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Sports Illustrated TV (SI TV) Launches Direct-to-Consumer Service Expanding Subscription Video-on-Demand Distribution
SI TV Rapidly Widening Distribution Options for Consumers On the Heels of Launching its First Linear Distribution on fuboTV
NEW YORK, NY (24 Apr 2018)
Sports Illustrated’s subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming media network, Sports Illustrated TV (SI TV), expands its distribution with the launch of a direct-to-consumer app. SI TV, which launched in November 2017 on Amazon Channels, is now available on web browsers, rolling out on Roku, iOS and Android devices within the next week for $4.99/month or $49.99/year across all platforms. The news comes on the heels of SI TV launching on fuboTV’s “Sports Plus” tier, which is an add-on option for fuboTV monthly subscribers.
“Launching this app provides sports lovers with even more opportunities to access SI TV’s programming, so whether they go direct or though pay TV providers like fuboTV we offer consumers even more ways to tap into the vast options of SI TV’s original and acquired documentaries, shows and movies that have broad appeal,” said Josh Oshinsky, head of programming for SI TV at Meredith Corporation. “Our strategy is to keep finding ways to bring SI TV to consumers however and wherever they want to watch.”
SI TV is a haven for the sports lover who wants another way to engage with the hallmarks of the Sports Illustrated brand — rich storytelling, unmatched access, entertaining content and thoughtful analysis. Since launching in November 2017, the network has doubled its content and continues to add new original programming weekly.
SI TV’s direct-to-consumer launch coincides with the upcoming NFL draft and SI’s NFL Draft Preview issue, and programming will reflect this big sports moment. New features showcase top draft picks on SI TV’s signature series, including: an all-access deep dive with Saquon Barkley for “Under the Cover,” an interview with Baker Mayfield for “The Big Interview,” and a mini-documentary with Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch for “24 Hours With…” Additionally, the final two episodes of “The MMQB Draft Preview Show with PFF” will air during the direct-to-consumer launch week.
Ongoing original weekly studio shows include “The Crossover,” which focuses on basketball culture with guests such as Big Daddy Kane, Cookie Monster and Roy Wood, Jr.; “Planet Fútbol” with Grant Wahl exploring soccer with top flight guests from around the world; “The Line,” about sports wagering and daily fantasy.
Original medium and long-form documentary series and specials include “Under the Cover,” where subjects from the current Sports Illustrated issue come to life on screen; three new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018 specials; “The Vault,” a series that re-examines some of the best stories from SI’s vast historical archives; and the first made-for-SI TV feature-length documentary film, “We Town,” about possibly the greatest high school basketball team ever assembled, including likely future NBA stars Mo Bamba and Cam Reddish.
SI TV partnered with uCast, a leading global internet TV network and content monetization platform, to create and maintain the direct-to-consumer apps.
Built on Microsoft Azure, the uCast Platform is highly secure, globally scalable and data-driven. It offers best-in-class capabilities such as real-time analytics, content rating, and auto-resume features.


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A dazzling array of classic and modern sports cars are set to cross the block at Silverstone Auctions’ 13 May sale, with seven iconic Aston Martins poised to draw fans of the Newport Pagnell brand from the length and breadth of the country. We’ve chosen our top seven Aston Martins from the upcoming auction, ranging from the future classic and bargain basement DB9 through to a stunning and stately DB2/4 dating from more than half a century earlier.
It may be one of the most modern cars in the lineup, but Ian Callum’s beautifully styled DB9 is a sure-fire future classic that is bound to increase in value – especially wearing a bargain estimate of just £27,000-32,000. For that, potential buyers get a high-tech aluminium chassis and a 48-valve, 5.9-litre V12 capable of propelling the car to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 189mph. True supercar performance and cutting edge looks for the price of a new BMW saloon: this will be a tempting proposition.
A year younger than the other DB9 in the sale, this car also boasts fewer miles: 17,500 compared to 46,000. It’s first owner covered just 6000 miles in the car between 2006 and 2014, with the rest of the mileage accumulated during gentle touring to the vendor’s Italian holiday home. A quick look at the service history shows a recent £4000 service, which included new discs, pads and tyres.
Just £20,000 more could be enough to bag a beautiful 1972 DBS V8, one of just 405 right-hand-drive UK examples. The 5.3-litre Tadek Marek V8-powered coupe offers performance to rival it’s younger stablemates, with 320bhp on tap and a staggering top speed of 160mph. This example was the subject of an earlier restoration, which included new front wings, suspension and chassis work, and has recently been recommissioned following a 23-year layup. There’s more work to be done, but it’s a great project for someone.
You’ll need considerably more than £70,000 to consider this 1979 V8 Volante (£155,000-175,000), but it will be money well spent. The rare Tourmaline Blue example was thoroughly looked over by Aston specialist Runnymede in 2010, and restored to an exacting standard. Work was carried out to the boot floor, sills and floor pan, while the notoriously fickle servo-assisted brakes were fully rebuilt.
Around the same time, a six-speed gearbox from a DB7 was mated to the 5.3-litre V8 thanks to the Aston Workshop of Durham. The history file now lists nearly £50,000-worth of service and maintenance bills from a host of Aston Martin main dealers and respected specialists.
Autocar described the DB2/4 in 1953 as ‘an expensive car designed to cater for the connoisseur of sports cars who is not limited by financial considerations’, and the same rings true of the model in the current market. At £165,000-185,000 it’s far from cheap, but it’s also one of the most attractive cars in the sale and, thanks to a number of recent modifications, will go as well as it looks.
Following its complete restoration in 2009, Century Classics has carried out a number of improvements with the aim of entering the car in the 2018 Mille Miglia Storica. The work included fitting an overhauled cylinder head with all-new valves, an uprated steering box and a full brake overhaul, not to mention new wheel bearings, gearbox bearings and oil seals, plus a new clutch and stronger DB4-style wheels.
The number two spot in our list belongs to a stunning DB6 first owned by the wife of Polish fighter ace Charles Dugan-Chapman, and later sold to its second owner in 1975. Shortly after the car experienced a persistent engine problem that resulted in Aston Martin fitting a replacement in 1976/77, and it covered just 1000 miles until it was sold to the vendor in 1993. Bought as a long-term restoration, the work was finally completed last year. It benefitted from a full bare-metal respray, though the tatty original interior bears testament to the owner’s commitment to originality and history. It is estimated at £265,000-295,000.
Click here to see video of our top pick – a £325,000-375,000 1971 DB6 Vantage once belonging to Touring Car legend John Cleland!

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October Gave a Party wants to move out its Christmas items to make way for its new line of spring merchandise. The deeply discounted prices will benefit customers wishing to replenish their Christmas decoration box before having to pay the marked up prices that some merchants charge when buying many of these same items next November and December.
Customers can get as much as 75 percent off Christmas-themed items, such as ornaments, florals, candles, platters and plates, Christmas Santas and other décor. October Gave a Party also has other Christmas merchandise including gifts, jewelry and home décor.
When coming in for these astonishing deals, expect a hearty hello from the friendly sales staff.
“We love the community feel of the Panther Creek Shopping Center and are thrilled to get to know each of our great customers on a more personal level,” said Louie, partner and co-owner of October Gave a Party. “We strive to create a home-like atmosphere in our store where customers will feel free to meet their friends, ask our knowledgeable staff about decorating ideas, look as long as they want and feel comfortable shopping,”
For more information about October Gave a Party, call 281-301-5008. They are located at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive #220B in The Woodlands. Customers may also visit them on the web at http://local.chron.com/b19980673/October-Gave-A-Party or find them on Facebook.
About October Gave a Party
October Gave a Party’s line of products and services include accessories, jewelry, handbags, bath essentials, body care, bath oils, aromatherapy bath salts, soy candles, and beads and bracelets. The store provides a home-like atmosphere and features friendly and knowledgeable decorating consultants.


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Saba is the most expensive island in the Caribbean Netherlands, according to a recent study by Statistics Netherlands CBS, which compares the relative prices of consumer goods of St. Eustatius and Saba to those of Bonaire. The study found that life on both Saba and St. Eustatius is becoming increasingly more expensive compared to Bonaire.
CBS studied the prices of consumer goods on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba in 2023. The data show that consumer goods on Saba are 18 percent more expensive than on Bonaire. On St. Eustatius consumer prices are 11 percent higher than on Bonaire.
Saba was also the most expensive island in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2015, but the gap has become wider. In 2015, consumer goods on Saba were 10 percent higher than on Bonaire and consumer prices on St. Eustatius were 7 percent higher than on Bonaire. In 2013, Saba was 8 percent more expensive than Bonaire and St. Eustatius was only 2 percent more expensive.
CBS investigated the prices of food items and nonalcoholic drinks; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothes and shoes; home repair/maintenance, water and electricity; furniture, appliances and daily home maintenance; health products; transportation; communication; recreation/culture; education; catering; and other products/ services.
On Saba, the prices of food items and non-alcoholic beverages have increased most: from 9 percent more expensive than on Bonaire in 2015 to 29 percent higher than on Bonaire in 2023. For St. Eustatius, the cost affiliated with transportation has increased most: from 5 percent more expensive than on Bonaire in 2015 to 21 percent more in 2023.
Home maintenance and repair, water and electricity are found to be much more expensive on both Saba and St. Eustatius. On Saba, the prices in this category are 65 percent higher than on Bonaire; and 45 percent higher on St. Eustatius. The cost of food and drink items is 29 percent higher on Saba than on Bonaire; and 12 percent on St. Eustatius.
People on Saba also pay more for communication: 6 percent more than people in both Bonaire and St. Eustatius.
Transportation goods are most expensive on St. Eustatius: 21 percent more than on Bonaire and 8 percent more than on Saba. On Saba, people pay 13 percent more for transportation than they would on Bonaire.
But not every item is cheaper on Bonaire, CBS finds. The people on Saba and St. Eustatius pay less for alcoholic beverages and tobacco than they would on Bonaire: these products are 31 percent cheaper on St. Eustatius and cost 19 per cent less on Saba.
Health products are cheapest on St. Eustatius: 19 percent less than on Bonaire. On Saba, people pay 8 percent more than on Bonaire.
On St. Eustatius, recreation and culture goods are 5 percent cheaper than on Bonaire. On Saba, these goods cost the same as on Bonaire.
The average cost of clothes/ shoes and education was the same on all three islands. The price index of furniture, appliances and daily home maintenance is also about the same in the Caribbean Netherlands: 2 percent higher on Saba compared to Bonaire and 1 percent less than Bonaire on St. Eustatius.
The price of food and drinks in the catering sector are also similar. It is 2 percent more expensive to eat or drink in a bar or restaurant on St. Eustatius than it is on Bonaire; and just 1 percent more expensive on Saba compared to Bonaire.
The Daily Herald.


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The Ultra accounts for 60% of sales of the Galaxy S23 series, making it a huge hit
After the Galaxy S series’ predecessor failed to meet sales expectations, Samsung needed the S23 series to perform well. It would appear that sales of the flagship series for 2023 have met or possibly even exceeded the company’s internal expectations.
The Galaxy S23 series has proven to be a huge success worldwide, according to the company, according to Korean media. It likewise featured the somewhat fascinating split among its models as the World S23 Ultra, which is the most costly model, has gotten 60% of all deals.
Korean media reports that Samsung has said that the System S23 series is recording higher deals overall contrasted with the World S22. The Galaxy S23 handset sales volume is 1.5 times higher than that of the Galaxy S22 in Europe alone.


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Intel announces IPO for Mobileye
Intel has today announced its intention to take its subsidiary Mobileye public in the United States in 2022.
Mobileye, a maker of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving solutions, initially went public in 2014 and was acquired - lock, stock and barrel - by Intel in 2017.
Intel wants to retain control
This time, an initial public offering will create a separate publicly traded company. Intel will remain the majority shareholder and the two companies will continue their strategic partnership. Mobileye’s executive team will also remain in place with Prof. Amnon Shashua at the helm.
Mobileye is expecting to deliver over 40% more revenue in 2021, compared to 2020 and supplies more than 30 different automakers worldwide. It recently shipped its 100 millionth EyeQ® system-on-chip, unveiled its production robotaxi, and scaled its autonomous vehicle testing across multiple cities around the world covering the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Image of Mobileye's fleet of robotaxis in Israel, courtesy of Mobileye, an Intel company.


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For Road Trip 2015, CNET drives an all-electric car 500 miles around Britain's most scenic spots to see how easy it is to take a road trip without petrol. Spoiler alert: It doesn't go well.
Find out why this electric racing series has a shot at becoming huge -- and how its technology could change the cars we drive for the better.
Forget the guzzoline. This motorcycle collects and stores wind and sun power for a time when fossil fuels will be scarce.
Shiro Nakamura, the man behind the current GT-R, 370Z, Juke, Cube and most other current Nissans, sits down with CNET trackside at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans to talk about how design is changing.
Cancelled in 2013, the classic Volkswagen Camper may find a new lease on life as an eco-friendly EV.
From the James Bond jet belt to a "Jetsons"-inspired "motorbike in the sky," one New Zealand company is bringing the dream of jetpack travel to reality -- and thanks to a significant new investment, it could be here sooner than you think.
Su Daocheng, who says he is "addicted" to inventing, spent two months on the development of the petrol-powered beast.
Researchers from Cambridge University have teamed up with Boeing to build and successfully test the world's first hybrid airplane engine.
As the Formula One season ends, a new series takes its place -- but instead of internal combustion engines, these new cars pack lithium-ion batteries and motors that sound like TIE Fighters.
German cleantech company Sunfire GmbH has unveiled a machine that converts water and carbon dioxide into synthetic petroleum-based fuels.


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Kathmandu’s profit climbs on strong winter
The adventure gear retailer expects net profit for the year to July 31 will be between $NZ37.4 million and $NZ38 million ($A34.8 million-$A35.4 million), up from $NZ33.5 million in 2016.
Earnings before interest and tax are expected to come in between $NZ56 million and $NZ57 million, with group sales up $NZ19.7 million on 2016, the Christchurch-based retailer said on Thursday.
Kathmandu’s sales in Australia have climbed 6.9 per cent, while sales in New Zealand have increased 3.6 per cent.
Driving the boost in second-half growth was strong sales in the retailer’s winter season, the success of new products and improvements in the execution of promotions, Kathmandu’s chief executive Xavier Simonet said.
He said Kathmandu’s financial performance in 2017 had been strengthened further through operating leverage, reduced inventory and record low debt.
“Sales continued to grow in our key winter promotion which completed four successive quarters of same store sales growth,” said Simonet.
“Success of new products, enhanced engagement with Summit Club members through inspiring brand content, and improvements in the execution of our promotions underpinned our second‐half sales growth. Our financial performance has been strengthened further during FY2017 through operating leverage, reduced inventory and record low debt.”
The company will release its full-year results in September.


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Local manufacturers shift gears to help hospitals with PPE shortages, make masks
Justice Furniture in Lebanon has been manufacturing furniture, mattresses and box springs in southwest Missouri since 1957.
When the coronavirus hit, communities in the region ordered people to stay at home. Local leaders told non-essential businesses like furniture stores to close.
Hotels and retailers started to push back or cancel orders, Justice Furniture's Vice President Angie Jackson said.
Then Jackson's daughter, a nursing student at Cox College, mentioned local hospitals were in need of gowns and masks.
Jackson got in touch with CoxHealth's CEO Steve Edwards, and in a matter of days, Justice Furniture received patterns to use plastic they already had in-house to make disposable gowns.
Coronavirus in Springfield:Springfield's Class of 2020 will graduate in JQH Arena in early August
"We already had the equipment to cut the plastic, and the plastic wasn't part of the health care world. It was part of my furniture world," she said.
It takes people cutting, folding, operating machines and sewing to put the gowns together, and Jackson said she's grateful her employees have been able to keep working amid nationwide layoffs in a number of sectors.
During the first week of producing nothing but gowns, the factory was putting out around 5,000 a day.
Most of them will go to Cox, but Jackson said they've also sent some to nearby nursing homes and a few fire departments.
"It's a big change for us, but I think with furniture and mattresses we hope to make people happy, but this is a different type of happiness," she said. "It makes you feel good."
Justice Furniture isn't the only business shifting gears.
Across the country, clothing, outdoor gear and other American manufacturers are changing their models to accommodate a dire need for personal protective equipment, or PPE, in hospitals overwhelmed by the coronavirus.
In recent years as the bulk of U.S. manufacturing has been outsourced to countries with cheaper labor, it has also created shortages and supply-chain difficulties during the worldwide pandemic.
But American companies are stepping up to help.
Coronavirus in Missouri:Recovered COVID-19 patients encouraged to donate plasma
Third Street Sportswear in Ozark has shifted to making cloth masks for the general public, repurposing the materials and equipment they'd normally use to make children's clothing for college bookstores around the country.
Laurie Thomas, whose family owns the company, said when Ozark issued its own stay-at-home order a few weeks ago, their two locations were in danger of being shut down.
Orders from the bookstores started being put off as colleges and universities across the country canceled classes for the spring semester.
"We were mainly worried about our employees," she said. "We have tons of square feet and we're spaced apart, but our orders slowed down. We wanted to do something so we could hold tight."
She posted a link for people to order masks with nine color options and started taking orders from their college bookstore customers.
As of Thursday, they had made around 2,000 masks and had orders for "a lot" more.
"I've just had a ton of local people order them in the last few hours," she said. "They've been way more popular than I thought."
Katie Kull covers local government for the News-Leader. Got a story to tell? Give her a call at 417-408-1025 or email her at firstname.lastname@example.org. You can also support local journalism at News-Leader.com/subscribe.


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Black Tusk’s new game was shown running in-engine on Xbox One. More will be revealed on the game at a alter date, so there was just a teaser shown. Microsoft’s Black Tusk Studios in Vancouver reportedly has four games in development and was originally known as Microsoft Vancouver. The firm confirmed last year it was “working on Microsoft’s next big entertainment franchise.” A video shown of it is below.
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What you need to know
- Huawei's been working on an Android alternative since 2012.
- The custom OS can still run Android apps.
- It could launch in Fall 2019.
Huawei's relationship with the United States has been anything but smooth over the last year, but this past weekend saw the company take its biggest hit yet. Now with there being a very real possibility that Huawei could lose access to Google apps/services, new information has come out regarding the company's backup plan.
Thanks to a report from Caijing, we now know that Huawei's been developing its own operating system as an alternative to Android since as far back as 2012. The name of the OS isn't mentioned, but Huawei CEO Richard Yu revealed in the report that the OS natively runs Android apps out of the box.
Developers can recompile their apps to have better performance on the operating system, but that sort of functionality right from the get-go is quite impressive. We saw something similar with BlackBerry 10, but this is a feature even Samsung's Tizen doesn't offer.
As for when the OS will launch, we don't have an exact date quite yet. Huawei could release it as early as Fall 2019 or wait until early 2020.
It remains to be seen what'll happen with Huawei and its Google services access by then, but at the very least, it sounds like Huawei has a viable Plan B should the U.S. government push through with its ban.
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You can now pre-order Motorola’s foldable RAZR on Verizon for $1,500
Motorola's foldable RAZR reboot is finally up for pre-order in the U.S for $1,500.
Are you going to keep your Galaxy S10 throughout 2020?
There are a lot of exciting phones set to come out in 2020, but the Galaxy S10 still has plenty of kick left in it. If you own the phone, do you plan on keeping it throughout this year?
Samsung will give away Galaxy Buds+ with S20+ and S20 Ultra pre-orders
Samsung's Galaxy S20 series will be here before you know it, and when pre-orders open up, you'll be able to get your hands on the new Galaxy Buds+ for free.
The best Honor phones available right now
Huawei's ongoing trade ban has affected its Honor sub-brand as well, with the manufacturer launching fewer devices than usual last year. That said, we got to see a few standout phones in the likes of the Honor 20


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Edible Arrangements founder Tariq Farid leaving as CEO
Tariq Farid, founder and long-time CEO of Edible Arrangements, based in Wallingford, is giving up his day-to-day duties. Last Tuesday, the company named fast-food industry veteran Mike Rotondo as its new CEO.
The franchisor of fresh-cut fruit arrangements, snacks and treats says former Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Mike Rotondo will serve as chief executive at Edible's second headquarters in Atlanta, which the company recently opened. Rotondo will oversee all franchise operations.
Farid, who founded Edible in East Haven in 1999, will focus on growing Edible Brands, the franchisor's parent company that includes technology, supply-chain and several other businesses.
Hartfordbusiness.com reports that about a year ago, Edible announced it would expand internationally into more than 100 franchise outlets over the next three years producing and delivering its fresh-cut fruit arrangements and treats.
Publication date: 7/12/2018
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Just yesterday, Microsoft released Windows 10 Build 14393.187 for PCs. Today, the company has released build 14393.187 for Mobile devices to Insiders in the Fast Ring. If you happen to be using the Release Preview program, you should be able to get build 14393.187 on your Windows 10 Mobile device. As you may already know, the build doesn’t include any new features but it includes some bug fixes which are listed below:
- Addressed issue causing some apps to not respond to the commands in the app bar in Windows 10 Mobile.
- Addressed issue that sometimes blocks alarm notifications in Windows 10 Mobile.
- Improved support for using the camera app in Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise.
You can get Windows 10 Build 14393.187 by heading over to Windows Update > Update & Security and then check for updates.


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Rebecca Evans was named weekly business brand editor of the year at last night’s British Society of Magazine Editors awards.
The Construction News editor won the highly-coveted award at a ceremony at The Brewery in London.
She had been shortlisted against Marcus Fairs (Dezeen), Eric Musgrave (Drapers), Damian Wild (Estates Gazette), Alastair McLellan (Health Service Journal) and Jenni Middleton (Nursing Times).
Rebecca scooped the prize for her achievements on the 143 year-old paid-for brand which, under her leadership, has grown in readership and revenue and become a must-read business magazine and website for senior managers in the sector. Most recently she has overseen the development of the new Construction News app, which has launched on iPhone and Android, offering subscribers updates throughout each day on their mobile phone or tablet.
She has also steered the growth of existing events and launch of new ones including the Construction News Summit in October 2013, which doubled in size in 2014.
The Construction News Awards is now the biggest in the industry, attracting more than 1,300 people this year.
Rebecca has also been at the forefront of portraying the industry in a positive light to the public and started the #loveconstruction campaign on Twitter in July 2013 to rally the industry. The logo is used by more than 150 companies on sites across the UK.
Rebecca is also a regular commentator on the industry in national media, appearing on national television and radio stations to promote and analyse the construction industry.
BSME Chair and Associate Editor of Harrods Publishing Guy Woodward said: “I never cease to be amazed by the creativity and ingenuity displayed by magazine editors in this country.
“What shone through this year was the hunger to embrace and exploit a hugely varied array of additional publishing formats and revenue streams – from apps to events.
“The best magazine brands are now like clubs – they’re with their readers in every aspect of their lives – on mobile, in print, online and in person,” he added.


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Despite some recent improvement, ongoing uncertainty about the economy is keeping executives focused on containing costs. Procurian, a leading provider of comprehensive procurement solutions, just released its quarterly Spend Trends Report which highlights several trends driving cost management strategies in a number of areas. I'd like to highlight some of the most interesting conclusions from the report.
A major concern of all corporations is spending for information technology (IT) that can easily get out of control. It surprised me to learn that most firms have 15 percent more software licenses then they actually use. Simply identifying redundant and unused licenses can have an immediate impact on the bottom line. And a growing number of firms are getting out of the hardware business altogether, contracting with third-party Cloud providers. Using on-demand computing services can free a company from owning, managing, and maintaining hardware and software internally.
Marketing is another area to monitor as a growing number of companies shift more dollars to digital media. With a threefold increase in spending on digital media from 2012 to 2013, advertisers are struggling to make sure every dollar is well spent--from measuring the effectiveness of digital marketing programs, to managing an increasingly diverse and complex portfolio of marketing agency partners.
Another really interesting insight that had escaped my attention is that the digital revolution, which encourages mobile work/telecommuting, is reducing corporate need for space to accommodate employees. "As a result, the average firm now has 30-50 percent more real estate than it needs," the report stated. "Furthermore, for every $100 million in real estate, ongoing operating costs frequently average $40 million annually."
Procurian found that the natural gas revolution had dramatically altered the calculus for global energy and manufacturing costs. "Clients are reconsidering global supply chain strategy to take advantage of local price/cost opportunities and taking a new look at where new capacity should be located, dramatically impacting long-term supply network strategy."
And it should come as no surprise that the rising cost of healthcare and health insurance associated with the mandates of Obamacare is driving many companies to evaluate new tools such as private exchanges and surgical benefits management. A recent survey by my colleagues at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) found that 82 percent of manufacturers cite the rising cost of healthcare and insurance as their top concern. Corporations across the board are reviewing the fine print of the Affordable Care Act looking for ways to cut their health insurance tab.
The trends outlined in this report point to tangible cost management strategies that companies can employ to drive savings that could significantly improve financial performance. The insights and conclusions in the report were derived from detailed analysis of billions of dollars of corporate spend data and thousands of savings initiatives. You can access the complete report by clicking here: Procurian Spend Trends Report--2Q13.
Jerry Jasinowski, an economist and author, served as President of the National Association of Manufacturers for 14 years and later The Manufacturing Institute. Jerry is available for speaking engagements. August 2013


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Instagram today unveiled 41 marketing-tech partners that will help it grow its burgeoning advertising business. These first few dozen companies are just the first wave in a larger plan to partner with at least 100 vendors who will focus on improving ad campaign management, interaction with users and content marketing capabilities.
"[They] help solve a wide variety of business challenges—whether it's driving more installs for a new mobile gaming app, or driving in-store foot-traffic during the holidays," according to an Instagram blog post. "We have partners available to help drive both brand and performance objectives across a wide range of businesses."
The San Francisco tech player has had a busy second half of the year, opening its API this summer and adding new tools for optimizing ads this fall. The app recently surpassed 400 million users, and the lineup of companies around the world will help boost brands' presence on the platform.
In some ways, by partnering with many tech vendors, Instagram is repeating the process its parent company Facebook undertook years ago.
Jim Squires, director of marketing operations at Instagram, said his platform's machinations are a "natural evolution," stating that many businesses have lagged behind the shift to mobile. (The company said Facebook and Instagram combined now account for one in every five minutes spent on a mobile device.)
"The two programs are very complementary to each other to allow marketers to achieve business results on Facebook, on Instagram, and as well as on Facebook and Instagram together," Squires told Adweek.
Mobile advertising revenue continues to increase for Facebook. In its third-quarter earnings released last week, mobile revenue totalled $3.4 billion, accounting for 78 percent of Facebook's overall ad business.
It's unclear what direction Instagram might take next. A recent Digiday report suggests development of ads using Apple's 3D Touch feature could be in the works. However, a spokeswoman for Instagram told Adweek that was not the case (at least not yet).
Several companies were part of a group of vendors who received early access to Instagram's API when it became available this summer. Here is a full list, broken down by the categories in which the companies will focus:
- Brand Networks
- Esome Advertising
- Glow Digital Media
- Kinetic Social
- Septeni Original
- Marin Software
- Sprout Social
- ReFuel4 Pte Ltd
Community Management and Content Marketing
Ad Tech and Community Management
Ad Tech, Community Management and Content Marketing


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Celebrity-favored raw vegan diet may pose health risks: expert
Gwyneth Paltrow and Demi Moore may love this raw vegan diet, but is it good for you?
Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming more and more popular, but the latest fad is for people to eat only raw plant foods that can be consumed without cooking. Some won’t even eat foods that have been processed or changed from their natural state, such as oat or almond milk.
Raw vegan dieters claim that cooking vegetables causes a loss of nutrients and enzymes and believe the diet will prevent or reverse disease, boost energy levels and improve overall health – but one expert warns this diet trend could actually cause more harm than good if follows for a longer period of time.
“While following a plant-based diet can have many health benefits, a raw vegan diet can potentially take things too far and can come with even greater risks if not followed carefully,” Dr. Laura Brown, registered nutritionist and senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University, said.
Research shows that certain raw foods can be healthier than when cooked, such as Brussels sprouts and red cabbage, but Dr. conversation that some vegetables have a higher nutrient content when cooked because their cell walls are broken down and nutrients are released. Cooked vegetables can give the body more antioxidants.
For example, cooked spinach makes it easier for the body to absorb its calcium. Vegetables such as asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, kale and cauliflower also have more nutrients when cooked, she said.
People who follow a raw vegan diet may also lack vitamins and minerals — such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc and iron — that come from eating meat and eggs, said Dr. These vitamins support a healthy immune system and play a role in the structure, development and production of brain and nerve cells.
Vitamin B12 levels are the biggest concern. A A 2005 study showed that 38% of participants who followed long-term consumption of raw food had vitamin B12 deficiency. Because of this deficiency, a raw vegan diet also increases homocysteine, an amino acid that is broken down by B12. Elevated levels of homocysteine can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
“If you’re planning to follow a raw vegan diet, it’s important to plan carefully to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need for optimal health,” said Dr. Brown. “I also wouldn’t recommend following it for a long period of time because of the many risks it can have.”
#Celebrityfavored #raw #vegan #diet #pose #health #risks #expert


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2020, 24 January
Last week, the US and China signed their ‘phase one’ trade deal. Even though the really difficult subjects will only be discussed in phase 2 (or perhaps even phase 3?), this is still a sign of relaxation between the two super powers. Moreover, the US no longer labels China as a ‘currency manipulator’. China has had that status since August last year. It must be said that the Chinese currency has risen sharply since then. The US deems it manipulation when a country pushes its currency downwards and not when this is done in an upward direction. A cheap currency strengthens the export position of a country, that’s why it’s considered as unfair competition.


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The first week of California’s new marijuana market was a landmark moment in Humboldt County’s cannabis history, but many in the industry said they still face a long and uncertain future.
The spotlight in this first week of recreational cannabis sales was on local dispensaries who had lines of customers both new and old waiting to make their first purchase on New Year’s Day and beyond. The Humboldt County Collective in Myrtletown began recreational sales on Jan. 2, with the collective’s Manager Savannah Snow saying they have had customers ranging from ages 21 up to 90.[related_articles location=”left” show_article_date=”false” article_type=”automatic-primary-section” curated_ids=””]Snow said that prices for products have gone up by $20 in some cases because of the state’s excise taxes, and that new state regulations will lower the allowed dosage of edibles. But Snow said they have stocked up on certain concentrate products in anticipation for the demand.
“Overall people have just been stoked for recreation. It’s been really fun for us actually,” Snow said.
The EcoCann Dispensary in Eureka was the first dispensary to open in Humboldt County on Jan. 1. After switching from a solely medical cannabis dispensary to both recreational and medical New Year’s Day, EcoCann Dispensary owner Jeff Poel said they have been selling as much cannabis in a day as they used to in more than a week.
But the changes brought on by the new set of state rules have begun to manifest.
Under California law, a cannabis must obtain approval from its local government and then obtain a state license in order to operate lawfully. Any cannabis sold must be from a licensed business as well, which has affected supply.
Poel said Thursday that they ran out of certain concentrates because there are not enough licensed manufacturers and no distributors to deliver them.
“It’s really crazy,” Poel said. “It’s topsy turvy until things settle out.”
Geoffrey Hoopes is a co-owner of the Arcata-based cannabis distribution company UpNorth Distribution.
Unlike the old system of Proposition 215 where his business could transfer medical cannabis from collective members directly to dispensaries without any oversight, Hoopes said the new era of regulation has overhauled the way their company does business.
Some of the indoor cultivators whose product UpNorth transported to dispensaries are not licensed and therefore can no longer do business with them.
Hoopes said they still have a network of licensed dispensaries to work with, but will now have to work to find some new cultivation customers.
“How we built these relationships was built on the back of this old system,” Hoopes said. “We were able to bring in product in a much looser fashion.”
While week one was booming for local dispensaries, Hoopes said they were expecting slow sales on the distribution side because many dispensaries stocked up before the new regulations took effect.
“What has happened prior to Jan. 1 is a lot of stocking up by most dispensaries in order to avoid that [15 percent state excise tax],” Hoopes said. “Most dispensaries did quite a lot of buying in this last month. With the rush of new consumers coming in and some not having their doors open, it was kind of a bypass week for us in the buying realm. We need to figure out where pricing is going to land.”
Hoopes said week one allowed him to focus on other aspects outside of cannabis such as workers compensation and disability access requirements for their new office and storage space at Arcata’s Marijuana Innovation Zone.
One local cannabis manufacturing company, Humboldt Alchemy Group in Phillipsville, was the first cannabis business in the county to receive a state license.
But its co-owner Eric Martin said Thursday that they are still working to finalize its operations plans for the state that lays out how exactly they will process the cannabis into concentrates.
Martin said that this process must be detailed and submitted electronically to both the state and county’s track-and-trace systems which work to ensure no illegal cannabis enters the legal market and vice versa.
Martin said they are also having to begin hiring qualified candidates over the next six to eight months.
A self-described high school dropout turned cannabis cultivator, Martin said he now feels like he has to go back to school to remain in the cannabis industry under the new regulations.
“There is going to be a whole bunch of looking over each others’ shoulders to make sure we learn the systems that have been put in front of us,” he said.
Martin said that while they work to finalize their business plan, they are also working to find licensed growers to supply cannabis.
Humboldt County Growers Alliance Executive Director Terra Carver said the future of the county’s cannabis industry is in cultivation. The majority of the 2,000 people who have applied for cannabis business permits in Humboldt County are cultivators.
Don’t miss our reviews of strains, vape oils and other cannabis products.
“I think the manufacturers have had an interesting first day in trying to understand who they can work with and who they couldn’t,” Carver said. “Our cannabis farmers in Humboldt County, I think the big moment in Humboldt County will be when the first light deprivation harvest happens in June or July.
“… Come mid-summer we’ll really see how Humboldt County shines in the market because that’s when our locally licensed farmers will be looking for or already have those relationships to market,” she said.
Honeydew Farms LLC co-owner Alex Moore said he had received around 30 of the cannabis cultivation licenses he applied for from the state for his 6-acre farm.
Because the state limits a cultivator to having one license that allows up to 1 acre until 2023, Moore said he has had to obtain several smaller cultivation licenses in order to get his farm fully permitted. The application fees and licensing fees have cost him $100,000 more than he would had to pay if the medium license limit didn’t exist, Moore said.
While Moore said he has been the target of scrutiny by some in the industry because of the size of his farm, he said that he is trying to compete with other areas like the Central Valley where large-scale industrial grows are expected to become licensed.
“Quite frankly we’re wondering how we can compete with that,” Moore said. “We share the same anxiety as many people in the industry are. Is this business model going to work? I don’t know.”
While the new state regulations have significantly increased costs of business and changed everything from worker safety standards to how cannabis is able to move throughout the market, Moore said that to be part of the end of prohibition is both historic and exciting.
“I think that Humboldt has a pretty big existing industry here and I think that we have a lot of great opportunities,” Moore said.
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The news isn’t good when it comes to recycling and composting in Colorado.
The Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG) and EcoCycle released their yearly State of Recycling and Composting report a few weeks ago and it turns out we are not the green state we like to think we are, and we are moving in the wrong direction.
Colorado’s statewide recycling and composting rate is a dismal 15%, less than half the national rate of 32%, and behind our state goal to reach 28% diversion by 2021.
Our recycling rate for plastics was even worse than our overall rate — only 9% of plastic containers and plastic packaging is recycled statewide. On average, Colorado residents recycle and compost only 1 pound per person per day, while residents in leading states like Oregon and Washington recycle 3.1 pounds per person per day —over three times more than Colorado residents.
There is widespread support for recycling as seen through municipal surveys in Colorado and a recent national poll that shows 84% of American adults agree that “investing in expanding and improving our nation’s recycling infrastructure should be a higher priority.” Despite this, Colorado continues to lack the recycling services needed to recycle and compost more and our patchwork system has left people confused about what — or how — to recycle. Statewide recycling can be an important economic driver for Colorado, creating jobs and improving trade imbalances with foreign nations by relying less on materials shipped from around the world.
Colorado is failing to meet its goals to reduce waste, reduce carbon emissions, and curb plastic pollution. If we don’t want to continue on this trajectory, now is the time for a system-wide solution to modernize and transform Colorado’s recycling and composting systems. A “producer responsibility” policy for containers, packaging and printed paper is the most impactful, game-changing policy that can be adopted in 2022.
This legislative session we will introduce a bipartisan producer responsibility policy as the highest priority action to fundamentally revamp and expand recycling in Colorado, eliminate unnecessary and wasteful packaging, and reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions. This policy will continue to allow municipalities to choose how they engage in recycling. It will ensure that every Coloradan — urban and rural, living in a single-family home or apartment complex — has access to recycling that is as convenient as their trash service and includes the most readily recyclable materials, such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard, newspaper and other printed paper.
A producer responsibility policy will have producers pay for the end-of-life management of containers and packaging materials they put on Colorado markets based on the type of material and its environmental impact. The sustainable funding generated from such a program will: provide convenient access to recycling to every Coloradan; greatly increase our recycling rate and reduce carbon emissions; create a single statewide list of what is recyclable to reduce confusion and increase participation; directly reduce costs for local governments by covering the costs to operate recycling drop-off centers and curbside recycling programs.
And it will boost local economies. Recycling creates nine times more jobs than landfills and this policy will help attract more businesses to Colorado to use our recycled materials to make new products.
In general, this policy will reduce the amount of non-recyclable single-use plastics and encourage companies to use less packaging overall and to choose more recyclable, less toxic packaging formats.
Across the country, environmental groups, recycling operators, consumer goods companies, and the business community are coming together to support producer responsibility policies for containers and packaging. Over 40 countries have mandatory producer responsibility policies for containers and packaging materials, and Maine and Oregon adopted the first U.S. policies in 2021. Colorado’s producer responsibility program for paint, PaintCare Colorado, has been in place since 2015. The program has resulted in over 4 million gallons of recycled paint and tens of thousands of dollars of savings to local governments from paint collection services.
Companies around the world are making bold commitments to use more recycled content in their products and to support recycling, such as the Every Bottle Back initiative by US beverage companies. This is just good business. According to the 2021 Global Green Buying Report, 67% of consumers consider themselves environmentally aware and concerned with sustainability, and 83% of consumers among younger generations showed a willingness to pay more for sustainable packaging. Consumer opinion continues to trend towards sustainability and is impacting purchase decisions.
Recycling and using less are two simple steps we can all take every day to reduce climate pollution, protect our clean air and water, and support healthy ecosystems. This policy will help make it easier for Coloradans to be good stewards of our environment and our climate while creating green jobs and building more resilient local economies.
We have the power to align our image of a green Colorado with reality. Let’s make it happen.
Lisa Cutter of Littleton represents House District 25, including the mountains of Jefferson County. Kevin Priola is State Senator from Henderson who represents Senate District 25 in Adams County.


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Hummus lovers, try not to run to the nearest supermarket and raid the dip aisle, but there may be good reason to panic.
As well as shortages of prosecco and avocados, there’s another seriously unwelcome effect of ‘the Instagram effect’ that you should know about.
According to food retail magazine The Grocer, we could be heading for a major price hike when it comes to hummus.
The price of the trendy creamy dip has risen by around a third over the past year, and it’s set to increase even further, say the publication.
The reason? Well, it’s largely due to global shortage of chickpeas, thanks to an overwhelming consumer demand for the Levantine dish.
In January 2017, the average 310g tub of hummus cost £1.14. Now however, that has increased by 33p (or 29%) to £1.47.
Devastatingly, the demand shows no signs of slowing down. But it’s no surprise to us really – everyone knows there’s nothing better than a dollop of hummus on a warm pita bread or layer of the creamy purée on a sandwich. Basically, hummus is life.
If you haven’t yet given in to the hype like the rest of the world – here are five super healthy benefits to eating more of it.
Well, before the price hike stops you…
1. It’s a great source of protein
Thinking of going plant-based this year? Then you’ll want to start getting more hummus into your diet. The dish’s main ingredient – chickpeas – are an excellent alternative to meat, thanks to its high protein content. Because hummus is also often eaten with bread, the chickpeas and grains together make up a ‘complete protein’ – which means they contain an proportion of all nine of the essential amino acids necessary for the body to create energy.
2. It can protect you from disease
Research has found that chickpeas can help to balance cholesterol levels, reduce hypertension and protect against heart disease. If that wasn’t enough, a bean-rich diet has also been shown to help balance blood sugar levels too. A 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found diabetics who ate at least a cup of legumes for three months as part of their low glycemic index diet improved their glucose tolerance.
3. It alleviates anaemia
Chickpeas are a rich vegetable-based source of iron, with 25% of an adults recommended daily intake in just one cup. These wondrous legumes also contain ample amounts of vitamin C, which aids the absorption of plant-based iron in the blood.
4. It can reduce the risk of blood clots
A 2012 study published in the journal Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica found that certain types of chickpeas were effective at decreasing inflammation in the body. Chickpeas are also rich in vitamin K and E, two vitamins that have blood thinning properties that naturally help decrease the risk of blood clots.
5. It’s part of the super healthy Mediterranean diet
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that about 30% of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people who are at high risk if they switch to the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in chickpeas and beans and yep – you guessed it – magical, delicious hummus.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to toast up some pittas and have a sneaky afternoon snack – your body and your waistline will thank you, although your wallet soon might not.


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Moving Your Money by Laura Flanders of GRITtv explores why it’s so hard to invest money locally. Grassroots activists trying to build economic alternatives in the US encourage investing in the businesses in your neighborhood, instead of in far-off corporations. Flanders talks with local finance expert Michael Shuman and profiles BII portfolio member CERO Co-op, a grassroots group that’s funding its start-up without deep pockets or Wall St cash.
Not Business As Usual is a provocative look at capitalism and its unintended price of success. The film tracks the changing landscape of business with the rising tide of conscious capitalism through the stories of local entrepreneurs who have found innovative ways to bring humanity back into business.
Aaron Tanaka, Boston Impact Initiative Board member and founder of the Center for Economic Democracy, speaks on Radio Woodstock (at 23.46) about building a new economy that leads to a new democracy.


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In the United States declassified the new Porsche 911 GT3. Extreme sports car Porsche catch a glimpse in a Macan crossover advertisement. The premiere of the model is likely to take place in the second half of this year.
Previously, the Porsche 911 GT3 2020 has already been seen in tests. Traditionally, the coupe has an aerodynamic body kit, additional air intakes and a huge rear wing.
It is expected that the new Porsche 911 GT3 will still retain the atmospheric engine. Boxed 4.0-liter six will develop over 500 liters. from.
You can choose from a manual gearbox or a robot with two clutches. The Porsche sports car will also receive an active suspension and a fully-controlled chassis.


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[prMac.com] Mississauga, Canada – Apptellect Inc. Canada is proud to announce the release UrduTimes 1.3 for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Amazon Fire devices. Urdu Times is North America’s first Urdu newspaper which is published from several places in the world including Washington D.C, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Islamabad, London, Lahore, Birmingham and Manchester.
Urdu Times is the best mobile app and online newspaper to get international breaking news. Either its American, Chinese, UK, Indian or Pakistani news headlines, Urdu Times is always there to provide all the latest Urdu news including sports, education, business, science and technology, showbiz, entertainment and weather. Our fresh, brand new and redesigned Urdutimes app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is now available for you to download. Read daily headlines, breaking news, top stories & news of latest events and happenings from around the world, United States (US), Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Pakistan and India in Urdu. Receive real-time news of the day with breaking news alerts on your phone.
* Browse news stories from different categories of your interest like World, Health, Science, Technology, Showbiz and Entertainment etc.
* Get news stories from your own city and country. Urdutimes uses GPS to identify your current location and delivers news of your area.
* Pull to refresh on news listing to fetch latest news.
* Photo gallery to read interesting news.
* Beautiful Nastaleeq Urdu font for comfortable news reading experience.
* Get breaking news alerts and read top stories as soon as they happen anywhere in the world.
* Sign up with Urdutimes to participate in the discussion by posting comments and liking news.
* Share news on Facebook and Twitter through social media integration of Urdutimes.
* Bookmark news to read them later.
* iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch
* Requires iOS 7.0 or later
* Universal Application
* 10.5 MB
Pricing and Availability
UrduTimes 1.3 is free, and is available worldwide through the App Store in the News category. An Amazon Fire version is available through the Amazon Appstore.Apptellect Inc
Download from iTunes
Download from Amazon Appstore
Located in Mississauga, Canada, and founded in 2010, Apptellect has assembled a large pool of developers, designers and creative strategists who love to play with new technologies and practices and don’t shy away from spending tireless hours in perfecting what they do best. All Material and Software (C) 2015 Apptellect. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod, and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.


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Google and Windows Phone don’t have what we’d call a great relationship. From issues with a YouTube app and temporarily blocking Google Maps, the situation could use some improving, and today that’s exactly what is happening.
This week Google finally updated its Search app for Windows Phone, and with it came a few much requested features and services integration. While most Android and iOS users have been enjoying it for months, Windows Phone users have been sticking with Bing, but now they have options. Competition is a good thing and as a result Google was forced to update its Search app, and we have more details regarding what’s new below.
Google sign-in support is a big one, as it previously wasn’t compatible to sign in with all of the many services from Google. This has been a major issues for Windows Phone and Lumia owners for sometime, it’s finally fixed though, and that isn’t all you’ll get either. Next up is voice search with Google Search, only it’s not how you’d expect it to perform.
Google Search on Windows Phone now allows users to search using their voice, but you can’t activate search by saying “Google” or “OK, Google” like with Android and iOS. So while it’s a welcomed improvement, there’s still room to make it better. You’ll also get Google image viewing with the latest update, for those who’d rather not use Bing for everything.
Overall the changes are important, but not as major as many would expect. We’ve already had voice search features with Bing, but saying things like “How’s the weather” to Google Search will get an actual result, not just search the term. The interface is familiar with what we see on competing platforms but isn’t nearly as polished as Google still isn’t putting much effort into the platform. For those curious get it today from the Windows Phone Store.


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Will AI push western governments to censor social media companies like in China?
Do you recall those days when media channels were limited, and we stayed at home to watch our favorite tv-series? That time when in Europe the range consisted of one national and, if you were lucky, maybe a few foreign or channels? It was a period where the media was segregated, organized around the different political party lines. Today, such an approach seems unthinkable in the west. We’ve come to a point where we are struggling with too much choice, in a ruthless open landscape.
Good thing that companies like Netflix or Amazon help us make these ‘difficult’ choices in a sea of content. The media sector’s investments in artificial intelligence will only increase over the years to come because they realize that ever more relevant and personalized offerings is how you really bring home the bacon.
The biggest media company you’ve never heard of
The online company that has fully embraced the future of the new media is the Chinese company Toutiao (头条), which means ‘headlines’ in Chinese. It’s a news recommendation app that deploys AI to quench the consumers’ thirst for news and entertainment of all its readers. You may not have heard about it yet. But it’s Big, and not just in China. It’s the favorite of Silicon Valley VCs and was valued at 75 billion USD end of 2018. Buzzfeed, their American competitor, decided early 2018 to work with Toutiao to distribute its content in China, because “If you can’t beat then, join them”. In 2017 there was a rumor that Baidu (China’s Google) would buy Toutiao, but the management of Toutiao reacted jokingly that they must have swapped buyer and seller. Safe to say that it’s probably the biggest media company you’ve never heard of.
But how did it become so big? Simple. They pulled every trick in the AI book to make their algorithms highly addictive: they learn individual user behavior and update themselves in real-time for a more personalized and relevant reading experience. And in contrast to most other (social) media, Toutiao uses a dual dataset environment. Beyond what you read, share or like, their algorithm recommends primarily on the basis of what you write. In doing so, it pierces one layer deeper into your subconsciousness. Now, in the West, that (recommendations on the basis of what one writes, I mean) might not have such a big effect, but in China, the impact is significant. Let me explain.
Considering the government-driven censorship, one could very well assume that China’s internet is a dull and very limited environment, but quite the opposite is true. Chinese netizens create way more content - writing and posting pictures, blogs, video, streaming, reviews, ratings, etc. - than we do in the west. As far back as 2012 a staggering 76% of Chinese netizens created online content compared to a mere 23% in Europe. We are seeking information, while Chinese want to be visible online. With China’s strict media control at play, the internet became the most powerful tool for 1 billion Chinese in the quest to seek an identity of their own. Paradoxically, the west considers China’s regime as a limitation in human liberties, while this censorship seemingly contradictorily sparked an explosion in creative exploration for most Chinese netizens. It’s the same type of inventive dynamic we notice in kids that were grounded by parents. China is creating a vast amount of online content, its consumers are thirsty for information as inspiration, and the government is delegating the responsibility of content distribution to the online platforms like Toutiao. This means that, while the government decides what is acceptable and what not, it’s up to the media platforms to make sure that all content complies to those guidelines.
Toutiao is a perfect example of how China 3.0 is emerging as a consumer driven society: a consumer seeking the comfort of an algorithm that decides on his behalf what he wants to see, as long as the delivery stays relevant. Toutiao's AI algorithms predict with great accuracy whether certain content will be successful and go viral or not. As such, they are migrating us all from a digital age into a semantic era - a world of context. Beyond text, images are parsed through an object- and pattern recognition software, adding personalized meta-data to every image. Imagine that you are watching a football game for which Toutiao is able to determine your favorite player based on your viewing behavior, it could zoom into him live; display for you the exact images you favor whilst delivering a personalized commentary and relevant captions – all with their AI-technology. No wonder that the Toutiao app reaches an average viewer’s daily attention span of 74 minutes as opposed to 50 minutes for Facebook and 32 minutes for Instagram or Twitter. Two years old, and Toutiao was already profitable and is amongst the world’s fastest growing applications.
Relevance versus freedom
As we extrapolate Toutiao’s success to the future, worldwide, one can expect that every investment in AI in the media industry – anywhere in the world - will result in ever more relevant and personalized information. And this will have a major impact on information and other content consuming behavior. We will all rely on these super-algorithms to satisfy and confirm what we think and like. But what does that mean for control? Are we in charge, or are the algorithms? Don’t they know our preferences better than we do ourselves as they can cross-reference with millions of others who behave like we do?
Social media companies of tomorrow could deeply limit and impact our choices and behavior, similar to how the west views China’s media today. But how will the western social media platforms balance profit versus societal and individual goals? How will we keep our freedom in a world where we can no longer choose what we see, especially when we always like what we see? Is the solution - in order to avoid massive commercial or other propaganda - to limit these AI-algorithms beforehand? Shouldn’t we curate them before they censor us? Will this curator be an authoritarian father like in China or a permissive mother like in the west? Should it be the government? And if so, will this make us less of a democracy? Will AI push western governments to censor social media companies like in China in the end?


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Britons hit the High Street with a vengeance last month, as well as flocking online to shop, spending a record £27.1 billion in total, official figures revealed today.
A stunning 2.1% surge in sales volumes on the month was far bigger than expected by City economists, adding further ballast to hopes of faster growth in the current quarter.
The spend, which averaged £6.8 billion a week, is the highest since Office for National Statistics’ records began in 1988. But volumes, the quantity of goods bought stripping out the effects of inflation, also surpassed pre-recession peaks to reach an all-time high in May.
Markit chief economist Chris Williamson said: “Improved consumer confidence helped drive retail sales to the highest-ever in May, adding to signs that the UK economic recovery is gaining momentum.”
The sales bonanza was driven by a strong bounceback from an April fall and better weather. Supermarkets battled for customers with heavy discounting on food, sending sales up 3.5% in the biggest rise for two years. They also cut prices on summer ranges they had been unable to sell in the coldest spring for 50 years.
Weekly spending online hit £582 million in May, up 10.3% on a year earlier and accounting for almost 10% of all retail spending.
BNP Paribas economist David Tinsley said: “The question is whether this momentum can be sustained into the second half of the year. We remain concerned economy-wide real income growth will not be sufficient to see this.”
… but manufacturers are downbeat
Manufacturers took the gloss off the High Street sales boom as smaller players struggled to crack export markets and production stagnated, the CBI said today.
Its latest industrial trends survey showed production levels flat in the quarter to June and confidence at a lower ebb than three months ago among 400 respondents.
Although cars and transport remained a bright spot, small and medium-sized firms struggled to maintain export orders, which fell to their lowest since January 2010. The CBI’s economics director Stephen Gifford said: “The business climate still remains quite fragile.”
There was better news from the eurozone as financial data provider Markit’s latest snapshot of the region’s private sector fuelled hopes of an end to its lingering recession.
Its survey showed the smallest downturn in business activity since March last year during the first part of June. ING Bank’s Martin van Vliet said: “Today’s figures clearly reinforce hopes that the eurozone may soon embark on a recovery.”Reuse content


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OPPO abandons custom chip design ambitions
PLUS: India gets blood from a drone; Toshiba sets a date; Australia floats metaverse standards
Asia In Brief China's OPPO, the world's fourth mostprolific smartphone manufacturer, has abandoned plans to design its own silicon.
Middle Kingdom outlet China Star Market reported that Oppo's chip design limb, Zheku, last week closed and powered down all employment contracts.
Difficult economic conditions were cited as the reason for the closure.
Oppo founded Zheku in 2020 in hope of creating products that would reduce its dependence on US suppliers and therefore the potential impact of US sanctions. Custom silicon was also seen as a route to product differentiation.
If Zheku ever produced designs that Oppo found useful, neither outfit has seen fit to say so in public. With smartphone sales slumping, Oppo decided to pull the pin.
Doing so suggests it has few worries about sourcing components in future – because it can either evade sanctions, or secure supplies from within China.
Toshiba sets a date for sale
Toshiba last week set a date for the sale of its shares. A company statement gave "the last ten days of July 2023" as the target date for the tender of shares that will enable to $15 billion sale to Japan Industrial Partners, Inc. (JIP).
News that the deal is close to conclusion came on the same day that Toshiba revealed its FY22 results – featuring less than one percent revenue growth and moderate losses.
Australia starts work on metaverse standards
Standards Australia has published a "Metaverse and Standards Whitepaper" identifying the issues future standards should address.
Developed in association with the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, the document outlines four rights the authors believe should be respected by metaverse operators, namely:
- The right to experiential authenticity so that users know when they're seeing promotional material;
- The right to emotional privacy, meaning the chance to opt out from having emotional reactions – such as facial expressions, vocal inflections, or vital signs – recorded and analyzed;
- The right to behavioral privacy, again allowing opt out of data collection of their metaverse activities;
- The right to human agency, allowing users "to make their own decisions in the Metaverse and be protected from any system that takes their emotional and behavioral data in real time and, using an AI-powered feedback control system, alters the information to make it appealing to the user."
The full whitepaper can be found here [PDF].
Big changes at NTT Data
Japanese telecoms and IT services giant NTT has made major changes to its affairs that will see the global activities of NTT Data and NTT Ltd combined as NTT Data.
"This will allow for both companies to operate in a much more coordinated manner," the megacorp stated. "By leveraging the combination of NTT Data's capabilities such as consulting and application development and NTT Ltd's strength in high-value-added services such as datacenter, global networks, and managed infrastructure services, the NTT group will be able to provide clients with new value as a whole."
The change was accompanied by a restructure of the board, and came in the same week as the group announced full year revenue of $25.7 billion and net income of $1.1 billion – growth of 36.8 percent and 4.9 percent respectively.
The group also signalled plans to continue building datacenters around the world – it's quietly become one of the biggest players in the field – to satisfy demand from customers including hyperscalers.
India gets blood from a drone
India's Council of Medical Research and Health Ministry last week conducted a successful trial of blood bag delivery by a drone.
The inaugural trial flight carried ten units of whole blood samples. Authorities haven't said how far the drone traveled, stating only that the flight was a line-of-sight affair.
But the success of the test raised hopes that India can distribute blood, and blood products, more quickly over its infamously congested and rough roads – be they in cities or remote locations.
China launches blockchain brainbox
China last week launched a National Blockchain Technology Innovation Center. The facility aims to put the distributed ledger tech to work across the nation's massive economy, and to consolidate disparate research and implementation felt to have become unhelpfully diverse.
China sees great potential for blockchain in many industries – as you'd expect of a nation that likes to know what its citizens get up to. Cryptocurrency, however, is one blockchain application China will not tolerate.
In other news …
Our regional coverage from last week included LinkedIn shuttering its main app in China and shedding over 700 jobs.
Japan's government, and Fujitsu, apologized for a privacy breach that saw requests to print government documents produce material associated with the wrong people.
Chinese authorities raiding the offices of consultancy Capvision, alleging it had exposed secrets.
South Korean authorities expressed optimism that top chipmakers Samsung and SK hynix would continue to enjoy some relief from US sanctions on their operations in China.
Pakistan's government ordered extensive internet outages to quell protests, damaging its nascent digital economy.
Also in India, bans on open source messaging services were strongly criticized.
Vietnam's government floated a plan to require social media users to register using verifiable personal information, and for filters to prevent unregistered accounts being available – even if those accounts are held by users from outside Vietnam. ®


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While the news that a half-dozen top financial firms are creating a new cryptocurrency exchange has been lauded for what it says about their faith in the crypto market, it could also substantially lower the cost of buying and selling digital assets.
Names like Schwab, Citadel Securities, Fidelity Digital Assets and Virtu Financial are behind EDX Markets, or EDXM, and while the names are its biggest selling point, it could offer a big boost to the broader industry.
After the crypto winter saw the price of bitcoin collapse more than 70% since hitting almost $69,000 in November, there have been a lot of questions about the long-term viability of the market. It got a boost in August, when the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, partnered with Coinbase to offer institutional clients access to bitcoin.
But the companies behind EDXM give a Wall Street imprimatur to the crypto markets for smaller retail investors, whose ranks swelled precipitously in 2021 from about 41.5 million to nearly 60 million before the crash left half of them underwater.
This kind of investment in the retail market suggests that major financial firms not only believe the crypto winter will end, but that it will do so sooner than the years some have predicted. Other investors include Paradigm and Sequoia Capital.
Big Promises About Low Prices
The EDX Markets exchange will use technology from low-cost stock exchange MEMX, promising “tighter spreads enabled by greater liquidity” and better transparency in price discovery, as well as best practices from traditional financial markets, strong security and custody — traditionally problematic — and stronger regulatory compliance from owners well versed in it.
The cost of buying and selling bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can reach 2% to 4% or more, particularly for smaller purchases, with opaque spreads and transaction fees on top of that. While prices can go down dramatically for very large orders and institutions buying over the counter, EDX Markets has the potential to start a price war that, despite predictions, hasn’t really happened.
There are exceptions. In July, Binance and its Binance.US sister firm began offering zero-fee trades on bitcoin and about a dozen other top cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, while FTX.US charges 0.1% maker and 0.2% takers fees. Yet both have only a fraction of the business of their international siblings, and by and large, a price war hasn’t happened.
Then there’s fee-free Robinhood, which charges only the spread, but earns its money on payment for order flow — which can and has, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, raise costs. Popular exchange Coinbase allows customers who direct deposit paychecks to make pre-programmed buys free.
EDXM’s pitch is that when everything is counted, its “commitment to price discovery and efficiency is expected to result in better prices for investors than those offered by existing cryptocurrency exchanges.”
While it will service institutional clients as well as retail ones, the board said in a statement that “EDXM will be a safe entry point to crypto and serve as the exchange of choice for trading digital assets on a platform designed for and used by leading financial institutions.”
The “safe” part will be another big deal, in an industry where hacks and thefts totaled nearly $2 billion through July.
For all PYMNTS crypto coverage, subscribe to the daily Crypto Newsletter.


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New Delhi: German auto component maker Bosch has said its business is yet to fully recover from the impact of note ban and it may take another couple of months for normalcy to return.
With automobile sales plunging to 16-year low a month after the government demonetised higher denomination currency notes on November 8 last year, India very quickly went into e-wallets. Since then, the downturn has reduced but is yet to be totally eliminated, said Soumitra Bhattacharya, the firm’s India head.
The group, which currently has a turnover of around Rs. 18,000 crore, gets around 85 per cent of its revenues from the automotive business.
“We are component manufacturers for OEMs. If OEMs produce and sell less, our demand naturally has lag effect. So, it did had an effect then it picked up again marginally in January and February was relatively better,” Mr Bhattacharya told news agency Press Trust of India in an interview.
Most of the major segments, including scooters, motorcycles and cars, witnessed record decline in December 2016 sales as the automobile sector bore the brunt of negative consumer sentiments in the wake of the ban of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 bank notes announced in November.
Vehicle sales across categories had registered a decline of 18.66 per cent to 12,21,929 units in December 2016, compared to 15,02,314 units in December 2015.
Asked about the quantum of the impact, Mr Bhattacharya said: “The December sales in the automotive sector was lowest in 16 years thats tells everything and we are 85 per cent based on automotive.”
He added that the country also recovered fast due to introduction of the e-wallets.
“Demonetisation did have an impact for all of India and industry… However, while having an impact, India very quickly went into e-wallets, so there was an impact. The downturn has reduced but it is not totally eliminated,” Mr Bhattacharya said.
Asked as how long the impact last, he added: “It could be for couple of months, it could extend. The intensity is also not known, but I guess tough days are behind us.”
On challenges in the Indian market, Mr Bhattacharya said the major issues are related to ease of doing business and requirement of effective labour laws.
“One challenge in India which both the state and central government are aware is that how to increase ease of doing business. All of us know where we in India are in the world ranking,” he added.
One of the biggest issues for Indian environment is to improve the transparency index and the holistic ease of doing business in India, Mr Bhattacharya said.
Besides, the country needs to implement few but effective labour legislations which protect the unorganised, but are also fair towards the labour and employer in the organised sector, he added.
“Sometimes, in the organised sector there are many laws that are inhibiting competitive practices in terms of worldwide productivity standards, efficiency levels,” Mr Bhattacharya said.


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Apple apologizes the right way
For all its mystery and most-valuable-company swagger, Apple can actually be quite contrite when it needs to be.
CEO Tim Cook’s apology Friday about Apple iOS 6’s glitchy new mapping software was surprising and, at least for this iPhone owner, welcome. I’ve found Maps to be pretty much unusable, and I’m glad to hear the company recognize just how bad it is.
One of my first thoughts was “Wow, Steve Jobs would never have apologized.” But then I thought about it a little bit more, and I realized Apple has apologized plenty of times in the past.
In 2008, Apple apologized for its MobileMe launch. Jobs even brought up the failure on stage during a product launch, saying “it wasn’t our finest hour.”
More recently, in August, Apple publicly said it “messed up” when it tried a new staffing formula for its retail stores that led them to be understaffed.
Engadget lays out a handful of other times Apple has apologized, including when it offered customers a $100 credit when it dropped the price of the first iPhone right after it launched.
But do you remember all of these incidents? Probably not. Apple apologizes in a straightforward manner, and everyone moves on. In a lot of cases, the company also took fairly drastic steps to appease their customers, like giving them major monetary credits or, in the case of Cook’s apology Friday, even telling customers to use their competitors’ services. When’s the last time you heard a company tell its customers to do that?
You could criticize Apple for taking a while to get this apology out, or for sneaking in some marketing-speak about the “100 million iOS devices using the new Apple maps” and “more and more joining us every day.” But I think it’s still an example of how a corporation should act when it messes up.
Diana Samuels covers technology, cleantech, biotech and venture capital. Her phone number is 408.299.1835.
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Airbus recorded orders and options for 123 planes, according to the aviation consulting firm IBA.iQ.Paris Air Showread more
Wall Street analysts think Facebook's cryptocurrency payments project will give the company a big boost.Marketsread more
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As if Whole Foods Market wasn't getting hammered enough by investors following its fiscal third-quarter earnings release on Wednesday, the company is now taking a hit from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The grocery chain, which currently claims it's "America's Healthiest Grocery Store," attempted to update its advertising slogan to "World's Healthiest Grocery Store" but was rejected by the agency, according to The Washington Post.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the trademark on the basis that the claim was an exaggeration and can't be proven or has not been proven to be true, the report said.
The attempted slogan change comes as Whole Foods looks to expand its brand globally. Currently, the company has chains in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
However, it has its share of troubles at home. Weak sales, a competitive environment and declining food prices could be major headwinds for it moving forward. Shares in the company were down more than 8 percent midmorning Thursday.
"We are seeing some encouraging signs in terms of our sales and believe our nine-point plan will produce strong returns for our shareholders over the long term," Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer of Whole Foods, said in a statement.
Almost a dozen analysts lowered their September 2016 estimates for the company on Thursday, according to FactSet.
"We are encouraged by 365 and other behind-the scenes initiatives, but believe it's prudent to wait for signs WFM is reaccelerating legacy business trends in FY17 before warranting a premium multiple needed to justify owning shares," Phil Terpolilli, an analyst at Wedbush, wrote in a research note Thursday.
So far, the grocer has opened two 365 by Whole Foods Market stores, which are smaller stores that hope to create a more budget-friendly image. The plan is to build the format to more than 1,200 stores eventually.
Whole Foods' trademark attempt suggests the company may be eyeing further international expansion at some point. However, in Wednesday's earnings release, the retailer focused on its expansion in the U.S. calling out leases it signed in Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
The company didn't reply to interview requests, according to the Post article.


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Adidas launches outdoor brand
Footwear and apparel company launches its first outdoor brand
- Erik Siemers, Business Journal Staff Writer
(Page 4 of 4)
Kummetz said companies perceived as mainstream athletic brands don’t always appeal to the outdoor consumer.
As an example, he pointed to Nike, which in 2009 celebrated the 20th anniversary of its ACG outdoor brand, but has never come close to owning the market like it does in other athletic categories.
“If you look at Nike’s example, there is some resistance there on the part of the U.S. consumer to buy into the outdoor side of the more mainstream athletic brand,” Kummetz said.
Thomsen said adidas’ first-year goals aren’t built around sales targets. Instead it wants to establish U.S. distribution.
“We don’t necessarily have to be everything with the outdoor division,” he said. “We have 10 years at least before we even scratch the surface of the specialty market.”
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After Apple announced that it would pay artists during Apple Music’s three-month free trials, critics speculated that indie labels and music groups that had held off from endorsing and signing to the new streaming service would jump on board.
Now, the Worldwide Independent Network has backed Apple Music. “We are happy to support and endorse the deal,” Alison Wenham, Chief Executive of WIN said in a statement.
“Over the last few days we have had increasingly fruitful discussions with Apple,” said Martin Mills, the chairman and founder of Beggars Group, which is comprised of 4AD, XL, Matador and Rough Trade, and features artists like Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Jack White, Adele and FKA Twigs. “We are now delighted to say that we are happy to endorse the deal with Apple Music as it now stands, and look forward to being a big part of a very exciting future.”
Beggars has long been a force against streaming services, and has, until now, backed away from Apple Music. Last week they released a statement saying no agreement had been met.
“Today’s agreement shows Apple’s concern for the issues of the artist and independent label creative community,” said Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy, which reps artists like Ghostface Killah, Gucci Mane and Naughty by Nature. “We look forward to Apple achieving huge and rapid success with its subscription service.”
Billboard also reports that Merlin, a global music rights agency that represents 20,000 labels and distributors, signed a deal with Apple that will put its music on the streaming service in time for its June 30 launch.
According to a letter from Merlin CEO Charles Caldas, obtained by Billboard, the company is “happy to support the deal” based on Apple’s decision to pay artists during the free trial period. “As you know Merlin has not historically had a direct contract with Apple,” the letter says. “Apple has direct deals with our members, and that continues to be the case.”


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NFL’s Amazon deal could be test for more streaming games
Amazon begins its foray into live streaming of NFL games Thursday night when it will air a matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers on its Prime Video service.
It’s another option to the traditional broadcasts on CBS and the NFL Network. Amazon will stream 10 Thursday night games and one Christmas game this season, and the success of those transmissions could determine how quickly the NFL is ready to offer one of its packages exclusively to a streaming company.
The NFL’s Thursday night package is being carried jointly by CBS, NBC, the NFL Network and Amazon this year, but the 2018 package will soon be up for bid. There could be substantial interest from companies like Twitter — which aired Thursday night games last year — Amazon, and potentially other tech behemoths like Google, Apple or Facebook.
“I think there will be real interest by digital-first companies and digital-first platforms in distributing NFL games on an exclusive basis and more broadly that on the single-game experience we’ve done in the past,” said Hans Schroeder, the chief operating officer for NFL Media. “I think we’re going to have some interesting options for us to look at and I think what we do with Amazon this year will be incredibly informative with how we make those decisions.”
Amazon is paying $50 million for the rights to these games for its Prime Members, a marked increase from the $10 million Twitter paid last year for 10 games.
That still pales in comparison to the more than $5 billion a year the NFL gets from television partners like NBC, CBS and ESPN.
“You have to be very cognizant of where the eyeballs are. But the percentage of people who are watching on TV versus on their phone or table is extreme,” said Fred Gaudelli, the producer for NBC’s NFL broadcasts. “We might have over 25 million watching on TV and there are 500,000 watching elsewhere. That is a huge discrepancy.”
The vast majority of NFL fans still prefer to watch games on their TVs via broadcast or cable networks. The streams on Twitter drew an average audience of about 265,800 viewers per minute, a small fraction of the audience for those games on traditional television.
Schroeder sees growth potential, though. About 3 million per week tuned in for parts of games last year, and about 80 percent of the audience was 34 or younger. In Amazon’s favor, viewers are used to watching longer shows on Prime than they are on Twitter, and they can get it on their TV apps, game consoles and other devices, as well as tablets and mobile phones.
“They’re bringing people into an environment where they are used to watching video for extended lengths,” Schroeder said. “What we’re anxious to see is how putting video into a video-first experience leads to consumption of NFL live games. We’re certainly really hopeful and really confident what Amazon will deliver from an experience standpoint. We think having that access to any digital screen anywhere where they’re used to watching longer-form content will really lead to an even broader engagement profile by our viewers.”
Amazon has not stated targets for audience size or additional Prime customers — the streaming service costs $99 annually.
“That’s not how we do it,” said Jim DeLorenzo, the head of Amazon Sports. “It’s really looking to see, how do our customers react to it? And that will guide our decision about whether this is successful.”
Amazon’s broadcast will be available in 200 countries and offer unique features. There will be audio feeds in Spanish, Portuguese and even an English language one geared toward foreign fans not as familiar with American football.
Fans can also do football trivia on their Alexa devices, and more interactive features could be added in future years after an exclusive interactive contract between Microsoft and the NFL expires.
Amazon is looking beyond the NFL, as well, and has already secured the digital rights to the Next Gen ATP finals for the best tennis players 21 and under in November. It could bid on bigger deals in the near future.
“There’s already a demand for those digital services. That will continue to increase,” said Jim DeLorenzo, the head of Amazon Sports. “We will always be looking for ways to best serve our customer. If that’s by having more live sports on there that’s what we’ll look at.”
AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report
More AP NFL: pro32.ap.org and twitter.com/AP_NFL


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Trick or treat! AT&T announced today that to celebrate Halloween, it’s got a treat for consumers in the form of increased Mobile Share Value plan data tiers.
Starting Sunday, November 2, AT&T will offer 3GB and 6GB tiers in its Mobile Share Value plan for $40 and $70 per month, respectively. Previously, those prices got you 2GB and 4GB of data. Here’s how the Mobile Share Value plan tiers will look starting Sunday:
Each plan includes unlimited talk and text as well as bottomless international messaging. It’s also worth noting that the Mobile Share Value plan has a monthly smartphone access charge that’s set at $25 per month for AT&T Next or no commitment customers or $40 per month for on-contract users.
Finally, AT&T says that it’s extending its Double the Data offer for its Mobile Share Value plans that was announced at the end of September. The promo doubles the monthly data allotment of the 15GB to 50GB tiers. Originally it was slated to end today, October 31, but now it’ll run through November 15.


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A speech translation iPhone app called VoiceTra4U-M will be given the perfect testing ground this summer as millions of tourists from across the world descend on London for the 2012 Olympics. “Developed by the Universal Speech Translation Advanced Research Consortium (U-STAR), which is made up of researchers from 23 different countries, [the app] supports full voice translation for 13 different languages, with text translation for a further 10.” Users can share an iPhone to have a translated conversation or place a call to anyone else using the app.
What’s the Big Idea?
Machine intelligence is being brought to bear on human languages in a way that was unthinkable just a few years ago. The new U-STAR app, which is tailored to translate words and phrases related to tourism, allows it to communicate between local languages with 80 to 90% accuracy, greatly improving on Google’s translation app which achieved 40 to 60% accuracy. “The app will soon be available for free from the App Store and U-STAR hopes that tourists visiting the UK will use it during the Olympics, allowing the researchers to gather experimental data and improve the service.”