Cities that didn’t win HQ2 shouldn’t be counted out
The more than year-long move among urban areas and Amazon for its second central station is at last finished, with New York City and Washington, DC, catching the huge prize. With one of the biggest financial advancement bonuses in an age on hold, 238 urban areas utilized each strategy in the book to court the organization – including offering to rename a city "Amazon" and selecting Jeff Bezos "chairman forever."

Since the procedure, and delirium, are finished, and urban communities have quit asking "how might we get Amazon," we'd get a kick out of the chance to make an alternate inquiry: How would cities be able to develop more grounded begin biological systems for the Amazon yet to be manufactured?

In September 2017, Amazon declared that it would look for a second home office. But instead than being the ordinary site choice process, this would turn into an exceedingly pitched Hunger Games-esque situation.

A RFP was proffered on what the organization looked for, and it included everything any great urbanist would need, with walkability, transportation and social qualities on the docket. Obviously, impetuses were additionally high on the rundown.

Amazon could have been a transformational impetus for a plenty of urban areas all through the US, yet rather, it picked two whiz urban communities: the main and five metro zones by GDP which, joined, adds up to an almost $2 trillion GDP. These two metro regions additionally have the absolute most astounding land costs in the nation, a swath of lucrative occupations and obviously control — budgetary and political — close within reach.

Maybe the remove for urban communities isn't that we should all be so centered around snaring that huge fish from a far distance, however rather that we ought to develop it in our own waters. Amazon itself is an incredible case of this. It merits recollecting that through the span of 25 years, Amazon went from a carport in Seattle's rural areas to expending 16 percent — or 81 million square feet — of the city's downtown. On the opposite end of the range, the biggest worldwide innovation organization in 1994 (the time of Amazon's introduction to the world) was Netscape, which never again exists.

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A report this end of the week by Axios refered to records from inside the National Security Council portraying the likelihood — nay, certainty — of a 5G organize fabricated and worked by the U.S. government. Authorities have since poured icy water on this thought, and truly, it was never attainable.

To sum things up, the report refered to by Axios proposed that the best way to really secure the up and coming age of remote systems, on which basic foundation like self-driving autos will depend, against snooping by China and others, would be for the legislature to assemble that system itself.
There are a few things amiss with this thought. You likely idea of a couple before you even got to this sentence.
Maybe the most clear issue is that the administration would presumably need to contract or if nothing else work nearly close by the very organizations it would successfully supplant, for example, AT&T and Verizon, so as to construct another 5G arrange. They are, obviously, the ones who know how to do it. (Revelation: Verizon claims Oath, which possesses TechCrunch.)
That would be cumbersome, since those organizations, alongside others around the globe, are well into the way toward testing and sending 5G systems. The possibility of an administration organize working independently however working together with the business systems doesn't hold water (we've considered it some time recently).
Regardless of whether it was endeavored, there's simply no chance that the U.S. government, even taking care of business and most effective, and on the off chance that it began bipartisan work on this tomorrow, could be in any capacity focused in the planning and size of such a sending. It takes billions of dollars and years of work to establish the framework for something like this, and others have a colossal head begin. Furthermore, let us not overlook that we are encountering one of an unending arrangement of spending emergencies, which would not be lightened by the proposition of this sort of monstrous endeavor.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was unsparing in his dislike for this proposition, which is of course from somebody who supports free market powers over government contribution:
I restrict any proposition for the central government to fabricate and work an across the nation 5G arrange. The principle lesson to draw from the remote area's improvement in the course of recent decades—incorporating American administration in 4G—is that the market, not government, is best situated to drive development and venture. What government can and ought to do is to push range into the business commercial center and set decides that urge the private segment to create and convey cutting edge foundation. Any government push to build a nationalized 5G system would be an expensive and counterproductive diversion from the strategies we have to enable the United States to win the 5G future.

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When you're sufficiently enormous and sufficiently effective, you don't have to depend on the current private medicinal services suppliers out there to deal with your representative therapeutic needs. That is the thing that Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase have decided, as they're cooperating to fabricate their own, completely autonomous representative human services organization, which will only offer advantages and care to their own particular separate workers and their families. The objective is to fabricate an organization which has no intentions other than to accommodate the care and prosperity of the workforce of the three organizations, and that will be "free from benefit making motivating forces and requirements," per the Wall Street Journal. It's portrayed as a long haul design, however it trusts eventually to evade the sort of disappointment that can oblige attempting to secure required care from outsider specialist organizations who are at last concerned basically with dealing with their primary concern and P&L articulations
Amazon originator Jeff Bezos said in an announcement in regards to the new pursuit that however the three accomplices are "open-peered toward about the level of trouble" of entering the social insurance framework as an administrations supplier, a definitive objective of "decreasing medicinal services' weight on the economy while enhancing results for workers and their families would be justified regardless of the exertion."

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet included that "the expanding expenses of medicinal services go about as a ravenous tapeworm on the American economy," and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said that a definitive objective is to "make arrangements that advantage our U.S. representatives, their families and, conceivably, all Americans."

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A year ago in September, WhatsApp concocted another pilot application constructed particularly for Businesses. Scarcely any well known names in India like BookMyShow had taken an interest in the pilot stage. Presently, the organization has at long last begun propelling the administration for more nations and clients.
The texting application influenced it to Android's Play To store in India and you'll soon begin accepting writings from organizations with a green tick with thier name. This green tick will mean that the message is coming a confirmed business.
WhatsApp Business goes for reinforcing and streamlining the span of private companies without making heavy interests in site advancement, framework identified with client support and the sky is the limit from there. Be that as it may, in what manner will this influence typical clients?
For typical Messenger clients, WhatsApp claims that there will be no significant change. The official blog states "individuals can keep utilizing WhatsApp of course - there's no compelling reason to download anything new. Also, individuals will keep on having full control over the messages they get, with the capacity to hinder any number, including organizations, and report spam."
WhatsApp Business will be a different application from the texting stage which will approve organizations to speak with their purchaser/customer on an individual level as a visit.
Until further notice, the administration just reaches out to private companies. Notwithstanding, WhatsApp wants to utilize a comparable or same administration for greater organizations. For greater endeavors, WhatsApp may charge for particular instruments that will enable them to dissect and extemporize their organizations.
How to begin utilizing the App?
WhatsApp Business is a different application which can be downloaded notwithstanding the ordinary courier application. In any case, the client should enroll utilizing an alternate number for the business. Right now, the application is just accessible on Android's Play Store and is just taking off to bolstered markets.
What's more than typical WhatsApp?
The proprietor of the record or the business will have the capacity to setup an intricate profile with vital data like site, area, contacts and so on.
An Away component will leave a preset message for the client messaging you bankrupt hours. The message can even contain directions or answers to every now and again made inquiries.
A business record can likewise be setup utilizing a landline telephone number. The record holder will just need to pick the "call me" choice at the confirmation step.
The record holder can likewise utilize WhatsApp Web for extra productivity in interfacing with clients/customers.


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Twitter last month updated its rules regarding abuse and hateful conduct as well as violence and physical harm. The changes, however, didn’t go into effect until today. Here’s what you can expect moving forward.

Specific threats of violence or wishing for serious harm, disease or death to an individual has been a violation of Twitter’s policy for a while now. Under the expanded rules crafted using Twitter’s policy development process, more types of “related content” are being added to the mix including:

Accounts that affiliate with organizations that use or promote violence against civilians to further their causes. Groups included in this policy will be those that identify as such or engage in activity — both on and off the platform — that promotes violence. This policy does not apply to military or government entities and we will consider exceptions for groups that are currently engaging in (or have engaged in) peaceful resolution.

Content that glorifies violence or the perpetrators of a violent act. This includes celebrating any violent act in a manner that may inspire others to replicate it or any violence where people were targeted because of their membership in a protected group. We will require offending Tweets to be removed and repeated violations will result in permanent suspension.

Excluding military and government entities from the above mentioned changes is an interesting exception that shouldn’t be glossed over.

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Facebook, like every social media platform, has issues with harassment and bullying. In order to prevent certain types of harassment, Facebook is introducing some new features to help prevent unwanted friend requests and messages.

“We’ve heard stories from people who have blocked someone only to encounter the same harasser using a different account,”Facebook Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis wrote on Facebook’s blog. “In order to help prevent those bad encounters, we are building on existing features that prevent fake and inauthentic accounts on Facebook.”

Let’s say you block someone and then that person decides to create another account so they can contact you. With these new tools in place, Facebook is aiming to recognize when someone does that and prevent them from a sending a message or friend request to you. Facebook is using signals, like IP addresses, to recognize when someone has created a fake or inauthentic account.

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It took Chinese authorities just seven minutes to locate and apprehend BBC reporter John Sudworth using its powerful network of CCTV camera and facial recognition technology.

This wasn’t a case of a member of the media being forcibly removed from the country. The chase was a stunt set up to illustrate just how powerful and effective the Chinese government’s surveillance system can be. It’s a stark example of the type of monitoring that China has invested heavily in over recent years with the aim of helping police do their job more efficiently.

Such systems are also used in private organizations, for example to monitor workers and processes in factories, but government critics have warned of the potential for abuse in the hands of the state.

China has the largest monitoring system in the world. There are some 170 million CCTV cameras across the country, and that’s tipped to grow more than three-fold with 400 million more set to be installed by 2020.

Beyond the sheer numbers of lookout points, China is harvesting information with a new-found focus on intelligence. The government also works with facial recognition and AI companies, such as unicorn Face++, which can pour through data to extract meaningful information such as faces, ages, registration plates and more.

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“There are two types of competition for us at Loot: the banks and the money management apps,” Loot founder Ollie Purdue tells me. The U.K. startup, founded in 2014 while now 24 year old Purdue was finishing up university, offers a digital-only current account aimed at students and millennials. It comes with a MasterCard and mobile app, with a particular focus on spending insights and real-time budgeting.

“Right now, we have a current account which works like a traditional bank account, but on top of that we have built loads of tech to help you manage your money,” he says. “This includes things like live-budgeting so you know exactly how much you can spend, free FX abroad, or our goals feature designed to help you put money aside and save. We try to focus our users on how much they can spend today, which is why our budgeting circle is the biggest thing you see when you open the app”.

Notably, like a number of competitors, such as Monese, Loot doesn’t have a banking license and has no plans to apply for one but instead operates under an electronic money licence through a partnership with FCA regulated Wirecard. But for all intents and purposes the product serves all current account needs and can operate as a fully-fledged bank replacement. This includes debit card, account number and sort code, and bank transfers with faster payments.

“The banks have significant market share, but struggle with helping people understand their money, and, in my opinion, they also struggle with tech and branding,” says Purdue, noting that since he started Loot, Natwest’s app “hasn’t materially changed in any way I would notice it”. That’s too slow, he says, and that although the new fintech banks are much better at this, “none of us are at scale yet”.

Meanwhile, Purdue reckons money management apps are approaching user problems from a different angle. However, as they don’t “own” the current account, it’s hard to be proactive on behalf of the user, specifically in regards to helping them move money around (although that will arguably change next year as new Open Banking legalisation comes into force). “Also, with a money management app you are still stuck with having to choose a bank! At Loot we are trying to merge the two so we can be the only financial account you need”.

Ever since the original MVP was launched in 2015, Loot has proved one of the quickest ways to access a current account and, as a result, has resonated with international students. “As we were building it, we realised the account would be really useful for international students who struggle to open a bank account when they arrive in the U.K. Although it was basic, it solved the issue of getting an account, which is their top priority,” Purdue says.

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Google’s smart speaker got a little smarter this week, with the addition of a multitasking feature. The new capability makes it possible for the device to accomplish two different missions at the same time. It was rolled out with little fanfare and first noted by CNET. We’ve since confirmed the addition with Google.
It’s a bit surprising that the company rolled it out to Home units with no mention. It’s a handy addition to what’s essentially been a single-minded device. The company has been promising to add Routines since the Pixel 2 event a few months back, essentially creating pre-determined scenes that tie a bunch of actions to a command (something that’s been supported by both Siri and Alexa for a while). This is something else, though.
Rather than having to preload all of that via an app, you can simply ask it to perform two jobs simultaneously. Only two, though. Not three or four — that would be flying a little too close to the sun. You also have to separate tasks into individual commands, as the device won’t understand two tasks crammed into the same sentence. Even though it’s limited, the silently released feature is arguably more handy than the forthcoming Routines as it can be accomplished on the fly.

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social media” is a clumsy term that entangles enriching social interaction with mindless media consumption. It’s a double-edged sword whose sides aren’t properly distinguished. Taken as a whole, we can’t decide if it “brings the world closer together” like Facebook’s new mission statement says, or leaves us depressed and isolated. It does both, but our opportunity and the tech giants’ responsibility is to shift usage toward “time well spent.”


Thankfully, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg seems ready to embrace that responsibility. “Time spent is not a goal by itself. We want the time people spend on Facebook to encourage meaningful social interactions,” he said on its most recent earnings call.


[Update 12/15/17: Further showing Facebook’s interest, today it published its own “Hard Questions: Is Spending Time on Social Media Bad for Us?” blog post with more research to the same conclusion as the science I cite below: it’s passive social media usage that depresses us, so we need to engage.


Facebook notes it’s pledged $1 million towards youth technology usage and well-being research. It’s formally launching a Snooze feature we spotted testing in September that lets you hide a person, Page or Group for 30 days if you need some peace. 


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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a warning against the hazards of cellphone radiation this week. Yes, the thing we are all addicted to and can’t seem to put down is leaking electromagnetic radiation and now California has some guidance to safeguard the public.
The CDPH asks people to decrease their use of these devices and suggests keeping your distance when possible.
“Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones,” said CDPH director Dr. Karen Smith.
The warning comes after findings were offered up this week from a 2009 department document, which was published after an order from the Sacramento Superior Court.
A year ago, UC Berkeley professor Joel Moskowitz initiated a lawsuit to get the department to release the findings after he started looking into whether mobile phone use increased the risk of tumors.

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In what should be an interesting beginning to the coming avalanche of ICO failures, the SEC has come down hard on Munchee, a company that built a $15 million token sale. The SEC chairman recently noted that coin offerings are, in fact, securities and that pre- sale participants must be registered with the SEC. The Munchee ICO aimed to fund the MUN coin, a payment system for restaurant reviews. The company received a cease and desist from the SEC on December 11. Within the SECs findings they noted that Munchee touted itself as a “utility” token which means that the company believed the MUN token would be primarily used within the Munchee ecosystem and not be used to fund operations.
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Just eight months after its last round of funding, events management platform Bizzabo has raised another $15 million. The new round, which brings Bizzabo’s total funding so far to $30 million, was led by Pilot Growth Equity, with participation from Maor Investments and returning investors. Co-founder and chief executive officer Eran Ben-Shushan told quicktechk that Bizzabo raised more capital because the company is growing quickly and wants to expand its cloud-based event software platform to take advantage of market demand. “We have both a product market fit and a scalable repeatable business model. This growth round will help us scale faster and bring our event innovations to more brands around the world,” he said. The company claims its annual revenue is in the millions and that its annual recurring revenue grew more than 200% last year. Bizzabo’s cloud-based software wants to do for events what Salesforce did for sales and marketing. Like customer relationship management software, Bizzabo’s events management platform automates time- consuming tasks related to email, social media and web marketing, manages contacts and analyzes data to help organizers increase registrations, make more revenue and improve attendee experience.
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There are few metrics in the world that offer as much insight into our society as Google’s annual “Year in Search.” More than any of the other year-end download and streaming roundups, Google’s offers a clear snapshot of the things that captured our imaginations and baffled us during what felt like a particularly turbulent year. Here in the U.S., the top overall searches cover a pretty wide range of the human experience, running the gamut from natural phenomenon, to sports, to human tragedy, to the sexual misconduct allegations that have been echoing across a wide range of industries in recent months.
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There are few metrics in the world that offer as much insight into our society as Google’s annual “Year in Search.” More than any of the other year-end download and streaming roundups, Google’s offers a clear snapshot of the things that captured our imaginations and baffled us during what felt like a particularly turbulent year. Here in the U.S., the top overall searches cover a pretty wide range of the human experience, running the gamut from natural phenomenon, to sports, to human tragedy, to the sexual misconduct allegations that have been echoing across a wide range of industries in recent month
Read more via www.quicktechk.com.ng/2017/12/heres-what-people-were-googling-in-2017.html?m=1