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Info buried in Apple’s latest iOS 8 beta suggests the upcoming iPhone 6 will come with a slew of new sensors meant to track altitude, weather and even air pressure. According to 9to5Mac, who had a hand in digging up the relevant snippets of code, the iPhone 6 will be a much more capable tracking device than initially thought, though it’s unclear how these new sensors will factor into a person’s day-to-day use. It’s likely many of these will be tailored more toward developers, who can then create experiences that take advantage of them in unforeseen ways.
As noted by 9to5Mac, there are several apps already capable of tracking altitude, though the new references allegedly include an entirely new framework “dedicated to altitude tracking and requires new Apple hardware.” That still doesn’t really indicate what’s to come, but it could be helpful for the outdoorsy type, like those who enjoy hiking or biking up/down hills. 9to5Mac says a dedicated chip will be much more accurate than the combo of Apple’s existing GPS and motion chips.
Unsurprisingly, these new sensors will only be available in newer Apple devices, such as the iPhone 6, iWatch and maybe even future iPads. Much of the potential seems to lie in the active lifestyles of Apple users. Someone who simply walks around the city of New York might not necessarily care about the addition of new sensors, but an avid rock climber might, or even a pilot. 9to5Mac claims Apple has been working to improve its Compass app, so these sensors might factor into that experience.
In addition to a 4.7-inch iPhone 6, we’re also expecting an iPhone with a 5.5-inch display to hit later this year. We pretty much already know what it’ll look like, and iOS 8 has already been unveiled, so now it’s simply a matter of Apple making the device(s) official.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra's Space Zoom camera is amazing and a bit creepy
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports up to 100X zoom, which Samsung calls Space Zoom, but is it any good? Can a phone really product usable photos at 100x zoom? We've got our Galaxy S20 Ultra already so join us to find out!
Win an iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch with the Reader's Choice giveaway!
What's the best phone of 2019? Is it the iPhone 11 Pro, Pixel 4 or OnePlus 7T? What about the best laptop, games console, tablet and more? Vote NOW in the Reader's Choice awards and win BIG in time for the holidays!
Here are the best products from IFA 2019!
Here are the products announced at IFA 2019 that were worthy of our Best of IFA 2019 awards. Also featuring MrMobile's single best product at the show!
It's the season for chapped lips, so you might need one of these lip balms
If you're looking for a good lip balm to keep in your pocket, you may be searching for awhile. There are tons of options to choose from, and they may not always be a perfect choice. Here are some great options to add to your purse or pocket.


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Bulgarian wine grape producers say that the 2017 harvest is the best in the past five years. According to the industry, all varieties are excellent, raising hopes of boosted sales and prizes at prestigious international competitions.
The many sunny hours of this have helped make the 2017 harvest extremely high quality, according to wine makers in Brestovitsa, public broadcaster Bulgarian National Television reported.
Unlike in 2015, this year there were no hailstorms and diseases in the vineyards.
Dimitar Kyuchukov, manager of a wine cellar in Brestovitsa, said that the whole harvest is very good.
(Photo: David Hart/sxc.hu)
To continue reading, please click here.

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07/12/2017 · Now we need people profiting immensely all around us and making forecasts for $1 million, etc., for it to truly have reached a euphoric peak," Newton said. VIDEO 2:00 02:00 Bitcoin could be the.
Useing Green Energy And Because most renewable energy sources (like wind, sunlight, and water) don't need to be imported, using green energy helps reduce our nation's dependence . Almost without a doubt the oldest known use of renewable energy, in the form of traditional biomass to fuel fires, dates from more than a million years ago. Use of .
BTCUSD(at Coinbase) has rebounded back with 8.94% gains so far in this week. Although Bitcoin price has regained 2-3 days, it.
Bitcoin Reaches an Inflection Point as Fresh Selling Pressure Emerges. News. May 21, 2020 Admin Leave a Comment on Bitcoin Reaches an Inflection Point as Fresh Selling Pressure Emerges. Bitcoin has seen some immense selling pressure today that has led it down to its key support at $9,000. The crypto is now flashing some signs of growing weakness as it continues struggling to post any decisive.
Bitcoin’s average block size reached a new all-time high ahead of the mining reward reduction set to take place on May 11. According to data from CryptoCompare, the average block size of the bitcoin network reached a peak of 1.341 MB on May 2, and almost broke the record days later with a peak of 1.312 MB on May 7. The previous all-time high was established in December 2019, with an average.
21/05/2020 · Home » Daily Data » Bitcoin Reaches an Inflection Point as Fresh Selling Pressure Emerges. Posted By Magnus Adsmon on May 21, 2020 | 0 comments. To view the original post, click here. Bitcoin has seen some immense selling pressure today that has led it down to its key support at $9,000. The crypto is now flashing some signs of growing weakness as it continues struggling to post.
3 Dec 2019.
After surging to $7800 on the weekend, it appears Bitcoin (BTC) is starting to.
in the past that the cryptocurrency is likely to see fresh all-time highs in the near.
Bitcoin Reaches Pivot Point After 8% Drop; Can Bulls Step In?
There are 10 different analyst targets contributing to that average for Terex Corp., but the average is just that — a.
17 December 2017: Bitcoin's price briefly reaches its all-time high of $19,783.06. 22 December 2017: Bitcoin fell below $11,000, a fall of 45% from its peak.
Litecoin Reaches A Fresh, All-Time High Originally posted on: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cbovaird/2017/11/27/litecoin-reaches-a-fresh-all-time-high/
3 Jan 2019.
Bitcoin reaches its 10th Anniversary today, let's take a look back at its.
Every 4 years, or every 210,000 blocks, the reward for new fresh Bitcoin.
It can be hard to decide the best place to invest £10,000, particularly when global uncertainty is rife. But I think the FTSE.
Bitcoin price shot above $10,000 for the first time since the first week of May. A day before halving, Bitcoin dumped.
Bitcoin users predict 94% of all bitcoins will have been released by 2024. As the total number creeps toward the 21 million mark, many suspect the profits miners once made creating new blocks will.
31 May 2019.
Altucher made the call two years ago when bitcoin was trading.
clearing the $9,000 barrier to set a fresh 12-month high to only come.
Don't forget to sign up for Kitco News' Weekly Roundup – comes out every Friday to.
Purple And Gold Polo Shirt Shirts Mit Marken Ist es nicht ein schönes Gefühl, wenn man Komplimente für seinen außergewöhnlichen Fashion-Geschmack bekommt? Mit diesen T-Shirts wird Ihnen das. Bitcoin Evolution Prix Gold Jacket For Kids Shop online for the latest trends in children’s fashion at Tu Clothing. Sainsbury’s Tu clothing can be found in selected Sainsbury’s stores across the UK.


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Clash of Clans developer Supercell has pulled its games from the App Store and Google Play in Vietnam due to infringing local regulations.
VNExpress reports that Vietnamese authorities are currently cracking down on online games that break its rules, including regulations around the use of gambling, violence, profanity or distortion of history. Games must also be approved before release.
On top of these rules, the local government also requires foreign companies to collaborate with Vietnamese firms or establish their own office in the country.
The report claims 142 games have been removed from the App Store and Google Play in Vietnam since 2017.
Supercell’s portfolio of titles includes Hay Day, Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars, none of which are now available in Vietnam.
Not just no longer to download, users will not be able to continue playing the games.
The Finnish developer said that players who purchased items in its games are not eligible for refunds despite the move. Users can retain their game progress through the use of a Supercell ID account.
There is no timeline for if or when Supercell’s titles will be available again in the country.
"Although we will keep an open dialogue with our local partners and the government we haven’t yet been able to find a good long-term solution that would enable us to continue our operations in Vietnam,” read a statement from Supercell.
“We hope that this is not a goodbye and we will try to find the right ways to continue developing our games to our Vietnamese players.”
It added: “We will continue the dialogue with the local partners and the government. We hope this is not a goodbye for Vietnam as we keep looking for solutions to bring our games back in the future. Currently we don’t know if and when we will come back.”
The Pocket Gamer Connects conference will be heading to Supercell's hometown Helsinki on October 1st to 2nd. Head to the website for details.


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There's no mistaking the presidential choice of Ann Arbor business owner Alice Liberson.
T-shirts and buttons supporting "Bark" Obama and "Democats" are displayed at the entrance to her shop, Dogma Catmantoo.
"He's my guy," Liberson said. "But really, from the business perspective, it just made sense to go with Barack."
Reporter Tina Reed can be reached at 734-994-6843 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
With less than two weeks until the election, Liberson's shop is one of several local businesses stocking presidential campaign-inspired merchandise to support their favorite candidate and their bottom lines.
In Ann Arbor, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, there seems to be more merchandise available for supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama than Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Natural and organic grocer Plum Market has stocked Jones Soda Co.'s "Pure McCain Cola." But it also has sold "Obama Blend: Yes We Can Coffee," from Ann Arbor roaster Mighty Good Coffee Co.
David Myers, co-owner of the coffee company, said Obama just happens to be the first candidate to have a perfect blend of former residences - including Hawaii, Indonesia and Kenya - to inspire a new version of coffee.
"Obama Blend" has been a top seller since it was introduced earlier this month, Myers said. He has no McCain roast, but said that shouldn't be taken as his business' endorsement for Obama.
Elmo's Main Street T Shirts & Gifts has kept both McCain and Obama shirts in stock this campaign season, said store Owner Elmo Morales. But the store has stocked more Obama styles "because sales of Obama's shirts are definitely better."
At Dogma Catmantoo, Liberson is trying to support Obama by donating proceeds from her sales to his campaign.
Purchasing a couple of shirts Wednesday morning, Ann Arbor resident Edie Kieffer said she was thrilled to find merchandise to show her support for Democrats - and for cats at the same time.
Would Kieffer been turned off if Liberson had done the same for McCain instead?
"If I felt she was supporting McCain, it would've given me pause," Kieffer said. "But I think everyone has a right to their own opinions. I think it depends on the business and it depends on the town."


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An industry analysis from Ericsson Mobility Report expects 5G to have 2.6 billion subscribers "covering up to 65 percent of the world’s population" by 2025.
“Today, you can’t do that because it requires so much processing,” Vestberg said. “So that means mix realities [augmented reality, virtual reality] when you're shopping or when you do something at work.”
Verizon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced Wednesday a partnership to make cloud computing service Wavelength available across the U.S. at the edge of Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network. They are piloting the technology on Verizon's edge compute platform, in Chicago, for select customers, including video game publisher Bethesda Softworks and the NFL.
However, the next generation of wireless technology also comes with challenges, including capacity issues. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is pushing for a public auction of wireless frequencies in the C-band spectrum, but Vestberg isn’t concerned.
“We have all the assets for launching to 5G,” he said.
Verizon’s 5G service is available in 18 cities and will be available in 30 cities by the end of the year, he said.


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That dumb law Gov. David A. Paterson signed off on last week has Amazon raging mad and they’re not going to take it. Last month the NY state legislature passed a bill that would require online retailers who have no physical presence in the state to collect sales tax.
The law uses a bit of a loophole to force online shops to do this. As most of you know, Amazon has a huge network of affiliates that link to products on the site and some of those happen to be based New York, so the state feels that because of that referral regardless of whether or not purchases are made through them is enough reason to impose the collection of sales tax.
Amazon is none to happy about this and filed suit against the State.
Amazon’s suit challenges the constitutionality of this interpretation and seeks a declaratory judgment that it is invalid. (Wired magazine posted a copy of the complaint here.)
Amazon’s complaint argues that the statue is “overly broad and vague.” It is impossible, Amazon wrote, for it to determine which of its affiliates are actually in New York State.
Amazon said that its affiliates are not agents but simply sites on which it places advertising. The commissions it pays the sites are simply one method of paying for those ads, it argued.
The online retailer further claimed that the new rules violate the equal protection clause of the constitution because it specifically targeted Amazon. “It was carefully crafted to increase state tax revenues by forcing Amazon to collect sales and use taxes,” the complaint says, noting that “state officials have described the statute as the ‘Amazon Tax.’ “


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You are here
WASHINGTON - The chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday told the Federal Trade Commission to keep a close eye on the possible sale of Hershey Foods Corp., The Associated Press reports. The news follows an AP report that said a judge has blocked plans to sell Hershey Foods Corp. after state officials warned such a move could devastate the candy maker's hometown.
A sale by the Hershey Trust Co., which holds a 77 percent voting stake in the candy giant, "will likely exceed $10 billion and trigger federal antitrust review," Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., wrote to FTC Chairman Timothy J. Murris in a letter dated Sept. 4. "As a result, I urge the FTC to rigorously examine the antitrust implications of any sale of Hershey Foods."
Sensenbrenner's letter came at the urging of Rep. George Gekas, a Republican whose district includes Hershey, Pa., where Hershey Foods is based.
A sale could prompt a Judiciary Committee investigation or hearings, Gekas spokesman Mike Shields said.
Also on Wednesday Judge Warren Morgan issued a temporary restraining order barring the sale of Hershey Foods, a day after hearing arguments in the case.
The charitable trust that controls Hershey Foods appealed the decision to the state's Commonwealth Court and asked for a suspension of the injunction pending the appeal.
The judge's order will last only until he rules on whether Attorney General Mike Fisher can review the sale of the candy maker, should that happen, according to the AP.


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The direct-to-consumer genetic testing market goes further in the green.
Before using medical or recreational marijuana, people now have the chance to see how their bodies and minds might react. That’s because a biotech startup called Endocanna Health today released its Cannabinoid DNA Variant Test, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic assessment kit designed to measure an individual’s response to cannabis.
Using an algorithm and genetic data, the DNA test is the first of its kind that is capable of analyzing a person’s DNA and telling them how they might respond in terms of metabolization, anxiety, drug dependence and more, according to Endocanna Health. In a nutshell, the DTC test can determine how likely marijuana users are to enjoy their high and their lives.
“The goal of our reports is to help people identify which products may help them and try to give them the best possible outcomes with cannabis,” notes Len May, co-founder and CEO of Endocanna Health.
The launch of the cannabinoid test is a step in a new direction for the DTC genetic-testing industry, a market poised to explode to $340 million in just four years. So far, players like 23andMe and Ancestry have dominated headlines and TV commercials, helping customers learn about everything from disease risk to their lineage. Any number of up-and-comers have entered the space in recent years, at times fueling controversy and earning applause from patients and providers.
Endocanna Health sits in a perfect storm. Over the past decade, states have passed laws decriminalizing and, in some cases, even legalizing marijuana, which had long taken on the role of a social pariah. At the same time, nearly 30 states have approved medical marijuana laws, igniting a wave of medical cannabis startups and research projects.
But not everyone has taken to pot. Even among the largely pro-weed trade publication industry, writers have repeatedly covered issues such as anxiety, paranoia and mental dependence, which have plagued certain cannabis users. The prevailing takeaway from academia and journalism: Marijuana affects everyone differently.
So, a company like Endocanna Health could find itself in a lucrative position, eliminating hesitance in some potential cannabis consumers by shining a light on their individual level of risk. The company claims its new DTC test can help people “demystify” these experiences and “further establishes cannabis as a viable solution to alleviate health and wellness issues,” all by combing through existing genetic data or extracting that information from a saliva swab.
Ultimately, however, the product represents yet another moment of innovation in the ever-evolving DTC genetic-testing industry.
Get the best insights in healthcare analytics directly to your inbox.


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China’s digital economy reached 41 trillion yuan ($6.33 trillion) last year, ranking second in the world. It is fair to say that the digital economy has emerged as a new engine for the country’s economic growth.
A report entitled Digital China Development Report (2020) recently released by the Cyberspace Administration of China also indicated that the added value of the digital economy’s core industries also rose to 7.8 percent of the country’s GDP.
According to the report, last year, business revenues from China’s data centers, as well as those concerning cloud computing, big data and the ‘Internet of things’ soared by 22.2 percent, 85.8 percent, 35.2 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively, year-on-year.
The digital economy has led to new business forms and new business patterns, including online education, online medical care, telecommuting, live streaming and online travel, all of which have boomed across the country, bringing a richer and more diversified experience to consumers.
At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference concluded last month, Meituan, China’s food delivery giant, showcased a drone delivery system that is enabled by five self-developed technical capabilities, i.e., those concerning UAVs, navigation control, artificial intelligence algorithms, route management, and communication systems.
It has been reported that as of June this year, drones from Meituan have completed more than 200,000 flight tests and have delivered more than 2,500 orders. At present, they are able to provide standard delivery services within a radius of 3 kilometers and at a maximum length of time of up to 15 minutes.
The outline for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) underscores boosting digital industries as a major task for the next five years, aiming to raise the GDP proportion of the added value generated by core digital economy industries from 7.8 percent in 2020 to 10 percent in 2025.
In order to achieve this goal, Bai Jinfu, dean of the Institute of the Digital Economy at the Beijing Technology and Business University, believes that it is necessary to reconstruct the industrial system, deepen cooperation in the industrial chain, effectively integrate online and offline resources, and give full play to the advantages of big data and rich application scenarios.


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http://www.peoplepowerco.com/ () —
People Power Company (http://www.peoplepowerco.com/) , an energy efficiency solutions company, today announced the SuRF Block, a one inch square module that companies can embed into electronics to wirelessly connect them to the Internet. Offering the first open source implementation that brings the Internet to a microcontroller this small, the SuRF Block makes it easy for manufacturers to build low-cost, low-power, internet-ready appliances and devices.
The SuRF Block and OSIAN targets manufacturers of any kind, from consumer electronics and appliances to business equipment and medical devices -- the potential is only limited by the imagination. The company is currently engaging with OEM manufacturers that are interested in embedding the SuRF Block and software into their products and leveraging this technology to create next-generation energy management solutions. OSIAN, previously referred to as OSHAN, stands for Open Source IPv6 Automation Network and offers enhanced IPv6 support.
"We see great potential creating transformational products with this solution, which integrates TI's ultra-low power MSP430 microcontroller with TI's leading low-power RF technology," said Davorin Kuchan, senior director of business development at Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/) . "We are delivering longer range and lower power with this solution and are pleased that People Power has chosen the TI's CC430 system-on-a-chip for its SuRF technology. We are excited about the opportunity to work together."
"The SuRF Block promises to further enable the 'Internet of Things.' Imagine that manufacturers can now use this tiny, powerful module and open source software to instantly Internet-enable their products," said Gene Wang, founder and CEO of People Power Company. "In under a minute, programmers can get their computer to talk to an OSIAN enabled device in the same way that it talks to any device on the network."
IPv6 and 'The Internet of Things'
More and more items of daily life are being equipped with radio tags so they can be identified and managed by computers, which adds to 'The Internet of Things,' the networked interconnection of everyday objects. With reports estimating there will be 100 billion devices connected to the Internet by 2020, the current IP (Internet protocol IPv4) will become overloaded, with experts saying that IPv4 addresses will all be allocated by the end of 2011. Solutions created today must be IPv6 enabled, the next generation of IP, in order to keep pace.
People Power Co.'s IPv6 enabled technology is breakthrough because it will be sold with built-in support for cloud services, making it easy for manufactures to enable 'The Internet of Things.' Simply embed the SuRF block into any device and it automatically enables wireless connectivity, making it Internet-ready. The new POSIX-style interfaces will make programming sensors familiar to any network programmer. Manufacturing companies that embed the technology in their products can 'Internet enable' all of its products so that their customers can, for instance, view, manage and control their energy use from the convenience of their PC or smart phone. The SuRF Block will be commercially available in Q1 2011.
People Power Co. is building energy management solutions for homes and businesses that will enable them to drive down energy bill costs while reducing carbon emissions. The company announced its Technology Advisory Board (http://www.peoplepowerco.com/news/pressRelease071410.pdf) and unveiled its SuRF Developers Kit (http://www.peoplepowerco.com/news/pressRelease031510.pdf) earlier this year. For more information, please visit www.peoplepowerco.com (http://www.peoplepowerco.com) .
About People Power Company People Power Company is building the next generation of energy efficiency monitoring and control solutions for homes, buildings, appliances and devices. People Power is disrupting the market with its new OSIAN (pronounced "ocean"), while also supporting WiFi and ZigBee network protocols. Leading with its open source "SmartGrid for All" philosophy, People Power is inspiring innovation and enabling Smart Grid interoperability by empowering developers everywhere to address exciting new market opportunities for Smart Grid applications and beyond.
Based in Palo Alto California, People Power Company has received funding from New Cycle Capital, Greener Capital, and other investors. For more information visit www.peoplepowerco.com (http://www.peoplepowerco.com)


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Universal Electronics Inc. helped develop a new voice remote control for DISH Network Corp., the Santa Ana-based company said this week in Las Vegas at CES, the nation’s largest electronics trade show.
The world’s largest remote control maker provided voice capture and microphone clarity technology for the remote to the DISH Hopper set-top box. It provided technical expertise in data compression, assembly with customized tooling and acoustic testing, and radio integration.
Voice assistants and control are a major trend at this year’s trade show, which is projected to draw more than 190,000 people across the globe. CES officially closes after today’s festivities.
Universal (Nasdaq: UEIC) is OC’s largest publicly traded consumer electronics maker, with 2016 sales of $651 million and a recent market cap of about $693 million.
DISH closed the third quarter with more than 13.2 million paid subscribers.
Technology Editor Chris Casacchia is reporting from CES in Las Vegas this week.


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From Home Furnishing Business
Macy’s Commits to Stop Selling Furniture with Flame Retardants
Department store Macy’s (NYSE: M) is the latest retailer to commit to cease selling furniture containing flame retardant chemicals.
The retailer’s decision came earlier this week.
Other retailers that have committed to the change include Ikea, Walmart and Ashley Furniture HomeStores.
“We thank and congratulate Macy’s for taking this big step to make all sofas safe,” Mike Schade, Mind the Store campaign director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. “This is an important victory for our Mind the Store campaign and millions of Macy’s customers nationwide.”
Mind the Store is a consumer campaign that challenges retailers to adopt policies to identify, restrict and substitute more than 100 hazardous chemicals in common consumer products.


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The numbers are in, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to have a major impact on retail.
Generative AI will have a financial impact of $9.2 trillion through 2029 on retail, according to a new forecast from research analyst firm IHL Group. Generative AI, which is based on machine learning (ML), can create new content and ideas, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music.
While currently representing only 9% of the overall retail industry financial impact in 2023, IHL predicts generative AI will account for 78% of the total financial impact by 2029 and a total of $4.4 trillion during that year.
Key data points from the IHL generative AI forecast also include the following:
The benefits of generative AI are projected to stem from three primary areas: increased sales (51%), improved gross margins (20%), and lowered selling and administrative (S&A) costs (29%).
Through 2029, IHL’s forecast predicts that 47% of the benefits of cumulative impact of AI will come from traditional AI/ML technologies in closed systems, 48% from generative AI functions, and 5% from artificial general intelligence tools which will become available later in the decade.
Retailers can expect to achieve between five to 100 times greater efficiency using generative AI technologies, particularly in sales and general administrative tasks. Tasks that have traditionally taken hours or even days to complete can now be accomplished in a matter of minutes, enabling retailers to streamline their operations, drive productivity, and deliver enhanced customer service.
“The most significant improvements will come when generative AI is added on top of the AI/ML tools already being developed that rely on clean, accurate, and properly tagged data.,” said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group. “The improvements here will be exponential for retailers. This insight underscores the importance of building upon existing AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities, harnessing the power of generative AI to unlock exponential growth and improve inefficiencies.”
Survey: Consumers have doubts on generative AI chatbots
A recent survey from AI platform InRule reveals general consumer distrust of generative AI technology used in customer service chatbots:
59% of all respondents distrust generative chatbot technology.
47% of all respondents prefer humans over chatbots like ChatGPT during customer experience.
Even as cutting-edge technology like ChatGPT continues to be released to improve experiences, 70% of respondents will still prefer to interact with and keep a human in the loop.


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USPS announces Christmastime deadlines
The United States Postal Service has announced its deadlines for the Christmas season, which are meant to ensure all those shipments you might have to send out are in hand by Dec. 25.
USPS outlined the dates in a recent news release, with hopes those who have to send cards, letters and packages are able to do so in time to make their holiday season a success.
The Main Street post office in Richmond will be open Sundays Dec. 11 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate those looking to make holiday shipments.
For domestic mail, the service listed four options — ranging from standard ground delivery to express service — customers can use to send their mail.
USPS Retail Ground — mail by Dec. 15
Standard ground service for non-urgent packages.
First-Class Mail — Dec. 20
Single-piece envelopes and packages weighing up to 13 ounces will deliver within three business days.
Priority Mail — Dec. 21
Domestic service that delivers in between one and three business days, depending on the location to which it is being mailed. Multiple flat-rate options available.
Priority Mail Express — Dec. 23
This is the fastest domestic service offered by USPS, which guarantees an overnight shipment to most locations.
While first-class shipping deadlines have passed for all international deliveries, USPS can still deliver packages using services ranging from their global express option to international priority mail.
Priority Mail International deliveries to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East must be sent by Saturday to arrive on time; Priority Mail Express International shipments across the globe have deadline dates of Dec. 10 (Central and South America), Dec. 15 (Asia/Pacific Rim, Oceania, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East) and Dec. 17 (Canada). Africa's shipment deadline for express international delivery was Dec. 8.
Global Express Guarantee packages can be sent as late as Dec. 19 for the Middle East, Dec. 20 for Africa, Asia and Oceania, Dec. 21 for Central and South America, Mexico and Europe and Dec. 22 for Canada and the Caribbean.


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Apple today released a new Display Firmware 4.2.30 update for the Pro Display XDR, with the software introducing a new Pro Display XDR Calibrator allowing for in-field recalibration.
Alongside the new calibration tool, Apple has provided a support document that walks users through calibrating the Pro Display XDR. There’s a walkthrough for measuring the display, fine tuning the calibration through Displays preferences, and using the in-field recalibration.
In-field recalibrations allow the Pro Display XDR to be tuned to a third-party spectroradiometer through the feature added in the firmware update. These calibrations require the new firmware, macOS Catalina 10.15.6, and a supported spectroradiometer.
Apple also provides several tips for measuring and calibrating a Pro Display XDR, such as controlling the ambient lighting, calibrating in cool ambient temperatures, and optimal setup for spectroradiometers.
This article, “Apple Releases Tool for Calibrating Apple Pro Display XDR” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums


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Denis Ducarme, federal minister for the self-employed, small businesses and agriculture, has announced the introductions of three measures aimed at helping out the self-employed affected by Brexit.
The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on 31 January, entering into a transition phase as it seeks a new relationship with the EU. Belgian businesses are expected to be seriously affected by the change.
In order to make the change slightly easier for the self-employed, Ducarme has organised a change to the way self-employed people pay their social security contributions. The measure takes three forms.
Firstly, social security payment can be reviewed downwards based on expected revenues for 2020, starting immediately for the first trimester.
In more serious cases, the payments due for the first and second trimesters may be postponed for a year, without any penalty for late payment or the loss of any rights linked to social security payments, such as medical insurance.
Finally, for those most severely affected by Brexit, a complete dispensation from social security payments for the first and second trimesters of 2020. Each application for one or other of these measures will be based on a demonstration of lost revenue as a result of Brexit.
“By allowing the self-employed who find themselves in difficulties as a result of Brexit to benefit, depending on the individual case, from either a dispensation, a reduction or a postponement of social security payments, we are adding an extra tool to the ones put in place in recent months to support our businesses,” Ducarme said.
The Brussels Times


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Razer today announced the Razer Anzu Smart Glasses, its first ever eyewear product. Razer Anzu combines the valuable protection of 35% blue light filtering lenses, 99% UVA/UVB protective polarized sunglasses, touch controls,..
Tag Archives: Glasses
Japan Display and NHK Media Technology adds video playback function to their 17.0-inch Light Field Display
Japan Display and NHK Media Technology today announced that they have added a video playback function to the”17.0-inch Light Field Display” which has been under joint research and development between the two..
Toshiba today unveiled its latest glasses Wearvue at the 2nd Wearable Expo at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan. The expo will run till 15th of this month. Wearvue, which was formerly called Toshiba..
Japanese software maker Westunitis will launch one of the world’s lightest glasses-type information devices in July-inforod. Inforod weighs only 48 grams. The device can be used to see how to use equipment..


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Airlines such as Emirates, Delta, and British Airways have revealed some very appealing Black Friday discounts. Emirates Airline, a top international carrier, is holding a Black Friday deal that includes these appealing round-trip overseas fares:
JFK to Milan, Italy: $599
JFK or Washington, D.C. to Bangkok, Thailand: $599
From $819 to Cairo, Egypt: From $679 to the Maldives from Washington, D.C.
From $779 in Miami or Orlando, Florida, to $719 in Dubai
The sale began on November 23 and will end on November 28. It is valid for travel between January 11 and April 30, 2022, and is subject to availability.
Delta Air Lines is likewise attempting to get holiday (travel) shoppers in the mood by offering special pricing to Delta SkyMiles members who want to cash in on their miles.
The following are some of the promotional fares:
Domestic round-trip flights to Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles start at 7,000 miles (plus taxes and fees) (book by November 30 for travel from January 10 to February 28, 2022)
Round-trip flights to Latin America and the Caribbean start at 12,000 miles (plus taxes and fees) and include the United States Virgin Islands, Belize, and the Bahamas (book by November 30 for travel from January 5 to February 28, 2022)
Round-trip Delta Premium Select flights to Europe start at 100,000 miles (plus taxes and fees) and include London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Madrid (book by November 30 for travel through May 6, 2022)
Delta passengers flying to Europe (whether or not they have SkyMiles) can also purchase a Comfort+ upgrade for $200 on flights to London, Amsterdam, and Paris, among other European locations (seats must be purchased by November 30 for travel through May 6, 2022).
British Airways is providing a great deal on flights and accommodation. British Airways (in collaboration with American Airlines) launched a Black Friday promotion this week for flight-and-hotel and flight-and-car-rental packages to London and other UK cities. Here are a few examples:
From $799, round-trip flights to London and five nights at the Holiday Inn London Kensington are included. From $679, round-trip flights to Edinburgh via London are included, as well as a seven-day car hire. The offer is valid for travel between June 30 and November 29.
Other Airlines’ promotions:
Aer Lingus of Ireland is offering up to $200 off economy prices and $300 off business class fares from the United States to destinations throughout Europe through Tuesday, November 30.
Fiji Airways: Promotional tickets from Los Angeles (starting at $799), San Francisco (starting at $749), and Hawaii (starting at $649) are available until Monday, November 29.
Icelandair: Offers to hubs across Europe are on the way.
Kenya Airways (KQ):
Flights to Africa are on sale until Monday, November 29, with prices starting at $856 from New York to Accra and $692 from Boston to Nairobi.
Turkish Airlines: On Friday, November 26th, global airfare deals will begin.
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COE Jury Completes Guatemalan Coffee Competition, Despite Volcano Eruption
The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) commenced its 14th edition of the Cup of Excellence (COE) in Guatemala City, Guatemala on 4 June. When Fuego volcano erupted on 3 June villages and coffee farms were affected, however Anacafé and ACE took the decision to complete the final stage of the COE competition, which started months before and is the culmination of a great deal of hard work from farmers and all organizations involved. According to Anacafé, as of 7 June, the estimated damage caused by the eruption of the Fuego volcano affected 5,098 coffee families, directly affected 5,489 manzanas of land, losses in production are approximately 53,610 quintals of green coffee, equivalent to 1.27% of the national production of exportable coffee for the crop season 2018-19.
The panel represented markets from UK, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, Australia, and Guatemala. Farmers from all over the country submitted 175 samples, which got narrowed down to 40 samples for international week. From those coffees, 34 made it to the COE Auction, which will take place 17 July. Post-harvest processes and cultivars are represented among the 34 coffees.
Reflecting on his experience in Guatemala this year, John Thompson, head judge, says, “To see first time entrants place so high in the competition was a real joy and a reminder that farm discovery and producer visibility form the foundations of the Cup of Excellence program.” He says the 2018 competition showcased the diversity of coffee produced in Guatemala today, transparent washed process coffees form the majority and within this group traditional cultivars such as Bourbon and Caturra continue to show they can deliver complexity and nuance, while a range of Gesha cultivars shone with extraordinary clarity and elegance. “Honey and natural process coffees brought further exotic and intense flavour profiles to the list of winners and the full selection of coffees in the auction list offer an array of sensory profiles for buyers.”
The COE International jury awarded scores 90 and above to three top lots. La Reforma y Asociados, SA placed first with 90.73-point coffee from Finca La Reforma y Anexos with a washed processed Gesha. During the awards ceremony, René Pérez from the winning farm explained working in coffee is a family affair, his father worked in coffee, he works in coffee and his sons work in coffee. He decided the enter a sample the second time in eight years due to the progressing coffee crisis. They are looking for alternative coffee niches to sell good coffee to find an exit to the coffee crisis and to cover the costs of maintaining a coffee farm. The second-place winner, Wilfrido Hernán Perez scored 90.7 points from Finca El Zapote y Anexos with a washed processed Gesha. Monterroso Pineda José Roberto ranked third-place with Finca El Morito II with a washed processed Pacamara scoring 90.53 points.
Anacafé’s message to the producers who have been affected with the ash rain, is to shake the plants to remove the ash from the leaves, taking care not to remove the coffee cherry. The rain has helped to wash and release the ash and sand from the leaves of coffee trees, decreasing the damage, mainly in Yepocapa and Acatenango. It is recommended that coffee farmers irrigate, if possible, mainly in seedbeds to remove the ash that is still present and perform foliar sprays with amino acids, thereby helping coffee plants to overcome the effects of ash.
Upcoming COE 2018 auctions include: México (27 June), Honduras (3 July), Costa Rica (10 July), and Guatemala (17 July).
Alliance for Coffee Excellence is a Portland, Oregon-based non-profit global membership organization dedicated to advancing excellence in coffee. Cup of Excellence, a program which gives out the most prestigious award in coffee, has affected thousands of farmers. For more information about membership, juries and to register for the Cup of Excellence or national winning samples and their auctions, visit: allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org.


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Adobe has released updates for two products today. First it is for Adobe Camera Raw (the version that ships with CS4) which is now at 5.1. The update includes mainly improved camera support. It’s a free upgrade (links below).
Secondly, Adobe has released Lightroom 2.1 after a period available as a release candidate. Here we also have improved camera report and some performance improvements as well. It’s also available as a free update.


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Product reveals came fast and furious at CES 2012, but about the only thing missing from these announcements were proper release date details. Most companies gave the vague “upcoming months” statement, leaving tech geeks like us a bit high and dry. Luckily there’s this thing called the Internet, which is prime stomping ground for leaks – and this one is juicy.
A Nokia developer newsletter has started to make the rounds, pegging the AT&T-bound Lumia 900 to hit in March. More specifically, PocketNow says, March 18. If you remember, the Lumia 900, “designed with U.S. in mind,” was announced by Nokia CEO Stephen Elop only a few days ago. The device runs Windows Phone 7.5, and will be available exclusively on Ma Bell’s network.
More details are sure to hit soon as Mobile World Congress is set to get underway at the end of February in Barcelona. Expect a confirmed launch date to be announced then, if not sooner.


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Rochester-area health care startups are eager to bring new medical technologies and devices to market. The young companies, however, face an uphill climb.
“The climate overall for medical device startups—the one word I would use is ‘challenging,’” says Michael Riedlinger, manager of the Rochester BioVenture Center at High Tech Rochester, a technology firm incubator.
The hurdles are many—and high. After creating a new medical device, startups have to obtain the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval for its use with patients. They may also have to meet insurers’ guidelines to demonstrate the device’s value as a means of maintaining or improving health, as well as convince them to reimburse patients for its purchase.
Finally, they have to market their product to the medical community and patients. As a result, the process of developing and marketing a new medical device is often both lengthy and expensive.
“To successfully bring it to market requires millions of dollars and many years of sustained effort,” Riedlinger says.
Despite such hurdles, some local startups are developing, testing and even manufacturing new medical devices.
Ovitz Corp. CEO and founder Felix Kim came up with an idea for the EyeProfiler in 2013 while doing undergraduate research toward his optics degree at the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute. The portable, battery-operated device allows an optometrist to measure a patient’s vision when it is held before the person’s eyes.
“(It) can give you a prescription for your eyeglasses,” explains Kim, who graduated this year with a degree in optics. “Just one click, and that’s it.”
EyeProfiler is about half the size of a phone book and has a pistol grip. Because it does not need the bulky, expensive equipment and boxes of lenses now found in optometrists’ offices, the device could be used to bring better eye care to those in rural areas and Third World countries.
“Many people (are) going effectively blind, just because of their uncorrected vision errors,” Kim says.
Ovitz, which opened its doors at the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center in West Henrietta in 2013, has tested the prototype EyeProfiler with a small group of subjects. Kim says the device is provisionally patented, and his firm is preparing to conduct more extensive tests.
Pittsford startup PharmAdva LLC also has a new device in the works, called Dosemgr. If all goes as planned, older adults will have a new means of keeping track of their medications within a few years.
“It stores and sorts pills and prepares doses,” says Jonathan Sacks, CEO, chairman and co-founder of PharmAdva. “Those doses are dispensed automatically to patients.”
Dosemgr—short for dose manager—is geared toward patients over the age of 65 who need to take multiple medications, but have trouble remembering to take them, Sacks says.
Shaped like a 10-inch cube, the device can be loaded with 90-day supplies of up to 16 medications, each of which is kept in its own bin. Dosemgr can read the bar codes from pill bottles and open the appropriate bins for loading.
Once Dosemgr is loaded, the patient or a caregiver can use its touchscreen to program it to dispense the drugs as scheduled. At the appropriate time, the device issues a pre-recorded verbal message reminding the patient to take the medication and dispenses it.
When a patient does not take drugs as scheduled, the Dosemgr notifies the patient, caregiver or both via text message, phone call or email, depending upon its programming. The machine also can be set to notify medical professionals caring for the patient of the missed medication.
Michel Berg M.D., associate professor at the University of Rochester and PharmAdva’s co-founder and chief medical officer, developed the technology used in the Dosemgr, Sacks says. The startup has licensed the technology from UR.
PharmAdva began testing prototype Dosemgrs in March 2013, Sacks says, and has already obtained FDA approval for the device. It plans to produce the first 50 units by December.
Thirty are on order to private individuals, and the remainder will be tested with University of Rochester Medical Center patients who have difficulty taking their medications as scheduled. The pilot program is intended to show health insurance companies the value of reimbursing patients for the purchase of Dosemgrs.
“We need to collect data to show the device reduces medical claims costs,” Sacks says.
PharmAdva expects to sell its first 1,000 Dosemgrs by October 2015, Sacks says, though the market for the devices is much larger than that.
“Our initial target is 4 million patients over the age of 65,” Sacks says.
Another UR licensed technology is helping cancer patients. Raland Therapetics, Inc.’s CytoComm Living Biosensor System helps doctors give their patients the right amounts of drugs during chemotherapy.
“What we’re able to do with this … is actually determine the body’s response biologically and allow the caregiver to adjust the chemotherapy lower or higher to make sure that it’s fully effective,” says Bill Rader, Raland’s president and CEO, who founded the firm in 2011.
Physicians currently use blood tests to estimate the amount of cancer-fighting drugs given to patients. The problem, according to Rader, is that the drugs are toxic by nature, and physicians can only estimate the proper dosage.
“Too much chemo … is toxic,” he explains. “Not enough, and it’s not really effective.”
The CytoComm is designed to give physicians a clearer picture of the effects of chemotherapy in real time, according to Rader. The system consists of a biosensor smaller than a dime and a cellphone-sized transmitter-receiver.
Live cells drawn from the patient are genetically altered to make them respond to the biological changes wrought in the body by chemotherapy. They are placed in the biosensor, which is then implanted in the patient.
“It is slipped subcutaneously into the patient,” Rader explains.
The biosensor detects the cells’ responses to the effects of chemotherapy and transmits the information to the exterior transmitter-receiver outside the body. That device wirelessly transmits the information to a private network that is accessible to physicians. Rader says the data CytoComm provides is as accurate as that found by blood tests, and it is continuously updated.
Raland’s chief medical officer, Spencer Rosero M.D., developed the CytoComm system’s technology, Rader says. Rosero is associate professor of medicine at UR.
Raland has tested CytoComm prototypes with animals; the company plans to market it for the experimental use of breast cancer chemotherapy drugs in animals in about two years. The firm plans to start testing the system with humans at about the same time. Both markets could prove lucrative.
“In humans, we’re talking a billion dollars,” Rader says.
While the markets for new health care devices and technologies appear huge, the odds of overcoming all the hurdles to them can be slim, especially for the uninformed.
“The naive person that starts off on a design—I would say just the raw odds are probably one in a 100 that they will be successful,” Riedlinger says. “The ones that understand what they are getting into, that do their homework and pay attention, it’s probably close to 50-50.”
Mike Costanza is a Rochester-area freelance writer.
10/10/14 (c) 2014 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email [email protected]


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The Bavaria-based, family-run Brennerei Schraml artisanal distillery has released its four-strong Stonewood whisky range into travel retail worldwide.
The 3, 5, 7, and 10-year-old whiskies are now available to travellers, complete with high quality gifting packaging.
Brennerei Schraml has ramped up its activity in travel retail following a ‘forced delay’ to its plans during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company appointed JES Travel Retail to provide consultancy services with regards to its expansion in the channel.
German commercial agency Gustamus is looking after key travel retail accounts in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
A new taste innovation comes in the form of the Stonewood Bairish Coffee, which combines the Stonewood Drà 5-year-old Bavarian single malt whisky with the premium Schraml Espresso Arabica liqueur under the motto ‘Whisky Meets Coffee’.
The blend was composed by Stonewood’s master distillers and offers a ‘keen sense of balance’ to mark the brand’s first whisky liqueur.
In addition, Brennerei Schraml’s five-year-old Stonewood Drà Bavarian Single Malt Whisky has recently been named a finalist in the consumer-voted Global Travel Retail Awards, organised by TRBusiness and m1nd-set, in the ‘Best Spirits Product’ category.
“It was a great honour to be recognised for the Stonewood 5 year old Drà and we look forward to attending the gala event in France during October,” said Owner Gregor Schraml.
The winners will be announced on Monday 3 October 2022 at a glamorous seated dinner ceremony at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes, during the TFWA World Exhibition. (Early bird tickets are available until 12 September 2022).
Brennerei Schraml is located in Germany’s Alte Propstei in Erbendorf, Bavaria, on the site of a former Benedictine monastery and presbytery that lays claim to the oldest whisky distillery in the country.
The distillery has been owned by the Schraml family for 200 years – it was opened in 1818 by Johann Baptist Schraml (1790-1839) – and has been overseen by six generations to date.
The Stonewood brand takes its name from the neighbouring Steinwald mountain range, which directly translates to Stonewood, a revered nature park.
With Germany hosting the UEFA football championships across the country in 2024, the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in 2023 and the annual Oktoberfest taking place in Brennerei Schraml’s home state of Bavaria, the company has ‘multiple plans to support the travel retail sector over the next 12 months’.


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Even before Steve Jobs concludes one of his legendary keynotes, the grousing begins. This time has been no different.
Too many Apple fans get caught up in the pre-keynote hype, rumors and wish lists that build expectations for extremely cool but utterly unlikely wonder-toys. Disappointment is almost a given.
People wanted a 3G iPhone – they didn't get it. People wanted a WiMax-enabled touch screen mini-laptop, but got only the MacBook Air. People wanted to be blown away by another game-changing product like last year's iPhone.
Wall Street has also given the keynote a thumbs-down, slicing $9.74 from AAPL yesterday and so far another $8 today, leaving the stock hovering at $160.
I have been amused over the past few days by frequent glowing references to the 2007 MWSF keynote, which -- benefiting from the hindsight of the iPhone's success -- is considered a classic.
Lest we forget, many Mac faithful were distraught over the absence of Mac news in last year's keynote. Yesterday Jobs gave us a new Mac laptop and new hardware to back up our Macs. Just last week he gave us new pro desktops and servers.
Most of the discontent on what Jobs did announce has centered on the MacBook Air. Critics don't like its sealed, non-user-replaceable battery, its lack of an optical drive, its lack of Ethernet and FireWire ports, its slower CPU (well, slower than a regular MacBook's). Sure it's thin, but it's still too wide and long, they moan. Australia's APC magazine actually posted article listing the top 10 things wrong with the new MacBook.
The new MacBook Air
A few have defended the MacBook Air, noting it is not positioned as a primary machine but as a highly portable companion to a more powerful Mac. It won't be for everyone. But it will have a constituency.
Disenchanted Apple fans weren't the only ones finding fault; several media pundits weighed in as well with a negative take on yesterday's events in San Francisco.
Perhaps the worst example was Lance Ulanoff of PC Magazine, who interprets the keynote's dearth of paradigm-changing products as evidence that Apple has become a tech follower, not a leader.
An ultra-portable notebook, online video rental, a networked backup storage device have all been done, he writes. "There isn't an iPhone in the bunch," Ulanoff yawns.
Of course, that's what the "experts" said one year ago when Jobs introduced the iPhone. There were plenty of smart phones out there already. Apple was late to a crowded market and would get eaten alive. Yesterday Jobs noted that the iPhone had snapped up 19.5 percent of the smart phone market in its first quarter of availability.
Ulanoff undercuts the new iTunes Movie Rental service with the same "others are already doing it" argument. Coupled with the new Apple TV software (the hardware remains the same), Apple appears to have an end-to-end digital video download solution brewing that could someday rival its iTunes-iPod digital music behemoth. It's a big deal.
Others may offer movies over the Internet, but no one combines all the pieces the way Apple does. No one has this kind of integration between the Internet, your computer and your TV, much less offers multiple options for viewing purchased content. Who else can put a rented movie on your iPhone and your HDTV?
True, this year's keynote did not have an iPhone to dominate it. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that while there was less flash, there was more substance. Don't be surprised if the pre-Macworld speculation next year dwells on whether Jobs' 2009 keynote will be as crammed with as many juicy announcements as the 2008 edition.


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Good story about the Yahoo and Bing merger and how they are rushing to try and meet the fall deadline. Very soon the results at Yahoo will change and Bing will be providing the search results to YAHOO, SO its a good idea to get your legal website ranked well at Bing because it will then carry over to Yahoo and you should see an increase in traffic.
Just two years ago, Yahoo spent $79 million to rebuff a hostile takeover from Microsoft and preserve its independence. Now, a big part of Yahoo’s future prosperity depends on how well it can join arms with Microsoft on a high-risk, high-reward technical project.
Yahoo and Microsoft are racing to meet a fall deadline for launching their joint venture to collaborate on Internet search, an effort by the former rivals to try to narrow the gap with their much stronger, common foe: Google.
The effort — including the retraining of hundreds of Yahoo salespeople to sell ads for both companies, and a conga line of about 400 engineers who are relocating from Yahoo to Microsoft offices in Silicon Valley; Bangalore, India; Burbank; and Redmond, Wash. — needs to be complete by mid-October if the two companies hope to have the show up and running before the start of the holiday season, the critical make-or-break period for advertisers and publishers.
At stake in the joint venture, Yahoo executives say, is the company’s ability to become an innovative force in search again — something Yahoo acknowledges it can no longer afford without its partnership with Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The 10-year partnership has Bing providing the underlying results of Yahoo searches, with Yahoo retaining control of how those results are displayed.
But outside observers say more than just Yahoo’s reputation in search is at stake. Considering the revenue and traffic represented by Yahoo’s 3.1 billion U.S. monthly search queries, the search partnership represents a critical gamble by new CEO Carol Bartz to grab a bigger piece of the search revenue pie. During the first half of 2010 compared with last year, Yahoo’s search ad revenue declined by 11 percent, or $84 million, to $674 million, even as the economy improved. Both Bartz and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer have made the search transition a top priority for both companies, executives say.
“Really, there is a tremendous amount at stake here for both players,” said Laxmi Poruri, an analyst with Primary Global Research. “There are search engine advertisers out there who are eager for this. They want to spend more money on Yahoo and Bing. The problem is these guys (individually) aren’t getting enough traffic for them.”
If the companies miss the mid-October deadline, they say they will be forced to delay the switch in the United States and Canada until 2011, sacrificing the lucrative holiday advertising season. But Poruri said Yahoo also is under pressure in the long run to continue to generate search traffic for Bing. “If the technology is a disappointment or the traffic acquisition is a disappointment, then Microsoft will go somewhere else to get that traffic,” Poruri said.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo executives say the switch-over is going as well as could be expected, and Yahoo says that all of its search traffic, apart from paid search, could be powered by Bing as soon as the end of August. Still, Mark Morrissey, the Yahoo senior vice president in charge of the company’s transition team, said engineers are sometimes pulling 48- to 72-hour stints to hit key milestones.
“I can tell you, far and away, this is the most complex logistical and technical thing I have ever been a part of,” said Morrissey, who also handled Yahoo’s switch to new systems for its paid search ads and display ads.
“All our day jobs are really that at this point,” said Satya Nadella, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Online Services Division.
The Yahoo-Microsoft alliance represents an unprecedented effort by two former competitors to join forces, but it has become increasingly necessary because of Google’s dominance. Google now provides about two-thirds of U.S. Internet searches, and an even higher share in many other countries.
Under the collaboration, Yahoo receives 88 percent of the revenue from searches done on Yahoo sites in the first five years, while saving the heavy costs of the computer infrastructure needed to crawl, index and rank the Internet. Microsoft receives the still-significant search traffic flowing through Yahoo. That is valuable because the more queries a search engine processes, the more relevant its answers, and the more extensive variety of keywords it can sell to advertisers.
Microsoft’s costs for Bing have been huge. Its online services division, which includes Bing and MSN, reported a $2.36 billion loss in fiscal 2010. Meanwhile, Bing gained 4.7 percentage points in market share in its first year, to 12.7 percent of U.S. searches, according to comScore.
Yahoo says its long-term ability to build innovative search products hinges on the collaboration.
“It’s not about the transition,” Morrissey said. “It’s about the future of search, and where we want to go.”
With Yahoo’s share of U.S. searches dipping below 20 percent in recent years, few see Yahoo as a search leader anymore. But Shashi Seth, Yahoo’s new chief of search, says that is about to change. Seth says the collaboration with Microsoft will give Yahoo the resources to develop new kinds of search products that could mimic the serendipity of browsing a newspaper, a sense of surprise and discovery rarely found in the blue hyperlinks of a conventional search query.
One example, Seth says, are Yahoo’s plans to begin offering the “Trending Now” box on its home page to other websites, probably in the next two or three months. Yahoo updates the Trending Now box every few hours based on an analysis of its search traffic, but the featured topics are tailored to users based on geographic location and Web history, so different users see different trending topics.
“The goal is to get users to discover things that they never would have thought about,” said Seth, a former Google executive who arrived at Yahoo in February. “It’s a completely new kind of search experience, one where the user didn’t ask for anything.”
Others are also racing to offer new ways for people to search. Facebook and Ask.com recently introduced new “social search” features that allow users to ask questions of actual people, rather than just query a computer algorithm.
“We think as the social web continues to explode, this is only going to get bigger and bigger,” said Scott Garell, president of Oakland-based Ask Networks.
Some at Yahoo have been frustrated with the more centralized and hierarchical management structure at Microsoft. But despite their history as hostile competitors — Yahoo disclosed that it spent $79 million in 2008 on lawyers and “outside advisers” to respond to Microsoft’s unsolicited takeover bid — executives say the main challenge is the technical difficulty of the project.
“We’re mutually codependent,” Morrissey said, “on each other’s success.”
1 thought on “Yahoo, Bing Race to Meet Deadline for Joint Search Engine Venture”
Pay per Click or PPC is a system of advertising on the Internet whereby the advertisers only pay for their advertisements when an Internet user actually clicks on their Ad. By bidding on certain keywords, you can have your Ad appear when those keywords are used in an internet search.


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This week Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi castigated Soweto residents who went on the rampage, pillaging and looting spaza shops belonging to foreigners after accusing them of selling “fake” or expired foodstuffs.
Motsoaledi said food on the shelves after its best-before date was not expired food and could still be eaten.
However, the problem of selling expired food products seems to be widespread and not confined to spaza shops in the township, as Vusi Nxumalo - who bought sachets of nuts that had expired on June 25 from a Shell outlet in Witkoppen Road near Fourways - would attest.
Nxumalo, 37, took them back and demanded a refund.
“I went there last week to fill up petrol and decided to buy those nuts. I use them as refreshments for clients in the office. But along the way I decided to open one and it tasted nasty. So I checked the date and realised they had expired two months ago,” he said.
The Shell fuel station is a retail partner with the Spar Group, which buys goods from Tiger Brands.
The store manager France Sebuelo blamed his staff for being negligent.
“Maybe someone forgot to replace those nuts on that day, and the customer should have called the Spar Group instead of calling the media. But I would like to apologise to him,” he said.


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Australian FinTech Parpera has raised $800,000 in crowdfunding campaign held on the platform Equitise.
Last week proved to be good week in terms of FinTech investment, with the rounds revealing the state of CyberTech and InsurTech.
Despite some concerns about what it could mean for competition, the FinTech sector is seemingly happy about the announced merger between Crowdcube and Seedrs.
Over the past seven days we have reported on 27 big FinTech deals. So why not take a closer look at what they mean for the industry.
Leading crowdfunding platforms Crowdcube and Seedrs are going to merge in a new deal, creating one of the world’s arguably largest private equity marketplaces.
Automatic savings app Chip has collected £10.7m via Crowdcube and the government-backed Future Fund.
Chip aims to raise £10m on Crowdcube
Crowdfunding platform Seedrs has launched as secondary market, which will enable startups to hold off on going public a little longer. However, it's not alone in doing so.
Australian banking FinTech Parpera is looking to raise AUD$800,000 ($574,800) on crowdfunding portal Equitise.
Crowdfunding platform Crowdcube has launched a new product called the Direct Community Offer (DCO), aimed at enabling later-stage startups to raise liquidity for early investors without going public.


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Fri, 22 Mar 2019 01:00
Six-race series to promote sports tourism - and Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways has announced the third Bangkok Airways Boutique Series: 6 races to be staged in 6 different destinations around Thailand in 2019.
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:24
Aiyawatt named in list of world's richest 20 sports team owners
The list of the world’s richest sports team owners was published on Wednesday – and while American franchises still dominate the top 20, the English Premier League is starting to make its presence felt.
Mon, 18 Mar 2019 18:58
E-game competition launches in Thailand backed by DTAC and Garena
The “Free Fire Thailand Championship 2019” has been launched by DTAC and Garena (Thailand) to help drive Thai gamers and e-sports to international stage, while also highlighting special offers for DTAC customers.
Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:00
AIS dreams of making eSports ’the pride of Thailand’
Telecoms company AIS has announced plans to support the eSports industry in any way it can, creating opportunities and enhancing the potential for Thai gamers to make the step-up to professional level and compete globally.
Wed, 13 Mar 2019 12:37
BMW uncloaks largest X-series SAV to date
BMW Group Thailand is raising the bar of the modern luxury Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) experience for Thai motorists with the launch of the first BMW X7 M50d, fusing presence, exclusivity and spaciousness.
It’s a new take on the SAV segment with outstanding dimensions and notably enhanced performance.
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 06:26
Man Utd fan stabbed by Paris taxi driver after PSG victory - report
A Manchester United fan underwent surgery after being stabbed by a taxi driver following the English club's stunning Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain, Sky Sports reported Thursday.
Wed, 06 Mar 2019 01:00
A timepiece for the deep
Swiss watchmaker Longines turns its attention of the fascinating world of aquatic sports with the launch of the new models in its iconic Hydro-Conquest collection and bringing actor Mario Maurer on board as the new Friend of the brand in Thailand.
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 01:00
Need that sporting edge? See JD Sports
JD Sports has an exciting new range of footwear and sporty attire at its Bangkok outlets at Iconsiam and Mega Bangna.
Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:55
Pounding the pavements without pain
Asicstiger has revived its classic design for the HyperGel-Lyte lifestyle footwear that combines advanced sports performance technology with all-day comfort and a lightweight ride.
Mon, 04 Mar 2019 07:00
Navratilova sorry for transgender 'cheat' claim
Martina Navratilova on Sunday apologised for describing transgender athletes wishing to compete in women's sports as cheats.
Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:57
Tak shows off new Bt200m sports stadium
Residents of five border districts in Tak have a new stadium where they can play sports and exercise.
Wed, 27 Feb 2019 01:00
E-sport emerges as new sector
THAILAND shows strong potential to become a hub for e-sport activities in Asean, said Chrisada Chiaravanond, president of E-sports Thai Leagues, the local umbrella organisation for e-sports in Thailand.
Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:03
DORNA Sports SL and ITDC announce their partnership
DORNA Group and ITDC jointly announce the signing of two separate Promoters’ Contracts namely for the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, more commonly referred to as the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, as well as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.
Thu, 21 Feb 2019 13:49
Apology for disabled woman over mall parking incident
A security guard and a mall executive have apologised to a wheelchair-bound woman whose motorcycle and sidecar were removed from a mall parking space for the physically disabled, to make way for a sports car and its able-bodied driver.
Mon, 18 Feb 2019 01:00
You can’t use a man’s body to compete against women
Re: “Semenya treated as ‘biological male’”, Sport, February 15.


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Ukraine poultry producer MHP is set to invest €35 million to expand production capacities in Serbia, Victoria Kapelyushnaya, the chief financial officer of MHP, told local press. MHP is building new production facilities in this country, the first of which has already been finished, she added.
The Serbian project is expected to be part of the company’s push aimed at expanding its European business. Kapelyushnaya said that MHP also decided to invest an additional €10 million to expand the production capacities of PerutninaPtuj in Croatia.
MHP acquired Slovenian-based poultry integrator PerutninaPtuj in February 2019 for €273 million. In 2020, Anastasiya Sobotyuk, Director of Investor Relations at MHP, told Poultry World that the company planned to invest in modernisation, cost optimisation, and expansion of production assets at PerutninaPtuj during the next 3-4 years.
Part of MHP investments in the European countries is provided by subsidies from local governments, Kapelyushnaya said. MHP keeps expressing interest in new acquisitions in the European poultry industry, she added.
In addition, MHP is currently running a tender and negotiations to launch its first project in Saudi Arabia, Kapelyushnaya said, not providing any further details.
Yuri Kosyuk, the owner of MHP, earlier said that the company mulls more investments in the market it considered most promising, which are Europe and the Middle East.
MHP doubled earnings from poultry by-product processing
In January 2021, MHP’s EBITDA in poultry by-product processing increased by 88.8% compared to the same period of 2020, the company said in a statement. Find out more…
MHP has posted a net profit of US$1 million in the first quarter of 2021, as compared to a net loss of US$174 million in the first quarter of 2020, the company said in its quarterly report. MHP’s consolidated revenue remained stable and amounted to US$447 million, a 1%-increase compared to the same period last year.
Revenue from export sales in the first quarter of 2021 was 49% of total revenue and amounted to US$216.5 million. In 2020, this figure was slightly higher, standing at 53%.
Several outbreaks of avian influenza in Ukraine during the first quarter of 2021 caused temporary cessation of exports from Ukraine to the EU, MHP said. High grain costs also appeared to be a challenging factor this year.
In the first quarter of 2021, Perutnina Ptuj’s poultry production facilities produced 24,662 tonnes of chicken and turkey meat, 3% higher year-on-year, while poultry sales constituted 16,042 tonnes, 6% up year-on-year, driven by increased production of chicken meat following expansion at facilities in Croatia and Serbia.
Perutnina Ptuj’s meat-processing facilities produced 9,393 tonnes of various products, 14% higher year-on-year, while sales constituted 9,206 tonnes, pretty stable year-on-year, the company added.


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AORTECH’S new finance director is Eddie McDaid, former non-executive director at the biomedical technology specialist.
A chartered accountant, he was one of the co-founders of the company in 1992 and has previously served as chief executive and latterly chairman, before re-joining the board as a non-executive director in 2005.
Chief executive Frank Maguire said: “This appointment formalises a role [Eddie] has taken on with increasing energy and involvement as the business has grown and prepares itself for the next chapter.”
Cowgill Holloway and Warings Business Advisors have merged, with a range of growth plans in the North West put in place
Accountancy Age Jobs is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new look website for finance and accountancy professionals
The UK gender pay gap will not close until 2069 unless action is taken to tackle it now, according to new research by Deloitte
Three former Tesco executives, including the former finance director of Tesco UK, have been charged with fraud by the Serious Fraud Office in relation to a £263m accounting scandal at the retailer.


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Following BTS‘s James A. Van Fleet Award acceptance speech on October 9, which mentioned the Korean War, Chinese netizens came to criticize the group for “being insensitive“.
In his speech, RM spoke of the “70th anniversary of the Korean War” and commemorated “the sacrifices of countless men and women.”
The speech triggered a string of reactions on Twitter and other social media platforms, calling out BTS for “hurting the Chinese fans’ feelings” and “negating history“.
South Korean boy band #BTS is strongly condemned on #China's social media for their speech after receiving James A. Van Fleet Award. Chinese netizens said the band's totally one-sided attitude to the #KoreanWar hurts their feelings and negates history. pic.twitter.com/NaycIBzJwH
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) October 11, 2020
While Big Hit Entertainment is still yet to respond, the criticism has now reportedly led to brands like Samsung China and FILA China take noticeable action. For one, Samsung China has apparently removed its BTS-related product, the Galaxy S20+, from the official website…
#SamsungChinaBTS Bloggers discovered that Samsung China is currently taking down all BTS-related products. This attitude is upright.
— Weibo User
… and FILA China has also removed its previous BTS-related posts from its official Weibo account. The brand’s announcement of the group’s endorsement (left) has now been deleted (right), yielding in a “No Result Found” page.
Chinese netizens have trended “FILA’s official Weibo clears out all BTS related content” and “Samsung China BTS” at #21 and #27…
… as they remain disappointed and pushing for an apology.
BTS is over.
— Weibo User
Watch BTS’s James A. Van Fleet Award acceptance speech here:


text: Professional basketball player Wilson Chandler—a forward for the Denver Nuggets—explained that his mostly vegan diet is behind his triumphant return to the NBA. Chandler appeared in a new video created by vegan wellness resource Sentient Fitness. The athlete began transitioning to a plant-based diet in 2016 after researching veganism by watching documentaries and became concerned about his health and how farmed animals are treated. “Especially in the black community, a lot of the things we eat affect us,” Chandler said before linking animal-based foods to diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. The forward credits his ability to wake up refreshed, recover faster from injury, and high-energy levels, and a newly found clear-mindedness to his vegan diet—which he is still fine-tuning. “Finding food on the road is the biggest problem for me,” Chandler said and revealed that his favorite vegan restaurant is Detroit Vegan Soul.


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In the latest move in a months-long takeover battle, Men's Wearhouse said Thursday it was willing to raise its bid to acquire rival Jos. A. Bank.
Men's Wearhouse, which previously offered $57.50 a share, said in a letter to the Jos. A. Bank board of directors that it was "prepared to increase [its] offer price if you can demonstrate or we can discover additional value through discussions or limited due diligence."
The two menswear retailers have been engaged in efforts to aquire each other since October, when Jos. A. Bank offered to buy Men's Wearhouse for $2.3 billion. That offer was rejected by Men's Wearhouse executives who said the bid undervalued the company.
Less than two months later, Men's Wearhouse turned the tables and made an offer to acquire Jos. A. Bank.
The latest move, an expert said, was an effort to entice Jos. A. Bank back to the bargaining table.
"By law, Bank has to consider any reasonable offer, but its board is free to reject any offer as inadequate," said Anthony Michael Sabino, a professor at the Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John's University. "That’s their leverage to force Men’s Wearhouse to increase any bid until JAB hears a number it likes. Put another way, today’s events constitute the 'friendly bear hug,' as in getting close and hugging you until you give in."
Sabino cautioned, however, that the offer could turn into a "hostile bid" given "the stubbornness of each of the respective clothiers."
A spokesman for Jos. A. Bank declined to comment.
Men's Wearhouse shares were down 20 cents, or 0.5%, to $45.89 in midsession trading Thursday. Meanwhile, shares of Jos. A. Bank were up 33 cents, or 0.6%, to $55.19.


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HTC today announced that it has started rolling out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the HTC One for the unlocked and developer variants in the United States. The update comes less than a week after the Google Play edition One was updated to the latest version of Android.
— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) November 29, 2013
At the moment, no official change-log is available for the update. However, considering that most changes in Android 4.4 KitKat were under the hood or related to the Nexus devices, One owners should not expect a lot of new goodies.
It is nice to see the likes of Motorola and HTC update their flagship handsets to the latest version of Android in such a short period of time. With the update rolling out, HTC has also managed to keep its promise of updating the Sense variant of the One with KitKat within 30 days of the OS being released.
Got the developer edition or unlocked variant of the HTC One? It’s time to start hammering that Update now button!


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In today’s news, we will discuss the new crypto regulation going on in the world currently. Every local crypto exchange operator based in Mexico now has to acquire a permit from the Bank of Mexico.
This government of Mexico is eagerly rushing to introduce specific crypto regulations claiming that they will only pump the economic growth of the country and will make a stable position for cryptocurrency on the market.
Once the permit is acquired, crypto exchanges will be able to provide fiat liquidity to all customers guaranteed by the Bank of Mexico. In order to acquire one first, every digital currency business has to go through a procedure only to prove the business’ legitimacy and way of work. Each company then has to give a detailed plan to the Bank of Mexico where they will describe all operations and activities. If the companies don’t meet the standards, the bank won’t provide liquidity to them saying that this way they will prevent money laundering.
Companies that are doing crypto business are now facing a lot more scrutiny because every single payout will be a subject to validation and later checked by the government. For now, the permit issuance is closed for new crypto businesses but in March 2019, the Mexican government plans on issuing a new set of fintech regulations.
The reason for the new set of regulations is said to be the increase in trust by the investors. The founder of the local crypto exchange Cubobit says that by introducing strict crypto regulations, the government will strengthen the confidence in digital currencies.
DC Forecasts is a leader in many crypto news categories, striving for the highest journalistic standards and abiding by a strict set of editorial policies. If you are interested to offer your expertise or contribute to our news website, feel free to contact us at [email protected]


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Technology from Tyneside is to help families in West Africa.
Bosses at Slaters Electricals Ltd have clinched three orders totalling more than £72,000 as a result of a trade mission to the continent.
The company, which specialises in the supply of new and refurbished power equipment and transformers, went to Lagos, in Nigeria, and Accra, in Ghana, to land the contracts.
Mark Simblett, technical sales engineer at Slaters, of Blaydon, Gateshead, said the company had found an agent in Ghana who landed an order on its behalf with the local electricity company for switchgear maintenance equipment.
Another contract is from an international manufacturing company for an 11,000 volt switchgear panel to extend an existing switchboard in Lagos.
The third order, worth more than £50,000, is for the supply and delivery of high voltage switchgear to an electrical plant.
Mr Simblett added: "We're thrilled with the success we've had so far. The assistance we received from our international trade adviser was excellent.
"We're now planning to take part in another mission this September to Lagos, Accra and also to Freetown, in Sierra Leone.
"The idea is to keep in touch with people and see if we can get more customers."
John Armstrong, Trade Partners UK's international trade adviser at Business Link Tyne and Wear, said: "The West Africa markets are notoriously difficult. But Slaters Electricals has proved that, with the right advice and support, companies in the region can successfully do business there."


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New York’s long-lost plastic bag ban is finally due to begin Monday, state officials said.
Approved in March 2019, the ban is due to take effect March 1 this year but lasted several months as a lawsuit filed by Long Island plastics manufacturer Poly-Pak Industries ended in Albany Supreme Court – until it is often. in August.
Last month, the judge gave the green-light for a ban on moving as long as a businessman has notices that it is coming.
The law prohibits bags in supermarkets and grocery stores with exceptions – for baggies used for pharmacy prescriptions, fruits and vegetables, and to wrap meat or fish.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation will issue warnings to traders for a first offense, but plans to impose a $ 250 fine for second hours and a $ 500 quote for a third strike.
But the bag law is not entirely out of the woods ̵1; many new legal challenges from bodegas, supermarkets and grocery stores claiming that the law creates new financial difficulties for their businesses are still pending .
Some stores said they already had large caches of plastic bags they bought, and others said people would be forced to strap New York straps to buy their own available bags, which allowed under the law.


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Many people use dietary supplements for a variety of reasons. However, there are concerns affecting children that should be noted. A recent study reported in the Journal of Toxicology stated that calls to poison control centers about dietary supplements had increased by 50% from 2005 to 2012 and that 70% of those calls involved children under age six. More than 90% of those were unintentional.
So, if there are dietary supplements in use in your home, make sure young children cant get to them! This is one supplement to their diet they do not need!


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Yatra Online Private Limited, leading online corporate travel platform has forged an alliance with upGrad Enterprise, the B2B arm of upGrad, online higher education company to deliver advance learning and skill development for employees of its corporate clients. The EdTech major will be providing deep skilling programs that align with the client’s desired business outcomes to deliver impact at scale.
Dhruv Shringi, Co-founder and CEO, Yatra.com said, “In a tough economic climate, it is important to develop and reskill the workforce to overcome the challenges being presented. We are excited to join forces with upGrad to provide a platform to our clients who are looking to develop employees’ potential specific to their businesses or a sector. This unique partnership further paves our way to become an end to end business solution provider to our clients”.
“The unprecedented rate of technology advancement is disrupting companies and jobs everywhere. Across verticals, enterprises face barriers to this adoption due to skill-gap in their talent pool. Such barriers can be crippling, hampering business growth. Our strategic partnership with Yatra, which is absolutely first of its kind and creates a new milestone in the education industry, will be focused towards bridging this workforce skill-gap,” said Mayank Kumar, Co-Founder & MD, upGrad.
The strategic alliance will empower Yatra’s corporates and SME clientele with human-assisted learning expertise combined with cutting edge curriculum, collaboration with leading global faculty & industry experts, and an immersive online platform, thereby making them future ready.


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PA metal favorites August Burns Red have unleashed an instrumental cover of the Mariah Carey song titled “All I Want For Christmas Is You” — check it out below.
“This year, we decided to take a crack at the legendary Mariah Carey song ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’,” says lead guitarist JB Brubaker. “This turned out to be one of the most fun holidays songs we’ve ever done, and a real head spinner for me on the guitar leads. I’m proud of how it came out and think it will be a staple for people looking for a little more metal in their holiday playlists.”
The song release coincides with the recent news of the band’s new holiday live stream concert dubbed ‘Christmas Burns Red,’ which goes down December 12th — get more info HERE.
ICYMI, ABR celebrated the 15-year anniversary of their first full-length album, ‘Thrill Seeker,’ this past weekend via their successful live streamed event — check out our impressions of the stream HERE.
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Retail Sales Declined 1.0% in March, Up 2.9% YOY
Washington, DC, April 14, 2023-Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2023 were $691.7 billion, down 1.0% from the previous month, but up 2.9% above March 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total sales for the January 2023 through March 2023 period were up 5.4% from the same period a year ago. The January 2023 to February 2023 percent change was revised from down 0.4% to down 0.2%.
Retail trade sales were down 1.2% from February 2023, but up 1.5% above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 12.3% from last year, while food services and drinking places were up 13.0% from March 2022.
Related Topics:U.S. Census Bureau


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Labor Day Jam, NYC, BMX shops
Taylor Bonds by @jimmyjams_13
The news is out. The shop is back! @PoynterBros Pro Shop grand opening goes down this Saturday!
Excited and Honored to Announce that this years NORA Cup Flatland Rider of the Year will be announced at Voodoo Jam on 9.9.17 in New Orleans. Thanks to @ridebmx for trusting us with giving out this prestigious award. It will be a special night for Flatland BMX! #voodoojam#noracup #ridebmx #bmx #flatland#flatlandbmx #neworleans #nola
If your in the Central Florida area stop by Disney springs to see Scott Weaver, Chad DeGroot, Rob Nolli, and Kirk Bailey rolling around. For @bmxtrickstars
InstaVids for this week:
Moment of ZEN:
Source: Labor Day Jam, NYC, BMX shops


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Omega Launching Charitable Projects In Rio Nike Signs Shoe Deals With Towns, Russell Rousey Getting Notice From Young Adults Marketplace Roundup Adidas Reportedly Courting James Harden DraftKings Now Partners With 27 MLB Clubs NU Stops Selling Jerseys With Players' Numbers Nike Preserves Converse's Original Look Marketplace Roundup Arizona State Debuts New Adidas FB Uniforms
SBD/April 28, 2014/Marketing and Sponsorship
Published April 28, 2014
NEW BALANCE OF POWER: The AP reported New Balance is "getting a big boost from the U.S. Defense Department," which announced plans to buy $180M worth of sneakers for military recruits. New Balance Dir of Public Affairs Matt LeBretton said that the company is "one of the few" that makes a shoe meeting all federal requirements. Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox on Friday announced that the agency "will provide military recruits with the American-made footwear, rather than giving them a stipend to buy their own training shoes" (AP, 4/27).
SLIPPERY SLOPE: In Tampa, Marc Topkin reported Rays manager Joe Maddon "received a letter of reprimand from MLB saying he shouldn't wear a ski cap to the mound as he did on the last road trip." Maddon said that he "would consider wearing the ski cap in the dugout and switching to the other hat when he headed to the mound" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/26).


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U.S. stock markets traded broadly flat last week, with only the Dow Jones Industrial Average eking out a gain of 0.48%.
Otherwise, the S&P 500 closed down by 0.63% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell by 0.71%. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index ended the week 1.46% lower.
Your Smart Money Masters holdings had a mixed week. Restaurant Brands International (QSR) led the week with a 7.44% gain. Baxter International (BAX) jumped 3.46%. Paypal Holdings (PYPL) rose 0.88%.
The big news in your portfolio was in Costco Wholesale (COST), which tumbled 9.76% over the past week on news that Amazon is taking over Whole Foods.
Both Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank (DB) downgraded Costco, saying that the competitive advantage from its food business is at risk due to Amazon. DB reduced its price target for the company to $172 from $187.
Not everyone on Wall Street is jumping ship. Cowen reiterated its outperform rating and $190 price target on the belief that Costco will survive Amazon’s onslaught.
I agree with Cowen. Although the dust has yet to settle, I think this is a textbook case of a market overreaction and a buying opportunity.
BlackBerry Limited (BBRY) will release first-quarter fiscal 2018 results on June 23, before the market opens. Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 75%. In fact, BlackBerry has beaten consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 75%. Shares of BlackBerry have rallied 53.21% in the last three months.
Several of your positions fell below their 50-day moving average and are now HOLDs.
Nicholas A. Vardy


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Spedag Interfreight at the end of last year unveiled their real-time tracking solution PeriSpoor to more than 500 interested stake-holders. The innovative technology allows tracking of cargo along its journey by sea, rail and road. From or to any seaport around the world or from any location in Eastern Africa, Spedag Interfreight customers can track their goods both by mobile app and web application showing the position in real-time on google maps.
By Daniel Otto
Experts say logistics in the oil and gas industry is one of the most complex exercises yet, compared to other business, and for a country like Uganda that is just entering the oil industry, the challenges are expected to be even tougher.


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Disruptive technologies and changing content consumption habits will continue to transform the media and entertainment industry in the year ahead.
Shifts in consumers’ media consumption preferences, their demand for ubiquitous access to content, and the creation of new business models for monetizing content are among the trends to watch in the coming year, according to Gerald Belson, vice chairman and U.S. Media & Entertainment leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. He shares his insights on the unprecedented transformation taking place in the sector.
What is the biggest challenge facing the media and entertainment industry in the coming year?
Belson: While the specific forces at play are constantly evolving, the pressures and opportunities associated with digital content distribution and consumption continue to present the biggest challenges. Rarely has industrywide business transformation occurred with the speed and impact we’re seeing today in media and entertainment. The industry is in one of those rare moments when traditional and new business models coexist. Throughout this transformation, a significant percent of revenue continues to move from physical to digital channels across the industry.
The digital ecosystem, including mobile, substantially broadens availability and distribution options for content. Smartphones and tablets directly contribute to this shift and increasingly influence where and how media and entertainment companies deliver content. Almost limitless access to media is forcing the industry to move away from a long-held model in which television, network, and cable programmers decide what viewers will see and when. Consumers are making it clear they will have a voice in choosing when they view content.
What trends might disrupt “business as usual” in 2014?
Demand for entertainment content has never been greater. But with so many different channels and ways to produce it, consumers are becoming increasingly selective about what they buy vs. rent. In general, their preference is moving more toward rental/streaming options, as opposed to purchasing outright. When they do purchase, consumers want to buy content one time and be able to view it on any platform, on any device, at any time. This desire is reflected in the growing number of multiplatform offerings but, overall, multiplatform remains an evolving and somewhat challenging model for media and entertainment companies to pursue. For example, delivering content across platforms requires supporting a variety of different device types, manufacturers, and operating systems. Media and entertainment companies should also answer significant intellectual property rights questions, such as how to track and manage the content, where content resides post-purchase, and how to manage copy protection.
The media and entertainment ecosystem comprises many players, including content creators, physical and digital content distributors, storage and telecom service providers, and intellectual property managers. Industry incumbents will have to make the most of their existing assets, offerings, and processes, compete in newer channels, and develop a business model that capitalizes on increasing demand for content across platforms—without compromising profitability.
What are some steps media and entertainment companies can take to foster innovation and/or growth?
First, they can take advantage of new channels and technologies without abandoning traditional offerings. People will continue to immerse themselves in top-shelf programming on 70-inch HDTVs, even as they enjoy watching shows on a 7-inch tablet.
Content creators tell us they look to tailor content to specific platforms. For example, tablets, one of the fastest growing video platforms, are excellent devices for viewing long- or short-form content, as they often have higher resolution screens than even high-definition flat panel TVs. However, because tablets are inherently interactive devices, they offer the opportunity for a different, more interactive viewing experience than traditional TVs.
A related example is revealed in Deloitte’s State of the Media Democracy survey, which identified that more than 80 percent of U.S. consumers multitask while watching TV. Most of this multitasking involves another device (e.g., smartphone, laptop, or tablet). The findings suggest viewers’ attention wavers between the television and a second screen. Consumers’ fractured TV viewing habits provide media and entertainment companies with an opportunity to create more integrated viewing experiences that blend platforms and take advantage of the second screen’s interactive capabilities. This opportunity could be particularly beneficial to advertisers.
Another area that showcases the potential for continuing innovation is digital education. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are emerging as a transformative force in expanding learning worldwide, from kindergarten to the workplace. Opportunities exist for players both within and new to the education market to participate in content development, distribution, and infrastructure deployment.
About Deloitte Insights
Deloitte Insights for CIOs couples broad business insights with deep technical knowledge to help executives drive business and technology strategy, support business transformation, and enhance growth and productivity. Through fact-based research, technology perspectives and analyses, case studies and more, Deloitte Insights for CIOs informs the essential conversations in global, technology-led organizations. Learn more