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LZ PCB introduced PCB products made by Glorysky from China at LED & OLED EXPO 2019, which runs June 25-27 at KINTEX.
A staff at the LZ PCB booth said, "Our product is price-competitive and delivered on time compared to other company's products," promoting a diverse lineup from Glorysky.
Exhibited by 250 companies from 13 countries around the world, LED & OLED Expo exhibits a wide range of LED items including OLED, optical and laser equipment, parts and materials. Prospecting the trend of the LED industry, LED & OLED Expo is preparing to take a big leap towards the era of optical convergence with the development of new technology along with the cutting-edge IoT, big data and AI.
→ Go to LED & OLED EXPO 2019 news page
(LED & OLED EXPO 2019 Video Sketch)


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Riverton Township farmer Arthur Lister has been appointed to the Michigan Apple Committee by Gov. Rick Snyder, according to the website Northwest Michigan’s Second Wave. Lister is the owner of Lister Orchards.
Lister’s 900 acre farm produces apples, tart cherries, sweet cherries, peaches, pears and plums. He will be the new representative for District 5, replacing Scott Lewis.
Lister is a graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a seven-member committee that coordinates market development, educational activities and research for Michigan’s apple industry. The state has more than 800 apple growers and the industry accounts for an economic impact of more than $770 million annually.
The appointments are for three years and will expire April 1, 2016.

domain: news


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If it’s not artificial intelligence on investors’ minds, it may be this: What about electric vehicles?
The initial euphoria as EV companies launched and have worked to establish the beachhead against Tesla has waned as it’s taken more of a struggle to turn dreams into reality.
Investors this week will get more data from automakers, EV companies and otherwise, that should offer a clearer picture of the state of the art now and coming up.
Another big week of earnings ahead
It also includes reports from restaurant giant Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) – Get Free Report, a host of drug companies like Eli Lilly LLY, and smattering of energy companies, including BP (BPAQF) – Get Free Report and ConocoPhillips (COP) – Get Free Report.
Disney, which reports Wednesday after the market close, is now in a bitter proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz’s Trian Partners. Peltz insists the company, led by Bob Iger, is spending too much money and getting little in return from a portfolio of struggling assets like ESPN.
Disney shares are up 7.6% this year after a stagnant 2023. (The shares did participate in the year-end rally.) The stock, however, is off more than 50% after peaking at $201 in early 2021.
Rate cuts are coming, Jerry Powell insists
In the background, of course: Investors are awaiting the first interest-rate cut that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said will be coming. But there were two issues that couldn’t be resolved when Powell offered his assurance rates will move lower.
When the first rate cut will come. About all we know it won’t be in March. How big it will be.
At his news conference after last week’s Fed meeting, Powell did say the U.S. economy is in good shape, an idea mostly reinforced with a bullish jobs report on Friday.
Skeptics wondered, though, if increasing corporate layoffs a stagnant real estate market and other signs of stagnation belie Powell’s optimistic view.
His view was cheery enough that stocks totally recovered from the slump that the Fed boss himself caused Wednesday afternoon.
The S&P 500, the Dow and the Nasdaq-100 Index set new all-time highs. Led by — what else — tech stocks, especially Meta Platforms META, with its 20.3% gain after reporting record earnings, revenue and the start of a dividend.
Interest rates also fell, with the 10-year Treasury yield, which guides on mortgage rates, was just above 4%.
The big question on stocks is if the momentum can continue.
Automakers ramp up earnings
Elon Musk insists that Tesla is an artificial-intelligence and robotics company.
A couple gets to set up camp thanks to their Rivian
The problem he has learned this past week is investors apparently view Tesla as a car company. And a wide-open market to Tesla is increasingly competitive.
More on electric vehicles and climate change
The auto earnings reports will appear this week and the next two.
They’ve had to deal with higher costs (thanks to a UAW strike this past summer), supply-chain issues of just getting parts, and frustration that prices and operating costs are problematic to would-be new buyers.
In short, the question is if the EV market followed the classic pattern of many companies starting up and struggling to stay alive.
Toyota is in a position to be snarky. Its US shares are up 10.5% this year to Tesla’s 24.4% decline.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has been skeptical EVs will be adopted as fast as Musk and others insist. Maybe in developed countries, he concedes, but not in countries with the charging infrastructure is not in place, he said recently.


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The Chinese cryptocurrency Chia is attracting the interest of investors, an element that is estimated to be seen in the demand for hardware. Chia is a creation of BitTorrent creator, Bram Cohen.
The creators of Chia claim that this cryptocurrency is distinguished for its security, transparency and decentralised character, so that it can attract all aspiring miners. Mining cryptocurrencies, however, also require the purchase of appropriate hardware equipment. Chia does not require strong graphics cards to extract, but enough unused hard disk or SSD storage.
Many are quick to warn that the rise of a cryptocurrency could create market shortages for products such as SSDs or HDDs. It is still too early to predict the course of Chia, but those interested in the blockchain economy are eagerly awaiting the start of its trading, which will take place in early May of 2021.
However, in the Chinese market, there is already an upward trend in the prices of hard drives, in view of the expected rise in interest in the new cryptocurrency.


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While 2015 is drawing to a close, the security fraud community is preparing for more battles ahead in 2016.
The security of mainframe computers - the so-called "big iron", which is mainly used by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data and transaction processing - is not a topic that has garnered much interest from the public.
Securing Smart Cities, the not-for-profit global initiative addressing the cyber security challenges of smart cities, released guidelines jointly developed by Securing Smart Cities and the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) for the adoption of smart city technology.
Point of sale (POS) systems – what consumers often call the checkout system - are often the weak link in the chain and the choice of malware.
Gary Warner recently became the Chief Threat Scientist at PhishMe.
Reading our newsletter every Monday will keep you up-to-date with security news.
Receive a daily digest of the latest security news.


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Startup updates: Punchbowl, Zagster, Bizulu
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Framingham-based Punchbowl.com has launched a new shopping service, dubbed Shopping Aisle, which offers online shopping for holiday supplies, decorations and gift cards.
The company, which to date has focused on party planning and digital greeting cards, said in a news release that the new site aims to offer relevant item recommendations to consumers based on previous actions on the site.
The site aims to become the "de facto destination for consumers who want a one-stop, convenient solution for the holidays," the company said.
Zagster brings bike sharing to MIT
Cambridge-based startup Zagster said it has brought its bike sharing program to University Park at MIT development in Cambridge.
The company said it has 15 bikes available on demand for tenants of University Park, at a cost of $9 a day. Zagster said it has partnered with Forest City Management on the program.
University Park includes four residential complexes, 10 office buildings and 250,000 square feet of hotel, restaurants and retail space.
Zagster is currently taking part in the MassChallenge startup accelerator in South Boston.
Auction site Bizulu opens Beverly office
Online auction startup Bizulu has opened a new office at the Cummings Center in Beverly.
The startup, led by Beverly natives Patrick Gillis and Brendan Smith, offers a B2C auction platform that allows users to tap social media to sell their products. A seller, for instance, promotes its upcoming auctions by updating its status with auction details to Twitter and Facebook followers.
Bizulu said it gives charitable nonprofits the opportunity to use its site for free.
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The BBJ’s Startups & Venture Capital Daily covers the region’s exciting venture-funded sector, from the teams of innovators with the ideas to the VCs who provide the funding.


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21 March 2022
With a vision to make Indonesia a cashless society, one of our clients, Walepay, collaborated with us, LimeCommerce, to create a reliable, secure e-money mobile application. We’re trying to disrupt the existing FinTech scene in Indonesia as a worthy competitor, competing with the other 53 mobile app-based FinTech businesses.
Current Condition, and the Future of FinTech
Financial technology, or “FinTech,” has been developed along with the rise of the smartphone era, especially within the last 3 years. There are tons of products that lie under the “FinTech” category. One of them is online payment, which development has been advanced and used significantly for the last five years. As of now, there is more than one method of online payment. One of the most popular ones (and happened to be the favorite among our employees) is the e-wallet, which growth is incrementally huge within the past few years worldwide.
According to EY’s 2019 Global FinTech Adoption Index, almost every respondent they interviewed has already aware of the existence of FinTech, and 64% of them have used at least one FinTech product in their lives. That’s almost 100% compared to 2017’s FinTech adoption rate, which was only 33%! They’re interested in trying new FinTech products because of the attractive rates and fees. We also conduct a simple observation by ourselves in Indonesia (and it might apply to other countries). Small business owners started to use the existing e-wallet on their e-commerce websites to increase their revenue. Aside from the conventional payment method such as bank transfers and credit cards, Indonesians will use a popular e-wallet like Go-Pay, OVO, and Dana. The tally, by far, has reached 54 e-wallets in Indonesia. And we’re sure there will be more e-wallet to join the competition in the future. The mobile app-based payment method is growing even larger, and we don’t think it’s not going to stop anytime soon. In the future, we’ll have even more payment options. Right now, Bank Indonesia has issued the standardization of QR code-based payment. The adoption of QR code-based payment has entered its early stage in the market. Some eCommerce already have this payment option enabled, even for non-online-based transactions like using the KRL Commuter Line, Greater Jakarta citizens’ favorite public transportation. With such support from the government, we could expect big adoption for QR code-based payment by Indonesian business owners shortly. Disrupting the FinTech Industry To stay competitive, business owners need to understand what has changed in the industry quickly: analyze the situation, plan how to react to it, adapt accordingly. The existence of the FinTech industry has changed the digital landscape a lot; almost every giant e-commerce in Indonesia supports payment using multiple FinTech options, whether it’s P2P lending, e-money/e-wallet, or other FinTech products.
accelerating Commerce, Begin your digital transformation.
Start your project with LimeCommerce


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Native Instruments has announced the release of Kinetic Treats, a free instrument for Kontakt Player.
At the core of Kinetic Treats is a library of carefully sampled children’s toys. This instrument is capable of creating evolving sounds and textures.
The instrument incorporates a unique 3D interface that enables high-level control of sonic parameters via the movements of a vintage music box and a tin robot. KINETIC TREATS is free to all NI newsletter subscribers until December 31.
KINETIC TREATS is the brainchild of renowned sound designer Jeremiah Savage. In keeping with his previous Native Instruments creation KINETIC METAL, the instrument blends and mangles meticulously sampled sounds into rich, morphing textures which range from the instantly familiar to the unrecognisable.
Native Instruments has also announced that is giving away a $25 e-voucher for use on any purchase from the NI online store. One lucky winner will also become the proud owner of Komplete 11 Ultimate, a Komplete Kontrol S49 keyboard, and Maschine Jam.
The offer (freebie, competition and e-voucher) are available until December 31st. Kinetic Treats requires the latest version of Kontakt 5 or the free Kontakt 5 player.


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Enterprise Ireland has launched a €200K pilot competitive feasibility fund targeted towards counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and south Tipperary in the southeast of Ireland. The aim is to nurture indigenous start-ups in the ICT, industrial and food sectors and to help such companies to get off the ground and create jobs, particularly since the region has been plunged into a deep unemployment crisis of late.
Waterford, in particular, has taken a big hit, especially with the closure of the Talk Talk call centre plant and the scaling back of jobs at the pharmaceutical firm Teva, as well as at healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline and the iconic Waterford Crystal of late. Another county that has been struggling with high unemployment, particularly with Greencore’s closure of the sugar beet factory there in 2005, is Carlow.
But the Government is now hoping that this fund will encourage indigenous start-ups to scale up and create jobs in the region. Funding of up to €25,000 will be provided to start-up companies that are seen to have the potential to create jobs in the southeast.
Richard Bruton, TD, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, launched the start-up fund today. It was previously announced as part of the South East Employment Action Plan, published by the minister last month.
Enterprise Ireland says the purpose of the fund will be to accelerate the growth of start-up companies in the ICT, industrial and food sectors that have the capability to succeed in global markets.
However, the closing date for applications is not too long away: start-ups or solo entrepreneurs have until 30 January 2012 to submit their applications.
Speaking this morning, Bruton alluded to the southeast’s region’s ongoing high rates of unemployment in comparison to the rest of Ireland.
He said the fund would aim to help indigenous businesses that will be in a position to create jobs.
He urged businesses in the southeast to apply for the funds available.
“In this way we can create high-growth, job-creating businesses in the region and finally make a start at addressing the serious problems it faces,” said Bruton said.


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Peruvian Organismo de Inversión Privada en Telecomunicaciones (Osiptel), telecommunications regulator in the country, has officially reported on February 12th that it is requiring operators in the country to implement a web and mobile application to provide personalized information and make digital procedures easier both for fixed and mobile telephony customers, as well as internet and pay TV clients. As reported from the entity, the measure will be valid for those telecommunications companies with more than 500 thousand subscribers in the country.
‘Now users will not need to leave their homes to face procedures, nor will they have to wait to be attended through a call center’, said Rafael Muente Schwarz, President at Osiptel’s Board of Directors. The executive explained that operator’s applications are required to achieve various digital procedures, such as hiring and cancelling services; migrate from one plan to another; cancel services for a certain period of time; requests for an address change; and others. In addition, Muente Scwart explained that users ‘may also use the application to submit claims, complaints and appeals linked with the services hired’.
As reported from Osiptel, the applications must be available seven days a week, and will be compatible ‘with the most used operating systems’. This way, they will be accessed and executed from various devices, including PCs, laptops, tablets and cell phones. The measure will be valid as of sixty business days after the Osiptel resolution is published, that is, from mid-May.
Osiptel’s initiative joins ‘Me quiero salir’, a platform launched in June 2020 in Chile by the National Consumer Service (SERNAC), which allows subscribers to cancel telecommunications offers in that country.


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American small and medium-size companies that rely on China are scrambling to adjust their business plans in response to the escalating trade war.Traderead more
Here are the products that stand to be the most affected by China's new tariffs on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods.Marketsread more
The European Union will respond in kind if the U.S. imposes tariffs on France over digital tax plan, EU chief Donald Tusk told G-7.Technologyread more
The world's second biggest economy is past a point where it cannot ignore its enormous debt anymore, according to an analyst.China Economyread more
Trump said he will raise tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods to 30% and hike duties on another $300 billion in products to 15%.Politicsread more
China said on Saturday it strongly opposes Washington's decision to levy additional tariffs on $550 billion worth of Chinese goods and warned the United States of consequences...Politicsread more
Stocks dropped after Donald Trump ordered that U.S. manufacturers find alternatives to their operations in China.US Marketsread more
The final week of August could be highly volatile as markets fret over the economy and the latest developments in trade wars.Market Insiderread more
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida said Friday that the global economy has deteriorated in the past month.Marketsread more
The latest escalation in the trade war ups the odds the economy will fall into recession and that the Fed will aggressively cut rates.Market Insiderread more
"We don't need China and, frankly, would be far better off without them," Trump tweeted.Politicsread more
If you watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, your beer and chicken wings might have been accompanied by a slice — or two — of pizza.
An estimated 48 million Americans order take-out or delivery for each Super Bowl, according to the National Restaurant Association, and, for some, pizza's on the menu.
Pizza Hut sold nearly $12 million in food across digital platforms alone during Super Bowl Sunday, setting a single-day digital sales record — up from around $10 million from 2015's Super Bowl.
Although Pizza Hut did not disclose the full sales numbers for Super Bowl Sunday, a spokesman noted that digital sales usually account for about half of overall sales for the chain.
"Throughout the history of our company we have always demonstrated that we will make the improvements needed for our customers first, then our business," said Jeff Fox, chief brand and concept officer for Pizza Hut, in a statement.
The fast food chain said that more than 60 percent of the online orders were placed via mobile Web browsers or through its app. In fact, nearly $1 million in sales came directly from the iPhone app, according to the company.
Ordering pizzas online is getting to be big business, and Pizza Hut has stiff competition. Domino's has been utilizing its online pizza tracker for some time and pulled out all the stops this Super Bowl by partnering with Amazon.
Dominoes offered customers a chance to order delivery using the Amazon Echo just in time for Super Bowl 50.
Of course, there is also the competition for Super Bowl finger food.
Americans were set to eat 1.3 billion chicken wings over Super Bowl weekend, according to the National Chicken Council. That's up 3 percent, or more than 37 million wings, from last year's game. An estimated 75 percent of wings eaten will come from restaurants.
That's a lot of chicken.
Correction: Nearly $1 million in Pizza Hut sales came from the iPhone app. An earlier version misstated the origin of the sales.


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Deep Silver have announced that their latest title, Metro: Last Light has enjoyed a stunning first week of sales.
The sales come significantly outselling its predecessor Metro 2033 over the same launch period, and earning stellar reviews from the gaming media on all three platforms. The sales of Metro: Last Light included:
- On Windows PC, the game more than tripled Metro 2033’s worldwide sales over the same opening week period
- In the US, Metro: Last Light sold through more boxed units in its first week of sale than Metro 2033 has managed lifetime to date
- Across all formats worldwide, Metro: Last Light has sold more units in its first week of sale than Metro 2033 managed in 3 months
- Metro: Last Light has shot to #1 in the weekly charts in multiple European territories including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and also in the UK, where publisher Deep Silver recorded their fourth straight week at number 1
Menno van der Bil, International Commercial Director at Deep Silver stated:
“Metro: Last Light is Deep Silver’s most critically acclaimed game to date, We are delighted with the deserved critical and commercial success the game has achieved, and hope that this success represents a statement of intent for future quality titles from Deep Silver. We would like to thank 4A Games for their talent, passion and commitment in helping us reach this milestone.”
Andrew Prokhorov, Creative Director at 4A Games added:
“4A Games are honoured by the reception our latest project has received, We are a small but dedicated team who are lucky to have been given the creative freedom and support to make the kind of experience we dream, as gamers, of playing. Our work on Metro: Last Light continues with new single player DLC, and we look forward to revealing future projects from the team. We want to thank all the Metro fans for support we have received.”
This news follows that of the Season Pass which was revealed a short time ago. Have you recently brought Metro: Last Light? Let us know your thoughts on this latest Metro title via the comment section below.


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Looks like the rumors were true after all:
Sony Computer Entertainment America Lowers the Price of
Computer Entertainment System to $129.99
FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/—Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced that it has made its PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system more affordable than ever throughout North America.
Effective immediately, consumers can purchase the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $129.99/$139.99 CND. The company expects this latest price move to fuel consumer demand even further.
PlayStation 2 is the most popular gaming platform in North America, Europe/PAL territories and Japan/Asia, the only gaming platform to enjoy such widespread global success. To date, more than 101 million PlayStation 2 units and approximately one billion pieces of software for the PlayStation 2 have shipped worldwide, making it the fastest-selling gaming platform in the world.
So if you’ve been holding out on picking up a PS2 till the price came down a bit more then your patience has just been rewarded.


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Droid Incredible Owners will be Happy to Hear Gingerbread is Coming
Droid Incredible owners were dealt a depressing blow last week when rumors began circulating that their beloved device wouldn’t be receiving Gingerbread. Well guess what? The rumors were wrong and Incredible owners now have something to smile about thanks to a few Verizon support pdfs that have appeared in preparation for an oncoming Gingerbread update. While some may argue that Gingerbread doesn’t really bring about any major changes for Incredible owners, it’s knowing that your device is up-to-date and still being supported that counts when you’re a consumer.
No word yet on when the update will begin rolling out but I expect it won’t be too long now.
Update: According to the guys over at Android Central The push is scheduled to start Tuesday, Aug. 16, with an initial 10,000 updates. Another 50,000 will get it on Wednesday, and everybody else on Friday.
You might also like
Qualcomm on Tuesday announced its latest mobile processor, the quad-core Snapdragon 210. Aimed at entry-level smartphones and tablets, features include multimode 3G/4G LTE and LTE Dual SIM configurations, full HD playback,
According to the latest research from Nielsen, “the high-profile launch of Apple’s iPhone 4S in the Fall had an enormous impact on the proportion of smartphone owners who chose an
Norton has released a new, security app for Android handsets today with a number of anti-theft and anti-malware features needed to stay protected. Called Norton Mobile Security Lite, it’s a


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1 September 2014: Retail payments network PayPoint has welcomed the Irish Energy Regulator’s call to retailers to stop charging extra fees to pay-as-you-go customers for their gas and electricity payments in-store. At the same time, PayPoint is calling on banks in Ireland to reverse the recently imposed increases in cash banking charges, which are threatening small businesses and the most financially disadvantaged people in Ireland.
Seamus Smith, Managing Director of PayPoint UK & Ireland, said: “According to the Irish CSO, a fifth of Irish households don’t have a bank current account, includng 37% of those with the very lowest incomes. All these people depend on cash to pay for their essential services, such as gas and electricity pre-payments.
“Charging extra to cash payers for these basic human necessities cannot be justified. When retailers sign to provide payment services, they agree that they will not make extra charges to customers to use the service, so they should honour their contracts. We hope all other network operators will support the regulator’s call and look to enforce their contracts.”
PayPoint argues that the situation has been caused by the actions of the banks, which have in the last 18 months more than doubled charges to small businesses for banking cash.
“Nearly two-thirds of all consumer payments in Ireland are made in cash,” adds Seamus Smith, “including virtually all transactions for transactions less than €10 – the typical amount that consumers spend on meter top-ups. Retailers have to bank this cash and the banks’ unjustifiably high charges are a major cause of these problems for small businesses and the financially disadvantaged.”
Head of Corporate Affairs, PayPoint
01707 600356 / 07900 418960
Note to editors
The retail payment network operators collect consumers’ prepayments on behalf of the energy companies after collecting the cash from the retailers via their bank accounts. Over the last 12 to 18 months, the banks have more than doubled the cost to retailers of depositing cash into their account. Whereas it used to cost €0.17- €0.20 for every €100 deposited, it now costs €0.45 at AIB, €0.48 at Bank of Ireland and €0.50 (0.05%) at Ulster Bank.


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Sofia Coppola Gossip
Sofia Coppola gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
It was announced a couple of months ago that Natalie Portman is the new face of Miss Dior Cherie. Her topless kitten ad is below. Now the commercial, directed by Sofia Coppola, has been released online. Her face is exquisite. Beautiful lighting. Typical Coppola atmosphere. But what’s it lacking? Something… I can’t put my finger on it. Full Story
Sofia Coppola is presenting Somewhere at the Venice Film Festival. Apparently the Italian media went all Twi-Hard over her arrival. Being a Coppola is a big deal there. Love what she’s wearing. It’s Louis Vuitton of course. Sofia has forever been tight with Marc Jacobs. And that bag she’s carrying is named for her, a Louis Vuitton Sofia Coppola Carryall. Full Story


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In an era dominated by smartphones and wireless technology, it’s easy to overlook the significance of landline services. However, Verizon, a telecommunications giant, continues to invest in and improve its landline service offerings. In this article, we will explore the future of communication and what lies ahead for Verizon landline service.
The Evolution of Landline Services
Landlines have come a long way since their inception. Initially used solely for voice communication, they have evolved to offer a wide range of services including internet connectivity and digital television. This evolution has allowed landlines to remain relevant despite the rise of wireless alternatives.
Verizon has been at the forefront of this evolution, continuously expanding its landline service offerings. The company understands that while wireless technology is convenient, there are still many situations where a reliable landline connection is essential. This includes areas with limited wireless coverage or during emergencies when power outages can disrupt cellular networks.
Enhanced Connectivity Options
Verizon recognizes the importance of providing customers with versatile connectivity options. As such, they have been investing heavily in expanding their fiber optic network infrastructure for improved landline services. Fiber optic cables allow for faster data transmission speeds and more stable connections compared to traditional copper lines.
With this enhanced connectivity comes a host of benefits for subscribers. Faster internet speeds enable seamless streaming, online gaming, and remote work capabilities. Additionally, fiber optic connections provide better call quality and reliability compared to older technologies.
Bundled Services for Convenience
As consumer demands shift towards integrated solutions that offer multiple services under one provider, Verizon has responded by offering bundled packages that combine landline services with internet and television subscriptions.
By bundling these services together, customers can enjoy cost savings while enjoying the convenience of having all their communication needs met by a single provider. This approach also allows Verizon to retain existing customers while attracting new ones who are looking for a comprehensive communication solution.
Embracing Digital Transformation
In an increasingly digital world, Verizon recognizes the need to adapt and embrace technology-driven solutions. This includes leveraging cloud-based communication platforms that integrate landline services with mobile applications and other digital tools.
By embracing digital transformation, Verizon can offer innovative features such as virtual phone systems, unified communications, and advanced call management solutions. These tools enable businesses to enhance their productivity and streamline their communication processes.
While wireless technology continues to dominate the communication landscape, Verizon recognizes the importance of landline services and invests in their improvement. With enhanced connectivity options, bundled services, and a focus on digital transformation, Verizon is well-positioned to meet the evolving communication needs of both residential and business customers. As we look to the future, it’s clear that Verizon’s commitment to innovation will ensure that landline services remain relevant in our increasingly interconnected world.
This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.


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The German company's Swedish ticketing operation will become a pan-Scandinavian one as part of a joint venture with Egmont's Venuepoint
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Eventim revenue exceeded €1bn for the first time in a nine month period, as live entertainment growth “exceeded expectations” and online sales “significantly improved"
By Anna Grace on 21 Nov 2019
German entertainment behemoth CTS Eventim has enjoyed a profitable 2019 so far, with the creation of promoter network Eventim Live and expansion of online ticket sales driving “significant growth” in live entertainment and ticketing respectively.
The company’s share price has risen by 61.5% since January, climbing from €33.8 to to €54.6, following a “successful” first half of the year and strong third quarter results. Earlier this month, Eventim traded at an all-time high of €55.5.
At the time of writing, the company’s market capitalisation sat at €5.2 billion, a significant increase from the €3.9bn recorded in the first half of 2019, indicating an acceleration of growth as the year has progressed.
Group revenue surpassed €1bn for the first time in a nine-month period, up 16.5% from the same period in 2018 to €1.1bn. Normalised EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) also saw an increase from the previous year, rising 26.5% to €177m.
According to Eventim CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, the company has “significantly improved” its online ticketing volume in 2019. The company has sold 36.8m tickets through its online channels so far this year – a 9.2% increase year-on-year – which has helped drive ticketing revenue up by 11% to €306.9m.
“Our aim is to offer international tour opportunities to artists from all over the world”
Schulenberg adds that the increasing number of tickets sales through digital channels “has positive and long-term impacts” for the company.
Live entertainment revenue “exceeded expectations” rising 19% to €781.4m, whereas normalised EBITDA grew “disproportionately” by 52.7% from the first nine months of 2018, reaching €57.8m. Eventim puts the growth down to “major tours” put on by Eventim Live promoters in Germany, as well as by newly acquired promoters abroad.
Russian promoter Talent Concert International (TCI) was the most recent addition to the pan-European promoter network, with Austria’s Barracuda Music potentially joining in the near future.
“CTS Eventim is on course to achieve the targets for the 2019 financial year,” comments Schulenberg. “The establishment of our promoter network, Eventim Live, is opening up additional avenues for us in the [live entertainment] field. Our aim is to offer international tour opportunities to artists from all over the world.”
The CTS boss adds that “by taking a stake in France’s market leader, France Billet, we have also achieved a major and strategic step forward in the ticketing segment. In this way, CTS Eventim is extending and reinforcing its market position in a commercially attractive and culturally diversified market.”
Read IQ‘s anniversary feature on 30 years of CTS Eventim below.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.


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Tech workers suing over an alleged no-poaching agreement among Silicon Valley firms are fighting an attempt by defendants to ban evidence that might portray Steve Jobs as a bad guy.
The case centers on alleged secret agreements struck among companies including Apple, Google and Adobe that they would not try to hire each others’ workers. The tech workers say that drove down their wages and restricted their mobility.
In the pretrial period, plaintiffs referred to materials such as outside blog posts referencing Jobs and Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography of the former Apple chief. Isaacson’s biography reveals both a “good Steve” and a “bad Steve.” People, in Jobs’ eye, were either “enlightened” or “an asshole,” Isaacson writes in the book.
“Manipulation, selfishness, or downright rudeness, we couldn’t figure out the motivation behind his madness,” reads one statement from the book.
Last week, defendants said that information was negative hearsay and improper character evidence, introduced by plaintiffs to portray Jobs as “a bully.” Emails between Jobs and other Silicon Valley executives are permissible as evidence, defendants said in a court filing, “but free-floating character assassination is improper.”
But not everything in Isaacson’s biography is hearsay, and some statements could be used as evidence in the trial, the tech workers now say. In an effort to have material from the book banned as evidence, companies are mischaracterizing it, plaintiffs said in a court document filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Apple’s ebook antitrust case employed statements from the biography as evidence in the trial, said the plaintiffs, who include Silicon Valley engineers and other workers.
At best, defendants’ objections are premature, plaintiffs said. At worst, they signal an intention to interfere with the presentation of admissible evidence, “merely because such evidence may also reflect poorly on Mr. Jobs,” they said in the filing.
Email entered into the record
Apple did not immediately respond to comment.
Jobs’ personality, the plaintiffs say, is already on full display as evidence in the no-hiring case. Case in point: “If you hire a single one of these people, that means war,” Jobs told Google co-founder Sergey Brin at one point, according to a previous filing.
“Defendants will have a full and fair opportunity to object to plaintiffs’ presentation of evidence, including evidence concerning Mr. Jobs, at trial,” plaintiffs said.
Workers seek US$3 billion in damages in the case, which is expected to go to trial in late May.


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All You Need to Know About Apple’s New Electric Car
Electric vehicles (EVs) are on their way to become the Model Ts of the 2020s.
Much like their centennial counterparts, they are the raging tech-aspired phenomena of this decade with similar likeness in expected features: cheap, compact and revolutionary of the contemporary automobile industry.
Note that the operative word is ‘expected’. It is the desire for improved efficiency, eco-friendliness and affordability that has attracted the attention of tech heavyweights into investing greatly upon their success, the latest among such top cats being Apple Inc.
Yesterday, Apple and Hyundai Motors were reported to have agreed on their plans to collaborate on the manufacturing and development of autonomous cars by as early as March 2021. While the news wasn’t surprising to have followed on the heels of the Reuters report last month on Apple’s ambitious plans to embark into autonomous car and battery technology by 2024, it certainly sent market sentiments flying high (shares of Hyundai and Kia rose as high as 14.6% and 9.1% respectively).
Let’s see the possibilities presented by Apple’s plans to launch a self-driving vehiclethat will allow the user to input their destination and be driven there with “little or no engagement”!
Giving Tesla A Run For its Money?
A market leader in consumer electronics till now, Apple’s interest in the EV market is apparent from the sheer size of the $2.55trn-large Total Addressable Market (TAM), almost six times higher than the global smartphone market ($420bn). Apart from that, a desire to create its own intellectual property in the vehicular market, build premium product lines and the opportunity to monetise its allied services from autonomous vehicles are abundant reasons to have propelled this charge.
Apple has been keeping its escapades into the vehicular industry pretty close to its chest for a while now. In 2014, it launched Project Titan to explore an entry into the EV market. The project was so secretive, that four years later, 190 members working on it were jointly laid off in 2019 due to reasons unknown.
The project was pegged to die shortly thereafter. Only, it was rejuvenated with the entry of former Apple executive Doug Field and newly-hired Steve MacManus, Michael Schwekutsch and Stuart Bowers (all jumping ship from Tesla) to oversee Titan.
If that wasn’t enough to hint at Apple’s categorical rivalry with Tesla, then Elon Musk’s remark on being turned down for acquisition by Apple CEO Tim Cook, struck quite an evidence!
Fun Fact: A novel self-driven employee shuttle program called PAIL (Palo Alto to Infinite Loop) is also being designed by Apple to ferry its employees around the Silicon Valley. Volkswagen’s T6 Transporter vans are being used to install the self-driving softwares for now.
How Do You Like Them EV Apples?
Following are some of the cutting-edge technological employments that have set the industry expectations rolling from Apple EVs:
- Radical advance in “monocell” battery design (more space in smaller packaging).
- Expectedly reduced costs and higher range.
- LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, akin to those in a few models of the iPhone and iPad are likely to lay the defining capabilities of self-driving systems (complete with 3D navigational views).
- Possibly experimental adoption of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) power cells in batteries to reduce overheating.
According to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2017, Apple’s autonomous test vehicles drove an average of 118 miles before a human safety driver could take control. This was a significant improvement from the 1 mile per disengagement test recorded a year before, showing promising results for a self-driven car system.
The Hyundai Deal
The reports circling the proposed collaboration are still speculative. Officials from both the companies have indicated corporate inclinations towards partnerships with other players in the same sector as well.
For now, the initial Korean IT News report has emphasised on the release of a “beta version” of an EV by 2022. Production is expected to begin in Kia Corporation’s (34% Hyundai-owned) plants in Georgia, USA.
Apple’s business model is based on innovation and consumer-centric devices. It has been successful so far owing to their reserved bases due to the hallmark easy-to-use designs and convenient data migration plus synchronisation across renewed product lines.
That’s well and good for smart devices and in-built IoT-adapted systems. But how do you reconcile this data integration in unformularised (and combustible) devices like EVs?
It may have been seemingly conceivable once upon a time but ain’t no catalytic innovations of Steve Jobs around to fall back on now, are there? (RIP!)
Second, automobiles is a fairly capital-intensive industry where unfortunately, Apple has no experience. Here’s where the natural adaptation of partnering with Hyundai (or possibly others?) makes sense. But even then, getting a vehicle into production and assembly lines by 2024 with all kitschy Apple features and bugs fixed, carries a non-zero risk profile.
Third, there is considerable investor-significance for Apple involved in this foray into an off-hand sector. Although the company has historically maintained higher profit margins, the EV market is huge with new players and emerging technologies coming into the fore every day. Gross margins are estimated to be much lower than Apple’s other products, especially if the company follows the outsourced manufacturing business model over vertical integration. A massive growth runway, albeit infiltrated with layers of execution risk and lower consolidated margin outlook, is perhaps going to be the theme around which the stock trades over the medium term as Apple’s EV bet continues to gather steam!
The Race is On!
This sort of inroad by a tech behemoth into the EV industry isn’t unprecedented. Baidu, the popular Chinese search engine, also unveiled its plans recently to manufacture original equipment for EVs with Geely, another Chinese automaker. Not just Big Tech, but the startup-interest in the EV segment lately is nothing short of immense.
However, few of them have the same commitment to innovation, promising sales and distribution, marketing strategy or immaculate supply-chain management as Apple, which is crucial to make a mark in a sector that is becoming increasingly symbolic of a green and fossil fuel-minus world economy. So, drive safely, iCars!
(Originally published January 13th 2021 in transfin.in)


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Silver Wants All-Star Game In Charlotte Soccer, Boxing Stream On Social Channels NBA Raises Money For Sager Charity Harvard Forum Looks At Tech In Sports Minnesota Sports Facilities Leadership Getting Overhaul Minnesota United Unveils Inaugural Kits NBA All-Star Skills Challenge Underwhelms Front Row Motorsports Lands Two Sponsors Budapest May Withdraw City's '24 Games Bid Werner, Henry Have No Plans To Sell Red Sox
SBD/September 9, 2010/NFL Season Preview
Rams Slowly Working Rookie QB Bradford Into Marketing Plans
Published September 9, 2010
When the Rams signed No. 1 draft pick Sam Bradford to a six-year, $78M deal at the end of July, they brought into the fold arguably the biggest piece of the puzzle for the rebuilding franchise. But despite the excitement around the QB's arrival, you won’t see him in any major marketing efforts anytime soon. Both the Rams and his representatives at CAA are seeking to manage expectations while letting him develop on the field. “He really is the de facto face of the franchise, there's just no doubt about it,” said Rams Exec VP/Sales & Marketing & CMO Bob Reif. “But the key in all this is he asked us to treat him as a rookie, just like every other rookie.” With many new faces this season, the franchise also has de-emphasized individual players in its marketing efforts. But the Rams have not completely ignored their star rookie. “His face is on schedule cards and his face is on the side of our building with graphics that we put up, but along with our other key players -- Steven Jackson, James Laurinaitis, the people that are the future of this team,” Reif said. The Rams also have put Bradford in front of fans and sponsors at meet-and-greets, starting with a crowd of more than 300 stakeholders, sponsors and suiteholders in St. Louis the day after he was drafted. “Because of Sam,” Reif said, “in the month of June this year we did 33 events in the city of St. Louis that engaged the public. In 2009, we did three events. There is so much more opportunity to engage the public and such a high interest in the Rams.”
BOX-OFFICE HIT: The excitement around Bradford’s arrival has translated into increased ticket sales for the Rams, as the team’s new season-ticket sales were up 300% over the year-ago period as of Aug. 26. Renewals also were “a little bit ahead” of the same period last year and trending “slightly ahead” of the league average, according to Reif. In addition, Bradford has helped the Rams extend their reach into Oklahoma, where Sooners fans are eager to continue tracking the progress of the Heisman Trophy winner. Reif noted there was “an Oklahoma presence” for every open practice at training camp, and more than 800 fans drove the more than 500 miles from Oklahoma City to the Edward Jones Dome for the Rams’ Aug. 14 preseason opener against the Vikings. MainGate Inc. President & CEO Dave Moroknek, whose company handles the Rams’ online merchandise sales, said 35% of orders for Bradford-related merchandise are coming from Oklahoma. Rams preseason games aired in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, allowing the team to run ticket sales and marketing spots in those markets. But Reif said NFL regulations prohibit the team from marketing outside their home DMA during the regular season, restricting the team’s efforts to target Bradford’s college fans to the one-month preseason slate.
BRINGING HIM ALONG SLOWLY: Bradford’s representatives at CAA have been careful not to overburden the young QB with marketing commitments before he even plays a down, according to Howard Skall, who leads Bradford’s marketing team at the agency. “What we wanted to do going in was minimize his time with regard to marketing; try to give him some opportunity to make some good revenues in some areas where he could do that; and also try to build some relationships with some real blue chip companies so they could see what he's all about,” Skall said. Bradford recently signed an exclusive multiyear shoe and apparel deal with Nike, and he also has an exclusive memorabilia deal with Peach State Sports. He signed promotional deals with Sprint and Gatorade that began around the Super Bowl in February and ran through early August, and he teamed with Visa for a promotional opportunity around the NFL Rookie Symposium at the end of June. Bradford also signed autograph deals with Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, Press Pass and Sage. “I'm pretty confident he has made more money on trading card signings this year than any other rookie in NFL history, just looking at the numbers and the price point he was at,” said Skall, who has knowledge of such figures, having previously served as VP/Player Marketing for Players Inc. But Skall said that Bradford has declined some opportunities that weren’t the right fit. “We've turned down some stuff in the QSR category and in the clothing category,” he said. “We've really tried to look at brands like Gatorade and Nike that he uses and likes, and that can help, in the case of Gatorade, down the road lead to a potential larger endorsement deal because they now know him.”


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Kiwi drops after Q2 CPI data
On Monday, the New Zealand dollar traded lower during Asia trade, following a poorer than expected consumer price data, which widened the scope for a lower official cash rate in the nearer future.
The currency pair NZD/USD was worth 0.7083, dipping 0.51% after the CPI data.
New Zealand’s second quarter CPI was 0.4% for the quarter-on-quarter as well as year-on-year figures. below the 0.5% revenue observed for both periods. As for the next rate review by the RBNZ, it’s scheduled on August 11, although the major bank policymakers might be concerned by the continued surge in house-related inflation and hold steady at 2.25%.
On Thursday, the RBNZ is going to release an updated economic assessment and the market is supposed to lift bets for a 25 basis-point cut in August from a currently elevated 70% chance priced in before the data.
Elsewhere, the currency pair USD/JPY surged 0.83%, hitting 105.75, while AUD/USD was worth 0.7586, up 0.08%. Meanwhile, GBP/USD hit 1.3256, showing a 0.57% rise.


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You probably knew there was something going on behind those browser extensions you use to add features to Chrome and Firefox, right? I mean, no one really offers anything for free on the internet--there's always a cost. Well, you were right, and it's probably higher than you thought.
A new investigative report from The Washington Post's Geoffrey Fowler, who previously shared how your iPhone is leaking personal information while you sleep, now details how the extensions you add to your browser are not only capturing an extraordinary amount of your personal information, but are selling it online as marketing research.
Fowler says he reported his findings, obtained through an outside security firm, to both Google and Mozilla, the makers of the affected browsers, and both immediately deactivated the suspect plug-ins. Still, according to the report, as many as four million people's Web browsing history was available online as a result of those extensions alone.
More personal information than you might think.
You might think browsing history alone isn't nearly as bad as having your personal credit card or banking information exposed, but consider for a moment that the URL of the sites you visit often contains a lot more information than you might think.
In fact, according to Fowler, they were able to view medical information that included the names of patients, doctors, and prescriptions. They also had access to flight confirmation numbers, cloud-based documents stored in Microsoft's OneDrive, and even sensitive work projects that employers probably aren't too interested in having out in the open.
That's a lot of personal information for a browser extension presumably designed to make it easier to zoom in on photos, as one of the examples called HooverZoom claimed was its purpose.
Fowler worked with a researcher named Sam Jadali, who the report says identified six plugins that were collecting user data and then selling that information online. Those six were called Hover Zoom, SuperZoom, SpeakIt!, SaveFrom.net Helper, FairShare Unlock, and PanelMeasurement.
If you installed any of those, there's nothing to do now about the offending extensions, they've already been disabled by Google and Mozilla.
But what about your information? That's another question altogether. Unfortunately, the answer is not great news.
There's more bad news.
In addition to those six extensions, another survey referenced in the report said that North Carolina State University researchers found as many as 60 million people are using browser extensions that leak data. They may not be as egregious as selling your Web history online, but they collect personal information, often without transparent disclosures about exactly what they do.
This kind of leak of personal information is why Google says it's changing the way extensions work in Chrome, so developers won't have access to your Web traffic. Although, in fairness, it's worth pointing out that Chrome still has access to that information, and Google most certainly uses it for its own purposes.
What do you do now?
The most obvious step to take is to be sure that if you're adding any kind of browser plugin or extension that it's from a developer you consider reputable. Then, even when that's the case, look at exactly what you are agreeing to, in terms of access to your information. If a browser claims it needs access to view or change your Web history, it's probably best to steer clear unless there's a good reason otherwise.
And if you've been using extensions that are selling your information, there's probably not a lot you can do about it. Most of the time, it's hard to figure out exactly where it went, and even if you do, you probably agreed to let them have access. All the more reason to consider this a very difficult lesson in how the internet works.
Digital marketers continue to look for new ways to identify and target you with relevant ads, and some of them are less-than-transparent about how they do that. Your job is to be informed and vigilant. After all, if you won't guard your personal information, you certainly can't count on your technology to do if for you.


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Market for Piezoelectric Devices Expected to Near $25 Billion by 2023
Emerging applications, increased funding, and rising demand for energy-harvesting techniques are expected to boost market growth for piezoelectric devices.
The worldwide market for piezoelectric devices is projected to reach a total market size of $24.9 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from a 2018 level of $20.1 billion, according to a report available from Research and Markets. Emerging applications for piezoelectric devices across different industry verticals, coupled with increased funding from government and investors alike, is boosting market growth.
Another growth factor is the rising demand for energy-harvesting techniques using non-conventional energy sources. However, legal restrictions with regard to the use of lead, the high cost of materials, and burgeoning research and development costs are the some of the major factors expected to limit the adoption of piezoelectric devices over the forecast period.
For more information, visit www.researchandmarkets.com.


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New discoveries and successes moving forward with CentOS 6 on the desktop.
The sale of Lufthansa's IT unit may have attracted some heavyweight contenders in a purchase war.
Is Netflix's opinion on the proposed Comcast-TWC merger a valid point on monopolies, or a self-serving critique aimed at better deals for itself?
Carrying the iPad around, especially in the office, calls for a protective case. These new cases from Logitech serve that need, and are also unique stands. We go hands on with the iPad Air cases.
The ease of government access to individuals’ telecommunications metadata was under the microscope today at the first day of public hearings on the revision of the Telecommunications Act.
NBN Co is becoming a parody of itself as new CEO Bill Morrow strongarms would-be competitors and a multi billion dollar organisation justifies a 180-degree policy turnaround on the back of a single, non-representative speed test.
The Australian competition watchdog will continue to allow retail telecommunication service providers to use Telstra's copper network for another five years.
IBM has invested an undisclosed sum in Fluid, an e-commerce and omnichannel shopping company, to create a Watson-powered personal shopping app prototype for The North Face.
Hotels, retailers, and restaurants really need to lock down their point-of-sale systems, but don't have to sweat Web app attacks as much as financial services companies do.
Adobe's Social Media Intelligence Report highlights how dominant Facebook is becoming as a social outlet for marketers and how they need to continually tweak strategies like they do when Google changes algorithms.
Australian online email marketing firm is planning a host of new product launches over the next year after it received a record-breaking AU$268 million investment from US venture capital firm, Insight Venture Partners.
Our own David Gewirtz introduces a model that is able to provide IT organizations with the ability to quickly see which of their applications would best fit SaaS (software-as-a-service), PaaS (platform-as-a-service), or IaaS (infrastructure-as-a-service).
Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview has released to heaps of praise. Yet it's not enough to convince users to switch to the platform. Messaging, performance, regional support and mailbox management are areas to improve.
Apple has vowed its commitment to the environment on a new section of its website, announcing it will recycle any Apple product at no charge.
Will new functionality for Apple's platforms help sell wearable tech? It certainly can't hurt, but it does show that Google Glass is pushing an open model over Android-only.
Tip us off!
Can't find what you want or have a tip? Tell us about it and we will endeavour to cover this topic. Drop us a line


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A team of engineers from UK-based technology startup Scaled have developed the country’s first 3D printed electric vehicle.
Dubbed the Chameleon, the buggy-esque single seater has a 3D printed frame, and was developed over the course of several months by co-founders David Speight and Bob Bradley at the Rushy Platt Industrial Estate in Swindon. The team have made the vehicle available for driving demonstrations while it goes through extensive testing to ensure safety and functionality before a commercial launch.
Bradley states: “We hope to offer a viable alternative for those situations where a functional, sustainable electrical vehicle is attractive. Using this technology, it can also be adapted to a wide variety of different needs.”
The eco-friendly Chameleon
In its current state, the prototype is capable of a top speed of 45 mph, and weighs 150kg in total. It is powered by a Lynch electric motor, and also features a number of non-3D printed parts produced by students from the University of Birmingham’s Racing Team. The project was ultimately intended to showcase the capabilities of the company’s Chameleon Platform – a comprehensive manufacturing cell comprising a large-scale FDM 3D printer and complementary robotics systems.
Scaled also partnered with engineering software developer Rafinex for the project, and utilized the company’s stochastic topology optimization software to fine-tune the final geometry of the frame. Rafinex’s software is designed to test a set of random tensile and compressive loading conditions to optimize a structural design, ensuring the final product does not fail regardless of any unexpected environmental conditions.
As you might be able to tell, environmental sustainability is the name of the game here, so the team has opted for recycled PA6 manufactured by materials specialist LEHVOSS Group as the primary material of the frame. Its strength and durability reportedly make it a great contender for an automotive frame, all while helping the circular economy. The idea spawned from the notion that waste material could and should be used to manufacture ecological vehicle components, promoting recycling while also saving on weight.
Bradley explains: “30% of the vehicle included recycled PA6. In the future it will definitely be possible to up the amount of circular plastics in use for this type of thing – something we are very excited about.”
Perfect for short-distance transport
The Chameleon was designed for a fairly specific purpose, and that’s short-distance travel. It’s aimed at a select group of potential customers that need to rapidly cover short distances, including site-patrolling security firms, airport staff, and train station staff. The car could also be great as a company vehicle for nearby employees to get to and from work (although this is probably best limited to small towns).
In recent years, 3D printing has seen increasing use in the development of eco-friendly transport devices. Just last month, industrial design graduate Kristen Tapping unveiled her use of 3D printing to produce a bicycle wheel capable of purifying air of pollutants. The novel invention is called Rolloe Roll Off Emissions, and utilizes a series of sponges and filters to trap harmful emissions before releasing clean air back into the environment.
Elsewhere, a team of ten ETH Zurich students recently used Sintratec 3D printing technology to design and manufacture a fully functional prototype of an electric motorcycle. The ETHEC city project, which took just one year from concept to assembly, was reportedly motivated by the issue of environmental sustainability.
Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows the Chameleon in front of a Scaled facility. Photo via Scaled.


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One of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most protectionist trade advisers struck a more conciliatory tone with Mexico on Wednesday, saying he wanted the two countries and Canada to form a regional manufacturing “powerhouse” with stricter rules of origin.
White House National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro’s comments on Bloomberg News helped boost Mexico’s peso to nearly its highest level since Trump’s election in November.
The comments indicate that Navarro, a strong voice behind Trump’s calls during the campaign for steep tariffs on goods from Mexico and China to help reduce U.S. trade deficits, was now seeking to cooperate with Mexico to the benefit of both countries. Navarro said he wanted to strengthen manufacturing in the three countries through renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Navarro said the 23-year-old trade pact could be transformed into two parallel U.S. bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico, or a modernization of the current trilateral deal.
“We have a tremendous opportunity, with Mexico in particular, to use higher rules of origin to develop a mutually beneficial regional powerhouse where workers and manufacturers on both sides of the border will benefit enormously,” Bloomberg quoted Navarro as saying. “It’s just as much in their interests as it is in our interests to increase the rules of origin.”
In automotive products, the biggest area of manufactured goods trade between the United States and Mexico, vehicles must have 62.5 percent North American content to qualify for NAFTA’s tariff-free benefits. Navarro has said that rule allows North American manufacturers to use too many Asian parts.
Both Mexican and Canadian officials say they want to renegotiate and modernize NAFTA.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said he would trigger notification to Congress to start the NAFTA renegotiation process by late March, with substantive talks beginning later this year.
The Mexican peso, which had fallen sharply after Trump’s election on fears that trade between the two countries would be disrupted, had strengthened to below 19.5 to the dollar at midday.
With the Trump administration filling out with more voices on trade issues, it is unclear how much influence Navarro will have.
Ross has been designated to take a leading role on trade issues, while U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer told senators in his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that he would have full statutory authority to negotiate trade deals.
Lighthizer, a veteran trade lawyer and former USTR official in the 1980s, said he would “sort out” differences within the administration over trade.


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This week Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiators will be asked to endorse a binding obligation granting copyright protection for 70 years after the death of an author. New Media Rights joins Knowledge Ecology International, 26 other groups, and countless individuals from all over the world to tell TPP negotiators that adopting this term would be a mistake. As stated in the letter:
There is no benefit to society of extending copyright beyond the 50 years mandated by the WTO. While some TPP countries, like the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Singapore or Australia, already have life + 70 (or longer) copyright terms, there is growing recognition that such terms were a mistake, and should be shortened, or modified by requiring formalities for the extended periods.
The primary harm from the life + 70 copyright term is the loss of access to countless books, newspapers, pamphlets, photographs, films, sound recordings and other works that are “owned” but largely not commercialized, forgotten, and lost. The extended terms are also costly to consumers and performers, while benefiting persons and corporate owners that had nothing to do with the creation of the work.


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Gap Inc. has entered the nonfungible token (NFT) space. The brand is introducing a gamified digital experience celebrating creatives within the NFT sector.
Gap Partners with Brandon Sines to Launch its NFT Collection
Gap Inc. announced earlier today that it has partnered with Brandon Sines, the artist behind Frank Ape. The partnership saw Gap Inc. launch its first NFT collection.
The company, in its blog post, said it is introducing a gamified digital experience celebrating creatives. The launch will give customers the unique opportunity to own a limited edition, collectible Gap hoodie.
Chris Goble, Chief Product Officer and General Manager of GAP North America, said the company’s entry into the NFT space is due to its interest in music, art, and culture.
Sines commented that “With this partnership with Gap, the creative cycle has come full circle as it allows me to express the beautiful messages of Frank Ape while collaborating with one of the most classic brands in history. I cannot wait to share the physical and digital pieces we’ve been working on with Gap and Frank fans worldwide.”
Gap’s NFTs will Launch on the Tezos Blockchain
Gap revealed that it has chosen to launch its NFT collection on the Tezos blockchain. The company chose Tezos in a bid to create an excellent customer experience. Gap added that Tezos uses a more energy-efficient approach to secure its network, allowing the blockchain to operate with minimal energy consumption and a low carbon footprint.
The Gap NFTs will be available for users to buy exclusively via the company’s official website starting tomorrow, January 13. “Gap’s digital collectibles will feature four levels: Common, Rare, Epic and One of a Kind,” the company added.
The American news wire agency Associated Press (AP) announced the launch of its NFT marketplace earlier this week. AP said it would sell award-winning photographs, including Pulitzer Prize-winning images, via the marketplace.
Data from market tracker DappRadar shows revealed that sales of NFTs reached some $25 billion last year. The NFT market could grow even bigger this year as more entities enter the space.
This article was originally posted on FX Empire


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Dell says that it intends to offer the Google Cloud Platform in 2014 through the Dell Cloud Partner Program.
The partnership will leverage Google’s more than 15 years of cloud, datacenter and technology market experience, Dell announced Thursday.
“Putting the power of cloud in our customers’ hands – and giving them the choice and flexibility to pursue the right cloud for their unique needs – will not only help individual businesses thrive, but collectively it will drive the whole technology industry forward to a new era of innovation,” said Nnamdi Orakwue, vice president of Dell software strategy, operations and cloud.
Through the collaboration, customers of the Dell Cloud Partner Program will be able to access Google Compute Engine, App Engine, storage and APIs.
Developers and businesses accessing the Dell Cloud Partner Program will also be able to access the Dell Cloud Consulting and Application Services, Dell Cloud Manager and direct support from a Dell salesperson.


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New year, new look for the farm. Building any kind of new farm building or structure can seem like a daunting task. It needs to last for coming generations, hold up against inclement weather and of course, come at the right price.
For producers hoping to start the new year with a new farm building, opening up a new farm lease can happen easily with three key ingredients.
“Our leasing program is what we utilize a lot for financing grain bins, farm shops and things of that nature,” said Frontier Farm Credit financial officer Brett Thornton. “A lease would be owned by Farm Credit and they would be making a rent payment directly to us.”
With interest rates low but on the rise and farm building depreciation due to change in the coming years, a farm building lease can be an easy way to lock in a low rate and take advantage of a lease payment structure.
“Our lease rates are competitive in the market as far as with what you would get as a traditional farm loan,” Thornton said.
“I would say rates within the last year have been very low and obviously the projection looks like they’re going to start increasing,” said Matt Mastny, Frontier Farm Credit senior relationship manager for leasing. “With the lease, you can set the rate for seven or 10 years and lock in the rent payment for that term so you don’t have to worry about interest rates or any rental payments going up.”
The first step to getting started is the simplest and the most important.
Come With a Quote
In the ever-changing world of building supply issues and construction costs, Thornton said the first priority when filling out a lease application is to have a recent and comprehensive quote for the structure.
“The first thing we want to know when we’re approaching a loan or a lease like this is the cost,” Thornton said. “The person applying needs to be sure they know the cost themselves and have multiple estimates or quotes.”
Because constructions costs and supply availability change quickly, Thornton recommended that customers get multiple building quotes from different entities and that they be in the last 30 to 60 days.
“Quotes can become outdated very quickly these days,” Thornton said.
Location, Location, Location
Choosing a location for a farm structure is not only important because the building could likely be a part of the farm in perpetuity, it’s also important because applying for a farm lease gives extra location options.
“We also want to talk about the location of this building,” Thornton said. “With a lease, you don’t necessarily have to be the owner of the ground you are building the structure on.”
Ideal situations to use this unique feature of leases would include a member of a younger generation that wanted to contribute to the family farm before actual ownership of the ground is transitioned. Of course, in these scenarios permission has to be given before the lease is finalized.
Ask the Accountant
Before embarking on any new, major farm purchase, it’s important to consult with a financial expert that knows the individual’s operation and an tax implications that could come along with a new structure.
“I would recommend if we’re going to consider a lease to put up a new structure or building, to talk with a tax accountant first,” Thornton said. “Lease payments can be beneficial from a tax perspective so it is worthwhile to see if that works for them as well.”
While an accountant can help provide advice on exactly what size or shape of structure is affordable for a specific operation, they can also direct hopeful farm structure buyers on the best way to use farm buildings as a tax advantage.
“The customer is able to expense the whole payment as an operating expense,” Mastny said. “A lot of accountants like that because it’s pretty streamlined and it doesn’t change throughout the term of release.”


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Of two dozen consumer ventures in five Chinese cities, half started since 2015 and 18% in first quarter of 2016
Of the two dozen consumer ventures that emerged in five Chinese cities with autonomous driving services since 2015, half have started operations since the first quarter of 2016.
Yi Robot Corporation, Yirong Technology Company and iCare Motor Group were among the companies that debuted more recently.
The other two are GigaNine Nine Center and Enlight Roll Collective. All three are engaged in commercial-scale research and development with near-term plans to roll out pilot projects in the next few months.
As the concept of the self-driving car becomes more mainstream in China, major companies in the automotive sector and technology industry have also begun investments in the field.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s government joined more than a dozen automakers in announcing plans to launch a joint venture to develop autonomous driving technology.
China’s top three carmakers – Geely, SAIC Motor and Baidu’s Great Wall Motor – also revealed a joint effort to develop a new business model, called Jini, to bring to market autonomous vehicles.
China’s innovation policies: can the country overtake the US? Read more
Last week, Shanghai’s Qingdao Environment and Public Security Technology Investment Co. became the first major investor in the OCoretech, a joint venture formed by China’s autonomous driving components companies to develop future vehicle technologies.
From 2014 to 2016, 18 Chinese companies rolled out self-driving concept vehicles. An urban SUV developed by Wuling Motors was one of the most successful (it has been piloted by government staff), with many officials now ordering it in parts of the country to combat pollution.


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Volvo introduces a lineup of powerful and clean engines.
Read This Article
By 2020, Volvo boldly declares, nobody will be killed or seriously injured in one of its cars.
New Volvo eye-monitoring sensors could bring us one step closer to autonomous driving.
Volvo reveals new safety and parking features on the all-new XC90.


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Shopping tourism exists because fashion and tourism are both reflections of people’s aspirations and lifestyles. The World Tourism Organization puts shopping as one of the top deciding factors for travellers when choosing a destination, pre pandemic; shopping is also one of the largest categories of tourists’ spending.
Tourism spending has been growing, despite the global economic slowdown in 2019. Prior to the travel restrictions, it remained world’s top ten spending markets.
Though the pandemic has halted tourism, retailers are optimistic with the reopening of borders even if it is a slow start to recovery. This is a good time to look at where we left off shopping tourism and how the future looks.
The UK’s luxury market has been on the rise over the past decade thanks to overseas shoppers. Visitors from the USA, the Gulf, China, Russia, and other countries have been spending millions in places like Harrods, Bicester Village, Bond Street etc.
Statista reveals, the UK received 1.5 million tourists from the Middle East in 2019, who spent roughly £869 million. Similarly, Chinese visitor spending reached over £1.71 billion; and Russian tourists spent £182.35 million in the same year.
Of course, with the restrictions placed on travel in 2020 led to a significant fall in tourist numbers and therefore tourist spending. For instance, Russian tourists spent a mere £6,210 million in 2020, a 78% drop on 2019 figures.
According Visit Britain, one of the top 3 reasons for Russian tourist in the UK is shopping; and 72% of them are repeat visitors who add to the growth of shopping tourism.
Shopping experiences are undeniably a lure big lure for tourists to visit the UK. However, the e-commerce success of British goods proves that the brands alone are tempting to shoppers. Statista calculates UK e-commerce worth to be £693 billion in 2019 with demand from far reaching countries such as the USA, the UAE, and China. In fact, over half of China’s online shopper purchase British brands.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic caused borders to close and the global passenger traffic to fall by 60% to 2003 levels in 2020. The Office for National Statistics found passenger arrival to the UK to drop from 6,804,900 in February 2020 to 112,300 in April 2020. The effect of this 98.3% drop in passenger arrivals is a drastic plummeting of spending which Visit Britain predicts to be 78% (from 24.2 billion pre-pandemic to £6.2 billion in 2020).
One of the main reasons for the lack of shopping tourism is undoubtedly the travel restrictions imposed by the UK government. However, for high street retail, shopping tourism could see a decline due to the financial difficulties consumers are facing as a result of the pandemic. It is estimated that the pandemic has pushed between 119 and 124 million people into extreme poverty last year and for the first time in 20 years, global poverty is increasing. Thus, with less money in their pockets, people will be certainly be spending less on travel and shopping.
From 17th May 2021, travel restrictions have been eased. Shopping tourism is expected to pick up as restrictions are removed in stages. Visit Britain expects 11.3 million visitors to travel into the UK, which is a 10% increase on 2020 but only 28% of 2019 levels. Furthermore, European travel is expected to recover at a faster rate than long haul destinations leading to lower average spend per visit.
Domestic tourism may be the saving grace for British retailers in tourist hotspots as Britons are predicted to spend £51.4 billion on domestic tourism in 2021, which will be 51% more than 2020 and 56% of 2019 levels.
Tax Free Shopping.
The UK government has thrown another spanner in the works by declaring the end of tax-free shopping in the UK as of New Year’s Day 2021 and Brexit. The Moodie Davitt report estimates this decision to cost the UK economy £2.1 billion and risk 19,400 jobs. Companies such as WHSmith, who made a loss of £226 million for the full year to end of August 2020, will find it difficult to recover, especially the airport stores.
Duffry’s CEO of UK and Northern Europe, Fed Creighton, has vowed to “continue to offer the same value” by providing “20 per cent saving versus the UK average high street price and we will still offer some of the more popular fragrances at 40 per cent saving versus the UK average high street price.” This might harm the net profit of the company but will help improve customer spending.
In summary, since tourism is recovering slowly, so will the spending of tourists. Retailers should focus on strategy to improve footfall and time spent in stores as well as provide a great experience in order to persuade consumers to spend more and ensure fast recovery.


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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Lafayette specialty goods shop Richelle in a Handbasket is hoping to make the month of March a kind one. Business owner Richelle Peterson will spearhead what she’s calling “31 days of kindness.”
“I decided – it just popped in my head – 31 days of kindness,” said Peterson. “I just thought that this world, with last year being so yucky, that we just need to be kind to each other.”
“We’re asking people to submit stories [about] people in the community and surrounding areas who just need a little kindness. … I’m committed to delivering a $15 gift basket and a box of truffles,” she continued.
Peterson would then have that gift basket delivered to a person who was nominated. The nominated person would then choose another person as the recipient of the truffles.
She says once she started to talk to other local business owners, they wanted to help too. Gas gift cards, automotive packages and even a laptop has been donated to give away in the 31 days of kindness campaign.
“So if someone needs a laptop for school or something, [nominate them],” said Peterson.
If you would like to nominate someone, you can either stop by Richelle in a Handbasket at 2200 Elmwood Ave. or through the store’s website.


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Police have appealed for information in the search for a 14-year-old girl who has been missing for four days.
Kiera Coulter has not been seen since Tuesday, March 22, when she was last spotted in the area of Paisley town centre near to the Piazza shopping centre.
She is described as being white, around 5ft 2ins, of slim build, with long blonde hair.
When last seen she was wearing black Nike leggings, black Nike trainers, a black Nike zipper and a black River Island jacket.
Anyone with any information about Kiera is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3512 of March 22, 2022.
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2018 Festival of Trees Wrap Up
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – It’s the Monday after the Festival of Trees event and the Chamber of Commerce is wrapping up.
The 26th annual Festival of Trees took place Friday. This was a chance to promote local businesses during the holiday season and support the Chamber of Commerce as well. There were over 200 entries of holiday decorations and their incentives. The live auction was heard on WHIZ AM 1240.
“As always, the community comes together, the businesses. The citizens they came together, had a fun day. Started at 9 a.m., ended at 6 p.m. Over 220 entries,” said Chamber President, Dana Matz.
The grand total from the auction was $53,600, a new record for the Festival of Trees. The Chamber of Commerce thanks all the supporters for another successful fundraiser.
“We’d just like to thank the community, the businesses that supported each other and the Chamber of Commerce,” Matz added.
Today is the final day for pick up of the items bid on. The Chamber of Commerce said they are going to start planning for next year.


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ISLAMABAD-IMARAT Group, the leading name in Pakistan’s real estate and construction industry, has announced the grand launch of IMARAT Builders Mall (IBM), a groundbreaking initiative that is set to redefine the shopping experience for construction, furnishing, and decor enthusiasts.
The event was graced by many notable dignitaries: Renowned politicians Malik Ibrar & Anjum Aqeel Khan; Former Deputy Mayor Islamabad, Zeeshan Shah Naqvi; Ambassador Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov; Enis Malik Cetin, Commercial Counsellor, Turkish Embassy; CEO Centaurus and former President of ICCI Sardar Yasir Ilyhas Khan; Former President ICCI, Former VP PCCI, Former Member Assembly SAARC-CC Zafar Bakhtawri; IWCCI Senior Vice President Sadaf Asim Abbasi; President IWCCI Naima Ansari; Chairman Bar Council Islamabad Qazi Adil Aziz; Community Leader Qazi Faisal; and thousands of valued guests. This one-stop solution, set to host numerous international and local brands, is poised to become the center-point of innovation in the industry.
IBM boasts an impressive squad of renowned brands, including MOOOI Homes, Silaj Furniture, Baahir Outdoor Living, Eteli Illumination, Smart Innovations, BOMBAY Light House, GROHE, COTTO, FIONA, Orient Ceramica, Gala, Cappuccino, IMEP, FUJIHD, Tricom Power, INGCO, SIKA, Wintech (ADO), N-SETS, Multan Carpet Industries, Woodyfy Studio, among others, totaling over 80 of the best names in the business. But that’s not where it stops – IBM also enlisted the renowned Moveit as a distribution partner. At the highly-anticipated launch event, Chairman of IMARAT Group, Shafiq Akbar, shared his excitement, saying, “IMARAT Builders Mall marks another milestone in our journey of innovation and excellence. A story that started with the Amazon Mall has taken a beautiful turn at IMARAT Builders Mall. We are proud to provide a platform where customers can explore the finest offerings from both international and local brands, all under one roof.”


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ImageNPay Shortlisted for Best Product Design and Best Future Payments Initiative at TCPA's
Exciting news! 🎉
We're thrilled to announce that we've been shortlisted as finalists for not just one, but two prestigious categories at The Card and Payment Awards! It's an incredible honour and a testament to our team's dedication and innovative approach to redefining the future of payments.
Best Product Design
Our commitment to delivering a seamless and user-friendly payment experience has garnered recognition in the "Best Product Design" category. We've poured our hearts and minds into crafting an innovative and visually appealing product that simplifies the way our users handle payments. With a focus on usability, aesthetics, and functionality, ImageNPay stands out as a prime example of design excellence in the fintech world.
Best Future Payments Initiative
In the ever-evolving landscape of payments, staying ahead of the curve is paramount, and therefore ImageNPay is proud to be shortlisted for "Best Future Payments Initiative."Our groundbreaking solutions are designed to shape the future of payments, making transactions more secure, efficient, and convenient for everyone. We're dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the payments industry.
Our journey as a fintech innovator has been remarkable, and these nominations serve as a powerful reminder of our commitment to revolutionising the way people make payments. We owe this recognition to our exceptional team, who have tirelessly worked to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions for the modern payment ecosystem.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued users who have supported us on this exciting journey. It's your trust and feedback that fuel our passion to keep innovating and striving for excellence. 🙌
The Card and Payment Awards are renowned for celebrating the most remarkable achievements in the payments industry, and being shortlisted for two categories is a moment of immense pride for us. We're looking forward to the awards ceremony, where we'll join other industry leaders to celebrate the very best in payments.
Thank you for being a part of our journey, and stay tuned as we continue to lead the way in redefining the future of payments with ImageNPay!
Download the ImageNPay app for FREE on iOS and Android to test-drive our app and get a glimpse into why we've been nominated for Best Product Design and Best Future Payments Initiative 👇
And click here to connect with us on Instagram for the latest updates, app news, financial education pieces and more!


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WARREN — A majority of Michigan’s small- and mid-size businesses have experienced financial growth and stability over the past year, with just 11 percent of companies reporting less growth, according to the latest member survey by the Michigan Business and Professional Association, conducted in cooperation with the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center at Grand Valley State University,
When asked, “How would you describe the financial state of your business over the past year?” respondents answered as follows:
* 42 percent of member companies said growing
* 47 percent reported stability
* 11 percent said shrinking
The survey also found that a majority of respondents pointed to an uncertain economic climate as the most significant factor interfering with their business growth, followed by concerns over medical insurance costs and health care reform.
“The results clearly indicate to us that the outlook for Michigan business continues to look brighter,” said MBPA president and CEO Jennifer Kluge. “The slowly recovering economy appears to be the only thing standing in the way to full-scale growth for our member companies.”
Eighty-three percent of MBPA member companies, the survey shows, have taken a wide variety of steps to maintain and grow their businesses over the past year, ranging from adjusting staffing levels, growing sales and marketing activity, and making improvements to products and services. Company owners surveyed also linked their growth and stability to efforts on their own part, putting in longer hours, building networking relationships, and performing community service. “Not giving up,” as one member remarked.
Even as Michigan’s unemployment rate remains high (8.9 percent seasonally adjusted) in comparison to surrounding states, a number of survey respondents expressed concern over the lack of start-up businesses, and not being able to recruit and hire qualified people, specifically in the engineering and technical fields.
“The state of Michigan is not a target state for young people going into business,” said one business owner. “We are watching future employers go elsewhere for business opportunities. We must focus on keeping these young entrepreneurs in Michigan.”
The MBPA is the largest business organization of small to medium-sized businesses in Michigan, representing more than 20,000 members who employ over 160,000 persons. Members include attorneys, physicians, architects, accountants, construction companies, banks, retail, wholesalers and manufacturers.


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The loan volume of the banking sector increased by 62.4 billion liras to 7.3 trillion liras last week. As of December 9, the amount of consumer loans increased by 11.4 billion liras to 1.4 trillion liras.
A weekly bulletin was published by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK).
The credit volume of the sector increased by 62 billion 479 million liras as of December 9th. In the said period, the total loan volume increased from 7 trillion 281 billion 143 million liras to 7 trillion 343 billion 622 million liras.
Total deposits (including interbank) in the banking sector increased by 53 billion 946 million liras last week. The total deposits of the banking sector, which increased by 0.6 percent in the week in question, became 8 trillion 632 billion 880 million liras.
AMOUNT OF CONSUMER CREDITS INCREASED TO 1.4 TRILLION LIRA According to the data, the amount of consumer loans increased by 11 billion 451 million liras as of December 9 to 1 trillion 41 billion 394 million liras.
357 billion 388 million lira of the said loans consisted of housing loans, 42 billion 826 million liras for vehicles and 641 billion 180 million liras for consumer loans. In the said period, the amount of installment commercial loans increased by 14 billion 782 million liras and reached 940 billion 95 million liras. Banks’ personal credit card receivables increased by 0.4 percent to 405 billion 90 million liras. 195 billion 317 million liras of personal credit card receivables were in installments, and 209 billion 772 million liras were without installments. LEGAL EQUITY REDUCED
According to the BRSA weekly data, non-performing loans in the banking sector decreased by 222 million liras compared to the previous week as of December 9 and decreased to 161 billion 446 million liras. A special provision has been set aside for 138 billion 153 million TL of the aforementioned non-performing loans. In the same period, legal equities of the banking system decreased by 49 million liras and became 1 trillion 588 billion 53 million liras.