FEATURED NEWS
- September 11, 2026Business
Inside MPMC's Manufacturing Capabilities: A One-Stop OEM Partner With an Expanded Battery Production Base in Yangzhong
MPMC has continued to build out its manufacturing footprint in Jiangsu Province, expanding its capability to independently supply generator sets, battery energy storage systems, and mobile BESS chargers from its own production lines rather than relying on third-party subassemblies — a combination that positions MPMC as a one-stop OEM and private-label partner for distributors, EPC contractors, and international project buyers. A Dedicated Battery Manufacturing Base MPMC Energy Tech Corporation, launched in Yangzhong, Jiangsu, represents a total investment of USD 27 million across a 19,000 square-metre workshop and a 3,300 square-metre research and development centre, housing one semi-automatic and one fully automatic battery pack assembly line alongside two fully automatic BESS and hybrid power station assembly lines. The facility sits within an industrial base with a significant share of China's domestic market in high- and low-voltage switchgear, busbars, and cable trays — supply chain proximity that supports consistent component sourcing for MPMC's containerised product lines. MPMC's Jiangsu manufacturing facility, where generator sets, battery storage systems, and mobile chargers are assembled under one roof. Integrated Manufacturing Across Five Product Lines Separately, MPMC's Haimen, Jiangsu facility operates a 22,000 square-metre smart factory, including 4,000 square metres of dedicated office space, with end-to-end CNC machining, fabrication, and testing capability, integrated with CRM, ERP, PLM, MES, and OA systems to support high-volume, high-consistency production. That Haimen facility carries CNAS certification and salt-spray testing standards comparable to established European production quality benchmarks. Together, the two facilities support MPMC's five core product lines: containerised diesel, gas, methanol, and biofuel generator sets; battery energy storage systems across the HBD-A, HBD-E, and HBD-R series; GSB/GB hybrid power stations; SPK mobile solar arrays; and BCH mobile BESS chargers, plus solar and hybrid lighting towers. Certification Coverage for Cross-Border OEM Programmes MPMC holds company-level certifications including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System, and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, alongside a CNAS-accredited testing centre, ARCADIS accreditation, recognition under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA), and a WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) code. Product-level certifications span CE for Europe, TUV, SGS, and UN38.3 for battery safety, SABER for Saudi Arabia, BV (France's Bureau Veritas), UL, and Russian Customs Union certification, as well as China TLC and Nigeria SONCAP certification for those specific markets — a certification base intended to support OEM and private-label partners delivering into multiple regulatory jurisdictions from a single manufacturing relationship. MPMC is one of a small number of Chinese manufacturers able to independently supply generator sets, battery storage, and mobile BESS chargers as well as hybrid energy solutions, a combination that reduces integration complexity for distributors and EPC contractors who would otherwise need to combine equipment from separate generation and storage suppliers. MPMC works with authorised distributors and agents globally, offering OEM customisation and private-label arrangements, and exclusive distribution territory arrangements in select markets subject to commercial agreement. Bringing battery pack manufacturing in-house alongside its existing generator set and mobile charger production gives MPMC's OEM and distribution partners a single, audited supply chain to stand behind, rather than a set of separately sourced components assembled after the fact. For a distributor or EPC contractor evaluating a Chinese manufacturing partner, that combination of in-house battery assembly, CNAS-accredited testing, and a certification base spanning multiple export markets is a more concrete basis for due diligence than a general claim of manufacturing capability. About MPMC Powertech Corp. MPMC Powertech Corp. is a Chinese manufacturer of containerised diesel, gas, methanol, and biofuel generator sets, battery energy storage systems, hybrid power stations, mobile solar arrays, mobile BESS chargers, and solar lighting towers. MPMC's products have been delivered to more than 120 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Americas, and Europe. For more information, contact MPMC at [email protected] .
- September 11, 2026Business
The Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road: Century of Tin Craft – How a Chinese Tinware Brand Witnesses the Cultural Exchange Along the Silk Road
In August 2026, the 2026 “The Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road 2026 ·The Path of Illumination” all-media reporting team arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to visit Royal Selangor, a national treasure-level craft brand founded by Chinese immigrants that has been passed down for 141 years. Four Generations of Heritage: From a Family Workshop to the World’s Leading Brand In 1885, Yong Koon, a tin and pewter craftsman from Guangdong, crossed the ocean to Kuala Lumpur and opened a small workshop to produce tinware. The Yu He (Jade Peace) mark embodies both the quality commitment and memories of home held by a craftsman who journeyed to Southeast Asia. In 1979, the company was granted the royal warrant by the Sultan of Selangor. In 1992, the company name was changed to Royal Selangor. Through four generations of heritage and a century of dedication, Royal Selangor has grown from a family workshop into the world’s largest producer of pewter. From the “Four Gentlemen” to Dunhuang, Silk Road motifs come to life on tin In Royal Selangor’s showroom, Chinese elements are everywhere. Executive Director Chen Tien Yue showed the press corps a piece titled “The Four Gentlemen,” in which the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum each represent the noble virtues of the Confucian gentleman. "You will see a lot of designs that resonate with Chinese elements," said Chen Tien Yue. At the end of 2025, Royal Selangor unveiled its "Silk Road Collection," with designs directly inspired by classic artistic images such as the Dunhuang flying apsaras. "We hope to tell these stories through our works, reminding people of the Silk Road and the centuries-long trade between East and West," Chen added. Motifs of fortune and longevity, auspicious beasts, and Dunhuang elements – where traditional Chinese craftsmanship meets local Malay flavour, a unique Southeast Asian aesthetic is born. What is even more noteworthy is the cultural transformation behind this fact: over a hundred years ago, the artisans' products were mainly ritual and ceremonial objects for the daily life of the Chinese community; today, the brand has begun to actively seek inspiration from the homeland of Chinese civilisation, creating works with Dunhuang and the Silk Road as their themes. From a "repository of nostalgia" to a "medium of cultural expression", Royal Selangor’s transformation serves as a contemporary footnote to the evolving cultural identity of the overseas Chinese community. As China's rise drives a global cultural renaissance, overseas Chinese enterprises have reaffirmed their role as cultural ambassadors. The beauty of objects transcends language; silent yet profound, it connects diverse civilizations. "China is changing rapidly, and Chinese people take great pride in their culture. We believe we can play a role in helping to further promote that culture," said Chen Tien Yue. 141 years ago, a craftsman from Chaoshan packed the skills of his homeland into his travel bag and struck the first hammer blow in a foreign land. He likely never imagined that this craft would span four generations, taking root and blossoming on a distant land – blending with Malaysian aesthetics, resonating with the murals of Dunhuang, and engaging in a dialogue with memories of the Silk Road. Objects may be silent, yet they allow a culture to endure and thrive, even after traversing mountains and seas. This is precisely what makes the Maritime Silk Road so captivating: it ensures that civilizations are not interrupted by the long journey, but rather enriched through their encounters. Royal Selangor’s century-old legacy of pewter craftsmanship bears witness to the struggles of the Chinese diaspora in Nanyang, while continuing to write a story of cultural fusion that transcends mountains and seas.
- September 11, 2026Land & Property
Septic Solutions LLC Prepares Washington Homeowners for New Statewide Septic Inspection Requirement Taking Effect February 1, 2027
Septic Solutions LLC Prepares Washington Homeowners for New Statewide Septic Inspection Requirement Taking Effect February 1, 2027 New Washington rules will establish a statewide property-transfer inspection requirement for homes with septic systems, while local health jurisdictions will continue to determine authorized inspectors and whether a recent qualifying inspection can satisfy the requirement. ARLINGTON, Wash., Sep. 11, 2026 — Septic Solutions LLC is preparing Western Washington homeowners for a major change to the state’s on-site sewage system rules that takes effect February 1, 2027. Property owners transferring a property served by an on-site sewage system will be required to obtain a septic inspection by a third-party inspector authorized by the local health officer, as required by WAC 246-272A-0270. The local health jurisdiction may remove the need for a separate property-transfer inspection when it already has evidence that the system is in compliance with applicable routine inspection requirements and was inspected by an authorized third-party inspector. The change creates a statewide property-transfer standard for septic systems while keeping local health departments responsible for implementation. Local jurisdictions may verify inspection results, require additional information or inspections, and establish a compliance schedule when a system failure is discovered. Washington has approximately 950,000 on-site sewage systems, according to the Washington State Department of Health. For homeowners who rely on septic rather than public sewer, the new rule makes system records and inspection history more important well before a property reaches the closing table. “Homeowners should not wait until they have an accepted offer and a closing deadline to start figuring out what septic system they have or when it was last inspected,” said Art Nikolin, Operations Manager at Septic Solutions LLC. “The best preparation is simple. Find the records and make sure the inspection history is current before the transaction becomes time-sensitive.” The state rule also requires property owners to provide buyers with all available septic maintenance and repair records at the time of property transfer, in addition to the applicable residential seller disclosure statement. Inspection results must be submitted to the local health jurisdiction on a form approved by the local health officer. A compliant inspection includes an evaluation of the septic tanks and accessible components, their structural condition and contents, the system and reserve area for signs that could affect performance, and available record drawings and previous reports. Proprietary treatment systems must also be evaluated according to the procedures associated with those products. The 2027 property-transfer requirement does not mean every septic system needs to be replaced when a home is sold, and the age of a system by itself does not establish failure. “An old septic system is not automatically a failed septic system, and a house where everything still drains normally does not automatically have a healthy septic system,” Nikolin said. “The inspection gives the buyer and seller documented information about what is actually on the property and what condition it is in. If there is a problem, that is when you deal with the actual finding instead of guessing.” A 2026 home-sale inspection in Arlington showed why age alone does not define septic failure. The 43-year-old system had significant root growth, but the inspection found no reason to treat the entire system as failed. Washington’s existing operation and maintenance rules also matter for sellers preparing for 2027. Systems consisting solely of a sewage tank and gravity subsurface soil absorption system generally must be inspected at least once every three years unless a local health officer requires more frequent inspections. Other on-site sewage systems generally require annual inspections unless the local jurisdiction establishes a different, more frequent schedule. That existing inspection history could become especially important during a sale because the new property-transfer rule allows a local health officer to remove the requirement for another inspection when the jurisdiction has sufficient evidence of compliance and a qualifying inspection by an authorized third party. “This is why keeping records matters,” Nikolin said. “If you have been maintaining the system properly, you want that history documented. If you have not looked at the system in years, finding that out months before a sale gives you much more room to solve a problem than finding it out days before closing.” Septic Solutions has published How Real Estate Septic Inspections Protect Buyers and Sellers , a homeowner guide explaining how septic conditions can remain hidden even when plumbing appears to work normally, what a professional inspection can uncover, and why understanding the system before ownership changes can reduce surprises during a real estate transaction. Homeowners planning to sell in 2027 are encouraged to check their local health jurisdiction’s requirements before scheduling work because counties may have their own approved inspectors, reporting forms, procedures, and additional requirements within the statewide framework. About Septic Solutions LLC Septic Solutions LLC provides septic pumping, inspections, installation, repair, maintenance, drainfield service, and 24/7 emergency response across King, Snohomish, Skagit, Island, and Whatcom counties. The company is based in Arlington and lists additional contact locations in Mill Creek, Redmond, and Mount Vernon. Septic Solutions advertises same-day septic pumping, free estimates, and extended workmanship and installation warranties. Homeowners can request an estimate through septicsolutionsllc.com . Media Contact: Art Nikolin, Operations Manager Septic Solutions LLC Arlington, Washington Phone: (425) 553-3422 Email: [email protected] Website: septicsolutionsllc.com
- September 11, 2026Blockchain
VeraData Announces 20-Year Milestone in AI-Powered Nonprofit Fundraising
VeraData Holdings today announced a 20-year milestone in applying machine learning to nonprofit donor acquisition and retention, a capability the company has operated since its founding in 2007. The announcement comes as major fundraising platforms rush to embed artificial intelligence into their products and sector research shows organizations integrating AI into fundraising are reporting 20 to 30 percent increases in donations through improved targeting and personalized outreach. Michael Peterman built VeraData on that exact premise in 2007. "We have been doing this for nearly two decades," said Peterman, Founder and CEO of VeraData Holdings. "The tools have different names now. The underlying discipline is the same one we built this company around from day one. Data is the asset. The model is the engine. And the nonprofit sector has always deserved access to both." What Peterman recognized at VeraData's founding was a structural inequity that most of the business world had never considered: the same AI and machine learning capabilities that Fortune 500 companies deploy to identify their best customers, predict purchase behavior, and optimize acquisition costs had no equivalent in the nonprofit sector. Organizations raising money for humanitarian aid, medical research, veteran services, and animal welfare were making donor acquisition decisions the way commercial marketers did in the 1980s, relying on basic demographic segmentation, historical response rates, and instinct. VeraData was built to close that gap entirely. What 20 Years of Sector-Specific Data Actually Means The distinction Peterman draws between VeraData and the wave of AI tools now entering the nonprofit market is not about technology. It is about data. General-purpose AI models trained on commercial consumer behavior do not translate cleanly to charitable giving. A person who buys premium consumer goods does not necessarily have a higher probability of making a major gift to a humanitarian organization. The behavioral signals that predict philanthropic giving are sector-specific, accumulated over years of campaign history, and require models trained on nonprofit data to interpret correctly. VeraData's proprietary database and predictive modeling infrastructure has been built on nearly two decades of nonprofit-exclusive campaign performance. The company's team of more than 25 PhD mathematicians does not work on general-purpose AI problems. They work exclusively on the mathematics of donor acquisition, lapse reactivation, and major donor pipeline development for mission-driven organizations. That depth of specialization is what produces the outcomes VeraData puts behind its performance-based pricing model: routinely doubling or tripling an organization's active donor pool while reducing the cost of acquiring donors by 20 to 30 percent. Those are not projections derived from sector averages. They are outcomes the company is willing to guarantee, charging clients only when results are delivered. "The organizations that have been using data science in fundraising for years already have a compounding advantage over the ones just starting now," Peterman says. "Every campaign makes the model smarter. Every donor interaction adds signal. The flywheel is real, and it takes time to build. The nonprofits that started late will spend years closing the gap." Three Problems AI Actually Solves in Fundraising Peterman is precise about where AI delivers genuine value in nonprofit fundraising, as opposed to where it generates activity without outcomes. Prospecting is the most obvious application and the one where VeraData's two-decade data advantage is most pronounced. Identifying which individuals outside an organization's current donor base have the highest statistical probability of making an initial gift, given their behavioral, demographic, and transactional characteristics, is a problem that machine learning solves with far greater precision than any manual segmentation approach. The difference in acquisition cost between a well-modeled prospecting campaign and a broadly targeted one compounds across the full donor file over time. Lapse reactivation is the most underutilized opportunity in the sector. Most organizations treat lapsed donors as a homogeneous group and apply the same reactivation messaging uniformly. Behavioral modeling reveals that lapsed donors have widely varying reactivation probability based on how long they have been lapsed, what their giving history looked like, and what external signals correlate with renewed giving intent. Targeting reactivation spend on the highest-probability segment rather than the broadest one dramatically changes the economics of the program. Major donor pipeline development is where AI creates the most long-term value and where most organizations remain almost entirely data-blind. Identifying mid-level donors who have the behavioral and demographic characteristics of eventual major donors, years before they make a transformational gift, allows organizations to invest in those relationships at the right time rather than discovering the opportunity after it has already matured. "The data exists to answer all three of these questions with precision," Peterman says. "The organizations that build the infrastructure to use it well right now are going to look very different in five years from the ones that don't." The Integration Advantage What separates VeraData's AI platform from the point solutions entering the market in 2026 is that the data science does not operate in isolation. Through The VeraData Group, which includes Faircom New York, Teal Media, and Avalon Consulting, the predictive modeling outputs feed directly into creative strategy, channel selection, production, and campaign execution under a single accountable structure. That integration matters because the most common failure mode in data-driven fundraising is not a bad model. It is a good model handed to a creative or production partner who has no visibility into what the data says and no incentive to act on it. When the entire chain from insight to outcome sits inside one enterprise, accountability is no longer diffuse and the gap between what the data recommends and what actually gets executed closes to near zero. VeraData stands alone in the nonprofit sector with both SOC2 and HIPAA compliance, ensuring unparalleled data safety and integrity for clients across every vertical the company serves, including healthcare-adjacent and social services organizations that handle sensitive constituent data as a matter of course. VeraData now serves more than 400 nonprofit organizations nationwide that collectively raise more than $1 billion in annual philanthropic giving. Peterman was named EY US Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Florida Award winner and advances to the national competition at the EY Strategic Growth Forum in November 2026, where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives, and investors converge to recognize the country's most consequential company builders. About VeraData VeraData is a data analytics company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, specializing in AI and machine learning-enabled donor acquisition and retention for the nonprofit sector. Founded in 2007 by Michael Peterman, VeraData serves more than 400 nonprofit organizations nationwide and supports clients that collectively raise more than $1 billion in annual philanthropic giving. VeraData operates as The Donor Science Company. For more information, visit veradata.com. About Michael Peterman Michael Peterman is the Founder and CEO of VeraData and the originator of the Donor Science framework. He is the EY US Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Florida Award winner and will compete at the national EY Entrepreneur of the Year program in November 2026. Peterman is based in Sarasota, Florida.
- September 11, 2026Food & Beverage
Touch Coffee Revolutionizes Coffee Service with Fully Automated Smart Bars
The Silent Coffee Shop Revolution: A New Era for Coffee Lovers In an age of technological innovation, the coffee industry is undergoing a transformation. Gone are the days of bustling coffee shops requiring long lines, costly overheads, and multiple employees. Enter Touch Coffee, a pioneering brand that’s changing the way we enjoy coffee. By introducing fully automated Smart Bars, Touch Coffee is bringing premium, freshly brewed coffee to the masses, with no staff required and minimal operational complexity. This shift from traditional coffee shops to automated, self-service systems is not just about convenience; it's about offering café-quality drinks in locations where a traditional coffee shop can’t operate. With Touch Coffee, premium beverages are now available in gyms, hospitals and clinics, malls, offices, and schools, all thanks to the power of automation. Touch Coffee Receives Prestigious Recognition: Best Coffee Vending Technology in North America of 2025 Touch Coffee's revolutionary Smart Bars have earned the company the Best Coffee Vending Technology in North America of 2025 award from Best of Best Reviews. This prestigious recognition highlights the company’s exceptional contribution to the coffee industry with its automated systems that deliver premium coffee with minimal operational complexity. The award underscores Touch Coffee's commitment to redefining coffee service by combining innovation, convenience, and quality. How Touch Coffee Works: Innovation at Its Finest Touch Coffee’s Smart Bars are a game-changer in the coffee industry. They grind fresh coffee beans and brew premium drinks at the push of a button. The best part? The system requires nothing more than a standard electrical outlet, eliminating the need for plumbing or complicated installation. The Smart Bar is designed to operate in high-traffic environments where traditional coffee shops might struggle to thrive. Whether in a hospital corridor or a busy convenience store, Touch Coffee ensures that customers get the coffee they crave, fast, fresh, and consistently good. An Entrepreneurial Opportunity: A Low-Cost, Scalable Business Model Touch Coffee offers more than just a technological marvel; it provides entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity to start a business with a low upfront cost. Business owners can launch a fully automated coffee station, taking advantage of Touch Coffee’s turnkey model. The Smart Bar comes with a management app that allows operators to remotely monitor sales, stock levels, drink selections, and technical status, ensuring smooth operations with minimal effort. This low-overhead, high-return business model makes Touch Coffee an attractive option for those looking to enter the coffee service industry. The Smart Bar’s scalable nature allows entrepreneurs to expand their operations by adding more units, creating additional revenue opportunities. The Convenience Factor: Coffee Without the Hassle What sets Touch Coffee apart is not just its technology, but the convenience it offers to both operators and customers. With no employees to manage, no complicated setups, and minimal maintenance required, Touch Coffee offers a truly hands-off experience. Operators only need to restock beans and clean the milk line, a process that takes just 20 to 30 minutes every day or two. This ease of operation is coupled with the ability to manage everything remotely. The app-based control allows operators to track everything from sales to technical performance, making it easier than ever to run a coffee business without being tied to a physical location or having to deal with staffing issues. The Future of Coffee Service: Where Automation Meets Quality Touch Coffee is not just about making coffee more accessible; it’s about making it better. The brand’s focus on using high-quality, fresh-ground coffee ensures that customers receive the same premium experience they would get in a traditional café. The automation doesn’t compromise quality; instead, it ensures that every drink is brewed to perfection, every time. With the rise of unattended retail and automated systems, Touch Coffee is at the forefront of a new wave in the coffee industry. As the brand continues to expand across North America, it is reshaping the coffee service model and creating a blueprint for the future of coffee. The Growth of Touch Coffee Touch Coffee is rapidly growing across North America, expanding its footprint in various industries, from gyms and airports to hospitals and malls. The brand’s success can be attributed to its unique value proposition, providing premium coffee in locations where it was previously unimaginable. This growth is expected to continue as more businesses recognize the benefits of having a Smart Bar in high-traffic areas. As the automated coffee movement gains momentum, Touch Coffee is poised to lead the charge in redefining what coffee service looks like. With its focus on quality, convenience, and profitability, the future of coffee service has never looked more attractive. About Touch Coffee Touch Coffee is a North American company that specializes in providing automated, self-service coffee bars for businesses and entrepreneurs. The brand’s innovative Smart Bars deliver café-quality beverages anywhere, requiring only a standard electrical outlet to operate. Touch Coffee’s turnkey model allows operators to launch fully automated coffee stations with minimal upfront investment and maintenance, making it a convenient and profitable option for a wide range of locations. For more information, visit Touch Coffee through their website and Instagram , or contact them directly via email at [email protected] .
- September 11, 2026Land & Property
BKREA Brings to Market 143-155 East 60th Street, a Rare Six-Lot Assemblage in the Heart of Manhattan's Lenox Hill
BKREA today announced the exclusive listing of 143-155 East 60th Street , a fully vacant and already-demolished, assembled development site occupying nearly the entire mid-block on East 60th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues in the Lenox Hill section of the Upper East Side, making it one of the largest available development sites on the Upper East Side. The offering represents one of the largest contiguous, ready-to-build parcels to reach the Manhattan market in this prime corridor in years. This listing is being led by BKREA Chairman & CEO Bob Knakal , together with Managing Directors Genessy Jaramillo and Jas Saini, Senior Associate Nick Tuleu, and Transactional Associate Christian Sweeney. Comprising six contiguous tax lots (Block 1395, Lots 120, 21, 23, 24, 25 and 26), the site spans approximately 200 feet of frontage and 100 feet of depth, totaling roughly 19,684 square feet of lot area. All existing structures have been demolished, delivering the site fully vacant and immediately buildable. The property is zoned C5-2 (R10), permitting an as-of-right mix of residential, office, retail, community facility and hotel uses, and sits outside the Upper East Side Historic District, streamlining the path to approvals. Ownership has substantially enhanced the site's development potential ahead of sale. Through an existing Zoning Lot and Development Agreement with the adjacent property at 165 East 60th Street (Lot 29), ownership has secured 34,666 square feet of excess development rights. Ownership has also purchased 51,419 square feet of Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) certificates allocated directly to the site — eliminating the need for a future developer to build affordable units on-site and clearing the way for a fully market-rate project from day one. Together, these components bring the site's maximum buildable floor area to approximately 282,925 zoning square feet at a 12.0 FAR, with no height restrictions and unlimited outdoor space that does not count against FAR. With no height restrictions and the site's proximity to Central Park, a future tower here is positioned to capture breathtaking, unbeatable views unmatched elsewhere in the corridor. A massing study prepared by Michael Parley of Development Consulting Services, Inc. envisions a 48-story, approximately 586-foot residential tower with roughly 332,233 gross square feet, including ground-floor retail and lobby, a full amenity floor, and residential floors above. The design preserves protected sightlines to Central Park, with unobstructed, breathtaking views. “This is the kind of site that simply doesn’t come to market in this neighborhood - a full, vacant, mid-block assemblage with 200 feet of frontage, protected Central Park views, and every major entitlement hurdle already cleared by ownership,” said Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO of BKREA. “Between the acquired air rights, the UAP certificates already in place, and the site’s position just steps from Central Park and the Plaza District, this is a rare opportunity to deliver a true trophy condominium in one of Manhattan’s most established luxury corridors.” Lenox Hill is among the Upper East Side's most established luxury residential enclaves, prized for its tree-lined streets, historic brownstones and proximity to Central Park. The site sits one block from eight subway lines and the Roosevelt Island Tram at the Lexington Avenue–59th Street and Lexington Avenue–63rd Street stations, with the Plaza District, Park Avenue and Central Park all within a five-minute walk. The surrounding neighborhood is anchored by some of the city's most recognized cultural, medical, and retail institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Frick Collection, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Madison Avenue luxury retail corridor. 143-155 East 60th Street is being offered for sale as a development site, with pricing guidance available upon request. The offering memorandum is available through BKREA's exclusive listing team.
- September 11, 2026Lifestyle
ReloomVR Redefines Wedding Videography: Couples Can Now Step Back Into Their Wedding Day
A wedding can take months or years to plan and only hours to experience. Couples spend months choosing venues, flowers, music, lighting, menus and details, yet the day itself can pass quickly as they move between ceremonies, photographs, conversations and celebrations. ReloomVR, a New York immersive capture studio, preserves weddings in 8K 360 degree virtual reality and delivers the finished experience on a ready to play headset. The studio is built around a simple question: what if a wedding could be revisited as a place rather than watched as a video? Traditional wedding photography and cinematography remain important parts of how celebrations are documented. ReloomVR is designed to work alongside those services rather than replace them, capturing the whole room so couples can later choose where to look and what moments to revisit. “You can't stop time. But you can keep it. VR's real power was never the footage. It was the feeling, and everything we build starts from that,” said Zvi Goffer, Founder of ReloomVR. From Storytelling Research to Immersive Memory ReloomVR was founded by brothers Zvi and Manu, whose interest in storytelling led them to immersive technology and how audiences respond to recorded experiences. Their early work with Campus VR shaped the company’s perspective that memorable footage is not just about the image, but the feeling of being present within an environment. That insight became foundational to ReloomVR. The company’s production process preserves the room, people, movement and sound surrounding important events. Rather than limiting viewers to a predetermined frame, 360-degree capture lets them choose where to look. “Traditional videography decides what fits inside a flat, restricted frame. We capture the entire environment, so when you replay your wedding in the headset, you control where to look. It preserves not just what happened, but how it felt,” said Manu, Co-Founder of ReloomVR. ReloomVR combines VR cinematography, editing and engineering to preserve both the event and its atmosphere. What It Means to Step Back Inside The finished experience gives couples a different relationship with their wedding footage. Wearing the headset, viewers can return to the ceremony, look toward the person speaking, or turn toward family and friends reacting nearby. During the reception, they can look across the dance floor, toward guests at a table, or toward moments outside the photographer’s or cinematographer’s selected frame. The experience is edited and chaptered for pacing and accessibility, while the 360-degree environment remains open to explore. This distinction is central to ReloomVR's approach. Instead of asking viewers to follow a predetermined sequence of shots, the technology allows them to determine their own point of view within the captured environment. A ReloomVR client identified the difference simply: “It is like a video on steroids. You feel like you were actually there.” Designed to Work Alongside Existing Wedding Teams ReloomVR is an additional layer of wedding documentation, not a replacement for professional photography or traditional cinematography. The company works alongside existing photo and film teams, and its on site team never directs couples or guests. Most guests never realize the celebration is being captured in 360 degrees. Its proprietary mobile capture assistant, Aurabot, is designed to move through a celebration while recording immersive footage from perspectives that may not be available to a stationary camera. ReloomVR has captured celebrations at venues including The Plaza New York, The Pierre New York, Gotham Hall, The Rockleigh, The Breakers Palm Beach, The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, Waldorf Astoria and The Edition. ReloomVR also works alongside event professionals including Mindy Weiss Party Consultants and Norma Cohen Productions. Based in New York, the studio has served clients in prominent cities including New York City, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and is available for weddings anywhere in the United States and Canada, including San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary. “As an event designer and planner with over 35 years of experience, I know the value of capturing the emotion, detail and storytelling that make each celebration unique. Working with Reloom VR has completely transformed how I preserve and share my clients' most cherished experiences,” said Norma Cohen of Norma Cohen Productions in New York. An Experience Designed for Families Across Distance and Generations The immersive format also provides a way for people who could not attend an event to experience it afterward. A grandparent may be unable to travel. A sibling may be living in another country. A friend may have been unable to attend because of circumstances beyond their control. ReloomVR includes link delivery of the full film with its packages, while additional preloaded headsets can be provided for family members in different locations. The headsets arrive ready to play, with no setup, and are easy to use for all ages. “This was such an incredible experience to share with those that couldn't make it to the actual event. It requires no setup and is so easy to use for all ages. It also gives the bride and groom a chance to not only relive the night, but see and appreciate new moments that sometimes get missed,” said Irene Boujo of Team Mindy Weiss in Los Angeles. And one day, the couple's own children can attend the wedding their parents were married at, sit where their grandparents sat and hear the toasts as they were given. The company sees this ability to share an immersive experience as part of the long term value of preserving an event. The recording can remain available for the couple and their family to revisit rather than existing only as a single viewing after the wedding. ReloomVR Opens 2026 and 2027 Wedding Availability ReloomVR is currently booking weddings and milestone celebrations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons across the United States and Canada. The process begins with a free 20-minute consultation. One to two weeks before the event, the team works with the couple and planner to review the timeline and identify key moments. On event day, VR videographers and Aurabot capture the celebration in 8K 360 degrees. About two weeks later, couples receive a highlight cut and can provide feedback, with revisions available during editing. The final chaptered VR experience is delivered approximately six to eight weeks after the event on a preloaded headset. Packages currently begin at $7,500 for The Core and extend to $20,000 for The Legacy. The Core includes seven hours of coverage, two VR videographers and one preloaded headset. The Keepsake includes nine hours of coverage, two VR videographers and one headset, while The Legacy provides full event coverage, three VR videographers and five preloaded headsets. About ReloomVR ReloomVR is a New York immersive capture studio focused on preserving weddings, milestone events, live music, hospitality spaces and sporting events through 8K 360 degree virtual reality. Founded by brothers Zvi and Manu, the company combines VR cinematography, editing and engineering to create immersive experiences designed to preserve the environment and atmosphere surrounding significant moments. ReloomVR serves clients across the United States and Canada. More information is available through the ReloomVR and Wedding VR page . The company can also be found on Instagram , YouTube and Facebook . General inquiries can be directed to [email protected].
- September 11, 2026Business
Stacks (STX) Launches Bitcoin Staking with 21shares, HashKey Cloud, UTXO Management, and Others
The Stacks ecosystem today announced that Bitcoin Staking is live, with 21shares, HashKey Cloud, UTXO Management (Nakamoto Inc. subsidiary), and Sypher Capital participating in the Genesis Bond, the first institutional bonding period for Bitcoin Staking on Stacks. A total of ~250 BTC was bonded at launch, with the first weekly BTC rewards expected to be distributed on September 17. The initial bond is intentionally limited in size, allowing participating institutions to use Bitcoin Staking in a live environment before capacity expands in future bonding periods. The launch introduces a new way for institutions to earn BTC-denominated rewards. Institutions can now keep their Bitcoin under their own keys on Bitcoin L1, using STX as the staking capacity asset that unlocks a target 3% APY in BTC-denominated yield. The launch participants span the institutional Bitcoin market. UTXO Management, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Nakamoto Inc., is Bitcoin-native asset manager; 21shares is one of the world's leading issuers of crypto exchange-traded products; HashKey Cloud (HKEX: 3887) operates regulated digital asset infrastructure and Asia's largest institutional staking provider by assets under management; and Sypher Capital allocates institutional capital across the digital asset ecosystem. Each entered through its own diligence, custody, and risk process, an early signal that Bitcoin Staking fits the standards institutional committees apply to new yield sources. UTXO Management, HashKey, and 21shares maintain custody of their BTC on Bitcoin L1 throughout the process. Sypher Capital participates through pooled liquid staking on the Stacks network via StackingDAO, a protocol that manages the bonding process by pairing BTC with STX on a participant’s behalf. Bitcoin Staking rewards come from Stacks miners, who bid BTC through Proof of Transfer to mine Stacks blocks. Proof of Transfer has operated since January 2021 and has distributed more than 4,200 BTC, valued at more than $300 million, to network participants. Genesis Bond participants earn rewards from that established BTC flow. Bonded BTC is locked on Bitcoin L1 using Bitcoin script. There is no mechanism by which participants can lose their BTC principal. For participants using a liquid-staking provider, the provider manages the day-to-day bonding process while the underlying bond retains the same no-slashing structure. Enterprise infrastructure providers are also building support for the launch. Fireblocks, the enterprise platform securing more than $5 trillion in digital asset transfers annually, is expanding its integration with Stacks to give institutional clients a path into Bitcoin Staking using the custody, compliance, and operational tooling they already rely on. Muneeb Ali, Founder, Stacks “The Genesis Bond moves Bitcoin Staking into live institutional participation,” said Muneeb Ali, Founder, Stacks. “These initial participants demonstrate how institutions can put Bitcoin to work while maintaining the custody and risk standards their organizations require.” Alistair Byas-Perry, Head of Capital Markets & Trading, 21shares "Innovation and early adoption are a core part of 21shares’ DNA. As the Bitcoin ecosystem develops, institutional investors are increasingly looking for ways to turn BTC into a productive asset,” said Alistair Byas-Perry, Head of and Capital Markets & Trading at 21shares. “Participating in the Stacks Genesis Bond allows us to add another mechanism to generate native Bitcoin yield. This significantly enhances our customised solutions capabilities, enabling us to offer sophisticated BTC treasury management strategies for institutional allocators looking for productive capital.” Dr. Xiao Feng, Chairman and CEO, HashKey Group “We’re excited to join the Stacks signer network and participate in Bitcoin Staking, supporting the infrastructure that brings greater utility and institutional participation to Bitcoin.” Tyler Evans, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of UTXO Management and Chief Investment Officer of Nakamoto Inc. “Bitcoin Staking on Stacks provides something that hasn’t existed before: a way to earn BTC-denominated yield while Bitcoin never leaves the base layer.” Steven Han, Managing Partner, Sypher Capital “Bitcoin Staking on Stacks eliminates the need to move BTC off the base layer. Our position earns BTC-denominated rewards while remaining liquid and composable across Bitcoin-native DeFi.” Omer Amsel, Head of Web3 at Fireblocks “Bitcoin DeFi represents an untapped opportunity in digital assets, but the infrastructure required to make it accessible to institutions has only recently matured,” said Omer Amsel, Head of Web3 at Fireblocks. “Through our expanding integration with Stacks, we’re working to give Fireblocks clients a path to Bitcoin-denominated rewards using the custody, compliance, and operational standards their businesses require.” Capacity for each bonding period is limited. Institutions interested in participating should begin registration, diligence, and custody preparation in advance. Future bonding periods are expected to open on a monthly basis through the remainder of 2026, subject to final confirmation, with capacity expected to increase over time. The Genesis Bond represents the first pillar of the Stacks roadmap. The PoX-5 hardfork activated on July 30, 2026, at Bitcoin block 960,230, establishing the protocol foundation for Bitcoin Staking. The launch of the Genesis Bond marks the next step in that roadmap. Future phases focus on scaling the infrastructure supporting the network and expanding the Bitcoin-native financial applications built on Stacks. The BTC bonded today establishes an initial liquidity base that can support the continued development of Bitcoin-native finance. Institutions interested in Bonding Period 2 can register at stacks.co/institutional-bitcoin-staking . Individual BTC and STX holders can also participate in Bitcoin Staking through supported staking pools, including StackingDAO. Additional information is available at stacks.co/bitcoin-staking . About Stacks Stacks is the leading Bitcoin L2, enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications to use Bitcoin as a secure base layer. Stacks extends Bitcoin’s functionality without modifying Bitcoin itself, unlocking BTC for decentralized finance and other onchain applications. Learn more at stacks.co . About 21shares 21shares is one of the world’s leading issuers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products, providing investors with innovative, simple and cost-efficient access to digital assets through traditional financial markets. Learn more at 21shares.com . About HashKey HashKey Group (HKEX: 3887) provides trustworthy digital asset services to 1 billion global users, operating across trading, asset management, custody, infrastructure, and Web3 technologies. HashKey Cloud, the Group's institutional staking and yield infrastructure arm, has provided node validation services since 2018 across more than 40 networks and is the No. 1 staking provider in Asia by AUM. Visit hashkey.com and hashkey.cloud Learn more at hashkey.com and hashkey.cloud . About UTXO Management UTXO Management is a Bitcoin-focused asset management firm led by co-founder and Chief Investment Officer Tyler Evans. In February 2026, UTXO Management was acquired by Bitcoin-focused holding company Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA), led by CEO David Bailey, a co-founder of UTXO Management. Learn more at utxo.management . About Sypher Capital Founded in 2019, Sypher Capital is an institutional digital asset manager serving accredited investors, family offices, and registered investment advisors. The firm manages Sypher Capital Partners, the Sypher Bitcoin Yield Fund, and BorrowOnBitcoin, with strategies spanning public and private blockchain investments, Bitcoin yield, and Bitcoin-backed lending. Sypher focuses on disciplined risk management, institutional infrastructure, and unlocking the opportunities created by blockchain technology. Learn more at syphercapital.com and borrowonbitcoin.com . About Fireblocks Fireblocks is the world's most trusted digital asset infrastructure company, empowering organizations of all sizes to build, manage and grow their business on the blockchain. With the industry's most scalable and secure platform, Fireblocks streamlines stablecoin payments, settlement, custody, tokenization and trading operations across the largest ecosystem of banks, payment providers, stablecoin issuers, exchanges and custodians. Thousands of organizations, including Worldpay, BNY Mellon, Galaxy and Revolut, trust Fireblocks to secure trillions in digital transactions across more than 150 blockchains. Learn more at fireblocks.com. Learn more at fireblocks.com . Media Contact: Shannon Voight, PR & Events, [email protected]
- September 11, 2026Others
At Gillette Stadium, UGREEN Unveils HomeAgent and a More Unified Smart Home
The local-first ecosystem is designed to bring security, storage and control of compatible smart-home devices together, while Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez joins UGREEN as Global Brand Ambassador UGREEN brought its Smart Living Launch Event to Gillette Stadium on Sept. 1, pairing an onstage presentation with home-style product displays inside the home of the New England Patriots. The company introduced HomeAgent , unveiled three new MagFlow chargers and named Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez its Global Brand Ambassador. The setting made the event feel less like a conventional product briefing and more like a look at how technology fits into daily life. Gonzalez joined UGREEN as the company laid out a simple goal for HomeAgent: make a growing collection of cameras, smart devices, photos and files easier for families to manage without sending every task through a separate app or cloud service. One Home Should Not Require a Stack of Apps For many families, a smart home can still mean one app for cameras, another for lights and switches, a separate cloud subscription for recordings and yet another place for family photos. HomeAgent is UGREEN's effort to bring those pieces together around a locally managed hub. UGREEN HomeAgent combines local storage, on-device AI, smart-home security and control of supported devices. Files, photos, surveillance footage and device activity can be stored on HomeAgent without a monthly storage fee, helping families keep core household data on hardware they control. Through Uliya, UGREEN's voice assistant, users can give direct commands to supported devices, ask for live camera status or event history, and create voice notifications for events such as a package arriving or a baby crying. With Matter support, users can also coordinate multiple compatible devices across the home with a single voice request. Supported storage, security, file-management and smart-home functions can continue to work over the local network after setup, even if the internet connection drops. Account authentication, remote access, mobile push notifications, software updates and optional cloud-enabled services may still need connectivity. HomeAgent also makes recorded camera footage easier to use. With supported cameras, local AI can recognize people, vehicles, pets and packages, summarize detected events and find clips through keyword searches. Instead of scrolling through a long timeline, a user could search for a person in a blue jacket or quickly locate a package-delivery clip. HomeAgent also captures meaningful moments from live footage, identifies highlights in a user's photo library, automatically creates highlight videos and displays them on UGREEN Gallery LCD Smart Frames. Matter support brings compatible smart-home devices together for unified local control. Families can create custom automation scenes, while HomeAgent connects UGREEN's own AIoT products and compatible third-party devices in one ecosystem. Cameras, a Speaker and a Frame for Everyday Moments The HomeAgent ecosystem starts with UGREEN HomeAgent HA100 for everyday local storage, smart security and essential smart-home control. UGREEN HomeAgent HA100 Pro adds faster connectivity and more computing power for supported advanced functions. UGREEN MasterAgent MA100, powered by NVIDIA® Jetson Thor™ T5000, is designed for more demanding local AI tasks. Three SynCare cameras cover different parts of the home. UGREEN SynCare Indoor Cam ID500 Pro is built for indoor monitoring. UGREEN SynCare PoE Cam OD600 Pro provides wired outdoor coverage, while UGREEN SynCare Battery Cam OD800 Pro uses a detachable battery and solar power for more flexible placement. When paired with HomeAgent, supported footage can be processed and stored locally. UGREEN Smart Speaker for Uliya extends voice interaction beyond the room where HomeAgent sits, allowing families to play music and use supported voice controls around the home. UGREEN Gallery LCD Smart Frames display family photos and highlight videos surfaced through HomeAgent. Together, the products show the consumer idea behind HomeAgent. A camera can help with security without leaving every recording in the cloud, a speaker can make supported controls easier to reach, and a frame can bring family photos out of storage and into the room. UGREEN's aim is to make those experiences feel like parts of one home rather than separate technology projects. Christian Gonzalez Brings the Patriots Connection to the Event Gonzalez's appointment as Global Brand Ambassador extends UGREEN's relationship with the New England Patriots after the company became the team's Official Tech Accessory Partner in April. His role will focus on how UGREEN technology can help families protect their homes, simplify daily routines and preserve meaningful moments. “Just like UGREEN, I believe great technology should help people stay prepared, reach their potential, and bring their A-game in the moments that matter most,” Gonzalez said. UGREEN will host product experience booths at four Patriots home games at Gillette Stadium during the football season, where fans can try products and enter giveaways. On Dec. 10, the company will host a citywide watch party across multiple Boston-area venues with product demonstrations and on-site purchase opportunities. MagFlow Covers Charging at Home and on the Go The event's second product family focuses on three familiar charging situations. UGREEN MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W combines Qi2 25W charging with CryoPulse™ liquid-cooling technology and a display for power, battery and cooling status. UGREEN MagFlow Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand 25W charges an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods together, with active cooling and an ultra-quiet 15dB fan. UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 25W charges two devices and folds so the charger itself can double as a magnetic phone stand for travel, bedside or desktop use. Price and Availability Pre-orders for the UGREEN HomeAgent HA100, HA100 Pro and UGREEN MasterAgent MA100 will open on Sept. 3, 2026, through the UGREEN AIoT Official Store . The official Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign will launch on Oct. 27, 2026. Other announced AIoT accessories will be introduced as part of the Kickstarter campaign beginning on Oct. 27. During the pre-order period, customers can place a deposit starting from $50 on any of the three hubs to secure the Super Early Bird Price at 50% off. All three MagFlow products are now available. UGREEN MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W is priced at $149.99 through the UGREEN official store and Amazon; UGREEN MagFlow Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand 25W is priced at $159.99 through the UGREEN official store and Amazon; and UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 25W is priced at $59.99 through the UGREEN official store and Amazon.
- September 10, 2026Select
Userlytics Accelerates UX Research with Launch of Study Pulse and Suite of AI-Driven Analysis Tools
Userlytics, a global leader in remote UX research and usability testing , has announced the rollout of Study Pulse, an innovative live workspace designed to give research teams complete, real-time visibility across every stage of a study. Anchoring an extensive series of platform upgrades released throughout 2026, Study Pulse launches alongside a suite of AI-powered capabilities —including on-demand AI Chart Summaries, multilingual AI Transcript Translations, and instant Quant Reporting—delivering faster actionable insights while keeping human validation firmly at the core. As development cycles accelerate with the rise of AI-built applications, product teams face increasing pressure to conduct user testing at equivalent speeds. Userlytics’ latest enhancements ensure teams can rapidly validate user interfaces, including AI-agent interactions, without sacrificing traceability or analytical rigor. “AI empowers organizations to design, build, and release in a fraction of the time it used to require,” said Alejandro Rivas-Micoud, CEO of Userlytics. “That makes user experience and user testing essential to ensure every launched application and UI provides a great experience for humans and an effective interaction with AI agents. Study Pulse provides our clients with seamless visibility and control over their UX research studies. Combined with our new AI capabilities, teams reach insights faster without giving up control over the underlying data. This is what an AI-augmented user research platform should feel like: faster and seamless, with the researcher, product manager, designer, or marketer always at the helm.” Study Pulse: A Unified Real-Time Workspace Study Pulse eliminates the friction of navigating fragmented dashboards by consolidating study setup, recruitment, and analysis into a single interface. The new workspace features: Live Status Tracking: Displays real-time recruitment and progress milestones, instantly unlocking analysis capabilities the moment sufficient participant data is gathered. Automated Chronological Timeline: Automatically logs study events—such as session completions and data processing updates—and suggests the optimal next operational step after every milestone. Zero Setup Required: Available by default across moderated, unmoderated, and quantitative studies. “UX researchers and designers can lose time just keeping track of where a study stands, with one tab for recruitment, another for sessions, and another for results,” said Mauri Torra, Vice President of Product at Userlytics. “Study Pulse centralizes all of these stages in one place and nudges teams to stay on top of every session, insight, and analysis action. We believe this approach will help teams move the needle forward effortlessly.” Advanced AI Capabilities Expanding the Platform Alongside Study Pulse, Userlytics has introduced several purpose-built tools designed to streamline data interpretation: AI Chart Summaries: Located within the Metrics section, this tool instantly generates context-aware narratives for metrics such as System Usability Scale (SUS), Net Promoter Score (NPS), and open-ended text fields. Researchers can refresh findings on demand as filters change and directly export them into presentations. AI Transcript Translations: Embedded directly into the video player, this feature delivers synchronous, editable translations in 15 out-of-the-box languages—including Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Japanese, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese—with additional languages available upon request. Quant Reporting: Building on AI Chart Summaries, this tool compiles an entire completed study into an executive-ready report with a single click. Asynchronous processing allows researchers to continue their workflow while charts and narrative insights compile in the background, ready for download and distribution. These innovations complement earlier 2026 platform additions, such as BYOU Panel Management and the Participant Waiting List , reinforcing Userlytics' commitment to delivering agile, human-in-the-loop UX research for modern digital teams. About Userlytics Userlytics is a global UX research and user testing platform that enables organizations to optimize websites, applications, prototypes, and digital experiences through remote testing and actionable human interaction insights. Combining AI-driven analytics, global participant recruitment, and expert UX consulting services, Userlytics empowers product and design teams to understand human behavior when interacting with modern and AI-based interfaces to design with confidence. For more information, visit www.userlytics.com .
- September 10, 2026Select
OpenDrives Named to the 2026 CRN Storage 100 Software-Defined Storage List
OpenDrives Recognized in the "50 Coolest Software-Defined Storage Vendors" for Media-Centric Infrastructure Solutions, Data Mobility, and New Storage Economics. OpenDrives, Inc., a developer of data storage management software for video and rich media environments, today announced its inclusion in the 2026 CRN® Storage 100 list . Selected by the CRN editorial team at The Channel Company, OpenDrives was highlighted among the 50 Coolest Software-Defined Storage Vendors for its developments in data mobility, unlocked hardware configurations, storage management observability, and alternative data storage monetization models. The annual CRN Storage 100 highlights technology vendors operating within the IT channel. Honorees are recognized for engineering storage solutions that enable channel partners, systems integrators, and enterprise customers to update their data operations. The list serves as a reference for decision-makers seeking capabilities across software-defined infrastructure, multi-cloud management, and operational resilience. OpenDrives was recognized for software that addresses hybrid data management and cloud expenditure for media and entertainment organizations. The company provides vendor-agnostic data storage solutions across remote, on-premises, and hybrid cloud environments using software-defined architectures and fixed pricing structures. How Media-Centric Enterprises Manage Unstructured Data and Workflows The recognition from CRN acknowledges OpenDrives’ work in developing modernized media-centric data storage solutions: Atlas Data Storage & Management Platform: OpenDrives’ core platform that offers a growing list of certified hardware options, adaptable software feature bundles, and an unlimited capacity licensing model. Astraeus Data Services Platform: A cloud-native solution designed to unify and orchestrate application and workflow management across distributed data storage systems. OpenDrives Edge: A hybrid cloud-edge tool that provides remote production teams with local LAN-level transfer speeds and alternative cloud data access. Corporate Creative Solution: A dedicated solution designed for corporate video departments, agency teams, and enterprise IT managers. "Receiving a spot on the CRN Storage 100 validates our drive to remove friction from complex video production workflows so customers can focus on their business outcomes," stated Trevor Morgan, CEO of OpenDrives. "Media organizations today are operating across highly decentralized teams while managing exploding data volumes and navigating rapid, yet uncertain shifts in AI and other emerging technologies. Our priority remains giving customers full control over their data—wherever they are created or accessed—so they can utilize and monetize their media content." Expanding Strategic Flexibility and Upcoming Software Enhancements OpenDrives continues to broaden its software portfolio around core pillars such as hardware compatibility and cost-predictable pricing structures. The company offers unlimited capacity licensing, allowing enterprises to scale their storage volume under a fixed per-controller software fee. Customers can also select composable software feature bundles based on their workflow requirements and budget. Building on this momentum, OpenDrives released Atlas software version 2.11 in August 2026, introducing: Direct UI-based SMB audit management Expanded observability and monitoring via native SMB and NFS node exporters Native Microsoft Azure Blob mount support Advanced disk prefailure monitoring (v2) and improved disk lifecycle management Access to OpenDrives Edge through the integrated Containers Marketplace About OpenDrives Based in Los Angeles, California, OpenDrives is a software-defined provider of video and rich media storage management workflow solutions. OpenDrives helps organizations manage, move, and optimize video datasets across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. To learn more about OpenDrives, visit www.opendrives.com .
- September 10, 2026Apps & Software
From AI Models to the Physical World: Highlights from JDDiscovery 2026
AI is often discussed through models, benchmarks and digital productivity. At JDDiscovery 2026 in Beijing, JD.com focused on what AI can accomplish in the physical world from warehouses and delivery routes to retail, healthcare, smart homes, industrial supply chains and beyond. Under the theme “JoyAI: Leaping into the Physical World,” JD.com outlined its goal to build the World’s Largest Operational Platform for the Physical World . As Cao Peng, Chairman of JD.com’s Technology Committee and President of JD Cloud, noted, JD.com’s AI was not born only in research papers. It has been refined “order by order” across production lines, warehouses, delivery stations and the full supply chain process. Here are three highlights from JDDiscovery 2026 that show how JD.com is putting AI to work. World Models Move AI Closer to the Physical World An optimal route for hundreds of millions of parcels, calculated in seconds. A mechanical component designed through a simple conversation and turned into a 3D-printed prototype. A medical imaging agent that can proactively examine a scan. These examples show what becomes possible when AI moves beyond the screen and into real-world operations. Behind them is JD.com’s JoyAI foundation model portfolio, which spans speech, image, video, real-time interaction, world models and embodied AI. At JDDiscovery, the company added its new world model, JoyAI-Echo WM, an interactive audiovisual model that combines native audio-video generation with user control. It takes AI-generated content beyond something users simply watch, transforming it into virtual environments they can enter, interact with and explore. JD.com also showcased industry-specific models and AI agent applications. JINGDONG Logistics’ Meta Brain 3.0 coordinates decision-making across warehousing, transport and delivery, reducing the time needed to calculate optimal routes for hundreds of millions of parcels from minutes to seconds. JoyIndustrial 2.0, meanwhile, allows engineers to describe a mechanical design in everyday language and turn it into a physical prototype through 3D printing. In healthcare, JoyAI-Med 3.0 brings medical imaging, research, clinical documentation and multidisciplinary consultation into a unified model that is already being used across JINGDONG Health services. AI Moves into Everyday Life: Shopping, Health and the Home Of course, AI is not limited to robots on warehouse floors. It can also help someone choose a washing machine, collect a blood pressure reading with healthcare services, or allow devices across the home to respond more intelligently. With the release of JD.com app ver.16.0 on 9 September, users can now access “Dongdong”, JD.com’s AI shopping assistant, throughout the shopping journey. Instead of simply returning search results, Dongdong is designed to understand what customers are trying to accomplish. It can break down broad or unclear requests and match them with relevant products and services across JD.com’s ecosystem. Users can also interact with Dongdong through voice and video. Someone looking for furniture or an appliance, for example, can show the assistant their available space, interior style or a problem they want to solve. Dongdong can then use that visual context to provide more relevant and practical suggestions. In healthcare, JINGDONG Health introduced its first end-to-end specialist AI agent, designed to reproduce the diagnostic logic and clinical expertise of leading doctors. JINGDONG Health is also linking AI with devices and services. In the home, JoyInside gives connected devices an “AI brain”, helping them move from responding individually to providing more proactive, whole-home services. The technology has already been adopted through partnerships with more than 200 brands across appliances, home products, toys and robotics. From Prototype to Scale: Building the Infrastructure for Robotics Building a robot is difficult. Turning it into a product that can be manufactured, deployed and maintained at scale is harder. JD.com’s new Physical AI Acceleration Plan is designed to address that challenge across the full robotics lifecycle. The plan begins with one of the industry’s biggest constraints: training data. JD Cloud aims to build the world’s largest embodied AI data collection centre, gathering more than 10 million hours of video from real-world human activities over the next two years. JINGDONG Property plans to establish more than 80 RoboBase robotics industry hubs across China over the next five years, creating the world’s largest network of robotics industry bases. The hubs will integrate product demonstration and delivery, R&D, pilot assembly, data collection, manufacturing, maintenance and product iteration. JINGDONG Industrials has launched an alliance connecting robot manufacturers with component suppliers, supporting its goal to become the world’s largest supplier of robotics components. JINGDONG Retail plans to commit RMB 10 billion in resources by 2028. It aims to become the world’s largest robotics retail channel by helping 100 robotics brands each achieve RMB 1 billion in independent sales and reaching 10 million users. Logistics already provides a significant proving ground. JINGDONG Logistics aims to build the world’s largest-scale application of embodied robots and advance autonomous operations across the entire logistics process. The increasing use of robotics will also require support after deployment. JINGDONG Logistics currently operates eight repair centres in China and plans to extend its robotics after-sales capabilities and support the creation of more than 100,000 jobs for robotics service engineers, over the next five years. ( [email protected] )
SELECT NEWS
SUBSCRIBE TO MARKETERSMEDIA NEWS
Google
News
RSS Feed
ALL NEWS
- HZB Network Secures $4.5 Million Strategic Investment from HashKey Capital to Scale Enterprise Services
- OdbO Announces Kickstarter Launch for The Original Emotion Patch Plush
- Maniformer CEO Maoqing Yao Discusses Scaling Physical AI at Fortune Leaders Forum 2026
- GUMANDE Tire Opens Direct-to-Consumer Sales in North America, Offers Five Tire Series Spanning 13-Inch to 19-Inch Wheel Sizes
- ThirdPatch Receives 2026 Global Recognition Award for Closing the Third-Party Patching Gap in MSP Security
- BellaVita Luxury Named Fragrance Seller of the Year at TikTok Shop Awards
- TikTok Shop Names BellaVita Luxury Its 2026 Fragrance Seller of the Year
- BellaVita Luxury Wins 2026 Fragrance Seller of the Year at TikTok Shop Awards
- Geely TT Officially Launched: A New Benchmark for AI-Powered Electric Sports Sedans
- PAÑPURI Launches ANDAMAN SAILS Fragrance Collection Inspired by Nature
- Ondo Finance and FLOQ Signed MoU Bringing Exposure to Tokenized U.S. Stocks and ETFs to Indonesia
- Bitmoji-tek Showcases AI Skin Analysis Innovation at Professional Beauty Mumbai 2026
- WLconnectivity Strengthens Integrated Connector and Custom Wire Harness Capabilities for Global Equipment Manufacturers
- Sunshine Coast focused plantation shutter business has launched
- Australian Businesses Are Paying 3 to 5 Times What Their Offshore Staff Actually Earn, Industry Insider Warns
- A Practical Guide to Modern Proxy Infrastructure
- Inside MPMC's Manufacturing Capabilities: A One-Stop OEM Partner With an Expanded Battery Production Base in Yangzhong
- The Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road: Century of Tin Craft – How a Chinese Tinware Brand Witnesses the Cultural Exchange Along the Silk Road
ON INSIDER
- WLconnectivity Strengthens Integrated Connector and Custom Wire Harness Capabilities for Global Equipment Manufacturers
- Sunshine Coast focused plantation shutter business has launched
- Australian Businesses Are Paying 3 to 5 Times What Their Offshore Staff Actually Earn, Industry Insider Warns
- BKREA Brings to Market 143-155 East 60th Street, a Rare Six-Lot Assemblage in the Heart of Manhattan's Lenox Hill
- EXEED August NEV Share Surged 7.8 Percentage Points from July as Europe Presence Intensified
- Daniella Levi & Associates, P.C. Highlights Legal Rights for Bronx Residents Injured by Unsafe Building Conditions
- Yacht Lettering Expands Custom Yacht Lettering Focus as South Florida's Superyacht Market Advances
- Secured Financial Marks Three Years by Highlighting the Hidden Disconnects Between Financial Decisions
- New AI Clarity App Helps Users Cut Through Overthinking & Decision Paralysis
- John Briggs Launches Productivity & Work-Life Balance Course On The 3.3 Rule