text:
Ask Bard to name the challenges facing Google’s search engine, and it’s easy to point out some of Google’s new chatbots. It adapts to the ever-changing Internet landscape, provides users with relevant and accurate results, and protects user privacy. He also noted that what happens next with the tech giant’s AI ambitions could sustain the fourth-largest search market dominance.
According to a recent report, Google seems to be taking this challenge seriously.
Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Google was planning a major change to its search engine. This includes more personalization, more AI, more advertising, and more ways to transact financially through search. Reportedly codenamed Magi, the project is part of Google’s strategy and could be a step ahead of Microsoft’s Bing in what SEO experts say is search’s most exciting time. I have.
Google’s plans to overhaul search with the addition of AI are still in hypothetical territory. But marketing and AI experts see this as an opportunity to vastly simplify what has become a cluttered, disjointed, and confusing product for Google.
There’s a joke in the industry, says David Shapiro, senior vice president of earned media at NP Digital. Where is the best place to hide a body?his second page in a google search.
When asked to comment on Google’s AI efforts and other plans to overhaul its search business, the spokesperson declined to provide details, but Google is improving search results and adding features like Lens and multi-search. He said he’s been adding AI to search for years to introduce new features.
We have done this in a responsible and helpful way to maintain the high standards we have set for providing quality information, a spokesperson told Digiday in an email. Not every brainstorming deck or product idea leads to a launch, but as I said before, we’re excited to bring new AI-powered features to search and more to come soon. To do.
Despite being seen as catching up to Bing in AI, Google still dominates the search advertising market. According to WARC, Google holds his 50.4% share of the search market in 2023, compared to just 5.2% for Bing. But a recent WARC survey of marketers found that only 53% plan to increase spending on Google, down from 59% last year, and 11% plan to increase spending on Bing. Turns out it was planned.
Depending on what Google does, a greater focus on brand building could lead marketers to rethink their SEO strategies after years of prioritizing performance marketing. According to Max Gomez, chief marketing officer at SEO agency The Hoth, advertisers currently don’t like long-tail keywords. However, a chat-based search platform could change that.
We see people asking Google a ton of questions now, and sometimes the information they get isn’t what they’re looking for, Gomez said. Matching user needs with brands becomes easier.
The possibilities are there, but so are the challenges. For example, Gomez said some clients are worried about AI stealing their content. Also, how does Google plan to monetize, whether adding too many ads to chat-based answers can disrupt conversations, how does Google deal with misinformation issues? There are still many questions about how to fix it.
Analysts and other experts point to many concerns about Google and its AI ambitions. For example, Bard has been found to still generate a high percentage of incorrect information when generating responses to users. According to a recent research report from Gartner, consumers expect AI to generate misinformation, but they don’t want companies to disclose whether AI is used to generate branded content. said he is still looking forward to There is also the risk that your brand will appear in AI-generated search results that consumers don’t trust, Gartner noted, with 85% of survey respondents not trusting their AI-generated search results at all. It turns out that they don’t, or they just trust them to some extent.
Gartner Senior Direct Analyst Nicole Green says AI should be seen as an augmentation of search, not a complement. Tools like ChatGPT, Bing, etc. still lack authenticity and citations, thus lacking truth and credibility. The behavior of users participating in AI chat is still different from their search behavior. The AI chat feature is context- and destination-less.
The stakes are high for Google to get it right. Samsung is reportedly considering switching to Google for Bing as the tech giant’s native search engine. Meanwhile, analysts estimate that his three-year deal with Google and Apple is expected to expire later this year, which could open the door for Bing to squeeze its business. .
In addition to building trust and value in user perceptions of AI capabilities, Google may also consider adding payment capabilities, said James McDonald, WARC’s director of data, intelligence and forecasting. says. This is especially important because retail media now makes up a quarter of his search advertising market, he estimates, WARC.
Google has the means to reach consumers close to where they buy. Transforming that sales (as Amazon does efficiently) will give them the lead as the sector evolves further over the next decade, McDonald said.
Of course, Google and Microsoft aren’t the only companies developing new generative AI tools. Earlier this month, GoDaddy released a new AI tool for small businesses to generate content, and last week Mailchimp released a new feature in his AI-generated content for email marketing.
The AI battle between Google and Microsoft could ultimately benefit many other generative AI companies, such as Jasper AI, which recently launched its own API. According to Jasper president Shane Orlick, the ongoing AI hype could increase exposure and push competitors to improve his Jasper AI. The better other companies’ technology gets, the better Jasper gets, he said, Orlick.
The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article
What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos
to request, modification Contact us at Here or [email protected]
- Warning signs for Trump and Biden, and other takeaways from the Michigan primaries
- Ex-Erdoan aide's claims shed light on former chief of staff's role in 2016 coup
- How visiting the U.S. border became a powerful form of political theater
- How Hollywood Should Absorb Tyler Perry's AI Warning After Sora
- 79% of sports executives predict impact on automated content creation | News
- Germany arrests a fugitive from the Red Army faction
- Imran Khan 'writes to IMF' ahead of new bailout talks with Pakistan
- President Xi Jinping meets his Sierra Leonean counterpart
- Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson breaks silence after crack arrest
- Rheaume was happy to see more opportunities for girls in youth hockey
- Bulls lose embarrassingly at home to 9-win Pistons
- Gemini AI is coming to Google Messages: Here's how it works


text:
Since 1997, Monsanto has filed 145 lawsuits against farmers who have “improperly reused their patented seeds.” Where is the justice?
Monsanto is fighting hard to avoid GMO labeling, but activists against GMOs just might take down biotech giants. Will you help make GMO labeling a reality?
Will it take a civil wrongful death suit to take down the biotech giant Monsanto, or something else? Millions want it done, so let us get it done.
Pesticides being sprayed on greenspaces more than 1,300 times annually in New York may be fueling cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer.
A global threat? A slight nuisance? A main ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp is killing healthy bacteria we need to fight super bugs. This IS an issue.
Kentucky Bluegrass is the name of a toxic new GMO lawn grass being engineered by Scotts to withstand copious amounts of Monsanto’s vile RoundUp chemicals.
There are three reasons that Big Ag can’t compete with the small farm in the long-term, all revolving around the people’s desire for good, non-toxic food.
Monsanto has a new marketing plan selling a GMO cotton seed in India under the brand name Deltapine. Maybe brand recognition is not always a good thing.
Will first-hand accounts of animal deaths and deformities, as well as human reproductive failure lead to the demise of Monsanto’s RoundUp and glyphosate?

domain: news


text:
A range of hemp technology will be highlighted at this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo, North America’s largest event dedicated to industrial hemp, organizers said. “Farming equipment and technology is something we have to figure out as a fledgling industry,” said Morris Beegle of Colorado Hemp Company, the NoCo organizer. Beegle said as hemp farming grows throughout the world,, processing equipment of all kinds is needed to keep the industry moving.
Among the technology that will be introduced at NoCo are:
- The GrassHopper, made by Colorado-based Power Zone Equipment, which collects and stores hemp. That technology will be demonstrated on-site at the Expo.
- The Multi-Combine HC 3400 — a large-scale harvester from Hanf Farm of Germany that can help hemp farmers realize the full promise of the plant on a massive scale.
- Henry’s Harvester, a self-propelled harvester from H8 Automation, also of Germany. Designed to meet the needs of small farmers. That project is already in the prototype stage.
The latter two machines will be shown in a film loop that will be running in the HempBoutique, a special booth (No. 57) that will showcase hemp products and developments from around the world.
A record 115 exhibitors will showcase their hemp products during this year’s Expo, which also expects record-breaking crowds, organizers said. The Expo runs Friday and Saturday.


text:
Kings Transport goes electric
Posted: June 25, 2016 at 12:16 am
Australian transport company Kings Transport has announced that it will order nine electric vehicles from SEA Automotive.
SEA Automotive is an Australian electric vehicle manufacturer.
The order will include three each of SEA’s 15-tonne Volta model, 10-tonne Sturgeon truck and Musk light van.
According to a joint press release, Kings will work with its customers and SEA Automotive over the next 12 months to confirm the scale of the opportunity to replace, where appropriate, current vehicles in the company-owned fleet with electric vehicles.
Kings will also explore with its 1,500 contractors the possibility of simultaneously introducing electric vehicles into its contractor fleet.
- How to become a courier owner/driver
- Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act (Victoria)
Become a POAAL member
POAAL provides support and services for Licensees and Franchisees (Post Office Owners), Mail & Parcel Contractors and Couriers.


text:
Consolidated Hallmark Q3 profit up by 120%
The unaudited results which have been presented to shareholders of the company by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, show that profit after tax rose from N176.781 million during the nine months ended September 2014 to N389.749 million, a growth of 120 per cent.
There was also an improvement in the gross premium income during the period under review, having increased revenue in this area from N3.872 billion to N4.939 billion despite the increasing competition in the industry and difficult operating terrain.
Further details of the result reveal a 64 per cent growth in underwriting profit as Consolidated Hallmark posted N1.258 billion when compared with N768.309 million for the 3rd quarter ended September 30, 2014.
The Managing Director of the company, Eddie Efekoha, attributed the modest results to the high premium CHI has continued to place on customer service and the attention given to prompt claims settlement. The amount expended on claims by the company during the period rose to N902.209 million from N826.149 million spent during the corresponding period in 2014.
No Comments yet


text:
1. Given that Tiffany reported revenue of €4 billion in 2018, owning the American jeweler will boost LVMH’s hard luxury sales to about €8.2 billion — within striking range of Richemont’s sales. The percentage of sales that LVMH generates from jewelry and watches will then jump to 14.8%
2. Pandora dropped their Harry Potter collection consisting of 12 products — including charms, pendants and a bracelet. All are inspired by the characters and symbols from the iconic Harry Potter books.
3. Since the cooperation series between Laomiao Jewelry and international jewelry designer Baobao Wan was unveiled in New York Times Square, the famous Chinese jewelry brand Laomiao Jewelry has recently become a popular topic on ins.
4. Kering’s head of watch and jewelry left the company. Kering said that this is a revolution in the industry.
5. India will make hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts mandatory from mid-January, a senior government minister said on Friday, a move that could boost demand in the world’s second-biggest gold market by tackling quality concerns.
Latest Gold Price: $51.53/g
Latest Silver Price:$0.60/g
Data from: kitco.com


text:
Take a ride in the great glass elevator
The Spark5th July 2017
The Spark newsletter is our fortnightly roundup of the latest innovation trends. To sign-up, click the register link in the footer of this page.
We all remember the great glass elevator from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but now a team of electrical engineers in Germany have brought Roald Dahl’s creation to life. The Multi can not only travel vertically, but also side-to-side and diagonally. Far from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, this revolutionary invention is being tested at the Tower of Light in Rottweil.
The Multi is the first ever ropeless lift, which is based on magnetic levitation technology similar to that used in Japan’s bullet train. It has been compared to a metro system because of the way it can take people to their exact location, rather than stopping at various other floors along the way.
While it may be a few years before these lifts feature in regular offices, The Multi would not look out of place in Apple’s new $5 billion office, which has been nicknamed ‘the spaceship’ because of its circular design. Eight years in the making, Apple Park is the brainchild of Steve Jobs and is due to open in Cupertino this summer. Every pane of glass at the building will be curved, it will be surrounded by around 9,000 trees and who knows, maybe one day it will become home to a lift that can travel in all directions.


text:
Authority in charge of the Seme Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, says it intercepted over N1 billion worth of contraband goods at Seme-Krake border despite the closure of the nation’s land borders.
The goods were intercepted between January to December, 2019 from criminals who the customs said attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through bush parts
The Federal Government said that the country’s border will remain closed till January 30, 2020. It cited security reasons as well as refusal of some West Africa countries to comply with agreement reached on trade facilitation as reasons for the extension.
Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Badagry, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, said that the Command recorded remarkable achievement in its anti-smuggling crusades.
The Controller while reviewing the Command’s revenue profile said that the anti-smuggling operations yielded a total of 1302 seizures with the duty paid value (DPV) of N1.579 billion in the last 11 months.
He said that the seizures include the following;
- 28,180x50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to 47 trailerloads valued at more than N777 million.
- 140x50kg bags of sugar with value of N588,000,
- 62 used vehicles along with their means of conveyance valued at N222 million.
- 1100 bales of used clothing and 101 sacks of used clothing valued at N70.1 million
- 185 sacks of shoes, bags, belt, slippers both new and used valued at N27.6 million
- 1,539x6yrd, 30x7yrd, 16x6yrd textile materials and wrappers valued at N10.5 million
- 5,489 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N49.4 million
- 397x25litres of vegetable oil, 9x10ltrs and 37x5ltrs of vegetable oil valued at N138.6 million
- 2,109x25litres of petrol valued at N7.6 million
- General merchandise 14, 955 items worth N234.3 million
- Parcels of hard drugs and narcotics valued at N37.8 million
He attributed the harvest of seizures recorded to the strategic policy measures put in place by the Command to tackle the menace of smuggling, irregular migrations and other trans-border crimes.
He further reiterated his commitment in ensuring that smuggling business becomes unattractive through vigorous community and public enlightenment, sensitization on the dangers of smuggling and its impact on economy and national security.
The comptroller urged economic saboteurs to take the advantage of various federal government programs on agriculture such as anchored borrowers for rice farming, growth enhancement support scheme (GESS), government enterprises and empowerment program (GEEP) and many others and key into for legitimate earning.


text:
Featuring Model Prices and Specifications, plus Reviews,News and Videos.
The big unveiling for Mercedes-Benz in Detroit this year was of course the new E-Class, but the German manufacturer was far from being a one-hit-w...
Interested in a new car? Simply tell us the vehicle you are interested in and we can take care of the rest.
Get great offers, the latest news and reviews, photos, videos and more delivered straight to your inbox.


text:
The Australian dollar advanced against its US counterpart Tuesday, as a flurry of economic data from China confirmed the world’s second largest economy was growing at a robust pace in the third quarter.
The AUDUSD climbed to a daily high of 0.8831. The pair would subsequently consolidate at 0.8818, advancing 0.39 percent. According to the daily chart, initial support is likely found at 0.8752. On the upside, resistance is ascending from 0.8835
The AUDUSD has advanced 0.7 percent in the first two days of the week, as the markets await more compelling data from the United States.
In economic data, the Chinese growth engine moderated slightly in the third quarter, although the rate of growth was bigger than forecast.
China’s gross domestic product accelerated 1.9 percent in the July to September period, following a 2 percent gain in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics reported today. Economists forecast a quarterly increase of 1.8 percent.
Year-on-year, China grew 7.3 percent in the third quarter, surpassing estimates calling for a 7.2 percent rise. The economy had grown at an annualized rate of 7.5 percent in the second quarter.
Separately, Chinese factory output rose sharply in September, rebounding from August’s six-year low. Industrial production rose 8 percent in the 12 months through September, following a 6.9 percent increase the month before. Economists forecast a gain of 7.5 percent.
Chinese retail sales rose 11.6 percent in the 12 months through September, the government reported today. That was lower than the 11.9 percent annualized clip reported in August and 0.2 percentage points below the median estimate of economists.
Concerns about a slowdown in China were voiced by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which earlier this month voted to keep interest rates at a record low for the fourteenth consecutive month. The minutes of those meetings, which were released today, suggest policymakers are concerned about a weak global recovery, particularly in China, Japan and Europe. The focus on these markets was more pronounced than in previous rate discussions, a sign policymakers were concerned global headwinds could stymie growth for the world’s twelfth largest economy.
“The global data released over the past month suggested that Australia’s major trading partners had continued to grow at around their long-run average pace over the past year, although there had been quarterly volatility in growth in some of the major economies through the year,” the minutes of the October meetings revealed today.
Regarding the local currency, RBA officials noted that it had depreciated since September, but that it “remained high by historical standards – particularly given recent declined in key commodity prices.”
The RBA added that the Aussie “was offering less assistance than would normally be expected in achieving balanced growth in the economy.”
In trade-weighted terms, the Australian dollar tumbled 4 percent over September, the RBA noted. That was mainly due to a 6 percent drop against the US dollar, which soared to record highs last month.


text:
Food tech is heating up. With a global population set to grow to upwards of 9 billion in the next 30 years, technology is playing an increasingly important role in food production -- but it’s not just the scale or method of production that will change.
As technology gives us more insight and control into how food affects our bodies, the way we think about food is changing as well.
I now work in the digital development field, but I started my career in food. I have over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and I’ve managed, owned, and operated restaurants, nightclubs and bars all over the country. I’ve also worked with professional chefs, mixologists and suppliers, making this a particularly important topic for me.
Right now, the food industry is moving forward in a big way. Advances in genetic technology are reshaping our understanding of nutrition, and new capabilities in food science are reengineering artificial meat. But, as we’ll see, moving forward with food may mean returning to our past.
A Revolution In (Non)Meat
One of the biggest trends in the food tech space right now revolves around meat -- or rather, the lack of it. Capitalizing on modern food science, a new crop of startups (some of them unicorns) are crafting never-seen-before food substitutes.
Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, the two largest players in the plant-based burger space, are leading this charge. Both companies have used new techniques in food science to design plant-based (vegan) patties that look, taste and feel like a beef burger.
The plant-based meat industry is only at its inception, and we can expect to see the growth of major players and plenty of new entries in the coming years.
The Genealogical Diet
This isn’t the only place where new science is changing the nature of food. While it’s still in its earliest phases, gene-based diets will be a major trend in the health space in the coming decade.
A number of new startups like Habit are offering a new approach to healthy eating that’s tailored to each person’s individual genetics. Customers take a DNA test to determine their genome, then get personalized diet advice based on how their body’s genetics respond to different foods.
As of now, the science here is still murky. But a 2015 study found that blood sugar levels varied greatly from person to person even in response to identical meals, suggesting that our response to nutrition does depend on individual factors like genetics or gut microbiomes. Our understanding of the human genome is in its infancy. As our knowledge and technical capabilities grow, my prediction is that gene-based diets will be commonplace.
But there’s another trend in food today that, at first glance, seems to run counter to the narrative. Increasingly, people aren’t relying solely on western science to define their diet. They’re looking back to food cultures that have existed for thousands of years.
A large part of this trend comes from what I see as a fundamental flaw in the linear reductionist approach to food -- the view that food can be understood as the sum of discrete parts. So long as we get all those parts in our diet, we’re healthy. The linear reductionist view began with the discovery macronutrients -- protein, carbohydrates, and fat -- by German chemist Justus von Liebig. But in the first half of the 20th century, food scientists discovered vitamins and minerals. And today, we’re still discovering an even more complex component of nutrition: phytochemicals and zoochemicals. There may be as many as 25,000 phytochemicals alone, and we’re only beginning to understand how they affect the body. But from what we do know, they seem to play vital roles in everything from reducing neuroinflammation to fighting cancer.
I cite these examples to point out a pattern. At each step in this chain, scientists discovered certain components of food and assumed that all people needed were these components. But down the line, they were proven wrong by the discovery of a new component. Nutrition may simply be more complicated than the sum of its parts.
Looking Backward, Looking Forward
In response to this, some food scientists are turning away from linear reductionism. In tandem, entrepreneurs are pioneering a different vision of health by returning to food cultures that have existed for millennia. Karuna, a whole-food juice line, is doing this by studying other food cultures to find little-known “superfood” ingredients like the Ashitaba plant, then blending them into health tonics rooted in ancient wisdom. Kefir, a cultured dairy drink that’s a staple in many European and Asian food cultures, is now a flagship product of Lifeway Foods.
There seems to be something to this. Ashitaba has long been called the “longevity plant” in its native Japan, and it's long been an important part of ancient food culture. But science backs up this wisdom: research suggests some of its phytochemicals, particularly a type of flavonoid, promote longevity. Kefir contains probiotics, which may be critical to whole-body health according to a growing body of research.
The Future Is The Past
Food technology is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with food and changing our understanding of nutrition. In the coming years, we’ll see ever more realistic meat substitutes and a more personalized approach to nutrition that both capitalize on new technological capabilities to create better food options for everyone.
But when it comes to food, science may never be enough on its own. Nutrition may simply be too complex for us to fully understand, at least until some point far in the future.
That’s why no matter how far food technology advances, the food cultures and traditions we’ve developed over thousands of years may always need to play a role in our diet and the food we eat.
It may sound counterintuitive. But when it comes to food, the way forward might just be looking to our past.


text:
The coronavirus pandemic continues to have an adverse effect across the world. Several relaxations have been announced in phases by the government but following physical distancing norms remains the most essential defense from COVID-19 till the time we have effective vaccines. This is why countries like India are witnessing a positive trend of the surge in online health platforms.
According to Jayan Matthews, Co-founder and CPO at Vital, the pandemic has brought with it an incredible wave of digital adoption, boosting the acceptance and popularity of online platforms.
“People are presently not in favour of face-to-face interactions which has also steadily pushed the online purchase of health insurance. This renewed adoption of digital services means that a world of possibilities has emerged with respect to product designs, efficient underwriting processes, online policy management ecosystems, and auto adjudication engines in claims,” Matthews said.
Talking about the health insurance customers, he said that online platforms also enable better customization of benefits as well as the increased opportunity to offer a complete health ecosystem to such people.
“Not to mention, digital distribution also makes way for faster scalability and increased adoption of insurance. This can be attested by the fact that the industry has witnessed a 3x upsurge in digital growth compared to the pre-pandemic times,” he added.
Below are excerpts of an e-mail interview with Jayan Matthews, who explains everything about the health and wellness marketplace.
How This Online Health Platform Works And What All Are The Options
Vital is a next-gen healthcare financing solution aiming to provide every health and wellness requirement of a consumer on a single platform. Bringing together a comprehensive health insurance cover for individuals and families, and a host of healthcare benefits like unlimited doctor consultations, pharmacy benefits and health checkups, we have created a complete health plan an individual would need today.
Adding to the plans’ accessibility is their monthly subscription format which makes it that much more affordable and a smart deductible option in our insurance covers which allow them to reduce their premiums by up to 70%.
We work with leading insurance providers to provide the best possible solution to the consumer based on his life stage and health condition i.e. specific plans designed for healthy individuals, individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes & hypertension and even for individuals who have had cardiac ailments in the past.
Our platform also has a curated health and wellness marketplace, offering everything one might need to stay healthy or improve their overall health on a regular basis. Covering 10 categories – Consultations, Pharmacy, Diagnostics, Dental, Vision, Fitness, Nutrition, Maternity, Supplements & Personal Care, we have tied up with leading providers and brands on the market to offer exclusive prices. From skincare products and mental health consultations to IVF treatments and root canals, we have it all.
We have tied up with leading brands like DocsApp, Betterlyf, Mamaearth, The Man company, Clove Dental, PeeSafe, Healthians, SRL Labs, 1mg, Fitternity, cult.fit, and more on our marketplace.
Vital members are also given a dedicated care manager for any kind of assistance – be it filing claims, making bookings or appointments, or any queries. Nobody likes calling a toll free number or listening to pre-recorded messages anymore. We have significantly reduced the time consumed in addressing members’ issues and have turned it into a personalised experience with their dedicated account managers.
What Are The Limitations Of Such Online Platforms
Digital platforms are a great way to offer consumers primary services and access the best in healthcare, but this would in no way replace the need for direct care. Digital services, however, would enable a better allocation of the limited physical resources.
This would mean that an online treatment ecosystem would emerge for whom primary care would be adequate, while making way for a more efficient and faster distribution of physical resources for those who need intensive care.
For example, access to teleconsultation services from doctors can help those that only require primary medical advice to address their ailment, while those suffering more acute conditions can access the doctor at the clinic or hospital faster.
This ease of access will also facilitate more people accessing medical care at the right time, thus ensuring early detection and treatments and consequently avoiding many future complications.
Protection Plans That Are Not Heavy On Your Pocket
Our health plans offer a complete protection plan for families without going heavy on the pocket. At a time when health insurance has moved on from being low on the priority of financial planning to being one of the most important necessities in protecting one’s finances and enabling access to quality healthcare, we are aiming to offer a package that goes beyond vanilla insurance plans to actually help consumers stay healthy – mentally and physically – on a daily basis.
At Vital, we don’t just provide our members a handy financial resource for medical emergencies, but also a one-stop platform to maintain their overall health and wellness on a regular basis.


text:
The final four months of 2017 were some of the most challenging in the past decade for shippers, carriers, and 3PL’s. The market changed dramatically with the arrival of back-to-back hurricanes in September and concluded with the go-live date for Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).
Coming into 2018, the headwinds for our marketplace are massive. The market seems to be reeling from the lack of capacity now, and with so many variables to make the situation worse through the course of the year. Three main factors are going to help shape the state of the domestic supply chain marketplace in 2018 – ELD devices, driver shortage, and the economy.
After 18 months of apprehension over what could be, ELD devices are finally a reality. While the long term ramifications of this are not fully realized, the short-term pain has certainly been felt, and it was almost immediate. Many small carriers that were due to integrate these devices waited until the very last minute (some publications say sales spiked 2-3x in the last two weeks before the deadline). The weeks following the mandate have been bumpy to say the least. Certain carriers are struggling to learn how to properly use the devices, and the devices themselves have been inconsistent in their ability to manage the driver’s days. Additionally, devices have been found to be less intuitive than some expected, and there is a ton of uncertainty about what roadside inspectors from state-to-state will actually do if a driver is pulled over and is either not using, or does not have an ELD device. Because the go-live date was really a “soft go-live” for the device – where there are not compliance, safety, and accountability (CSA) penalties for drivers and carriers if a driver is found to not be compliant – there has been a lot of question about how real the effects of this mandate will be until then.
Looking forward, the anticipation is that for as bad as things have been the past few weeks with the acclimation to the device, they may be worse in April when the stakes become far more real and the devices are fully enforced with the penalties the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) envisioned for this program. The good news is that this time will give carriers time to get acclimated to the devices, the bad news is that it will put a further strain on the capacity in the market, and at a time when the peak growing season in the South will be kicking off, when the market can ill-afford it. The ELD story is one that is going to continue to develop over the course of the next few months, and we are all going to have to be keenly aware of what we are doing as shippers, carriers, and 3PL’s to provide as much flexibility in the supply chain as possible to learn this new world.
The Driver Shortage
The industry has had a driver recruiting and retention problem for the better part of a decade. The potential of a driver shortage situation has been talked about quite a bit, but it has not truly hit the marketplace in the form of an actual capacity shortage; mostly due to some of the overall headwinds in the demand for that capacity. The reality of the driver shortage is beginning to settle in for the market, and some of the challenges that we have seen through the past four months are partly due to the fact that carriers cannot hire drivers fast enough to accommodate the increased demand in the market. Where there might have been one to two percent spare capacity in the market as late as mid-year last year, there is certainly at best parity, and more likely a one to two percent deficit in capacity provision for the market currently – and it’s January, typically the slowest shipping month of the year!
The driver shortage is more a matter of the lack of new drivers entering the workforce than it is an individual carrier putting the right drivers in the right seat. This is mainly because of the lack of desirability for the role; there are very few new people looking to join this workforce in earnest. Many in the industry know that in order to retain the talent in the seat and recruit new talent, driving a truck is going to have to become a high enough paying job that people who have not considered this role for them before will not be able to ignore it. This means that carriers are going to continue to need to be paid more for the work they do for shippers to be able to afford to keep the drivers they have and to attract new ones in order to provide more capacity.
This is going to be an ongoing battle through the course of the year and beyond, and as the economy continues to be strong and the demand for capacity grows, that is only going to come from one place – more drivers.
One of the biggest stories of the year in 2017 was the positive signs the economy showed almost all year, most especially the last two quarters. With GDP expecting to settle in near an average of three percent growth in the second half of the year, these are some of the strongest back-to-back quarters we have seen in a decade. Moreover, we are expected to carry that momentum well into 2018. With consumers driving a good amount of this growth in 2017 with respect to spending on durable goods (appliances, cars, etc.) and then an incredibly strong holiday shopping season, more of the same is expected from consumers in 2018. When adding in the factors associated with the recent passing of tax reform and its effect on the business community as well as consumers, 2018 could be a really big year for the economy. Many shippers will be looking to expand their production / operations this year under some of the new benefits the change in the tax code has brought, and that is going to lead to the sort of demand from the manufacturing side that we have not seen in quite some years.
Mixing the already strong consumer demand with this renewed small-medium business growth [they benefit the most from the tax revisions] and demand is going to leave the market with further pressure on the overall capacity. While the early part of the year is going to be somewhat quiet relative to the rest of the year – as is the norm – expect the second half of the year to be quite hectic, with the already struggling marketplace demands to get worse. This will most likely leave carriers to choose their shipper/3PL of choice – which could be based on price, service, flexibility, or a combination of those things. How fast the economy grows in 2018 is going to be a major factor in the way the market for capacity moves, and will certainly be in flux as the year goes on and this story takes shape.
2018 is going to be a challenging year for all parties involved in the domestic supply chain. Shippers are certainly going to have to have work with their partners to ensure their raw materials and finished goods arrive on time and in full. What’s more, it’s almost inevitable that most will be paying more for that to happen in 2018 than they did in 2017, and maybe more than they have in years. The best way to manage this and work through the situation is to be transparent about needs, understanding about costs, and really work to try to be as flexible as possible without sacrificing the service commitment that is made to the end customer. The best path to a tolerable solution in a challenging market as this is to build lasting partnerships that can transcend markets and bring meaning to each aspect of your supply chain.
Joining NFI in 2012, David is in charge of NFI’s North American brokerage, transportation management, intermodal, and drayage businesses. David is leading this rapidly expanding division by offering a more robust suite of services to new and existing NFI clients.


text:
Facebook Addresses its Audience Network Transparency Problem
Harmelin Digital Contributor: Dan DeLozier
Facebook has long been a premium destination for marketers, but concerns over lack of transparency within Facebook’s Audience Network and Instant Article placements has slowed the social media giant’s potential spend growth for some brands. This is about to change, with a new level of transparency across those placements.
What this means for marketers: On June 14th, Facebook announced plans to begin providing advertisers a list of where their placements may appear within the Audience Network and Instant Article placements. Harmelin has taken a cautious stance on these placements in the past, opting out of all controversial content categories and applying a custom blacklist, but this offering will aid in the ability to flesh out black lists, and assuage any advertiser concerns over where their ad may show up on placements outside of Facebook. At this point, there aren’t plans to show advertisers where their ads ACTUALLY ran after the fact, but armed with a list of sites prior to launching a campaign, Harmelin will be better prepared to ensure that advertisers’ ads are appearing in a brand safe environment.


text:
CEO Elon Musk said "Tesla is moving ahead with plans to layoff about 10% of its salaried staff"
"Tesla is reducing the salaried workforce roughly 10% over the next probably three months or so." Musk said.
"It's quite clear we expect to grow our hourly workforce. We grew very fast on the salaried side and we grew a little too fast in some areas" Musk added
"So it requires a reduction in the salaried workforce." Musk has been sending out conflicting signals on his staffing plans for the last month.
Tesla had about 100,000 employees worldwide as of the end of last year, about 42% of them from the United States.
The company also said that roughly 39% of its global staff were production line workers at the start of the year.
On Tuesday Musk said about one-third of Tesla employees are salaried, and the 10% cut in that part of the staff.
Musk said "roughly a 3% to 3.5% reduction in total headcount," which he referred to as "not super material."
In that email, he said he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy. "I think a recession is inevitable at some point. As to whether there is a recession in the near term," Musk said


text:
Microsoft is trying to get Alphabet, Oracle and other tech companies to join it in lobbying the federal government to choose more than one cloud provider for major cloud computing contracts, reported The Wall Street Journal. The effort shows how Microsoft is trying to slow the momentum Amazon Web Services is gaining in the government cloud market, which includes winning a $10 billion deal to...
Get access to exclusive coverage
Read deeply reported stories from the largest newsroom in tech.
The Briefing markets startups
Sequoia, Andreessen and Bessemer’s Beating and Snap’s Selfie Drone
Is anybody else pumped for some appointment streaming this weekend? The first episode of HBO’s “House of Dragon,” the hotly anticipated prequel series to “Game of Thrones,” premieres Sunday night. Then, 12 days later, Amazon will debut its own fantasy series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” on Sept. 2. It’s fair to say HBO and its debt-laden parent company, Warner Bros....
U.K. Government Blocks Chip Deal by Chinese Firm
China’s Cyber Regulator Wants “Affectionate” Ties With Tech Companies
Apple Warns Mac, iPhone, iPad Users of Critical Security Flaws
Stay in the know
Receive a summary of the day's top tech news—distilled into one email.
Access on the go
View stories on our mobile app and tune into our weekly podcast.
Join live video Q&A’s
Deep-dive into topics like startups and autonomous vehicles with our top reporters and other executives.
Enjoy a clutter-free experience
Read without any banner ads.
Recent Popular Stories
Bought and Sold media/telecom
Meet Axios’ New Owners: Old-Money Atlanta Billionaires Hungry for the Next Big Thing
Exclusive startups enterprise
How a Former Sequoia Capital Partner Cornered the Israeli Security Startup Market


text:
The last time we heard from Gameloft was due to their release of Let's Golf 2 HD on the BlackBerry PlayBook and now rather then making a small splash with just one game, Gameloft has launched six of their top titles into BlackBerry App World for the PlayBook.
- Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD
- Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus HD
- Star Front: Collision HD
- Real Soccer 2011 HD
- N.O.V.A. 2 HD
- UNO HD
All the listed games are priced at $6.99 for the US & Canada other locales may vary though. Needless to say, the rest of my evening has just been shot thanks to Gameloft! Check out all the titles in BlackBerry App World right now.
A new 5G BlackBerry Android smartphone with a keyboard will arrive in 2021
A new joint announcement from BlackBerry, OnwardMobility, and FIH Mobile lays out the plans for a new 5G BlackBerry Android smartphone with a physical keyboard to be brought to market in North America, and Europe within the first half of 2021.


text:
Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class is the world’s best-selling luxury sedan for very good reasons; it’s unmatched in safety, drivetrain, and infotainment techology. However, the S-Class is under siege with Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and even Hyundai release their new flagship sedans to take the crown. With those cars in the hunt, Mercedes knows the next S-Class has to be the best. Autocar has learned some new information about the next S-Class due out sometime in late 2012.
The next S-Class will use a version of Mercedes’ modular rear-wheel drive architecture, which is currently used on the current E-Class. The S-Class will also use more aluminum in the body panels and suspension for weight savings.
Design of the S-Class will depart from the “gothic” styling towards a “contemporary appearance.” In other words, think the Mercedes CLS and F800 Concept had a child with a bolder grille, more defined lines, and a roofline with more pronounced curvature. Inside, Mercedes will incorporate more natural materials and a new multi-media screen.
Mercedes will offer five different bodies for the S-Class: SWB sedan, two LWB sedans including a extra long Pullman sedan, coupe (replacing CL), and convertible.
Powertrains for the S-Class will include a group of gas, diesels, and hybrid models. The transmission will be a new nine-speed automatic, an evolution of the current seven-speed auto.


text:
PS3 4.45 Update Bricks Your Console
Unless you like bricks, I wouldn't update your PS3 today. Apparently the new 4.45 update is causing a bunch of problems with PS3 owners so you might want to hold off on that update. We've started getting reports from some readers that the update is bricking their system, locking their consoles on the boot-up "ribbon" screen, and a thread on Sony's official forums shows the issue is far from isolated. *UPDATE* Sony yanked the botched update.
|All times are GMT +1. The time now is 20:02.|
Powered by vBulletin® - Copyright ©2000 - 2018, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO


text:
Sony unveiled its new Xperia, and it’s remarkably waterproof. The phone can stay submerged under 5 feet of water for 30 minutes of HD photo and video capture.
The new Sony camera has a generous 4.6″ touch screen with a 13-megapixel camera that can be activated prior to submersion. Once the phone is underwater the screen loses its touch enabled features, but you can snap photos with a physical button. The camera key button also works in locked mode, enabling you to easily snap photos at any wet moment. This phone is definitely a contender for Go-Pro users who likes water activities.


text:
Fish farm off Two Rocks promises seafood bounty
Australia's first open-ocean fish farm, off the coast of Two Rocks north of Perth, could be producing 100,000 tonnes of seafood a year within 5 years, a leading aquaculture body said yesterday.
Aquaculture Development Council board member Greg Jenkins said the pilot project with 170,000 yellowtail kingfish could pave the way for a bigger industry that would reduce Australia's dependence on imported fish.
Mr Jenkins said that they can have 100,000 tonnes of fish production coming out of that site. Not only can they have an export product to bring in revenue to the State, they can also supply fresh fish to locals.
At 10 nautical miles off the coast, the pilot stage of the farm will involve floating and submersible cages each holding up to 50,000 tonnes of the native yellowtail kingfish, renowned for its firm flesh with high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Today's (Nov 24) launch of the trial coincides with renewed concerns about the future of the local fishing industry, with fears that the population of five species of prized local fish, including dhufish, could collapse without tough restrictions on commercial and recreational fishermen.
Mr Jenkins said the State Government-funded council was bankrolling the 2-year 50ha trial, with Challenger TAFE providing the breeding stock.
But he said the bulk of the funding for the farm would eventually come from industry partners once it reached full commercial production.
As the first Australian fish farm based in the open sea rather than on-shore waters, Mr Jenkins said the Two Rocks site was ideal because the farm could be expanded without encroaching on areas that were environmentally sensitive or favoured by leisure or commercial boats.
He said 70 percent of fish on the Australian market were imported and if expanded the farm could produce fish for the local market, as well as for European and American consumers. Jenkins added that they do not have a lot of fish production in Australia.


text:
Jeremy Bullmore pursued an interesting analogy during last week's
"On the Campaign Couch" therapy session. In dispensing pearls of wisdom
to Worried From Cyberspace, he took us back to the 50s, when satellites
answered to the name of Sputnik and computers were the size of a
Internet advertising in 2001, he said, is in the same sort of state as
TV advertising was in the late 50s and early 60s. It's hard to believe
it now, but back then advertisers didn't believe in the power of TV,
agencies paid lip service to the business, and ITV franchises were
anything but the licences to print money that they subsequently became.
Bullmore also pointed out that Associated Newspapers, a shareholder in
the franchise then believed to have the greatest theoretical potential,
Associated Rediffusion, lost its nerve after years of losses and pulled
And, of course, Associated Rediffusion's London weekday franchise went
on to fulfil its potential. So fear not, Worried From Cyberspace. It's
only a matter of time before online publishing becomes a licence to
print money and one day we'll all shake our heads in disbelief when we
think back to those dark days at the turn of the century.
And publishers, eh? They never learn, do they? In the past few weeks,
two of the UK's more proficient magazine publishers, IPC Media and Emap,
have been thrashing about trying to engage ever more powerful reverse
gears when it comes to the internet.
Last week, IPC closed its women's lifestyle portal, BeMe.com, its
listings site, unmissabletv.com, and its offering aimed at juvenile
delinquents, uploaded.com. IPC will now concentrate on its smaller
spin-offs, such as nme.com. Meanwhile, Emap was completing a structural
review that looks set to continue a retrenchment begun back in April.
Sources say it's almost certain that the specialist Emap Digital
division will now be closed and online expertise will be relocated to
the various relevant publishing divisions.
Neither development is exactly a bolt from the blue but it does make you
wonder just how much further the business can contract without dropping
off the radar altogether. Hadn't the two publishers previously told us
they'd pared down to a base from which it would be possible to move
forward? So what conclusions can we now draw?
John Owen, the head of digital services at Starcom Motive, is certainly
disappointed: "They are being unbelievably short term and the timing
seems typical of the current climate. A year ago, people were investing
ridiculous amounts of money, now they're doing the exact opposite.
Sanity has to return at some stage."
Some, though, see a positive side. They argue the online publishing
industry is now almost entirely focused on niche opportunities and this
is where salvation will lie.
Perhaps everyone is starting to learn a few tricks from Conde Nast - a
publisher that's reputed to have cracked the internet in its own modest
way. Conde Nast's online operations are not completely in the black but
they're not far off - and the company boasts some profitable digital
assets, such as vogue.co.uk and cntraveller.co.uk. Advertising is still
the centrepiece of the Conde Nast digital business plan and it offers
niche audiences similar to those offered by the parent magazines.
Advertisers know where they are with the Conde Nast offerings. In other
words, the classic "small is beautiful" creed.
Conde Nast's managing director, Nicholas Coleridge, says that
sustainable development is fundamentally important. He says: "The
publicly owned companies would have been penalised by the City if they
hadn't thrown ludicrous sums at the internet. Privately owned companies
have been able to get on with things in a far less hysterical
atmosphere. Our policy has been to run it tightly, develop off our
existing magazine brands and be much more cautious in our
However, some sceptics remain, well, spectical. They argue that the
dominant business model - that advertising revenues are bound to grow as
internet usage grows - is still flawed.
Not so, Andrew Walmsley, the chief operating officer of i-Level,
He states: "Advertising revenues as a whole will be down by 3 per cent
here, 4 per cent in the States this year but online will be up by 10 per
cent. It's continuing to buck the trend. What last week's news did for
me was to reopen the question about whether online media is best handled
by traditional players or brand new players? Traditional players still
have the advantage in terms of leveraging resources they already have
but that doesn't mean they'll make best use of that advantage."
Which brings us back to the ITV analogy. And the more you look at it,
the more dangerous it seems. For instance, ITV's early struggles are
much exaggerated by industry myth-makers. Associated Rediffusion was
only wobbly for its first two years and its worst year was its first
one, when start-up costs galloped out of control. It was making massive
profits by 1959.
And the more cosmopolitan of those in the 50s ad industry over here
would also have heard of the US, where commercial television was already
going like a train.
You still can't say that about the internet. So in that respect, Owen
agrees that complacency remains the big enemy. He concludes: "The
industry must work hard collectively to put together credible
propositions. The thing is that I honestly believe companies such as IPC
and Emap will eventually be back making lots of money in this market.
But they have to think more laterally. They have to get out of the habit
of tying to replicate what they do in print. The values are different.
They have to sit down and ask themselves what they can do on the
internet that they can't do elsewhere."


text:
JOPLIN, MO.--- Hair is something we all take for granted, until we start to loose it. Kay Watkins has been selling wigs for nearly 30 years in Joplin. She owns Kay World of Wigs on 7th Street in Joplin. She says the wigs have improved over the years.
"They're a lot lighter weight, more natural looking. You can't hardly tell they're not real," said Kay Watkins, Kay World of Wigs.
She has all types of women that buy wigs. Some women are loosing their hair naturally, others are battling cancer, and some women just want to have fun.
"We have people that wear them for convenience, they like to go and not mess with their hair," said Watkins.
Watkins also works with several models that go around the country, and all of them use wigs. Sabrina Muse has been modeling since she was 16 years old and says wigs make life a bit easier.
"You can go form short, to long, blonde to brunette," said Sabrina Muse, Model.
It's also a time saver.
"Doing our hair, girls need that extra hour of sleep," said Muse.
Emily Sebade is also a model and says people assume it's her real hair.
"Most people don't notice you're wearing a wig. They just assume it's your real hair," said Emily Sebade, Model.
Emily's mom has battled cancer and she says wigs helped her get through her treatment.
"It's very hard for women to loose their hair. There's a bunch of wigs out there. My mom tried on a bunch of wigs and had fun with it," said Sebade.
Watkins says the cost has gotten better over the years.
"My wigs run $90 to $150 for synthetic ones. Of course, human hair runs into the $800," said Watkins.
One of her favorite clients was a woman who never told her husband.
"She said her husband, when he wanted to go out. He didn't want to wait on her to do her hair. So, she would put on a hair piece," said Watkins.
Copyright 2013 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
You have searched for "CEO"
Showing 1-10 of 942
From online-only runway shows to virtual boutiques, the fashion industry is trying its hardest to go digital. Next up? Stores that combine both a physical presence and social media experience.
Luxury sneakers are dominating the style market. From runways to the red carpet, they are making their mark as the 'it-item' of fashion houses.
To raise awareness for the Warriors' Fund Campaign, Primeworks Studio has come up with a new song performed by Ning Baizura.
The Tesla CEO also challenges Johnny Depp to a cage fight.
Ironically, the electronic duo's concert is titled 'Safe & Sound'.
Netflix dominates with 160 nominations; HBO scores with 107.
The Covid-19 pandemic is throwing lives – and waistlines – into flux. People have emerged from weeks of staying indoors with a different clothing size.
With new policies set and financial aid from the Government and the private sector, the arts sector must forge on
While healthy individuals are dealing with the fear of contracting Covid-19, thousands of palliative care patients are trying to have the best quality of life that they can.
Covering your face with a mask is as much a fashion thing, as it is about being socially responsible. Even 'Vogue' magazine is tracking the trend.


text:
Nation Media Group (NMG), owners of NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Dembe FM and KFM has launched a record label branded Lit Music that is set to revolutionise the music industry by using a unique model that offers artistes free recording, distribution, promotion and guidance.
Lit Music will scout for talent and help new artistes, manage their brands and trademarks, coordinate the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion of local music talent.
“We are excited about this new venture. We believe through the new record label we will create something unique and fresh for the local artistes and make it easier for them to commercialise their talent,” reads a statement issued by NMG acting Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gitagama said.
“This record label is also an initiative by NMG to support the local music industry in and find ways to make it efficient for local artistes to have transparency on revenues earned through various platforms,” Mr Gitgama said, and added: “I am delighted that we have received very good response from a number of artistes who have already signed up with Lit Music. This is part of our new revenue streams.”
Currently the label is only operating in Kenya but has prospects of expanding to include Uganda.
However, Ugandans will still have access to some of the productions from the label as Lit Music will promote its productions through the broadcasting, print and digital platforms.


text:
Rumbia, the sixth tropical storm to hit China this year, is moving northwest after landing in South China on Tuesday morning.
A centuries-old skull of a white man found in Australia is raising questions about whether Captain Cook really was the first European to land on the east coast.
The website of China's top agency for handling official complaints crashed temporarily on Monday.
With millions of graduates flooding severely depleted job markets this summer, European Union leaders have pledged to take immediate action.
The death of a 6-year-old girl from a dog bite on the neck has set off another national debate about dogs.
Police have detained more than a dozen foreigners on suspicion of stealing clothing from well-known stores in Shanghai.
The US Supreme Court first struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to married gay and lesbian couples.
Domestic and foreign water purifier suppliers are expanding in China, where households are feeling the pain of clean water shortages.
The number of individual mobile subscribers in the Asia Pacific region was 1.5 billion by the end of 2012.
France-based Carrefour SA, the world's second largest retailer by revenue, denied on Tuesday that it is considering selling its China business.
Trade union authorities are mediating a dispute in which a US company executive is being held captive by his workers at a Beijing plant.
Beijing orchard farmers are boosting the city's economy and job market by finding valuable uses for land under their trees, authorities say.


text:
After months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Continental Free Trade Area is launched, but full implementation of the historic pact may take years.
African countries officially began trading under a new continent-wide free trade area on Friday, after months of delays caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
But experts see the New Year’s launch as largely symbolic, with full implementation of the deal expected to take years.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to bring together 1.3 billion people in a $ 3.4 trillion economic bloc that will be the largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Organization. trade.
Proponents say it will boost trade among African neighbors while allowing the continent to develop its own value chains. The World Bank estimates that it could lift tens of millions of people out of poverty by 2035.
“A new Africa is emerging with a sense of urgency and purpose and an aspiration to become self-reliant,” Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said at an online launch ceremony.
But obstacles – ranging from ubiquitous bureaucracy and poor infrastructure to entrenched protectionism of some of its members – must be overcome if the bloc is to reach its full potential.
Trade under the AfCFTA was supposed to start on July 1, 2020, but was pushed back after COVID-19 made face-to-face negotiations impossible.
However, the pandemic has also given additional momentum to the process, said Wamkele Mene, secretary general of the AfCFTA secretariat.
“COVID-19 has demonstrated that Africa is too dependent on the export of commodities, too dependent on global supply chains,” he said. “When global supply chains are disrupted, we know Africa suffers.”
All African countries except Eritrea have signed the AfCFTA framework agreement and 34 have ratified it. But observers such as W Gyude Moore – a former Liberian minister who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development – say the real work is starting now.
“I would be surprised if they could put everything in place within 24 months,” he told Reuters news agency. “To be successful in the long term, I think we’ll have to look at how long it took Europe. This is a decades-long process. “
‘We have to start somewhere’
Historic challenges, including poor road and rail connections in Africa, political turmoil, excessive border bureaucracy and petty corruption will not go away overnight.
And an annex to the agreement outlining rules of origin – a critical step in determining which products can be subject to tariffs and duties – has yet to be completed.
At the same time, 41 of the 54 member states in the zone submitted tariff reduction schedules.
Members must eliminate 90% of tariff lines – over five years for more advanced economies or over 10 years for less developed countries. Another 7% deemed sensitive will have more time, while 3% will be allowed to be placed on an exclusion list.
Finalizing these timetables and communicating them to businesses must be done quickly, said Ziad Hamoui of Borderless Alliance, a group that campaigns to facilitate cross-border trade.
But efforts to implement the deal are likely to meet resistance from countries’ national interest groups. Fears of losing to more competitive neighbors initially made some countries, including West African giant Nigeria, skeptical of the Pan-African project.
However, the promoters of the zone are convinced that the first stages of its implementation will already allow member states to rapidly stimulate intra-African trade.
“Economic integration is not an event. It’s a process, ”said Silver Ojakol, chief of staff at the AfCFTA secretariat. “We have to start somewhere.”


text:
If you think about the fact that there are around 1 trillion plastic bags used throughout the world every year, a terrible vision of the world we are leaving behind for future generations begins to emerge.
In an effort to fight the build-up of plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags are being produced and sold. One type uses certain chemicals to trigger the disintegration of petrol-based plastics in six to 12 months. But there are a few problems with this method, and they have to do with something called “pro-oxo.” Particles of plastic and the same chemicals that are used to trigger disintegration can be absorbed into the ground and are harmful to the environment. And as Professor Hussein Yıldırım sees it, there are more risks with pro-oxo than possible damage to the soil: When used as a bag for carrying or storing things, the oxidative ingredients in the plastic can actually get absorbed by whatever is being carried around or stored. Depending on light, heat or moisture levels, the disintegration times of these plastic bags can be reduced to just one week. In other words, if there are food items in the bag, they can be infused with heavy metals, which in short is why there are many countries in the world where pro-oxo is simply forbidden. The possible risks are too great.
Biopolymer: A true friend of the environment
Another method being used in the creation of environmentally friendly bags is plastic produced from corn or potato starch. These plastics are called “biopolymer,” and they wind up rotting away. These plastic bags are true friends of the environment. But despite the fact that they don’t cost much more than other plastic bags to produce, these bio-bags are not used much in Turkey. And since they are not used much, consumers are being misled on this front, as are municipalities, governors’ offices and large supermarket chains.
In fact, what most people in Turkey believe to be bio-bags are in fact bags made with pro-oxo. There is definitely much confusion in Turkey as to what constitutes a biopolymer bag as opposed to a bag made using the pro-oxo method.
The head of the Turkey Plastics Industrialists Foundation (PAGEV), Mehmet Uysa, stresses this as well, saying, “In Turkey, the term ‘bioplastic’ is relatively new, and it is not really understood either by producers or by consumers.” Uysal notes that the problem is basically related to lack of information, and asserts that the plastic bags being sold as bio-bags are in fact not up to international standards.
Interestingly, large supermarket chains that may use bio-bags made with biopolymers in other nations will use plastic bags in Turkey that are made using the pro-oxo method. The bags are printed with promises that they “disintegrate in 12 months” and are “environmentally friendly.” İsmail Aydın, himself a producer of plastics made from corn and potato starch in Hong Kong, notes that for whatever reason, large supermarket chains in Turkey do not seem to look warmly on bio-bags.


text:
It's hard to let go...but small business bosses must start planning for retirement, experts warn
Exit strategy: Building a firm is tricky, Mike Cooper says
With a third of bosses of small businesses aged over 60, it is vital they start planning their exit strategy well ahead of retirement, experts warn.
Accountancy firm Moore Stephens said many directors put themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to leaving as they are busy running the firm and underestimate the time needed to get things in place.
It said the average age of directors of small firms is 54.5 with two-thirds over the age of 50 and a third over 60.
Mike Cooper, a partner at Moore Stephens, said: ‘Most important is to take advice unless you are well versed in buying or selling firms. There are various ways of selling – some good, some disastrous.’
Moore Stephens’ research showed that many company directors assume a sale will be straightforward and will take just months.
But Cooper said: ‘You have to go about it in a systematic way to get information into shape, ensure records are good and systems sorted out.
'You must plan at least two years in advance as issues can’t be sorted fast.’
Owners also need to be aware of the tax implications of a sale and should consult advisers to ensure any deal is structured in the most taxefficient way for themselves or family members taking over the firm.
Tax breaks such as Entrepreneurs’ Relief and Business Property Relief are available and setting up a trust could ensure inheritance tax is minimised.
‘You do not just wake up one morning and sell your company for top dollar. It is a stressful process,’ said Cooper. ‘You have to keep it confidential from 90 per cent of your staff and some people find that very difficult indeed.’
Most watched Money videos
- Could these LED lights on crossings save lives on the road?
- Ray Massey takes Range Rover new plug-in hybrid PHEV for a spin
- New Jaguar I-Pace takes on Tesla in race against the clock
- Jaguar I-Pace prototype smart cones driving test in Geneva
- Aston Martin showcase the new Vantage with a top speed of 195mph
- Ford Europe teases the release of new Ford Focus in latest clip
- This is how Volvo's new V60 City Safety technology works
- A look at the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A200 model
- Ferrari send fans into rapture with teaser for their new car
- Take a look at the brand new Jaguar I-Pace prototype
- Jack Whitehall stars in Jaguar I-PACE promotional video
- This is the new fourth generation model of the Ford Focus


text:
Power Surge For A Monster ChipOtis Port
For two decades, Victor A.K. Temple has labored in relative obscurity, pursuing a semiconductor technology so arcane and unglamorous that it even turns off most silicon engineers. No wonder. The chips that fascinate him are far from the cutting edge and account for just 0.1% of all chip sales. Their name--monster power ICs--is catchy but misleading. They aren't superstar number-crunchers but integrated circuits designed to modify, switch, and otherwise handle heavy-duty electrical currents--up to 1,200 volts--that would fry ordinary chips.
Finally, diligence is paying off for Temple, who heads Harris Corp.'s Power Research & Development operation in Latham, N.Y. The radically different power chip he patented last year has been cited by R&D Magazine's panel of experts as one of 1993's 100 most significant new products. And a financial dividend seems guaranteed, too. Market researcher Dataquest Inc. is predicting a surge in demand for monster chips, from sales of roughly $70 million worldwide in 1992 to $335 million by 1997.
That increase will be sparked partly by recent energy-saving rules and incentives from government agencies. By incorporating power chips that use less electricity, appliance makers are already developing more efficient air conditioners, refrigerators, and washers. Factory equipment, aircraft, ships, and submarines may benefit next. Electric utilities count on power chips to make existing facilities more efficient and thus help meet growing demand. And sales of the chips could soar in 1998, when California will require that 2% of the cars sold there be pollution-free. They'll probably have electric motors, and Harris thinks its chips will help produce snappier acceleration, longer range, and faster battery recharges.
SAVING GRACE. What these uses have in common are electric motors. The Edison Electric Institute says the U.S. has 1 billion motors, which gulp half of America's electricity. Much of that is wasted, because most motors now run at one speed. The solution is to vary the motor speeds with power chips. Motors that run only as fast as they need to "can reduce the electric bill by up to 40%," says Daniel Artusi, director of power products at Motorola Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector in Phoenix. If all single-speed motors were variable-speed models, he adds, "the savings would be equal to nearly 1% of gross domestic product."
The design that accounts for most current monster chip sales is IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor). Although the chip was developed in the U.S. in the 1980s, the market has been dominated by Toshiba and Hitachi in Japan and Thomson and Siemens in Europe, countries where electricity costs are so high that demand for energy-efficient products is brisk. While U.S. chipmakers focused on big-ticket industrial motors, says Harris' Temple, "the Japanese used IGBTs to go after mass-market things, like air conditioners." Their production volumes took off, and their power-chip prices fell.
Then late last year, Harris introduced a new power chip called the MOS-controlled thyristor, or MCT. It will put the U.S. back on top, Temple asserts, because of its higher current-handling capacity--more than double that of the same size IGBT--and half the electrical loss. A different approach to the internal structure of the chip accounts for these gains. The first MCTs don't switch on and off as fast as IGBTs, but a new model will, Temple claims, perhaps by yearend. Switching speed is crucial for precisely regulating variable-speed motors.
Motorola's Artusi retorts that the MCT's advantages aren't as big as Temple maintains. "We've looked carefully at MCT technology," he says, and decided to stick with IGBT. Still, Harris has powerful allies. One is the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., which does research for the utility industry. EPRI figures that MCT chips could replace practical every type of switch used by its member companies. "All of our power-saving R&D programs for the next five years are based on these devices," says Harshad Mehta, EPRI's manager of power systems technology. Moreover, he says that ultrahigh-power MCTs--now in the research stage at Harris, with funding from EPRI--will simplify the conversion of high-tension lines from a.c. to d.c., which lets the same lines carry twice as much power. These chips could also help avert blackouts by shifting electricity from one regional grid to another.
Even the U.S. Air Force likes MCT chips. Jet fighters are stuffed with so much electronics that heat buildup is a big problem. The heat can't be vented without affecting performance and increasing the plane's signature on enemy radar, "so it is dumped into the fuel," says William U. Borger, chief of aerospace power research at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The drawback is that "if you want to keep the electronics cool enough to land the plane, you often come in with hundreds of pounds of fuel" that otherwise could have been used for a longer flight. With their lower heat loss, MCT chips may alleviate that problem.
TOTAL CONVERSION. The Air Force sees another advantage. Using small, MCT-equipped electric motors instead of hydraulic systems to power such things as landing gears and wing flaps may help trim a plane's weight by up to 15%. That could boost the speed and maneuverability of both fighters and civilian aircraft--which explains why AlliedSignal Inc.'s aerospace division has "converted completely to MCT" for airplane power systems, says chief scientist Robert C. Eckenfelder. And he expects the entire aerospace market to follow suit.
What the chips do for planes, they may also do for electric cars. Variable-speed motors under the hood might obviate the need for heavy transmissions. MCT chips could also replace the old, solid-state controller on electric motors. In theory, that could extend the car's range by saving up to half the 15% of an electric car's battery power that is lost as heat because of resistance from the controller. John R. Wallace, director of electric vehicle development at Ford Motor Co., is skeptical about how big the mileage increase might be. But his group recently got its first MCT chips. And in lab tests, he says, "they appear to do what they're supposed to do." If that holds up in vehicle tests, he adds, "they'll become our devices of choice."
Temple isn't resting on his laurels in the meantime. He notes that current MCT chips are suitable for only about 20% of the markets Harris is eyeing. He has plenty of new ideas for improving his baby's power-handling capabilities. So even after 20 years, Temple's work may be just beginning.
THE BROAD APPEAL OF MCTs A new breed of chip shows promise in the transportation and utility industries: PLANES -- May make it possible to replace bulky hydraulic systems on landing gears with more compact electronic systems ELECTRIC CARS -- May boost mileage -- Could speed up and prolong battery charges ELECTRIC UTILITIES -- Could instantly reroute power to avert blackouts -- Double the capacity of high-voltage distribution lines DATA: HARRIS CORP., U.S. AIR FORCE, ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE


text:
NUMERICAL MOBILE NETWORK Three has let us know that it will soon be selling the Apple Ipad Mini and fourth generation Ipad.
In typical pre-release fashion, there are no details on Three's pricing yet. However, we're assuming that the fourth generation Ipad will cost the same at Three as the third generation Ipad, which is available from £99 on a £29 24 month contract. This gets you a 16GB Ipad and 15GB of monthly data usage.
The Ipad Mini likely will be even cheaper, given that Apple has tagged it with a retail price of £269.
Unveiled at an event in California on Thursday, the fourth generation Apple Ipad is essentially a refreshed version of the formerly "new" third generation Ipad. Apple has upgraded it to feature a faster A6X processor, a Facetime camera, support for LTE in the UK, improved WiFi performance and a Lightning connector port.
The Ipad Mini, on the other hand, is a departure from Apple's previous tablets. Aimed to compete with the Google Nexus 7, the 7.2mm thick Ipad Mini tablet features a 7.9in 1024x768 screen, Apple's dual-core A5X processor, a Facetime camera, a 5MP Isight rear-facing camera, support for LTE connectivity and 10 hour battery life.
Three has yet to cough details on when it will be releasing the new Ipads, but Apple said that Ipad Mini and fourth generation Ipad will arrive in the UK on 2 November. µ
Unlike, say, users
Promise comes just a day before Ofcom releases long-awaited report
Prepare to be briefed by the shouty kitten wot finks it's a soldier


text:
Baltimore County woman sees win as a blessing
She’s been around scratch-offs for years, a Baltimore-area resident told Lottery officials, but had never developed an interest in playing them until recently. Instant tickets just weren’t her game despite managing a grocery that sells Lottery games and seeing plenty of winners in her time there.
“Hey, people’s interests change,” she joked, when asked what made her start scratching instant tickets in recent weeks. Her decision to try the popular games proved to be a good one when a $5 Gold X20 instant ticket gave her a $50,000 prize that set her head spinning. “I’ve literally only been playing these things for two weeks, and this happens!”
The lucky lady chose the top-prize winning instant ticket when checking out the selection at a Royal Farms store on Reisterstown Road. The Gold X20 game, which went on sale last month, is the fifth most popular scratch-off in stores according to the Lottery’s Top 40 Scratch-offs list.
“I was on the way home and had to stop for something there,” she said. “I saw the Lottery sign and realized that I hadn’t bought a ticket that week, so I did.”
The $50,000 prize was a welcome surprise to the Baltimore County woman. “My life is very busy right now, lots of stuff going on with my family. The timing couldn’t be better. This is such a blessing.”
The Gold X20 game debuted with three other Gold Multiplier instant tickets and is part of the Gold Multiplier Second-chance Promotion. This win leaves six $50,000 prizes available. Other members of the Gold Multiplier scratch-off family are the $1 Gold X5, $2 Gold X10 and $10 Gold X50 games.
Our lucky winner found her share of the gold at Royal Farms #180, which is located at 11510 Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills. For its role in selling a $50,000 top-prize winning scratch-off, the store will earn a $500 bonus from the Lottery.


text:
- Daily Zen
In a move to make iCrime a thing of the past, California Governor Jerry Brown signed historic legislation on Monday that mandates all phones sold in the state have a “kill switch”.
The bill states that smartphones or other connected devices must have a method to remotely lock and erase information from a phone, a feature that can render the device useless if stolen. The law will affect any smartphone manufactured on or after July 1, 2015.
Senate Bill 962 was introduced in February by State Senator Mark Leno and sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon. The new law, the first of its kind in the nation is designed to prevent cell-phone theft in cities like Oakland where more than 75% of all robberies involve stolen phones, or San Francisco, where it’s 65%.
“California has just put smartphone thieves on notice,” Leno said in a prepared statement. “Our efforts will effectively wipe out the incentive to steal smartphones and curb this crime of convenience, which is fuelling street crime and violence within our communities.”
The bill has received some pushback from the wireless industry trade group CTIA that represents major carriers like AT&T and Sprint. They believe that the kill switch was technically unfeasible, costly and could be exploited by hackers. Carriers and phone makers were unwilling to install the switches because it could infringe upon the lucrative $7 billion phone-insurance market.
The law will likely apply to all cell phones sold to consumers online or in physical stores in California, regardless of where the phones are produced. Cell phones sold after July 1, 2015 in the state that do not adhere with the new law will have to pay a penalty anywhere between $500 to $2,500 per device.
Smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Microsoft will likely be affected by the new law, however Apple already ships its iPhones with Activation Lock, a remote locking mechanism in iOS with Find My iPhone that likely fulfils the terms of the law. The app that is connected to Apple’s iCloud service, which when enabled lets users remotely trace, lock, disenable and delete information from an iOS device.
California is not the first state to pass a kill switch bill, Minnesota also has legislation mandating anti-theft technology for smartphones. But unlike California, the law there does not require the kill switch feature to be turned on by default.


text:
The Most Complicated Task. New Pagani HuayraFebruary 15, 2017
An Italian supercar manufacturer Pagani officially introduced the Huayra Roadster, named by the company founder Horacio Pagani “the most complex project”, for which he ever undertook. Only 100 of these cars will be built, and each of them already sold. Supercar valued at 2.28 million euros.
For the roadster a new monocoque has developed, which is due to a special combination of composite materials, carbon fiber and titanium let a supercar become 80 kilograms lighter coupe: dry weight of new items is 1280 kilograms.
You will find the photos of the new Huayra below.
VIEW PHOTOS (9)


text:
(AP)—The Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange in Tokyo filed for bankruptcy protection Friday and its chief executive said 850,000 bitcoins, worth several hundred million dollars, are unaccounted for.
Ecotality, which makes charging systems for electric vehicles, says it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
(AP)—After years of struggling in the nascent market for electric cars, battery maker A123 Systems Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday.
Kodak said Friday that it plans to stop selling consumer inkjet printers and will eliminate 200 more jobs than previously projected as it requested more time to submit its framework for emerging from bankruptcy protection.
LightSquared Inc., which hoped to create an independent wireless broadband network in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.
Online news service Ongo, which launched last year as a paid "aggregator" for various newspapers, said Tuesday it would close down by the end of the month.
Many cash-strapped American families are waiting on their tax rebate to file for bankruptcy, and this trend has gained steam as costs related to filing for bankruptcy have gone up.
A Dutch judge granted a bankruptcy filing Tuesday for Internet security company DigiNotar, whose servers were apparently breached by an Iranian hacker in July, its parent company said.
(AP) -- Details are still being worked out, but Chrysler Group LLC on Thursday will make an announcement about a refinancing package that will repay its government loans, according to a person briefed on the matter.
US video rental giant Blockbuster declared bankruptcy Thursday, falling victim to digital delivery of movies by Netflix and kiosk outlets such as Redbox.


text:
The Future of Puffles!
Here’s Billybob’s message about what’s comign up for Puffles!
The Puffle Party’s in full swing! It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost five years since the first puffle was adopted. A lot has happened since then. So the big question is — what’s next for puffles?
Over the next year, we’re adding some brand new features that you’ve been asking for. Here’s a few of them coming in March:
More food: Last week we gave you a sneak peek of new food items for puffles. Soon everyone will be able to stock up on food at the Pet Shop.
Interactive puffles: You asked for it and we’ve listened. In two weeks, you’ll be able to interact with your pet close-up! Plus each puffle will have new animations to show you how they’re feeling.
New game: The rumors are true… the team’s putting the finishing touches on a brand new game called Puffle Launch!
The game sneak peek we have of Puffle Laucnh will be here next month! I’m mostly interested about interacting with puffles! 😀 I wonder if we will be able to teach them tricks?
Posted on February 23, 2011, in Club Penguin and tagged club penguin, club penguin cheats, club penguin field ops, club penguin free membership, puffle, puffle launch, puffle party, Puffles. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


text:
The Washington Post: “People working from home are burning candles all during the day,” says Kathy LaVanier, an executive officer at the National Candle Association and chief executive of Renegade Candle Co. “It’s something they can’t do at their regular offices.”
Toronto Sun: These days, there are thousands of shapes, sizes and fragrances available. But candles, as we see them certainly, area about so much more than simply form or indeed olfactory quotient.
The Doni Holloway Show: The Podcast Kathy LaVanier, President of the National Candle Association and CEO at Renegade Candles, discusses why demand for candles has increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. She points out reasons why consumers are turning to candles as a source of comfort amid lockdowns. LaVanier also talks about scents that help ease…


text:
Why Apple Wants to Introduce Person-to-Person Payments
Apple has been rumoured to be in talks with a number of U.S. banks about introducing its own feature to Apple Pay that will allow users to send money directly to friends in a way similar to PayPal. However, person-to-person payment services aren’t cheap to operate, and Apple may lose money on many transactions, according to research firm Crone Consulting (via Yahoo! Finance). In fact, it will need to make Apple Pay free to use with debit cards if it wants to compete.
The analysts say that setting up and validating a new account, usually tied to a debit card, will cost Apple 50¢ to $3 apiece, plus at least 25¢ per transaction. So why does Apple want in on the unprofitable person-to-person payment business? Apparently, the company wants to use it to increase adoption of Apple Pay in stores.
The mobile tap-to-pay option hasn’t taken off as quickly as expected since it debuted about a year ago. Owners of newer iPhone models used Apple Pay in 2.7 percent of Black Friday transactions at stores that support the feature, compared with 4.9 percent on the same day last year, according to data from tracking firm InfoScout.
Meanwhile, PayPal said Venmo processed $2.1 billion in transactions last quarter as people used the app to split the bill at restaurants, pay roommates for rent, or reimburse friends for movie tickets. “We think of it as an engagement play; there’s a monetization aspect that comes second,” said Jo Lambert, a vice president at PayPal.
PayPal says that its P2P customers are some of its most engaged customers across the board, in other actions as well. “They spend more with PayPal, and they spend more with us overall”. PayPal subsidiary Venmo also plans to experiment with in-store payments this month.
Analysts predict that by adding the ability for owners of iPhones to send each other money could double usage of Apple Pay by in 18 to 24 months.
In Canada though, such a service may take even longer to arrive given that we are still waiting for Canadian Banks to adopt Apple Pay, and for direct person-to-person payments, Apple would have to negotiate with Canada’s big banks that operate existing Interac e-Transfers.