Technology

This Week in Tech News: 15 Stories You Need to See

Published

5 hours ago

November 1, 2024

A roundup of the most newsworthy tech announcements from PR Newswire this week, including Dolby’s collab with BTS’ Jin and the world’s first tactile digital comics.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help tech journalists and consumers stay on top of the week’s most newsworthy and popular releases, here’s a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn’t be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Citi and Google Cloud Announce Strategic Agreement to Modernize Citi’s Technology Infrastructure and Drive Innovation By modernizing its technology infrastructure on Google Cloud, Citi will unlock the ability to offer improved digital products, streamline employee workflows, and run high-performance computing (HPC) and analytics platforms. This includes using advanced HPC capabilities to facilitate the execution of millions of computations daily in Citi’s Markets business.The Loan Store Streamlines Wholesale Lending by launching Gateless Smart Underwrite®
Gateless Smart Underwrite® automates key aspects of the underwriting process by analyzing loan information, specifically credit, income, asset data, and documents, in real-time. This eliminates manual tasks, reduces the need for back-and-forth communication, and expedites loan approvals for The Loan Store’s wholesale partners.NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 31st Station Resupply Launch, Arrival
Filled with nearly 6,000 pounds of supplies, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Nov. 4.ThayerMahan technology enables Aleutian Islands discovery of Japanese vessels sunk in only WW II battle fought on U.S. territory
The foreign vessels are the only Japanese military ships believed to be situated within U.S. state waters. The research marked the first underwater archaeological survey around Attu and marks the beginning of what is sure to be an increased focus on the oft-forgotten Aleutian Island campaign and by extension Alaska’s World War II history.Dolby and Jin from BTS Celebrate His New Single “I’ll Be There” in Dolby Atmos
Directed by GRAMMY®-nominated music video director and filmmaker Colin Tilley, the campaign’s commercial explores how Dolby Atmos can transform an everyday moment into an extraordinary experience by putting fans right into the heart of the music scenes, where Jin delivers the powerful performances BTS is known for.Royal Mail becomes world’s first delivery company to use tech innovator Wiliot’s digital tags to boost efficiency and cut carbon
The company has tagged its 850,000 wheeled containers with Wiliot’s tiny computers that look like stickers, which allow them to transmit live data on location as well as humidity and temperature as they are transported around the country. This data will provide unprecedented insight into the journey of parcels, improve reliability and help reduce carbon emissions by optimising vehicle use.GIPHY partners with TikTok to Power GIF Recommendations in New Direct Messaging Experience
TikTok’s specialized recommendation engine will algorithmically suggest relevant GIFs from the GIPHY library, making communication more engaging and expressive. The new direct messaging experience with GIPHY integration is expected to roll out later in Q4 or early Q1, pending development and testing.Siemens strengthens leadership in industrial software and AI with acquisition of Altair Engineering
“The addition of Altair’s capabilities in simulation, high performance computing, data science, and artificial intelligence together with Siemens Xcelerator will create the world’s most complete AI-powered design and simulation portfolio,” said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG.Dot Inc. and WEBTOON Entertainment Release World’s First Tactile Digital Comics
“The popularity of webcomics is at an all-time high and we thought it would be great if visually impaired individuals could enjoy them too. This is my first time exploring webcomics, listening to audio descriptions, and reading dialogue. It brought the imagined scenes vividly to life in my mind, and made the content even more engaging,” said Misook Go, the community manager at Dot, who is visually impaired herself.Hisense named first Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™
The partnership with this inaugural edition of the tournament will provide the perfect platform for Hisense to further grow its global brand among fans of the world’s most popular sport and club teams, and to showcase the state-of-the-art technology and appliances with Hisense TVs to be visible across the tournament.Epic Welcomes Oracle Health to TEFCA
When Oracle Health fulfills their pledge to become a TEFCA Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN), they will join Epic as well as MEDITECH, athenahealth, and many others that are already using TEFCA to enable better patient care.AliExpress Invites U.S. Retailers to Sell on the Platform
As part of a special introductory period, local sellers will benefit from AliExpress’ 0% commission and $0 onboarding costs. AliExpress will also provide U.S. sellers with comprehensive marketing, business, and customer service support, including buyer inquiry handling and after-sales disputes, without charge.New Payment Program Eases Burden on Bankruptcy Attorneys and Clients
When you accept credit card payments for bankruptcy consultations through traditional methods, it can increase the client’s unsecured debt, creating potential conflicts. AcceptDebtPayments.com tackles this issue by facilitating direct and “on-behalf-of” payments, allowing friends and family to contribute financially without adding to the client’s debt burden.Sceye Partners with NASA and USGS to Address Climate Change from the Stratosphere
Using advanced hyperspectral imaging, Sceye will help NASA and USGS detect methane “super emitters,” monitor wildfire activity, storms, earthquakes, and other extreme weather events. The partnership will help track essential environmental data and metrics in real-time and also positions Sceye to support NASA and USGS in expanding the range of climate data collection and in strengthening forecasting models.The Weather Company to Help WKRC-TV Enhance Its Severe Weather Coverage with Max Alert Live
“When severe weather strikes, our viewers depend on us to deliver urgent updates that keep their families safe,” said John Gumm, chief meteorologist at WKRC-TV. “With Max Alert Live, I can see storms coming with an incredible level of granularity and quickly communicate those threats in a flexible manner. I can automatically broadcast and visualize county-by-county storm threats without disrupting programming.”

For more news like this, check out all of the latest technology-related releases from PR Newswire.

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Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

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Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger’s next story.Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles.Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

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Technology

Blanchard Celebrates 45 Years of Empowering Leadership and Organizational Success

Published

55 mins ago

November 1, 2024

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Blanchard®, a global pioneer in leadership development, consulting, and coaching, proudly announces the celebration of its 45-year anniversary. Ken and Margie Blanchard founded the company in 1979 with three simple goals: to make a positive difference in people’s lives, drive human worth and effectiveness in the workplace, and help each client organization become the provider, employer, and investment of choice.

Since its founding, Blanchard has been at the forefront of transforming leaders and organizations through innovative programs, contextualized learning journeys, and coaching designed to foster personal and professional growth.

Over the past 45 years, Blanchard has equipped thousands of organizations across industries with the tools to lead effectively and create lasting impact. With a strong commitment to helping individuals and teams unlock their full potential, the company’s programs have been trusted by Fortune 500 companies, government institutions, and nonprofit organizations worldwide.

“Reaching 45 years is a significant milestone for Blanchard,” says Scott Blanchard, CEO of Blanchard. “It’s a testament to the dedication of our team, the strength of our partnerships, and our unwavering focus on empowering leaders. We’re incredibly proud of the positive change we’ve helped bring to organizations over the years and look forward to continuing our mission for many more.”

Debbie Ung, President, says, “I’m proud of how our company has continually transformed to meet the needs of learners and we remain committed to providing dynamic new learning options to support our vision of leaders powered for good.”

Margie and Ken Blanchard say, “Growing this company has been a constant challenge to remind us to walk our talk. And to think that 45 years have passed. Unbelievable!”

Blanchard’s signature programs, including SLII®, have empowered leaders to adapt their styles to meet the needs of their teams, driving engagement and results. As leadership development evolves to meet the demands of a fast-changing global landscape, Blanchard remains committed to developing new methodologies and tools to serve the next generation of leaders.

For more information about how Blanchard can help your organization thrive, please visit www.blanchard.com.

About Blanchard
Blanchard is a global leader in leadership development, consulting, and coaching. For more than 40 years, Blanchard has partnered with organizations to maximize individual achievement and organizational performance, bringing measurable progress and true transformation. Blanchard’s SLII® is the global leadership model of choice, powering inspired leaders for more than 10,000 organizations worldwide. Blanchard also offers a suite of award-winning solutions through flexible delivery modalities to meet the specific needs of clients and learners. Discover more at www.blanchard.com.

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Technology

PKF O’Connor Davies Publishes 20th Annual Architectural and Engineering Studies

Published

55 mins ago

November 1, 2024

Reports provide industry benchmarking data, trends and insights impacting firm profitability and productivity

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the nation’s largest accounting, tax and advisory practices, today announced the release of its 20th Annual Architectural and Engineering Studies. Based on 2023 financial and operational data provided by a sample of participating architectural and engineering (A&E) firms, the studies reflect the state of the industry and enable firms to benchmark their performance against others as they seek ongoing profitability and growth.

For the first time, the studies provide a historical perspective, highlighting key milestones and industry trends that have shaped the A&E landscape over the past two decades. They also include firms’ current and future use of artificial intelligence, as well as expert insights on emerging trends. The studies present several key takeaways for the A&E industry, including:

During 2023, profit as a percentage of net fee income reached its highest level in the past five years.Firms’ billing multiple increased slightly as they continued their focus on project management efficiencies.Firms’ breakeven multiple and overhead rate continued their upward trend, driven by increases in indirect labor, employee and fringe benefits, and computer and IT investments.Raises as a percentage of base compensation remain higher than historical averages, despite a year-over-year decrease.

“We are excited to release the 20th anniversary edition of the Architectural and Engineering Studies prepared by our dedicated team of industry specialists. These studies have provided valuable insights to the A&E industry and allowed firms to benchmark their results so they may assess their performance in order to continue to grow and improve profitability,” said David M. Sullivan, Jr., Partner and Leader of the Architecture & Engineering Practice at PKF O’Connor Davies. “The A&E industry is going through a period of unprecedented changes. To fully capitalize on future opportunities, it’s crucial for industry leaders to have a strong understanding of industry trends.”

To access the 20th Annual Architectural and Engineering Studies, visit https://www.pkfod.com/annual-architectural-study/ and https://www.pkfod.com/annual-engineering-study/.

About PKF O’Connor Davies

PKF O’Connor Davies is a top-tier accounting, tax and advisory practice with a long history of serving domestic and international clients. “Know Greater Value” speaks to the confidence and guidance that our clients realize when they work with us. It reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest levels of value, expertise and service in everything we do. Our clients Know Greater Connections, Know Greater Insights and Know Greater Value. “PKF O’Connor Davies” is the brand name under which PKF O’Connor Davies LLP and PKF O’Connor Davies Advisory LLC, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards. PKF O’Connor Davies LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services and PKF O’Connor Davies Advisory LLC and its subsidiary entities provide tax and advisory services.

For more information, please visit pkfod.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Media Contact

Michelle Goyke, PKF O’Connor Davies, 914-341-7615, mgoyke@pkfod.com, https://www.pkfod.com/

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Technology

Ziegler Advises Strata Health Solutions Inc. On Acquisition by VitalHub Corp.

Published

55 mins ago

November 1, 2024

Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce its role as exclusive financial advisor to Strata Health Solutions Inc. (“Strata Health”, “Strata” or the “Company”) on its acquisition by VitalHub, a leading software company dedicated to empowering Health and Human Services providers.

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce its role as exclusive financial advisor to Strata Health Solutions Inc. (“Strata Health”, “Strata” or the “Company”) on its acquisition by VitalHub, a leading software company dedicated to empowering Health and Human Services providers.

“Ziegler’s guidance on the presentation of our business, financials, and growth strategy led us to this great outcome. We ultimately could not be happier about the partnership with VitalHub…” said Peter Smith, President and CEO of Strata Health Solutions Inc.

Based in Canada, Strata Health designs, builds, and deploys software that improves access and navigation to care. Strata Health has over 80 health system partners and works with over 500 hospitals to provide over 800 thousand patient transitions annually. The company serves customers in Canada, the UK, the US, and New Zealand with offices internationally.

Strata Health extends VitalHub’s solution set into the electronic referral market, a large and growing market opportunity internationally. Poor transitions of care result in fragmented delivery, unsatisfactory patient outcomes, and billions of dollars of inefficient healthcare system spend annually. Strata Health’s digital suite solves for these problems with solutions like electronic referral, waitlist management, and placement automation.

“Strata Health Solutions offers a comprehensive, technology-driven approach to streamline patient transitions across the healthcare continuum, addressing a critical market need for improved efficiency and patient outcomes. Strata Health’s value proposition lies in its ability to significantly improve patient flow logistics, reduce wait times, minimize unplanned readmissions, and ultimately deliver better patient experiences which are themes we are constantly trying to solve for in today’s healthcare environment. Strata’s partnership with VitalHub will create an incredible opportunity to expand electronic referral solutions internationally” stated Grant Chamberlain, Senior Managing Director in Ziegler’s Healthcare Investment Banking Practice.

“Ziegler’s guidance on the presentation of our business, financials, and growth strategy led us to this great outcome. We ultimately could not be happier about the partnership with VitalHub. We look forward to enhancing our product and market roadmap with the support of the VitalHub platform,” said Peter Smith, President and CEO of Strata Health Solutions Inc.

Ziegler’s Healthcare Investment Banking team is focused on delivering best-in-class advisory and financing solutions for companies and organizations across the healthcare industry. In our core practice areas of healthcare services, information technology, hospitals, and senior living, Ziegler is one of the most active M&A firms offering differentiated sell-side, buy-side, recapitalization/restructuring, equity private placement, and strategic partnering services.

For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com.

About Ziegler:
Ziegler is a privately held investment bank, capital markets, and proprietary investments firm. Specializing in the healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance, enables Ziegler to generate a positive impact on the clients and communities it serves. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the United States, Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income sales & trading and research. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client’s experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

Media Contact

Christine McCarty, Ziegler, 3125961617, cmccarty@ziegler.com, www.ziegler.com

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