text:
April 24, 2014
Check out the Silver Shamrock tattoo shop on Bellefonte Ave this Saturday, April 26.
The Shamrock is offering a special on awareness ribbons of all sorts. Freddie Wadsworth, the owner, and his co-tattooer Zach Spotts have designed multiple versions of the awareness ribbon and will charge only $40 per tattoo.
Half of the proceeds from each tattoo will go towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the name of toddler Kahner Stewart, who was born with the disease. Members of the Stewart family will also be at the shop Saturday accepting donations.
Kahner Stewart was born October 3, 2012 and diagnosed on October 25, according to the Pray for Kahner Facebook page.
The tattoos are about one and one half inches by two and one half inches. The designs cannot be changed, but they can be done in any color to suit the cause you’re supporting.
When Wadsworth figured out the details with the Stewarts, they originally thought about just doing Cystic Fibrosis ribbons. But Wadsworth decided to expand the variety of ribbons people can get.
“We can cover so much more ground,” he said. “We can make it so much more inclusive.”
The tattooers expect to see at least 50 people at the shop, which would equate to about $2,000. If these expectations are met, the Stewart family could be looking at a minimum of $1,000 in donations.
These awareness ribbons are a great way to show your support for any friends, family or other loved ones who are fighting against any disease and for those who have lost their fight.
The event is walk-in only – no appointments will be made. The special starts at noon on Saturday and will run as long as it has to.
“I don’t have a bed time,” Wadsworth said.


text:
CAIR-Florida.org, BARTOW, Fla. – The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida (CAIR Florida) has announced they will pursue a lawsuit for public accommodation discrimination and other legal claims against a Davenport Domino’s Pizza for the horrendous treatment of a Muslim customer on July 27, 2012.
Hakima Benaddi, a Florida woman who was wearing a Muslim head covering at the time, was accused by Domino’s Pizza management of threatening to blow up the location after she complained about the service and pizza she received. On July 27, 2012, a pregnant Benaddi went to Domino’s to order a veggie pizza with her 23-month-old daughter. When Benaddi opened her pizza box she discovered that it was grossly inadequate and returned to complain and seek a refund.
“I was surprised because what I got was nothing like my order,” Benaddi explained. “That pizza was barely suitable to feed to a dog.”
Prior to the incident, Benaddi was a regular customer at the location. There was one small difference, however, on the day of the incident Benaddi had recently started covering her hair by wearing the hijab, the Muslim head scarf.
The Domino’s Pizza did not assist Benaddi when she returned, they did not offer to make her a new pizza or offer her a refund. Instead, the cashier laughed at her and mocked her limited English proficiency.
Then, in what could only be described as a brazen discriminatory act, the Domino’s Pizza management called local police claiming that Benaddi had threatened to blow up the location resulting in Benaddi’s arrest.
Benaddi was in custody for over 24 hours before she was released. She was also forced to remove her headscarf before her booking image was taken.
CAIR Florida’s investigator revealed that eyewitness accounts were consistent with that of Benaddi’s and admitting that Benaddi never made any threats other than to file a complaint. The story the Domino’s Pizza’s manager provided to the police was completely, intentionally and maliciously fabricated.
Although the felony charge against Hakima was dropped before the arraignment, Domino’s Pizza has yet to confirm any wrongdoing.
“Without them acknowledging what they did wrong, this is our only opportunity for her voice to be heard,” said Thania Diaz Clevenger, Civil Rights Director of CAIR Florida. “We need to tell people that this is not okay, to let Domino’s Pizza know this is not okay, and to let other Muslim women who are targeted to know that they can stand up for themselves.”

domain: news


text:
On Friday, CES 2017 was again in full swing following a very busy day one — many exhibitors braced themselves for what they had heard would be the busiest day of this massive consumer electronics trade show, and the crowds certainly seemed to give proof to that thought. Once everyone had steeled themselves (and filled up on coffee), it was back into the madness as the second full day took off. As the only dedicated 3D printing news source here in Vegas, the schedule for 3DPrint.com was very full with interviews and insights to see all the latest on the floor at the Sands Expo; stay tuned for more details to come from all the great conversations as we continue reporting right from Las Vegas!
My first stop yesterday was at the Shining 3D booth. The China-based company has introduced a new 3D printer and a new 3D scanner at CES, and had both to display. Talking with Oscar Meza, Vice President of Global Sales, and Icy Xie, Marketing Director, at their booth provided insights into the company’s plans to provide a full ecosystem in which users can go from a point cloud to a model, then 3D print that model. Meza and Xie told me about Shining 3D’s plans for global expansion, further introductions, their experience at CES, and their focus on educational and other markets — be sure to check out the full interview coming soon!
In the Israeli pavilion in Eureka Park, Israel-based Nano Dimension was showing off one of two DragonFly 2020 3D printers they’d brought to CES. The other, shown with their partner FATHOM, was running with CBO Simon Fried; I spoke with Galit Beck, Marketing & Public Relations Manager, and Robert Even, Materials Manager, while visiting again with one of my favorite 3D printers coming to market and looking at the portfolio of materials. I first saw the DragonFly at formnext in November, and we’ve been following its path to market as it comes ever closer to fully delivering on 3D printing of electronics on a variety of substrates and with incredible potential. Among the substrates I saw printed circuits created on were: PET, PEN, glass, consumer goods labels, cans, FedEx cartons, textile/nonwoven bags, paper, Mylar, stainless steel, FR-4, silicon wafer, textiles for wearables, brass, aluminum, and polyimide (Kapton).
It’s real! The much-storied Glowforge, a 3D laser printer that hit crowdfunding like a hurricane, took in $22 million in investment, and drew a lot of attention first for its incredible promise and later for its lack of updates or delivery, has seemed a tough case. Delaying a product’s release until it’s ready to go is ultimately often the right move for a company, but that doesn’t make it easier on those who had been looking forward to getting their hands on highly anticipated pieces of technology. I met with Dan Shapiro, CEO, and Bailey Nelson, Marketing & Communications Manager, at the private suite of FLEX, which is making the Glowforge machines, and was treated to a couple of demonstrations. Nelson also told me that Glowforge is hard at work on a removable toolhead that will add functionality to the Glowforge — including the potential to 3D print from the machine! For the demos, first I wrote out my own luggage tag information and had a customized tag, in my own handwriting, created in less than four minutes; next, Nelson made me a little tag with both the Glowforge and 3DPrint.com logos on it — check out the real time process of that creation below (Shapiro had to head to the airport at this point to catch his flight, amidst the additional security measures put into place from the morning’s tragic events in Florida):
At the large WhiteClouds booth toward the front of the 3D printing marketplace, CRO Braden Ellis took the time to tell me about the company’s latest happenings, enthusing as well about the company’s reception at CES as they seek to educate visitors about how much can be done with 3D printing — much more than “tchotchkes from FDM” (though there’s always room for novelty, as some of the company’s many pursuits illustrate). From architecture to drone imaging to medical, WhiteClouds is looking to be “the Amazon of 3D printing.” The company has seen some solid growth lately, and is looking to expand its presence in foreign markets — and Ellis noted that they will be making two big announcements in the next few weeks.
Easily one of the most exciting announcements at CES so far has been a strong one from a strong company as Markforged announced their entry into metal 3D printing with the new Metal X 3D printer. I spoke with CEO Greg Mark about the new machine, and his enthusiasm is certainly contagious. The closed-cell honeycomb construction possible with their new Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing, or ADAM, technology allows for strong, quickly printed components. Mark noted that this is the only metal system that can do honeycomb throughout in this enclosed structure. Understanding as well that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for users, with the example of a Ducati bike that is itself made with plastic, metal, and carbon fiber parts, Markforged is offering the new Mark X in a cost-saving bundle with their Mark X — and he showed me parts made for the Ducati from their printers, with one carbon fiber and one metal clutch part.
One of the busiest companies at CES, both in announcements and in visitor volume, is clearly Colorado-based Aleph Objects with their LulzBot 3D printers. With new hardware, software, partnerships, and executive team announcements, it’s a good thing the young company is now up to 150 employees — they certainly need all hands on deck to keep up with everything they’re up to lately. I spoke with Kara Sawinska, Marketing Associate, at length, and also caught up with new company president Harris Kenny at the booth, checking out the new MOARstruder in person as several LulzBot 3D printers around the booth whirred away. Both Sawinska and Kenny underscored the company’s dedication to real growth, and what sets this team apart is their genuine want to provide the best quality possible at every turn. The company’s open source philosophy lies behind every move they make, as they keep their community in mind.
Talking with Joey Cheng, Overseas Business Manager with Shenzhen ESun Display Co., Ltd. (ESUN 3D+), brought some of the fun back to the show, as visitors to this large booth are greeted by large screens filled with dancing avatars. Using 3D scanners to capture faces in full detail, the company allows for people to scan their faces and use their own likenesses as avatars. ESUN 3D+ offers a Face Scanner, as well as a Clothes Scanner featuring two projectors and two DLSR cameras to capture a 360° of clothing for use in online shopping, and a series of three Desktop Scanners (standard, education, and deluxe solutions) said to have about a 93% accuracy rate.
At the Titan Robotics booth, the new five-head Cronus 3D printer is impossible to ignore. Officially introduced at CES, the Cronus is built using Project Escher technology from Autodesk, and uses Netfabb software. The company notes that the Cronus combines Autodesk Netfabb’s collaborative multi-head 3D printing technology to create a groundbreaking new solution for higher-speed, higher-detail, industrial-scale parts made via additive manufacturing technology. The large-format Cronus was in action on the exhibit floor, and between the eye-catching size, LEDs, speed, and five-axis movement, it was definitely worth the visit to learn more from the Colorado-based team, including Maddie Garrett, Customer Relations.
3D Printers at CES 2017
I couldn’t resist snagging shots with some of the hardware I saw yesterday at CES — here’s a quick gallery of hardware I’ve loved, with me (standing about 6’1″) for scale to show the printers’ footprints.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Researchers Gain New Levels of Control over Volumetric 3D Printing
A recent study published in Advanced Materials Technologies by Nathaniel Corrigan, Xichuan Li, Jin Zhang, and Cyrille Boyer delves into the advancements in xolography, a pioneering volumetric 3D printing method....
3D Printing News Briefs, April 3, 2024: Kickstarter FDM 3D Printer, Artificial Eyes, & More
In 3D Printing News Briefs today, we’re talking about an FDM 3D printer on Kickstarter, advancements in artificial eye creation, and 3D printed solenoids for electromagnets. Then we’ll move on...
Stanford Researchers 3D Print Elusive Shapeshifting Structures
Nano 3D printing is a field that continues to make steady progress, but whose applications are still being discovered. One of the most exciting areas where additive manufacturing (AM) at...
3D Printing News Briefs, March 16, 2024: Partnerships, Affordable Bioprinter, & More
We’re starting with dental 3D printing news today, and then moving on to some new partnerships. Then it’s on to some interesting university research about 3D printing plant-based pharmaceuticals, but...
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.


text:
Remarks announcing a new electric vehicle battery components facility
Thank you, Nancy. Thank you, Jan, for your wonderful words of welcome. Hello, everyone!
Minister Champagne, François-Philippe, it seems like every time we're in Ontario, we have more big, good news for the economy. Keep it up, my friend. I know we see Vic regularly on this as well for these announcements. Thank you for all the work you've done in demonstrating the strong partnership that different orders of government can have - working together and delivering for our citizens from coast to coast to coast.
And I want to particularly recognize Mathias from Umicore for his confidence and faith in Canada. The investment today, as we'll talk about, is really a vote of confidence in Canadians, in our ability to step up and provide solutions, not just for ourselves but for the world, and this is a recognition, yes, of government stepping up to partner, but it's also a recognition of the extraordinary ability of Canadians to be part of solving global solutions -- and thank you, Mathias, for recognizing that. I also want to obviously give a shout out to the local representatives here, our MP, Mark Gerretsen. Great to see you here, Mark. Also, Mayor Paterson, Acting Mayor Hegadorn, and MP Bresee. Thank you very much, all of you for being here.
Being here at Queen's today reminds us all that the engine of our economy has always been Canadians drive and talent. Their desire and their abilities to work hard to solve extraordinary challenges and to build a better future is what gathers them here today in this extraordinary institution, but indeed motivates Canadians from coast to coast to coast. I'm here today to harness that power of Canadian innovation and hard work by announcing that we've reached a deal with Umicore to build a new battery facility in Loyalist Township. This plant will supply materials for a million electric vehicles a year. Canada isn't just going to be a global player in EVs, with this and other announcements we've made, we demonstrate that we get to be global leaders in electric vehicles.
This is big news.
What does it actually mean for people here in the area and across the country?
To begin with, a thousand jobs during construction and hundreds of good long-term positions at the Loyalist plant once it's up and running.
And for all of us, today’s announcement means cleaner air thanks to cleaner vehicles, as well as a globally competitive industry and economy.
Today's deal is just one of many as we mentioned we've reached this year. The numbers speak for themselves -- nearly 17,000 good jobs for Canadian workers to make hybrids, EVs and EV batteries. Around $15 billion in investments between industry and governments in the Canadian economy making that big bet that we can be the solution around electric vehicles and electric supply chains that the world is relying on.
Positioning Canada as a leader in electric vehicles is good for our economy and it’s good for the environment. It shows us that by taking action on the climate, we’re building new Canadian industries. That’s why we’re investing from the beginning to the end of the electric vehicle manufacturing cycle.
We're investing to build EVs with our Critical Minerals Strategy and manufacturing deals. We're investing to buy EVs. On Monday, we launched a new incentive to help businesses buy an electric van or other big vehicles and to charge EVs. This week alone, we're announcing funding for over 6,000 chargers across the country.
Canadians have always been people who innovate. Today, we're reminded that that remains our path forward. With Canadian know-how, we can grow our economy and make life more affordable while leaving a bright future for our kids.
This is the Canada we’re continuing to build in positive and ambitious ways, every day, together. I’m very happy to be here with you for this.


text:
Facility Manager Cost Saving/Best Practice Quick Reads RSS Feed
Recall: Utility Vehicles Pose Burn/Fire Hazard
May 9, 2017 -
Contact FacilitiesNet Editorial Staff »
Three Polaris models have been recalled by the manufacturer due to a risk of burn and fire hazard.
The heat shield on the Polaris Ranger 900 can fall off, posing a fire and burn hazard to riders, according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall number 17-132. Affected models include all 2015 Polaris Ranger XP 900, XP 900 EPS, and CREW 900 recreational off-highway vehicles. The company has received 13 incident reports involving the vehicles, including five fires. The units were sold between April 2014 and March 2017.
The Polaris RZR and GENERAL model's engine can misfire, and/or a contaminated brake master cylinder may cause brake drag. Both conditions could cause burn and fire hazards. The recall includes the 2016 and 2017 RZR 900, 1000, Turbo and GENERAL 1000 models. The company has received 16 incident reports related to this recall, including 14 vehicle fires. The units sold between August 2015 through February 2017.
In the case of both recalls, affected facility managers are directed to contact Polaris for free repairs. Polaris can be reached at 800-765-2747 and at www.polaris.com. Click on “Off Road Safety Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.
This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, senior editor of Building Operating Management magazine, email@example.com. Go here for other recent recall notices.


text:
At last, the well- covered legal firestorm between Samsung and Apple has come to an end, with Apple getting the favor of the jury. The South-Korean company was declared guilty of infringing on six of Apple’s patents, and Samsung must pay the cost of the damages amounting to more than $1 billion. This definitely spells Doomsday for Samsung, especially now that many customers are aware of Samsung’s court loss against Apple.
What’s the worst effect of this defeat? Many electronics refurbishing companies noted a massive growth in sales of Samsung devices with Gazelle, an online e-recycling firm, specifically seeing a 50% growth. As if that wasn’t enough, Samsung phones’ resale value dropped by 10%.
According to MarketWatch:
“Gazelle.com reports a 50% increase in Samsung smartphones over the past three days, which has led to a 10% drop in prices for those devices.” “Consumers seem to be jumping ship,” says Anthony Scarsella, chief gadget officer at Gazelle.com. “We expect this trend to continue, especially with this latest verdict.”
But based on the predictions of tech analysts, Samsung phones will not be the only devices which will suffer the grave consequences of the loss, but all Android gadgets. The refurbishing industry is anticipating the influx of Android powered devices and people are scrambling to unload these gizmos as soon as they can. According to speculations, the international court decision has made quite a stir and confusion about the gadgets run by the Google platform.
The implication of this battle for Samsung is that if it plans to release a new phone, it should be substantially different from its counterparts. The core elements and features should be changed so as not to be mistaken for any other smartphone.
We are definitely not sure about how things will happen. True, Apple’s trumpets will not blare for very long. Last we heard, a December 6 hearing will take place. The proceedings will mainly center on whether 8 of Samsung’s devices will be banned from sale in the US. Consequently, Samsung has issued an appeal regarding last Friday’s decision. Who knows? We still have to wait for the twist to unravel itself before our eyes.


text:
The spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions imposed by the state government have affected the kite business ahead of Makar Sankranti in Jaipur this year.
The impact on sales due to the pandemic and the restrictions so far is roughly 30-40 per cent, they said. “The spirit of people is not dampened but the fear of COVID-19 and government restrictions have certainly hit the kite business this year,” Usman Khan, a kite seller in Handipura, told local media.
Handipura and Haldiyon ka Rasta are the two major kite markets in the state capital. “Every year, hundreds of customers used to visit us on a daily basis ahead of Makar Sankranti. But, this year, the number is quite low,” Khan said even as he expected the sales to boost on Thursday, a day before the festival.
Handipura has nearly 200 regular shops and several makeshift stalls selling kites, 'manjha', 'charkhi' (string reel) and sky lanterns. Some of the traders from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, too, visit Handipura every year for business. Kites and 'manjhas' prepared in Bareilly are popular for their quality and finish.
Usually, sales start picking up a week before the festival and it remains at a peak on January 12-13. However, the situation this year is different. “Normally, we finish almost the entire stock by January 14, but this year it seems that we will be left with a considerable stock,” Khan said.
Abdul Gafur, who has been manufacturing human-size kites with faces of politicians and celebrities for four decades, said that the footfall in the market this year is low. “Usually, the market remains open till late hours. This year, we are required to wind up the day at 8 pm due to the government's guidelines,” he said.
As per an estimate, approximately 2,000 people, including women and children, are engaged in kite-making in Handipura. For various reasons, the prices of kites and manjhas have also shot up. While regular kites are available for Rs 2-10, manjha costs Rs 300 to Rs 800 per charkhi (six reels). “Kite flying remains a favourite activity among children even in the digital era, but circumstances have affected our business,” Kayyum, a kite seller, said.
Meanwhile, Jaipur collector Antar Singh Nehra on Wednesday issued orders banning kite flying from 6 am to 8 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm till January 31. “Kite flying has been banned for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening in view of the safety of birds. Birds fly mostly during these four hours and chances of their injuries are high due to the kite strings,” he told PTI.
Nehra also said that Chinese manjha (generally plastic strings), which have the potential to cause serious injuries to humans and birds, has been banned. He has also asked veterinary officers to remain vigilant and coordinate with NGOs and helplines to ensure that the injured birds are rescued as soon as possible.
The Jaipur power discom has advised people to keep a sufficient distance from the power lines while flying kites. Naveen Arora, managing director of Jaipur discom, cautioned against using kites made of aluminium foil and metal powder-coated manjha as they act as electrical conductors.
With inputs from PTI.


text:
BMW to Become Official Vehicle Supplier of Formula E
July 1, 2014
Formula E and BMW have announced that they are finalizing a partnership agreement to see the automotive firm become the Official Vehicle Supplier of the championship.
If all is agreed, BMW will supply a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles to be used as course, medical and VIP cars at all Formula E races.
Jörg Reimann, Vice President BMW Brand Experience, said: “We have watched with great interest the continued growth of the new FIA Formula E Championship and the potential it has to significantly increase the interest in sustainable mobility.
“As a global manufacturer at the forefront of innovation and technology, BMW regards Formula E as a great platform in which to showcase our range of fully-electric and hybrid vehicles and to align our common goals.
“We are working on an agreement to finalise this partnership.”
The news was revealed at the Roundhouse in north London, where Formula E celebrated their official launch.
Formula CEO Alejandro Agag, said: “We are very proud and excited that a manufacturer such as BMW wants to be involved with the Formula E series.
“I think that the all-electric i3 and i8 will make fantastic official vehicles and I can’t wait to see them on track at the first round in Beijing on September 13.”


text:
New Samsung Folding Phone & Big Fingerprint Sensor Coming
A brand-new Samsung Galaxy folding phone that is tipped to be less than half the cost of the company’s flagship Galaxy Fold is set to be released early in 2020.
Two devices are believed to be in development one that opens horizontally and another that flips vertically.
One of the devices will be launched at Mobile World Congress in February 2020, and cost between $1,000 and $1,100 in Australia when released.
According to a report by the Korea Herald, the phone, doesn’t currently have a name.
Samsung’s only other collapsible device, the Galaxy Fold, has encountered myriad problems since being introduced earlier this year, including issues problems with its display that caused its screen to deform or in some cases, become completely unusable.
Since then, however, Samsung corrected the Fold’s course, releasing the device to consumers last month – whether a new design will dispense with the phone’s issues should be revealed with time.
At an annual developers conference last month, Samsung teased the device in a video rendering that showed it bending vertically like a clam shell as opposed to horizontally like a book.
In other news the upcoming Galaxy 11 is set to incorporate an in-display fingerprint scanner which is said to be considerably larger in surface size than its predecessor.
Qualcomm recently announced a new 3D Sonic Max fingerprint sensor that can support up to two fingerprint scans at once.
This technology could also be built into other Samsung devices. The new 3D Sonic Max is the successor to the 3D Sonic Sensor from last year and will allow users to scan two fingerprints together at once for added security.
The notable boost in the sensor’s capabilities is due to the 17 times larger recognition scan resulting in faster recognition of a single fingerprint.
The 3D Sonic Max also allows for a 1 in a million-accuracy rate over the 1 in 50,000 on the current sensor generation.
Neither Qualcomm nor Samsung has confirmed if the Galaxy S11 would sport the new sensor.


text:
What you need to know
- Windows 10 Mobile received an update through this month's "Patch Tuesday."
- The update includes some of the same fixes that shipped to Windows 10 this week.
- Windows 10 Mobile is losing official support in December 2019.
The update brings Windows 10 Mobile's build to 15254.575. That build number is significantly lower than Windows 10, which has builds as high as 18362.239. Here is what the Windows 10 Mobile Update includes:
- Addresses an issue that may cause BitLocker to go into recovery mode if BitLocker is being provisioned at the same time as updates are being installed.
- Security updates to Windows Wireless Networking, Windows Server, Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Microsoft Graphics Component, Internet Explorer, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Virtualization, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Kernel, Microsoft Edge, and Windows Cryptography.
Windows 10 Mobile is officially losing support on December 10, 2019 according to Microsoft's Update Lifecycle page. While Windows 10 Mobile has been mostly abandoned for a while now, there are still some users using it on their primary phones.
Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love
Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.
VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)
This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.
Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)
Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.
Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)
This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Minecraft Dungeons lead talks its next DLC and the future endgame
We talk Minecraft Dungeons’ recent Jungle Awakens DLC, the Creeping Winter expansion, and future endgame plans with game director, Måns Olson.
Fix up your Xbox Elite Controller with these parts
Need some replacement parts for your Xbox One Elite Controller? From new paddles, grips, bumpers, thumbsticks, and more, we have you covered.
Hands-on with Windows 10 build 20161 showcasing the new Start menu
Yesterday, Microsoft released a new build of Windows 10 that includes an updated Start menu design with translucent Live Tiles, improvements to Notifications, and behavior changes to things like Tablet Mode and the Taskbar. It's been a while since Microsoft released a build with any surface-level changes, but now it's finally happened, we're back showcasing all the changes on video.
Best Samsung Galaxy Book S Accessories in 2020
The Samsung Galaxy Book S is an incredible little ARM-powered machine, but what are some accessories that will make your experience with it even better? Here's a list of our favorites.


text:
CORTLAND, Ohio (WKBN) – Apostolakis Honda in Cortland announced that they are the winner of the 2018 Council of Excellence Award.
According to a press release, the top 15% of Honda dealerships were recognized for the award.
“Our Council of Excellence dealerships apply their financial services skills and expertise to offer the kind of service and support that our Honda customers understand and appreciate. It is a pleasure to announce that Apostolakis Honda has achieved 2018 Council of Excellence status,” said American Honda Finance Corporation Vice President David Paul.
The dealership also won the Honda Customer Service Experience Award and the Fixed First Visit Award, the release said.
This was the ninth time that the dealership won the Council of Excellence Award.
“Accomplishments like these are only made possible by all of our new and many long-term customers who came to us for their new Honda in 2018. I thank you for the opportunity to earn your business. Our entire team put forth a tremendous effort and I am very proud,” said dealership president John Apostolakis.
Apostolakis Honda is located on Elm Road.


text:
June 11, 2012 – The disk storage market is bouncing back by billions in increased revenue only seven months after flooding threatened to set back shipments and distribution, according to two new market research reports.
Separate reviews of the disk storage market by Gartner and IDC show spending and growth in the first quarter of 2012 back above levels seen prior to the October and November 2011 floods in Thailand, an international hub for construction and development of external controller-based disk storage units. After those natural disasters, there was concern among storage experts and market analysts that supply would be hampered throughout 2012 and even into years to come.
"Entry level systems were hit hardest owing to their reliance on SATA and near-line SAS drives, which experienced price increases due to the Thailand floods,” said Liz Conner, IDC senior research analyst for storage systems, in a release. “However, strong overall growth in emerging regions and the slowdown in price per gigabyte erosion helped the market post year-over-year growth."
In its market review, IDC notched external disk storage revenues at $6 billion for the first quarter of 2012, a year-over-year growth of 7.1 percent. IDC put the overall disk storage systems market at approximately $8 billion in revenues and 6.8 percent growth compared with the first quarter of 2011. The total disk storage systems capacity shipped hit 6,037 petabytes, a 20.8 percent year-over-year increase, IDC stated.
In a separate market review, Gartner was slightly less rosy, pegging disk storage vendor revenue at $5.4 billion for the first quarter of 2012, up 8 percent from that same quarter in 2011. It also marks the tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth in the storage space, according to Gartner. In a release on its quarterly findings, Gartner wrote that there may have been some issues with matching demand with supply due to the flooding, though vendors appear to have put those problems “largely behind them.”
IDC put the open SAN market at 13 percent year-over-year growth, though noted that the NAS declined by nearly 2 percent in Q1 2012 compared with that same quarter last year. NAS and high-end storage systems underwent substantial growth in 2010 and 2011 due to “loosened storage budgets” after the recession in 2009, and that less drastic growth in this area is expected as the long-term trend, the research firm reported.
As far as vendors, Gartner identified EMC as the top provider, with $1.7 billion in first quarter revenue, a 16 percent increase from Q1 2011, and nearly one-third of the market share. Following EMC, Gartner put NetApp in second, IBM in third, Hitachi in fourth and HP in fifth in terms of revenue and market share.
IDC also ranked EMC as the top provider with biggest year-over-year quarterly revenue growth, followed by NetApp, IBM, HP and Hitachi.
Register or login for access to this item and much more
All Information Management content is archived after seven days.
Community members receive:
- All recent and archived articles
- Conference offers and updates
- A full menu of enewsletter options
- Web seminars, white papers, ebooks
Already have an account? Log In
Don't have an account? Register for Free Unlimited Access


text:
It appears as though one of the courses in Mario Golf: World Tour for the Nintendo 3DS will be inspired by Yarn Yoshi for the Wii U. The news was discovered by Josh from the BitBlock. Sadly we didn’t get any new information about Yarn Yoshi during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct presentation. You can read the roundup of the event, here.
Thanks to those who sent this in.


text:
The European Union (EU) has praised the economic development of Macau but warned that the territory has failed in diversifying its economic structure and is struggling to find workers for all the jobs it has created.
“Gaming contributed increasingly to Macau’s GDP,” the EU said in its annual report on Macau.
The report says the government relies mainly on gaming tax for its fiscal income. Direct tax on gaming contributed to 81 percent of Macau’s fiscal revenue last year.
However, the rapid economic growth is stretching the labour market in the city.
One quarter of Macau’s total labour force was employed in gaming and entertainment related businesses last year. For most of the year, the unemployment rate was 1.8 percent, a figure perceived as full employment.
“Given the strong growth of the gaming sector in 2013, Macau struggled with inadequate human resources,” the EU said.
Macau’s economy achieved strong growth of 11.9 percent of gross domestic product last year, up from 9.1 percent in 2012, according to official data. This growth was mainly driven by strong exports of services relating to the gaming and tourism sectors.
Gaming revenue in Macau increased 18.6 percent to 360 billion patacas (US$45 billion) in 2013.
“Despite the government’s efforts, Macau’s economic structure has not significantly diversified over recent years,” the EU concluded.
Feb 26, 2021Casino slot machine maker and digital games provider Aristocrat Leisure Ltd says it plans to launch in the first quarter this year a new product with responsible gaming features, which has already...
Feb 26, 2021
Adjusted EBITDA reported by Asian casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment for the fourth quarter of 2020


text:
Britney ditches the jeans as she goes braless in negligee and boots during shopping spree
She started the day covered up in jeans and a cardigan.
But less than an hour into her shopping spree and Britney Spears threw caution to the wind, emerging from a Los Angeles boutique clad in a risque negligee.
The singer reverted to her customary braless style as she slipped into the lace-trimmed nightie, teamed with a pair of blue leather boots.
Quick change: Britney Spears went shopping in Los Angeles today in jeans and trainers, before emerging from a boutique in a negligee and leather boots
Shopping up a storm: The singer headed to Santa Monica's upmarket Montana Avenue to stock up on clothes
Not even the unseasonably chilly California could stop the 28-year-old mother of two donning the skimpy attire.
Britney was pictured today, accompanied by her bodyguards, shopping up a storm Santa Monica's upmarket Montana Avenue.
She spent around 45 minutes in the Only Hearts boutique, where she arrived in her denims, trainers and cardigan.
Braless Brit: True to form, the pop star opted for no support as she changed into the lace-trimmed number
Helping hand: The star was accompanied by her bodyguards who carried her purchases as she left
But it was a far raunchier Britney who emerged, with her minders seen carrying her bags.
Britney is currently working on new material for her new studio album.
She was also seen last week making her debut on the hit musical comedy show Glee, with the episode drawing in a staggering 13.3m viewers - the highest of the series.
In fact Britney was so taken by Glee's Heather Morris' performance of
her hit songs that she sent the actress a bouquet of flowers.
'She sent me flowers saying ''Good job! Love, Britney,''' Heather told E! Online. 'So I'm gonna make her something and send it to her.'
Retail therapy: Britney spent around 45 minutes in Only Hearts, one of her favourite shopping haunts
Most watched News videos
- Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington dies aged 41
- Terrifying moment UK bound flight performed emergency nosedive
- Amazing idea: this barber covers his shop floor with pennies
- Spicer sneaks out White House side door at 2:18 after resigning
- Mum's surprise as son cuts chunk of her hair filming spoof video
- Long Gill River Kingsdale fills up with after heavy downpour
- Disturbing video of teens watching drowning man and doing nothing
- 'Scary lady!': 'Ghost servant' caught on camera at palace
- Moment Turkey earthquake hits as woman blows out birthday candles
- Mysterious moment morphing UFO spotted flying over Cornwall
- Tourists flee Bodrum cafe as 6.7 magnitude quake strikes
- Meet the bizarre goat born with a demonic human-looking face


text:
You can hardly find a technology that would be blamed in being overhyped as often as blockchain is.
Whenever a security breach or malware attack occurs, there suddenly appear thousands of bricks flying towards blockchain with one word written on them all — Hype.
Blockchain is overrated, this is how the saying goes. Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are just one big bubble and blockchain itself is more of a tough talk than an actual change.
Could we presume that it might be true? Perhaps, instead of throwing bricks back to blockchain haters, developers and enthusiasts should ask: are the issues truly non-existent?
It’s about time we face it. Instead of going on some crazy rants trying to prove the innovation’s worth, let’s face the issue as it is. Blockchain is highlighted in media all the time, and it’s not always done right. Innovation’s advocates, with their loud statements and big words, contribute to this reputation more than haters do.
Why does blockchain have a reputation for being an overrated innovation?
Whenever a worthy technology appears, people start talking about it. Browsing through media headlines, we see no fewer articles about Artificial Intelligence or chatbots than about blockchain.
It’s not the issue of how much people talk. It’s the question of what they say. What are the reasons of blockchain getting this status — among all other technologies?
Reason #1 — Media does not know blockchain so well
When at the end of 2017 Bitcoin started growing like crazy, everyone was talking about it. Of course, media had to take the lead. The real madness started. The words ‘blockchain’ and ‘Bitcoin’ that you could firstly read on dedicated tech resources, started spreading to mass media.
Awareness, brought to the innovation, contributed greatly to its development but it also became its curse. Not only blockchain and Bitcoin were perceived almost like synonyms but also, neither some of the journalists, who highlighted the topic nor their readers, could properly understand the nature of the technology — and its risks.
CoinDesk has even a dedicated article about it, and we share a great quote here:
The Internet gives you the power to go directly to knowledgeable sources on most topics — the real experts — and leapfrog the info-gatekeepers. Every topic has a specialist news service and hard data. For bitcoin, there’s CoinDesk, Kaiko, Reddit and a bunch of others. If you want to go deeper than that, pretty much every bitcoin insider and expert has their own blog.
Reason #2 — Social media don’t know blockchain as well
Again, as soon as something walks the line of the mainstream, it’s evident that social media supports the hype, nevermind the absence of specific knowledge. When you go on Twitter, you see plenty of experts and just curious minds, willing to ‘explain blockchain’.
Sometimes there are some real gems from people who worked with the innovation from its beginning, but also those who have just heard a word “Bitcoin” and think that this is what blockchain is about.
We won’t give any particular examples (not to offend anyone) but you can find them on your own. It’s enough to go to Tweeter and search #blockchain — and enjoy.
Reason #3 — Blockchain is a funny word to pin in
As soon as innovation conquers the market and mass media along with it, it’s so tempting for businesses to keep their company up to date. For that, the latest innovation is picked up and hugely advertised.
Even if the development team is well-qualified and business owners made serious efforts to understand the technology, it often happens so that the mere use of blockchain is irrelevant for the business.
Innovation for the sake of innovation is not the best strategy. 92% of all Chinese BitCoin projects have already proven it, failing in less than a year.
Let’s not take this seriously
It’s easy to blame the technology when the reason for failures lies on the surface. Among actually ground-breaking blockchain projects, there are ones that wanted to ride the hype wave but could not survive the expenses of expensive blockchain development and maintenance.
The worst part is, most of the problems, solved by those businesses, could’ve been just as easily solved without blockchain.
Reason #4 — Blind praises
Blockchain enthusiasts are in love with the technology. Sacrificing it so much time, we are in love with technology and its impact seems apparent. Let’s not forget that blockchain, as any technology, has plenty of negative implications and critical technical issues, including security.
The example of such blind love is a smart contract. By putting it so high in our excitement, we forget that no matter how well the contract is written by the computer, the execution is still up to people in many ways.
Of course, the technology is developed towards cutting of mediation, yet it’s a real issue. By overlooking risks, blockchain enthusiasts put the innovation’s reputation in jeopardy.
Reason #5 — GAFA aren’t yet on board
We think one of the reasons why blockchain is being called overrated so massively is partially because it lacks the support of main tech innovators — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon.
As recent history indicated, Google and Amazon start taking serious steps in contributing to the technology yet there is a long way to go till blockchain will be fully adopted by tech giants.
Why such weak interest? As The Next Web article rightfully suggests, blockchain platforms have a future potential of being a threat to big corporations, especially when it comes to collecting data and selling customer insights. For big corporations, contributing to the technology could mean playing with fire — although that might change soon.
Reason #6 — Scam
Here ICOs come to mind. There are just relatively recent news about some popular ICOs that turned out to be a fraud:
These cases do not contribute to ICO’s favorable reputation and hurt blockchain’s status overall. Such fraud businesses make it difficult for decent tokenization enterprises to prove their decency. Reputation proceeds.
Reason #7 — Not enough blockchain education
Because the technology is relatively new, there are very few educated blockchain experts. Most of blockchain developers are self-taught, one way or another, and there is no shame in that.
Even if you have taken classes from credible authorities of the field, it’s still difficult to find a program that lays a solid foundation to the full understanding of the technology on at least a very basic level.
This issue, however, appears to start resolving. Princeton University, Stanford University, and MIT are already known for a great blockchain community. That means, we can expect actual in-depth university blockchain programs in top American schools.
Reason #8 — Customers don’t know what they buy
Even legit blockchain platforms that are indeed an example of successful technology’s application do not spend much time to give their customers and users at least the basic understanding of the innovation. For those who work in the field for years, blockchain’s risks and benefits can seem apparent but for a regular John Doe — not so much.
Customers’ reactions when everyone started talking about BitCoin and blockchain
On May 2017, UK-based bank HSBC published a customer-survey which indicated that 59% of respondents doesn’t know what blockchain even is, and 80% don’t understand its fundamental principles. We think after the Bitcoin hype, the first number definitely had to change, but the second… we are not so sure.
Considering the broken-mirror media representation of blockchain, it’s naive to hope for customers to acquire the right understanding of the technology. That means the responsibility of communication and education falls on the shoulders of developers and business owners.
Reason #9 — Blockchain’s complexity
It would be a lie to say that blockchain is easy to understand. It’s not. Blockchain is evolving all the time, interesting thoughts and suggests grow like weed — and they might be difficult to follow. Even seasoned developers often engage in furious debates on Twitter or Reddit, discussing recently appeared startups, possible risks, and tendencies. It’s difficult to figure out, especially if you have no tech background.
That’s why both journalists and customers should not be hardly blamed for not having the fullest understanding of technology’s fundamentals.
The truth is, blockchain community can be aggressive (but it’s because of constant unreasonable attacks). Instead of strangling those who don’t understand crucial technical details, let’s take responsibility to explain blockchain. After all, not everyone is a developer and we can’t make people understand complex concepts in a few hours.
Instead of denying blockchain’s charges, let’s address them is a clear and comprehensive way. If people have questions about technology’s purpose, let’s answer them with real cases and surveys. We can start with own blogs — like this one.
When we launched Triggmine, a decentralized marketing automation platform, we knew why to use blockchain.
It solves the pressing problem with privacy and security, tightly connected to collecting customer insights, being not just ‘an innovation for innovation’ but an actual optimal solution.
If every company that adopts blockchain aims to produce a well-developed and tested product, addressing an actual customer’s need, there will be less hype talk and more successful projects.


text:
September 26, 2020 | computer | No Comments
- Google’s Pixel 4a offers a larger, borderless screen, a great low-light camera, and useful features like quick access to the Google Discover feed compared to the iPhone SE.
- Both phones offer great value for the price, but the Pixel 4a is best suited for those who prioritize having a larger screen and a camera that can shoot in a variety of lighting conditions.
- But Apple’s iPhone SE does offer some advantages over the Pixel 4a, especially when it comes to power and durability.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The days of having to pay around $1,000 for a new smartphone may be over.
Both Apple and Google have released commercially successful smartphones over the past few months that cost hundreds of dollars less than their main products while still offering some high-end features. Of course, these new phones — the $350 Pixel 4a and $400 iPhone SE — come with their own compromises compared to their pricier counterparts.
The iPhone SE, for example, doesn’t offer Face ID or an edge-to-edge screen like the iPhone 11 lineup does, and only features a single rear camera. The Pixel 4a, meanwhile, lacks water resistance and other premium features found on the Pixel 4, likes its glass build and 16-megapixel telephoto camera.
Still, they both have plenty to offer for the price, making either device a compelling choice for those on a budget.
If you’re looking for a mid-range phone, the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE will both impress. While a large part of your decision will come down to whether your prefer iOS or Android, there are still many other factors to take into account if you’re deciding between the two.
In general, the Pixel 4a’s longer battery life, bigger always-on screen, useful Google Discover Feed, and great low-light camera set it apart from the iPhone SE.
Here’s a closer look at the features I preferred on the Google Pixel 4a over the iPhone SE after spending a couple of weeks using both phones.


text:
In two days, more than 28,000 people have watched the YouTube video and the numbers are growing by the hour.
“It’s not a hard sell ad,” says Susan Hayes, manager of customer communications at Federal Express Canada, in explaining why the new online ad is popular.
That, and “is that dog adorable or what? He didn’t bark once during the shoot.”
The project involved three dozen people and two weeks of planning by Ph.d students and a creative team at ad agency BBDO Toronto “to get all the tricks working,” then 10 solid hours of testing.
The goose, dressed in a purple bow tie and sitting in a purple office, was “a little less receptive” to his final hour-long cameo than the puppy, said Hayes.
The ad is to highlight FedEx’s “less urgent” services between Canada and the United States, when the box doesn’t have to get there overnight.
“You reach a wide audience online,” she said. “Younger Canadians are watching less television. It speaks to the demographic we’re interested in talking to.”


text:
Hackers demand $3m ransom from travel money firm Travelex
Hackers are holding Travelex to ransom after a cyberattack forced the foreign currency provider to shut down its computer systems and resort to using pen and paper in its branches.
The hackers are reported to be demanding $3 million (£2.3 million) to return access to the company’s systems and data. They are said to be threatening to release 5GB of customer details, including social security numbers, dates of birth and payment card information, unless the company pays up.
All Travelex’s global websites have been down since New Year’s Eve when the attack first happened. Each website carries a message saying that its online services are “temporarily unavailable due to planned maintenance” and that the system will be “back online shortly”.
However, in a statement posted


text:
Nigerian fintech startups, Opay and Kuda, South Africa’s Yoco and Egyptian’s Fawry made a debut on CNBC’s list of top 200 global fintech companies. Together, CNBC and independent market research firm, Statista, partnered to compile a comprehensive list of companies building innovative, tech-enabled, and finance-related products and services.
The partnership set out to list the top fintech companies using a clearly defined methodology identifying how various different companies performed against a set of key performance indicators, including total number of users, volumes, and revenues.
To facilitate the research, CNBC issued a public call for nominations in March, giving eligible fintech the chance to share more information on their business model, revenue, transaction volumes, and other key data.
The selected companies were classified into nine categories which include: Neobanking, Digital Payments, Digital Assets, Digital financial planning, Digital Wealth Management, Alternate Financing, Alternate Lending, Digital banking solutions, and digital business solutions.
Nigeria’s Kuda debuted in the Neobanking category, while Egyptian’s FinTech’s startup, Fawry, South Africa’s Yoco and Nigeria’s Opay made the digital payment’s category.
Founded in 2019 by Babs Ogundeyi and Musty Mustapha, Kuda allows users to manage their finances, make payments, save money, and perform various banking activities through a mobile app. In July 2023, the Fintech company celebrated a significant milestone after surpassing six million customers within Nigeria, just 4 years after its launch.
OPay is a mobile-based platform for payments, transfers, loans, savings and other essential services for every individual. Founded in 2018, Opay aims to provide users with a convenient and integrated platform for various financial activities and services. The startup currently boasts over 10+ million registered app users and 500,000 agents in Nigeria.
Fawry offers financial services to consumers and businesses through different channels and locations. Through Fawry you can pay your mobile, landline and utilities bills, donate money, renew your car licence and more. The Egyptian company was founded in 2008 but by Ashraf Sabry, the current CEO, Mohamed Okasha, Managing Director and Magda Habib.
Yoco is a payments and software company that offers small businesses in South Africa an easy way to accept card payments. Founded in 2015 by Katlego Maphai, Yoco processes over $2 billion annually, and is the payments provider for over 200 000 merchants.
The fintech space has gone through a tumultuous period. Companies have seen their valuations slashed, funding is scarce, and businesses are cutting back on staffing and other costs in a bid to keep investors happy. However, innovation is continuing to happen. Several firms are developing tools to help customers budget in more effective ways and predict what their future financial situation might look like.


text:
MARUTI INFRASTRUCTURE LTD Q2 RESULTS
Motown hits speed bump: Is it right time to go bottom fishing?
Following Q2 results, some auto majors have seen their trailing 12-month EPS fall sharply.
Tata Motors, Maruti, among 5 stocks which saw rating upgrade post Q2 numbers
The aggregate top line of 905 companies that have announced thei...
Maruti Suzuki Q2 net surges 42% to Rs 1,225 crore
Maruti Suzuki India posted a 42.1% jump in net profit, riding primarily on robust sales, re...
Maruti Suzuki reports 60% jump in Q2 net profit; margin expands to 14.96%
Margins came in at 14.96 per cent because of forex hit and rising raw material costs, but capacity utilsation of over 100 per cent largely helped offset the impact.
Electrification of small cars has to be considered: R C Bhargava, Chairman Maruti Suzuki to shareholders
Reflecting on the year gone by, Bhargava said it was an eventful year for both Maruti Suzuki and the overall industry.
Shibani Sircar Kurian on why she is positive on private banks, capital goods
"On the pharma space as a whole, valuations still have not come into a very attractive range."
India has standardised itself for 7-8% growth, says Arun Jaitley
Observing that inadequate infra is a major issue, Jaitley said the govt has been increasingly raising allocation for development of the sector.
ETMarkets Morning Podcast: What's buzzing on Dalal Street today?
Asian shares climbed today and crude oil rose to a 2-year top. Japan's Nikkei nudged 0.2 per cent higher, while Seoul shares climbed 0.7 per cent.
Top stocks in focus on Friday, 9 June 2017
We have listed out stocks that should be blinking on investor radar in today's session.
Bears book a home on D-Street after Supertech defaults
Indiabulls Housing Finance crashed 13 per cent to Rs 788.85, its lowest closing in a year.
Maruti Suzuki likely to post two-fold increase in net profit to Rs 535 cr: Poll
According to ET Now estimates, sharp jump in sales, low base effect and over 20 per cent YoY growth boosted revenues and profit.
Car makers, white goods manufacturers should look for growth outside 10 metros: RC Bhargava, Maruti Suzuki
"Two more lines of Maruti manufacturing coming up in 2019 and 2020"
Top 5 key takeaways from HCL Technologies Q2 results
HCL Technologies, India's fourth-largest IT service provider, reported a strong quarter on the back of higher margins and deal wins.
HCL Technologies Q2 results: Five things to watch out for
In a quarter marked by slowing growth and the sector absorbing the impact of the Chennai floods, HCL is expected to post a good quarter.
GMR Infra losses narrow to Rs 399 crore in Q2FY16 on better airport, power performance
Infrastructure narrowed losses to Rs 399 crore in the second quarter of 2015-16 from Rs 610 crore reported in the same quarter a year ago.
Copyright © 2019 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


text:
Hydro-Québec on Friday announced that its 2021 electricity rates for residential clients will increase by 1.3 per cent after a fiscal year that saw those rates frozen by government decree .
The utility said that the increase, which will take effect in April, corresponds with the inflation rate in Quebec for a 12-month period ending Sept. 30. Rates for industrial clients have yet to be announced.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Rate increases for next year must be based on the variation in the province’s consumer price index (CPI). Hydro-Québec will then resume presenting its case for subsequent increases before Quebec’s Energy Board.
The CPI upon which the rate increase is based does not include the prices of alcohol or tobacco products or recreational cannabis.
Meanwhile, the utility’s moratorium on service cuts in the case of non-payment has been extended to at least March 31, with Hydro-Québec saying it wants to maintain measures put in place to help its clientele get through the COVID-19 pandemic .
Pandemic has already cost Hydro-Québec $130 million, CEO says
Frustration, sleepless nights as ‘failing’ substation causes outages in Hampstead


text:
Telkom SA's revenue declines as fixed lines dwindle
Telkom South Africa saw its group revenue decline 1.1% to 42.8 billion South African rand (US$2.7 billion) at year-end (March 31, 2022), as fixed lines dropped below one million for the first time in decades.
Telkom's fixed access lines in SA decreased 22.4% year-on-year (YoY), with 997,000 active at the end of March 2022, compared to 1.28 million a year before.
This development occurred as the legacy business remained under pressure due to customer migration from traditional fixed voice to newer technologies. Total fixed-line traffic declined 9% in the year and fixed voice and subscriptions revenue fell by more than 17% YoY.
Underlying group headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased 2.5% to R5.75 ($0.36) per share, while group underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) decreased 0.5% to R11.9 billion ($742.8 million).
"The results were delivered in a very tough trading environment. The year was characterized by the prolonged effects of COVID on certain sectors of the economy, an intensely competitive landscape, volatile capital markets and social instability," Telkom Group CEO Serame Taukobong said at the operator's results presentation on Tuesday.
"The economy remains constrained, and consumers are under pressure from rising interest rates, rising energy and fuel costs and ongoing load shedding – which is also adding to the constrained economy," he added.
Meanwhile, Telkom Mobile continued its strong growth trajectory with the customer base growing by 10.5% to 16.9 million subscribers. Telkom said that almost 63% of its mobile base is now using broadband services.
Total mobile revenue increased by 6.3% to R21.4 billion ($1.34 billion), driven by growth in the customer base, data segment and non-connectivity revenue from its fintech business.
"As the overall macroeconomic constraints materialize, the prepaid surge has slowed as the share of wallet spend has plateaued," the group said.
Telkom grew its prepaid customer base by 12% to 14.3 million, with average revenue per user (ARPU) normalizing to pre-COVID-19 levels. The postpaid base increased by 3.4% to 2.7 million.
Mobile base stations also increased by 13.7% with 42.4% growth in 5G sites. The operator said that as part of its 5G strategy it is targeting a fiber backhaul ratio of 70% to 80%. At the end of March 2022, 68% of its base stations had fiber backhaul.
"The 22MHz of 3500MHz acquired in the recent spectrum auction enables Telkom 50MHz on contiguous spectrum to deploy 5G on our mobile network," it said of the spectrum auction, which also involved a lengthy court battle with the SA regulator that has now been resolved.
There was also some good news from the company's wholesale division, Openserve, which saw some stabilization over the past year after several years of revenue declines.
Openserve revenue still declined marginally by 0.4% to R13.4 billion ($838 million) for the year. But the group said the business has evolved as customers migrated from legacy to next-generation tech, and now more than half of its revenue is derived from the new business. However, a pricing gap remains between the new business and the legacy business.
The telco has been working for some time to decommission its legacy copper network and switch customers from ADSL to LTE or fiber options. Overall, Telkom reported 584,200 fixed broadband subscribers at the end of March, a decrease of 3.6% YoY.
"In the second half of the year, overall fixed broadband subscribers increased for the first time in several years despite the decline in ADSL subscribers," explained Taukobong.
He said this was in line with Telkomís strategy of accelerating its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) footprint while simultaneously focusing on connecting homes.
Openserve continued its growth in the fiber market, increasing homes passed with fiber by 52.7% and homes connected to fiber by 38.4% during the year.
Telkom's ICT business, BCX, also remained under pressure due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 lockdown as well as global supply chain constraints and shortages of semiconductor chips.
BCX's revenue declined by 2.6%, to R15.3 billion ($955 million), for the year. But that result marked an improvement over the 6.1% revenue decline reported in the first half of the year.
Taukobong, who only officially took over as CEO six months ago, said that the company was looking to get a strategic equity partner for BCX to help it scale up in areas like cybersecurity.
"What we're looking for is really about value creation for BCX. We are looking toward India, for example, for a partner who would bring scale and capability," he told Connecting Africa in an interview.
He said another key area of growth was data centers. He noted that BCX would soon be making an announcement about a partnership with "quite a sizable international hyperscaler" who will leverage BCX's existing data center footprint and would make BCX their on-seller for the continent.
Telkomís masts and tower business, Swiftnet, increased revenue by 4.4% to R1.3 billion ($80.6 million), and said it is expanding the range of products and preparing for the implementation of 5G by its clients.
Telkom had plans to list Swiftnet as a separate business but decided to postpone the listing earlier this year. Taukobong hinted that listing might not be the only option to unlock shareholder value, saying the board was looking at multiple options for Swiftnet going forward.
- Telkom SA revenue under pressure despite mobile growth
- Telkom SA prepares for mobile commerce boom
- Telkom SA, ICASA settle spectrum dispute
*Top image is of Telkom Group CEO, Serame Taukobong (Source: Telkom Group).
ó Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa


text:
Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF), said that the United States’ decision to suspend trade privileges for Thailand under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program will hit only shrimp wonton noodle soup. The soup constitutes 0.2% of the company’s sale revenue and will be subjected to 6% import duty when the suspension takes effect in the next six months.
CPF has gradually adjusted its business model, prioritizing overseas investment. New production plants have been established in targeted countries to serve local consumers and these overseas ventures are prospering and contributing about 70% of total sale revenue. The United States has been one of the investment destinations. CPF has invested in ready-to-eat food production in the US and it has achieved growth targets and anticipates bright business prospects in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, pork meat prices have been moving up as concerns about the African Swine Fever (ASF) subside. In Vietnam, pork price hits 55,000-57,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram, which is the highest this year. A similar improvement is taking place in Thailand.
Mr. Prasit stressed that CPF expects to achieve all business targets in 2019 and anticipates continued growth in 2020.
He also rebutted a news report that CPF’s financial statements and credit rating are affected by the accounting standards concerning the company’s perpetual bonds.


text:
In a report released today, Louise Chen from Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a Buy rating on Mallinckrodt (MNK), with a price target of $42. The company’s shares closed on Tuesday at $23.14.
“We rate MNK 12-month PT of $42. We think Mallinckrodt suffers from a perception problem that ties it to headline risks in the pharma industry (scrutiny of high-priced drugs, government investigations, etc.). This masks the growth potential of Mallinckrodt’s Specialty Brands business and its consistent ability to meet or beat expectations, in our opinion. Valuation Summary We use a blend of DCF and multiples (EV/EBITDA) analysis to get to our 12-month price target of $42.”
According to TipRanks.com, Chen is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 8.6% and a 39.1% success rate. Chen covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Bausch Health Companies Inc, Aridis Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The word on The Street in general, suggests a Hold analyst consensus rating for Mallinckrodt with a $32.55 average price target, implying a 40.7% upside from current levels. In a report issued on November 23, Canaccord Genuity also reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $40 price target.
See today’s analyst top recommended stocks >>
Based on Mallinckrodt’s latest earnings release for the quarter ending September 30, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $640 million and net profit of $114 million. In comparison, last year the company had a net profit of $64.2 million.
TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.
Mallinckrodt Plc operates as a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It develops, manufactures, markets and distributes both branded and generic specialty pharmaceutical products and medical imaging agents. It operates through the Specialty Brands and Specialty Generics segments. The Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines.


text:
Dodge Charger pursues high-speed police market; vehicle production advantages touted
RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
Posted Date: 5/26/05
Dodge says it can fill orders for 2006 Charger police cars quickly because the vehicles can be built one at a time rather than in batches.
Depending on price, that assembly method could give Dodge a sales edge. Production begins in the fourth quarter.
"We won't build the cars in batch form," said Craig Love, vice president of Chrysler's rear-wheel-drive product team. That's because police versions will not differ significantly from upscale Chargers.


text:
An investigation into one of the UK’s fastest growing social media platforms has found that several prescription drugs are being promoted to teenagers searching for diet pills.
The analysis of the top 100 most popular user posts under the #dietpills hashtag — carried out in August 2022 registered as a female aged 16 years — found that commonly prescribed drugs for epilepsy, alcohol addiction and migraine were being openly promoted.
The Pharmaceutical Journal found that nearly a third (31%) of the 100 most popular posts — viewed during a single 90-minute sitting — were actively promoting the use of diet pills for weight loss and, of those, more than a quarter (26%) were promoting a specific named prescription-only medication.
Healthcare experts shown the information said this was “completely inappropriate” for users of any age and that it could cause real harm, with the drugs promoted by users linked with birth defects and some serious side effects.
In response to the findings, a spokesperson from TikTok said that the platform cared “deeply about the health and wellbeing of our community” and it has since removed a number of posts that The Pharmaceutical Journal had highlighted to them and reviewed the hashtag ‘diet pills’.
Multiple accounts that were selling prescription weight-loss medication were also removed.
At the time of the investigation, the #dietpills hashtag had 10 million views, and the most popular post had over 20,000 ‘likes’ with more than 1,000 shares.
The most commonly mentioned prescription drug mentioned in the posts was phentermine, or phentermine-based products, which is an appetite suppressant not licensed in the UK, but available on some online sites without a prescription.
Other prescription drugs mentioned as possible weight-loss aids included naltrexone (indicated for treating alcohol and opioid addiction), topiramate (an antiepileptic and migraine treatment), metformin (for diabetes) and the obesity drug orlistat, sold over the counter in the UK under the brand name Alli.
In the posts, users claimed that the pills helped to “curb” their appetite, increase their body temperature and lose substantial amounts of weight. One said they had heard the drugs were dangerous for their health, adding “but I already bought them”.
The Online Safety Bill currently going through parliament is expected to extend UK regulation of “online harms” on social media platforms to Ofcom, although this bill was reportedly paused while the new UK prime minister was chosen.
Responding to the investigation, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association said: “Diet claims that are unrealistic and not supported by evidence-based science on social media can be dangerous no matter what your age. But, for under 16s, they can have very real consequences.”
John Wilding, professor of medicine and honorary consultant physician in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, described the promotion of medication for the treatment of obesity via social media platforms as “completely inappropriate”.
He added: “Those containing phentermine can be legally prescribed for short-term use but only under very specific conditions. It remains a controlled drug. Topiramate has never been approved for weight loss in the EU or the UK as it has some significant potential adverse events and may be teratogenic.”
The spokesperson for TikTok said: “Our community guidelines make clear that we do not allow the promotion or trade of controlled substances, including prescription weight-loss medication, and we will remove content that violates these policies.”
The investigation coincides with a survey by The Pharmaceutical Journal, which has found that nearly 60% of pharmacists have been asked about medicines patients have seen on social media. The survey carried out in July 2022 of more than 1,500 UK pharmacists found the most commonly asked about medicines were those related to weight loss and COVID-19 as well as cannabis-based medicines and cannabidiol oil.


text:
On Thursday June 7 the key figures of the Dorset business community gathered at St. Giles House, Wimborne St. Giles, to mark the launch of the prestigious Dorset Business Awards 2018.
Along with the Award sponsors and past winners, more than 100 of the region’s most influential and respected business leaders gathered to launch the 24th annual Awards, which celebrate innovation, talent and achievement in businesses across Dorset. The launch event, sponsored by Wessex Internet and hospitality supplied by Beales Gourmet at St. Giles House, gave potential entrants the opportunity to learn key information about the 2018 campaign.
On sponsoring the launch event, Hector Gibson Fleming, managing director at Wessex Internet, commented: “We are hugely proud to be part of The Dorset Business Awards 2018 as a fantastic way of recognising the most innovative businesses in our area. It’s fantastic to be the sponsor for this launch event at St. Giles House, where we have had a longstanding relationship with Shaftesbury Estate to bring the benefit of gigabit fibre to their tenants and the village as a whole.”
With this year’s categories boasting new additions, plus the return of well-established favourites, 2018 looks set to be a year for celebrating the breadth of success, enterprise and diversity of the county’s business community.
Those entering this year’s Awards have the opportunity to showcase themselves and gain recognition for their successes. Companies of all sizes are encouraged to enter, along with budding entrepreneurs, passionate employees and enthusiastic apprentices.
Organised by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, the Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station, Wave 105.
The 2018 categories, now open for entry, are as follows:
- Business Leader of the Year Award sponsored by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – new award category sponsor
Honouring an individual making a significant contribution to the wider business community and the local economy
- Creative Impact Award sponsored by Liz Lean PR and Digipigz – new award category title and new co-sponsor
Recognising the talent and contribution of the creative sector in Dorset
- Dorset Environmental Business Award sponsored by Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) and the Dorset Wildlife Trust – new award category and sponsors
Recognising a business with an outstanding commitment to manage its environmental impact
- Employee Health and Wellbeing Award sponsored by BWT Physio and Ouch Training Team – new award category and sponsors
Honouring an employer leading in their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforce
- Exporting Excellence Award sponsored by HSBC and PSP Worldwide Logistics – new award category title and sponsors
Recognising a business which has achieved the most sustainable levels of international growth through exporting
- Lester Aldridge Company of the Year Award
Acknowledging all-round business excellence
- Outstanding Customer Service Award, sponsored by Beales Gourmet at the Italian Villa and Teachers Building Society – new co-sponsor
Celebrating a business exceeding customer expectations by delivering a world-class experience
- PKF Francis Clark Family Business Award
Recognising the success and significant role family businesses play in our local economy
- TeamJobs Team of the Year Award
Rewarding the professionalism and hard-working teams in the county
- The ScaleUp Award for Business Growth, sponsored by Enhanced – new award category and sponsor
Honouring a business demonstrating spectacular growth with a robust plan for sustainability
- Developing Talent Award sponsored by Sunseeker – new award category title
Celebrating a Dorset employer who applies innovation to the retention and development of its people
- UK Health Insurance Investing in Dorset Award
Acknowledging Dorset businesses that proactively support other businesses in county for the benefit of the local economy
- Young Apprentice Ambassador or the Year sponsored by Superior Seals – new award category and sponsor
Recognising young individuals who are strong advocates of apprenticeships
Stuart Dixon, head of marketing communications at Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “We’re proud to announce that the 2018 Dorset Business Awards are now open for entry. The Awards serve to represent Dorset businesses on a national stage and to attract investment and talent into our great county. It showcases our innovation, leadership and togetherness while inspiring and honouring the people at the heart of our business community. It is an awards programme with purpose and one that Dorset Chamber extremely proud to organise.
“We’re also thrilled to welcome nine new sponsors and four new award categories to the Awards campaign and look forward to receiving a diverse range of entries.”
Westover Group, the official Auto Partner for the awards, showcased the Hyundai i30n and Renault Koleos models.
Mark Whittam, group operations director for marketing from Westover Group, commented: “Westover Group is extremely proud to be the Auto Partner for the 2018 Dorset Business Awards. We brought along the new Hyundai i30n as its picking up so many awards in the hot hatch sector and the stunning all new Renault Koleos SUV, for those who want something a little bigger to move the family around. We are pleased to announce we are currently offering an affinity scheme for all Dorset Chamber members and their immediate family. Depending on your model of choice, you could save thousands off your next brand new Hyundai or Renault. For more information and to book a test drive, just call one of our showrooms in Poole or Salisbury.”
Lord Shaftesbury added: “We were delighted to host the launch of the 2018 Dorset Business Awards at St.Giles House. Over the past seven years we have been restoring this beautiful old Dorset home, to bring it back into use as a venue for a range of different activities such as weddings, concerts and corporate events. During the restoration we have focused a lot of energy on preserving the magic of the building whilst also bringing in our own individual style. We feel lucky to be part of a vibrant business community here in Dorset and all the opportunities that living here brings.”
The Awards are open to everyone; there is no need to be a member of the Dorset Chamber. Entrants will need to complete and submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk by Friday August 3 and judging will take place between late-August to early-September. Finalists will be invited to the prestigious Gala Dinner on Thursday November 1 when the winners will be announced.
The Award Gala Dinner drinks reception sponsor is Caterpillar Marine Power UK Ltd and Brighter Productions has come on board for the fourth year running as production sponsor of the Awards ceremony.
For further information about the Awards or to purchase tickets for the Gala Dinner please visit www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or contact the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 01202 714810. Tickets cost £86 + VAT per person or £800 +VAT for a table of 10 (DCCI members) or cost £96 + VAT per person or £900 +VAT for a table of 10 (non-DCCI members).


text:
Last month, Redmi, a sub-brand of Xiaomi, launched the duo Redmi K30 and Redmi K30 5G. Both of these phones are smartphones with the cheapest 120Hz refresh rate display in China. Recently, the general manager of Redmi – Mr. Lu Weibing has just confirmed that the company has successfully tested the 144Hz screen on Redmi K30 5G.
Specifically, Weibing posted a video on Weibo to prove that the 120Hz screen of the Redmi K30 5G can completely display at a higher than normal scanning frequency of 144Hz. Notably, support for the 144Hz refresh rate can be added through software updates.
In June last year, a member of the MIUI forum also developed a mod that allows the 60Hz screen of Mi 9 to display at a higher refresh rate of 84Hz. Therefore, it is likely that Redmi will launch an update to support 144Hz refresh rate for the screen of Redmi K30 5G in the near future.
The 120Hz screen of the Redmi K30 5G is showing at a higher 144Hz refresh rate than usual.
Lu Weibing shared the video at a time when major companies like Samsung and OnePlus are preparing to launch new flagships, such as the Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 8, with 120Hz refresh rates.
In addition, his Weibo post appeared just hours after the president of Nubia confirmed that the upcoming 5G Red Magic will have a 144Hz screen. Obviously, it seems that we will see many manufacturers launch new smartphones with higher frequency scanning screens this year.
Redmi K30 4G and Redmi K30 5G don’t have many design differences, except for the 5G logo on the back.
Redmi K30 5G has a 6.67-inch IPS LCD screen with a punched design, 20: 9 aspect ratio, and Full HD + resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels). Inside, the device is powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor, supports dual 5G mode, comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory, expandable with a microSD card.
The phone is equipped with a 20MP + 2MP selfie camera system on the front, a cluster of 4 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP cameras on the back. The device comes pre-installed with Android 10 operating system with MIUI 11 interface when sold, comes with a 4500mAh battery and supports 30W fast charging.


text:
NIGERIA – The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Amaka Onyemelukwe to be the Director Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS) for its Nigeria operations.
Prior to her appoint to the new stint, Amaka was the Head Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability for Coca-Cola Nigeria.
At her former docket she assiduously protected and grew the company’s reputation and social license, mitigated against discriminatory taxes and adverse regulations.
She also built and implemented high impact community programmes to promote sustainable development and support global commitments, while also safeguarding the company’s assets and assured business continuity through effective stakeholder engagement and management, reports Marketing Edge.
“I look forward to the next phase of extraordinary work with my team and valued partners.”Amaka Onyemelukwe – Director Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS) Coca-Cola Nigeria
In her new role, she will be responsible for enabling sustainable business growth by building a strong and consistent public policy and sustainable agenda for the business.
She will also oversee strategic communication and stakeholder management, as well as leading high impact sustainable programmes that create shared value in communities across the country.
“I am excited on my new responsibility as the Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability for The Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria. I am indeed humbled to embark on this new leadership journey.
“I have over the past few years – in conjunction with my team and partners – achieved remarkable feats in driving the company’s growth and making significant difference across our communities. I look forward to the next phase of extraordinary work with my team and valued partners,” said Amaka Onyemelukwe.
Before joining Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Amaka worked at Philip Morris International, where she served as Manager, Corporate Affairs.
She was responsible for building relationships with governments and public bodies; developing and executing regulatory strategies; developing internal and external communications among others.
She started her professional career with Novartis Pharmaceuticals and served at various capacities including Head Drug Regulatory Affairs English Speaking West Africa and Communications Manager.
Amaka holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria and an MBA from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
She is also an alumna of Harvard Business Publishing and is passionate about sustainable development.
Recently the beverage giant has been undertaking leadership reshuffling and new appointments in the region especially among its female employees.
Earlier in the year, the soft-beverage manufacturer appointed Patricia Obozuwa as a Vice President for its African operation to coordinate communications, sustainability, and government affairs.
In East Africa, the company named Debra Mallowah as the new Vice President for the East and Central Africa franchise, taking the helm of the company from Phillipine Mtikikiti who has also been appointed in a similar position at the South African franchise, based in Johannesburg.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE


text:
Convenience and corporate culture: Retail insights from Contagious Now / Next / Why
In the highly competitive retail environment, brands are constantly trying to find new ways of forging meaningful relationships with customers.
One way of achieving this is by identifying tangible consumer pain-points, and then providing solutions that address them. Katrina Dodd, a senior consultant at Contagious Insider, told delegates at Now / Next / Why, an event held by Contagious, a marketing and branding consultancy, in London in April 2014, that this trend has rapidly led to a "convenience arms race" in the retail sector – with customer service at the very heart of the battle for hearts and minds.
Consumers, she continued, have increasingly high expectations of customer service, which has prompted many brands to develop innovative services blending the digital and physical. One example is Amazon Lockers, an initiative from the ecommerce giant that enables its customers to collect goods ordered on the web from banks of lockers situated in a range of physical locations, rather than waiting for items to be delivered to their home. Amazon Lockers thus give customers greater freedom and convenience at the final stage of the path to purchase.


text:
Bizarre Wearable Robot Lets You Take Your Friends with You When They're Not There
One of the strangest robots I've seen in a long time has turned up from Japanese researchers at Yamagata University. The robot is called the MH-2 and it's a small torso only robot with two cameras on its head. The robot is worn on a user's shoulder and is intended to be teleoperated remotely. The dual cameras on the have the robot allow the operator to have a 360° 3-D view of the environment.
The idea is that a person can wear the robot when they wanted to travel or go somewhere, but didn't want to be alone. They could take someone else along with them to view the surroundings. The little robot has arms and hands that would move in time to the movements of the operator using motion detection technology such as Kinect.
A common source of anxiety stems from wondering what jobs robots will take over from humans. Some people are worried that the rise of robots will have profound economic effects, causing some extreme winners and extreme losers, depending on whether you own the robot or get replaced by the robot. And some people are just concerned that robots will take their job specifically. Pew recently reviewed a 2013 paper that showed which ... Source: The Business Insider
Full article at: The Business Insider
4 days ago, 5:19am CDT
He has dipped his boots in Lake Superior, crashed a wedding and attended an Aboriginal powwow. A talking, bucket-bodied robot has enthralled Canadians since it departed from Halifax last month on a hitchhik ... Source: PhysOrg.com
Full article at: PhysOrg.com
6 days ago, 4:32pm CDT
As a report from the Obama administration warns that one in four bridges in the United States needs significant repair or cannot handle automobile traffic, Tufts University engineers are employing wireless sensors and flying robots that could have the potential to help authorities monito ... Source: PhysOrg.com
Full article at: PhysOrg.com
6 days ago, 3:00am CDT
Remember way back in February when we reported that this summer you'd be able to remotely control robots to explore the Tate Britain After Dark Well—it's (finally) this summer, and now's your chance! Starting this very minute, you can check out the live footage of four bots gone wild—and sign up to make them move from the comfort of your ... Source: GizmodoFull article at: GizmodoAug 13 2014, 4:00pm CDT
Shane McGlaun Leading our review center, Shane McGlaun (Google) knows technology inside out. His
extensive experience in testing computer hardware and consumer
electronics enable him to effectively qualify new products and trends. If you want us review your product, please contact Shane.
Shane can be contacted directly at email@example.com.
Linda Cohn Files Lawsuit Against New York Ice Rink
ESPN broadcaster Linda Cohn is filing a lawsuit against a New York ice rink after a group of kids pushed a heavy coin machine which allegedly fell on her, resulting in a huge gash that required 25 stitches.
About the Geek Mind
The “geek mind” is concerned with more than just the latest iPhone rumors, or which company will win the gaming console wars. I4U is concerned with more than just the latest photo shoot or other celebrity gossip.
The “geek mind” is concerned with life, in all its different forms and facets. The geek mind wants to know about societal and financial issues, both abroad and at home. If a Fortune 500 decides to raise their minimum wage, or any high priority news, the geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants to know the top teams in the National Football League, or who’s likely to win the NBA Finals this coming year. The geek mind wants to know who the hottest new models are, or whether the newest blockbuster movie is worth seeing. The geek mind wants to know. The geek mind wants—needs—knowledge.


text:
For design fans, and every other person, 2022 will be recognized as the year the metaverse went mainstream.
reported last October the corporate name change from Facebook to Meta, the issue at hand was obvious to everyone. A virtual wall, obviously. Before long, came every one of the indications of a social tipping point — the Super Bowl’s flood of promotions for digital money trades (
for FTX), the metaverse jokes and outlines on Saturday Night Live, and Snoop Dogg’s arrival of the primary music video set in the metaverse, highlighting a digitized symbol of the rap tycoon smoking dulls and chilling in his “Snoopverse,” a virtual world he’s structure on the web (early access passes to which run $2,000 a pop).
Fashion planners are focusing. Flagellated by style’s continuous maintainability issue, and later production network issues, marks are searching for some inspire. “In the real world, possibilities are limited,” says creator
“The metaverse opens a whole new frontier.”
Plein, whose extravagance brand presently acknowledges in excess of 20 unique cryptographic forms of money at its on the web and physical shops, as of late dropped $1.4 million to purchase virtual land in Decentraland, a well known internet based stage that empowers clients to fabricate a vivid three dimensional metaverse experience. He raised a 120-meter-high virtual high rise in time for Metaverse Fashion Week, or MVFW, the world’s greatest all-computerized style occasion, held in Decentraland more than four days in March.
Unlike style a long time, in actuality, MVFW was free and open to general society, highlighting symbol models, energized runways and get-togethers, with in excess of 70 brands and craftsmen, including
Cavalli, Etro, Dolce and Gabbana, Estée Lauder, and Selfridges, in addition to computerized local makers — creators of virtual, not genuine, garments — like Auroboros, Fewocious, and The Fabricant
“By their nature, brands tend to expand and create their own universe,” Plein says, taking note of style planners’ entrance into home stylistic layout, cordiality, vehicles, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. In the metaverse, he proposes, one could have a “luxury-brand zoo, hospital, [even a] state with its own cryptocurrency.”
#Virtual #Runway #Metaverse #Reshapes #Fashion


text: Gigaphoton recently announced two advancements for lithography lasers: a helium-free purge process and a high-power laser prototype. The helium-free purge process for argon-fluorine (ArF) immersion lasers uses nitrogen, an abundant gas the company said maintains laser performance equivalent to helium. One laser unit consumes approximately 80-160 kl of helium per year and all the laser light sources operating worldwide consume approximately 100,000 kl of helium annually, the company said. Helium is a rare gas, amounting to 5.2 ppm by volume in the atmosphere. If current consumption levels continue unchanged, depletion of the world’s helium supply is anticipated in approximately 25 years. In addition to the new purge process, Gigaphoton has also prototyped a 92 W laser-produced plasma (LPP) extreme ultraviolet light source, which it said is a step toward its goal of creating a 250 W source for high-volume manufacturing. The company said the device has a 4.2 percent conversion efficiency. It generates extreme UV light by radiating tin droplets less than 20 µm in diameter with a solid-state pre-pulse laser and main pulse CO2 laser. For more information, visit www.gigaphoton.com.


text:
Tesla shares have dive-bombed as much as nine per cent this morning as the electric car maker revealed the largest decline in deliveries in its history.
In the three months to the end of March, Tesla saw car total car deliveries drop just over 30 per cent from 90,996 in the previous quarter to 63,000 in the start of 2019.
Its flagship Model 3, which it first released in 2017 followed by a far cheaper standard model it hopes to break the mass market released last month, failed to meet sales expectations in the first quarter sparking concern among investors.
Model 3 sales in the first quarter came in at 50,900, missing average analyst’ expectations of 51,750 and marking a decline on the previous two quarters.
Despite this Tesla reportedly had 10,600 vehicles in transit at the end of March as sales of the new Model 3 began in Europe and China, more than three times the amount being shipped in the previous quarter.
Its recent launch into new markets is a potential lifeline for the company, which is facing falling demand in the US after federal tax credits for electronic vehicles were cut in half at the start of 2019.
Tesla has also stood firm on its forecast outlook for 2019, remaining unchanged at between 360,000 and 400,000, suggesting demand is still high.
This follows an announcement at the start of March in which Tesla said it would be shutting all of its stores and move sales entirely online, in order to keep the costs of its new Model 3 as low as possible, and reduce the price of other models by six per cent.
Just over a week later, after around $8 billion had been wiped of the company’s market value, Tesla made a dramatic U-turn stating that half of its stores would now remain open and the prices of its cars would be reduced by three per cent instead of six.