FEATURED NEWS
- July 11, 2026Business
Cisumverse Continues Global Expansion, Partnering with Primal Live to Extend Asia’s Music Ecosystem into Europe
Global music industry service platform Cisumverse recently announced that it has officially entered into a strategic partnership with Primal Live, a well-known independent music organization based in Liverpool, UK. The two parties will establish the " Go Asia" Award within Primal Live's annual independent music competition. This initiative offers outstanding British independent musicians long-term opportunities for development across Asia, providing comprehensive support that includes performing at Asian music festivals, building international fan communities, and accessing resources for regional tours, music releases, and merchandise development. This collaboration further builds out Cisumverse's global network of music partners and marks the platform’s official integration with the UK's independent music ecosystem, bridging a new path for industry cooperation between Asia and Europe. Rising British country music artist John Roche is the first artist to benefit from this partnership, securing the inaugural Go Asia Award following an outstanding performance in Primal Live's annual competition. He will perform by invitation at the Star Nest Music Festival—hosted by CisuMusiC in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 8, 2026—and will become the first British musician to establish an official fan community on the CisuMusiC App. Positioned as a dedicated service platform for the global music industry, Cisumverse anchors its model on AI, blockchain, and digital technologies. By combining traditional Web2 music industry assets with innovative Web3 frameworks, the platform utilizes music festivals, Livehouse tours, official fan hubs, and an integrated media network. Cisumverse focuses on delivering value-added services that span the entire lifecycle of an artist's professional growth, serving music organizations, creators, and fans alike while helping its partners unlock sustained commercial value and international scale. Over the past year and more, Cisumverse has forged deep ties with numerous music organizations and industry stakeholders worldwide. This network includes GOGO 2020, Man and Women, Zenith Glocal Academy, Cisum Music Korea, and TikTok Korea in South Korea; GO ON G in Thailand; INQ International in Vietnam; SWYM Label in Malaysia; EARDrms Corp in the Philippines; FansiCo and Friendly Dog in Taiwan; United Entertainment in Mainland China; and Highway Star in Brazil. The platform has successfully driven international visibility for independent musicians and bands from various countries, including South Korea's 2Z and THE THE BAND; Thailand's H3F and murrph.; Vietnam's Chivan (Vu Thanh Van), MINH, and Nghich; Malaysia's KEETH and Ivan; and Mainland China's Red East. This alliance with Primal Live represents another major extension of Cisumverse’s global ecosystem. Xu Xiaofeng, Founder and CEO of Cisumverse, noted: " The UK has long been recognized as one of the world’s most influential homes of independent music. Many British artists have built strong audiences in Europe and North America, yet Asia remains a market with significant untapped potential. Through this partnership with Primal Live, we hope to create a long-term platform that enables British musicians to connect with audiences across Asia, fostering deeper collaboration between the creative communities of both regions." Andrew Sampson, Founder and CEO of Primal Live, stated: " Partnering with Cisumverse gives our artists access to exciting opportunities in Asia that would otherwise be difficult to establish independently. We believe this collaboration will help more British independent musicians build international careers and reach new audiences." Looking ahead, Cisumverse will continue to expand its global partner network, connecting music organizations and content ecosystems across Asia, Europe, and beyond. While empowering Asian musicians to step onto the international stage, the platform will also introduce more outstanding overseas talent to Asia, driving the two-way flow of global music resources to collectively generate greater industry value.
- July 11, 2026Health
Wellness Device Maker BeechBand Extends Reach Across Six Markets With Updated Wearable
BeechBand, a wellness wearable company operating across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, has updated its flagship device with an extended eight-hour battery, the company announced following a July 2026 release. Shipments to customers are scheduled to continue through the third week of July. Photo Courtesy by BeechBand The update replaces a prior battery configuration that lasted approximately three hours before requiring a forty-five minute recharge. BeechBand said the longer battery life was designed to support its recommended usage pattern, in which customers are advised to wear the device at least eight hours a day, seven days a week, for twelve weeks. The updated device is priced the same as its predecessor and comes with a 100-day return policy, according to the company. BeechBand's largest customer base is in the United States, with the United Kingdom as its second-largest market and smaller customer bases in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The company employs nine 19 people and maintains a private online community of nearly 18,000 members, alongside a public social media following of approximately 5,500 people over 50,000 across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. The company's product is built around a tapping mechanism originally developed by its founder, Carl, based on his own experience with young-onset Parkinson's. BeechBand has said Carl used tapping himself while searching for relief and found it helped restore his ability to speak. A friend Co-founder Nick Whiteley subsequently proposed adapting the technique into a wearable device, and BeechBand says the resulting product went through several rounds of prototyping before reaching customers. The company has said Carl wore an early version of the device consistently for thirteen months. BeechBand has said the way it communicates about the product, including Carl's personal history, is developed with attention to applicable regulatory guidance in the United Kingdom, given the wellness-related nature of the claims associated with the device. The company said this reflects the markets in which it operates and the sensitivity of the claims involved. BeechBand has also said a second new device is planned for release in September 2026 January 2027, though further information about that product has not yet been disclosed. The company has described its current focus as building awareness in the United States and the United Kingdom, which it identifies as its two most important markets, while continuing to serve existing customers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. About BeechBand is a wellness wearable company built around a tapping mechanism developed by founder Carl following his own experience with young-onset Parkinson's. The company serves customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and employs 19 people.
- July 11, 2026Business
Renegade Insurance Receives 2026 Global Recognition Award For Digital-First Innovation In Agency Growth
Renegade Insurance has received a 2026 Global Recognition Award in the Innovation category for its digital-first property and casualty insurance platform, which has altered how independent agencies own, grow, and exit their businesses in a structured manner. The recognition reflects a detailed assessment of market impact, disruption of established practices, adoption levels, user feedback, and an intellectual property portfolio that collectively met stringent grading standards. The evaluation panel concluded that Renegade Insurance’s innovation work is of a notably high standard, and that its model clearly illustrates how a traditional sector can change while preserving rigor and trust. Photo Courtesy of Renegade Insurance The award follows years in which the insurance sector changed little, with dense policies, slow manual processes, and disjointed customer experiences that affected agents and policyholders alike, yet were often treated as inevitable features of the environment. Renegade Insurance entered this context with the premise that these conditions arose from design choices, and it built its platform to remove unnecessary steps between customers, agents, and coverage so that actions such as quoting and binding policies could be completed in minutes. The result is a system in which processes that previously required paper forms and phone queues have been replaced by an interface designed for how professionals work and communicate today, reinforcing the case for wider adoption of digital-first approaches. Breaking The Old Model Renegade Insurance addressed legacy processes by treating architecture as a core strategic decision, recognizing that technology and operational structures needed to align for agents to benefit from practical, lasting improvements. Founder and chief executive officer Rashik Adhikari brought experience from Citi and Oppenheimer, along with training from Harvard Business School, and used that background to apply financial discipline and structured decision-making to a sector that had often relied on habit rather than detailed analysis. Co-founder and chief operating officer Doug Rowe contributed mergers and acquisitions expertise and practical operational knowledge, and he helped build a framework in which agency growth, integration of new offices, and daily operations can scale while maintaining coherent processes and accountable ownership. The technology stack at Renegade Insurance does not rely on older systems hidden beneath a modern interface, because the company chose to design proprietary tools specifically to address persistent operational gaps that hindered agents and staff. These tools include systems that streamline quoting and servicing, structures that handle the complexity of multiple carrier appointments, and controls that give agency owners visibility into the health of their books in a form that feels direct rather than abstract. Intellectual property arising from this approach creates a meaningful barrier for incumbents seeking to quickly copy the model, since the value lies in how the systems operate together as a cohesive structure rather than in any single feature, supporting a distinct position for the platform. Innovation In Support Of Agents Renegade Insurance built its offerings around the agency lifecycle and designed three core programs to meet agents at different stages of their progression, while keeping ownership and support aligned with practical needs. The franchise program gives licensed agents and qualified career changers a path to ownership starting at $20,000, and participants receive an 80 percent commission on new business. Renegade Insurance handles back-office functions that would otherwise consume significant time and resources. This arrangement lowers barriers to entry without requiring agents to manage administrative burdens alone, and it allows producers to focus on building relationships, refining local strategies, and responding to client requirements. The mergers and acquisitions arm buys agencies and books directly, and it offers cash at close with no broker fees, earnouts, deferred pay, or clawbacks so that owners can exit with clear terms that recognize the value of their work. A third program allows agents to retain ownership of their books while transferring day-to-day servicing, renewals, and client support to Renegade Insurance’s operations team, enabling producers to prioritize growth and relationship management instead of administrative maintenance. These programs operate within a network of direct appointments with regional and national carriers and managing general agents across personal, commercial, and specialty lines, and that breadth gives agents the ability to compete effectively in diverse local markets while relying on a consistent structural foundation. Final Words Internal operations at Renegade Insurance reflect the same orientation toward practical improvement, with teams regularly seeking ways to make processes clearer, faster, and more accurate to better support agents and customers. Staff have reviewed communication and employee data systems to verify active status across phone infrastructure and operational tools, and they moved beyond simply identifying inconsistencies by taking responsibility for organizing and correcting information so that records align across platforms. Teams also prepared detailed comparisons of employee-based and contractor-based workforce structures that covered costs, compliance, and operational impact, and this analysis allowed leadership to weigh staffing and cost-management options with specific evidence rather than general impressions. Customer and producer feedback has helped validate these choices and shows how innovation efforts translate into the daily experience for clients and agents who rely on the platform. One verified customer described Renegade Insurance as offering courteous and helpful service across interactions. The feedback emphasized that staff took time to reassure, inform, and resolve concerns instead of pushing transactions through with minimal contact. Alex Sterling of Global Recognition Awards stated, “Renegade Insurance earned a 2026 Global Recognition Award because its commitment to innovation is evident in its technology and the way it empowers agents, serves customers, and treats continuous improvement as a core obligation rather than an occasional project.” About Global Recognition Awards Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes companies and individuals for their meaningful contributions to their industries.
- July 11, 2026Technology
SumatoSoft Reveals Insights on IoT ROI: Median Payback Period Just 12 Months
SumatoSoft has released a comprehensive study titled "IoT ROI in 2026 Payback Benchmarks and a Quantification Framework from 36 Deployments," providing valuable insights into the return on investment (ROI) for organizations implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The research focused on 36 validated deployments across various sectors, revealing that the median payback period for these initiatives is 12 months. According to the findings , 72% of the organizations surveyed experienced a complete payback within the first year of implementation. Notably, 36% of these deployments achieved payback in just 9 months. Some cases, particularly within healthcare infection control and construction quality inspection, reported a break-even point in approximately 4 months. These results underscore the rapid financial returns that can be realized from IoT investments, regardless of industry. The study also emphasizes the non-financial benefits resulting from IoT deployment. A significant 58% of respondents reported enhanced trust and transparency among clients and auditors, while 44% indicated improved operational predictability. Additionally, 42% of participants highlighted increased staff confidence and execution discipline as critical outcomes linked to their IoT initiatives. These insights are particularly relevant for organizations considering or currently engaged in IoT projects, as they provide a clear framework for understanding potential financial and operational advantages. The research underscores the value of IoT investments not only in financial terms but also in fostering organizational trust and efficiency. For those interested in leveraging IoT technologies to enhance their operations and streamline processes, SumatoSoft invites stakeholders to review the full findings of the study . The comprehensive data can serve as a guide for decision-making and strategy enhancement in the adoption of IoT solutions.
- July 11, 2026Others
Americas Cardroom Launches Inaugural $10 Million Run Up Series this Sunday
Americas Cardroom is launching its inaugural Run Up Series this Sunday, July 12, introducing a five-week online poker series with more than $10 million in guaranteed prize pools. The series runs through August 17 and includes 163 poker tournaments with buy-ins suited to a variety of bankrolls. Among the highlights are a $1 Million Guaranteed Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight tournament and Americas Cardroom's biggest leaderboard competition ever, offering $100,000 in added prizes. The featured Mystery Bounty poker tournament carries a modest $66 buy-in. Daily Day 1 flights begin July 12 and continue through August 17 before Day 2 is played on Monday, August 17. Alongside the guaranteed prize pool, players will compete for Mystery Bounties, including a top bounty valued at $100,000. The Run Up Series also features three Main Events closing out the series with Day 1 on Sunday, August 16 and Day 2 on Monday, August 17. The schedule includes guaranteed prize pools of $750,000, $400,000, and $200,000 across buy-ins ranging from $33 to $1,050. In addition to tournament prizes, players will earn leaderboard points throughout the poker series. The $100,000 leaderboard competition awards cash, Venom NLH and PLO tournament tickets, and Venom Mega Satellite ticket packages to top finishers across both High and Low leaderboards. With more than $10 million guaranteed and tournament options for a wide range of players, the Run Up Series adds another major series to the Americas Cardroom calendar. About Americas Cardroom Americas Cardroom is one of the world's leading online poker destinations, serving players since 2001. Known for major tournament series, innovative promotions, and a commitment to the poker community, the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026 while continuing to expand its tournament offerings and deliver world-class online poker experiences to players across the globe.
- July 11, 2026Business
Beacon Design Collective Wins VEGA Award Gold for Métis Children's Book and Reveals Project Discoveries About the Demands of Culturally Responsive Design for Indigenous Organisations
The Beacon Design Collective Inc. has been awarded a VEGA Award Gold in the Digital Illustration Editorial category for its work on Being Métis Makes Me Happy, a children's book commissioned by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Children and Family Services and designed to nurture cultural awareness and pride among young Métis children and their families. The project was directed by Creative Director Dani Vachon, writing support by Matthew Turner, illustration by Carlie Russelle, and senior design by Anile Prakash and Jaz Rodriguez. Senior Illustrator Russelle has published reflections on what the project revealed about the structural demands of culturally responsive design for Indigenous organisations. What the Project Required In Russelle's account, the brief for Being Métis Makes Me Happy required significantly more than a standard design engagement. It required a genuine understanding of Métis culture, artistic traditions, and the visual language through which identity is expressed and transmitted across generations. That understanding, she notes, could not be assumed or approximated. It had to be developed through sustained collaboration with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government throughout the project. The studio chose a cut-out paper style for the illustrations, selected to resonate with the handmade crafts central to Métis tradition, including beadwork and hand weaving. Key cultural symbols including the woven sash were incorporated throughout. Two-page immersive spreads were designed to keep the storytelling dynamic and engaging for young readers while remaining rooted in the cultural identity being celebrated. The Broader Principle Russelle Identifies Russelle distinguishes between surface-level cultural representation, in which cultural markers are added to otherwise generic work, and genuine culturally responsive design, in which the cultural context shapes every creative decision from the outset. Indigenous communities, in her assessment, can identify the difference immediately. Genuine culturally responsive design, she argues, begins with listening and requires treating the client organization as the expert on its own identity. The external creative partner's role is to facilitate that expression with skill and humility, not to interpret or impose a framework over it. A brand or communications piece that misrepresents or flattens cultural identity does not simply fail aesthetically. It causes harm. At Beacon, this approach is described as the basis of every project the studio undertakes in the Indigenous sector. The studio's client work in this space includes projects for Métis Nation Alberta and other Indigenous and government organisations across Canada. About The Beacon Design Collective The Beacon Design Collective Inc. is an award-winning, carbon-negative creative studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in culturally responsive design, nonprofit branding, and impact communications. The studio has been recognized with a VEGA Award Gold for Illustration and named a Top Branding Company 2024 by Clutch. For more information visit beaconcollective.com. Carlie Russelle is Senior Illustrator and Graphic Designer at The Beacon Design Collective Inc. For more information visit The Beacon Design Collective Inc. has been awarded a VEGA Award Gold in the Digital Illustration Editorial category for its work on Being Métis Makes Me Happy, a children's book commissioned by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Children and Family Services and designed to nurture cultural awareness and pride among young Métis children and their families. The project was directed by Creative Director Dani Vachon, writing support by Matthew Turner, illustration by Carlie Russelle, and senior design by Anile Prakash and Jaz Rodriguez. Senior Illustrator Russelle has published reflections on what the project revealed about the structural demands of culturally responsive design for Indigenous organisations. What the Project Required In Russelle's account, the brief for Being Métis Makes Me Happy required significantly more than a standard design engagement. It required a genuine understanding of Métis culture, artistic traditions, and the visual language through which identity is expressed and transmitted across generations. That understanding, she notes, could not be assumed or approximated. It had to be developed through sustained collaboration with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government throughout the project. The studio chose a cut-out paper style for the illustrations, selected to resonate with the handmade crafts central to Métis tradition, including beadwork and hand weaving. Key cultural symbols including the woven sash were incorporated throughout. Two-page immersive spreads were designed to keep the storytelling dynamic and engaging for young readers while remaining rooted in the cultural identity being celebrated. The Broader Principle Russelle Identifies Russelle distinguishes between surface-level cultural representation, in which cultural markers are added to otherwise generic work, and genuine culturally responsive design, in which the cultural context shapes every creative decision from the outset. Indigenous communities, in her assessment, can identify the difference immediately. Genuine culturally responsive design, she argues, begins with listening and requires treating the client organization as the expert on its own identity. The external creative partner's role is to facilitate that expression with skill and humility, not to interpret or impose a framework over it. A brand or communications piece that misrepresents or flattens cultural identity does not simply fail aesthetically. It causes harm. At Beacon, this approach is described as the basis of every project the studio undertakes in the Indigenous sector. The studio's client work in this space includes projects for Métis Nation Alberta and other Indigenous and government organisations across Canada. About The Beacon Design Collective The Beacon Design Collective Inc. is an award-winning, carbon-negative creative studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in culturally responsive design, nonprofit branding, and impact communications. The studio has been recognized with a VEGA Award Gold for Illustration and named a Top Branding Company 2024 by Clutch. For more information visit beaconcollective.com . Carlie Russelle is Senior Illustrator and Graphic Designer at The Beacon Design Collective Inc. For more information visit beaconcollective.com .
- July 11, 2026Sports
Peace Brand Introduces 2GNZ, a New Father Son Basketball League Focused on Family, Competition, and Legacy
Inaugural 2GNZ Tournament Tips Off August 1, 2026 at Legacy Arena in Atlanta Today, Peace Brand, son of former NBA All-Star Elton Brand, announced the launch of 2GNZ, the first father-son basketball league, a groundbreaking new sports entertainment platform where fathers and sons compete together in a one-of-a-kind 2-on-2 basketball experience designed to celebrate family, legacy, and the generations connected through the game. The league will debut with its inaugural tournament on August 1, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Atlanta, bringing together father-son duos, former professional athletes, basketball families, and fans for a full day of competition, live entertainment, immersive fan experiences, and family-focused activations. Peace Brand teamed up with his former high school teammate, Christian Barjon, to reimagine the youth sports experience by placing family back at the center of the game. "This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for basketball families," said Peace Brand, Founder of 2GNZ. "I wanted to create something that brings families back to the center of the game, not just as spectators, but also as participants. The game has given so many of us unforgettable moments with our fathers and families, and 2GNZ was built to honor that. Our dads invested countless hours, not just in our development as athletes, but in us as young men. They’ve used the game to teach us discipline, resilience, respect, and character. This is bigger than competition. It's about legacy, connection, and creating memories that last far beyond the buzzer." Brand designed 2GNZ as a long-term sports entertainment property that blends competition, culture, community, and family-centered programming in a format unlike anything currently in the marketplace. As youth sports continues to evolve into a multi-billion-dollar industry, 2GNZ introduces a fresh model that prioritizes connection, and generational impact, while delivering a premium live event experience for athletes, families, fans, and brand partners alike. The inaugural tournament will feature father-son teams competing in a fast-paced 2-on-2 knockout format across three divisions: Ages 10–12, Ages 13–15, Ages 16-18, and Ages 19+, creating a rare opportunity for multiple generations to compete side by side. Beyond tournament play, 2GNZ will deliver a full-scale family entertainment experience featuring the 2GNZ Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Shootout, exclusive merchandise drops, athlete appearances, meet-and-greet opportunities, and a Kids Zone with activations for younger children throughout the day. "2GNZ represents something bigger than basketball," said Christian Barjon, Co-Founder of 2GNZ. "This is about honoring the relationships that shaped us, creating experiences for families, and building something the culture has never seen before. We believe this is just the beginning.” The Atlanta launch marks the beginning of what Brand and his team envision as broader expansion for the 2GNZ platform, with future market activations, as well as athlete and brand partnerships, that are currently in development. 2GNZ is proud to partner with Champro Sports , the league's official uniform and apparel partner, and BRXND Sportsplex , whose support has helped bring the vision of the inaugural 2GNZ Classic to life. The league also recognizes the valued support of community partners Legacy Arena , Douglas County School District , Ballers Bridge , and Squoze , whose shared commitment to youth, family, and community is helping launch a first-of-its-kind experience built around competition, connection, and legacy. Tickets start at $15, VIP tickets $45 and group packages available. To purchase tickets: 2GNZ Ticket Link . For more information, visit www.2gnz.com . Follow their Instagram . About 2GNZ 2GNZ (pronounced "Two Gens") is the first father-son basketball league and sports entertainment platform dedicated to celebrating family, competition, and legacy through the game of basketball. Founded by Peace Brand and Christian Barjon, 2GNZ brings fathers and sons together to compete, connect, and create lifelong memories while inspiring the next generation of athletes and leaders. Through live events, storytelling, community engagement, and educational experiences, 2GNZ is building a new category in sports where family is the main event. Learn more at www.2GNZ.com . Send Email to nikki@thebrandshoppe.co .
- July 11, 2026Technology
Ezoic Open-Sources React, Vue and Angular SDKs
EZOIC — Ezoic has open-sourced official SDKs for React, Vue and Angular, giving publishers building single-page applications and modern web apps a first-party, framework-native way to integrate Ezoic monetization. The three SDKs — ezoic-react-sdk, ezoic-vue-sdk and ezoic-angular-sdk — are hosted publicly on GitHub under the Ezoic organization and have been released under the MIT license at version 1.0.0. Each SDK provides the same core feature set: display ad placements, rewarded ads, video ads and Consent Management Platform integration for privacy compliance. The open-source releases are designed for developers working in component-based frameworks who want to integrate Ezoic ads without manual script injection or third-party wrappers. By providing framework-native SDKs, Ezoic is giving React, Vue and Angular developers a direct integration path that fits modern application development patterns. The announcement was first made in Ezoic’s internal product-updates channel and was also covered on the Ezoic blog . The releases come as more publishers build with JAMstack and single-page application architectures. At the same time, developers are placing greater scrutiny on third-party ad scripts because of performance considerations, including Core Web Vitals, as well as privacy and consent requirements. Open-sourcing the integration layer allows developers to inspect, contribute to and better understand the code running on their own sites. The availability of official SDKs for React, Vue and Angular gives publishers and their development teams a consistent first-party option across three widely used front-end frameworks. Each SDK supports the same monetization and compliance capabilities, helping teams bring Ezoic functionality into modern web applications while working within their existing framework conventions. About Ezoic: Ezoic provides monetization technology for publishers, including support for display ad placements, rewarded ads, video ads and Consent Management Platform integration for privacy compliance.
- July 11, 2026Business
Sber unveils GigaChat 3.5 Ultra: the model writes code better, handles agent-based tasks, and works with long texts
Russians now have access to the new flagship model, GigaChat 3.5 Ultra . It has become smarter, generates long text up to four times faster, consumes fewer resources, and is nearly half as compact as the previous version. The updated model handles tasks related to coding, mathematics, working with long texts, and autonomous agent scenarios more effectively. The model is based on a proprietary domestic architecture featuring linear attention technology, developed by Sber’s team. The improved model is available to anyone. In the GigaChat AI assistant, it is accessible to all users who want to apply AI for personal and work-related tasks. In open source, it is freely available to developers worldwide for integration into their services and for building AI agents. What GigaChat 3.5 Ultra can do Coding and mathematics —the model generates and verifies code with greater confidence, solves mathematical problems and financial calculations with higher accuracy, and handles numbers more reliably. Responses have become more precise, better structured, and easier to understand. All of this enables the model to be integrated into the real-world workflows of developers, analysts, and engineers. Reading and analyzing long texts —it efficiently analyzes contracts, technical regulations, reports, and other lengthy documents without losing accuracy or context. Thanks to the linear attention architecture, it does not re-read the text from the beginning each time; instead, it gradually accumulates context, much like a person who remembers the gist of a conversation. The speed of working with long texts has increased up to fourfold. Autonomy and AI agents —you can assign a task to the model, and it will independently find information, write and execute code, access the required service, and return a ready-made result. This makes it possible to automate routine tasks: monitoring, data processing, and scheduled report generation. In tests measuring the AI’s ability to solve programming tasks, mathematical problems, complex multi-step assignments, and the quality of Russian-language dialog, GigaChat 3.5 Ultra outperformed Sber’s previous flagship model. And in several metrics, it came close to the results of strong open models, such as DeepSeek 3.2, while being nearly half as compact. Anton Frolov, senior vice president, head of GenAI Development, Sberbank: “We are living in a time when the gap between human capabilities and AI potential is shrinking rapidly. GigaChat 3.5 Ultra is our step toward what an AI tool for real-world tasks should be: a full-fledged partner capable of thinking within the logic of a specific process, not just answering questions. To develop such a model, you need to constantly experiment and try things no one has done before—the number of our experiments has more than doubled, reaching 1,500. We have proven that it is possible to build a strong model using a proprietary architecture and with fundamentally fewer resources. We want our solutions to become the foundation for new products and research that go far beyond Sber.” GigaChat 3.5 Ultra is fully Sber’s brainchild: the team created a unique architecture leveraging linear attention technology. Unlike the classic attention mechanism in AI models, which re-checks each new word against the entire preceding text every time, linear attention memorizes the essence of what has been read once and then simply adds to that memory—roughly like a person who keeps a brief summary of a book in mind rather than flipping back to the first page with every new page. GigaChat 3.5 Ultra is one of the largest models with linear attention among those released in open source. During training, the focus was on natural, human-generated texts that underwent multi-level classification and filtering. The expanded dataset collected enabled the achievement of better metrics. The model follows a MoE (Mixture of Experts) architecture and is approximately half the size of the previous GigaChat Ultra version, which reduces computational resource consumption and allows it to be deployed on more affordable hardware—meaning more companies and developers will be able to run the model independently. PJSC Sberbank is Russia’s largest bank and a leading global financial institution. Holding almost one-third of aggregate Russian banking sector assets, Sberbank is the key lender to the national economy and one of the biggest deposit takers in Russia. The Government of the Russian Federation represented by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation is the principal shareholder of PJSC Sberbank owning 50% plus one voting share of the bank’s authorized capital, with the remaining 50% minus one voting share held by domestic and international investors. It holds general banking license No. 1481 dd. August 11, 2015, from the Bank of Russia. Official websites of the bank: www.sberbank.com (Sberbank Group website), www.sberbank.ru.
- July 11, 2026Consumer Electronics
Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR”
FUJIFILM Corporation announces the launch of “FUJINON Lens GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” (hereinafter “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR”) as a new addition to “GF lens” lineup for “GFX Series” of mirrorless digital cameras equipped with a large-format sensor*1 approximately 1.7 times larger than the 35mm format. This lens will be released from late July 2026 onward. “FUJINON GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” Mounted on the filmmaking camera “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55” “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” is the second power zoom lens*2 in “GF lens” lineup, featuring a focal length of 19-35mm (equivalent to 15-28mm in the 35mm format). Inheriting the operability and design of the cinema zoom lens “Premista Series”*3, which is highly acclaimed in many video production settings, the lens structure and DC motor optimized for power zoom achieve a lightweight body of approximately 2.1kg. When used with the filmmaking camera “FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55,” “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” supports both high-quality and efficient filmmaking workflows. In recent years, video production sites have increasingly demanded both labor-saving efficiency and high image quality. Compared with the previously announced “GF32-90mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR,” “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” covers a wider angle of view, enabling dynamic visual expression ranging from expansive landscapes to compositions that emphasize depth and subject presence. Together, the two lenses provide seamless coverage from ultra-wide-angle to standard focal lengths. In addition, both lenses share identical external dimensions, allowing common accessories to be used and improving operational efficiency, particularly in small-crew productions. “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” achieves high resolution comparable to that of a prime lens, despite being a zoom lens, by minimizing optical aberrations. Combined with “GFX ETERNA 55,” it maximizes the camera system’s excellent gradation and rendering capabilities. The lens maintains a bright T3.5 aperture throughout the entire zoom range, enabling precise exposure control. Furthermore, it delivers consistent color reproduction and tonal characteristics with “GF32-90mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR,” simplifying color matching and post-production workflows. Used together with “GFX ETERNA 55” and “GF32-90mmT3.5 P3.5 PZ OIS WR,” “GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” establishes a highly efficient production style requiring minimal equipment and crew resources, significantly expanding creative flexibility and opening new possibilities for filmmaking. *1 Image sensor with a diagonal length of 54.8mm (43.8mm W x 32.9mm H), approximately 1.7 times the area of the 35mm format sensor. *2 Power zoom control is available via both the camera body and the lens on "GFX ETERNA 55". On "GFX100 II", power zoom control is supported only via the lens. *3 The “Premista Series” is a lineup of zoom lenses for cinema cameras equipped with large-format sensors, enabling high-quality video production. Wide-angle, standard, and telephoto types are available. Main Features of “FUJINON Lens GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR” (1) Constant T3.5 power zoom lens for video production Features a focal length range of 19-35mm (equivalent to 15-28mm in the 35mm format), covering ultra-wide-angle to wide-angle perspectives. When paired with “GFX ETERNA 55”, electronic zoom operation can be controlled from the camera body. Adopts a sophisticated optical construction of 23 elements in 15 groups, including four ED lenses and three aspherical lenses. By maximizing the characteristics of each lens and arranging them optimally, aberrations are effectively suppressed. This enables the lens to maintain a bright T3.5 aperture throughout the zoom range while achieving high resolution and compact size. Lens construction: 23 elements in 15 groups, including four ED lenses and three aspherical lenses (2) Cinema lens operability and lightweight design reduce the burden of long shooting sessions In addition to thin-wall lens processing technology cultivated over years of cinema lens manufacturing, the adoption of a rear focus system enables a compact and lightweight design. Despite being a power zoom lens compatible with large-format sensors, it achieves a total length of approximately 222mm and weight of approximately 2.1kg. The lens is equipped with three independent manual rings for focus, zoom, and iris (aperture), all adopting the same 0.8M (module) gear pitch*4 as previous FUJINON cinema lenses. Standard accessories essential for video production, such as follow focus and lens motors, can be used. The focus ring features a wide rotation angle of 200 degrees, enabling precise focusing with smooth torque even in scenes with shallow depth of field. Enables control of focus, zoom, and iris via both the camera body and the multi-function dial on the supplied handle of GFX ETERNA 55. In addition, it supports constant-speed focus and zoom settings on GFX ETERNA 55, facilitating efficient one-person operation. Designed with identical exterior dimensions to the GF32-90mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR, enabling the use of shared accessories for seamless rig setups. In addition, the operability of zoom and focus functions is standardized between the two lenses. *4 The distance between the teeth on the gear engraved on the operation ring (3) Outstanding rendering performance backed by advanced optical design technology Nano GI coating technology is used to suppress flare and ghosting caused by light entering the lens from oblique angles, reducing reflection loss and improving light transmittance for clear rendering performance. By optimizing the internal structure of the lens barrel and the position of optical elements, sudden changes in angle of view (breathing) during focusing are suppressed, enhancing compositional stability. A 13-blade aperture is adopted to achieve a nearly circular aperture shape. This maintains the roundness of bokeh even when slightly stopped down, allowing for beautiful bokeh effects using point light sources in dim indoor or outdoor settings. (4) Powerful image stabilization and fast, smooth, high-precision AF Improves image stabilization performance by enhancing motion-sensing accuracy and optimizing the stabilization mechanism, enabling dynamic imagery that fully leverages the distinctive perspective of a wide-angle lens in handheld shooting, including when using a gimbal. By directly driving the motors at high speed in response to the operation of the focus, zoom, and iris rings, both responsiveness to ring operation and indicator position accuracy are achieved at a high level. Product Images
- July 10, 2026Select
BIBUS Launches Enhanced Webshop with Expanded Self-Service Features and Broader Product Portfolio
For many years, BIBUS has operated a webshop offering customers straightforward digital access to its extensive product portfolio in pneumatics, vacuum automation, electric drive technology, damping technology, safety technology and sensors. With this next step, BIBUS is further expanding its digital presence, responding to customers’ growing demand for greater autonomy, flexible and time-independent purchasing, and simplified access to the products they need. Alongside a significantly enlarged product range, the renewed shop introduces a host of new features designed to streamline everyday work for customers and engineers alike. A customer-specific login now gives users a personalized shop experience with access to dedicated self-service functions, including the ability to review recent orders and download key documents such as delivery notes directly online — eliminating the need to contact customer service for routine requests. For development and engineering teams, the upgraded shop offers a particularly valuable enhancement: full access to comprehensive technical data for every product, including datasheets and STEP files. This allows engineers to pull the exact specifications and 3D models they need and integrate BIBUS components directly into their own designs — accelerating development cycles and reducing friction between product selection and implementation. Customers will find the new shop at the familiar address, shop.bibus.ch , ensuring a seamless transition with no disruption to existing bookmarks or workflows. The enhanced webshop will go live on August 3, 2026 . With this step, BIBUS reaffirms its commitment to combining proven technical expertise, personal consulting, and a broad, high-quality product portfolio with the digital convenience today’s customers expect — making it easier than ever to find, evaluate, and order the components that power their applications. Existing customers will find their trusted environment enhanced with new capabilities, while new customers benefit from an intuitive platform from day one. For more information, visit shop.bibus.ch . Company: BIBUS AG Address: Allmendstrasse 26, 8320 Fehraltorf, Switzerland Contact: +41 44 877 50 11 Email: Info.bag@bibus.ch
- July 10, 2026Select
KIDZ AI Wins 2026 EdTechX Award and Launches KIDZBot AI Robotics Platform
KIDZ AI Inc., a leading provider of live online learning and AI-powered education solutions, has been named the 2026 EdTechX Award Winner for the Americas, recognizing the Company's innovation and leadership in AI-powered education. Coinciding with this award, the Company unveiled the KIDZBot AI Robotics Platform, an integrated, AI-native robotics learning platform designed for the Physical AI education era. KIDZBot incorporates advanced AI capabilities—including persistent memory, reasoning, prompt and token-based interactions, sensor-driven feedback, contextual awareness, and adaptive learning—to deliver an intelligent, personalized robotics learning experience. KIDZ AI expects KIDZBot to begin its commercial rollout during the second half of 2026. The 2026 EdTechX recognition highlights KIDZ AI's contribution to advancing education technology in the Americas region. KIDZ AI believes this recognition reflects the Company's continued progress in building AI-native education infrastructure across intelligent tutoring, AI agent workflows, robotics-based learning, learning analytics, adaptive instruction, and data-driven student engagement. With KIDZBot, KIDZ AI is introducing a robotics learning ecosystem designed to connect physical robotics devices, AI-powered curriculum, coding tools, student project creation, learning center deployment, and robotics learning programs across online and offline learning environments. The Company believes KIDZBot represents an important step in expanding KIDZ AI from a digital education platform into a broader AI-native education infrastructure company with integrated capabilities across content, software, hardware, robotics, learning data, and measurable learning outcomes. KIDZBot is designed to go beyond traditional robotics kits by combining physical robotics, structured curriculum, coding pathways, learning data, and AI-native interaction concepts into a unified learning model. Through hands-on robotics projects, students are expected to explore how intelligent systems sense, respond, remember, reason, and improve through real-world inputs, feedback loops, and contextual interactions. Key expected highlights of KIDZBot include: AI robotics product line: Modular robotics products designed for hands-on assembly, movement programming, sensors, robotics logic, mission-based learning, and interactive behavior design. Progressive coding pathway: Support for block-based visual coding for younger learners, with pathways into text-based programming languages including Python, Java, and C++. AI-powered curriculum packages: Structured learning modules designed for classrooms, learning centers, after-school programs, summer camps, families, and education partners. AI-native robotics learning layer: Learning experiences designed to connect physical robotics with AI concepts such as memory, data-driven learning, reasoning, prompts, tokens, contextual interactions, sensor-based feedback, and decision-making workflows. Data and feedback-driven learning: Robotics activities designed to help students understand how machines collect inputs, process signals, respond to data, adjust behavior, and improve through iterative testing. The Company expects to initially introduce KIDZBot through the KIDZ AI Learning Center Robotics Program, followed by broader integration into robotics classes, classroom curriculum, summer camp offerings, after-school programs, educational events, and school partnerships. The Company believes KIDZBot can become more than a robotics product line and instead will become a new AI-native layer of its education ecosystem by connecting Device + Curriculum + Learning Data + Memory + Reasoning into a unified robotics learning model. This model is designed to expand KIDZBot beyond traditional robotics instruction and toward a broader learning infrastructure that may support recurring curriculum deployment, classroom adoption, robotics programs, project-based learning, student competitions, and future AI-powered learning experiences. KIDZBot is also designed to help students understand how AI systems interact with data, context, and real-world inputs. Through robotics-based learning activities, students may explore how prompts guide intelligent behavior, how tokens support AI interactions, how memory preserves context, how sensors generate data, and how reasoning workflows support decision-making in physical environments. KIDZ AI believes these concepts can help students move from simply using AI tools to understanding how intelligent systems are designed, applied, and improved. The Company believes this approach is particularly important as AI becomes increasingly embedded in education, work, and daily life. By combining physical robotics with structured curriculum and AI-native capabilities, KIDZBot is intended to help students develop both technical skills and systems-level thinking through coding, robotics logic, mechanical design, data interpretation, iterative testing, AI-assisted creation, and collaborative problem solving. KIDZ AI believes KIDZBot can support a long-term robotics learning flywheel: more robotics products can drive more student projects; more student projects can generate richer curriculum use cases; richer curriculum use cases can support broader classroom and learning center deployment; and broader deployment can strengthen the Company's robotics learning ecosystem over time. "KIDZBot is not just a product launch; it is part of our long-term Physical AI education roadmap," said Stephanie Luo, Chief Executive Officer of KIDZ AI, "By connecting robotics hardware, AI-powered curriculum, coding tools, learning data, memory, reasoning, prompts, tokens, and student project creation, we believe KIDZBot can become an important growth engine for KIDZ AI and a key foundation for our long-term AI robotics strategy." About KIDZ AI KIDZ AI Inc., formerly known as Classover Holdings, Inc., is an AI-driven education technology company transforming live teaching experience into proprietary AI-powered learning systems. By integrating artificial intelligence, AI agents, and robotics, KIDZ AI is building global education infrastructure designed to make learning outcomes measurable, verifiable, and accessible across borders. The Company is strategically expanding into AI compute infrastructure, GPU cloud platforms, and data center ecosystems.
SELECT NEWS
SUBSCRIBE TO MARKETERSMEDIA NEWS
Google
News
RSS Feed
ALL NEWS
- MindfulnessValley.com Highlights Growing Interest in Personalized Chakra Analysis Report for Energy Awareness and Mindfulness
- Keystone Heights Resident Launches New HVAC Company to Meet Rising Demand and Accomplish Entrepreneurial Dream
- DX Foundation Announces Official Databricks Partnership Expanding Enterprise AI and Lakehouse Data Capabilities
- AVIDLOVE Introduces Summer Lingerie Collection Featuring Lightweight Fabrics and Versatile Designs
- Building Against the Attention Economy: Mohammed Abdul Kamran Brings His Privacy-First Vision to Faith Technology
- Venture Insights Opens Its Diagnostic to Saudi Founders at No Cost and Has a Named Expert Sign Every Playbook
- Unitism Launches to Help Governments Fund Public Services
- Lisa Gottesman Recognized for More Than 475 Million in Closed Sales and More Than 1000 Real Estate Transactions
- Astral & Root Announces ETHERIC, A Transparent Neurowellness Supplement Built For High Pressure Professionals
- Plastic Surgery Patient Flow: 6 Months Zero Empty Days Case Study Released
- Custom Hair Replacement Systems Compared - New Review Published
- Cisumverse Continues Global Expansion, Partnering with Primal Live to Extend Asia’s Music Ecosystem into Europe
- Wellness Device Maker BeechBand Extends Reach Across Six Markets With Updated Wearable
- Renegade Insurance Receives 2026 Global Recognition Award For Digital-First Innovation In Agency Growth
- SumatoSoft Reveals Insights on IoT ROI: Median Payback Period Just 12 Months
- Americas Cardroom Launches Inaugural $10 Million Run Up Series this Sunday
- Beacon Design Collective Wins VEGA Award Gold for Métis Children's Book and Reveals Project Discoveries About the Demands of Culturally Responsive Design for Indigenous Organisations
- Peace Brand Introduces 2GNZ, a New Father Son Basketball League Focused on Family, Competition, and Legacy
ON INSIDER
- Wellness Device Maker BeechBand Extends Reach Across Six Markets With Updated Wearable
- Renegade Insurance Receives 2026 Global Recognition Award For Digital-First Innovation In Agency Growth
- SumatoSoft Reveals Insights on IoT ROI: Median Payback Period Just 12 Months
- Fujifilm Launches “FUJINON Lens GF19-35mmT3.5 PZ OIS WR”
- Michael Kasbergen: The CTO Turning Light Tree Technology's Dutch Designs into Real Products from Shenzhen
- Moustafa Hamwi Expands Executive Presence Advisory for C- Suite Leaders Across International Markets
- Skins & Needles Enters New Era as Gibson House Becomes Home to One of the UK's Most Recognised Independent Tattoo Brands
- Bellavita Luxury Launches Gourmand Trend Series Discovery Set on TikTok Shop During Second Super Brand Day Campaign
- Puzzle Launches AI Suite, Betting on Accountants in the Age of AI
- Hair Expert Reveals How to Protect Hair Colour From Summer Sun Damage