Yearly Archives: 2020

PR Newswire

Agora Announces Steep Customer Growth in Q2

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Demand for Agora’s APIs mirrors societal shift towards real-time engagement

SANTA CLARA, California, Aug. 26, 2020 — Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a real-time engagement API provider, today announced steep growth across its customer base in Q2 driven by increased demand for real-time engagement (RTE) technology. Agora, with dual headquarters in Santa Clara, California and Shanghai, China, grew its customer base by 85.5 percent year-over-year as of June 2020, and it serves customers in more than 100 countries around the world through more than 10,000 active applications.

New Agora customers built features like audio and video live streaming into applications even as COVID-19-related social distancing requirements eased. Real-time engagement technology rapidly reached widespread adoption as companies shifted critical business functions to the virtual world. Sources like Gartner report 74% of CFOs plan to shift some employees to remote work permanently post-pandemic, making virtual experiences an integral common part of modern daily life.

"At Agora, it’s our goal to make real-time engagement ubiquitous so people can connect from anywhere, at any time in ways that capture meaningful human interactions," said Reggie Yativ, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Agora Lab, Inc. "We continue to see interest in RTE and real growth on a global scale from customers across sectors like education and gaming. This reflects a larger cultural shift towards richer virtual interactions in our personal and professional lives, both to create better online experiences, but also to innovate in the new business landscape."

In Q2, Agora inked new partnerships with industry leaders in IT, social gaming, online dating, and more. Partners turned to Agora to create unique use cases like:

  • Online Learning:
    • Applejax makes it easy for parents to find quality teachers for tutoring and pod-based learning. Quality education needs good teachers, that is why 100% of Applejax’s teachers are credentialed. Applejax partnered with Agora to develop virtual whiteboards and real-time engagement via video between teachers and students. Both features play an integral role in collaborative learning ensuring your child is learning at the highest level.
    • PandaTree, a remote language tutoring service, tapped Agora’s SDKs to improve business continuity and ensure streaming quality for its virtual tutoring sessions. With Agora’s SDK in place, PandaTree scaled to meet a 300% increase in user demand when shelter-in-place measures were first enacted. Agora’s network, which delivers extremely low latency, also enabled tutors to host innovative lessons with shared real-time visuals and engagement.
  • Streamed Fitness Experiences:
    • MixPose used Agora’s API to build live streaming into its platform for yoga instructors leading real-time classes, allowing instructors and viewers to capture the experience of a guided session. Agora’s video SDK pairs with MixPose’s AI functions to evaluate the yoga poses of participants, helping to offer guidance and track progress.
  • Socializing While Distanced:
    • VirtualTaproom pioneered the application of video chat to connect craft beer enthusiasts for networking and virtual brewery experiences. With Agora, VirtualTaproom took the craft beer tasting experience online with live-streaming virtual "taprooms," digital "tipping" and other interactive features. In connection with this year’s Craft Beer Professionals Virtual Conference, VirtualTaproom welcomed 5,000 attendees to a virtual afterparty and trade show.
    • Sesh used Agora’s RTE technology to build a unique video app for free-flowing group hangouts and personal safety. Sesh allows users to spontaneously start, join or watch video hangouts on their private groups in an organic and flexible manner. Additionally, the "Safety Sesh" feature allows users to easily broadcast their live video and location to their preselected safety contacts in times of perceived danger or insecurity.
  • Remote Collaboration:
    • VirBELA, an immersive platform that offers virtual campuses for offices and educational institutions, is redefining the future of business, events and education with Agora’s RTE capabilities. Using 3D technology, VirBELA creates dynamic virtual campuses that allow groups of people to engage in real-time through avatars.
  • Immersive Virtual Events:
    • InEvent used Agora’s SDKs to add real-time engagement features to its platform, which provides a no-code way to create immersive virtual event experiences complete with live-streamed speaking sessions. InEvent’s engaging, easy-to-use platform provides a virtual solution for summits and conferences derailed by social distancing restrictions.

Agora partners receive 10,000 free minutes of use each month hosted on Agora’s proprietary Software-Defined Real-Time Network (SD-RTN™), which delivers extremely low latency and high availability. This flexible pricing model allows Agora to scale with its customers, making Agora easy to seamlessly build into digital strategies.

For more information about Agora’s partners or its live interactive video and voice SDKs for mobile, web or desktop apps, visit www.agora.io.

About Agora

Agora’s mission is to make real-time engagement ubiquitous, allowing everyone to interact with anyone, in any application, anytime and anywhere. Agora’s platform provides developers simple, flexible and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-time video and voice engagement experiences into their applications.

Contact: Alexandria Plew, agora@matternow.com

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PR Newswire

MoneyGram Expands Digital Network and Mobile Wallet Capability by Integrating with Global Payment Network, Thunes

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JOHANNESBURG and SINGAPORE, Aug. 26, 2020 — MoneyGram International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGI), a global leader in cross-border P2P payments and money transfers, today announced a partnership with leading fintech payment network, Thunes, which will enable MoneyGram’s customers to seamlessly send money directly to mobile wallets and bank accounts globally through the MoneyGram platform.

MoneyGram Expands Digital Network and Mobile Wallet Capability by Integrating with Global Payment Network, Thunes
MoneyGram Expands Digital Network and Mobile Wallet Capability by Integrating with Global Payment Network, Thunes

The global partnership will see additional payment services progressively rolled out in two phases. The first will be in Africa where countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda lead the continent in mobile wallet usage, while the second will focus on the Asia Pacific region and Latin America.

"This partnership marks an important milestone for us. Through this tie-up, Thunes can connect MoneyGram to over 30 markets in Africa, enabling us to significantly expand our reach into the region," said John Gely, Head of MoneyGram Africa. "We are continuously investing in key markets and accelerating digital growth through the integration of mobile wallets and banks, and we believe our partnership with Thunes will further support our strong expansion."

MoneyGram recently reported that account deposit and mobile wallet transactions increased 165% in July, which is an acceleration from the second quarter where the company reported 148% year-over-year transaction growth. This partnership is expected to further support this strong growth globally and further strengthen MoneyGram’s leading position in Africa.

"Thunes aspires to bridge the last mile in terms of access to financial services, particularly in emerging markets, and as such, this partnership is a strong fit," said Peter De Caluwe, CEO of Thunes. "Our robust technological capabilities will enable MoneyGram to achieve greater efficiencies which will bring about significant benefits for MoneyGram customers. In working together with MoneyGram, we strive to help them extend their reach worldwide. Beyond Africa, our next step is to facilitate MoneyGram’s expansion into Asia and Latin America."

According to the GSMA’s 2019 State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money, the mobile money industry is recording astonishing growth with roughly $730 billion global transactions in 2019. The organization reports Africa as one of the fastest growing mobile money transaction continents in the world with an estimated 190 million active wallets.

The COVID-19 outbreak had served to accelerate the trend towards digital payments as people shift away from cash and towards card and contactless payments for health and safety reasons.

"Like MoneyGram, it is important to us that we continue to make essential financial services more inclusive worldwide," said Serigne Dioum, Head of Mobile Money at MTN Group. "MoneyGram’s partnership with Thunes is already enabling our customers located across the African continent to receive payments quickly from MoneyGram straight to their mobile phones. This is significant, especially in times where the use of cash has been adversely impacted."

About MoneyGram International, Inc.

MoneyGram is a global leader in cross-border P2P payments and money transfers. Its consumer-centric capabilities enable family and friends to quickly and affordably send money in more than 200 countries and territories, with over 70 countries now digitally enabled.

MoneyGram leverages its modern, mobile, and API-driven platform and collaborates with the world’s leading brands to serve millions of people each year through both its walk-in business and its direct-to-consumer digital business.

With a strong culture of innovation and a relentless focus on utilizing technology to deliver the world’s best customer experience, MoneyGram is leading the evolution of digital P2P payments.

For more information, please visit MoneyGram.com and follow @MoneyGram

About Thunes

Thunes is a B2B cross-border payments network that enables corporates and financial institutions to move funds and provide financial services in emerging markets. Our global platform connects mobile wallet providers, banks, technology companies and money transfer operators in more than 100 countries and 60 currencies. Thunes is headquartered in Singapore with regional offices in London, Shanghai and New York.

For more information, visit www.thunes.com

About MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging markets operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code "MTN". We are pursuing our BRIGHT strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.

For more information, visit www.mtn.com or www.mtn.co.za

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PR Newswire

ASUS ZenFone 7 Series Flagship 5G Smartphone Delivers Stunning Visuals with Pixelworks Display Technology

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Leading color accuracy, DC dimming and HDR tone mapping enable a truly cinematic video experience in consumers’ hands

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 — Pixelworks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PXLW), a leading provider of innovative video and display processing solutions, today announced that the new flagship smartphone ASUS ZenFone 7 series utilizes the Company’s leading HDR Tone Mapping, patented high efficiency color calibration and DC Dimming technology to make on-screen entertainment come to life for ASUS mobile users. With HDR certification, ZenFone 7 users can enjoy the most immersive new content from popular streaming sites, such as Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.

Leveraging Pixelworks technology, the new ZenFone 7 delivers more vibrant colors and absolute color accuracy for true-to-life videos and photos, with greater contrast and detail, even when viewing in darker environments. The Company’s innovative DC dimming feature reduces flicker sometimes associated with screen dimming in dark environments, improving eye comfort while maintaining superior viewing clarity.

Built on a Samsung 6.67" OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, the ZenFone 7 supports a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The phone’s premium visual display, powered by Pixelworks technology, makes photos and videos taken with the ZenFone 7’s new triple front and rear cameras mounted in the unique Flip Camera module to expose impeccable color reproduction across all viewing modes.

The flagship ZenFone 7 delivers superior display performance based on visual processing technologies by Pixelworks, including the following:

  • Absolute Color Accuracy – Every ZenFone 7 is factory tuned with the Company’s patented, high-efficiency calibration software and runs Pixelworks color management software to optimize power while delivering color accuracy for all apps and content spanning the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts.
  • DC Dimming – Reduces eye strain and visual sensitivity that can occur at low brightness on Samsung OLED screens. To dim the screen, the Pixelworks solution dynamically adjusts the display’s current to reduce the screen flickering associated with conventional Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) dimming.
  • High-Efficiency Calibration – Each device is efficiently tuned during production using Pixelworks technology and a rapid, high-precision color checker to calibrate for standard sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts in a fraction of the time of other approaches.
  • Industry-leading HDR – The Company’s precision HDR tone mapping provides exceptional contrast and color depth with up to 1 billion hues and access to more HDR content with certification from top content providers, including Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.

"Our latest flagship ZenFone 7 series delivers true premium quality to consumers with a display that is performance-optimized using some of the industry’s most advanced visual processing technology from Pixelworks," said Bryan Chang, General Manager, Smartphone Business Unit at ASUS. "For effortless access to the richest high-bandwidth HDR content and applications, the ZenFone 7 series combines powerful performance with Pixelworks display technology to transform consumer entertainment into breathtaking cinematic experiences they can enjoy anywhere they go."

"ASUS offers a full lineup of new phones that continue to elevate the visual experience for consumers," said Todd DeBonis, President and CEO, Pixelworks. "We are excited to partner with ASUS on the ZenFone 7, as this product truly demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver compelling flagship quality and value for consumers for all visual content. We look forward to continued expansion of our partnership with ASUS."

With over 20 years of visual processing experience, Pixelworks is committed to advancing the smartphone viewing experience across all product tiers around the globe, especially for video, gaming and user generated content.

Availability

ASUS announced and officially launched the ZenFone 7 series on August 26, 2020 to the global markets and is expected to be commercially available in Q3 2020.

About ASUS

ASUS is a multinational company known for the world’s best motherboards, PCs, monitors, graphics cards and routers. Along with an expanding range of superior gaming, content-creation and AIoT solutions, ASUS leads the industry through cutting-edge design and innovations made to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt and joyful smart life for everyone. With a global workforce that includes more than 5,000 R&D professionals, ASUS is driven to become the world’s most admired innovative leading technology enterprise. Inspired by the In Search of Incredible brand spirit, ASUS won more than 11 awards every day in 2019 and ranks as one of Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies and Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

About Pixelworks

Pixelworks provides industry-leading content creation, video delivery and display processing solutions and technology that enable highly authentic viewing experiences with superior visual quality, across all screens – from cinema to smartphone and beyond. The Company has a 20-year history of delivering image processing innovation to leading providers of consumer electronics, professional displays and video streaming services. Pixelworks is headquartered in San Jose, CA. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.pixelworks.com.

Note: Pixelworks and the Pixelworks logo are registered trademarks of Pixelworks, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


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PR Newswire

CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity

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HONG KONG, Aug. 26, 2020 — In the second episode of CNN’s new series ‘Tech For Good’, anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout meets five inspiring people from across the globe who are using technology to beat the odds and excel in everything from sport, to cultural preservation, to gaming.

CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity
CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity

CNN first speaks with South African surfer and swimmer Caleb Swanepoel, who was back in the water just three weeks after losing his leg in a shark attack, with the help of a state-of-the-art prosthetic limb. Designed by German company Ottobock, the prosthetic is computerized and uses sensors to mimic a natural gait – allowing Swanepoel to continue doing what he loves most, and even compete in international championships.

Wearable technology is helping British ultramarathoner Simon Wheatcroft stay on track. Faced with the challenges of mobility that came with losing his eyesight as a teenager, Wheatcroft helped to develop technology that could enable him to run without a guide. Stout learns how he uses the Wayband, a watch-like haptic device by WearWorks which sends pulses to his wrists whenever he veers off-course. He hopes the technology will enable a new level of independence for the visually-impaired community. 

Archaeologist Solsiré Cusicanqui uses technology to conduct drone surveys and 3D modelling to unearth the secrets of a pre-Hispanic civilization that prospered in the Andes Mountains in Peru. She explains to CNN how such discoveries have helped instill a sense of identity and pride in the local communities of Peru’s northern highlands, and shares how technology has empowered her as a female archaeologist.

Stout then meets Adonian Chan, a graphic and type designer with an ambition to preserve an endangered calligraphy style native to his hometown of Hong Kong. Chan is using software called Glyphs to digitize the style – called Beiwei Kaishu – into a contemporary typeface which could eventually be installed on phones and computers. He says the technology allows him to adapt this ancient writing style to the needs of modern society, preventing its extinction.

Finally, ‘Tech for Good’ catches up with Ryan Hart – also known as ‘Robotnik’ – a professional video gamer from the UK. Hart reveals that he found a community in arcades after becoming homeless when he was 18, and that he turned to competitive gaming as a form of creative expression. He has since won hundreds of events around the world, and is now considered one of Europe’s best players.

Tech for Good Episode 2 trailer: https://bit.ly/2CW4bKR 
Tech for Good Episode 2 images: https://bit.ly/2E9Rr3N 
Tech for Good microsite: https://cnn.it/2ECCs23 

Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, August 29 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm HKT
Sunday, August 30 at 10:00am HKT
Monday, August 31 at 12:00am HKT

About CNN International 

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 475 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI’s non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a WarnerMedia company.

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PR Newswire

FICO Survey: 73% of Philippine Banks Believe AI Will Stop More Money Laundering

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36 percent currently experience significant struggles modifying their existing rules-based anti-money laundering (AML) compliance system

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 26, 2020 —

Highlights:

  • 73 percent of Philippine banks believe AI will stop more money laundering.
  • 95 percent of Philippine banks still believe in older rules-based technology for AML compliance, despite 36 percent saying that they experience significant struggles modifying these systems.
  • In the Philippines, 100 percent of banks said they will invest in financial crime compliance in the year ahead and 41 percent plan to significantly increase this investment in 2021.      

More information: https://www.fico.com/en/latest-thinking/executive-brief/adopting-integrated-approach-aml-compliance

A recent survey by global analytics software firm FICO has revealed that while 73 percent of Philippine banks believe AI will strengthen anti-money laundering efforts, many remain unsure how to operationalize the advanced technology.

Conversely, when asked about the efficacy of much older rules-based technology, 95 percent of Philippine banks say they still believe in the ability of these AML systems, despite 36 percent saying they experience significant struggles modifying them.

"Rules-based compliance systems continue to the be the workhorse for banks in Asia Pacific when fighting financial crime," said Timothy Choon, FICO’s Financial Crimes Leader in Asia Pacific. "However, some early adopters are starting to embrace the new world of AI and realize that the decade-old rules-based systems can’t keep up with sophisticated threats on their own.

"The secret sauce is operationalizing advanced AI technology and making it work side-by-side with the rules-based systems. In fact, 20 percent of respondents picked this as their principal obstacle in meeting financial crime risk mitigation targets."

The survey showed that the key challenges for existing AML compliance solutions regionally were: the ability to meet new types of compliance risks in channels and products; the capacity to provide an end-to-end integrated compliance solution; and the facility to update quickly to changes in regulation.

Across Asia Pacific, larger multinational banks were more likely to use a vendor solution for AML, while the use of an in-house system was more common with domestic banks.

Key drivers of financial crime strategy

One of the leading indicators driving change in financial crime strategy is customer experience. Over two-in-five respondents ranked this in their top considerations with 17 percent of Asia Pacific banks citing it as the primary factor behind their current and future approach.

"We can see that addressing the competing needs of regulatory compliance and customer experience remains a balancing act for most institutions," said Choon. "Banks are challenged by the need for more information to deal with high rates of alerts from ineffective systems, while not vexing customers with incessant due diligence questions."

Additional considerations ranked second and third by banks included, reputation damage and direct financial losses. When it came to financial crime challenges almost half of respondents cited the speed of responding to new threats, while a third believe achieving accurate detection remains a significant test.

FICO’s comprehensive compliance solution incorporates advanced machine learning techniques designed to address these challenges by significantly improving detection accuracy through patented advanced analytics models such as Soft Clustering Misalignment and Threat Score which can help financial institutions operationalize AI within their existing compliance strategies.

Investment in compliance technology

A significant majority of banks (93%) across Asia Pacific are likely to continue their technology spend on either upgrading or enhancing their compliance systems. However, in the key regional financial centres of Singapore and Hong Kong only two-thirds of respondents indicated that their banks are likely to start new investments in compliance technology, likely due to their more significant spend in this area in recent years.

In the Philippines, 100 percent of banks said they will continue to invest in compliance in the year ahead and 41 percent plan to significantly increase this investment in 2021.

Overall levels of investment in compliance technology by banks in Asia Pacific are expected to rise in 2021. 49 percent of respondents said budgets will increase, with an additional 34 percent expecting a significant increase. Interestingly, foreign banks are more inclined towards new spend compared with domestic counterparts. Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines were the markets that said they would invest the most in 2021.

"This survey, conducted in May, shows that even in the recent economic downturn triggered by the pandemic, banks remain committed to targeted spending that boosts their AML compliance defenses," said Choon. "There is an increased willingness to perceive compliance and fraud as a common financial crime risk – a fraudster is more likely to launder money, and vice versa.

"This convergence is a global trend. Banks in the US and UK are well on their way to fully integrating their compliance and fraud functions, bringing together teams, leaders and technologies.  We believe banks in Asia Pacific are looking to these markets to see what will work, with plans to follow quickly in the next 24-36 months."

FICO’s Integrated AML Compliance Survey was produced in May 2020 using an online, quantitative poll of 256 senior executives from banks across eleven countries carried out on behalf of FICO by an independent research company. The countries and regions surveyed were Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 195 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more at www.fico.com.

Join the conversation on Twitter at @FICOnews_APAC.

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries

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PR Newswire

First Rapid Corona Antigen Test Approved for Clinical Study in Germany

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The health tech company Digital Diagnostics AG from Mainz, Germany, has received approval for clinical trials from a German ethics committee and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). This is a crucial regulatory step in the ongoing approval process for the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test in Germany. The aim of the clinical trials is to demonstrate the reliability of the new technology in comparison with conventional PCR tests. The new test is particularly suitable for access control at airports or at large-scale event

MAINZ, Germany, Aug. 26, 2020 — In June 2020, the health technology company Digital Diagnostics AG from Mainz, applied for approval of the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test for Germany at the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). BfArM has now permitted the conduct of clinical trials in accordance with Section 20 (1) of the German Medical Devices Act (MPG). Meanwhile, the ethics committee of the Rheinland-Pfalz Medical Association (Landesärztekammer) has also given a positive vote.

Completion of the clinical evaluation of the Digid biosensor and the accompanying reading device is expected in October 2020. If the results meet expectations, the rapid Cantisense™ test shall be approved in short succession. Digital Diagnostics AG will then be able to launch the tests on the market in millions. The company currently develops the necessary production capacities, ready for use in time right after the approval.

The leading center to carry out the clinical trials is PFÜTZNER Science & Health Institute in Mainz, which works closely with scientists and MDs from corona test centers and clinics throughout Germany. It is planned to perform the study locally as well as in known German corona hotspots.

In the study, patients are tested in parallel with a standard PCR method and with the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test. Like with all common SARS-CoV-2 determinations, medical staff takes a throat swab from the patient. The sample is analyzed directly on site with the Digid rapid test system and afterwards compared with the result of a PCR test from a reference laboratory to demonstrate the accuracy of the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test. The design of the study complies with FDA and EU Commission guidelines for in-vitro measurement procedures to detect SARS-CoV-2.

One key advantage of the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test is that it directly detects the presence of the virus in the sample, while other available rapid tests mostly detect antibodies. Patients only develop these antibodies if they have had an infection for several days, a time during which they were contagious and might unknowingly have infected others. With the unique combination of immediate on-site detection of the virus in tested patients, the Digid Cantisense™ SARS-CoV-2 test is particularly useful to contain the spread of the pandemic and suitable for on-site access control and rapid testing, for example at airports, in hospitals or at large-scale events.

Press contact

Thomas Huber
semanticom GmbH
+49 30 275 80 81 11
digid-pr@semanticom.eu

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DJI Drives The Future Of Commercial Drones At AirWorks 2020

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New Sensors And Systems Enable Drone Solutions For The Coronavirus Era

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 26, 2020 — DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, today revealed new sensor systems and data integrations for its professional drone platforms at the fifth annual AirWorks conference, as the global coronavirus pandemic spurs massive adoption of drone technology for tasks that must now be performed remotely.

In online AirWorks sessions, industry-leading DJI customers and partners including Shell, Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue and FLIR Systems illustrated how drone technology has enabled people and businesses to be more resilient during the COVID-19 era, helping them follow new requirements for social and physical distancing while addressing the growing need for critical services like contactless inspections that drones provide.

"COVID-19 has challenged drone innovators around the world to rapidly develop and scale new ways of working, and DJI is proud to showcase some of the best ideas demonstrating how the drone industry has responded to the pandemic and how we can chart a course to even more beneficial drone uses," said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Communication at DJI. "This year’s virtual conference format for AirWorks allows more drone industry partners to attend sessions, exchange ideas, hear from experts and find new inspiration for how drone technology is changing everything about work."

DJI executives detailed their vison for the future of DJI’s technology and how the commercial drone ecosystem can benefit from new technical achievements. DJI drones will become optimized for integration into leading geospatial information systems (GIS) and gain new sensors that enable the creation of precise digital twin assets that precisely represent the real world. Additionally, DJI’s drone software and developer tools are becoming more robust to support advanced flight operations and industry-specific applications. Included in these key improvements are new partnerships and product features:

  • Drone-based LiDAR Sensors – DJI has been investing directly in lidar technology through its open innovation program that incubated Livox Technology Company. Livox’s new 498 grams lightweight Avia lidar sensor is compact, capable and able to be attached directly to the DJI Matrice 200 and Matrice 300 series drones to enable highly accurate 3D aerial mapping. It features long-distance detection range up to 460 meters, high-density point clouds and supports up to three returns. By bringing this affordable and scalable lidar solution to the skies, use cases will extend well beyond the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and open new ways for public safety professionals, utility inspectors, and more to digitize their operations with the power of drone and lidar technology.
  • GIS System Integration – As the leading provider of survey-grade drone hardware, DJI announced today that we have partnered with ESRI, the global leader in location intelligence, to provide advanced enterprise solutions to our shared user-base. Through a direct integration between DJI hardware and ESRI’s Site Scan for ArcGIS, we will be advancing joint-developments of highly integrated solutions for the AEC, urban planning, public safety, and energy industries.
  • New Mission Management Platform – DJI’s FlightHub software will evolve from a fleet and pilot management tool into a comprehensive mission management platform centered around flight operations. With the new system, drones will deliver live data on top of an enhanced reality model for better coordination between field operators and command centers.
  • New Developer Tools – With 20,000 active developers and more than 1,000 published apps compatible with DJI drones, DJI announced improvements to its software development kit (SDK) tools that will enable third-party developers to create industry-specific applications, providing more access to DJI’s resources, and exploring and testing new cooperation methods. DJI’s new UX SDK changes the way developers and enterprises interact with DJI’s software and gives them more control over their DJI drone fleet – enabling them to meet stringent security requirements and ship unique, integrated software that meets the most demanding enterprise requirements.

Throughout the conference, leading DJI partners and customers will highlight their unique approaches to integrating and innovating drone technology to help organizations save time and money and improve worker safety.

  • FLIR Systems introduced the FLIR Vue® TZ20, the industry’s first dual-thermal payload for small UAS platforms. Developed on DJI’s Payload SDK, the Vue TZ20 is compatible with the DJI Matrice 200 and Matrice 300 series drones and features a wide 95-degree, and narrow 18-degree field of view FLIR Boson® sensor, allowing drone pilots to better maintain full situational awareness while keeping focused on their objective.
  • Shell Deer Park has become a DJI Solution Development Partner and showcased how DJI drones are used at the Shell Deer Park Manufacturing Complex for mission critical inspections of flare stacks, external floating roof tanks, and response to emergency operations.
  • Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue demonstrated its leadership in the fire service community to keep emergency responders safe during hazardous materials incident response using DJI’s Matrice 300 drone technology.

About AirWorks

AirWorks is the premier venue for exchanging ideas, learning about the latest developments in commercial drone technology, and steering the future development of the industry. It draws attendees from a diverse set of backgrounds who are using drones every day within the agriculture, construction, energy, infrastructure and public safety industries for engaging presentations, workshops, training sessions and networking opportunities. In addition to industry-specific sessions, attendees will hear from prominent leaders in the drone industry during lively panel discussions dedicated to current and future industry trends and drone regulations. The complete AirWorks agenda and more information about the conference can be found at www.djiairworks.us.

For additional information, please contact:
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About DJI

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, was founded and is run by people with a passion for remote-controlled helicopters and experts in flight-control technology and camera stabilization. The company is dedicated to making aerial photography and filmmaking equipment and platforms more accessible, reliable and easier to use for creators and innovators around the world. DJI’s global operations currently span across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and its revolutionary products and solutions have been chosen by customers in over 100 countries for applications in filmmaking, construction, inspection, emergency response, agriculture, conservation and other industries.

For more information, visit our:

Website: www.dji.com 
Online Store: store.dji.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DJI 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/DJIGlobal 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DJIGlobal 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/dji 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/DJI

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PR Newswire

Infortrend Provides Chinese Radio and TV Broadcasting Station with Storage Solution for NLE and Media Library

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TAIPEI, Aug. 25, 2020 — Infortrend® Technology, Inc. (TWSE: 2495), the industry-leading enterprise storage provider, enabled Chinese radio and TV broadcasting station with a reliable and high throughput EonStor GS storage solution for their non-linear editing (NLE) workflows and media asset management (MAM) system.

This Chinese radio and TV broadcasting station has been developing in line with the cultural reform by seamlessly combining traditional media with emerging media trends. As a result, the growing data volume and daily media workloads needed a modernized high throughput storage solution compatible with the already existing sophisticated hardware and software IT infrastructure. The station planned to deploy an easy-to-use storage with data protection functions. It was required to provide a foundation for media resource management and realization of the content ingestion, editing, and storage for release of radio and TV programs and further content archiving.

Infortrend’s EonStor GS 2000 with JB3000 expansion enclosure was chosen as it perfectly conformed to the project objectives. It can deliver up to 5.5GB/s throughput to handle workflow from 10 HD editing workstations through 10GbE. With such bandwidth, GS ensures that NLE workflows, e.g. editing, color correction, audio adjusting and subtitling, are smoothly and concurrently performed for on-time high quality program production. 100TB of usable space and smooth integration with the MAM-system allowed for unified and centralized management of all the media in the station. Data protection measures, such as RAID6 disk protection, snapshots, remote replication, and cloud backup, secure integrity of media content. Importantly, the user-friendly management software EonOne allows non-IT employees to easily set up and manage the system. For future development in 4K and 8K content production, maximum storage capacity can be expanded to more than 10PB.

Learn more about EonStor GS

About Infortrend

Infortrend (TWSE: 2495) has been developing and manufacturing storage solutions since 1993. With a strong emphasis on in-house design, testing, and manufacturing, Infortrend storage delivers performance and scalability with the latest standards, user friendly data services, personal after-sales support, and unrivaled value. For more information, please visit www.infortrend.com

Infortrend® and EonStor® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Infortrend Technology, Inc.; other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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PR Newswire

Private Trade Finance Firm, USEC, Issues Limited Private Placement Offering to Expand Trade Operations

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GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 25, 2020 — Geneva based international investment firm, United Securities Equity Corp (USEC)  has recently issued a new limited private placement offering in order to further strengthen its investment portfolio and stimulate trade activity in light of the widespread slowdown due to the corona virus pandemic.  USEC provides a specialized range of trade finance solutions to businesses across the globe.  This offering moves USEC closer to its goal of expanding their trade finance operations, potentially valued at $850M USD.

 

 

With the support and guidance of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), USEC positions itself as a unique conduit to trade finance and investment opportunities for companies during this period of economic uncertainty. The ICC wishes to effectively alleviate some of the key disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In its April 6th 2020 memo the ICC is "calling on governments and central banks to immediately void the legal requirement for paper-based documentation, and to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records."  ICC’s Secretary-General John W.H. Denton AO further clarified that, "The trade finance market is systemically important to the functioning of the global economy."

To this end, USEC is working diligently to fulfill the ICC’s objective, by offering its services to businesses in search of non-traditional funding in the goal of helping with a speedy global economic recovery.  "As the global economy gradually recovers and opens for business again, trade companies may meet with funding constraints and require assistance to transact effectively," said Edgar Burke, USEC Chief Investment Officer.

USEC has enlisted the services of international advisory firm Mainsail Capmarkets who will operate in the capacity of Exclusive Distributor for the Private Placement.

United Securities Equity Corp (USEC) is a Geneva based international investment firm, providing businesses across the globe with a specialized range of trade and finance solutions.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Media Relations, Nelson Abraham, at +41 22 531 0013 or email media@usecinvest.com.

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Android, Editorial, Mobile, News, Reviews

24 Hours with The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra

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Buying a new gadget is always special. Somehow it feels like an achievement. I remember the first time I bought my smartphone a Samsung Galaxy S. That was in the turn of the millennium and it felt like a big achievement. It was a great feeling, a special feeling.

Then you unbox the device, a delicate mix of glass, and plastic, and metal these days. It felt like a trophy at that time. Then you have to set it up, which is a pain in the butt.

Setting up your device for the first time is always quite a painful process. It takes out plenty of your time. You have to transfer as much data as possible from one smartphone to the other. In the old days, some of the most important data on your device is your contacts. You can do that with a simple Google sign in now. But the rest of the device, not so easy.

Since I switch to a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S, I have never turned back to switch to another manufacturer. Since I have switched to the Note series from the Samsung Galaxy Note2, I have never turned back. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is here, and we have to get our hands on it.

First Set-Up

We did, and then we have to set it up like any other phone. In that regards, I switched out from a Samsung Galaxy Note9 to this Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Thank the heavens, we have the Smart Switch app that simplified data transfer from one phone the other, to a certain degree.

The first set-up of the device is quite painless. Since I am coming from another Samsung device, it is a simple turn on the Smart Switch app on the older device and get them to pair. When I switched out my Samsung Galaxy Note5 to a Samsung Galaxy Note9, I had to do the transfer via a wire. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 does it wirelessly with the Samsung Galaxy Note9; neat.

Smart Switch App

The whole process is quite painless if you do it correctly and should be done within an hour depending on your smartphone. We did something wrong and had to reset twice to get the data transferred correctly. It took us about 40 minutes (when we got it right) for all the necessary data to reach the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

It was worth it though, once done the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 looks exactly like the Note9 in terms interface. You get the same background you’ve set on your older device and even the same lock screen. Of course, you have to set up your fingerprint sensor and facial recognition again.

Things like your Google Account has already been signed into and you can access almost everything else that is singed in with Google account without having to sign in again. Of course, you have to sign into your Samsung account and Microsoft account again. Facebook is mostly already set up too if you transferred your data with Smart Switch app. Other things like Twitter and Instagram requires you to sign in again though.

If you want to, you can even transfer all the older photos that you took with your older device to the Samsung Galaxy Note20. That is what we did, and everything we had from the old Samsung Galaxy Note9 is now in the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. We only wish that the app also helps us mimic all the app settings and accounts we had. We were quite annoyed to find that certain apps are not signed in and most of our games progress has been reset.

Naked and Vulnerable

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 review unit that we got does not come with a device case to protect it from the world. When we checked with Samsung’s rep, there is a chance that the retail unit might not come with an included case too. In that case, we do suggest that you procure one the moment you get your Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra unit though. You would want to slap a case on its back because of the huge camera bump.

The device is not particularly thick, which makes the camera bump a little bit of an odd stand out. It is half the thickness of the S Pen and definitely thicker than your 50cent coin. You might need to stack two coins and it will just clear the height of the bump.

It is not a small bump either. It has to fit a large 108-Megapixel sensor along with two supporting sensors at that. Just in case you do not remember, the camera sensors are now larger as well. The term ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ plays very well here.

Still, the bronze that was presented on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is a unique touch to smartphones. While every other manufacturer is doing all they can to get their device’s backs to look like they came out of the North Pole, Samsung goes back to basic with their flagship productivity machine.

The bronze is not even in a glossy shade for style points. They didn’t really bother with creating fancy effects either. It is just a matte finish that even feels nice in your hands. The only thing about it is that it is quite slippery in your hands. That is why we advise you to buy a case too.

We do really like the matte texture to the back of the device though. While it is nothing new, it is quite refreshing at this time and it does look good to a certain degree. Still you might just cover it up with a case anyway.

Battery Concerns

Out-of-the-box, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 comes with about 50% in battery charge when you turn it on. That should be enough for you to do your set ups or the data transfer. Once set up is done, the battery is still good enough to play around with and to do all extra set ups. While that is good news, it might disguise its actual battery life though.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 houses the biggest battery of all the Note series that came before. The thing is, we do feel like it has about the same battery life as the Samsung Galaxy Note9 though. It is not great, but it is not bad either. If you constantly keep your device on, the battery does dwindle a little bit. We suspect that the battery life is driven down by the 120Hz refresh rate.

Once you start to charge it though, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 will prompt you if you want to fast charge it if fast charging is available. That is quite clever as well. If you tend to leave your device charging overnight, you might want to consider turning that function off. That is also a very clever way to preserve your battery shelf life.

120Hz Goodness

Once you start working with the smartphone, you first notice how smooth everything is. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 turns on 120Hz refresh rate by default but limits your resolution at Full HD. If you want the full quad HD treatment, sorry. Still, 1080p is still plenty good looking on the AMOLED display, so we left it that way.

The smoothness of the interface is uncanny though, everything flows really nicely with each swipe. Even the Samsung Keyboard is made to take on 120Hz, the suggested words just flow along as you type, which was a nice touch.

Of course, the other benefit to the fast display is gaming. Unfortunately, this aspect will have to wait until we properly review the device though. Why? We have not even launched any of the games we have on the device.

S Pen – Mightier than the Pen

Okay, that was an exaggeration. It is technically a digital pen, and we maintain that the stylus experience still cannot beat an actual Pen experience. But this, in our first tests, does feel quite close to an actual pen.

No, not the actual pen on paper experience. Instead, you still know that you are writing on glass, a smooth surface. We can liken it more to using market pen on whiteboards. That said, this S Pen is unlike any other stylus experience we are used to. This is coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note9 user.

It is faster than before, they say at 9ms. That means that response is near instant with the S Pen. Before we can start though, S Pen has some setting up and tutorial to do when we first take it out of its housing at the bottom left this time (used to be bottom right).

The first set up is to teach us how to use the three gesture controls that is available for the S Pen. If you do everything correctly, you will get that done within 30 seconds and you are good to go. You have to set up your apps with gesture controls first though, if you want to use them. We have not.

Then we fired up the S Notes app that is native to Samsung devices. We started writing and comparing to older Samsung Galaxy Note devices like the Note10 and the Note9. We fell a little in love after that. The experience is much changed and different now. While it is only a small difference between in the speed, the difference can be clearly seen. Especially when you are scribbling quickly, the scribbles on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 appears to really follow the pen without any visible breaks. We suspect that the 120Hz play a small role in this.

First Impressions After 24 Hours

This, in our humble opinions, could be Samsung’s most important and significant Samsung Galaxy Note ever. They are realising it into a highly volatile and uncertain market. No, not because Samsung is doing badly or that the smartphone market is doing badly. Those are provided also because of the bigger global concern that is the COVID-19 pandemic at this time.

For most, it is business as usual like Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 is sort of a new normal too. It is bigger, faster, and cleverer than before. It is a statement to the world that the digital pen is ready to take on paper and pen for speed and practicality. It is a new way to work on things.

It does not have the same camera prowess that is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 100x zoom. But it is a productivity beast when it comes to things that matter. You can use it as your alternative work device if you really want to. It refined the Samsung design philosophy a little bit with better ergonomics on the sides. The top and bottom are flat now, which does give it a slightly edgier and fresher look.

It is huge, even compared to the previous Samsung Galaxy Note devices. But it is never uncomfortable to hold (save for that big camera bump, we have nothing to complain about). It is even more powerful too, with bigger stamina tank. But it is not obnoxious in looks. It looks understated and we like that.

All in all, the experience is one that we have quite enjoyed. We have not gone into detail on the missing 3.5mm jack just yet. We have not even explored the Super-Fast Charging capabilities on the Note20 Ultra just yet. We also have not started talking about the big cameras yet.