Monthly Archives: June 2022

PR Newswire

SONGTRADR EXPANDS ITS B2B MUSIC TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS – ACQUIRES LEADING ADVANCED AI SEARCH COMPANY, MUSICUBE

Leave a comment

The Hamburg-based AI technology company enables measurable ROI-driven licensing that optimizes the creative performance of content

LOS ANGELES, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Songtradr, the world’s leading B2B music company, announced today the acquisition of leading AI metadata and music search company, Musicube. The transaction expands the company’s portfolio of tech-enabled music solutions designed to license the right music for any content, driving higher ROI and enabling brands to measurably engage their target audience. Using neural networks and proprietary artificial intelligence, Musicube’s semantic search has reached product leadership in both quality and data depth. It helps match music to content and a brand’s target audience. This technology further enhances Songtradr’s B2B music solutions that harness the power of data and tech-enabled intelligence with creative excellence.

“Musicube has approached audio analysis from an entirely unique perspective and this acquisition accelerates our mission to increase the value and effectiveness of music in content,” said Paul Wiltshire, CEO of Songtradr. “Their impressive team of passionate musicologists and data scientists understand the power of data and its relationship with music, which ultimately benefits our brand and agency customers as well as music rights holders. In order to have the world’s best B2B music search and recommendation technology, we need premier metadata enrichment technology, which is a key component of the B2B music supply chain. Adding the Musicube technologies, data and extraordinary team to Songtradr will help accelerate our enterprise customer user experience.”

Musicube’s proprietary software is delivered via web widgets and an API that provides pristine metadata at scale for music labels, publishers, music supervisors, among many other audiences. The technology also enables customers to search for tracks, playlists and artists based on audiences, moods, genres, vocal features, instruments, tempo and more, unlocking the true value of catalogs and rights.

David Hoga, CEO and founder of Musicube, said: “Songtradr is the most exciting music company we have seen in a very long time. We are incredibly happy to join this exceptional team of music lovers and technologists as every single conversation we have had can be characterized by both cordiality and an ambitious agenda. We share a common vision of an artist-friendly music industry, using data to achieve it.”

With a team of more than 350 people and offices in 12 countries worldwide, Songtradr has grown from being a music tech product for independent artists to a multi-disciplined, end-to-end solution for music buyers, brands and rights holders.

Songtradr’s unique portfolio of the world’s leading music services companies (Massive Music, Big Sync Music and Song Zu) alongside its industry-leading technology and data products (Songtradr, Tunefind, Pretzel, Jaxsta (investment only) and Musicube) provides its customers a distinct advantage to maximize the value of music in their projects.

For more information about Songtradr’s products and services, visit songtradr.com.

ABOUT MUSICUBE:

Musicube’s music AI solution provides rich metadata for music labels, publishers, rights holders and others seeking song discoverability tools. The database includes more than 50 million song titles with ISRC and all contributors, as well as more than 500 keywords (such as moods, musical characteristics, content from song lyrics and many more). The company is composed of experienced musicologists and data scientists  based in Hamburg, Germany. For more information, visit http://www.musicu.be.

ABOUT SONGTRADR:

Songtradr is where music meets data, ideas meet innovation, and brand missions are transformed by sound.

We work with brands, agencies, businesses, labels, artists, and more, empowering them to excel on an international stage. Propelled by technology, real-time data intelligence, and musical expertise, our fully integrated products and services help amplify brands and enable artists and rights holders to realize the full potential of their catalog.

Whether with a classic song or a trending tune, a global music strategy or a sonic identity, we help translate ideas into powerful, ROI-driven solutions to ensure content always hits the right note.

We power the world with music.

Press Contact:
Kara Gaughan
Jive PR + Digital
778-872-7676  
kara@jiveprdigital.com   
www.jiveprdigital.com 

iOS, Mobile, News

[WWDC 2022] Apple Introduces iOS 16 – of Widgets, Shared Library, Mail Scheduling, and Recalling Messages

Leave a comment

Every year at WWDC, Apple always says that their latest update to iOS is the biggest one ever. To be fair, iOS has come a long way since we first saw it in the first Apple iPhone. It got an App Store a few generations later and never looked back. But the modern iOS is more than its app store, it is the updates that Apple has added to the iOS that makes it such a versatile interface we know today.

Apple is not technically wrong to say that the iOS 16 update is the biggest ever for the iOS interface. In terms of visuals at least, iOS 16’s interface could be the most visually distinct iOS ever. It also seems like Apple is finally going into a completely different direction with making the iOS better than ever. The update, technically, is the most feature packed major update ever.

Lock Screen – Not Just a Screen Anymore

  • photo6123087016095756444
    Source: Apple
  • photo6123087016095756445
    Source: Apple
  • photo6123087016095756437
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Lockscreen Notifications 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Activities Starbucks 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Activities Nike Run Club 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Activities Apple TV Plus 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Activities Apple Music 220606
    Source: Apple

Lock screens have always been the most plain looking part of the iOS experience. It is basically a transitional screen before you get to your main home screen. Most of the time, you probably use it as a sort of clock or watch replacement too, a quick glance to tell you the time of day and date.

The thing is, there is a lot more you can do with the lock screen. It is technically a blank canvas for quick glances. That is what they implemented on the iOS 16.

They say that it is an inspiration from the Apple Watch. The home screen is now an information throve but designed in such a way that you can absorb everything by just quickly glancing through it. It now updates you on your next calendar agenda, battery levels, the weather, upcoming alarms, time zones, and even your activity ring progress. Of course, your essential time and date information will always be the front and center of your lock screen notification center. Of course, there is only a limited amount of space for information as well, so you get to choose which widgets go on your lock screen.

At the same time, users get to work with multilayered effects to really personalize their lock screen. You can artfully choose a lock screen image and iOS can cleverly layer your clock and widgets behind the art subject to create this rather interesting 3D layering of your lock screen. It is not really a Live Wallpaper kind of thing, but it is still rather interesting to work with.

Focusing on the Important Stuff

  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 3up hero 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Focus Lock Screen Personal 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Focus Lock Screen Work 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Focus switcher 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Home app 220606
    Source: Apple

Not much here, but Apple have claimed that they have improved Focus on the new iOS 16. To activate different focus modes, all you need to do is to swipe to differing lock screens you have on your iPhone. Different focus modes can also be customized to notify and show different notifications to ensure that users are given relevant information at whatever focus mode they choose to work with at any time.

A Shared Library

  • photo6123087016095756442
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 iCloud Shared Photo Library selected photos 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 iCloud Shared Photo Library Camera app 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 iCloud Shared Photo Library For You 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Family Sharing 220606
    Source: Apple

With the power of iCloud, you can now share your photo library with your family. The Shared Photo Library feature gives users the ability to collaborate or share the library with up to five other people. Each user can also share photos from their own personal library to be included in the shared library. Each user in the library can also add, delete, edit, and favourite their photos or videos in the library.

Unsend Stuff on Messages

  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Focus filter Messages 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Mail search 220606
    Source: Apple
  • photo6123087016095756443
    Source: Apple
  • photo6123087016095756441
    Source: Apple

Usually, when you send messages, once it gets through, you can hardly retrieve it. With the introduction of new messenger apps like Telegram, you can now unsend messages that you sent to unintended parties. WhatsApp also recently introduced the same “delete message” feature with a certain time limit to it. Now the feature to unsend a message is available of the iOS native messaging app. They did not stop there/

You can now mark messages as unread, just so that it still can appear on your message list as unread, just so you can come back to it later. You can also recover recently deleted messages if you accidentally delete an important message. SharePlay is also new on iOS Messages. You get to enjoy synced movies or songs and even control their playback all while through messaging via Messages.

Mail Better

  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Focus filter Mail 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Dictation in Mail 220606
    Source: Apple

With the Mail app, you can now schedule your emails ahead of time, just so that you have a lot more control over your working time. Just in case, the Mail app gives you time to cancel the delivery of emails before it hits the recipient’s inbox. With Remind Later and Follow Up features, Mail can remind users to follow up on emails they might have missed after a while. Search is also now better on the Mail app than ever. Apple claims that the Mail app’s search algorithm is much more accurate and relevant compared to its predecessors to help you find older emails.

More Intelligent, Even On-the-Go

  • photo6123087016095756438
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Text translate 01 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 CarPlay 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Door Detection Accessibility 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Apple Pay Pay Later summary 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Apple Pay Order Tracking dashboard 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Apple Pay Order Tracking 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Apple Pay Later 220606
    Source: Apple

Live text is now cleverer than before. You can use the feature in videos now by just pausing the video and interact with texts within the image or frame. You can even use Live texts as your personal translator or currency converter.

Beyond that though, Visual Look Up is also now improved. Instead of just recognizing a subject, users can now duplicate the subject and place it in other messenger apps. It also now recognizes birds, insects, and statues.

Apple’s Pay app is also improved at least in the United States (U.S.). They just introduced their very own microfinancing service in Apple Pay Later. If you have used Grab’s Pay Later wallet, it works very similarly there. The Pay Later feature also allows you to pay for your items in monthly instalments with no additional charges for now.

CarPlay is also improved with new features that makes it a powerful and versatile interface for in-car infotainment systems. CarPlay can now provide for multiple screens in a car to ensure that the CarPlay experience is consistent throughout a vehicle. There is more integration as well with CarPlay. Other than climate controls, CarPlay can also provide readings from multiple sensors in the car like fuel level, engine temperature, and even speed. Users can completely change what they see on their dash as well, if they choose to do so.

And more …

  • photo6123087016095756439
    Source: Apple
  • photo6123087016095756440
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Live Text convert currency 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Fitness app 220606
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC22 iOS16 Apple News My Sports 220606
    Source: Apple

There are plenty of minor updates and improvements done on Safari, Apple maps, Siri, and even the Fitness app. For example, the Fitness App no longer requires users to own an Apple Watch to track their fitness goals. Apple News also now has My Sports section to allow users to easily follow their favourite sports teams in their favourite games. Spatial Audio is also improved on the iOS 16 to allow for a more precise and immersive audio with TrueDepth camera for a more personally tuned experience.

Availability

Apple’s iOS 16 is now available as a preview for members of Apple’s Developer Program. You can find it on their developer website. A public beta of the iOS will be available in the coming month. iOS 16 and its features will be available for iPhone 8 and later. For more information on iOS 16, you can visit their microsite for it.

PR Newswire

CERC Chooses Vermiculus’ Clearing Solution to Revolutionize the Receivables Market

Leave a comment

STOCKHOLM, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vermiculus has been chosen to deliver a real-time clearing solution to CERC, the main financial market infrastructure specialized in receivables in Brazil. In this cooperation, Vermiculus will provide a solution based on its modern clearing system, VeriClearTM, which is an elastically scalable and AI-powered real-time clearing system.  

CERC has the mission to make the market of receivables more efficient and reliable and aims to achieve this by efficiently connecting stakeholders of multiple economic sectors. Attaining this demands a system with immense architectural integrity and flexibility that can adapt to the vast, diverse, and always changing requirements. It also seeks to maintain its cloud integration and therefore requires the most modern architectural solution. Furthermore, with CERC’s rapidly increasing business, the need for a multi-functional and greatly advanced settlement clearing system is paramount.

“Vermiculus’ VeriClearTM perfectly matches our ambition to modernize and streamline our industry in a powerful way that has never been done before.” 

– Marcelo Maziero, Co-Founder of CERC

CERC began its operations by pioneering the registry of trade invoices, which was later extended to include receivables from credit and debit cards, among other assets, making it a reference in this sector that moves trillions of Brazilian reais. Aware of this financial potential and the importance of receivables as collateral for credit transactions, CERC is expanding its services and is waiting for authorization from the Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) and Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) to operate a Settlement System and a Central Securities Depository, which will allow it to offer more services to further enhance credit transactions in Brazil.

The Vermiculus and CERC partnership is the beginning of a long and rewarding relationship between both companies. “We are excited to work together with the highly experienced and professional team at Vermiculus to develop a solution that supports our core objective of decentralizing data to reduce information asymmetry and help democratize the supply of credit so that more companies can benefit.” says Marcelo Maziero, co-founder of CERC. “In order for us to meet our uniquely advancing business initiatives, extreme flexibility and performance are key, which Vermiculus already delivers.”

Vermiculus’ multi-asset microservices-based clearing solution, VeriClearTM, provides comprehensive and flexible multi-currency settlement capabilities for clearing houses. The system allows for monitoring and managing receivables and risk in real-time across multiple markets as well as provides an in-depth overview of the transaction chain. The clearing system is optimized for being able to quickly adopt new business initiatives and product developments, with unparalleled scalability, adaptability, and customization. This is powered by intelligent APIs and AI functions which are presented with superior usability through its dynamic GUI dashboard. The analytical dashboard enables efficient drill-down possibilities and error handling through its algorithmic abilities and has the capacity to gather business intelligence.

Taraneh Derayati, CEO of Vermiculus says “Founded in 2015, CERC has built their business into one of the fastest growing marketplaces in Brazil with a uniquely diverse set of offerings. CERC’s innovative nature and execution power for diverse growth make them a fantastic client for Vermiculus as we value innovation and progressive ambition. With this collaboration, we will continue to deliver our mission-critical technology with uniquely flexible solutions based on our pioneering microservices and AI architecture.”

Derayati adds, “By working with such a forward-thinking client, we are set to deliver a powerful and modern product that is made-to-measure, fully adaptable, and of the highest performance.”

About CERC

Headquartered in São Paulo and founded in 2015 with employees throughout Brazil and the USA, CERC is a financial market infrastructure (FMI) operating in several economic sectors with several types of receivables. The company provides solutions that add transparency and security for analyzing, registering, and controlling property and settlement of financial assets, so that these assets can be more easily used as collateral for credit transactions.

CERC is the first cloud-native FMI specialized in receivables with an outstanding role in clearing (settlement registration and control) credit card receivables. It is Brazil’s largest FMI by volume of processed transactions. One of CERC’s main objectives is to centralize data from thousands of companies’ financial assets to reduce the information asymmetry that restricts market growth and supply more credit to businesses.

About Vermiculus Financial Technology 

Vermiculus Financial Technology provides cutting-edge trading, clearing and CSD solutions to market participants around the world. Vermiculus solutions are the first to bring together state-of-the-art advances in dynamic microservices architecture with vast experience in clearing house and exchange business requirements.  

Vermiculus solutions radically improve robustness, quality, and flexibility by utilizing AI-driven microservices, and can achieve superior environmental performance, elastic scalability, and cost-efficiency through SaaS and cloud-based deployment. 

The company started its operation in 2020 and is founded by industry experts with the incentive to revolutionize the technology of exchanges, clearing houses and CSDs.  With its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Vermiculus consists of hand-picked industry experts, trained to deliver mission-critical solutions. With decades of accumulated knowledge and expertise, the team has previously completed 75+ projects for the world’s largest exchanges, clearing houses and CSDs.  

For more information about Vermiculus and its product and service offerings, visit www.vermiculus.se or get in touch through info@vermiculus.se. 

For further information, please contact:
Taraneh Derayati – CEO
Vermiculus Financial Technology
Tel +46-(0)73 634 56 26
taraneh.derayati@vermiculus.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/vermiculusft/r/cerc-chooses-vermiculus–clearing-colution-to-revolutionize-the-receivables-market,c3581007

Lifestyle, News

Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs Make Malaysian Debut

Leave a comment

Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs are finally making their way to Malaysia after their announcement in January at CES 2022. The new lineup brings an extensive list of enhancements focused on enhancing the entertainment experience as well as adapting one of the most ubiquitous screens to your lifestyle.

Samsung Malaysia Neo QLED 2022 Launch 2
Calvert Yap (Head of TV, Audio Visual, Samsung Malaysia), Jimmy Tan (Head of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Malaysia), Edward Han (President, Samsung Malaysia) and Sunghwan Joo (Director of Audio Visual Division, Samsung Malaysia) at the launch gambit of the Neo QLED 8K TV

The new Neo QLED TVs come with a new Neo QLED 8K processor which ups the ante when it comes to image quality. The new Neural Quantum Processor 8K has been enhanced with a new algorithm called the Real Depth Enhancer. This dynamically scans the screen and maximizes the contrast between the object and the background of the scene making the object pop. It also adds a level of clarity and makes the image more realistic in a natural way. Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs are using also a lot more dynamic and reactive as the screens are able to create localised dark zones with the Mini LED technology. The increased precision allows for better, more realistic details and a more natural image as contrast and back-lighting is controlled on a per pixel basis. This year’s QLED TVs are also the first to be PANTONE verified for colour accuracy.

Together with the enhanced technology of the Neo QLED TVS, Samsung is also introducing features that will allow the TV to adapt to its users seamlessly. The TVs now come with features that will not only allow you to be more immersed in your content but also adapt to your work environment. The new line up of Samsung Neo QLED TVs come with features such as Google Duo which will allow you to take and make video calls from the TV with a webcam. In addition to that, DeX is also making its big screen debut and will allow you to use you screen as desktop for remote work. It will also bring a seamless second display experience that will help you get things done more efficiently.

Samsung Malaysia Neo QLED 2022 Launch 4
Jimmy Tan (Head of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Malaysia) and Edward Han (President, Samsung Malaysia) showcasing the Neo QLED 8K Flagship TV

With accessories like the webcam, the new Neo QLED TVs are here to help you get in better shape. Samsung is bringing even more features that will help you exercise and get fit with your TV. In fact, you’ll be able to get tips on how to improve your form straight from the TV as you workout. Of course, sometimes we prefer working out while watching our favourite shows, with Multiview, you’ll be able to watch up to 4 screens at the same time. So, you’ll be able to watch your stocks, Netflix, workout and be on the video call all at the same time.

There’s a whole lot of improvements that have been baked into the new 2022 Samsung QLED TV lineup – you’ll be able to get the full breakdown in our coverage of the CES announcement.

Pricing and Availability

Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs are already available in Malaysia together with the updated versions of their lifestyle TVs: The Frame, The Serif and The Sero.

ModelRRP (MYR)
85-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B49,999
75-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B34,999
65-inch Neo QLED 8K QN900B23,999
85-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B33,999
75-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B24,999
65-inch Neo QLED 8K QN800B18,999
55-inch Neo QLED 8K QN700B12,499
PR Newswire

P.I. Works and VMware To Bolster O-RAN Adoption and Innovation

Leave a comment

P.I. Works’ rApps to be interoperable with VMware’s Non-Real-Time RIC Platform to enable the automation and optimization of Open RAN networks

RESTON, VA, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — P.I. Works, the leading provider of AI-driven mobile network management solutions, has announced its rApps are now interoperable with VMware’s Non-Real-Time RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) platform, which will allow for the efficient automation and optimization of both existing and Open RAN mobile network elements. The solution will enable operators to make the shift toward introducing O-RAN into their existing networks.

VMware – P.I. Works Partnership
VMware – P.I. Works Partnership

With 5G technologies being widely deployed across the globe, O-RAN is poised to become the first choice of operators as they overhaul their current Radio Access Networks, especially given it is designed to accommodate multi-vendor equipment through open interfaces. As such, as RAN evolves from the current architecture to Open RAN, automated network management via a standardized Radio Intelligence Controller (RIC) will become essential for CSPs in abstracting the complexity of their heterogeneous networks and thus improving customer experience.

Lakshmi Mandyam, Vice President of Product Management and Partner Ecosystems, Service Provider & Edge, VMware said, “We are committed to delivering world-class network management solutions that not just meet, but exceed customer expectations. Our collaboration with P.I. Works adds advanced automation and optimization capabilities to RIC platform to help service providers make the most of their RAN modernization efforts.”

Djakhongir Siradjev, Chief Technology Officer at P.I. Works noted: “As a global provider of mobile network automated management solutions, P.I. Works has always seen the need for open and standardized network landscapes in order to achieve the interoperability and thus efficiency needed to maximize subscriber experiences. We believe that our collaboration with VMware will pave way for this within the O-RAN ecosystem and drive innovation to build a better, more sustainable future for the industry.”

About P.I. Works 
www.piworks.com

Media Contact:
marketing@piworks.net

Source: P.I. Works

PR Newswire

Cisco Unveils Innovations Driving New Security Cloud Strategy

Leave a comment

News Summary:

  • Cisco unveiled its new strategic vision of a unified platform for end-to-end security across hybrid multi-cloud environments
  • The company is designing the Cisco Security Cloud to be the most open security platform with no public cloud lock-in
  • Cisco is taking steps to realize its vision with innovations across the industry’s most complete portfolio, driving security resilience for its customers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — RSA Conference – Cisco, the leader in enterprise networking and security, unveiled its plan for a global, cloud-delivered, integrated platform that secures and connects organizations of any shape and size. The company is designing the Cisco Security Cloud to be the industry’s most open platform, protecting the integrity of the entire IT ecosystem – without public cloud lock-in.

At RSA Conference 2022, Cisco unveiled its strategic plan to provide security resilience for a hybrid multi-cloud future
At RSA Conference 2022, Cisco unveiled its strategic plan to provide security resilience for a hybrid multi-cloud future

“With the complexity of hybrid work, continued acceleration of cloud adoption, and the ever-advancing threat landscape, organizations are looking for a trusted partner to help them achieve security resilience. We believe Cisco is uniquely positioned due to its scale, breadth of solutions and cloud-neutral business model to meet their needs,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Security and Collaboration at Cisco. “Cisco is already delivering upon key tenets of our cloud platform vision. We’re excited to increase our innovation velocity to truly deliver on the vision of the Cisco Security Cloud.”

The Security Cloud will provide an integrated experience for securely connecting people and devices everywhere to applications and data anywhere. With unified management, the open platform will provide threat prevention, detection, response, and remediation capabilities at scale. Cisco has been on the journey toward the Security Cloud for some time and is sharing additional progress with new innovations across its security portfolio.

Secure Access

Ushering in the next generation of zero trust, Cisco is building solutions that enable true continuous trusted access by constantly verifying user and device identity, device posture, vulnerabilities, and indicators of compromise. These intelligent checks take place in the background, leaving the user to work without security getting in the way. Cisco is introducing less intrusive methods for risk-based authentication, including the patent-pending Wi-Fi fingerprint as an effective location proxy without compromising user privacy.

To evaluate risk after a user logs in, Cisco is building session trust analysis using the open Shared Signals and Events standards to share information between vendors. Cisco unveiled the first integration of this technology with a demo of Cisco Secure Access by Duo and Box.

“The threat landscape today is evolving faster than ever before,” said Aaron Levie, CEO and Co-founder of Box. “We are excited to strengthen our relationship with Cisco and deliver customers with a powerful new tool that enables them to act on changes in risk dynamically and in near real-time. You can expect to see more innovation and execution from Box and Cisco that help businesses protect their content across any location, application, or device.”

Secure Edge

To radically simplify how organizations connect and protect users, things, and applications, anywhere, Cisco is excited to introduce Cisco+ Secure Connect Now, a unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution. Cisco+ Secure Connect Now is a turnkey offer available in several countries that allows customers to quickly deploy SASE and ease day-to-day operations through a cloud-managed platform. The as-a-service subscription is optimized for value and managed through a unified dashboard.

Cisco offers unmatched breadth and depth in its networking and security capabilities, which is why Telefonica Tech will add Cisco’s SASE suite to its service portfolio.

“As businesses shift to support hybrid work and work from anywhere models, we are committed to helping them adapt to the increased demand for high performing and secure connectivity,” said Rames Sarwat, Director of Cyber Security & Cloud Products and Services at Telefonica Tech. “Together with Cisco, we will offer customers an innovative, managed service that will combine SD-Branch with Cisco SASE to address a complete set of next-generation connectivity and security use cases for the branch and the hybrid worker.” 

Secure Operations

Cisco added a new Talos Intel On-Demand service offering custom research on the threat landscape unique to each organization. To help accelerate incident detection and response, Cisco announced enhancements to Cisco Secure Cloud Analytics with its ability to automatically promote alerts into SecureX and map those alerts to MITRE ATT&CK. This follows the general availability of SecureX device insights to aggregate, correlate, and normalize data about the devices in their environment, and the integrations of Kenna and Secure Endpoint to better prioritize vulnerabilities. Cisco also introduced the Secure Firewall 3100 Series, designed for hybrid work with a new encrypted visibility engine that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect hidden threats.

Simplification

Cisco is introducing simplification across the portfolio with the new unified Secure Client. Streamlining how administrators and users manage endpoints, half of Cisco Secure agents, including AnyConnect, Secure Endpoint, and Umbrella, will be unified by mid-year 2022 with additional agents to be added over time. This follows the new cloud-delivered Secure Firewall Management Center, which is enabled through the Cisco Defense Orchestrator and unifies management of both cloud and on-premise firewalls.

To learn more, visit Cisco.com/go/security.

Additional Resources:

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on Twitter. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

Source: Cisco Systems, Inc.

PR Newswire

Trina Solar ranks ‘AAA’ in latest PV Tech Bankability Report

Leave a comment

CHANGZHOU, China, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Trina Solar, the leading global PV and smart energy total solution provider, has been ranked ‘AAA’, the highest category, in the latest PV ModuleTech Bankability report published by PV-Tech.

Based on a proprietary analytical model to establish bankability scores and ratings, the report combines both the manufacturing and financial health of companies, the latest issue covering more than 50 PV module suppliers.

Trina Solar ranked second for global module shipments in 2021, with a figure of 24.8GW, and has retained that position in the first quarter of 2022, shipping 8GW. Industry reports indicate that global shipments of 210 modules rose sharply in 2021 to reach 26GW, Trina contributing 16GW, with cumulative 210 shipments exceeding 35GW as of the end of March 2022.

Technology indicators are also analyzed in the PV Tech report. Trina continues to innovate in this area, being an early mover in n-type technology and setting its 23rd world record in March, with its 210×210mm TOPCon cell achieving a maximum efficiency of 25.5%. The company has also set a high benchmark for efficiency of its PERC and HJT cells.

Trina’s high value Vertex modules, from the Vertex S 410W to the 600W+ ultra-high-power version, cover both residential and large ground mounted power plant applications and have displayed a combination of excellent reliability, high energy yield and low LCOE. Due to its longstanding commitment to product quality, Trina has also recently been recognized as a “Top Performer” by PVEL for the eighth consecutive year.

According to the company’s 2021 financial report, it achieved revenue of $6.895 billion, a year-on-year increase of 51.2%, with total assets of $9.966 billion, a year-on-year increase of 39.36%.

Helena Li, President of Trina’s Cell and Module business, commented: “Trina Solar has been a leading global PV module supplier for many years. Based on our consistent financial performance, technology innovation and product value, we are proud to be ranked in the AAA category in PV Tech’s bankability ratings. Trina Solar will continue to progress and create higher customer value globally.”

PR Newswire

Recon Receives NASDAQ Notification Regarding Minimum Bid Requirements

Leave a comment

BEIJING, June 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Recon Technology, Ltd (NASDAQ: RCON) (“Recon” or the “Company”) today announced that on June 1, 2022, it received a letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), notifying the Company that it is currently not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). It resulted from the fact that the closing bid price of the Company’s ordinary shares was below $1.00 per share for a period of 30 consecutive business days. This press release is issued pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure of receipt of a deficiency notification. The notification has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s ordinary shares, which will continue to trade uninterrupted on Nasdaq under the ticker “RCON”.

Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until November 28, 2022 (the “Compliance Period”), to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement. If at any time during the Compliance Period, the closing bid price per share of the Company’s ordinary shares is at least $1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide the Company a written confirmation of compliance and the matter will be closed.

In the event the Company does not regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement by November 28, 2022, the Company may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day grace period.

About Recon Technology, Ltd (“RCON”)

Recon Technology, Ltd (NASDAQ: RCON) is the People’s Republic of China’s first NASDAQ-listed non-state owned oil and gas field service company. Recon supplies China’s largest oil exploration companies, Sinopec (NYSE: SNP) and The China National Petroleum Corporation (“CNPC”), with advanced automated technologies, efficient gathering and transportation equipment and reservoir stimulation measure for increasing petroleum extraction levels, reducing impurities and lowering production costs. Through the years, RCON has taken leading positions within several segmented markets of the oil and gas filed service industry. RCON also has developed stable long-term cooperation relationship with its major clients. For additional information please visit: http://www.recon.cn/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Recon includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws throughout this press release. A reader can identify forward-looking statements because they are not limited to historical fact or they use words such as “scheduled,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “objective,” “committed,” “intend,” “continue,” or “will likely result,” and similar expressions that concern Recon’s strategy, plans, intentions or beliefs about future occurrences or results. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may change at any time and may cause actual results to differ materially from those that Recon expected. Many of these statements are derived from Recon’s operating budgets and forecasts, which are based on many detailed assumptions that Recon believes are reasonable, or are based on various assumptions about certain plans, activities or events which we expect will or may occur in the future. However, it is very difficult to predict the effect of known factors, and Recon cannot anticipate all factors that could affect actual results that may be important to an investor. All forward-looking information should be evaluated in the context of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those factors disclosed under “Risk Factors” in Recon’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and any subsequent half-year financial filings on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements that Recon makes from time to time in its SEC filings and public communications. Recon cannot assure the reader that it will realize the results or developments Recon anticipates, or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect Recon or its operations in the way Recon expects. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Recon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they were made, except as otherwise required by law. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included herein or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by, or on behalf of, Recon.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Liu Jia
Chief Financial Officer
Recon Technology, Ltd
Phone: +86 (10) 8494-5799
Email: info@recon.cn

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recon-receives-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-bid-requirements-301560856.html

Computers, Gaming, News

PlayStation State Of Play – Everything You Need to Know for PS5 Games

Leave a comment

PlayStation’s State of Play just happened. The company has announced so many things in its supercut of trailers, gameplay and announcements. The 29-minute supercut brought exciting new announcements as well as updates to games announced at the previous State of Play. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Final Fantasy XVI Coming to PS5 in Summer 2023

Final Fantasy XVI has entered the final leg of development as Square Enix announces a summer 2023 release window for the much-anticipated game.

The new entry into the Final Fantasy franchise thrusts players into the world of Valisthea where the delicate balance between six factions teethers as a malady called the Blight continues to spread.

Final Fantasy XVI - State of Play June 2022 Dominance Trailer | PS5 Games

In its latest update, Square Enix introduces us to Eikons, the summons of Valisthea and the Dominants of the Eikons Titan and Garuda. These characters join a growing cast that is set to capture the heart of Final Fantasy fans. Like all the other entries, XVI promises to throw players into a story driven adventure where they will learn about Ifrit, Ramuh, and Bahamut and uncover the intricacies of the conflict in Valisthea. Of course, you’ll be able to learn more about the world at the official Final Fantasy XVI site as we wait for Summer 2023 to arrive.

Street Fighter 6 Brings Classic Fighters to the Modern Era

Teased earlier this year, Street Fighter 6 expands the world of Street Fighter further with new faces and a whole new Drive System. The game also brings new modes for gameplay including new Battle Hub and World Tour modes. The former is an expansive online multiplayer mode while the latter allows players to carve their own story in Street Fighter 6. Capcom promises more information on these modes in the near future.

The game is built using Capcom’s RE Engine which the company used for Resident Evil 7 and Devil May Cry 5. The new engine brings the fighter classic into the new era with amazingly detailed character design and realistic details. The RE engine also allows a new, versatile Drive System which allows players to perform parries, dashes and super moves that will bring more spice to gameplay.

Street Fighter 6 - State of Play June 2022 Announce Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

Capcom also unveiled a few characters from the roster in Street Fighter 6. A new character, Jamie, joins the universe. Jamie is a character that uses the Drunken master style of battle and powers up with every drink he takes during battle. There are returning characters from Street Fighter 5 as well. Luke was the only one revealed at State of Play. Of course, no Street Fighter game would be complete with classics like Ryu and Chun-Li who sport updated designs and new moves.

Street Fighter 6 is set to debut in 2023. No specific date has been announced just yet but more information is coming soon.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Coming in 2023

It seems like the Resident Evil franchise is rife for the remakes. After the much praised release of Resident Evil 3 Remake back in 2020, the fourth installation is looking to get the same treatment. The game which was first released back in 2005 will debut again come 2023.

The game is being updated with state of the art graphics and mechanics that will bring the classic back to life for a second time. Like other remakes, Resident Evil 4 will see some liberties taken to update and reimagine some elements of the story and gameplay.

Resident Evil 4 - State of Play June 2022 Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

The game takes place 6 years after the events in Racoon City and Leon finds himself as recruited as an agent reporting directly to the president. He is tasked to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the President of the United States.

Marvel’s Spider-Man is Heading to the PC

Both instalments of the critically acclaimed Spider-Man games: Spider-Man and Spider-Man Miles Morales are making their way to PC. The games have made a notable mark on both the PS4 and PS5. Spider-Man alone has sold over 33 million copies worldwide.

The PC versions of these games aren’t just your regular PC ports. The games are getting remastered and adapted to take full advantage of the perks that come with being on a PC. Insomniac Games is bringing a whole new level of detail when it comes to the graphics with features like ray-tracing and customisable render settings. The game will also have keyboard and mouse compatibility – HOORAY!

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered – State of Play June 2022 Announce Trailer I PC Games

You’ll be able to jump into Peter Parker’s shoes once again come August 12, 2022, with the launch of Spider-Man Remastered. Spider-Man Miles Morales Remastered will be launching sometime in Fall 2022.

Stray Comes to PS4 & PS5 on July 19 via PlayStation Plus Extra & Premium

You’ll be able to become a cat as you explore the world of Stray – a brand new game coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It will also be part of the new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscriptions come July 19, 2020.

Stray - State of Play June 2022 Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

Stray puts you in the paws of a cat as you try to find your way back home. The game throws you into a world populated by robots, machines and viruses as you control your protagonist cat. You will be exploring the vivid, colourful world as you try to find your way back to your family. As you explore, you will need to solve puzzles and even fend off enemies. You won’t be doing this alone as you have your trusty drone, B-12, that follows you everywhere and helps you interact with the world and its inhabitants.

Sci-Fi Horror makes a Comeback with Callisto Protocol

The Callisto Protocol sees Dead Space creator, Glen Schofield, return to the sci-fi survival horror genre with his new studio, Striking Distance Studios. The game takes place in the 2320 on Jupiter’s Moon, Callisto. You play as Jacob Lee, an inmate at Black Iron Prison, who is caught fighting for survival as the a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos. You will need to fight Biophages – monstrous creatures that were once prison guards and inmates.

The Callisto Protocol - State of Play June 2022 Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

The game takes advantage of the PlayStation 5’s features such as 3D Audio and acoustic ray tracing to create a sense of horror and terror. Using the most advanced graphics and sound engineering to create tension and an atmosphere that will make you scream. The Callisto Protocol is set to debut on December 2, 2022, on both PS4 and PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West’s Big Update Goes Live

Together with the announcement of Horizon Call of the Moutain, Guerrilla Games also announced that Horizon Forbidden West is getting a massive, free update. The update is already available today.

The new update brings many quality of life updates as well as some that will change the way you experience the game. Two of the largest things that will be coming to the game are New Game+ and Ultra Hard Mode. These modes will allow you to replay Horizon Forbidden West in higher difficulties as well as 100% the game by unlocking achievements and hidden items you couldn’t get to initially.

Horizon Forbidden West - State of Play June 2022 Major Update 1.14 Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

In addition to this, players will also be able to customise their outfits further with the new transmog feature. The new feature allows players to cosmetically change their outfits to look like any other one that they already own. Respec will also allow players to freely reset their skill points to create a new paragon while playing. A new Herbalist vendor who sells animal parts is also part of the update.

The update also brings a revamp to Temporal Anti-aliasing that will improve the visual fidelity in Performance mode on the PS5 and rendering on the PS4 Pro.

Aside from the games we dove into here, there are also a number of other games that will be joining the PlayStation library. Of note, Tunic, an isometric action game released earlier this year, is making its debut on 27 September 2022. During the same period, you will also be able to get your hands on Season: A Letter to the Future. The game takes you on adventure of self discovery as the season comes to an end and the unknown future comes. Finally, there is also Rollerdrome, a game set in the not too distant future where a new blood sport has taken centerstage.

With all of these and more coming to PlayStation, what are you most excited for?

PR Newswire

Digital payments in India projected to reach $10 trillion by 2026: PhonePe Pulse and BCG release report on digital payments

Leave a comment

Highlights of the report:

  • Value of digital payments in India to increase three-fold from US$3 trillion today to US$10 trillion by 2026
  • Digital payments will constitute nearly 65% of all payments by 2026, up from 40% today
  • UPI adoption will surge from 35% in FY 21 to 75% in the next five years
  • 7x growth in digital merchant payments – from US$ 0.3-0.4 trillion today to US$ 2.5-2.7 trillion by 2026

BENGALURU, India, June 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — PhonePe, India’s leading digital payments company, in collaboration with  Boston Consulting Group (BCG), today unveiled a report titled, “Digital payments in India: A $10 trillion opportunity”. The report leverages BCG’s industry expertise in payments and the fintech domain, along with PhonePe’s deep insights and expertise as the market leader in Indian digital payments and its extensive Pulse database to look at top digital payments trends in India.

Digital payments in India projected to reach $10 trillion by 2026: PhonePe Pulse and BCG release report on digital payments
Digital payments in India projected to reach $10 trillion by 2026: PhonePe Pulse and BCG release report on digital payments

India’s digital payments landscape has witnessed a phenomenal growth over the past five years. As per the report, India’s digital payments market is at an inflection point and is expected to increase more than threefold from the current US$3 trillion to US$10 trillion by 2026. As a result of this unprecedented growth, digital payments (non-cash) will constitute 2 out of 3 payment transactions by 2026.

The report also talks about how the digital payments ecosystem has been positively disrupted by the entry of multiple new players with diverse offerings driving digital payments adoption at scale. Leading global and Indian fintech players have been key drivers of UPI adoption in India among end users, aided by buildout of a large QR-code based merchant acceptance network, and further supported by user-friendly interfaces, innovative offerings and an open API ecosystem.

The report goes on to list the levers for further growth of digital payments in India which include – simplified customer onboarding, continued push for consumer awareness, expanding merchant acceptance, merchants getting greater access to credit, infrastructure upgrades and the setting up of a financial services marketplace driving growth in underpenetrated regions. It also talks about how IoT, 5G & CBDC will provide further impetus to growth.

Commenting on the launch, Karthik Raghupathy, Head of Strategy, and Investor Relations, PhonePe, said, ”We are excited to partner with BCG to release Digital payments in India: A $10 trillion opportunity. The report is an in-depth commentary on the growth of digital payments in India and looks at factors and enablers that will help unlock the massive growth potential going forward. This report is part of the PhonePe Pulse initiative, which was launched last year, in our effort to give back to the Fintech ecosystem. PhonePe Pulse has been very well received by all the key stakeholders in the ecosystem and has emerged as India’s go to destination for insights and trends on digital payment in the country.

Karthik further added, “‘As India’s largest Fintech platform we have seen the growth of UPI over the last few years. UPI has supercharged India’s transition to non-cash payments when it comes to both person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions. Not surprisingly, UPI saw about 9x transaction volume increase in the past 3 years, increasing from 5 billion transactions in FY19 to about 46 billion transactions in FY22: accounting for more than 60% non-cash transaction volumes in FY22. This indicates that digital payment has truly gained ubiquitous acceptance across the country. While Tier 1-2 cities have witnessed high acceptance of digital payments, penetration in Tier 3-6 cities shows headroom for growth. The next wave of growth will now come from Tier 3-6 locations, as evidenced in the past two years wherein Tier 3-6 cities have contributed to nearly 60-70% of new customers for PhonePe.”

Prateek Roongta, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group said, “India is set to become a digital payment economy as source of payments invert with 65% transactions being done digitally by 2026, as opposed to 40% transactions today. Merchant payments will emerge as the most powerful driver of this growth, especially in the offline segment due to growing QR code deployments. We expect that merchant payments will soon outpace person-to-person fund transfers.”

Prateek further added, “We will increasingly observe digital payments get embedded in all forms of commerce, we will also witness the progression from embedded payments to embedded finance. As more and more merchants begin to accept digital payments, it will unlock a significant change in access to credit for small merchants due to the creation of a digital transaction trail.”

To download the report, visit: pulse.phonepe.com or https://www.bcg.com/en-in/publications/2022/future-of-digital-payments-in-india 

About PhonePe: 

Founded in December 2015, PhonePe has become a homegrown success story, with its meteoric growth powered by India’s emerging digital ecosystem, particularly in the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) space. The company builds products and offerings tailored for the Indian market and has emerged as India’s largest payments app, enabling digital inclusion for consumers and merchants alike. With 380 million registered users, one in four Indians are now on PhonePe. The company has also successfully digitized over 30 million offline merchants spread across Tier 2,3,4 and beyond, covering 99% pin codes in the country. PhonePe is proud to help lead India’s country-wide digitization efforts and believes that this powerful public-private collaboration has made the Indian digital ecosystem a global exemplar.

About PhonePe Pulse – Trends and insights on digital payments in India:

To demystify data on the Indian digital payments landscape and in an effort to give back to the ecosystem, PhonePe Pulse was launched in September 2021. Pulse is a novel interactive platform that is India’s go-to destination for accurate and comprehensive data on digital payment trends. As the market leader in Indian digital payments, PhonePe’s data is representative of the country’s payment habits. With its rich repository of trends, insights, and in-depth analysis, Pulse showcases India’s beat of progress in the digital payment landscape. 

About Boston Consulting Group (BCG):

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fuelled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.