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This app is unlike any other in the Google Play Store with users able to take advantage of our unique video chat to establish a connection with someone in a way that text chat just cannot achieve
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 09, 2017
Android users can finally download video chat and dating social network, Fruzo, onto their devices after the app launched on Google Play this week. Since launching on iTunes in September of last year, Fruzo has enjoyed unprecedented success due to its unique concept of combining live video chat with online dating and social networking. Unlike other one-dimensional social apps such as Badoo and Tinder, Fruzo offers users the opportunity to chat live with potential matches via the camera on their smartphone and tablet. The app also incorporates a social networking element with friend’s lists, the ability to follow other users, and a powerful search function to discover users with similar interests.
Addressing the problem of fake and robot profiles on other dating apps, Fruzo uses live video chat so that users know the person they are talking with is whom they say they are on their profile. Video chat also opens up a whole new exciting way to connect with people for the first time, eliminating flat back and forth text conversation and replacing it with the thrill of meeting someone face to face. Face to face encounters makes it much easier for users to find people whom they have a strong connection with, whether that involves making new friends or finding a hot date for the weekend.
“We are delighted to announce the release of Fruzo for Android users”, said Fruzo Founder, Richard Fox, “This app is unlike any other in the Google Play Store with users able to take advantage of our unique video chat to establish a connection with someone in a way that text chat just cannot achieve”.
Fruzo has received excellent feedback and reviews since launching on iTunes last year, featuring in respected publications such as KillerStartups and receiving an average 4-star rating on iTunes. The launch of the Google Play app opens Fruzo to a wider audience than ever before, and as people continue to search for the next great app to socialize on their mobile devices, Fruzo is expected to reach even greater heights shortly. Interest in Fruzo has exploded since September of last year according to Google Trends with the web site shooting up the global site index according to Alexa.com. This data indicates that the future of dating and social networking is here, and its name is Fruzo.
Fruzo is a free, easy to use social networking and video chat service where people can socialize online. Fruzo allows users to create an account using their Facebook credentials and chat with other people via webcam, create friends lists, and follow other users from around the world. Users can connect with new people either randomly via the video chat or by searching for friends using some filters including sex, country, city, and age. The service is available to use on both web browser and mobile application, providing users with the ability to chat on the go.


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The first mobile phone eco index has been launched by O2 in the UK and you can expect this to be a global process soon. The index has been developed jointly by O2 and a leading sustainable ideas foundation. So, the time has come for you to make wiser and more informed decisions before buying a mobile phone.
For now, Apple has decided not be a part of this initiative, for reasons yet to be revealed by the company. RIM has stated that it will not be a part of this before 2011. But most major mobile phone manufacturers are already playing a role in taking this movement forward. Sony Ericsson, HTC, LG and Nokia are some of the leading names whose devices are being by indexed by O2.
So what is O2 eco-friendly index basically about?
Since every electronic device you use has a carbon footprint, thus a sustainable device is one which among other things has been manufactured in an eco-friendly manner and the use of which does not affect the environment adversely. Even when you replace it, it should not harm the environment when recycled.
The assessment criteria include various impacts such as those involving raw materials used, packaging and delivery, usage and disposal and functionality. Functionality and raw materials are the most important criteria according to weight assigned.
Companies participating in this index provide data about their handsets voluntarily and this is taken at face value without verification.
Given the current emphasis on sustainable development and consumption, Apple’s refusal to divulge data on sustainability performance of its devices is rather disturbing. Recently the company also was publicly criticized for the same reason by the NASDAQ CRD sustainability index. Even companies like Dell, IBM and HP are way ahead of Apple in this regard.
Most ironically, it is easiest for companies such as Apple to have the best sustainable practices due to strong financial metrics and advantages of scale.
The bigger picture is that these indices will help weed out the wrongdoers and for all the unfair business practices that go on in the name of development, naming and shaming is required. For users too, this is a call to become more responsible.

domain: news


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Tunisiana becomes Ooredoo, as global brand roll-out continues
Ooredoo announced that its Tunisian operations have fully adopted the global Ooredoo brand, as the company continues to make strong progress on launching the brand across the MENA region and South East Asia.
Ooredoo’s Tunisian operations join colleagues in Qatar, Algeria, the Maldives, and Myanmar in deploying the Ooredoo brand, following the global brand launch in February 2013. Tunisiana was Tunisia’s first privately-owned telecommunications company, launching in 2002, and successfully introduced the Ooredoo brand in Tunisia in July 2013.
As a community-based company, Ooredoo is focusing on delivering a wide range of life enhancing services that promote human growth and “democratising data”.
In Tunisia, the company adopted the new brand virtually overnight, transforming all customer touch points including all the direct channels across the country, and plans to complete the rebranding of all third party shops in just four weeks.
To mark the occasion, a special brand inauguration ceremony was held in Tunis, attended by senior Ooredoo officials, representatives from the public and private sectors, and the media.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: “Today is a key moment in the history of Tunisia’s communications sector. Adopting the new brand will enable Ooredoo to better leverage our global resources to promote human growth in Tunisia. Technology can unlock young people’s potential, enabling them to become entrepreneurs and leaders, and enable women to better support their families and pursue their ambitions. Ooredoo will work with our customers every step of the way to help them reach their goals.”
Ooredoo is dedicated to driving technology innovation and enhancing the customer experience across Tunisia. As part of this strategy, Ooredoo is investing in high-speed networks, including the nationwide 3G mobile broadband network, and is rolling-out the next generation fibre network in central business districts.
In line with the brand adoption, Ooredoo aims to “democratise data” in Tunisia, with the goal of enabling all of its customers to experience the transformative benefits of mobile broadband, while strengthening its leading position in data and driving enhanced data revenues.
Kenneth Campbell, CEO, Ooredoo Tunisia, said: “Tunisia democratised the mobile in Tunisia, and now Ooredoo will democratise data for Tunisians, to further enhance the customer experience. In parallel with the launch of the new brand, our customers will see further tangible benefits in the coming weeks, thanks to a wide range of exciting new offers that will make data more affordable and accessible.”
Ooredoo has already seen strong take-up of the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone, which Ooredoo launched exclusively for its customers in Tunisia on 15 April. Now Ooredoo will launch a series of data offers that target residential, business, 3G and fixed-line customers, democratising data and driving mobile broadband penetration.
In particular, Ooredoo will be launching affordable Ooredoo-branded smartphones, and a buyback service for trading in old devices for new ones. Exclusively in Tunisia, Ooredoo customers will be able to use a beIN SPORTS set-up box to watch this summer’s sporting events.
Ooredoo’s community based activities are based on two umbrella platforms: Ooredoo Machroui, which supports youth, and Ooredoo Toufoulati, which empowers children with special needs.
Under Ooredoo Machroui is the award-winning Najja7ni (“Make Me Succeed”) mobile service, which provides employment, education, and English language resources for more than 800,000 customers, complemented by a branded eLearning programme for engineering students.
Supporting young entrepreneurs, Ooredoo recently debuted Intilaq, an ICT start-up incubation programme funded with TUN 28.4 million (USD 18 million), in partnership with the Qatar Friendship Fund and Microsoft. Intilaq is the next stage of evolution for Startup Factory, which has provided full support for Tunisian start-ups since 2012.
Ooredoo Toufoulati programmes include the Therapeutic Camp that reintegrates children with disabilities back into society; Schools at Hospitals that will build classrooms for long-term paediatric patients; “Unité de Vie” (“Unity of Life”) that helps families who have children with leukaemia; and the Tunisia Junior Football Tournament that promotes sport in underserved regions and provides the winning team with a new multipurpose field.
Demonstrating Ooredoo’s success in meeting the needs of its customers, about 250,000 Tunisian customers have used its mobile money service “Mobiflouss” to top-up their accounts, transfer money, pay bills, and apply for government scholarships since its launch in 2013.
Driving youth to lead healthy lifestyles through the power of sport, Ooredoo is sponsoring 10 top Tunisian football teams through to 2016, and one of the country’s most popular sports television channels.
Looking ahead, Ooredoo is committed to driving a range of youth initiatives in Tunisia and across its markets. These include its work with the Leo Messi Foundation on mobile health clinics and with French football team Paris Saint-Germain on a community coaching programme.
Tunisiana , Ooredoo, global brand ,roll-out ,continues


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Klarna, one of many world’s main international funds and purchasing services, has introduced a brand new initiative geared toward serving to small and medium-sized companies who have been most impacted by the pandemic get again on their toes. The finch company is donating $4.5 million in cost and media services to 100 small companies throughout the nation.
The Small Business Impact Initiative is in honor of Small Enterprise Month and can see Klarna give away $40,000 price of free media services to every of the SMBs chosen in addition to free cost services for one yr. Klarna cites a current report by Fb and the Small Enterprise Roundtable that in February 2021, 22% of small companies in the nation have been closed with 27% of minority-owned companies struggling the best losses and 25% of female-led companies reported closed.
Klarna says its objective of the Small Enterprise Affect Initiative is to leverage its community of 16 million U.S. consumers and over 250,000 international retail companions to unlock a brand new buyer base and achieve larger publicity and product visibility for the SMBs’ choices. In case your small enterprise has been affected by the pandemic, you’ll be able to apply to be considered for Klarna’s Small Business Impact Initiative here.


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Vanity Fair Proves That You Should Date a Napkin UserLeading napkin brand conducts nationwide study to find that napkin users make for better dates
ATLANTA, Feb. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Georgia-Pacific’s Vanity Fair brand of premium napkins conducted a nationwide study and accompanying campaign, with agency partner Figliulo&Partners, to prove that napkin-users make for better dates. Initial brand research linked napkin use to civility which led to the question: Would a napkin-user make for a better love interest? As it turns out, they are significantly more likely than non-users to be more attentive in dating situations and make small personal sacrifices in everyday life. The study found that they are 70 percent more likely to watch bad TV with you, 54 percent more likely to get along with your mother and statistically less likely to have broken up with someone over DM.
The quantitative online study compared attitudes and behaviors of napkin-users versus non-users, uncovering credible insights correlating napkin use with better manners and courteous behavior. Results of the study have been brought to life in a campaign, aptly named “Date A Napkin User,” with the goal to empower singles with a tangible filter to know if someone is worth their time. Additionally, Vanity Fair teamed up with dating expert, Match, to support the study and activate their community of singles.
‘This study and overall campaign is intended to show, in a light-hearted, entertaining, and relatable way, how napkin usage can be indicative of finding a great match,” said Lloyd Lorenzsonn, Brand Building Leader, Napkins at Georgia-Pacific. “Partnering with Match was the obvious choice to make singles aware of how a subtle gesture, such as using napkins could help individuals think about potential partners differently.”
The campaign will launch the week of Valentine’s Day in OLV, OOH, display and social, involving napkin-using influencers to share the study results on social media, tagging #DateaNapkinUser. The full campaign includes a :30 ad “Smile” and two :15 spots dubbed “Cleanse” and “Hair.” In the coming weeks, Vanity Fair and Match will host an experiential singles event in Dallas, Texas, which is ranked as one of the worst dating cities in the U.S. The goal of the event is to bring together all the singles of the city in one place to find love.
“Napkin usage probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you’re considering going on a date with someone. But if you really think about it, it makes sense,” said Scott Vitrone, CCO and Partner, Figliulo&Partners. “People who take the time to use a proper napkin likely have certain qualities that would make them a better date. The idea really came to life when we did a study and partnered with Match to prove our theory with hard data.”
As a result of the campaign, the maker of Vanity Fair hopes to help singles everywhere with a new way to think about dating by highlighting the little things individuals should look for in a partner. At the end of the day, compatibility really boils down to finding someone who will laugh at your puns and won’t judge your relationship with your cat.
To learn more about the Vanity Fair Date A Napkin User campaign, visit www.DateaNapkinUser.com.
About Vanity Fair | Georgia Pacific
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, office papers, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Sparkle®, Mardi Gras®, Vanity Fair®, and Dixie® as well as STAINMASTER™ household cleaning products. The company operates approximately 200 facilities and employs approximately 35,000 people directly, and creates nearly 92,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: www.gp.com.
F&P was born from a desire to create a smarter and more nimble alternative to the traditional advertising agency model. We are a Brand Agency for the Information Age on a mission to help brands and people understand each other, with a simple philosophy that each brand has One Story and Many Voices. “The Prodigal Brother” rounds out an exceptionally strong 2017 for F&P, who earlier this year launched its media and communications planning unit and hired Vitrone as its first-ever Partner and Chief Creative Officer. The agency has also launched a number of campaigns, including CNN’s highly-praised “Facts First” campaign. Clients include CNN, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Marriott International, Seabourn Cruise Lines, Vanity Fair Napkins, Pete & Gerry’s Organics, and American Century Investments. We are proud to have been listed three years running in Ad Age’s Best Places to Work. For more information, visit www.figliuloandpartners.com.
Meg Stagaard, DiGennaro Communications
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Saudi Arabia’s strong demand has been the catalyst for growth, as a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-related ban on Brazilian beef in late 2012 resulted in a gap in the market, which opened up an opportunity for Australian beef.
During the past five years, Australian beef exports to Saudi Arabia have averaged 4,256 tonnes swt. However, for the first four months of 2013, Australian exports totaled 9,223 tonnes swt – breaking previous records and up more than eight-fold year-on-year.
Saudi Arabia, which has traditionally been a large sheepmeat market, has become Australia’s largest beef market in the Middle East in 2013, which illustrates the impacts of the restrictions placed on Brazil and the US.
Sheepmeat exports have also surged this year, led by strong growth in lamb exports to Bahrain and Iran. Australian lamb exports to Bahrain totaled 9,713 tonnes swt in 2012-13, up from 229 tonnes swt in 2011-12. Exports to Iran, although sporadic, totaled 7,317 tonnes swt in 2012-13, up more than two-fold year-on-year, while shipments to Kuwait increased 77 percent, to 3,833 tonnes swt.
Australia’s largest lamb market remains the UAE, which accounts for 25 percent of Australian exports. Jordan (20 percent) also ordered large amounts of Australian lamb.


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UN General Assembly while recognizing the importance of micro, small and medium sized enterprises in achieving the global development goals has designated June 27 as the International Day for MSMEs. This day highlights the strong contribution of MSMEs not only in India but worldwide to livelihood, communities and economies which needs for support towards success of MSMEs said Mr. Vijay G. Kalantri, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) while speaking at the training programme for MSME’s.
Mr. Kalantri said that the theme of MSME Day is “Small Business, Big impact. MSMEs play a pivotal role in the overall industrial development of the country. They have been the significant contributor to the national income. They not only help in providing employment opportunities to millions of people across the country, they create a sound entrepreneurial base in the economy by developing and nurturing the talents, skills etc. of small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
Mr. Kalantri further added that MSMEs make up over 90% of the world’s economy. It accounts more than 70% of all jobs worldwide. There are 500 million MSME’s in the world today. In India, SMEs accounted for 80% of Jobs created every year, while in the US almost 50% employees work for a SME and in China the corresponding figure is almost 79%.
MSME produces over 8500 products, 60% of employment, 40% of exports and 45% to GDP added Mr. Kalantri.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United National Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) are joining with other partners to observe 27th June as MSME day, which mark with events like : Research Presentations, Policy Discussions, Practitioners Workshops, Business Owner Testimonials and communication activities which we also have initiated stated Mr. Kalantri.


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COVID-19 continues to have a transitional impact on retailers and brands and reshape consumer behaviors. Amazon, Walmart and other retailers witnessed a massive acceleration of e-commerce sales and increased spending by consumers on food and fitness as they sheltered at home.
Jason Goldberg, chief commerce strategy officer at Publicis, said the pandemic did not create new behaviors — it accelerated trends already in place.
“Think of COVID-19 as a time machine,” he said.
Speaking virtually at the recent Retail Summit hosted by Texas A&M University, Goldberg outlined consumer behaviors that have staying power in a post-COVID world ranging from growth in digital sales to pet adoption and fleeing brand affinity.
Walmart estimates the rate of digital shopping adoption jumped ahead five years in five months. Before the pandemic, Goldberg said digital shopping was about 17% of all retail, and it was expected to grow to 21% by 2025. During the pandemic’s peak, it rose to 35% and has since receded to about 25% of sales.
The National Retail Federation reports on average, e-commerce sites grew 45% year-over-year through the second quarter (April through June). The biggest winners include Best Buy, which grew online sales by 250%, and Target, which reported a 195% growth. Walmart, already the second-largest e-commerce site, saw online sales nearly double in the period, as did Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Goldberg said even struggling sites like eBay posted healthy growth in the period as more shoppers ordered goods online. He said a whopping 70% of sales are now influenced by digital marketing, making the front door a digital touchpoint for retailers to consider. Before COVID-19, just 52% of all sales were digitally affected.
Digital grocery was ripe for disruption as the pandemic unfolded. Goldberg said just 2% of all grocery sales were bought online in 2019. During the pandemic, that has gone up more than 25% of total grocery sales. While there could be some contraction post-COVID, many analysts believe there is no going back.
Jan Kniffen, a retail consultant with J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide, said history has shown once a category gravitates online, it does not reverse. He said the COVID-19 impact was a unique catalyst, and it’s anybody’s guess where online grocery penetration will shake out post-pandemic.
Goldberg expects online grocery sales could normalize around 12%. He said COVID brought consumers to the digital space, but that has not automatically translated to higher profits. He said digital sales carry a higher cost, and much of the growth was around lower-margin food and consumables.
Goldberg said retailer profits would likely be challenged for several quarters.
FLEEING BRAND LOYALTY
Brand disloyalty also emerged from consumers shopping during COVID-19. Goldberg said some of this was due to product shortages for things like toilet paper.
“Before COVID, Charmin loyalists would never have considered buying another brand, but in the absence of many name brands, consumers adopted an ‘any-brand-will-do’ attitude,” he said.
Goldberg said Amazon saw a massive spike in its private brand toilet paper at the pandemic height, and it has remained elevated. Walmart and other retailers have instituted smart-substitution protocols using machine learning, which takes the guesswork away from personal shoppers and order pickers. When it works well, Goldberg said consumers are apt to try and adopt different brands. He said 21% of consumers said they had switched brands after the retailer made out-of-stock substitutions.
Research firm McKinsey reports that 75% of consumers have tried new brands during the pandemic, and 60% said they expect to integrate new brands in their post-COVID-19 lives.
RESTOCKING, NESTING & PETS
One pattern that emerged quickly at the pandemic onset was pantry stocking, which brought consumers back to brands like Kraft Mac & Cheese and canned soups. Goldberg said consumers filled carts with dried pasta (up 698%), canned foods (up 314%), and cases of Campbell’s soup (up more than 200%).
He said sales of fresh foods took a backseat to shelf-stable and frozen to the extent households had storage capacity. That pushed demand forward in several categories, which then created a vacuum for sales.
“When a family finds itself with a boatload of Kraft Mac & Cheese or toilet paper, there will be less need to buy it in the near future. This brings on a marketing challenge from brands to keep sales going. That’s why we are seeing Kraft advertise mac and cheese as a healthy breakfast with a glass of milk and a slice of orange. And why toilet paper makers are promoting using it for Halloween decor and other crafts,” he said.
Pantry stocking or panic buying was one of the three distinct behaviors Harvest Group consulting witnessed during the pandemic’s early stages. Mark Stamps, with omnichannel retail agency Harvest Group in Rogers, said during a recent webinar that the panic buying stage was followed by staying home and pulling back. He said that was followed with an attempt to regain some normalcy, but with recently rising COVID-19 cases, consumers are again restocking pantries.
The nesting behavior also took shape among consumers as stimulus checks began to hit their bank accounts this spring. Goldberg said “nesting” is another behavior that may remain post-pandemic. He said as consumers were forced to stay at home, they quickly learned how to work, educate and exercise at home and prepare more of their meals.
Walmart said nesting and exercise were visible in sales data through the summer. McMillon said fabric inventories were depleted as well as adult bicycles and fishing gear. Walmart estimates 10 million more people are equipped to fish this fall because of tackle purchased over the spring and summer.
Goldberg expects many consumers who are working from home will continue to do so long after the pandemic has passed. He said the pandemic is likely to have a long-term negative impact on convenience stores, fuel sales and even popular spots like Starbucks. He said the majority of ready-to-drink coffee is sold when consumers are out and about.
Goldberg said pets also became a priority during COVID-19, and there were more than 1 million pet adoptions early on during the pandemic. As consumers spent more time at home, they were open to pet adoption. This behavior’s upside is that there are 1.6 million new pet owners in the country to market to in the post-COVID world. He said the pet market grew its share of online sales by 10% through the summer.
“This is a brand new cohort that has learned how to buy their cat litter and dog food online,” he said.
HEALTH & SAFETY SCORES
Consumers remain cautious about their health, and that’s not likely to change. Goldberg said the need for retailers to offer safe shopping destinations became paramount this spring. Before COVID, retailers and consumers were most concerned about finding the products they needed and having a pleasant experience.
“The last thing on consumers’ minds pre-COVID was, ‘Will this trip to get groceries make me sick?’” Goldberg said.
He said this instantly changed priorities for retailers and consumers around protecting good health. The focus on protecting against COVID-19 impacted other industries regarding radical behavior changes that could persist post-pandemic. He said the banking industry saw a 32% decline in ATM usage for fear of touching the pin pad. The use of self-checkout also rose because consumers didn’t want to stand across from a cashier.
Other protocols at retail like one-way aisles proved unnecessary. Consumers did not follow the arrows, and store personnel did not have time to police them. Goldberg said he wonders if salad bars will return in a post-COVID world, as it’s more likely a robot could deliver salads to consumer tables in the future. He said 7-Eleven convenience stores are testing voice pay at the pump.
With all the innovation and tweaking retailers and restaurants have done amid COVID-19, a new rating service emerged in Shopsafely.org. This site rates retailers on their sanitation protocol. The service looks at 14 metrics, including contactless pickup, masks required for workers, masks required for customers and limited traffic.
Shopsafely.org scores Walmart an “A,” with negative notes about not checking customers’ temperatures and banning reusable bags. Kroger garnered a score of “A-” and was cited for not requiring customers or employees to wear masks, not taking shoppers’ temperatures and banning reusable bags. Target earned an “A+” and was cited only for lack of temperature checks for shoppers.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Supply Side section of Talk Business & Politics focuses on the companies, organizations, issues and individuals engaged in providing products and services to retailers. The Supply Side is managed by Talk Business & Politics and sponsored by Propak Logistics.


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SoftBank is apparently super-cereal to enter the U.S. mobile market – if it fails to acquire , the Japanese company will apparently go for the local branch of . The information about this “Whatever Works” strategy comes from Reuters, which claims that Dish can only partially ruin SoftBank’s plans.
After acquiring MetroPCS, T-Mobile USA became a publicly listed company with Deutsche Telekom owning 74% of the venture. Germans have already tried to exit the U.S. market but their plan to sell T-Mobile to AT&T failed after the government blocked the sale. With SoftBank entering the picture, things could change; we see no reason why would anyone want to block such a deal.
T-Mobile is currently worth some $15 billion which is roughly $5 billion less than what SoftBank wanted to pay for Sprint. If Now Network’s shareholders approve the Dish’s offer, it’s likely we’ll see the Japanese company acquiring T-Mobile, potentially bringing some of its cool handsets to the market. And that’s something to look forward to…
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ANKARA Twitter (TWTR.N) has filed lawsuits in Turkish courts to challenge a block on the service imposed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government last week, the social media platform said in a statement on Wednesday.
It said it had suspended content related to two of three court orders given as the legal basis for the ban because they violated its own rules. But it was challenging a third order to remove an account accusing a former minister of corruption.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Nick Tattersall, John Stonestreet)
Trending On Reuters
From Vienna cafes to the European Union's highest court, an Austrian law student's two-year battle against Facebook and mass U.S. surveillance culminated in a landmark ruling that has rippled across the business world. Full Article
- Nokia's bosses to dominate leadership team after Alcatel deal
- Samsung Elec sees Q3 profit boost despite smartphone woes
- Pentagon says remains vigilant on security of electronics supply chain
- Journalist who allegedly helped hackers makes final pitch to jury
- Facebook updates News Feed to accommodate weak connections


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In the interests of full disclosure, imagine that I'm a TV anchorman screaming a news report from the middle of a raging hurricane. The news report is about Mortal Kombat X, which has just been announced for 2015 release, and the hurricane is Aoife's reaction. I'm sure she'll be able to tell you more, once she's stopped throwing chairs at me from the top of that filing cabinet.
The game's first trailer is below. Is it too early in the day for a wee Mortal Kombat-themed drinking game? Of course it isn't. Here's a suggestion: down a shot every time a bone is broken, or somebody gets stabbed/mutilated. You should be far too sozzled by the end to enquire about supporting platforms, which have yet to be confirmed. [Update: it's coming to PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.]
"Fuelled by next-gen technology, Mortal Kombat X combines unparalleled, cinematic presentation with dynamic gameplay to create an unprecedented Kombat experience," reads the blurb. As CVG notes, there's plenty of environment interaction in the trailer. A hint, perhaps?


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order to cater to the India’s new crop of electric buses, Ceat Tyres has
launched new tyres with several leading EV OEMs. These tyres have features
which have been tested for ride and handling and are specific to the
requirements of electric buses for use on urban roads.
performance of Ceat’s WinEnergy X3-R tyres is already proven in EV fleets
across the country. Data has shown that these tyres deliver 30% higher mileage,
30% better rolling resistance, and 50% reduction in tyre noise as compared to
regular tyres. These parameters are particularly important in EV vehicles.
Non-polluting electric buses are cheaper to run and are less noisy compared to
vehicles using fossil-fuels.
R&D invested by Ceat Tyres into the development of the new EV tyres has
considered the unique requirements and characteristics of an electric bus. For
instance, an EV bus has a higher torque, both at the start and also when
accelerating. An electric engine is also heavier than a diesel engine. An
electric bus needs to be able to offer a smooth, cushioned ride on city roads
which are quite often in a state of disrepair. The technical aspects of Ceat’s
WinEnergy X3-R tyres address these requirements.
tyre has an all-steel tubeless construction with a robust casing to cater to
the high torque. The tyres have a low rolling resistance for better mileage.
Other technologies have also been utilised: such as EVST for better stiffness
and tyre grip, FaF to dampen noise, and BRIC-T to resist tread buckling. The
tyres have a unique circuit design, a wider contact, and have reinforced
sidewalls – these features provide better traction and reduce tyre damage,
hence making for a safer, cost-effective, and smoother ride. Another aspect of
these EV tyres is that they fit all axle positions. The EV tyres are available
in two sizes - 295/80R22.5 and 255/70R22.5.
Banerjee, COO, CEAT said, “Indian cities can look forward to the further
deployment of electric buses which provide for a sustainable, air and noise
pollution-free transit for commuters. With the launch of CEAT’s WinEnergy X3-R
EV tyres we are pleased to be able to offer tyres specifically designed for our
EV OEMs, and to help in making urban transport cost-effective, cleaner, and
Continental is promoting the development and use of open source software. The technology company has adopted a manifesto that emphasises its commitment to collaborative work with Free and Open Source ...
Nearly 50 DHL Express vans will begin running on the Michelin UPTIS airless tyre to make last-mile deliveries in Singapore by the end of 2023. The pilot programme begins with the first vehicles making...
Bentley Motors has introduced 3D printed solid gold in the exclusive Mulliner Batur – the first time such a ground-breaking process is believed to have been used in the automotive industry. The ‘addit...


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Infinix Nigeria organized a special meet and greet event for fans and customers to engage with renowned Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo at Ikeja Computer Village, the technology hub nexus of Lagos State, on Thursday, February 15th, 2024. The event, part of a promotional campaign for the Infinix HOT 40 series, a smartphone designed to meet the needs of the modern consumer with its cutting-edge features, affordability, and stylish design, transformed Ikeja into a vibrant scene of technology, entertainment, and community engagement.
The excitement unfolded at Finet Store, located on Goshen Awolowo Rd, Ikeja, and later at MSL Otigba Ikeja, where Iyabo Ojo awed her fans. Known for her captivating roles on screen, the actress brought her charm off-screen, engaging with customers at the Infinix stand.
The highlight for many was the generous cashback offer by the smartphone brand. Infinix gave back N40,000 to customers in each store who purchased the HOT40 smartphone during Iyabo Ojo’s visit. The brand also gifted customers with a bottle of champagne and branded items.
One standout feature that captured the attention of tech enthusiasts and consumers alike is the HOT 40’s rapid charging capability. With just 5 minutes of charging, users can enjoy a full 90-minute football game, thanks to the 33W Enduring FastCharge technology. Combined with a 5000mAh long-lasting battery and the exclusive Power Marathon solution, you can count on all-day standby time or up to 2 hours of calling even when the battery is as low as 5%.
Iyabo Ojo invited fans on-stage, outside the MSL store, to showcase their talents. In a display of her generosity and support for budding talent, she gave out N10,000 to participants whose talents she was most pleased with, adding a layer of excitement and encouragement for the attendees.
For fans of Iyabo Ojo, it was a rare opportunity to meet the “Queen Mother” in person and witness her generosity and talent support. For Infinix customers, it was a chance to experience firsthand the brand’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. And for the onlookers, it was a spectacle of love, sharing, and community spirit, emblematic of what Infinix stands for.
Infinix took the opportunity to reward various customers with a range of electrical appliances, making the event not only a platform for promoting the HOT 40 series but also a celebration of customer loyalty and appreciation.
EasyBuy also offered an opportunity to customers to secure any of the HOT 40 series with just a 30% down payment, eliminating the need for immediate full payment. What’s more, this incredible offer came with the added advantage of a 0% interest rate. It was undoubtedly a celebration of wins for all who took part in this unrivaled shopping experience.
The event was not just about promoting the latest Infinix HOT 40 smartphone series; it was a celebration of talent, generosity, and the strong bond between Infinix, and its loyal customer base. For more information on other ongoing promos and activities, follow Infinix Nigeria on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok at @Infinixnigeria.
Ayomitide Adeyinka is a content writer, crypto journalist and editor with a Bsc in Political Science. He is also an egalitarian.


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Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) is discontinuing its planned support for Google's HTC-made Nexus One in favor of the forthcoming HTC Evo 4G, dealing another blow to Google's direct-to-consumer strategy for the phone.
The carrier's decision comes in the wake of Google's move late last month to scrap plans to sell a version of its Nexus One smartphone that supports Verizon Wireless' (NASDAQ:VZ) network. Instead, Google urged customers interested in the device to buy the HTC Droid Incredible from Verizon, which Google described as a cousin to the Nexus One. Sprint plans to launch the WiMAX-powered Evo sometime this summer.
"We are not bringing in Nexus One as Evo 4G is more robust in 3G markets and amazing in the growing number of 4G areas," Sprint spokeswoman Michelle Leff Mermelstein told Phone Scoop. Sprint first announced in March it would offer the phone, and hinted that it would also subsidize the gadget. Sprint's decision essentially kills the idea of allowing CDMA subscribers to access the phone.
Currently, Google sells the Nexus One for $529 unlocked (with versions that work for AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile USA's 3G networks), and $179 when paired with a T-Mobile contract. T-Mobile is the only carrier that offers a subsidized version of the device.
Is it game over for Google's direct-to-consumer Nexus One plans?
Sprint unveils HTC Android-based WiMAX smartphone, the Evo
Google nixes Nexus One for Verizon
Google: Nexus One raking in a profit
All in: Sprint nabs the Nexus One, too
Unlocked: Google's Nexus One now working on AT&T


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Nokia sure tried hard to give us something new, but its mashup of Android, Windows Phone, and Asha gives its Nokia X phone limited powers and a nagging identity crisis.
Pricing not available
Samsung says it's made its new metal-and-glass smartphones easier to use. We investigate the new interface features.
The LG Watch Urbane LTE represents a bold move by the company to stand out with a different wearable. But even LG isn't sure if this is a one-off product or a long-term strategy.
By not properly vetting the Superfish adware, Lenovo became the most recent unwitting example of broken links in the software supply chain.
The LG Watch Urbane LTE runs on the LG Wearable Platform, which traces its roots back to the beloved old mobile operating system.
By making chip designs themselves a little bit programmable, a Silicon Valley startup expects benefits like quicker network upgrades and better search engine performance.
Security vendor Kaspersky outs a group capable of inserting spying software onto hard drives around the world, while Reuters fingers the NSA as the culprit.
The Korean electronics giant's software has flopped in phones, but Samsung hopes TVs -- launching at 2015 CES -- will finally make Tizen mainstream.
Nest has made a few handy updates to its flagship Learning Thermostat, with more information, better auto-scheduling and easier operation.
With Twitter's Periscope hitting the scene, we had to see how it measures up to Meerkat.


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Pittsburgh, Pa., December 10, 2008 - The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of new officers to the LPIA Board of Directors for 2009–2010. Serving as chairman of the board is Randy Hicks, vice president of operations, WS Packaging Group/SenecaSalem in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Serving as vice chairman is Bernie Lacy, vice president, Litho Press Inc. inIndianapolis, Indiana. The secretary/treasurer position will be held by Louis Iovoli, vice president of sales and marketing, Hammer Packaging Corporation, Rochester, New York. William J. Hickey, III will serve as the immediate past chairman. Bill is the president & CEO of Smyth Companies in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
LPIA is also pleased to announce the appointment of four additional directors to the LPIA Board of Directors. Stacy Buening, vice president and general counsel, Philipp Lithographing Co., Grafton, Wisconsin; James Helms, president, Oak Printing Co., Cleveland, Ohio; Scott Payne, director of corporate procurement and analysis, Inland Label & Marketing Services, LLC, LaCrosse, Wisconsin; and Robert Kuehl, director of Polar Cutting Systems, Heidelberg USA, Inc., Kennesaw, Georgia.
LPIA, a chapter of the Printing Industries of America, represents a membership of privately and publicly owned label converting, packaging, and box wrap printers throughout North America producing more than 75% of the glue-applied labels converted in North America for the consumer packaging industry, including food, beverage, household products, and pet products.
For more information on LPIA, please contact Laurie Reynolds at 412-259-1802 or via email at [email protected]


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Trading Post Saloon brings barter system to NITC
The Trading Post Saloon, brought to the Night in the Country camping area by Angie Handler and friends, won the best camp award again, winning that contest in the only two years of the award.
The premise of the Trading Post Saloon is that campers can bring something to trade and receive a mixed drink of their choice, with six different mixed drinks available, plus desserts. She said they take anything in their barter system (admitting they lose money), such as hair pins, hair ties or rocks.
"We get some unique things," Handler said, noting they have three bags full at home of items they received in trade last year.
For winning the best camp award, they receive four free VIP passes and two free camping spaces.
Handler, though, said they don't decorate their camp as the Trading Post Saloon to win anything, as they did it the year before they had the best camp contest, but it's just to have fun and do something different. "It isn't about the contest."
Their camp featured hand-made things and featured items such as a teepee, and themed structures spread among four couples involved with them. It also featured clothespins on a clothesline on which people could write "what country means to you". Handler, of Reno, said they plan to keep them and somehow use them in the design next year.
Handler, of Reno, said went to NITC for the first time three years ago, although she had attended Burning Man and her boyfriend Robert Hunter had been going to NITC several years and they came up with the concept.
She said after they got such a good response last year, they decided to make it bigger this year.
They said their theme isn't necessarily recycle but " we try to up-cycle everything," such as re-using the clothespins, but most of the items are recycled of sorts. The chairs or bar stools are made from pallets cut into pieces, hammered together and painted white.
Handler owns a tile business in Sparks and is involved with a nonprofit, 39 North (the latitude of Sparks), and with Loka Cares, which is involved putting on the Sparks Farmers Market.
Handler and Hunter said they already have something new planned for next year, with Hunter saying it was top-secret but Handler said the plan features a barn and scavenger hunt.


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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
Barcelona, Spain — LG unveiled a mid-tier LTE smartphone with Android 4.4 OS, 4.5-inch WVGA IPS display and 1.2GHz quad-core processor.
The F70 also features removable 2,440 mAh battery, said to offer the largest capacity in its class, and Knock Code, which appeared first in the upper-tier G-series phones and tablets. Knock Code lets users power on and unlock the phone by tapping the screen using one of 86,367 “knock” combinations. A knock pattern using from two to eight taps can be entered on any area of the screen, even if the display is off.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.
Santa Clara, Calif. — Rovi said Monday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Veveo, a provider of personalized entertainment discovery solutions based in Andover, Mass.
Rovi said it will pay approximately $62 million in net cash at the closing and up to $7 million in additional cash payments based on achievement of certain agreed-upon milestones.
Barcelona, Spain — Lenovo unveiled its Yoga 10-inch HD+ Android tablet, a trio of quad-core Android smartphones, and a family of DoIt Android apps intended to protect and manage data.
The Android 4.3 Yoga 10 HD+ multimode tablet will be available from major U.S. retailers as a Wi-Fi-only model at $349. A version with 3G W-CDMA voice and data will be available outside the U.S.
Lenovo launched its first Yoga multimode Android tablets last October in the U.S. in 8- and 10-inch versions at a suggested $249 and $299.
Barcelona, Spain — Samsung unpacked its fifth-generation flagship Galaxy S smartphone, adding stepped-up Wi-Fi and LTE performance, faster CPU, enhanced camera capabilities and fitness tools.
The Galaxy S5 is also Samsung’s first phone with fingerprint scanner, which appears on the display screen to unlock the device, unlock user-selected content and make secure mobile payments.
Barcelona, Spain — Sprint will be the exclusive U.S. outlet for the $399-suggested Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Bluetooth speaker, Harman announced at the Mobile World Congress.
Selling the disc-shaped portable speaker marks the first in a series of initiatives from Sprint this year to step up its audio assortment, Sprint said. The Onyx Studio will be available Feb. 25 for $399 exclusively in Sprint stores, the carrier’s online store, and through Sprint telesales for the speaker's launch, Sprint told TWICE.
Barcelona, Spain — HTC hopes to fuel its turnaround in part with the launch of the first model in a new-look HTC Desire family, which is designed to strengthen the company’s presence in the mid-tier market.
Chester Springs, Pa. — Azione Unlimited, the two-year-old education and buying group for custom retailers and integrators, has added Sennheiser to its vendor-member roster.
Under terms of the agreement, Azione dealers will have access to Sennheiser’s entire line of consumer products, including its premium audiophile headphones and amplifiers.
Barcelona, Spain — Microsoft announced an expanded roster of smartphone vendors supporting its Windows Phone OS.
During the Mobile World Congress, the tech titan said Lenovo, LG, ZTE, Foxconn, Gionee, JSR, Karbonn, Lava (Xolo) and Longcheer are its nine new Windows Phone partners. They join HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung.
Amherst, N.Y. — Samsung Techwin America, manufacturer of consumer video monitoring and security products, has appointed Stampede Presentation Products to serve as a U.S. distributor of its advanced video surveillance solutions.
According to Stampede president and COO Kevin Kelly, the distributor will bring Samsung's industry-leading consumer security and surveillance products, including its high-performance surveillance and security solutions for home and SMB use, directly to customers through select dealers in its distribution network.
Los Gatos, Calif. — Netflix took a strategic step Sunday to ensure that its subscribers who use Comcast broadband service continue to receive unimpeded movie and TV program streaming.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal Sunday, Netflix agreed to pay Comcast for direct access to its broadband network, eliminating the need to go through backbone service providers, which have been under pressure to pay ISPs like Comcast for improved access to their broadband users.


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Researchers in Kentucky are warning consumers about CBD after analysis that showed nearly half of 80 products analyzed contained amounts of the compound inconsistent with levels indicated on labeling.
A total of 37 products had inaccurate labels, with 25 containing 90% or less CBD, and 12 containing 110% or more than the amounts indicated on packaging, according to a report from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Brands not named
Forty-four of the samples analyzed were obtained from national online retailers while the remaining 36 came from retail outlets in central Kentucky. Manufacturers and brand names were not identified in the research.
The research team suggested that the growing number of consumers who are taking CBD for pain, anxiety, insomnia, and a range of other conditions, be wary when purchasing the products, noting that over-dosing can cause side effects and unknown interactions with other drugs, while under-dosing can mean expected therapeutic benefits may be lacking.
Research is scant
The report observed that despite scant empirical evidence, “consumers are learning about CBD and often determining their own treatment plans from anecdotal evidence acquired from internet research, family members, or friends.”
“As consumers are taking CBD products without medical guidance, it is imperative that, at a minimum, product labels convey clear and accurate information on CBD content to best allow the consumer to be accurately informed about the doses that they are taking,” the researchers said.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has yet to set rules for CBD, saying more research is needed on efficacy and the compound’s effects on the human body. That means CBD products remain in a legal gray area as states await federal guidelines around which to shape local regulations.
“The lack of regulatory oversight in this industry has resulted in the marketing and sale of CBD products with questionable ingredients and quality,” the Kentucky researchers said. “The findings reported here emphasize the continued need for clear and consistent regulation from federal and state agencies to ensure label accuracy of CBD products and subsequent enforcement.”
The FDA has periodically cracked down on producers of CBD products intended for human consumption over labeling and health claims. The agency also issued warnings to four companies that make CBD products for animals last month, citing safety concerns and ordering them to halt marketing.
The Kentucky researchers said the results of their study also indicate the need for continued development of good manufacturing practices and testing standards for the CBD sector.


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According to @evleaks, #Verizon will release its own #Nexus smartphone later this year. As we know, Google is expected to reveal two Nexus phones not too long from now. These phones are codenamed ‘Sailfish‘ and ‘Marlin’, with the latter being the high-end variant. Evleaks hints that despite the device launching via Verizon, it could see some non-Nexus like features. This is in contrast to Google’s Nexus program, but well, we’ve seen stranger things happening before.
For starters, users might have to get used to a bunch of VZW branded bloatware with these so called Verizon Nexus phones. However, it’s still early days, so we’ll be reserved in our criticism for the carrier. Looking at the bright side, Verizon customers will finally have the long awaited Nexus phone. It’s been quite a long wait since the Samsung Galaxy Nexus back in 2011.
Are you welcome to the idea of a Verizon branded Nexus phone? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: @evleaks – Twitter


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BANGKOK - In a huge win for the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TECB), more than 500 elite exhibition professionals from 50 countries will descend on Bangkok in November for the largest meeting of the global exhibition industry.
The Thai capital on Nov 6-9 will host the 86th UFI Global Congress, which takes on the theme of "Platforms of Trust". The theme emphasises that trustworthiness is key to the entire exhibition value chain covering exhibition platforms, marketplaces, service providers, venues and partners.
According to TCEB, the hosting of such an esteemed event is a testament to the Thailand MICE industry's "strong private and public sector cooperation in support of the Thai government's 4.0 initiative".
The bureau has joined forces with multiple partners, including Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Thai Exhibition Association (TEA), Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Hotels Association (THA) and Bangkok River Partners, to host the event. The congress will be held at the Avani+ Bangkok Riverside Hotel.
Describing it as a "big win" for Thailand's MICE industry, TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said: "The UFI Global Congress is known as the exhibition industry's largest global meeting of the year and is the 'must attend' event for industry professionals.
"Each year its updates set the trends that move the global exhibition industry forward and to host them in Thailand is a huge win for the country's MICE sector."
UFI managing director and CEO Kai Hattendorf said Thailand is a natural choice to host the congress.
"Thailand's global profile as a hub for international exhibitions has grown significantly in recent years, and our latest UFI research data show that the Thai market is well-positioned for additional growth in the years to come," said Mr Hattendorf.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 86TH UFI GLOBAL CONGRESSThai Town
Showcasing Thailand as a destination for the industry, overseas delegates can meet representatives of TCEB and find out how the bureau can be their partner for success. Delegates can also converse with TEA members who are ready to introduce them to Thai service providers. Meanwhile, Thai MICE Cities booths will highlight how the infrastructure and facilities in emerging destinations can accommodate trade shows.
Focus on Thailand
This presents business opportunities in Thailand with a pair of high-profile speakers showcasing their experiences in collaboration with Thai companies in staging international trade shows in the country.
This will be organised under a "Follow Focus" concept allowing UFI members to meet 10 event organisers in Thailand to explore ideas of collaboration, connection, shared objectives and the possibilities of co-organising and co-locating future trade shows.


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A report by Ernst & Young has said the country, with an adoption rate of 87%, is placed substantially higher than the world average of 64%.
It is also to be noted that in August, Chiratae Ventures and EY has said the promising Indian FinTech market is also expected to reach $1 trillion in AUM and $200 billion in revenue by 2030.
The ecosystem is not left untouched by the challenged amid the outstanding performance that includes data security and privacy risks, a dearth of financial literacy, IPO underperformance, global geopolitical and macroeconomic events, and the pace of changing regulations. However, according to EY, the huge opportunities for FinTech far outweigh the challenges.
"The growth of Indian FinTech is underpinned by nurturing initiatives undertaken by the government and concerned regulators, a buoyed funding environment and strengthening VC ecosystem, massive demographic opportunities, high FinTech adoption, and access to technology and talent," said the Chapter 2 of the 'Winds of Change' report.
Financial inclusion remains an agenda for the government in the wake of traditional FS players’ under-penetration in rural, ageing population, unorganized, and gig segments.
Top seven trends in the FinTech ecosystem
As the Indian FinTech ecosystem matures, the top growth strategies as laid out by the EY report include expanding into new markets, technology investment, improving operating efficiencies, and ecosystem partnerships.
At the backdrop, this would largely be influenced by the following factors:
1. Digital adoption overdrive
Consumers have not only dipped their toes into the online world but have also taken the plunge to integrate digital into their lifestyles (through digital payment, investment tech, online-only insurance, etc.).
The adoption extends beyond the consumer space as well. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are increasing the use of FinTech services. These businesses constitute a distinct customer segment, with needs that differ from those of consumers and large corporations.
India’s digital economy is expected to witness exponential growth to $800 billion by 2030 on the back of digital public infrastructure, the development of UPI, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said.
2. Horizontal expansion: bridge to PayTech profitability lacuna
The dynamic and accelerated development of a payments ecosystem, facilitated by increased adoption of technology and innovation, supports not only the growth in digital payments but also in the availability of a bouquet of safe, secure, innovative, and efficient payment systems.
Over the last few years, the number of neobanking platforms and global investments in the neobanking segment has risen consistently. The Indian FinTech space has followed suit, and the number of neobanking startups in the country is growing by months and attracting global investors to this market. The continuous funding received since 2017 reflects the increased interest in this sector.
4. Ecosystem banking
In India, ecosystem banking is helping banks enhance customer experience and generate long-term value for customers, said the report while adding that it offers a single solution to customers who were earlier dependent on complex and disjoint processes across a variety of applications.
The large costs and complexity of monolithic technological applications propelled banks toward a purchasing or partnering approach to extend newer services.
While InsurTech fundraising has been fast paced across Asia in recent years, innovators in China and India appear to be moving beyond a supporting role and confront the region’s industry incumbents, said a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The Indian InsurTech market has grown considerably over the past few years, with steep funding growth (more than doubled in the past two years).
6. Alternative investment platforms
Historically, Indians have invested their surplus in physical assets, real estate, and FDs, refraining from investing in capital markets, as reflected in the low number of demat accounts penetration. But
The last two years have painted a completely different story in the equities market compared to historical times, when Indians invested their surplus in physical assets, real estate, and FDs, refraining from capital markets. The changing times are clear from the phenomenal growth in the number of demat accounts in the last two years.
During the pandemic (2020-2021), the number of demat accounts jumped 2.2 times, while combined AUC doubled, the data showed.
7. Regulation and compliance
FinTech companies can facilitate digital transactions and help authorities prevent digital fraud through better authentication and identity verification technologies. Accurate and timely reporting is the backbone of governance and RegTechs have been helping industry players become better at this.
However, recent incidents of poor governance and failure at proper KYC processes have indicated a fault line in various growth-focused FinTech companies and have drawn regulatory scrutiny, the report said.


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As the urban food movement expands nationwide, the idea of “food justice” is growing with it. In King County, the Just Garden Project celebrates growing food with a commitment to building gardens for people in need. Since the project began, 70 “just” gardens have been built for food banks, families and senior centers.
Click on the audio player above or here to listen.
There’s some who can’t get enough of volunteering. Take Jared Peck. At his day job he’s an Americorp volunteer with King County Housing. And on a beautiful Saturday he’s passing buckets of soil, assembly line style, for new raised garden beds to grow food for those in need. “One good thing about an assembly line is once it starts it doesn’t stop. We’ll get people in a line, we can talk, have fun and move buckets at the same time.”
The garden beds are part of the Just Garden Project. The non-profit began two years ago after community members came together to throw a garden party. A woman named Stephanie Snyder made a pledge to party only if there was food justice. Since then 70 gardens have been built for those without access to high-quality produce.
Today’s raised beds will grow greens for the Rainier Valley Food Bank and Full Life Care, a non-profit day care facility for seniors and the disabled. “There’s a global health crisis. Really scary things are happening for kids around nutrition and at the Just Garden Project what we see is we have everything we need as a community to solve these issues together," says Snyder. To him, growing food is the foundation: “Because for a lot of our families you can’t afford organic vegetables, it’s outside your budget. You can spend a dollar on a ramen noodle or you can spend a dollar on a non-organic head of lettuce. You’re going to buy the ramen noodle. But if you’re growing vegetables in your yard you’re going to pick those vegetables put them in your ramen noodle and then your children have nourishment.”
Twenty percent of all children in King County are without adequate nourishment. One in five is food insecure, according to United Way statistics. And it’s not just children. It’s everyone forced to choose between housing, food and utilities. Sam Osborne directs the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Three of the raised beds being put in by volunteers with the Just Garden Project will grow food for his clients. “We’ll probably grow mainly leafy greens over there, bok choy, different kinds of chard and kale,” Osborne says.
Produce is very popular but usually runs out. Sixty percent of his guests, as Osborne calls them, are families with children. The Rainier Valley Food Bank, one of the busiest in Seattle, serves 10,000 to 11,000 people a month. That’s up from 7,000-8,000 just two years ago. “So we’ve seen a pretty staggering increase,' Osborne says. "That’s in addition to the 65 percent increase that happened between 2007 and 2009 when the economy first tanked.”
Just as volunteers build edible gardens with the Just Garden Project, they make things happen at the food bank. Wesley Hall volunteers five days a week. He wears a badge that says “Certified Grocery Rescue Representative," identifying him with a program of Food Lifeline. “Comes with a title.” Hall laughs but is very concerned about the shrinking supply of food.
A good amount used to come from supermarkets who bought bulk — vegetables, dairy products, canned goods. The extra that wasn’t immediately sold went to food banks. But with a weak economy, stores stopped or cut back on the practice. “On the books it’s waste but in reality it was giving to the food banks what they had left over. Now if we want to operate we’re going to have to spend the money to buy the bulk of the food we need. It’s not all donations. People make a mistake and say they donate stuff here. No. Seventy-five percent is bought.”
The food bank gets fresh produce from the Seattle Community Farm at Rainier Vista and the new, Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetland. Seeds and starts are supplied by Seattle Tilth and Lettuce Link. But there’s never enough. In a park adjacent to the assembly line of volunteers building raised beds, teens with Ground Up Organics are partnering with the Just Garden Project. They prepare basil, tomato and lettuce starts for distribution.
“They decided they wanted to gift these plants to the community in order to make them fully accessible,” says Ground Up Organics staff member Barbara Jefferson. Why did the teens decide to give the plants away? Fourteen year old Lo’Tajah Coverson, 14 years old, says: “To give back to people with low income ‘cause some people can’t afford to do their own garden or don’t even have the space to start doing that.”
Jefferson says it’s teaching youth about the power of urban agriculture versus the standard industrial model. In this case, it’s a power committed to food justice and a culture of growing for all. Volunteers with Just Garden’s Spring into Bed project built ten gardens. The next garden build is scheduled for June 2.


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Here I offer some observations on what's been holding back the recovery.
Two of the most important sectors in U.S. business cycle fluctuations are autos and housing. For example, in the 2007:Q4-2009:Q2 recession, real GDP fell on average at a 2.7% annual rate, with autos and housing accounting for about half of this decline all by themselves.
Remember when three weeks ago, everyone was stunned as the Manufacturing ISM soared to new 3 year highs, continuing this summer's trend of blistering manufacturing, which was largely attributed to a burst of automotive production? Now, courtesy of the latest Q3 household credit report by the NY Fed, we know just how it was funded.
It’s pretty grim really. These surveys are pointing to a pretty deep recession
LONDON/SINGAPORE — Eurozone factories sank deeper into recession in December as new orders tumbled, business surveys showed on Wednesday, a sharp contrast to continuing signs of revival in China.
U.S. manufacturing reports, to be released later in the day, are expected to show activity in the world’s largest economy to have expanded modestly.
America's love affair with the car continues. Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAH) saw both new and used car sales up double digits in the third quarter. This Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) is an attractive value stock with a forward P/E of 11.4.


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NOTTINGHAM, England — June 17, 2021 — BW Flexible Systems, a Barry-Wehmiller Packaging Systems company, will be opening a new Technical Centre of Excellence in Nottingham by the end of June as part of its expansion plans to better serve customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The new centre, along with existing engineering and manufacturing centres in Italy and the Netherlands, will expand the company’s product testing capabilities, enhance customer collaboration for complex projects and increase partnership with major material suppliers. The new facility also will complement BW Flexible Systems’ existing network of customer sales and service hubs in Italy, Russia, Dubai and South Africa.
“Our legacy is built on a portfolio of brands that offer best-in-class packaging machinery, including Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, Simionato and Symach,” said BW Flexible Systems Vice President of Europe Michele Allamprese. “Our expansion plans ensure we leverage the combined strengths of these iconic brands to offer a seamless experience for customers and deliver innovation that addresses their greatest needs.”
The Technical Centre of Excellence in Nottingham will provide a dedicated research and development facility to maximize its technical expertise, and bring machinery experts, material partners and customers together to collaborate on innovative packaging solutions. This will include a focus on two areas of increasing need: developing automated solutions, as well as designing machinery that supports customers’ increasing focus on packaging that uses sustainable materials. This facility, along with BW Flexible Systems’ Italian Centres of Engineering Excellence, will provide customers with greater opportunities for product and material testing, as well as live machine demonstrations.
“We understand the increasing need of our customers to meet sustainability commitments,” said Allamprese. “At the same time, we recognize the current challenges with labor shortages and the demand our customers have for automation. These challenges, together with increased competition among brand owners, are creating a profound transformation in the packaging industry. Our investments will allow us to fully support our customers through that transformation.”
BW Flexible Systems
creates flexible packaging solutions by bringing together some of the industry's most trusted and innovative brands, including Hayssen, Thiele, Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, Simionato, Symach and others. Its range of machinery options includes form-fill-seal packaging, horizontal flow-wrapping, bag filling and palletizing, and more. BW Flexible Systems is one of several Barry-Wehmiller companies represented in BW Packaging Systems, which brings together the collective packaging capabilities of Accraply, BW Flexible Systems, BW Integrated Systems, Pneumatic Scale Angelus and Synerlink.


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Facebook Executives Show Offs VR Models with New Images
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of US multinational tech firm - Facebook, and its virtual reality lead, Andrew Bosworth, teases VR model hardware by posting pictures of them wearing the VR headsets and linking to the firm's work on the metaverse. Facebook Reality Labs researcher - Douglas Lanman tweeted, "I'm excited to see this preview of another headset prototype from the Display Systems Research team at FRL-R Redmond."
Retina Resolution Model
It is not sure whether the headset they are wearing to be an actual retail product, but it's fun to know what is happening inside the lab. We could see the VR headset wore by the company's CEO looks similar to Facebook's Oculus headsets, though he mentioned it as a retina resolution model. However, the headset Bosworth was wearing had more of a fascinating feature, with its design being similar to the details and sketches of Apple's rumored VR headset.
The rumored headset has dual 8K displays with eye-tracking tech. It offers both VR and mixed reality applications due to dozens of cameras for hand movement tracking followed by LIDAR sensors. However, other than Zuckerberg's comment on the headset being retina resolution, no specific details on its type and potential are revealed.
Futuristic Tech to Next Level
Zuckerberg tweeted about the day he spent with the company's lab research team in Redmond, displaying the futuristic AI, VR, and AR techs. He even added this new-flanged prototype's future is going to be on the next level. Facebook has launched a pair of screen-less, smart Ray-Bans, a path towards full AR glasses.
The company's VR lab also makes fun of other models that might not make it to markets, such as research-focused Aria AR glasses, eye-projection VR headset, and proof-of-concept VR headset. Zuckerberg and Bosworth will be selling their metaverses concept, which Facebook says is a virtual world that might be the internet's next version.
Image Source: Facebook


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For the Pinterest users, now comes a new feature for the application of various writing and drawing.
Pinterest recently announced Secret Board, which allows the users to be able to make a writing board in [...]
According to research from GameStop, as many as 60 percent of gamers not interested in buying the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720.
This is related to the possibility of a second next-generation gaming consoles can not play the game used or resale.
BlackBerry, formerly known as RIM, decided not to sell latest BlackBerry 10 smartphone in Japan.
“Japan is not a major market for the BlackBerry,” said the company recently announced that BlackBerry Q10 and Z10.
Quoted from Cnet, Friday [...]
The news about the presence of the successor to the iPhone 5 more widely heard. If previously only known to be released summer of 2013, the latest info mengunkapkan that the smartphone is ready to go July.
Quoted from Techradar, Tuesday (30/4), about [...]
Three of the four phones sold in the world-system Android
Every day the number and types of smartphones is increasing. Choose the one that suits the needs of each person, require adequate information about the technology, features, and operating system. [...]
The event introductions latest smartphone Samsung, Galaxy S4, South Africa is considered too sexy woman indulgence.
Because of this, the South Korean manufacturer is finally formally apologized.
Quoted from Techradar, Monday (25/3), an event held in [...]
Fujitsu, Japan’s IT development company today announced the newest technology in the field of health is to know the pulse of a person through face image as reported by Cnet.com (18/03).
This technology uses a camera that has been embedded in a [...]
With a price of $159 U.S. dollars.
If you are lovers of the underwater world and the music, then you need to have a digital music player Finis SwiMP3.
Finis SwiMP3 is a digital music player or MP3 player waterproof which has 2GB of memory capacity or [...]
Microsoft to train their employees to be able to explain the differences in the operating system Windows RT and Windows 8 to consumers.
“We’re trying to make sure our store teams provide explanations to consumers about Surface or PC Windows [...]
Two more top-tier titles that are ready to enliven the new Microsoft console, Xbox One, namely Battlefield 4 and Watch Dogs.
Quoted from IGN, Wednesday (22/5), specifically for Battlefield 4, DICE as a developer of the game will use the Frostbite 3.
Human skull intentionally shaped like alien heads were found in a 1000 year-old tomb in Mexico, according to the researchers reported as quoted by LiveScience.
Practice changing the shape of the skull has become common practice in Central America. But [...]


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Customers can now get their Sliders delivered straight to their door.
To market the service, DoorDash will offer free delivery for orders of $10 or more through Sunday, Aug. 5. No promotion code will be needed.
“This new partnership with DoorDash will take our delivery capabilities to the next level,” CEO Lisa Ingram said in a statement.
The service will be available through DoorDash’s online and mobile platforms, enabling customers to order White Castle’s Original Slider or other items such as its Veggie Slider.
Delivery is the single biggest trend in the restaurant business, as customers continue to demand convenience and third-party providers make it easier for chains to quickly add the service. Companies from White Castle to Cheesecake Factory have been quickly adding delivery over the past two years.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.


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OTTAWA, Ont.--In his recent commentary on Canadian economic trends,Peter G Hall, Vice-President and Chief Economist, Export Development Canada, noted that Canada’s merchandise exports ended a volatile 2015 with a 3.9 per cent monthly surge that cut the trade deficit by almost two-thirds.
The December gift came in spite of widespread fears that Canada’s trade stats would continue to disappoint, treading gingerly into the New Year’s financial market maelstrom. Hall noted that December’s growth was attention-grabbing on a number of fronts. First, 10 of the 11 broad industry categories measured were up. Basic minerals was the only category to drop. Of the remaining sectors, five had a spectacular month, led by a 26 per cent surge in the aerospace industry. Mineral products had a banner →


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Come October, Real Canadian Superstore and Liquorstore employees will abandon their posts in a provincewide strike.
They’re asking you to abandon shopping habits also, and support them by staying out of the stores while they strike.
Notice of the strike, planned to begin at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 6, was filed Thursday by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401’s three bargaining committees.
Calgary and area and Edmonton and area both voted 97% in favour of striking, while the rest of the province combined voted 93%.
This move followed parent company Loblaw making a settlement offer the union has deemed inadequate in addressing slashed hours and slashed wages for employees.
“It was the first offer they’ve given ... they did not address one critical concern of their workers,” Local 401 spokeswoman Christine McMeckan said.
“(Loblaw) has flat-out told us that labour costs are too high ... they want turnover.
“That would be one of the ways that they force people out the door, by keeping the hours low.”
In a video posted to YouTube by Local 401, the union states it’s a challenge for most employees to get even 20 hours of work per week right now.
Through the video, the union encouraged shopped to join them.
“If the strike does occur, please refrain from shopping at Loblaw stores to help place pressure on the company to negotiate a fair contract,” the video stated.
McMeckan said the union still holds out hope it won’t come to that — she said a person “would have to be certifiably insane to want to go on strike.”
“Our door’s always open,” McMeckan said.
“Our goal is to get a contract ... our goal is not to end up on the street.”


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Keeping up with evolving consumer demands requires progressive technological platforms that deliver the desired expectations. HARMAN has been assisting automakers in developing IVI systems that provide superior connectivity experiences and increased safety within vehicles.
A look under the hood
Linux and open source technologies are the new disruptive players in the future of connected cars. HARMAN is one of the core members of GENIVI Alliance and Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), an open source project working towards developing innovative automotive applications. We have built solutions that run on Linux to provide advance in-dash offerings. Open source technologies provide flexibility to consumers and are bringing rapid advancements across the auto industry.
Being an active member of AGL helps HARMAN realize it IVI Vision, enhancing its R&D capabilities and encouraging innovation and collaboration with new technologies. HARMAN will use AGL’s Unified Code Base (UCB) to develop a next-gen in-vehicle infotainment system for the industry.
As consumers are looking for more connected experiences in their cars, open source platforms will help in-car infotainment systems to evolve from providing specific solutions to bringing more exhaustive experiences to their consumers.
In an interview with AGL, Dean Miles, SVP, and Head of Automotive Sales Connected Services explains how HARMAN will build the future IVI systems through open source platforms.
Learn how HARMAN is transforming the automotive ecosystem by reading the full interview here.


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A global survey of service providers in the wireless, wireline and cable markets found that rapid time to market for new services is critical to delivering a more competitive customer experience.
However, the study, which was sponsored by Amdocs, also revealed that service providers place even more emphasis on safeguarding service fulfilment and controlling the cost of service delivery to end-users.
Coleman Parkes Research, an independent firm based in London, conducted the survey in February. The study covers interviews with more than 120 CIOs, COOs, directors of operations support systems, and product managers of leading providers in Europe, Asia Pacific, North and South America and the Middle East.
Of those polled, 90% of said that getting the service right - in other words, ensuring a positive customer experience - is as important as delivering it quickly.
Two out of every three respondents expect to improve profit margins through faster time to market, and three out of every four confirm that faster time to market will reduce customer churn.
Even then, more than 90% recognize that decreasing time to market requires investment in OSS to address the challenges of legacy-based systems and processes. In particular, respondents cited automation (85%), common tools and processes (81%) and data integrity (79%) as critical areas for future investment.
'Time to market is important, but not at any cost and certainly not at any risk to the customer experience,' said Charles Born from Amdocs.
'To overcome the challenges, mitigate the risks and deliver the required customer experience, the survey demonstrates that service providers recognize the need to address operational challenges and constraints by investing in BSS/OSS integration, standardization and automation of key processes, and improved data integrity,' Born said.
The survey also found that the most important differentiators are those that impact customer experience: 98% of respondents said quality of service is a critical factor in determining customer satisfaction and retention.
Other critical factors include time to deliver service (91%) and cost of service (83%). While time to market is not the most critical differentiator, 93% of respondents recognize its importance in delivering a competitive customer experience.
Another interesting finding is that a gap exists between aspiration and reality - the target time to market for service providers is three to six months, but less than one-third of those polled can roll out new products in less than three months and only a third of respondents have seen a decrease in time to market for introducing new services.
While service providers aspire to bring services online quickly, they face challenges and constraints such as the complexity of the technology environment, time to develop systems and processes, OSS/BSS integration and lack of standardization.
Further, the study revealed that time to market impacts the bottom line. About one out of every three respondents said they launch new products late and more than half expect the number of new products to increase.
Delays result in missed revenue opportunities and sub-standard customer experiences, which negatively affect customer retention. This means that cost to market has to be contained, even as time to market is reduced.


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The affordable performance motorcycle segment in India has always been a very competitive space. Gone are the days when we used to have only limited options to choose from. Currently, one can choose from a variety of motorcycles belonging to different genres. Of all the manufacturers slicing each other’s throat with their offerings, Kawasaki India was missing out on all the action but that seems to be changing now as the Japanese manufacturer has finally launched the Ninja 300 BS6 at Rs 3.18 lakh (ex-showroom) which makes it around Rs 20,000 more expensive than its BS4 counterpart.
Kawasaki had discontinued the BS4 Ninja 300 in December 2019. The new 2021 Ninja 300 doesn’t sport any major change to write home about.
The only obvious revision has been executed in its 296cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine for BS6 compliance. In spite of that, Kawasaki says there’s no change in power output and that means it continues to pump out 38.4bhp and 27Nm. The engine comes mated to a six-speed gearbox along with an assist and slipper clutch. It has sort of become a segment standard that during the BS6 transition, motorcycles tend to lose some power in order to become ‘greener’. But we are happy to report that the Ninja 300 will be performing in the same manner it used to before. Although the twin-cylinder configuration of the Ninja 300’s engine already guarantees smoothness, we can expect the Ninja 300 to be even smoother than before.
It is now being reported that Kawasaki dealers have commenced the bookings for the BS6-compliant Ninja 300 in the Indian market. What piques our excitement even further is that Kawasaki has rolled out new shades for the Ninja 300. Apart from the previously showcased Lime Green paint, the 296cc motorcycle will also be available in Lime Green/Ebony and Black colours.
The bike will continue to feature the same tube diamond, steel frame and is also expected to have the same equipment and cycle parts kit. Kawasaki teased two new bikes last week, while the first (Ninja 300) has already been revealed, the second model which is unconfirmed at the moment could break cover any time soon now.


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Apple has updated its trademark for Final Cut Pro. The trademark update for Apple’s professional video editing system indicates the Cupertino firm may be planning to offer the software as a subscription service.
Patently Apple reported on Monday that Apple added a Nice Classification #42 listing to its Final Cut Pro trademark in Europe. The Class 42 identification includes software as a service (SaaS) or a platform as a service (PaaS). For example, Microsoft Office 365, which is a monthly or yearly office suite subscription, includes the same Class 42 listing for its suite of software.
Currently, Apple offers Final Cut Pro as a one-time $300 app purchase and is widely used by film, video, and content makers around the globe. While the app is extremely popular, Apple could likely increase revenue by offering the software as a monthly or yearly subscription option, as it would allow users that couldn’t afford the $300 lump sum upfront to access the software.
A subscription could also offer other benefits to Final Cut Pro users, such as access to tutorials, walkthroughs, and video sessions with professional users that use Final Cut Pro.
We’ll have to wait and see if Apple does indeed offer Final Cut Pro as a subscription service. Apple has been rolling out a number of new services, Apple Fitness+ as the most recent addition.


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I’ve been spending the week in Amsterdam, learning more about remanufacturing at Rematec Amsterdam and I’ll tell you something I’ve taken away from it: in the coming years, remanufacturing will be everywhere and everything the industry does.
Yes, there will be exceptions, I’m sure, but remanufacturing will play a significant if not dominant role in automotive parts and components manufacturing.
There’s a saying that “the train has left the station.” The good news is, the train is at the station, but it’s leaving soon.
Reman takes the original part, reuses the key components and yields finished goods that are “like new but better” than the originals, wrote John Chalifoux in a blog post for AAPEX. He is the Chief Sustainability Officer, MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association & COO, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.
The quality of reman is truly unmatched, Chalifoux said, so much so that during a panel discussion at Rematec Wednesday, he made a thought-provoking proposal. He recommended that remanufacturers should start by showcasing videos and photos from the end of the remanufacturing process, then rewind it back to the beginning. This way, it’s easier to appreciate what’s actually being done.
The reason why remanufacturing will soon dominate virtually all of the automotive industry is tied to several factors. As resources grow increasingly costly to locate and process, as more stringent regulations call for sustainable methodologies and as consumer demands shift towards more eco-friendly options, remanufacturing is destined to become the rule rather than the exception.
In an interview, Chalifoux said the global nature of remanufacturing is apparent in Amsterdam. “This is my sixth time coming to the show, he said. “Rematec has successfully brought this show to China, and what we’re seeing this time around is many of the exhibitors that we saw in China are also here this week, so it’s certainly more international.”
“With the European influence — that’s where we are — many American companies and American executives, but we’re seeing a more international flavor as remanufacturing continues to grow in importance in our world of sustainability and ESG,” Chalifoux said.
Vehicle manufacturers like Stellantis already are in on the game, considering remanufacturing before the vehicle is ever built. Alison Jones, Senior Vice President of Global Circular Economy at Stellantis, asked show attendees to come to the car manufacturer and challenge the company’s thinking.
The company is looking for new products and new innovations so it can expand its portfolio, she said. “We’re looking for suppliers… to really drive us at Stellantis,” Jones said. “We want suppliers and partners who are proactive in finding solutions to help us… growing regions, growing countries for the benefit of our customers.”
For those who couldn’t visit the show, “I really want to share the spirit I’m feeling this year at the show,” said Peter Lukassen, Director, Automotive Aftermarket Operational Sustainability, Bosch. “The mentality is really changing” toward remanufactured products, he added.
“Customers are requesting it, both on the independent side, also on the OEM side,” he said. “You can look around our booth. It’s basically cramped with people. I’ve had so many interesting conversations. There are so many startups in this field. If you are not already in remanufacturing, have a look at it, have it in your portfolio as a customer, have it in your portfolio as a manufacturer, because, definitely, our industry is changing and we all have to go in this direction.”
For the latest news and information on the global automotive aftermarket industry, visit https://aftermarketintel.com. Do you have news? Contact Aftermarket Intel Editor Mark Phillips at email@example.com. He’s on LinkedIn here.
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