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Comcast Business Helps Salem Florist’s Business Blossom with Enhanced Connectivity

Comcast Oregon / SW Washington

Comcast Business today announced that it is supplying Salem-based flower shop Green Thumb Flower Box Florist with a Business Internet connection and business phone services, enabling the florist to stay connected to enhance customers’ experiences and deliver bespoke services to its loyal customer base. Green Thumb has been in business for more than five decades. In that time, the shop has amassed a loyal following and was named Best Florist in Mid Valley by the Statesman Journal. While some florists offer the same bouquet arrangements, almost all of Green Thumb’s floral arrangements are customized based on individual customers’ needs by a small team of floral designers. The shop relies on its internet and phone lines for ordering. “Our floral designers are creating arrangements that hopefully make our customers feel special and eager to come back,” said Steve Outslay, owner of Green Thumb Flower Box Florist. “Our technology from Comcast Business is key to helping us keep customers coming back because it is reliable. Our internet is consistently fast, and our phone services are high-quality. Those solutions are our lifeline, so it makes all the difference that we can count on them.” With more grocery stores offering floral arrangements that consumers can pick up quickly, Green Thumb continues to distinguish itself from the competition with their custom arrangements, and what Outslay calls the “florist experience.” “We think that our reputation combined with technology will allow us to reach a larger group of people,” Outslay explained. “Knowing the quality and support of other floral companies, once a customer comes to us they will not want to go anywhere else.” Comcast Business’ Internet services are delivering fast, reliable connectivity with the bandwidth Green Thumb needs to handle all its devices. Meanwhile, its phone solutions allow Green Thumb to stay in touch with its customers while their staff is onsite or as they make deliveries. “It’s no surprise that Green Thumb Flower Box Florist has a dedicated group of customers that love their arrangements,” said Alan Goldsmith, vice president of Comcast Business Oregon/SW Washington. ”The passion that their teams have for what they do really shines through. We are proud to be powering possibilities for Green Thumb’s operations as they look to bolster their operations and local reputation.” About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Amy Keiter +1 503-407-9109 amy_keiter@comcast.com Company Website https://business.comcast.com/

August 16, 2021 10:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

UNFCC Climate Report delivers a message of hope stating 1.5 is within reach if immediate action is taken

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

The Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) sees the UNFCC Climate report as a message of hope and believes the authors have made it abundantly clear that it is possible to avert climate catastrophe by pursuing the “very low emissions scenario” within the next two decades. As reported, there are no other options; it is global society’s obligation to act now with “drastic, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gases to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees”, because it can. ZESTAs is nailing their colours to the mast by starting at true zero with their unprecedented “SHIP ZERO – Charging to True Zero” workshop 1-3 November coinciding with COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. ZESTAs’ SHIP ZERO workshop will be the first ever shipping event to align with the IPCC “very low emissions scenario”, by not contemplating the use of fossil fuels or any GHG emitting fuel or technology. “The simple truth is the time for discussion is past – nothing remains but for us to act. Whatever your beliefs, whatever your passions, whatever your politics, insuring that we, as a society are no longer contributing to the end of life as we know it is imperative. This century is about reckoning – the morals, purpose and goals of society must align with the common good in every aspect of life. Sustainability is not just a goal but a social imperative that transcends our societies and presents us with both opportunities and obligations – future societies will either praise us or damn us for our actions today” observed Brent Perry, CEO, Sterling PlanB, Chair of ZESTAs Board of Directors. Only truly zero GHG emissions systems, solutions and technologies will be considered at this workshop. ZESTAs states that the technology to achieve true zero in all sectors of shipping exists today but that weak or misaligned policies and lack of finance are preventing these technologies from upscaling, achieving economies of scale and penetrating the wider market. “We need to stop throwing the ball out to 2050 and investing in half measures that won’t get us where we need to be. We need to invest in true zero now, upscale and shoot for 2030. If we don’t, we have no chance of stopping warming anywhere near 1.5. The IPCC report clearly states we’ve got a shot. We need to take that shot and act now to change policy and finance, allowing zero emissions ship technologies to get to market before 2030” said Madadh MacLaine, ZESTAs Secretary General The SHIP ZERO workshop will feature highly technical presentations, followed by discussions and brainstorming sessions, bringing together shipping stakeholders from; innovation, policy, finance, infrastructure, energy, and the wider shipping sector to combine solutions into an actionable road map. “Our intention is that the outcome of SHIP ZERO is an action plan, a navigational chart to true zero with waypoints based on realizable actions, available technologies, and implementable policies that will keep warming below 1.5 degrees” MacLaine continued. The SHIP ZERO workshop will demonstrate that marinized battery and hydrogen systems are market ready at multi megawatt scales, and that wind propulsion is being installed across the world fleet to delivers significant emissions reductions today. “Wind propulsion uses the power of the wind as a direct renewable energy source and is available everywhere at sea. Any energy taken from wind directly on ships by modern sail technology does not burden the infrastructure that ultimately will be powered by wave, sun and wind, reducing the renewable energy required to produce clean fuels. Wind assisted technology therefore makes all other technologies more feasible. ‘The answer my friends, is blowing in the wind’!” stated Frank Nieuwenhuis, eConowind, ZESTAs Board of Directors, Advisor More good news is that renewable energy and green hydrogen production infrastructure are being rolled out across the globe. From Scotland to Chile, from the United Arab Emirates to Monaco, governments are creating strategies that will achieve a price for green hydrogen that can compete with fossil fuels by the end of the decade. “If shipping is looking for that silver bullet, ZESTAs has a fully loaded chamber and we’re ready to fire” said MacLaine. In light of the "code red for humanity", declared by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres in his response to the IPCC report, ZESTAs calls on governments and regulators to acknowledge that fully developed market ready zero emissions ship technologies exist by creating the policy frameworks necessary for these technologies to have a fighting chance of competing against incumbent fossil fuel technologies and achieve market availability before 2030. “I urge the governments of the world and each person living today to go “all in” – shift away from polluting activities and scale up climate solutions that deliver as close to zero emissions as possible. We still have the opportunity to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Governments can change policies to support this goal. As individuals we can make changes in our lives directly and speak with our votes to ensure our governments are not watered down by misrepresentative interests that are not focussed on climate management.” Brent Perry, CEO, Sterling PlanB For additional information on SHIP ZERO 26, go to https://zestas.org/ship-zero/. Contact Details NAMEPA Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-255-4686 executivedirector@namepa.net Company Website https://zestas.org/ship-zero/

August 15, 2021 10:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Purify Fuel’s nanO2 ESG Combustion Catalyst Provides Immediate Reduction of GHG Emissions Addressing “Code Red for Humanity” Declared by IPCC Report

Purify Fuel

In a report issued this week, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) issued a “Code Red for Humanity” citing that impacts from human activity are exceeding the limits set in 2015 for temperature increases. “Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades” cited the report. In a world looking for solutions, the report recognized that “from a physical science perspective, limiting human-induced global warming to a specific level requires limiting cumulative CO2 emissions, reaching at least net zero CO2 emissions, along with strong reductions in other greenhouse gas emissions.” It further stated “Our report shows that we need to be prepared for going into that level of warming in the coming decades. But we can avoid further levels of warming by acting on greenhouse gas emissions,” said report co-chair Valerie Masson-Delmotte, a climate scientist at France’s Laboratory of Climate and Environment Sciences at the University of Paris-Saclay. Calling for immediate action, the report stated, “It is unequivocal that the increase of CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere over the industrial era is the result of human 10 activities and that human influence is the principal driver of many changes observed across the 11 atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.” Propelled by this sense of urgency, major industrial companies are turning to Purify Fuel’s nanO2 tm family of Combustion Catalysts to provide an immediate reduction in greenhouse gases. “With the world’s focus on developing immediate fossil fuel alternatives, we cannot lose sight of the reality that the majority of industries are still dependent on heavy duty diesel fuel applications and searching for ways to reduce emissions” stated John Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Purify Fuel. “We are pleased that the immediate benefits of our nanO2 ESG Catalyst to help diesel and biodiesel fuel burn cleaner is being embraced by these industries to reduce GHG levels immediately”. Purify Fuel has been identified as one of the world’s most innovative sustainable technology companies. Its nanO2 Combustion Catalysts provide a transitional solution that will help fight climate change until alternatives are invented. It successfully reduces CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, which together represent 98% of all greenhouse gases. The product has been extensively tested since the middle of last year and has been aggressively launched across multiple industries (rail, marine, oil and gas, and mining). Since 2018 it has treated 75MM gallons of diesel removing the equivalent emissions produced by more than 200,000 automobiles. Purify Fuel uses patented nanotechnology-based rare earth oxides to help large diesel operators save money and reduce emissions. Purify Fuel’s nanO2 ESG Catalyst® are custom blended to optimize diesel fuel, biodiesel and dual-fuel blends for marine, fracking, military, mining, power generation, and rail markets. The combustion catalysts increase energy harvested from each gram of fuel while reducing particulate matter emissions and soot created by incomplete combustion. Purify Fuel works directly with large consumers of diesel and biodiesel fuel to help them save money, increase power, and reduce emissions. Contact Details Purify Fuel Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-260-0480 c.walker@purifyfuel.com

August 11, 2021 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Enter Africa: Versus Africa seals fundraise as it paves the way for companies to access markets with ease

Versus Africa

Africa presents a $2.1 trillion consumer spending market for businesses seeking to explore new opportunities for their products and services. Enabling businesses to enter the continent is Versus Africa, a consumer insights platform, that has today announced a $850k pre-seed capital fundraise as it scales operations to support companies in Africa and around the world as they launch their products and services across Africa. A Techstars 2019 cohort start-up, Versus Africa helps brands get closer to their consumers by obtaining key insights and helping them make better business decisions. Versus combines online and offline consumer data to give brands actionable and competitive insights for the African market. Versus counts brands such as Pizza Hut, Vodacom among others and has partnered with several global agencies including R/GA to support their campaigns. The Versus Africa platform improves the go-to market strategy and approach of businesses selling in the continent. Through their unique African language sentiment analysis, the technology captures consumer insights using online (social listening and online brand tracking) and offline data trends (conducting in-person surveys through several thousand local scouts) to help brands inform, engage and adapt their product and service strategies. They ‘listen’ (for sentiment, trends and feedback) and then ‘ask’ (for opinions, about behaviours and motivations) to offer a complete insights package for businesses. Kemdi Ebi, CEO and Co-Founder of Versus commented: “We’ve purposely built our tool to help businesses “'listen” and ''ask” the African consumer to get true engagement and actionable insights. We’re helping them make sense of the thoughts and opinions of African consumers from varying backgrounds. For those who speak in different African languages and slang, we're able to accurately identify sentiment, trends and opportunities when we “listen” online. With real-time market research and unique patented tools that translate the complexity of local languages and cultures, Versus offers actionable insights to businesses that want to make their African market entry or continuing existence a success.” The complex nature of the continent with multiple languages, varying socio-political communities and cultural nuances means it has long been difficult for companies to be successful across multiple countries. Versus Africa offers a fresh lens into the market opportunity with their unique and dynamic research approach. “We have blended technology with boots on the ground to offer the purest insights to companies using Versus Africa. For the first time, businesses near and far are able to make better decisions on their product strategy in the continent. We are particularly excited because as we scale further, we are in pole position to be the go-to homegrown solution for easy, flexible and accurate research for the plethora of new local businesses cropping up across the continent” added Kemdi Ebi. Commenting on investing in Versus Africa, the MD of Techstars London Eamonn Carey said: "For the longest time, it’s been apparent that there is huge potential in markets throughout Africa - but one of the big challenges has always been getting real, detailed, granular data about users, habits, opinions and more. The Versus Africa platform helps local, regional and global brands get real, meaningful answers to their questions - helping them launch, grow and scale more effectively across the continent. I was incredibly impressed by the team, the tech and the vision they had to use a combo of tech and people to gather an incredible dataset for their customers." Various global research businesses have reported on Africa’s macro trends and geo-political events. Before Versus, there have been few that have achieved true regional and local market insights for businesses to make informed decisions. “How many Africans own and operate research in Africa? Not many. Africa deserves a local intelligence research edge born from within. There have been international research agencies and insights tools that have tried to explore Africa but only from a distant and macro lens, now, for the first time businesses will get true local insights to help them enter key markets across the continent. I hope our launch and growth propels more like-minded tech-focussed Africans to help grow this research industry” concluded Kemdi Ebi. About Versus Africa Versus Africa helps brands get closer to their consumers by obtaining insights and helping them make better business decisions. Versus combines online and offline consumer data to give brands actionable and competitive insights for the African market. Versus has served brands such as Pizza Hut, Vodacom among others and have partnered with several global agencies including R/GA.Versus Africa, a 2019 Techstars cohort startup, was recognised by Cannes Lion Festival for Innovation and it was the first African company to showcase at Slush Tokyo 2019. Contact Details Versus Africa Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

August 11, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar’s Craig Goodwin Named a Finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts at the 2021 Black Unicorn Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the selection of a member of its senior executive team as a finalist for outstanding achievement at this year’s Cyber Defense Magazine Black Unicorn awards, announced during the 2021 Black Hat USA conference. Craig Goodwin, Cyvatar co-founder and chief product and strategy officer, was selected as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts; he competed against the industry’s leading cybersecurity experts for this prestigious award. “We’re pleased to name Craig Goodwin as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts among the elite group of information security professionals at the third annual Black Unicorn awards,” said judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr., David DeWalt, Dr. Peter Stephenson, and Gary Miliefsky. “This year’s competition was fierce, and he should be proud of his achievement.” Craig was selected from security practitioners around the world that vied for top honors. He is a battle-tested CISO who has built a successful career delivering transformative IT and security programs by combining holistic security, IT, and business leadership expertise to produce extraordinary results. Craig’s innovation brings the membership economy to cybersecurity with Cyvatar’s CSaaS platform, which is rapidly becoming the de facto operating system for today’s security programs. “At a time when so many companies struggle to find top security resources, we’re blessed to have an exceptional talent like Craig leading company strategy,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “Because we offer cybersecurity as a service, people are the lifeblood of our organization. The work Craig and his team have done to bring the award-winning Cyvatar platform to customers enables us to deliver fast, affordable, fully managed security programs to any size business at prices that don’t break the bank. His achievement means no customer has to go without the very best cybersecurity available today.” Only Cyvatar offers subscription-based CSaaS designed to provide outcomes, continuous remediation, ongoing solution maintenance, and the ability for all of its customers to execute their security strategies at speed and scale. Find out how CSaaS can work for your business at cyvatar.ai. About Cyber Defense Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s 9th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber and David DeWalt of NightDragon with much appreciation to emeritus judge Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group. To see the complete list of finalists for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-awards-finalists-2021/ About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to making cybersecurity effortless for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 11, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Osmo’s Back To School Sale Starts Now: From August 8 to 14, Save 25% Off Select Kits, Games, Bundles and More

Osmo

STEAM brand Osmo ’s Back to School sale starts now. From Aug. 8 to 14, Osmo offers 25% off select kits, games, bundles and more. View Back to School deals at PlayOsmo.com, Target.com, and Amazon.com. Save 25% on these items at PlayOsmo.com: Kits: Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure, Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night, Genius Starter Kit, Coding Starter Kit and Creative Starter Kit Games: Math Wizard Bundle, Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop, Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons, Monster Other items: Coding Family Bundle, Math Wizard Kit (features all 4 Math Wizard titles + base included), Essential Math Bundle, Early Literacy Bundle, Super Studio Artist Bundle, Pretend Play Bundle, Explorer Starter Kit, Super Osmonaut Starter Kit, Preschool Starter Kit, Elementary School Starter Kit, Ultimate Expansion Bundle Save 25% on these kits and games at Target and Target.com: Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Creative Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons (base excluded) Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop (base excluded) Save 25% on these Osmo kits, games, and bundles at Amazon.com: Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night for Fire (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure for iPad (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure for Fire (base included) Creative Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Coding Family Bundle for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Pizza Co. for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Detective Agency for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Math Wizard and The Enchanted World Games for iPad Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and the Enchanted World Games for Fire Tablet Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and The Amazing Airships for iPad Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and The Amazing Airships for Fire Tablet Bundle (base included) Little Genius Sticks & Rings for iPad or Fire Tablet (base required) Little Genius Costume Pieces for iPad or Fire Tablet (base required) About Osmo Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand with more than 2.5 million learners worldwide. It is building a universe of hands-on play experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. The company brings physical tools into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence. Osmo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and is part of BYJU’S, a global leader in online learning. Learn more at playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://www.playosmo.com

August 08, 2021 06:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

BEE Launches New Features to BEE Pro to Further its Mission to Democratize Content Design

BEE

BEE, a business unit of Growens and premier digital content design platform, released two new features to its BEE Pro product, a no-code email & landing page design suite currently being used by designers, email marketers, e-commerce, higher education, business owners, agencies and entrepreneurs. These updates come at a time when BEE is seeing substantial growth with its BEE Pro paid subscription, forecasting upwards of 9k paid users. The latest BEE Pro features include: Increased collaboration through “ Mentions” feature. Users can now use a mention (@mention) to alert any team member of updates collaborating on a design project. Improved processes through the new “ Notification Center. ” This update keeps the user informed on mentions, exports or publishing of active design projects. These new features further BEE’s mission to democratize content design. Users can now initiate mentions to their teammates through the comment section while working directly in BEE Pro, eliminating the need to work across multiple platforms. They are able to invite their teammates to review a design, assign tasks and collaborate on all work completed in their specific brand, helping to keep the design process aligned. The notification center helps keep everyone up to speed with changes and edits for a faster collaborative process. These updates assure a faster collaborative process. “We are excited to see these new features go live in BEE Pro. It’s a big deal for teams to be able to collaborate in real-time on any project in one place” said Mariela Towers, Head of Marketing at BEE. “The design process for some teams often involves a lot of collaborators — BEE Pro is continuing to make it easier for team members to work together. Our internal team is excited to see the expanded features. We use BEE Pro for all of our email communications and have been able to cut 3 days out of our workflow. The new features have improved our collaboration processes allowing us to work that much faster.” These updates from BEE Pro are the latest following previously announced landing page capabilities, mobile design mode and co-editing tools earlier this year. Since launching in 2016 as an email editor tool, BEE continues to invest in feature developments for BEE Pro bringing maximum value to users, including multiple integrations built specifically for email server providers. About BEE: BEE provides no-code design tools that empower everyone to quickly create content that resonates. BEEâs visual builders are used to design emails, landing pages, one-page sites and more. They deliver fantastic design flexibility and a great user experience, combining granular control on design elements with handy features like editing content directly in mobile view. BEE is building on its vision to help democratize content design, with millions of monthly users in over 20 languages and from over 150 countries. BEEâs design tools are available online at beefree.io and embedded in 600+ SaaS applications. Contact Details Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://beefree.io/

August 05, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SIGMA Announces new 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports Supertelephoto Lens

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, in conjunction with SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki), announces the release of the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports lens in the US market. The new high-performance supertelephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless camera systems will be available for $1,499.00 through authorized US retailers in late August 2021. Capture the magic through your finder. Uncompromising optical performance throughout the zoom range Fast, high-precision AF and impressive functionality Outstanding build quality optimized for ultra-telephoto photography Supplied accessories: Case, Cover Hood (LH1034-01), Cover Lens Cap (LC-747E), Shoulder Strap, Tripod Socket (TS-121), Front Cap (LCF-95Ⅲ), Rear Cap (LCRⅡ) Available mount: L-Mount, Sony E-mount * The appearance and specifications of the product are subject to change. * This product is developed, manufactured and sold based on the specifications of E-mount which was disclosed by Sony Corporation under the license agreement with Sony Corporation. * L-Mount is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG. #SIGMA #SIGMA150600mmSports #SIGMASports #SIGMADGDN Introducing the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports, a powerful ultra-telephoto zoom and the first ever Sports line lens for mirrorless systems. This portable and practical optic revolutionizes the way mirrorless users capture wildlife, motorsport and other fast-action subjects. The 150–600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports is SIGMA Sports line’s first ultra-telephoto zoom lens, designed from the ground up specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras. It offers outstanding levels of performance, functionality, and build quality required for ultra-telephoto shooting in the most demanding situations. Image quality is exceptional, with ultra-high-performance glass capable of delivering ultra-sharp results even on the highest resolution cameras. The lens displays beautiful bokeh throughout its zoom range, and optical aberrations are kept well under control. It can be used with SIGMA’s 1.4× and 2× L-Mount teleconverters, with AF effective up to 1200mm. Fast and accurate autofocus owing to an AF unit equipped with a high-precision magnetic sensor, combined with an OS (Optical Stabilizer) function effective to approximately 4 stops* of image stabilization makes this a highly responsive lens that can handle even the most challenging subjects. It has a Dual Action Zoom system that includes straight and ring zoom, a dust and splash resistant structure, and customizable switches helping photographers and filmmakers adapt quickly and easily to virtually any shooting environment. Capture the long-reach images you have always wanted with an ultra-telephoto lens—that's the visual experience you will enjoy with the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports, the first ultra-telephoto lens for mirrorless systems from SIGMA Sports line. * Based on CIPA guidelines (measured in 600mm with a 35mm full-size image sensor) [Key features] 1. Uncompromising optical performance throughout the zoom range The SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports offers outstanding optical performance throughout its zoom range and at all apertures, yielding professional quality results. Based on the latest optical design technology, its lens construction of 25 elements in 15 groups includes a range of special types of high-performance glass that ensures thorough control of different types of aberrations. This helps give images the resolution and clearest detail—not only at the tele end around 600mm, which is critical for an ultra-telephoto zoom, but also throughout its entire zoom range—with no compromise. The lens was designed with image quality in the out-of-focus areas in mind as well, with attractive compression and beautiful bokeh for creating eye-catching images that can only be achieved with a long focal length. Through improvements to the optical and mechanical designs as well as extensive simulated testing, the lens has achieved high resistance to ghosting and flare. This helps ensure sharp and high-contrast images even in strong sunlight or in backlit conditions. At the wide end of 150mm, the lens has an impressive minimum focusing distance of 58 cm. On the L-Mount, the use of two dedicated teleconverters will allow you to shoot with AF up to 1200mm. With these features, this new ultra-telephoto lens is the perfect tool for tackling a broad range of shooting situations, giving you a greater freedom in your choice of composition. 2. Fast, high-precision AF and impressive functionality The 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports comes with the pro-level functionality that defines the SIGMA Sports line lens, which is designed for capturing fast-action subjects. With an AF actuator controlled by a stepping motor, the lens combines fast and quiet autofocus with excellent tracking of moving objects. Furthermore, a high-precision magnetic sensor enables highly accurate positioning for fast and high-precision AF. This is particularly impressive on an ultra-telephoto lens where the focus lens has to move a significant distance. The OS function delivers effective image stabilization that offers an advantage of approximately 4 stops*, which is ideal for hand-held shooting at slower shutter speeds. It is possible to change the OS settings using the OS switch and Custom Mode switch to best suit the shooting situation. The lens has a Focus Limiter switch offering three-zone AF modification, which helps to speed up AF performance, and on the L-Mount it is possible to set a custom focusing limit via the SIGMA USB DOCK. The lens also has three AFL buttons to which you can assign various functions on the camera side depending on the model of camera used. This ensures that key settings are able to be customized to suit your shooting style and be accessed easily so that you can adapt quickly to changing conditions. With the fast and high-precision AF, 4 stops* image stabilization, and a wide range of customizable functionality that comes with the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports, the creative possibilities are limitless. * Based on CIPA guidelines (measured in 600mm with a 35mm full-size image sensor) 3. Outstanding build quality optimized for ultra-telephoto photography The 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports combines the build quality that upholds the SIGMA Sports line standards with excellent operability, taking into account different shooting environments and modes of operation expected with an ultra-telephoto lens. A dust and splash resistant structure that stops water drops or dust from getting into the lens, combined with a water and oil repellent coating applied to the front element, gives you a peace of mind even in a harsh shooting environment. The lens features a Dual Action Zoom, which supports both straight zoom and ring zoom, allowing you to change the angle of view in a quick and intuitive way. In addition, there is also a newly incorporated Zoom Torque switch, with which you can change the resistance of the zoom ring and lock it at the wide end, ensuring ease of zoom operation as well as elimination of zoom creep. On the lens body there is a magnesium tripod socket attachable to an Arca Swiss type clamp. The foot is removable and may be replaced with an optional lens foot (replaceable lens foot type) or mounted on a monopod. The lens body uses parts made of aluminum and TSC (Thermally Stable Composite), where they are most suitable. TSC is a type of polycarbonate with a thermal expansion rate similar to that of aluminum, ensuring the lens behaves consistently at different temperatures. By taking advantage of its design intended exclusively for mirrorless camera systems, the lens is both robust—an attribute essential for the Sports line of lensesーand compact and lightweight. Compared to the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports, which is also a Sports line lens but designed for SLR cameras, the new lens is lighter by 760g and shorter by 26.6mm*. * The 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports for L-Mount, compared to the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports for SIGMA SA-mount. [Additional features] Lens construction: 25 elements in 15 groups, with 4 FLD and 2 SLD elements OS (Optical Stabilizer) function Inner focus system Compatible with high-speed autofocus Stepping motor Compatible with lens aberration correction * Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections may vary depending on the camera model. Support DMF and AF+MF Super Multi-Layer Coating Water and oil repellent coating (front element) Focus Mode switch Focus Limiter switch OS switch Custom Mode switch AFL button (3 buttons) Zoom Torque switch Tripod Socket (Replaceable lens foot type) TS-121 fixed Cover Hood (LH1034-01) Dust and splash resistant structure Compatible with SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1411 / TC-2011 (sold separately / for L-Mount only) Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only) Compatible with SIGMA TRIPOD SOCKET TS-81 (Replaceable lens foot type / sold separately) Designed to minimize flare and ghosting Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system 9-blade rounded diaphragm High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount “Made in Japan” craftsmanship To learn more about SIGMA’s craftsmanship, please visit SIGMA website at https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/craftsmanship/ [Key specifications] The figures below are for L-Mount. Lens construction: 15 groups, 25 elements (4 FLD and 2 SLD)｜ Angle of view: 16.4° (W) - 4.1° (T)｜Number of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm)｜ Minimum aperture: F22-29｜Minimum focusing distance: 58 (W) – 280 (T) cm / 22.8 (W) – 110.2 (T) in.｜Maximum magnification ratio: 1:2.9 (At a focusing distance of 180mm)｜Filter size: φ95mm｜Dimensions (Maximum Diameter x Length): φ109.4mm×263.6mm / φ4.3in.×10.4in.｜Weight: 2,100g / 74.1oz (Tripod socket included) [Barcode] L-Mount: 0085126 747695 Sony E-mount: 0085126 747657 [Accessories: Supplied] [Accessories: Optional] [Contact] For further information, please contact your local authorized SIGMA Service Station listed at the link below: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/world-network/ [Information] SIGMA Corporation | https://www.sigma-global.com/en/ Product information | https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/s021_150_600_5_63/ Contact Details Jack Howard 631-585-1144 x1015 SIGMA.PR@sigmaphoto.com Company Website https://www.sigma-global.com/en/

August 04, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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STEAM Brand Osmo Introduces 8 Exclusive Starter Kits to Walmart In Time for Back to School

Osmo

Award-winning STEAM brand Osmo introduces 8 exclusive starter kits for iPad to Walmart and Walmart.com, in time for back to school. Osmo’s product displays are located in the preschool aisle of the toy department at Walmart stores nationwide, and its 8 starter kits for iPad include: Detective Agency Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $39.97 Super Studio Disney Mickey Mouse & Friends Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $39.97 Super Studio Disney Princess Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $39.97 Numbers Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $49.44 Monster Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $49.44 Words Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $49.44 Sticks & Rings Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $49.44 Pizza Company Starter Kit (includes base set) - Retail $60 To see the entire collection of Osmo’s products, visit its Walmart store. Osmo’s award-winning products are currently used in over 2.5 million homes and 50,000 classrooms. About Osmo Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand with more than 2.5 million learners worldwide. It is building a universe of hands-on play experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. The company brings physical tools into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence. Osmo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and is part of BYJU’S, a global leader in online learning. Learn more at playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://www.playosmo.com

August 04, 2021 04:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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