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Google has announced that its new 2-Step Verification (2SV) method which turns Android phones into physical security keys can now be used by those who own iOS devices. First announced at Cloud Next ‘19, the 2SV method enables Android phone to be used as physical keys to log into Google accounts. The tech giant says that this method provides the “strongest protection” against automated bots, bulk phishing, and targeted attacks.
“This technology can be used to verify your sign-in to Google and Google Cloud services on Bluetooth-enabled Chrome OS, macOS, and Windows 10 devices. Starting today, you can use your Android phone to verify your sign-in on Apple iPads and iPhones as well,” Executives Kaiyu Yan and Christiaan Brand, wrote in a blog post. Google says that the security key are in accordance with the standards laid by FIDO, an open industry association that develops and promotes authentication standards to help reduce the over-reliance on passwords.
How to get started?
Users should first add the security key to their Google Accounts. For that, users are required to enrol for 2-Step Verification (2SV). Once done, users are needed to visit the 2SV settings and click 'Add security key'. Choose the Android phone from the list of available devices and the first step is done.
Now, the selected Android phone's built-in security key can be used to verify the sign-in on an iOS device. For that, the Bluetooth on both the devices -- the Android phone chosen to work as security key and iOS phone on which security key is to be used as a verification tool -- should be turned On. Users will be required to sign in to their Google Account (on iPhone or iPad with iOS version 10.0 or up) with username and password using the Google Smart Lock app. After this setp, users will need to check their Android phone for a notification, and follow the instructions to confirm sign in.


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MINDBODY, Inc. (MB) Receives Average Rating of “Buy” from Brokerages
Shares of MINDBODY, Inc. (NASDAQ:MB) have received an average rating of “Buy” from the twelve ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $31.50.
MB has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. UBS AG reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $32.00 price objective (up previously from $30.00) on shares of MINDBODY in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. BidaskClub cut shares of MINDBODY from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Roth Capital set a $32.00 price objective on shares of MINDBODY and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of MINDBODY from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $29.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of MINDBODY from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 5th.
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In related news, major shareholder Luxor Capital Group, Lp bought 257,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $27.95 per share, for a total transaction of $7,197,125.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Kimberly Gail Lytikainen sold 22,939 shares of MINDBODY stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.06, for a total transaction of $643,668.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 69,980 shares of company stock valued at $1,855,997. 8.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of MINDBODY by 481.5% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,150,890 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $85,705,000 after buying an additional 2,609,059 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of MINDBODY by 67.2% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,511,343 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $41,109,000 after buying an additional 607,182 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of MINDBODY by 0.7% in the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,484,458 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $40,748,000 after buying an additional 9,596 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MINDBODY during the second quarter worth $37,529,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of MINDBODY by 439.4% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,225,145 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $33,630,000 after buying an additional 998,004 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.49% of the company’s stock.
Shares of MINDBODY (NASDAQ MB) traded up 1.94% during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $23.60. 342,328 shares of the stock were exchanged. The stock’s market capitalization is $1.09 billion. MINDBODY has a 52 week low of $16.71 and a 52 week high of $29.75. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $25.75 and its 200-day moving average is $26.56.
MINDBODY (NASDAQ:MB) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The technology company reported ($0.01) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.04. The company had revenue of $44.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $44.11 million. MINDBODY had a negative net margin of 11.34% and a negative return on equity of 12.49%. MINDBODY’s revenue for the quarter was up 31.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.10) earnings per share. Analysts forecast that MINDBODY will post ($0.09) earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
MINDBODY Company Profile
MINDBODY, Inc is a provider of cloud-based business management software for the wellness services industry and operates as a consumer marketplace with local business subscribers on its platform. The Company’s subscribers provide a range of wellness services to active consumers. Its integrated software and payments platform helps business owners in the wellness services industry run, market and build their businesses.
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MetaMask, a popular Ethereum wallet interface that lets users manage their ether and ERC-20 tokens, has launched its beta testing phase for mobile.
According to a tweet published by MetaMask’s official account, the wallet ConsenSys developed can now be found on the Google Play store. It was published by “ConsenSys AG.”
We're just moments away from sending out invites to our Mobile Beta! Just waiting for the Play Store to put on the finishing touches.
If you haven't signed up yet: https://t.co/MKyqvwDznb
— MetaMask (@metamask_io) July 22, 2019
The app was announced back in November of last year at DevCon, an Ethereum-focused conference. On the app’s description, MetaMask’s team notes this is an early-stage version of the application released to get community feedback, meaning it’s still “beta software and unstill under active development.”
ConsenSys’ team added that users can expect the app to regularly be updated, before advising users to not store large amounts of ETH on the wallet. The app itself is essentially the wallet’s version for mobile devices, and includes a browser for decentralized applications.
Using the app, users can interact with decentralized applications (dapps) on the Ethereum network, and have various clickable categories to fin the dapps they need. By default, the app’s browser users the privacy-respecting search engine DuckDuckGo.
Notably, MetaMask’s mobile wallet and decentralized application browser already has some competitors offering the same features. Binance’s Trust Wallet, for example, supports dapps on the Ethereum blockchain and lets users store various cryptocurrencies in it. The Opera browser, which added a built-in cryptocurrency wallet late last year, also offers these features. It recently added support for TRON and Bitcoin to the beta version of its browser.
Users can sign up to the public beta through MetaMask’s website. While signing up isn’t necessary to test the app, some may prefer bypassing Google’s Play Store to avoid phishing schemes.


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New York — Samsung has slowly been pulling back the curtain on several new imaging peripherals to compliment its digital cameras at two recent trade shows.
At the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show the company demonstrated what it dubbed an HD Photo Box — a 250GB hard disc based photo viewer with HDMI outputs for displaying digital images on an HD television. The unit features card slots for the popular flash-memory formats as well as built-in software for organizing images by keywords and composition. Pricing and availability were not announced.
The company also showed a GPS unit at PMA for its recently introduced L73 digital camera. The pocket-sized unit can sync with the camera to note where a person was at the time a particular photo was shot. When photos are transferred to a PC, software can sync those images with Google Earth, giving a visual representation of where a person was on the globe for each particular photo.
At CeBIT, the company showed a line of digital photo frames initially destined for the European market. The models include 12-inch and 8-inch model and a 7-inch Wi-Fi-enabled viewer.


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The renowned Malta Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Summit (AIBC) is held again this year on 22-25 May. This event gathers all the influential industry leaders who will share their ideas and discuss the potential of the technology trends including AI, Blockchain, IoT and Big Data.
Malta is emerging as a true leader in the blockchain industry, being the host of the most significant events of this sphere. The entire economy of the small island tends to support the growth of cryptocurrency enterprises. Which is why this year the Maltese Government launches the second AIBC even bigger than the first one.
The summit integrates 5000 attendees, 700 investors, 300 sponsors and exhibitors from all over the world who are waiting for you on The Blockchain Island. Among 200 inspirational speakers there will be people like:
Joseph Muscat: Prime Minister of Malta
Patrick Chang: Director at Samsung NEXT Ventures
Carmelo Abela: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta
Jorge Sebastiao: CTO at Huawei Technologies
Bobby Lee: famous cryptocurrency entrepreneur, co-founder of BTCC
Roger Ver: Bitcoin Angel Investor
Tim Draper: venture capital investor, founder of Draper Associates/DFJ/Draper University
Brock Pierce: Chairman of the Board at The Bitcoin Foundation
During the event, several conferences will be carried out dealing with different key topics such as the possibility of using AI and BC for payments, banking, and finances, entertainment industry, and marketing, as well as logistics and healthcare. Beyond that, there are many workshops where you may discuss the thorny issues with experts of tech fields and learn more about the world leading minds in AI. Besides, you will review the current state of DAO, its perspectives of development and get the idea of collective organization and production in the DAO era.
Don’t miss the good part! Only readers of our media get 50 percent off a ticket with the following promo code: AIBC50BDC.
Hospitable service of the event will not leave you without VIP dinner and a pool party at the end of the session. Most notably, you may have a lavish dinner with the Knights of Blockchain exclusively organized by AIBC Summit.
For sharing in social media, please use these handles
LinkedIn: @Malta AI & Blockchain Summit


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TVXQ’s Changmin Makes Meaningful Donation To Help Combat Amazon Rainforest Fires
On September 9, the Seoul office of Greenpeace stated, “TVXQ’s Changmin recently donated 70 million won (approximately $58,700) to help restoration efforts at the site of the Amazon fires, as well as to help assess the environmental impact.” The funds come from sales of a collaboration between Changmin and Represent in May, where they released a fashion item designed by Changmin under the theme of environmental protection with a portion of sales to be donated to a charitable cause.
Changmin is known to donate regularly to help children and low-income families, and he stated, “The theme of the project was to return our earth to its original, beautiful state, and I hope this donation is able to help the environment in any way.”
Chae Jung Ah, the director of donations of the Greenpeace Seoul office stated, “The Amazon rainforest has been plagued by widespread fires for over a month now, and the damages are significant,” and “With a donation from TVXQ’s Changmin, who is loved dearly both in and outside of Korea, we hope that more people will become aware of the damages that the Amazon rainforest has incurred, and hopefully try to do their best to help.”
The Seoul office also added, “The fires are not an issue that just affects the wildlife and people of Brazil. The gases emitted from the fires will have a fatal impact on the atmosphere, and it will cause severe damages to the world as a whole.”


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Samsung is getting ready to release the Galaxy Note 4 in 140 countries by the end of this month, and the company has decided to give us a good idea of their launch plans for each region. The map above was posted to Samsung’s Facebook page, and if you know your geography then you should be able to figure out when your country or region of choice is slated to get it.
South Korea has gotten the device already, of course, as Samsung pushed its release date up to September 26th in that part of the world (mainly to battle the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6+ on their home turf). The map shows it’ll be available around North America starting October 17th which lines up with some of the dates we’ve heard in recent weeks. Mexico won’t be seeing a good bulk of their launches until very late October and early November, while South America will be getting a crack on October 18th.
Heading to the European region, we see that most countries in that area are expecting to see the device on either October 17th of October 24th, with just a smattering of launches slated for October 28th-30th. The full map sits above, and note (note pun intended) that exact date of availability might depend on carrier and retailer launch schedules — these dates are just the earlier Samsung expects them to be available for store shelves in each region.


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It was not that long ago when fashion bloggers were considered super-fan party crashers at Fashion Week shows. Soon enough, though, they were recognized as influencers, with some gaining notoriety and front-row seats to the runway presentations. More and more, they are being called on to collaborate with a label or retailer on a fashion collection.
ModCloth has worked with bloggers a number of times, most recently for a collection exclusively designed by A Beautiful Mess blogger Elsie Larson. Other retailers and brands that have worked with bloggers on capsule collections include H&M, Gap, and Club Monaco. Aside from adding a cool factor to a traditional store, successful bloggers have the potential to drive their many followers right to a retailer’s door.
[quote]”ModCloth’s mission is to democratize fashion, and that means providing access to the industry for people who may not otherwise have that,” says the retailer’s Turi Fesler, outreach and events manager.
Leandra Medine’s The Man Repeller has more than 100,000 Twitter followers. Even though her fashion sense is considered quirky, no one doubts her influence. And that’s what retailers like. When citing sources of apparel ideas, 34% of consumers turn to “people they see regularly,” 31% go online and 11% look to celebrities, according to the Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor™ Survey.
The Independent Fashion Bloggers’ Jennine Jacob, founder and CEO of the online community of 46,000 fashion bloggers, says she can see why brands would want to link with a writer who has a measurable following.
“There’s that online presence, and they get access to a highly specialized group of people,” Jacob says. “Bloggers have distinctive audiences with their own loyal type of reader. And that can be appealing.”
The Man Repeller’s Medine will be teaming with apparel brand PJK (Patterson J. Kincaid) to create a line that’s launching in spring 2013 called Man Repeller x PJK…Just Sayin’. This comes after collaborations that include Gryphon, Rachel Roy and various jewelry firms.
Meanwhile, H&M has worked with Style By Kling blogger Elin Kling and Anna Dello Russo, a street-style star and editor-at-large for Vogue Japan. Blogger Garance Doré has teamed with Kate Spade for a capsule collection that includes tops, dresses and accessories. And Gap asked bloggers from Refinery29, FabSugar, Lookbook and Rue to create looks for its Styld.by site.
The fact that retailers and brands are closely identifying with bloggers proves the importance of the “online factor.” On average, consumers shop for clothes twice per month in-store and once per month online, according to the Monitor. But they actually spend more time shopping online (112 minutes) versus in-store (98 minutes).
Online shoppers are hungry for product information: 61% say product reviews are “very or somewhat influential,” the Monitor finds. While many bloggers toil in obscurity, these star bloggers have many fans who turn to them specifically for style advice and direction.
“You could say bloggers are the new ‘celeb turned designer,'” ModCloth’s Fesler says. “However, they’re a little different. When most people visit a blog, they go there for information and feel they could get that look while, say, a movie star’s style might feel a little less attainable. It’s an opportunity to share and celebrate real style, and perhaps a chance for someone — a blogger — to showcase your brand in a new and fresh way.”
Although consumers mostly find style recommendations through friends (53%), relatives (21%) and magazines (20%), the importance of a well-known name is clear: slightly more than one-fifth of consumers (22%) say apparel worn by celebrities is “very or somewhat influential,” the Monitor reports.
Elsie Larson started her blog in 2007 and was joined in 2010 by her sister Emma Chapman. Now, the blog attracts more than 170,000 views a day, and has led to a book that will be published in 2013. Larson’s ModCloth collection, which launched in October, includes dresses, tops, a cape and scarves — all of which have a retro, yet playful, feel. Fabrics include patterned chambray, gingham with dots, strips and patterns. Their blog, A Beautiful Mess, invites readers to take time each day “to make something pretty.”
“We thought Elsie’s aesthetic really embodied the ModCloth girl, and that her fan-base really intersected with our own,” Fesler says.
ModCloth also teamed with Larson, as well as bloggers James Kicinski-McCoy of Bleubird and Julie O’Boyle of Orchid Grey, to produce a vintage-inspired jewelry collection in 2011.
A trusted blogger’s name on a collection means a built-in stamp of approval. For smaller labels or retailers, that can go a long way to increasing business. The Monitor finds 74% of shoppers agree that when shopping online for apparel, they tend to shop at brands and retailers they “know and trust” rather than those they’ve never heard of.
“If a brand collaborates with bloggers to create capsule collections on a regular basis, you’ll see it’s something that’s working,” Jacob says. “Retailers love these projects for the PR, and because bloggers understand how to talk to an audience and reach the consumer. But ultimately it’s about the bottom line. Retailers want to try new things to get into the online market.”


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As banks blame new consumer debit card fee proposals on U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's effort to limit swipe charges on retail businesses, the No. 2 Senate Democrat pushed back Wednesday, pressing Wells Fargo to explain its proposal to charge customers to make up the lost revenue.
Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's majority whip, called the bank out on its claim that they have to impose the new fees on customers because of his amendment to the Dodd-Frank financial reform law that nearly cut in half the average amount banks charge retail businesses each time a customers pays with a debit card, to 24 cents per transaction from 44 cents.
The fees stores pay are called interchange or swipe fees, which Visa and MasterCard set uniformly for banks. Under Dodd-Frank, the Federal Reserve, which estimated that processing debit transactions range from four to 12 cents, can limit these fees.
Durbin questioned Wells Fargo's reasoning for imposing a $3 monthly debit card fee on customers in five test states when the California financial services company reported a record 21 percent increase in earnings in its latest quarterly filing.
"Instead of making up costs, your new consumer fee appears to be a plain attempt to increase your profits-even though your bank just reported third quarter profits that hit a record high," Durbin said in a letter to Wells Fargo & Company CEO John G. Stumpf.
Durbin noted that Wells Fargo has not made publicly available its cost or revenue data on debit transactions. Using data from an April industry report, Wells Fargo made in 2010 an estimated $2.2 billion on swipe fees from more than 5 million transactions with Wells Fargo debit cards in 2010.
Under the Fed's new rule, Durbin estimates that the revenue would go down to about $1.2 billion.
Debit Card Fee Club: Wells Fargo, Bank America, JP Morgan Chase, and Others
"Your spokesperson's claim that Wells Fargo needs to charge all its customers an additional monthly fee of more than $3 in order to make up the 'cost' of providing debit cards simply does not add up," he wrote.
Other banks are rolling out new debit card fees too. Bank of America on Sept. 30 announced plans to institute a $5 fee for each month a debit card is used. Chase is also testing out a $3 fee.
A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives last week asked Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate potential collusion among banks, due to statements made from financial institutions and trade associations about imposing new fees in response to the Dodd-Frank reforms.
A Wells Fargo representative did not return a request for comment.


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Amex card offer shock
AMERICAN Express bosses have apologised to thousands of customers who were mistakenly offered a 0% balance transfer rate for life.
Customers, who had already transferred balances to their Amex card, have reacted angrily after being told they will be given only six months' worth of free interest.
Amex made the error in marketing material sent to 3% of its UK customer base.
It told cardholders they had until the middle of June to apply for the offer, which was even confirmed in the small print.
Richard Morris, from Kilmarnock, cleared the remaining £1,000 balance on his card and transferred nearly £8,000 worth of balances from several other cards after receiving the offer.
He says: 'I understand banks don't usually offer free loans, but the offer was in black and white. Does Amex have any rights to alter the offer when I have complied with every one of its details?'
Chris Wrigley, a database manager from Horsham, West Sussex, also planned to take advantage of the offer and rearranged his finances in preparation for the switch, including clearing his overdraft and existing Amex balance.
The 36-year-old says: 'When I tried to make the final step to transfer my balances they told me they were sorry but the letter was a mistake and that the real offer is only for six months at 0%.
'I'm absolutely fuming, when I think of the time and expense I invested in this - the chance to start again with a clean slate - only to be completely let down.
'They made out it was a typing error, but how can you make the mistake between six months and for the life of the balance?'
An American Express spokeswoman said the company had launched an investigation into the error. She says: 'It was a marketing letter sent out in error. Due to the inconvenience it has caused customers, we are offering them 0% for six months and have waived the 2% handling fee.
'We would like to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.'
Initially customers who had already transferred the balance were told they still had to pay the 2% switching fee, which is capped at £40.
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By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
T he Pan-African conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited has reiterated its commitment towards partnering various tiers of governments in the country, to build sustainable and inclusive economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Agriculture is a branch of the economy in the country, providing employment for about 35 per cent of the population as of 2020. As reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agriculture remains the foundation of the Nigerian economy, despite the presence of oil in the country. It is the main source of livelihood for most Nigerians.
With the way Nigeria’s economy is, the country’s agriculture sector took on even more importance. Long touted as a remedy to the West African nation’s dependence on oil, agriculture is now seen as a potential economic saviour. Before hydrocarbons became the main source of economic growth and export revenue, agriculture dominated the local economy.
As the hydrocarbons industry has contracted in the face of low global oil prices, the government has turned to agriculture as a means of driving growth and employment. Though the sector has fallen from the heights of the 1960s, when it accounted for as much as 70 per cent of the country’s exports, it still remains a major employer, accounting for around two-thirds of all jobs in the country. Moreover, the potential for further growth continues to look strong.
Dangote Industries announced its partnership with the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OGUNCCIMA) at the 10th Gateway International Trade Fair 2021, themed ‘Remodeling Agriculture, Commerce and Trade beyond Nigerian Borders with Modern Technology’ held in Abeokuta.
Group chief branding and communication director, Mr. Anthny Chiejina, in a statement, announcing the company’s participation at this year’s Gateway Trade fair said the group has concluded plans to scale up investments in the agricultural sector, in response to the on-going public policy focus of federal government.
He hinted that as part of the company’s support to the development of agriculture sector, the three million ton per annum Fertilizer Plant it is currently constructing at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos will be commissioned soon to boost agricultural activities in the country.
Chiejina explained that all the subsidiaries of the company would be at the trade fair and urged members of the public to take advantage of this year’s fair to strike partnership with the group for business opportunities.
According to him, the group has also kick-started the development of six large scale rice milling plants in six states, namely; Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto, with a combined total milling capacity of 1.5 million per annum.
He said Dangote`s growing investment in the agricultural sector, is to complement the existing and continuing investments being made in other sectors, such as: Cement, Salt and other consumer products.
“We are also significantly involved in the Oil and Gas sector, with an on-going construction of one of the World`s Largest Petroleum Refinery. This will not only put an end to the embarrassing importation of products into our crude oil rich country but will also significantly boost our intra-African trade position,” he said.
He commended federal government’s policy, as efforts to bring Nigeria back on track, adding that, such policy initiatives are necessary, if the nation is to attain sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation.
“We must also commend the leadership of OGUNCCIMA for the very apt theme of this year’s edition of the Fair: ‘Remodeling Agriculture, Commerce and Trade beyond Nigerian Borders with Modern Technology’.
“Clearly, given the current focus of both the federal government and Ogun state and indeed most other states in the country on the Agricultural Sector as the only incontestable route for the revival and sustained growth of the Nigerian Economy, there can be no more pertinent subject matter to which we should direct the attention of all the participants at this Fair.
“This is especially so in Ogun which had in the past been recognized as the leading Agro-Industrial hub not only in Nigeria, but indeed for the entire Southern sahara of Africa,” he said.
He also noted, “President Mohammodu Buhari’s insistence that we cannot expect to achieve development and modernization until we create the capacity to produce what we consume. It is only by developing our agriculture along its various value chains that we can ensure sustainable, inclusive economic growth that create jobs for the teeming youthful population.”
It would be recalled that the president of OGUNCIMA, Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye,at the fair, had named Dangote Group as one of the leading sponsors which had announced that it would hit the fair in grand style with the array of its products at reasonable prices.
He said the Fair would serve as a catalyst for the economic growth and development of Ogun State in particular and Nigeria in general which will unleash our strong development and innovative potential.
“The Fair is an international event that will attract over two hundred people from within Ogun State, Nigeria, international participants/Exhibitors from around the world. Also, top government officials, businessmen, researchers, investors, all Local Governments councils, representatives of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) and indeed the general public will be in attendance,” he stated.
It would be recalled that president of Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote stated that the current efforts of the federal government at diversifying the economy to an agriculture centered one remains the viable solution to creating a healthy economy.
Dangote noted that, “his company was investing massively in agribusiness, promoting industrialisation through the backward integration process to ensure Nigeria becomes self-reliant in food production in good time and save it of the much-needed foreign exchange hitherto being spent on importation.”
Touching the lives of people by providing their basic needs is at the core of its mission statement, Dangote Industries constructed the largest fertilizer plant in West Africa.
The fertilizer complex project is located at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), in Lagos State. Phase one of the project which is estimated to cost $2.5 billion, is to manufacture three MMTPA of urea. The capacity will later be expanded to produce multiple grades of fertilizers to meet soil, crop and climate-specific requirement for the African continent. Fertilizer is essential for agribusiness in Africa.
The coming on stream of Dangote Fertiliser would surely make Africa self-sufficient in food production and a net exporter of food to the world.


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Tiger Fitness News on PricePlow
May 22, 2018 YouTube Video
Supplement Central Closes: A Look at the Supplement Store Landscape
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Supplement Central shuts down and blames "Certain" online retailers. We can only guess that means Amazon... so we dig into a state of the union.
Mar 19, 2018 Product News
T-Shirt was created.
Category: Men's T-Shirts
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MTS Clash has been upgraded by Marc Lobliner and MTS Nutrition. Check these ingredients out - this new 2017 Clash Formula is loaded!
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Bodybuilding.com laid off 90 employees on December 1, 2016. The Boise Press has vilified them, but there are two sides to this story. Mike digs in.
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MTS Whey Protein: The Machine’s Whey – Certified Non-Spiked!
MTS Whey is a premium quality protein that's cGMP and NSF certified as well as tested free of added amino acids, by Marc Lobliner of MTS Nutrition!
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MTS Machine Carb 10 – Performance Carbs without the Insulin Spike!
MTS Machine Carb 10 is the latest supplement from MTS Nutrition that's set to put the carbohydrate supplement world on notice... by using LEGUMES!
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated humanity for decades now, so it’s no surprise that Samsung’s new Neon Project was highly anticipated at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently in the demo stage, the STAR Labs product is only about five months into development, meaning it’s currently little more than a set of advanced computer-generated avatars. The potential behind the idea, however, is endless. The overarching goal is not only to give people an interactive avatar as a sort of personal sidekick, but to create learning, evolving companions. That’s why company President/CEO Pranav Mistry refers to them as “artificial humans.”
“Neon is like a new kind of life,” Mistry stated in a press release. “There are millions of species on our planet, and we hope to add one more. Neons will be our friends, collaborators, and companions, continually learning, evolving, and forming memories from their interactions.”
Unlike most other AI projects and virtual assistants, which are aimed at providing you with unlimited information at your fingertips, the goals of Neon are more focused on the human aspects of interaction. Samsung’s CORE R3 “proprietary technology platform” is at the center of this goal, itself a combination of software applications aimed at endowing AI with human-like qualities. In other words, these avatars aren’t just pre-loaded with a bunch of data. They instead work through a reality directive, which simply means that talking to Neon should be like talking to a human, complete with facial gestures, emotion, and limits of knowledge. Of course, Neon’s knowledge wells will spring directly from Google.
Keeping conversations flowing in real time is the avatars’ second goal, meaning that responses are instant, fluid, varied, and natural feeling. The third goal is to have the Neons be responsive. Again this goes back to the natural flow of human conversation. To advance this engagement, each avatar will be able to observe human emotion and interpret them appropriately.
The true potential for Neon is unknown. Obviously still in its infancy, the Samsung team has lofty goals and a long road ahead. A true prototype is at least a year out. During the initial work the question remains as to what Neons will even be used for. In fact, one reason for the quick reveal at CES was to gauge the public’s response and gain feedback regarding what role the potential consumer would want them to play. Basic customer service is highly likely, performing tasks such as booking flights and performing banking transactions. But beyond these computer-like functions, the goal is to ensure a friendly and human-like interaction. As a companion, Neon could fill the void of loneliness for the elderly or sick. They could even entertain school children or model merchandise.
Right now, the avatars are based on existing humans, but the company has already stated that all future Neons will be created entirely from scratch (and no, they will not entertain the idea of creating real person look-alikes). After all, identity theft is one of the major safety concerns surrounding the development of AI technology. Another concern is sensitive data leaking. Don’t worry, though, Samsung promises to never share anything you’ve shared in confidence with your Neon without your permission — even if you choose to use yours as a personal therapist.
While STAR Labs’ (Samsung Technology & Advanced Research Labs) Neon sounds like a product from the DC institution of the same name, only time will tell where the technology will lead us in our quest for the perfect AI companion.


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There is a battle royal raging between the finance ministry and the commerce ministry over the contribution of special economic zones (SEZs) to India's growth story.
The finance ministry sees a huge amount of revenue leaking out of the system due to the tax-free status granted to these zones and the 18.5 per cent minimum alternate tax (MAT) on the book profits of developers and units operating in SEZs proposed in 2011-12 Budget aims to plug this gap.
The commerce ministry, on the other hand, wants the tax to be rolled back as it views these zones as engines of growth that have led to a quantum leap in the country's exports and created more jobs.
Senior commerce ministry officials are of the view that the exports from SEZs have doubled over the previous year to around $50 billion and now account for one-fourth of the country's exports.
They point out that the imposition of MAT in the tax-free SEZs amounts to changing the rules of the game midway and would discourage fresh investments in these zones and choke growth.
However, finance ministry officials say there have been huge revenue diversions from domestic operations to these zones in order to dodge taxes.
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had also pointed out that these tax-free zones sell most of their goods within the country as "deemed exports" rather than actually exporting them overseas.
A finance ministry official told MAIL TODAY that the commerce ministry figures show a doubling of exports from SEZs even during periods when overall exports have been stagnant. "These figures have to be taken with a pinch of salt," he remarked.
Finance ministry officials also point out that while SEZs were originally set to up to promote manufacturing units, this has not happened as these zones are predominantly into IT exports which were already doing well.
"Some units have also shifted to these zones merely to avail of the tax benefits and this does not augur well for the country," a finance ministry official said.
The latest figures with the finance ministry show that only 58 per cent of the corporates that filed tax returns in 2009-10 showed profits on their books and hence paid taxes to the government.
Another 35 per cent showed that they were making losses while the remaining seven per cent showed nil profit.
"The government has to expand the tax base in order to increase revenue and reduce the fiscal deficit. So, it is imperative to bring more profit-making companies into the tax net," a finance ministry official said.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had stated in his Budget speech that MAT being introduced in SEZs would "ensure equal sharing of the corporate tax liability". The finance ministry is of the view that it is already foregoing huge amounts in indirect tax concessions extended as incentives to exporters in SEZs and it is unfair to exempt them from paying tax on their profits as well while other firms are taxed.
Courtesy: Mail Today


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Consuming two tablespoons of honey can help balance blood sugar and improve cholesterol levels, according to a new study.
Experts said replacing added sweeteners in the diet – such as sugar in tea – with honey can lower the risks of illnesses associated with eating too much sugar, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Researchers at the University of Toronto analysed the results of 18 trials including more than 1,100 participants and found that raw honey from a single floral source had the most positive effect on the body.
They found it lowered fasting blood glucose and the number of low-density lipoprotein (or “bad cholesterol”) in the blood.
Consuming honey also increased high-density lipoproteins (“good” cholesterol”) and showed signs of improving inflammation.
All participants in the study followed a generally healthy diet, and sugar accounted for 10 per cent or less of their daily caloric intakes.
The study found that honey from a single floral source “consistently produced either neutral or beneficial effects” on the body.
Participants were given an average of 40 grams, or about two tablespoons of honey daily over the course of eight weeks.
Most of the benefits were observed in people who consumed raw honey, from False Acacia or Black Locust trees.
However, honey lost many of its health benefits after it was heated above 65 degrees Celsius.
Tauseef Khan, a senior researcher at the University’s Faculty of Medicine, said the results were surprising because honey “is about 80 per cent sugar”.
“But honey is also a complex composition of common and rare sugars, proteins, organic acids and other bioactive compounds that very likely have health benefits,” Khan said.
Experts said the results showed that not all sugars should be treated the same by health and nutrition officials.
“We’re not saying you should start having honey if you currently avoid sugar,” Khan said. “The takeaway is more about replacement – if you’re using table sugar, syrup or another sweetener, switching those sugars for honey might lower cardiometabolic risks.”


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All fluorine-containing lubricants in the ski resort will be banned from next winter.
This is stated on the website of the FIS (International Ski Federation). NRK first reported this Saturday night.
Ship President Erik Røste confirms to the State Channel that the FIS Board has today made the decision.
There has been a great debate over the use of fluorine lately and as late as this week, SV politician Lars Haltbrekken (SV) proposed a total fluoride ban on all sporting events in Norway.
Vote is a member of the FIS board who made the decision.
– There are three reasons why we have adopted this. One is the health risk associated with the use of the products, the other is that it reduces the cost of ski lubrication and the third is the environmental impact, he tells NRK.
FIS announces that a special group will be established under the leadership of Norwegian Atle Skårdal (downhill) and Pierre Mignerey (cross country) who, together with the ski and ski lubrication industry, will come up with regulations and, not least, control procedures.
Before last winter, the Norwegian Ski Federation introduced a ban on fluorine lubrication for runners from 16 years and younger. However, the debate over the winter was about whether control was good enough.
Did you bring this one with you?


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|Wilson Living Today- Oct. 10|
|Wednesday, October 10, 2012|
By BECKY ANDREWS
Wilson Living Magazine
The Taste of Wilson County just gets better every year! The 4th Annual “Taste” will once again be held on the west lawn of Wilson Bank & Trust’s main location on West Main Street Oct. 18. Last year more than 1,200 tickets were sold where attendees feasted on tantalizing fare from more than 30 food vendors.
To accommodate the crowd better this year and offer up a more intimate experience, organizers have added a VIP tent. Inside the VIP area guests will enjoy a few of the special perks reserved just for them. Attendees will also enjoy a marketplace where vendors’ signature sauces, gift baskets and other items will be available for purchase.
The event partners Wilson Bank & Trust, Performance Foodservice and the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce which are planning for another successful event this October.
Beginning Thursday, Oct. 11, Wilson Living will be giving away two tickets per day for five days. You can register to win no sooner than Thursday. We look forward to seeing you then.
“Taste of Wilson” benefits education programs including, Wilson Books from Birth, TN Scholars, the Teacher Grant Program and area scholarships. For more information visit www.tasteofwilsoncounty.com
It’s a busy week for the folks at Wilson Bank & Trust next week as Oktoberfest follows just two days after “Taste.” Make plans to join in the fun Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct. 21 noon to 4:30 p.m. at Wilson Bank’s main office in Lebanon. Festivities this year include an antique car show, craft vendors, live music, children’s games and activities, quilt and photography displays, a great selection of food and much more. Admission is free.
For more information on Oktoberfest visit www.wilsonbank.com
The 4th Annual Wilson Living Holiday Expo is just weeks away. The sponsors are in place and the marketing campaign kicked off last week. Everyone is getting super excited about the Pre-Opening Gala that kicks off the Expo. Tickets can be purchased at www.wilsonlivingexpo.com, at The Wilson Post and the main branch of Wilson Bank and Trust. We still have a few booths left so don’t delay. We will be giving updates about the expo on the Wilson Living facebook page. Become a fan and you will be the first to know about all the exciting events we have planned and maybe even win some cool stuff in the process.
Have a great week. Until next time, keep reading!


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It’s time to finalize the results of the PANINI FIFA 365 contest!
Congratulations to the winners who fulfilled all the conditions of the contest and became owners of super prizes from PANINI FIFA 365:
1. Hoverboard Polaris PBS 0601 — Armasova Zarina Rifatovna
2. XDS SUNDANCE 510 Bicycle — Karimjonov Eldor Komilzhonovich
3. Xiaomi Redmi 8A Smartphone — Kosimova Dilorom Ikhtiyorovna
Ahead of you are waiting for even more interesting contests and draws, stay tuned for our news to not miss anything.


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For banks, good news is bad news is over
As the public (and the media) prepare for a flood of third-quarter bank earnings, analysts predict good news, with one caveat: Don't be fooled by dramatic year-to-year gains.
For many mid-Atlantic banks, the good news this year has been that the bad news largely is over. So, companies such as MNC Financial Inc., Signet Banking Corp. and Baltimore Bancorp, which reported some large quarterly losses in 1991, have been able to crank out equally large gains in comparison to last year's numbers.
Though the second-quarter to third-quarter change won't be quite as dramatic, investors should expect "more good news," said John Bailey, banking analyst at Ferris, Baker Watts. "It's gotta stop sometime, but not this quarter."
"I suspect even the weaker performers will be able to show good numbers," said Arnold G. Danielson, of Danielson Associates, a bank consulting firm in Rockville.
John Heffern of Alex. Brown says net interest margins are beginning to flatten out a bit, but that's being countered by improvements in asset quality.
One red flag would be a company whose troubled assets continued to grow substantially.
Another cause for concern would be a bank whose net interest margin contracted in the third quarter, says David B. Sochol of Legg Mason. But generally, he said, "Assuming [the region is] like the rest of the industry, it should be a very good quarter."
MNC offers more with Maestro card
If MOST is not enough, MNC Financial Inc. is now offering more with Maestro. The Baltimore-based banking company yesterday announced it has signed with the Maestro network, a MasterCard International Inc. subsidiary.
Like MOST, Maestro allows cardholders to withdraw money from their bank accounts electronically. There are two major differences: MOST is regional, Maestro is international; and MOST primarily is for transactions with banks, while Maestro works with merchants.
The card -- really just an insignia that gets added to your bank's ATM card -- is for "point-of-sale" purchases at participating merchants. So far, about 1,600 merchants in the United States accept Maestro, which started in August.
More merchants in Maryland are beginning to accept the MOST card. MNC's goal is to make its bank card useful when customers travel outside the region.
With Maestro, a debit card, MasterCard hopes to tap into the market that likes to pay now rather than use their credit card to pay later.
Ferris' researchers moving to Baltimore
Ferris, Baker Watts Inc.'s research team is on the move -- literally.
The five-member research department is moving to Baltimore, to be joined by three additional players to be named later. Also, the Washington-based company plans to hire two or three institutional salespeople, also to be located in Baltimore.
The moves come in the wake of last month's departure of Clifford F. Ransom II and Beryl "Budd" Bugatch, who were basically Ferris' entire institutional sales and research department. They went to Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg, Fla., reportedly for the chance to focus on research alone.
"We had two good men depart, and we are going to convert that into an opportunity to actually build the department," said chairman and chief executive officer George Ferris.
As before, the researchers will concentrate primarily on the Mid-Atlantic, especially small- to mid-capitalized companies, Mr. Ferris said.
The move will put research and institutional sales in the USF&G; building with the company's investment banking team, headed by Todd Parchman, and the over-the-counter trading unit, led by John Boo.
That will leave the Washington office with the syndicate, retirement planning, mutual fund, public finance and investment advisory departments, as well as the company's largest retail brokerage office and, of course, top management.
CHOICE is cutting its interest rates
CHOICE is offering a choice. CHOICE, the Towson-based Visa and MasterCard operation owned by Citibank N.A., currently charges 16.8 percent a year plus a $20 annual fee for most customers. On Nov. 1, the rate will drop to either 13.4 percent with the $20 fee or 15.4 percent and no fee.
That option will be available to all current CHOICE Visa and MasterCard holders and all new applicants who qualify for a card. CHOICE is Citibank's program for people with a solid credit history and no need for a card with bells and whistles. If a cardholder misses two payments in a row, the rate goes up to 19.8 percent until six monthly payments arrive on time.
CHOICE used to be known as NAC, for Baltimore-based National Acceptance Corp., which issued the cards before Citibank bought the operation in the late 1970s.
In April, Citibank said there were about 2 million CHOICE cardholders -- a good chunk of them in the Baltimore area -- out of 30 million Citibank cards in all.
The company also reduced its rates on the two types of Citibank VISA and MasterCards: The annual rate on Classic cards falls to 15.4 percent from 15.9 percent, with a $20 annual fee; and the rate for Preferred cardholders drops to 13.4 percent from 13.9 percent, with a $50 annual fee.


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It is time for a new approach to trade policy — or more accurately, to return to bipartisanship, the approach that worked so well from the end of World War II until the mid-‘90s.
Trade legislation once passed Congress with overwhelming majorities. The Tokyo Round agreement passed the House in 1979 by a 395-7 vote. As recent as 1994, the Uruguay Round Trade Agreement passed by 288-146. Contrast that with this year, when the House passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) by the narrowest of margins (217-215) on July 27.
To get that razor-thin victory, enormous effort was required by the administration, and a number of questionable deals were needed to get the votes. In addition to agreeing to amend the CAFTA agreement to further limit textile trade with the Central American countries, the administration reportedly found it necessary to agree on curbing textile imports from China, limiting sugar imports, and adding pork to the highway bill. Not only were these add-ons bad trade policy; they also could have damaging foreign-policy implications.
And support came almost exclusively from Republicans. Only 15 of 202 House Democrats voted for CAFTA, or only 7.4 percent. In contrast, 65.2 percent of House Democrats voted for the 1994 Uruguay Round agreement.
The breakdown of bipartisanship on trade policy since 1995 has many causes. One factor is diminished civility in the Congress and politics more broadly. A second is the reaction to the suddenly expanded reach of the World Trade Organization, or GATT as it was known until the Uruguay Round agreement.
Now, however, it is time to a rebuilt bipartisan coalition to support trade policy. The WTO is here to stay, and civil society needs to re-engage rather than throw stones from the outside.
The administration and the Republican Congress need to reach across the aisle and listen to other views. U.S. trade policies especially need to better meet the needs of environmental and labor groups to gain support from Democrats who would like to support open trade.
Most mainstream environmental groups supported U.S. trade policy through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In 1993, World Wildlife Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, the National Audubon Society and Conservation International all backed NAFTA. Now these groups are quiet, and environmentalists mostly opposed CAFTA.
One of the environmental community’s major objections to current trade policy is the provision, both in NAFTA and CAFTA, allowing foreign investors to sue in U.S. courts for compensation that can chill environmental regulations. While no regulations have been overturned, there have been too many close calls to suit the environmental community.
If more Americans understood this element of trade policy, opposition would probably be far broader than now. Many Americans would question why foreign firms should have rights to bring cases that cannot be filed by Americans in the U.S. under these trade agreements. The objective of this provision — to ensure U.S. firms can pursue their investment rights in our trade partners — can be achieved less objectionably.
The negotiations now under way in Geneva on a new multilateral trade agreement — the so-called Doha Round — present a good opportunity to develop a trade policy that the environmental community can again support. Several elements of these negotiations can help the world better manage our environment, as well as promote freer and fairer trade.
Successful negotiations could end fishing subsidies that endanger embattled fish, such as swordfish and tuna. They could limit agricultural subsidies that have a perverse side effect damaging to the environment and eliminate trade barriers on goods and services that promote good environmental stewardship, such as solar energy.
However, to gain environmentalist support, the administration needs to reach out more proactively, and above all ensure no provisions weaken the governments’ ability to protect their environments and ecosystems.
Labor is unlikely to support trade agreements for the foreseeable future. However, were its issues better addressed, labor’s opposition might be less active. Specifically, we could work with labor to better help workers whose jobs are displaced by trade. Current adjustment aid is minimalist. Better measures could help displaced workers find new work that will not bust the budget and conform with our free-market principles.
Another step would ensure our trade partners recognize the five core International Labor Organization standards, with adequate labor enforcement mechanisms. Most countries recognize the core standards, but enforcement is tricky.
Would the above measures help rebuild a bipartisan trade policy? Perhaps. Perhaps not. However, more than 70 Democrats supported the China trade vote in 2000, and at least that many now would likely support a trade bill that addressed these concerns.
In any case, little can be lost trying, and genuine bipartisan dialogue on trade might also restore some civility in our politics.
William Krist is a senior policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center, where he works on trade and sustainable development. He was assistant U.S. trade representative for industry in President Reagan’s first term. He also worked as a trade policy fellow in the offices of Sen. Gibbons, Florida Democrat, in 1979 and Sen. Roth, Delaware Republican, in 1980.


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Rautahat, March 15
Despite the smooth supply of fuel, petrol pump entrepreneurs and dealers of LPG cylinders have been charging customers arbitrarily for the last few months in Rautahat.
Local fuel entrepreneurs have been accused of fleecing customers after creating artificial shortage of fuel.
The rampant black-marketing of fuel has been attributed to lack of market monitoring on the part of the local administration.
Customers complained that Nepal Oil Corporation’s Amlekhgunj depot had sent sufficient diesel and petrol to Rautahat-based petrol pumps, but the local pump operators distributed limited fuel and sold the remaining fuel at inflated prices.
Shiva Raj Sah, in charge of Gaur-based night bus counter, said transport entrepreneurs were compelled to pay extra Rs 10 per litre even at authorised fuel stations.
“The entrepreneurs have been facing problems as pump owners do not provide fuel easily even though the supply of fuel has normalised,” he added.
He accused the pump operators of creating artificial fuel shortage in the market.
Umesh Chaudhary, technical assistant at Matsari VDC, said the fuel stations at Gaur, Gangapipara, Shivanagar, Sukdev Chowk, Dumariya, Garuda and Chandranigahapur, among other places, were distributing limited fuel to customers.
“The pump operators keep the remaining fuel for black-marketing,” he said.
“Farmers, entrepreneurs and small vehicle owners are compelled to buy fuel at high price,” he informed. He further accused different gas dealers of charging customers arbitrarily.
“The black-marketers are motivated as the concerned authority has turned a deaf ear to the matter,” he said.
Local Dipesh Sahani of Gaur Municipality said gas dealers were charging customers up to Rs 2,000 per cylinder in the district headquarters Gaur.
“The administration, however, acts indifferently towards the situation though black-marketing is being done openly in the district,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rautahat Chief District Officer Nara Hari Baral said fuel supply in the district was inadequate to meet the demand.
“We have already warned the dealers that stern action will be taken if they are found involved in black-marketing,” he informed.
CDO Baral said his office would soon conduct market monitoring and action would be taken against black-marketeers.
“We have already sent a letter to the NOC asking them to supply LPG and fuel as per the demand,” he added.
Petrol pumps distributing gas
RAUTAHAT: It is learnt that Matsari-based Manakamana Oil Stores has been selling LPG gas cylinders from the petrol pump itself in Rautahat district.
As many as 70 cylinders were sold from the pump on Tuesday. Local Shyam Chandra Jha said that it was very risky to sell gas cylinders from the petrol pump.
“It is likely that a big accident might take place at any time,” he added. He said they were quite surprised why the concerned authority was mum regarding public safety.
Meanwhile, pump operator Ghanashyam Sah Kanu said he was selling the LPG cylinders from the petrol pump for want of space.
“I have been selling cylinders from the pump for more than a year now,” he said, adding that he was searching for an appropriate to establish a dealer.
A version of this article appears in print on March 16, 2016 of The Himalayan Times.


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Canon looks to capture the interest of non-metros in India
Cannon, targeting around Rs. 3,500 crore sales by 2020, is also betting on its medical imaging systems and security and surveillance camera products for expansion in India for the next 10 years
Cannon, which has acquired Sweden's Axis Communications to expand into video surveillance, expects that it would play a big role in this segment along with its Milestone Systems, a provider of open platform video management software.
Besides, the company, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in India, is targeting around Rs. 3,500 crore sales by 2020, and has plans to expand its presence in the non-metro places by adding 100 more 'Canon Image Square' shops by 2019 taking its total count to 360.
"Our new area of domain which we recently acquired is in the medical products and in security and surveillance cameras. Hopefully these two areas will also have expansion in this country in coming ten years time," Canon India President and CEO Kazutada Kobayashi told PTI.
He further added: "We have already acquired Swedish firm Axis Communications in our group... also with software company Milestone, which has software to control surveillance camera system, with this tie up, we have a chance to come in this market."
Canon, world leader in imaging solutions, has acquired Denmark-based Milestone Systems, a world leading provider of open platform video management software through its subsidiary Canon Europa NV.
Presently, the security and surveillance cameras system market is dominated by Chinese and Taiwanese players.
"Of course Chinese brands are very strong on the bottom line and mid to below but we are not in that area. But in mid to high, quantity might be smaller but the quality required is very high and we would be there," Kobayashi said.


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The e-commerce provider, Amazon, has reached the height of a trillion dollar ($ 1 trillion US dollars) stock market value as the second US company. The company touched on this milestone on Tuesday. Last month, the first company to enter the unique milestone, American technology company Apple Apple
The financial value of this amazon is about Tk 84 lakh crore in Bangladeshi money; Which is almost equal to the budget of more than 20 financial years in Bangladesh.
On Tuesday night, Reuters reported that the world’s largest online retailer was worth 1.4 percent to $ 2,041.68. When this price rose to $ 2,050.26, the company touched the milestone of one trillion dollars only.
Amazon shares worth 1 thousand dollars on Oct 27, 2017 After 10 months, on August 30, the share price doubled to $ 2,000. The company’s share price was $ 100 on October 23, 2009.
US electronic trading company Amazon Its headquarters in Seattle, Washington. It is an internet based retailer company. Its founder Jeff Bezos First started the online bookshop as Amazon.com. Afterwards, DVDs, VHS, CDs, videos and MP3s start selling / streaming, streaming, software, video games, electronics, clothing, furniture, food and toys. Nowadays, Amazon is buying retail products from around the world.
Earlier, in the first week of last month, Apple’s financial value stood at $ 1 trillion in the technology company. The world’s first public company’s financial value reaches one trillion dollars.
Apple or Apple Inc is the United States Personal Computer, Computer Parts and Software Manufacturers The company has become more familiar with creating Macintosh computers. Modern computers include iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook. In addition, the company has made its operating system through iOS, iPhone, iPad and iPod.


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SUVs — designed in the UK — are crucial for the carmaker to break the dominance of rival Tata Motors
The troubled National Health Service now has 6.6-million patients waiting to see GPs, get scans or have operations
They hope the magic mushroom sector can avoid the mistakes made when marijuana became legal
London — British retailer Marks & Spencer said on Thursday its CEO Steve Rowe will stand down after six years in the job in May and be succeeded by two of his senior lieutenants.
Rowe, who joined M&S at the age of 15 before rising through the ranks, will step down after M&S reports annual results on May 25. The group said joint COOs Stuart Machin and Katie Bickerstaffe will take over.
Machin will become co-CEO and will take on responsibility for day-to-day leadership of the business and the executive committee. He will continue to have oversight of his current portfolio, which includes the leadership of M&S’s food business, as well as operations, property, store development and technology. He will also take on responsibility for HR and corporate communications.
Bickerstaffe will become co-CEO with a focus on driving the group’s strategy of selling across multiple platforms. She will retain her existing portfolio including responsibility for clothing & home, MS2, international and financial services.
Machin and Bickerstaffe will join M&S’s board on May 25.
The retailer said that CFO Eoin Tonge will become chief strategy & finance officer and will play an enhanced role in leading the future development of the business.
Rowe will cease full-time employment after M&S’s annual shareholders’ meeting on July 5 but remain an adviser for up to a year.
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Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.


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West Chester Township-based AK Steel warned investors Monday that it expects a net loss of between $0.33 and $0.38 per diluted share of common stock for the second quarter of 2013.
In April, AK Steel reported a net loss of $9.9 million or 7 cents per share in the first quarter. In January, the steelmaker reported a net loss of $1,027.3 million or $9.06 per diluted share for 2012. In 2011, it reported a loss of $155.6 million or $1.41 per share.
The company also expects its average selling price per ton for the second quarter of 2013 to decrease by approximately 1 percent from its price for the first quarter of 2013, falling from $1,063 to $1,055 per ton.
The expected decrease in average selling price is primarily due to lower spot market prices for carbon steel products compared to the previous quarter, according to AK Steel.
Second quarter results include the effect of the a seven-day maintenance outage at its Middletown blast furnace, which will drive up the company’s maintenance costs to $21 million for the second quarter. The company spent $1 million in total maintenance outage costs in the first quarter and does not have any other planned blast furnace maintenance outages for the reminder of 2013.
Also in Monday’s release, AK Steel said that it expects shipments of approximately 1,340,000 to 1,360,000 tons in the second quarter of 2013 compared to shipments of 1,289,800 tons in the first quarter of 2013, a increase of approximately 4 to 5 percent.


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Tecom Investments and Dubai SME sign MoU to support SMEs and entrepreneurs among UAE nationals
- United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, January 24 - 2012 at 14:49
- PRESS RELEASE
Tecom Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, and Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a view to encouraging entrepreneurship among UAE nationals and furthering the sector's contribution to the country's economy.
The collaboration between TECOM Investments and Dubai SME will encourage UAE nationals who are members of Dubai SME to register and set up offices within TECOM free zones. The companies will receive opportunities to gain insight and increase industry knowledge as part of the TECOM ecosystem that offers a combination of high-end infrastructure, peer-networking with major global players and an enabling business environment to ensure future growth.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, CEO, TECOM Business Parks, said: "The MoU will further our strategic efforts to position Dubai as a centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise development. This will encourage the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and eventually impact the long-term growth of the industry and the country. Such platforms will also help grow the abundant talent for innovation and enterprise in UAE. The collaboration between Dubai SME and TECOM Investments will prove particularly crucial in providing aspiring business persons with conducive benefits required for achieving success in diverse sectors."
Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO, Dubai SME, said: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, established Dubai SME in 2002 to support various projects for youth development, and now more than 11,000 young business leaders have received assistance from Dubai SME in establishing their own businesses. Dubai SME has also created opportunities for competition and successful marketing through providing governmental contracts worth more than one billion dirhams to its members under the Government Procurement Plan."
TECOM Business Parks (Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, International Media Production Zone, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Village, DuBiotech, Dubai Industrial City and ENPARK) offer a favourable ecosystem for SMEs through shaping and enabling a business environment that guarantees the sector's long term growth. This gains relevance against research findings that nearly 58% of the SME businesses in the UAE aim to operate internationally by 2013, according to a 2010 survey released by HSBC.
Dubai SME offers a suite of services for SMEs providing them with the necessary guidance to launch a project and directs them to the relevant departments. These services include financing new and existing projects up to a limit of Dhs3m, exemption from the business license fees for the first three years of the project, obtaining a fully equipped office at the Dubai SME incubator, conducting training courses and development, and enabling business owners to become suppliers to government bodies.
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Paytm Now Allows You To Pay Insurance Premiums Online
Paytm, India’s largest m-commerce company has launched financial services payment feature – You can now pay premiums for your insurance and Gold Loans. To offer this, Paytm has tied up with ICICI Prudential Life, Reliance Life and Religare. You can also pay your premiums on Gold Loans availed from Mannapuram Finance.
Paytm will soon have over 15 Financial companies on board as the partnerships are currently underway.
Currently 3 companies are live on their platform and few more will be made live in the next week.
Over last couple of months Paytm has been aggressively expanding – vertically as well as horizontally. Here are a few announcements they have made over last couple of months.
Paytm Hotel Bookings: Paytm has started offering hotel bookings on its platform in partnership with third party players like Goibibo, Ezeego1, Via and TSI-Yatra. Currently, they have local agencies, but soon they are planning to get into international hotel bookings in partnership with leading global platforms like Expedia and Booking.com.
Paytm Hyperlocal Business: Paytm has entered into hyperlocal space with focus on food ordering, table booking, cinema tickets, and deals in the neighborhood. To offer these services, it has entered into partnerships with leading companies including BookMyShow and Zomato amongst others for successful delivery of its hyperlocal services.
Paytm Movie/Event Ticketing: Paytm has launched a entertainment ticketing marketplace on its platform. They are more of on aggregator, where anyone can come and offer their tickets online. It will operate as a marketplace where a multiplex or theatre will be the seller.
Paytm Wallet in Education Space: Paytm has introduced cashless payments specifically for educational institutions in India. With this service, Users can pay school fees & dues, cafeteria bills as well as buy uniforms, books and merchandise through the Paytm Wallet.
Apart from this Paytm also announced various other initiatives over last few week that include Cashless offline payment facility for Shopkeepers, Kirana stores or even a cab driver.


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Trade Goes Up in January
Ljubljana, 12 March - Slovenia's exports totalled US$ 756 million in January, up 17.8 percent from a year earlier, while imports increased by mere 7.8 percent to US$ 814.6 million in the same period, according to the figures released by the National Statistical Office.
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APPLE has issued a warning for millions of iPhone users, leaving many wondering when a fix is going to be in place.
All iPhone 13 models are currently affected by a strange issue in which the devices are missing a noise cancellation feature for phone calls.
A Reddit thread brought attention to the situation and quickly went viral.
“iPhone 12 lineup and lower have a front mic that is used for noise cancellation. The setting can be found in Accessibility -> Audio/Visual. iPhone 13 doesn't have it. No noise cancellation at all.” wrote the initial poster.
“It's a PHONE! Making phone calls is THE basic function. At first, I thought my device was faulty, but it seems like Apple removed this feature on purpose for whatever reason.”
The poster added that they even went to an Apple store about the issue and that an employee at the Genius bar was surprised.
“Apple support confirmed that Apple engineers are working on it. Though, they couldn’t tell whether it’s a software or hardware issue,” said the poster, adding that there was currently no estimated time frame of resolution.
Most read in News Tech
Other posted replied to the thread, confirming that Apple Support has acknowledged the issue to them as well.
Another Reddit user by the name of clutchtow used Xcode, Apple’s integrated development environment, to confirm that the iPhone 13 has the same four microphones as the iPhone 12.
This means that there’s potential for a fix found in the software if it isn’t a fundamental manufacturing defect.
If users want to see for themselves on their iPhone 13, go to Settings, Accessibility then tap Audio/Visual. Earlier iPhone models had a “Phone Noise Cancellation” option between “Mono Audio” and “Headphone Notifications” but iPhone 13 doesn’t.


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- News tagged "singtel"
Monday, 5 Oct 2015
Use the Singtel-made app to pay for your Lazada purchases, and you might even get cashback credited back to you too.
Friday, 25 Sep 2015
Independent network coverage checker, OpenSignal, has released its latest 2015 LTE report. Singapore telcos ranked second-fastest amongst all LTE-enabled countries and one telco in particular stood out, ranking first overall with the fastest average speeds in the world. Guess who?
Friday, 18 Sep 2015
With the new SIM Only plan, Singtel is now offering a SIM-only data-centric plan that is fully customizable and contract free. With locally accessible Netflix service coming soon, this might just be the plan you've been waiting for!
Singtel customers looking to re-contract to get the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, these are the prices you've been waiting for.
Tuesday, 15 Sep 2015
All three telcos have now opened their registration of interest websites for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Find them here.
Thursday, 10 Sep 2015
Price plans aren't revealed yet; but we expect them to drop either on September 18 or 21.
Tuesday, 28 Jul 2015
Singtel just became the first telco in Southeast Asia to offer tri-band 4G on a commercial basis, which means its customers can look forward to better surfing speeds and indoor coverage in the months to come.
Thursday, 16 Jul 2015
Singtel customers to enjoy free unlimited mobile data and a slew of freebies during the Jubilee Weekend
In addition to free mobile data for postpaid customers and extra top-up value for prepaid mobile customers, Singtel TV customers also get to enjoy free viewing of Singtel TV content. There's also welcome bonus and cashback for Dash users. More details within.
Friday, 10 Jul 2015
IDA proposes that it will set aside 60MHz out of the 225MHz of spectrum at a lower price to facilitate the entry of a new mobile operator. It also believes that the local market can only sustain up to four mobile operators at this point in time. Read on to find out more.
Wednesday, 17 Jun 2015
M1, Singtel and Starhub will stop all 2G services in Singapore with effect from 1 April 2017. All three telcos will be offering a wide range of 3G and 4G handsets at various price points to help existing 2G customers transition to newer 3G and 4G networks.


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There's good news for Toy Story fans anxiously waiting for the third film, as soon they will be able to see all their fave characters as never before.
Movie bosses have revealed that the first two films are being turned 3D using the latest technology.
But there's still a bit of a wait, with the 3D version of Toy Story not planned to hit cinemas until October 2009.
Toy Story 2 will be released in 3D the year after, followed a few months later by the long-awaited Toy Story 3.
The chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Dick Cook, promised all the films would give movie-goers an exciting 3D experience.
He said: "We think they're going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful 'Toy Story' cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way."


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A local network neutrality policy could boost the market dominance of international streaming providers such as Netflix, says an expert.
Net neutrality is the concept of treating all Web traffic equally. It further involves website owners and consumers not having to pay extra for a fast lane on the Internet.
The South African government has previously highlighted the importance of an open, equitable Internet as part of a review of national information and communications technology (ICT) policy.
“Everything has to be done at a policy level to ensure that a new digital divide is not created,” the department of telecommunications & postal service’s Joe Mjwara said in parliament earlier this year.
But Denmark-based research firm Strand Consult has found that an equitable Internet has had unintended consequences.
“We find in countries with hard net neutrality rules that Netflix maintains a top position as a most favoured app,” said Strand Consult vice-president Roslyn Layton. “No local or other competitor threatens their position. Even companies that try to zero-rate their video app don’t touch Netflix’s dominance.”
Netflix is intent on expanding its market and rumours are circulating that the company will officially enter South Africa next year.
Local players such as Times Media Group’s Vidi, Naspers’ ShowMax and MTN’s FrontRow have all launched streaming services in a bid to preempt a Netflix launch in South Africa.
Last month, Hong Kong firm PCCW also launched a streaming product dubbed ONTAPtv.com in South Africa while Orange Horizons has previously revealed that it plans to launch a video on demand service in 2016.
Fast Internet lanes, though, could be of benefit to smaller video-on-demand players such as Vidi, ShowMax, FrontRow and ONTAPtv, said Strand Consult. “Theoretically a fast lane, if it existed, would be of greatest benefit to the small start-up,” said Layton.
“If you want to compete with Netflix with 65m customers in 50 countries, there is no way a startup can invest in such a distribution system — especially the cost of licensing the content,” said Layton.
“But if all a start-up would have to do is pay for a better, faster carriage, then it could compete with Netflix. It’s counterintuitive, but so it is,” she added.
In January, Netflix said that it planned to expand its global reach by over 150 countries in the next two years.
Outside of the US, Netflix has moved into markets such as Australia while reports have indicated that Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are next on its radar. — Fin24


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The Re-Sale Market for Diamond Engagement Rings is Booming, as the Pandemic Causes Divorce Rates to Spike
Looks like people are not benefitting from marriage during the Pandemic, as (Link): marriage-worshipping Bradford Wilcox likes to argue.
by B. Biron, Sept 18, 2020
Supply and demand for engagement rings has been on the rise at luxury resale sites like The RealReal and online auction marketplaces like Worthy — a consumer-to-business service that connects high-end sellers to wholesale buyers.
According to data provided to Business Insider by The RealReal, engagement ring consignments rose by 47% in May and June compared to the prior two months, as the pandemic put couples to the test — prompting some to call it quits while others tied the knot.


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Leading pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX: SIG) has been reviewing its entire operations and organisational structure to identify opportunities to enhance its future. On 15 May 2019, the company held its Annual general meeting (AGM) at which the company discussed the important business decision that it took in FY18.
In July 2018, the company made a decision to not renew its supply contract with the Chemist Warehouse Group as the terms that Chemist Warehouse were looking like a bad commercial decision for Sigma.
The second major event during the year was the merger proposal put forward by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, or API. In February 2019, the company declined the indicative non-binding offer put forward by API as the company believed that it was not representing fair value and was not in the best interests of its shareholders.
During the year the announced a major transformation program – Project Pivot – which has identified over $100 million of efficiency gains to be achieved over the next two years.
During the year the company’s Discount Drug Stores brand launched a new differentiated pharmacy model called Whole Life Pharmacy and Health Foods which provides a retail pharmacy environment with a significant focus on wellness and range of foods and products. There are nine of these now operating, with six in Queensland, two in Western Australia and one in New South Wales with plans to expand the roll out from 2019 July.
The company is also launching the new Amcal+ Life Clinic which expands health services provided in the community, including extensive consultation suites to incorporate allied health services. The first concept store is currently getting constructed in Burwood in Victoria and is expected to be fully operating within eight weeks. Further, the company is actively pursuing opportunities in the provision of third-party logistics services, commonly known as 3PL and 4PL services.
In FY 2018, the company reported total Revenue of $3.97 billion, down by 2.9% on pcp, mainly reflecting the reduction in high value but low margin Hepatitis C product. Excluding that impact, Sales Revenue was up 2.9% to $3.75 billion.
Further, the company reported Underlying Net Profit after Tax of $46.3 million, down by $46.3 million on pcp, impacted by additional rebates and higher interest expense and depreciation relating to the company’s significant investment in new Distribution Centres.
During the year, the company announced a new $500 million debt facility provided by Westpac. The company has maintained a high dividend payout ratio, with over 80% of Underlying Net Profit after Tax or 116% of Reported Net Profit after Tax, paid as a dividend.
Dividend History (Source: Company Reports)
At the time of writing, i.e., on 15th May 2019 AEST 2:35 PM, the stock of the company was trading at a price of A$0.540, up 1.887% during the day’s trade with the market capitalisation of ~A$561.5 Mn.


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Mothercare has hired Richard Smothers as chief financial officer to replace incumbent Matt Smith, who is joining Debenhams.
Smothers will join Mothercare on March 23 after stepping down from his group finance director role at packaging company Rexam, while Smith will leave Mothercare on January 20 to become chief financial officer at Debenhams.
Smothers was formerly at Tesco for 14 years, where he held a series of senior finance roles, including finance director of Asia, chief financial officer at Tesco’s Lotus business in Thailand and finance director for UK operations.
Mothercare has hired Smothers in the midst of a turnaround plan, which has involved the retailer carrying out a rights issue to provide the financial resources to press ahead with returning the UK business to profitability.
Mothercare chief executive Mark Newton-Jones said: “Richard has a wealth of experience having worked for multi-billion pound global businesses and his financial and commercial expertise will be extremely valuable as we implement our strategy to transform and modernise our business.”
The mother and baby specialist is already making headway in turning around the UK business.
In its results for the half year to October 11, it revealed the UK loss was £13.5m, down from £14.9m in the first half, while international profit was flat at £25.3m.


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Galaxy pledges positive impact on one million people in cocoa farming communities by 2030
Galaxy has announced a new commitment to help one million people in its cocoa supply chain to ‘thrive’ by 2030, stating that empowering women is crucial to delivering this ambition.
The Mars-owned chocolate brand has called the commitment “bold” and pledged to deliver “tangible impact”. A spokesperson for Mars told edie: “Our promise is that we’ll only count someone towards our pledge if we believe that we have helped them prosper in some way, only then would we consider them to be one of the people that we helped to thrive.”
Galaxy is working with a network of NGO partners to design and deliver programmes that contribute to its goal, including some organisations it already has long-term partnerships with, such as CARE International.
One of the programmes already being delivered by CARE and Galaxy covers Women for Change Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). VSLAs enable women working in cocoa farms to diversify their incomes, providing them with the finance and education they need to launch and grow other businesses and to increase their incomes from cocoa also.
The vast majority of the world’s cocoa farmers do not earn a living income. On average, they earn 6% of the final value of the chocolate they contribute to, according to the Fairtrade Foundation. Receiving pay premiums for cocoa and access to training and resources can uplift incomes significantly.
The uplift is likely to be more significant for women. Women face significant barriers in gaining access to the capital, training and other resources required to successfully run a cocoa farm, CARE has stated. Often, they have not been able to access education to the same level as their male peers, and may instead have spent their youth working or being forced to marry and be homemakers rather than in school.
The new 2030 ambition from Galaxy builds on Mars’ existing Cocoa for Generations plan, which was launched in 2019 and committed $1bn to cocoa supply initiatives over a decade. The plan covers improving cocoa farmer incomes; identifying, preventing and mitigating human rights abuses including forced labour; and ending deforestation and land conversion.
On this latter point, Mars Wrigley and Mars Inc are committed to ending deforestation and land conversion in cocoa supply chains by 2025. It has also committed to hold its land use footprint steady even if the business grows in the future.
Tracking progress in the areas covered by the plan can prove challenging with a supply chain like cocoa, which is multinational and dependent largely on smallholder farmers. Mars therefore has a commitment to ensuring that all cocoa can be traced from farmer to purchase by 2025, up from around 60% of its cocoa at present.


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Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
New Yorkers Fight Back Against Airbnb Renters
So, what's the big deal? Sharing is caring, isn't it? Maybe, but it also disrupts the current economic situation. Moreover, renters are able to get around many legal issues this way.
According to the New York Times, certain residents of Stuyvesant, New York, are angry about the leniency given to this new generation of renters, who seem to be able to do anything they please when it comes to renting. In fact, many are searching Airbnb and similar sites to try to find neighbors who are taking part to rat them out and raise complaints to officials. Certain issues upsetting them include excess noise, mess, bed bugs and the safety concerns that come along with having a complete stranger in the building. Additionally, many of those renting out their apartments aren't legally allowed to be doing so.
A solution to this problem is still being figured out. For now, legislators and business bureaus are working with these companies to find a middle ground that will satisfy all parties.
What's your opinion?
[Image via zoetnet]


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Two heads may be better than one to solve tricky problems, but for computer chips, two brains are better than one.
In the coming months, several chip manufacturers will be talking up their plans for dual-core and multi-core chips--chips that have two or more brains--as chip manufacturing technologies continue to improve.
A core is essentially the central brain on a chip. Adding a second core allows the chip to split computing tasks up into smaller pieces, thereby getting the job done faster. Not only will this reduce computing time, but will do so while minimizing the effects of the two evil forces of chip design--power consumption and heat. Dual-core chips can do the same work that a single core chip can, only faster, on less power and while staying cooler.
Earlier this year
Both AMD and Freescale are expected to reveal more about their dual-core plans at the Fall Processor Forum in San Jose, Calif., in October. The chips themselves aren't expected to hit the market until mid-2005. Intel is likely to reveal more about its plans for dual- and multi-core chips at the Intel Developers Forum in Santa Clara, Calif., next month.
The dawn of dual-core microprocessors represents a fundamental shift in thinking of how microprocessors are designed. For decades, designers have been following a reliable pattern of shrinking the transistors on a chip and boosting the speed at which they operate. But in recent years, those old tricks have proved less helpful in designing a chip that can accomplish more work, says analyst Tom Halfhill with Instat/MDR, the research outfit that hosts the Fall Processor Forum each year.
"I think that what is actually driving this is that chip architects are becoming frustrated because they keep designing more sophisticated processor cores and aren't getting as much performance out of them," Halfhill says.
The key measurement, Halfhill says, is known as instructions per clock--which means the number of commands a chip can issue with every cycle of its internal clock. At peak rates some chips can briefly issue three or four instructions per clock, but can't maintain that speed. But taken as an average, the number of instructions per clock is much lower, and more difficult to increase. "No matter what the designers seem to do, they can't seem to get past an average of 1.3 instructions per clock," he says.
One new approach, Halfhill says, is to put more, but simpler cores on a chip to accomplish the same computing work more efficiently. And when a second core isn't needed, he says, it can be put to sleep. That already happens now with single-core chips. "Most people don't realize that part of the processor in their PC is going to sleep between keystrokes," he says.
But while the dual-core advantage is clear in the server world, where chips are generally required to tackle heavier tasks, it's not as clear in the desktop world, says analyst Nathan Brookwood of Insight 64, Saratoga, Calif.
"There is a lot of software that is not written to take advantage of multiple cores," he says.
That may be changing. Intel has for the last few years been selling chips that use a technique called hyperthreading, which allows a single-core chip to act on two instructions at once, the reason being that if one instruction stalls, the chip can turn its attention to the other.
"Intel in its wisdom has been encouraging companies to adapt their software for hyperthreading, and the software interface for hyperthreading is almost identical to that for multi-core chips."
Brookwood compared the switch to dual- and multi-core chips with that of adding cylinders in a car engine. "One could conceivably build a single-cylinder engine. But it would have to be an awfully big cylinder, and the pistons very heavy, and it would get to the point where the weight of the engine would slow down the vehicle the bigger and more powerful you try to make it," Brookwood says. "I think with microprocessors we've reached that state now."


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The Internet spoils us. Food delivery used to be pretty simple: you called up your favorite pizza place, ordered assorted toppings, and twenty minutes later, the pizza guy would ring your doorbell. Thanks to Seamless, an online food delivery service available in 40 cities, you can now get a little fancier with your food orders. See also: Seamless Shares Bizarre Special Requests From Flu Sufferers The site allows customers to place special requests with each order.
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No tech company survives for more than a decade without making at least a few big changes, and Seamless is no exception. Seamless launched in 1999 as SeamlessWeb, an online food delivery service that specifically catered to corporate clients like bankers and lawyers who worked long hours. The startup focused on and grew its corporate business for the next few years before being acquired in 2006 by Aramark, a food services company, where it suffered from minimal investment and increasing competition.
SeamlessWeb users were unable to log onto the website or mobile app for more than an hour midday Tuesday as the service experienced technical difficulties. This left many hungry office workers scrambling to figure out how to get lunch without the online delivery service. Naturally, many Seamless users took to Twitter to voice their concerns and frustrations: @samfbiddle @seamless i don't even know what to do right now.
We've just discovered a new Android app that makes ordering takeout or delivery food as easy as a few touchscreen taps -- no matter what time of day or where you are. The name of the app is SeamlessWeb; it's live now in the Android Market; and it's absolutely free. Once SeamlessWeb is installed, it will use your phone's GPS to find nearby restaurants that are open and that can handle requests for takeout and delivery.