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Posts Tagged ‘state’
Santa Monica College Recognized At State Sustainability Awards
The light fixtures were replaced with a combination of fluorescent and LED (light emitting diode) lights. … environmental workshops and has generated more than 15,000 community service hours for local nonprofits; its leadership in recycling …
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Federal President of Germany Meets with Novaled Founders and Future Prize …
In their laboratories at TU Dresden, the three scientists developed a technology for organic semiconductors that facilitates the production of efficient components, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with reduced energy consumption and a …
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The Gorilla of Agile Business Innovation – Strategy+Business
They are meeting with customers such as Samsung Electronics and Sony to understand and even anticipate their emerging needs in technology areas such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and 3D television. Morse, a Ph.D. researcher himself who, …
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That didn’t take long — just days after its first test fire, the Liberator, a 3D-printed pistol designed by Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson, has caught the attention of the federal government. It’s hardly a surprise: the arm’s blueprints were downloaded more than 100,000 times since going live on DefCAD this week. It’s not the amount of downloads that’s causing trouble, though, it’s who is downloading them. In a letter from the US State Department, Wilson was told that it’s a violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to “export any defense article or technical data for which a license or written approval is required without first obtaining the required authorization from the DDTC (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls).”
The letter goes on to explain that these downloads legally count as exports under the law, telling Wilson to remove the plans from public access immediately. “That might be an impossible standard,” Wilson told Forbes. “But we’ll do our part to remove it from our servers.” As it turns out, most of the gun’s downloads were served via Mega, making full removal near impossible. Still, Wilson seems optimistic about the situation, explaining to Forbes that conversation will help mold the discussion on 3D printed weaponry. “Is this a workable regulatory regime? Can there be defense trade control in the era of the internet and 3D printing?” We’re looking forward to discovering the answer ourselves.
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As it has countless times in the last decade, Microsoft once again finds itself at a crossroads.
Over the course of thirty-plus years, Microsoft rose to global dominance on the back of the desktop computer. But in the last decade, PC sales have been slowing as mobile devices become the next paradigm in personal computing. This presents some serious challenges for Microsoft; the problems are bigger than just finding ways to win with smartphones and tablets. The traditional method of selling boxed software or licenses to hardware manufacturers and big businesses is changing.
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Forrester: UNITED STATE Online Retail Sales To Increase To $370BN By 2017 (10 % CAGR) As Ecommerce Motors On With Aid From Tablets & Phones
In spite of years of chewing the digital cud — not to discuss a global financial downturn — there ’ s no indicator of the UNITED STATE or European ecommerce cash-cows ailing, according to two brand-new projections from Forrester. In the UNITED STATE Forrester is projecting online retail sales will reach $ 370 billion by 2017, up from $ 231 billion in 2013 — a 10 % substance annual development rate (CAGR) over the following 5 years.
The ecommerce development rate in Europe is expected to be fractionally greater over the same duration, although the general market is clearly smaller sized. Europe ’ s online retail sales are projected to hit EUR191 billion ($ 247.1 billion) by 2017, according to Forrester, up from EUR128 billion($ 165.6 billion) in 2013 – a 10.5 % CAGR.
In the UNITED STATE Forrester keeps in mind that on-line retail will continue to outpace the growth of physical retailers — something the classification has done because its inception, so no modification there. The analyst keeps in mind 2 “ noteworthy modifications ” have actually helped prop up ecommerce growth in recent times: first of all the increase of smartphones and tablets, which is says are enhancing the amount of time customers invest online and generating more acquiring chances.
Forrester ’ s report notes:
Consumers are more likely to use their phones not only to research acquisitions– both to discover about items and shop options– however likewise to find the top rate for a given item. However it’s not simply phones that drive retail web traffic; basically all merchants report that traffic to their sites from tablets surges throughout evening prime-time hours, when consumers are in a leisure mindset. This additionally recommends incremental web sessions and conversions, since web retail generally spikes not in the night, but throughout company hours.
And secondly, Forrester notes that typical merchants have actually invested heavily in their web departments — including by offering hybrid online/offline capacities such as in-store pickup for online purchases — which it states is additionally helping to grow ecommerce.
U.S. ecommerce growth is not coming from newbies, according to Forrester, which stated it expects only four million people to go shopping online for the first time in 2013. But rather growth is down to existing web consumers spending more of their time and money online — and investing it on a range of goods. Forrester notes that online commitment programs such as Amazon Prime and ShopRunner are “ one driver ”, but the wider motorist right here is web shoppers getting more implicated to investing their money digitally, and therefore becoming more comfy buying “ high-touch, high-consideration products like furniture or appliances online ”.
The report additionally notes that ecommerce is additionally helping to boost the U.S. tasks market — with Forrester and Shop.org approximating that even more than 400,000 individuals are currently employed by ecommerce business in the U.S., projected to reach 500,000+ by 2017. And obviously even more people in employment means more disposable income that could be spent buying products online (so arguably that might be another factor fuelling online retail).
In its European forecast, Forrester includes a breakdown by country of online retail spend — noting there is substantial variation in the landscape across key markets in Europe. Despite this, it ’ s projecting CAGRs from 2012 to 2017 of between 9 % at the low end, for the Netherlands, leaping up to 18 % and 16 % for Spain and Italy respectively, the fastest expanding European markets over the projection period:
The ecommerce development disparity between European nations is usually down to a divide between more mature markets in Northern Europe, where Forrester says online buying is “ the norm ”, vs markets in the south where ecommerce has yet to become a mainstream task — however is projected to expand to turned into one by 2017.
In elder North European markets, such as the U.K. and Sweden, Forrester projections that ecommerce growth will remain to outstrip physical retail growth but will slow, as the marketplaces enter exactly what it calls a “ new phase of competitive expansion ”. In this stage online merchants will need to optimise and innovate, by producing more personalised shopping experiences throughout “ brand-new touchpoints ”, in order to stay ahead of the competitors.
The report notes:
Mobile presents a chance to connect to buyers in new ways, influencing the decision to buy at a crucial moment. eBusiness execs need to support their on-line approaches with a mobile technique that thinks about mobile as more than simply an additional transactional touchpoint. Rather, they should utilize features like barcode scanning and increased truth to catch and analyze offline activity in order to more precisely customize future online interactions and drive web sales.
European markets currently display substantial variation when it comes to “ numerous touchpoints ” for online shopping, according to the report — with significantly sophisticated and complex habits in some however not all North markets. For instance, Forrester notes that Germany has “ significantly lesser ” mobile buying adoption than in other places in Europe, and few “ multichannel client provides ”.
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Bing Pulse launching with help from Fox News, aims to make State of the Union speech more interactive
In the nick of time for next week’s State of the Union address, Bing revealed it’s teamed up with Fox News to introduce Bing Rhythm, a one-stop hub where folks can quickly communicate and share their thoughts with one an additional while Head of state Barack Obama’s speech is happening. The Microsoft-owned online search engine says that Rhythm will enable participants to vote on reactions to the event every five seconds, with the upcoming outcomes being shown on the Bing Politics site. What’s more, Bing thinks “this will be the largest live online poll in history,” which will be boosted by the clothing’s new Beat “social sentiment tracker” – a service that’s set to gather and evaluate information from Twitter in order to figure out what are the trendiest political subjects during the speech. Individuals curious about signing up with the Bing Rhythm chat must hit that even more insurance coverage link to get acquainted– and, naturally, do not forget to bookmark it so you’re all set come February 12th.
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Apple has handled to nab three of the top 5 areas for the top-selling smart phones in the UNITED STATE throughout Q4 2012 according to the NPD Team, with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 ranking first, third and fourth, respectively. Apple additionally preserved the crown for very popular general smartphone maker, accounting for 39 percent of smartphone sales in Q4 2012, contrasted to Samsung ’ s 30 percent.
iPhone 4 sales increased 79 percent contrasted to Q3 2012, and iPhone 4S sales expanded 43 percent sequentially, while the iPhone 5 considered 43 percent of all iPhone sales in Q4 2012, which is roughly in line with the numbers we ’ re seeing from provider information as well. It likewise comprised virtually two-thirds of all smartphone sales on post-paid strategies with a value over $ 200, NPD states. Samsung made substantial gains on the year, going up to 30 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales in Q4 2012 from 21 percent in the year ago quarter, however the gains were primarily at the expense of other Android OEMs, including HTC, while Apple ’ s general share continued to be steady.
Net Applications also launched its monthly report on mobile OS share, which discovered that Apple ’ s iOS raised a little in terms of traffic, considering 60.56 percent of all mobile os, while Android actually took a little a dip to 24.51 percent, continuing a decline that has taken place over the previous two months from a peak high in November of 28.02 percent. It looks like Apple ’ s release of the iPhone 5 may have basically begun to remove earlier gains made by the longer availability of the Samsung Galaxy S III, however Apple still has some ground to compose if it wants to climb back to its 2012 high of virtually 66 percent web traffic share amongst mobile gadgets. Apple ’ s vacation quarter, that included 47.8 million iPhone sales and 22.9 million iPads, plannings to have helped it in regards to remaining the leader in both smartphone and
mobile device sales in the U.S., and in keeping the hold it has on mobile browsing. The strong quarter likewise considers Apple ’ s regaining the function of biggest mobile phone maker by volume in the UNITED STATE, an honor it reclaimed according to the current data from Approach Analytics launched earlier today.
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Apple has handled to take 3 of the top 5 areas for the top-selling smart phones in the UNITED STATE during Q4 2012 according to the NPD Team, with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 ranking first, 3rd and fourth, respectively. Apple also preserved the crown for very popular total smartphone maker, accounting for 39 percent of smartphone sales in Q4 2012, compared to Samsung ’ s 30 percent.
iPhone 4 sales increased 79 percent contrasted to Q3 2012, and iPhone 4S sales expanded 43 percent sequentially, while the iPhone 5 considered 43 percent of all iPhone sales in Q4 2012, which is roughly in line with the numbers we ’ re seeing out of carrier data as well. It also comprised virtually two-thirds of all smartphone sales on post-paid strategies with a value over $ 200, NPD says. Samsung made significant gains on the year, going up to 30 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales in Q4 2012 from 21 percent in the year ago quarter, but the gains were mostly at the cost of other Android OEMs, including HTC, while Apple ’ s overall share remained constant.
Net Applications also introduced its month-to-month report on mobile OS share, which found that Apple ’ s iOS increased a little in terms of traffic, considering 60.56 percent of all mobile os, while Android in fact took a little a dip to 24.51 percent, continuing a decline that has occurred over the past two months from a peak high in November of 28.02 percent. It appears like Apple ’ s release of the iPhone 5 might have basically started to eliminate earlier gains made by the longer accessibility of the Samsung Galaxy S III, however Apple still has some ground to comprise if it wishes to climb up back to its 2012 high of almost 66 percent web traffic share among mobile gadgets. Apple ’ s vacation quarter, that included 47.8 million iPhone sales and 22.9 million iPads, plannings to have helped it in regards to remaining the leader in both smartphone and
mobile gadget sales in the U.S., and in keeping the hold it has on mobile surfing. The strong quarter additionally accounts for Apple ’ s restoring the role of largest mobile phone maker by volume in the U.S., an honor it recovered according to the most up to date information from Strategy Analytics introduced earlier today.
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Autonomous fish may make great innovators, however it ends up that robot flippers are a substantial drain on battery life. Not an issue for Xiaobo Tan– he and a team of Michigan State College experts have actually built a robot fish that glides through the water. Tan states the equipment, called Grace (Gliding Robot ACE), swims too, but the continual flipper movement can kill the battery in just a couple of hours. “This is why we incorporated both mobility modes,” he described. “Such integration allows the robotic to adjust to various environments, from shallow streams to deep lakes.” Grace is created to search lakes and rivers for data to help cleaning efforts, and older prototypes have successfully found traces of petroleum in when ruined riverbeds. The redesigned robotic looks more like an aircraft than a fish, however it’s difficult to argue with results– the group says Grace ought to have the ability to glide through the water nearly forever. Look into the team’s news release after the break.
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to view on your computer – mactv.trueonlinetv.com Alternate link: (Windows – Linux users should check this link) – ncaatv.trueonlinetv.com (( – tgs))) exactly what is apple tv, apple tv trailer, Tulsa Golden Typhoon v, Iowa State Cyclone, AutoZone LIBERTY BOWL, New Years Eve Football, Timetable, appple television, HYUNDAI SUN BOW, Clemson Tigers v, LSU Tigers, Chick-fil-A BOWL, New Years Eve Football, Statistics, HEART OF DALLAS BOWL, Northwestern Wildcats, Mississippi State Bulldogs, TAXSLAYER.com GATOR BOWL, New Years Day Football, Live, what is apple tv, mac television, soldierknowsbest, new apple tv nfl Watch Oklahoma State Cowboys v, Purdue Boilermakers, HEART OF DALLAS BOWL, New Years Day Football, updates, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Georgia Bulldogs, CAPITAL ONE BOWL, New Years Day Football, Score,.
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Even more than a few of us have had that moment of panic when our earphone cords catch on a things and cut the listening short– often permanently. Specialists at North Carolina State College could help reduce those minor musical disasters with wiring that extends up to eight times its normal length. The method fills an elastic polymer tube with a liquid gallium and indium alloy that provides the electrical power. By keeping the materials separate, unlike numerous previous efforts, the option guarantees the very best of both globes: the conduction we require, and the tolerance for tugs that we want. NC State already has an eye on stretchable headphone cords, as you’ll see in the video after the break, but it additionally sees benefits for electronic textiles that might endure additional abuse. As long as the group can at some point address a trouble with leakage when there’s a complete break, we’ll be glad sufficient to leave among our typical audio problems in the past.
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Rob Benedict, AFPM’s Vice President of Midstream and Petrochemicals, issued the following statement after Congress passed, and President Biden signed, a resolution to avoid a nationwide rail strike.
"Refiners and petrochemical manufacturers appreciate the urgency with which Congressional leaders met this moment and averted a rail service disaster. Earlier this week, our industries started to receive notice of service curtailments ahead of the strike. With Congress's intervention, we look forward to a full return to normal service. It is important to note, however, that 'normal service' is still incredibly bad and increasingly expensive for shippers and consumers. With the threat of a full work stoppage off the table, the next Congress must elevate the long-overdue issue of freight rail reform to finally correct these abuses of service." – Rob Benedict, AFPM VP of Midstream & Petrochemicals
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is the leading trade association representing the makers of the fuels that keep us moving, the petrochemicals that are the essential building blocks for modern life, and the midstream companies that get our feedstocks and products where they need to go. We make the products that make life better, safer and more sustainable — we make progress.

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The National Plant & Equipment Register (TER) reports that 95% of plant equipment that is stolen every year, year on year, is not recovered and says “Plant is seldom fitted with appropriate tracking devices – the right tracking device is an excellent way to make recoveries and generate actionable intelligence for the police.”
Stephen Doran, Managing Director, TRACKER, said “Speaking to our plant customers it became increasingly apparent their needs had changed. Whilst a stolen vehicle recovery system was essential, they also needed a solution to help them better manage their plant fleets.”
TRACKER Plant is based on a combination of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM), but with the added benefit of TRACKER’s successful and proven Very High Frequency (VHF) radio technology. Fundamentally, this is brought together in a robust and waterproof unit, proven to withstand the harshest plant usage. The system reports real time information about the usage of plant, such as engine running hours and allows owners to set a location radius within which the plant can move freely, alerting them if it is moved outside of this location, otherwise known as Geofencing. It will even inform owners when servicing of equipment is due. TRACKER Plant summary reports are emailed weekly containing clear and concise plant data, both on an individual plant item or as a group, for easy monitoring.
TRACKER Plant also fundamentally includes TRACKER’s market leading stolen vehicle recovery system, offering an unrivalled level of protection against theft, as well as significantly increasing the chances of recovery. The system is Thatcham approved, offering added quality assurance and the possibility of an insurance discount. Stephen Doran concludes, “The launch of TRACKER Plant encompasses the key issues surrounding the use of plant equipment and its security. We are bringing plant owners a powerful new way to monitor the status of a machine and its usage, which in turn brings significant cost efficiencies, as well as give peace of mind with our stolen vehicle recovery system. Designed specifically for the plant sector, this new product will help protect valuable assets, close the net on criminals and ensure businesses get the best out of their fleet.”


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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — A group of attorneys, including prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, announced filing two new lawsuits on behalf of the victims of a deadly Amazon warehouse collapse in Edwardsville.
Six employees died when the facility partially collapsed on December 10, 2021, after a tornado touched down in the area. The attorneys will represent the family of DeAndre Morrow, who died in the collapse. Other plaintiffs include five Amazon drivers who survived but suffered “physical or mental harm.”
The lawsuit alleges that the National Weather Service warned Amazon about possible tornadoes in the area 36 hours before the warehouse partially collapsed. It further claims that Amazon did not modify the employee work schedule and refused to allow employees to take time off until the storm passed.
“Amazon had numerous warnings and opportunities to put their employees’ safety first, but they chose their bottom line instead,” said Crump in a statement. “As a result, six people needlessly lost their lives and many others suffered injury and mental anguish that will likely last a lifetime.”
“Amazon required their employees to work just moments before the tornado destroyed the fulfillment center, despite their pleas to seek shelter at home with their loved ones,” he continued. “It was Amazon’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers, and they failed in every respect.”
The attorneys working alongside Crump include Bob Hilliard, Patrick King, and William Miller.
Earlier this year, a different group of lawyers filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Austin McEwen, who also died in the collapse. McEwen was an independent contractor working as an Amazon delivery driver.
Jack Casciato, an attorney representing the family, alleged Amazon acted with negligence in the construction of the building and a disregard for the workers’ lives.
An Amazon spokesperson said it’s too soon to know if there were structural deficiencies with the building, and the company is conducting its own investigation into the collapse.
“Our focus continues to be on supporting our team and all those affected by this tragic natural disaster,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. “Investigators continue to conduct a comprehensive forensic examination of the building and debris — so it’s premature and misleading to suggest there were any structural issues.”


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When green bottle meets Ahok
The embattled Jakarta’s Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularity known as Ahok, is coming under a lot of flak recently after he was accused of blasphemy against the Quran. A lot of politically-motivated comments and rallies have emerged in Indonesia targeting Ahok to prevent him from winning the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2017.
Ahok drinks Equil
Nobody would expect a harmless sparkling mineral water brand from Sukabumi, West Java – Equil – would be used as a political weapon. According to Jack who posted on an anti-Jokowi and Ahok Facebook page – Beranda Tolak Jokowi and Ahok who claims of an alcohol (miras) drinking session with Jakarta governor.
Image above from Tribun Timur.
Instant publicity for Equil
All of a sudden, netizens in Indonesia became interested in Equil as reflected in the Google Trends search (image above). The spike in interest shows the speed in which a topic can turn viral overnight, thanks to the popularity of social media where the usage of Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and Instagram is high.
The breakout related queries (Google Trends – 9 December 2016) are all indication of people trying to understand more about Equil. For Equil, it is instant publicity for the premium sparkling mineral water produced locally by the domestic company PT Equilindo Asri.
All comes down to the green bottle
Image above from http://portalnasional.net. The one on the left is Equil mineral water, while on the right is Heineken beer
The misunderstanding all comes down to the green bottle, which popularly used by PT Multi Bintang, the nation’s top brewer, for its beers. People are associating Multi Bintang’s green bottle with alcoholic drink.
Not all green bottles are beer. Image from solopos.com (image above)
Netizens are having a field day making fun not only of the green bottle but also the black bottle highlighting people’s ignorance.
Sometimes brands come under intense scrutiny following misunderstanding but it can be positive and the key is turning incident such as this from curiosity into awareness and eventually trial and purchase.


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Lawmakers take first look at bills that would create back-to-school sales tax holiday
When you think of the holidays, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Christmas or Thanksgiving, but what about sales tax?
The concept is pretty straightforward, in the first weekend of August, the state would not charge a sales tax on back-to-school items listed in the bill. That could include items like pencils, paper, clothing, or computers.
Stephanie Trotter, a parent of a grade-schooler says getting supplies for her son can stack up. "Especially with clothes and school supplies, backpacks, all that it can add up really quick."
That's why she says saving even a little bit on these items would be a big help for her and other parents. "Anything you know, to help us save money or cut corners would absolutely help parents, especially parents that are living paycheck to paycheck."
Both Republicans and Democrats are showing an interest in creating the sales tax exemption with the state having a record $2 billion revenue surplus. SB 29 even was introduced by a bipartisan group of state Senators.
A third bill creating the holiday, SB 55, was introduced on Wednesday and is supported by Governor Laura Kelly and could be heard in committee as soon as next week
She says creating this holiday "shouldn't be a partisan issue. This should be an issue that brings everybody together to do what's in the best interest of our kids, our parents, and teachers, and the school sales tax holiday is just that."
Both Oklahoma and Missouri have sales tax holidays and Senators say creating one here would cut down on people hoping over state lines to buy supplies and keep more money in the Kansas economy.
The tax committee will work on these bills to create a final piece of legislation over the next few weeks. Then it will go to the house to be reviewed.
You can follow the Senate Tax Committee's schedule here.


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So the company is offering up almost all of its assets at a court supervised auction on May 16.
Contrary to many media reports this weekend, The Sports Authority has not yet said whether it will shutter its entire fleet of stores.
“We were all working hard towards a different outcome, but the headwinds we have been facing for quite some time, including the rapidly changing book industry, e Reader revolution, and turbulent economy, have brought us to where we are now." The nation's second-largest bookseller, which employs about 10,700 employees, said it will begin liquidating stores as early as Friday.
This deployment includes liquidation (with the exception of the previously deployed electronic posting of the Notices of Liquidation on CBP.gov), reconciliation, drawback, duty deferral, collections and the Automated Surety Interface (ASI).
This Borders store in Washington closed shortly after the company filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.
The company's remaining 399 outlets will be closed after the chain failed to find a buyer willing to continue operations.
Borders, unable to find a buyer willing to get it out of bankruptcy, plans to close its remaining 399 stores and go out of business by the end of September.
“Following the best efforts of all parties, we are saddened by this development,” Borders Group President Mike Edwards said in a written statement late Monday.
The former headquarters of Borders was located in Ann Arbor, MI. About Oak Point Partners Oak Point Partners is a private investment firm specializing in the purchase of remnant assets.


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Charging points for electric vehicles in London, England.
Jon Challicom | Moment | Getty Images
LONDON — U.K.-based electric vehicle battery firm Britishvolt said Wednesday it had secured short-term funding, a move that will enable it to stave off administration for the time being. The company said its employees had also agreed to a pay cut for November.
In a statement sent to CNBC, the firm said: “While the weakening economic situation is negatively impacting much business investment at present, at Britishvolt we are continuing to pursue positive ongoing discussions with potential investors.”
“In addition, we have also received promising approaches from several more international investors in the past few days.”
“The result is we have now secured the necessary near-term investment that we believe enables us to bridge over the coming weeks to a more secure funding position for the future.”
“To further reduce our near-term costs, our dedicated employee team has also voluntarily agreed to a temporary salary reduction for the month of November.”
Britishvolt is looking to build a gigafactory in the county of Northumberland, northeast England. The company has received backing from mining giant Glencore, among others.
So-called gigafactories are facilities that produce batteries for electric vehicles on a large scale. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been widely credited as coining the term.
Britishvolt, which attracted attention due to its bullish plans, had previously said its plant would have the capacity to produce more than 300,000 EV battery packs each year.
In January of this year, it said the first phase of the gigafactory would begin production in the fourth quarter of 2023 or the start of 2024.
The U.K. is looking to increase the number of electric vehicles on its road in the years ahead.
Authorities wants to stop the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars and vans by 2030. They will require, from 2035, all new cars and vans to have zero tailpipe emissions.
The European Union, which the U.K. left on Jan. 31, 2020, is pursuing similar targets.


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Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA) is making waves in the TV industry with the release of two new models, including the highly anticipated Roku OLED TV. The Sharp AQUOS OLED 4K UHD is hitting the market in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, with price tags of $1,500 and $1,999 respectively.
What sets the AQUOS OLED apart is its impressive features. With a 30W audio system equipped with Dolby Atmos, viewers can expect a cinematic sound experience right in the comfort of their own home. Additionally, this TV offers Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) across all HDMI inputs, ensuring smooth and fluid visuals. And with HDR support that includes Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and HLG, the AQUOS OLED promises vibrant and lifelike colors.
While some may argue that these features are not groundbreaking compared to what competitors like Samsung, Sony, or LG offer, the real test will be the appearance and performance of the AQUOS OLED. Consumers who already own top-tier OLED TVs will be looking for something truly exceptional to justify the switch.
One interesting fact about Sharp’s US operations is that it was previously owned by Hisense from 2015. However, the company regained its brand and started releasing new products in 2019. Now, Sharp is excited to be working with Roku for its return to the US market. By partnering with the leading streaming platform, Sharp aims to provide an immersive viewing experience with the AQUOS OLED, complemented by Roku’s extensive library of entertainment options.
As for the competition, the introduction of QD-OLED models from Samsung and Sony has TV enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. It remains to be seen how these models will stack up against Sharp’s offering, but the return of an old favorite brand is undoubtedly an exciting prospect for consumers.
In conclusion, Sharp is making a splash in the market with the release of its new TVs, including the Roku OLED TV. Priced competitively and equipped with high-quality features, the AQUOS OLED has the potential to give current market leaders a run for their money. With Sharp’s partnership with Roku, viewers can expect an immersive experience paired with a vast selection of entertainment options. The competition with QD-OLED models from Samsung and Sony adds to the excitement, as consumers eagerly anticipate the performance and appearance of these new offerings from Sharp.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”


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Predictions are hard, especially about the future of oil prices — even for someone as oracular as Warren Buffett. He didn't see crude's collapse coming either, and got stuck with almost $4 billion of Exxon Mobil stock that he just unloaded.
Billionaires, they're just like us! And I mean that in the least snarky way possible. Nobody thought oil would fall like it did. When the price was $105 a barrel, forecasters thought it would go up to $108; when it was $100, they thought it would go up to $104; when it was $90, they thought it would go up to $100; when it was $85, they thought it would go up to $90; and when it was $65, they thought it would go up to $80. It's $59 now. You can see just how murky this crystal ball has been in the chart below from Gavyn Davies.
Why has everybody been so wrong about oil? Well, three words: supply and demand.
First, people underestimated how much all the new shale oil that's come online the past few years would push down prices. Then they didn't expect the Saudis to keep up their own supply level in response. And finally, they didn't realize how much less demand there'd be now that, outside the United States, the global economy is cooling off. Indeed, Russia is imploding, Brazil is struggling and even China is slowing down, all while Europe is trying to drag itself out of a depression and Japan is throwing hurdles in front of its nascent recovery by raising its own sales tax.
Add it all up, and economist Jim Hamilton estimates that lower demand accounts for 44 percent of lower oil prices. That's how you get an oil glut of 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day in the macroeconomic equivalent of overnight.
That leaves one last question: Did Buffett get out at the right time? Or have prices already bottomed? It's tempting to say that they have now that oil has rebounded from $49 a few weeks ago to $59 today, but that's probably going a bit too far.
That's because lower prices should make higher-cost production, like fracking, unprofitable enough that companies stop drilling, pushing supply down and prices up. There's already some of that going on. U.S. rig counts are falling fast. But despite that, production isn't, and, according to Goldman Sachs, might not for awhile. Why? Well, part of it is that shale is getting more efficient. But another part is the debt. Oil companies borrowed $200 billion to expand their drilling during the boom, so they can't afford to stop drilling during the bust. If they did, they wouldn't have any money coming in, but they would still have to send their nonexistent money out to pay back what they owe. This is called bankruptcy. So the only thing they can do is keep drilling, and then store their oil in the hope that the price will recover.
That's why production shouldn't fall that much even if prices do, and why it's hard to see prices getting above $70 anytime soon. Just don't call that a prediction.


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KATAVI Region is facing an acute cement shortage after remaining with only 53 tonnes of cement on Monday.
Cement demand in the region stands at over 10,000 tonnes a month, but since the shortage hit the nation over a month ago the problem has been growing. The shortage has increased prices by almost 40 per cent in less than a month ago.
Cement price, according to a ‘Daily News’ survey jumped to between 23,000/- and 25,000/- from the previous retail price of between 18,000/- and 20,000/-.
Katavi Regional Commissioner (RC) Juma Homera told ‘Daily News’ that the region was facing an acute shortage of cement as it remained with only 53 tonnes of cement.
"I have instructed district commissioners of Tanganyika, Mlele and Mpanda to inspect all middle and small retail shops selling cement and agents who have been contracted to supply the commodity in the region.
This is unacceptable. The culprits will be held accountable, including revoking business licences," warned the RC.
The RC told ‘Daily News’ during an exclusive interview in Sumbawanga Municipal Council on Sunday, while he was on his way back to Katavi Region. Mr Homera warned that he would not tolerate price hike in his jurisdiction.
“The availability of cement and price hike in our region in one way or another is a big challenge…but we are working on it to ensure it normalises,” the RC said.
The RC called for a national cement stakeholders’ meeting yesterday to deliberate on the issue and find a common solution.
He said he would call for such a meeting at regional level to address the situation “as soon I arrive there."
Last week Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa gave directives to all RCs through a video conference and directed them to inspect all cement factories, agents, middle and small sellers to find out the root cause of the problem.


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Multiple reports have indicated that Nokia is preparing a 6-inch Windows Phone – codenamed “Bandit” – and we may finally have a glimpse of what the device looks like. A member of The Verge forums posted what appears to be the “Bandit” next to another Lumia handset. And as you can see, it’s massive.
That rumoured 1080p display resolution could bring additional space for tiles on the home screen too. You can currently fit two columns on Windows Phone 8 devices, but the “Bandit” looks to include three. Other rumoured specifications for the device include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, a 20-megapixel camera, and LTE connectivity.
Twitter tipster @evleaks believes the “Bandit” will be officially known as the Lumia 1520. That’s a pretty big increase in the number scheme from Nokia’s last phone, the Lumia 1020 – we can’t help wonder if the scale of the numbers is slowly going to get out of hand.
Nokia Bandit = Lumia 1520
— @evleaks (@evleaks) August 27, 2013
There’s no clear picture of when the Lumia 1520 could launch, but The Verge previously reported that it would debut on US carrier AT&T before the end of the year. If the device turns out to be real, then we’ll have to wait and see if Nokia intends to release it internationally.


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GVA Advantis negotiated the sale of Town Center Shoppes, a 64,587-square-foot, open-air retail center in Oviedo, Fla. The value of the transaction was $16.7 million. RAM LAF Oviedo LLC, a Winter Park, Fla.-based limited liability company, sold the property to ...
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Last week Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby announced that the new v30 range would be called the v40.
And as regular as clockwork our spies have spotted the V40 undergoing winter testing in northern sweden.
Not just will the V40 be a brand new model, but it will also replace two existing models.
When the V40 arrives in 2012 the current S40 and V50 will be discontinued in Volvo line-up.
During an interview on friday Stefan Jacoby got the question if the V40 will replace the C30 as well but just answered that the C30 is a 3 door car and the new one will have more than 3 doors. So we have to wait and see what happens to the C30 in the future.
The v40 is targeted against the Audi A3 Sportsback and BMW new 1 series which is a hint at the aspirations at Volvo.
From the limited view of the car we guess that it will look a lot like a smaller version of the V60.
We expect the same engines to be carried on with a choice of 4 diesels from 115hp to 215hp, and soon to be followed by a range of petrols from 180hp to a range topping 320hp option along with AWD.
The new V40 will have its public debut in March at the Geneva Car Show.


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Today, Facebook has begun offering a “reactions” feature as an extension to it’s like button, in which users can access five additional animated emoji with which to express themselves.
After months of speculation and early test runs, the social network is finally giving users more options for reacting to all the baby photos, exasperating news stories, and cute kitten videos posted on the service. Now, they will be able to select one of six icons to express how they feel.
Along with the famous light blue thumb, the icons now include a read heart (“love”), a laughing face (“haha”), a surprised face (“wow”), a tearing face (“sad”), and an angry face (“angry”). To select one, users hover above or tap the “like” button until a menu of options pop up.


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Jiangsu-based computer retailer Hisap has announced plans to raise up to CNY1.4 billion by a private issue of new shares to fund the opening of additional chain stores.
According to the decision of the board of directors of Jiangsu Hongtu High Technology Company, the owner of the Hisap brand, the company plans to launch non-public offerings of 125 million shares at a price of no less than CNY11.56 per share. It is estimated that the company will gain about CNY1.4 billion from these non-public offerings. However, this plan still needs to be approved at its general meeting of shareholders.
The capital raised will mainly be used for the expansion of new Hisap chain stores. The Shanghai-listed company intends to open 150 IT chain stores in 12 Chinese cities as well as two flagship stores in Nanjing and Shenzhen. These 150 stores are reported to cost CNY560.17 million and the two flagship stores will cost CNY403.45 million.
In addition, the company said it will inject the remaining capital raised at this time into a logistics center upgrading and construction project, an IT chain construction project, and to add to its liquidity.
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CEDIA EXPO 2012 showed positive growth with non-exhibitor attendance gains of 4% over last year’s event. Ninety new exhibitors and more than 80 home technology products made their debut at CEDIA EXPO 2012, Sept. 5-8 in Indianapolis. More than 450 exhibitors participated in the 2012 event and over 16,900 attendees from 71 different countries. Of the total attendance 15% were first-time attendees to EXPO.
This year’s event, exhibitors, and attendees were defined as “electric”, “high caliber”, and “rock-solid”.
CEDIA EXPO offered 175 training courses including manufacturer product training. This year’s show was focused on educating electronic systems contractors on the network in addition to the foundational and advanced home technology education. Of those courses, 22 were new advanced IP Networking courses, all of which sold out. Additionally, CEDIA introduced a new credential, the Residential Networking Specialist, aimed for those who have demonstrated mastery of the network.
Digital signage is an increasingly affordable marketing technology that has become a lot more accessible to small retailers in the past couple of years. Digital signage display screens with HD resolution no longer cost the earth, while professional digital signage software can be downloaded for free. In fact, if you have a spare PC and either a plasma screen or LCD screen available it is pretty easy to get up and running at zero cost. But will it bring small retailers more sales?
The signs are positive. Digital signage is strong on the delivery of high impact visuals that capture attention and motivate consumer action. Animations, image movement and video on a well-positioned screen will certainly grab eyeballs. Data from Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau Europe (OVAB) suggests that moving images are as much as 28% more effective in attracting attention than static posters or billboards.
STEWART FILMSCREEN INTRODUCES 4k+ LOGO PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY SCREENS OPTIMIZED FOR HIGHER RESOLUTION PROJECTION APPLICATIONS
Stewart Filmscreen Launches Web Screen Assistant 2.0 With Improved Interface, Multiple Browser Support And Enhanced Functionality For Dealers
Records 9571 to 9585 of 28561


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Summary: Wicker furniture is becoming a standard in today’s trendy patio design. When you think of patio furnishings, you immediately think of things like weather resistant furniture pieces, gorgeous treasure […]
Summary: CNC machines are replacing traditional cutting methods due to their easy-to-use, automated systems. If you’re looking to replace that old, saggy cushion filling inside your sofa or couch, you’ll […]
Welcome to manufacturingstoke.com. Your number one source for the latest manufacturing news, resources and legal info.


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Electronic Clearing House Inc., a leading provider of electronic payment and transaction processing services, announced that it has mutually agreed with Intuit Inc. to terminate the merger agreement entered into by the companies on December 14, 2006.
In connection with the termination, ECHO and Intuit agreed to release each other from all claims arising under or related to the terminated merger agreement. ECHO also cancelled its previously adjourned special stockholders’ meeting relating to the proposed acquisition, which was scheduled to reconvene on March 27, 2007.
Additionally, ECHO today announced that it has been cooperating as a witness in a federal investigation relating to its Internet wallet customers that provided services to online gaming websites. Pursuant to a non-prosecution agreement expected to be executed shortly, the government will assure ECHO that it will not pursue any action against the company. ECHO has in turn agreed to disgorge $2.3 million, which represents management’s estimate of the company’s profits from processing and collection services provided to its Internet wallet customers since 2001, and to continue cooperating as a witness in that investigation. The company expects to incur additional legal expenses related to the federal investigation. Earlier this year, ECHO ceased all processing and collection services for its remaining Internet wallet customers.
“We are disappointed that we could not conclude the transaction with Intuit,” said Joel M. Barry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ECHO. “We incurred a substantial amount of expenses in connection with the proposed transaction. These expenses, combined with the amount we agreed to disgorge to the government and additional expenses we expect to incur in connection with the federal investigation, will negatively impact our near-term financial results. That said, with cash and cash equivalents of $11.9 million and working capital of $13.3 million at December 31, 2006, we believe we have the resources we need. Additionally the fundamentals of our business are sound and our long-term opportunity remains solid.”
About Electronic Clearing House Inc.
ECHO (www.echo-inc.com) provides a complete solution for the payment processing needs of merchants, banks, technology companies and collection agencies. ECHO’s services include debit and credit card processing, check guarantee, check verification, check conversion, check re-presentment and check collection.


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Facebook has had to take out full-page adverts in India’s newspapers following its update that chatting app WhatsApp will be sharing more information with it.
“WhatsApp cannot see your private messages or hear your calls, and neither can Facebook: Every private message, photo, video, voice message, and document you send to your friends, family, and co-workers in one-on-one or group chats is protected by end-to-end encryption,” the message reads. “It stays between you.”
Amid the outcry, Facebook began an advertising campaign that would cost “tens of millions of rupees this week in at least 10 English and Hindi newspapers,” Reuters reports.
The company began sharing data with Facebook for these purposes in 2016, giving users a choice to opt-out; its new policy expands these capabilities, but there is now no option to opt-out.
WhatsApp’s change only affects businesses, not consumers. “We’re giving businesses the option to use secure hosting services from Facebook to manage WhatsApp chats with their customers, answer questions, and send helpful information like purchase receipts”, the company wrote in an online FAQ.
“Whether you communicate with a business by phone, email, or WhatsApp, it can see what you’re saying and may use that information for its own marketing purposes, which may include advertising on Facebook.”
Nevertheless, many users misinterpreted the company’s statement because of Facebook’s history of privacy violations, leading them to switch to other platforms like Signal or Telegram.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said that people moving from the platform was “the largest digital migration in human history”, with 25 million new users in 72 hours.
WhatsApp in India is used for a greater variety of reasons than it is in other countries. In 2020, a payment service between users was rolled out in the country, after the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), gave its approval to WhatsApp last November. Food shopping can be purchased through the app too, in certain areas of Mumbai.
It also launched a new fact-checking service in India to help combat misinformation in the run-up to their general election.
However, the app has been used to spread fake news about subjects including child abuse or organ harvesting in the country.


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The fourth quarter brought a new key player to the New Mexican economy.
Brazil took the place of China among the top five countries importing New Mexican products. According to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of New Mexico, exports from New Mexico to Brazil grew more than 400 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2012.
Kevin Kargacin, senior program manager for the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UNM, analyzed data from 1997 through the fourth quarter of 2012 and found that this is the first time Brazil has entered the group of the top five countries to import New Mexico products.
According to data provided by the New Mexico Office of International Trade, in 2012 exports to Brazil reached almost $41 million, a dramatic increase from the previous year, when the amount of state exports to Brazil was less than $14 million.
Edward R. Herrera, director for the Office of International Trade, says one reason for the growth could be the 2012 opening of a trade office in Sao Paulo to promote New Mexican products and seek business partners in Brazil.
New Mexico’s main exports to Brazil came from diverse industries. Among them: transportation equipment; computer and electronic products; food products, particularly cheese and other products from the dairy industry, the state’s largest agricultural industry; and plastics and rubber products.
Along with the market penetration in Brazil, New Mexico is becoming better-known in global markets. According to the International Trade Administration, in 2012 New Mexico led the nation in export growth.
The other top trading partners for New Mexico during the fourth quarter were Israel, Mexico, Canada and Germany.
“It means a lot to us to see the growth in exports,” Herrera says. “We want to diversify our market to be better prepared to survive recessions in the country.”


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Why is the Ammo Gone?
In the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the media began reporting on a surge in firearms sales across the United States. Fast forward to almost August, and everyone is asking “where did all the ammo go?” Online retailers are out of stock, you can't get rounds from big box stores, and what ammo is available is either limited in quantity or highly priced. According to reps in the ammo industry, demand right now is 10x higher than during the 2013 ammo shortage.
Certainly, you could shout “supply and demand” which is technically correct, but also a gross oversimplification of the answer. To understand why we're in an ammo shortage, we have to dig in to both sides of supply and demand. At the risk of putting the cart before the horse, the first aspect of the current crisis we want to examine is why the demand for ammo is so high.
Click here to read the entire article at RecoilWeb.com.


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As more companies look for alternative products for a greener future, we stand at the forefront of an adhesive breakthrough. We are introducing AP1052WE, a water-based adhesive tailored for paper straw manufacturing.Read More >
We've seen a lot of news surrounding the topic of paper straws over the last couple of years. Companies like Starbucks, Hyatt, and American Airlines are working to move away from single-use plastic straws completely.
As companies work diligently to make environmentally conscious choices, paper straws are definitely going to become a part of everyday life.Read More >
The Straw Free Campaign is continuing to impact how customers and manufacturers think about one-use plastics. Major restaurant chains and hospitality providers like Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Hyatt have pledged to stop using plastic straws and find an alternative. From uncooked noodles to bamboo, people have come up with some pretty creative ways to slurp up drinks, but the most popular option by far is the paper straw.Read More >


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Things we like
Blipp to Buy
Channel 4's exciting drama Homeland
We were getting all hot under the collar this week for the augmented reality specialist Blippar's Blipp to Buy app, which had its formal launch. The app technology, which enables smartphone users to pap ads in print and outdoor to instantly buy the items displayed, has been trialled in the UK by the likes of Tesco, IPC Media and Domino's Pizza. IPC reported getting more than 200,000 Blipps via Blippar from readers of the special "interactive issue" of Nuts in January - an impressive level of engagement, which, in these uncertain publishing times, is a promising piece of news. Ambarish Mitra, the chief executive of the UK start-up, must be enjoying the attention coming Blippar's way from his mobile monetising schemes.
Channel 4's Homeland
Thanks to Channel 4 for perking up the Sunday primetime slot with this excellent new US drama. Homeland utterly lives up to the huge amount of hype that has preceded its launch in the UK. The gripping plot centres on a CIA officer (played by Claire Danes) who suspects a returning Marine prisoner of war (Damian Lewis) of having been "turned" by al-Qaeda. It makes a welcome change from the usual soporific costume drama offerings that have hijacked our Sunday evenings lately. We reckon it's the new 24.
Angry Birds roller coasters
We have to admit, when we heard that Rovio, the entertainment media company behind Angry Birds, was to launch an Angry Bird theme park in Finland (where the game was created), we started checking the availability of easyJet flights to Helsinki. But then we calmed down a bit when Harri Koponen, the executive vice-president of licensing and merchandising at Rovio, revealed that Angry Birds Land will be "the first of several Angry Bird parks around the world". That sorts half-term holidays for 2013, then. For the kids' sake, of course.
AND ONE THING WE DON'T ...
Dramatic revelations at the Leveson inquiry
Rupert Murdoch might have winced at the tsunami of allegations levelled at News International at the Leveson inquiry on Monday, just 24 hours after his Sunday launch. The evidence from Sue Akers, which saw the police officer leading the investigation into bribery and hacking at News International allege that The Sun established a "network of corrupt officials" and created a "culture of illegal payments", was followed by the claim that an internal News International e-mail dating from 2006 suggested that the then News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, and its subsequent editor Rebekah Brooks were both aware of phone-hacking at the newspaper at the time. Murdoch was keen to respond, saying: "The practices that Sue Akers described at the inquiry are of the past, and no longer exist at The Sun."
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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The rumor mill is working overtime, when it comes to the iPad and most of these rumors are rolling in from China, where Apple iPads are manufactured. As if a retina display and A6 processor weren’t enough, the iPad might even come with an 8-megapixel camera. One more thing. In a weird twist, this rumor refutes an earlier rumor about a thicker iPad and states that the iPad 3 will be sharper and more tapered looking more like the current tablet – iPad 2.
As for a launch date, March 7 is being looked on to as a major date for the launch. This rumor somehow, is silent on whether the iPad 3 will have a 4G LTE radio or not. But, jumping from a 1-megapixel camera to an 8-megapixel one is one super change.
So what is up Apple’s sleeve? Well, we can’t say for now but watch this space as we cover anything and everything about the Apple iPad 3.


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Lenovo adds to the portfolio of SMB-focused products it introduced at their Accelerate event this spring with two new models, including their first 15 inch one in this series.
Back in May, at their Accelerate event in Orlando for customers and partners, Lenovo introduced a new-subcategory of ThinkBooks targeted at the $USD 600-1000 range within the SMB space. The new models, the ThinkBook S series, came in 13-inch and 14-inch form factors, and was aimed to younger users looking for a smartphone experience in a more powerful and versatile form factor. Now Lenovo has expanded this portfolio with another 14-inch model and their first 15-inch ThinkBook. They have also upgraded the ThinkBook 13s and 14s introduced earlier with the new 10th Gen Intel Core processors.
The messaging around the new models is similar to the first ThinkBooks – that smaller businesses can get secure, commercial grade machines with the bells and whistles of the consumer market. A big part of the appeal is the clear consumer device look and feel of the new models, designed to appeal to Millennial and Gen-X employees.
“We have designed these to have a consumer look and feel, in terms of the design, colours and material, with features like a narrow bezel,” said Pascal Bourguet, VP, North America, Chief Category Officer PC & Smart Device at Lenovo. “These are things that drive consumer preference, and these look like a consumer product, but what is inside is definitely made for the commercial market.”
The consumer focus dictated rolling out these ThinkBooks starting with the smaller models.
“When we tapped into this portion of the market with a consumer look and feel for the first time, we decided it would be smarter to start at the high end with the 13- and 14-inch models,” Bourguet said. The average price on 13-inch in North America is higher because it is thinner and lighter, and that is what this market places a premium on.”
The new ThinkBook 15 checks in at 3.7 lbs, with options of a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon 620 graphics, up to 24GB of DDR memory, and a dual storage option of SSD or Intel Optane memory plus HDD.
“This ThinkBook 15 is a brand new product, and is our first entry into the largest part of this market,” Bourguet said “In North America, the 15-inch is around 40 per cent of the market. The ThinkBook 15 is not the thinnest and lightest product in the market, but it will compete against the ProBook with a much nicer design.
“You won’t find any product which some nice design with this level of commercial design,” Bourguet added. “If you compare the ThinkBook and the ProBook next to each other, your heart will say you want the ThinkBook. It has thin and light and consumer flair, but with SME specs. We think the combination of the two is our unique IP here.”
The commercial-grade features include one-step unlock and turn on, with a Smart Power Button that includes a built-in fingerprint reader for security. The ThinkBook also includes a ThinkShutter camera shutter for webcam privacy, a hidden USB port, hotkeys for Skype for Business and the ability to charge USB-C devices.
Bourguet acknowledged that the biggest challenge selling these kinds of devices in the commercial market is that they are new. Whereas in the consumer space, advertising can raise customer awareness of new features and functionality, in the commercial space, Lenovo is largely dependent on its channel partners to drive these to SMBs.
“The challenge of this new sub-brand for Lenovo is that for our reseller partners and distis, it typically takes a long time to get the channel into the product,” he said. “It’s more of a marketing challenge. So what we are doing right now is doubling down on our marketing and training. We are committing a lot in terms of demand generation and incentives to the channel. Our challenge is to get the channel to love it – and that’s mainly a marketing effort.”
Both the ThinkBook 14 and ThinkBook 15 will be available in November, starting at $USD 649 and $USD 679.00 respectively.


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Oracle Co-CEO Says it Did Not Buy Sun Micro to Sue Google
Oracle Corp. did not acquire Sun Microsystems in 2009 in order to launch a copyright lawsuit against Google, but rather to protect its products that relied on Sun's software, Oracle co-Chief Executive Safra Catz told jurors on Monday.
In a trial at San Francisco federal court, Oracle claims Google's Android smartphone operating system violated its copyright on parts of the Java programing language. Alphabet Inc.'s Google unit said it should be able to use Java without paying a fee under the fair-use provision of copyright law.
Oracle acquired Sun in 2010 and sued Google after negotiations broke down. The jury was deadlocked in a trial in 2012. If the current jury rules against Google on fair use, then it would consider Oracle's request for $9 billion in damages.
Google has argued that Sun welcomed Google's use of Java, but Oracle plotted to sue upon acquiring the company.
However, an Oracle attorney asked Catz about emails from 2009, in which former Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz described a dispute with Google over Java.
"He told us that they'd been talking with Google and had been trying to get them to license Java," said Catz, noting that Android was an unauthorized version of Java because Google did not have a license.
Oracle proceeded to acquire Sun, Catz said, because Java was too strategically important to Oracle's products for it to be bought by a competitor.
(Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Richard Chang)
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Hotel Prices Rocket over Royal Wedding Weekend
The Royal wedding is set to see London hotel room prices rocket by 26 percent over the bank holiday weekend, new figures shows.
People planning on visiting London over the weekend to celebrate the Royal wedding may be forced to pay premiums of up to 113 percent, which is the equivalent to an extra £401, Santander Credit Cards reveals.
A two-night stay at a typical London hotel is about 26 percent more expensive on 28th and 29th April than a week later. However, tourists are urged to shop around to get the most for their money as some hotels are reducing their prices to ensure they get the business, such as a hotel near Marble Arch which is charging £102 less than the following week after the wedding.
“London is set to be a hot tourist destination on the wedding weekend, and with Friday 29th giving us an extra bank holiday, many hotels are basing their prices on supply and demand,” said Ian Coles, Santander Cards director.
“A good many hotels have increased their prices for the weekend, if visitors are prepared to look around there are some good deals still available.”
Bank Holiday Budgets
It appears Brits are taking the double bank holiday weekends as an opportunity to take a much needed holiday, to escape their financial worries. Over a third of British workers are planning to take a holiday this Easter, or have either taken one, Lloyds TSB revealed.
Those who are struggling to stay afloat financially, but still want to celebrate the bank holiday weekends either with a holiday, or a trip to London, may benefit from using a prepaid card to prevent them from overspending.
A prepaid card is a good aid for those on a budget as it does not let the user spend more than they loaded onto the card.


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This post summarizes the article (for subscribers only) published by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
For online thieves, Rajesh Ramanand is a serious adversary. After recognizing that the ecommerce industry relied on an outdated score-based system which left online retailers vulnerable to fraud, Ramanand resigned as head of risks on PayPal’s Emerging Market team to build a new approach called “Guaranteed Fraud Protection” based on machine learning. Signifyd was born.
Today, Signifyd supports thousands of merchants worldwide by managing fraud for them while preventing chargeback losses. Their client base is versatile and they support sellers who specialize in everything from luxury watches to pet supplies to electric scooters. This year, it has been included in Inc. Magazine’s “Best Workplaces” and Entrepreneur’s “Top Company Cultures.” It has also garnered recognition from Gartner, Forbes, TechCrunch, and Bloomberg.
Ramanand is a member of the SVBJ’s 40 Under 40 class for 2017. To read all of the profiles, go to this link.
He said his best career move was working at FedEx and PayPal. “FedEx taught me how a big company works and PayPal taught me a lot about the risk industry,” he said.
Ramanand gives back by making it an annual tradition to donate money for the educational expenses of underprivileged children in India, his country of birth.


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Il nuovo decreto lavoro del governo Draghi del 30 giugno 2021 cambia le regole del Cashback: ecco tutte le novità sui rimborsi
Veronica Nicosia Giornalista scientifico
Laureata in astrofisica, giornalista scientifico e content editor SEO, scrive di tecnologia per magazine online e carta stampata. Nel 2020 approda a Libero Tecnologia
La sospensione del programma Cashback 2021 era nell’aria del governo Draghi ed è arrivata nel decreto Lavoro del 30 giugno 2021. A six-month suspension, for now, of the initiative wanted by Conte for the Cashless Italy Plan and above all a postponement for the crediting of refunds.
For those who were waiting for the payments of the 150 euros accumulated with the more than 50 transactions valid for digital payments by August 31, there is good news: they are confirmed layers. The discourse is different for the Super Cashback: the refunds slip to next November 30. You will have to wait at least 5 months to see the extra bonus money credited. In addition, the government has also confirmed that the funds allocated for the program are limited and that they may have to redistribute the money among those eligible. Result. You will not receive €150 and €1500, but most likely a lower amount that will have to be reproportioned.
Cashback and Super Cashback: why they slip the refunds
Cashback is the program wanted by the Conte government to stimulate citizens to use digital payments, favoring payment cards and apps, and fight tax evasion. Those who have made between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021 at least 50 valid transactions will see a refund of 10% of the amounts paid and with a maximum limit of 150 euros. Super Cashback, on the other hand, is the extra 1500 euro bonus for the first 100,000 most active users in the ranking of the number of transactions.
With the conclusion on June 30 of the first semester of Cashback, the toto-date for the arrival of refunds has been triggered. According to the initial rules, they should have arrived within 60 days, i.e. by the end of August. The Draghi government with the decree n. 99 of June 30, 2021 changes the cards on the table, but only for the Super Cashback.
As specified also on the official website of the app IO, refunds of 150 euros of Cashback will arrive within 60 days, so by August 31. As for the Super Cashback, however, there is slippage: they will arrive by November 30, 2021. The reason? The reimbursements will be issued after a final ranking will be drawn up that also includes the decisions of Consap on complaints by users.
Cashback and Super Cashback: cancellation or only suspension?
Many are now wondering whether the government's is only a suspension or a final cancellation. The answer is that it is not known. The decree states that the Cashback and Super Cashback program is suspended for the second semester, i.e. from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, in order to reallocate the fund of 1,497.75 million euros to finance reform measures in the field of social shock absorbers.
As for the third semester, which will start on January 1, 2022 and end on June 30, 2022, it will probably be decided in a few months if other funds will be allocated to restart, or if it will be permanently eliminated. In the meantime, all that's left to do is wait for the refund due, even though it may be less than hoped for. The funds allocated for Cashback and Super Cashback may not be enough to cover the refunds for the 8.9 million citizens who have joined the initiative, and there will probably be recalculations.


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In late 2018, Business Insider Intelligence published predictions about what to expect in the payments industry in 2019. Here's a look at how our past predictions fared:
We missed the mark on one key prediction last year: Amazon hasn't yet launched a full-scale banking or payments product, though the brand continues to move into the space. Last year, we suspected Amazon was on the precipice of a banking or payments launch after rumors about early stage talks to develop a checking account-type product with banking partners, international cash top-up initiatives, aggressive merchant recruitment for Amazon Pay, and brick-and-mortar experimentation.
That suspicion didn't pan out: Rather than pivoting into payments, the brand focused on continuing to separate its e-commerce offerings from the competition's in 2019, with new offerings like expanded one-day shipping, as well as deepening its push into physical retail. But it hasn't abandoned payments entirely, instead taking a partnership-centric approach to explore point-of-sale (POS) financing in Australia and Japan and bill pay in the US and India, that could foreshadow further 2020 ambitions in the space.
While our crystal ball isn't always perfect, some of our predictions held up throughout the year — here are three other predictions we got right:
- Developing markets are tightening regulations to give domestic players an advantage. Last year, we noted that some developing regions were showing signs of regulatory crackdowns that would benefit local players, just as Chinese policy protected the dominance of giants like UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. As the Chinese market opened up, both markets we highlighted last year tightened: India hasn't let WhatsApp launch yet and also eliminated fees on some electronic payments, to the ire of international providers, while Venezuela is set to end acceptance for Visa and Mastercard next year to pave the way for its own system.
- The Chase-Visa contactless deal hasn't proven enough to turn the US into a contactless-dominant market. Chase's announcement about reissuing its cards as contactless preceded a flurry of other issuers, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Amex, doing the same. While this is poised to drastically raise contactless penetration in the US — Visa expects adoption to hit 100 million this year and triple that next year — the technology isn't seeing broad-based adoption beyond major cities and transit yet.
- Direct debit products have become more prominent thanks to regulatory shifts and increased availability of faster payments. Direct debit offerings have gained considerable steam, particularly in the UK, with the expansion of the Pay by Bank app as well as Open Banking-enabled launches from players like Natwest. In the US, the Fed's announcement of FedNow could speed up innovation in this area, particularly as Google lobbies for API-based use cases.
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A couple of months ago, it was reported that Microsoft will be launching a cheaper Surface tablet. According to the original report, it was going to include an Intel Core M processor, also known as the Y-series. As we noted at the time, this didn't make sense, given the $281 price point for a Core m3 and the fact that it's supposed to go into a $399 tablet. It would probably be the most inexpensive Core M device ever.
But according to a report from WinFuture, the $399 tablet will include Intel's Pentium CPUs, and that makes a lot more sense. The base model will have a Pentium Silver N5000, which is a quad-core, 32-bit 'Gemini Lake' processor that's clocked at 1.1GHz.
But that's not the model that you'll want. Based on the Kaby Lake architecture, you'll find Pentium Gold 4410Y or 4415Y in the higher end models. Those are dual-core chips clocked at 1.5GHz and 1.6GHz, respectively, but you'll definitely get better performance than with the quad-core Pentium Silver.
The device will be offered with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and it will ship with Windows 10 Pro. Aimed at the educational market, you might have expected it to arrive with Windows 10 Pro in S mode, but that is not the case; however, there is a setting coming in Redstone 5 that will allow you to convert it to S mode. There will also be an option for 4G LTE connectivity.
The screen size will be 10 inches at the standard 3:2 aspect ratio, so it will be significantly smaller than a Surface Pro. According to the report, Microsoft wants to compete with Apple's iPads on pricing, and the higher end models will compete with the iPad Pro.


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A new UK meta-analysis suggests ginkgo biloba supplements do not aid memory or augment problem-solving among healthy individuals.
The meta-analytic review by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire examined published findings from 13 randomized control trials of over 1,000 healthy individuals across all ages.
Keith Laws, Ph.D., and colleagues found that taking ginkgo biloba supplements did not change the cognitive functions of individuals even when accounting for subject age, dosage, and the length of time of taking the supplements.
The paper, published in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, is the first meta-analytic review examining the effects of ginkgo biloba on healthy people across all age groups.
Ginkgo biloba has been used extensively in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years. It is one of the most widely used plant-based products available without prescription in Europe and North America.
It is marketed as a dietary supplement to treat blood disorders and, more specifically, to enhance memory both for healthy individuals and also for those trying to ward off Alzheimer’s disease.
“Ginkgo biloba has been widely used for a number of years to reduce the mental decline associated with aging,” said Laws.
“But more recently it has been marketed as a memory-enhancing supplement for healthy individuals — and it is crucial to establish the validity for such claims.
“Our findings show that taking ginkgo biloba supplements at any age to boost memory has no impact at all — and may be a waste of time and money.”
Researcher say their findings support other recently published studies that have not found evidence that ginkgo biloba supplements protect against developing Alzheimer’s.
Source: University of Hertfordshire


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The company announced the latest versions of its Apple Watch and iPad, as well as a new subscription bundle that combines several of its services – for a hefty price.
Apple made a pitch for the Kovid-19 era with the sixth generation of its flagship wearable device, adding new health and fitness features to help monitor oxygen levels, hand washing techniques, and home workouts.
The Apple Watch 6 uses LED lights and photo sensors on its lower surface to measure the amount of oxygen in a user’s blood by monitoring how much light the blood shows. The device can notify users if they are at a higher altitude, to remind them that their blood oxygen levels may be different from normal.
But beware of the fine print: Apple warns that its blood oxygen measurements “are not for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor, and are designed for general fitness and wellness purposes only . ”
The Apple Watch Series 6 also includes previously announced software updates including automatic hand-washing detection and sleep tracking.
The watch starts at $ 399, with a version that has a cellular capacity of $ 499. Both will officially hit stores this Friday.
Apple Watch SE
For those who don’t want to pay that much for monitoring their blood oxygen levels, Apple unveiled a slightly cheaper version of the watch with more limited features.
Starting at $ 279, the Apple Watch SE uses a chip slower than the Apple Watch Series 6, but still twice as much as the $ 199 Series model.
It will run the latest version of watchOS. The cellular model allows for phone calls, messages and more. Like other models, it has fall detection, latest motion sensors and is swimproof.
The Apple Watch will also no longer come with a USB power adapter, Lisa Jackson said, adding that Apple VP of environmental, policy and social initiatives have designed it in a way that the company continues to go green.
This means that if you do not have a single place at home to charge your watch, you will have to make a separate purchase.
A new ipad
The 8th generation of the iPad stated that Apple says it has an all-day battery, faster graphics and processing, an improved camera, and the A12 Bionic chip, which Apple says is “more powerful than ever.”
The device has a 10.2-inch display and comes with new iPadOS 14 features that better integrate its Apple Pencil stylus. It is available on Fridays, starting at $ 329.
With the watch, Apple on Tuesday opted to double up on the iPad, which CEO Tim Cook described as “the all-new, completely redesigned iPad Air”.
The new iPad features a larger 10.9-inch screen, a smaller Touch ID sensor for fingerprint unlock, and a new A14 silicon chip that Apple says is the most advanced yet and will significantly improve performance.
The tablet comes in five different colors, including rose gold, green and blue, and will be available starting next month at $ 599.
Another major change to the iPad Air: It will support a more universal USB-C adapter instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector, meaning you’ll be able to charge it with the same cable that a new MacBook Air or Google Pixel charges.
Apple had already switched to USB-C with the iPad Pro released earlier this year, and with the latest update it can be expected that more future devices from the company will enable cross-connectivity outside its ecosystem .
Services have become a large business for Apple, accounting for more than 20% of its revenue in the most recently completed quarter. Now it is giving customers a way to buy all of them in a bundle called Apple One.
Membership service comes in three levels. The cost for an individual subscription is $ 14.95, which is what you get Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV + and iCloud. A family membership goes for $ 19.95, which allows those services to be shared with up to six family members. Finally, a major subscription for $ 29.95 per month includes all those services plus news and health (more on this in a minute) subscriptions. This increases the storage to 2TB.
Apple is offering the new service on a 30-day free trial for any services that customers do not already have. For example, if you have Apple Music but not Apple TV + or Apple Arcade then you get a test of the other two by switching to Apple One.
The company is offering another new membership service, called Fitness +, which offers exercise classes like yoga and cycling to members. It costs $ 9.99 per month and you will need the Apple Watch to use it. It is also bundled with Apple One.
A Spotify spokesperson said in a statement to CNN Business, “Once again, Apple is unfairly treating its rivals and disadvantaged consumers in favor of their own services to harm their competitors.”
CNN Business’ Kaya Eurieff, Shannon Liao and Claire Duffy contributed to this report.


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PrimeSense paints future of home-tech interaction
Nintendo certainly created a stir when it introduced motion-sensing controls to the video game industry, but subsequent developments that are no more than a year or two from fruition are already threatening to confine this relatively new technology to the proverbial scrap-heap. The latest of these is PrimeSense, the winner of CableLabs’ Innovation Showcase and ‘best new product’ at the event. On paper at least, PrimeSense appears to be versatile and innovative enough to have widespread impact on the way we interact with modern technology.
The product is essentially a 3D camera that allows devices like televisions to ‘see a view of the surrounding area’ by scanning a room to determine who is present through a combination of shape recognition and thermal imaging. Among other things, this would allow you to interact with games by making hand gestures and movements without the need for a dedicated controller.
At this point you’d be forgiven for drawing some serious comparisons between PrimeSense and Project Natal and though PrimeSense does cite gaming as one of the advantages of the product, is rather sensibly demonstrating applications in other areas as well.
Automotive, security and surveillance seem to be potential markets but initially the focus is on improving interactivity in the home and adding a level of automation to consumer electronics. You could, for example, replace the typical actions of a mouse and keyboard to surf channels, open menus and access content, engage in video communication using virtual screens and drawing boards and get fit with virtual trainers that monitor your posture and movement.
Specific applications that have been suggested so far include determining who is sitting in front of the TV so as to enable or disable parental controls for potentially inappropriate content, the ability to switch appliances on and off as people come and go and virtual keyboards projected in the vicinity of the user to facilitate interaction.
However, with more and more devices in the home requiring an Internet connection to unlock various features, and new developments such as web-enabled TVs becoming more common, concerns over privacy might enter the equation.
Prime Sense’s ultimate goal is to build the product into conventional televisions, set-top boxes and games consoles while working with third-party developers to create dedicated applications. This does raise questions about exactly what activity is being monitored and what information is being sent back to the manufacturer or third-party companies looking to provide a tailored service. After all, few would be happy browsing the internet with an ‘always-on’ webcam attached to a monitor.
With core-functionality mirrored already by Project Natal and what will undoubtedly become a series of new contenders, it’s difficult not to see a future that doesn’t involve this type of interactivity in the modern home. Whether or not this will be primarily for the benefit of the consumer though, is yet to be seen.


text: BONOBOS OPENS ON CROSBY: A posse of entrepreneurs came out to toast the newest Bonobos Guideshop in New York’s SoHo on Tuesday night, including FEED Project’s Lauren Bush Lauren, Gilt cofounder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, designer Ernest Alexander Sabine, Thomas Sires’ Fiona Thomas and Warby Parker’s Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa. “I’m a tastemaker! And I was in the math club in high school,” crowed Bonobos founder and chief executive Andy Dunn with a grin, surrounded by vividly patterned shirts and sherbet-hued khakis in the artfully decorated showroom. (Dunn is also an investor in Warby Parker.) The 1,000-foot retail space at 35 Crosby Street allows Bonobos shoppers to browse and try on merchandise, with orders then placed online and delivered in a day or two from a Massachusetts fulfillment center. It is the company’s sixth Guideshop location, joining existing units in New York, Boston, Chicago, Georgetown and San Francisco. Two more locations will open this summer in Bethesda, Md. and Austin, Texas.


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Shopify tries to regain momentum by going after B2B
Shopify announced that it's pushing into business-to-business sales to unlock more opportunities than its existing model. The company is aiming to overcome a steep decline in its stock price.
The company is introducing new tools in an attempt to fend off competition from Amazon and revive its fo... Read more
Shopify lawyers up as governments increase pressure on tech industry
Shopify is starting to expand its government affairs teams in the US and Europe by recruiting top Silicon Valley firm lobbyists with experience on both sides of the Atlantic.
Regulators and government agencies worldwide have started to put pressure on the most renowned digital agencies during th... Read more
Shopify unveils major platform enhancements for 2021
The company aims to "give entrepreneurs limitless creative power"
Shopify has announced the largest set of platform updates in its history. Presenting at the Unite 2021 event, the company said it was looking "with a lens into the future where every merchant can tell their unique story."
"We ... Read more
Dell Boomi launches e-commerce tool for NetSuite and Shopify
Dell Boomi, provider of cloud-based integration and workflow automation software, has presented a dedicated NetSuite cloud solution tool for the implementation of Shopify.
The provider of cloud-based integration and workflow automation software presents the now released solution for NetSuite and Sho... Read more


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Developing successful applications is likely a whole lot easier with $30,000 in free tools and services to start off with, and that’s exactly what selected developers will get out of FbStart, a new program announced by Facebook Wednesday at its F8 global developer conference in San Francisco.
In a unique take on Facebook travel applications, Fly to Your Friends from flight-search tool Adioso allows users to select friends they wish to visit and sends them email alerts when prices to those friends’ destinations are at their lowest.
Facebook often touts the results developers have achieved with its mobile application install ads, and a new offering from 2012 Y Combinator alumnus Optilly is aimed at helping developers and other brand marketers ensure that they are fully optimizing their use of the social network’s ad products.
Facebook Signs Letter Seeking More Transparency From Federal Government On National Security Data Requests
Facebook was among the more than 60 companies, investors, civil-liberties groups, and trade groups to sign a letter to top federal government officials requesting the ability to disclose more information about data requests related to national security, Time reported, as fallout from the National Security Agency’s Prism initiative continues.
FWD.us, the political advocacy group spearheaded by Facebook Co-Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, added some tech muscle, as Microsoft Co-Founder and Non-Executive Chairman Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft General Counsel and Executive Vice President Brad Smith, and former Facebook President Sean Parker joined the group.
Reporting for work at Microsoft: Mark Zuckerberg? Facebook’s co-founder and CEO said it could very well have happened if the social network hadn’t taken off, and his conversation with Y Combinator Co-Founder Paul Graham at Stanford University’s Memorial Hall Saturday touched on several other topics, including the future of sharing, MySpace, and advice for startups.
A missive posted by Paul Graham, founder of investment firm Y Combinator, warned that there may be funding hurdles for startups in the future as a result of Facebook’s less-than-dynamic initial public offering performance.
Facebook launched an initiative aimed at giving third-party developers included in the portfolios of seed funds advanced notice of new tools and features, with the aim of encouraging those developers to build their businesses around the social network.
Jason Calacanis appears convinced that entrepreneurs are at risk of “partnering” with Facebook, claiming that Facebook will steal any startup’s technology. This follow’s Facebook’s recent announcement that the company would be offering support for any Y Combinator startup who wanted to contribute to making the web more social.


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Prantl's founder attends grand opening of Greensburg bakery
Henry Prantl was at a baking convention in California in the 1960s when he had the idea for the cake that would become a Pittsburgh area icon.
“The burnt almond cake, I actually got the idea from a baker in Anaheim, California,” he said.
Prantl bought the concept back to Pittsburgh and put his own spin on it, creating a dessert that's earned national recognition.
Westmoreland County and Greensburg officials, along with bakery owner John Felice, joined him Thursday for the ribbon cutting at the new Prantl's location on Grove Street.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Prantl's Bakery join the business-scape of the city of Greensburg,” Mayor Robert Bell told a crowd of about 150 people. “I've had a number of people tell me we need a bakery in Greensburg. Here it is.”
The Greensburg location has been open to the public with limited hours for almost two months, and making baked goods to ship to online customers and the Pittsburgh Prantl's locations since late last year.
It also houses Prantl's cake-decorating service and will serve as a “test kitchen” for new recipes.
Hours have expanded to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Prantl no longer owns the business, having retired in 2007. The bakery that bears his name is now owned by Felice, a Greensburg resident.
Prantl, a third-generation baker, said he never expected the bakery he started in Shadyside in 1966 to grow the way it has.
“I was just so impressed when I came out here,” he said.
Felice said he has big plans for the future of Prantl's.
“Since our soft opening, it's been steady business,” he said.
He wants to open more locations, though that might still be a ways out. Felice said he wants to make sure the Greensburg bakery is fully established before opening a new one.
As for Prantl, he said he doesn't do much baking in retirement. He dabbled with it at his home for a bit, but it didn't last long, he said.
“The wife and I didn't see eye to eye in the kitchen,” he said.


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We’re only one month away from the official release of Sucker Punch’s Ghost Of Tsushima, and we’re all hyped for the upcoming PS4 exclusive. To commemorate its release next month, PlayStation Asia has announced that they’re giving away exclusive posters drawn by Takashi Okazaki.
Okazaki is best known for creating the iconic Afro Samurai manga/anime, as well as designing characters in animated movies and video games like Batman Ninja and The Game Bakers’ shoot ’em up indie game Furi.
However, PlayStation Asia has yet to reveal how gamers can win these exclusive Ghost Of Tsushima posters. Still, you can check them out below in all their glory.
Ghost Of Tsushima is slated to release exclusively for the PS4 on 17 July 2020. For the Malaysian prices and details for different editions of the game, head on over here, or check out everything we know about the game so far here.