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Negotiations for labor deal likely will be tougher than with Ford
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
GM and CAW negotiators will start official bargaining Thursday. GM spokesman Stew Low says the company wants to ensure it receives the same level of savings achieved at Ford. (J.P. Moczulski / Associated Press)
The Canadian Auto Workers this week begins a push to convince General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to agree on a labor pact that mirrors the deal adopted with ease by Ford Motor Co., four months before it was set to expire.
But talks may prove tougher for the Dearborn automaker's crosstown rivals.
Even as Ford touted the CAW deal reached last week as a big money saver, industry analysts said the pact will prove too costly for GM and Chrysler, companies that have a larger portion of their North American production in Canada than Ford. The union says its pact with Ford will keep labor costs essentially the same as they are now.
"This puts GM and Chrysler into a difficult spot," Dennis DesRosiers of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants in Richmond Hill, Ontario, wrote in a research note on the Ford-CAW deal. "Both these companies were looking for the CAW to give back a lot more than this contract ended up giving up so they are going to be very disappointed."
The Canadian auto industry is under pressure to slash costs after years of boasting cheaper labor relative to the United States. A weak U.S. dollar and last year's cost-cutting labor deals between Detroit's Big Three and the United Auto Workers have cut the cost of building cars and trucks in the United States.
Negotiators from GM and the CAW already are in disagreement over some of the financial data that sets the groundwork for negotiations, CAW President Buzz Hargrove said. Despite the differences, he said, the two sides agreed to start official bargaining Thursday.
GM spokesman Stew Low said GM is analyzing Ford's deal. The automaker, he said, wants to ensure it receives the same level of savings achieved at Ford, which may call for variances in the agreements because the companies have significant differences in their operations.
"We want to ensure that the economics translate at least as well as they did for Ford," Low said.
Chrysler, CAW set up talks
Chrysler and the CAW meet today to discuss a framework for negotiations.
"We will continue our ongoing dialogue with the CAW behind closed doors, rather than provide guidance on the potential status of negotiations prematurely," Chrysler spokeswoman Mary Beth Halprin said Monday.
Hargrove said he expects GM and Chrysler to agree to deals similar to the one at Ford. The CAW said its membership voted 78 percent in favor of the pact on Sunday. About 9,000 CAW workers work for Ford in Canada.
GM has about 15,000 hourly Canadian employees and six factories; Chrysler has 7,900 hourly workers in three factories.
"Most of us just want to hold on to something close to what we have now," said Pete Papineau, a 27-year-veteran machinist working at GM's Windsor transmission plant.
Hargrove said the Ford deal puts the cost of hourly labor and benefits at $67 (in U.S. dollars) an hour in Canada, compared with $60 an hour for the U.S. hourly work force represented by the UAW. Canadian plants are 10 percent more productive on average than U.S. factories, he said, which makes up for the $7 difference.
"A big deal is being made of us of having this cost disadvantage," Hargrove said Monday. "We've lost more jobs than the UAW even though we've had a cost advantage for years."
But the Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research said the Ford labor deal essentially created more than a $20-an-hour labor cost advantage to the UAW over the CAW. The UAW last year agreed to take over Detroit's automakers' massive retiree obligations in the form of a union-run trust. The companies will provide the cash for the funds, but at a fraction of the cost of their obligations to retirees. The UAW also agreed to a two-tier wage system.
"The Canadian advantage has dissipated and become a disadvantage," said David Cole, chairman for the Center for Automotive Research. "You can't sustain that kind of cost differential and maintain long-term investments."
CAW deal praised by Ford
Ford touted the CAW deal as one that secures long-term savings while requiring almost no new spending.
Joe Hinrichs, Ford's global manufacturing chief, said the deal effectively freezes CAW wages and benefits. Some minor increases were largely offset by modest benefit cuts, such as the addition of a 10 percent drug co-pay, he said.
The automaker negotiated to "buy out" a week's worth of vacation, which Hinrichs said is significant because Canadian Ford workers get a lot more time off than their U.S. counterparts. Ford also can pay new hires 70 percent of base wages for three years, which the automaker will be able to benefit from immediately when it brings on 500 new workers for a third shift at the Oakville, Ontario, plant that builds the popular Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers and will soon start production of the Ford Flex, a key new vehicle.In exchange for reductions, Ford agreed to keep its St. Thomas Assembly Plant open for the life of the contract. However, the automaker did not make any new product commitments to that facility. Production of Ford's full-size sedans -- the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car -- is expected to end there in 2010.
Even with the new contract, Hinrichs said producing cars in Canada is still more costly than doing it in the United States.
GM, Chrysler see quick deal
GM and Chrysler rank-and-file workers in Windsor were cautiously optimistic Monday that Ford's deal with the CAW means a quick settlement for them.
But many are still nervous whether they can get product commitments and pension protections.
"There isn't much there not to like" in the Ford/CAW contract, said Lino Lomedico, a 17-year veteran and CAW representative at Chrysler Windsor Assembly, said of the deal. "I know there's no wage gains, but there's also no two-tier wages and (Ford) made some commitment to future products."
Getting commitments to Canadian plants is what autoworkers want to see in their contracts, many said.
"We keep getting work outsourced, so just to hear that we can keep working would be what we most want," said Janet Longmoor, who has worked eight years at Chrysler Windsor.
"I don't even think we expect the status quo. But something close to that status quo would be nice," Longmoor said.
At GM's Windsor plant, the sentiment was much the same.
"More money for co-payments on prescription medicines, OK, we can handle," said Wayne Durham, a 27-year plant veteran. "These days, it's all about job security and holding on to the pension, eh."


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T-Mobile announced pricing plans today for Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 phone. Starting April 24 on T-Mobile.com, you can order Samsung’s flagship smartphone for $149 up front and pay $20 per month for 24 months thereafter.
It’s part of T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice Plan, which separates the cost of wireless service from the purchase of a phone — no longer subsidizing the cost of the device as part of the service plan.
T-Mobile is offering similar payment plans for the iPhone 5, which the carrier just released last week. It’s part of the company’s mission to change the way consumers think about wireless service, and shake up its own business in the process. T-Mobile outlined the new strategy earlier this year and explains in this FAQ:
“Just like all other wireless carriers, T-Mobile has to charge enough to cover the cost of the phone. The difference is that, with Value Plans, T-Mobile separates the cost of the phone from the cost of the service. That means T-Mobile Value Plan customers finish paying for their phone as soon the actual cost is paid off—and their monthly bill automatically drops.”
AT&T will offer the S4 at $199 down with a two-year contract and for $639 if you don’t want a contract. Sprint, meanwhile, is selling the phone at $249 with a two-year agreement and new customers will receive a $100 credit, bringing the grand total to $149. Verizon hasn’t released pricing.
The phone will also be sold at retailers like Wal-Mart, Staples, Best Buy, Best Buy, Costco, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club and Target.
T-Mobile USA is based in Bellevue.
Previously on GeekWire: T-Mobile customers wait in line, swap Androids for iPhone 5


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It doesn’t take a statistician to see that smartphone usage is on the rise. Smartphones and other mobile devices like tablets are everywhere. People are texting on the train, looking up movie times in restaurants, and playing games whenever no one’s looking. Both children and adults spend roughly three hours per day on mobile devices. That may not be a bad thing though.
There is an increasing trend toward making learning apps fun and engaging. Some of the programs allow children to learn on their own, while others are meant for children and parents to use together. All of them encourage interaction.
That strategy seems to be working. According to the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, some 36 percent of the total time that children aged two to 10 spend on mobile devices and computers involves something their parents would consider educational. 80 percent of kids use educational apps at least once a week.
Smartphones can actually play a role in education, and for many people they are critical. They provide a safe and fun platform for parents and children. Put simply, as mobile devices have gotten smarter, so have many of their features. Kid-friendly smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge have features that give parents the ability to limit access to certain apps and restrict certain sites. If paired with a reliable network, access to these kid-friendly apps is available anytime and anywhere.
Read on to see how smartphone technology is becoming an important part of education, even for the youngest users.


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The newly passed and reformed Road Vehicle standards bill is being met with varying response by automotive industry stakeholders, but should ultimately mean more choice for Australians looking to drive an affordable electric vehicle.
It’s taken a long time for the reforms to come about – five years and an equal number of prime ministers – but once introduced in around 12 months time, the outcomes for Aussie drivers could be significant.
A new, publicly searchable Register of Approved Vehicles (the RAV) – the list of cars allowed on Australian roads – will be created under the reforms, as well as a new Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVs) Register; the list of vehicles Australians can apply to have imported.
Of particular interest to those keen to switch to an EV, the terms surrounding what is allowed to be imported into Australia as a specialist or enthusiast vehicle is being expanded to include a new category:
“Environmental – vehicles that offer environmental performance significantly superior to mainstream vehicles in Australia,” the bill states.
With a distinct lack of affordable electric vehicles on the Australian market – the first such vehicle under $A50,000 having only just been put to market by Hyundai – the reforms to the bill open up new possibilities for Australians wanting zero emission transport options.
The Australian Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (AIMVIA) has welcomed the reforms, which it says will broaden the appeal of electric and hybrid vehicles to Australian drivers, as well as make them more attainable.
Although there are about 800 vehicles on the current SEV list, only about 20 of those models have ever been brought into Australia in volumes above 20 individual vehicles.
The reforms, AIMVIA president and car importer Jack Sandher tells The Driven, are about “expanding SEVs and allowing more cars that Aussies actually want to drive.”
There’s an “interest in electric vehicles growing,” Sandher says. “In the last 12 months we’ve had a very big increase….we’ve only just brought in our first Nissan leaf, we’re behind the times in Australia.”
However, while other industry stakeholders also welcome the reforms, the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) says that it will work to make sure the changes don’t open the doors to higher numbers of “grey imports”, as used car imports are referred to.
“Following the passage of the Bill, the AADA will now focus on supporting the development of the underlying regulations to make sure that greater numbers of grey imports do not come into Australia”, said AADA CEO David Blackhall in a statement.
“Expanding the number of used cars coming into Australia is not in the public interest and we will be seeking assurances that the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle scheme (SEVs) does not allow used car imports to come in via a backdoor channel,” he said.
“The SEVs offers imported vehicles concessions against national vehicle standards and should be used for vehicles which are truly specialist and enthusiast in nature rather than used mainstream cars.”
Sandher on the other hand says that the changes are good, but they don’t go far enough – there needs to be more consumer choice, and as long as a car meets compliance and registration requirements, there should be no issue with an imported SEV on Australian roads.
Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model 3 and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.


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Spanish police arrest three people in connection with PlayStation Network breach. But given the nature of loosely organized hacking groups and the state of Sony's Web security, the company still has work to do.
Special guest Darren Kitchen from Hak5 joins us to talk through secure Wi-Fi networking, VPNs, SSL, and protecting yourself from the dreaded Firesheep.
Coalition of U.S. government agencies, tech companies, and organizations is launching first-ever public service campaign aimed at getting people to be more careful online.
Corsair recently came out with a product that takes an entirely new approach to securing flash drives.
Ten wrong passwords will erase all data.


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Lockdown meant that people were stuck in their homes for extended periods of time, but this became the perfect catalyst for Esports to boom in popularity.
The year 2020 had people spending the majority of their time at home due to lockdown and restrictions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
An increase in time spent at home naturally led to an increase in time spent on the internet, this has allowed Esports and online streaming platforms such as Twitch to grow exponentially as people search for ways to spend their time during lockdown.
HappyChimeNoises, a content creator on Twitch and YouTube, talks about how the pandemic has given many people such as himself the opportunity to start their own channel.
Not only has the amount of content creators increased over the course of the pandemic, but the numbers overall in every other aspects have also increased drastically.
As seen in the graph above, from the years 2012-2019, the numbers across the board increased steadily.
However, the numbers nearly doubled in just about every aspect during 2020, the year in which lockdown took place across the world.
This massive influx of viewers and new content creators has also attracted a wave of new endorsement deals from major brands around the world.
Locally, The NUEL, which is the biggest university Esports organiser in the UK, partnered with the clothing company Levi’s for the Winter 2020 season.
Besides sponsorships, 2020 also saw the birth of new organisations coming in to capitalise on the influx of cash injected into the industry.
Former Manchester United Legend and current owner of Inter Miami CF David Beckham has also plunged into the Esports industry by launching the Esports organisation Guild Esports.
Outside of the UK, many other world-renowned brands are also making moves by signing major endorsement deals with top Esports teams.
In 2020, BMW, one of the world’s largest producers of motor vehicles, partnered with five of the world’s top Esports organisations; the American organisation Cloud9, the British organisation Fnatic, the Chinese organisation FunPlus Phoenix, the German organisation G2 Esports and the South Korean organisation T1.
The Italian Luxury brand Gucci also stirred up the Esports community by announcing a partnership with the British Esports organisation Fnatic.
But perhaps the most shocking news came the following year when the Esports organisation TSM signed a record-breaking $210 million deal with the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, making it the largest sponsorship deal in Esports history at the time of the announcement.
With numbers still rising, some might start asking if Esports has the potential to rival traditional sports in terms of both viewership as well as endorsements.
Second year Sports Journalism student
Passionate about sports and esports


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PCCW claims 'top spender' title in August's advertising campaigns
Pushing aggressive marketing campaigns this year, telecommunications giant PCCW became Hong Kong's top advertiser in August after outspending perennial stalwarts HSBC and Mannings.
Media-monitoring firm admanGo estimated PCCW's advertising spending during that month grew 161 per cent year on year to HK$29.65 million, about HK$14 million of which was used to promote its corporate image.
'This was the first time since August 2007 that PCCW had been the city's No 1 advertiser,' an admanGo spokeswoman said yesterday.
The city's biggest telecommunications network operator, which is controlled by Richard Li Tzar-kai, was ranked 14th in advertising in August last year.
A PCCW spokeswoman confirmed that the increased advertising spending was mainly due to the carrier's corporate campaign, which had the slogan 'Today, Tomorrow, Always. Only PCCW'.
Delivered on print, online, television and outdoor advertisements, the campaign 'showed that PCCW has connected consumers in Hong Kong for decades and remains committed to strengthen that bond', the carrier's spokeswoman said.
According to admanGo, the economy's upward momentum kept marketers bullish and helped total advertising spending in Hong Kong in August reach HK$2.58 billion, up from HK$2.26 billion in the same month last year.
Campaigns by companies in the banking and investment services industry led those from other sectors in August, as their spending advanced 17 per cent year on year to HK$265.55 million.
The general improvement in the economy not only allowed PCCW to raise its profile, but also boosted sales at its core fixed-line network, broadband, pay-television and mobile network services.
First-half net profit for the carrier increased 17 per cent to HK$765 million from HK$654 million a year earlier, mostly on the back of increased advertising on Now TV, and its Netvigator broadband and PCCW Mobile services. The firm's core revenue, which excludes its property business, rose 3 per cent to HK$10.732 billion from HK$10.468 billion a year earlier.
After rival Cable TV acquired the broadcast rights for the English Premier League, Now TV responded by heavily promoting a variety of leagues and matches to soccer fans. These include Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, Japan's J League, France's Ligue 1, and the United States' Major League Soccer.
PCCW also widely trumpeted its exclusive rights to all television, internet and mobile phone-based programmes of English Premier League soccer giant Manchester United. Its partnership with the club started on July 15 with 24-hour coverage on Now TV Channel 640.
Advertising spending in the television channels segment remained strong in August, with a 35.48 per cent share worth HK$914.50 million. Newspapers received the next largest share of spending with 31.20 per cent, followed by magazines with 13.92 per cent.
Now TV, the city's leading pay-TV operator, saw its advertising revenue in August climb 130 per cent year on year, compared with 32 per cent for Cable TV, admanGo said.


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Portland natural fiber goods maker CRAiLAR Technologies is close to getting $3.5 million in subordinated convertible debentures.
26 members of Portland Fire & Rescue received layoff notices under a new budget approved by the City Council.
Portland footwear company Keen's president Mike Abbott is moving on after joining the company a month ago.
Industrial staffing agency LaborWorks opened a branch in Tigard, its 11th along the West Coast.
Portland home prices rose 12.5% in May from a year ago, and 2.2% from April.


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- A Dollar General in Indianapolis was robbed four times in three months.
- Critics say this is representative of a larger trend: that dollar stores are crime hotspots.
- The lack of staff and the fact they carry cash makes these stores more vulnerable, they argue.
On September 9, a Dollar General store in Indianapolis was robbed for the fourth time in three months. According to a local news report, the armed suspect left the store with a bag of cash but no one was hurt.
When Insider contacted the Indianapolis police department, a spokesperson confirmed the incident and said that the frequency of robberies was "not unusual" or "particularly shocking" for a dollar store in the area.
A spokesperson for nonprofit Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana told Insider that smaller convenience stores and gas stations are also often targeted.
As dollar stores have flourished across the US, people campaigning against their rise have described them as crime hotspots that put local communities and employees at risk. Their ubiquity — there are more than 34,000 dollar stores in the US — and the fact they are often located in already high-crime areas are at least partly to blame. Critics say, however, that dollar stores are uniquely more vulnerable than competitors, such as Walmart.
These critics often point to the lack of staff in dollar stores.
Dollar stores have thrived in the US in the years since the Great offering rock-bottom prices, made possible by keeping overheads, such as labor, down. Critics say the company's efforts to keep costs low has resulted in understaffing. Some stores can be operated by one or two employees at a time.by
It's therefore easier to break in and overwhelm staff, Kennedy Smith, senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), a nonprofit that advocates for community businesses, said in a recent phone conversation with Insider. She described these stores as "crime magnets."
But it's hard to determine whether they definitively attract more crime than other types of stores. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that catalogs incidents of gun crime in the US from local law enforcement and news sites, there have been more than 420 incidents involving guns at dollar stores across the US since the start of 2017.
By comparison, the GVA cataloged more than 700 incidents involving guns at the over 4,700 Walmart stores around the US since 2017. The data includes any incident with a gun that takes place in or around these stores, including Walmart's giant parking lots.
There is no comprehensive source that tracks exactly how many robberies take place inside stores, so it's not possible to directly compare the data.
However, Smith said her perception is that it's easier for someone to rob a dollar store than to rob a Walmart, which has more staff and, often, security guards that dollar stores rarely have, she said.
In a statement to Insider, a spokesperson for Dollar General said that the company has a series of safety and security protocols to protect workers and shoppers, without specifying what. The company also works closely with law enforcement in local areas, they said.
"We do not publicly comment on specifics of these [safety] measures because doing so potentially compromises the integrity of those measures and may place customers and employees at risk by providing a roadmap to could-be wrongdoers," the spokesperson said.
When Insider spoke to store manager Christy Laurence, who runs the Dollar General store on the east side of Indianapolis that was robbed four times over the summer, she said that the company was understanding of the situation, and that workers were offered a day off and counseling if they were in the store during a robbery.
Dollar General would not confirm this when contacted by Insider.
Daniel Rosenberg, director and coordinator of nonprofit Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, said that people also choose to rob these stores over, for example, a Walmart because dollar stores generally carry cash. Given that most items cost under $10, shoppers tend not to buy on card. The same is true for convenience stores and gas stations, he said.
Plus, dollar stores often have blocked-out windows, which makes it harder for workers to see who's coming in, and easier for would-be robbers to stay hidden from passersby on the street.
Ed Delaney, a state representative for Indiana, who has campaigned for years to make local lawmakers investigate the safety of working at dollar stores, said there's still no organized effort to help these workers because these stores aren't unionized and the "system doesn't pay much attention."
This might soon change – a handful of workers at a Dollar General store Barkhamsted, Connecticut, are currently pushing to unionize their store, which could pave the way for other locations to follow.
But Laurence, the Dollar General store manager, isn't convinced that it would be any better elsewhere. "It's no different from any other job," she said. "It's just business that I am in."
If you are a dollar store worker with a story to share please contact this reporter at email@example.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-4716.


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Latest Headstar email news out - join the mailing list to receive items about Accessibility and AT news
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Section One: News.
01: Low-cost refreshable Braille display set to revolutionise the market:
- A new device aims to make refreshable Braille affordable.
02: Integrate accessibility into teaching practices, says field expert:
- A call for accessibility to become part of more educational curriculums.
03: Technology company award for ‘helping kids learn’ across the globe:
- Assistive educational package given prestigious business recognition.
News in Brief: 04: Talking Tweets – Twitter gets image-descriptive; 05:
Invaluable Insights – business accessibility portal launched; 06: Tech Deadline – Tech4Good Awards closing date.
Section Two: The Inbox – Readers’ Forum.
07: Refreshing Braille – a new lease of life for people in developing countries?; 08: Virtual Viewing – can virtual reality make watching TV with a visual impairment easier?
Section Three: Special Report – ICT barriers for older people.
09: How can we keep in touch with technology?
A new academic study has explored if and how older adults with dual sensory impairment (DSI) can use assistive technology to live more independent lives. While the benefits of this technology may seem obvious, a number of barriers preventing its use remain. Two authors of the study, Kate Hamblin and Sue Yeandle, discuss what those barriers are, and what can be done to remove them.


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During the National Export Congress in Pasay City, knowledge process outsourcing firm ADEC Innovations was recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as one of the top Philippine companies. The winners were awarded based on their track record, excellence, and innovation in the delivery of services. ADEC Innovations won the Excellence Award for Services in the IT-BPM Services – Knowledge Process Outsourcing on Environmental Management Solutions. The Award for Services are bestowed on exporters who have contributed greatly to the industry and exhibited excellence in their respective fields. These awards are designed to promote excellence and inspire the whole exporting community. The DTI recognizes exporters and wishes to acknowledge their hard work. It is seen as a testament to the strong partnership between the government and the private sector in pursuit of the country’s inclusive and sustainable export development.
Outsource Accelerator is the trusted source of independent information, advisory and expert implementation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
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Outsource Accelerator offers the world’s leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing. It specifically provides the conduit between Philippines outsourcing suppliers and the businesses – clients – across the globe.
The Outsource Accelerator website has over 5,000 articles, 350+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 900+ BPO companies… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about – and engage with – outsourcing.
About Derek Gallimore
Derek Gallimore has been in business for 20 years, outsourcing for over eight years, and has been living in Manila (the heart of global outsourcing) since 2014. Derek is the founder and CEO of Outsource Accelerator, and is regarded as a leading expert on all things outsourcing.
Outsource Accelerator in the mediaSee all media mentions
- Outsourcing industry “absolutely booming”
- Outsourcing industry recovery could be starting, survey indicates
- Doom or boom faces the IT-BPM industry (part 2)
- Bright future for outsourcing
- The Chinese Antidote to a Covid-battered Philippines
- The Philippine IT BPM Industry: Your Tool for Business Recovery and Continuity
- BPO industry in Philippines seen benefitting as firms abroad cut costs due to pandemic


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GTA V Box Art To Be Revealed Later This Month
Posted on Friday, January 4 @ 16:00:43 PST by Alex_Osborn
With spring right around the corner, the launch ofGrand Theft Auto V will be here before you know it. As such, Rockstar will be unveiling new artwork and "the game's official cover later this month".
The company has also organized all ofGTA V'sartwork in a tidy little hub, which you can check out right here. The latest addition to their collection—titled "The Trunk"—has been embedded above for your viewing pleasure.
Ever since the release ofGrand Theft Auto III, Rockstar has stuck to a pretty specific collage style with its box art. Assuming that they're sticking with this style, are there any particular images that have already been released that you think demand a spot on the cover? Let us know in the comments below.
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Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor Martyr
Warhammer 40,000 Inquisitor Martyr Gamescom 2016 trailer. (1:08)
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Zombies in Spaceland Reveal Trailer. (1:42)
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Attack on Titan launch trailer. (2:02)
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LAST UPDATED : Nov 12, 2018, 12:32 PM IST
- 'Individual can set up charging station for commercial use'
The power ministry would soon bring an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure policy, which will also allow individuals to set up charging station for commercial use to boost e-mobility, said Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh Sunday.
- 'India to have 6,500 electric vehicle charging stations in next 5 years'
EV Motors India on Wednesday said it plans to set up 6,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations over the next five years in partnership with DLF, ABB India and Delta Electronics, at an investment of $200 million. The charging outlet named PlugNgo will be installed at businesses and residential complexes across cities
- Kymco, Twenty Two Motors unveil Ionex electric vehicle solution for India
Kymco's Ionex is a combination of an advanced Lithium-Ion battery pack, portable charger and a charging station. It uses two batteries, one which is removable can be charged separately while scooter can be ridden 20km with a reserve battery.
- Kia inks pact with Andhra government to drive in eco-friendly models, develop EV infrastructure
Auto maker Kia Motors India on Thursday said it has inked a pact with Andhra Pradesh government to lend its support in increasing the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) and the development of local infrastructure for such models. Kia Motors has provided the state government with three vehicles, a Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid and a Niro EV.
- Tata Power, HPCL ink MoU to set up EV charging stations
Tata Power on Thursday said it has signed a MoU with state-run oil marketer HPCL for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at HPCL's retail outlets. Both the companies have agreed to collaborate in planning, development and operation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles at suitable locations across India.
- Here's how much time rumoured Apple AirPods 2 may take to fully charge, time frame of iOS 'Dark Mode' revealed
Apple AirPods 2 is said to launch in the next few months. However, the key feature in this could be the fast charging ability. The wireless earphone is said to get charged from 0 yo 100% in 15 minutes of plugging in.


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Morningstar Learning Center to hold yard sale Sept. 8
Date night returns first Fridays
BIG SKY – Donate, sell or buy used goods, or pick through the ends for free—the Morningstar yard sale Sept. 8 will raise money for Big Sky’s day care center.
The families of Morningstar will be selling breakfast and coffee to start out the day, with all proceeds from the breakfast and sale benefiting Morningstar Learning Center.
Drop-off for donated goods is Sept. 7, said Amy Gale for Morningstar. There is also an option to sell your own for a fee, and goodwill picking up at the end of the sale. “So far we have a lot of great stuff,” Gale said, “furnishing from two homes, toys [and] clothes.”
The sale will be 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Morningstar Learning Center’s parking lot in the Meadow Village, 659 Spruce Cone Drive.
Morningstar is also bringing back its popular ‘date night’ the first Friday of every month, starting Sept. 7 from 6 – 10 p.m. Children need not be enrolled at the learning center to participate. Dinner and movies provided.
The daycare/preschool is open with a new calendar and schedule as of Sept. 5, and the school is open Monday through Friday.


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Team Develops Cheaper, Safer Way To Process Wrinkle-Free Dyed CottonOctober 01, 1998
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Processing wrinkle-free and dye-colored cotton fabric with
formaldehyde-free chemicals in one step -- saving money and reducing environmental hazards -- is potentially in the grasp of industry as a result of experiments at the University of Illinois.
Using butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) and citric acid (CA) in combination with direct dyes, a team led by Mastura Raheel has produced -- in just one step -- high-quality, smooth-drying cotton fabric in colors only slightly lower in quality than those produced using more expensive reactive dyes.
"We're doing all this in one operation," said Raheel, a professor of textiles and clothing. "We are trying to tell the industry to change to an environmentally and human-friendly procedure. While such a changeover might be expensive, our method actually dilutes the cost by mixing expensive components, such as BTCA, with cheaper ones, like citric acid, and by adding the dyeing step, using cheaper direct dyes that work well with BTCA and CA, into the same process."
Since the 1960s, the production of wrinkle-free fabric has relied on formaldehyde-containing chemicals -- since found to be potentially carcinogenic -- as finishing agents to assure smoothness and softness. The fabrics are colored with reactive dyes prior to wrinkle-free treatment to meet consumers' demands. The process allows formaldehyde release during the finishing operation and dye-filled waste to spill into the environment, and results in clothing that may cause allergic reactions.
In the August issue of the Textile Research Journal, Raheel and graduate student Chen Guo reported that BTCA replaces formaldehyde-containing chemicals effectively, and that a one-to-one ratio of BTCA to CA produced smooth cotton fabrics equal to those produced by using 100 percent BTCA. Using CA alone produced an off-color on white cotton and lower durable-press qualities.
A challenge to industry has been to find a substitute for formaldehyde-type agents, which have been successful as cross-linking (durable-press or wrinkle-free) agents for cotton fabrics. BTCA and CA are polycarboxylic acids; both are considered safe. In fact, CA is a component of citrus fruits. The researchers used cheaper direct dyes because other research has shown that reactive dyes are not compatible with BTCA.
"The traditional two-step method gives you better color effects and better depth, but we have achieved results that are almost comparable in a single step," she said. "These results are very encouraging. The color aspect of one step is not excellent, but most consumers would never be able to see the difference. The quality difference is at a technical level, not at the level of human perception."Raheel not only is recommending single-step processing, she also has been pushing for the reuse of dye. In a paper published in the July-December 1997 issue of the European journal Boletin Intexter, distributed this summer, she and U. of I. colleague Paula J. Edgcomb reported that spent dye could be reconstituted and reused with excellent results up to four times.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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FRANKFURT, Jan 18 (Reuters) - German luxury carmaker Porsche is already considering stepping up production of its new Macan compact sports utility vehicle, a German magazine said on Saturday.
Over the course of this year production at its plant in Leipzig could rise to 80,000 cars from the currently planned level of 50,000, WirtschaftsWoche reported, without citing its sources.
Porsche will start selling the Macan in April and hopes the car will help take it to a new record for sales in 2014 after global deliveries hit an all-time high in 2013 of 162,145 cars.
WirtschaftsWoche said Porsche could have global deliveries of 200,000 cars this year, a target originally set for 2018.
Market researcher IHS Automotive also expects that target could be reached this year.
A spokesman for Porsche said it was too early to think about increasing production for the Macan, given that the car only comes onto the market in April.


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Victor's Drinks is bringing a new way of home-drinking to the world with a range of make-it-yourself drinks. This exciting company is looking to change the landscape of social drinking for young people and needs great people to join the team.
Victor's Drinks is bringing a new way of home-drinking to the world with a range of make-it-yourself drinks. After 3 years of development, Victor's Drinks launched in October and is already stocked in some of the leading high street shops and supermarkets.
As the brainchild of a university student from a sleepy rural village, Victor’s Drinks has been in the pipes since way back in 2009. Officially launched in September, it’s the same team now who started back then. Having decided that off shelf drinks were boring, and home brew kits were too much hassle, we embarked upon making something that makes cider making easy. We called it easy to make cider. Everyone knows if you want something right, you have to do it yourself.


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At present, the rising crypto regulations is a highly controversial issue. Although it is still not clear exactly what sort of regulations this requires, they will likely raise a lot of debate.
During a recent interview with CNBC on July 24th, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Spoke on cryptocurrency regulation.
According to Mnuchin, regulators are likely to introduce new crypto rules and guidelines. The main objective behind this introduction is to ensure that digital currencies negative effect of the financial system is reduced.
Mnuchin said that :
“We’re looking at all of the crypto assets… We’re going to make sure we have a unified approach and my guess is that there are going to be more regulations that come out from all these agencies.”
Additionally, Mnuchin’s recent comments are bleak for those hoping that the US government will craft crypto-friendly regulations.
“I won’t be talking about bitcoin in 10 years, i assure you that. I bet even in five or six years, and won’t be talking about bitcoin as Treasury Secretary, I’ll have other priorities. Also assure you I’ll personally not be loaded up on bitcoin.”
According to Bloomberg, previously, half a dozen of US regulators have already claimed some influence and involvement with cryptocurrency regulations these regulators include the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Although Mnuchin believes that the crypto industry has no future, he believes that the US dollar will still be the dominant reserve currency in the world.
He further added saying,
“I think the dollar is the reserve currency in the world. It’s in our interest. We want to maintain it.”


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- September 7, 2022 / 7 min readDaalchini aims to clock ₹50 crores in revenues with a GMV of ₹130 crores in 12 months.
Retail-Tech startup Daalchini has raised $4 million in a Series A round led by Unicorn India Ventures.
The round also saw participation from prominent and existing investors like Artha Venture Fund, Ajay Kaul – former CEO of Dominos India, and VSS Investco – the investment vertical of Vijay Shekhar Sharma – CEO of Paytm.
So far, this is the largest round raised by a company in the smart vending segment.
“The RetailTech segment of India is going through a massive transition from its traditional physical store form to a digital one, the speed of which has been intensified by the pandemic. In this phase, Daalchini represents the best of both worlds with a ubiquitous physical presence backed by a strong technological framework that prioritizes its customers’ needs and convenience,” shared Ruchi Pincha, Investment Associate, Unicorn India Ventures.
A large part of this funding will be deployed to expand their industry footprint and further their tech capabilities. The Company wants to make its solutions asset-efficient and accessible to c10 million retail points in India and 450+ F&B D2C brands.
Founded in 2017 by ex-Paytm colleagues Prerna Kalra and Vidya Bhushan, Daalchini takes affordable snacks and home-style meals to its customers through technology-efficient models like automated kiosks, mobility retails, and smart vending machines.
Currently, the Daalchini app has more than 2 lakh monthly active users.
Daalchini has grown 300% in the last 12 months, making it one of India’s fastest-growing RetailTech startups. The Company has achieved a Product Market Fit (PMF), with ₹12 crores of revenue in FY2022. More than 90% of their vending machines are EBITA positive within 45 days.
Daalchini aims to clock ₹50 crores in revenues with a GMV of ₹130 crores in 12 months. The Company intends to grow from 850+ to over 5,000 smart and autonomous retail points in the next 12-18 months. The new funding will enable Daalchini to continue executing its growth strategy and strengthen its position as the largest network of smart retail stores.
Setting new milestones in the intelligent retail field, the Company provides a plethora of food and beverage options, available 24*7 and accessible without delivery charges or long wait times.
“Daalchini aims to establish its footprints at every 200 meters of habitable area with its autonomous smart stores and vending machines. Today, our country has just a few thousand vending machines, while the US or Japan has more than one autonomous store for every 200 people. We are far from the true potential of this kind of retail,” added Prerna Kalra, Co-founder & CEO of Daalchini Technologies.
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Bulky Bob’s is relaunching the bulky household waste collection service in Oldham with a new van, a new Bob and a new service for businesses.
The social enterprise has been collecting unwanted furniture, white goods and much more from Oldham homes for the past eight years on behalf of Oldham Council – and have just won a new contract for a further two years.
Bulky Bob’s works with local referral agencies to give away any suitable furniture to families in need and recycle as much of the rest as possible.
Bulky Bob’s is now offering the collection service to local landlords and businesses, again giving away what they collect where possible to local people and community groups.
Bulky Bob’s has also launched a new office and commercial waste service, with confidential shredding and office recycling available.
Mick Hart, Bulky Bob’s Operations Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing to deliver this service to the people of Oldham, and to be expanding to include landlords and businesses.”
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “Over the years hundreds of residents have used Bulky Bob’s to dispose of their unwanted household goods.
“The service is the cheapest in Greater Manchester and we are pleased people across the borough will be able to use it for years to come.
“As a council we are committed to making it as easy as possible for residents to dispose of and recycle their unwanted goods, which protects the local environment and saves money.
“Also the recycling of quality goods means other residents, who may not be able to afford them, will get use out of them.”
Bulky Bob’s is also a registered charity and has helped over 300 people into sustainable employment through Driving Change, a paid-training programme focusing on logistics and warehouse skills.
They can collect up to three bulky or large items from homes for just £17.43 with additional items at £8.20 each.
Anyone entitled to an assisted bin collection (those with a physical disability, pregnant, or infirm due to old age and no other permanent householders over 18) can also receive one free bulky household collection each year.
Bulky Bob’s also sells preloved furniture items at low prices from their warehouse at Unit A, Oldham Central Trading Park, Oldham, OL1 4EB.
For more information on what Bulky Bob’s collects and how to book your collection, visit: www.bulkybobs.co.uk/


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Ubisoft has sneakily released the AC Valhalla update 3.21 June 29 patch today, and it’s out on all platforms! This is also tagged as the Assassin’s Creed Valhlla update 22.214.171.124, which has been released without much fanfare. It is a small download, so don’t expect much.
AC Valhalla Update 3.21 June 29 Patch Notes:
Ubisoft has not commented on what got added or changed in this patch, but thanks to the community we know some of the new stuff, and what didn’t get fixed.
First off, the known added stuff is the Cougar Mount which is tucked behind the Ullr’s Hunter Pack which is a paid cosmetic! This costs 1500 Helix credits and includes the Gear Set, Weapon, Shield, Mount skin, and Raven skin! Check out what it looks like below.
For a preview of the rest of the items included in the cosmetic bundle, watch it below.
One thing we can confirm that wasn’t fixed is the St. Faith Mystery, which has been confirmed by one reddit member:
Patch 126.96.36.199 from ACValhalla
Sadly, that seems to be it for thsi title update. There are no known bug fixes or new items outside of the new cosmetic bundle.
Don’t fret, though, as Ubisoft has confirmed that more content is coming in Year 2!
2 thoughts on “AC Valhalla Update 3.21 June 29 Sneaks Out”
thank you for embedding the video
-best regards Skatha
So wtf happend to my raven? I installed this ridiculous 3 second update and I can no longer call the raven.
Comments are closed.


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TILL PAYMENTS WINS AUSTRALIAN BLOCKCHAIN INDUSTRY AWARDS FOR BLOCKCHAIN START-UP OR SCALE UP OF THE YEAR & BLOCKCHAIN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The inaugural Australian Blockchain Industry Awards, also known as the ‘Blockies’, was held by Blockchain Australia on the 23rd July 2019. An event where the blockchain community came together to celebrate successes in creating world-leading blockchain applications, recognising the achievements of individuals and businesses pioneering and advancing the adoption of blockchain in Australia.
Till Payments was honoured to win not one but two ‘Blockies’, the Blockchain start-up or scale up of the year award and the Blockchain business of the year award based off the huge success encountered with the internationally patented Till Revenue Assurance Node. The blockchain start-up or scale up of the year award is awarded to a business that has made significant use of blockchain technology in delivering its products or services. The blockchain business of the year is selected from the winners out of the business award categories – a huge achievement for us, considering the high calibre companies we were competing against.
Shadi Haddad, Founder and CEO of Till Payments said “It is truly humbling that Till Payments has been bestowed with two awards, Blockchain Start-Up or Scale-Up of the Year and the top award, Blockchain Business of the Year, considering the outstanding array of talented blockchain companies nominated. I would like to thank my very passionate and creative team at Till, and a special thanks to Nick from ADCA for putting the awards together and a great event, along with our friends and supporters at Austrade, Josh Hyland, Naïla Mazzucco (UAE), Rohan Malhotra (UAE) and Preeti Rekhari (UAE).” Hadi Haddad COO of Till Payments added “The Australian blockchain community are a pioneering group, and the sheer number of entries into these inaugural awards shows how invested we all are to grow blockchain technology. At Till, we want to be a driving force within blockchain advancement, and there’s no way we could have won these amazing awards without our exceptionally talented team. A big thank you to CEO Shadi Haddad and CRO and Co-Founder Chris Hicks for their vision, Development Manager Richard Lane for leading and designing the implementation, the Till team for their hours of dedication and to our partners at DIJGTAL for their exceptional work.”
The Till Revenue Assurance Node is a physical device that can be deployed seamlessly into a merchant environment to interrogate a client’s point-of-sale system and report in real-time the revenue and content of transactions to a blockchain for data immutability. This technology is ideal for:
Governments: Bridging the gap between merchants and governments trying to keep up with digital transformation, this technology allows for real-time monitoring of transactions, across industries or areas, for taxation purposes. Utilising an independent third-party immutable data source, such as a distributed ledger blockchain, provides a trust layer for all parties involved.
Multi-Tenant Application: Providing total visibility in real-time of all transactions down to a point-of-sale level. For example franchise owners, seeing each franchisee’s performance at such a granular level allows franchise owners to make more informed decisions on future investments.
Property and Integrated Services: In situations where tenants pay a percentage of their revenue to the landlord, this process could now be automated and seamlessly billed.
Retail and Business: Providing a CEO the complete picture in real-time of how their enterprise is operating, allowing them to make more informed decisions.
The 111 entrants across the 12 award categories reflected both the depth and strength of Australia’s blockchain community, an amazing community that we’re very proud to be part of. We’re thrilled we were able to be involved in the inaugural ‘Blockies’ this year and we look forward to seeing the new talent come forward next year.
For any enquiries regarding Till Payments products, please contact us.


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Wolfhead Distillery has added a cream liquor to their offerings, becoming the first in Canada to offer this environmental twist.
This small town Ontario distillery offers up a self serve bar that is the something a Caesar lovers dreams are made of.
Chapter Two Brewing is launching a new pink beer in honour of International Women’s Day in Windsor, Ontario, and we’re tickled pink.
Well, we’re heading for another lockdown so let’s start preparing for it. WindsorEats is offering $5 off each Bevy Box 6-pack of craft beer.
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Wine enthusiasts invited to experience Riesling
Published on May 16 2013
On June 11-12, Riesling lovers get a rare chance to join winemakers, grape growers, wine experts and media when the 2013 Riesling Experience conference is hosted by Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI).
The event is an unabashed celebration of Riesling’s style, structure and purity.
“Riesling is what we do best in Niagara,” said conference chair Angelo Pavan, vice-president and winemaker at Cave Spring Cellars. “It’s by far the most pure and versatile variety that gives us this great panorama, from great table wines to luscious dessert wines.”
The event includes discussions with top experts, followed by a journey through some of Niagara’s oldest Riesling vineyards on the second day.


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The state of Texas currently has 254 counties and not all counties feature a local insurance agent that supplies various forms of car insurance to drivers
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) November 30, 2013
Drivers in the state of Texas who are unhappy with their current car insurer can utilize the state tool installed by the Auto Pros company online. This new system is generating access to Dallas auto insurance company rates online at http://autoprosusa.com/insurance. These rates are meant for Texans to use when comparing state versus national providers.
"The state of Texas currently has 254 counties and not all counties feature a local insurance agent that supplies various forms of car insurance to drivers," a company source at the AutoProsUSA.com website said.
The compiled rates information from Dallas area companies is one part of the update that has been made in the fall of this year. Apart from Dallas, the cities of Houston, Midland, Lubbock and Fort Worth are also searchable in this new statewide insurer search finder available.
The insurers now working closer with the Auto Pros company feature licensed companies in Texas and surrounding states. The rates information that a driver can extract from the use of the auto insurance finder online is comparable with rates from other companies. A single search can now produce as many as 50 Texas companies offering cheaper insurance.
"Our website provides a lot of automotive services that consumers can use to find a number of different providers in the U.S. and the insurance program is the latest update," the company source added.
Drivers in the state of Texas who currently have an insurance policy could still use the finder system to locate a more affordable plan for full coverage or liability insurance. A warranty finder is now part of the database of insurers that is publicly accessible to drivers at http://www.autoprosusa.com/auto-warranty.
The AutoProsUSA.com company helps to generate a simple method for consumers to research the automotive insurance industry for rates information using the supplied database posted online. This company is one of the largest second hand auto parts resources that consumers use online. The AutoProsUSA.com company website features access to thousands of United States auto companies supplying aftermarket, used or new condition parts for resale online. The company connected databases help to distribute this information as well as third party insurer information to all website visitors.


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New Dates for Newport Boat Show: April 3-6
Byline: The Log Staff
NEWPORT BEACH — Mark your calendars: Dates have changed for the 41st annual Newport Boat Show. The show, presenting the largest collection of big yachts west of the Mississippi, will return to Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach April 3-6, 2014.
Previously reported dates of April 24-27 are incorrect.
The Newport Boat Show is California’s premier big boat and yacht show, presenting more boats in the water than any other event in the West. At the 2014 event, show-goers will be able to step aboard and compare the unique features of more than 200 pleasureboats — including brand-new models, as well as ocean-tested brokerage yachts that come pre-loaded with sought-after amenities.
Over the past four decades, the Newport Boat Show has become well known as a one-stop shopping experience for boating enthusiasts and potential buyers. The 2014 show is expected to offer more than 400,000 square feet of floating dock exhibits and boardwalk displays, plus a huge selection of boating accessories, electronics, gear and services.
The Newport Boat Show is produced by the Duncan McIntosh Co. Inc., publisher of Sea Magazine, Boating World, The Log Newspaper, FishRap and Editor & Publisher, and producer of the Lido Boat Show — scheduled for Sept. 18-21, 2014.
For exhibitor information and additional show details, call the Duncan McIntosh Co. at (949) 757-5959 or visitnewportinwaterboatshow.com.


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The Hilux is once again the leader when it comes to new vehicle sales for Toyota in South Africa.
Toyota revealed this information as part of a statement on the Naamsa April 2021 new vehicle sales figures for the country.
Toyota sold over 8,000 new vehicles during the month, taking first spot among the brands.
It was followed by VW in second place, with just over 6,000 vehicles sold.
“Toyota South Africa recorded a total of 8,810 sales in April, affording the company a market share of 24.6%,” it said.
Toyota said it registered 4,745 units in the light commercial vehicle segment – claiming a market share of 43.6% – and 3,885 units in the passenger segment.
This gave it a market share of 17% in the passenger segment.
Toyota South Africa Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Leon Theron added that the company serviced 115,725 vehicles across their brands during the month, and sold 1.3 million vehicle parts.
“Once again, the Hilux was the brand’s top-seller, with a total of 3,163 models [sold],” said Toyota.
A breakdown of the top-selling models from Toyota during the month are listed below.
- Hilux – 3,163
- Hiace Ses’fikile – 1,176
- Urban Cruiser – 796
- Corolla Quest – 652
- Fortuner – 615
- Starlet – 506
- Agya – 467
The success of the Toyota Urban Cruiser is noteworthy, considering the vehicle was launched in South Africa in March.
Toyota also provided insight into how many “luxury” vehicles it sold during April.
“On the luxury front, the Land Cruiser 200 and FJ Cruiser posted sales of 36 units apiece, and Prado sold 62 models,” said Toyota.
Lexus, the company’s luxury division, sold 31 new vehicles during the month.
In terms of commercial vehicles, Hino sold 180 units in April.
“The Hino 500-series registered sales of 58 trucks, while the 300-series sold a total of 98 units.”


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CHICAGO — It’ll be weeks before Chicago could see a slowdown in its coronavirus surge — which means it’ll be weeks before indoor dining and drinking could be allowed again.
Gov. JB Pritzker said it could take two to three weeks to see what impact — if any — the state’s new limit on gathering sizes and ban on indoor service has on slowing COVID-19. The “enhanced mitigations,” as Pritzker calls them, went into effect Friday for Chicago.
“… I also want to remind everybody that it takes a couple to three weeks to see a set of mitigations start to have an effect on positivity and cases and so on,” Pritzker said during a Monday news conference.
The state won’t lift its Tier 1 restrictions for the region until Chicago sees a decline in its number of hospitalizations and its positivity rate.
That means restaurants and bars could be looking at weeks without indoor service, a challenge for the already-struggling businesses, especially with cold weather having set in. They are allowed to still offer carryout, delivery and patio dining.
But if the city’s surge continues to worsen and Chicago’s positivity rate and hospitalizations grow even with the mitigation measures, the state could impose stricter rules.
Under Tier 2 of the state’s mitigation rules, “further limits on in-person dining” would be imposed, according to the state. In-person dining would be completed barred under Tier 3 mitigations, with only takeout or delivery allowed.
Should Chicago get to Tier 2, it’ll also face restrictions in other industries. Gyms and fitness centers would have to halt indoor recreational services, some stores wouldn’t be allowed to have in-person shopping and salons and other personal care businesses would be temporarily closed.
“If you have a sustained upward trajectory of positivity in your region, of hospitalizations in the region, of cases in a region, even after a Tier 1 mitigation measures have been put in place, we have to look at Tier 2 and Tier 3,” Pritzker said.
The state and city have been criticized from some who say their policies are hurting the economy and businesses, while others have said they want even stricter rules imposed to keep people safe.
The restrictions are not meant to hurt businesses, Pritzker has repeatedly said. The state is using the measures to target places and events where there’s a higher risk of COVID-19 spreading in hopes of regaining control of the outbreak and preventing something like a statewide shutdown.
“We’re not currently looking at a stay at home order,” Pritzker said Monday. “Obviously, that’s something that lurks in the background if we believe that these tiered mitigations are ultimately ineffective, if people choose not to wear masks and if the spread of the virus continues to go unabated … . We would obviously have to consider more … mitigations.”
State officials, including Pritzker, and experts have said indoor service at bars and restaurants creates the greatest risk for spreading coronavirus, which is why that was restricted under the Tier 1 mitigations.
But Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said most of Chicago’s COVID-19 spread is happening in small gatherings of family and friends in homes.
Officials hope to bring back indoor dining and lift other restrictions as soon as possible, Pritzker said.
“We’re hoping to get back to a point where we can open indoor service as soon as we can get” positivity rates and cases down, Pritzker said.
Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.
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Earlier this year, Netflix introduced its own ecommerce site and the streaming service is now introducing a line of plush collectibles called Chilleez. The 12-inch plushies can be found in four colors and the pillow-like dolls reference the default profile pictures that members see when setting up their accounts. As described by Netflix, Chilleez is "that friendly yet mischievous monster [...] that lives inside your Netflix account." Today, users can update their Netflix profile with one of the four newly released Chilleez icons. On November 12th, the new plushies will be available for purchase, just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season.
Netflix's Chilleez are rolling out alongside the announcement of international shipping to many new countries around the world.


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eMarketer also stated that “growth will be at 4.5% in 2020, revised down from 5.4%, and in 2021, it will be 3.2% instead of 4.1%. Contributing to Instagram’s overall slower growth is the fact that older age groups are not joining the platform as quickly as anticipated.”
Does all of this mean that it’s time to start searching for the next platform to reach your audience, assuming this slower growth means the start of Instagram’s death? Not quite yet.
Though growth may be slowing for new user rates, Instagram is expected to have generated $9.45 billion in ad revenues in 2019, which is expected to grow 46.6% to $13.86 billion in 2020.
According to Pew Research Center, both Facebook and Instagram pull away from the pack and continue to dominate user numbers.
Even if Instagram is growing more slowly than other social media websites, it still clearly dominates the market and user interest.
So, what does this eMarketer data tell us?
Will Instagram’s slower growth affect your future?
The data is telling us that older user growth is one of the main reasons for Instagram’s overall slowdown.
This tells us that either Instagram isn’t doing as well of a job enticing or increasing awareness amongst this age group, or that this market for this app is tapped.
This could mean the platform has a shorter life expectancy than previously planned or that changes could be coming to the platform to pique users’ interest to jolt growth.
So while it’s important to be aware of what this data could mean for the future, all of this is a drop in the bucket for now. 37% of US adults use the platform daily (that’s about 93 million Americans), and it’s not expected to fall off anytime soon.
So, while this isn’t a red alert claim from eMarketer, it’s a trend that should be closely monitored to ensure that marketers are utilizing the platforms that are best for reaching their audience, especially going into a new year with new growth goals.
If Instagram growth is slowing, which social platforms are growth superstars?
User retention for both of these apps is also significantly higher than the social average.
The interesting thing about both of these platforms for marketers is their ad platforms and growth of ad revenues. More and more marketers are using these two apps in particular to reach targeted audiences.
But the bigger question is this: where are the older users going? If it's not Facebook or Instagram, and it's definitely not TikTok, are they abandoning social media? We’ll have to wait for further reports as they become available to understand this shifting marketplace.
All in all, while Instagram’s slower growth in 2019 doesn’t mean imminent doom, it should make us all aware of the social media industry, new trends, and potential areas of opportunity for 2020 and beyond.
Marketers should continue researching new platforms or ways to reach their target market because there’s one fact that’s undeniable: social reach and advertising on social platforms isn’t going away anytime soon.
How does your sales & marketing measure up?
Take this free, 5-minute assessment and learn what you can start doing today to boost traffic, leads, and sales.


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The Travel Guy with Bill Burke
Want to upgrade your Instagram account with an awesome picture of clouds outside your window as you fly to London?
Now you can if you're flying United.
More than half of the carriers in the U.S. offer Wi-Fi, but satellite-based service will now provide Internet access during overseas flights. It's the first U.S.-based carrier to offer Wi-Fi on overseas flights.
United announced the plan earlier this year, and the offering is now being rolled out,...
Carnival Cruise Lines has had better weeks.
The Carnival Legend, which had been scheduled to visit the Cayman Islands, will instead return to its home port of Tampa after experiencing problems with a unit that controls the ship's speed.
Earlier this week, the Carnival Dream had problems with a diesel generator and was forced to stay in-dock at St. Maarten.
Here's Carnival's statement regarding the Legend:
Carnival has just posted an update about its ship docked at St. Maarten:
The Carnival Dream has a technical issue with the ship’s backup emergency diesel generator which our engineering team is currently working on. Yesterday, during regularly scheduled testing of the ship...
Just weeks after one of its vessels was left in the Gulf of Mexico without power after an engine room fire, Carnival Cruise Line is again dealing with a disabled ship.
The Carnival Dream is reportedly docked in St. Maarten, where it was scheduled to leave from yesterday, as reports of power outages and overflowing toilets begin to emerge.
Carnival told ABC News that these issues have been addressed and the ship never fully lost power.
The cruise line posted this on its...
No one likes having their flight delayed. The lack of explaination - most of the time - usually adds to the frustration.
It looks like Virgin America has found a way to defuse some of that pent-up anger, however. User RusskiMan just posted this picture in the /r/funny subReddit of Virgin's handling of a delayed flight:
Traveling to Boston over St. Patrick's Day? The Boston Irish Tourism Association wants to help you make the most of it.
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering guided tours of the ...
A new study by DogTrekker.com has found that traveling with dog has gotten easier thanks to more online resources. Still, there's room for improvement.
Here's a look at the survey and what was learned:
Dog owners are finding it easier to locate dog-friendly accommodations, information on pet safety and things to do with their pets when traveling, a national survey by DogTrekker.com finds, with...
No hobbits this time around, but Air New Zealand has come up with another pre-flight safety video worth taking a look at.
This time it's survival expert/TV personality Bear Grylls dispensing safety instructions. As you may expect, the former "...
A note from the Boston Passport Agency:
A new hotel right on Main Street in Nantucket will be opening its doors in several months, and guests booking early will be able to take advantage of a Grand Opening special.
Rob Blood, founder and CEO of New England-based Lark Hotels, announced today that the company will renovate, open and manage 76 Main - a 20 room boutique hotel on Nantucket. The grand opening is scheduled...


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Eilat is the first city in Israel to pass such a by-law. Lawbreakers will be fined up to NIS 730.
The Eilat City Council banned yesterday the use of disposable plastic products on beaches. The ban includes plastic bags and the sale of all disposable products. The new municipal by-law sets a NIS


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After long tenure with Cornery Bakery, Ric Scicchitano will serve as the new president of Which Wich.
After helping lead Corner Bakery to years of success, it was announced Monday that Ric Scicchitano will be joining Which Wich as the brand’s new President. QSR interviewed Scicchitano and Founder Jeff Sinelli to hear about the new move and Which Wich’s plans moving forward.
The QSR piece mentions that Scicchitano and Sinelli had been aware of each other in the fast casual space, and that after speaking the two knew it was time for him to join the growing brand.
Said Scicchitano to QSR, “My family and I have been fans of Which Wich for many years. When I received a phone call to sit down with Jeff Sinelli … it became pretty clear that this is someone I wanted to work for. Jeff is the founder of Which Wich. I get energy being around creativity; I get energy being around folks who create brands and want to see the brands succeed.”


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China's retail sales up 2.5 pct in September, foreign trade up 9.9 pct
China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 3.9 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2022, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday (Oct. 24).
China's retail sales of consumer goods went up 2.5 percent year on year in September.
Meanwhile, the country's value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, went up 6.3 percent year on year in September.
The industrial output is used to measure the activity of designated large enterprises with an annual business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.81 million U.S. dollars).
China's foreign trade of goods jumped 9.9 percent year on year to 31.11 trillion yuan (about 4.75 trillion U.S. dollars) during the first nine months of the year.
Exports rose 13.8 percent year on year to 17.67 trillion yuan, while imports increased 5.2 percent from a year ago to 13.44 trillion yuan, according to the General Administration of Customs.
China's fixed-asset investment went up 5.9 percent year on year in the first nine months of the year.


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Sun News Special Report
By: Bryn Weese
VANCOUVER - The image of good old boys heading into the woods for a fall hunt sometimes seems a thing of the past.
But the sport isn't dying. Not by a long, well-placed shot.
The resurgence in hunting across North America is thanks, in part, to a growing number of women who are taking up the sport.
One of the trend's most recognizable figures - even gracing the cover of this month's Field and Stream - is Canada's own Eva Shockey who co-hosts her father's successful hunting show Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures.
"I was lucky. I was born into the right family," Shockey told Sun News in Vancouver recently. "But the thing is, I didn't actual hunt when I was little. I started hunting when I was 20."
"When I was younger, I was busy and my mom didn't hunt so I thought: ‘girls don't hunt so I'm not going to hunt.' But when I was 20, I thought just because girls that look like me don't hunt - I'm a girly girl, I dress up and I love doing girl things ... I still wanted to try hunting," she said. "I'm 26 now and I've literally done it full time for the last six years and I'm obsessed with it. It's the best thing in the entire world."
And Shockey's not alone. Kristy Titus and Tiffany Lakosky - to name just two - are other powerful feminine figures in the television hunting industry.
But the trend isn't only evident on-screen.
In British Columbia, the percentage of resident hunters who are women has jumped from 6.8% in 2005 to 8.3% last year. It's an increase of 39%, from just under 6,000 female hunters in 2005 to more than 8,000 now.
In Alberta, the number of female hunters has increased 47% since 2007, when just 7,754 women hunted. Last year, there were 11,400. The percentage of hunters in Alberta who are women has steadily increased from 7% in 2011, to 8% in 2012, and 9% last year.
And in Ontario, 25% of all hunter safety course students now are women.
"People are getting used to having women involved, and realizing that we just love being out there," Shockey said. "I do it because I love it, and that's why the guys do it. So really, what's the difference? It's fun to be out there together."
Manufacturers and retailers, too, recognize there's money to be made in the growing demographic.
Reports indicate Bass Pro Shops has seen a ten-fold increase in it's market for women's products in the past decade.
And Cabela's, which promotes itself as the ‘world's largest outfitter,' recently introduced it's OutfitHER line of hunting clothing and accessories "made by women for women.
"It was developed because women were tired of having to wear downsized men's clothing, so they started with a few key pieces and today we have over 20 different pieces in the OutfitHER line, from cold weather gear to rain gear to boots and gloves ... and it's growing," said Katie Sanford, a retail marketing manager with Cabela's at it's Tulalip, WA location.
She's a new hunter, too.
"When I started, I was wearing men's clothing and using my husband's gun. It was big and bulky and really not suited to me. Now, I have OutfitHER clothing - I have the whole line - it fits perfect. And I have my own gun made just for a woman."
While women are a growing hunting demographic now, there have always been very capable trailblazers who bucked the bygone trend of hunting as a man's pursuit.
Nova Scotia's Laura Wood has been doing it for nearly a century ... literally!
Two years ago, the 97-year-old from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia became a local celebrity when she successfully killed a cow moose with one shot while hunting in Newfoundland.
It had been a life-long dream of the mink rancher's, and reports indicate she's been hunting since she was a teenager.
Decades later, it seems, more and more women are joining Wood's ranks and picking up their guns to put meat in the freezer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of American women participating in outdoor activities rose 25% between 2006 and 2011. And the National Shooting Sports Foundation pegs the increase of women hunters at 10% nationally between 2008 and 2012.
There are now 3.35 million women who hunt stateside.


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“Farming, Food and the Shifting Horizon” will be the focus of the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience on Thursday as futurist Jack Bobo shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities awaiting us in the next era of agriculture.
Bobo is the CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company that works with food and agriculture businesses to better understand emerging food trends and consumer attitudes so they can position themselves to thrive in an ever more complex world. He makes it his business to stay ahead of the trends and detect the disruptors that trigger them.
In this interview, Bobo provides a preview of his virtual presentation on Thursday, May 21 on 9:00 AM Eastern time, which will also be available on-demand for ONE virtual attendees. The greatest thing about this virtual experience is that you can still register and not miss any of it!
Interview with keynote speaker Jack Bobo, CEO of Futurity
Alltech ONE Virtual interview with Jack Bobo, CEO of Futurity (9:48)


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The iPhone 12 should be the biggest upgrade in years. Here’s everything you need to know.
The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max may make up Apple’s current iPhone lineup. But that’s not preventing anyone from looking ahead to what’s coming this fall from Cupertino.
That’s when the next iPhone is arriving, and that model — the iPhone 12 — will reportedly be Apple’s first to support 5G networking. Other reports point to an all-new iPhone 12 design that gets rid of the iPhone’s distinctive notch while adding in-display Touch ID functionality. And there could be more iPhone models than usual.
We’re still more than eight months out from the next iPhone launch, and a lot can change. But here’s what we know so far about the iPhone 12.
- iPhone 12: What to expect
- Latest iPhone 12 rumors
- iPhone 12 release date
- iPhone 12 price
- iPhone 12 design: Taller, slimmer and new blue?
- iPhone 12: How many models?
- iPhone 12: 5G networking for all four models?
- iPhone 12 cameras
- iPhone 12 display: 120Hz refresh rate
- iPhone 12 Touch ID in display
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iPhone 12: What to expect
- Four iPhone 12 models coming this fall, after the iPhone SE 2 comes out this sprint
- Multiple iPhone 12 models will feature 5G
- Two new iPhones will likely add a time of flight sensor to the three rear cameras
- All new iPhones could feature OLED screens, with some models offer faster 120Hz refresh rates
Latest iPhone 12 rumors
A new leak says the iPhone 12 may come in a new blue color.
The A14 Bionic could rival high-end laptop CPUs in terms of performance thanks to its 5-nanometer size, according to projections from Macworld’s Jason Cross.
iPhone 12 release date
The iPhone 11 lineup debuted at an Apple press event Sept. 10, so it stands to reason that the new iPhone 12 will follow in September 2020. (Here’s a tip: keep the second week of September free and don’t forget to account for Labor Day if you want to guess the specific announcement date.)
There’s always a possibility that Apple would go with an earlier launch in the year to avoid losing too much ground to rival phone makers who’ve already come out with 5G models. But that would be an unusual move for Apple, which tends to limit its phone releases to the fall. However, there seems to be a good chance a lower-cost iPhone SE successor may appear earlier. (More on that below.)
iPhone 12 price
The iPhone 11 starts at a fairly affordable $699, while the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max cost $999 and $1,099 respectively. The wild card is how much 5G support will add to the price of the new iPhone 12.
Most 5G-capable phones arriving in the past year are priced at a premium compared to conventional models. The Galaxy S10 5G, for example, starts at $1,299 — $300 more than the already pricey Galaxy S10+. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G also costs $1,299, which is $200 more than the standard Note 10 Plus.
Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo strikes a positive tone about the pricing for the iPhone 12, saying “Apple will not significantly increase the price of 5G iPhones compared to this year’s lineup.” He estimates between a $30 and $100 bump depending on the specific version. Advertisement
Waiting until late 2020 to release a 5G phone may work to Apple’s advantage if it can release the iPhone 12 for around the same price as what you’d pay for an iPhone today. 5G networks will also be farther along than they are now, with 5G coverage limited to select neighborhoods in just a few cities. For example, T-Mobile has already launched its low-band 5G network, which offers speeds slightly faster than what LTE traditionally delivers. So, although Apple will come out with 5G devices later than Samsung, OnePlus and others, the iPhone 12 could be arriving right as 5G becomes relevant to more people.
iPhone 12 design: Taller, slimmer and new blue?
Don’t expect a radically different design for the iPhone 12. The latest leak via MacOtakara cites a rumor within the Asian supply chain which claims that the design of the iPhone 12 will not be that different from the iPhone 11, using the same curved rail design, although with a thinner depth, greater height and smaller bezels to increase screen space.
The notch that’s become so familiar since Apple introduced it on the iPhone X will likely still be there on the iPhone 12, but it could be smaller, according to the MacOtakara report. Another rumor says that Apple will spice things up by offering a blue color for the iPhone 12.
But not everyone believes the notch is here to stay. Benjamin Geskin, who comes up with a lot of phone renders based on leaks and rumors, has put out a render of a 6.7-inch iPhone that drops the notch and instead houses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera components inside a thin bezel. Geskin tweeted that this is a prototype for a 2020 iPhone model. In a subsequent tweet, Geskin said Apple’s testing out Face ID prototypes that feature components capable of fitting in the phone’s top bezel, though there’s no source attributed to that claim.Advertisement
Exclusive: One of the 2020 iPhone prototypes has 6.7-inch display with Face ID and TrueDepth camera system housed in the top bezel.
Another rumor is that Apple is looking to phase out the round-edged design it first established with the iPhone 6 line and has carried through to the latest iPhone 11 series. The new look would evoke the iPhone 4’s matte aluminum band aesthetic, adopting sharper edges with flat sides and flatter front and rear glass slabs.
A concept published by PhoneArena helps us visualize how this rumored design could shake out. Also notice the more slender notch at the top of the display, with increased real estate for the time and battery icons to the left and right of the earpiece and TrueDepth camera system.
iPhone 12: How many models?
Most of what we know about the new iPhone 12 thus far comes courtesy of a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who forecasts four different iPhone 12 models on tap for 2020: one at 5.4 inches, two at 6.1 inches and the largest variant measuring 6.7 inches. All four 2020 iPhones will have 5G, Kuo says.
These four phones are also expected to incorporate OLED displays, which would mark a change for Apple. Like the iPhone XR before it, the iPhone 11 features a Liquid Retina display instead of an OLED panel.
As for other specs, an investor’s note from UBS has predicted that the two largest iPhone 12 models (the 6.7 and 6.1-inch versions), will have 6GB RAM, while the smaller two (the second 6.1-inch model plus the 5.4-inch model) will stick with the same 4GB RAM found in the current iPhone 11. 6GB RAM will be the most memory found in an iPhone to date, which, combined with a new processor (likely the A14 Bionic) will keep Apple at the top of the smartphone performance charts. That’ll especially be true if the A14 is manufactured on a 5-nanometer process, as some rumors have hinted.
While none of this is set in stone quite yet, the news of a potential 5.4-inch model should delight fans of the 4-inch iPhone SE, which Apple let languish after its launch in 2016 and which reached end-of-life status in the last year. The 5.4-inch 2020 iPhone would likely slot somewhere in the middle between the SE and the current 5.8-inch iPhone XS in size, with much more usable screen real estate than the SE, thanks to Apple’s newer full-screen, slim-bezel design.
But Apple is also rumored to be readying a full-fledged iPhone SE successor with a 4.7-inch LCD display and iPhone 8 design with an A13 Bionic processor. Analysts expect that phone to make an appearance during the first three months of 2020. You can read more on that device in our iPhone SE 2 rumor roundup.
iPhone 12: 5G networking for all four models?
Echoing Kuo’s forecast, a report from Nikkei says that all iPhone 12 models will ship with 5G networking capability, which means you wouldn’t have to necessarily to step up to an iPhone 12 Pro Max to enjoy faster downloads. Reportedly, Apple will work with Qualcomm and Samsung to supply its 2020 iPhones with modems from both companies that can connect to 5G networks built on both mmWave and sub-6GHz spectrum. According to Kuo (via CNBC), Qualcomm’s development to date has been centered on mmWave, while Samsung has concentrated on sub-6GHz. Advertisement
Now that Apple bought Intel’s modem business, it’s expected that Apple will stop getting its 5G modems from Qualcomm and will design its own modems in house, the same way it does for its A-series processors. That’s unlikely to happen with the new iPhone 12, though.
iPhone 12 cameras
Given that the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max feature triple-lens rear cameras for the first time in Apple’s hardware, we expect that to continue for the 2020 versions of the Pro iPhones. It’s also widely expected that the new iPhone 12 will add a new lens — a time-of-flight sensor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects such an addition to at least two iPhone 12 models.
A time-of-flight sensor can more accurately judge distances. That helps create better bokeh effects on portrait shots. It also means the iPhone 12 will be in a better position to support augmented reality apps, which have been an increasing area of focus at Apple in recent years. A new report, which highlights 3D camera sensors echoes this claim.
Kuo’s report follows a Bloomberg article from January that claimed Apple could introduce depth-sensing time-of-flight cameras on its 2020 roster, capable of scanning entire rooms.
Based on a patent filing, Apple is also working on a periscope-like telephoto lens that should provide a longer zoom range than previous iPhones. Apple is apparently trying to fit five-lens and three-lens arrays into a smaller space by using a prism to reflect light.
DigiTimes have published claims that the next iPhone will use “sensor shift”, a new kind of image stabilization technology, on its cameras. The technology works by detecting how the phone is moving, and then moving the camera sensors in the opposite direction using small actuators, keeping your picture stable. This is different from the fairly common optical image stabilization (OIS) on other modern smartphone cameras, which moves the lens instead, and hopefully for Apple will be more effective at producing quality shots even in shaky hands.
In November, Sony began teasing its upcoming flagship IMX686 image sensor, which could make it into the iPhone 12. The sensor captures 64 megapixels, though it also has the ability to deliver optimized 16-megapixel shots with improved light sensitivity, thanks to Quad Bayer pixel-binning. The image sensors employed in all three iPhone 11 models are manufactured by Sony and rated at 12 megapixels.
iPhone 12 display: 120Hz refresh rate
The new iPhone 12’s display could support a welcome improvement over the screens on many current smartphones. A tweet from leaker Ice Universe claims that Apple is considering whether to let next year’s iPhone switch between a 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate. This rumor received more weight in October 2019, when DigiTimes reported that the iPhone 12 will have the same 120Hz refresh rate as the iPad Pro.
Apple is considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on the iPhone in 2020, and is discussing with Samsung and LG.
Offering an iPhone with a 120Hz refresh rate would mean a smoother scrolling display than anything we’ve currently seen from rival devices. Right now, the OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T and Google’s Pixel 4 set the standard for flagship phones with a 90Hz refresh rate. The ROG 2 Phone from Asus notably has a 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare for an OLED panel. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 will reportedly offer the feature (though not by default) as will the OnePlus 8.Advertisement
iPhone 12 Touch ID in display
Apple could bring Touch ID back in a big way in 2020 by enabling fingerprint recognition anywhere on the display, according to information provided to MacRumors by Barclays analysts.
More recently, Ming-Chi Kuo said that it’s possible the 2021 iPhones could feature both Face ID and Touch ID.
Given the features slated for the new iPhone 12, it may be tempting to skip the iPhone 11 series and hold out for the 2020 phones. We understand the impulse, though really, the best time to upgrade your phone is when you need a new model, regardless of the features that may materialize a year from now. That said, as we get closer to the fall, waiting to upgrade makes more and more sense.
There’s still so much we don’t know about Apple’s first 5G iPhones, so be sure to keep an eye on this hub over the coming months as new information surfaces.
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Couples looking to keep wedding costs in check may find sage advice in the bridal tradition of something old, something new and something borrowed (“something blue” not required).
Wedding spending jumped 22.9% in 2010, to a post-recession average of $24,066 a couple, with little change since. The average wedding cost $25,656 in 2012, up just $25, or less than 1%, over 2011 spending, according to research firm The Wedding Report. Experts say the slowdown is due to engaged couples making ruthless budgeting decisions, even as vendor prices rise. “They are approaching their weddings like a small business venture,” micromanaging every expense, says Harriette Rose Katz, a New York City-based event planner. “Everybody is more cautious about money, but they are spending it.”
There are still plenty of pitfalls, however, that can lead even diligent couples to overspend. “Everybody is looking for uniqueness,” says Shane McMurray, founder of The Wedding Report. Trends toward offbeat ceremony locations (farms, glaciers) and gourmet food options (food trucks, dessert bars) can be either a cost-saver or a budget-buster, depending on the details.
Borrowed: Practical packages
In place of the once-typical all-inclusive affairs, more vendors are offering stripped-down, bare-bones packages or even hourly rates like you might see in other service industries, says Anita Malik, the co-founder of BrideRush.com, which helps brides find off-peak deals. Extras like a prepared photo album or special lights from the deejay can then be added a la carte. It’s not always a huge price break — you’re still paying for that professional’s time and skills. Technology has helped here, allowing couples to make their own albums or skip the expense of response cards and return postage in favor of an emailed RSVP, says Laura Ursin, the founder of Madison, Wis.-based event planning service Brides on a Budget. The new pricing can benefit couples who want a high-quality vendor without all the bells and whistles — or without the hassle of negotiating a custom rate if offered packages didn’t fit their needs. But it’s important to be confident in what you want when comparing. Piecemeal pricing may not work out to be competitive if you decide after signing a contract that, yes, you do want those photo albums for your mother-in-law.
New: Offbeat locations
Whether it’s a mountaintop, local park, winery or backyard, couples are increasingly looking for unusual places to host their ceremony and reception, experts say. That can represent big cost savings — the Hoosier National Forest, for example, charges as little as $90 for a special event permit, a fraction of The Wedding Report’s national average $1,194 for ceremony location costs. Alcohol beverage retailer BevMo launched a wedding website in June to cater to what it saw as a growing number of couples using locations that don’t have a liquor license, says spokeswoman Kris Mulkey. The average sale — which includes offers like the brand’s famous deal to buy one bottle of wine and get the second for 5 cents — is $2,000, she says. (Unopened alcohol can be returned, too.) Nationwide, the typical bar service tab, meanwhile, is $2,456. But avoiding the usual wedding haunts can add to other costs. Logistics may require the services of a wedding planner, for example, or extra equipment to power the deejay’s setup. As couples look for unique locales, the average distance from home has lengthened, with more people getting married at least 50 miles from home, says McMurray. That can mean added travel fees from vendors, as well as higher costs for your lodging and transportation.
Old: Saturday night fever
Looking for off-peak deals is an old technique, but one that’s more valuable now than in recent years. From 2008 to 2010, engaged couples were getting married at days and times in an effort to find the best price, says McMurray. Now, they’ve largely moved back to Friday and Saturday nights. That gives couples willing to get married during the week, or on a weekend morning, the same extra negotiating leverage they had before the recession. On BrideRush.com, some of the off-peak deals represent as much as 30% off prevailing rates. Saturday night bookers may also find they have more competition from proms, corporate parties, high school reunions and other kinds of events. “With people going to more unique locations, it’s getting more competitive for venues to fill those spots with just weddings,” he says.


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Building a better world, by design.
- Designed the first home to ever achieve LEED for Homes Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council
Currently Operating in One Region
October 26, 2018
Plant Prefab makes custom prefabricated homes for the urban housing market. Amazon has invested in the Rialto start-up as the online retailer tests ways to disrupt its latest target: the...
April 6, 2020
USC paid $8.6 million for a Santa Monica house, to be used as the new presidential residence. It is currently occupied by Carol Folt.
March 9, 2020
Plant Prefab has unveiled three new LivingHome designs.
December 3, 2019
Designers have long tried and failed to take modular mainstream. Can this Amazon-backed entrepreneur make prefab more than just a fad?
October 8, 2019
Plant Prefab’s Nest LivingHome toolkit includes multiple options for designs that can be built on unused lots throughout a city.
March 22, 2019
Obvious Ventures was founded in 2014 by Medium CEO and Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, along with Vishal Vasishth and James Joaquin. Its mission? To invest in startups that make a positive impact...
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