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Fitch Ratings revealed good news for Americans when it recently released data on continued and on-time debt payment by credit card holders. This is indeed good news after the impact of the global economic recession which had disempowered consumers to make necessary purchases and credit payments on time.
Fitch's Prime Credit Card Charge-Off Index is now down to the 9.22 percentage level compared with last month's 10.36 percent. This is a decrease seen to take more effect in the succeeding months as the index finally reached below the double-digit 10 percent level.
On the other hand, defaults on credit cards are at their lowest levels in a period of one year and six months (18 months). Credit card defaults are also 14 percent lower this time of the year compared to the last quarter of the previous year.
Securities for senior cards which are also supported by assets are predicted to stabilize further due to improved availability of credit. The defaults on securities for retail cards also improved albeit an increase in delinquencies.
Fitch's Credit Card Index however said that overall, delinquencies improved in general. The percentage of cardholders previously delinquent by a time period of two months or 60 days decreased by 6 percent. Delinquent cardholders for a 60-day period are now at 3.5 percent, the lowest over the 36-month or two-year monitoring period.
For delinquent cardholders in late stage, at about this same period in the last year, their percentage has decreased which registers an improvement for nine months straight. At the last quarter of the year 2009, and in comparison with the current time period, there is a 17 percent decrease in the number of late stage delinquencies.
The delinquencies in the early stage (measured by a 30-day period) also decreased by one point. The improvement puts the percentage at 4.61 for early stage delinquencies. Measuring this is important because the probability of an early stage delinquency is the determinant of the defaults on securities for a 90-day period (3 months).
The figures indeed bring good news at the moment but problems still exist in relation to unemployment. Fitch's Managing Director Michael Dean said that although the figures at Fitch Ratings indicate eventual consumer rise from the economic downturn, the figures of unemployment still remain far from encouraging.
Early this year, Dean recounts that the unemployment rate has been at its highest and is just minimally below the 10 percent mark. For this, Dean concludes that hopefully, good credit indicators can help reduce the unemployment rate.


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Startup Canada, a grassroots entrepreneurship movement, is beginning to make in-roads right here in Nelson.
And organizer Rose Hoeher is optimistic the movement will continue to grow as local entrepreneurs come out of the woodwork to find out about the amazing opportunities of the national social enterprise.
Hoeher, who helped start the Nelson chapter back in the spring, was recently in Ottawa to attend the National Awards.
“I went to Ottawa to represent our region's entrepreneurs in meetings with Members of Parliament, Ministers, and Parliamentary Committees and with some of Canada's leading anchor companies to forge partnerships and opportunities for entrepreneurs,” Hoeher explained.
Startup Canada is the leading national social enterprise supporting and giving a voice to entrepreneurs through online programs, national awards, flagship events, partnerships with private sector and government to foster a community for startup and small business success across the country.
“We would like to raise the bar for entrepreneurs and innovation in Canada and demonstrating the growth of Canada's entrepreneurship community. From taxation and immigration to technology adoption and procurement,” Hoeher said.
Startup Nelson consists of numerous small business owners, which include web designers, sleep therapists, multi-level marketers (MLMs), life coaches, clothing exchange owners, software developers and many more entrepreneurs eager to take a shot at stardom with their own unique ideas to start a business.
“At this time, we want to find out who's out there and who would like to participate in this grassroots volunteer movement,” Hoeher said.
“My goal and aspirations are that everybody would have a chance to be an entrepreneur if they choose to and we want to support them in their dreams of doing that.”
Hoeher said she met with MP's, BDC, MasterCard Canada, Venture Capitalists as well as many nation-wide entrepreneurs.
The program has been welcomed by many local government bodies, which were quick to support the program.
They include Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, KAST (Kootenay Association for Science & Technology), Community Futures, The City of Nelson, NAEDP (Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership) and of course our local tech entrepreneurs and volunteers.
Hoeher said the Startup Canada Awards held in Ottawa was an incredible experience.
Startup Kamloops won the Community of the Year Award over national finalists Startup Sault Ste. Marie and Startup Edmonton. Kamloops was selected as the community having an extraordinary impact on the environment for entrepreneurship.
“My hope is to have a local startup have an opportunity to participate in the next awards in 2018,” Hoeher said.
It appears Start Up Nelson is already on the right track to achieve that goal.

domain: news


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Lidl UK has announced the purchase of its 17th distribution centre, which could lead to as many as 500 new jobs once operational.
The supermarket has purchased a 38-acre site in Gildersome, Leeds, for a new regional distribution centre (RDC).
The RDC joins an existing pipeline of new Lidl warehouses, located in Doncaster, Bolton, Peterborough and Luton.
The news comes after Lidl announced the acquisition of a site near Luton earlier in the year, and forms part of the supermarket’s long term expansion ambitions, which include plans for a further four new warehouses in the coming years.
This will be Lidl’s 17th distribution centre in Great Britain, and is set to be approximately 60,000m² in size.
Ingo Fischer, Lidl UK board director for Expansion and Development, said: “As we continue to open new stores and serve more customers across the country, it’s important that we also continue to build foundations for the future.
“This latest investment joins a long line of Lidl warehouses set to open over the next seven years, which are all vital in supporting our growth.”
The purchase of the site forms part of Lidl UK’s £1.45bn expansion investment in Great Britain across 2017/18.


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French Connection shares fall on profit warning
Challenging trading continued through Easter, the retailer said
UK fashion retailer French Connection has seen its share price decline 18% this morning (24 April) after warning its full-year performance will be below market expectations.
The company said the challenging trading reported at the year end continued through the Easter period, and first-half retail sales are now forecast to be materially lower than expected.
However, wholesale performance is in line with expectations, with forward orders up year on year, and licensing continues to perform strongly.
The retailer said it will continue to "implement positive change" across the business, after putting in place many improvements in the last two years. It continues to execute its store closure plan, and now expects to close seven stores during the current year.
In March, the group cut its full-year operating loss, but saw retail sales tumble by 12% on the back of store closures.
French Connection's share price stood at GBP43.36 (US$65.53) at 10.47 BST today.
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gm NFTs Mar. 24 | XCOPY Returns to Nifty Gateway, Set to Drop MAX PAIN Tonight
Today's Top News:
- New Japanese street art NFT project sells out via Dutch auction.
- XCOPY set to drop a new NFT collection via Nifty Gateway.
- Loopring and Gamestop are teaming up for new NFT marketplace.
Kiwami Sells Out Via Dutch Auction
Yesterday evening, Kiwami NFT sold out of its public sale Dutch auction of 7,000 NFTs in roughly 25 minutes.
The project ended up minting out at 0.1 ETH and has seen a decent start in secondary volume, accumulating almost 260 ETH traded in under two hours. The remaining circulation of 3,000 NFTs will be released today at 80 percent of the final price of the Dutch auction (0.08 ETH) for those lucky enough to be allocated an OG/Mintlist spot.
Kiwami was created by an anonymous Japanese team of street artists that are influenced by cyberkinetic and urban pop-art with traditional Japanese elements.
The founder of Anonymice was the developer of the smart contract.
XCOPY Is Back With New Nifty Gateway Drop
XCOPY is releasing a 10-minute open session titled "MAX PAIN" today starting at 6:30 p.m. ET and ending at 6:40 p.m. ET via Nifty Gateway.
It'll cost $3,000 USD (in ETH, at the current evaluation when the mint starts). XCOPY and Nifty Gateway also included a burning mechanism for the drop, allowing some pieces to be burned for access to purchase a rarer edition collectible NFT.
XCOPY and Nifty Gateway also included a burning mechanism to the drop, opening up the ability to purchase other more rare pieces explained in the thread below.
alpha for the grifters ahead of Thursday, don’t tell @XCOPYART 🤫— Nifty Gateway (@niftygateway) March 23, 2022
Burning two “Afterburn” pieces will allow you to purchase open editions “DAMAGER”, “GUZZLER RED”, or “REACHBACK”
Loopring Teaming Up With GameStop for NFT Marketplace
Loopring's Head of Growth Adam Browman published news on Wednesday that GameStop's NFT Marketplace has taken its first step in development and is being built atop Loopring.
LRC, Loopring's native token on Ethereum, rose close to 35 percent in the past 24 hour window and sits at $1.14 as of the time of writing this article.
Data provider Messari indicated that this gain was the single largest of all cryptocurrencies in the market with a market capitalization of at least $1 billion.
Users are allocated early access to the project in order to set up usernames and profile information. GameStop stock (GME) also rose 10 percent in the 24-hour span since the news broke.


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Volvo Trucks North America names three executives to new posts
Volvo has named the following three executives to new commercial positions for Volvo Trucks North America, effective April 1:
- Ron Huibers has been named senior vice president – sales and marketing, reporting to President & CEO Denny Slagle. Huibers has been with the Volvo Group for 15 years, and has served in a number of senior management positions in sales, domestic and international distribution, business development/strategy, and financial services. He served most recently as senior vice president of international operations for Mack Trucks, Inc.
- Scott Kress has been named vice president – sales, reporting to Ron Huibers. Kress has more than 30 years of industry experience with several original equipment manufacturers, many of which have been spent working with major North American trucking fleets. He joined Volvo Trucks North America in 2002 and served most recently as senior vice president – sales and marketing.
- Russ Tedder has been named senior vice president – truck remarketing, reporting to President and CEO Denny Slagle. Tedder has more than 30 years of industry experience, working on both the OEM and carrier sides of the business. He joined Volvo Trucks North America in 1986, and served most recently as vice president – fleet sales.
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"It is no secret that industry stakeholders are looking to do more business with fewer and stronger partners. This makes it harder for smaller companies to stay relevant and competitive," said Jay Foreman CEO of The Bridge. "Challenges facing the industry are compounded by the additional costs and complexities associated with meeting the increasingly high safety standards required by regulators, retailers and licensors. As a result, many industry business owners are looking for a way to scale up, reduce their risk or simply cash out."
"It is our expectation to acquire or merge with new businesses every twelve to eighteen months. Our strategy is designed to offer these owners a convenient solution with access to global markets," said Brad Pedersen President and CEO of Tech 4 Kids. "This move will provide a unique platform that will position us amongst the top tier of toy manufacturers in North America and provide the growth plan to reinforce our position as a key industry player."
The new company will begin to show product lines at the Fall Toy Preview in Dallas in October. The head office will be located in Boca Raton, Florida, and offices will continue to be maintained in Toronto and Hong Kong.
Stay tuned for more Toy News, right here on THE ROCK FATHER™ Magazine!


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ZooZ, an in-app mobile payment system that supports credit cards, PayPal and carrier billing, just made a move that will introduce its service to 10,000 different merchants. The company is partnering with MobiCart, a platform that allows anyone to create m-commerce applications on iOS and Android. MobiCart already supports around 40 different shopping carts within its mobile storefronts, and is now adding ZooZ to the lineup.
In addition, ZooZ CEO Oren Levy says the company is planning to come to the U.S. and is preparing to raise its Series A.
Levy says that ZooZ will be splitting its operation, currently based in Israel, and will relocate some of its 10-person staff to the U.S. The location – even West Coast or East Coast – has not yet been decided, but he will be out here next month scouting for office space (and likely, talking with investors).
While the name doesn’t necessarily imply trust and security (“ZooZ” sounds like some virtual reward you would collect in a mobile game. “Beat the boss to earn 10 ZooZ”), the mobile payments service is actually trying to bring the same level of security to mobile that exists in the world of the desktop-based web.
“Despite the fact that there’s a lot of m-commerce going on, there’s a lack of uniformity in checkout schemes,” explains Levy. “Each app creates it own checkout, its own colors and you don’t know how secure it is.” On the desktop, you’ll see things like the VeriSign seal that assures shoppers that the checkout process is verified to be safe. This doesn’t exist on mobile. Not coincidentally, ZooZ’s CTO and co-founder Ronen Morecki is ex-VeriSign (he was a VP of R&D over there) and knows a thing or two about security and fraud detection.
The problem with the lack of security means users aren’t converting and there’s a high cart abandonment rate. So ZooZ introduced an in-app SDK that developers can implement with three lines of code in order to start accepting payments within their app. A seal at the bottom of the checkout tells mobile shoppers that the process is secure. The SDK also helps developers who don’t want to establish their own merchant accounts in order to accept credit cards, and just want a drop-in toolkit for doing that. The SDK currently supports iOS, Android, and more recently, HTML5. Plans to extend the payment options (now carrier billing, cc’s, and PayPal) to Amazon and Google Wallet are also in the works. And, as you may expect, ZooZ makes its money through transaction fees (2.8% + $0.19 for each successful transaction).
Since ZooZ’s launch in March, over 1,500 developers have signed up, about 50% of which are on iOS and the other half on Android. Assuming ZooZ can raise the necessary funding, the plan is to connect the platform with as many different types of e-wallets/payment options as possible, and make the SDK smartly location-based. That is, it would detect where users are physically located to show them only the payment options supported in their region.
More info on ZooZ and developer downloads are here.


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COVID-19 has significantly impacted the event industry, forcing some organizations to cancel 2020 events, while others are moving to virtual events.
Virtual events are not new. For International Women’s Day 2013, Global Tech Women launched a global virtual conference, which featured more than 70 speakers from around the world and ran for 36 hours. More than 11,000 attendees joined the conference from 50 countries. A key learning from that conference: “When a conference is virtual, what becomes critical is the promotion of the conference to create awareness and excitement. Our sponsor, Google, helped us achieve global visibility and drove the global engagement,” said Deanna Kosaraju, CEO of Global Tech Women.
Tweet me: Has #COVID19 impacted your upcoming conference? @VMware transitioned to a virtual event for this year's Women Transforming Technology event. Here's how: https://bit.ly/2NOdeiN @DiversityInSTEAM
KEYWORDS: Diversity in STEAM, Women Transforming Technology, VMware, Virtual Events, COVID-19, coronavirus, pandemic


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You have searched for "timepieces"
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Arguably, watchmaking has tended to be a male-dominated field that for the longest time has primarily focused on timepieces for men. Not so at Ebel, which has been built on the twin pillars of masculine and feminine values and qualities since 1911.
Timepieces sought by kings and millionaires will made their debut for this year's premier sailing event in Kuala Terengganu, the Monsoon Cup.
Malaysian fans of Swiss watch company TAG Heuer have a rare opportunity to see a collection of timepieces from the company’s museum in Switzerland.
GENEVA: Watches of Switzerland Group Ltd, the UK’s biggest seller of luxury timepieces, said it’s considering an initial public offering in London that could help fuel expansion into the US market.
ZURICH: Swatch Group AG, the maker of Omega and Tissot timepieces, reported the highest first-half profit in three years, fuelled by Asian demand and market share gains across its collection of 18 brands.
GENEVA: Swiss watch exports plunged 16% in October, the biggest monthly drop in seven years, as demand weakened in almost every major market for Rolex and Omega timepieces.


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Bloody Roar 5’s announcement was a hoax, sorry Bloody Roar fans!
This fake announcement was originally posted on the official Hudson Twitter with the following:
Watch The Latest Gaming News:
“New Bloody Roar sequel, is in production! we’ll post more soon! 😉 #BloodyRoarProject2012 #BloodyRoar5 #BloodyRoar Read and Retweet! ;)”
That was followed with a Tweet saying “New Bloody Roar 5 image!” and linking to a meme graphic saying “You all been trolled”. Definitely angrying many fans who originally thought it was a real announcement of their favorite classic PS1/last-generation fighting game series where the characters can morph into deadly animals.
The prankster later apologized, giving a reason for his shenanigans by saying, “Sorry people, just wanted to show Konami that their is [sic] still fans of BloodyRoar”.
So far, Konami, who recently bought out Hudson to acquire both the Bloody Roar and Bomberman franchises, has not commented on the joke.
But let’s hope it spurs Konami into actually making a Bloody Roar 5!
For the most recent entry in the Bloody Roar series, you have to go all the way back to 2003 and the PS2 entry called “Bloody Roar 4”. Before that they released Bloody Roar: Primal Fury for GameCube and Bloody Roar: Extreme for Xbox1.
Here is the opening intro for Bloody Roar 4.
I always loved the Bloody Roar games ever since the PS1 days. Put a lot of gameplay into Bloody Roar: Primal Fury with my brother and friends on the GameCube back in the day.


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Tue, 07 Jun 2022 07:29 AM IST
New Delhi | Jagran Technology Desk: The first day with the opening keynote of Apple's Worldwide Developers' Conference concluded on June 6th. The WWDC conference will continue till June 10. On the very first day of Apple's second major annual event, the tech giant showed off a new car dashboard that will come in new models including those of Ford and Jaguar, and the iPhone maker rolled out a slew of features for collaboration and data safety.
Here are the major launches made at the WWDC Event Day 1:
The latest operating system for iPhones will have a refreshed lock screen that comes with new widgets, greater personalization and a new approach to notifications. Users will be able to add widgets as well to the lock screen. The lock screen will also get a new 'Live screen' activity feature. There's also a new 'Focus' filter where users can filter out notifications from apps they might not need always.
With the new updated iOS 16, Apple will let users undo sent Messages. Users will also be able to edit out messages after they have sent them.
The new iOS will have to feature fresh updates for CarPlay including new gauge clusters and automakers including Ford Motor Co and Jaguar Land Rover will integrate the feature with their cars.
Apple also beefed up security features on the new iOS. It launched Safety Check in the settings app that lets users revoke access to personal data like the location they had shared with other users.
Users can also log out from iCloud accounts on other devices for added safety from the Safety Check page.
Apple Pay Later
Apple Pay Later will allow users to pay using Apple Pay where it is accepted and pay for it in four instalments over six weeks, without any additional fee. And no, Apple Pay is not coming to India for now.
Apple revealed the M2 chip, the successor to the company's first in-house chip, named M1. The latest M2 chip, which comes with 24 gigabytes of unified memory, is 18% better than its predecessor and can playback multiple streams of 4K and 8K video. Apple also launched a redesigned MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro with the new chip.
New MacBook Air
The powerful M2 chip will be loaded on a brand new MacBook Air, redesigned around the M2 chip. Weighing just 2.7 pounds, the new Air is 11.3 inches thick, fitted with a 13.6-inch liquid. Retina display and will have a Magsafe charging system. There is also a headphone jack.
The MacBook Air will start at USD 1,199 and come in grey, gold, silver and blue.MacBook Pro starts at USD 1,299. Both laptops will be available next month. 13-inch MacBook Air in India will be available in next month and Apple's MacBook Air with M2 will be priced at Rs 119,900 and Rs 109,900 for education. The 512GB storage option for the MacBook Air will cost Rs 1,49,900. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 starts at Rs 129,900 and Rs 119,900 for education. The 512GB MacBook Pro costs Rs 1,49,900 as well. The 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter will be available for Rs 5,800.
iPadOS 16 will include the Free Form productivity app, which will allow users to share ideas on FaceTime video meetings.The iPad Pro will now be able to show groups of apps on a secondary screen, allowing for greater productivity in a bid to make iPad apps more "desktop-like".
Apple's new WatchOS 9 will bring new watch faces, new metrics for workouts and heart rate zones for exercise. It also expects to receive the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's clearance for the atrial fibrillation health feature soon. The software update will also help users build a medication list and remind them to take medicines.
The new macOS, dubbed Ventura, will have updates to the Mail app, camera software updates and improved productivity features. Apple is also bringing Continuity Camera to let users rely on their iPhone camera as a web camera for their Mac.


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While tech titans around the world work to materialize the concept of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist humans in their daily lives, some believe that the risk of emerging technology going awry is imminent. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Twitter, reminded people of AI’s destructive potential in light of this possibility.
Musk’s plan to launch a new AI venture reportedly surfaced on March 15 after the entrepreneur convened a team of AI researchers and engineers. However, Musk continues to emphasize the destructive potential of AI if it falls into the wrong hands or is developed with malicious intent.
Musk believes that AI can be harmful. In an interview with FOX, he stated that AI could be more hazardous than, for instance, poorly managed aircraft design or production maintenance. While acknowledging the small likelihood, he stated:
“However small one may regard that probability, but it is non-trivial — it has the potential of civilizational destruction.”
As Crypto Twitter took up the conversation, Musk provided significant support for his assertion:
“Anyone who thinks this risk is 0% is an idiot.”
On the other hand, tech entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates are more optimistic regarding AI and its potential positive effects on humanity.
On April 13, Amazon joined the race to develop AI services as the most recent tech titan to do so. Amazon Bedrock enables developers to create and scale generative AI applications.
Bedrock enables users to “privately customize foundation models with their data and easily integrate and deploy them into their applications,” according to a blog post announcing the service.


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Glaswegians will soon get to enjoy delicious seafood at a brand new restaurant with the arrival of The Scallop's Tale.
Opening this Monday (May 2) in Bearsden, hundreds of diners are expected to make the most of the bank holiday to visit the 30-seater restaurant, which boasts an extensive dine-in and takeaway menu, packed with locally sourced fresh seafood dishes and fish and chip shop favourites.
The two-level Bearsden restaurant boasts a distinctly nautical feel to its impressive interior, which features traditional dark wood panelling and brass fittings set against a deep blue colour scheme which offers a ‘refined family dining experience unlike anything in the surrounding area’.
A big hook for families is the inspiration for the restaurant – The Scallop’s Tale, a wall mounted story charting Sally the Scallop’s journey which diners can read as they enjoy the experience. A famous Ernest Hemingway quotation also takes pride of place which is certain to catch the eye of diners.
Explaining what diners can expect ahead of Monday's opening, The Scallop's Tale team say: "Bookings are already filling up as foodies and families look forward to enjoying signature dishes such as Pan-Fried King Scallops with Parmesan Mash and ‘Posh Fish And Chips and Breaded Lemon Sole with a Minted Pea Puree, Fries and Hot Tartar Sauce’.
"The speciality ‘Scallops High Tea for two’, which includes two ‘Posh Fish and Chips’, Sourdough Bread, and Tea with Cakes and Scones is expected to attract diners for sharing and socialising.
"There is also a vast array of non-seafood dishes, as well as vegetarian and vegan options, and smaller portions for children.
"The Scallop’s Tale Fish & Chip takeaway menu features all the classic dishes customers expect, each prepared with the same, fresh, locally sourced produce and cooked to the same high standard as the dine-in offering."
The exciting restaurant and takeaway menus have been devised by executive chef Stephen Pohler, who has built an impressive CV including spells at the Lisini Dalziel Park Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza and the Radisson Red, in Glasgow.
Scallop’s Tale owner Dr Usman Qureshi, a Bearsden local, said: "It’s a real thrill to finally open The Scallop’s Tale. This restaurant has been a long time in the making and we’re so excited to finally be able to share it with the public.
"Since we announced the restaurant was opening last month a day hasn’t gone by where somebody hasn’t asked how it’s looking, and now we are ready to show them.
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"The bank holiday is the perfect time to open, where families can come out and enjoy a delicious seafood meal, or they can take away to enjoy in the comfort of their home.
"The restaurant is looking fantastic and the food even better and I look forward to welcoming diners to the Scallop’s Tale this weekend, and for years to come."
For a first look inside The Scallop's Tale, you can view our gallery above
The Scallop’s Tale restaurant, at 7 Roman Road, Bearsden, is open Sunday to Thursday 12pm-9pm, and Friday and Saturday 1pm to 10pm. The takeaway is open Sunday to Thursday 12pm-10pm, and Friday and Saturday 12-11pm.


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A subsidiary of Actavis has reached a settlement with a generic drug maker that will allow the launch of a generic version of a treatment for ulcerative colitis in 2015.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug from Warner Chilcott for treating ulcerative colitis, the drug maker said.
Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals is hoping to be the first to market a generic version of a drug used to treat ulcerative colitis, the company said.
Drug maker Warner Chilcott's diversified portfolio of drugs will help it weather generic challenges to its patents, according to a new report by Zacks Investment Research.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Shire for treating ulcerative colitis, the British drug maker said Monday.
Prasco Labs will distribute an authorized generic version of an ulcerative colitis treatment made by Shire in the event that any other company steps forward to file an abbreviated new drug application for the drug.


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Stars may seem like they’re out of this world to the common people but in actuality, stars are just like everyone else. People often forget that they too have their highs and lows. Stars like Jennifer Lawrence seem to have it all. They seem to be put together and happy but they’re just people like us.
Jennifer Lawrence is a new mom and fans have been ecstatic to see her thriving as a mother. While previously she was known for her humor and acting talents, now she’s known for her ability to be a regular mom as well. And just like any other mom, Jennifer Lawrence was seen getting out of her car recently with a stroller. The star hasn’t made a ton of appearances since she gave birth but seeing her this time around was sight for sore eyes.
Jennifer Lawrence is known for her incredible fashion sense and it seems birthing a child could never change that. The star was seen wearing a cute floral sundress that had a deep square neckline. She also carried her loved Christian Dior blue handbag with gold finishings.
Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail and she wore some brown sandals to complete her light and easy look. Her face seemed to be makeup free which made fans marvel over how beautiful she was bare-faced. The photographs did not feature her baby which she shares with Cooke Maroney which was disappointing for the fans who want to see the little bundle of joy as much as possible.
This isn’t the first time that Jennifer Lawrence has made a show of being dressed to impress. Some time ago, Jennifer Lawrence was seen wearing an incredibly detailed midi dress that had crochet detailing on the neck, straps of the arms, and throughout the dress in general. Her jewelry was kept simple with just a simple gold chain with a turquoise stone and tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Even though she’s a new mother, Jennifer Lawrence is not stopping at being the best dressed in front of the media. Her styles keep getting better and better with every photograph and she’s keeping the fashion world alive.
Read this article Jennifer Lawrence Is Still Killing The Fashion Game While Being A New Mom And Fans Are Here For It at Celebrityinsider.org


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Applications purchased on the Android Marketplace for phones running Google’s Android mobile operating system can now be charged to AT&T phone accounts and paid for whenever users pay their bill normally.
The change could help application developers by making it a little easier to pay for an app and get it as quickly as possible. iPhone users link credit cards to their iTunes accounts and are able to purchase an app by basically pressing their screen once. Google earlier relied on Google Checkout to purchase applications, which turned some people off from buying applications.
Google is promoting the new option as a way to help solve the nightmare that is application discovery on the Android Marketplace. There are more than 100,000 applications on the Android Marketplace today. That makes it incredibly difficult to find a new applications. Google also recently revamped its Android Market app to make it easier to browse through applications and discover new ones.
It’s also a good boost for carrier billing evangelists. Carrier billing has become a little more popular as a way to encourage people to purchase new applications by making it easier to do so. There are also a number of companies that want to rely on carrier billing for everyday things and microtransactions and kill off credit cards and other forms of payment, like Boku and Zong.
At least a few people — investing titan Marc Andreessen included — want to consolidate their spending activities to their phone and kill off credit cards and cash. There are a number of ways to go about doing that, like adding a new way of using transaction provider PayPal. Carrier billing is another way.
Google earlier enabled carrier billing for apps on the Android Marketplace on T-Mobile around the same time last year. Android users on Verizon are still out of luck, as carrier billing hasn’t been enabled on that service provider yet. The Android developer blog didn’t say when — or even if — Verizon would enable carrier billing, but it said that Google would continue to work with carriers to help ease purchasing on the Android Marketplace.


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News tagged ‘bug’
Apple has released a new OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta to developers for testing. This is the seventh beta and it can boast of a number of stability improvements and bug fixes. Just like the previous beta.
Apple on Wednesday released another OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta to registered developers. This is the sixth beta-version of 10.9.3 that comes just a week after the fifth, which contained a number of improvements and bug fixes.
Apple has recently released another beta-version of OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 to developers for testing. Those who hope to see notable changes and improvements will surely be disappointed - there're no new features. The update contains primarily stability improvements and bug fixes. Nothing more.
Apple on Tuesday seeded a new OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta to developers for testing. The release comes about two weeks after the previous OS X version. This week’s build is number 13D28 and I must say it contains a couple of important bug fixes. However, no new features were spotted.
Apple on Tuesday released Safari 7.0.3 and Safari 6.1.3 Seed 2 to developers for testing. The release comes just a week after the company from Cupertino seeded first Safari 7.0.3 and Safari 6.1.3 betas. Are there any new features or enhancements? No, I don’t think so.
According to a new, but immensely popular among the users thread on Apple's Support forum, iOS 7.1 contains a bug that causes Personal Hotspot issues. The problem has been reported by iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s owners, that is why you’d better not update to the latest iOS version if you often use this iOS feature.
Apple released two new betas on Tuesday: OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 and iTunes 11.1.6. Both are currently available only for the company employees and both contain some bug fixes and improvements.
Apple on Thursday seeded the second OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta to registered developers for testing. The release comes just a week after the company from Cupertino unveiled the first OS X 10.9.3 beta. This version included a number of important bug fixes as well as improved 4K display compatibility for Macs.
Following the release of OS X Mavericks 10.9.2, a security update that contains a fix for the SSL vulnerability, some users have begun to complain that the most-recent OS X version breaks the AirPlay functionality.
The company from Cupertino revealed how its Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the so-called "Secure Enclave" work. Both systems (which work as a one whole) were first introduced with the iPhone 5s release and both ensure the security of the information stored in your device’s memory.
Apple has officially released an update for OS X Mavericks 10.9.2. The new version contains a number of improvements, but the most important one is, without a doubt, a fix for SSL vulnerability. Apart from that, the latest OS X version can boast of the ability to block FaceTime and iMessage users, FaceTime Audio and more.
A new iOS bug has been recently found that allows malicious apps to monitor and log user’s touch inputs and button pressings. Such apps are capable of running in background and sending sensitive data to remote servers. That is why you should carefully choose, which apps to install and which not.
Apple has recently released iOS 7.0.6 to public. At the same time, the company from Cupertino seeded iOS 6.1.6 to users. Both updates contain a fix for SSL connection verification, so you should update your device. Be sure.
One of the most popular iOS 7 tweaks called Springtomize 3 has been updated recently. The new version can boast of a number of serious improvements and bug fixes. As to the new features, these are the updated lock screen and scroll animations, icon labels customization and the ability to change the way the inactive apps are displayed in App Switcher.
You may take a look at how Springtomize 3 works in the video below (via
The company from Cupertino is currently working on a fix for MacBook Air issue that causes system crashes each time the laptop is wakened. As to the possible reason for the problem, it is reportedly a bug in the sensor responsible for detecting when the lid is being open.


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Being green on the North Coast just got a little easier.
The Discovery Child Care Centre on Prince Rupert Boulevard is now a designated drop-off point for people to leave recyclables that are made of mixed plastics, which require expensive recycling methods. The North Coast, among other regions in Canada, doesn’t have the infrastructure to recycle these plastics so they end up in the landfill.
For 10 years the daycare centre has participated with competitions organized by TerraCycle, an international recycling company that works with over 100 brands. The competitions are based on what companies are willing to sponsor and participants, such as the child care centre, get money for every item they return.
This February, the Discovery Child Care Centre became the only public drop-off centre for TerraCycle along the North Coast. The next closest drop-off site is in Prince George.
The centre collects the tops of spray bottles from cleaners, foil cracker wrappers, Lunchable containers, food squeeze pouches, cereal bags, canon or HP ink cartridges. In the past they have collected diaper and wipe packaging and even broken down laptops.
The acting manager for the child care centre, Sarah Sankey, said prior to becoming an official TerraCycle drop-off centre they sent recyclable request lists to parents and friends.
“Before it was mostly through word of mouth from staff and families,” Sankey said.
Now, the centre is open for public drop-offs from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. From now until the end of April the centre is competing in the Air and Home Care Brigade. It is part of the Febreze Frenzy Contest that requests people bring in any brand of air-fresher and all the packaging it comes in, as well as kitchen cleaners, spray bottle or soap lids or any kind of cleaning lid.
The top three winners share a $5,000 prize from charity donations.
Director of TerraCycle’s public relations, Lauren Taylor, said that recently they were able to open up to public locations, meaning that anyone participating in their competitions can be a drop off centre.
“TerraCycle is basically a recycling company. We deal with hard to recycle items, like air and home care product packaging, drink pouches, toothpaste tubes, all these things that just aren’t economically feasible to recycle locally, usually,” Taylor said.
TerraCycle then partners with companies to recycle the product by separating the items as needed, removing leftover residue and melting it down to plastic. Recycled plastics are used to make things like park benches or even stretchy yoga pants. Another method they use is “up” cycling, which means that the product’s life is expanded. For example, if a drink pouch is cleaned and used as a tote bag.
“Companies pay us to be a solution for its packaging for the end of its life,” Taylor said. “We melt the materials into a plastic, extrude it into pellet form and we can sell it to companies that want to use recycled plastic in their products.”
Prince Rupert doesn’t have a curb-side recycling pickup and most people have to bring their own recycling to the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional Recycling Depot. The Superintendent of Waste Management, Tim Deschamps, said that new provincial guidelines in 2014 prevent certain materials from being recycled at the depot.
“Certain products just aren’t under the B.C. program or the producer of those products choose not to be involved or they have certain material they don’t have the infrastructure or the know how to recycle,” Deschamps said.


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As part of its commitment to support governments in its efforts to provide safe and quality nutrition for individuals and families to ensure wellbeing at all stages, Nestlé Ghana has launched a new variant of MAGGI® Known as “MAGGI DeDeeDe” onto the Ghanaian market. It is made of shrimp, garlic, fish and other natural ingredients and fortified with micronutrients, the product fulfills the brands commitment of using more familiar and common ingredients.
Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, Philomena Tan, shared the company’s commitment to continue providing quality and nutritious choices that will contribute to the growth and wellbeing of Ghanaians.
“As a Nutrition Health and Wellness Company, we have a purpose to enhance the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future of consumers. We believe that we can achieve this purpose through the provision of product choices that have been developed through innovation and scientific findings,”
She added that Nestlé is committed to using ingredients rich in vitamins needed for the wellbeing of consumers.
“Nestle, continues to innovate and bring to the market new product offerings in line with our commitment to provide healthier and tastier food choices that are fortified with nutrient to complements the nutritional needs for growth and wellbeing of Individuals and Families”.
As the world’s leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company, Nestlé commits to fortify its products with micronutrients. Maggi Bouillons produced in the Central and West Africa region are fortified with Iron to help address micronutrient deficiencies prevalent in the region.
Business Executive Officer, Culinary in Nestlé Central and West Africa, Dominique Allier, reiterated the brand’s commitment to “use more familiar and common ingredients, increase local sourcing and build local economy; Raise awareness about healthy lifestyles, cooking and diets; and improve the nutritional profile of our products. By fortifying Maggi bullions, Nestlé is able to be part of the solution to reducing micronutrient deficiency in Ghana”.
He is convinced that MAGGI DEDEEDE will contribute to fulfilling Nestlé’s purpose, of “enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future”.


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Two-fifths (39%) admit to arguing over what to watch, and 40% have ‘cheated’ by watching extra episodes behind their partner’s back.
Streaming service Netgem found twice as many Brits spend their time streaming boxsets than paying a trip to the movies.
2,000 people were surveyed by Opinium Research.
65% are using their record function, while 81% stream content.
As might be expected there is a generational divide with those aged 55+ are more likely to record than younger adults.
The issue of ‘boxset cheating’ – ie. skipping ahead on a series that you’re supposed to be watching as a couple – is also a real problem for streamers.
Two-fifths (39%) of UK adults admit that they’ve broken boxset etiquette by watching episodes when their viewing partner isn’t around.
According to the study, box set viewers stream an average of 3 hours of content per week.
Streaming content has now become the new normal for younger generations, especially millennials who have grown up in a connected age.
One in five (20%) 18-34s have now given up on ‘offline’ altogether, saying all of their TV content is now streamed.


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Salad Recall Expands to 31 States & Walmart Stores After More Than 200 Illnesses
Check your fridge to see if you've got any of these products.
About a week ago, the CDC announced an investigation into a Cyclospora outbreak linked to pre-mixed salad bags. The ensuing recall included salads sold at Aldi and Hy-Vee, as well as the Jewel-Osco Signature Farms brand. However, the recall has expanded significantly as more than 200 people have reported illnesses potentially linked to the salad mixes.
An FDA and CDC investigation led to a recommendation for an expanded recall due to the possibility that there are more contaminated products in the world. That investigation is ongoing, but currently asserts that "a likely cause of this outbreak is product made at the Fresh Express production facility in Streamwood, Illinois." Each of the recalled items made there includes iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots. The updated product list is extensive, including 91 separately listed items. Those salad mixes were distributed to many retail locations, including select Walmart, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, and Aldi stores.
The recall issued by Fresh Express includes salads "clearly marked with the letter Z at the beginning of the Product Code, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the front of the package." The product list linked above has details on each of the salads the recall includes. The company-issued voluntary recall says that the potentially contaminated products have been distributed to retail stores between June 6 and 26 in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
As of June 29, the FDA reports that there are 206 illnesses and 23 hospitalizations linked to the Cyclospora outbreak.
Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis include diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, body aches, and fatigue. If you experience those symptoms after eating a listed product you should contact a doctor. The company recommends you throw out any salad that matches the recall you have on hand. You can also contact the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center with questions or a request for a refund at 1-800-242-5472.


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Posted on June 8, 2020 at 3:19 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
The man responsible for our fondest mall memories has passed away.
The New York Times reports that Harry Hoffman, who opened hundreds of Waldenbooks stores during his time as president, died May 20 at age 92.
When Hoffman took over, the chain had almost five hundred stores; he went on to open eight hundred more, according to his obituary.
Read more about his accomplishments, innovations, and other noteworthy decisions that drew less praise in the Times.
Categories: Today in Books


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Nintendo is investigating a new acceleration technology for the Wii controller, also known as the Wii-mote. During this investigation, Nintendo came across a technology from the company Kionix. This company’s technology appears to be more sensitive than the technology used in the current Wii-mote.
If Nintendo will start using this new technology, a much more sensitive Wii controller could be developed. Of course, this sounds the same as the Wii Motion Plus system we talked about in this post. According to Kotaku’s website, it will in any case not be an investigation for the Wii Motion Plus, but rather an investigation into a completely new Wii controller.


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Google has previously confirmed that they are prototyping fordable devices, but has never committed to releasing a commercial device. The flagship phones are no longer available in Google's U.S. While it is not distinct just how numerous units were being in stock in the initially area, the Pixel 4a is seemingly continuing the momentum of Google's preceding funds smartphone successes.
PlayStation had a swell idea with their PS Plus offerings, and Microsoft would soon follow in those footsteps by enhancing their existing Xbox Live Gold service by tossing free to own games with each subscription. Back in June, we reviewed the Razer Kishi for Android mobile game controller and awarded it an Editor's Choice award. For Android users, xCloud will join the $15 Game Pass Ultimate subscription on September 15 , with a PC launch hopefully not long after.
It will only be functional on older games, and PS5 games will require the DualSense controller . "Speciality peripherals" such as racing wheels or fight sticks will work with both PS5 and PS4 games. Beware that unlicensed, third-party peripherals and accessories may no longer be compatible. The DualSense also features adaptive triggers in the L2 and R2 buttons "so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow".
Addressing the ceremony, he said that the map reflects the aspirations of the Pakistani nation, adding that the federal cabinet, opposition parties and the Kashmiri leadership have endorsed the map. "In fact, this new effort only confirms the reality of Pakistan's obsession with territorial aggrandizement supported by cross-border terrorism.", India's foreign ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.
Lebanon's Health Minister has told a local media outlets that hundreds of people were caught in the blast, with photographers at the scene witnessing numerous injured lying on the ground. The government has not issued an official count of injuries or casualties. Army helicopters helped battle fires raging at the port. Miles from the port, building facades were shredded, balconies were knocked down and windows shattered.
Penn State will begin conducting pre-arrival coronavirus testing for approximately 24,000 students this week, the university announced Monday. The resolution condemns the university's lack of communication with students about its decisions and how they are reached.
Earlier this year, Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech sold Grindr LLC, a popular gay dating app it bought in 2016, for $620 million after being ordered by CFIUS to divest. The negotiations between ByteDance and Microsoft will be overseen by CFIUS, a U.S. government panel that has the right to block any agreement, according to the sources, who requested anonymity ahead of a White House announcement.
If you test positive for the virus, you can anonymously notify others who have been near you in the last 14 days. Traditional contact tracing will continue to be conducted by local public health authorities. According to the province, the app collects no personal data or personal health information and does not collect or track Global Positioning System location data.
President Trump told reporters late Friday that he plans to ban the social media platform TikTok from the United States as soon as Saturday. For the USA government, the platform's Chinese ownership has raised concerns about the censorship of videos, including those critical of the Chinese government or supportive of causes such as democracy in Hong Kong.
The report says that Apple plans to step up production of the iPhone 11 in phases in the country, but that down the line, Apple may even consider exporting the India-made iPhone 11 to other countries. While there is no official confirmation at the time of writing this, a tipster named iHacktu Pro claims that Apple will host the iPhone 12 launch event on September 8.
Garmin Connect is a health and fitness tracker. Garmin websites have shown error messages since Thursday evening. "We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and apologise for this inconvenience". At the time of writing, services provided through Garmin Connect were still down, according to the company's status website . Those passionate users are understandably agitated as the company's services have been down for the last day, thanks to a malware attack that may ...
The revenue growth was powered by its More Personal Computing unit as more people worldwide used its products to work on Windows PCs and play games on Xboxes during lockdowns. The Redmond-based firm reported diluted earnings of $1.46 per share on revenue of $38 billion in the quarter, up 13% from the same period one year ago.
The issue: keeping employees from getting ill AND avoiding having to close the store/restaurant for cleaning after an employee tests positive . Local stores are following close behind. Now these firms and their workers will face one other problem: getting clients to comply. CVS The pharmacy giant requires all customers wear face coverings at its 9,900-plus stores across the country as of July 20.
Thousands of T-Mobile subscribers reported outages across the United States on Monday afternoon as a routing issue knocked out service for huge swaths of the country. During that time, some US counties had sent emergency alerts to cell phone users informing them that 911 services have been interrupted. A test conducted by Down Detector in NY and Seattle found that making calls from T-Mobile would fail nearly immediately after placing the call.
As it appears, many have even made the BTC payment, hoping the billionaire philanthropist lives up to "his" words, if they were his words at all. Just a year ago, the account of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was broken into a nd used to tweet racist and vulgar comments.
Twitter didn't say how many accounts were affected by these measures, or provide instructions on how affected users could regain access. It's easy to imagine a scenario where, instead of tweeting about Bitcoin , a hacked Elon Musk account plunges Tesla Inc.'s stock into a tailspin.
If you close your Mac notebook with a digicam address installed, you may well destruction your show since the clearance in between the display screen and keyboard is created to extremely tight tolerances. As per the document, camera cover might cause damage to your display when you close the lid. For instance, the " Fruitfly " malware circulated for years with the apparent ability to secretly hijack a Mac's web camera.
Now, it looks like Samsung might be taking a similar approach. The Verge highlights a new report from Korean site ETNews that predicts that Samsung may also be excluding chargers from some of its smartphones beginning next year, for numerous same reasons that analysts believe Apple is doing so - to reduce costs and because many people already have chargers.
The livestream will bring us footage of first-party Xbox Series X games , most notably Halo Infinite . While Microsoft and Sony are still playing a game of chicken with their console prices and release dates, both companies are showing off games.
Samsung reportedly replaced the Time of Flight sensor with a new laser auto-focus element on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra , which has reportedly solved all the auto-focus problems. Esteemed leaker Evan Blass recently tweeted out a list of all the different versions of the upcoming smartwatch, referring both to colors and sizes, giving us a full look at the device.
Esteemed leaker Evan Blass recently tweeted out a list of all the different versions of the upcoming smartwatch, referring both to colors and sizes, giving us a full look at the device. Nevertheless, the company still have plenty of things to be revealed about the Galaxy Note20 series though, so expect to hear more from Samsung soon enough.
After several years of losses, Tesla has delivered three straight profitable quarters since the third quarter of 2019 and surprised investors with solid first-quarter deliveries despite the Covid19 outbreak. In the message to Tesla's roughly 48,000 workers, Musk wrote that it "really makes a difference for every vehicle you build and deliver". The company posted a surprise profit of $16 million in the first quarter of 2020 despite temporary disruptions in productions due to COVID-19 ...
Three mothers whose children attended a private Christian school had sued after the Montana Department of Revenue issued a rule banning families from using the scholarships at religious schools. In Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017), the court decided that a Missouri church could apply for a state grant to resurface its outdoor playground. Joining Roberts in the majority were the associate justices who generally make up the high court's conservative wing: Clarence Thomas; Samuel ...
In an associated support guide , BMW highlighted several features of its Digital Key, such as the ability to tap-to-unlock a BMW and start the auto by placing a device in a compatible Qi wireless charging tray. As we get closer to September which is the usual time of the year for Apple to announce a new iPhone, you can expect to hear more rumours and predictions about the iPhone 12 .
Apple has formally announced its intention to transition the entire Mac lineup to its own in-house processors, as has been heavily rumoured for many years now. Guo Minghao also said that Apple Mac can have more hardware differentiation from Windows PC due to the use of Apple processors. During this year's remotely held version of the company's annual WWDC opening keynote, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji announced that this effort has ...
However, one of the rumoured features that will also be coming as a part of iOS 14 is Apple Car Key. But once that's done you just tap your phone/watch on the door handle and authenticate with your face or thumb print, just like you would using Apple Pay to buy something in a shop.
Amidst the several speculations, a new rumor utters around the possible launch of the Airpods 3 . We expect the third-gen AirPods to borrow the shorter stem and sleeker appeal of the AirPods Pro while leaving out the rubber tip and noise cancellation features otherwise there will be no differentiating factor between the Pro and non-Pro models of the AirPods.
At this time of corona crisis when many countries are grappling with the issue unemployment, US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he will soon announce new visa restrictions on the entry of foreign workers to the US. A spokesperson for CNN responded to Trump's tweet Thursday night, " CNN did cover this story - but exactly as it happened. Just as we reported your positions on race (and poll numbers)", the WarnerMedia-owned news network's communications group wrote on Twitter.
The Last Of Us Part II is a game that the PlayStation community has been awaiting for four years, following up the cinematic masterpiece that was the original game (winner of over 200 Game Of The Year Awards). The first is the Taylor 314ce Guitar, a limited-edition 1:1 recreation of Ellie's guitar, which is given to her by Joel at the start of The Last of Us Part II .
Thankfully the team is now allowed to open up a bit, and in addition to the confirmation that HOTAS rigs would work with the game , we now know a few more tidbits: like the fact that Squadrons is locked to a first-person view. Squadrons , meanwhile, nearly directly recalls the golden age of Star Wars games. Games such as "Elite: Dangerous" and "Star Citizen" have been shown to again create enough interest in the genre.


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For anyone still harboring the illusion that the World Wide Web is going to overtake the television set anytime soon, Buzz Potamkin has a story to share.
Mr. Potamkin, a former executive producer at Hanna-Barbera Productions who helped develop the 1980's hit cartoon ''The Berenstain Bears,'' left Hollywood three years ago to produce an animated series called ''WhirlGirl'' for Visionary Media, a Web site based in Manhattan.
''WhirlGirl'' seemed like an allusion to what Mr. Potamkin's company promised to do to old media companies. The main character, Kia Cross, nerd by day and superheroine by night, prevents an evil media empire from controlling viewers' lives.
But for Mr. Potamkin, it was much easier in cartoonland than it has been in real life.
''At first we thought we would be a destination site that would attract millions of people and advertising, then we tried licensing our shows to other sites like Showtime,'' Mr. Potamkin said. ''What we've learned is that the audience is just not out there on the Web yet.''
Mr. Potamkin is still the chief executive of Visionary Media, one of the dot-coms that vowed to circumvent the major networks. But now, Visionary is among the few online animated companies remaining, and it is trying to survive by turning to the very networks it promised to make obsolete.Continue reading the main story
Most online television companies that once sprouted in San Francisco and Silicon Alley in Manhattan have faded out, abandoning their loft studios and selling their equipment at dirt-cheap process. When Pseudo.com, the high-profile online television and animation company, went out of business last summer, it seemed the sector would collapse.
Critics say these companies miscalculated how long it would take for high-speed Internet connections, which make watching television on the Web practical, to spread into homes and offices. Experts now say the all-purpose box that delivers the Web and television and monitors the heating in the house is a long way from reality.
''It may never happen,'' said David Card, an analyst at Jupiter Media Metrix, the New York Internet research firm. ''We are still feeling our way around it and certainly have not come up with an online television business model.''
Two of the most prominent Web animation companies left standing, Visionary and Bullseye Art, both based in Manhattan, are trying to stay alive by using the technology and techniques they developed for Web animation to create broadcast television programming more quickly and cheaply.
Visionary and Bullseye both started as Web animation companies in 1997, with hopes that they would become destination sites where viewers would come for animated programming and that profits would flow from the advertising. But as it became clear that they could not attract the advertising dollars, both companies adjusted their business plans and began licensing cartoons to other Web sites.
Visionary landed a deal to produce weekly episodes of ''WhirlGirl'' to be broadcast on Showtime's Sho.com, and Bullseye was able to place its cartoons at Razorfish Studios, Icebox.com, Atom Films and other sites. But the companies ran into trouble last year as the economy began to slow and the companies they were working with began to reduce spending.
''People were eager to produce content for the Web, they had the talent and the tools to do it, and people were going to the sites,'' said Mark Schneider, the president and self-proclaimed designated adult at Bullseye. ''But there was not a financial model to make it work.''
Faced with growing costs and decreased revenue, both companies began working last year to adapt their Flash technology, originally designed to move large vector graphics through small Internet pipelines, to produce animation for broadcast television. ''The realization on our part was that traditional media, broadcast media, has been there and is there, and that is where we need to be,'' Mr. Schneider said.
The normal process for developing television animation is expensive and involves Hollywood animators' drawing storyboards that are actually sent out, generally to India and other countries where labor is much cheaper, to be redrawn frame by frame.
It often takes about 20,000 drawings to make one 30-minute episode of ''The Simpsons'' or ''The Smurfs,'' at a cost of $350,000 to $500,000 even before paying the writers, executives and voice talent. Slight changes, in color or events, later in the process can increase costs exponentially. Cost overruns are one of the greatest concerns among studios, experts say.
But Flash can cut costs by allowing animators to cut and paste from file to file, speeding up the process and eliminating the need for drawers overseas. This computerized process also allows files to be linked and slight shifts in color to be seamlessly made as well as other changes later in the process.
Mr. Potamkin estimates that Visionary can produce a 30-minute episode for $140,000 to $180,000. Mr. Schneider believes that the benefits are not just the reduced prices, but that animation can be done so much faster and at the last minute.
The problem with Flash had been that, despite its ease, studios were convinced that it did not measure up to broadcast quality. That was until Bullseye produced a 30-second introduction for ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' that was nominated for an Emmy this year.
But there are those who defend the traditional methods.
Eric Radomski, the executive creative officer at Film Roman, an animation studio in North Hollywood, Calif., that handles ''The Simpsons'' and ''King of the Hill,'' said that even though the firm had done programs in Flash, the highest-quality programs must have some elements of the traditional process.
''Flash technology is great, but it can't be looked at as anything other than a new technique,'' said Mr. Radomski, a three-time Emmy winner who has overseen recent changes in the studio's animation unit. ''It is not going to really change the industry. It is more of a technological enhancement and a step in the right direction of a hybrid of traditional and digital animation.''
Despite such hurdles, Mr. Card, the Jupiter analyst, said the new companies had some advantages. ''The technology is finally there to do high-quality, low-cost animation, with the idea that studios can have more control over the process and the costs,'' he said.
Visionary has since developed a 14-minute broadcast-quality episode of ''WhirlGirl,'' and it is negotiating a contract to create half-hour episodes of the program for an international distribution company. Bullseye has since signed a deal with MTV to develop a television version of its Webtoon ''Miss Muffy and the Muff Mob,'' a hip version of ''Strawberry Shortcake.''
Even with the high hopes for the future, Josh Kinsberg, the chief creative officer and founder of Bullseye, said he no longer had visions of transforming Hollywood. ''Best-case scenario now is that we get funded, keep growing and compete with the studios on our own,'' he said. ''Getting acquired and becoming a part of a studio is not the worst thing that could happen.''Continue reading the main story


text: Katy Perry was supposed to be one of the performers set to take the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show stage this year, but won't be, thanks to a dress she wore two years ago. The show is set to take place in Shanghai in a few days, leaving the show without a high-profile musician to perform.\nvia @worldsbestperrypie\nKP spotted a sunflower dress during a performance in Taipei, which to the average person, wouldn't mean all that much. But to the people of China, the sunflower dress represented Katy's support for the Taiwanese anti-China protestors, who use the sunflower as a symbol of their campaign. Later in the show, Katy wrapped a Taiwanese flag over her shoulders, solidifying the message behind the flowered frock.\nvia @littleblackstar.katycat_ayush\nPage Six reports that, “every artist who wants to perform in China, officials comb through their social media and press reports to see if they have done anything deemed to be offensive to the country.” And clearly, Katy has offended China, even in an obscure way. Her visa, that was allegedly granted months ago, has now been revoked. Perry is allegedly being replaced by Harry Styles.


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Steel Rats has finally released today on PS4, and to celebrate the launch of the game we’re giving away four download codes for the full version of the game, thanks to the kind folks at Tate Multimedia and their partners.
Firstly, the game is available now on the PlayStation Store should you wish to buy it. C’mon, the chances of you winning it aren’t amazing anyway so… Well, actually, we’re only giving the codes away to our Twitter followers, and as we’ve so few followers your chances are actually pretty good.
To be in with a chance to win a copy of the game, just head over to our Twitter and retweet our giveaway tweet and make sure you’re following us. We’ll pick the winners at random at 22:00 GMT.
There’s also an auction going on over on eBay for the super-duper collector’s edition that includes a 3-meter tall replica of one of the game’s robot bad guys. That’s massive, but so is the asking price, so make sure you’ve got the fund and the room to spare before you go drunkenly bidding on it.
And lastly, to get you in the mood for some ratty action, the developers have released a brand new trailer for the game which you can watch up above.
We sometimes link to online retail stores. If you buy something from our links, we may make a small commission which goes towards keeping the lights on and coffee in the pot.
Chris has been writing about gaming news for far too long, and now he’s doing it even more. A true PlayStation know-it-all, Chris has owned just about every Sony console that ever existed. Trophies are like crack to this fella. (Bronze trophies, that is – he only has one Platinum.)


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China is carving out a bigger role for itself in the semiconductor industry and has lined up a huge war chest to fund acquisitions in the sector. Based on its rising chip consumption profile and an aggressive political strategy, observers believe China will eventually become a major force in the sector despite Western opposition over the possible transfer of dual-use (military-civilian) technology to the country.
Chinese officials recently disclosed the creation of a $30 billion – government/private enterprise – fund to finance acquisitions and other investments primarily in the semiconductor market but also in other key areas of the high-tech industry. The fund is further evidence of the government’s determination to empower Chinese firms to not only acquire foreign firms but also to accelerate the development of indigenous technologies through higher R&D investments.
The government’s goals are clear. First, China wants to continue the diversification of its economy by moving up the high-tech food chain. Second, it aims to shield government infrastructure, military and technology systems from foreign snooping by putting firewalls around components used in critical areas of the economy. The latter goal became even more pressing following news that the U.S. had allegedly conducted a massive spying program on various governments worldwide, sometime using IT products produced by Western companies.
The U.S. was alleged to have encouraged the creation of backdoor channels for intelligence gathering in components and electronics hardware manufactured by foreign firms. (See: Edward Snowden: Leaks that exposed US spy programme).
China has other reasons for pushing for a bigger electronics supply chain role. The country is placing greater emphasis on higher-value manufacturing and more profitable activities, including design engineering. After years of operating as the lower-cost manufacturing Mecca for the world’s biggest companies, China is transforming its economy to be a major consumer center. It has become a major consumer of electronics equipment, making it one of the biggest buyers of components globally.
"They've already got the mandate in place and Chinese companies have been told to start sourcing electronic components locally," said Dale Ford, VP and chief analyst at IHS Corp., in a recent interview. "China doesn’t think short-term. Four to 5 years in China is a very short time in terms of how they strategize. Their strategy is likely to be, ‘how do we in the long-term position ourselves to become a strong [and] independent-almost player in the electronics world?’ "
Latest industry statistics show why China wants to push up the high-tech food chain. From a very low beginning less than two decades ago, China, in 2014, accounted for roughly 50 percent of global semiconductor consumption but this number is heading higher, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA), a unit within the U.S. Department of Commerce.
However, despite being the single-largest consumer of semiconductor components globally, China in 2014 generated only 4 percent of the industry’s global $336 billion sales. Its total consumption meanwhile was $168 billion, according to the 2015 ITA Semiconductors and Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Top Markets Report. The researchers project Chinese IC consumption will continue to rise about 10 percent per year to $203 billion in 2016, outpacing the rest of the world.
“China accounts for over 50 percent of the world’s electronics production, which is the main driver of semiconductor demand. However, not all of the buying decisions for semiconductors are made in China,” the ITA report noted. “Such decisions are often made by the foreign companies that contract out electronic goods production to China. To counter the dearth of domestic semiconductor design and production the Chinese government has unveiled an ambitious plan – China’s National Integrated Circuits Industry Development Plan – with the goal of establishing a world-leading semiconductor industry in all areas of the integrated circuit supply chain by 2030.”
Regional Power Shift
The numbers from independent industry research organizations are only slightly more alarming for other regional consumption centers in the global semiconductor market. China’s share of the market is surging at a pace no other region can match, according to researcher PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC. The company believes China consumes 57 percent of global semiconductor production, but observed that the major suppliers to the country were all foreign chipmakers.
“Seven companies have been among the top ten suppliers to China every year from 2003 through 2014: Intel, Samsung, TI, Toshiba, SK Hynix, ST and Freescale. AMD joined the list in 2004 and has been among the top ten suppliers to China for the last ten years,” PwC said. In a report titled “China’s impact on the semiconductor industry – 2015 update,” the consulting firm added:
Qualcomm, which joined the list in 2012 at number 10, moved up to number 6 in 2013 and to number 4 in 2014. During 2014 China’s consumption of semiconductor products from these ten largest suppliers increased by 11%, somewhat less than the growth of the overall semiconductor market in China. The Chinese semiconductor consumption market continued a trend of becoming less concentrated than the worldwide market as the top 10 suppliers’ share of China’s consumption declined to 42.4% in 2014, down from 43% in 2012 and 45% in 2011.
It’s understandable that China no longer wants to just be the electronics world’s low-cost manufacturer but the country isn’t aiming for a small piece of the semiconductor market, either. China wants to dominate the sector, rolling back the massive market share current Western-based leaders enjoy. Although the electronics manufacturing supply chain has shifted to Asia, with China as the leading beneficiary of that change, the real profit center for the industry remains firmly entrenched in the West, including South Korea and Japan. Companies like Broadcom, Intel, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices and Qualcomm are the global leader in their various semiconductor market segments.
The leading semiconductor suppliers have become entrenched and difficult to surpass due to exclusive rights to cutting-edge technology, efficient manufacturing and huge cash hoards; few rivals have gained a viable foothold in decades. The only other Asian players that have successfully penetrated and joined the inner circle of the world’s richest semiconductor companies were Japanese and Korean firms. In more recent years, Taiwan-based players like TSMC have become global players too, becoming contract semiconductor wafer suppliers to even the largest chip manufacturers.
It’s a very rich club, with huge profit margins, large cash flows and enviable market valuation. Intel’s gross profit margins, for example, hovers between 58 percent on the low level to as high as 65 percent annually. Vendors like Analog Devices, are in the same category. In the fiscal year ended October, 31, 2015, Analog Devices reported gross profit margins of 66 percent, up from 64 percent in the prior year. Even Qualcomm, which is facing pressure as China squeezes its operations in the country, is still posting gross profit margins in the region of 60 percent.
Hefty margins like these in the high-end semiconductor market dominated by Western enterprises contrast sharply with the much lower gains reported by Chinese and other manufacturing companies involved in low-cost, labor-intensive assembly and production. Contract manufacturers operating in China can report gross profit margins as low as 3 percent to 7 percent, putting them squarely in the bottom-half of the industry food chain.
Companies like Intel and Qualcomm have parlayed their high profit margins into huge cash piles. In the fourth quarter of 2015, Intel reported total cash, short-term investments and long term investments of approximately $37 billion while Qualcomm posted $30.6 billion in similar liquid assets. No other segments of the electronics components market are able to produce such numbers. Certainly not players in the backplanes, enclosure and commodity components markets currently dominated by Chinese companies, hence the push and desire for a bigger role in the industry.
Supply Chain Control
Then there is the issue of control over the supply chain. The Chinese have indeed become the leading players in the electronics industry but as the ITA observed, China’s clout and control over the supply chain do not match its current role. The center of power in the electronics industry remains in the West where design engineers and purchasing executives at OEMs and contract manufacturers determine who gets what and when. Western OEMs manufacture products in China but decisions about the supply chain are taken in North America and Europe, the ITA report referenced earlier noted.
Chinese OEMs now rank amongsts the world’s top buyers and consumers of production semiconductors, according to the ITA. These top-tier OEMs include Datang Telecomm, Haier, Huawei, Xiaomi and ZTE, the U.S. agency noted. The fact that its leading OEMs rank in the top-tier of global semiconductor users even as it continues to import more than 90 percent of the components consumed globally is a sore and irritating point for the Chinese government, observers said.
"China certainly wants to move beyond being the location of production to being the location of originating the designs, originating the technology and controlling the standards so that they can capture the higher value of the supply chain," said the IHS' Ford. "That’s where they’ll bring the pressure."
Aside from the supply chain power play, the Chinese government is even more worried about the security implications of having foreign enterprises as the main suppliers of components used in critical sectors of its economy. While the rise of local electronics and information technology OEMs has been widely celebrated by the Chinese government, their dependence on foreign parts remain a nagging concern, according to observers.
“Chinese leadership views their country’s reliance on foreign ICs as a major strategic threat,” said the ITA. “On June 24, 2014 the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) published the “Guidelines to Promote National IC Industry Development”, a central government document outlining measures to support an aggressive growth strategy for China’s semiconductor industry. MIIT is the lead ministry responsible for drafting and implementing this policy.”
In the second part of this report, we will explore specific actions being taken by the Chinese government and avenues by which China expects to become the world’s leading semiconductor vendor in 10 years.


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[…] [i] Nicolo Tamberi, L. Alan Winters, <blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/2019/03/29/the-uks-continuity-trade-agreements-is-the-roll-over-com… […] During the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK, there were concerns about the lack of agreement on the terms of withdrawal and the fact that the UK would hastily leave the EU without any deal (the initial scenario of Brexit without a deal). With this result a possibility, the United Kingdom secured a pure trade agreement with Norway and Iceland, which would only be valid after an exit without an EU agreement. Since the UK agreed on conditions in November 2019 and ratified the Brexit withdrawal agreement and left the EU at the end of January 2020, the deal has become obsolete and will therefore not enter into force. Ministers agreed that the new agreement provides an excellent basis for the preparation of our future trade relations. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and modernizing Chile`s flourishing trade relationship with the United Kingdom in the future. The Dentons Global Trade Team is available for all Brexit developments, including the Canada-UK CAW and other upcoming negotiations on free trade agreements in the UK. Please contact all issues related to Brexit, the CAW between Canada and Great Britain or future negotiations. After leaving the European Union, the UK plans to negotiate trade agreements to replace and complement members of the EU Customs Union. Since October 2020[update], the UK has concluded a new trade agreement (with Japan) for the continuation of 20 existing agreements (EU) and new negotiations are under way.
The British government calls itself a proponent of free trade.   As the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU), all TRADE agreements concluded by the UK under the aegis of the EU will no longer exist. The UK is now committed to new agreements to maintain the diversification of its economy. One country that has recently collaborated with the United Kingdom is Chile, known as the Trade Continuation Agreement. Cooperation between these two countries is powerful in their own rights and offers positive trade benefits to businesses. Find out what the UK trade deal with Chile means for businesses and potential investors. The British ambassador to Chile, Jamie Bowden, signed the agreement between Britain and Chile with Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero in Santiago on Wednesday. “The UK is still working to reach an agreement with the EU on the terms of our withdrawal. The success of these discussions will determine whether the current agreement between the EU and Chile at the end of March this year or at the end of an implementation period will no longer apply to the UK,” Bowden said.
In order to save time and avoid the repetition of hundreds of textual pages, the continuity agreements, referring mutatis mutandis to the provisions of the EU agreement in this area, contain only the necessary changes. Most of the changes are purely formal and could be considered harmless – for example, replacing the “European Union” with the “United Kingdom” or adapting tariff quotas – both inside and outside – to take into account the size of the UK market.  Any trade agreement will aim to remove tariffs and remove other trade barriers that come into force. It will also cover both goods and services. “In both cases, the agreement we signed today means that there will be no interruption of trade between Britain and Chile if the UK leaves the EU.” The UK government is currently putting in place considerable resources to emulate EU trade deals with third countries, as the UK must leave them on Brexit day. To date, eight of these so-called continuity agreements have been signed and one is imminent with Norway.  Of these ac


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A Nevada judge has denied a request by a group of alcohol distributors to halt emergency regulations allowing the state to license some recreational marijuana retailers to transport product from growers to storefronts.
After hearing arguments, a Carson City District Judge ruled in favor of the recently approved regulations, citing the state’s position that the rules are protecting Nevada tax revenue, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Nevada regulators earlier this month approved the emergency rules to speed up licensing for cannabis distributors, an issue that launched a legal battle and threatened the flow of supplies after dozens
NV judge won’t stop rules allowing retailers to distribute rec cannabis is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
The post NV judge won’t stop rules allowing retailers to distribute rec cannabis appeared first on Marijuana News.


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Created awareness to promote Polish economy abroad
Polish Investment & Trade Agency organised a Polish National Stand during this year’s edition of CPhI & P-MEC India in Delhi (Greater Noida) as a part of the promotion programme, aiming to increase awareness and promote selected branches of Polish economy abroad.
“Technologically advanced generic drugs (generics plus) and biosimilars are a chance to be successful products of Polish biotech and pharma companies on Indian market. Polish biotech and pharma sector specialise in this kind of products. Moreover, Polish companies can offer a competitive price while maintaining high quality standards of medicines,” suggests Tadeusz Pietrucha, Head of Department of Medical Biotechnology, Medical University of Lodz (Poland) and expert of the Biotech and Pharma Promotion Program.
Increasing potential of Polish pharma and biotech market create a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation and provide opportunity also for Indian companies. According to Ada Dyndo, Mumbai Bureau Chief of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Poland’s investment climate makes it a preferred destination for the Indian companies considering expansion to the EU.
The access to common European market, availability of highly skilled qualified labour, excellent infrastructure coupled with R&D-focussed incentive schemes and transparent legislation are just some of the features that have already attracted FDIs from major Indian companies like Glenmark and Arcelor Mittal.
Agency’s Mumbai Bureau is a response to the need of growing potential of Polish-Indian business cooperation and is expected to be launched officially in first quarter of 2019. Focussed on distant markets of rapid growth with the biggest business potential for Polish companies, network of Foreign Trade Offices consists of 60 local representatives located in different parts of the world.


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It’s no secret that late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was keen on bringing the company’s technology to the automotive world. In fact, according to longtime Apple board member Mickey Drexler, “Steve’s dream before he died was to design an iCar.” Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Shiller, echoed those sentiments during the company’s copyright infringement trial against Samsung, saying there had been discussion of Apple making a vehicle.
Immediately following Jobs’ death, it seemed like his dream might never come true. But since then, Apple has made a big push to integrate itsSiri technology into vehicles. Meanwhile, automakers are finding ways to get iOS apps to work on the dashboard. These and other moves have set Apple on a collision course with Microsoft and Google in a market that’s still very much up for grabs.
Siri Gets Behind the Wheel
Although voice recognition has been available in cars for several years through technologies like Ford’s SYNC (powered by Microsoft), Apple’s Siri is making serious inroads with multiple automakers. Chevrolet already offers Siri integration in its Spark EV, as does the 2014 Cadillac CTS. Other manufacturers — including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes and Toyota — are expected to bring Siri into their cars in the near future.
Siri Eyes Free mode is a specialized version of Apple’s voice-controlled digital assistant that interfaces with a vehicle’s own voice-control feature. Users sync their Siri-equipped iPhone with their car’s infotainment system via Bluetooth or USB, and activate the feature by pressing their vehicle’s voice-control button, usually mounted to the car’s steering wheel. Siri Eyes Free lets you do everything from make calls and play music to hear and compose text messages while you’re behind the wheel.
Siri Eyes Free differs from the standard version of Siri found on the iPhone and iPad by limiting the software’s functionality to combat distracted driving. Features removed from Siri Eyes Free include the ability to perform Web searches and anything that requires the user to look at the iPhone’s display. If, for example, you ask Siri what a waterfall is, it will say it is unable to provide you with that information, as the reply generally provides users with a picture of a waterfall.
“Siri Eyes Free is going to be a step in the right direction,” said Ben Bajarin, an analyst at technology research firm Creative Strategies. But where is Apple going next?
AirPlay as Trojan Horse?
Apple isn’t content with making Siri integration its sole automotive strategy. Take one look at the company’s careers page, and you’ll see job openings for iOS Car Services. Michael Gartenberg, a research director at market-intelligence firm Gartner Analytics, said Apple is fully capable of further penetrating the automotive market beyond its current offerings.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw Apple further evangelize automobile vendors to incorporate more types of technology that could be tied back to applications, including things like navigation and other types of connected entertainment,” Gartenberg said.
Gartenberg believes Apple could use its AirPlay technology to remotely present iPhone or iPad applications on a vehicle’s infotainment display.
“We’ve already seen music; we’re now seeing Siri. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see what the next one could be, and then how Apple could go ahead and implement those things,” Gartenberg said.
Assuming Apple got automakers to play ball getting AirPlay to work in a vehicle wouldn’t take much effort on the user’s part. Today, users can easily stream everything from video and photos to music and games to an Apple TV with a tap of the screen. However, the Connected Car Consortium (CCC), an industry group composed of vehicle manufacturers and electronics makers, has its own ideas on how to connect apps to cars. The CCC, which includes most handset makers but not Apple, is working to offer automakers its AirPlay-like MirrorLink standard.
MirrorLink streams a smartphone’s display and repurposes it for use on a car’s touch screen. A wireless version of MirrorLink, called MirrorCast, will be made available to automakers. CCC representatives said the reason for Apple’s absence in the industry group is likely tied to the requirement that member companies abide by a series of standards to receive CCC certification — something Apple is not likely to agree to.
Racing against Google and Microsoft
In addition to the CCC, some other tech heavyweights have a stake in the automotive field — which could complicate things for Apple. Google has been working on its own self-driving car for years, and its Android operating system is already being put to use inside infotainment systems from Kia, Saab and Renault. Automakers like Audi and Mercedes also have integrated Google’s Maps, Earth and Street View apps into their respective navigation systems.
Microsoft has had a strong foothold in the automotive space since 2007, when it began powering Ford’s Sync system. That system is now available on most Ford vehicles. In addition to Ford, Microsoft has partnered with Kia Motors to develop Kia’s UVO infotainment system. However, that system is being replaced by an Android-based version of UVO on the 2014 Kia Soul.
Anna Buettner, IHS senior analyst, said Apple’s reluctance to take orders from others could limit its impact on the automotive market. “If Apple ever comes out with an automotive-grade OS, they would have to comply with [original equipment manufacturer (OEM)] rules in some way…and Apple, in general, has problems with following rules.”
A more practical issue that could hinder Apple’s growth in the automotive space is the speed at which the company innovates. The auto industry is notorious for its slow pace. In general, it takes 3 to 5 years for a vehicle to come to market.
This issue, Buettner said, has been a thorn in the side of automakers. “Apple isn’t making the OEMs’ lives easier,” she said. “It is very frustrating for them to accommodate Apple, but OEMs don’t have a choice, due to the popularity of the iPhone, iPad and so on. Buettner mentioned Apple’s move to the new Lightning connector as one example of a high-tech monkey wrench.
Creative Strategies’ Bajarin believes Apple could accommodate automakers by informing them of the kinds of technologies its next-generation devices will use. “Apple’s tactic, or really any player’s tactic, would have to be to get the car industry to embrace some kind of standard that you are going to use,” he said.
The Next Turn
Though Apple is making inroads into vehicles via its software and hardware offerings, it is unlikely the company is actually working on a vehicle of its own, Bajarin said. A more likely strategy for Apple is to turn as many vehicles as possible into iCars through a combination of software and hardware integration.
If more automakers use an Apple operating system — rather than competitors’ — in their vehicles, iPhone users will have an even greater reason to stay invested in the brand. “Tactically, it’s a good idea, because it helps drive more platform loyalty to [Apple’s] hardware and software,” Bajarin said.
Similarly, if an automaker offers an Apple-powered system, it could use the software as a marketing tool to pull in Apple fans. Chevy is already doing this with its new Spark with Siri Eyes Free mode integration.
For now, it appears Apple is using Siri Eyes Free mode to test the waters. If the company receives a positive response, it will likely begin working on a more ambitious infotainment solution of its own.
Despite the fierce competition in this space, Bajarin believes that Apple is in the pole position because of the way it operates. “Apple has a lot going for it, in that it controls so much of the ecosystem from hardware, software to services. It is probably in the best spot to bring some sort of a standard to the automotive industry.”
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Muster tickets sell out in record time
Tickets to several events at this year’s Ord Valley Muster have sold out in record time with organisers urging people to get in quick for remaining events.
The Kimberley Fine Diamonds Corporate Circle at the Kimberley Moon Experience concert was one of the first to sell out in record time with some general admission tickets all that’s left on sale.
The KME will be headlined in 2013 by X-Factor judge and former Australian Idol Guy Sebastian and will also feature legendary Australian rockers Mark Seymour and James Reyne.
Indigenous singing sensation Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu rounds out the stellar line-up.
Mellen Events marketing manager Kate MacKinnon said the corporate circle wasn’t the only event to have sold out in rapid time.
“The comedy show sold out in two days and the exclusive Durack Homestead Dinner also sold out in a day,” she said.
“There are still general admission tickets to the Kimberley Moon Experience and to the Kimberley Kitchen with Anna Gare.”
“We are just trying to encourage people to buy their general admission tickets now rather than leaving it until the week of because we don’t want people to miss out.”
Ms MacKinnon said there was a strong calendar of events for this year’s muster and the tickets selling out shows people are getting behind the event.
“Back in the day I think people used to leave their ticket buying to the last minute because it didn’t sell out but now that it has more profile and there are more people coming into the town we want to make sure that the locals aren’t going to miss out.”
Tickets to all events at the Ord Valley Muster can be purchased from the Kununurra Visitor Centre or via the Ticketmaster website.
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