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UBS AG, one of the top 25 financial institutions in the world, is teaming with Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) to design, build, deploy and maintain its ideal in-branch banking solutions.
ATM manufacturer Diebold claims to have found the answer to skimming fraud with a new reader that requires users to insert their card sideways on to prevent the copying of data stored on the magnetic stripe.
As part of the company's on-going transformation efforts, Diebold, Incorporated (DBD) is realigning the structure of its Brazil and Latin America operations to drive greater efficiency and further improve customer service.
The cash in your wallet may be teeming with bacteria, but the ATM could soon become a pestilence-free zone, thanks to a new initiative by Diebold.
To increase security, convenience and customer satisfaction at the self-service channel, Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL) has partnered with Diebold, Incorporated (DBD) to launch a cardless transaction solution that enables end-users to remotely program and withdraw cash via a smartphone from any of the more than 100 ATMs in BIL's network.
Nearly 35 years after partnering to deliver financial self-service convenience to South America with the first automated teller machine (ATM), Banco del Pacifico and Diebold, Incorporated (DBD) are, once again, advancing banking technology in the region by introducing cash recycling technology to Ecuador.
Diebold, Incorporated (DBD) today announced two senior sales leadership appointments in its financial self-service business. Tom Signorello has been appointed senior vice president, North America sales.
Recent technological advancements have empowered consumers to interact with financial institutions (FIs) in multiple new ways.
Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE:DBD) has appointed John Ennis as vice president, United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. He will be responsible for developing the company's business in these two countries and further implementing growth strategies.
With an entrepreneurial mindset and a focus on strategic market needs, the Research and Development (R&D) Incubation team at Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is blending branch transformation and omni-channel experience with the unveiling of a new Responsive Banking concept.
© Finextra Research 2015


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The Strand Annex bookstore at 95 Fulton Street will close at the end of the summer. Store owner Fred Base said construction in the area has decreased foot traffic around the store, lowering profits. The Annex has 15,000 square feet of new and used discounted books, and has been at the Financial District address for 12 years. The shop is an offshoot of the Strand Book Store at Broadway and 12th Street. In its May issue, The Real Deal reported on how bookstores are being forced to relocate.
|Zillow sues Compass for poaching tech talent, allegedly stealing trade secrets|
|Queens property purchased for $125M by Chinese firm headed to foreclosure|
|JLL I-sales broker out amid merger with HFF|
|This 19th century UES townhouse just traded hands for a loss|
|Blackstone will pay rent-stabilized tenants $1M. It won’t stop the lawsuit.|
|Vornado sells 45% stake in prime Manhattan retail portfolio valued at $5.6B|
|Marriott to build the tallest modular hotel in the world in NoMad|

domain: news


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Online extortion, tech support scams and phishing attacks that spoof the boss were among the most costly cyber scams reported by consumers and businesses last year, according to new figures from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
The IC3 report released Thursday correctly identifies some of the most prevalent and insidious forms of cybercrimes today, but the total financial losses tied to each crime type also underscore how infrequently victims actually report such crimes to law enforcement.
For example, the IC3 said it received 17,146 extortion-related complaints, with an adjusted financial loss totaling just over $15 million. In that category, the report identified 2,673 complaints identified as ransomware — malicious software that scrambles a victim’s most important files and holds them hostage unless and until the victim pays a ransom (usually in a virtual currency like Bitcoin).
According to the IC3, the losses associated with those ransomware complaints totaled slightly more than $2.4 million. Writing for BleepingComputer.com — a tech support forum I’ve long recommended that helps countless ransomware victims — Catalin Cimpanu observes that the FBI’s ransomware numbers “are ridiculously small compared to what happens in the real world, where ransomware is one of today’s most prevalent cyber-threats.”
“The only explanation is that people are paying ransoms, restoring from backups, or reinstalling PCs without filing a complaint with authorities,” Cimpanu writes.
It’s difficult to know how what percentage of ransomware victims paid the ransom or were able to restore from backups, but one thing is for sure: Relatively few victims are reporting cyber fraud to federal investigators.
The report notes that only an estimated 15 percent of the nation’s fraud victims report their crimes to law enforcement. For 2016, 298,728 complaints were received, with a total victim loss of $1.33 billion.
If that 15 percent estimate is close to accurate, that means the real cost of cyber fraud for Americans last year was probably closer to $9 billion, and the losses from ransomware attacks upwards of $16 million.
The IC3 reports that last year it received slightly more than 12,000 complaints about CEO fraud attacks — e-mail scams in which the attacker spoofs the boss and tricks an employee at the organization into wiring funds to the fraudster. The fraud-fighting agency said losses from CEO fraud (also known as the “business email compromise” or BEC scam) totaled more than $360 million.
Applying that same 15 percent rule, that brings the likely actual losses from CEO fraud schemes to around $2.4 billion last year.
Some 10,850 businesses and consumers reported being targeted by tech support scams last year, with the total reported loss at around $7.8 million. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the IC3 report observed that victims in older age groups reported the highest losses.
Many other, more established types of Internet crimes — such as romance scams and advanced fee fraud — earned top rankings in the report. Check out the full report here (PDF). The FBI urges all victims of computer crimes to report the incidents at IC3.gov. The IC3 unit is part of the FBI’s Cyber Operations Section, and it uses the reports to compile and refer cases for investigation and prosecution.


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Until now, Nokia was quite happy with the Lumia 920. Being targeted towards Samsung Galaxy S -series owners; it was a modest handset by all means. Well, nowadays two leading South Korean vendors - Samsung and LG, are busy preparing bigger screen devices (Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos, and LG Optimus G Pro). Sources close to the Financial Times claim that these days Nokia is kind of attracted towards phablets and plans to announce one big screen handset this fiscal year.
The report further says that Nokia made phablet is said to be blast away Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Details are pretty much nil at this hour. All in all, one could see Windows Phone 8 powered Nokia Lumia device this holiday season ie. during December 2013. Nokia was severely criticized for not coming up with bigger screen device that can compete with Samsung, and other tech vendors, who have already stole hearts and pockets of modern day consumers.
Just yesterday, Nokia announced its last quarter results. As expected, net sales fell 20 per cent to 5.9 billion Euros from a year earlier. The Finnish giant managed to sold 5.6 million Lumia handsets (powered by Windows Phone OS), which was up from 4.4 million registered in the previous quarter.
Nokia Lumia 928 Update
The struggling tech giant badly needs a hit device, which can crush biggies like Samsung, and Apple. Reportedly, the makers behind Nokia Lumia 920 could announce a brand new handset dubbed as Lumia 928 limited to US telecom operator Verizon, which should be made available this summer. At the time of writing, another interesting gossip around the upcoming Nokia Lumia 928 has arrived. GizBot has already informed you about the alleged press shot of the reported device. This time around, thanks to @evleaks, another set of images of the handset have managed to bring thunder storm. Appearance wise, home screen appears more vibrant, and chic.
"Later this quarter a new Lumia device is anticipated to have hero status with a leading US carrier", as per Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO. His comments during company's earning didn't reveal much, but is speculated that the device could be the Nokia Lumia 928. Or the mysterious handset could the one with 41-mega pixel shooter on the back. Was he just said ‘Catwalk'? Stay tuned to GizBot.
Meanwhile, have a look at the Nokia phablet concept renders, courtesy - Concept-Phones via @Cambo.


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Pointless iteration? Or smart future proofing? Sony’s hardware conference was rumoured to be the place for some incredible announcements. A slim console, a super-powered PlayStation, a new handheld, game announcements with the new Red Dead being the most popular of thoughts. How many of these were correct? Just one of course, that being the slim […]
Sean (better known as JackSepticEye) is one of the sweetest, most genuine guys on the internet, so it’s no surprise he just reached 12 million subscribers on Youtube. He is the only Youtuber that Pewdiepie gave a shout-out to that has made it this far and been this successful. At PAX West in Seattle he had his own panel on 9/5/16 that brought in an estimated 2500 people.
I had a nice chuckle when I saw this one. The Last Guardian, the video game best known for perpetually being in development has gotten another delay today. It’ll now hit in December.
By: Zeila Edrial Happy National Video Games Day! In honor of the day, it’s appropriate to highlight one of my favorite YouTube channels, markiplierGAME. Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) is a Let’s Play personality whose channel has been around since May 2012 and has garnered over 14 million subscribers. “Let’s Plays” have grown in popularity, and they involve people […]
Everyone deserves to have a little fun before back-to-school season begins – and this applies to both kids and their parents. Starting on Aug. 26, Nintendo rolls out a stellar set of offers for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, including some of Nintendo’s biggest hits dropping to a suggested retail price of $19.99 […]


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BGR writes today about a new report from DigiTimes? research division that looks at the effect that tablets are having on the notebook market. While recent figures and research have always suggested that at some point tablet sales would exceed notebook sales, it was not expected to happen that soon. NPD Group, for example, said at the beginning of this year that it expected tablet sales to eventually surpass notebook sales in 2016. Based on DigiTimes? new figures, however, tablet sales look set to topple notebook sales much sooner than that, as soon as next year, 2013, in fact. DigiTimes says that it thinks tablet sales will grow 38.3% annually in 2013, reaching 210 million units, which would beat laptop PC shipments for the first time. DigiTimes also says that Apple will still be the top tablet seller worldwide in 2013, but its market share will fall to 55.6% from 60% in 2012, excluding white-box tablet sales. Including off-brand tablets, DigiTimes says that Android will be the most popular tablet OS in 2013, with total shipments of 121 million.
Source: Tablet sales 2013: Tablets to top notebook PC sales next year | BGR
Which company can hack the nexus where Apple and Nintendo meet?
I write sometimes about Nintendo, and I write sometimes (okay, often) about Apple, but rarely do I mention them in the same breath, or blog post. Both are players in hardware, to be sure, but they inhabit totally different regions in my mind. Nintendo makes gaming consoles. Apple makes iPhones. Sure, gaming consoles can connect to the web nowadays, and iPhones can play video games. But surely the companies aren
Remember, leaving a comment to this post won't get you entered… click the image above to head to the contest post and leave a comment there. Good luck!
The Contest ends at 12 Noon PT on Monday, November 19th, 2012, so HURRY UP AND ENTER!
iPad mini hasn?t even been out long and analysts are already predicting the new iDevice will prove to be the doom of rival tablet manufactures. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu feels like the iPad Mini will grow to be an immense threat to other brands of tablets.
Wu thinks other manufacturers have done a lousy job at designing a device for the $400-and beyond sector. He feels that if Apple will release a tablet priced under $300, the situation would become even more dramatic.
"We continue to believe iPad mini is the competition’s worst nightmare and will likely slow down adoption of competitor tablets. In particular, we believe this could end up being a very tough holiday season for Windows 8,? said Wu in his note to investors.
Even with iPads being priced starting with $399, Android tablets are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the tablets put out by Apple. Nevertheless, it is still unclear if Cupertino will decide to design a tablet whose price will be cut off as to reach the $199 segment which tablets like Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 rule at the moment.
Wu also pointed towards Microsoft?s Surface RT tablet which he feels is extremely overpriced at $599.
Even if the iPad mini was first rumored to be priced in the $249-299 range, Wu believes that the current price won?t affect the sales of the shrunken tablet. He reminds readers of what happened with the iPod mini and iPod nano.
"This controversy reminds us of what happened with iPod mini and iPod nano. Both predecessors were criticized as being overpriced but went on to do much better than expected. The key reason being high quality at a reasonable price and we see something similar here."
iPad mini is Windows 8 hardware makers’ worst nightmare, analyst says
With the success of the original Galaxy Note, and critical praise for its successor, the Note 2, it seems Samsung may be looking to expand its Note line even further, possibly bringing to market a smaller Note tablet device. That's what's suggested by a new DLNA certification filing, which lists a Samsung "GT-N5110" with digital media server and playback capabilities. So far all "GT-N" series devices have come to market as Galaxy Notes — the original was GT-N7000, the Note 10.1 is GT-N8000 and the Note 2 followed as GT-N7100 — so there's little doubt in our mind that the N5110 is most likely another Galaxy Note product.
Conventional wisdom suggests that it could be a 7 8 or 9-inch tablet, filling the gap between the Note 2 and Note 10.1, as SamMobile speculates this morning. However, aside from the name, we know nothing about this device, so we're willing to keep an open mind.
Assuming Samsung is working on a 7-9-inch Galaxy Note tablet, CES in January and Mobile World Congress in February are both strong possibilities for launch venues. MWC in particular might be likely, as that's where we saw the Note 10.1 last year, along with the entire Galaxy Tab 2 range.
Any wild theories about what we might see on such a device? Shout out in the comments.
A bold experiment by the One Laptop Per Child organization has shown
A little something for all you 7-Inch tablet owners out there who've been missing out on Ustream. v2.0.3 of the Ustream app, which includes support for such device as the Nexus 7 has now arrived in the Google Play Store and is ready for download.
In addition to the new device support, Ustream has also included several streaming improvements and various other bug fixes. Oh, and in case you didn't already know. The Ustream app is a great way to take part in the Android Central podcast, when we're live.
Will tablets that can transform into laptops challenge the iPad?
The meteoric rise of Apple’s iPad has caused many people to neglect their laptops, or put off buying a new one. But many tablets released for Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system next month will attempt to make peace between the two formats—they’ll ship with snap-on keyboards.
The iPad has already become notorious for establishing itself as a worthy tool in the field of education. Surveys have been made to prove its effectiveness and schools have rushed to acquire as many as they could. Now the educational tablet goes international.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai kick-starterd last week the Mohammad Bin Rashid Initiative for Smart Learning for higher education in the country at the Abu Dhabi Men?s Collage.
The tablets are destined to 13,000 students in their first years of university education of Zayed University, the Emirates University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. The event was graced by the presence of some of the most illustrious personalities in the country like ministers and deans of colleges. Sheikh Mohammad visited the iPad training classes and observed students engaged in iPad related activities.
?It took eight months of planning and a very careful assessment of our campus? ability to handle these intriguing devices,? explained Thomas Cochran, Associate Provost and Campus Director of Zayed University.
Second year IT student and IT project coordinator at HCT Mohammad Khaled Salmen explained to reporters present at the event that the initiative aims to break student?s reliance on paper-based knowledge, highlighting the eco-friendly side of this project. In that sense, the IT department has prohibited students from printing any of their materials thus ensuring the act of studying and learning remains only tablet based.
The program has already started and in the first week, in order to familiarize themselves with the devices, students were asked by educators to take pictures with their iPads of the campus grounds.
?This was the first step taken in engaging the students, ?explained Mohammad Khaled Salmen
Source: Ipad Application Development Dubai
With all the companies trying to copy Apple designs, it?s not surprising that the tech giant would want to protect its intellectual property and patent every single invention it has made so far. Cupertino is now trying to get an iPad Smart Cover patented.
The filing has been made public by the US Patent and Trademark Office and it is entitled ?Packaging Assembly?. So basically Apple isn?t interested in the technology making the cover ?smart? but in the packaging. Cupertino explains in the patent that in today?s super competitive tech market, it should be important to design not only great advanced products but also smart and intuitive accessories to serve those devices.
?While many designs and techniques used to package products have generally worked well in the past, there is always a desire to improve packaging, such that improved functionality and/or appearance is provided.?
The Smart Cover for the iPad not only looks good but it?s a perfect fit for iPad users. Remember the iPad 2 Smart Cover and its reputation of being a ?frustration free? item every Apple tablet user should own. Well that?s what Apple is actually hoping to patent and keep competition away from. The Cover has been designed by Jony Ive, Apple?s design chief that is known to work with a large team of Apple specialists like Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Danielle de Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russel-clarke, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, and Rico Zorkendorfer.
Source: PACKAGING ASSEMBLY – Apple Inc.


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Foodie Finds: New cheesy mac flavors
Set that blue box down. There's a new boxed mac 'n' cheese in town.
In April Cracker Barrel Cheese introduced four of its own mac 'n' cheese flavors, using its award-winning cheeses: sharp cheddar, sharp white cheddar, cheddar havarti and sharp cheddar & bacon.
Unlike typical boxed varieties, these 11.9- to 14-ounce boxed products use a pouch of cheese sauce instead of powder plus milk. Just squeeze the sauce into the hot cooked and drained macaroni, and dinner for four is served.
We tried three varieties, and while nothing is as good as homemade, these all came a step closer. The macaroni is plumper, the sauce is cheesier — and more flavorful, if not exactly that true intense 'sharp' cheese flavor. The bacon adds an interesting smoky note in the sharp cheddar & bacon variety.
The company — interestingly, owned by Kraft, and of no relation to the Cracker Barrel stores/restaurants — also says its mac 'n' cheese contains no artificial flavors or dyes.
They're available in grocery stores nationwide; suggested retail price is $3.49 a box.


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Today Autodesk announced that beginning February 1, 2016 most of its CAD software will be available only as a subscription license.
While users who currently own either a perpetual license or maintenance subscription will be able to keep their seats as is, those looking to invest in new Autodesk software after February of next year will have to sign-up for the company’s Desktop Subscription Service.
According to Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk Senior VP, the company’s switch to a subscription only paradigm is a reflection of the rapidly changing world of manufacturing and design.
"How the world is designed and made is changing, and how software is delivered is changing as well. The companies that embrace these changes will lead their industries toward a more nimble, connected and richer future… Our customers have long asked for greater flexibility and more value from their software investments. The shift to subscription allows Autodesk to deliver both, as well as an improved user experience and easier access to a broader portfolio of technology.”
As part of Autodesk’s new subscription plan users will have access to the same software that they’ve used for years as well as a new, improved scheme for software deployment, upgrades and maintenance. Rather than having to wait for service packs and yearly releases Desktop Subscription customers will have the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art tools at their disposal as soon as they’re released. What’s more, installation and management of updates will be easier regardless of whether you own one seat of Autodesk software or several hundred.
That’s the good news for customers. The good news for Autodesk is that soon all people who want to use Autodesk products will have to pay a regular fee to gain access.
While Autodesk’s move may irk some users, the move, in my opinion is a smart one. With barriers to starting a company, and even shaking up an industry, falling left and right, Autodesk’s new model is right in line with current design and manufacturing trends.
As more info about Autodesk’s Desktop Subscription service continues to pour in, we’ll have updates for you. This is a big day in the world of CAD. Watch this space.


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While Uber, Lyft, and other app-based rideshare and delivery companies have spent more than $200 billion to convince voters that employing full-time drivers wasn’t possible in California, a new rideshare option is coming to the L.A. market.
Dallas-based Alto will be available in Los Angeles beginning on December 8. The company calls itself “the safety-first rideshare experience” and touts a team of fully employed drivers. Alto mainly offers SUVs, all of which are operated by vetted and uniformed drivers.
In an interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Alto CEO and founder Will Coleman released the following statement: “We’re excited to showcase the success of our W2 employee-based model in Los Angeles for both riders and drivers with safety and consistency at the core of our rideshare experience. We’ve seen first hand how people can benefit from this type of experience in Texas and look forward to bringing our elevated experience to the Los Angeles area.”
With Alto, rides will be pricier than standard Uber and Lyft rides. According to an Alton spokesperson, the rides land between Uber’s two premium options, Uber X and Uber Black, at around $2 or $3 more than the Uber X option.
Even with the more expensive rides, the brand hopes its focus on safety will help people justify the additional cost—especially during the pandemic. The company’s vehicles are equipped with plexiglass barriers and HEPA air filters. Between rides, vehicles are sprayed with a hospital-grade sanitizing mist that’s reported to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.
While Uber and Lyft had to rush to implement safety procedures when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Alto was able to launch its business with safety measures in place. The Dallas Morning News referred to the company as being “built for a global pandemic.”
As another stay-at-home order takes effect in L.A. County, Alto’s leadership hopes the company will be able to continue to bring in a profit. Regarding the company’s pricing model, Coleman said, “What once used to be a question of a couple of dollars is now a question of safety. COVID-19 is forcing rideshare customers to rethink things.”
For more information on the latest rideshare industry news, click here to visit our blog. In the event you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident, regardless of the company, the Rideshare Law Group is ready to help you recover. Contact us today for more information.


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Smartphones – and retailers’ accompanying apps – are a key tool in the shopper’s buying process. While the adoption of mobile payments still remains small, the power of mobile to influence shopping decisions (and ultimately purchases) continues to grow according to a recent Deloitte study.
In fact, Deloitte forecasts that in the U.S. alone, the impact of smartphones on retail sales will increase to between 17% and 21%, which is between $628 and $782 million in sales by 2016.
Nearly half (46%) of smartphone owners use their devices to research items before or during a store visit. Deloitte found a correlation: when shoppers use their mobile devices in-store they are more likely to make a purchase. Specifically, the study shows that 74% of shoppers that use a retailer or brand mobile app or visit their mobile site will make a purchase, compared to 66% of smartphone owners who don’t use a mobile app or site.
When measuring the success of your mobile app or mobile site, remember that it is a tool in the buying process. A good mobile experience can increase both in-store purchases and online purchases if you are set up to capitalize on both. Since shoppers now use multiple devices (smartphones, tablets and PCs), a shopping experience that begins on a mobile device can end in-store, or move from mobile device to tablet to PC. A purchase on any of your channels is a win.
You probably don’t need a study to tell you, but this one cements the notion that your mobile app is very important in a shopper’s decision-making process – and its influence will only continue to grow.


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Dec. 31, 2013
As the New Year approaches, Councilman Michael Nowakowski wants to remind residents that using consumer fireworks is prohibited in Phoenix. Additionally, it is illegal to sell fireworks to those under the age of 16.
The use of fireworks in Phoenix is now a Class 1 Misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,500 and up to six months in jail. The use of some novelty items is allowed, including snappers, snap caps, glow worms, snakes, party poppers, toy smoke devices and sparklers. More information can be found on the Fire Department's Fireworks webpage.
“Family celebrations can turn to tragedy in an instant,” said Councilman Nowakowski, chairman of the Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee. “I urge caution when using any of the legal novelty items – such as a sparkler – especially around children, and the illegal fireworks are simply not worth the risk to your family or your wallet.”
For more information about fire safety, visit the Fire Department website.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Hey, what's Mandarin for 'WTF is going on?' Nokia phones caught spewing device IDs to China, software blunder blamed
Maker insists the privacy cock-up has been fixed, mostly
An undisclosed number of Nokia 7 Plus smartphones have been caught sending their identification numbers to a domain owned by a Chinese telecom firm.
The handsets spaffed the data in clear text over the internet to a server behind the domain vnet.cn, which appears to be owned by China Telecom. The HTTP POST requests from the devices included IMEI numbers, SIM numbers, and MAC identifiers, which can be potentially used to identify and track the cellphones.
According to HMD Global, which bought the Nokia phone business from Microsoft in 2016, a limited number of Nokia devices have been communicating by mistake to "a third party server."
"We have analyzed the case at hand and have found that our device activation client meant for another country was mistakenly included in the software package of a single batch of Nokia 7 Plus," an HMD Global spokesperson explained to The Register in an email. "Due to this mistake, these devices were erroneously trying to send device activation data to a third party server."
The company's spokesperson did not respond to requests to say how many phones are in "a small batch" or to confirm the software was intended for phone activation in China.
In January, security researcher Dirk Wetter identified a GitHub repo with Java code designed to handle some form of Android device registration, credited to Qualcomm, that includes the vnet.cn domain and a reference to China Telecom.
According to a
whois lookup, vnet.cn is registered to China Telecom.
Haha! Conformist 'Droids! Yep, that's what's most profitableREAD MORE
HMD insists "no personally identifiable information has been shared with any third party" and the the data sent was never processed – presumably because the activation attempt would fail in the absence of account data associated with an actual telecom customer in China.
The Finnish phone maker says a patch to fix the activation software in affected phones was released in February and nearly all these devices have installed it. The biz adds that collecting activation data is standard practice in the telecom industry and that it "takes the security and privacy of its consumers seriously."
So too does Finland's data protection ombudsman Reijo Aarnio, who is looking into the incident for possible data protection law violations, according to Reuters.
While HMD may have run afoul of the EU data protection regime, its misplaced activation software looks less problematic than apps and SDKs that transmit sensitive data deliberately. ®


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On Jan. 24, chip giant Intel (INTC 1.14%) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2018 and issued financial guidance for the entirety of 2019. The company's results and outlook both fell short of expectations, sending the shares tumbling.
During the conference call that accompanied the results, Intel management provided a number of insights that current and potential investors in the company should pay attention to. Here are the five that I'd like to highlight.
When does the processor shortage end?
As you might recall, Intel warned back on its Oct. 25 earnings call that it simply didn't have the manufacturing capacity in place to meet all of the demand that it was seeing for its products during the fourth quarter. As a result, the company prioritized the production of its Xeon data center chips and its higher-end Core processors for the PC market at the expense of its lower-end PC processors as well as its Internet of Things (IoT) business.
CFO and interim CEO Bob Swan admitted on the company's most recent earnings call that "when the dust settles on PC [total addressable market], our expectation is it was probably flat and our shipments were down 2%" saying that the company "delivered every product that we could right up through December 31st."
"So we did have some constraints on the ecosystem and on our customers during the course of the quarter," Swan explained.
When does this shortage end? According to Swan, "Our expectation is working with our customers that we will be through the supply constraints as we exit the second quarter of the year."
10-nanometer tech update
Intel's next-generation chip manufacturing technology, currently referred to by the marketing name "10nm," is years late to production. Since many of the company's future products rely on this technology -- Intel showed off multiple pre-production parts built using this technology during its CES 2019 presentation -- investors should be interested in updates on how this technology is progressing.
Chief Engineering Officer Murthy Renduchintala explained on the call that he "[feels] better about our [10nm] traction today than I did 90 days ago."
"So that continues to bode well for our product launch ambitions, which Bob [Swan] summarized as having systems on shelf for holiday season in 2019 with a barrage of products across all our businesses to follow shortly thereafter," he added.
On the call, analyst John Pitzer asked management the following question: "And importantly, how are you thinking about increased competition in 2019 in the data centric businesses, especially in the server business as you think about mid-single-digit year-over-year growth?"
Swan said that "we're going into 2019 with every expectation to compete, to protect our share position across our entire business" and that "we're obviously investing in the capital required to ensure we don't constrain our customers' growth."
Where's the CEO?
As you might remember, Intel's last permanent CEO, Brian Krzanich, resigned back in June 2018. More than seven months later, the company has yet to name a permanent successor to Krzanich. The company's permanent CFO, Bob Swan, has been serving as interim CEO as the search continues.
While Bloomberg reported on Jan. 14 that the company's board of directors wanted to pick its new CEO by Jan. 24, that obviously didn't happen.
On the call, Swan did provide an update, though, saying that he is "convinced the board will close on a new CEO in the near future and I believe the management team, my self and 107,000 employees will rally behind him or her to take this company to a whole new level."
On the call, analyst Ambrish Srivastava had the following to say:
Bob, I just wanted to go back to the NSG and the profitability in what was a really booming year for memory. Obviously, prices started to come down back half of the year but NSG was barely profitable. So just from a CFO perspective, what is your tolerance level for having a business segment that could go into a deep cyclical downturn and -- not could, it is heading into a deep cyclical downturn. So how do you think about having a commodity within the Intel umbrella and again, the tolerance for lack of profitability?
Swan said that he's "not too excited" about "having a commodity in the portfolio," which is "why the investments we're making in memory are for what we believed differentiated technology both in the manufacturing process capabilities of 3D NAND, but also the differentiated technology for Optane and the role it plays, both on the PC side but most important for us on the data-centric side."
In other words, Intel isn't investing in memory so that it can be just another commodity memory manufacturer, but so that it can build products that can complement and strengthen its platform offerings in its core businesses.


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Apple and Samsung Drop Lawsuits Outside US
Apple and Samsung said they will cease squabbling over patents in various courts around the world. "Apple and Samsung have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the United States," they said in a statement. "This agreement does not involve any licensing arrangements, and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in U.S. courts." Apple and Samsung have been slugging it out in courts for years over smartphone patents in countries around the globe, including Australia, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and the U.K. The two companies still have ongoing unresolved court cases in the U.S. Apple won a major victory in 2012 and a smaller one earlier this year, though the cases are in various stages of appeal.


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By simply adding two vertical white lines within an animated GIF, you can create moving images that seemingly pop out toward you. The 3D trick works because of how our brains interpret a foreground object when it moves in front of those lines.
If you grew up watching the Discovery Channel in the 90s, you might be disappointed by the lack of amazing, life-changing tech around you now. Take a look at the inFORM though, and we bet you'll be thoroughly amazed.
Solid Concepts, a firm based in Texas, has made the world's first metal gun using a 3D printer. Solid Concepts set out to make a gun based on the Browning 1911 pistol to prove that they can make weapons fit for "real world applications."
The Kúla Deeper is an accessory that turns any DSLR into a 3D camera, using a simple frame with mirrors. Accompanying software converts the image into various 3D formats, including viewing on 3D-capable TVs. Kúla is currently seeking funding.
How about attending a business meeting at your company where everyone around the table except you is a 3D holographic avatar? If Skype and Microsoft choose to push ahead with their technology, it could become a reality.
Don't put off your dream of building a home theater for one more second. Our DIY guide shows how to build an impressive home theater from the projector to the power strip for about $3,000. Each component is hand selected for offering outstanding performance…
If you were shopping for a TV three years ago, you were probably bombarded with talk of how 3D was the “next big thing." But it's now just a footnote that barely measures up to smart TV features and the looming 4K Ultra HD TVs. So why didn’t 3D ever take…
Definitely another nail in the coffin for the future of 3D television, BBC has decided to end a two year trial of 3D content production citing extremely low demand for the service among UK viewers.
Who wants something that could turn your iPhone into a 3D camera? It turns out that, unsurprisingly, the answer is "a lot of people," after a Kickstarter project reached its $40,000 goal in just nine hours.
As 3D adoption continues to limp along among U.S. consumers, ESPN has made a decision to stop producing 3D programming and get rid of the ESPN 3D channel in order to free up resources for Ultra HD.
Better known for its custom installation products, Sherbourn Technologies has just launched its Pro-caliber SR-8100 7.1 A/V receiver for only $800.
Rumors concerning an Amazon-produced Android smartphone continue to spread, with the latest report indicating the company may be exploring the use of 3D display technology to make its device really standout.
Consumers looking for a great deal on a new AV receiver have a number of great choices under $1,000 now, including the new AVR 3700 from Harman Kardon which supports 4K, 3D, and AirPlay.
Boxee TV has rolled out support for DLNA and 3D, a new TV guide, and easier DVR programming. But is that enough to distract attention from the newly-released Roku 3?


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Performance oriented hybrids have been released by some of the most exotic car makers in the world this year, and it looks like General Motors is now considering upping the ante of its extended-range hybrid.
This set of spy photos show a Cadillac ELR testing, wearing some out-of-the-ordinary performance parts. The most noticeable upgrades improve the stopping power of the car, hinting that more forward thrust will be available from the powertrain.
In the photos, you can see four-piston front calipers and single-piston rear calipers, like those found on the Buick Regal GS. The rotors are also borrowed from the Regal GS, which are one-inch wider than the stock units found on the ELR. Finally, the car is sporting some camouflage over the grille which is likely hiding some new styling cues.
This may be a full on Cadillac ELR-V, but the more likely scenario is that this prototype is previewing an ELR V Sport model. The ‘V Sport’ badge denotes a higher level of performance, but not quite the insane level that comes with a fully fledged ‘V’ car.
GALLERY: Cadillac ELR-V Spy Photos
Discuss this story at our Cadillac ELR Forum


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An expansion into the Latin American market and a new licence from the Malta Gaming Authority have helped BGaming to achieve its most successful year on record, with the company having “doubled in size” since its inception.
Over the last 12 months, the studio reported that it had doubled its gross gaming revenue, bets and bets count while crypto growth saw an increase of 125 per cent.
“There is a good saying: We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are,” highlighted Executive Director Marina Ostrovtsova.
“So our growth is determined by our team which, by the way, we also doubled in size and our ability to be flexible and adjust ourselves and our flows according to what we have right here right now.
“The quality of our internal communication and what we air into the market is getting more efficient and stronger – that is how I would determine our growth.”
BGaming’s network of partners also grew from 405 to 709 online casinos, marking a 175 per cent increase over the past year.
Considered to be among the world’s first igaming providers to support cryptocurrencies, a significant share of these partnerships are “fast-growing crypto projects”, which BGaming believes “are in demand among players due to the popularity of digital currencies”.
Celebrating the launch of 11 new slots in 2021, the firm also noted that during the period it had included new mechanics in its first refilling reels slot, Bonanza Billion, and its debut multiplayer crash game Space XY.
Additionally, the most popular character in BGaming’s portfolio, Elvis Frog in Vegas, saw continued success via the launch of Aloha King Elvis slot.
Fruit Million, first released in December 2020, has shown “the fastest growth”, said the firm, with results increasing 13-fold in 2021 as new variations of the title were introduced throughout the year.
The title has, in fact, become a “source of inspiration”, according to BGaming, prompting it to branch out into a new product style badged as Brand Exclusive slots. The move, said the firm, represents a “new approach” to creating branded titles based on customisation.
Kate Puteiko, CS marketing manager, commented: “I believe our success is closely tightened to the ability of the BGaming team to cherish the entertainment needs and desires of players in general and at the same time embrace the partners’ needs in being outstanding and exclusive and delivering the best and unique experience to their players.”
Summarising its aims for the year ahead, BGaming expressed hopes that 2022 will be “even more innovative”. With plans to enter new markets – particularly highlighting Asia and Africa – the studio is also looking forward to implementing a jackpot system and looking for new crypto solutions.
“The most important thing we learned in 2021 is that we know what to do to grow faster,” said Alexandr Shavel, head of the firm’s business development department.
He concluded: “The year 2022 is promising for the studio. BGaming will keep developing its lineup to offer players a diverse portfolio of engaging titles. Also, we see that crypto projects have become an integral part of online gambling. So we strive to keep abreast of this trend by offering new products such as Space XY.”


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The 2010 International CES will feature top companies with the latest products in digital imaging hardware and software in its Digital Imaging Showcase. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2010 International CES, the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer technology, returns to Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10, 2010.
“Digital imaging connects consumers and their memories across multiple product categories,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. “With consumers looking to improve the quality of their digital libraries, the Digital Imaging Showcase at this year’s CES will be bigger than ever before, as innovative companies exhibit their latest products.”
Picture Business & Mobile Lifestyle magazine will also feature a special Guide to the CES Digital Imaging Showcase in their December issue. This 36-page insert, that will also enjoy bonus distribution at the 2010 CES Show, will feature and highlight digital imaging specific products, exhibits, sessions and technology at the 2010 International CES Show.
Digital imaging – and high quality digital cameras in particular – remain a central focus for consumers, as household penetration of digital cameras reaches nearly 80 percent and shipments of digital cameras featuring more than 10 megapixels are projected to increase by 237 percent in 2009. Shipments of digital cameras will generate $6 billion in sales in 2009, with more than 30.5 million units sold.
The Digital Imaging Showcase will feature more than 37,000 square feet of exhibit space, with more than 60 exhibitors in South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. This dedicated exhibit area will feature all aspects of the imaging product category, including cameras and capture devices, storage, software, printers, kiosks, bags and accessories.
Top imaging companies will be featured at the 2010 CES such as ATP, Kodak, Iomega, Tiffen, Wacom and Wynit. Other major imaging companies exhibiting at the 2010 CES include Canon, Casio, Fuji, JVC, Lowepro, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.
The 2010 International CES will feature the latest consumer technology products throughout 30 product categories including digital entertainment, high-performance audio, digital imaging, electronic gaming and more. For more information and to register to attend the 2010 International CES visit www.CESweb.org , the interactive source for CES information.


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Tonight, the 2018 Primetime Emmys will be broadcast from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. For the first time in 17 years, television network HBO has been knocked off its top spot as most nominated, with shows such as The Crown and Stranger Things earning Netflix a whopping 112 Emmy nominations.
The TV streaming service received its first Primetime Emmys nomination just five years ago, but since it began heavily investing in original content, the award nominations have flooded in.
Hosted by Saturday Night Live comedians Michael Che and Colin Jost, this year’s Primetime Emmys could be the first year that a streaming service takes home the most awards.
This is the first year that Netflix has overtaken HBO. For the last 17 years, HBO has been the network with the most nominations, but this year it has been narrowly beaten after receiving 108 nominations. The next highest is NBC with 78 nominations.
Netflix’s most-nominated show is The Crown, which has 13 nominations, followed by Godless and Stranger Things, which both have 12. However, the two shows with the highest number of nominations are both produced by HBO. Game of Thrones has racked up 22 nominations and Westworld has 21.
This comes after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, who acquired the network for more than $80bn in 2016, described Netflix as the “Walmart of video streaming” while comparing HBO to luxury jewellery chain Tiffany.
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However, HBO has not been out-shon just yet. Last week’s Creative Arts Emmys saw HBO hold onto its crown and win 17 awards compared with Netflix’s 16.
The Netflix effect?
The dominance of Netflix is a reflection of the increasing presence of streaming services in the entertainment industry. Although other streaming services are playing catch-up, with Amazon and Hulu on 22 and 27 Emmy nominations respectively, Netflix still dominates.
Netflix’s Emmy success does not come as a surprise. The streaming service has reportedly pumped up to $8bn into its original content this year, compared to HBO’s $2.5bn spend.
The meteoric rise of streaming has seen others follow suit, with Facebook launching its own streaming service, Facebook Watch, last month, and Apple bagging its first award for original content at the Creative Arts Emmys with Apple Music’s Carpool Karaoke: The Series took home the award for Short Form Variety Series.
The rise of Netflix, and the variety of content it offers, has also caused traditional TV stations to re-think their strategies. In 2016, HBO announced that it was changing its focus from niche programming to content with more of a mass appeal.
Seeing streaming services during the awards season is no longer surprising. The 75th annual Golden Globes saw Amazon’s The Marvellous Mrs Maisel take home the award for Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy, while Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale won for Best Series: Drama.
With 22.2 million Americans estimated to have cancelled their cable services in 2017, this is only set to continue.
Of course, it remains to be seen which of the two will win the highest number of Primetime Emmys on the night, with award show favourite Game of Thrones expected to bring home several wins for HBO, but nominations alone signify that original content from streaming services is receiving its fair share of nods from the industry.


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Sweetest feeling at Beech's Fine Chocolates as profits grow after M&S contract
One of Britain’s oldest chocolate makers has managed to post a £100,000 profit after securing a contract to supply Marks & Spencer.
Beech’s Fine Chocolates, which opened its doors in Preston in 1920, had been making a loss for years and almost shut five years ago.
But new owners Andrew Whiting and Robert White persuaded M&S to use its chocolate brazils, after dinner mints and rose and violet creams, for its own-brand chocolates. These now form 40 per cent of sales for Beech’s.
Sweet profits: Beech's Fine Chocolates opened its doors in Preston in 1920
The firm, which has just posted its annual figures, said sales reached £4.5million after it sold 2.2million boxes of M&S confectionery and 1.6million boxes of its Beech’s brands.


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The Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is alleging that Paramount Equity Mortgage Inc. “has engaged in a number of deceptive lending practices.” The department wants to revoke the California company’s license to do business in the state and fine it $500,000.
According to the DFI, Paramount “is accused of charging and collecting unearned fees, charging consumers to buy down interest rates without actually reducing the rate, failing to make required disclosures and making state and federally required disclosures in a deceptive manner.”
DFI officials said Paramount, which used its President Hayes Barnard in its advertising, talked about its “mortgage bank” offers, despite not being a bank.
“Paramount failed to make proper disclosures in almost every loan we reviewed,” said Deb Bortner, director of DFI’s division of consumer services, in a statement.
An effort to contact a Paramount representative for comment was unsuccessful.


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YouTube founder Chad Hurley is ending day-to-day involvement with the video-sharing site. The job of CEO will go to longtime Googler Salar Kamangar, who Hurley said had been effectively running the site for the last few months anyway. Google paid $1.65bn for YouTube back in 2006, and so is presumably hoping Kamangar will steer …
Complete follocks. I hope that sums up my view on Hlaska.
I have this huge pile of cash and it won't spend itself.
/Saunters off while humming the tune to "We're in the money"
- Asteroids as powerful as NUCLEAR BOMBS strike Earth TWICE YEARLY
- Review Ubuntu 14.04 LTS: Great changes, but sssh don't mention the...
- Vid CEO Tim Cook sweeps Apple's inconvenient truths under a solar panel
- Got Windows 8.1 Update yet? Get ready for YET ANOTHER ONE – rumor
- Feature Reg man builds smart home rig, gains SUPREME CONTROL of DOMAIN – Pics


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Capcom Europe recently dropped a small hint of more Wii support to be announced in June.
Whilst discussing sales for Okami on Wii, Capcom's Christian Svensson has revealed that the game has sold less than the PS2 version at this stage of release, "dropping off in an expected pattern. It's only been a couple weeks so I wouldn't expect the drop off to have leveled yet."
Users on the Capcom boards have questioned him into future support for the Wii, and he replied: "as for more support, let's talk in June."
The company will be holding their media summit event towards the end of May, "Captivate08", so it's likely forthcoming Wii projects will be made public after embargoes have been lifted: "To sum up: CAPTIVATE08 Media Summit, coming end of May; all of our news hitting beginning of June."
Thanks to NeoGAF for the tip.
New franchises, ports, or a bunch of shoddy mini-games? What do you feel Capcom will be bringing to the Wii table this year?


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Laptop and computer hardware manufacturers, Gigabyte, has just launched its newest product U2442 Extreme Ultrabook.
In an event held in Taiwan, Gigabyte explained that U2442 Extreme Ultrabook features graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 650M or GT 730M.
In addition, [...]
AMD re-introduce the newest graphics cards in the Radeon HD 7000 series.
The product this time called the Radeon HD 7790 is for gamers middle class because the price is cheap, which is about $130,99 US dollars.
Although cheap, the graphics card is claimed [...]
Eidos Montreal announced a new game genre action adventure titled Thief 4, which is scheduled to be released on the PS4 console, PC and next-gen Xbox.
The game is scheduled to be released in 2014. Thief Game is a reboot of the classic series that brings [...]
The device is also reinforced with a battery that can last 9 hours.
Sandy Storm did make Android Google canceled the event due to be held in New York City, yesterday local time. However, that does not mean Google Nexus series canceled announced their [...]
Iron Man 3 movie has not been released, Gameloft has prepared his game to iOS and Android devices.
Quoted from Slashgear, Thursday (28/3), Iron Man 3 games scheduled to be released on 25 April, or the day before the movie appeared in theaters.
Basically, do not use the lights too bright at night.
Using iPad or watching TV late at night can make you depressed, according to a study showing that exposure to bright light during the hours of sleep can affect levels of stress and behavioral disorders.
Back presents two new features that users are better known Like and Star.
Since the year 2008, the user has to know that the Favorite feature is available and become part of Twitter.
In order to further popularize the feature, Twitter has redesigned [...]
Have you ever felt annoyed when someone you do not know to keep trying to be your friend on Facebook? Several steps were quoted by CNET, Friday (11/02), the following could be a solution.
1. Log in to your Facebook account and select the down arrow in [...]
Having nearly 3.8 million followers.
Won seven Tour de France titles are no longer part of the description of the cyclist Lance Armstrong’s Twitter account.
On Monday evening (10/22), a biography of Armstrong on Twitter are called seven Tour de [...]
Screen HD 1080p will most likely be a top-class smartphone trend in 2013. Currently the majority of upscale smartphones still use 720p HD display, call it the Samsung Galaxy S3, Nokia Lumia 920 or HTC One X +.
A source interviewed by DigiTimes saying [...]
The design is minimalist.
Leaked photo of the latest BlackBerry smart phone cellular seemed talkative use touch screen technology, rated following the design of the iPhone from Apple.
The photos leaked to tech site Vietnam, Tinhte.vn it, believed to [...]


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Tag Archives: Vehicle sales
New-vehicle retail sales in February 2015 are projected to reach 1,033,100 units, which is a 9-percent increase compared with February 2014, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Continue reading
Cars.com analysts forecast April vehicle sales will hit 1,414,120, up 10 percent year-over-year and down 7.8 percent from March. A seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.29 million new-car sales is expected for April, which is an increase of 7.2 percent from this time last year, and decrease of 0.7 percent month-over-month. This would mark the highest April SAAR since 2006, according to officials. Continue reading


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Who doesn’t love the crunchy layers of samosa and the spiciness of their favourite chole kulcha but are afraid to try them at any street food vendors. Food safety is a major concern in India today. Though, the country has welcomed an array of international cuisines but maintaining the safety and hygiene standard is still not up to the mark. And, to solve this problem, FSSAI together with the Ministry of Skill is on a ride to provide hygienic street foods to the food lovers.
Here are five takeaways for you to take home from Health Minister JP Nadda’s speech:
Changing the system: before 2014 the regulators have a very different image and the production side too comes under the image. The corporate thought to remain aloof from all system and the NGO thought that how do they approach the government and see to it to contribute in the whole process. But, today the government is trying to change the system making his wording true ‘sab ka saath sab ka vikaas’ involving all the people together when it comes to coutntry's growth.
Consumer friendly: The government is building an effective team that can connect with the consumers and asking the regulators to be friendly with the consumers. FSSAI recently hosted a programme on food safety initiative wherein it invited people from different fields in an open discussion making it a friendly approach.
Health is wealth: But, in line with this, the food safety watchdog has made it a point that the food being served not only at street vendors but also at restaurants is meeting the basic health parameters.
Educating the vendors: As they are the biggest contributors in the development of the economy, training and education is the need of the hour. FSSAI which is on food safety ride has partnered with local NGOs to train these vendors about the basic hygiene practice.
Make it a practice: Food safety issue should be made a regular practice. Mechanising and industrialising the programme is very essential so as the vendors adhere to it.
Hence, I feel that with government all gear up to change the scenario of food safety in India, the street food is going to be more tasty and hygienic now. Please do share your feedback by commenting on our Facebook, Twitter page.
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On any given weekend around the country, bargain-hunters are lining up on the front door of a home waiting to pick through what’s left of a family’s assets and personal belongings after a death, divorce or decision to downsize.
But the industry of professional estate liquidators who are hired to help manage the staging and pricing of items for an estate sale has, for the most part, remained a local, entrepreneurial endeavor nationwide. According to the American Society of Estate Liquidators, roughly 14,000 people are operating professional estate sales businesses across the country – with varying degrees of training and expertise.
In 2009, after more than 30 years spent going to estate sales and auction events for fun, Raleigh physician Debra Blue and her husband Ken joined those ranks, starting their own estate sales business, Blue Moon Estate Sales.
But shortly thereafter, Debra Blue, now retired from the medical profession, started getting bigger ideas.
“My husband’s way of thinking is ‘how can we save four cents on stickers?’ and mine is ‘how do we ramp this up and go national?’”
She had convinced her son, David Blue, who was finishing up his business degree at the University of Wisconsin, to join her in the Triangle. In 2013, the duo launched the Blue Moon Estate Sales franchise business that’s already grown to 11 territories in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and Texas.
For a $25,000 startup fee, the Blues say they will train franchisees interested in breaking into the business on how to set a fair price for an item, when to seek out an appraiser for a more valuable item, how to stage a home for retail sales – and how to manage the security and crowds that can show up at a big sale.
“We’ll have 400 to 800 people come through a home on a weekend,” she says. “The real estate agents love us because we can usually get more people through a home than they can in an open house.”
On average, a franchise owner who is diligently working to grow the business can expect to gross about $300,000 per year in sales, David Blue says. A typical estate sale will have at least $7,000 in inventory available, and Blue Moon’s managers will usually charge the industry standard 35 percent fee from the total sale proceeds, depending on the complexity of the sale and the pre-staging that is needed.
Another perk of the business model, Debra Blue says, is that there’s no need to invest in office space or to buy inventory: “The client provides that every weekend.”
The goal for Blue Moon’s franchise business, they say, is to get another 30 or so franchises up and operating before the end of 2016 and have at least one in every major city in the U.S. within five years.
“For a long time, this industry has been run by mom-and-pop shops that might not have had a very high level of service,” he says. “People often come from other cities to shop at our Raleigh sales.”
So what are some of the most unusual items they’ve ever sold? The range is wide, he says.
“There was the shag rug made out of 94 monkey pelts,” David Blue says. “And somebody bought it.”
There was also a Geo Metro compact car with 28,000 pennies glued to the car’s entire frame, and a German Nazi helmet that the owner said came from the battles at Normandy.
“There really isn’t anything we can’t sell – except for garbage and explosives,” Debra Blue says.
But what they won’t do are garage sales, and they don’t like to haggle over prices with the homeowners.
“We try to give people fair-market value,” she says, “but we can’t sell anything for a dollar more than people want to pay for it.”


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What's Inside The Oscar Nominees' Gift Bag? Lots Of Cannabis
Canna-companies are hoping to get their CBD and THC products in the hands of Hollywood's biggest influencers.
It's been called Hollywood's biggest night. More like Holly-weed.
When this year's nominees for the 92nd Academy Awards open up their "Everyone Wins" swag bags, they'll find a number of CBD and THC products staring right back at them. The canna-companies starring in this year's gift bag include Coda Signature chocolates, CBD Barkeep simple syrup, Hollowtips vape pen, and SHEbd balm.
The gifts, which are curated by marketing company Distinctive Assets, are valued collectively at over six-figures. All nominees received their collection before the event, which is a good thing because they might want to use some of these products to take the edge off.
In addition to cannabis-infused goodies, the Oscar nominee gift bag also includes such items as a silk kimono robe, a personal training session with a celebrity trainer, a cruise aboard an ultra-luxury yacht, hand-crafted Absinthe, something called a "smart bra", and a free urine test courtesy of a company called Peezy Midstream.
Why the Oscars?
For cannabis companies, the opportunity to be included in the Everyone Wins nominee gift bag is a giant win in their marketing efforts. Restrictions and regulations greatly impede these brands' ability to get their message out there, so they're hoping the power of influential Oscar nominees—such as Scarlett Johansson, Antonio Banderas, Cynthia Erivo, Adam Driver, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Tom Hanks, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Kathy Bates, Quentin Tarantino, Saoirse Ronan, and Leonardo DiCaprio—will help spread the word.
Some companies are going all out. For example, Coda Signature is offering a "Cannabis-Infused Chocolate Culinary Experience," which is curated by Coda’s Head of Edibles Lauren Gockley. This "one-of-a-kind experience" includes a guided edible tasting for 8 adults (21 or older) of Coda’s cannabis-infused chocolate flavors. The experience culminates with a custom chocolate dessert inspired by the nominee’s favorite Coda Signature chocolate flavor.
"We are continually looking for creative and compliant ways to expand the conversation around cannabis and the Everyone Wins gift bags are a perfect platform," says Marji Chimes, Chief Marketing Officer. "By participating in such an iconic pop culture event, Coda Signature is bringing cannabis to center stage. Not only does the gift bag inclusion elevate Coda Signature as a luxury brand, but it also elevates cannabis as a culturally relevant industry."
Chimes says that Coda participated in the swag bag last year and was very pleased with the results. "The gift bag generated a significant buzz about the Coda Signature brand across broadcast, radio, digital and print media outlets, and it contributed to an incredibly successful launch [in California]—we reached over 100 dispensaries within two months, and are still growing fast."
This year's Oscar nominees are hoping these gifts add a little pot luck to their chances of taking home the prize.


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-BBDO Pakistan and Impact BBDO teamed up with Unilever to release a version of the national anthem of Pakistan led by singer Shehzad Roy and sung through face masks to promote personal responsibility to stop the spread of the coronavirus (video above).
-Former Doner creative director Susan Walsh‘s age and gender discrimination lawsuit against Doner is moving to trial.
–Havas Media became the first agency to join Prebid, a coalition of ad-tech companies standardizing programmatic monetization.
-Diageo acquired Ryan Reynold‘s Aviation Gin.
-Recently launched agency Broken Heart Love Affair introduced the first campaign for Canadian paper products company Kruger, entitled “Unapologetically Human.”
-Publishers struggling with ad revenue are turning to commerce.
-35% of Americans think brands should extend their Facebook boycotts.


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EU-funded researchers have developed a sophisticated modelling system capable of gauging the influence of man-made climate change on extreme weather wreaking havoc around the globe, from heat waves and droughts to floods and storm surges.
One of the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ships is harnessing the wind for propulsion, cutting CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, thanks to the installation of an innovative rotor sail developed by an EU-funded project.
Lightweight electric mini-cars could soon be a common sight on the streets of Europe’s cities thanks to longer-lasting batteries, tilting and stackable design, and modular components to bring down the cost of mass production.
About 400 kg per square kilometre: this, according to estimates, is the amount of mostly plastic waste littering European seas. Some of it can be upcycled into high-quality clothing, claimed a Spanish SME, which carried out an EU-funded feasibility study to work out the details. And indeed, such garments are now available in its shops.
Aquaculture, or fish farming, is one of the world’s fastest growing food sectors, providing about half of all the fish we eat. As it stands, climate change is altering our ocean’s environment, causing the seawater to become warmer and impacting the marine ecosystems profoundly. How will these changes affect marine species, consumers and industries that rely on them?


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Shacknews received an early look at the upcoming Transformers Universe MMO, before its forthcoming New York Comic Con presentation. These exclusive screens show off the "graphical style and direction" of the upcoming MMO.
Jagex, best known for their work on RuneScape, is working on a brand new free to play browser MMO based on the Transformers universe called... Transformers Universe. Hasbro and Jagex are aiming at a late 2012 launch, but plans on giving fans a first-look at the game at New York Comic-Con, which begins tomorrow.
Shacknews received an early look at the Comic Con presentation, which shows off the "graphical style and direction" of the upcoming MMO.


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With both moving averages sloping down and the RSI in the negative zone, the path of least resistance is to the downside. Our bearish view will be invalidated if the BNB/USD pair rises above the 50-day SMA. Above this level, a rally to $32.50, followed by a move to lifetime highs is likely. We will wait for the price to sustain above the 50-day SMA before proposing a trade in it.
In January 2015, the company received a US$75 million investment, led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, the New York Stock Exchange, USAA, and several banks. Later in January, the company launched a U.S.-based bitcoin exchange for professional traders called Coinbase Exchange. Coinbase began to offer services in Canada in 2015, but in July 2016, Coinbase announced it would halt services in August after the closure of their Canadian online payments service provider Vogogo.
If the BSV/USD pair rises above $150, it might attract strong buying that can carry the price to $188.69. Above this level, a retest of lifetime highs is likely. Conversely, if the pair turns down from current levels and plunges below $120, it can drop to the next support of $107. As there is no clarity on the direction of the next breakout, we are not recommending a trade in it.
Cryptocurrencies are experiencing a moment of unprecedented attention and speculation for several reasons. 1) The value of Bitcoin has been steadily climbing through 2017, with Ether seemingly poised to overtake the cryptocurrency giant any day; 2) Blockchain technology has purposes above and beyond cryptocurrency, and has been hailed by some as the backbone of the future financial system; 3) The increasing number of people who see cryptocurrency as a form of investment similar to gold. If cryptocurrencies stabilize in value, buying Bitcoin or Ether has the potential to be a worthy venture.
Theft isn’t the only way to part with your Bitcoin. There are frequent reports of people losing the keys to their wallet, and again, this is much like losing cash - there is no way to recover the funds without the keys. It’s estimated that approximately 20% of all existing Bitcoin has been permanently lost. However, given that Bitcoin is a finite resource, some argue that this simply increases the scarcity and theoretical value for other investors.
Since the Bitcoin creation in 2009, the price of this virtual currency remained quite stable until January 2013, reaching a maximum value of approximately 20 U.S. dollars. Afterwards a monthly price growth was observed until October 2013 when the price reached 198 U.S. dollars. This nearly tenfold increase in Bitcoin value proved to be insignificant in comparison to the price rally in November 2013, when the threshold of 1,100 U.S. dollars per coin was broken. After a period of downtrend which followed, Bitcoin price reached 1,349.19 U.S. dollars in April 2017.


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Despite some missteps with Instagram, Meta is marching forward with its plan to make Reels a bigger component of its apps in an attempt to better compete with TikTok. It’s rolling out several updates to Reels, particularly on Facebook’s side. For one thing, everyone can now cross-post Reels from Instagram to Facebook with the tap of a button. Meta suggests that this may help creators to grow their audiences on the apps and monetize their content across both platforms.
In addition, Facebook now offers a way to automatically create Reels using Stories you have already shared. The idea is to help folks create Reels with little additional effort. On
→ Continue reading at Engadget


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The Brew Kettle's White Rajah is one of the most popular IPAs in Ohio. The Black Rajah isn't doing too bad, either.
The Strongsville brewery decided to release Black Rajah, a black IPA, in bottles about a month ago, with the plan to offer it about four times a year. But it's selling so well, the brewery has decided to offer Black Rajah in bottles year-round, brewer Jack Kephart said this week.
"It seems to be a pretty big hit," he said. "We're the only black IPA made in Ohio [sold in bottles] as of now. That's kind of a niche that nobody's filled yet."
The beer, made with Citra hops, is 6.8 percent alcohol by volume. It's available in 12-ounce six-packs.


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United States markets were lower in early trading on Monday as a record-setting drive lost some of its steam.
KEEPING SCORE Near midday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.21 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index was down 0.29 percent. The Nasdaq composite index dropped 0.28 percent.
The Russell 2000, an index of smaller companies, was down 0.7 percent. That index has risen for 15 days in a row, its longest streak in 20 years. All of those indexes finished at record highs on Friday.
CLEARANCE Consumer discretionary stocks were especially hard-hit. Shares of the online retail giant Amazon fell 1.8 percent after Citigroup analysts cut their price target on the stock, citing deep discounting by the retailer to compete during the holiday shopping season. Shares of Barnes & Noble fell 1.9 percent on reports that the book seller was also doing deep discounting.
ON THE NEWSSTANDS Shares of the magazine publisher Time jumped 18 percent after The New York Post reported that the company had rejected a buyout offer from the investor Edgar Bronfman Jr.
OIL Major oil producers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries were scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss output cuts to bolster prices. Oil prices have been exceptionally volatile amid the uncertainty, falling sharply in early Monday trading before recovering. The benchmark New York rate was up $1.48, at $47.47 a barrel while Brent, the international standard, was $1.38 higher, at $48.62.
EUROPEAN MARKETS In Germany, the DAX fell 1.1 percent and in France, the CAC 40 lost 0.9 percent. The FTSE 100 was down 0.6 percent in Britain.
ASIA’S DAY The Nikkei 225 declined 0.1 percent in Japan, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.5 percent. The Shanghai composite index added 0.5 percent in China. The Kospi was up 0.2 percent in South Korea. In Australia, the S.&P./ASX 200 lost 0.8 percent, while the Sensex in India was up 0.1 percent. Benchmarks in Manila and Jakarta also declined.
BONDS AND CURRENCIES The euro slipped 0.1 percent to $1.0575 while the dollar fell 0.5 percent to 112.33 yen. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.33 percent.
Continue reading the main story


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TGA says it is prepared for any shortages resulting from a no-deal Brexit
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says it will implement “transitional arrangements to provide for minimal interruption in the supply of medical devices in Australia” in the event of a ‘no deal’ exit of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU).
In newly-issued advice to health practitioners and consumers, the TGA says it is accounting for “the various scenarios” that may result from Brexit.
The UK and EU recently agreed to a Brexit extension, through to 31 January 2020. The UK may leave with ‘no deal’ if the withdrawal agreement (‘deal’) is not approved by 31 January 2020, or at the end of a transition period.
In the event of a Brexit ‘no deal’, there will be no impact on the supply of medicines to Australia from the UK, the TGA says.
“Under the UK-Australia MRA on Conformity Assessment, existing arrangements will continue, with the TGA accepting batch certification on MHRA Certificates for supply of medicines from the UK to the Australian Market”.
Under the proposed Brexit ‘deal’, there will also be no immediate impact on the supply of medicines to Australia from the UK.
“The existing arrangements will continue under the UK-Australia MRA as under the EU-Australia MRA, the agency says.
“Similarly, if the timeframe for the exit of the UK from the EU is extended, current arrangements will continue, under the EU-Australia MRA, until an exit occurs”.
In the event of a ‘no deal’ exit, the TGA will implement transitional arrangements to provide for minimal interruption in the supply of medical devices from the UK.
The TGA says it will continue accepting conformity assessment documents issued by UK notified bodies for existing products while these remain current for the purposes of UK market authorisation.
This will apply to both existing Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) entries and applications for new inclusions of medical devices in ARTG.


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Last year when the Google Pixel was announced, we compared it to its closest competitor, the iPhone 7. And then for fun, we compared those images against the Leica Q since they all share a equivalent field-of-view to a full frame 28mm lens. This year, Google and Apple both announced hardware upgrades that scored top…
DxOMark published their sensor review for the Nikon D850 and as I already predicted, the D850 is the first DSLR camera to hit 100 points (click for larger view): "The introduction of the first BSI sensor in a full-frame Nikon DSLR with a super-high 45.7Mp resolution puts the Nikon D850’s image quality on par with,…
The Key here is that a STILL image garnered attention at a CINEMA event … why, well obviously it was shot on a motion camera at 8K – in this case the RED WEAPON 8K camera which is capable of capturing 36 megapixel stills in full RAW up to 60 times per second. And when you slow down to look at the quality of this image… it kind of speaks to the future of where we all are headed.
Frakes will have nearly 50 DSLR camera bodies (split between D5, D810, and D500 tiers) and a huge number of lenses of all types at his fingertips to capture every newsworthy moment. He’s planning on setting up and using each of the cameras.
Sony recently also displaced Nikon as the #2 camera brand for full-frame systems, which is both scary and a cause for celebration
The company is saying that the Light L16 is currently sold out, and that it’s currently working on building cameras for all the existing pre-order customers who placed orders on the $1,699 camera based on the announcement alone. Pre-order shipments will begin on July 14th, 2017, and the company expects to start taking new orders sometime in late 2017.
The camera was developed for military use, has an effective ISO rating of 5,000,000


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China’s Online Population has Grown to 538 Million
China’s population of Internet users — already the world’s biggest — has risen to 538 million, driven by rapid growth in wireless Web surfing, an industry group said Thursday.
The latest figure represents an 11 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the report by the China Internet Network Information Center. The government-sanctioned group said that raised the share of China’s population that uses the Internet to 39.9 percent.
The number of people who go online from mobile phones and other wireless devices rose to 388 million, the group said. That was up 22 percent from a year earlier.
via Washington Post


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Excerpt from 100 Years of Buffalo Broadcasting
In 1940s America, the frenzied commercialism, hot-burning bulbs and pulsating neon of Times Square ignited a sense of wonder and excitement over what an American city could be.
Buffalo had its share of the lights – Main Street near Chippewa was aglow with what was described as “Buffalo’s great white way,” and the greatest display of dazzling and flashing marquees and signs between New York and Chicago.
One lighting element Buffalo didn’t have – until 1949 – was a flashcast news sign. WGR Radio was the sign’s sponsor, which meant in red neon, those call letters brightly bookended the revolving ribbon of news headlines at Main and Court streets from atop the Western Savings Bank building. Visible from the WGR studios across Lafayette Square in the Rand Building, the scroll was controlled from WGR’s newsroom.
While the sign was promoted as Times Square coming to Buffalo, the event to throw the switch on the sign, hosted by Mayor Bernard Dowd, was called a “Hollywood premiere-type event.”
A few months after the first messages started streaming across the lights, a News story talking about improvements being made downtown mentioned the sign. “Here is a group of men at Main and Court streets, looking up at the Flashcast. They’re squinting a little to read the moving electric words in the sunlight.”
By the time WGR Radio’s studios had moved to the building behind Ch.4 at 2065 Elmwood Avenue in 1959, the sign had gone dark. It had been completely removed by 1962 when construction was started on a new $4.5 million, 12-story Western Savings headquarters next door.
This page is an excerpt from 100 Years of Buffalo Broadcasting by Steve Cichon
The original 436-page book is available along with Steve’s other books online at The Buffalo Stories Bookstore and from fine booksellers around Western New York.
©2020, 2021 Buffalo Stories LLC, staffannouncer.com, and Steve Cichon


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January 18 – Italian giants Juventus have taken a huge branding step with the unveiling of a radical new logo and a club ‘philosophy’ based around expanding the club’s fanbase, commercial opportunities and deepening fans’ emotional involvement with the club.
Taglined ‘Black and White and More’ the new stripped back logo and visual identity for the club is more than just a tweaking of the club’s crest. It is a complete overhaul of the brand values in terms of design and positioning more akin to high street fashion brand relaunch than the more traditional world of football branding.
On the club’s website it boldly claims it is “changing the rules of the game and expanding the limits of their universe”. The new design is a move to boost commercial revenue and attract new fans.
“Juventus’ objective is to grow in terms of presence and influence and to expand the business side of the club through a series of radically innovative initiatives, targeting both Bianconeri fans all over the world and those with less of an interest in football,” said the club.
The simple design may be minimalist but it does have a high fashion feel, whether you are a traditionalist who believes club logos should never be changed or not.
Gianni Agnelli once said: “I get excited every time I see a word beginning with J in the papers.” It is that sentiment that the new logo is looking to capture.
Launched at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan at an event that was streamed live on www.juventus.com/en and JTV, the new logo will be applied across all the club’s (the website eschews club for ‘brand’) physical and digital media from July 2017.
“No club in Europe has so far been able to transcend sport and convey the philosophy behind that,” said Manfredi Ricca, Chief Strategy Officer for EMEA & LatAm at Interbrand, the agency that carried out the redesign. “If there is one club capable of taking that step, it’s Juventus – the brand is synonymous with ambition and excellence and these are principles that can inspire truly unique experiences. The new visual identity has been designed to boldly take the club’s spirit into new, unexpected realms.”
Initial reaction on social media was understandably critical of this radical departure though it was pointed out that this was the third redesign of the logo in the past 30 years. Though this redesign is certainly a game-changer.
One twitter comment, meant sarcastically, was that the new identity looked “like the kind of thing Pogba might have shaved into his head”. I think that might be the point.
Contact the writer of this story at email@example.com


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European video game retailer GAME is looking doomed after going into administration. The news comes just weeks after it was unable to agree credit terms to stock Mass Effect 3.
As we wrote at the time, GAME had attempted to negotiate new deals with its suppliers after experiencing cashflow problems. The retail chain said a recent agreement with its own creditors to borrow extra money meant it had to treat all suppliers equally and couldn’t afford to give special concessions, even to a giant like Electronic Arts. That meant it had to cancel pre-orders for Mass Effect 3, even though it likely would have been a top seller.
Perhaps inevitably the news caused a domino effect, with other game publishers also becoming wary about supplying games without up-front payment. That led to further concerns about cashflow, along with worries that the company wouldn’t be able to make its quarterly rental on store locations, which is due at the end of this week.
Yesterday morning GAME requested that shares in the company be suspended from trading. It then applied for voluntary administration. This is roughly equivalent to the US chapter 11 bankruptcy and means the company has 10 days’ protection from creditors to find a solution before independent administrators can consider liquidating the business. The stores will remain open for business during this time.
Two financial fund groups along with US chain GameStop are believed to be interested in taking over the firm. The main potential sticking point is how much of the existing debt a buyer would take on.
If the company is liquidated, customers would likely be low down the list of priorities for payouts, particularly given the British tax department is among the creditors. That may mean its worth thinking about spending any online or loyalty card credit in the coming days.


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A renowned technology hub that is home to some of the country's top universities, Boston is emerging as an unlikely battleground for web-based businesses like Airbnb and Uber, with some saying more regulations are needed to prevent the upstarts from disrupting more established industries. Cities like Boston have been wrestling with the same questions and developing solutions ranging from outright bans to minimum safety requirements.
Responding to a major case of research misconduct, federal prosecutors are taking a rare step by...
A U.S. board's investigation into the 2010 BP oil spill concludes that a last-ditch safety...
While 3-D printing empowers people to create amazing objects once unimagined, it also raises red...
A federal judge on Thursday tossed out a class-action lawsuit brought by authors against Google Inc., clearing the way for the Internet giant to create the world's largest digital library. Google already has scanned more than 20 million books for the project. The Authors Guild, which brought the suit, was seeking $750 for each copyrighted book that was copied.
Google has become less likely to comply with government demands for its users' online communications and other activities as authorities in the U.S. and other countries become more aggressive about mining the Internet for personal data. Legal requests from governments for people’s data have risen 21% from the last half of last year.
A federal judge and lawyers for the world's two biggest smartphone makers began picking a jury Tuesday to determine how much Samsung Electronics owes Apple for copying vital iPhone and iPad features. A previous jury had awarded Apple $1.05 billion, but a judge found the jury miscalculated the amount and ordered a new trial to determine how much Samsung should pay.
The widespread use of advanced surveillance technologies by state and local police departments will improve the efficiency of criminal investigations. But a lack of oversight and regulation poses significant privacy concerns, warns Stephen Rushin, a professor of law at the Univ. of Illinois.
A year ago, lawyers for BP and Gulf Coast residents and businesses took turns urging a federal judge to approve their settlement for compensating victims of the company's massive 2010 oil spill. However, the one-time allies will be at odds when an appeals court hears objections to the multibillion-dollar deal.
The trial resumes Monday for the federal litigation spawned by BP's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, with a focus on the company's response to the deadly disaster. At the start of the trial's second phase, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier is expected to hear two hours of opening statements from lawyers for BP and for Gulf Coast residents and businesses who claim the spill cost them money.
Plaintiffs' attorneys who brokered a multibillion-dollar settlement with BP following the company's 2010 Gulf oil spill have asked a federal appeals court to uphold a judge's approval of the deal. Only a "paltry few objectors" have raised the "narrowest of concerns" about the settlement that U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier approved in December 2012, private lawyers said in a filing Tuesday with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
As several new private ventures to take people on trips to space come closer to becoming reality, California lawmakers are racing other states to woo the new space companies with cushy incentives. They are debating a bill now in Sacramento that would insulate manufacturers of spaceships and parts suppliers from liability should travelers get injured or killed on a voyage, except in cases such as gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
Officials demanded Monday that an advertising firm stop using a network of high-tech trash cans to track people walking through London's financial district. The Renew ad firm has been using technology embedded in the hulking receptacles to measure the Wi-Fi signals emitted by smartphones, and suggested that it would apply the concept of "cookies"—tracking files that follow Internet users across the Web—to the physical world.
American information is so valuable, experts say, that no amount of global outrage over secret U.S. surveillance powers would cause Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to ditch their collaborative spying arrangement: the Five Eyes. Revelations from NSA leaker Edward Snowden, they say, are unlikely to stop or even slow the global growth of secret-hunting—an increasingly critical factor in the security and prosperity of nations.
A federal judge has approved a settlement in which United Technologies Corp. will sell some of its assets as part of its $18.4 billion purchase of aerospace-parts maker Goodrich Corp., the largest merger in aircraft industry history. The settlement between Hartford, Connecticut-based United Technologies and the Justice Department was approved Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Wednesday that it will buy Okairos AG for about $323 million, gaining the Swiss vaccine developer's products. GlaxoSmithKline said Okairos is studying vaccine technology that could be used in shots that can both prevent and cure infections or diseases.
Dow Chemical Co. said Tuesday it received a $2.2 billion payment from Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait, settling a dispute over a scrapped joint venture. A year ago, an international arbitration court awarded Dow $2.2 billion in damages stemming from Kuwait's move to withdraw from the joint venture.
There appears to be one less bidder pursuing an acquisition of slumping personal computer maker Dell. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Blackstone Group has retreated from its plans to submit an offer to buy most of Dell Inc.'s outstanding stock for $14.25 per share.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a first-of-its-kind diabetes drug from Johnson & Johnson that uses a new method to lower blood sugar—flushing it out in patients' urine. The agency cleared J&J's Invokana tablets for adults with Type 2 diabetes, which affects an estimated 26 million Americans. The once-a-day medication works by blocking the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar, which occurs at higher levels in patients with diabetes than in healthy patients.
Office products makers 3M Co. and Avery Dennison Corp. said Friday that they have resolved patent infringement lawsuits filed against each other related to certain reflective sheeting products used on traffic signs, pavement markings and other traffic control products.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it has reached a settlement worth at least $21.5 million with aerospace supplier Goodrich Corp. that will require the company to clean up a Southern California industrial site where chemicals contaminated the water supply.
Agricultural products giant Monsanto and DuPont on Tuesday said they reached a deal to dismiss pending patent lawsuits against one another and entered a series of multi-million dollar licensing agreements. The lawsuits included antitrust and first-generation Roundup Ready soybean patent lawsuits pending in U.S. federal court in St. Louis. The licensing deals include a multi-year, royalty-bearing license for Monsanto Co.'s next-generation soybean technologies in the U.S. and Canada.
Dell plans to negotiate with Blackstone Group and investor Carl Icahn over new acquisition bids for the computer maker that rival an offer of more than $24 billion from investors led by founder Michael Dell. Dell Inc. says a special committee of board members has determined the bids from buyout specialist Blackstone and Icahn could be superior to a proposal from Dell and Silver Lake Partners to buy the Texas company for $13.65 per share.
A Cincinnati-based security and defense products company says it has completed the purchase of the commercial armored vehicle division of BAE Systems for about $10 million. The CEO of the O'Gara Group Inc. and BAE Systems PLC said Monday that the O'Gara group completed the purchase of the West Chester-based BAE division.
A probe into the overheating of a lithium ion battery in an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 found it was improperly wired, Japan's Transport Ministry said Wednesday. The Transport Safety Board said in a report that the battery of the aircraft's auxiliary power unit was incorrectly connected to the main battery that overheated, although a protective valve would have prevented power from the APU from doing damage.
A U.S. judge on Tuesday approved Swiss-based Transocean Ltd.'s agreement with the Justice Department to pay $1 billion in civil penalties for its role in the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico—the nation's worst offshore oil spill. Last week, a different judge approved Transocean's criminal settlement with the federal government. The company pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and will pay $400 million in criminal penalties.
The Justice Department is suing a Houston-based company it accuses of illegally discharging oil from a platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit filed Monday in New Orleans against ATP Oil & Gas Corp. says the company's alleged federal Clean Water Act violations were discovered during an Interior Department inspection last year.
Shire PLC said Friday it agreed to pay about $57.5 million to resolve a federal investigation into the marketing of its drugs for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Irish company makes several ADHD drugs, including the former blockbuster Adderall XR, which was its top-selling product before generic competition began to erode its price and sales.
A federal judge rejected Apple Inc.'s demand to increase the $1.05 billion in damages a jury ordered Samsung Electronics Inc. to pay its fiercest rival in the smartphone market. Late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh also rejected demands from both companies to conduct another trial on different issues over claims that the South Korean company unfairly used technology controlled by Apple to build its iPads and iPhones to market knockoff products.
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