Tag: Mobile

Apple workers in Oklahoma vote for company’s second U.S. union store

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A shopper looks at a wall fully occupied with iPhone case covers at the American multinational technology company Apple store in Hong Kong. China’s consumer prices rose at a slower-than-expected pace in August amid heatwaves and Covid-19 flare-ups, while producer inflation eased to the lowest since February 2021, official data showed.

Budrul Chukrut | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Employees at an Apple store in Oklahoma City voted on Friday to join a union, marking the second unionized Apple store in the U.S.

The vote is a defeat for Apple, which has opposed unionization efforts around the country. It’s a win for Communications Workers of America, which now represents the workers at an Apple store after separate unionization efforts at stores in Georgia and New York City stalled.

The tally was 56 votes in favor and 32 opposed. Approximately 94 employees were eligible to join CWA. Voting took place earlier this week.

“The Penn Square Apple retail workers are an amazing addition to our growing labor movement, and we are thrilled to welcome them as CWA members,” CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens said in a statement.

“We believe the open, direct and collaborative relationship we have with our valued team members is the best way to provide an excellent experience for our customers, and for our teams,” Apple said in a statement, adding that since 2018 it has increased its starting wages in the U.S. by 45%.

The National Labor Relations Board will certify the votes in the coming week. After that, Apple is required to bargain with the union over working conditions.

Apple has opposed the union, according to a CWA filing earlier this month, which alleged that Apple management held anti-union meetings and threatened to withhold perks from stores that unionized.

Apple’s first unionized U.S. store, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Maryland, is preparing to begin formal negotiations with Apple. According to Bloomberg News, Apple told staff there that it would not get some perks such as tuition pre-payment or access to online courses, because it would need to be negotiated with the union.

Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world, reporting over $365 billion in global sales in 2021. It has about 270 stores in the U.S.

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October 14, 2022
Mississippi teenager dies after being shot by police officer

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GULFPORT, Miss. — A Black teenager in Mississippi has died days after Gulfport police shot him in the head outside a discount store, and his relatives are questioning officers’ actions.

Jaheim McMillan, 15, was shot Thursday. Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer confirmed to the Sun Herald that the Gulfport High School freshman died Saturday after he was taken off life support at USA University Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, Switzer said.

McMillan is survived by his mother, Katrina Mateen. She told WLOX-TV that when she arrived at the store after her son was shot, officers handcuffed her and walked her across the street.

Gulfport police said in a news release that the shooting occurred after they responded to a 911 call about several minors waving guns at other motorists. Officers pulled the minors over in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store.

Gulfport Police Chief Adam Cooper said an officer engaged an armed suspect, since identified as McMillan, resulting in shots being fired. The police department has not released the race of the officer.

McMillan’s family doesn’t believe he was armed, and their supporters are calling for the release of camera footage of the shooting.

McMillan was initially taken to Memorial Hospital at Gulfport but was transferred to the Mobile hospital, where he subsequently died shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday.

In a video taken by a bystander after the shots were fired, McMillan could be seen on the ground in front of the door to the store. A witness said police handcuffed the teenager after he had been shot. Cooper said police took four other suspects, all believed to be minors, into custody, and several firearms were recovered from the scene.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is examining the shooting of McMillan. MBI investigates all police shootings in the state, and the attorney general’s office is in charge of any prosecutions.

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October 10, 2022
Blitzionaire Game, the Play-to-Earn Game That Keeps on Giving

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Press Release
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Apr 7, 2022

NEW YORK, April 7, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Blitzionaire by Playnance.com, the play-to-earn game that makes having fun literally pay off, sent over 100,000 NFTs to players all around the globe. In a world where digital assets seek to replace reality as we know it, playing a game as Blitzionaire can truly take players to the next level of fun and fortune.

To provide players more influence over in-game assets, an NFT game mixes traditional gaming ideas with unique game methods. Launching games and anchoring them with digital asset-powered economies makes this possible. NFTs are commonly used for these digital assets since they are distinctive and tamper-proof. The implementation of NFT token standards also allows game creators to keep certain of these in-game objects rare and distinctive.

Blitzionaire is a one-of-a-kind, play-to-earn trading game. A player-vs-player prediction game on real-time market rates, users play on real-time markets and earn virtual BlitzCoins on their winnings. Players can buy real NFTs with the coins they earn; the only investment required is time and effort.

Players can use this system to claim ownership of game assets, buy digital items and unlock and earn new items. Players have exclusive ownership rights over these game assets regardless of how they access them. In essence, the player is the owner of the asset and can use it as he desires. This is why the gaming model is referred to as “play-to-earn.”

Virtual economies in gaming universes are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the worlds of metaverse and web 3.0. Gamers add value by devoting time to the game and actively participating in the in-game economy. The play-to-earn model could be viewed as a way to synergize both parties so that everyone is rewarded for their contributions. On the one hand, game developers can create a more vibrant in-game economy. Gamers, on the other hand, get to keep their in-game assets and are rewarded for their efforts.

Blitzionaire developers took the play-to-earn ecosystem one step further. NFTs can be obtained for free by simply playing the game. Even if players remain at the freemium level, they are still eligible for NFTs if they accumulate the required number of virtual coins. That explains the massive number of NFTs sent to players’ personal wallets since the beginning of the year.

The Blitzionaire “play-to-earn” developers collaborated with a team of superstar NFT designers to create unique collections of BlitzDogs NFTs. Collection items drop every two weeks, leading players to compete for the next big collection drop.

In recent months, the Playnance.com development team has been working on a new and improved version that will be released soon. An additional announcement will be made at the launch of the new version.

Source: Playnance.com

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April 7, 2022
Looking to Fold: Popular Origami Studio in New York Adopts a New Way Forward
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Taro’s Origami Studio Crowdfunding Campaign Started on Aug. 1

Press Release
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updated: Aug 6, 2020
PARK SLOPE, N.Y., August 6, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Taro’s Origami Studio, based in Park Slope, Brooklyn, was founded 10 years ago as a hub for expanding origami to the world and is the only origami studio in the U.S. It has been teaching folders of all ages, as well as serving the needs of businesses across the country and beyond.

But, during this pandemic, as everyone has struggled to find ways to connect, entertain, and grow, the origami studio has been closed to help keep its community safe. In the face of a pandemic, teaching groups of people origami indoors is simply not an option.

So with that in mind, this one-of-a-kind company has decided to take the difficult step of closing down its studio at the end of August, but this isn’t the story of another small business falling to the pandemic. During the last few months, origami has actually become quite popular. In fact, even though the physical studio has been closed, lessons for online classes and paper sales have increased by about five times compared to last year.

Now, after months of planning, Taro’s Origami Studio is now ready to announce its vision forward: the creation of a brand-new Mobile Origami Studio.

Now, instead of visiting retail locations in person, the studio can go to people and offer lessons, events, classes, and sales in safe environments throughout New York City and beyond to fulfill the larger demand for paper-folding.

It is an exciting chance to expand and help not just Park Slope, but also the under-served areas of NYC.

Inside the Mobile Studio, there will be:
- A world-class origami library to help teach models
- State-of-the-art origami learning tablets
- A museum-quality selection of amazing origami models
- Senior staff to continue teaching guests
- A one-of-a-kind origami store
In order to promote this project, Taro’s Studio started a crowdfunding campaign at Indigogo on Aug. 1. The campaign will help this unique studio survive and expand its love of origami across the country.

Contact: Ben Friesen / Ben@tarosorigami.com / 574.238.4375

Source: Taro’s Origami Studio
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August 6, 2020
Capitol Call App Launches Balanced Political News Feed Among Other Major Updates on 1 Year Anniversary
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Recognized as one of the top influencers of app culture in 2017, the app also adds representative scorecards and expanded calls to action.

Press Release
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updated: Jan 30, 2018
SEATTLE, Wash., January 30, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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Capitol Call, a non-partisan political activism app that takes the guesswork out of calling Congress and puts lobbying power in the hands of the people, has announced a series of major feature enhancements as it celebrates its one-year anniversary. In a continuing effort to increase political engagement and activism, the app has added new features to help users become more informed, stay motivated to act and have a convenient method to lobby their lawmakers for change.

App updates include:

We don’t have to be ‘somebody’ to get informed, pick up the phone, call our reps or cast our ballots.

Brandon Peterson, Founder, Capitol Call
- News Feed feature, powered by NewsAPI.org, with the goal of encouraging users to create a balanced feed by including media bias data from AllSides.com. Additionally, it helps users escape their filter bubbles and see diverse perspectives by offering news from dozens of different sources.
- Representative Scorecards to help users prepare for the 2018 midterms with ‘next election’ notices, details and text of bills their representatives have sponsored and stats on their elected official’s activities in Congress.
- Expanded community-powered Action Center adding support for state and local campaigns to complement the existing nationally focused feed. Along with a new user interface for accessing state and local representatives, this feature brings advocacy tools to all levels of government and makes Capitol Call about more than lobbying Washington.
Building on a successful first year, which includes being named as one of 20 influencers in Apple’s 2017 App Culture Highlights and App of the Day, Seattle-based entrepreneur and founder Brandon Peterson, was inspired to create the app during last year’s Women’s March.

“When I started this project last year, I really didn’t know where it would go. I was inspired to action by the excitement of the Women’s March – but I really didn’t appreciate the power that one voice can have,” said Peterson. “I’m not ‘somebody.’ I don’t have a ‘following,’ or a position of authority, or a strong connection to the activism community. But I decided to take action. If I take anything from this experience it’s that you don’t have to be somebody to do something.”

“Many of the new features in this release, and those to follow, speak to that idea,” Peterson continued. “Informing people so they can feel confidence and gain perspective. Guiding people so they have direction and purpose. Empowering people to amplify their voices in Washington and in their communities. We don’t have to be ‘somebody’ to get informed, pick up the phone, call our reps or cast our ballots.”

Capitol Call is available to download for free in the Apple and Google Play stores. Download the app and learn more at: http://www.capitolcall.org.

For more details on the app enhancements visit: http://outreach.capitolcall.org/whatsnewstocapitolcall

Become an Action Center contributor at: http://outreach.capitolcall.org/contribute

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Media Contact:

Brandon Peterson

Capitol Call, Founder

media@capitolcall.org

About Capitol Call

Capitol Call is the non-partisan mobile app that takes the guesswork out of calling Congress. Currently in the hands of 30,000 citizens, the app uses GPS to automatically determine the user’s representatives and provides sample phone scripts, allowing users to take immediate action. A true bootstrap startup, founder Brandon Peterson and his small team work nights and weekends, putting in personal time and dollars, to make it easier to track the causes you care about and let your voice be heard. Capitol Call was developed by Object Studio in Seattle, Washington USA. To learn more visit, www.capitolcall.org.

Source: Capitol Call
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January 30, 2018
New Free Mobile Game Offers Breakthrough Dual Reality Experience Where Playing Leads to Land Conservation

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Press Release
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updated: Oct 24, 2017

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn., October 24, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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SmashParks is announcing the immediate availability of Smoggle Smash, enabling mobile device owners to take part in this revolutionary game that connects mobile gaming with real-world results.

“It has never been simpler to relax, yet still do something meaningful for our world,” said Robert Jones, CEO of SmashParks, Inc.

What Is Smoggle Smash
Smoggle Smash is a mobile game that allows users to preserve actual land into the SmashParks conservation initiative, as well as earn real-world rewards for gameplay. Smoggle Smash is a hybrid tower defense with tapper component, where players gain glory by ridding their parks of the smoggle invasion. Activities, monuments, naming rights to the real-world land, and future locations of Smash Parks will be determined based on actual results from Smoggle Smash. The first season of Smoggle Smash is currently underway, with the ultimate reward of naming rights, monuments, and activities closing on Dec. 31, 2017.

Smoggle Smash will allow gamers to make a real-world difference within a gaming environment. Users can play the game or bypass it completely to solely concentrate on our conservation initiative by simply watching a 30-second video ad. Each ad watched or in-app purchase made shows the player how much land they have conserved in real-life.

Smoggle Smash Availability
Smoggle Smash is a mobile game driven by user feedback as a part of SmashParks’ commitment to provide a user experience that transcends the virtual world. Smoggle Smash is available immediately for download on the Android and Apple marketplaces.

Founded in 2017, SmashParks seeks to be the worldwide leader in dual reality gaming.

SmashParks, Inc. (Smoggle Smash) is a dual reality gaming experience that is patent pending. SmashParks and Smoggle Smash are trademarks of SmashParks, Inc. Unauthorized use of these trademarks is prohibited without the expressed written consent of SmashParks, Inc.

For more information, press only:
Justin Fields
865-805-0661
smashparks@gmail.com

For more information on Smoggle Smash:
www.smashparks.com
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Download Smoggle Smash Now (Android)
Download Smoggle Smash Now (iOS)

Source: SmashParks, Inc

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October 24, 2017
App Gives $500 Monthly to Encourage People to Build Their Own Support Community

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Press Release
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updated: Feb 1, 2017

CHICAGO, IL, February 1, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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Mike Bardi, Co-founder of a mental health app, Project Toe, announced today a new initiative designed to grant $500 every month towards helping people build their own support group within the app.

This represents the next phase of the Project Toe app, which is designed to help people dealing with life struggles such as depression, thoughts of suicide, self-harming behavior, addiction, and a host of other life-challenging conditions. The app—which is free— works with either iTunes or Android and allows individuals to join or create a support group. The premise behind the new program is that Project Toe will give $500 to the support group that reaches the most people in their community. “We call it social-therapy,” says Mike Bardi. “It is the idea that we can leverage both technology and our own personal struggles to help those currently going through something similar today.”

“The story began with two friends walking on the beach.”

Mike Bardi, Co-founder

Introduced in 2015, the Project Toe app currently has over 6,000 active users and 3,000 support groups worldwide. Participants can use the app in a variety of ways. They can join a support group that reflects their particular issue, create a new support group, share their life story by creating a post, or chat one-on-one. Participants can also agree to engage with an online therapist if they so desire for a low fee. There is also a “grateful wall,” which allows participants to express their positive thoughts towards other members of the community.

Mike Bardi is also the author of “The Word Toe: How One Word is Redefining Mental Health” .

According to Bardi, “the story began with two friends walking on the beach. One of the friends wanted to have a non-confrontational way to let the other know she was feeling troubled without having to directly ask him for help.” Bardi’s vision is to improve mental health around the world by empowering people to help one another cope with life challenges such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, or any challenge that we all face throughout our lives.

Media Contact:
Mike Bardi
Phone: 267-614-4377
Email: mike.bardi@projecttoe.com

Source: Project Toe

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January 31, 2017