Facebook Accuses BlackBerry of Stealing Voice-Messaging Tech

HIGHLIGHTS BlackBerry has been sued by Facebook for patent infringement Facebook is seeking damages for infringement of six patents In March, BlackBerry had sued Facebook for infringing on its patents Facebook is suing BlackBerry for patent infringement, escalating the legal battle between the two companies over protected technology. In a 118-page complaint filed Tuesday in San Francisco federal court, Facebook accused BlackBerry of stealing its voice messaging technology, among other patented processes. Facebook is seeking unspecified damages for infringement of six patents. BlackBerry didn’t immediately respond to messages sent outside regular business hours seeking…

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65% of Retailers Will Offer Same-Day Delivery by 2019

Small businesses are always looking for ways to have a competitive advantage in the market. Now they are not only competing on price and customer service, but also on speed. According to a recent report by Go People, a Sydney-based on-demand delivery and courier startup, 65% of retailers will provide same-day delivery services by the year 2019. “Globally speaking, same day delivery is no longer just a concept. Instead, it’s the standard practice in many industries nowadays,” writes Nick Hartman, Marketing and Communications Manager for Go People, on the company’s blog. “Fashion retailers,…

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71% of Consumers Watch Videos on Social Media to Laugh, Report Says

One of the great joys in life is laughter, and when it comes to consumers on social media, 71% said it is one of the reasons they watch videos. The 2018 Sprout Social Index report surveyed consumers and marketers to determine where in the funnel social marketing effort must be targeted. It is critically important to define this target because social media is no longer an optional marketing channel. For small businesses, mastering social marketing is even more relevant because it is an easy and affordable way to reach your target audience. Whether you…

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Kidneys can be affected because of poor air quality, says study

Polluted air increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) which occurs when a person’s kidneys are damaged, or cannot filter blood properly, researchers, including one of Indian origin, have found. The study highlighted that people with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or heart disease are at an increased risk of developing CKD. Apart from PM2.5, air pollution also contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium -all of which are known to negatively affect the kidneys. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the US, warn high risk…

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E-cigarettes are as dangerous as smoking. It can double the risk of heart attack

A new study has found that smoking an e-cigarette on a regular basis could double the risk of a heart attack. According to a new analysis of a survey of nearly 70,000 people, led by researchers at UC San Francisco, the dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes appears to be more dangerous than using either product alone. The study also found that the risks compound, so that daily use of both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes raises the heart attack risk five-fold in comparison to the people who don’t use…

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Lack of quality sleep can affect your social life and make you feel lonely

Poor sleep can hamper your social life, say scientists who found that sleep-deprived people feel lonelier and less inclined to engage with others, avoiding close contact in much the same way as people with social anxiety. Researchers at the University of California (UC) Berkeley in the US, have found that alienating vibe makes sleep-deprived individuals more socially unattractive to others. Moreover, well-rested people feel lonely after just a brief encounter with a sleep-deprived person, potentially triggering a viral contagion of social isolation. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications,…

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