Yearly Archives: 2022

PR Newswire

IQAX launches IGP&I approved eBL, COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL already onboard

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IQAX is proud to announce COSCO SHIPPING Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line (“OOCL”) as early adopters of IQAX eBL, which has been given the seal of approval by the International Group of Protection & Indemnity Clubs (“IGP&I”). 

HONG KONG, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As a leading innovator of digital solutions for the logistics industry, IQAX Limited has launched IQAX eBL, a blockchain-based, contactless document management digital solution.

IQAX eBL has been approved by IGP&I.

Prior to February 2010, the rules of all Clubs of the IGP&I preferred paper documentation and excluded liabilities for cargo carried under electronic documentation. However, since 20 February 2010 liabilities arising in respect of the carriage of cargo under such paperless trading systems were covered, provided that the system had first been approved by the Group. In the 12 years since this date, only 7 other solutions have been approved by the IGP&I for use by its members. The addition of IQAX Limited to the list of approved solution providers is a significant milestone as IQAX joins an exclusive list of electronic bill of lading solutions.

As the latest addition to the list of approved electronic bill of lading solution providers, IQAX leverages GSBN’s independent blockchain technology platform to bring an enhanced level of security, assurance and transparency to IQAX eBL users.

The innovative IQAX eBL offers cargo owners, cargo forwarders, ocean carriers, finance providers and other trade participants a paperless solution to manage original bill of lading digitally with one-click title transfers, surrender for delivery, status updates and history reviews.

The IQAX eBL provides a single source of truth for document authenticity, security and traceability. It allows all parties involved in a shipment to manage their bills of lading entirely online, streamlining operations, cutting costs and increasing efficiency. The IQAX eBL runs on GSBN’s blockchain technology platform, which renders ease of adoption and sets it apart from legacy systems. IQAX eBL enables the issuance, transfer, surrender and visibility of original bill of lading and provides access to real time trade status of electronic bill of lading and cargo transportation. (Further details can be found on the company’s website at: https://www.iqax.com/en/solutions/ebl/ .)

IQAX eBL is the first electronic bill of lading solution built on GSBN’s blockchain network. This ensures the authenticity of the bill of lading and ensures data privacy and security. IQAX eBL empowers the industry to create opportunities with trade finance, strengthens risk management and improves cost-effectiveness as well as enhancing overall customer experience.

Romney Wong, IQAX’s CEO mentioned that: “IQAX eBL leverages GSBN blockchain technology platform to provide a completely secure digital environment to further facilitate digitalization of documentation processes. With the layers of protection for data privacy and security, IQAX eBL promotes greater connectivity in global trade and of financial institutions, which significantly improves operational efficiency and revolutionising document management not just for carriers, but for the entire shipping ecosystem.”

Despite challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, IQAX eBL has already been successfully adopted by major carriers – COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL. Both COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL validated the solution with their key clients.

“We empowered our clients to process bill of lading online and efficiently worldwide via IQAX eBL, implementing bill of lading management digitally and offering contactless services. We are able to achieve full visibility as all parties can track detailed logistics information, records of bill of lading transfer and bank processing status. This is crucial during the pandemic. The IQAX solution enables seamless integration across the shipping ecosystem and facilitates the efficient operation of global trade.” said Andy Deng, Global Sales Division General Manager at COSCO SHIPPING Lines.

“We received positive feedback from our customers after OOCL adopted IQAX eBL. There are significant improvements on cost saving and operational efficiency. We look forward to continuing the cooperation with IQAX so more customers can enjoy the convenience and security brought by paperless bill of lading while we jointly promote the transition of the whole industry towards paperless operation.” said Michael Xu, Director of Trades at OOCL.

Bills of lading are critical for the efficient operation of global trade – but the traditional paper-based approach can be cumbersome. The adoption of electronic bill of lading solution can bring sustainable benefits for users and the industry as a whole.

ABOUT IQAX

IQAX is a global information technology company that provides intelligent digital transformation solutions using blockchain for enterprises in the logistics ecosystem. Backed by a strong heritage in container shipping, IQAX strives to foster a harmonized and connected global trade environment. As an industry leader, IQAX connects with shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, terminals and financial institutions and empowers them with digitized solutions to meet emerging business challenges throughout the supply chain.

IQAX is an independent technology company wholly owned by Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. (HKEX:0316), one of the largest integrated international transport and logistics companies in the world. 

PR Newswire

CJ 4DPLEX’s ScreenX and 4DX Formats Find Record-Breaking Success with Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick

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“Top Gun: Maverick” Has Become the Highest Grossing Film this year for the Immersive ScreenX and the Multi-Sensory 4DX, with Korea yet to Show the Film

LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — CJ 4DPLEX, the world’s leading producer of premium film formats and cinema technologies announced today that Paramount Pictures’ “Top Gun: Maverick” broke ScreenX and 4DX records, grossing more than $28 million combined across 631 screens worldwide to-date. Korea, which accounts for 49 ScreenX locations and 39 4DX locations opens Wednesday.

The ScreenX format specifically shattered several records now in its fifth week, already reaching the highest grossing ScreenX title of 2022 globally bringing in over $7million. Week after week, the title in ScreenX has seen unprecedented growth at the box office. In the U.S. in its third week of the run, ScreenX experienced an unprecedented 68% increase in box office admissions from its previous weekend. This past weekend, ScreenX saw another 7.5% increase in box office bringing in over $1million alone. To date in the U.S., on just 61 screens the film has grossed over $4.5million bringing in a $73,000 per screen average.

In the UK across 22 ScreenX locations, the film has brought in over $987,000 with a $45,000 per screen average, making it the second highest grossing ScreenX title during the pandemic in the UK. The film saw a massive 103% increase in box office ticket sales from its week two to week three.

“Top Gun: Maverick” in ScreenX features 58 minutes of exclusive ScreenX imagery – the most ScreenX content ever to be produced for a ScreenX feature film. The format’s peripheral 3-screen design allows audiences to take in majestic views, feel the rush of flying and puts them right in the middle of the climatic jet fighting scenes with Maverick and his crew.

“We’re so thankful to Tom Cruise, Joe Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, David Ellison and the entire team at Paramount for creating a cultural moment that is bringing audiences back to theaters,” said Don Savant, CEO & President, CJ 4DPLEX America. “‘Top Gun: Maverick showcases CJ 4DPlex’s premium formats, ScreenX and 4DX, which expands moviegoing by bringing the audiences a truly differentiated experience from other cinema offerings as well as from the home & streaming platforms.”

 CJ 4DPLEX’s multi-sensory 4DX experience has also garnered several record-breaking numbers with “Top Gun: Maverick.” The movie is the top performing film in the 4DX format this year with more than $20.6 million across 438 auditoriums, without Korea’s screens, which are set to open this week. Some additional box office highlights for the 4DX format:

  • In the U.S. “Top Gun: Maverick” has brought in $4.3 million across 50 screens with a per screen average of $85,910
  • In the UK, “Top Gun: Maverick” has earned over $3.3 million across 35 locations making it the biggest 4DX title in the UK this year
  • In Japan, “Top Gun: Maverick” has earned over $2.5million across 63 screens on pace to become Hollywood film during the pandemic
  • In China Taiwan, on only 5 4DX screens, “Top Gun: Maverick” brought in an astounding $700,000
  • Overall 4DX is outpacing the market as the industry recovers from the pandemic especially in the US and UK

“Top Gun: Maverick” in 4DX puts you directly into the cockpit, as you feel every twist and turn in a multi-sensory cinema-going experience. 4DX utilizes motion, vibration, water, wind, snow, lightning, scents, and other special effects that enhance the visuals on-screen. Each auditorium incorporates motion-based seating synchronized with more than 21 different effects.

CJ 4DPLEX worked closely with director Joe Kosinski and Paramount Pictures on selecting the most immersive scenes for ScreenX and carefully crafted the motion and effects for 4DX to ensure the highest quality presentation of the film.

“The increase in audiences and our record-breaking box office results reinforces the strong word-of mouth around the film for both of our formats, many of whom are returning to see the movie in a completely unique presentation.” Jongryul Kim, CEO, CJ 4DPLEX. “We hope that movie fans who have discovered ScreenX and 4DX for the first time will experience other great films that can’t be seen anywhere else.”

“Premium formats like ScreenX and 4DX are helping drive audiences to see this spectacular film in different ways and it shows in the numbers, even a month after a massive opening weekend,” said Marc Weinstock, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Paramount Pictures. “We are thrilled with seeing movie fans continue to come out and see this epic blockbuster on the big screen in these new and exciting formats.”

About CJ 4DPLEX

CJ 4DPLEX is a leading, next-generation cinema technology company, headquartered in Seoul with international offices in Los Angeles and Beijing. The company has created innovative film technologies for theaters worldwide that include ‘ScreenX’, ‘4DX’, and ‘4DX Screen’ for consumers to experience films in ways that were never before possible.

CJ 4DPLEX is a part of the CJ Group conglomerate that also includes entertainment powerhouses CJ CGV, the fifth largest theater chain in the world, and CJ ENM (CJ Entertainment & Media), who produced the Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and SAG Awards winning film, “Parasite”. CJ 4DPLEX was named Most Innovative Company of 2017 and 2019 in Live Events by Fast Company, and the technology has been recognized with Silver at the Edison Awards in the Media and Visual Communications-Entertainment category in 2015 and 2018.

ScreenX is the world’s first multi-projection cinema with an immersive 270 degree field of view. By expanding the image beyond the frame and onto the walls of the theatre, ScreenX draws you into the story on the main screen and immerses you in a virtual reality like setting with cinema quality resolution. To date, there are over 380 ScreenX auditoriums around the world in 38 countries.

4DX provides moviegoers with a multi-sensory cinema-going experience, allowing audiences to connect with movies through motion, vibration, water, wind, snow, lightning, scents, and other special effects that enhance the visuals on-screen. Each 4DX auditorium incorporates motion-based seating synchronized with more than 21 different effects and optimized by a team of skilled editors. To date, there are over 783 4DX auditoriums around the world, spanning over 69 countries.

4DXScreen is a powerful combination of our super premium immersive theatre technologies of ScreenX and 4DX in one auditorium, creating a never-before-seen experience for cinemagoers. To date, there are 41 4DXScreens installed around the globe.

Media Contact: Yohan Song, yohan.song@cj.net

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

MediaTek Takes on Flagships with Dimensity 9000+

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The absolute king of the hill right now when it comes to raw processing power on a smartphone platform is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system on a chip (SoC). It is also what everybody, at least in the Android world, wants in their flagship smartphones currently. It is the most powerful SoC your smartphone can get today with only the Samsung Exynos as a distant challenger. They are introducing a new one too, very soon.

The second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC is not coming until the end of the year, as far as we know. In the meantime, there is MediaTek making their steps in high-end smartphone chips.

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Source: MediaTek

To be fair, the name MediaTek does not bring a lot of confidence in terms of high-end SoC for mobile applications. They are mostly known for their budget friendly SoCs in entry-level and mid-range smartphones. In that regards though, MediaTek’s SoCs have been solid performers in their class, in some cases probably better than what you can expect from price equivalent Qualcomm devices.

The new Dimensity 9000+ from MediaTek is their hope that the “budget king” perception ends. It is also MediaTek’s most powerful SoC to date with 5G in tow. The new Dimensity, in this case, goes head-to-head with Qualcomm’s current best.

At its core is the ARM Cortex-X2 architecture, the same one the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 boasts in their Kryo CPUs. The single ARM Cortex-X2 core works with three powerful Cortex-A710 cores and low-power high-efficiency Cortex-A510 cores. The 4nm octa-core CPU arrangement makes ARM’s v9 architecture.

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Besides the obvious CPU and GPU improvements, and 5G capabilities the SoC comes with a slew of compelling upgrades. One of which is LPDDR5X support with 8MB L3 CPU cache and 6MB system cache support for new-generation smartphones with ultra-fast memory. Instead of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that is widely boasted by its competitors, MediaTek opted for something a little more practical in a dedicated Application Processor Unit (APU 5.0) for all its A.I. purposes.

MediaTek also packs a powerful imaging processor withing the Dimensity 9000+. They call it the MediaTek Imagiq 790. Rivaling the Qualcomm’s own image processor, the new processor supports up to 18-bit HDR-ISP at up to 320-Megapixel. Of course, you there is no camera sensor in the world currently that packs that many pixels into an area less than an inch. It is good to know that you can super sample your photos to up to 320-Megapixel though.

The Imagiq 790 also allows the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ equipped devices to record three videos simultaneously at up to 18-bit HDR formats. It even does 4K HDR with AI noise reduction, especially useful in low-light conditions.

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Source: MediaTek

The new MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ can support up to 144Hz WQHD+ or even 180Hz Full HD+ displays thanks to the new MiraVision 790 engine. The new display engine also has something called Intelligent Display Sync 2.0 technology that optimizes the power efficiency of the display. Thanks to the engine, the Wi-Fi display now supports up to 4K resolution at 60fps with HDR10+ streaming.

Of course, the latest and greatest SoC cannot be the latest and greatest if it does not pack the latest connectivity and networking technology. For that the 3GPP Release-16 5G modem can hit downlink speeds of up to 7Gbps. The new SoC also supports the latest WiFi 6E standards, new Bluetooth 5.3 standards, and even a new more accurate GNSS.

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Source: MediaTek

MediaTek is expecting their new Dimensity 9000+ to make its way to flagship devices starting Q3 2022. As mentioned, the Dimensity 9000+ is meant to be a direct competitor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. At the same time, the second-generation Snapdragon 8 is meant to be announced by Q4 2022. How the Dimensity 9000+ will fare against the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 remains to be seen. We think you might have to wait for the first Dimensity 9000+ devices to roll out. There are no confirmed devices sporting the new Mediatek flagship SoC currently too.

PR Newswire

Top Investors Back FalconX as The Need For Reliable Execution & Institutional Conviction In Digital Assets Continues To Soar

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GIC and B Capital Lead $150 Million Series D Funding Round, Valuing FalconX at $8 Billion

SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — FalconX, a digital assets platform for institutional investors, today announced a $150M Series D financing round, valuing the company at $8 billion. The round was led by GIC and B Capital, with participation from Thoma Bravo, Wellington Management, Adams Street Partners and Tiger Global Management. This venture round more than doubles the value of FalconX after its Series C raise in August 2021 that valued the company at $3.75 billion. FalconX has now raised $430 million+ from the world’s leading investors, making it one of the most valuable crypto prime brokerages in the world.

Momentum Is Strong Throughout Recent Market Stress Tests

There has been a definitive flight to quality in both the public and private markets – with investors focused on strong, profitable and sustainable companies. In Q1 2022, FalconX had the strongest quarter of customer onboarding in the company’s history, despite the volatile public and private markets. This growth is driven by demand from a diverse range of institutional market customers who are looking for a reliable execution platform in volatile crypto markets, capital efficiency to scale returns and strong risk management.

“FalconX is one of the very few crypto prime brokerages who do not take on market risk, so we’re not in conflict with our clients and their trading strategies. In light of recent market conditions, this is extremely valuable to our clients who demand a reliable market infrastructure provider. This investment is a validation of our client-first focus, the health and strength of the crypto industry, and the move towards digital asset transformation,” said Raghu Yarlagadda, CEO and Founder of FalconX.

FalconX At the Forefront of Digital Asset Transformation

We are in the early stages of a shift towards digital asset transformation and crypto is the first use-case. Soon, every asset will go through a transformation, leverage tokenization and become truly global. This will unlock unparalleled value in industries where 24/7 liquidity and credit did not exist previously. From the world’s largest hedge funds to fintech companies, boardrooms are focused on digital asset transformation. FalconX is driving this transformation by creating the underlying infrastructure required to not just access crypto but pave the way for traditional assets such as equities to be tokenized.

“FalconX is a key liquidity provider for Apex Crypto and a key partner that contributes to best pricing,” said Danny Rosenthal, CEO of Apex Crypto. “We are proud to partner with FalconX to provide strong markets for our customers, representing over 4.5 million cryptocurrency accounts, in a seamless and capital efficient manner. We look forward to our future with FalconX.”

Premier Talent Is Hungry to Be Involved in the Early Stages of Crypto

While there has been a public narrative that the current hiring trend across the technology ecosystem is slowing down, FalconX’s growth strategy remains unchanged. The company is currently hiring across departments. As one of the leading talent hubs in the world of crypto, the company recently announced the hiring of key executives like Suzy Walther (formerly of Carta) and Jon Kaplan (formerly of Pinterest). Because the crypto industry is well funded with more capital eager to engage, premier talent is hungry to be involved in these early stages.

“We partner with companies that will have lasting impacts on the industries and customers they serve. As a tech-first digital asset infrastructure platform, FalconX provides a holistic product offering paired with unparalleled execution that supports over 70M+ transactions on a monthly basis. They are well-positioned to lead the ongoing institutional transition to digital assets for years to come,” said Rashmi Gopinath, General Partner, B Capital.

Last month, FalconX became the first CFTC-registered crypto-focused Swap Dealer and one of the first crypto-focused Primary Level Members of the International Swaps & Derivatives Association (ISDA). As a result of adhering to these regulatory and industry standards, U.S. institutions can now engage with this regulated product in a predictable and familiar way.

To learn more or get started with FalconX today, visit https://falconx.io.

About FalconX

FalconX is a fully comprehensive digital asset platform that allows institutions to access and manage all of their crypto strategies through a single interface and seamless workflows, making it easy to execute trading, credit and clearing all in one place. FalconX’s crypto-as-a-service offering powers leading banks, FinTech institutions and investment applications to easily add crypto to their product offerings with a goal of enabling the next billion users to enter the crypto space. The company is backed by investors including Accel, Adams Street Partners, Altimeter Capital, American Express Ventures, B Capital, GIC, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sapphire Ventures, Thoma Bravo, Tiger Global Management and Wellington Management. FalconX has offices in Silicon Valley, New York, Chicago, Bengaluru and Malta. For more information visit falconx.io  or follow them on Twitter  and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Kasey Christolos 
Next PR 
FalconX@nextpr.com

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Accessories, Computers, Health, Lifestyle, News

BenQ Introduces their 2022 Line-Up of Products with HDRi and Eye Care

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Choosing the right display for your set-up is rather important. You do not want to be spending a lot of money on your tower and forget buying other peripherals. While you can cheap out a little on audio peripherals in most cases, you do not really want to cheap out on your display. Your display is technically the window to your PC, and it is the thing that meets your eye every time you turn on your PC.

The MOBIUZ EX2710U and EX3210U 4K Gaming Monitors with HDRi and Eye Care Technology

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If you want to get the best of the bets gaming displays, you want something with 4K resolution. At that, you also want a rather fast display. The new MOBIUZ EX series for 2022 are two 4K gaming monitors with up to 144Hz in refresh rate. The IPS panel used on the displays also boast up to 98% in DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage.

Both displays come with HDMI 2.1 support, you want that especially when you want to push 4K 144Hz to your display. As per the title, the MOBIOUS EX2710U and EX3210U also features BenQ’s patented HDRi technology for better colour reproduction and contrasts. At the same time, there is the Brightness Intelligence technology that adjusts the screen’s brightness according to ambient lighting conditions to protect your eyes, especially in low-light gaming conditions.

On top of all of that though the MOBIUZ EX monitors also feature 2.1 channel audio system they call the TreVolo Speaker system. This also means that you might not need to buy a secondary speaker at all to get decent audio. To really differentiate itself from other older models, it even comes in white colour. The only difference between the two models is their screen sizes at 27-inch and 32-inch respectively. Of course, price differs too.

BenQ Eye Care GW2485TC and GWS2785TC Productivity Monitors

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You might already have a home office with a proper work-from-home corner. Since the pandemic hit early in 2020, most of us had to shift our work patterns and get used to working from home. We must have a proper work from home set-up going. But that was nearly two years ago now. You would have to grab whatever you can get your hands on and put together a working set-up. It is 2022 and you might be due for an upgrade.

In that case you need something that can ultimately protect your eyes in extended working condition. The BenQ GW2485TC and GW2785TC monitors do not boast 4K resolutions. They boast a rather humble Full HD 1080p resolution. Full HD 1080p is still more than enough to enjoy the likes of Netflix though.

What makes these monitors perfect for your work-from-home set-up though is BenQ’s clever Brightness Intelligence technology. The technology uses an ambient light sensor to adjust what you see on the monitor. It does not only detect the brightness level of your room or work area. It also detects the contrast levels of the images to be displayed on the display. The display will automatically and cleverly reduce or increase overall brightness and even optimise dark parts so that you can see enough details on it without compromising the brightness levels of the entire display.

The clever display also has a flicker-free technology that reduces or eliminates flicker across all brightness levels available to the display. Of course, to ensure that you can keep working on the displays in extended periods, the displays are made with lower than regular blue light emissions. The downside to that is the slight warm tinge you might find on the display.

Other features that should boost your productivity levels is the Daisy Chain feature that allows you to create a multi-screen set-up with just a single USB Type-C connection from your PC. Once you plug in the USB Type-C cable too, your thin-and-light notebook can also simultaneously be charged at 60W PD from the monitors. It is also designed with ease of use and flexibility in mind, so you can tilt the display into any orientation for your convenience. There is also a built-in mic paired with two 2W speakers on both the display models for you to work with in a video call environment.

Of course, as per their name, they come in different sizes. The GW2485TC comes with a 24-inch IPS panel with 75Hz refresh rate. The GW2785TC also comes in an IPS panel that measures in at 27-inch instead of a measly 24-inch. It also refreshes at 75Hz.

Price and Availability

The BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710U will be available a little later in the year. There is no official pricing for the 27-incher currently too. The BenQ MOBIUZ EX3210U is now available on BenQ’s official Shoppe or Lazada stores at MYR 4,868. The new BenQ GW2485TC is now available also on their official store on Shopee and Lazada at MYR 1,149. For another MYR 100, you can get your hands on the larger GW2785TC monitor at MYR 1,249 on both Shopee and Lazada. For more information on the recently launched BenQ monitors, you can go to their website.

PR Newswire

SS&C Partners with Xcentuate to Support Customer Digital Transformation Journeys

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WINDSOR, Conn., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced a new partnership in the EMEA and APAC regions with Xcentuate, an award-winning international provider of digital productivity and performance solutions to the financial services, agricultural, pharma and public sectors.

The partnership follows SS&C’s recent acquisition of Blue Prism, the leading Robotic Process Automation provider, further demonstrating its commitment to the intelligent automation solutions market. Xcentuate, based in Dublin, Ireland, will serve as a consulting and implementation partner, acting as an extended team to advise, implement, support and deliver complex projects.

“We are delighted to partner with Xcentuate,” said Gautam Moorjani, General Manager, SS&C Intelligent Automation Solutions. “The EMEA and the Asia Pacific regions are markets with a lot of appeal – with resilient and developing economies and talented, skilled workforce. In addition, the potential for operational automation to transform how businesses work is significant.”

The partnership will enable SS&C to leverage Xcentuate’s vast experience to access new potential customers, take new value propositions to market, develop point solutions to address current market needs, and enhance its specialized professional services to our customers.

“The SS&C partnership is of significant strategic importance to us regarding our offer to the market,” said Ray Bowe, Xcentuate founder and CEO. “The breadth and depth of SS&C’s expertise in financial services and healthcare technology are unmatched. In addition, this new partnership further broadens the suite of services we can offer to firms in EMEA and the Asia Pacific with an ambitious digital transformation agenda.”

Learn more about SS&C Intelligent Automation Solutions.

About Xcentuate

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Xcentuate serves a range of industries including financial services, agriculture, pharma and public sector.

Xcentuate works with customers in EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions to transform their business operations using a suite of best-in-class technology to deliver sustainable advantage. Combined with award-winning operational expertise and a track record of delivery, they support businesses in transforming their customer experiences and enabling them to optimise control and productivity while building an engaged, enthused workforce.

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.

SOURCE: SS&C

Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.

Follow SS&C on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. 

PR Newswire

Databricks Releases Final Keynote Lineup and Industry Programming for 2022 Data + AI Summit

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Databricks co-founders Ali Ghodsi, Matei Zaharia and Reynold Xin will deliver can’t-miss keynotes highlighting advancements to Databricks’ Lakehouse Platform and new contributions to the open source community

SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Databricks, the Data and AI company and pioneer of the data lakehouse paradigm, revealed the full agenda and final lineup of featured speakers for the upcoming Data + AI Summit, a global event for the data community. Tens of thousands of data leaders, open source enthusiasts, and Databricks customers and partners will come together both in-person in San Francisco, and virtually from around the world to connect, share best practices, and get a first look at the latest product innovations and contributions to the open source community.

This year’s ‘Destination Lakehouse’ theme highlights the building blocks of the modern data stack and focuses on product innovations that enable data stewards to mobilize data assets quickly for better, more informed decisions. The highly-anticipated in-person event returns to San Francisco for the first time in three years, with a sold-out program at the Moscone Center. Data enthusiasts can still tune in virtually by registering here for the free, immersive online experience.

Data + AI Summit will feature keynotes from Databricks co-founders – and original creators of Apache Spark™ and Delta Lake – Ali Ghodsi, Matei Zaharia, and Reynold Xin. Attendees will also hear from a broad lineup of data and AI luminaries, open source pioneers and global thought leaders, including:

  • Andrew Ng, Co-founder, Google Brain and Coursera
  • Christopher Manning, Pioneer in NLP and Director, Stanford AI Lab
  • Daphne Koller, AI Pioneer, Founder and CEO, Insitro
  • Hilary Mason, Co-founder and CEO, Hidden Door
  • Peter Norvig, AI Pioneer, Stanford, Google and NASA
  • Tarika Barrett, CEO, Girls Who Code
  • Zhamak Dehghani, Creator of Data Mesh; Director, Thoughtworks

The annual event will feature thought-provoking technical sessions and trainings, open source community meetups and networking opportunities, as well as a lineup of industry-specific breakout events. Attendees can expect to hear actionable best practices and compelling insights from data leaders at pioneering companies like Adobe, Amgen, Intuit, John Deere, S&P Global, Walgreens, Warner Bros. Discovery and more.

Data + AI Summit attendees can also expect the following highlights:

  • 200+ Technical Sessions, across industries and skill levels, covering open-source technologies such as Apache Spark™, Delta Lake, MLflow, Apache Flink, PrestoDB, dbt, and more.
  • Industry-specific content tracks that dive into the power of data and AI within Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment, Public Sector and Retail sectors. These breakout forums will highlight industry-specific data and AI use cases, customer panels, interactive demos and opportunities to connect with peers and partners in the Industry Lounge.
  • Women in Data + AI luncheon and panel discussion moderated by the dynamic Sol Rashidi, Chief Analytics Officer at Estee Lauder. This year’s event will highlight the education of women in tech, with actionable ways to get involved with supporting organizations and mentorship opportunities in local communities.
  • An expanded curriculum of in-person and virtual training workshops and new certification bundles. Attendees can choose from half and full-day classes tailored to specific professions or focus areas. Courses encompass everything from the Databricks Lakehouse to Apache Spark™ programming to managing ML models.
  • Networking events for attendees to interact and collaborate with peers. Events will include a Developer Lounge, Contributor Meetups, University Alliance Meetup, as well as partner networking events and evening receptions.

Data + AI Summit is sponsored by over 80 leading companies from across the data and AI industry including Accenture, Avanade, AWS, Census, dbt Labs, Deloitte, Fivetran, Google Cloud, Immuta, LeapLogic, Matillion, Microsoft Azure, Prophecy, Slalom, Sisu, ThoughtSpot and more.

Check out the Databricks blog and the event’s full agenda to learn more; register to attend for free here.

About Databricks
Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 7,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, H&M, and over 40% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform to unify their data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe. Founded by the original creators of Delta Lake, Apache Spark™, and MLflow, Databricks is on a mission to help data teams solve the world’s toughest problems. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact: Press@databricks.com

Camera, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

The Megapixel Race is Back on with Sony Looking to Introduce 100MP Smartphone Camera Sensor

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Before Samsung came with their 108-Megapixel behemoth of a camera sensor that is their ISOCELL camera sensor you find on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 series, Sony was the go-to people for smartphone camera sensors. Their IMX sensors proved to be some of the versatile and best camera sensors for all kinds of mobile photography needs. Of course, not everyone feels like the sensors from Sony is adequate for them and their purpose. HUAWEI, for example came up with their own Red Yellow Yellow Blue (RYYB) sensor for more natural colours on their photos.

Samsung snagged the king of smartphone photography sensor title when they introduced the new sensor that went above 100MP for their flagship smartphone. Earlier this year, Samsung made another breakthrough in their mobile photography technology. They have introduced their ISOCELL HP1 200MP sensor, a sensor that hits 200-Megapixel. If estimations are correct, the sensor could make its way to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra model next year.

Sony is not backing down though. They are reported to be working on their own version of a smartphone camera sensor that is supposed to shoot at 100-Megapixel, rivalling the current Samsung ISOCELL sensors found in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Currently, reports points to the sensor as a part of the IMX8 series of sensors that are designed for mid-range and high-end smartphones. The sensor could also be larger than the ½-inch 64-Megapixel sensor that Sony already makes, currently found in the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ smartphones.

The idea of cramming more pixels into your smartphone camera is something that manufacturers have toyed with several years ago. Sony was the manufacturer of choice too when it comes to high-resolution sensors. For several years, the highest pixel count for a smartphone camera was 64-Megapixel until Samsung introduces their Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra last year with a behemoth of a 108-Megapixel sensor lodged in its body. We thought the Megapixel race was over, looks like we were wrong.

Source: SAMMobile

Lifestyle, News

A New Metaverse Emerges, and it Comes from Fender

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If you do not know who Fender is, we must ask; which universe did you come from?

Fender is one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest, in electric guitars. Their products are the stuff of legends in the modern musician’s world. Any guitar nerd should know Fender and their signature Stratocaster model. The Fender Stratocaster, if you have not known, is iconic enough that it is what the general public will think of then they talk electric guitars.

If a guitar nut were to go to Florida, United States of America (U.S.A), they would want to stay in the guitar shaped hotel that is the Hard Rock hotel there. Hard rock hotels are not particularly known to be budget friendly options when you travel though. So where does that leave guitar nuts who cannot afford the hotel? Metaverse!

Fender has announced a partnership with Meta to create a virtual world in the Horizons metaverse platform. What will the Fender metaverse look like? A guitar, of course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dU5hu0Lc8I

The world revolves around a giant Stratocaster shaped floating island. They fittingly name the metaverse the Fender Stratoverse and the entire purpose of this metaverse is for users to just jam together with legless avatars.

They designed the entire thing like a game too. After sliding down the guitar’s neck, Stratoverse will put you in a scavenger hunt to find hidden guitar chords embedded in guitar picks scattered across the floating island. Once the hidden chords are found, you get transported into something called the “Riff Maker” where you can create your own jams and riffs. That, or just go play an air guitar.

Of course, you can expect more than just music making features and mini games from Fender. A true Fender fan must also sport the iconic simple T-shirt with Fender’s iconic branding on the shirt. Since Balenciaga, Prada, and Tom Brown has announced that they will be selling their products in Meta’s avatar store, there is no reason that Fender may not do the same too. For all you know they could sell proper virtual collector guitars, or some form of NFT related item exclusive to Fender.

Source: Gizmodo

News

Cloudflare Error Took Out A Large Part of the Internet – Us too!

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If you were trying to get to a number of websites or use some of your apps earlier and couldn’t, it was likely because of an outage at Cloudflare. A large number of companies use the service to help improve their user experience and load times. The company has already acknowledged the issue and is currently working to resolve the root cause and restore the internet.

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Screenshot: Cloudflare Twitter Announcement

According to their service status website, a P0 issue – essentially an urgent issue requiring all hands on deck – occurred at 6.34 a.m. UTC (2.34 p.m. UTC+8/Malaysian Time). The issue caused connectivity disruptions in the Cloudflare network across a large number of regions. During this time, you were likely to see a page with Error 500 on any website using the service – including ours. The disruption also affected Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS service and a number of apps and services including Fitbit, NordVPN, Discord and even Shopify.

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Screenshot: Error 500 on Bluehost.com

Cloudflare has announced that they have already deployed a fix for the issue at 7.20 a.m. UTC (2.20 p.m. Malaysian Time/UTC+8). For now, it looks like the issue has been resolved and the internet is back in one piece again. It is worth noting that this incident isn’t the first incident. Cloudflare has experienced similar outages in July and August 2020. The former resulted in Discord going down for a little bit while the latter saw a similar result to today’s outage.