text:
Rebecca Liggero talks to Comcast Venture’s Principal, Gavin Teo on innovation in eSports and daily fantasy sports.
The explosive popularity of fantasy sport is felt across the industry. Gavin Teo, principal at Comcast Ventures, said there is a unique opportunity right now—particularly in the United States—for companies to deliver new customer experiences.
“I think that the innovation here is gonna come and take form in shape of new, vertical leagues that are then attached to new rosters so we can draw, you can deliver fantasy again,” Teo told CalvinAyre.com.
One example of that is the convergence of eSports and fantasy sports.
“Unlike in the traditional sports world, other than the League of Legends Championship Series, other large titles [don’t] yet have sort of analogous opportunities and schedules for people to kind of tune in, watch and then take positions on and have their favorite players, so as that expands, I think you’ll start to see innovation in that corner of daily fantasy,” Teo explained.
Still, a lot of people are concerned that FanDuel and DraftKings, the two leading daily fantasy sports sites at the moment, have taken all of the market share.
“It’s still very early overall in saying, you know, that this is a fully penetrated market in the consumer standpoint,” Teo said. “There’s 40 million sports fans that play fantasy in the U.S., and a very small fraction of that—1 million or so—are currently avid daily fantasy users, so I think that [the] market is gonna expand.”
Teo said there is a lot of potential in the United States market, and online gambling companies should take advantage of that, especially if they want to make a mark right now.
“Don’t shy away from the U.S. This is a market that has a lot of potential and it’s in the very early stages of growth because of the combination of the regulatory environment, the tech environment, and just the amount of capital flowing in, so I’d say understand that environment well,” Teo said. “I think the presence of the leagues and content owners and rights, particularly as it pertains to sports, make a big difference. How you enter this market, how you perform is as important as what product you deliver.”


text:
Royal DSM is expanding its presence in the industrial additive manufacturing market through the acquisition of certain assets from specialty chemical firm Clariant’s 3D printing business, the Dutch company announced in a release Wednesday.
The transaction provides Royal DSM with rapid product development capabilities, including a high-speed compounding setup, that complement its existing activities in powders, filaments and pellets.
“After a thorough strategic review, Clariant concluded that its 3D printing business was no longer aligned with its strategic focus,” said Richard Haldimann, head of sustainability transformation at Clariant, in a statement. “While we continue to serve the 3D printing market, with our high-quality additives and flame retardants, we are confident that DSM is the ideal new home for parts of Clariant’s tailored 3D printing materials business to continue its successful development.”
Under the terms of the deal, Royal DSM will take on part of Clariant’s 3D printing team and acquire its knowledge in powder development, portfolio and pipeline of engineering-grade filament and pellet materials and customer relations, and a production line.
“We are very excited about welcoming the new team members and the expertise they bring to expand our service offering. We share the same focus on customer needs and have complementary expertise and portfolio,” Hugo da Silva, vice president of additive manufacturing at DSM, said in the release. “Together we can fulfil market needs faster and with a broader materials toolbox, and realize further the potential of additive manufacturing to the manufacturing world.”

domain: news


text:
In the continuing splurge of written pieces, we now hear from the PBOC, the central bank of a major economy that is seemingly furthest along in the non-trial issuance of a CBDC. This piece in Reuters advises that the PBOC is now on trial throughout Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing with the e-CNY.
We have been chasing after these stories in this channel and expect many more revelations in the next year. China has been very aggressive in its pursuit of a CBDC, just as they have been skeptics of decentralized cryptos such as bitcoin.
‘The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will strengthen data security and personal information protection as it forges ahead with domestic testing of the digital yuan, it said in a white paper that is the first comprehensive disclosure of its plans….China is a front-runner in the global race to launch central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and is testing a digital yuan, or e-CNY, in major cities…..but has not set a timetable for its official rollout…..Many analysts believe the e-CNY will bolster the currency’s global status as China seeks ultimately to break the dominance of the dollar settlement system……eport “The internationalisation of a currency is a natural result of market selection,” the PBOC said in the white paper, downplaying its global ambition.’
Of course, as most have also been discussing, the use of CBDCs as a cross-border payments tool is on the table, and the e-CNY is no exception. So far the trials conducted have been for retail purposes but there is obviously no reason that wholesale payments won’t also be tested in the near future.
‘ “Though technically ready for cross-border use, e-CNY is still designed mainly for domestic retail payments at present.”…The PBOC said it will explore cross-border payment programs in coordination with other central banks, “preconditioned on mutual respect to monetary sovereignty and compliance”….The PBOC “is willing to participate actively in international exchanges of views on digital fiat currency and discuss standards setting … in order to jointly advance the development of the international monetary system,” it added.’
The idea of secure data and non-surveillance will be the most sticky one when it comes to dealing with a Chinese CBDC. Any that are not questioning this, we have a bridge available and for you to buy in Brooklyn. This is obviously a generally applied question and will be the most gating factor for these applications going forward.
‘In an apparent attempt to ease concerns over government surveillance, the PBOC on Friday vowed to protect personal information and privacy, while also guarding against misuse of e-CNY in Internet gambling, money laundering and tax evasion….The e-CNY system collects less transaction information than traditional payment, and does not provide information to third parties or other government agencies unless stipulated otherwise in laws and regulations, the PBOC said.’
Overview by Steve Murphy, Director, Commercial and Enterprise Payments Advisory Service at Mercator Advisory Group


text:
It appears Valve are truly getting more serious about Virtual Reality as they appear to be making their own headset. On top of that, apparently a new Half-Life VR game is coming.
Leaked to an imgur album, which contains multiple shots of the new hardware. These includes shots clearly showing a Valve logo:
The uploadvr website has claimed they have had it confirmed by various sources that it is in fact real. As someone who really wants to try VR, I am hopeful Valve will be able to give it a decent price. The current price for most VR hardware is simply out of reach for a lot of people, myself included.
Even more interesting, is that Valve are apparently working on a new Half-Life which will be a VR title. That certainly could be one way to push adoption, I imagine that would turn a few heads that otherwise wouldn't have been interested. Could backfire too of course, if it's VR-only. To keep expectations in check though, reportedly it's a Half-Life 2 prequel and not Half-Life 3.
Valve News Network also have this video up about the Half-Life game which is interesting:
Considering Microsoft is making moves buying up more studios and making another attempt to fix up the Windows Store, along with some bigger players leaving Steam like Activision, EA, Bethesda with the new Fallout and all this together should make Valve at least a bit worried. Their current growth will only last so long, if others continue to leave and become exclusive to other stores.
Valve obviously need to make moves of their own and it looks like doubling down on VR is what they had in mind. The amount of people that currently own a VR headset as reported on the Steam Hardware Survey is still extremely low (lower than the Linux share) so Valve really will need a decent price on it.
It does make you think about Valve's future plans. They're doing this new VR hardware, some new games and pushing Steam Play to get more games on Linux. Would it be too far-fetched to consider a new Steam Machine? One continued to be powered by their SteamOS Linux distribution that allows VR support out of the box along with a huge back catalogue of previously Windows-only games.
That's a pipe dream of mine though really and I'm basically thinking out loud at this point, as I'm sure it's just different teams working on their own thing. However, if it did all come together, that could be amazing.


text:
Apple iTunes, App Stores experience outages [u]Coming on the heels of an iCloud email issue, users are reporting Apple's iTunes Store and App Store are also down.
While AppleInsider can't confirm the validity of users' complaints, the alleged outage seems to be widespread as many iOS users have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns over "cannot connect" error messages when attempting to purchase songs and apps through both the iTunes Store and the App Store.
The issue is most likely related to problems retrieving email messages on iCloud reported earlier today. That issue has been confirmed by Apple through its iCloud Support page and the company is reportedly working on a rolling out a fix soon.
Update: The problems appear to be fixed though Apple has yet to release a statement regarding the issue.
On Topic: General
- Apple sends invitations for 'iPhone 7' event on Sept. 7: 'See you on the 7th'
- Fitbit reveals new Charge 2 and Flex 2 fitness trackers, plus updated app
- Apple-1 'Celebration' buyer considers $815K purchase akin to fine art
- How virtual and augmented reality could play a role in Apple's future
- This week on AI: Three iPhones in 2017, Apple takes on Snapchat, surprise iOS 9.3.5 update & more


text:
Bannstudio: Igniting Startups and SMEs With Tailored Digital Marketing Solutions
In the heartland of India, where the digital landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, Bannstudio, a digital marketing agency in Gwalior, has emerged as a transformative force for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This dynamic digital marketing company in Gwalior, founded in 2019, has defied all odds to make a remarkable impact on the business landscape.
With its unwavering commitment to delivering tangible results, Bannstudio Agency is rewriting the playbook on how businesses can leverage the power of digital marketing to achieve remarkable growth.
Mr. Praveen Prajapati, CEO of Bannstudio, states, “Digital marketing is not just a strategy; it’s a transformative force that has the power to shape the destiny of businesses.”
Bannstudio Agency | Expanding Horizons
With the inauguration of its third branch in Indore, Bannstudio Agency is taking its commitment to a broader clientele. This strategic expansion is a testament to their dedication to assisting businesses in harnessing the potential of digital marketing. This development solidifies their position as an industry frontrunner, enabling them to serve more businesses and fuel their growth and success.
The agency’s dedication and results-driven approach have not gone unnoticed. They’ve recently been recognized by SiliconIndia Startup City magazine, earning a spot among the top 10 social media marketing startups of 2023. This accolade highlights their prowess in the field and their ability to make a significant difference in the digital marketing landscape.
The Visionary Behind the Agency:
Founder and CEO Praveen Prajapati, driven by an unwavering passion for digital marketing, recognized the untapped potential within the industry. He seized the opportunity to establish an agency that provides comprehensive solutions to businesses eager for growth. Till today, Bannstudio has propelled over 500 startups and SMEs to soaring heights in their digital ventures.
What began as a bootstrap startup in a modest third-tier city, led by a tenacious and solitary crusader, has gradually blossomed into a powerhouse with a team of marketing virtuosos. Now operating three branches, Bannstudio serves clients not only in India but also across the globe, playing an instrumental role in fostering the awe-inspiring expansion of numerous esteemed brands.
The guiding light behind Mr. Prajapati’s journey to success has been Mr. Nitin Sethi, Chief Digital Officer, Consumer Business, Adani Group. Mr. Sethi, with his unparalleled insights, mentorship, and vast experience in the digital marketing space, has not only inspired but also nurtured Praveen’s journey.
“Together with Praveen, I embarked on a journey to uncover the incredible potential of digital marketing and to empower startups and SMEs. At Bannstudio, we’ve crafted an extraordinary consumer experience, steering brands towards unparalleled success,” shared Nitin Sethi, Chief Digital Officer – Consumer Businesses, Adani Group, and the guiding mentor of Bannstudio Agency.
A Remarkable Journey of Growth:
A significant milestone in Bannstudio’s journey has been its remarkable financial growth. In just four years, the company has experienced exponential expansion, generating an annual revenue of 75 lacs. This extraordinary achievement has boosted the agency’s valuation to an impressive 1 crore+, firmly establishing its position as an industry leader.
“Our remarkable financial growth is a testament to our dedication and the trust our clients have placed in us. With a solid foundation and a thriving ecosystem of partners, we are poised for remarkable expansion. Our future plans are not limited by borders; we aspire to take our expertise to global markets and continue supporting the growth of startups and SMEs worldwide. Bannstudio Agency is on an exciting journey of financial success and global influence, and we’re just getting started.” says Mr. Prajapati, CEO of Bannstudio.
Bannstudio’s Dedication to Delivering Outstanding Outcomes:
Under the leadership of Praveen Prajapati, Bannstudio consistently demonstrates marketing prowess and a passion for providing impeccable digital marketing solutions that effectively elevate SMEs and startups. Through its outcome-focused approach, the agency has achieved remarkable success in catapulting the growth of various brands by a factor of 10.
To date, they have provided their services to prestigious names in diverse industries, including Artis, Future Value, Purity Hub, Momo Adda, Bistro57, Finding Your Balance, Biovitalia, and Red Cherry, among others.
The Vision for the Future:
With a team of seasoned experts led by a visionary leader, Bannstudio Agency is poised to make a lasting impact in the central belt of India and dominate the digital marketing world. Their future plans include expanding into global markets and continuing to support the growth of SMEs. Bannstudio Agency is well on its way to becoming India’s top marketing agency, driving success for startups and SMEs.
Summing it up, Bannstudio’s journey from a bootstrap startup to a leading player in the digital marketing industry is a testament to their unwavering dedication to delivering tangible results and their commitment to transforming businesses.
Note: If you are a budding entrepreneur and require assistance to register a Pvt Ltd Company, register a company, create financial projections, business development, LLP Registration, compliance filing, funding formalities, debt funding, CFO Services, or other startup related legal services, contact us.


text:
General Motors has signed an agreement with Japanese carbon fibre manufacturer Teijin Ltd to jointly develop carbon fiber automobile parts, the Nikkei business daily has said.
Carbon fibre parts, such as frames, roofs and hoods, can cut vehicle weight by more than 20 percent, saving fuel and helping companies meet tighter emission norms, the business daily said.
The partnership, likely to benefit from Teijin’s technology that reduces the time needed to form carbon fibre products, may also establish a manufacturing joint venture, the Nikkei added.
GM’s rivals, BMW and Daimler AG, have already forged similar carbon fibre partnerships with Teijin’s Japanese competitors such as Toray Industries Inc and Mitsubishi Rayon.[via Reuters] [connections id=’9′]


text:
Aurora Cannabis (TSE: ACB) seems to be everywhere. It has agreements with companies around the world, including Mexico, Colombia, Portugal, Germany and others, but the Canada-based company hasn’t seemed to be looking to the U.S. as a potential market. This might soon be changing, though.
Legally, Aurora cannot enter the U.S. if it wants to continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). This is due to the federal restrictions on cannabis in the U.S., but two other companies have already made the jump by exploring a different channel. Tilray and Canopy Growth are expanding into the U.S. through the legal hemp market, made possible due to the 2018 Farm Bill. Canopy launched an industrial hemp park in New York and Tilray acquired Manitoba Harvest, a company that sells hemp food products in about 13,000 retail shops across the country.
While Aurora doesn’t appear to have been proactively looking to expanding into the U.S. marijuana market, it turned its Australis Capital arm into a separate entity last year. That organization focuses on investments in the cannabis industry in the U.S. and already has several cannabis partners. It completed an investment in Body and Mind, a cannabis company out of Nevada, last November, and invested in the largest vertically integrated producer, manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids – Folium Biosciences – this past January. In February, it acquired 100% of California-based medical and recreational cannabis brand Mr. Natural Productions.
Australis is only listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, which means it isn’t prohibited from conducting business with U.S.-based marijuana companies. It legally trades over the counter and, although it is known to be aligned with Aurora, must still operate as a separate entity in order to avoid any issues related to Aurora’s stock on the NYSE and TSE.
It’s certainly possible that Aurora is going to jump into the U.S. marijuana market soon. The company is secretive about its expansion plans, announcing them only after deals are made. Given its continued desire to dominate the market, the U.S. is one of the largest potential markets in the world and Aurora will certainly want to be a part of it.


text:
IBM will deliver its next-generation Power5 RISC microprocessor architecture sometime in mid-2004, according to company officials at the IBM PartnerWorld event in New Orleans.
The processors will deliver roughly four times the performance of current-generation Power4 chips and will feature technologies that support application-specific performance boosts and mainframe-like partitioning capabilities.
Power5 chips will feature a technology called simultaneous multi-threading that will enable up to 80 per cent better application-level performance than current technologies permit, vice-president of IBM's pSeries product group, Karl Freund, said.
Simultaneous multi-threading technology built on the capabilities available in today's dual-core Power4 processor architecture, Freund said.
Dual-core processors featured two processors packed into one piece of silicon, he said. With simultaneous multi-threading, each of the processors in a dual-core chip would be capable of running two separate processes or tasks at the same time, thereby greatly boosting performance.
The Power5 architecture would also introduce a mainframelike subprocessor partitioning capability in IBM's Unix server space. With it, users would be able to slice and dice individual Power5 processors to create up to 10 partitions.
At the highest end, users would be able to create up to 512 partitions on a 64-processor system, Freund said.
The 0.13-micron Power5 chips also feature an acceleration technology that optimised performance in some applications. Freund said. The technology would allow certain commonly used code executed by software in many popular applications to be executed much faster by the processor hardware. Enabling the processor to take over tasks currently done by software would deliver significant performance benefits.
The first systems based on the new chip would start shipping sometime in the second half of 2004, IBM said.


text:
Fact check: Indents on milk jugs help control volume, stability
The claim: Indent on milk jug pops out when milk is old
You've spent years sniffing sour milk and squinting at expiration dates, but have you missed a more obvious sign of dairy spoilage?
A July 24 Facebook post shared by over 60,000 users says yes: Just look at the circular indent found on the sides of some plastic milk jugs.
"How old were you ... when you found out ... the circle on the milk pops out when it’s old?” says the meme, which shows an indented milk jug. USA TODAY reached out to user who posted the meme for comment.
"About 15 seconds ago and my Dad was a Milkman!" says one of the more than 500,000 comments.
The pop-science explanation for this theory is that gas produced by the bacteria in milk will eventually build up, forcing the indent to pop out.
Fact check:Farmers are dumping milk because of change in demand, bottling limitations
A spoilage-indicating container would be convenient, but dairy experts say it's extremely unlikely that the indent would protrude because of milk's age. Rather, the indent helps jug manufacturers control volume and stabilize the jug.
Bottle makers use indents to control volume, strengthen jug
According to Matt Herrick, senior vice president of communications at the International Dairy Foods Association, the indents come from plastic mold inserts that allow producers precise control over the volume and weight of milk containers during manufacturing.
Unlike glass, the high-density polyethylene plastic jugs are made of shrinks slightly over time. It also shrinks more in hot temperatures than cold temperatures, a report by Australian polyethylene and polymer manufacturer Qenos said.
Producers must make jugs slightly larger to offset inevitable shrinkage if they are exposed to summer heat in transport and/or go to long-term storage before being filled, but they want to keep the jugs smaller in cold months and if jugs go directly to be filled.
Interchangeable volume inserts – which are the indentations you see – allow them to do that without changing the base molds.
This is important because if jugs shrink too much, milk could overflow, but if jugs are too large, they will appear underfilled, even though the amount of milk is the same. Customers won't buy those bottles, suppliers say.
"People who buy milk jugs, they want them to be full," said Mike McCarty, vice president and sales manager of plastic bottle manufacturer Indiana Bottle Co., in a phone interview with USA TODAY.
Fact check:Payments to dairy farmers drop even as retail milk prices rise
The indentations also add structural integrity to the jugs. According to McCarty, this can allow manufacturers to make cheaper, lightweight plastic stiffer and improve cost-efficiency.
Milk jug indent doesn't consistently indicate spoilage or age
It’s not hard to guess why alternative theories about the circular indent have sprung up – a Google search of “circular indent on milk jug” returns scant information. But one result is a Distractify article that formulates the spoiled-milk theory of the indent’s function.
Bacteria present in milk produce gas, the article says, and over time, as the gas buildup grows large enough, the jug must expand to accommodate it. That is what causes the indentation to pop out.
However, the theory's assumption that gas would build up over time is flawed because bacteria can spoil milk without producing gas at all.
According to Bob Roberts, professor and head of food science at Pennsylvania State University, there are two types of bacteria in milk: those that survive the pasteurization process and those that are introduced afterward. While it’s possible that gas producers are among those bacteria, it’s not always the case, he said.
Fact check:Fake photos of 'humongous fungus,' world's largest living organism, are circulating online
When milk is refrigerated, it generally spoils because bacteria that survived the pasteurization process break down fats and proteins, creating the sour smell that tells you your milk has gone bad. The bacteria responsible for this generally don't produce gas, so the circle would remain indented even though the milk is old.
On the other hand, gas-producing bacteria grow much more slowly in cold temperatures than non-gas-producers do. That's why Roberts believes a warm environment is the most likely culprit of an inverted indent.
"It (the jug expanding because of bacterial activity) could happen, but most likely if the milk is temperature-abused, I mean really temperature-abused,” Roberts told USA TODAY in a phone interview. "At refrigeration temperatures, you're not going to know your milk is old because the indent pops out.”
According to Tim Stubbs, vice president of product research and food safety at Dairy Management Inc., the kind of gas buildup required to force out an indent could also occur if milk was cross-contaminated after opening and/or well past its expiration date.
Our rating: False
According to our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the indent on milk jugs pops out when milk is old. Milk jugs have indents to make them more structurally sound and to allow jugs to flex if the plastic expands or contracts. They are not a reliable indicator of the milk's age or spoilage.
Our fact-check sources:
- National Geographic, Sept. 8, 2016, When Good Milk Goes Bad
- Qenos, June 2017, Understanding Dairy Bottle Shrinkage
- Mike McCarty, July 30, Phone interview with USA TODAY
- Bob Roberts, Aug. 2, Phone interview with USA TODAY
- Matt Herrick, Aug. 4, Email interview with USA TODAY
- Tim Stubbs, Aug. 4, Email interview with USA TODAY
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.


text:
Telematics is changing the way auto-insurance is offered in SA. With somewhere in the region of 12 million smartphones in use locally and alarming projections of penetration and usage, there is a phenomenon on the horizon that cannot be ignored – It’s called Telematics 2.0. Telematics 2.0 utilises smartphone based sensors rather than black-box devices used in the traditional Pay As You Drive insurance industry
Leading vehicle recovery and driver safety services provider, Tracker, believes that while smartphone technology will be all it is touted to be, they haven’t thrown away the black-box device just yet.
Michael Nieuwoudt, Consumer Sales Director at Tracker explains, “Smartphone tech will be a key catalyst in the industry here in SA. Our research and testing has shown that optimal data is gathered when smartphone devices are integrated with the box, not as a substitute.”
Tracker has recently developed an iOS and Android-optimised driver behaviour app for the local market that transforms users smartphones into mobile and cost-effective telematics devices. The app performs the task of in-vehicle information gathering that improves driver interactivity in real time. While the box delivers the slightly more accurate data of the two, the mobile handset adds a layer of engagement, which ultimately will put the power into the hands of the driver, literally.
Allaying fears of driver distraction, users can switch off the phone and the app will continue to run in the background. The app is designed to automatically start when the accelerometer goes over a specified speed, so the data remains robust.
Interestingly for insurers, the app captures trip data to establish driver beahaviour then sorts you into the appropriate cover category. How many times you were speeding, whether you texted or called while driving, are all fed into the algorithm in the app and you are allocated a score, while also giving the insurer live, real time data.
Insurance customers are then clustered according to their score. This is where some people will be reaching for their constitution handbook thinking their personal freedoms are under threat.
Nieuwoudt clarifies, “Telematics apps provide an opportunity for drivers to have their own data on hand, so that they have peace of mind in their driving score. Eventually an app user can go to his or her insurer with the knowledge that they are accurately scored according to their own driving behaviour and skill. It also provides insurers the opportunity to improve customer engagement and service, while having the potential to make our roads safer.”
For the first time, communication from insurer to the customer is now far more open. In the case of an accident, not only does the telematics app allow you to take pictures instantly of the scene, it also gives you fields to capture details, which uploads immediately into the system and integrates directly into the insurers data. The insurer is then notified, resulting in an almost real time call to the customer from the insurer. The customer also has the functionality to call for assistance.
To throw some more big data into the mix, the global telematics market is poised to grow exponentially in the future, with approximately 104 million new cars expected to have some form of connectivity by 2025. With whispers of steering wheel and voice controls nearing the horizon, the future seems a safer, albeit strange, place.


text:
Apple CEO Tim Cook says he wants people to see Apple’s retail locations as more than just a place where you buy things.
To celebrate the opening of the new flagship Apple store in Chicago, Cook and Apple retail boss Angela Ahrendts sat down for a wide-ranging interview. The duo discussed everything from why physical Apple stores are still vital in the digital age to whether Apple’s political stances will cause pushback from customers.
Buzzfeed even asked Tim about rumors that Angela is slated to be the next CEO. Cook downplayed the rumors and said he’s not trying to help just one person take over.
“I see my role as CEO to prepare as many people as I can to be CEO,” Tim said. “That’s what I’m doing and then the board makes a decision at that point in time.”
Watch the full interview below:


text:
The source code for a very important part of the iPhones operating system has been leaked online.
The code ?iBoot? which is used to boot the iPhones operating system when the device has been switched on has been leaked online on programming website GitHub. The authenticity of the leak seems legitimate as shortly after being posted the leak was hit with a copyright notice. The post was not copyrighted quickly enough however, as the coding has since been spotted on numerous other websites.
Experts are calling the leak ?the biggest leak in history? and ?a huge deal? as it will allow hackers to design new attacks against the iPhone operating system. Hackers will be able to find vulnerabilities in the coding and create exploits, potentially allowing them to steal data.
The iBoot firmware is the first bit of code that runs when an iPhone is switched on. Think of the iBoot code as the front door key to iOS, it is initially the difference between your phone screen going from black to the Apple logo appearing on your screen once you have powered it on.
Apple are yet to comment on the release of the iBoot firmware, however Andy Kays from the British Cyber Security firm Redscan has said Apple have taken important steps to improve the protection of its products and that users of latest Apple devices don?t need to be too concerned by the leak.
iOS experts have confirmed that the leaked code was from the outdated iOS9 which ended in September 2015, however it does give hackers an insight to the inner workings of Apples operating system.
The best way to stay protected is to ensure your devices are kept up to date with all the latest software updates released by Apple. To check whether your device is up to date go Settings ? General ? Software Update.


text:
First Solar Plans Module Manufacturing Plant in Perrysburg, Ohio
According to company officials, the expansion plan calls for a 1 million square foot facility located in Lake Township, Ohio, a short distance from First Solar’s Perrysburg site, with construction expected to begin in mid-2018 and entering full production mode in late 2019 with an expected annualized capacity of 1.2GW.
The plan is contingent on confirmation of state and local incentive packages currently in negotiation, company officials noted.
With the current plant’s Series 6 manufacturing capacity of 600MW and the announced expansion, First Solar’s annualized U.S. manufacturing capacity for thin film PV solar modules will total 1.8 GW. First Solar is the nation’s largest manufacturer of PV modules.
President Donald Trump’s administration recently imposed 30 percent tariffs imposed on imported solar panels. According to a report by Reuters, “First Solar benefits from having a technology that is not subject to tariffs. Its panels are made from cadmium telluride, while the tariffs apply only to traditional silicon solar products.”
“Strong demand in the U.S. for advanced solar technology, along with recent changes in U.S. corporate tax policies, have encouraged our decision to grow First Solar’s U.S. production operations,” said Mike Koralewski, First Solar’s Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing.
“State and local officials and JobsOhio have also worked with us to create a business-friendly environment that supported our objectives. These factors, combined with our own economies of scale in high tech manufacturing, make expanding U.S. operations an attractive, win-win opportunity,” he added.
Koralewski said the capital investment for the expansion will be approximately $400 million, with a workforce of approximately 500 associates and an annual payroll of approximately $30 million. He also indicated First Solar has options for potential further manufacturing expansion in the future, depending on sustained U.S. demand for advanced solar technology.
“Expanding our U.S. manufacturing is particularly exciting,” said Tymen de Jong, First Solar’s COO. “We originated in Ohio, and we’re proud to build on that history as we grow into the future.”
In 2017, the company invested $175 million into retooling the original Perrysburg plant for production of its new Series 6 product. This April, the facility re-started an idled Series 4 production line to meet continued demand for that product.
Supply Chain Bottlenecks Creating New “Logistical Hotspots”
2020 Top States for Doing Business Showcase Their Pro-Business Environments
Latest Trends in the Industrial Real Estate Sector Here to Stay
2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts
Challenges Facing the Auto Industry Post-Pandemic
2021 Auto/Aero Site Guide
Auto Industry Is Betting on Sustainability
2021 Auto/Aero Site Guide


text:
|Bid||13.43 x 0|
|Ask||13.44 x 0|
|Day's Range||13.38 - 13.76|
|52 Week Range||5.91 - 36.00|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||1.05|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Earnings Date||Dec. 21, 2021 - Dec. 26, 2021|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|Ex-Dividend Date||Sep. 08, 1999|
|1y Target Est||11.38|
In the latest trading session, BlackBerry (BB) closed at $10.83, marking a -1.9% move from the previous day.
Here's why BlackBerry (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) and Cineplex (TSX:CGX) are two top Canadian meme stocks retail investors are watching. The post 2 Canadian Meme Stocks That Could Outperform in October and Beyond appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.
BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) was featured today in Newsweek's Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking at 50 among the top 100 companies recognized for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Produced in collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), a leadership development and benchmark research company, the Newsweek list results were determined after surveying more than 800,000 employees from businesses with workforces varying in size from 50 to more than 10,000.


text:
With COVID-19 battering bottom lines in 2020, a positive lesson has come to the fore for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to improve their business profitability.
In the UOB SME Outlook 2021 Study, it was found that two in five SMEs (41 per cent) who had implemented digitalisation initiatives in 2020 experienced stronger revenue growth than non-adopters.
More starkly, those that had digitalised their entire business or multiple areas reported better revenue growth than those that digitalised only one area. In contrast, six in 10 SMEs that did not adopt any digital tools saw a decline in their 2020 net revenue as compared with 2019.
SMEs that have digitalised are also more optimistic about the road ahead in 2021. Three in five (58 per cent) of SMEs who have digitalised said they are expecting revenue to grow this year, compared with just 32 per cent of SMEs among non-digital adopters.
Seven in 10 SMEs that have adopted digital tools also feel more prepared for a post-COVID-19 business recovery, compared with four in 10 SMEs among those who have not yet digitalised their business.
The top benefits of digitalisation have come in the form of higher productivity and efficiency, improved customer experience, and increased coordination across departments.
This makes overcoming the challenges to digitalisation worthwhile. Obstacles indicated include the cost of implementation, cybersecurity concerns, and a lack of digital skillsets among employees.
Mr Lawrence Loh, Head of Group Business Banking, UOB, said, “Digitalisation offers businesses many opportunities, from improving their processes and reaching out to new customers to having a direct and measurable impact on their revenue.
“The UOB SME Outlook 2021 Study demonstrates that close to one in two SMEs who proactively took steps to adopt digital tools last year are already seeing benefits such as greater productivity and efficiency gains, improved customer experience and higher revenue, even in a volatile business environment.
“The digitalisation journey is a long one and we urge SMEs to stay the course to see their efforts pay off when they emerge stronger through the pandemic.”


text:
Beware the rogue energy suppliers
Ofgem has warned small businesses to be on their guard against rogue “energy brokers” flogging poor-value gas and electricity contracts.
Look out for rogue “energy brokers” seeking to sell small businesses poor-value gas and electricity contracts. That’s the message from Ofgem, the energy industry regulator, which has just launched an investigation into mis-selling to small businesses.
Ofgem’s probe reflects mounting concern about brokers claiming to offer free consultancy services to small businesses looking for a better deal on gas and electricity. In some cases, these brokers choose products and services from a small panel of suppliers that pay them the most generous commissions; very often the deals recommended are poor value, carrying high charges and often locking in small businesses for extended periods.
The scale of the scandal is potentially enormous. Ofgem estimates that of the £25bn spent on energy bills each year by small businesses, charities and public bodies, around half the money relates to a contract sold by a broker. As much as £2.25bn of the total spend is accounted for by brokers’ sales commissions, according to some in the industry.
Previous Ofgem investigations have rejected tighter regulation of energy brokers, but a growing number of legal cases where small businesses have sued brokers and secured high-value compensation payments are increasing pressure on the regulator to take action.


text:
The study also found that women were more likely than men to report concern about individual food safety and wider food issues.
The findings came from the FSA’s biannual Public Attitudes Tracker survey, which surveyed 2,684 UK adults on 5-12 November 2014.
Forty-two per cent of women were concerned with food hygiene when eating out compared with 36 per cent of men.
Respondents mainly judged restaurant and pub hygiene standards by the appearance of the premises (61 per cent) and the appearance of staff (47 per cent), rather than through awareness of hygiene certificates (46 per cent) or hygiene stickers (35 per cent).
An FSA spokesperson said: “The public can be reassured that local authorities carry out routine checks on hygiene standards in all food businesses. They also make this information available to all via the FSA’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS).
“We know that hygiene standards in these types of businesses are generally good and indeed improving. Where local authorities come across poor standards they would take appropriate action, which if necessary, could include closing the business down. We want to remind consumers that they can check the food hygiene rating of a business if they have concerns so they can choose a restaurant or pub with confidence.”
Respondents in Scotland were less likely to be concerned about food safety in restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways, with 42 per cent of people reporting concern compared to 51-61 per cent in the rest of the UK.
Twenty-eight per cent of Scottish respondents were concerned with food hygiene when eating out, compared to 40 per cent in the rest of the UK.
Across the UK 16-25 year olds were less likely to report concern with food hygiene or safety than any other group.
In 2013 it was made compulsory for businesses in Wales to display a Food Hygiene Rating sticker in a prominent place.
Businesses in England and Northern Ireland are encouraged to display their Food Hygiene Rating, but it is not currently compulsory by law.
Scotland currently operates a different Food Hygiene Information Scheme, under which businesses are encouraged, but not legally obligated, to display a sticker or certificate showing their food hygiene result.


text:
While its economy is known for agriculture — potatoes are among the state’s biggest exports — Idaho has a long history as a technology hub. And the new law landed in the middle of the tech world, causing a clash between hungry start-ups looking to poach employees and more established companies that want to lock their people in place.
“We’re trying to build the tech ecosystem in Boise,” said George Mulhern, chief executive of Cradlepoint, a company here that makes routers and other networking equipment. “And anything that would make somebody not want to move here or start a company here is going to slow down our progress.” More here. NYTimes


text:
A recent post published on the NeoGAF forum sheds light on a possible patent from Nintendo. The patent describes a sleep-tracking device which looks similar to an alarm clock. The patent surfaced just nine months after the video game console maker announced plans to create a bedside device measuring fatigue and sleep.
Nintendo’s sleep device technology
Nintendo’s late CEO, Satoru Iwata, shared a photo of the device which reportedly used microwave transmission sensors to obtain data and recommend sleep habits. The device was dubbed the S+ and could include a bedside monitor, smartphone app and web app. It could also come packed with other sensors for measuring pulse rate, temperature and biometrics.
Jim O’Shaughnessy: Fear Signals Created By The Reptilian Brain
ValueWalk's Raul Panganiban interviews Jim O’Shaughnessy, Chairman, Co-chief Investment Officer, and Portfolio Manager at O’Shaughnessy Asset Management. In this part, Jim discusses the fear and emotional signals created by the reptilian brain. Q1 2020 hedge fund letters, conferences and more That's very cool. For the factor to try to seek the reason why it works, Read More
The Quality of Life initiative
Iwata said his company can launch a new product if they believe they will be able to create a large market but declined to disclose details or prices. The device is part of the Quality of Life initiative, a foray into the health tech industry. The device was rumored to launch in early 2016. The QOL initiative was introduced in early 2014 when Iwata revealed the possibility of non-wearable technologies.
The document was written in Japanese, but the abstract was in English and described the technology a “[an] Information processing system [that] detects sensor information for assessing a user’s information. It would be permissible, as an example, for the sensor information to be sound information which is detected by a microphone, or image information which is captured by a camera.”
The patent may or may not result in a sleep monitor device. If the device ever launches, the end product could be very different. Iwata previously stated that the new initiative would be separate from Nintendo’s gaming division but that they would use the same experience and knowledge to market the product.


text:
After tens of thousands of votes, we’re proud to have been crowned the Treating Customers Fairly Champion 2019 at the Insurance Choice Awards.
The Insurance Choice Awards is an annual campaign to find the most trusted insurance firms and partners, and the results for 2019 were based on feedback from more than 26,000 customers.
Thanks to the excellent feedback from our customers we won the ‘Treating Customers Fairly Champion’ top-level award at a ceremony in London on October 3rd.
Michael Fotis, Founder of Smart Money People, said: “Voting in the Insurance Choice Awards had been particularly competitive this year, with votes for more than 160 firms received. The fact that these awards are customer-driven should make all firms especially proud to take home an Insurance Choice Award in 2019.”
Our Managing Director Ryan Wilby was over the moon with the award.
“At the heart of our company values we encourage staff to ‘do the right thing’ and ‘care completely’, so for our customers to vote for us and give feedback about being treated fairly is a fantastic accolade,” he said. “We were extremely proud to beat off some fierce competition and bring back the award many businesses wanted to win. We’re passionate about delivering brilliant customers experiences and our staff now have a big reason to celebrate winning this customer choice award. A huge thank you to all the customers who voted for us.”
About Smart Money People
The Insurance Choice Awards are run by Smart Money People, which delivers customer insight and research to financial organisations including banks, building societies, insurers and trade associations.
As part of the voting process, consumers tell them about a range of factors, including the customer experience, whether they’ve felt fairly treated, what they like or even what improvements they’d like to see.


text:
Channel Factory, the global brand suitability and ad performance platform for YouTube and the Racial Justice Institute have partnered to ensure diversity and inclusion among all practices at Channel Factory. The partnership is designed to advance and support Channel Factory’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, and comes at a time where it is evident that brands continue to contribute to dialogue, reflection, action, and change.
Channel Factory is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the YouTube ecosystem. The company recently launched The Conscious Project, which is a global effort combining Channel Factory’s proprietary technology with education and awareness to support the advertising industry and to help transform it into a more equitable, diverse and inclusive ecosystem. The partnership with Racial Justice Institute aims to help Channel Factory build on this initiative and find its voice in this conversation through examining its methodology and finding areas for improvement.
“When we launched The Conscious Project, we were committing to helping create a more positive and inclusive advertising environment,” said Tony Chen, CEO and founder of Channel Factory. “But change starts from within and we need to make sure that we are doing our part in creating that environment. This partnership is giving us the opportunity to take a hard look at our own practices and our own voice and be better.”
Media companies have recently been looking to increase representation in their content — from television shows to movies to advertisements. The Racial Justice Institute aims to work with media companies to help elevate them to the next level and go beyond just representation, while also ensuring that diverse communities have voices. As Channel Factory continues to strive to create real and meaningful change from within its organisation, this partnership will be crucial to ensuring its practices are not only brand safe and contextually suitable, but that they consider diverse communities and creators as well.
“Giving diverse communities a voice in media is critical to creating inclusive processes and strategies across all industries,” said Jobi Martinez, Executive Director at Racial Justice Institute. “Actions speak louder than words in these instances. It is imperative that businesses and brands take the necessary steps to evaluate their own processes as the first step, and we are very happy to be working closely with Channel Factory to help them do this. We hope partnerships like this will fuel other organisations the world over to follow suit and drive more forward-thinking strategies and processes to support more diversity, equality and inclusivity today.”
Diversity and inclusion is not one and done. Channel Factory and the Racial Justice Institute will continue to meet throughout the year to evaluate Channel Factory’s processes, inclusion lists and messaging.
Source: Channel Factory


text:
KLPBA announced that it had signed a
Accordingly, Lim Hee-jung plans to use the Voice Caddy rangefinder this season as well, and competes in the game wearing clothing with the Voice Caddy logo. In addition, it plans to engage in activities such as brand marketing and promotion of Voice Caddy and golf simulator Voice Caddy VSE.
Lim Hee-jung used Voice Caddy for 3 years from 2020 to 2022 and won a total of 5 wins. Lim Hee-jeong, who has been in the top 10 prize money rankings for four consecutive years since her debut in 2019 and ranked fifth in the previous year’s prize money rankings, is famous as the player who receives the most love from fans, such as winning the
KLPGA Just like Voice Caddy, who has firmly established himself as ‘Voice Caddy’, Pro Hee-Jung Lim has also grown into a player representing the KLPGA, winning major tournaments based on his overwhelming performance over the past three years, and I am very happy to extend this sponsorship contract.” Like Pro Hee-Jung Lim, who grew up with , Voice Caddy will continue to develop practical skills for professional and amateur golfers and grow into a global leading golf IT company.” 카지노사이트
Meanwhile, Voice Caddy, the official LPGA rangefinder, acquired ‘Super Stroke’, the world’s No. 1 putter grip brand, last year with the potential for global growth in mind. Voice Caddy plans to launch more active and diverse marketing activities this year, such as launching four new products, expanding Voice Caddy VSE simulator stores, and expanding the distribution network of the Super Stroke Grip brand.


text:
Wal-Mart Stores announced Tuesday it will work with St. Louis-based startup Labor Voices in an effort to raise inspection standards and improve safety conditions at the retailer’s 279 factories in Bangladesh. The $600,000 project comes in response to the April collapse of a textile factory in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,100 workers.
Labor Voices makes a mobile-phone based portal for supply chain management. It’s designed to allow companies to monitor the working conditions in their global supply chain by sharing information directly with workers and recruiting them to report unfair treatment or unsafe working conditions. Labor Voices was one of 15 companies to receive $50,000 from Arch Grants last May.


text:
After delivering just its first two generations of its ARM processors, Apple was already recognized as a leading mobile silicon designer. Its next moves surprised the industry and began to reveal a strategy of tight vertical integration from silicon to OS that other device makers couldn't match— and didn't even seem to see as important until it was too late.
Apple's refresh of the 16-gigabyte iPod touch this week brings the newly price $199 media player in line with its larger-capacity brethren, including the same internal design and an identical rear facing iSight camera, a teardown of the device has revealed.
It was confirmed on Thursday that iPad mini is using the same A5 processor found in the fifth-generation iPod touch, meaning the SoC is built on Samsung's 32nm process first introduced in the refreshed iPad 2 and third-generation Apple TV.
Samsung remains a major component supplier to Apple, and the South Korean company hopes to retain that business relationship through a "strict internal firewall" dividing its handset business and components operations.
AMD announced on Wednesday that it has hired Jim Keller, who was previously a director in Apple's mobile platform architecture group where he worked on Apple's custom chips for devices like the iPhone and iPad.
The 1080p-streaming Apple TV and $399 iPad 2 use a new variant of Apple's A5 processor that may be a testbed for Samsung's 32nm High-K + Metal Gate process, which could find its way into future A-series chips powering devices like a next-generation iPhone.
An investigation into the custom A5 chip used in Apple TV has found that the new Application Processor uses both a smaller, more efficient 32nm die process and actually incorporates two cores, one of which is simply turned off.
As numerous reports claim Apple's new iPad is warmer than the previous generation, a new analysis has found the A5X chip in the new device runs as much as 16 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the A5 chip in the iPad 2.
An analysis of the internals of Apple's third-generation iPad reveal some small changes to the design of the device, such as a switch to discrete DRAM devices, the addition of a heat spreader on top of the A5X chip and a possible move to a flip-chip solution.
The third generation Apple TV uses a unique single-core A5 chip that has not been in any other production Apple device to date, and is likely a key component in how iPad maker is able to keep costs low and performance high for the 1080p-capable box.
While Apple's much-anticipated foray into the connected television segment is unlikely to materialize until 2013, moves by the company in recent weeks point to an intermediate refresh of the existing Apple TV product to coincide with the release of new iPad models early next month.
A new report offers a picture claimed to be the front glass panel for Apple's next iPad, and also claims the third-generation device will feature Siri voice control, a dual-core "A5X" processor, and a 1080p camera with image stabilization.
Apple has recently filed for international trademark protections of "macroscalar," its name for various patented optimizations for efficiently executing code on a processor, suggesting it plans to begin commercially promoting its differentiating technology.


text:
Sony to debut PlayStation Vita in U.S. Wednesday
NEW YORK -- The PlayStation Vita, already available in Japan, debuts in the U.S. and Europe today.
A basic, Wi-Fi version will retail at $250, while one that can access 3G cellular networks will go for $300 plus monthly service fees from AT&T.
Sony Corp. is promoting the device with a $50 million marketing blitz "everywhere gamers are and where the general population is," said Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America.
The Vita launch is an important one for Sony, although it likely won't be as big as the debut of a new gaming console.
As a device, the Vita is sleek and powerful, melding the console-like controls that gamers are used to with touch screens common in mobile devices. Its dual analog sticks are a first for a handheld device and a must-have for shooter games played from a first-person perspective.
Not only does the Vita's main screen respond to touch, but it also has a touch screen in the back that offers gamers an entirely new way of controlling gameplay.
The Vita has a 5-inch screen, front- and rear-facing cameras and a quad-core processor, which is used in the fastest tablet computers.
The Vita also connects to the PlayStation 3, so players for the first time can play the same game regardless of whether they are using a console or a handheld system.


text:
Walk into Hampden’s Good Neighbor café and shop and it feels like everything was meant to be photographed for Instagram — from the Japanese ceramics to the hand-painted mirrored entrance sign and obligatory selfie spot, to the stools and chairs by Danish brand Hem. Topped with edible flowers and other colorful ingredients, even the toasts on the food menu were made to sparkle on camera.
A New American restaurant serving rockfish pho and Reuben eggrolls will open later this month in a former industrial area of East Baltimore.
The Boiler Room will likely open Jan. 15 with 120 seats and goes before the liquor board Jan. 9, General Manager Richard Whelan says. The restaurant will be the first eatery in the Highland Forge complex, a collection of buildings whose tenants include Urban Axes, Monument City Brewing Co., and the Emerging Technology Centers.
A former U.S. Treasury Department official in the Obama administration and T. Rowe Price executive has entered Baltimore City’s crowded mayor’s race.
Miller, 64, told Baltimore Fishbowl she hopes to use her experience in urban development and finance to tackle the city’s thorniest issues — boosting the economy while reducing poverty and crime. She plans to outline her vision and unveil her campaign team tonight at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.
Rooster & Hen, a country store that sells local, organic produce, baked goods, and flowers, has opened in Federal Hill’s revamped Cross Street Market.
Visitors can find the 1,800-square-foot store just inside the market’s Light Street entrance, across from Ceremony Coffee Roasters. While the store might be in the city, the rustic design will make customers feel as though they have stepped into a rural barn.
Q&A: Chef Zack Mills talks oysters, seafood, and creating a menu that celebrates the Chesapeake at True Chesapeake Oyster Co.
Step into the month-old Hampden restaurant True Chesapeake Oyster Co., and you can almost see and taste the Chesapeake Bay. Jay Fleming’s photos of lighthouses floating on the water grace the walls and the color palette contains various shades of blue. Its signature dish makes its way into the design as thousands of crushed oyster shells are featured in the wraparound bar and oyster cages hang near the entrance.
“There are so many vignettes around the restaurant that make me smile,” says Chef and Partner Zack Mills says of the first restaurant in Whitehall Mill, an 18th century mill undergoing restoration by Terra Nova ventures. “When you’re in a building that’s really beautiful, it’s more fun to come to work.”
Most restaurant owners wouldn’t consider opening during a recession, but that’s exactly what Robert and Roseann Glick did when they debuted their 130-seat neighborhood café in the Village of Cross Keys December 2008.
Robert’s mother, Ruth Shaw — of the upscale women’s boutique of the same name that was in Cross Keys for decades — had lamented the lack of a casual café at the suburban shopping center and suggested that someone should open an eatery there, Roseann said.
“It couldn’t have been a worse time to launch a new business, but fortunately for us, we succeeded,” she said. The business caught on quickly and, luckily, the husband-and-wife duo picked the right concept for those lean times: a casual restaurant that serves comfort food. “I think it was to our advantage that we weren’t fine dining,” Roseann said.
At the new Ruxton Mercantile general store, customers can buy activated charcoal toothpaste, throw blankets made on antique looms and merino wool clothing from New Zealand.
And they can head to the back to grab a cup of Ceremony Coffee with an array of add-ins that will enhance your skin, like collagen, peptide boosters, and raw honey.
Courtesy Bmore Media – Leaders at the National Aquarium in Baltimore are weighing upgrades to its Inner Harbor building, moving its Fells Point animal rescue facility and changes to its dolphin exhibit that will enhance its conservation mission.
The aquarium has hired Studio Gangs Architects and Impacts Research & Development LLC to prepare a report by the spring that will lay out its strategic planning initiative, says Eric Schwaab, the aquarium’s chief conservation officer.
“A big part of the effort will involve significant outreach to other partners and stakeholders in the community,” Schwaab says.
Courtesy Bmore Media – Less than a year after opening his popular artisan pizza joint Birroteca, Robbin Haas is ready to tackle his next restaurant venture in Mount Washington.


text:
Electricals market leader Dixons has issued a profits warning and detailed an emergency plan to put the business on track after dire trading.
Want to know more about Dixons?
The market leading retailer, owner of Currys and PC World, reported that full-year profits are now expected to come in at about £85m as shattered consumer confidence took a toll on performance, particularly at its core UK business. In January the consensus was about £100m.
UK like-for-likes plummeted 11% in the 11 weeks to March 26 and there is no expectation of much change to the pattern of trading in the short term. Dixons expects a “modest decline” in the electricals market overall in its 2011/12 financial year.
Dixons chief executive John Browett set out a four-point plan in response to the tough conditions.
The retailer will “focus on winning markets and formulas”, which may result in an exit from Spain.
Capital expenditure will be devoted to the highest-return projects and will be cut to no more than £160m in 2011/12 and no more than £150m a year after that.
Dixons will focus on cash generation and undertake further cost reductions.
Browett said: “Consumer confidence across some of our markets is fragile and we expect it to continue to be so through much of 2011.
“As a result we are setting out the steps we are taking to secure the delivery of the renewal and transformation plan. Our business in the Nordics continues to perform strongly. The turnaround in Italy is improving the business.
“Notwithstanding the current tough conditions, we continue to make the business better for customers, easier for our colleagues and cheaper to operate and are confident the group can deliver an EBIT return of 3% to 4% over the medium term.”


text:
With more than 6,000 active applications making more than 1 billion API calls each month, Intuit has revealed that it is working on a new QuickBooks Online API. The new API, along with the new QuickBooks Online v4, will contain improvements based largely on feedback provided by Intuit's customers.
NoSQL databases are all the rage these days. We recently discussed moving from MySQL to MongoDB within hours. The rise of NoSQL is often associated with the need to not just store large amounts of data but also to visualize relationships between the various objects in the database. InfiniteGraph has released its InfiniteGraph API to Java developers to use its NoSQL graph database. The company also launched a developer contest.


text:
Jawbone just revealed its new health tracker, the Up3. It's the company's first multi-sensor wearable and a dramatic step forward from earlier Up models. But a long shadow hangs over the new device, and it's being cast by a gadget that won't be out for months—the Apple Watch.
The comparisons between Jawbone's latest health tracker and the Apple Watch are inevitable. Both will track your heartbeat. Both will come in a variety of materials and textures. Both are worn on your wrist.
But for all that, Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman doesn't seem anxious that the world's most valuable company will soon be vying with his own for your forearm. As Rahman describes it, the Up3 is designed in every aspect to get you to make room for its multiple sensors on your wrist, no matter what else you're wearing—including an Apple Watch. The difference he sees between the two reflects Jawbone's more refined parsing of categories among devices that all commonly get lumped together as "wearables"—a set of distinctions that, if accurate, promise a wider market than Apple could hope to dominate alone, with no single device capable of pushing out all the others by doing everything.
"Your Swiss Army knife is not your best scissors," Rahman told WIRED during a recent meeting at Jawbone's San Francisco headquarters. "We just think we're solving a different problem and going after a different thing."
Not All the Same
In thinking about wearables as a category, Rahman divides devices worn on the wrist into three segments. Fitness trackers comprise the first segment; these are gadgets that track a few things very precisely and are worn "episodically," that is, when you're working out. The second segment is watches, which you wear most of the time but not all the time and mainly act as a second screen for your phone, a way for busy people to interact more efficiently with the larger devices in their pockets. The third segment includes "lifestyle" devices—sensors worn perpetually to track personal biological data that, over time, coalesces to create a portrait of health, habits, and behavior.
The Up3, along with earlier versions of the Up, fall into the third category. And Jawbone believes that specificity is the key to its wearables' present and future success. The average time users spend "engaging" with the Up platform—time spent wearing the devices and using the connected app—is upwards of 23 hours per day, and they are typically opening the app three times a day, says Travis Bogard, Jawbone's vice president of product and strategy.
"If you want to be able to deliver behavior change, you have to have that level of engagement," Bogard says.
Why? Jawbone's argument for the power of engagement sounds remarkably like what you'd hear from Google or Facebook: the more you use the product, the better it knows you. The better it knows you, the more relevant and personal the insights it can deliver, which can lead to better habits and better health.
Because of its multiple sensors, Rahman and company believe the Up3 is equipped to deliver insight on a more refined level than previously possible with a consumer-grade device. Much more than just a step-counter and calorie-tracker, Jawbone says the sensors embedded along the Up3's strap can measure everything from resting heart rate to hydration to stress level—all metrics it can parse with more accuracy the more you wear it. In doing so, Rahman believes the Up3 creates its own virtuous cycle where more use creates a more compelling experience that feeds back into using the device even more.
"When you have a lot of engagement, you have utility in the platform," Rahman says. "When you stay in, we can actually help you."
Though Apple at the launch of its watch heavily marketed the device as a fitness tracker tied into HealthKit on iOS 8, Rahman argues that the similarity in functions are superficial.
"Our view of what Apple is doing is just trying to be a database," he says. Neither a phone nor a smartwatch make sense as a lifestyle device by Jawbone's definition because neither category of hardware lends itself in the same way to constant wearing. The Apple Watch, for example, will likely need to be charged once a day. Jawbone says the Up's battery will last a week. "We do think it's a different use case than a watch," Rahman says—a distinction that Jawbone is so confident in drawing that it plans to offer a version of the Up app for the Apple Watch.
But whether that distinction proves meaningful to consumers is a different question from whether a mass market exists at all for the kind of lifestyle device Jawbone is hoping will catch on. In an effort to capture more mainstream interest in a technology that still carries connotations of quantified-self geekery, Jawbone is also releasing an entry-level tracker, the Up Move, that will retail for $49. At $179, the Up3 is aimed at a more committed audience already familiar with the idea of self-tracking but wanting more.
What's interesting, though, is that as Jawbone adds layers of data complexity, the more opportunity it creates to synthesize that data into insights that sound more like everyday life. "You ate that cheeseburger because you didn't get enough sleep for the past two nights." "You've exercised regularly for the past month, and now your average stress level is lower." The better these insights get, the better Jawbone's argument becomes for keeping its band on your wrist, even if an Apple Watch is already there.


text:
Welcome to Reach Partners’ exclusive vault sessions, where we unlock the industry’s most lucrative secrets to engage your customers, outpace your competition, and disrupt the marketplace with digital transformation.
As the Diamond Sponsor of the VIP Awards, an industry awards ceremony that honors and celebrates the changemakers and trailblazers of retail and tech, Reach Partners was able to catch up with Jacqueline Claudia, CEO of SmarterX and nominee for the Best Sustainability Initiative award and the Best Kept Secret award.
SmarterX is a technology solution that leverages data to help brands understand their impact on the environment, and how they can fundamentally change how their products are made, marketed, sold, and eventually disposed of, to improve that impact.
In this exclusive Vault Session, we asked Jacqueline about the opportunities and obstacles companies face when looking for a way to make their products and supply chain sustainable and eco-friendly.
Responding to the pressure of sustainable practice
Consumers are increasingly more aware of what goes into products and what happens to them when they’re done, putting pressure on retail companies to clean up their act. It isn’t just about the ingredients in their product, either. They also must consider how their products are made and disposed of and the overall impact of their supply chain.
“ESG, and sustainability specifically, have been hit with a lot of headwinds lately,” says Jacqueline. “Folks are getting called out for greenwashing. So, solutions that give you actual measurable, trackable data about the product decisions that you’re making for what to bring into your assortment and what happens to them when they need to leave potentially out of the back of the store is incredibly important.”
The second mounting pressure that Jacqueline recognizes is regulation. Consumers are now turning to the government to regulate the use of various chemicals, pollutants, unethical supply chains, and bad practices that are harmful to people, animals, or the planet. This rising pressure puts companies under scrutiny and compels them to reevaluate their operations and find innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint.
“A lot of retailers are still dealing with last-generation solutions,” explains Jacqueline. “Customers demand safety and transparency in the products that they sell. And new technology is really important to help them be able to manage that risk.”
Finally, another large obstacle that Jacqueline sees retailers facing is labor.
“Labor is in shortage and is incredibly expensive,” says Jacqueline. “So, solutions that allow you to do more with less manpower by deploying technology intelligently is critically important.”
That is why digital transformations are a powerful way to help companies change and grow while minimizing overhead costs.
How to successfully transform your business for sustainability
The need to strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and sustainability can create significant hurdles for businesses. This often prevents companies from reaching further in their eco-friendly goals. So, to successfully transform your business in a way that is just as good for the bottom line as it is for the environment, companies must achieve three things: ROI, alignment, and trust.
“First, there needs to be five to ten times the ROI for what you’re deploying. Otherwise, it’s difficult to get the organization behind that,” says Jacqueline.
Stakeholders need to see the monetary value and growth opportunities before investing time, money, and risk into large transformations, which brings up the second point.
“The second lesson is that all stakeholders need to understand that value, what it’s bringing financially, but also the extra business benefits that the solution brings,” says Jacqueline.
Talking regularly to your stakeholders and addressing questions, problems, hesitations, and miscommunications (at all levels) helps ensure everyone is working toward the same goal and aligned with how to get there.
Finally, the third most important lesson is trust. Jacqueline says a solution must be deployed with trust from the employees, the customers, and other stakeholders. She does this by ensuring that their clients have access to their on-staff experts.
“We’ve got a team of data scientists [and] regulatory nerds and talking to them at any time doesn’t come with a rate card. Real people talking to real people is an important part of how you transform business,” says Jacqueline.


text:
Papa John's founder and former CEO John Schnatter resigned as chairman of the pizza chain's board last night following reports he used the N-word in a conference call this May. Schnatter stepped down as CEO last December following a controversy surrounding comments he made about NFL protests.
In a statement, John said this: "News reports attributing the use of inappropriate and hurtful language to me during a media training session regarding race are true. Regardless of the context, I apologize. Simply stated, racism has no place in our society.”
While on a call with a marketing agency, John defended his comments about the NFL, saying KFC didn't face backlash when "Colonel Sanders called blacks n-----s," Forbes reported. He also spoke about his childhood in Indiana and said, there, people used to drag African-Americans from trucks until they died. Following the phone call, the agency ended its relationship with Papa John's.
Last year, John blamed poor pizza sales on football players kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racism in America. At the time, Papa John's was the official pizza sponsor of the NFL. It has since switched over to Pizza Hut.
In a press release late Wednesday night, Papa John's announced John's resignation, and said a new Chairman of the Board will be appointed in the coming weeks. While he's no longer on the board, John still owns a substantial portion — roughly 30 percent — of the company, CBS points out.


text:
Pet care technology company VitusVet shared results from a survey of more than 1,000 pet owners about experiences with their pet during the COVID-19 outbreak. The majority of pet owners said that pets provided a source of comfort during uncertain times, with many mentioning increased activity and social media appearances.
Questions dealt with three primary themes, including interactions with pets during the pandemic, concerns about COVID-19 and pets, and veterinary care-related topics. Results can be found at vitusvet.com/pets-and-covid. Key findings include:
- Fifty two percent (52%) said that they are feeling more loved or comforted than usual by their pet;
- Exercise was a popular theme with 53% noting more playtime at home and 39% saying they took more frequent dog walks;
- Pets also seem to be popular on social media with 36% taking many more photos or videos of pets and 22% revealing that their pets make regular appearances in video calls with co-workers.
- Thirty three percent (33%) are not at all concerned about COVID-19 affecting their pets, with 58% expressing some concern;
- Twenty one percent (21%) asked whether their dogs can play with other dogs as long as owners practice safe social distance;
- Forty six percent (46%) asked if coronavirus sticks to pet hair or fur;
- Many respondents that completed the survey after news broke of the Bronx Zoo tiger that became infected added write-in comments asking about the danger to their own pets.
Veterinary Services and Pet Care
- Pet care is still a reality, with 19% reporting they conducted a well check during the outbreak and 6% seeking emergency care;
- Owners are prepared with 82% saying they have a copy of pet records, although 69% of owners do not have a pet first aid kit at home.
“It’s obvious that now more than ever, that pets can serve as a valuable source of connection and comfort for their human companions,” said VitusVet CEO Mark Olcott, DVM. “It’s also particularly heartwarming to have more than 900 of the respondents leave a ‘thank you’ note for their vet in the comments section of the survey.”
To learn more about VitusVet visit vitusvet.com.


text:
The Adeje councillor for social welfare, Amada Trujillo Bencomo, has personally thanked the social service that has been carried out by the staff at Hospiten who have organised a campaign to collect non-perishable goods which will be distributed to families in need by the Adeje and Arona social welfare offices. The initiative began on June 23rd and runs until July 4th.
According to councillor Trujillo Bencomo “any help that we can give to those persons who need it most is more than welcome; it is fundamental that our residents, people who care, continue to assist and help to reduce social inequalities.”
She continued, “the council is working to ensure that they continue to work along a number of different lines of assistance to ensure the quality of life of those suffering is improved, and of course we are extremely grateful to all of those who contribute”.
Those interested in donating can bring items such as dry foods, cereals, food in cans and jars, personal hygiene products, baby foods and nappies, etc, to the stand which is located at the main reception in Hospiten. All the goods collected, along with extra items bought by Hospiten, will be distributed by both councils in the Adeje and Arona boroughs.


text:
There's only a few days left to enter the 10th annual Holiday Snapshots contest, for your chance to win a Caribbean escape!
PAX and Sunwing are once again partnering to reward one lucky travel agent and this year, the winner will receive an all-inclusive vacation for two at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, a value of $3,550.
Until Oct. 11, 2015, complete the online entry form and submit up to three vacation photos (digital format only). The contest is only open to retail travel agents in Canada.
Photos will be displayed on PAXnews.com and readers will be invited to vote online for their favourite image between Oct. 12 and Nov. 1, 2015. Each reader will be allowed to vote only one time per picture (all duplicate votes are automatically cancelled).
The grand prize winner will be announced in PAXnews.com on Nov. 9.
Click here for full rules and to participate.


text:
Volvo announce plans to export Chinese-made electric cars
Search Driven for vehicles for sale
Volvo Cars, the Chinese-owned Swedish automaker, said Wednesday it plans to make electric cars in China for sale worldwide starting in 2019 amid pressure by Beijing for global auto brands to help develop its fledgling industry in alternatives to gasoline.
The announcement at the Shanghai auto show is among a flurry of automakers' plans for electric models in China, their industry's biggest market. The ruling Communist Party has the world's most aggressive electric vehicle goals, both to clean up smog-shrouded cities and seeking the lead in an emerging industry.
On Tuesday, General Motors Co. said it will produce a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its Chevrolet Volt in China. Ford, Volkswagen AG, Nissan Motor Co. and other brands also intend to sell electric models in China, adding to competition in a market that has been dominated by lower-cost Chinese producers.
Volvo said its first pure-electric model will be based on the economy-size CMA platform it shares with Chinese automaker Geely, which bought the Swedish brand from Ford in 2010. It said the name, size and other details were yet to be decided.
"It will be for global export. So it is built from the start to work all over the world," said Henrik Green, Volvo's senior vice president for research and development.
Volvo has three factories in China. In 2015 it became the first automaker to export Chinese-made cars to the United States.
Chinese buyers have shown little enthusiasm for electric cars due to concern about cost, reliability and limited range. But Chinese authorities are using a mix of incentives and penalties to push for electric models. Automakers are scrambling to develop models with consumer appeal.
"It's clear that China wants to take a leading role globally in terms of the regulatory environment and electrification," said David Schoch, Ford's president for the Asia-Pacific.
Models on display at Auto Shanghai 2017, the global industry's biggest marketing event of the year, reflect the conflict between Beijing's ambitions for environmentally friendly cars and Chinese consumers' love of hulking, fuel-hungry SUVs.
Nearly every automaker is displaying at least one electric concept vehicle, if not a market-ready model. They range from family-friendly SUVs to futuristic-looking, premium-priced electric muscle cars from Chinese startups such as NextEV and Qiantu.
The government is expanding China's network of charging stations to reduce "range anxiety," or buyers' fear of running out of power. The Cabinet's planning agency announced a goal in February of having 100,000 public charging stations and 800,000 private stations operating by the end of this year.
Electric cars also are exempt from sales tax and license plate quotas Beijing, Shanghai and other cities use to curb congestion and smog. Still, sales of electric and gasoline-electric hybrids fell 4.4 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter to 55,929 vehicles while SUV purchases rose 21 percent to 2.4 million.
The status of manufacturing electric cars in China is unclear for foreign brands, which are required to work through joint ventures with state-owned Chinese partners that assemble their vehicles.
Previous rules required foreign automakers to hand over key technology to a Chinese partner or pay import taxes even on models produced in China. Foreign companies balked at giving away expensive know-how that might help a potential competitor to develop.
Volvo's status is unusual. Its Chinese ownership makes it exempt from a requirement to work with a local joint venture partner. But Geely chairman Li Shufu has said he wants its Swedish managers to operate independently.
Volvo has said it hopes to sell a total of 1 million electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles by 2025. The company says it plans to develop plug-in hybrid versions of all its models.
Regulators have eased some regulations in an effort to encourage foreign companies to play a bigger role in developing the Chinese industry but manufacturers say they are waiting to see the final requirements.


text:
Two members of the Coolangatta business community have launched an advertising campaign to encourage Queenslanders to visit the coastal border suburb that’s suffering from the New South Wales lockdown.
Steve Edgar and Sam Beau Patrick created the ‘Essentially Cooly’ marketing campaign after attending a meeting two weeks ago with about 120 other local business owners.
At the meeting, Edgar heard what he describes as “a lot of heartfelt stories” from business owners “desperate to survive” the effects of the NSW lockdown on trade and staffing.
“The feeling in the room was just unbelievable,” Edgar, the general manager of the Coolangatta Surf Club, tells SmartCompany.
What will the election mean to you?
Sign up to our free newsletter, including this weekend’s coverage of the election.
Following the meeting, Edgar and Patrick decided to self-fund a promotional video to attract people from Brisbane, Ipswitch and the Granite Belt, including Toowoomba, to Coolangatta.
“We’re trying to promote the positive vibe and encourage people to come to Cooly,” Edgar says.
Since the video was posted online, the tourism organisation Destination Gold Coast has indicated they will support the campaign.
“But the wheels take a while to turn in these organisations,” Edgar says.
Local businesses hope the campaign will convince members of the Queensland government to visit the suburb to see how the harsh border closure, which separates Coolangatta from the neighbouring Tweed Heads in NSW, is affecting businesses.
Queensland small business minister Di Farmer has said she would visit but is not able to for at least another week.
“We’re continually putting pressure on the state government to come down to Coolangatta and see what’s going on, Edgar says.
Small businesses in Coolangatta are seeking urgent support because the state border closure has taken away a large amount of the local trade they were relying on while international travel has dried up and domestic travel is significantly reduced.
Businesses, including the Coolangatta Surf Club, have been forced to reduce hours due to reduced trade and a staff shortage.
“Some businesses are missing up to 50% of their staff,” Edgar says.
“The lockdown has divided a town because there are people locked away from their families and businesses.”


text:
On Thursday, February 6, The Webster Founder and Creative Director, Laure Heriard Dubreuil, along with Dakota Fanning and Arianne Phillips, from the Oscar-nominated film, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood hosted an intimate event to unveil the luxury multi-brand retailer’s new Los Angeles flagship location. Celebrities in attendance included Tallulah Willis, whose new clothing line will launch exclusively in the LA store, alongside her family, Scout Willis, Rumer Willis, Demi Moore,
Ticketed – YOLA FEST, now named YOLA DÍA, will be moving to Sunday, August 18th due to unforeseen production issues. The new line-up includes Lykke Li, Cat Power, SOPHIE, Courtney Love & The Chateau Band, Megan Thee Stallion, Kelsey Lu, Empress Of & CupcakKe.
Acne Studios celebrated the opening of its West Hollywood flagship, and second store in Los Angeles, on Thursday, 22 March 2018, with a cocktail party at the store. Entertainment was provided by Kelsey Lu and Alima. The brand new Acne Studios store on 8920 Melrose Avenue is all about light, space, art and design. The pavilion-style single story building has a two wall facade almost fully in glass, allowing the


text:
Highway’s innovative carrier identity technology will support TMC’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction in the flatbed transportation sector.
TMC Transportation, a leader in the flatbed trucking industry, and Highway, a pioneer in carrier identity technology, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at combating fraud in the transportation industry. This collaboration will see TMC Transportation harnessing Highway’s advanced solutions to enhance its carrier management processes and strengthen its commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction.
Founded in 1972 and evolving into the nation’s largest privately held flatbed carrier and a significant logistics brokerage, TMC Transportation is renowned for its integrity, innovation, and quality performance. Its dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with Highway’s mission to provide cutting-edge technology for carrier verification and fraud prevention.
“Our partnership with Highway marks a significant milestone in our journey toward operational excellence and innovation,” said TMC’s Senior Vice President of Logistics Mike Crist. “Leveraging Highway’s technology further enables our differentiation as an integrity-driven logistics provider.”
Highway’s integration into TMC’s operational framework will enhance carrier engagement and compliance, offering a more robust and secure system for managing the complex and varied needs of TMC’s clients. This partnership is set to revolutionize the way TMC approaches carrier capacity strategy, aligning with its mission to be the standard-bearer of quality in flatbed transportation.
“Organizations across the transportation sector are searching for fraud and carrier identity solutions that are effective and simple to integrate into their existing technologies,” said Highway Chief Commercial Officer Michael Caney. “We’re proud to support TMC Transportation and to play a role in enhancing security for the company and its customers.”
This collaboration is expected to yield significant improvements in operational efficiency, security, and customer satisfaction for TMC, reinforcing its position as a leader in the flatbed transportation sector.
About TMC Transportation
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned open deck transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record, and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers. Visit TMC’s website at www.tmctrans.com.
Highway is a premier technology provider that assists shippers, freight brokers, and logistics service providers in verifying carrier identity to reduce fraud and streamline the digital booking process. Highway enhances carrier engagement and offers a carrier-friendly standard of compliance within a scalable framework. Highway provides transparency into fleet analytics of more than 280,000 carriers throughout North America. Its Lane Certainty™ geospatial algorithm matches millions of carrier data points to help find the ideal capacity in a desired lane. (www.gohighway.com)


text:
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Genius wireless Ring Mouse released: "Genius has announced the release of its Wireless Thumb Cursor Controller, or ring mouse for short. The clicking and scrolling action of the lightweight mouse replacement is thumb-controlled, its proprietary optical touch technology offers users 1000 dpi sensitivity and it's said to last a month between charges."
The leaning tower of ... Copenhagen: "The Bella Sky Comwell Hotel in Copenhagen has opened its doors. The 250 feet (76.5 m) tall, 814 room hotel is among of the largest in Scandinavia, but its not the size of the design from architecture firm 3XN that's striking - it's the shape. The building's tilting twin towers lean apart from each other at an impressive 15 degrees, an angle that provides guests with a better view of the surrounding parkland"
Zoomy lets kids take digital photos of microscopic details: "If you want to get a child interested in the sciences, just let them loose with a microscope. Proper stage microscopes can be pricey, however, and are somewhat tricky for youngsters to use. Fortunately, there are options like the Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope – it's a simple device that plugs into the USB port of a PC or Mac, then feeds through illuminated, magnified images of whatever it's placed over."
Posted by steve at 10:49 AM
Elgato's HDHomeRun streams and records live TV over Wi-Fi: "Elgato has just released – or to be technically correct, re-released – the latest addition to its line of digital TV tuners for PCs and Macs. The HDHomeRun is a rebranded dual network tuner that has been sold by SiliconDust for nearly five years now and was also sold in its previous incarnation by Elgato since mid-2007. The device has however received an update and is a little smaller and sexier than the original model, but still offers PC and Mac users the same ability to watch and record HDTV over a local wireless network."
Posted by steve at 10:48 AM
Greener, more efficient process developed to produce hydrogen from natural gas: "Hydrogen is certainly one of the big candidates when it comes to finding cleaner fuels to replace petroleum. While it only produces water when burnt as fuel, the process of obtaining hydrogen from natural gas is not quite so eco-friendly – it consumes a lot of energy, and creates carbon dioxide. Now a new process being developed at the Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) promises a much more efficient, innocuous alternative."
Posted by steve at 10:47 AM


text:
Posts From Scott Webster
T-Mobile has yet another Android handset lined up for the coming weeks in the form of the Huawei Ideos. T-Mobile is re-branding the phone as the Comet and plans to offer it in both pre-paid and post paid fashion.
A thread went up earlier this week on Motorola’s support forum acknowledging the issues that some Droid X users are finding with the recent Android 2.2 update. While not entirely
HTC is keeping with their tradition of releasing the kernel code to new handsets with the latest being the Desire Z (T-Mobile G2). Like they recently did with the Droid Incredible and EVO 4G, HTC sets most of the code free for developers and ROM makers to tinker with.
Now that Android 2.2 has started permeating handsets across the world, users are flocking to the market to download Flash. Adobe’s bread and butter media player has been downloaded more
Two months and eleven updates after hitting Android in beta form, TweetDeck has arrived in the Android Market. Thanks to more than 36,000 beta testers, the developers were able to deliver an incredible looking and feature rich client available to all!
Yesterday saw us reporting on an alleged OTA update that was said to be hitting a select few G2 users. We mentioned that we didn’t have any official word from
Popular messaging client BeejiveIM arrived on Android a couple weeks back, bringing its award winning all-in-one support to your favorite mobile OS. Yeah, we know we missed the boat on launch day but we felt obligated to share the news – should you not already know about it.
Sony just made the first actual Google TV official with their new 46-inch GT1 Sony Internet TV. Billed as the first television with the ability to enjoy apps, watch HDTV,
Sony is currently in the midst of a Google TV keynote in New York , but the hardware maker began making developer-friendly moves earlier today. The company has opened up
A source close to Android Police is claiming that the next release of Android is slated to arrive next week. Codenamed Gingerbread, we don’t know whether this is 2.3, 2.5, or 3.0 in terms of naming convention. However, that could change soon enough!
Last week saw Sony’s movie and television streaming service, Crackle, come to Android phones. Started as an online video sharing service (Grouper Networks) back in 2004, Crackle is now home to full-length movies and television shows.
T-Mobile is about to start making good on their promise to leave no (myTouch) phone behind. According to information obtained by TmoNews, the carrier is set to roll out Android
Good news for those of you who own a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set. You can now control your NXT robot (Android) from an Android 2.1 or 2.2 device! Called MINDdroid, it functions as a wireless remote control via a Bluetooth connection.
We cannot confirm this on our ends as of yet but word around the campfire is that G2 handsets are getting an over-the-air software update. After less than a week
It’s Monday! That means tonight at 10PM EST you’ll be listening to the longest running Android-related podcast on the internet. Join your fellow Android fans and developers as we take


text:
This 31 October from 4pm to 6pm, experience a plethora of activities with Gamuda Gardens Live Extravaganza, a virtual event that's filled with fun and excitement!
For 61 years, the local household brand has been the go-to choice for many Malaysians when it comes to cooking rice. In fact, Jasmine recently became...
Exciting programmes and activities are awaiting you!
Priced at only RM1,699, the Xiaomi 11T is a premium yet affordable flagship smartphone.
In a virtual event on 15 September, fast-growing electronics company Xiaomi unveiled their 11T series to the world.