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In our Winter Fuels Outlook, to be released later today, we forecast that U.S. households will spend more money on energy this winter than last winter, especially households that primarily heat with propane or heating oil. Forecast expenditures are based on our expectations of high retail energy prices—many are already at multiyear highs—and of slightly more energy consumption per household than in the previous winter. Notably, many energy prices reached multiyear lows last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October, we release our Winter Fuels Outlook as part of our Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). The Winter Fuels Outlook focuses on retail energy markets for the four most common heating fuels in the United States and forecasts energy expenditures from October through March for residential households, in particular. Our forecast is based in part on information from our Residential Energy Consumption Survey, and we categorize household consumption and expenditures based on primary heating fuels. However, the forecast expenditures reflect consumption across all energy uses, not just heating.
Retail energy prices for several fuels are already at their highest point in several years. Although price increases over the past year can be attributed to several factors, the main reason wholesale prices of natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum products have risen is that fuel demand has increased from recent lows faster than supply, in part, because of economic recovery after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. To varying degrees, these increases in wholesale prices are being passed through to consumers.
Changes in wholesale propane and heating oil prices pass through to retail prices much more quickly than changes in wholesale natural gas or electricity prices pass through to customers’ rates. In addition, many propane and heating oil users buy supplies before winter and refill as needed. When forecasting expenditures, we assume the consumer’s cost for the fuel is the retail price at the time they use the fuel rather than the actual purchase price.
Residential energy consumption in our forecast relies heavily on weather expectations, which we base on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) most recent forecast of how cold a winter it will be, using heating degree days as the measure. Heating degree days reflect temperature deviations from a base temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and more heating degree days indicate colder weather.
In our outlook, U.S. population-weighted heating degree days for the upcoming winter are 3% higher than last winter, indicating colder temperatures. This increase is relatively consistent across the country. Because weather conditions are a key source of uncertainty in these forecasts, our outlook contains two other scenarios of winter weather: one that is colder than NOAA’s base forecast and one that is warmer. Notably, we forecast that U.S. households will spend more this winter, whether the weather is warmer or colder than expected because of considerably higher fuel prices this winter.
More information is available in our Winter Fuels Outlook, which will be released later today and updated throughout the winter, concurrent with STEO releases. You may also register to virtually attend our presentation of this report to the National Association of State Energy Officials on Tuesday, October 19.
Principal contributor: EIA Staff


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Google pushes out Android Wear Android app and supported apps page
Although it is at least five more days before most of us get to strap a new Android Wear powered device to our wrists, Google is making sure we will be ready to roll when the time comes. The official Android Wear companion app for Android is now available in the Google Play Store. Google has also launched an Android Wear apps section to the Play Store, so you can pre-plan all the apps you’d like to install.
The LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live will be the first devices out of the gate, both are set to ship to consumers starting next week. This means that your Android Wear app is just for show for the next few days. When you do get your new smartwatch up and running, the Android Wear app will let you take some control of your wearable.
The Android Wear app lets you use your phone to push various settings to your watch, tackling things like controlling your default apps for specific actions and more.
As for that Android Wear apps page, it is a section within the Google Play Store and has about 25 apps so far. With players like IFTTT, Duolingo, Evernote and Glympse already pushing out updates to their Android apps with Android Wear support, we suspect the list will grow before next Monday.
These are exciting times for Android Wear. Google has been teasing and preparing us for months, having only just officially launched the OS and developer tools last week at Google I/O. We’ve been talking about what Android Wear needs to do to succeed, drooling over the devices, including the G Watch, Motorola’s Moto 360, and even some newcomers with a unique approach to the smartwatch.
There you have it, download your copy of the Android Wear companion app sometime before your watch arrives next week, and run through the list of supported apps in the Google Play Store.
Are you getting excited for your Android Wear device, or have you opted out of this whole smartwatch frenzy?

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While some of the benefits of embarking on a social media initiative tied to CRM may be "understood," the business case still needs to be laid out carefully.
Many social CRM projects are justified by "soft" returns, and while those add benefits to the bottom line, a social CRM project can provide plenty of hard ROI figures.
Reality television shows are using data analytics to turn anonymous text messages into living, breathing consumers ripe for an up-sell.
A who’s who of health IT vendors, governors and regulators met in Massachusetts to address EHR adoption, health information exchanges and meaningful use compliance.
Scared to touch a fresh PeopleSoft upgrade for years, Duke Energy finally bit the bullet and moved to 8.9. A new financial data hub helped ease the transition.
Apple has announced that it has sold one million iPads within a month of the tablet computing device's launch.
UK IT security and data protection firm Sophos has agreed to sell a majority interest in the company to global private equity group Apax Partners.
Apple could face an investigation by US competition authorities into whether the latest version of the software for the firm's iPhone unfairly locks out...
The BCS looks set to call an extraordinary general meeting following a series of discussions between BCS executives and members
Marks & Spencer's new chief executive Marc Bolland starts today at the high street giant, and IT-related decisions are at the top of his in-tray.
Accenture and HP both recorded double-digit drops in revenue in 2009 compared to the previous year as the overall worldwide spend fell 5.3%.
Consumers will demand discounts of 10% to 20% in return for allowing energy firms to use smart meters to regulate their energy use, according to a report from management consultancy Accenture.
Once bitten, twice shy. Not a bit of it. Not for Emerson Network Power anyway.
A single market for online transactions could add 4% to Europe's GDP, according to Euro politicians.
Apax Partners has taken a majority stake in security vendor Sophos with the aim of getting a foothold in a strong performing sector. There had been some expectations among the analyst community that Sophos would opt for a listing but the Apax deal has put paid to that for the time being.
Alcatel-Lucent and BT have signed a five-year deal to expedite the provision of next-generation network services across BT's 21CN (21st Century Network) project.
Services revenue has been hit by the recession with revenues dipping worldwide last year and the consequences are still being felt in the market. According to a report into the global services market from Gartner revenue globally last year reached $763bn, a 5.3% decline on 2008.
IT jobs dominated Forbes' top 10 best-paid jobs for women this year, taking four of the 10 places.
Businesses are pumping information security investment into all the wrong areas, research has revealed.
By 2020, more than one-third of all digital information created annually will either live in or pass through the cloud, creating a new trillion-dollar market,...
Worldwide shipments of smartphones hit 55.2 million during the first three months of the year with growth hitting 67% year-on-year, according to a new report from Canalys.
The office of the future is going to require technology to make it operate with much greater flexibility as the lines between home and work blur further.
The number of vacancies in IT has soared over the past year, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation report on jobs.
The Central Administration has been boiled down so it's easier to navigate. IT managers will see the familiar ribbon found throughout the Office 2010 product line.
Geoscience Australia is tendering for companies to move its old data onto IBM3592 cartridges, and expects it will require such services for up to five years.
The company has put the kibosh on unlimited virtualization rights with SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition.
Intel has released a new chipset designed to grab a greater share of the handheld device market dominated by UK-headquartered rival Arm Holdings.
Google's latest beta version of its Chrome browser boasts a 30% speed increase on the last version and a 213% improvement over the first beta.
Cybercriminals are selling fake and stolen accounts on social networking site Facebook in bulk in the underground economy, according to security researchers.
Business outcomes are increasingly being written into outsourcing agreements, as companies respond to the recession.
Logica has reported first-quarter revenue of £939m, down 2% from the same period a year ago, but better than the 4% average decline for the past three quarters....
IBM expects the global market for cloud computing services to be worth $126bn by 2012 and is bolstering its capability to strengthen its own offering.
Microsoft and Nokia ...
The IT job market continues to recover from the doldrums of the recession with the demand for both permanent and temporary staff continuing to grow.
Highlighting the extent to which unlicensed software can be used across the public sector FAST has secured a £13,000 settlement on behalf of its member Esker in a case against a Sheffield NHS Trust hospital.
Small businesses remain divided on the prospects that lie ahead economically with a significant number being pessimistic about the months that lie ahead.
Pent-up demand in the SME community, caused by the recession, should start to filter through and improve the market for Sage as it looks to continue to build on the recovery.
Business comms provider Colt Telecom Group saw year-on-year declines in both sales and earnings as a decline in voice revenue exceeded growth in data and managed services sales.
IBM has extended its cloud services capabilities after picking up Californian cloud integration software and services specialist Cast Iron Systems for an undisclosed sum.
Northamber cited challenging market conditions and its decision not to chase "empty revenues" as reasons for the continued sales slide in its fiscal third quarter.
Online gambling firm Betfair is using complex event processing (CEP) technology to monitor and react to customer behaviour around the General Election
Arrow Electronics' component business was the profit and revenue driver in a solid set of first quarter financials but a decline in server sales hindered growth in its infrastructure division. For the period ended 3 April, profits grew 225% to $87m (£57.6m) while revenues increased 24% to $4.
Coincidence or Google Bomb: Why is the whole storage blogosphere lining up to kick EMC the week before EMC World?
The Massachusetts governor’s HIT conference focused on the highest of high tech. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin reminded attendees that EHR systems must serve low-tech areas, too.
Metadata-generated business intelligence applications let developers make quick changes to meet changing analytical needs, according to Forrester Research.
Gartner has released its Magic Quadrant for customer service contact centers but finds that no single vendor has it all.
Facebook has again come under fire for not doing enough to protect personal information after a security flaw allowed users to eavesdrop on private chat sessions.
The UK technology sector notched up the most mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in Europe in the first three months of the year, according to a report by Ernst...
The US media regulator is expected to announce stricter controls on telecoms companies that will open the way for net neutrality.
The man in charge of reversing Marks & Spencer's online fortunes has resigned a day after the new chief executive Marc Bolland started in the job.
Will Lewis, who was also in charge of the publisher's digital unit, has reportedly left the company.
Telegraph Media Group has not responded to Computer...
Civil servants are racing to set up IT in preparation for the influx of new MPs expected after the election.
An unusually high number of MPs have stepped...
The loss of sensitive data on a USB stick by a hospital in Scotland could be a pivotal case for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), says security...
Google has confirmed plans to launch a digital bookstore before the end of the year that will step up competition with Amazon and Apple.
A processor that will scale from a data centre server to a smartphone, saving energy consumption and real estate but with much greater work throughput is...
Year-on-year net losses at Alcatel-Lucent widened to €515m (£437.4m) from €402m, after tightening components availability hobbled its ability to keep up with the economic recovery in Q1, the comms vendor revealed on Thursday morning.
Fancy yourself as the next Van Gogh, Picasso or Rembrandt? Or how about just something to keep the kids amused on that summer drive to the seaside?
Security professionals lack confidence that political parties will do anything to improve cyber security, according to a survey by security firm Proofpoint....
Symantec has managed to get the black pens out again and banish the red ones as it reveals its end of year results.
BetFair, the world's biggest online betting site, has launched a free server-connected iPhone app that allows punters to make and take bets on the move.
London United Busways has reduced its server contract costs by £800 a year by moving from a "four-hour replacement" service to a "next business day" service.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have adopted a resolution that argues that bulk data transfers to the US to combat terrorism would infringe EU...
Hewlett-Packard has strengthened its software credentials with the hiring of one of the former Microsoft executives responsible for helping Windows 7 emerge from the ashes of Vista.
The UK is leading the recovery across EMEA for Insight Enterprises with chief executive Ken Lamneck claiming the market has finally stabilised.
Adventi Group has ceased trading after its administrator PWC offloaded the technical support arm to rival Scottish reseller Castle Computer Services but was unable to find a buyer for the remaining reselling business.
Brocade has launched a series of new channel facing vertical marketing programmes, seeking to take advantage of growing vertical opportunities, particularly healthcare.
Exit polls revealed as the polls closed have revealed a hung parliament looks possible producing the situation that the channel has been hoping could be avoided.
A new phishing attack tries to con users into giving up details of iTunes music store gift vouchers.
Egypt's Ministry of Communications is one of the first websites to have a full Arabic address after internet regulator Icann enabled full web addresses in non-Latin characters.
Nokia's board has come out in support of a management plan to regain lost ground in the smartphone market by switching focus from hardware to mobile services.
US internet service providers are gearing up for battle after the US media regulator announced plans for stricter controls on the sector that will open the way for net neutrality.
Comic Relief's head of new media and technology, Marcus East, tells Computer Weekly about his plans to put technology at the heart of the charity's operations
Online gaming company PartyGaming saw its revenue jump 27% to $127.1m in the first quarter of this year.
A hung parliament is not being welcomed by small businesses keen to see some stability in government. SME lobby group the Forum of Private Business has appealed for a speedy resolution to the outcome of the election process.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is in talks with Barclays Bank about the security set-up of its mobile banking service.
Managed services provider CSC has hired former Alcatel-Lucent services boss Andy Williams to run its northern European business.
A group of disgruntled shareholders has taken legal action in the US in an attempt to block the $1.2bn acquisition of smartphone developer Palm by Hewlett-Packard, claiming the deal as it stands does not value Palm highly enough and stands to unfairly benefit major shareholders.
It might be a stereotypical view that most of the threats circling the internet come from current or former Communist countries but research from Kaspersky Lab indicates it is a view that still holds water.
A recession-driven technology review has prompted fashion retailer Tommy Hilfiger to introduce new tools to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Two years after the government started pumping millions into mobile technology for policing, forces are starting to develop their own stamp on the handheld IT they bought with the money.
CIOs need to outsource more of the applications they need built for their businesses, says Fujitsu.


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As part of the Pet Blogger Influencer Group, we recently participated in a survey conducted by Blogpaws, the premier social media company for pets and their people. BlogPaws wanted to know how much pet pampering bet bloggers do during the holidays, and they created a fantastic infographic to broadcast the results.
Of the pet bloggers surveyed:
• Most have a budget between $25-50 to spend on pet gifts, and 28% have spent more than $100 on a single pet gift.
• There is a fairly even split between online and in-store shopping, with an edge given to the brick-and-mortar stores.
• More than half of pet bloggers produce a holiday gift guide, and almost all refer to them.
• More than half of pet bloggers get their pets involved in holiday card giving.
Check out the BlogPaws graphic, below, for the whole scoop.
Happy holidays from Well Minded and the pet blogging community!


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A Ford Dealer Is Selling Warrantied 700-HP Supercharged 2018 Mustangs for $43,000
Can't wait for the new GT500? Here's an affordable alternative.
Can't wait until 2019 for the new 700-plus-hp Shelby GT500? Ohio dealer Lebanon Ford, which has become somewhat internet-famous for its cheap, powerful Mustangs, is offering 700-hp Roush-supercharged 2018 Mustang GTs for $43,0o0. That's basically Hellcat-level power for less than the price of a new GT350 ... read more


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Though quite some time has passed since the 1981 incident which introduced unsuspecting consumers to Toxic Oil Syndrome, food fraud is still a huge challenge in today's marketplace.
With food allergies and other health concerns on the rise, now is a good time to learn more about how food fraud affects the quality and safety of your food - and which companies go the extra mile to verify that the goods found on the shelves of your local grocery are authentic.
What is food fraud?
Food fraud is the adulteration and/or mislabeling of food, beverages, or other consumable products which do not meet recognized standards for quality and/or safety, in order to generate financial gain.
Why is that a problem?
To state it simply – fraudulent foods are usually of lesser quality than the goods they are replacing. They're designed to swindle consumers out of their hard-earned dollars.
In addition, fraudulent food items can pose serious health risks to consumers who rely on the accuracy and transparency of labeling or ingredient lists to avoid allergens, and mitigate other health concerns. For example, extra virgin olive oil which is fraudulently diluted with inferior nut oils could be deadly to those with sensitivities - just as a high-fructose corn syrup passed off as a “low-glycemic” product could endanger diabetics.
Though admittedly more rare than instances where cheap (but harmless) substitutes are passed off for higher-quality ingredients, there have also been many cases in which altered grocery goods have included dangerous (or even poisonous) substances, resulting in serious harm to public health.
So, what can be done to avoid fraudulent foods?
While today’s consumers are more aware of food fraud than ever before, there is little they can do on an individual level to ensure that the products they purchase from their local grocer are exactly what they claim to be. Naked-eye inspections of most items fail to reveal tampering or fraudulent activity, and most faked products are difficult to identify without professional testing.
The EU has created the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (an effective tool which detects risks to public health in the food supply chain, and encourages swift reaction) as well as the EU Food Fraud Network , which allows authorities to share information which might have international impact.
In addition, some companies have chosen to address the production of fraudulent foods by voluntarily adopting preventative measures. Authentic businesses operating in markets in which fraud is prevalent (such as the olive oil industry) have begun making changes to increase the safety of their supply chain, as well as proactively certifying their products through trusted third parties, such as Bureau Veritas.
Some businesses (such as the Italian cooperative Bellucci) have taken the process to a whole new level. They not only certify their grocery goods through formal Bureau Veritas ISO 22005 certification, they've developed a unique traceability system which allows consumers to verify the authenticity of their extra virgin olive oil, and track the journey of each bottle from farm to table.
Their traceability app not only offers consumers reassurance that Bellucci extra virgin olive oil meets the highest standards for quality, safety, and authenticity – it protects the livelihood of growers, and increases trust industry-wide.
As the industry leader in transparency and traceability, Bellucci shows no signs of stopping. Their current efforts to increase consumer trust and safety include the adoption of new blockchain technology, designed to provide even deeper insight into the farm-to-table journey.
Bellucci’s approach is both innovative and proactive, and sets an example for how other food-focused organizations might choose to invest in consumer safety. By doing so, businesses can help stop the production and spread of fraudulent foods.
Consumers can also do their part, by choosing to purchase only from those businesses who hold themselves to high standards, and actively strive to increase food safety and transparency. Those who take a stand will inevitably drive improvements in food quality, while also supporting consumer health and wellbeing.
Want to learn more about how you can track your food from farm to source? Take a look at Bellucci's unique traceability app, or click here to learn more about Bureau Veritas certification.


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Combined sales in 2013 for these models following partial sales for the new models in 2012 is 65,326 units for 2013 compared to 25,035 for 2012.
These are excellent, newly engineered cars, but did meet with a less than ideal reception.
Prior to their launch, Ford very aggressively marketed its “electrified” vehicles, attempting to demonstrate where it said they could exceed what Toyota offered.
One point that has come back to haunt Ford is the 47 mile per gallon claims for both the C-Max and Fusion. The company has been sued in class action suits after numerous buyers said they could not reach EPA sticker estimates.
Numerous reviewers including this publication found it tough to meet these numbers. Online allegations by drivers have been that Ford fudged the numbers while other online commenters say they purchased one or the other went around posting under articles stating they could indeed make their numbers.
Eventually, Ford admitted it never tested the C-Max, but rubber stamped its number based on the more aerodynamic Fusion’s number, and lowered the EPA rating.
This hurt sales, and perceptions, but Ford’s aggressive strategy, and otherwise very good cars has put it in second place with not nearly the number of product other automakers have on offer.
Ford also sells the Lincoln-badged MKZ Hybrid with the same powertrain. As it attempts to revive Lincoln next to Cadillac, it has priced the hybrid with no surcharge over the non-hybrid MKZ, representing a solid value for the significant mileage improvement.


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Tilly’s: Fiscal 2Q Earnings Snapshot
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) _ Tilly’s Inc. (TLYS) on Wednesday reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $9.3 million.
On a per-share basis, the Irvine, California-based company said it had profit of 31 cents.
The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 20 cents per share.
The clothing and accessories retailer posted revenue of $161.7 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $155.9 million.
Tilly’s shares have fallen 20% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $8.72, a drop of 51% in the last 12 months.


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Advanced materials lead both to new reduced cost substitutes to existing materials and to new higher added-value products and services. Advanced Materials offer major improvements in a wide variety of different fields, e.g. in aerospace, transport, building and health care. They facilitate recycling, lowering the carbon footprint and energy demand as well as limiting the need for raw materials that are scarce in Europe.
In April 2021, the Advanced Technology for Industry (ATI) project published its Product Watch report titled “Flexible and printed electronics”.
In December 2020, the Advanced Technology for Industry (ATI) project published its Product Watch about Solid-state-lithium-ion-batteries (SSB) for electric vehicles.


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Verizon has dropped the Samsung Galaxy Nexus price once again and while the deal is part of a summer sale, it may end up staying permanent.
The Verizon Galaxy Nexus, which the carrier dropped from $299.99 to $199.99 earlier this year, is now available for a mere $149.99 at the carrier. The price drop is part of Verizon’s summer sale and the $50 discount is an instant price drop when the device is purchased online.
That means that those looking to snag it in-stores will likely be greeted with the familiar $199.99 price tag.
Read: Galaxy Nexus Review.
This is certainly a price looking at for those that are unable or unwilling to buy the smartphone through third party retailers like Amazon and Wirefly who often offer up the Galaxy Nexus for as low as $50 on-contract.
It’s also worth looking at now that the Galaxy Nexus has received its Android 4.0.4 update from Verizon which has shored up a lot of the issues that device owners had been having since the phone launched back in December 0f 2011.
Gone are the random reboots, the sluggish UI, the crashes and the freezing, all of which have been replaced by a solid piece of software that owners can be proud of.
Now, as Droid-Life points out, Best Buy apparently thinks the Galaxy Nexus is on its last leg. Translation, the retailer thinks the device is at the end of its life, likely because of the Samsung Galaxy S III which hits Verizon in July.
This could mean that the Galaxy Nexus price drop could be a permanent one, lasting beyond the summer sale that Verizon is currently hosting.
Is that a given? No, but we wouldn’t be surprised.


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We’ve been hearing and seeing a lot about PlayStation 5 development kits being in developers hands. We’ve seen a patent and we’ve seen the pictures and now it continues. But this time was the PlayStation 5 controller leaked?
The most recent is a photo tweeted by a Twitter account with the username “The Drunk Cat”. The photo shows two PS5 development kits and off to the right shows two black controllers. And confirming this photo is in fact of the official dev kits, Senior Editor at The Verge Tom Warren who replied to the tweet saying, “yes, this is the PlayStation 5 devkit”.
As we said earlier, this is not the first look at the real PS5 development kits. But if this is a photo of a real dev kit then it can only be assumed that the controllers connected to them are real PS5 development controllers. And this is new.
Where’s the light bar?
These controllers do look a lot like DualShock 4 controllers for PS4. Which isn’t a huge shock since the look of the DualShock has only slightly changed over the generations. How you know these aren’t DS4s you can pick up from Best Buy is where you plug in the USB-C. In the leaked image the USB cable is plugged in much higher near the top of the controller. This matches up with the Japanese patent filed by Sony that’s believed to be the upcoming DualShock 5. The DualShock 4 has a light bar near the top of the controller placing the USB port near the bottom. This makes it very likely the controllers pictured are unique.
The absence of a light bar is noticeable both in the picture and in the controller patent. This raises the question of how next generation PlayStation VR will work and with what controller. Also, Mark Cerny has confirmed that the current PSVR headset will work on PS5. Does this mean DualShock 4 controllers will be backwards compatible with the new console?
Also it is a development controller so it’s going to change before we get our hands on it. Will they add a light bar back in? We have a lot of questions and we may not have answers until the PS5’s official reveal next year.
Hot Take is a live-streamed show where two of our hosts jump in-front of a camera to discuss the latest gaming news and trends. These videos are personal opinions and not intended to be news reports.


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1) 89 million people in the United States are going to watch 1.2 billion online videos today. (ComScore)
2) Online video users are expected to double to 1.5 billion in 2016. (Cisco)
3) Only about 24 percent of national brands are using online video to market to consumers. (Kantar Media)
4) Online video now accounts for 50 percent of all mobile traffic and up to 69 percent of traffic on certain networks. (Bytemobile Mobile Analytics Report)
5) Consumers give up on an online video if it doesn’t load in two seconds. (University of Massachusetts Amherst and Akamai Technologies)
6) Users sharing video on retail and brand sites chose Facebook 46 percent of the time, with email accounting for 40 percent and Twitter capturing 14 percent of shares. (Invodo)
7) Globally, online video traffic will be 55 percent of all consumer Internet traffic in 2016. (Cisco)
8) 52 percent of consumers say that watching product videos makes them more confident in online purchase decisions. (Invodo)
9) Mobile and tablet shoppers are three times as likely to view a video as laptop or desktop users. (NPD)
10) Mobile video ads that include social media buttons drive 36 percent higher engagement. (Rhythm NewMedia).
11) Online video production will account for more than one-third of all online advertising spending within the next five years. (Borrell Associates)
12) 76 percent of marketers plan to add video to their sites, making it a higher priority than Facebook, Twitter and blog integration. (Social Media Examiner)
13) 92 percent of mobile video viewers share videos with others. (Invodo)
14) More than 1 billion unique users visit YouTube each month, spending more than 4 billion hours watching videos (YouTube).
15) 2 billion video views per week are monetized on YouTube, and every auto-shared tweet results in six new YouTube browsing sessions (ReelSEO).
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Here's what went down on Friday's Consumer Confidential segment on KTLA-TV:
Net neutrality. Now that the Federal Communications Commission has approved new rules for online content and privacy, phone and cable companies have wasted no time releasing the kraken. Comcast, ATRead more
Here's what went down on Thursday's Consumer Confidential segment on KTLA-TV:
Net neutrality: The Federal Communications Commission adopts rules making the Internet a level playing field for all content providers. It also makes a significant advance on the consumer privacy front. But it’s not taking over the Internet.
Edible coffee: KFC is testing an edible coffee cup in Britain. Basically, the cup is a chocolate-lined cookie. Yes, that means more calories, but it also means one less piece of trash littering the environment.
Smart bottle: A chip-equipped bottle of Johnny Walker Blue is being tested. It would allow shoppers to see if special offers are available by waving their smartphone in front of the bottle at the store. It also would send an alert if someone opens the bottle when you're not around.Read more
Nearly all discussion of the federal rules for high-speed Internet service approved Thursday has focused on net neutrality — the idea that all online content be treated the same.
Largely overlooked has been another part of the regulatory change: Privacy.
This could be a game changer, requiring Internet service providers to seek customers' permission before monitoring or sharing personal information.
"Potentially, this could apply to every Web request you make," said Marc Rotenberg, head of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
"If the same safeguards that now apply to phone services are applied to broadband, this could have major implications for Internet service providers," he said.
At issue is Section 222 of the Communications Act. It requires that telecom companies protect customers' "proprietary information," such as how you use their services.
It defines such information as relating to "the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location and amount of use of a...Read more
Here's the scoop from Wednesday's Consumer Confidential segment on KTAL-TV:
Uber ratings. Santa isn't the only one making lists for who's naughty and nice. Uber drivers are rating their passengers. And if you get low marks, you might find it hard to get a lift -- or you might find yourself blacklisted. What will get you in trouble? Drivers might penalize you being too chatty or not chatty enough or, God forbid, eating in their car.
Alli returns. A year after being recalled because of product tampering, Alli, the popular nonprescription diet pill, is returning to drugstore shelves. Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline says it's come up with new packages that are harder to tamper with and easier to spot if someone has messed with them.
Girl Scout cookies. If your hankering for Thin Mints or Samoas extends throughout the year, you're in luck. A company called Wicked Cool Toys has come out with an oven that makes the sweet treats. Think of it as a modern spin on the Easy Bake Oven. However,...Read more
Here's what went down on Tuesday's Consumer Confidential segment on KTLA-TV:
Racist emojis? Apple has introduced some diversity to its emojis, those little images meant to convey sentiment in emails and messages. Now you can use various skin tones. But is the yellow skin tone meant to depict Asians? That's what some critics say. They're wrong. This is a race-neutral way of expressing yourself. Just ask Homer Simpson.
Car brands. Consumer Reports has ranked car brands in terms of both reliability and how fun the vehicles are to drive. Top of the list: Lexus, followed by Mazda, Toyota, Audi and Subaru. The only American car brand in the top 10 is Buick. At the bottom of the list: Fiat.
Tax audits. Thinking about cheating on your taxes? You're in luck. The Internal Revenue Service says your chances of being audited this year are at their lowest level in a decade. There's now a less than 1% chance of being audited. The reason: Congress whacking more than a billion dollars from the tax...Read more
Southern California Gas wants its customers to pay extra for insurance on gas lines in their homes and it wants them to buy coverage from a Connecticut company called Home Emergency Insurance Solutions.
At least that's the impression many people could get from a recent mailer to area households from Sempra Energy, SoCal Gas' parent company, or, at least, on the company's letterhead.
The packet includes a notice stating that customers can pay for "home protection policies from Home Emergency Insurance Solutions" on their monthly bills.
This billing service is offered for no other insurance provider, suggesting that Home Emergency Insurance Solutions is preferred by SoCal Gas because of its superior performance and pricing.
The reality is that Home Emergency Insurance Solutions, a.k.a. HomeServe USA, a subsidiary of Britain's HomeServe, cuts in the utility for a piece of its action as part of an exclusive marketing arrangement.
Neither SoCal Gas nor the insurer discloses that...Read more


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UK service sector sees mixed fortunes, CBI says
The UK service sector experienced mixed fortunes during the first three months of the year, according to the CBI.
Consumer service firms - such as hotels, bars and restaurants - saw a "sharp" decline in trade, as households cut back on spending.
However, business services - such as accountancy and marketing - saw "modest" growth and expect stronger trade to pick up in the coming months.
Both sectors said they had seen costs rising over the quarter.
The service sector accounts for about two-thirds of the UK economy.
The weakness in the consumer sector suggested by the CBI survey echoes figures released by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday, which showed that household spending fell by 0.6% in real terms during the first quarter of the year, the biggest fall since the second quarter of 2009.
Ian McCafferty, the CBI's chief economic adviser, said: "When times are tough, consumers cut back their discretionary spending on holidays, leisure pursuits and meals out, and we are seeing that rising prices and squeezed incomes are holding back household spending."
However, he noted the better news from business service firms, with trade forecast to pick up and more jobs expected to be created.
"These are all sure-fire signs that business spending is picking up, which will help drive the recovery," Mr McCafferty said.
The CBI's service sector survey covered 175 firms and took place between 27 April and 18 May.


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Expected debut sometime in 2017.
The current, first generation Lexus CT was introduced at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show as the world’s first full hybrid luxury compact car. Seven years hence, the hybrid hatchback will enter its second generation. The 2017 Lexus CT is already being tested on European streets, spyshots revealed last year. A speculative rendering from kurumagt.com shows what the next-gen Lexus CT may look like.
The second generation Lexus CT would be the first Lexus to use the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. The current generation Lexus CT shares its hybrid powertrain with the third generation Toyota Prius. The next-gen CT, similarly, may borrow the new generation Prius's 120 bhp hybrid powertrain.
The 2017 Lexus CT should go on sale by H2 2017 in Japan, followed by Europe and North America.


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Read all about the Grand Numismatic Alliance
Started by Leviathan, May 13, 2010, 12:06:11 PM
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
QuoteExchange offices in the UK have stopped selling 500 euro banknotes because of their use by money launderers.The Serious Organised Crime Agency says 90% of the notes sold in the UK are in the hands of organised crime.Soca deputy director Ian Cruxton said 500 euros had become the currency of choice for gangs hiding their profits.The move means nobody will be able to buy the note in the UK - but travellers will be able to sell them if they enter the UK carrying them from abroad.There has been mounting international concern over the note, which is worth more than £400, and its use by criminals or tax evaders.Massive sumsSoca says that an eight-month analysis of movements of the note in the UK revealed that it was almost exclusively used by money launderers shifting cash for major crime gangs. Spoils of crime become easier to smuggleThe British trade in the notes is thought to be worth some 500 million euros - but less than 10% of them are bought by legitimate tourists and business travellers. Financial crime investigators concluded that there was no credible or legitimate use for the note in the UK.Instead, gangs are reportedly shifting massive sums of sterling, typically from drug dealing, through "front" exchange businesses.Ian Cruxton, deputy director of Soca, told the BBC that the banknote had been secretly withdrawn from sale on 20 April."When criminals want to move a bulk of cash inside the UK and, more importantly, out of the UK, one of the best ways to do that is to reduce the bulk massively both physically and in terms of the risks they pose of discovery," said Mr Cruxton."The 500 euro note is really the note of choice among criminals."It should now be impossible now to buy a 500 note over the counter from one of the suppliers. And that's going to have an effect on the criminals - it means they are going to have to find other means of trying to move their money."There have been widespread concerns among law enforcement agencies over the role of the 500 euro in money laundering, concerns that are identical to those raised about other similar high-value notes around the world.The European Central Bank created the note at the time of monetary union to replace high value notes which were popular in some of the Eurozone countries.
Quote from: thelawnet on August 10, 2010, 10:30:59 PMI bought my house in Indonesia in 100,000 rupiah ($10) notes. It's not that inconvenient really.


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The plant cannabis has been used for its medicinal benefits for centuries, yet it still carries a stigma in today’s society. People are afraid to use cannabis because of its negative associations, but they don’t have to be. There are many ways to use cannabis without having to smoke it, and people are beginning to open up to the idea of using it for medicinal purposes.
What are the Different Types of Stigma Around Cannabis?
There are many types of stigma around cannabis. Some people are afraid to use it because of its supposedly negative reputation and effect on crime rate, while others believe it is a harmful plant that should be illegal. Due to the popularity of cannabis products, many online dispensaries such as canadacannabisdispensary have stormed the market.
Cannabis users are generally seen as untrustworthy and sometimes dangerous. Friends and family members also tend to avoid cannabis users because they are afraid of being penalized as well.
According to a study conducted by the University of Amsterdam, stigma was the most intense in countries with more punitive cannabis laws. Greece, for instance, has the most severe stigma because it has the highest penalty for cannabis use, while the Netherlands has the least stigma.
According to one study from the University of British Columbia, medicinal cannabis users are frequently labeled as irresponsible and untrustworthy ‘potheads’ by others, including employers, colleagues, and even healthcare providers. A California study also revealed that pregnant women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum and using cannabis for treatment are often belittled and considered deviant by those around them.
While some non-consumers continue to view cannabis in an entirely negative light, newer studies have shown that cannabis stigma will continue to fade due to data, science, and personal experiences. But if you want to use cannabis without worrying about being judged, there are several ways we can think of.
How to Use Cannabis Without the Stigma
Cannabis can be used in many different forms, such as oils, tinctures, capsules, and topicals. It can also be infused into food and drinks. The most popular way to use cannabis is still smoking it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way.
Smoking cannabis can harm your health, so if you’re looking for a healthier option, you can try using a vaporizer. Vaporizing cannabis is much better for your lungs than smoking it, and it still allows you to get the medicinal benefits of the plant.
You can also try edibles or food that has been infused with cannabis. They come in different forms, such as gummies, candies, baked goods, mints, cannabis-infused beverages, and snacks.
Some companies, like HempHash, provide the option to send discreet and unmarked boxes when delivering cannabis products to avoid the stigma of using cannabis products.
How to Deal with Stigma Around Cannabis Use
Fortunately, the rise in popularity of CBD has changed people’s perceptions of the industry. Many skeptics, both young and old, have changed their minds as a result of CBD’s numerous applications for pain relief, anxiety management, and other benefits.
The best way to deal with the stigma of cannabis use is through education. Weedmap’s study showed that almost 80% of non-consumers get their cannabis from unreliable sources, including friends, family members, and social media. This leads to misinformation and the proliferation of CBD’s negative reputation.
Cannabis is still illegal in many parts of the world, but that is changing. More and more countries are beginning to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, and the stigma around the plant is slowly disappearing. However, it will still take some time before cannabis is totally accepted by society.


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Xiaomi is working on adding a new member to its already launched Mi 9 Series very soon. Xiaomi had shared a new image of a smartphone which featured triple rear cameras and new gradient design. The company asked users to guess the name of the device. Xiaomi also teased a new pop-up selfie camera on the Mi 9 series. If you recall, the original Mi 9 which was launched in China arrived with a waterdrop notch display and not a pop-up selfie camera. In fact, the very recently launched Redmi K20 Pro is the first smartphone in the Chinese handset maker's portfolio which gets a pop-up camera.
There is not a lot of information which has been revealed at this time regarding the new Mi 9 series. There is not much information to go around with the new Mi 9 series. Other than that, a new Xiaomi Mi 9T reportedly received certifications in Singapore and Taiwan which indicates that an official launch or at least an official announcement will take place soon.
The phone which has been shown in Xiaomi's tweet gets a design which is very similar to the one which was launched earlier - the Xiaomi Mi 9 flagship. Similarities include the rear panel gradient design and also the placement of the vertically-aligned triple camera module on the back. The gradient blue finish on the rear panel of the new Mi 9 series also looks very similar to the Ocean Blue Mi 9 flagship which is sold in China.
But there is a difference. The original Mi 9 which was launched earlier gets a waterdrop notch display, while the Mi 9 series which has been teased gets a full-size edge-to-edge display. Since it is a full-size display, the selfie camera will be a pop-up one.


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Apple's smallest iPad is available with a significant discount during the Prime Day Sale. You can get this powerful compact tablet for 24% less, a big and rare discount for Apple products.
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Ipad mini RSS
Apple will reportedly only replace damaged batteries for its sixth-generation iPad minis following a new company policy. However, the service is only provided by repair centers currently.
Over on Amazon, you can pick up the latest generation iPad Mini WiFi + Cellular 64GB at 8% off with today's Deal of the Day, that represents its lowest price since it came out last September.
Apple has shown off its latest iPad and iPad Mini devices. Both come with upgraded processors that enhance CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine processing. Prices start at $329 for iPad and $499 for iPad Mini.
The next generation iPad mini expected later this year will ditch the home button in favor of thin bezels. An iPad Pro with a glass back and wireless reverse charging support is also planned.
According to a possible leak of Apple's next iPad Mini tablet, the company is going for a large screen-to-body ratio, and the display has cut-outs for both the camera and Touch ID.
According to a new report, Apple is once again going to release a larger iPad this year, and that will be followed by a larger iPad Mini next year, which could be as large as nine inches.
Another Inspiron is on sale for a limited time, this time it's the Inspiron 15 5000 2-in-1 touch laptop for just $499.99, a great price! Also, get a rare $50 discount on the iPad Mini and more inside!
Included in today's deals: The iPad Mini 4 is back at $100 off, and we have the lowest price on a 70" Sony 4K TV. Oh, and the AncestryDNA testing kits are on sale until the end of tomorrow.
Apple today finally announced its new iPad mini, along with a new 10.5-inch iPad Air lineup. They both use Apple's newest chipset, the A12 Bionic, add Apple Pencil support, and more.
A new rumor suggests that Apple's long-overdue iPad Mini refresh will look a lot like its predecessor, with most changes happening on the inside. The tablet could be powered by Apple's A10 or A10X.
Apple is apparently working on two new iPads and a new iPod touch, none of which will include Face ID. In fact, the new iPod Touch won't have Touch ID either, just like its predecessor.
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple might actually be about to ship a new iPad Mini with refreshed specs, with AirPower also coming either later this year, or early next year.
From Android O and Android Go, to WannaCry woes, HTC's new squeeze, Apple anticipation, holo-Cortana, a passing Moment, and virtual headcrabs, it's our handy walkthrough of the week's top tech news.
According to a new report, Apple is planning to phase out its iPad Mini, in favor of its larger models, which will include a new Pro variant with a 10.5-inch display and a smaller body.
Gamevice has offered unique controllers for iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad. The company has now updated its line to offer a more ergonomic and lighter solution that can be charged via Lightning.
According to recently released hardware recommendations, Microsoft views small Windows 10 Mobile tablets (those with screens less than 8 inches) as low-cost, low-end devices.
A new tear down of Apple's latest tablet, the iPad Mini 4, reveals a slimmer camera, new battery and improved quality. Apple has advanced the innards, improving the construction and components.
iOS 9 is available now for iPhones from the 4s onwards, the 5th-generation iPod touch, and all iPads except the original - but the planned release of watchOS 2 has been delayed due to a bug.
iOS 9 brings a range of improvements to Apple's mobile OS, including better multitasking, new search features and more - and the first beta release is now available for you to try on your device.
Alongside its new iPad Air 2, Apple has also announced the latest version of its small tablet, the iPad mini 3, which gets Touch ID for the first time, and will be priced from $399.
Apple is getting ready to unveil its new line of iPads at a relatively small event on October 16th. Alongside the new iPads the company is expected to launch OS X Yosemite and the brand new Apple Pay.
Apple is reportedly planning to unveil its next-generation iPad Air and iPad mini at an event on October 21, and is also said to be preparing for the full release of OS X Yosemite on the same day.
Key specs for the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact - Sony's upcoming iPad mini rival - have leaked, revealing that it will have an 8in Full HD display, Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3GB RAM and 4G LTE connectivity.
According to Xiaomi, its new Mi Pad has sold 50,000 units in less than four minutes. The 7.9" Android tablet is a direct competitor to the iPad Mini Retina with prices starting at $240 USD.
Apple has finally discontinued the iPad 2 and relaunched the cellular and Wi-Fi variants of the fourth generation iPad starting at the price of the current iPad mini with Retina display.
Apart from the performance, the key improvement over the first-generation iPad mini is the display, which packs 3.1 million pixels into a 7.9-inch 4:3 panel. The crispness is certainly eye-catching...
Apple started taking orders for its recently announced Retina iPad mini tablet online, and some models are already showing they will take up to 10 business days to ship to customers.
Apple seems to have another hit device on their hands with data pointing to rapid adoption of the iPad Air. Compared to previous years' models the iPad Air is selling almost 5 times more devices
Supporting earlier rumors that Apple might be a bit short on supplies for the new retina iPad mini, CEO Tim Cook confirmed today that it's "unclear" whether the company will be able to meet demand.
Apple held its October media event today in San Francisco and the company announced the heavily expected second generation of the iPad mini which now features a 'Retina' display and updated CPU.
Images have surfaced which, it is claimed, show the next-generation iPad mini sporting a gold and white colour scheme, similar to the new iPhone 5s, along with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
A segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night showed a video of people on the street who are given an iPad mini, but are told it's the new iPhone 5s. Apparently, some people are easily fooled.
Apple is expected to officially reveal its new iPad and iPad mini models sometime after its press event for the next iPhone, which reportedly will be held on September 10th.
A new report claims that the next full size version of Apple's iPad will use the same film-based touchscreen as the smaller iPad mini, rather than the current glass-based touchscreen.
A source has claimed Apple's intention of working with Sharp and LG isn't going quite so well, with the Cupertino giant turning to a certain Korean company in order to meet manufacturing demands.
A new rumor based on Apple's previous launch schedules is pinning the iPhone 5S launch on September the 20th. A new low-end iPhone model would follow suit just a few weeks later.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities, has suggested that in order to fend off attacks from cheap Android tablets, Apple will move to ship a budget iPad mini in the $199-249 price range.
In another image that purports to be a rear panel for the iPad 5, the iPad mini-style design suggested in recent rumours is only confirmed further.
Microsoft has launched a new version of its SkyDrive cloud data app for iOS devices, bringing the version number to 3.0 with added support for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini.


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With a sharp rise in the number of big box stores being built in the city, it seems an opportune time to take a closer look at some of the broader issues raised by this trend at the final presentation of the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs for 2003 – 2004.
David Delooze, a student of political science and analyst of social issues, brings his critical eye to the impact one store, Wal-Mart, has on people and the economy – both locally, and globally – by addressing the following issues:
· The impact of mega stores on our local economy, more specifically, their impact on small business and the re-vitalization of our downtown. According to Delooze, mega stores place great strain on the planning and infrastructure of any city.
· The juxtaposition between the salaries of senior managers and company employees. According to James Hightower, author of the book: “Thieves in High Places,” Wal-Mart’s CEO is said to have earned 11.5 million dollars last year, which is the annual salary of 765 of his employees. The personal wealth of the owners of Wal-Mart is estimated at over $100 billion dollars.
· In 2001, Wal-Mart moved its purchasing headquarters to China, to capitalize on cheap Chinese labour, often provided by women and children living in poverty, and working under questionable conditions. (source: Thieves in High Places) While Wal-Mart claims to “Buy American” it is in actual fact the largest importer of Chinese goods in North America. What impact does this have on our national economy and employment rates?
· Another issue David will raise addresses the fact that Wal-Mart does not provide healthcare benefits to any employee who has not been on payroll for at least two years. This leaves thousands of workers without any coverage, even if they are full-time.
These issues are the tip of the iceberg. Wal-Mart, like many other large corporations, wields enormous political and economic power. As citizens, it is incumbent upon us to make sure we step back now and then and look at the big picture.
David will help to do so. Fascinating and engaging, David takes us behind the scenes with a fresh and rigorous look at issues too often eclipsed by the many benefits Wal-Mart brings: reasonable prices, employment, taxes and their support of community projects and social justice.
Speaker: David Delooze, a student of social and political policy at the University of Lethbridge.


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HTC hasn't been doing too well in the smartphone business over the last couple of years, but it looks like their new flagship smartphone could be something that's actually very exciting.
The latest HTC flagship smartphone which will be called the U Ultra, featuring a 5.7-inch display that is accompanied by a smaller U Play smartphone with a 5.2-inch display. HTC will be pushing something they're calling Sense Companion, which is an AI assistant that is similar to Google Assistant on the new Pixel smartphones.
But wait, there's more: HTC are reportedly removing the 3.5mm jack in another courageous move, following Apple with the new iPhone 7, Levovo's Moto Z, and HTC's own Bolt smartphone not featuring a headphone jack.
HTC has used a new all-glass exterior that it calls Liquid Surface construction, with the company putting a lot of R&D time into the material - which mimics the properties of liquid, but just the look. This means you'll get some beautiful reflections in the right light on your new HTC smartphone, but how will it feel in your hand on a hot day or lots of typing away on social media and texts?
There's reportedly a second screen on the new U Ultra, where HTC has slid in a 2-inch strip that is positioned in the top right hand corner of the screen, to the left of the front-facing camera. This strip will be used as a landing spot for notifications, with quick access to your favorite contacts, and music playback control.
As for specs, we're looking at Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB storage - but HTC has included a microSD card slot, allowing for up to 2TB of additional storage. HTC has also upgraded the camera, with phase-detect autofocus - but for the most part, it's still the same 12-megapixel UltraPixel camera from the HTC 10.
We have a 3000mAh battery in the U Ultra handset, while the U Play rocks a 2500mAh battery - but the U Play handset drops Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 for the Helio P10 processor from MediaTek. It also reduces the storage options to 32GB and 64GB, and has a slightly less quality camera. The higher-end U Ultra smartphone will include Google's latest Android 7 Nougat software - but we don't know if its 7.0, 7.1, or 7.1.1 - while the U Play will ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The AI side of the phone sounds intriguing, as it will feature AI enhancements that will have the smartphone predicting what you'll do next - suggesting things for you. Once you've let the phone get to know you, in the same way Google Now works, it will remind you to chrage your smartphone when it knows you are going to be away from a charger for a long period of time - such as a meeting, or when you're travelling.
Not only that, but it will suggest clothing for the weather of that day - so expect your new HTC phone to tell you to wear that jacket tomorrow, because it's going to be cold.
Now, onto the missing 3.5mm jack which is inexcusable in my opinion. HTC says it has will be including USonic earphones, a rebranded version of their in-ear headphones that it throws in the package for both the HTC Bolt and 10 Evo smartphones. The improved sound is improved thanks to the digital USB-C interconnect - strangely, the HTC USonic headphones will only work with a HTC smartphone, even though it uses the USB-C standard. HTC explains:
We removed the headphone jack because we believe the audio experience on the phone can be so much more than just the simple transmission of sound. The sonar-like capabilities of USonic wouldn't be possible with a 3.5mm headphone jack. We have microphones built into both earbuds that "listen" for sonic pulses, which can then adjust your audio to match your ears' unique architecture. We believe the market is ready to push audio into new innovations that benefit consumers' listening experience.
You can pre-order the HTC U Ultra with 64GB of RAM for $749, with color choices of blue, black, white, and pink. They'll begin deliveries in Taiwan by the end of January, but you'll have to wait until March in other parts of the world.
HTC will also be launching a limited edition U Ultra smartphone with what should be a beautiful sapphire glass screen on the front, and 128GB of storage. But of course, there's no details on pricing or launch for the limited edition U Ultra just yet.


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The top online retailers sent each of their subscribers 3.2 promotional emails on average during the week ending Apr. 1, 2011, according to Chad White, research director at Responsys and author of the Retail Email Blog. That’s flat week-over-week, up 12% from where it was four weeks ago, and up 18% year-over-year.
Promotional Email Volume Stays Well Above 2010 Levels
During February and March 2011, average retail email volume has been up substantially from where it was a year earlier. The highest average number of emails top online retailers sent their subscribers in any given week during the equivalent period in 2010 was 2.8 (week ending March 19, 2010), while this year it was closer to 2.9 (week ending March 4).
It is also worth noting that Easter arrived on April 4, 2010, as opposed to April 24 this year. Yet even accounting for the normal bump in retail email volume in the two to three weeks before Easter, March 2011 still outperformed March 2010 by a healthy margin.
April Fools’ Peaks, Easter Picks Up
The volume of emails relating to April Fools’ Day steadily increased during the month and peaked the week ending April 1, 2011, with a participation rate of slightly more than 4%. Emails relating to the upcoming Easter holiday roughly doubled in volume, from 2% to 4%, between the weeks ending March 25 and April 1, and should hit their peak in a couple of weeks. References to Mothers’ Day (May 8, 2011) are also starting to increase.
Friday on Retailers’ Minds
Friday, April 1, 2011 was the most popular day of the week ending April 1for sending promotional emails, with 56% of the top online retailers sending their subscribers at least one. This may in part be due to emails relating to April Fools’ Day.
Monday, March 28 was the second-most-popular day for sending promotional emails, with 52% of the top online retailers doing so. Saturday, March 26 was the least popular day by a wide margin (only 23% participation). Although Sunday typically has the lowest- or second-lowest promotional email participation rate of the week, last week it tied for second-lowest rate with Thursday (39%).
Retail Email Shows YOY Spike in Feb.
The top online retailers sent each of their subscribers 2.9 promotional emails on average during the week ending Feb. 25, 2011, according to previous data from Chad White. That’s down 1% week-over-week, down 1% from where it was four weeks ago, and up 16% year-over-year. During January 2011, retail email volume was also up substantially from where it was a year earlier.


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The US-China trade war appears to be a diminishing
concern for city leaders in Shenzhen, judging by the latest data from the city’s
According to the Shenzhen
Daily, in August, Shenzhen’s exports shot up 11.1% YoY, bringing its total
for the first eight months to RMB 1.4 trillion, up 5.5%. Driving this was trade
with the EU and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Although it is
now standard practice in mainland media reports to not mention trade with the
US, the data shows trade with the EU came in at RMB 28.93 billion in August, up
a healthy 25.2% YoY. Countries along the Belt and Road Initiative were RMB 58.37
billion, up 9.2% YoY.
Export tax rebates appear to have helped, as exports
of Christmas products and ceramic products increased by more than 80%, while
household electrical appliances rose by more than 20%.
Private enterprises continued to take market share
from SOEs. In August, the split went to 60/40, up 3.6 percentage points from
Food held up the import numbers. In August, agricultural
products rose 17.1%. Fresh fruits and nuts, meat and chop, seawater products
and other consumer products increased by more than 20%.
Dongguan and Foshan, the two cities most closely linked to Guangzhou, have been dueling for attention and prestige for decades. Both are “Tier 2”, behind Guangzhou and Shenzhen, yet with lofty ambitions. Trade data from the first half of the year paints an interesting picture of how each is doing. (We have City features, hyperlinked above, that are worth reading, in case you missed them.)
Foshan has the bigger economy, but in recent years Dongguan has been closing the gap thanks to large hi-tech investments by some of the country’s biggest manufacturers. It also has a bigger foreign trade sector, nearly three times the size of Foshan’s, which illustrates how Dongguan is more like Shenzhen and Foshan is more like Guangzhou.
Continue reading Dongguan and Foshan: contrasts and strengths
There is an interesting change under way in the structure of Shenzhen’s economy, which is starting to show up better in its trade statistics. While imports continue to fall, exports are recovering, according to the latest data from the city’s Customs. Overall trade at RMB1.34 trillion for the first half was down 0.9% YoY, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than the previous five months, i.e. June saw a continued deceleration. This was due to sagging demand for imports, at RMB580.08 billion, which were down 7.8% (0.8 percentage points lower than the previous five months). Exports got a boost, however, apparently from targeted rebate support in certain sectors as well as new sectors taking off. They reached RMB757.14 billion, up 5.1%, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous five months).
Continue reading Shenzhen’s foreign trade stats point to change
Following the release last week of national data showing the country’s economy had slowed to its lowest growth rate in three decades (6.2%), the National Bureau of Statistics has released data showing Guangdong’s GDP grew faster than the national average, up 6.5% at RMB5.05 trillion.
Highlights of the data, according to the provincial government, were:
Continue reading Guangdong GDP up 6.5%
We have been waiting for Guangdong’s foreign trade data since the national Customs administration indicated recently that the country overall had seen its exports hold up in May. We had already seen Shenzhen’s numbers last week, which were decent, too. Today we see that the province as a whole saw exports accelerate their recent YoY growth trend.
Continue reading Guangdong exports up in May
It would seem that the US-China trade war is having it hardest impact on sales of U.S. goods in China, not the other way round. The country’s trade surplus surged last month to its highest level this year, as imports fell 8.5% YoY to $172.2 billion, led by a whopping 26.8% fall in imports from the U.S.
The overall import number marked the steepest decline in three years and was well ahead of consensus forecasts for a 3.5% drop.
Exports, on the other hand, appear to be holding up. They edged up 1.1% year-on-year to $213.9 billion in May after a 2.7% decrease the month before. That beat economists’ median forecast of a 3.9% decline. It was despite exports to the U.S. falling 4.2% year-on-year to $37.7 billion. They now account for around 18% of China’s overall exports.
The overall surplus swelled to $41.7 billion in May, the highest since December and more than triple April’s $13.8 billion. It was up 67.5% from a year earlier.
Guangdong’s trade figures have not yet been released, but the province’s share of the national total have been rising so far this year. However, May was the month when Shenzhen-based Huawei Technologies was put on the US blacklist, so all eyes will be on the provincial data when it is released.
Read more at Caixin Global.
Guangdong’s recovering foreign trade numbers have been somewhat surprising since the start of this year. The downturn in US-China relations and the imposition of trade tariffs had been expected to hit China’s biggest exporting province the hardest. And yet trade was still up – barely, at 0.8% YoY in the first four months, but still not as bad as had been feared.
Two reasons for this have been revealed by sources within the Guangdong Customs Department recently: Russia and Latin America.
From January to April this year, trade with Russia jumped 26.5% to RMB19.74 billion. Most of that was exports, at RMB18.5 billion. This is only a fraction of the province’s overall exports, at RMB1.2 trillion, but it is enough to move the needle.
Latin American trade was much larger, and not all of it was exports. According to the Customs data, from January to April, Guangdong traded goods worth RMB92.18 billion yuan from Latin American countries, up 10.3% year-on-year. Exports were RMB64.51 billion, up 6.9%; imports were RMB27.67 billion yuan, up 19.2%.
Japan’s Panasonic has decided to increase its investment and expand production in Shunde, according to Nanfang Daily. The new plant will focus on expanding the production capacity of air purification equipment and fresh air system, which will be sold globally, the company said.
Shunde’s total imports and exports to Japan reached RMB7.93 billion in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 16.5%. Currently more than 50 well-known Japanese companies have invested in Shunde, with a total investment of over US$940 million.
Read more (in Chinese).
Foshan’s exports remained resilient strong in April, helping the city to a 6.2% rise over the first four months of the year, above the province’s average. Mechanical and electrical products accounted for more than two-thirds of the RMB101.42 billion total, while the private sector was more than half of the total, rising 8.6% YoY.
Imports remained strong too, up 5.4% to RMB32.97 billion yuan. They were dominated by raw materials such as scrap metal, plastics and sawn timber. However, a standout was integrated circuits, which came in at RMB1.28 billion yuan, up 39.1% YoY. Auto parts and accessories was also noteworthy, up 19.4%.


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- Security TWENTY
- Women in Security Awards
The government has rolled out new laws to help boost the UK’s cyber security companies from cyber-attacks. The DCMS has revealed plans to strengthen cyber security across the UK. This also includes improving how businesses report data breaches and educating workers with new qualification standards, so they’re better equipped in the long run.
Despite publishing proposals on legislation reform and improving the digital security of firms, cyber threats are evolving and growing at a rapid speed. This is underlined by high-profile cases such as SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange Servers, which had security risks in third party products and services. The lack of cyber security management made some systems easy to access for criminals who were able to hack into their networks, affecting thousands of businesses at a time.
The NIS (Network and Information Security) regulations need risk assessments for vital service providers to protect their networks. The government wants to broaden the NIS regulations. This is primarily to include MSP (Managed Service Providers) as they specialise in digital services, online marketplaces, search engines and cloud computing.
There is a high demand in using digital services for corporate businesses to store information, install, and run the software. The summary listed is what the proposals are for updating the NIS:
Large companies must report to regulators such as Ofcom, Ofgem and the ICO, to better inform of cyber incidents
Flexible financial system – transfer costs incurred by taxpayers to organisations and reduce taxpayers’ burden
Updating the regulatory regime frequently to showcase to digital service providers that they have to abide by NIS regulations
The technology sector is booming in the UK, cyber security companies are an integral part of the economy. There have been thousands of successful new businesses that are now worth up to £1bn. As the demand for cyber careers is huge, employers are finding it difficult recruiting the right candidate or knowing which skillset, experience, and qualification to look for when hiring.
The government’s proposal makes it easier to define roles and responsibilities as well as assign relevant cyber job titles. This will help with the recruitment process for the industry overall. Employers can develop precise content targeting for the right people without unnecessarily hindering their entry and progression.


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For the fourth time, the Golden Garage was awarded to outstanding FinTech companies on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at the FinTechGermany Award ceremony. The leading investor-driven award for FinTech entrepreneurs, organized by Börsen-Zeitung, Business Angels FrankfurtRhineMain, Frankfurt Main Finance and TechFluence, honours start-ups in six different categories for their accomplishments. Awamo was able to convince the jury of its success in the category Seed-/Early Stage while Optiopay won the category Late Stage. N26 was awarded best FinTech in the Growth Stage. Revolut stood out as „Best foreign FinTech on the German market.” Additionally, the special prize for the best PropTech was given to Exporo. Element Insurance was honoured in the special category Insurtech. The Longlist, consisting of applicants and nominees, featured more than 150 companies.
“FinTechs are of utmost importance to the long-term attractiveness and high economic performance of the Financial Centre Frankfurt,” emphasises Dr. Lutz Raettig, President of Frankfurt Main Finance.
Read full article ⇒


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Optimus PM are thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted in the Most Effective Agency category at the Performance Marketing Awards. This is the 13th consecutive year that we have been shortlisted in this category, and we have previously won this award an incredible 5 times.
2018 saw a 67% increase in sales revenues for our clients year on year, allied to a 137% increase in traffic and a 50% increase in aggregate conversion. We maintained our impressive client retention figures with 35% of our clients having been with us for 5 or more years. Further new business wins have seen our global total of managed programmes grow to over 130.
The Performance Marketing Awards aims to highlight the industry’s best and brightest within the performance marketing sector and we are proud to be a part of this event for the 13th year running in 2019. The event takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on 30 April, and we look forward to celebrating another year of industry success with our peers.
This year Optimus PM are sponsoring the Best Affiliate Marketing Innovation award, and we are proud to champion such strong entries this year! Congratulations to all of the shortlisted entries in this category.
See the full shortlist for the 2019 Performance Marketing Awards here.


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Two months from now, Apple will hold the WWDC 2023 keynote. Besides the long-awaited iOS 17 preview, the Cupertino firm is set to announce its first Mixed Reality headset. While a previous report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the company is delaying the mass production of this headset for a few months, it seems this change won’t impact Apple from unveiling its Mixed Reality product in June.
Now, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, writes that WWDC 2023 will likely showcase the Mixed Reality headset, including the new xrOS operating system, its accompanying services, and, perhaps, a software development kit and platform for developers to write new types of apps for this product.
Gurman also points out what Susan Prescott, Apple’s head of developer relations, said in a press release that the Cupertino firm “can’t wait” to host “this very special event,” which is the “biggest and most exciting yet.” The journalist believes that while it isn’t uncommon for the company to use that kind of hyperbole, Apple is teasing a greater announcement this time.
Here’s what to expect from Apple’s upcoming Mixed Reality headset
Apple’s Mixed Reality headset will likely run xrOS. These are some of the expected features, according to Mark Gurman:
VR FaceTime Experience: Apple will offer a VR-like FaceTime experience. The one-on-one call will “realistically render a user’s face and full body in virtual reality.” It will make two people communicate and feel like they’re in the same room. Additional users will be displayed as an icon or Memoji.
In-air typing: Apple will offer innovative in-air typing since the Reality Pro won’t have a remote control. Although the first experience won’t be as good as the Cupertino firm wants, users can also use their iPhones to type.
Immersive video watching: A main core of Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset will be immersive video watching. Apple is said to be working with Disney, Dolby and bringing its own Apple TV Plus material.
Mac Integration: xrOS will integrate with macOS as the Reality Pro headset could work as a Mac display in virtual reality.”
iPhone-like environment: xrOS will rely on many applications iPhone users are familiar with. Gurman says xrOS’ “main interface will be nearly identical to that of the iPhone and iPad,” with a home screen with a grid of icons that can be organized. Users will be able to pin widgets.


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The whopping sales of 35.2 million of Apple’s vaunted iPhones in the third quarter were to some extent short of the 35.9 million sales forecasted by the analysts, stated by the Wall Street Journal. However, after finally launching its top of the shelves mobile phones such as the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5, Apple is expected to get back into the thick of things as far as their sale is concerned. Apple iPhone sales is expected to get some shot in the arm further as it intends to introduce its newest iPhone variants – iPhone 6 which will be rolled out with a 4.5” screen display and soon with a generous 5.5” panel screen.
Another Apple offering that will hit the stride in the coming days is the much-anticipated iWatch. Many thought of the entry of the sophisticated device in the market as quite late since the public is already exposed to their chief competitor’s iWatch versions such as the Samsung Gear and Samsung Gear II. But still, the duo of iPhone 6 and iWatch, are expected to catch the ire of the consumers from all four corners of the world, according to some tech experts.
Apple CEO Tim Cook quipped in the Cupertino, California’s earnings conference call that their company posted robust growth with their introductory priced, mid-tier and top iPhone models, and added, that he is happy with the developments taking place in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, where iPhone sales soared to a steady 55 percent annually.
Though the iPhone 5C exclusively entered China, this move was risky and so far displayed lackadaisical performance in the market. Apple reported the company is breakeven with its release of iPhone 5C in China.


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Hope, one of the central ideas that Obama inspired from the onset, remains strong among African Americans.
While Africa may still have a long way to go in terms of wealth-building, many others are reaping the benefits of additional business and looking to spend big.
The University of California and black colleges are creating a pathway for black students to attend graduate business school.
No More Miss Nice Girl. When Sally Beauty Supply began selling a generic version of popular hair care brand, Mixed Chicks, its founders decided to fight back.
Telling your boss your pregnant can cause stress and anxiety as you ponder what to say and how it will affect your work.
A report conducted by ForbesWoman shows which cities are the best paying cities for women.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, bankruptcy lawyers are more likely to steer blacks towards options that will not benefit them financially.
It may be her birthday, but Diane Garnick aims to be the one giving the gifts this year. For her birthday, she celebrates by opening up a new firm that seeks to give women the gift of employment. Garnick, the former investment strategist of Invesco Ltd., is striving to improve the Wall Street job pool [...]
You go girl! Rosalind Brewer is the first African American woman to lead one of Wal-Mart’s three business units.
After a failed business and several ups and downs in her professional track, Alice Odera has mastered the art of business opportunity with men’s skin care.


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President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has introduced new tax measures aimed at generating an additional Sh50.4 billion to finance the Sh3.3 trillion budget for the 2022/23 financial year.
The National Treasury expects to increase revenue collection to Sh2.1 trillion, which is Sh342 billion more than the projected Sh1.8 trillion.
To achieve this, the Finance Bill, 2022 has prioritised incentives for the health sector in a deliberate policy shift to make healthcare affordable and for local manufacturers to boost investment.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has proposed amendments to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to exempt plant and machinery for use by manufacturers of pharmaceutical products.
The CS has also exempted from VAT medical oxygen supplied to registered hospital, urine bags, adult diapers, artificial breasts and colostomy bags for medical use.
He has also exempted imported inputs and raw materials used in manufacture of pharmaceuticals from paying Import Declaration Fess (IDF) and Railway Development Levy (RDL).
“The government has been progressively addressing the cost of healthcare in the country so as to expand access to quality and affordable services,” said Mr Yatani.
He has also exempted inputs and raw materials used in in the manufacture of passenger service vehicles (PSVs) and those locally made from VAT in a move aimed at accelerating investment in the sector.
The CS has also proposed to amend the Income Tax Act to allow all entities that donate cash to charities to deduct the donation from their taxable income.
Currently, only entities that make cash donations to charities that are registered under either the Societies Act or the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordination Act are allowed to deduct the funds from their taxable income.
Mr Yatani has empowered the Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General to exclude from annual inflation rate adjustment of key excisable products, such as fuel, to cushion consumers from the rising cost of living.
The CS has also removed excise duty on imported eggs for hatching after noting that its introduction last year had had an adverse effect on importers. The local production cannot meet the demand for eggs.
Farmers and pastoralists have also won big after Mr Yatani slashed the export fees on raw hides and skins, which had been imposed on the product to discourage its export and promote local value addition.
The CS has lowered the fee from 80 per cent or $0.5/kg to 50 per cent or $0.3/kg to encourage the pastoralists export more of the product.
The government is set to reap big from radio, television stations, newspapers and other advertisers of gaming, gambling and alcoholic drinks to raise new revenue.
Mr Yatani has slapped a 15 per cent excise duty on all fees charged by these advertisers, which might drive them to raise their rates and this could lead to higher cost of alcohol and gambling.
“Gambling, gaming and alcohol addiction, have become prevalent in our society. These habits are extremely addictive and can result in a variety of harmful repercussions especially to the youth. Advertisements for alcoholic beverages, betting, and gaming contribute greatly to the promotion of these habits,” he said.
The CS has also slapped a 10 per cent extra excise duty on excisable products with the exception of fuel. The Treasury expects to increase excise duty collection to Sh297 billion from Sh260 billion.
“Given the recent global increase in oil prices, I have excluded petroleum products from this increase,” said Mr Yatani.
The CS has also slapped a Sh70 per millilitre charge on liquid nicotine, whose use has been steadily growing, arguing that the current low taxes on the products makes them easily accessible to users, including school children.


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When people want to reach the impressionable shoppers of Gen Z and their tantalizing spending potential, the automatic default seems to be: video.
For one, Dote’s brand-new Shopping Party lets girlfriends shop together via livestream video hosted by top young influencers. Then there’s the incoming crop of startups betting on a new retail format in which shoppers can virtually explore physical stores and buy products through the power of live mobile video.
More so than any generation before them, post-millennials are attached to their devices to a degree most of us can’t truly understand. One Adobe study indicates that British Gen Zers spend 10 hours every day interacting with online content, whether that’s reading, watching, creating or somehow engaging with digital information.
Gen Z isn’t watching your ads on TV or even Facebook, for that matter. Teens watch 3.4 hours of video every day, according to a report from Wibbitz, and much of it is streaming through platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Tik Tok where they see the latest content from favorite stars like PewDiePie and Selah Marley, daughter of Lauryn Hill and granddaughter of reggae legend Bob Marley.
Innovators in tech, retail, media and youth culture have taken notice of Gen Z’s new habits and responded in kind with ventures like Dropp.TV, a platform that layers e-commerce onto the content cranked out by its cohort of creators. The company claims to have a patent for See It. Want It. Get it. video technology that uses artificial intelligence to match products displayed in videos with their shoppable counterparts and give creators a means by which to earn money from their content. Dropp’s website says it enables one-click checkout from its retail partners when viewers click or tap on something they like when watching a live or pre-recorded video.
As part of its platform, the company’s Dropp Studios in Englewood, N.J. is home to 5,000 square feet of space where creators can produce their videos in a professional setting complete with grooming facilities and a cyclorama.
Streetwear brand Coogi today announced plans to release a new limited-edition apparel collection exclusively through Dropp Beta this summer via web and apps for smart devices. “As a creative veteran in the fashion industry, it’s rare that you have a ‘once in a lifetime’ moment to evolve the culture and fashion through tech,” said Willie Escobar, creative director for Coogi, which has been worn by the likes of cultural influencers such as Biggie Smalls, Nipsey Hustle and Conner McGregor.
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, and embrace the fact that we were the first inclusive luxury brand to embrace streetwear. History will repeat itself as we will be the first to embrace change and evolve fashion via Dropp in 2019,” he added.
Dropp founder and CIO Gurps Rai, noting Coogi’s history of dressing “fly guys in pop culture,” described the partnership as a “huge honor.” “This collaboration is the ideal embodiment of Dropp’s mission statement—to fuel the success of future generations of independent talent,” he said.
Dropp is working to strengthen its partnerships with brands attractive to Gen Z. In addition to his work with Coogi, Escobar will be leveraging his associations with brands including Kith, FUBU, Barneys, Adidas and Samsung as head of brand partnerships for Dropp. The company also brought on board streetwear veteran Jose Rodriguez, whose design portfolio has generated $200 million in sales for brands including Sean John and Rocawear.
Though Dropp touted itself as a blockchain-based next-gen shopping platform when it launched in 2017, today its website contains no references to distributed ledger technology beyond noting that users maintain “complete control over their data” on “a trusted and anonymous [peer-to-peer] marketplace with assurance on product authenticity.”
Similar in concept to Dropp, NTWRK mixes content and commerce into a shoppable video format aimed at hype-conscious young consumers. NTWK, helmed by ComplexCon founder Aaron Levant, drops exclusive merchandise through engaging video content. For the latest release on NTWRK, Chicago rapper and Coachella performer Juice WRLD celebrated his latest album, Death Race for Love, by collaborating with Suzuki on a collection of apparel emblazoned with traditional motorsports graphic treatments, many in on-trend neon colorways.
In an interview with PSFK last fall, Levant spoke to his vision for NTWRK as it gathers steam among young viewers. “They’re intentionally navigating to media companies that talk to them about products they want to purchase, cultural artifacts and things that they enjoy or collect,” he told the retail and innovation-focused company. “I’m taking NTWRK into a space not just in street culture, but across all genres of pop culture. We’re going after the crazy fandom‑obsessed fans who love to collect things that engage with their interests.”


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Handwritten speech notes by Adolf Hitler sold at auction in Munich on Friday despite concerns from Jewish groups they could encourage neo-Nazis.
The Hermann Historica auction house defended the sale of the manuscripts, all dated before the outbreak of World War II, saying they were of historical significance and should be preserved in a museum.
The documents were sold to anonymous bidders for well above their starting prices.
A nine-page manuscript by Hitler outlining his speech to new military officers in Berlin in 1939 about eight months before the beginning of World War II fetched the top price of 34,000 euros ($40,300).
A prominent European Jewish organisation had slammed the auction house’s decision to sell the notes, saying it “defies logic, decency and humanity” to put them on the market.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the head of the Brussels-based European Jewish Association, said the sale was worrisome given rising anti-Semitism in Germany.
“I cannot get my head around the sheer irresponsibility and insensitivity, in such a febrile climate, of selling items such as the ramblings of the world’s biggest killer of Jews to the highest bidder,” he said in a statement.
“What auctions like this do help legitimise Hitler enthusiasts who thrive on this sort of stuff.”


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UK - The use and flow of information in the meat supply chain will be discussed at a free conference next month hosted by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
The conference takes place on Tuesday 2 June at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.
The event, organised by AHDB’s beef, lamb and pork divisions (EBLEX and BPEX), will cover the latest Food Standards Agency (FSA) projects for improving food chain information (FCI), the collection and communication of inspection results (CCIR) and reporting systems.
The conference will also allow the opportunity to discuss the EU draft legislation for FCI for pigs.
AHDB/EBLEX business development manager Christine Walsh said: “Our aim is to continue help the meat industry and the FSA to support improvements to food safety, animal health and welfare and productivity.
“This is a timely opportunity for the meat processing sector to get involved to discuss and influence the type of information to be captured and how it can be best transferred up and down the meat supply chain.
"Abattoir technical managers, meat processors and allied industry are all invited to attend.”
To register, please contact Cheryl Barker at email@example.com by Tuesday 26 May.
View more information by clicking here.
ThePigSite News Desk


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Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple appears to be a popular figure in the Miami Dolphins' locker room.
Prior to this Thursday's matchup between the Bengals and Dolphins, star receiver Tyreek Hill called out Apple. Their beef stems from last season's AFC Championship Game.
"I can't wait to go against Eli Apple. I owe you, boy," Hill said. "I owe you. I'm here. The Cheetah is here. That's it."
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa added fuel to the fire with his comments during a press conference on Wednesday.
"If Tyreek is matched up with him and we call a play for Tyreek and it's 1-on-1, I'm giving Tyreek a shot," Tagovailoa told reporters. "Just know that he is getting the ball."
Plenty of jokes are being made about Apple and Hill on Twitter this afternoon.
Most football fans are predicting that Hill will get the better of Apple tonight.
"I like tyreek hill over Eli apple any day of the week man," one fan tweeted.
"Ready to watch Eli Apple get cooked tonight," a second fan said.
There'll be plenty of people locked in on this matchup tonight.
Kickoff for the Dolphins-Bengals game is at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.


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Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) YouTube unit said it acquired Directr, a mobile-video startup, to reach more small-business customers and boost its video-advertising efforts.
No purchase price was disclosed.
Directr has a mobile app for Apple Inc.'s iOS platform that makes it easy for small businesses to shoot, edit and upload short videos to the Internet. The Directr team will join YouTube's video ads team, Google said.
Directr now charges for its app, but it will be free once the startup joins YouTube, Google also said.


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SVG SportsTech On Demand: SyncWords' Giovanni Galvez Talks Captioning and Subtitling Automation
In an effort to keep the broadcast-technology community informed this spring, throughout April, SVG is hosting a series of SportsTech On Demand video interviews with executives from the industry’s top technology vendors discussing their latest product releases and company news. Our Jason Dachman sat down with Giovanni Galvez, VP, business development, SyncWords, about the company’s efforts.
Syncwords is a cloud-based captioning and subtitling automation and software company that makes solutions for major networks and caption service companies to migrate their workflow to the cloud in order to leverage cloud-services like translation, automatic speech recognition, and other automated tools. When NHK World Japan recently began streaming their live english new broadcast online 24/7, they turned to Syncwords to automatically translate this live content in multiple languages across the globe.
For more interviews and news from around the sports-video-production industry, visit SVG’s SportsTech Blog.


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Canadian Price Index rose at 1.1%, faster than January’s 1.0%, according to Statistics Canada press release. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in February.
- Gasoline prices supported consumer price growth, recording 5.0% gains on a year over year basis.
- Gasoline prices increased for the third consecutive month, up 6.5% in February compared to January’s 6.1% gain.
- Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 1.0% in February, down from a 1.3% increase in January.
- Prices for consumer goods rose 1.0%, a faster year over year pace compared to January’s 0.1% gain, driven by higher gasoline prices.
- The price increase for services slowed year over year, after gaining 1.2% in February, compared to January’s 1.9%.
- Lower clothing prices which fell 7.1% contributed to a year over year price decline for semi-durable goods which fell 3.5% in February.
Canadian dollar is currently declining against the U.S dollar. USDCAD is up 0.25%
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