)?
Ernie Blom: Bearing in mind the very small budget that it has, the WDM has done an excellent job in creating industry awareness of the need for generic marketing and in working with retailers to ensure consumer confidence in diamond jewellery.
The Presidents Meeting in Dubai decided that the WDM will work hand-in-hand with the DPA to promote diamond sales. This is a job that is too large for a single body to deal with, so I am delighted the DPA has agreed on the need for cooperation.
The Presidents’ Meeting of WFDB was recently concluded in Mumbai. Can you please evaluate its outcome?
Ernie Blom: The Presidents Meeting provides a platform for the discussion of a wide variety of issues, and this year’s event was no different. We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing us. In addition, the Finance Seminar, organized by the GJEPC and BDB about the financing challenges facing the global trade and possible solutions, including alternative forms of credit, was extremely valuable. The seminar investigated the reasons for the lack of financing available, and searched for the answers as to why current solutions have not been fully successful.
With the depleting production of existing diamond mines and no new mines coming up in near future, with banks reluctant to finance the industry and many other challenges, do you think the industry has a bleak future? Your comments please…
Ernie Blom: I could not disagree more! I think our industry has an optimistic future. The demand/supply factor will give the diamond business a very strong foundation. We are looking for alternative means of securing credit, as mentioned previously, and I am confident we will succeed in that.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that a great many diamond companies work with their own money. They are cautious in their approach and work within their means. Furthermore, the majority of diamantaires also realize that the need for transparency is paramount in order to secure financing and they are putting in place the measures needed to achieve that.
You have a vast association with the global diamond industry. What is your honest ‘diagnosis of the industry’s present ailment’ and what ‘treatment’ do you suggest for its fast recovery?
Ernie Blom: At the World Diamond Congress in Dubai last year, we promoted the themes of Transparency, Responsibility and Sustainability. These are critical to the success of the global diamond sector.
We must aim to be increasingly professional and to put corporate structures in place in order to succeed.
We must also be on guard continuously for cases of over-grading of diamonds and the mixing of undisclosed synthetic stones with natural diamonds.
We continue to work hard to ensure the Kimberley Process works efficiently and to have a vital input where non-industry bodies, such as law enforcement agencies or the Financial Action Task Force are concerned, so that they understand that the diamond trade is the best self-regulated trade in the world.
Interview by Suresh Chotai


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The tech world is buzzing with anticipation as Apple dives deep into the spatial computing realm with its Vision Pro. As Apple strides forward, expectations arise, not only about the device’s current capabilities but also the enhancements it could undergo in the near future. You can also take a look at the following article on Apple’s latest developments in the field of VR.
Bridging the Gap to AR Glasses
The Vision Pro is making waves as the beacon guiding us closer to the dawn of effective Augmented Reality (AR) computing. The overwhelming enthusiasm stems from its potential to become the bedrock upon which future AR glasses might be built. While devices like Meta Quest have been influential, they still fall short of the ultimate goal – AR glasses as compact as everyday eyewear.
Apple’s Iterative Approach
It’s apparent that the Vision Pro’s launch is just the beginning. Rumors about the second generation, the Vision Pro 2, hint at pivotal changes. The focus? Minimizing the device’s size and weight to enhance user comfort. Apple’s exploration into alternative lightweight materials and the potential for custom prescription lenses highlights its commitment to pushing boundaries in user experience.
Moreover, the buzz doesn’t stop at a single product line. Apple’s strategy of potentially introducing a budget-friendly version of the headset hints at its ambition to capture a more diverse audience. The objective is clear: proliferate the Vision Pro ecosystem, thus driving the creation of more versatile use cases for the device.
Why All the Hype?
The Vision Pro’s price tag may raise eyebrows, but for many, it’s an investment into the future of computing. As Apple sharpens its focus on making AR a household norm, enthusiasts are already on the lookout for the next best version, signaling the unyielding demand for superior AR interfaces.
The trajectory Apple is setting with the Vision Pro paints an ambitious picture of AR’s potential. While the first iteration is making a significant splash, the waves of expectation for its successor, including enhancements and broader accessibility, reveal the tech community’s appetite for the future of spatial computing. We’re witnessing the cusp of a shift, with Apple once again at the forefront of driving change.


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Aldar Properties has announced that a number of malls are set to reopen to the public.
Yas Mall and Al Jimi Mall are set to reopen on May 2 after successfully fulfilling all precautionary measures set by the Department of Economic Development.
Opening hours for the two malls on Yas Island and in Al Ain will be noon to 9pm, except for supermarkets and pharmacies that will open from 9am to midnight.
Yas mall reopens its doors for visitors and shoppers on Saturday May 2 after implementing all precautionary and preventative measures. pic.twitter.com/Toc0P3tm7j— Ù ÙØªØ¨ Ø£Ø¨ÙØ¸Ø¨Ù Ø§ÙØ¥Ø¹ÙØ§Ù Ù (@admediaoffice) May 1, 2020
A number of other Aldar Properties malls are also on standby to reopen in the coming days including World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, Shams Boutik and Remal Mall, but exact opening dates have not been announced.
Last week a series of guidelines were issued to malls and shopping destinations in the city outlining the necessary safety requirements to prepare for reopening to the public.
Malls in Abu Dhabi can reopen once they meet some stringent health and safety guidelines. Once open they will be inspected regularly.
Among the new regulations for the reopening of malls include, a maximum capacity of 30 percent, the installation of thermal inspection devices, separate entrances and exits and more.
In addition, all shoppers are only permitted to visit for a maximum of two hours, must abide by social distancing rules, wear protective masks and are advised to use contactless payment where possible and bring reusable bags.
All mall staff are also required to be tested for COVID-19 and must wear masks and gloves at all times.
For more updates visit www.timeoutabudhabi.com


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The prices and specifications of AMD's forthcoming Ryzen 3000 CPUs have been leaked by a retailer in Singapore, indicating aggressive pricing for the 7nm parts, which are expected to be launched in July....
Memory price crash batters Samsung, Hynix and Micron, enabling Intel to retake top spot as world's biggest semiconductor company
HP Inc CEO Enrique Lores returns fire against Xerox's John Visentin
Sonos claims Google exploited the company's openness in 2013 collaboration to better integrate Google Play Music with Sonos's wireless speakers
Sixty-four core AMD Threadripper 3990X, out on 7th February, unveiled alongside Ryzen 4000 mobile processors


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Advertising Industry Automation Leader Rubicon Project Streamlines Communication Between Nine Global Offices With 8x8 Cloud-Based Unified Communications Solutions
8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT), a provider of cloud-based unified
communications and collaboration solutions, today announced that it has
been selected by
operator of one of the advertising industry’s...
8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT), a provider of cloud-based unified communications and collaboration solutions, today announced that it has been selected by Rubicon Project, operator of one of the advertising industry’s largest independent real-time trading platforms for digital advertising, to provide 8x8 Virtual Office business VoIP, unified communications and mobile solutions to its nine international locations. Rubicon Project has engineered one of the largest real-time cloud and Big Data computing systems, processing trillions of transactions within milliseconds each month. The company’s pioneering technology created a new model for the advertising industry—similar to what NASDAQ did for stock trading. Rubicon Project’s automated advertising platform is used by more than 500 of the world’s premium publishers to transact with over 100,000 ad brands globally. 8x8’s cloud-based telephony solutions enabled Rubicon Project to complete its domestic rollout in just five days. Once 8x8 services were deployed in the company’s Los Angeles headquarters and San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and New York offices, the international rollout began. Within 3 weeks, the entire company, including international offices in Paris, Hamburg, Sydney and London, was united on 8x8’s VoIP telephony platform. “We had a very aggressive schedule because we wanted to complete our implementation by the end of 2013,” said Tim McQuillen, Chief Knowledge Officer of Rubicon Project. “8x8 made a number of promises to us, and kept every single one of them. Without 8x8’s support, we would not have been able to deliver this project on time.” Rubicon Project has implemented over 300 8x8 Virtual Office extensions, including mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. Users can take or make calls using their desk phones, PC-based soft phones, or smartphones. A unified company directory and 4-digit extension dialing make it easy to reach colleagues at other offices—even those in other countries. Chat and video capabilities give employees multiple ways to communicate and collaborate, depending on the workflow.


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Microsoft promised Internet Explorer 7.0 will plug cracks in security. But there’s a bigger hole in its search strategy, some say.
On Tuesday, Bill Gates promised a full version update of the aging Internet Explorer browser. The announcement by Microsoft’s
“This is a realization that they continue to need to address security issues related to browsing on the Internet,” said Directions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry.
Microsoft must fight the perception that alternative browsers, such as Firefox, Opera or Mac OS X, are safer to use. “Microsoft does not want anyone to get the perception that it’s unsafe to use Windows on the Internet,” he said.
In his blog, Dean Hachamovitch, the general manager of Microsoft’s IE core development team, reiterated the security focus. “This new release will build on the work we did in Windows XP SP2 and (among other things) go further to defend users from phishing as well as deceptive or malicious software,” he wrote.
Cherry pointed out that Gates’ announcement was characteristically vague. It doesn’t mention whether the update also will include some of the innovative features available elsewhere, such as tabbed browsing, that would bring IE on a par with Firefox, the open-source Web browser that’s eating into IE’s market share.
Even if it did include new features, IE 7.0 may do little to fight the Firefox threat, because it will be available only for Windows XP Service Pack 2 users — leaving the many Windows 98 and 2000 users up for grabs.
There’s another good reason why Microsoft should do more than add security to IE 7.0, according to JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox: Search rivals Yahoo
are both rumored to be working on their own branded browsers, while Netscape is testing a new prototype. Right now, about half of MSN’s revenue comes from ads shown on search results, Wilcox pointed out. “Start getting a bunch of new browsers out there pointing to other search engines; that has an impact on MSN,” he said.
A browser can be a powerful delivery mechanism for searchers, Wilcox said. “To change search services, you just type in a new URL. But when you get attached to one browser, you’ll stick with it,” he said.
While the free, downloadable toolbars available from Google, MSN and Yahoo help drive new kinds of relationships, a full-blown browser would be an even better money-maker, Wilcox said. For example, it could include quick links to weather or shopping services, with the browser provider getting paid every time a user clicks through.
Andy Beal, vice president of search marketing at WebSourced, a search engine optimization company, said Microsoft should integrate a search query box into IE. It’s well enough to offer a downloadable browser toolbar, Beal said, but much more potent to build search into the browser itself.
“If they can integrate it with the browser,” Beal said, “they have a much better chance of getting people to stick with MSN search.”
According to Beal, a search query box in the browser “gets the user immersed into the Microsoft or Google experience from the moment they launch the browser. They might check e-mail and then do a search right in the browser box. There’s a lot more opportunity to put those ads in front of a potential search user, without them having to go to a search engine.”


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The path to the S&P 500 is apparently lined with energy drinks.
The move is naturally validation for Monster, one of the market's biggest winners over the past decade.
Monster isn't even the world's biggest energy drink company. Austria's Red Bull is the category killer here. However, Monster's heady growth in a category that even Coca-Cola (NYS: KO) hasn't been able to successfully penetrate has drawn investors to buy into the Monster story.
The debt-free and cash-rich company even made big news earlier this year on loud rumors that Coca-Cola was looking to acquire the company. The chatter failed to pan out, and now Monster gets to join the large-cap elites that make up the 500-stock index.
These are interesting times when it comes to energy drinks. Kraft's (NYS: KFT) MiO line of water enhancers has been aggressively marketing its MiO Energy product. A squirt of MiO Energy's Black Cherry or Green Thunder turns ordinary water into an energy drink.
Monster fans will argue that it's the carbonated zing that makes its energizer different than MiO's portable solution, but SodaStream (NAS: SODA) has also been pushing its home-based water carbonator and the availability of an energy drink syrup that packs the flavor and adrenaline pop that energy-drink fans crave.
The good news for Monster is that the new competition hasn't gotten in its way. Net sales and profits soared 28% and 38% respectively in its latest quarter.
The S&P 500 is getting a true growth stock here.
The valuation's steep. Monster is fetching 37 times this year's projected profitability and a still heady 30 times next year's earnings. It may get even more expensive in the coming days. Index funds and other S&P 500 trackers will need to buy into the stock when it officially gets added to the index after next Thursday's close.
You blew it, Coke. You should've bought in when you had a rumored chance.
Monster Beverage has been a big winner for Rule Breakers subscribers over the years, but this is now a great time to discover the next rule-breaking multibagger that the newsletter has unearthed. It's a free report. Want it? Get it.
The article The Monster Coke Couldn't Slay Gets Bigger originally appeared on Fool.com.
The Motley Fool owns shares of Coca-Cola and SodaStream International.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of Monster Beverage, SodaStream International, and Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz calls them as he sees them. He does not own shares in any of the stocks in this story. Rick is also part of theRule Breakersnewsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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How to Buy Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
At the climate crisis town hall on Wednesday, 10 Democratic presidential candidates discussed fossil fuels, hydraulic fracturing, carbon taxes, electric vehicles and light bulbs. Earlier in the day, the Trump administration lifted rules setting new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs in the United States; these standards would help lower energy costs for consumers and reduce carbon emissions.
But what exactly is going on? And how can consumers make smart purchasing decisions without affecting the environment?
The Trump administration overturned Obama-era rules that required four categories of light bulbs from January 2020 – including those used in chandeliers, recessed lighting, plumbing, and road lighting – to meet current energy efficiency standards. The Department of Energy would look at the best efficiency standards for pear bulbs in 2020) The rules themselves are extensions of the G of the eorge Bush Act of 2007 to phase out energy inefficient bulbs, like traditional halogen and incandescent options.
In other words, the Department of Energy will allow the sale of such energy efficient lamps to continue until 2020 (and without specifying an end date). Such standards affect about half of all six billion light bulbs used in the United States, Bloomberg reports . “Together, these bulbs could cost the average American household over $ 100 a year, adding $ 14 billion to Americans’ annual electricity bills as of 2025. and require at least 25 additional power plants annually, ”the Natural Resources Defense Council wrote on its website in response to the pullback.
President Trump disagrees, despite claims on the Department of Energy’s own website that energy efficient light bulbs are cheaper to run and require fewer replacements overall. “What’s saved isn’t worth it, “ President Trump told reporters Wednesday. “Because of the little they save and the things people experience, it’s not worth it. The price is another matter. “
Several large light bulb companies are probably very happy with this decision; companies such as GE, Silvana and Philips supported the rollback, the NRDC points out.
What can I do to shop more efficiently?
In a rollback statement, the NRDC encourages consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions by replacing halogen and incandescent bulbs with LEDs whenever possible. “The average US household has about 40 outlets, so you will not only save money but also contribute to national energy savings that will truly help our fight against the climate crisis,” writes NRDC.
CNET has put together a guide to buying your first LED bulb if you’re unsure of where to start. Look for Energy Star certified lamps before buying, a marker that provides a certain level of quality and energy efficiency. And take note of the lamp’s lumen rating (the amount of light it emits) and the wattage (the amount of energy / electricity it uses) on its packaging. If the LED lamp is too bright, try a lamp with a lower luminous flux.
“LED bulbs differ for different brands, but the main thing to note is that some are more efficient than others,” u / winterholdmage wrote on a recent Reddit thread . “For example, one brand might have a 1600 lumen lamp at 20 watts, while another brand might have the same lumen rating at 16 watts. The easiest way to get the most energy efficient lamp is to find out the desired brightness level and then find the one that offers that lamp with the lowest wattage. “
And don’t be intimidated by the cost of an LED; While they vary in price, a pack of two 25-watt incandescent bulbs costs about $ 3 at Home Depot, compared to $ 10.75 for their LED counterparts . And when comparing a 60-watt incandescent light bulb versus a 12-watt LED lamp emitting similar light, the Department of Energy estimates that the LED lamp will last 25 times longer. (They also estimate that if you replace the five most commonly used fixtures or bulbs with Energy Star certified lamps, you will save $ 75 over the course of the year.) So do yourself a favor and swap out your light bulb for an LED one to save the time and effort of changing over and over again.


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Over the last year, Kumarika, the leading local hair care brand in Sri Lanka from Hemas Consumer Brands, launched multiple initiatives in the North and North-western provinces to engage with and be part of the pilgrims journey whilst valuing the communities that took part in religious activities. The first of two initiatives were launched on the 14th of June 2022 in Mihintale coinciding with Poson, and the second in Nallur from the 24th of August 2022 to the 27th of August 2022.
The initiative in Mihintale began with an offering of 3000 Jasmine flowers to mark the significance of Poson. Meanwhile, consumers who visited the Kumarika stall had the opportunity to have firsthand experience of the brand and its products. Consumers were offered free samples of Kumarika Hair Fall Control hair oil where over 3000 consumers also had the opportunity to take home a Kumarika Hair Oil bottle. Additionally, Consumers were also given an opportunity to experience an on-location sampling of the Kumarika Hair Oil – Hair Thinning Control where over 4500 consumers were able to apply the oil on hair before visiting the temple. In addition, more than 400 Pilgrims got the opportunity to receive free head massages at the location to relax and ease out the stress before they continued their religious journey.
In Nallur the initiative began with one thousand flower garlands being distributed to the female Pilgrims to attach to their hair. A Kumarika stall was set up which ran for a period of four days. Moreover, 10,000 units of free samples of Kumarika Hair Oil – Hair Thinning Control and 2,000 units of Kumarika Thick and Strong Shampoo were offered to consumers, during the course of the initiative. This also gave the consumers a chance to experience the product in the comfort of their homes. Additionally, 3755 pilgrims got the opportunity to use the Kumarika hair oils at the stall and experience the products while visiting the kovil.
Both initiatives were resoundingly successful and saw a large gathering experiencing Kumarika products firsthand. Hemas Consumer Brands aims to continue conducting similar initiatives around the country in the future to engage with its consumers to understand their pulse and provide them the best product experience.
About Hemas Consumer
Hemas Consumer Brands, the leading Sri Lankan manufacturer of Home and Personal Care products, has won consumer hearts over the years through strong purpose-led brands and progressive sustainability practices. Hemas Consumer Brands strive to bring healthful living and personal care solutions to life through its portfolio of world-class products. They have garnered acclaim for creating superior Market-leading and Award-winning products by uncovering local insights which are nourished by growth-inspired innovative teams. They touch the lives of the communities around the island by creating meaningful offerings, cultivating trusted partnerships, and championing a more environmentally friendly inclusive world.


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Comcast Business Announces New Unit Targeting Fortune 1000 Enterprises
Enterprise services team to offer managed services capabilities for businesses with locations nationwide. The company already has signed several large financial, retail and hospitality customers.
Comcast Business today announced the creation of a new Enterprise Services unit that will target Fortune 1000 companies and other large enterprises that have multiple locations nationwide. This new enterprise-level service and delivery organization will offer a portfolio of managed enterprise solutions that includes Broadband, Ethernet, Voice, Router, Security, Business Continuity and Wi-Fi. The company also acquired a managed services company and has signed network agreements with other cable operators to further support national accounts.
Comcast Business has already signed large customers from multiple industries, including financial services firms, banks, hospitality chains and retailers. Technology industry veteran Glenn Katz, formerly the CEO of SpaceNet Inc., will lead the new group within Comcast Business.
"We’re committed to expanding and enhancing our offerings for businesses of all sizes, and having the expertise, tools and portfolio in place to deliver customized service packages to nationwide enterprises is a key part of our growth strategy," said Bill Stemper, president of Comcast Business. "Large companies need a provider who can help them manage complex networks, develop business continuity plans and integrate cloud-based applications. Our entry into this segment of the market will introduce new innovation and choice."
Comcast’s Enterprise Services team will design, build, implement and manage customized communications networks for large enterprise customers who need managed Broadband, Ethernet, Voice, Router, Business Continuity and Wi-Fi services in locations across the country. The new product portfolio will be branded "Managed Enterprise Solutions."
According to IDC, a Framingham, MA-based IT industry analyst firm, the U.S. market for managed services is expected to increase from $29 billion in 2014 to $52 billion in 2019.
"Comcast Business' entry into the enterprise network services market takes its value proposition of competitively priced high-speed, high availability connectivity to a demanding set of customers looking for alternatives to the incumbent national telcos and/or do-it-yourself multiple provider solutions," says Melanie Posey, Research VP at IDC. "With its national network reach and end-to-end service delivery capabilities, Comcast is well positioned to serve the outsourced network management needs of large business that require increasing network capacity to serve expanding multi-site requirements."
To help Comcast Business support these national accounts, it recently acquired Contingent Network Services; a national technology deployment and managed services company that helps enterprise customers outsource their day-to-day network operations. Contingent provides deployment and managed services to a number of well-known national brands. The company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Business and will continue to operate under the Contingent brand name.
"Contingent’s mission is to provide clients with high-quality, cost-effective network and deployment services wherever and whenever needed for reliable communications across an enterprise, and we couldn’t be more excited for them to join our team," said Katz. "By joining forces with Comcast Business, Contingent can further expand their reach and take advantage of Comcast’s extensive fiber and hybrid fiber coax network to give enterprises the optimal network experience to meet their business and technology requirements."
Comcast Business has also reached network agreements with leading cable operators making it easier to serve national clients with local offices and locations that span different geographies.
Comcast Business is one of the fastest growing divisions of Comcast, with an annual run-rate of more than $4.5 billion.
About Comcast Business
Comcast Business offers Ethernet up to 10 Gbps, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice and TV solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by a next-generation, fiber-based network covering 39 states and 20 of the nation’s top 25 markets, and backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Ethernet market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as its fastest growing provider and service provider of the year.


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Volvo Group Expedites Work To Set Up Battery Manufacturing Plant In Sweden
- A substantial site localization research has actually been done, which suggests that the Skaraborg area in Sweden is an optimal location for the plant.
- The Volvo Group plans to progressively raise capacity as well as reach large-scale series production by 2030.
The Volvo Group has introduced that it has actually started the process to develop a large-scale production plant for battery cells in Sweden. This is aimed at fulfilling the expanding demand for battery electric heavy-duty vehicles and makers.
Martin Lundstedt, President and also Chief Executive Officer of the Volvo Group, discussed the advancement, "We aim to lead the change to a decarbonized transportation system and have the long-term ambition to supply our customers solutions that are 100% fossil free. There is a strong demand from our consumers currently today, as well as by 2030, it is our ambition that at the very least 35% of the items we sell are electrical."
The chief executive officer additionally said that the solid demand will require "large volumes of high-performing batteries," created making use of fossil free power and also it is "a sensible next step" for the company to consist of battery production in the future commercial impact. He stated that the Volvo Group intends to do this together with companions and the journey begins currently.
Volvo further added that an extensive site localization study has actually exposed that the Skaraborg area in Sweden creates an excellent site for the plant. The proposed location in the municipality of Mariestad remains in proximity to the Volvo Group's existing main powertrain plant in Skovde. It will stand to gain from the region's existing commercial and also logistics infrastructure and also improve a strong heritage and also world-class skills in sophisticated, high-volume production, while having accessibility to Sweden's rich supply of fossil free power.
The Volvo Group is wanting to slowly augment capacity while additionally obtaining large-scale series production by 2030. The battery cells will be made particularly for commercial vehicle applications, sustaining the global roll-out of electric trucks, buses, building devices as well as electric drivelines for different applications.
Volvo claimed that the establishment of the production site is subject to authorizations from authorities. The last localization will certainly comply with public examination. The operations are subject to environmental permit authorizations.
- Energy Vault to construct 220MWh of battery storage space projects for Jupiter Power in Texas and California
- SUSI Partners bags 100MW United States battery portfolio
- Risen Energy's Hyper-ion HJT solar module series certified by TÜV SÜD
- BlackRock to acquire Oz battery developer
- US firm picks up 200MWh battery storage space order


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BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California consumers will receive new protections against toxic materials routinely used by Chinese manufacturers in everyday goods thanks to a settlement reached yesterday in Santa Clara County Superior Court, according to an attorney who negotiated the agreement.
The agreement, approved by Judge James Stoelker, requires DAP Inc., a large Chinese manufacturer, to reformulate consumer products to comply with California’s Proposition 65 right-to-know toxics law.
DAP Inc. manufactures millions of handle grips used on hand tools and tape measures that are sold throughout the United States by TARGET Stores. Those products were found to include the reproductive toxicant di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), which is regulated under Proposition 65. The manufacturer has now agreed to remove the hazardous chemical.
“If Chinese companies sell products in the United States, they must abide by our consumer protection laws,” said Cliff Chanler, the attorney who negotiated the agreement. “Californians have the right to know whether or not they are buying products containing chemicals that cause developmental harm to their children.”
Last month the Chanler Group became the first law firm to successfully use an American federal or state law as a basis for international prosecution of a Chinese company -- Hangzhou GreatStar Tool Co., Ltd. -- to attain a toxic product reformulation. Hangzhou GreatStar distributes their products through LOWE’S.
The agreements require the Chinese companies to reformulate every product at issue to eliminate DEHP and to pay civil penalties totaling as much as $65,000, 75 percent of which will go to the State of California to protect and enhance public health and the environment.
Chanler says he expects that additional Chinese manufacturers will be held accountable for the safety of products sold to American consumers, indicating that yet another toxic materials settlement will be reached shortly.
Details of the Hangzhou GreatStar and DAP settlements, as well as the executed agreements, are available at www.chanler.com. Chanler is available to discuss these cases, as well as the broader issues of hazardous materials in foreign-made products sold in the U.S. He can be reached at (203) 312-4484 or at email@example.com.