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Program components will roll out to different Amazon operations sites in Canada by end of year as part of the company's aim of cutting recordable incident rates by 50 percent by 2025
SEATTLE, June 3, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Amazon announced the launch of WorkingWell in Canada, a new comprehensive program providing employees with scientifically proven physical and mental activities, wellness exercises, and healthy eating support, designed to help them recharge, reenergize, and ultimately reduce the risk of injury. The program is part of the company's investment of more than $300 million USD into safety projects across North America in 2021, and its mission to be Earth's Safest Place to Work. There are a number of components of WorkingWell, each of which was developed in collaboration with employees from within Amazon operations. Aspects of WorkingWell piloted in the U.S. in 2019 and the program has since expanded to 859,000 employees at 350 select sites in North America and Europe. By the end of 2021, WorkingWell will expand further to cover all of Amazon's operations network in the U.S. and Canada, with the aim of cutting recordable incident rates by 50 percent by 2025.
"Launching WorkingWell across our operations is an important step forward in meeting our mission to become Earth's safest place to work," said Sumegha Kumar, Director of Canadian Customer Fulfillment Operations for Amazon Canada. "We have identified and implemented innovative health and safety technologies and approaches designed to address employee well-being in our facilities, and we're thrilled to continue this commitment to employee well-being and safety innovation through the WorkingWell program."
The launch of WorkingWell coincides with an important vaccination milestone: 14,000 Amazon employees and community members in Canada have received their vaccines through Amazon-partnered events.
The health and safety of employees is Amazon's number one priority and has been since day one. The company works closely with health and safety experts and scientists, conducts thousands of safety inspections each day in its buildings, and has made hundreds of changes as a result of employee feedback on improving well-being at work, including development of the WorkingWell program.
Similar to other jobs of this kind, about 40 per cent of work-related injuries at Amazon are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which include sprains or strains caused by repetitive motions, and they're more likely to occur among newer employees, many of whom might be working in a physical role for the first time. Pilots of the WorkingWell program have reduced these injuries, and have had a positive impact on regular day-to-day activities for employees outside of work. In fact, this program—along with other company initiatives focused on early MSD prevention—helped decrease MSD-related injuries by 32 per cent from 2019 to 2020.
WorkingWell is a comprehensive program with a number of components covering training and conditioning, wellness services, and technology, including the following:
Scientifically proven health and safety education and exercises
Health & Safety Huddles: Daily opportunities to engage employees on strong body mechanics, wellness topics, and ongoing safety education. Operations leaders and small groups of socially distanced employees gather near workstations and watch short interactive videos on rotating topics created by health and safety professionals, and injury prevention specialists. Topics rotate on a monthly basis and range from gripping and handling, pushing and pulling, nutrition, and more. In the last year during its pilot phase, Health & Safety Huddles contributed to reducing MSD-related injuries and received nearly 90 percent positive feedback from surveyed employees.
Wellness Zones: Provides employees with voluntary stretching and muscle recovery via easily accessible, dedicated spaces within Amazon's operations buildings. These areas incorporate interactive videos and written information to help employees proactively improve their health and wellness in areas like body mechanics, wellness topics like best practices in stretching, ongoing safety education, and more.
Comprehensive and critical health and wellness services
Wellness Centres: Amazon-staffed spaces dedicated to preventing injuries and illness through preventative self-care, health and safety education, as well as first-aid treatment in case of injury. First aid trained onsite medical representatives and certified athletic trainers called Injury Prevention Specialists bring diverse backgrounds to these Centres to deliver quality onsite safety and wellness care to operations employees.
EatWell: Developed to support the overall nutritional health and wellbeing of employees by promoting healthy eating and increasing the availability of healthier options. In onsite breakrooms, signage is displayed to highlight healthy choices such as fruit, granola bars, vegetable snack packs. Through this program, the company has also increased the section of healthier options available to employees. In its initial pilot, EatWell has increased awareness of healthy eating by 60 percent and has helped over 50 percent of surveyed employees make healthier choices.
Using technology to connect with employees in buildings, and at home
Mind & Body Moments: Hourly prompts employees receive at their workstations guiding them through a series of scientifically proven physical and mental activities to help recharge and reenergize, and ultimately reduce the risk of injury. These activities, designed to reduce muscle and mental fatigue, range from various stretching recommendations, breathing exercises, and mental reflections. Since piloting this program in select sites, employees have shared that these moments have improved their physical and mental wellbeing while at work. By the end of the year, Mind & Body Moments will evolve to more personalized prompts.
Connect & Comment Kiosks: Gathers employee feedback to help drive improvements to current WorkingWell components and ideate on future offerings. These kiosks also give employees an onsite location to access wellness services and content, connecting them with hundreds of pieces of content including health and safety training, wellness tips, information on Wellness Centres, and Mind & Body Moments.
WorkingWell was developed by employees who care deeply about their co-workers and are dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety. The WorkingWell team will continue to elicit feedback and ideas from employees, and use the science of safety to solve problems and establish new industry best practices in its relentless pursuit to support employees, and keep them healthy and safe every day.
To learn more from the employees who helped develop WorkingWell and its components, visit: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/meet-employees-behind-amazons-new-health-and-wellness-program.
To download b-roll video and high-resolution images of WorkingWell, visit: https://press.aboutamazon.com/images-videos.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210517005300/en/
SOURCE Amazon Canada
For further information: Amazon.com, Inc., Media Hotline, [email protected], www.amazon.com/pr


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Playboy Enterprises has become the latest company to place its bets on blockchain tech, following the lead of KFC, Kodak and Long Island Iced Tea. A digital wallet, that will support a number of cryptocurrencies across its online media, digital and casual gaming businesses, is set to be launched before the end of the year.
Playboy.TV will be the first to feature this, enabling the online platform to accept Vice Industry Token (VIT), among other cryptocurrency tokens, for access to the brand’s exclusive content. “As the popularity of alternative payment methods continues to grow around the world, along with the reach Playboy’s digital platforms, we felt it was important to give our 100 million monthly consumers increased payment flexibility,” says Reena Patel, Chief Operations Officer, Licensing and Media for Playboy Enterprises.
“This innovation gives the millions of people who enjoy our content, as well as those in the future who participate in our casual gaming, AR and VR platforms, more choices with regard to payment and in the case of VIT, an opportunity to be rewarded for engaging with Playboy offerings.”

domain: news


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Restaurants have run onto the promotional playing field with as much enthusiasm and will to win as college and professional teams in fall football season.
From Papa John’s hiring players as official spokesmen, to Buffalo Wild Wings providing fantasy football kits, brands continue their longtime affiliation with the game and its ability to build awareness and sales.
For pizza concepts and sports bar brands, young male football fans fit snugly into their main demographic, leading to sponsorships such as Pizza Hut’s official link to Saturday’s ESPN GameDay.
“We recognize that our fans are also huge college football fans, and we feel that there is no better sports property to reach these consumers than College GameDay,” Jared Drinkwater, Pizza Hut vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
“From the television audience, to the volume of fans reached each week on the road, this program engages fans in ways most programs do not,” Drinkwater said. “We cannot wait to bring college football fans an exciting experience each week throughout the season.”
Pizza Hut has crafted its College GameDay promotion around the popular fan signs. During the first College GameDay telecast on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Dallas-Fort Worth, Pizza Hut will offer a sign, among many displayed by fans in a typical game, that will unlock a special offer.
College football fans who spot the Pizza Hut sign and code during the telecast will be rewarded with a promo code for a free, large, one-topping pizza. The code will be valid through Sept. 11 for orders placed at the brand’s website, and will be available to the first 10,000 people.
“We're rewarding college football fans in the best way by giving them the perfect game-watching food: pizza,” Drinkwater said. “All they have to do is watch for the sign — an integral part of the College GameDay experience.”
Pizza Hut is piggybacking a social media promotion on GameDay each week as well, urging Twitter users to post their signs with the hashtag #signupforgameday. One weekly winner will have their sign selected to become part of that week's ESPN College GameDay telecast and get a year's worth of pizza, the company said.
In another ESPN tie-in, the Plano, Texas-based division of Yum! Brands Inc. has signed on as an official sponsor of ESPN Fantasy Football. Each week during the season, Pizza Hut will recognize one ESPN Fantasy Football League commissioner with the Pizza Hut Commissioner of the Week Award, which includes a variety of Pizza Hut and ESPN prizes.
At the end of the season, Pizza Hut will name its Commissioner of the Year, who will receive a custom Jostens-designed ruby and diamond-encrusted commemorative ring valued at an estimated $10,000.
Pizza Hut has more than 15,600 units worldwide.
Take a look at more football-related restaurant promotions:
Bojangles Restaurants Inc. has set its sights on tailgaters by promoting its Big Bo Box, a selection of chicken, buttermilk biscuits, sides and iced tea.
The Charlotte, N.C.-based quick-service chicken brand has aimed its promotion at both football fans and NASCAR adherents.
“Our devoted fan base tells us every year that tailgating with a Bojangles’ Big Bo Box is a highlight of the fall sports season in the Southeast,” Randy Poindexter, Bojangles’ senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement, adding that “sports fans are looking for great-tasting, quick and easy options for their tailgate gatherings.”
Tailgate options range from an eight-piece offering to a 20-piece Jumbo special, priced at $19.99 to $39.99.
As of June 28, Bojangles' had 646 restaurants, primarily in the Southeast.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Since the middle of August, Buffalo Wild Wings has been offering “Fantasy Football Draft Party Kits” in conjunction with Pepsi.
The Minneapolis-based casual-dining chain provides the kits to groups of eight or more who register to hold their fantasy draft party at any of the brand’s 1,120 restaurants, which includes a fantasy draft board, player stickers, coupons for free food on future visits, a brag flag, coasters and bottle openers. Those kits are also available for free to fantasy football parties that order $100 in takeout.
"Buffalo Wild Wings is the best destination for game day and fantasy football draft parties, offering the perfect combination of hot wings, cold beverages and plenty of HDTVs to catch the action," Bob Ruhland, Buffalo Wild Wings vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
Guests who use the kits will also find coasters with codes that they can text to a number to enter a contest for prizes. The “draft party” theme is being featured in a TV ad that has been aired on sports channels, including this week on the NFL Network.
Buffalo Wild Wings is also tying philanthropic efforts into the football season by bringing back two fan-inspired selections from its sauce library for a limited time.
The chain is selling bottles of the Ghost Pepper and Bourbon Honey Mustard in its restaurants, with $1 from each bottle sold going to the Team Up for Kids hungry sports programs that are sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
“When guests stop by Buffalo Wild Wings to enjoy their favorite limited-time-only sauces, they can join our efforts to help kids play team sports in communities across the country,” Mary Twinem, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Buffalo Wild Wings, said in a statement. “We are happy that our Guests can join our Team Up for Kids mission to bring youth sports into the lives of kids who need it most.”
In May, fans voted for their favorite sauces via Twitter, using the hashtag #BWWSauceVote, from among 10 contending flavors.
Domino's is taking football season as an opportunity to highlight its new “AnyWare” ordering technology, and is employing a wide spectrum of celebrities to drive home the point.
The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based pizza brand debuted its newest TV campaign this week, featuring Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, actresses Eva Longoria and Sarah Hyland, and actor Clark Gregg, and their favorite ways to order using Domino's AnyWare.
Sherman, for example, professes his love for ordering Domino’s via Twitter.
"Thanks to the AnyWare suite of technology, customers can place their favorite order via text, tweet, TV, smartwatch and more," Dennis Maloney, Domino's vice president and chief digital officer, said in a statement.
“Domino's newest TV commercials showcase celebrities placing orders on their favorite devices,” Maloney continued, “proving that, for every type of personality and in any situation, there's a perfect way to order."
To use Domino's AnyWare, customers must have a “Pizza Profile” with a saved “Easy Order.”
Domino's has more than 11,900 locations worldwide.
Papa John's International Inc., which has invested as the “official pizza sponsor” of the National Football League, has added another professional player to its roster of spokesmen: J.J. Watt, who is the 2015 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Watt, a defensive end with the Houston Texans, joins five-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning as an official spokesman of the Louisville, Ky.-based brand.
“We went for two and scored big with the addition of J.J. Watt to our all-pro starting lineup," John Schnatter, Papa John’s founder, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "J.J. and Peyton share my passion for always striving to improve — whether it's pizza making or playmaking — and becoming even better at their craft."
As part of a multi-year deal, Watt will appear in a national advertising campaign with Schnatter and Manning during the NFL football season. Watt previously worked with Papa John's in Houston, appearing in local television commercials and participating in fundraising efforts for the Justin J. Watt Foundation.
"I appreciate Papa John's continued support of my foundation and look forward to taking on a role I happen to be quite familiar with — delivering pizzas," Watt said.
Between now and Sept. 27, Papa John’s is also offering a special on a large two-topping pizza for $10, with the option of added a Double Chocolate Chip Brownie for $6.
Papa John's, which has more than 4,600 restaurants worldwide, is in its fourth year as the official pizza sponsor of the NFL.
This story has been revised to reflect the following update:
Update: Sept. 3, 2015 This story has been updated to include pricing for Bojangles' tailgating specials.


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Posted June 21, 2012 at 6:09 am
Ownership withdrew the application last-minute, irking the “valiant opposition” who trekked up to Harlem for the proceeding.
Posted June 11, 2012 at 6:09 am
The restaurant proposed to CB2 back in January – Swedish Fish – was described as a “Scandinavian cafe-restaurant with a focus on healthy, sustainable menu items.”
Posted March 7, 2012 at 6:43 am
Earlier this week, the windows of the long-dormant 168 Bowery were dressed in a vinyl outfit featuring a long-maned character alongside a message that reads simply, “#DEWeezy.”
Posted September 14, 2011 at 6:09 am
It’s not too much of a stretch to maintain that the loss of lingering lighting stores on the Bowery will ultimately result in the rise of the all-to-familiar tenant trifecta. More after the jump!


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HT's Editorial Advisory Board, comprised of hospitality executives from a variety of industry segments, offers insights into what challenges and opportunities are emerging in technology for 2012.
A recent report stating that Google Wallet's digital security system can be breached with an app that reveals PINs has stirred up concerns about the technology's overall security.
Krispy Kreme franchises enjoy reduced expenses and improved efficiency with a new cloud-based POS.
The hospitality industry's most-wanted technologies in 2012 are those that provide mobile capabilities, cloud-based apps, and/or security solutions.With more companies than ever before willing to invest in these latest innovations, the vendor community is challenged to produce viable and affordable solutions.
From expanding bandwidth to RFID locks, hotels scramble to meet consumer expectations for in-room innovation. To that end, here are five of the hottest guestroom trends to watch for in 2012.
The latest tap monitoring and mobile payment options help restaurants reduce loss at the tap, and can actually improve customer relationships. But, one question may be on the minds of guests and workers alike,"Will the new technology interfere with the restaurant's atmosphere?"
MasterCard has announced its forward-looking plan to enable the latest capabilities in electronic payments and security.
OnSSI will unveil a development in video delivery with a new multi-site platform.
Experian Data Breach Resolution and Ponemon Institute survey IT professionals on the aftermath of data breaches.
Data off-site on web-based servers presents an easy and practical explanation to some of the issues businesses come across. But, before data is transferred off-site, it would be wise to make sure that a cloud-provider is more secure than your IT environment.


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The Xiaomi sub-brand has been preparing to launch its flagship smartphone for some time now. The upcoming Redmi flagship is expected to be priced very aggressively and could be powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset. However, despite a few leaks and videos out there, most of the key specifications of the Redmi flagship were not known until now.
Redmi flagship smartphone specifications
A new leak on Chinese social networking website Weibo has revealed some of the key specifications of the upcoming Redmi flagship. The leak reveals details like the cameras, memory, storage and even the display, which should more or less cover the entire spectrum of features.
According to the leak, the Redmi flagship is said to feature a 6.39-inch Full HD+ resolution display (2340 x 1080 pixels), which results in an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. This suggests that there is a notch of some kind – if previous leaks are to be believed, this could be a holy-punch notch.
Further, the leak also states that there will be 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, but the exact type of storage has not been revealed. Given that this is a flagship-grade phone, Redmi could opt for UFS2.1 like other smartphones with these specs.
We have known for some time now that the upcoming Redmi flagship will sport a triple camera setup. Today’s leak suggests that the rear camera module could consist of a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 13-megapixel setup. These cameras could be a combination of a standard lens, an ultrawide angle lens and a telephoto lens.
On the front, there could be a 32-megapixel selfie camera, similar to the one on the Redmi Y3.
Apart from these, the Redmi flagship smartphone is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset. While some reports have suggested the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor, a recent video leak has revealed that Redmi could opt for a regular fingerprint sensor on the back.
Some reports have suggested that the Redmi flagship could be called the Redmi Pro 2. While Redmi GM has refuted reports of a smartphone with a pop-up selfie camera, he stopped short of denying Redmi Pro 2 rumours. This increases the probability of the device being named the Redmi Pro 2.
Could the Redmi flagship be the Poco F1 killer?
While Redmi and Poco are both sub-brands of Xiaomi, the Redmi flagship could pose a serious threat to the Poco F1. The Poco F1 has done very well in India since its launch thanks to its aggressive pricing and flagship-grade specifications.
With its rumoured flagship, Redmi could be following into the footsteps of Poco. Given Redmi’s history of pricing its smartphones aggressively in the budget and entry-level segments, the Redmi flagship could also be priced similarly. While there is no information yet in this regard, it is quite likely that the Redmi flagship could be priced in the same range as the Poco F1.
It will be interesting to see if Xiaomi allows both its brands to compete with each other, especially in India which is arguably the second biggest market for Xiaomi.


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According to reports, as the Apple Developer Conference approaches, Google plans to follow competitors’ footsteps and allow Android users to choose not to be tracked by applications they download from the Google Play Store.
The Google support page detailing how users opted out of third-party tracking caused some sensation. Originally published by the Financial Times, Google will launch a switch for users later this year to disable the sharing of advertising IDs, a device identifier that allows marketers to view your activity from one app to another. (This is also one of the identifiers manufacturers can access during the covid-19 contact tracking privacy error.) Android users can now restrict ad tracking system-wide or manually reset their ad ID to prevent tracking. Still, this new setting will allow users to exclude themselves from any alternate device identifiers that developers also use to execute. Track your activities in the app.
Google announced the changes to the Play Store policy in an email to the developer. Those who try to access the advertising IDs of users who have opted out will only see a “string of zeros” instead of an explicit numeric identifier.
As part of the Google Play services update at the end of 2021, when users choose not to customize the advertising ID in Android settings, the advertising ID will be deleted. Any attempt to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier. To assist developers and advertising/analysis service providers in compliance work and respect user choices, they may be notified about their opt-out preferences. In addition, apps targeting Android 12 need to declare standard permissions from Google Play services in the manifest file.
Unlike iOS, it is unclear whether the tracking feature will be turned on by default or whether Google will set it as a known feature or hidden content in the settings panel. But when Android 12 is publicly released, we may have an answer. Google will gradually launch applications that run on Android 12 devices from the end of 2021 and expand to more devices in early 2022.
Google has been working overtime to change the narrative about how it handles privacy. Over the years, the company has added many fine-grained privacy controls, dating back to the permission selection feature introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Still, with Apple making privacy the main selling point of its devices, Google has new responsiveness. A few weeks ago, the company recently announced a new security section in the Google Play store.
The more features Google can implement to make its platform and built-in services look more secure, the more it can maintain consumer confidence and remain at the top of the market share ranking. After Apple introduced security features in iOS, Google added an option for Android users to make them feel better on the platform. There is no doubt that this is the first feature I chose to take advantage of after updating to Android 12.
Over the years, the company has added many fine-grained privacy controls, dating back to the permission selection feature introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Still, with Apple making privacy the main selling point of its devices, Google has new responsiveness. A few weeks ago, the company announced a new security section in the Google Play store. Considering that Google decided to create a new tracking alternative, linking your activities directly to its servers, privacy has become a company-wide initiative.


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Mevvy Launches API with Access to Over 2,000,000 Mobile Apps
The tech startup has built a unified mobile app API - the only one of its kind - that collects, tracks and updates every mobile app available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
April 2, 2014 (Newswire.com) - It is no secret; apps are the future. The numbers speak for themselves: There are more than 2 million mobile apps growing by 1000 a day, 56% of the world's population owns a smartphone and 80% of time on mobile is spent within apps.
"The rapid growth of mobile has made it almost impossible to keep track of apps", says Melanie Haselmayr, CEO of app discovery startup Mevvy, "which is why we've created an API that provides one central access point to the data of all mobile apps." It utilizes a merged protocol and cross-platform terminology, thus making it easy and quick to retrieve and utilize data of any app.
The Mevvy API can be adopted for a multitude of uses - to create app directories, display apps in search engine results and add app-widgets on websites; it serves as a tool for brand protection and market research through its capacity to track versioning of apps. It equally creates an interesting advertising opportunity for the industry.
As of April 1, 2014 the API manages 2,129,249 mobile apps in English with the option to accommodate language-specific requests as needed. Demos can be scheduled through the website http://developer.mevvy.com.
Later this year the company will introduce a completely new concept for its app discovery website. Charged by the in-house app API users will be able to browse apps through quality reviews and user feedback. The beta release is planned for next month.
Mevvy has been a player in the app discovery arena since 2010. In its early beginnings the company focused on manual app curation, added value by publishing hands-on app user-guides and lately started to focus on app data and the power of social recommendations in combination with a smart algorithm.
For more information about Mevvy, the API or app discovery in general please contact CEO Melanie Haselmayr via Melanie@mevvy.com, on LinkedIn and through the company's website http://www.mevvy.com/contact/.
Categories: Information Systems


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January 17, 2017
While, outside of infant formula, ‘best by’ information on food labels is not required by the federal government, it is a way that many food producers use to alert consumers to when a product’s quality may begin to degrade. If you’ve worked hard to win over a new customer, the last thing you want is for them to taste a product that is past its prime.
In a report issued last month by the USDA, their recommendation is that companies use the language “Best If Used By” on food labels. Since, to date, some companies use language such as ‘Best By’ and others use ‘Sell By,’ the USDA reported that the goal with this revised wording is to help clarify for consumers when a product is good or not to eat and, hopefully, help minimize food waste in this country.
To read the complete guidance issuance from the USDA, click here.


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New York puts taxi apps to vote
New York's taxi authority is to vote on whether or not the city's iconic yellow cabs should accept bookings via smartphone apps.
A plethora of apps, such as Uber and Hailo, have been released to help commuters track down available cabs.
But some taxi companies are concerned about the impact these apps could have on their business.
Taxi-hailing apps have been widely adopted in other cities around the world.
In New York, where taxi operators are highly regulated, several companies have written to the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) calling for plans to allow the use of the apps to be rejected.
Among them are companies who offer pre-booked minicabs, rather than ones hailed from the street.
They argue that using a smartphone to hail a cab is in effect a pre-booking, and may take away a large amount of custom.
In the 1980s, New York's yellow cabs could be pre-booked, that many complained meant it was difficult to hail a cab. Some fear that smartphone apps could create a similar problem.
But the TLC's chairman has described the use of the apps was "inevitable".
"Taxi-hailing apps will be useful to customers," David Yassky told the Wall Street Journal.
But he added: "There's a lot we don't know about how they will work in practice and what impact there will be on other parts of industry.
"I think it's prudent to do this in a measured way, so they can see how they work before they make it permanent."
Mr Yassky has the backing of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Wall Street Journal newspaper suggests his aides are keen to push for app adoption in order to portray New York as a tech-friendly city.
Thursday's vote will determine the rollout of a pilot programme. If the TLC votes in favour, the apps will be allowed for a one-year period before their effectiveness is reviewed.
Other cities have tentatively adopted the apps - with varied results.
Australia's taxi authority put out a major warning about "rogue" apps providing unvetted drivers with passengers.
"These rogue app companies will say anything in their quest for profit," said Benjamin Wash from the Australian Taxi Industry Association.
"I've heard them say they keep location records, but that's no good to you if you're injured or dead."
More established apps like Hailo, Uber and GetTaxi require drivers to provide licenses before they are allowed to use the service.
In London, uptake of Hailo had been "phenomenal", said Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Driver's Association.
"They went viral in weeks. They've now got 9,000 drivers - it's converted a generation," he told the BBC.
"These are guys who have basic phones, to call and send the odd text, have now gone over to smartphones to embrace technology with a zeal that beggars belief."
Uber launched in London just prior to the Olympics, offering private hire minicabs rather than black cabs.
Wayne Casey, from the National Taxi Association, said the apps were helping drivers in quieter areas find more work but may prove less effective on busy streets.


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Google's Gemini App to Feature Real-Time Responses
Because who wants to wait a whole five seconds for a chatbot to answer their question?
Apple's Generative AI for iPhone May Not Use the Cloud
A local-only AI could be more private, but it won't be as fast or capable as the cloud.
Apple Smartphone Sales Slump Puts Samsung Back on Top
Apple saw a nearly 10% year-over-year decline in sales this Q1 year.
Google to Bring AI Photo Editing Tools to More Devices for Free
You'll soon be able to refocus your images and remove unsightly photobombs without buying a Pixel or paying for Google One.
Gemini AI Is Coming to the Android Google App, Will Replace Assistant
The Google app is already on your phone, and it's about to start pushing Google's new AI models.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Might Be Thinner and Lighter Than Fold 5
A new leak claims Samsung will slim down the new foldable considerably.
Apple's Local AI Model 'Substantially Outperforms' GPT4, Researchers Boast
The model reportedly considers conversational variables for a more natural and productive experience.
Google Says RCS Messaging Will Come to iPhone This Fall
Google let the timeline slip in an image posted to its RCS landing page.
Google's Gemini Nano AI Model Will Come to the Pixel 8 After All
The AI will arrive as a developer preview with the next Pixel Feature Drop.


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News 12 at 6 o'clock / Monday, June 4, 2012
AIKEN, S.C. -- What was once was an old beer warehouse is now a bustling city of crates crammed with beer cans. There's also plastic strawberry containers and industrial hydraulic fluid buckets, too.
Overall, they're just a couple samples from a potpourri of garbage that's stacking up ready to be recycled. But what's unusual about this recycling facility is its workforce that zips around all day on forklifts. They are recyclers who have been recycled themselves.
"We've got guys that came in that hadn't been given a lot of opportunity and to watch them grow is an amazing thing," said Norman Dunagan, who runs the 14-man operation off York Street in North Aiken.
It's a start-up recycling company cleverly named Dumpster Depot.
Dunagan was, by all accounts, a Fortune 500 guy.
"We thought that I would never leave Frito Lay. I was successful with Frito Lay -- one of the top districts within Frito Lay," Dunagan told News 12.
But in an unexpected money-saving maneuver, Frito-Lay laid Dunagan off.
"So, I decided that, at that point, that we would be looking to own our own business," he recalled.
He finally collected the capital to establish Dumpster Depot around 2002. The recycling business took off two years ago, despite the recession.
"We feel like we've taken advantage of a downed market. We came in to recycling at the same time that companies were looking for ways to save money," Dunagan said.
What Dumpster Depot does is an intricate process. It hauls in waste from businesses and manufacturers, reprocesses and bales the waste and then sells the recycled material back to other manufacturers for profit.
That's the reason piles of industrial rubber at the facility is so valuable. Old, dirty carpet might as well be lined with gold.
Ultimately, it’s ton after ton of waste that won't end up in a landfill for eternity. Dunagan says Dumpster Depot kept 8,000,000,000 pounds of waste out of landfills this year.
It's all made possible by workers like Elijah Pontoon.
"I like it a whole lot. It gives me a different insight on recycling," Pontoon said.
Pontoon has lived in Aiken most of his life. He says he's been through hard times, but now, has stability.
"We pull people in, you know, they might have a little record, you know. Norman, he's open-hearted. He doesn’t look at it as far as their past history. He just does as far as what they do in here for Dumpster Depot," Pontoon said.
Some of the workers even have criminal records.
"We've got people that we hired here that were having trouble getting a job because of things that were in their past, and we're not looking toward the past, we're looking toward the future. This whole recycling that we're doing is all about looking toward the future," Dunagan said.
Workers without cars can walk to work. Current employees can refer others to stop in and meet Dunagan and land a job, as long as they're ready to work hard.
"You can't teach passion. You have to hire passion and that is the truth. I feel like if you give people the opportunity and give them the leeway to succeed, they'll out-perform your expectations," Dunagan said.
Pontoon says he's gained valuable management skills that could easily land him a job higher up the totem pole somewhere else, but without question, he says his future is at Dumpster Depot.
And Dunagan says the future of Dumpster Depot looks bright.
Additionally, he says large manufacturers and big-box stores already recycle through big contractors. That's why Dumpster Depot goes for the small and middle-sized businesses and manufacturers -- from a yogurt shop in Evans to a carpet store in Augusta.
His plan is to expand to Augusta, so his company can have a job impact there, too. All the while, he says the environmental impact is purely a bonus.


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Google has rolled out two mobile-search ad formats to help drive consumers to dealerships as more car-shopping activity occurs on mobile devices.
Illustrating the importance of imagery to the car-buying process, the interactive Model Automotive ads allow shoppers searching for vehicles to swipe through a series of photos on the results page while learning about details such as mpg. Google says searches for “pictures of [automotive brand]” were up 37 percent in September 2015 from the year-earlier period, with 80 percent of those searches taking place on mobile.
Google shared plans that it was building Model Automotive ads in May 2015, a spokesman said.
The other format, Dealer Automotive ads, provides information about a dealership’s location along with a click-to-call button so consumers can contact stores.
This format is available to franchised and authorized dealerships in the U.S., the company announced last week.
Google found a way to connect the two formats.
If shoppers click on the Model Automotive ad’s “Dealers” button after searching for a particular model, Google will show them Dealer Automotive ads for stores in their area.
The mobile space is an increasingly valuable research platform for shoppers.
For instance, Google said one of every two automotive searches — such as those for make and model — were up 51 percent in April 2015 year over year.
Toyota has already deployed the Model Automotive ads.
“Google’s Model Automotive ads provide an immediate and immersive mobile experience for our guests, and the ability to show and tell our story helps highlight the value of the Toyota brand and our vehicles,” said Dionne Colvin-Lovely, Toyota’s director of traditional and new media, in a statement.
“Across our core line of car models, we’ve seen a 45 percent increase in conversion events and a 30 percent decrease in [costs per action] compared to standard text ads.”


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Over 2M Pounds Of Chicken Products Recalled In 8 States, Including CaliforniaMore than 2 million pounds of poultry products have been recalled in eight states over fears of contamination with foreign matter such as metal, federal health officials said.
Recall Alert: Tyson Chicken Strips Recall Expands To Nearly 12,000,000 PoundsTyson says the chicken strips may contain pieces of metal.
Empty Henhouse At Bradshaw Animal ShelterThere are no more chickens left at the Bradshaw Animal Shelter.
Police: Popeyes Robber Fails To Open Register, Steals Chicken InsteadAn alleged robber who couldn’t open the cash register at a Popeyes restaurant refused to leave empty handed — so he grabbed some chicken instead, authorities said.
CDC Warns Against Dressing Up Chickens For HalloweenThe CDC has a strange request for chicken farmers and anyone who has chickens: don’t dress your chicken up for Halloween.
Tyson Frozen Chicken Recalled Due To Possible Plastic ContaminationMore than 3,000 pounds of frozen breaded chicken products are being recalled because there might be plastic in the breading.
Barn Yarn: Retirees Knitting Sweaters For Chilly ChickensSweaters for chickens? It sounds like a joke, but a plucky group of retirees in suburban Boston has hatched a plan to keep poultry warm during the New England winter.
Is It Over Already; The Drive 6/3/16Game one of the NBA Finals is in the books and the Warriors looked dominant at times throughout.
Man Claiming To Be Owner Of Chicken Wandering Bay Bridge Toll Plaza Comes ForwardThe owner of a wayward chicken that fouled up traffic at the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge last week is reclaiming his bird.
A Guy’s Guide To Chicken Avo PieAre you a guy who feels intimidated in the kitchen? Get over the fear of cooking with this chicken avo pie recipe from Dan Churchill, author of "DudeFood."
McDonald's Revamps Grilled Chicken To Cut IngredientsMcDonald's says it's simplifying its grilled chicken recipe to remove ingredients people might not recognize, marking the latest sign the company is rethinking its menu to keep up with changing tastes.
New California Law Means Hen Houses Nationwide Will Have To Make Room For ChickensThe new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements.
California Chicken Still Linked To SalmonellaDespite a year of recorded cases of salmonella, Foster Farms has not issued a recall nor is the government set to order one.
Tracy Police Doubt Aggressive Chicken Attacked WomanA woman says an aggressive chicken attacked her in Tracy, but police are skeptical of her claim.


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Investors await Q1 results from BlackBerry
How well is BlackBerry doing with its new Z10 and Q10 smartphones? We'll know on Friday when the Canadian company offers its fiscal first quarter results.
BlackBerry (Nasdaq: BBRY) stopped giving financial guidance long ago, the Wall Street Journal reported. Analysts have forecast the shipment of new phones in a wide range -- from 2.75 million to as many a 5 million, the Journal said.
BlackBerry, which maintains its U.S. headquarters in Irving, introduced the new BlackBerry 10 phones earlier this year in what some analysts have called an all-or-nothing attempt to revive the company's flagging fortunes.
Nobody expects BlackBerry to have sales approaching those of industry leaders Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Samsung Electrionics, who U.S. arm, Samsung Telecommunications America, is based in Richardson.
But solid sales numbers could revive investor confidence in BlackBerry, Journal said.
Lance Murray edits and writes for the DBJ's website and can be reached at 214-706-7106. Subscribe to our email newsletters.
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ITC Narmada to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with special ‘Iftar Platter’
Culinary Experts at ITC Narmada have curated a special dinner buffet menu at the award winning signature restaurant, Peshawri
Ahmedabad: Taking forward its legacy of bringing a local flavour to every celebration, ITC Narmada, a luxury collection property in Ahmedabad has curated yet another bespoke hospitality experience for its patrons to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Embracing the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, ITC Narmada will bring its patrons a selection of handpicked Iftar offerings from its signature restaurant, Peshawri.
As the patrons break their fast, they can enjoy the company of their loved ones, while they dine and devour a symphony of flavours whipped up in ITC kitchens. The Iftar platter will comprise cut fruits with dates, a selection succulent Murgh Malai and Seekh kebabs made with juicy meats marinated in a blend of flavourful ingredients, Peshawri’s award winning offering – Dal Bukhara – a rich blend of lentil, spices, and a generous dose of butter – slow cooked to perfection, a bowl of mixed vegetable Raita and a delectable Murgh Makhani – smoked chicken tikkas cooked in a rich tomato, cream and cashew gravy. The offerings will come with a choice of breads and can be finished off with traditional desserts rich in flavours – Gulab Jamun and Kulfi.
Patrons can make advance reservations for themselves from 6pm onwards and indulge in their preferred delights. Those who want to enjoy the delectable offerings in the comfort of their homes, ITC Narmada has launched the ‘Ruhaniyat’ edition of Gourmet Couch. Ruhaniyat encompasses a fine curation of authentic recipes and culinary classics perfected by ITC Chefs to make the Ramadan celebration, a notch above for ITC’s valued patrons.
“The UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad is a beautiful amalgamation of cultures and traditions. Every festival is a humble reminder of this tradition. At ITC Narmada, we take pride in our cultural fabric and strive to honour, preserve and promote it through our hospitality offerings. The Iftar buffet and Ruhaniyat edition of Gourmet Couch are our humble attempts at preserving the food and cultural tradition of this city and its people. We hope to serve our patrons and make their celebration of Ramadan a bit more special through our curation,” said Mr Keenan McKenzie, general manager, ITC Narmada.


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KFC and Pizza Hut owner Yum Brands (YUM) said Chinese investment firm Primavera Capital and an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) will buy a stake in Yum China for $460 million as part of a planned spinoff of the business.
Primavera will invest $410 million and Ant Financial, which runs Alibaba’s Alipay mobile payments platform, $50 million, Yum Brands said on Friday.
The spinoff and completion of the Primavera and Ant Financial investments are expected on Oct. 31, with Yum China to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent company on Nov. 1.
Primavera and Ant Financial will buy the shares at an 8% discount to the average price at which Yum China’s shares trade between 31 days and 60 days after they are distributed to Yum shareholders.
Both companies will receive warrants to buy about 2% stakes in Yum China twice at valuation thresholds of $12 billion and $15 billion, the company said. The warrants will have a five-year term.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Friday.


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RealDoll is reportedly working with robotics experts to make a more lifelike and unintentionally creepier love doll. Hopefully it won't dump you for the Roomba.
Ashley discusses Microsoft Research's newest innovation aimed at animators, Dollfie dolls with custom-made robot insides and an artistic concept that turns two cheap plastic bags into a more stylish tote.
For years, YouTube user RozenZebet has been making custom robot bodies for Japan's popular Dollfie dolls, transforming them into what he calls "Dancing Dolls." This is the first we've ever seen them in action, though, so we couldn't help but share them with you.
The plastic on these dolls turns red when exposed to UV rays but returns to normal with sunblock.
A new technique for salvaging recordings from delicate antiques has allowed Thomas Edison's talking dolls to find their lost voices.
The "Man At Arms: Reforged" team makes their own Chitauri scepter, aka Loki's Staff, with metal and blue glass.
Talking to your toys is no longer child's play. Internet-connected toys like Hello Barbie now have the capability to talk back.
Crafter Sherry Shead will give your toys something to worry about with this creepy "Doctor Who" project.
Commentary: Virtual reality might be the future of beaming into live events, but its role in the present is still experimental at best: the Democratic debate was a perfect example of how isolating it can be.
The newest Barbie doll has Wi-Fi and can talk back.


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We are all being subjected to the seesaw world of gasoline prices; however, there are some interesting points to ponder.
If you are listening to the news, you are reading or hearing that the economy is taking a real hit because oil prices are so low. It is supposed to be negatively affecting global financial market systems.
As users of gasoline in the United States, we know about the frequent raise and drop in crude oil and how it affects our wallet -usually at a very inopportune time. We read the news about the Eastern countries, such as Syria, Iraq and Iran, not to mention the many Islamic wars going on around the world, which all are drawn into the equation used to define the cost of crude oil and how it relates to our neighborhood service station.
We watch as the price of our gasoline at the pump fluctuates dramatically higher than lower on a daily basis, and if you are like me, you get a bit annoyed when the price goes up between 10 cents and 20 cents a gallon overnight then takes three to four weeks to drop by a penny or two.
It is also interesting that when the price of gasoline goes a bit lower, it is for a very short period of time before it rises again, hence the seesaw effect.
I can't help but wonder why the service stations are not regulated in such a way that the consumer is protected from this price gouging - and it is gouging. When a service station charges a given rate per gallon, supposedly based upon the price they pay that for that particular delivery, it is price gouging when they raise the price per gallon 5 cents to 20 cents for gasoline that has already been in the tanks well before their next delivery.
In the Myrtle Beach-Conway area, gasoline prices are anything but regulated. Gasoline prices can be as much as 10 cents to 15 cents higher or lower, depending upon the area. We all know that it is more expensive for gasoline closer to major highways, such as the interstate system.
It’s simply because there is very little regulation by the government. The oil companies decry that they are losing millions of dollars when the price of gasoline drops even a few cents. What they are failing to tell you is that those millions “lost” do to those few pennies is strictly profit.
Do the math.
When you look at quarterly profits of the oil companies, and that is after all operational payouts, including fines, which are calculated in the billions, a few million dollars less in profits is miniscule.
Oh yes, they also forgot to mention the taxpayer money oil companies get as subsidies from the government. Yep, they still get them in the name of research and political donation restitution.
The political donations are not all illegal, but they do swell the profits of the oil companies, which more than make up any small profit loss due to reduced gasoline prices.
The oil companies, along with top government officials, also decry that lower oil prices is harming economic growth. On the other hand, one only has to calculate the harm rising oil prices actually does to the economy.
Every operation and business in the United States depends upon oil. Every manufacturer has a stake in oil.
Every time the cost of oil rises, the domino effect begins. The cost of fuel to transport goods, the manufacturing operations of making the millions of plastic products, as well as nearly every product manufactured, public transportation, especially the airlines, processing of foods (those berries in your muffin batter are not true fruit; they are a by-product of petroleum), all increase dramatically.
As each cost of the thousands of operations increase, the cost goes up to the consumer because, by law, all businesses are permitted to pass any and all increases to the consumer.
After you do the math, you will find that those dime increases in gasoline and fuel may lead to a very tiny percentage loss to the oil companies, less than 1 percent, while the consumer’s loss is closer to 20 percent to 40 percent. The oil company sells oil; the consumer has to buy everything to live.
Believe me when I tell you that the oil companies know that and really do not give it a second thought. They just want all of your money - period. Don't forget, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has approved the gasoline tax increase after vehemently saying she would veto any proposed raise in the gasoline tax, but that is another story.
What can consumers do about it? If history is any kind of a barometer, I am afraid not much. What about using our own vast shale oil and natural gas deposits to lower the price of gasoline here in the United States instead of exporting it to other countries? What a concept.
The writer lives in Conway.


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The Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, has stated that China will not recognize Bitcoin and other digital currencies as a legitimate payment method. On the sidelines of a National People’s Congress, Zhou told Reuters that the country does not recognize the cryptocurrency as a currency.
Although having recently made statements about the need for China to be “bolder” in its approach to economic growth as he nears the end of a long-running term, Bitcoin specifically is precluded from participation according to Zhou.
Cryptocurrency still a Chinese pariah
Having held the position of the governor since 2002, Zhou is widely seen as a progressive reformer, having raised China from the world’s number six economy to number two, on the cusp of taking pole position.
Zhou’s statements follow previous onerous dictates from the PBOC during January and February 2018 that essentially banned ICOs and virtual coin trading and speculation.
Saying that “The banking system does not accept it [cryptocurrency],” Zhou went on to clarify by adding that they “do not currently recognize Bitcoin and other digital currencies as a tool like paper money, coins and credit cards for retail payments.”
In a double-whammy for Bitcoin, US regulators on March 8, 2018, published a report saying that “potentially unlawful” digital exchanges might be generating a false sense of safety and that the trading platforms needed to register and comply with existing regulations.
Zhou reiterated a common stance of lawmakers all over the world when he said that the distributed ledger, blockchain technology that supports cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is worth close inspection, but that the ultra-rapid growth of Bitcoin and other virtual coins was the reason for concern.
“If they spread too rapidly,” Zhou said, “it may have a big negative impact on consumers. It could also have some unpredictable effects on financial stability and monetary policy transmission.”
At a recent virtual currency seminar in Beijing on January 20, 2018, Zhou had insisted that China’s shutdown of cryptocurrencies would not decelerate their growth.
In a somewhat schizoid statement, he had said that “It is therefore inevitable that cash will be replaced by new products and new technologies that have greater security and lower costs.”
Major financial institutions including the multi-national Citibank and auditors Deloitte attended and delegates focused on exploring cryptocurrency’s potential going forward. Zhou and his VP Fan Yifei and the majority of other attendees concluded that the phenomenon brought new opportunities and challenges in its wake.
Although both extremely positive and alarmingly negative statements and actions have ensued over the first two months of 2018 in China, it seems that a broad acceptance of digital coins is imminent.
Nonetheless, the current ban has made China the leading persecutor of virtual currencies in the Asia-Pacific region. The current freeze on wallets also seems set to be extended.
The price of Bitcoin fell some 13 percent or $100 in the wake of the PBOC announcement by midday Friday, March 9, 2018.


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WESTON, Wis. (AP) -- A Weston couple already faces criminal charges for praying instead of seeking medical help for their dying diabetic daughter.
Now court records show that Dale and Leilani Neumann have closed their coffee shop and are being evicted from the building.
The Neumanns are charged with second-degree reckless homicide after their 11-year-old daughter died in March. Prosecutors say the parents saw Madeline Neumann's illness as a test of faith.
An autopsy says Madeline died from untreated complications of diabetes
A small-claims action filed last month says the couple's business, the Monkey Mo Coffee shop in Weston, owed nearly $6,300 as of Oct. 6.
The coffee shop was dark Monday with signs saying the business had closed.
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Video games can offer more data and metrics than pretty much any other form of entertainment, and PlayFab Inc. wants to use the power of IBM Corp.’s Watson artificial intelligence platform to turn that data into valuable insights for game developers.
PlayFab provides a back-end platform that makes it easy for game creators to implement a wide range of online features for their games, including player account authentication, friend lists, in-app commerce and so on. The company also offers a host of analytics based on in-game data, which will now be supercharged with Watson.
“Modern connected games offer immense artistic and commercial potential – but to realize that potential, developers need tools to analyze and act in real-time on the massive amounts of data these games-as-services continuously generate,” said PlayFab Chief Executive James Gwertzman. “By bringing the Watson Data Platform to our PlayFab developer community, we are democratizing cutting-edge data science – and allowing developers to make better decisions and drive increased engagement and profitability.”
Founded in Seattle in 2014, PlayFab said its platform already supports more than 600 games. Many of these games come from some of the largest publishers in both mobile and console games, including “Angry Birds” maker Rovio Entertainment Ltd. and “Resident Evil” maker Capcom Co. Ltd.
In its statement, PlayFab notes that developers will be able to take advantage of all of Watson’s features through its platform, including Watson Machine Learning, which PlayFab says will allow developers to “analyze more data about their players and deploy those learnings directly into their games via PlayFab’s platform.”
PlayFab is not the first game company to use data to make better games, and in fact, some of the larger studios have entire departments dedicated to analyzing player actions for insights on how to improve their games. For example, in a recent Ask Me Anything on Reddit, “Overwatch” head Jeff Kaplan revealed that Blizzard Entertainment Inc. has its own business intelligence unit that uses data to help the developers recognize and solve a wide range of problems, such as hero and map balance.
Of course, Blizzard is one of the few game studios large enough to afford its own business intelligence group, and PlayFab’s new integration with Watson could offer many of the same insights for other developers at a fraction of the cost.


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(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Pro-life groups have begun protesting Walgreens and CVS after the companies decided to become Planned Parenthood alternatives, with their announcement that they will dispense abortion pills following a Food and Drug Administration [FDA] regulatory change.
Around 100 pro-life activists led by Live Action protested outside of a Walgreens shareholders meeting on Thursday in Newport Coast, Calif., according to Breitbart. Lila Rose, Live Action founder and president, said that Walgreens is “on track to becoming one of the biggest abortionists in the nation.”
“They are no longer a healthcare company but an abortion company. It is disgusting and repulsive to the American people that a pharmacist preparing allergy medication and blood pressure pills will now also be packaging and handing out deadly poison intended to kill children,” she said in her statement.
“Walgreens — and other companies choosing to make a quick buck by pedaling the deadly abortion pill — can never be taken seriously as a healthcare company again. Mothers and children will not be safe until these drugs are taken off the market.”
The FDA made a regulatory change in early January that allowed retail pharmacies to offer Mifepristone — the first pill used in a two-drug medication abortion regimen — in-store and by mail order. However, Patients will still need a prescription from a certified healthcare provider
According to a Catholic News Agency [CNA] report, Students for Life is organizing protests with other pro-life groups. “Cancel Abortion Cartels” — the group’s first major demonstration — is set for Feb. 14 at the Walgreens National Headquarters in Deerfield, Ill. The group has also called for a National Day of Protest at pharmacies across the country on March 4.
“Our purpose of having these protests is so that we can let ‘Big Pharma’ companies know that it’s absolutely unacceptable to offer abortion at our neighborhood drug stores,” Caroline Wharton, a writer and press strategist with Students for Life, said.
“I don’t want to go into a drugstore and be able to buy my chewing gum and my tights and then get a pill that ends a life. It’s just not acceptable.”
40 Day for Life is also encouraging peaceful protests at pharmacies during its February 22 – April 2 campaign, according to the report.
“CVS and Walgreens have replaced Planned Parenthood as the most significant abortion chains in the Western Hemisphere,” Shawn Carney, president and CEO of 40 Days for Life, told CNA on Jan. 24.
“With 18,000 locations between the two, and now Rite Aid joining in, we have given the hundreds of 40 Days for Life campaign leaders not currently leading a campaign the opportunity to do so outside a pharmacy.”


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Outreach to businesses and corporations looks like it will pay off for Clarkstown in 2013. In his State of the Town Address on Thursday Supervisor Alex Gromack mentioned 130 new jobs being created this year. The number may be closer to 220 when projects announced late last year are included.
Of the three possible projects the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is working on with Clarkstown, one involves completely new construction. IDA Executive Director Steve Porath said it would create 30 new jobs.
“Holiday Inn Express is looking to acquire property on Route 59 in Spring Valley within the Town of Clarkstown,” he said.
Porath, whose agency works to attract new businesses to the county through specific tax incentives and abatements, said the hotel would create 30 jobs. He explained the $13.9 million project is currently in the process of getting town approvals for the construction on a vacant lot on eastbound Route 59 across from the Spring Valley Marketplace and near New York State Thruway entrances and exits. The proposal is for a four-story, 101-room limited service hotel with a fitness center, meeting rooms, a swimming pool and WIFI access.
When asked about the feasibility of another hotel with the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Days Inn, Candlewood Suites and Fairfield Inn by Marriott nearby, Porath said hotel chains prepare extensive demographic studies before selecting sites.
The IDA, which is funded by the fees it charges businesses, is working on two other projects in Congers and West Nyack. United Structural Works, which fabricates steel, already has a presence in the county and anticipates growth from the planned Tappan Zee Bridge construction. Their application received preliminary approval for sales tax exemptions on equipment purchased for the expansion.
“They have 23 employees now,” said Porath. “They’re planning on creating 10 new jobs. “
He said there are other signs of economic growth such as ABCO Refrigeration Supply Corp., which has an office in Suffern and want to lease 118,000 square feet of the Cambridge University Press site in West Nyack. The 100-employee company is a wholesale distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration parts and has applied for county and state sales tax exemptions to build out the facility.
“They’re looking to consolidate their operations into one new building,” said Porath. “They’re projecting 70 new jobs over seven years.”
According to its website, ABCO has 17 full-service facilities and branches to service customers between Boston and Washington, D.C. and has a “90,000-square-foot central distribution center in Queens, NY, that provides around-the-clock service to its customers and branches.” ABCO’s request to have restrictions lifted for shipping and receiving for the West Nyack site is being considered by the town board.
Porath feels positive about 2013.
“I’m seeing a lot of activity,” he said. “I’m kind of optimistic that we’re going to see a good year out there.”
Gromack added the names of other employers including startup DER Specialty Products, a wood flooring manufacturer on Route 303 in West Nyack. The company will create 18 jobs.
Gromack listed additional companies whose expansion plans involved the IDA. He said Curti’s Landscaping relocated to Route 303 in Valley Cottage and added eight new jobs. Vitane Pharmaceuticals on Wells Ave in Congers is planning on bringing in 30 new jobs and expanding its facility. Cosmetics manufacturer Intercos America, Inc. received a grant to help it add 45 employees at its Route 303 location in Congers.
Gromack said town officials work closely with the IDA, Rockland Business Association and other agencies and that to be successful outreach has to occur every day.
“We’ve been able to match some of our vacant properties and warehouses to new business,” he said. “There a real confidence that Clarkstown is a good place to grow and expand a business. I think Clarkstown has a very special formula that mixes our community, our business in a very positive way."


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Publishers are seeking ways to add value to print ads, leveraging on core strength not available to new media competition and search engines. Companies that embrace mobility for their business need to adopt a fully integrated advertising platform against this fast-moving mobile industry to effectively position their companies ahead of competition.
"Whether that’s finding a way to get native advertising into mobile or finding new, creative ways to tell stories in that small space. Consumers are going to mobile. There’s no doubt about it. It has to be our main focus in terms of figuring out how to make the most out of that channel."
INDEPENDENT News & Media have announced the appointment of two pivotal positions in the group.
COMPANIES in Ireland will struggle to survive unless they have a digital platform, industry analysts have warned.
Will digital magazine sales ever offset print decline? The Audit Bureau of Circulations figures for January to June this year are out and the PPA has helpfully compiled a list showing the combined circulations of those magazines that have both print and digital editions.
The humble banner isn’t dead yet, but it could be better. Changes there and an emphasis on social could make online advertising less of a battle between blocking software and marketers and give consumers better information.
LinkedIn, the social networking site aimed at building professional ties and contacts, is increasingly attracting the attention of news media players as a result of its bold forays into the world of publishing. By ramping up the amount of original content it features, the business tool is in a unique position to combine social networking and specialised economic news reporting. But while other media outlets lack LinkedIn’s social clout, the business news model more generally is one that continues to offer publications healthy circulation figures and a pathway to profitability.
The last few years have seen an unprecedented number of people rushing to develop mobile apps for iOS and Android. But looking at the installed user base on each platform and information on the payouts made by the different companies, it appears that the vast majority of developers will find themselves with little revenue to show for.
Mobile devices are rapidly becoming central to the way people consume media in the UK, driven by widespread adoption of smartphones and rapidly building enthusiasm for tablets. Quite how mobile the UK has become is clear from Ofcom's new
Print newspaper circulations continued to rise in Asia and decline in mature markets in the West, while digital advances have increased the audience for newspaper content as never before, the annual World Press Trends survey of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) showed.


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Yum Brands Appoints New Chief Brand Officers at Pizza Hut and Taco Bell
Article via Adweek
"Yum Brands’ new CEO David Gibbs wasted no time in making a number of management changes at its key restaurant divisions Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
Among the changes, KFC president Kevin Hochman will add interim president of Pizza Hut to his duties, while George Felix and David Graves will fill the roles of CMO and chief brand officer, respectively. In addition, the company named Nikki Lawson as Taco Bell’s chief brand officer.
Hochman, who reversed the fortunes of KFC as its president and then before that as CMO, will assist the pizza chain’s global CEO Artie Starrs. Hochman is specifically charged with turning the U.S. business around."
Read the full article by Richard Collings here.
Continue the conversation on Reddit!


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The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association for UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, has launched a new partnership with Think Logistics to inspire the next generation of talent to join the sector.
Governed by Career Ready, a UK-wide social mobility charity, Think Logistics works with schools and colleges to inspire and inform young people about the logistics sector with a range of activities and workplace experiences, all delivered by volunteers from the profession.
The partnership will enable BIFA members to access local schools and colleges to promote the profession and builds on the work being undertaken by the trade association’s Young Forwarder Network.
Bethany Windsor, operations manager for Career Ready and Think Logistics, said: “The partnership with BIFA has never been more important. The shortage of Customs professionals, for example, represents a wonderful opportunity for young people to step into the sector and kickstart their careers. It is absolutely vital that we share the great opportunities available in the sector for young people, for whom logistics is often a hidden sector.”
Carl Hobbis, executive director and training development manager at BIFA, added: “Our partnership with Think Logistics is part of a campaign to encourage BIFA members to work with schools to promote careers in logistics, forwarding and the supply chain, and encourage students to consider them. This has seen us equip our members with an array of ideas to encourage them to promote careers within the freight and logistics sector to students in their local community.”


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Maybe you haven't heard, but...Elon Musk is buying Twitter (TWTR).
Earlier this week, the Tesla (TSLA -1.66%) CEO reached an agreement with Twitter's board to finalize the long-awaited sale for a $44 billion asking price. Of course, this means that Elon Musk must now come up with $44 billion.
As it turns out, a lot of that cash is coming from sales of Tesla stock. As The Wall Street Journal just reported, between Tuesday and Thursday this week, Musk sold more than 9.6 million shares in order to raise $8.5 billion in cash toward the $21 billion in cash he's expected to contribute. Banks are expected to personally loan the megabillionaire $12.5 billion more (backed by $62.5 billion in Tesla shares put up as collateral for the loans), putting Musk over the top for the amount of cash he will need. Then even more banks will invest $25 billion more in the deal to take Twitter private.
There's a lot of money at play, but here's the good news for Tesla investors: As Musk tweeted out last night, the math is working as planned, and as a result, he won't need to sell any more Tesla stock to come up with his share of the Twitter purchase price. This tweet seems to be the reason Tesla stock is up 4.8% as of 10:30 a.m. Friday morning.
No further TSLA sales planned after today-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2022
And not a moment too soon! Now that we know for certain that Musk has been selling off his Tesla holdings to raise the cash for the Twitter deal, it makes a whole lot more sense why Tesla stock fell 12% between the end of last week and the close of trading last night.
Nearly 10 million Tesla shares suddenly flooding onto the market couldn't help but push the share price down. But now that that selling pressure has subsided, it's possible for Tesla stock to at least edge back up again. And here's even more good news:
Even after all the selling, Elon Musk remains Tesla's largest shareholder, with a 16% stake in the company -- 163 million shares, or roughly 17 times more shares than he sold.
If any investors were worried that Musk might lose interest in Tesla after acquiring Twitter -- that he might start to see himself more as a social media mogul than the driving force behind the movement to popularize electric cars -- well, this fact should set their minds at ease. What's more, as the Journal points out, "Mr. Musk has tens of millions of vested Tesla stock options [and] is in line to receive billions of dollars worth of additional stock options."
Much as Musk might love free speech, money still matters to him -- and with so much of his wealth tied to Tesla (which, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data, earned $5.5 billion last year, by the way, while Twitter lost $221 million), I think it's safe to say that Musk's focus is going to remain quite tightly tied to Tesla.


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San Miguel Foods, Inc. has further expanded the reach of Chick ‘n Juicy by Magnolia chain of chicken rotisseries, opening its 87th store in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, and boosting delivery network to serve more customers in this time of pandemic.
Just 18 months in operation, the chain of stores has grown its presence in in 12 out of 17 cities in Metro Manila and several nearby provinces. It has also recently expanded to Petron Treats stores in Diego Silang Taguig and Libis Quezon City.
Geared towards providing affordable but high-quality, premium-tasting roast chicken offerings to a wide segment of consumers, Chick ‘n Juicy has also put particular focus on safety and convenience, particularly since San Miguel Foods and parent firm, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), have been at the forefront of private sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the pandemic still a threat to lives and health, we’re emphasizing safety across all San Miguel businesses,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang.
“In our food businesses, since the start of the quarantine to the present, we’ve introduced many ways for consumers to have continuous, convenient, and safe access to our products—from rolling stores, community selling, to online ordering,” He added.
“In these challenging times, we have to be adaptable, innovative, and agile enough to quickly make necessary adjustments in our operations in order to continuously serve our customers safely,” Ang said.
The retail chain adopts high standards of safety, in much the same way Magnolia follows the strictest safety protocols for its poultry business.
Food products are also cooked and prepared by trained store personnel with emphasis on stringent safety and health measures. Chick ‘n Juicy food items are packed in resealable airtight bags to maintain safety, quality, juiciness, and flavor.
Meanwhile, to provide customers more ways to safely order freshly-prepared Chick ‘n Juicy roast chickens, Ang said the strategy is a combination of outlet expansion, strengthening its delivery network, utilizing online ordering platforms, and initiating community selling.
Apart from stand-alone outlets, Chick ‘n Juicy has also utilized the available network of SMC fuels subsidiary, Petron Corporation, to open more branches at fuel service stations to increase its reach.
The retail food chain has also beefed up its in-house delivery service, serving various areas in Metro Manila, even as it has partnered with third-party online food delivery services such as LalaFood, and soon to be on Grabfood and Foodpanda.
Without having to go to physical stores, customers can order Chick ‘n Juicy via Store-to-Door delivery just by calling their number, 0917-1498000 or 5317-5555.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Foods has also rolled out the Chick ‘n Juicy Sugod Caravan program for community selling in barangays, subdivisions, and villages. Village leaders and residents who are interested to become partners may send their inquiries to email@example.com.
Apart from its outlets in Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Caloocan, Makati, Marikina, Taguig, Pasig, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Manila, Chick ’n Juicy has also established branches in Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Cavite in South Luzon. For a complete list of stores, visit their page at facebook.com/chicknjuicy.
The chain’s various food offerings include Sweet Roast Chicken, Garlic Roast Chicken, Fried Chicken Drumsticks, Hard-boiled Magnolia Brown Eggs, Sweet ‘n Spicy Fried Chicken Neck, and Fried Isaw.


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Until recently, the Bitcoin rate was around $ 15,000, occasionally increasing or decreasing. But after the news about a possible ban on trade of cryptocurrencies in South Korea and the termination of mining in China, the cost of cryptocurrency began to decline. This morning the Bitcoin's exchange rate dropped below $ 12 thousand. So, over … Continue reading The Rapid Fall of Bitcoin. What’s Happening to Cryptocurrency Market?
Just before the CES 2018 exhibition, LG announced its new 4K HDR projector HU80KA. This model is positioned as an affordable premium device. At the same time, it is noted that this projector is about half the size of other similar devices with support for 4K resolution. Projector LG HU80KA is able to output an … Continue reading Projector LG HU80KA Supports 4K Resolution
After the rodeo last week, when the cost of Bitcoin increased by more than $ 5,000 in two days, there was a relative calm this week. Trades were held in the corridor from $ 15,000 to $ 17,500. But this relative calm has not continued for a long time. Already on Saturday, the bitcoin rate … Continue reading Bitcoin Tops $20,000
The diversity of climate models is the reason why the results of long-term climate change predictions are very different from each other. Some models predict a warming of only a few degrees, others are much more radical. People often point to more modest models, saying that the climate is not so bad. But, alas, researchers … Continue reading Great Global Warning. Recent Scientists’ Research
Owners of social networks have already come to the conclusion that regular text comunnication is not enough for users. It is becoming more fashionable and interesting to use visual technologies. In one of the next updates of YouTube, a new option for placing video for the Reels column will be available. It’s the local version … Continue reading YouTube Will Have Its own Version of Stories
Canadian scientists from Manitoba University have concluded that in the future the number of people who prefer to make love with sex robots will increase. For this, they will use virtual reality. Researchers state that the era of immersion in virtual sex has already come. And as the technologies in this direction are developing rapidly, … Continue reading Make Love with Robots?
Big event today in the world of crypto-currency, or even a historical one. The Bitcoin exchange rate overcame the mark of $ 10,000. Besides, just two days ago a bar of $ 9,000 was taken. But even more impressive is the fact that Bitcoin has overcome from $ 7,000 to $ 10,000 (43% increase) in … Continue reading Bitcoin Rate Overcame the Mark of $10000
Samsung Electronics has announced the development of a new technology for the production of batteries for mobile devices, which will provide a significant increase in capacity and charging speed. It's about some new technology using graphene. The development was carried out by specialists of the Institute of Advanced Technologies Samsung (SAIT). According to experts from … Continue reading “The charging time of smartphones will take only 12 mins. “- Samsung Electronics.
The Bitcoin's crypto currency is becoming extremely popular and expensive, but it requires a significant increase in energy consumption during the mining process. British researchers estimated that the total amount of energy spent on Bitcoin mining already exceeds the energy consumption level of 159 individual countries around the world (or collectively 71 countries with … Continue reading Bitcoin Mining Consumes More Electricity Than 159 Individual Countries
One of the investment companies of Microsoft founder Bill Gates bought for $ 80 million a large piece of land located about 45 minutes west of Phoenix, the capital of Arizona. This deserted place under the name Belmont in the future should turn into a technological city. The area of the acquired site allocated for … Continue reading Bill Gates is Going to Build a Smart City in Arizona


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A huge new 300-megawatt Tesla battery installation is planned for November 2021 in Victoria Australia, with the State Government pushing towards renewable energy looking forward. The new 300-megawatt Tesla battery farm is twice the size of the one an hour drive from me here in South Australia at Hornsdale, SA.
The new Tesla battery installation will be built by French renewable energy contractor Neoen SA, and will be built at the Moorabool electricity terminal near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The 300-megawatt battery farm will be capable of powering 500,000 homes in Victoria for around 1 hour.
Neoen SA will pay the construction costs for the battery, coming it at around $61 million ($84 million AUD) which will include operation and maintenance of the 300-megawatt Tesla battery farm.
State Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio explains: "We know in the time of climate change, our summers are getting far hotter and much longer, so that means there is increased strain on our thermal generators. This is part of our plan to deliver security, reliability and affordable power".
- > NEXT STORY: Assassin's Creed Valhalla can't hit 4K 60FPS even on GeForce RTX 3090
- < PREVIOUS STORY: NBA 2K21 is a massive 120GB on the Xbox Series X/S


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Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. has announced that eFootball PES 2020 is now available on PS4, Xbox One and PC Steam via participating digital and physical stores, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and the rest of the first-team squad featuring.
With KONAMI recently confirming the renewal of their partnership with us, eFootball PES 2020 will be the most authentic recreation of the club’s stars in any game, thanks to the game’s full-body 3D scans. Beyond the players, Emirates Stadium has also been faithfully recreated in finer detail than ever, all to show-off the majesty of our home.
A special Arsenal edition of the game, featuring our fully licensed crest and kit, will be available for £59.99 RRP via Arsenal Direct and in the Armoury Store.
Players can also get their hands on the digital exclusive Legend Edition, featuring Brazilian icon Ronaldinho himself for £79.99 RRP. Bonuses include an exclusive 3D-scanned 2019 version of Ronaldinho for permanent use, Messi on a 10-match loan in myClub, plus Premium Agents and three Player Contract Renewals for in-game use.
eFootball PES 2020 ushers in a new decade of industry-leading football simulation with a bold promise to revolutionise eFootball and introduce the sport to a global audience. The PES series continues its dedicated pursuit of realism, taking consideration of fan feedback to bring several impactful changes that instils every moment of play with a sense of complete freedom and control.
Jonas Lygaard, senior director brand & business development at Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. commented: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Arsenal again; they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world so to be able to bring the club’s superstars and the iconic Emirates Stadium to the game with such precision is a dream."
New in eFootball PES 2020:
- Finesse dribble – having enlisted the expertise of legendary midfielder Andrés Iniesta, the game includes a new dynamic dribbling technique used with the right joystick to escape tight spaces or dodge incoming tackles without changing the direction you are facing
- Master league remastered – with a new interactive dialogue system, highly-accurate transfer system, legendary managers such as Zico, Cruyff and Maradona, plus further customisability to manager models and sponsor logos, the fan-favourite mode has never been better
- Matchday – a brand-new mode for this year, Matchday presents weekly events for players to align with one of two clubs and contribute to the overall performance through individual matches, where every perfectly placed pass and crucial goal contributes points to their team. Towards the end of each week, the best performing users for each side are chosen as representatives to compete in the Grand Final, livestreamed to all users in-game
- Enhanced visuals – the game now boasts an enhanced lighting engine, improved player models, realistic cutscenes and replay footage, plus a completely new preset camera angle that mimics real-world broadcast footage
- Biggest licenses – featuring over 400 teams and over 10,000 players, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern and Juventus, with the latter being completely exclusive to eFootball PES 2020
- Additional features – upgraded trapping mechanics, context-sensitive kick accuracy, more realistic defence, a new intentional foul technique, adaptive player interaction system to replicate player personalities on the pitch, and much more
- EURO 2020 DLC – Coming as a free update in Q2 2020, brand-new European content and mode will be added to celebrate the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament – more information to follow
For all the latest news on PES 2020 and for further information, please follow:
Copyright 2023 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.


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Speaking to CN on day two of Reed Exhibitions’ four-day World Travel Market (WTM) 2010, exhibition director Simon Press said the tweaking of the show’s format to enhance its offering for exhibitors, buyers and press has allowed it to expand this year.
“We have enhanced our online offering, especially pre-event, by improving our online meeting booking procedures and speed networking in order to create an efficient connection between buyers and exhibitors,” said Press.
According to Reed, over 5,000 exhibitors took stand space at the Excel London show, which (pending ABC-audit) would make it the largest edition in WTM’s 31-year history. Last year’s show recorded 28,781 visitors and 16,790 stand staff.
Not all geographical regions on the show floor grew this year. “Some European destinations, such as Spain, have significantly reduced stand space, but Asia has increased overall, especially the emerging destinations,” said Press. India increased its space by 28 per cent year-on-year.
Press said the organiser approached not only the destinations’ national tourism bodies and past exhibitors, but looked to their partners as potential new exhibitors. It seems to have paid off with around 129 new exhibitors this year, also an increase year-on-year.
“It is a truly international exhibition with the show floor, where networking and meetings are held, set as its heart. However, the education and buyer content has elevated the WTM’s offering,” said Press.
“Buyers are no longer just European, which the majority have been in the past, which many exhibitors have found useful,” he added.
Spanish exhibitor and the Executive VP of Hotels at international hotel group Sol Melia, Andre Gerondeau, told CN he found the overall perception at the show was ‘moderate optimism’. “The UK market has changed its focus to destinations such as Egypt and Jordan, instead of Spain. The meetings industry has evolved through the recession and I believe next year we will see an overall improvement,” Gerondeau noted.
Sol Melia, which currently has 26 hotels to be opened under its management in the pipeline, has recently released its Q3 results. Gerondeau said they were better than expected: “For the past six months our strategy has been to raise our rates to what they were before the global recession as well as increase the volume of guests. It doesn’t make sense to drive volume and not the price.”
Gerondeau added that MICE business currently accounted for 25 per cent of his portfolio of hotels’ revenue. “Our all-inclusive offering for both leisure and business tourists have continued to be strong. It allows an incentive or meeting planner to use our hotels as a one-stop shop.”
Jamaican hotelier Richard Whitfield, who is the MD of the Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, said he came to the show with a full list of appointments. “The meetings include old friends and new partners and buyers. Jamaica is luckily well known and its profile continues to rise internationally. We have found the show very successful.”
WTM will run until 11 November 2010.


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May 3, 2016
Mobile chip giant Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine, an SDK designed to help OEMs provide machine learning-driven experiences on Snapdragon 820 devices.
The NPE is powered by Qualcomm’s Zeroth Machine Intelligence Platform, which itself is designed to make the most of all the computing resources (CPU, GPU, DSP, etc) on a Snapdragon SoC for advanced computer cleverness such as scene detection, text recognition, object tracking and avoidance, gesturing, face recognition and natural language processing.
“The demand for untethered, mobile learning-driven user experiences is increasing rapidly and Qualcomm Technologies’ customers have been clamouring for tools to help them realize their product visions,” said Gary Brotman, Director of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies. “With the introduction of the new Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine SDK, we are making it possible for myriad sectors, including mobile, IoT and automotive to harnesses the power of Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and make high-performance, power efficient on-device deep learning a reality.”
“The Neural Processing Engine SDK means we can quickly deploy our proprietary deep learning algorithms to our Snapdragon-based connected camera devices in the field, which can detect driver distraction and help prevent auto accidents,” said Frederick Soo, CTO of autonomous vehicle tech outfit NAUTO. “That same deep learning helps NAUTO’s system deliver valuable information that helps our customers reduce liability and drive more safely and efficiently.”
Just Qualcomm branches out into new forms of computing, Intel seems to have finally pulled the plug on its faltering bid to be a smartphone silicon player. Forbes reported late last week that Intel was pulling the plug on its next generation of high-end smartphone and tablet chips (Broxton) and its low-cost Atom x3 (SoFIA ). This account was then confirmed by multiple other media and while Intel doesn’t seem to have made a formal announcement AnandTech got an emailed comment from them.
“I can confirm that the changes included cancelling the Broxton platform as well as SoFIA 3GX, SoFIA LTE and SoFIA LTE2 commercial platforms to enable us to move resources to products that deliver higher returns and advance our strategy,” said the Intel statement.
While the Atom brand was launched as a netbook (remember them?) chip back in 2008 it also became used for Intel’s mobile chips. The first one of these was called Moorestown and was launched six years ago. At the time it was viewed as a first effort and Intel vowed it would overcome its perceived disadvantages versus ARM vendors such as Qualcomm, which revolved around power efficiency.
In the intervening time Intel continued to innovate on things like manufacturing process technology but never convinced the market it had done enough to make them leave the ARM ecosystem. In hindsight Intel probably needed to be an order of magnitude better than Qualcomm, etc and the laws of physics as much as anything else made that unlikely.
Incidentally Intel and Qualcomm were both among the signatories on a letter to the US President urging him to free up 500 MHz of the 5.9 GHz band to address a perceived unlicensed spectrum crisis in the US.
“Our organizations do not often agree on policy matters,” said the letter. “But we agree that the 5.9 GHz band is our country’s best unlicensed spectrum opportunity for ensuring high-quality internet access for the American public for three reasons.”
These are 1. A good combination of low frequency and plentiful spectrum, 2. Proximity to 5.8 GHz, this facilitating 160 MHz-wide gigabit wifi, 3. Relatively few competing users of the band. Apparently this band has been set aside for the use of intelligent transportation systems for 15 years and the letter says it’s about time it got put to good use.
About the Author(s)
As the Editorial Director of Telecoms.com, Scott oversees all editorial activity on the site and also manages the Telecoms.com Intelligence arm, which focuses on analysis and bespoke content.
Scott has been covering the mobile phone and broader technology industries for over ten years. Prior to Telecoms.com Scott was the primary smartphone specialist at industry analyst Strategy Analytics’. Before that Scott was a technology journalist, covering the PC and telecoms sectors from a business perspective.
Follow him @scottbicheno
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