New Season Now Streaming on TaiwanPlus 

TAIPEI, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TaiwanPlus is pleased to introduce the newly rebranded “Connected on TaiwanPlus”, a fast-paced current affairs program offering global audiences a deeper lens into the tech and business forces shaping Taiwan—and the world. Now streaming, the revitalized series debuts with a sharp new editorial focus, a state-of-the-art studio featuring an immersive video wall, and a bold visual identity that underscores its future-facing perspective.  

Led by award-winning journalist Divya Gopalan, and joined by a team of expert contributors, the show delivers incisive conversations and fresh reporting on the trends defining innovation, industry, and international relevance. 

Since its debut in 2023, Connected has tackled a wide range of timely topics—from food culture and social movements to environmental issues, geopolitics, and societal change. With Taiwan’s growing influence on the global stage, particularly in technology and business, the newly reimagined “Connected with TaiwanPlus” sharpens its focus to reflect this momentum. The program now sets its sights on key international audiences, delivering deeper coverage of Taiwan’s leadership in semiconductors, financial innovation, and emerging business strategies—areas where global interest is accelerating rapidly. 

“Taiwan’s technology and business sectors are shaping the global landscape, and our audience wants to stay ahead of the curve,” stated host and producer Divya Gopalan. “In a world where sound bites and short-form is the norm, we at ‘Connected’ still see huge importance in being able to dig deeper into issues of international significance and facilitate dialogue between Taiwan and the world.”  

“Connected” will continue to air twice a week on the TaiwanPlus’ website and the “Connected” YouTube channel. The program will also expand its presence with two additional episodes per month, including:  

A monthly podcast to provide extended discussions on key topics.In-depth interviews with global business leaders and tech pioneers.Explainer videos and special reports covering Taiwan’s biggest tech and business developments.On-location coverage from industry events, startup showcases, and innovation hubs.

With its revamped look, sharper content focus, and expanded digital presence, “Connected” is set to become the go-to source for in-depth insights into Taiwan’s tech and business sectors. The first episode, “Diving into Taiwan’s Semiconductor Future,” is now available on the TaiwanPlus website, “Connected” YouTube channel, and our app newly available for Apple and Android TV. 

About TaiwanPlus
TaiwanPlus is the premier global provider of English-language news and infotainment from Taiwan — offering trustworthy news coverage, informative perspectives on cross-strait relations, plus inspiring lifestyle content focusing on food, travel and entertainment. Proud to be based in one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies, our diverse team of journalists and producers is committed to delivering independent news and stories that inform, enlighten and inspire audiences worldwide. Get a global perspective backed by a Taiwanese point of view on our website, mobile app, TV channel and various social media channels.

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SOURCE TaiwanPlus

LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, has identified a significant shift in California’s retail landscape: more brands are turning to motion design and mobile-first UX as core pillars of their 2025 website overhauls.

With mobile commerce expected to surpass $620 billion in the U.S. by the end of 2025 — up from $511 billion in 2023 — mobile experiences are driving digital decisions across every retail sector. In California, where competition is fierce and consumer expectations are high, the need to captivate and convert on mobile has never been greater source.

From fashion and beauty brands in Los Angeles to eco-conscious retailers in San Francisco, California businesses are turning static websites into dynamic experiences. Digital Silk reports a sharp rise in brands requesting animated transitions, scroll-based interactions and product pages enriched with video elements to shorten the path to purchase and create more engaging shopping journeys.

“Retailers no longer want a website that simply looks good — it needs to move, guide and respond,” says Ana Margarida Meira, Partner and Vice President of Client Relations at Digital Silk. “Motion design paired with mobile-first usability is what’s creating standout experiences and driving retention for modern consumers.”

The Retail UX Shift: What’s Changing in 2025

As 2025 unfolds, Digital Silk’s California clients are actively investing in:

Mobile-first design with thumb-friendly navigation and swipeable contentMotion UI elements like product explainer animations and interactive lookbooksSticky CTAs and visual prompts that improve micro-conversion ratesDynamic product previews that reduce bounce rates and increase engagement

Why Motion Design Matters More Than Ever

Motion design isn’t just aesthetic — it’s strategic. It helps tell a brand’s story, guide shoppers without friction and build a stronger emotional connection in just seconds.

Brands using animated content see conversion rates increase by up to 20%Interactive content holds users’ attention 2x longer than static visualsMobile shoppers are 62% more likely to abandon a site if it feels clunky or outdated

Retailers are recognizing that their website is no longer a digital brochure — it’s the storefront, salesperson and brand ambassador all in one.

About Digital Silk
Digital Silk is a full-service California Web Design Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.

Media Contact
Jessica Erasmus
Marketing Director & PR Manager
Tel: (800) 206-9413
Email: jessica@digitalsilk.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-retail-brands-embrace-motion-design–mobile-ux-in-2025-web-overhauls-says-digital-silk-302433484.html

SOURCE Digital Silk

SAN RAMON, Calif., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Accela®, a leading provider of civic engagement software for government agencies, today announced the acquisition of ePermitHub, a pioneering technology firm specializing in streamlined document management and plan review processes. This acquisition marks a significant enhancement to Accela’s suite of solutions, offering a more integrated and efficient approach for government agencies to manage civic responsibilities.

The ePermitHub solutions, which includes the Digital Plan Room and COMET Version Engine is fully integrated into the Accela Civic Platform. This acquisition promises to transform the plan review and permitting processes by automating and standardizing document management, thus reducing turnaround times for plan approvals and revisions, enhancing the transparency and efficiency of government services.

Key Benefits for Accela’s Customers:

Streamlined Plan Submission & Permitting Process: Accela’s customers will benefit from the automated validation of their plan submission, which ensures that all documents are accurate and complete upon submission; this will dramatically streamline the plan intake process, reducing the need for multiple revisions.Enhanced Collaboration: The ability to create markups and comments, tracking changes, and communicating within plan documents encourages effective collaboration across government agencies and with constituents, resulting in faster resolution times and improved service delivery.Minimize Delays and Costs: With ePermitHub’s technologies already integrated into the Accela Civic Platform, agencies will be able to shorten the permit process, saving government staff time and reducing costs for construction professionals.AI-automated Plan Review: As part of the acquisition, Accela is dedicating resources to enhance the Plan Review process through AI. Leveraging advanced AI technologies and ePermitHub’s extensive knowledge base of past electronic plan submissions, Accela will automate the Plan Review process, improve permit quality and expedite approvals. This includes, for example, automatically assisting in interpreting construction codes to facilitate compliance, flagging plan deficiencies to citizens before submission are accepted, and quickly analyzing large plan sets to simplify plan reviewers’ manual tasks.

Accela’s CEO, Noam Reininger, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome ePermitHub into the Accela family. This pivotal step forward enhances our ability to serve our communities more effectively, integrating cutting-edge technology that empowers governments to meet the evolving needs of their constituents.”

ePermitHub CEO and co-founder, Maykel Martin, said “We are excited to join forces with Accela. This acquisition will enable us to leverage Accela’s robust platform and resources to accelerate our growth and our AI product expansion, ultimately benefiting our customers and the communities they serve.”

For more information, please visit Accela’s blog and ePermitHub’s website.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Media@accela.com

About Accela®
Accela® is one of the leading providers of cloud-based software solutions, empowering local and state governments to drive efficiency and modernization. Accela offers both a configurable platform and out-of-the-box civic applications for core processes including, but not limited to, permitting, licensing, and code enforcement. Accela assists agencies in streamlining workflows, reducing manual tasks, and improving service delivery. With a commitment to end-to-end support, Accela is a trusted partner to over 600 agencies and jurisdictions worldwide. For more information, please visit www.accela.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accela-acquires-epermithub-to-enhance-its-civic-platform-and-develop-ai-driven-plan-review-automation-302432955.html

SOURCE Accela