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Helsinki's future transportation grid will let you order any service from one app
Navigation apps can tell you how to get across town using only public transportation, but they don't make it a seamless experience. Wouldn't it be nice if you could pay for bikes, buses and trains from a single app? If Helsinki has its way, you...
7/13/2014 4:05:00 AM
Pi Musicbox 0.5 Released
Have an extra Raspberry Pi kicking around? Pi MusicBox provides a way to quickly turn it into a standalone streaming device that can fetch music from tons of sources. The latest release of Pi MusicBox adds a bunch of new features. We took a look at this software over a year ago, and noted that it made streaming Spotify easy, and had support for controlling tracks using Music Player Daemon (MPD). The newest release supports AirPlay, DNLA, Google Music, SoundCloud, and several other music sources. Since the analog audio output on the Pi isn’t great, Pi MusicBox includes … Read the rest
7/13/2014 3:00:47 AM
Apple-designed iBeacon hardware hits FCC: for Apple Stores, developers, or consumers?
On July 4th of this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made filings public from Apple regarding an Apple-branded piece of iBeacon equipment. The hardware is shown above to be a rounded hub-like device with a USB port and a dedicate on and off switch at the bottom… The documents for the standard FCC testing […]
7/13/2014 1:49:21 AM
The Least They Could Do: Amazon Charges 1 Cent To Meet French Free Shipping Ban
Last year, we mentioned that the French government was unhappy with Amazon for offering better prices than the French competition, and strongly limited the amount by which retailers can discount books. Last month, the French parliament also passed a law banning free delivery of books. Ars Technica reports that Amazon has responded with a one-penny shipping rate on the orders that would previously have shipped free. Says the article: This is by no means the first time France has tried to put a damper on major US tech companies dabbling in books or other reading materials. In 2011, the country updated an old law related to printed books that then allowed publishers to impose set e-book pricing on Apple and others. And in 2012, there was the very public dispute between French lawmakers and Google over the country's desire to see French media
7/13/2014 1:40:00 AM
IBM pushes its big data software at Chinese universities
IBM is pushing big data software to Chinese universities, by way of an agreement with China’s Ministry of Education. Under a program called IBM U-100, IBM is donate a whole mess of big data and analytics software worth $100 million and provide support for 100 Chinese universities, according to a statement IBM issued earlier this […]
7/13/2014 1:00:35 AM
Independent Wheel Drive R/C Car
The picture above looks like a standard four-wheel drive (4WD) touring car. As one looks closer, a few strange things start to pop out. Where’s the motor? 4 electronic speed controls? What’s going on here? [HammerFET] has created this independent drive R/C car (YouTube link) as a research platform for his control system. The car started off life as a standard Schumacher Mi5 1/10th scale Touring Car. [HammerFET] removed the entire drive system. The motor, differentials, belt drive, and ESC all made for quite a pile of discarded hardware. He replaced the drive system with 4 Turnigy brushless outrunner motors, … Read the rest
7/13/2014 12:00:58 AM
Watch these smart bullets home in on targets like tiny missiles
Soldiers have long dreamed of smart bullets that always hit their targets, and it looks like they're now much closer to getting their wish. DARPA has posted the first footage of EXACTO (Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance), a .50-caliber bullet that...
7/12/2014 11:21:00 PM
Apple's first iBeacon hardware revealed in FCC application
An FCC filing discovered on Saturday reveals in-depth details on Apple's first dedicated iBeacon-compatible beacon hardware, suggesting the company may soon introduce the micro-location technology to consumer spaces like so-called "smart homes."
7/12/2014 11:04:00 PM
Software Entrepreneurs Must Go Mobile-First Or Die
If you’re building an enterprise-software company, mobile must be core to your product strategy; it can’t be an afterthought or add-on. And you must build an elegant, easy-to-use mobile app, because employees and consumers far prefer mobile apps to mobile websites. Read More
7/12/2014 11:00:59 PM
Why retailers need not fear Amazon’s Fire Phone
Articles and blogs have called Fire everything from a “showrooming nightmare” to a “threat to retailers.” But is all this doom and gloom really warranted?
7/12/2014 11:00:42 PM
Chrome Extension Plays Clown Music When You Read About Rob Ford
Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford may have a reputation for bringing "his circus" wherever he goes, but in case you forgot just how ridiculous the city's top official is, there's a tool to help remind Google Chrome users. A new browser extension for Chrome will play clown music when you read an article or news story about Ford. See also: Let's Get Weird: 9 Wacky Chrome Extensions You Need to Try The extension, called "Entrance of the RoFo," will provide appropriate "musical accompaniment for reading articles about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford," according to the extension's creator Specifically, it plays "Entry of the Gladiators." While the song's name may not sound familiar, listen to the following audio clip, and you'll likely recognize it as "the clown song." Read more...More about Us, Google Chrome, Canada, Chrome Extensions, and Tech
7/12/2014 10:55:45 PM
Source Code Leaked For Tinba Banking Trojan
msm1267 (2804139) writes "The source code for Tinba, known as the smallest banker Trojan in circulation, has been posted on an underground forum. Researchers say that the files turned out to be the source code for version one of Tinba, which was identified in 2012, and is the original, privately sold version of the crimeware kit. Tinba performs many of the same malicious functions as other banker Trojans, injecting itself into running processes on an infected machine, including the browser and explorer.exe. The malware is designed to steal financial information, including banking credentials and credit-card data and also makes each infected computer part of a botnet. Compromised machines communicate with command-and-control servers over encrypted channels. Tinba got its name from an abbreviation of "tiny banker," and researchers say that
7/12/2014 10:43:00 PM
Looking For A Niche, Cheap Hotel? Try The Poshpacker
Ever been intrigued in a hotel after looking at its brochure only to find it not so compelling when you set foot in it? Next time, try taking a look at Instagram posts taken at the hotel from travelers staying there. Read More
7/12/2014 9:47:54 PM
Google Cardboard VR Kit for under $15
Craving some virtual reality goodness? Unsure of Oculus after Facebook purchased them? Well — why not make your own then! At last weeks Google I/O conference, those lucky enough to attend received the Google Cardboard VR kit. It’s basically just a piece of cardboard, two lenses, a few magnets, an NFC tag and some velcro — but when you slide your phone into it and download the Cardboard app – you have virtual reality, on your phone. This inspired [Wolfgang] to make his own variation of this, except instead of a phone, it fits a tablet much nicer. It … Read the rest
7/12/2014 9:01:14 PM
5 Ways to Showcase Your Freelance Graphic Design Work
When it comes to finding clients, creative professionals live by the adage, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Designers face a unique challenge: finding the best way to show employers or clients a comprehensive portfolio without overwhelming them with massive files and years worth of work In the past, designers used a traditional print portfolio, the purpose of which was to showcase projects that defined the designer’s brand. Since no one wanted to haul around a huge, bulky book, this type of portfolio typically focused on quality, not quantity. Today, however, designers have digital options for presenting their creative capabilities that can showcase a more complete scope of their work Read more...More about Job Search Series, Business, and Jobs
7/12/2014 9:00:33 PM
All the news that came out of MobileBeat 2014, in words and pictures
We held our annual MobileBeat conference this past week, and boy, did we have a great time. In case you missed it and all the news that came out of it, catch yourself up by taking a look below at all the new stuff companies announced. And check out our photo gallery of all the […]
7/12/2014 9:00:02 PM
Weekends with Engadget: DARPA's mad science projects, Google's 3D-mapping tablet and more!
This week, we dove into the history of DARPA, explored the hand-drawn world of Cuphead, took an in-depth look at Google's 3D-mapping tablet and interviewed two people who managed to cut ties with technology. Read on for Engadget's news highlights...
7/12/2014 8:30:00 PM
Amazon, a Friendly Giant as Long as It’s Fed
Is resistance to Amazon futile in the book publishing world? Its battle with Hachette has many on edge.
New York Times
7/12/2014 8:01:15 PM
Predicting A Future Free Of Dollar Bills
Picture the scene. It’s 2020. You’re at the checkout in a convenience store with a carton of milk. But you’ve got no cash and you’ve left your cards at home. No problem. You scan your right index finger; the green light flashes. Purchase approved and you leave. Easy. Is this a realistic vision of the future, or are we only ever likely to see such scenes in science… Read More
7/12/2014 8:00:47 PM
Apple Denies China's Accusation The iPhone Is A 'Threat To National Security'
Chinese state media said earlier this week that Apple's iPhones were a threat to national security because of their ability to track and time-stamp user locations, the company released a statement on its Chinese website denying that any user data is at risk. "Apple is deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers," the company writes. "Privacy is built into our products and services from the earliest stages of design. We work tirelessly to deliver the most secure hardware and software in the world." The Chinese report concerned the iPhone's "Frequent Locations" feature — which was introduced with iOS 7 and uses location data for both Maps and Weather — and said that sensitive data could reveal the country's economic situation and "even state secrets." Apple ex
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 7:53:00 PM
CDC Closes Anthrax, Flu Labs After Potentially Deadly Mix-Ups Come to Light
In the wake of two potentially deadly accidents, the CDC yesterday announced the temporary closure of both the anthrax and flu research labs at the agency's Atlanta headquarters. The New York Times reports: In one episode last month, at least 62 C.D.C. employees may have been exposed to live anthrax bacteria after potentially infectious samples were sent to laboratories unequipped to handle them. Employees not wearing protective gear worked with bacteria that were supposed to have been killed but may not have been. All were offered a vaccine and antibiotics, and the agency said it believed no one was in danger. “We have a high degree of confidence that no one was exposed,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the C.D.C. director. Credit David Goldman/Associated Press In a second accident, disclosed Friday, a C.D.C. lab accidentally contam
7/12/2014 7:19:00 PM
5 Can't-Miss Apps: Athla Velocity and More
With the last few matches of the World Cup wrapping up, and the final game right around the corner, you may have overlooked some of this week's best new apps. Luckily,
creates a roundup each weekend of our favorite new and updated apps, so you won't miss out. See also: These 11 Apps Will Supercharge Your Personal Life This week's list includes a new spin on a classic game, a personalized shopping assistant and a speed radar app for athletes. Check out the gallery, above, to see all the apps that made our list of top picks. And if you're looking for more, check out last week's roundup of can't-miss apps. Read more...More about Android, Tech, Android Apps, Ios, and Ios Apps
7/12/2014 7:00:59 PM
Study: Patents hurt tech and startups, help pharmaceuticals
A new study adds some empirical firepower to the idea that poor patent laws are crushing innovation in the technology industry.
7/12/2014 7:00:22 PM
Hulu gets exclusive rights to stream South Park's full show catalog
If you're determined to catch up on South Park episodes without downloading them, you'd better get used to Hulu -- you'll be using it a lot. The service has just unveiled a deal that gives it exclusive US rights to stream the series' complete catalog...
7/12/2014 6:37:00 PM
Eminem Brings Out Dr. Dre for Groundbreaking Wembley Concert
Eminem played his first show in London since 2001 on Friday night and he made his return to the UK c[...]
7/12/2014 6:32:20 PM
New Technology Uses Cellular Towers For Super-Accurate Weather Measurements
Iddo Genuth (903542) writes "Israeli scientists from the Tel Aviv University perfected a method for using cell phone service towers' microwave emitters to measure rain and snow and even (for the first time ) detect fog with great accuracy over vast areas in real time. The research team members have analyzed endless amounts of raw cellular data and developed more accurate ways to measure meteorological information and added more parameters that they can now measure using their growing database. When combined with existing meteorological monitoring technologies such as radars and local ground based weather stations, the results show unprecedented level of accuracy that can give better and further weather forecast as well as special warnings about upcoming floods, fog and hail which can affect both people and crop production." Read more o
7/12/2014 6:26:00 PM
Embedding Wireless Charging into Your Laptop
Looking for a project to do [Jason Clark] thought it might be fun to integrate a spare wireless Qi charger into his HP Chromebook 14. He started by cracking open the Qi charger — it’s held together by adhesive and four phillips screws hiding under the feet pads — all in all, not that difficult to do. Once the plastic is off, the circuit and coil are actually quite small making it an ideal choice for hacking into various things. We’ve seen them stuffed into Nook’s, a heart, salvaged for a phone hack… Anyway, the next step was … Read the rest
7/12/2014 6:01:32 PM
Apple found not guilty in lawsuit over video streaming
The patent infringement lawsuit began in 2010, when a Israel-based company called Emblaze went after Apple. The patent in question related to real-time broadcasting and Emblaze claimed that Apple was using the technology without a license. Friday,...
7/12/2014 6:00:00 PM
Chromebooks can get cheaper thanks to new support for a low-end chip
You can pick up a Chromebook for a dirt-cheap $200, if you know where to shop. However, there are now signs that these Google-powered portables could get even cheaper. MediaTek has contributed code to Chromium OS (the base for Chrome OS) for a test...
7/12/2014 5:45:00 PM
Satya Nadella's Big Bid to Reshape Microsoft
Five months into his new role as CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella is ready to shake things up In a 3,300 word memo sent to employees and the press Thursday, Nadella laid out the most clear vision yet for how he sees the future of Microsoft. There's a lot to unpack in the memo, but dissecting it and reading through the lines, a few central themes come into shape. See also: 5 Things You Should Know About Microsoft's New CEO First, Nadella is very clearly differentiating his vision for Microsoft from the vision put forth by former CEO Steve Ballmer. That starts with a new mission statement. Read more...
A new mission: productivity
More about Microsoft, Opinion, Xbox, Tech, and Apps Software
7/12/2014 5:42:26 PM
Apple seeking FCC certification for iBeacon hardware
Apple's iBeacon -- whether it's a future product that will work with HomeKit or just a device for use at the company's own retail outlets -- has an official product number: A1573. The sharp-eyed folks at Securifi, who have just started shipping their...
7/12/2014 5:30:00 PM
A Guy Raised More Than $3 Million On Kickstarter By Reinventing The Cooler
An Oregon man who set out to reinvent the familiar cooler you take to the beach or on camping trips has already raised $3 million for the project, and his fundraising effort is on track to possibly beat the Kickstarter record, The Oregonian reports. Launched just four days ago, Ryan Grepper's "Coolest Cooler" has raised $3.2 million of his $50,000 goal, and he still has 48 days left. Besides the aesthetically-pleasing design and it being able to keep drinks and food cool, it includes just about every possible feature you might want to have for a fun day out: It has a built-in ice crushing blender, storage for plates and a knife, bottle opener, USB charger for your electronics, Bluetooth speaker to listen to some tunes, and even an LED light so you can fish out a drink in the dark. "It solves a lot of needs," Grepper told The Oregonian. Th
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 5:26:00 PM
Apple Refutes China's Security Claims, Says It Does Not Track Users
No, Apple isn't using your iPhone to track your location in China. That's Apple's response to a recent report from China's state-run television station alleging the iPhone could potentially threaten the country's national security. See also: Apple iWatch Launch Date Could Be Pushed Back Apple published the lengthy statement on its China website Saturday, one day after Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported the iPhone posed a threat to the country's national security Specifically, the report called into question Apple's "frequent locations" feature. The feature, which is built in to iOS 7, keeps tabs on places iPhone owners visit as well as how often they go there "in order to learn places that are significant to you." Read more...More about China, Security, Iphone, Apple, and Tech
7/12/2014 5:19:45 PM
Chimpanzee Intelligence Largely Determined By Genetics
As reported by National Geographic, intelligence in chimpanzees appears to be strongly heritable, according to research led by William Hopkins, a primatologist at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, who examined both genetic and environmental factors for a group of related chimpanzees with varying measured intelligence: To find out how much of that variability is due to genetics, Hopkins and his team assessed the cognitive abilities of 99 captive chimpanzees. They used a battery of 13 tests measuring various manifestations of intelligence, such as how the animals dealt with the physical world, reacted to sound, and used tools. The group of chimps tested had an expansive family tree, ranging from full siblings to fourth and fifth cousins. This allowed the researchers to calculate how well scores on cognitive tr
7/12/2014 5:18:00 PM
Curated Food Delivery Startup Caviar In Talks To Be Acquired By Square For $100 Million
Curated food delivery startup Caviar is in talks to be acquired by Square in a deal that could be worth at least $100 million, according to several sources. While we’ve heard the deal is slated to take place over the next couple of weeks, these things could always fall apart. Read More
7/12/2014 5:17:02 PM
Apple shoots down Chinese state media accusations targeting iOS privacy, location tracking
Apple's website in China has published a detailed response to accusations by the country's state owned media, refuting claims that iOS tracks users' locations in a firm but politely worded statement.
7/12/2014 5:16:00 PM
Brazil's World Cup Loss to the Netherlands Reopens Wounds Just Beginning to Heal
Brazil entered the consolation match of the World Cup against the Netherlands looking to salvage some respect after its disastrous loss to Germany. With not much at stake, the match seemed to provide little opportunity for Brazil and a healthy dose of danger. Lose again and the massive defeat from Germany that dashed the country's hopes of celebrating a World Cup victory on its own soil would only be magnified. See also: The Real Reason Brazil Lost to Germany in the World Cup While it was not the 7-1 thrashing that will be talked about for decades, the 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands had the feel of a game that only reopened the wounds of Brazilians that had just begun to heal. Read more...More about Brazil, World Cup, Entertainment, Sports, and 2014 World Cup
7/12/2014 5:10:45 PM
White House says it won’t help Elon Musk battle state regulators
The American people demanded that President Obama help Tesla battle state regulators and sell directly to consumers.
7/12/2014 5:00:33 PM
Humans And Computers Will Come Together For Middle Work
Jon Evans’ post “Welcome To Extremistan! Check Your Career At The Door” on TechCrunch warns of mass penury for this generation and the next as the dual horseman of the techno-apocalypse, robots and software, strip humans of their ability to make a living. Don’t believe this dystopian vision of the future for a second. Read More
7/12/2014 5:00:21 PM
The Art of Dating: Past and Present
Once upon a time, dating meant finding the right person to share a lifetime of romantic meals and intimate conversation Today, dating means finding someone to sit next to while you play Candy Crush on your iPad. See also: Heat Index: Find the Right Dating Site or App for You In these comics, artist Maria Scrivan shares the difference between dating before and after the technological boom .
Image: Maria Scrivan
Image: Maria Scrivan
Comics by Maria Scrivan. See her daily panel
at Go Comics.
BONUS: 12 Cliched Online Dating Photos Every Guy Should Dump
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Read more...More about Dating, Comics, Online Dating, Watercooler, and Work Play
7/12/2014 5:00:01 PM
These New Apps Make Profits From Information That's Otherwise Free
Parking can stir intense passions, especially in San Francisco, where demand for public spaces often exceeds supply. Hence the outcry over apps that let occupants of slots on streets make money by alerting other drivers that they are about to drive away.
As we went to press, one of the apps, MonkeyParking, was seeking an understanding with San Francisco's city attorney, Dennis Herrera, who had given it until July 11th to cease operating on the city's streets or face a lawsuit. Another app, ParkModo, which also attracted Mr Herrera's attention, is not currently operating in San Francisco, though it says it intends to roll out nationwide in future.
At the heart of the dispute over these services is whether apps should be able
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 4:29:00 PM
The Problem With Mobile Phone Batteries May Finally Be Solved
We love our phones, but we hate their battery life. It's a tale we've been telling for years now, patiently waiting for scientists to figure out a way for us to not have to constantly worry about our phones dying. Now, a grad student in California may have found a way to do it while sitting on the beach during a day of surfing.
A new study in "Scientific Reports" found that sand found in beaches is a fantastic source of silicon for lithium-ion batteries.
According to Popular Science, Zachary Favors of UC Riverside was enjoying a day of surfing and hanging out on the beach when he had an epiphany. He looked at the sand around him and hatched a theory that could change our cell phones forever.
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 4:20:00 PM
These Are The Hottest New Startups To Watch This Year
A lot of hot new startups have already launched this year. Business Insider has identified some of the most promising startups that got started in 2014, that have potential to make a dent. Some of these startups are tackling things like ecommerce, news reading, and making the internet more mainstream.
10. Yo is trying to change the way we communicate with people.
Yo, at its core, is pretty ridiculous. Sending a "Yo" to someone merely lets that person know you're thinking about them. But a few months after launching quietly on April Fools' Day, Yo rocketed to the top of the app store. It has raised $1.2 million to date, though, investors have reportedly offered to give Yo more than $2.5 million.
9. Glamsquad is an on-demand beauty services startup.
Glamsquad lets you schedule on-demand hair and makeup appoint
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 4:16:26 PM
Google expands along San Francisco’s Embarcadero
The expansions will considerably extend Google's reach in the neighborhood and could result in considerably more corporate output from the city.
7/12/2014 4:00:30 PM
TUAW Giveaway: Logitech Harmony Smart Control
Sometimes it's hard to remember exactly what hardware I've reviewed. The other day, I was plugging in a piece of equipment for a review and noticed a small, shiny black box that was plugged in. Upon looking at it closer, I was able to tell that it...
7/12/2014 4:00:00 PM
Slashdot Asks: Do You Want a Smart Watch?
Watches that do more than tell the time have been around for a long time. (And in fiction, James Bond, Dick Tracey, and Michael Knight all had notably high-tech watches.) The new smart watches from Samsung and LG, without a phone connected via Bluetooth as backhaul, can still serve to show the time and to serve as alarms (and Samsung's can measure your pulse, too), but all the magic features (like searching by voice via the watch) do require a connection. They can't play MP3s or take pictures on their own, and they don't have built-in GPS. Even so, compared to the polarizing Google Glass, the new breed of smart watches are wearables that probably are an easier sell, even if this far the trend has been to replace watches with smart phones. (Android Wear has gotten a lot of attention, but Microsoft has their own upcoming, and Apple almost c
7/12/2014 3:52:00 PM
Google chose World Cup search trend stories that spared Brazil from further agony (update: Google responds)
If you love Brazilian futebol, this has been an especially tough week; that devastating loss to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals was a shock to fans used to victory. Thankfully for you, Google feels your pain. The internet giant has revealed to...
7/12/2014 3:40:00 PM
13 San Francisco Homes That Sold For Much More Than Their Asking Price
Click here to see the home sales »
Join the conversation about this story »
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 3:30:00 PM
Gameover Zeus botnet reanimated, exposing the harm in "open" Android, Windows malware platforms
Apple's iOS and OS X platforms aren't directly affected by the rampant malware infestations that plague Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows, but that doesn't mean they can't be victimized by it, as the collateral damage and smokescreen of a reanimated botnet targeting unpatched, vulnerable systems demonstrates.
7/12/2014 3:21:51 PM
One Small Step For Magnification, One Giant Leap For Home Lens Manufacturing
There are some types of projects that we see quite often here on Hackaday; 3D Printers, Development Boards and Video Game Hardware to name a few. Once in a while we see an optics-based project but those use pre-made lenses. [Peter] felt it was time to give home lens manufacturing a shot and sent in a tip about his experience. The typical lens manufacturing process starts off by taking a piece of glass and manipulating it into a rough lens shape, either by removing material or heating the glass and forming it in a mold. These lens blanks are then … Read the rest
7/12/2014 3:01:52 PM
Starting in September, you can learn about data science through Kaplan
If things work out the way organizers want them to, Metis could become more effective at actually training people in data science than lessons from massively open online course providers.
7/12/2014 3:00:20 PM
Australian Olympic Swimmer Ian Thorpe Comes Out as Gay
Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Ian Thorpe revealed in an interview that he is gay, confirming years of speculation about his sexuality Thorpe sat down for an interview with British broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson, which will air Sunday night in Australia on Channel Ten, according to the
Sydney Morning Herald
. Thorpe reportedly discussed a wide range of issues, including his battle with depression. Channel Ten released a 30-second preview of the interview, above, last week. In it, Parkinson asks Thorpe, "You've always said that you're not gay. Is all of that true?" See also: Experience the NYC Pride March in Endless Six-Second Loops Read more...More about Gay, Gay Pride, Us World, World, and Sports
7/12/2014 2:56:42 PM
National Federation of the Blind says ‘Apple has done more for accessibility than any other company’
Last week, inaccurate reporting emerged in regards to Apple’s work on making its products accessible to all consumers. As many Apple customers are aware, and as CEO Tim Cook takes extremely seriously, Apple works hard to ensure that Macs, iPhones, iPods, and iPads can be used to their full extent by people who are deaf or […]
7/12/2014 2:54:38 PM
FCC Approves Subsidy Plan to Upgrade School and Library Networks
The Washington Post reports that, "In a 3-2 vote along party lines Friday, the FCC greenlit a plan to spend $2 billion over the next two years on subsidies for internal networks. The move also begins a process to phase out some subsidies under the federal program, known as E-Rate, for services and equipment that are on the decline, such as pagers and dial-up Internet service." That sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but as usual in politics it's the result of a messy process: The original plan called for spending $5 billion on WiFi over five years, in line with a push by the Obama administration to bring next-gen broadband and WiFi to 99 percent of students over the same period. Those funds would have partly come from savings as a result of transitioning away from supporting legacy technologies. The proposal would also have eliminated
7/12/2014 2:38:00 PM
Apple Denies Tracking Chinese Location Data
Chinese state media said Apple's iPhones were a threat to national security because of their ability to track and time-stamp user locations, the company released a statement on its Chinese website denying that any user data is at risk. "
Apple is deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers," the company writes. "
Privacy is built into our products and services from the earliest stages of design. We work tirelessly to deliver the most secure hardware and software in the world."
The Chinese report concerned the iPhone's "Frequent Locations" feature — which was introduced with iOS 7 and uses location data for both Maps and Weather — and said that that data could reveal the country's economic situation and "even state secrets." Apple explained
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 2:36:00 PM
Tips for vacationing on a budget this summer
According to a recent American Express study, the demand for travel is high, as three in four Americans are planning a summer getaway.
7/12/2014 2:31:00 PM
Basel Apple Store opens to crowds as Apple promotes upcoming Edinburgh location
In line with last week’s announcement, Apple’s fourth store in Switzerland opened this weekend in Basel. The store, like most Apple Stores, opened to significant crowds and Apple handed out commemorative shirts to celebrate. The interior of the store appears like most Apple Stores, and the location already has been equipped with the new interior […]
7/12/2014 2:30:48 PM
Dog Days of Summer: Zandra, hard at iWork
It's summertime, which means that weekend TUAW readers get a respite from Caturday and get to see what the canine Apple community is up to. Our first woofer is Zandra, a hard-working guide dog who hangs out with Alex Jurgensen up in Vancouver, BC....
7/12/2014 2:30:00 PM
Here's What Steve Jobs Did When An Employee Told Him The Apple Store's Layout Was All Wrong
Apple cofounder and former CEO Steve Jobs was known for his obsessive commitment to quality. Ron Johnson, former JCPenney CEO and Apple's retail chief in the early 2000s, learned the lengths that Jobs would go to get something right just before the company opened its first brick-and-mortar store. Johnson recently spoke at a View From The Top event and Inc. Magazine shares some of his career and life advice, including an anecdote he told about a particularly memorable experience he had with Jobs, who died of cancer in 2011. It was spring 2001 and Apple was prepping to open its first retail store. Johnson and Jobs were on their way to a weekly planning meeting, when Johnson spoke up about something that had been bothering him. Apple had been setting up its store like any other: Organized around the different products
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 2:27:00 PM
Apple China denies location tracking claims: we’re ‘deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers’
This past week, Chinese State TV called the iPhone a “national security concern” because of its location tracking capabilities. The iPhone’s operating system utilizes location for several applications, including Maps and Weather. iOS 7 also introduced a new feature that utilizes a customer’s location in order to provide improved traffic and route information. Now, Apple […]
7/12/2014 2:09:38 PM
Singapore to Destroy Copies of Book About Gay Penguins
Singapore plans to destroy copies of three children's books, including one about two male penguins raising a chick, following complaints that the works' contents violate the country's family values.
And Tango Makes Three
The White Swan Express: A Story About Adoption
Who's In My Family: All About Our Families
will be removed from Singapore's state-run libraries and pulped, according to multiple reports See also: Relive the 2014 NYC Pride March in Photos "The prevailing norms, which the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans accept, support teaching children about conventional families, but not about alternative, non-traditional families, which is what the books in question are about," said Yaacob Ibrahim, the country's information minister, according to
. Read more...More about Gay
7/12/2014 2:00:43 PM
Hardware Is The New Software
Nest. GoPro. Beats. Jawbone. Oculus. All hardware companies and each of them accorded multi-billion dollar valuations either in private investment transactions or acquisitions by some of the largest technology companies on the planet. Read More
7/12/2014 2:00:06 PM
If you're buying an Android Wear watch this weekend, read this first
Android Wear is finally here. Two devices were launched at Google I/O: LG's G Watch, and Samsung's Gear Live. Both became available in the Play store this week, and while we're sure you read our comprehensive review, with much of the spec-sheet...
7/12/2014 1:32:00 PM
Texas Town Turns To Treated Sewage For Drinking Water
Scientific American reports that Wichita Falls, Texas has taken an unusual step, precipitated by the years-long drought that Texas has faced: it's using treated sewage for drinking water. From the article: To launch what it calls its "Direct Potable Reuse Project," the city pipes water 12 miles from its wastewater treatment plant to this treatment facility where it goes through microfiltration. A pump pulls water through a module filled with fibers that removes most of the impurities. Then it is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that can remove dissolved salts and other contaminants. The process, called reverse osmosis, is used by the U.S. military, in ships and in the manufacture of silicon chips. The water then gets blended with lake water before going through the regular water treatment system. ... At 60 cents per 1,000 gallons,
7/12/2014 1:29:00 PM
Vital money tips to take to college
Starting college? Don't forget to take along these tips for managing and saving your money.
7/12/2014 1:20:00 PM
Why Salesforce needed to buy RelateIQ
There's just too much hype, demand and real results to shy away from predictive intelligence.
7/12/2014 1:00:59 PM
Beats Goes After Chinese Counterfeiters With Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit
Just over a month after Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics, the headphone maker made its first major post-acquisition move by filing a lawsuit against Chinese counterfeiters The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on July 9, names as defendants "individuals and business entities who, upon information and belief, reside in the People’s Republic of China or other foreign jurisdictions." See also: Fake Apple Stores in China Ordered To Close "This action has been filed by Beats to combat online counterfeiters who trade upon Beats’ reputation and goodwill by selling and/or offering for sale unlicensed and counterfeit products featuring Beats’ trademarks," according to the lawsuit. "The Defendants create the Defendant Internet Stores by the hundreds or even thousands and des
7/12/2014 12:54:56 PM
National Federation of the Blind says "Apple has done more for accessibility than any other company"
On Friday, the president of the National Federation of the Blind clarified the group's recent resolution calling on Apple to collaborate with the group's efforts to expand accessibility among third party apps, noting a "good relationship" despite a "provocative and poorly reported article" on the subject released by Reuters.
7/12/2014 12:53:55 PM
Radiohead to Begin Work on New Album in September
It's been three years since Radiohead released The King of Limbs but it looks like the band is on th[...]
7/12/2014 12:51:50 PM
Here's Why Google Stopped Asking Bizarre, Crazy-Hard Interview Questions
When you think about what it takes to get hired by Google, you might remember some of its infamously tough interview questions, like "How many golf balls can fit into a school bus?" or "How many piano tuners are there in the entire world?" While asking these kinds of crazy, bizarre questions certainly earned Google the reputation of having high standards, the company has since ditched that brain-bending approach, deeming it a useless way to actual judge potential employees. "We found that brainteasers are a complete waste of time," Laszlo Bock, Google's senior vice president of people operations told The New York Times last year. "How many golf balls can you fit into an airplane? How many gas stations in Manhattan? A complete waste of time. They don’t predict anything. They serve primarily to make the interviewe
Silicon Alley Insider
7/12/2014 12:44:00 PM
A Skeptical View of Israel's Iron Dome Rocket Defense System
Lasrick (2629253) writes It isn't as if real analysis of Israel's "Iron Dome" isn't available, but invariably, whenever Israel has a skirmish the media is filled with glowing reports of how well the system works, and we always find out months later that the numbers were exaggerated. John Mecklin at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists looks at the coverage of Iron Dome in the recent exchanges between Israel and Hamas and finds the pattern is repeating itself. However, 'Ted Postol, an MIT-based missile defense expert and frequent Bulletin contributor, provided a dose of context to the Iron Dome coverage in a National Public Radio interview Wednesday. "We can tell, for sure, from video images and even photographs that the Iron Dome system is not working very well at all,"' Includes a good explanation of the differences between Iron Dome (a
7/12/2014 12:30:00 PM
Productivity vs. Distraction: Should you block social media at work?
Ilya Pozin is a serial entrepreneur, writer, and investor. He is the founder of online video entertainment platform Pluto.TV, social greeting card company Open Me, and digital marketing agency Ciplex. Social media in the... Keep reading →
7/12/2014 12:00:51 PM
Add a Bluetooth Interface to Your Kitchen Scale
When [Adam] found himself in need of a force meter, he didn’t want to shell out the cash for a high-end model. Instead, he realized he should be able to modify a simple and inexpensive kitchen scale to achieve the results he desired. The kitchen scale [Adam] owned was using all through hole components on a double-sided PCB. He was able to easily identify all of the IC’s and find their datasheets online. After doing some research and probing around with a frequency counter, he realized that one of the IC’s was outputting a frequency who’s pulse width was … Read the rest
7/12/2014 12:00:38 PM
Gillmor Gang: Taming of the Stream
The Gillmor Gang – John Borthwick, Robert Scoble, Kevin Marks, Keith Teare, and Steve Gillmor – examine the gathering storm that is the Uber social network. After years of positioning, acquisition, soaring value payouts, and a winner-take-all sensibility in the tech community, now something different. The data points: Digg Deeper, Soundcloud, Twitter user metrics, and more… Read More
7/12/2014 12:00:09 PM
Now (almost) anyone (with cable) can watch CNN the way they want to
Back in April CNNx launched, letting viewers jump through the news of the day and watch what they want, when they want. The only problem? Other than the fact that it's restricted to CNN's iPad app and web site, only subscribers to a few providers...
7/12/2014 11:34:00 AM


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LMI's second-quarter sales soar 52 percent
- Staff St. Louis Business Journal
LMI Aerospace Inc.'s acquisition of Kansas City-based Valent Aerostructures in December helped push the company's sales to $105.5 million for the second quarter, up 52 percent from the second quarter of 2012.
However, sales for the quarter still came in below expectations due to continued weakness in demand for the company's engineering services. LMI reported net income of $4.7 million for the quarter, down 8.6 percent from last year's quarter.
"During the second quarter, sales order flow began to slow and that trend will likely continue for the balance of 2013, as delivery of products from some Aerostructures customers were deferred into 2014," CEO Ronald Saks said in a statement. "Aerostructures deliveries for both the LMI legacy business and Valent are expected to increase in the second half of 2013 yet be lower than previous guidance. Engineering Services backlog stabilized at lower levels, and we expect the results for the second half of 2013 will be similar to the results for the first half."
The acquisition of Valent provided $31.8 million in sales in the company's aerostructures segment, which had total sales of $84.8 million, nearly double the $43.8 million reported for the segment in the second quarter of last year.
St. Charles-based LMI Aerospace (Nasdaq: LMIA) is a leading supplier of structural components, assemblies and kits to the aerospace industry.
Audience Development Director St. Louis Business Journal | Saint Louis, MO
Interim County Auditor County of Kaua'i | Lihue, HI
Commercial Credit Analyst First Community Credit Union | Chesterfield, MO
Director of Real Estate Development University of Missouri - St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO
Executive Director Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) | Saint Louis, MO
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From “The Smart Style Living”:
The use of electronic cigarettes have recently grabbed the attention of countless tobacco users worldwide. Are they really a healthier and cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes? Creators and product users claim you can enjoy a cheaper, healthier cigarette without the bad smells, second-hand smoke, or cancer causing chemicals. With these huge claims, we decided to investigate the electronic cigarette for our readers.
A few of the benefits claimed from using the electronic cigarette:
■ No tar, tobacco, carbon monoxide, or ash.
■ Get the same amount of nicotine as a regular cigarette.
■ Each cartridge costs less than $2, and is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes.
■ The average consumer can expect to save over $1,000 each year
■ You won’t “smell” like a smoker any longer.
■ Different flavors are available.
■ No more second-hand smoke.
We (The Smart Style Living) first researched exactly what expert medical doctors and product users had to say about electronic cigarettes, and the results were surprising. In fact, a study by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health in 2010 concluded that electronic cigarettes were safer than real cigarettes and may aid in breaking the habit of smoking. “Electronic cigarettes were found to be “much safer” than traditional tobacco ones, and had a level of toxicity similar to existing nicotine replacements”. In the report, the level of carcinogens in electronic cigarettes was found to be up to 1,000 times lower than regular cigarettes. It also said early evidence shows that electronic cigarettes may help people to stop smoking by simulating a tobacco cigarette.
Doctors have even suggested that while utilizing the electronic cigarette, there is virtually no risk of getting cancer. These conclusions come from studies which show that nicotine is about as equally harmful to your health as caffeine. These studies also show that the real harm in traditional cigarettes comes from the tobacco smoke and the hundreds of additional added chemicals.
Four very well known doctors, from the popular TV show “The Doctors”, have also studied the electronic cigarette and was featured as one of their top 10 key health trends for 2010.
“The Electronic Cigarette gives you nicotine, but it doesn’t give you any of the other 4,000 chemicals from a cigarette that can cause cancer, among other problems..” – Dr. Travis Stork from “The Doctors”
We also learned that the electronic cigarette is not encompassed by most smoking bans and regulations. With the lack of second-hand smoke, smokers are excited to find that many businesses, bars, and even air planes allow them to smoke e-cigarettes indoors. Many electronic cigarette users have also received special permission from their employers to smoke e-cigarettes in the work place.
In the United States alone, over 700,000 smokers have already switched to electronic cigarettes. Beverly, a smoker of 15 years was interviewed , one of the many whose life has dramatically changed thanks to the electronic cigarette. She concluded that she smoked almost two packs a day for 15 years, and she thought that she would never quit. To her surprise though, when she tried electronic cigarettes she was able to become cigarette free two days later.
“As a smoker, I would recommend this product to anyone who plans on becoming cigarette free. Its a great alternative, and it still gives you the action of smoking. You inhale and blow out, unlike an awkward nicotine patch or chewing gum.” – Beverly


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Travian: Legends Launches Largest Ever Update to Classic Strategy Game
Munich, 17 August 2017 – Travian Games has opened the first servers that include the latest and largest ever update to their free-to-play expert strategy game Travian: Legends. The update, titled Travian: Fire and Sand, is part of Travian’s Annual Celebration event and kicks off the 14th year of Travian: Legends.
View the launch trailer of Travian: Fire and Sand here: Fire and Sand Trailer
For years players in Travian: Legends have fought each other by choosing their allegiance to the historic Gauls, Romans or Teutons. With Travian: Fire and Sand two new tribes have been added for the first time: the Huns and Egyptians will each bring a unique personality and playstyle to the battlefield, bringing with them special units, a unique hero ability and a dedicated building.
Travian: Legends is renowned for bringing the massive multiplayer online experience to over 100 million players around the world in over 40 languages since 2004, with thousands more joining the game and choosing one of over 250 game worlds every day. Travian: Legends is a ‘build & raid’ game at heart: players start off with a small village and expand a prospering empire by executing smart strategies, interacting in trade and diplomacy with other players and engaging fierce battles over valuable resources, villages and tactical locations. Main objective is to claim total victory of the server and end the match.


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EU threatens to break up tech giants under sweeping new proposals
Big tech companies are facing further break-up threats as part of sweeping new compliance rules regarding content and competition regulation unveiled by the European Commission on Tuesday.
“The two proposals serve one purpose: to make sure that we, as users, have access to a wide choice of safe products and services online. And that businesses operating in Europe can freely and fairly compete online just as they do offline,” Margrethe Vestager, the EU commissioner leading the charge on tech, said in a statement.
“This is one world. We should be able to do our shopping in a safe manner and trust the news we read. Because what is illegal offline is equally illegal online,” Vestager added.
If tech giants don’t comply with the new competition rules, proposed under the Digital Markets Act, they can face fines of up to 10 percent of their total worldwide annual turnover or be forced to sell off portions of their businesses. Businesses that don’t comply with the content rules, proposed under the Digital Services Act, can face fines of up to 6 percent of their global revenues.
The Digital Services Act would introduce a series of new, EU-wide obligations for companies to remove harmful and illegal content. The obligations would include imposing rules around the removal of illegal goods and content, introducing safeguards for users whose content has been deleted by platforms and creating transparency measures in online advertising and algorithms used to recommend content to users.
The Digital Market Acts focuses on platforms acting as digital “gatekeepers” to the single market. The commission said “gatekeepers” are platforms that have a significant impact on the internal market and serve as “an important gateway” for business users to reach customers.
The Digital Market Act would establish a series of obligations for gatekeepers to implement to ensure “fair and open digital markets,” the commission said. The proposed rules include limiting companies from blocking users from uninstalling pre-installed apps and prohibiting companies from using data obtained from business users in order to compete with those businesses, according to the commission.
The proposed rules will be discussed by the European Parliament and member states, but it could take years to enact and they may face calls for major changes.
The proposals add to the growing pressure facing tech giants.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 48 attorneys general in the United States filed separate lawsuits against Facebook last week accusing the social media giant of anti-competitive acquisitions.
The Justice Department, joined by a growing number of states, has also charged Google with illegally maintaining a monopoly on search and search advertising.
Both Google and Facebook have defended themselves against the antitrust allegations.
Facebook called it a “revisionist history,” emphasizing that its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram that are targeted in the lawsuits were approved by regulators at the time.
Google has rejected the case’s claims as “deeply flawed,” arguing it has faced plenty of competition in the search market.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factories grew in January at the fastest pace in seven months, boosted by a rise in new orders. And builders ended a poor year for construction by spending more on homes and projects for the fifth straight month.
The reports bolster other data showing the U.S. economy started the year strong.
The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Wednesday that its manufacturing index rose last month to 54.1 from 53.1 in December. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.
Consumers are buying more cars and trucks, while businesses ordered more machinery and other equipment. That has driven manufacturing, which expanded for the 30th straight month.
Both new orders and order backlogs rose to nine-month highs. Increasing order backlogs suggest manufacturers are lacking the capacity to meet demand. That could mean more growth in production and employment in the near future, economists said.
Export orders also rose, a sign that U.S. manufacturers haven't yet been affected by Europe's slowing economy.
"This is a very encouraging report on manufacturing activity that shows particular strength in leading indicators," said John Ryding, an economist at RDQ Economics.
The report followed other healthy readings on manufacturing in China, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Growing global demand for factory goods sent markets higher. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 141 points in morning trading. Broader indexes also rose.
"A raft of business surveys around the world ... have signaled a better than expected start to 2012 for many countries," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, a financial information provider.
Separately, the Commerce Department said spending on construction projects rose 1.5 percent in December, the fifth straight monthly gain. That pushed spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $816.4 billion, the highest level in 20 months.
The gains coincide with other signs that show the troubled housing industry may be improving. Builders are more confident after seeing more interest in homes, and single-family home construction rose in the final three months of last year.
Still, the construction industry remains weak. Spending on all building projects in 2011 was just $787.4 billion. That's 2 percent lower than the previous year and roughly half the level economists consider healthy.
The best indication of the U.S. economy's health will come Friday, when the government reports on January hiring and unemployment.
Economists expect the economy added 155,000 net jobs, the seventh straight month of solid hiring. The unemployment rate is expected stay for the second month at 8.5 percent, near a three-year low.
Factories are still adding jobs but at a slower pace than in December, according to the ISM report.
Manufacturing output has jumped in recent months. Auto sales have rebounded from the spring, when Japan's earthquake disrupted supply chains and fewer cars were available on dealer lots.
Businesses also ordered more big-ticket manufactured items in December, the government said last week. And orders for so-called core capital goods, which are a good measure of businesses' investment plans, reached an all-time high last month.
Factory output rose in December by the most in a year, according to the Federal Reserve. Production rose for goods used in the early stages of manufacturing, such as metals, wood products and construction materials. That suggests the output of finished goods will pick up.
Still, economists are concerned that a key source of factory growth could wither in the coming months.
They note that a key reason the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the final three months of last year was that was companies restocked their supplies at a robust pace. That restocking is likely to slow in the first three months of this year.
Unless consumer spending picks up, businesses won't be able to sell off that extra inventory, and may have to cut back on future orders.
Consumers have been weighed down by wages that haven't kept pace with inflation.
Most economists expected the combination of weaker inventory growth and tepid consumer spending will lead to slower growth in the January-March quarter. Many are predicting just 2 percent annualized growth in that stretch.


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Warburg Research Analysts Give Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (ETR:BMW) a €107.00 Price Target
Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on BMW. UBS AG set a €79.00 ($92.94) price objective on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Independent Research GmbH set a €88.00 ($103.53) price objective on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Deutsche Bank AG set a €120.00 ($141.18) price objective on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Saturday, May 20th. S&P Global set a €100.00 ($117.65) price objective on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Finally, J P Morgan Chase & Co set a €90.00 ($105.88) price objective on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of €92.26 ($108.54).
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (ETR BMW) opened at 81.148 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of €82.28 and a 200 day moving average of €84.65. The firm has a market cap of €53.32 billion and a PE ratio of 7.232. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG has a 52 week low of €72.00 and a 52 week high of €91.67.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: This piece of content was first reported by Daily Political and is owned by of Daily Political. If you are reading this piece of content on another publication, it was copied illegally and reposted in violation of U.S. and international trademark & copyright laws. The correct version of this piece of content can be accessed at https://www.dailypolitical.com/2017/08/05/warburg-research-analysts-give-bayerische-motoren-werke-ag-etrbmw-a-107-00-price-target.html.
About Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells cars and motorcycles, and spare parts and accessories worldwide. The company operates through Automotive, Motorcycles, and Financial Services segments. The Automotive segment develops, manufactures, assembles, and sells cars and off-road vehicles under the BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brand names; and spare parts and accessories, as well as provides mobility services.
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Little by little, the list of companies ceasing their Russian activities or scaling them back is growing, although there are protests in some places. China is already licking its lips at the void Western brands leave behind.
French luxury goods giants such as Chanel, Hermès, Kering and LVMH no longer consider it appropriate to keep Russian stores open. British Burberry did the same, somewhat reluctantly – officially due to “operational difficulties”, according to French newspaper La Tribune. In the Italian (luxury) fashion industry, not everyone is happy with the situation: the Dutch newspaper FD reports that Stefano Ricci‘s CEO complains that his brand is being “punished more severely than the Russians themselves”. He is therefore keeping his Russian stores open.
The impact on the retail world is also increasing beyond the luxury goods world: in the food industry, McDonald’s is closing all 850 Russian restaurants. The employees will continue to receive their wages. Starbucks and Coca-Cola are also halting business in the country. Fashion giant Inditex is closing all its stores in Russia (more than 500), Samsung (the market leader in Russia) no longer supplies smartphones to Russia. Nor does number three Apple, while number two, Xiaomi, hopes to profit from this.
They do stay
The latter is a general trend: Chinese companies are pleased with the Western boycott and are seizing their chance. Although it is not even sure that chains such as Ikea and H&Mwill cancel their leases, the president of the Russian union of shopping centres is busy looking for replacements. He is also looking for candidates in Turkey, FashionUnited reports on the authority of the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
In addition, brands such as Uniqlo explicitly continue to deliver to Russia. This is by no means without risk: calls to boycott companies that do not boycott Russia are plentiful – and sometimes have famous instigators.


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The E. & J. Gallo Winery recently commissioned the inaugural Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey to capture the current state of Americans’ wine drinking attitudes and behaviors and answer where, when and how Americans are enjoying wine.
The results of the survey showed more Americans are enjoying wine then every before and are eager to experiment with flavors and formats.
Steadily, more consumers (especially those in the younger 25-40 age group) are turning to social media to talk about and discover wines. The social media age has given everyone the platform to become a critic and have endless reach.
As far as popular styles of wine, younger generations are trending towards Moscato and Champagne. According to the survey, frequent wine drinkers under 40 are more than twice as likely to purchase Moscato (22 percent) when compared to 26 other popular varietals (11 percent on average) as well as when compared to older wine drinkers — 22 percent of younger drinkers versus 10 percent of older.
Results of the survey showed younger wine drinkers are more likely to experiment with ways to drink wine and are “unapologetic” about their choices. More than have of respondents said they mix wine with fruit or fruit juice as well as make wine cocktails. Forty-eight percent said they mix wine with other cocktail mixers such as club soda, and 46 percent drink wine over ice.
Taste was still the most important factor for 76 percent of respondents, but convenience was also important to today’s wine drinkers as they trend towards premium and value box wine, tetra paks, screw tops and portable 187ml bottles.


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What does $4 billion get Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page? "Well it brought us to India, didn't it?" they said, kicking off their first whistle-stop tour of India, which they hope will end with a rickshaw ride back to California. Google's new Bangalore facility, which they visited, will be devoted to research into new products to expand Google's portfolio. Seventy percent of the facility is dedicated to search, 20% to Gmail, and the rest in other areas, giving you an idea what a huge priority Gmail is to Google. The new Hyderabad office will be a support center for AdWords, and be home to engineering, human resources, online sales and services. Staying true to its famous slogan, Google's India offices will not be "evil" and operate on United States time, keeping employees at work while their families and countrymen sleep, but will run a normal India workday.
Read complete article here.


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nternet giants such as Facebook, Google or Twitter were created by people who were born after the first e-mail was sent (1971) or even some after the creation of the modern Internet (1983). Although it is not surprising that many entrepreneurs have become obsessed with incorporating Blockchain to any existing business, the real revolution that the Blockchain will bring will come from organizational systems or business models totally unprecedented to date, which do not exist, and It is most likely a revolution led by boys and girls who are now of school age. In a few years (possibly a decade), we will talk about the Blockchain as a change at the organizational level, a change of mentality, a change of paradigm.
“Barcelona has been chosen to host the EBC for being a benchmark technology hub in Europe and for being one of the European regions with the greatest willingness to become a world leader in Blockchain”
EUROPEAN BLOCKCHAIN CONVENTION
Barcelona hosts its first edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC) this Thursday, November 29: it is the most relevant Blockchain Convention in Spain, focused on business. The convention brings together more than 500 attendees from all over Europe and has the presentations of 50 experts on the present and future of Blockchain technology, its main use cases and the latest regulation.
The convention, which aims to be a meeting place for industry leaders, investors, developers, regulators and entrepreneurs, is aimed at both technical profiles and management profiles that are interested in knowing the challenges and opportunities that this technology offers.
Daniel Salmerón, co-founder of the conference, highlights that “Barcelona has been chosen to host the EBC for being a benchmark technology hub in Europe and for being one of the European regions with the greatest willingness to become a world leader in Blockchain”. “We want the EBC to be a reference conference for the sector in Europe. Although we are considering doing more editions of the conference in other European capitals, we would like Barcelona to have at least one edition of the EBC every year”.
The meeting is the last European conference on Blockchain of the year. Issues such as digital identity (decentralized) in the new value internet, the emergence of ICO’s (Initial Coin Offering) and STO (Security Token Offering) as a new financing vehicle and the repercussions of digital currency issuance of Central Banks will be discussed. Other panels will talk about the acceptance of digital assets and cases of use in logistics, the health industry and the Internet of Things (IoT).
“ICOs and STOs (Security Token Offerings) are considered more open to the public, which allows more participants to be introduced, breaking with the limited circles of institutional investors, and giving opportunity to interested parties to invest small amounts. Precisely for this reason we need a specific European regulation for ICOs, that is to say, that allows us to capture more than 5 million, which is the maximum amount currently allowed by the European Union for equity crowdfunding”, says Victoria Gago, co-founder of the EBC.
Another objective of this edition is to try to solve the problem of the scarce presence of women in the technology industry. Parity is still far from being achieved, only 30% of the 7 million people working in the digital sector in Europe are women.
Some of the speakers who will participate in this year’s edition are Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Member of the European Parliament; Thomas Moser, advisor to the National Bank of Switzerland; Marta Piekarska, Director of Ecosistema de Hyperledger; Michael Kumhof, Central Bank of England; Cristina Carrascosa, member of the Observatory and Blockchain Forum of the European Union; Sergio Gorjón, Department of Financial Innovation of the Bank of Spain; Virginia Cram Martos, Blockchain Project Leader of the United Nations, Montse Guardia, director of Digital Challenges at Banco Sabadell; Jorge Lesmes, Head of Blockchain in Everis UK.
Another objective of this edition is to try to solve the problem of the scarce presence of women in the technology industry. Parity is still far from being achieved, only 30% of the 7 million people working in the digital sector in Europe are women. In Spain, women who work in the technology sector represent 18 percent. If we talk about the highest positions, the percentage of women is reduced.
ECOSYSTEM IN BARCELONA
In Barcelona it is estimated that around 3,000 people are part of the Blockchain community. According to a report drawn up by Acció (Catalan Government), the Catalan capital has 33 companies dedicated to Blockchain.
Barcelona continues to lead numerous reports related to innovation and startups. The latest edition of the ‘Startup Ecosystem Overview’ report indicates that the ‘hub’ of the Catalan capital is the first in Spain, with 34% of innovative companies. Madrid, on the other hand, brings together 31% of Spanish start-ups.
The Catalan ecosystem currently attracts, with figures for 2017, 58% of the investments that arrive in Spain and is consolidated as the fifth European city in the innovative ecosystem, ahead of Madrid which is placed in sixth position
Since 2016, Startup Heatmap Europe produces a report based on the question “Where would you start if you could start from scratch?” With the possibility of multiple responses, the more than 300 entrepreneurs consulted in this year’s edition 2018 mentioned London and Berlin to a large extent, followed by Barcelona, which remains at number 3, even ahead of cities such as Paris.


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Team17, a UK-based independent publisher, has acquired The Label, an American indie publisher.
The deal comprises an upfront payment of $24 million, with additional earnouts of up to $16 million paid over the next three years.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be joining forces with The Label’s entrepreneurial team, who are true pioneers in the delivery of quality mobile subscription games and technology,” said Team17 CEO Michael Pattison. “We are excited to tap into their unrivalled market and gaming experience to further take advantage of this growing market.”
Joshua Babich, VP and general manager at The Label commented: “Joining the Team17 family opens up unprecedented doors for us all. While we’ve carved out a strong foothold in the mobile subscription space, this allows us to instantly expand our market reach in ways that just wouldn’t have been possible before. We are delighted to be part of a Group that puts games development and creativity first!”
Founded in 2014, The Label specializes in mobile games and is best known for publishing What the Golf? developed by Copenhagen-based indie developer Triband. The publisher also assisted Google and Apple launch their respective game subscription services.
Team17 said the purchase would not only strengthen its position in the mobile sector, but it will also “provide a mobile subscription arm” for its games line due to The Label’s prior experience of developing for Apple Arcade games.
The Label was established in 2014 and specializes in mobile games, most notably for launching What The Golf? game.
Team17, known for creating the Worms series and publishing titles such as The Escapists and Overcooked, said the acquisition will help it develop a “dynamic and fast-growing subscription business.”
Furthermore, the collaboration will aid Team17 in strengthening its ties with both Google Play and Apple Arcade.
Team17’s latest acquisition follows after the publisher acquired the rights of multiplayer shooter Hell Let Loose from Australia-based developer Black Matter in a deal worth $62 million.
Combining both deals, Team17 is committed to investing $102 million over three years with its two acquisitions.
Send your news at email@example.com


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September 04, 2015 // Franchising.com // DALLAS, Texas - No one knows dependability like Interstate Batteries. As a portable power solutions company, Interstate has been in the business of starting cars and powering everything imaginable around the home and office for more than six decades. Now, through an exciting new partnership, Interstate All Battery Center, the local neighborhood retail connection, strives to make sure consumers are safe and secure with tips this month during National Preparedness Month.
Interstate All Battery Center has partnered with the American Red Cross to be a committed member of the organization’s Disaster Responder team. Interstate’s support helps enable the Red Cross staff to deploy and respond to a disaster quickly in communities across America.
“Our products, brand and values align perfectly with those of the American Red Cross,” said Walt Holmes, president and general manager of Interstate All Battery Center. “This partnership provides another opportunity for Interstate All Battery Center to contribute to and support the communities in which we serve.”
Interstate All Battery Center encourages everyone to be ready for the next emergency by following these preparedness guidelines during September’s National Preparedness Month:
“Providing emergency preparedness tips for our community as well as battery support to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder program is a perfect illustration of one of Interstate’s stated values – servant’s heart,” Holmes said. “We want to lead with what people need, especially in times of emergencies.”
Interstate All Battery Center joins the American Red Cross in promoting emergency preparedness year-round through special store promotions, social media, and working with local American Red Cross chapters to fulfill alkaline battery needs during an emergency. Additionally, from September through December 2015, a portion of sales of every 24-count AA and AAA alkaline battery packs at Interstate All Battery Center locations goes to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder program.
Interstate Batteries delivers Outrageously Dependable® portable power solutions. The Dallas-based company distributes automotive batteries, franchises and operates retail battery stores, recycles batteries, and provides motive and critical power products. Interstate sells products throughout North America, Australia, the Caribbean and Latin America. Interstate employs more than 1,700 team members throughout North America. For more information, visit interstatebatteries.com.
SOURCE Interstate Batteries
Tucker & Associates


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SUNDERLAND, Vt. – Research, planning and traveling: Orvis Adventures’ senior manager Simon Perkins has had a lot on his plate for the company’s newest venture.
“Cuba’s been on the radar for quite a while now,” Perkins said.
The Vermont-based company that specializes in fly-fishing, hunting and sporting goods also boasts another feature– adventure trips, which send customers around the world to experience foreign culture including everything from fishing to feasting.
“At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to inspire a connection to the adventure and wonder of the natural world,” Perkins said.
Orvis already sends travelers to places like New Zealand, South America and Africa. And now Cuba came up with the Obama administration’s move to restore diplomatic relations between the island nation and the U.S.
“For 18 months we’ve been developing this trip,” Perkins said. “Our goal was to make sure we did this right, and by that I mean make sure it’s 100 percent compliant by U.S. and Cuba regulations.”
Orvis worked with a team of legal advisors to make the trip possible. Though travel between the countries is now more lenient, foreigners still have to travel under special licenses.
“We’re doing it under a people to people license where you have to have a certain amount of meaningful interactions with the people, the culture, to comply with that license,” Perkins explained.
Besides the legalities, a top priority was making the visit authentic. The eight-day trips will begin in October and continue through spring. Travelers will spend half the trip fishing in pristine national parks, and the other half with Cubans, who will share their parts of Cuba with them.
“Stuff like you visit a musician in his house and have drinks with him, and he talks about the history of music in Cuba and then he plays a couple of original compositions for you,” Perkins said.
The adventure comes at a price– just over $6,000 per person.
Perkins was part of a group of employees who took the trip as a trial run.
“It’s been eye-opening and an experience that has been incredible to be a part of, and now we get to bring our customers on that trip with us,” Perkins said.
The company hopes the trips will click with customers and play a part in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Lynzi DeLuccia, WCAX.com
May 24, 2016


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Uttar pradesh Budget for 2023–24: A brilliant Move For startups!
What plans does the UP budget for 2023–2024 have for the startups? Know how the government of Uttar Pradesh is concentrating on fostering the local startup industry? I've outlined key elements of the budget for this year here that will support the growth of startups in Uttar Pradesh.
- INR 100 Cr will be used as seed money.
- The upcoming Agriculture Accelerator Fund will be launched with 20 Cr.
- For information technology, INR 60 Cr.
- Has up to 50 incubators and 7,200 startups already.
In its efforts to strengthen the startup ecosystem in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government is not skimping on any efforts. The Yogi-led administration has made a significant announcement with the release of a slew of perks in its Budget 2023–24 designed to give startups and business owners the necessary boost.
What Can Startups Expect from the UP Budget?
In the UP Budget 2023–24, the Uttar Pradesh government has made some special provisions for startups!
- Using seed funding to strengthen the startup ecosystem
For seed funding for selected startups offered through incubators, the budget has set aside INR 100 Cr. This action aims to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs and startups to take risks and launch their own businesses.
- Agritech Is Encouraged In UP
In order to support and encourage agritech startups in the state's rural areas, the budget has also made a provision of INR 20 crore for the creation of the upcoming Agriculture Accelerator Fund.
- UP Budget Includes Provisions for the IT Sector
The government has also allocated INR 60 Cr to create the proposed Uttar Pradesh Information Technology and Startups Policy, which will further strengthen the startup ecosystem.
Under the 2020 Startup Policy, the Yogi government seeks to encourage entrepreneurship in a variety of industries, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, transportation, and others. An indication of the government's dedication to encouraging entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities in the state is the allocation of funds for seed funding and the creation of the Agriculture Accelerator Fund. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, Uttar Pradesh is ready to become one of the nation's top locations for startups.
Uttar Pradesh has a record number of incubators and startups.
Up to 50 incubators and 7,200 startups are currently operating in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which has emerged as a startup hotspot. The recently allocated Rs 100 crore for seed funds will further promote these incubators. This action aims to give startups and aspiring entrepreneurs the necessary financial support so they can make their ideas a reality.
Uttar Pradesh has enormous potential for startups to develop and flourish thanks to its diverse range of industries, which include agriculture, technology, healthcare, and education. The government's emphasis on supporting incubators and startups will foster innovation, create job opportunities, and support the state's economic growth.
A Program To Strengthen the Local Startup Ecosystem
Nearly three months after overhauling its entire startup policy to support and scale the state's burgeoning startup ecosystem, the Uttar Pradesh government announced its most recent incentives. The revised policy includes incentives and financial aid, such as raising the monthly sustenance allowance for startups from INR 15,000 to INR 17,500 and nearly tripling the amount of seed funding for startups to INR 7 Lakhs.
The state government intends to establish five more centres of excellence (CoE) dedicated to startups in order to support the ecosystem further. It will also use the recently announced INR 4,000 Cr "UP Innovation Fund" to invest in early-stage startups. These programs demonstrate that the UP government is not only utilizing the local startup ecosystem but also giving it the assistance it needs to develop and flourish.
Angel Fund INR 1000 Cr To Support Startups
In its efforts to create a supportive environment for startups, Uttar Pradesh is not far behind. According to reports, the government has also been looking to establish an INR 1,000 Cr angel fund to support roughly 10,000 startups in the state, which would be a significant boost to the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to reports, this fund will be used to give startups in a variety of industries the early funding they need to expand and grow their companies. The action is anticipated to bring more startups to the state and generate new employment opportunities.
With this declaration, Uttar Pradesh has now joined the growing group of states that have made a number of budgetary offerings to startups this year. The Karnataka government announced plans to establish nine new industrial clusters throughout the state as well as a 30 Cr INR park in Bengaluru earlier this week. The already thriving startup ecosystem in India is anticipated to receive a further boost as more states step forward to support it.


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Organizing an Unpacked event in April is unusual for Samsung. Two weeks before the online conference, there are plenty of clues as to what to expect.
Earlier today, Samsung unveiled its next Unpacked event, which will take place on April 28, a week after Apple’s. The Korean manufacturer has promised that we could find the most powerful Galaxy device there.
We already have a lot of clues about what to expect from this event. It is very likely to discover new Galaxy Book there as well as the fruit of a new collaboration between AMD and Samsung Exynos.
An event dedicated to laptops?
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro, Book Pro 360 et Book Go
It is highly likely that three new laptops will be announced at Unpacked. EvLeaks has already shown them through several visuals which we echoed on Aroged. More specifically, there are the Galaxy Book Pro, Galaxy Book Pro 360 and Galaxy Book Go.
These are laptops equipped with an OLED screen. This will neither be the first nor the last screens with an OLED display, we already have several brands that offer these screens, including the latest ZenBook OLED from Asus.
Samsung would also have chosen a configuration based on Intel Core 11th generation with low consumption CPUs. We would also find an Nvidia MX450 dGPU, a little faster than the iGPU provided by Intel. These laptops would be both equipped with Thunderbolt connectors, but also a 4G / 5G modem.
Among these three laptops, there could also be equipped with an ARM chip designed by Samsung and AMD. This would be the case with the Galaxy Book Go.
AMD x Samsung Exynos
Now that the M1 Macs have shown what ARM is capable of, will laptop manufacturers finally take this architecture seriously? This is not a rumor, AMD and Samsung are currently working together to design an ARM chip.
We know that Samsung is working with AMD to design an ARM SoC equipped with a Radeon GPU. Samsung could therefore take advantage of the Unpacked to announce an equipped laptop PC by the Samsung Exynos 2200 SoC associated with an AMD Radeon GPU. This SoC should finally equal the Apple M1 and far exceed Qualcomm’s Snapdragon.
An announcement that would come a few weeks with the recent announcement Nvidia which collaborates with MediaTek to design an ARM chip with an RTX 30 GPU intended for laptops.
Laptops with an ARM SoC equipped with Windows 10 already exist. Unfortunately, since its launch several years ago, the version of Windows 10 suitable for ARM processors has not been very successful. There is a software compatibility issue, while the performance of Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM chips failed to convince early adopters.


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UBA, the German Environment Agency, has suspended the enforcement of its non-recognition of Icelandic guarantees of origin in Germany. Thereby, all restrictions on the trade of Icelandic guarantees of origin have been lifted.
UBA’s import ban was based on AIB’s, Association of Issuing Bodies, suspension of exports of Icelandic guarantees of origin which was lifted on June 1st. Double-counting of energy attributes was suspected to be taking place in Iceland, with power intensive users in Iceland claiming to utilise green energy for their operations, without purchasing guarantees of origin to support that claim.
After a comprehensive examination, UBA has decided to lift its import ban as it has been confirmed that Icelandic electricity producers do not double-count the green attributes of their energy production.


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Order up! Post-pandemic, restaurants are ready to serve
New Agency Forward survey examines how restaurants are managing risk amid inflation and a post-pandemic environment
Restaurants are making a comeback with reservations now exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Even while facing inflationary challenges, restaurant decision makers have a positive outlook on their business’ financial situation, according to a recent Agency Forward survey from insurance and financial services giant Nationwide. Data also shows that patrons have a largely positive outlook on their restaurant experiences today.
Restaurants have adapted to pandemic challenges, rebuilt consumer confidence around in-person dining
Increased concern during the height of COVID-19 forced the industry to reexamine standard business operations, and consumers feel positively about some of the changes made. To help navigate challenging times imposed by the pandemic, restaurant decision makers report:
- Improved cleaning practices (33%)
- Utilization of mobile ordering and payment devices (30%)
- Reduced operating hours (30%)
- Added or expanded food delivery/take-out services (26%)
- Utilization of paperless menus like QR codes (26%)
Some say they launched a virtual brand/restaurant (20%) or leased kitchen space for a virtual brand/ restaurant (19%) – likely to help meet shifts in consumer demand.
Diners are (generally) happy with restaurants
The survey revealed roughly 3 in 4 (77%) restaurant patrons rate their experiences at restaurants today as good or excellent. 67% feel restaurant cleanliness has improved since the pandemic and 94% are satisfied with this progress.
Diners also feel good about:
- Addition or expansion of loyalty programs /rewards (87%)
- Addition or expansion of food delivery / take-out services (81%)
- Use of mobile ordering / payment devices (72%)
Fires top of mind, but restaurants feel prepared
Restaurant decision makers say fires are among the biggest risks facing their business today (24%) – re-enforcing the importance of properly maintained fire suppression systems.
Fortunately, about three quarters of decision makers (74%) say their staff is completely prepared to manage emergency situations, including a fire or injury. High confidence levels are likely due to employee training, as nearly 9 in 10 (87%) have mandatory safety training for their staff.
Unexpected risks are emerging
New digital risks have developed in what’s traditionally thought of as a face-to-face industry:
- 1 in 4 restaurant decision makers report negative reviews among their biggest risk factors, which could be related to overall increased social media use.
- 17% now say reliance on technology is a primary risk factor facing their restaurant today, identifying a potential cyber vulnerability for both owners and patrons by opening new digital doors to bad actors.
“Cyberattacks pose a significant business risk, especially when our Agency Forward research shows 76% of consumers would stop doing business with the company responsible for a data breach that impacted them,” said Peter McMurtrie, president of Commercial Lines at Nationwide. “As restaurants increasingly rely on technology, cyber liability insurance becomes crucial for safeguarding sensitive customer data and avoiding costly breaches or reputation hits.”
Restaurants are feeling the economic pinch
More than 6 in 10 (62%) restaurant decision makers cite inflation and rising costs as well as difficulty acquiring food and supplies as challenges facing their business today. Of those struggling with inflation, roughly a quarter have increased prices (28%) or changed menu items (23%) and 22% changed portion sizes.
Owners report that fresh seafood and fruits & vegetables are not only the most difficult items for restaurant decision makers to acquire, but they have also experienced the largest price increases over the past six months.
Despite challenges, over 8 in 10 (82%) restaurant decision makers say they are doing better financially than expected. Nearly 3 in 4 (72%) report an increase in their restaurant’s revenue over the past six months, and more than 9 in 10 (93%) also anticipate revenue increases in the next six months.
“Made to order protection” is essential for navigating today’s challenging climate
More than three quarters (77%) work with an insurance agent to manage their insurance needs and they’re looking to them for guidance as 9 in 10 decision makers have or plan to contact their insurance agent in the next six months to discuss coverage. 42% say they plan to add another type of coverage to their policy or increase coverage/limits on existing policies (39%) within the next six months, while about 3 in 10 plan to decrease coverage/limits (32%) or remove a type of coverage (30%).
“The restaurant industry will continue to rapidly innovate to meet the needs and preferences of its customer base. As key decision makers reevaluate insurance coverage needs, it’s more important than ever to work with an agent and carrier with specialized expertise and resources to ensure your business and livelihood is adequately protected from longstanding and emerging risks,” said McMurtrie.


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Instagram Brings Presence to Direct Messaging Tool
Instagram users can now see when their friends are online. The latest version of the mobile app includes a presence feature, placing a green dot next to the account names of those who are actively using the app. The idea is meant to encourage private conversations through Instagram's direct messaging functionality. Instagram says people will only see the real-time online status of friends who follow them back, or who have traded messages with them before. People can hide their own status and turn off the ability to see others' status if they so wish. The new feature is reaching mobile devices over the days ahead.
Android Wear to Gain Android 8 Oreo Notification Dots
Jan 25, 2018
Google today updated the Android Wear SDK for developers and revealed several new features that are headed to its smartwatch platform later this year. Primarily, Android Wear will add a notification indicator to all watch faces.
Google Maps Improves Location-Sharing Tools
Mar 22, 2017
Google today made it possible for Maps users to share their exact location with friends and family. In Maps, users need only tap the blue dot (signifying their location) and select those with whom they'd like to share.
Google Adds Google Lens to Google Images
Oct 25, 2018
Following up on an announcement it made last month, Google has incorporated Google Lens visual search into Google Images. When people conduct image searches on their phones, they'll now see a tool to initiate a Google Lens query.
Ice View Case for HTC 10 Replaces Dot View
Apr 12, 2016
Alongside the 10 smartphone, HTC today announced the Ice View Case. This case is similar to the Dot View Case, but makes big improvements in usability.


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Fiat has recently launched eco:Drive Social, a community of responsible drivers.
Fiat drivers are now able to share their eco:Drive results with friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, and can earn 'virtual badges' that prove how their driving has improved.
eco:Drive Social is an international community of regular users of the eco:Drive app who want to share their results with others. Using eco:Drive, you can find friends all over the world, connect with them and share your eco-friendly performance on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Drivers receive virtual badges certifying their 'good deeds'' at the wheel and record your 'social ranking'. Drivers can increase their popularity by improving their eco-performance, by sharing their results on social media networks, and by involving new friends.
To get started, download the app via the Fiat website at www.fiat.com/ecodrive and connect using your Facebook or Twitter account. You need Blue&Me in your Fiat to use eco:Drive.


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After a successful outing to the world of Morrowind, Bethesda has announced that the next expansion for the ever-growing The Elder Scrolls Online will open the realm of Summerset for players for the first time. It’s not going to be a vacation, mind you – apparently “darkness looms over the ancestral home of the High Elves, and whispers stir of Daedric followers organizing in the shadows”, so, you know, bring weapons.
Summerset will be a somewhat unknown entity for most of you, having not featured physically in an Elder Scrolls game since The Elder Scrolls: Arena, over 20 years ago. The area is mentioned throughout the series’ history, though, so it’s going to be good to get boots on the ground for a change. There’s a fully developed narrative to work through, and Bethesda are talking about 30 hours of gameplay. Players will also be able to join the Psijic Order for the first time and work their way through the order’s skill line, while creative types can get their kicks with the new Jewelry Crafting skill line.
It’s a really pretty place, going by the lush touristy postcards posted on the official website, from the bustling streets of the capital, Alinor, to the sacred monument of the Crystal Tower rising into the sky. It’s classic fantasy stuff, and a perfect addition to the Elder Scrolls landscape.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset is out on 21 May on PC and Mac, and 5 June on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Oh, and if you pre-order it, you get a new mount, which looks like a panther wearing a pair of very questionable boots.


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This was news to me before the ACLU of WA-WOLA trip to Spokane, which educated me about this practice, already described in an article from September 2014:
“Unlike many banks worried about the drug’s federally illegal status, Spokane’s Numerica Credit Union has offered accounts to marijuana growers and processors (retailers are not allowed). Numerica wouldn’t confirm the number of accounts it’s opened or the amount of its application or monthly fees, though a spokesperson said special fees were necessary for the ‘initial and ongoing due diligence’ on the accounts. Growers and retailers tell the Inlander the application fee alone is $1,000.”
The rationale I heard for “no-retailers” is that the member-owned credit union is less nervous about banking customers all of whose sales are traced to in-state purchasers. Washington state growers and processors cannot legally sell to any purchasers other than Washington state retailers or processors. That’s because Washington’s I-502 bans vertical integration. Retailers, under Washington law, can sell to tourists from out of state, so there is a danger, however slight, of leakage that the Holder memo warns of. So the safest way for a financial institution to dip a toe in the water is to serve non-vertically integrated entities early up the supply chain, I suppose — but that’s not official, just hearsay and maybe speculation. I also heard the credit union won’t accept any cannabis growers west of the Cascades. So it’s starting slowly.
To mix metaphors, the banking iceberg may melt slowly.
Link to article: http://www.inlander.com/spokane/more-money-more-problems/Content?oid=2358747. I have a call in to Numerica.
Update: Brett Stone of email@example.com sent me an article by Michael Muckian of the Credit Union Times indicating that several other financial institutions in WA are taking cannabis accounts: Link is at http://www.cutimes.com/2015/01/30/credit-unions-score-joint-biz-accounts. Another possible rationale for a limitation to growers suggested by the later article is this: There are more customers than the financial institutions can handle, so they are drawing arbitrary lines. I’m totally speculating. (Thanks, Brett.)
Meanwhile, in the CU Times article, Jenni Roberts of the O Bee Credit Union in Olympia attributed the ability or willingness of her Credit Union to take cannabis customers to the WA regulators, in part: “The WSLCB did a fascinating and fabulous job putting together guidelines on which we could piggyback our efforts.”
A clear rationale for the credit unions taking cannabis money is safety: “Serving I-502 members is as much a public safety issue as it is a financial one, Roberts said. The legalized industry has greater business acumen and financial services support at its disposal. Removing at least a share of the marijuana trade from the streets and putting it into a strict regulatory environment eliminates some the dangers formerly associated with industry, she added.”
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