Build vs Buy: Optimizing Your Sports Betting Operation
In an industry where every millisecond and every data point can make the difference between success and failure, technology decisions have never been more critical. The sports betting industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with a projected 12% increase by the end of 20321. This dynamism is reflected both in emerging markets, such as Brazil, and […]
In an industry where every millisecond and every data point can make the difference between success and failure, technology decisions have never been more critical. The sports betting industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with a projected 12% increase by the end of 20321. This dynamism is reflected both in emerging markets, such as Brazil, and in established markets where operators constantly seek to optimize their operations. In this context, a fundamental strategic question affects all types of operators: should they develop technological solutions internally or rely on specialized providers?
The Challenge for Different Operator Profiles
This decision is crucial for various profiles: new operators seeking to establish themselves, international brands expanding into emerging markets, and established operators (including state lotteries) looking to improve their competitiveness or operational efficiency. For new entrants, creating an internal platform offers total control but involves significant challenges in costs and time. Established operators, meanwhile, face the need to maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly demanding technological environment.
International Expansion and Local Adaptation
Global operators entering new markets must consider how to replicate their previous success in different contexts. Outsourcing offers a fast track, allowing for more flexible adaptations and leveraging local knowledge. Outsourcing certain components can help mitigate regulatory risks and facilitate smoother regulatory compliance. It’s no secret that outsourcing models have proven to be effective tools that have allowed new operators to quickly gain ground.
The Challenge of Continuous Innovation
Additionally, operators already established in their markets face their own challenges. The need for continuous innovation, optimization of operating costs, and improved efficiency are critical factors in maintaining their competitive position. These operators must evaluate whether their current systems can keep pace with the latest technological innovations and whether the investment in internal development justifies the expected return.
Finding the Right Balance
It’s crucial to highlight that this is not just an all-or-nothing question between in-house and outsourcing. No operator internally controls every facet of their operation; all use some degree of outsourcing. The essential thing is to decide which key components, such as the player management platform, betting engine, risk management, or sportsbook interface, should be outsourced to optimize competitiveness.
As the industry matures, a growing trend toward outsourcing is expected. This is already common in consolidated technology sectors, and the sports betting sector will likely follow this path. Operators continue to seek high-quality and efficient solutions to maintain their competitive advantage.
The Hybrid Approach
End-to-end turnkey platforms like ORAKO represent an effective hybrid solution for all these operator profiles. They offer the possibility of customizing services while ensuring the reliability of an external provider. ORAKO not only allows covering the entire value chain with a single provider, Sportradar, significantly reducing operating costs and accelerating time-to-market, but also facilitates advanced customization and continuous integration of innovations, establishing a unique ecosystem. Additionally, its flexible architecture allows for third-party integrations or operator’s in-house services.
The Way Forward
In conclusion, the challenge for all operators, whether new entrants, international companies expanding, or established operators seeking to optimize their operation, is to find the right combination between internal development and outsourcing. This balanced approach is essential to maximize competitiveness and adaptability in a constantly growing and transforming market. Discovering this optimal strategy could be key to ensuring a successful future in the dynamic world of sports betting.
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Amazfit Helio Strap Review: Budget Whoop band alternative
The Amazfit Helio Strap isn’t trying to be a high-powered training tool, but instead a comfortable, distraction-free fitness and health tracker that delivers solid wellness insights without the bloat of a screen or the burden of a subscription. If you’re after a low-maintenance wearable that quietly does its job and lets you focus on your […]
The Amazfit Helio Strap isn’t trying to be a high-powered training tool, but instead a comfortable, distraction-free fitness and health tracker that delivers solid wellness insights without the bloat of a screen or the burden of a subscription. If you’re after a low-maintenance wearable that quietly does its job and lets you focus on your day, it’s a great value at $99.
I’m a screen fiend as much as the next shopper, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a distraction-free wearable. Amazfit’s Helio Strap is the latest minimalist fitness tracker designed for those who want passive, no-fuss monitoring. At just $99 with no subscription fees, it’s an attractive, budget-friendly option with a good amount to offer. After spending some time with it, I can say it’s not going to topple Whoop anytime soon, but it holds its own as a solid activity tracker that stays out of your way.
Screen-free and comfortable all-day wear
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Amazfit’s new Helio Strap drops into the landscape with an unassuming build and a complete lack of display. The result is a noticeably lightweight design. At just 20 grams, it’s one of the lightest wearables I’ve worn.
The strap itself is adjustable with a velcro closure, officially listed as fitting wrist sizes from 145mm to 205mm. It’s very slightly big for my wrist, which is just shy of 145mm, so you’ll see in the photos how I have to pull the closure all the way up alongside the tracking device. This looks a little less refined than it would otherwise, and it tended to catch on things, but it’s still comfortable overall and stayed put throughout my review. If I’m being picky, I would have preferred the logo in a more subtle tone like gray or white, rather than the brand’s iconic orange.
Unlike Whoop, Amazfit doesn’t offer any alternative ways to wear the tracker secured in clothing, but the company’s site does tease an armband option coming soon. For now, the simple nylon strap wristband is comfortable for all-day wear. My only complaint is that, like all fabric bands, it takes a long time to dry out, which meant after a sweaty gym session, I was left with that gross feeling akin to wearing socks after you’ve stepped in a kitchen puddle. The material comes in two colorways. I tested the black option, which still looks good after a week of use. I can’t imagine the white colorway would hold up quite as well on the hikes and outdoor workouts I completed.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The tracker itself is loaded with sensors to monitor heart rate, HRV, SpO₂, skin temperature, and stress levels, providing continuous, behind-the-scenes tracking while you forget you’ve even strapped it on. Compared to testing a new smartwatch or traditional tracker, the strap feels incredibly low-maintenance. It doesn’t tempt me to tap through arbitrary settings or distract me with notifications. There’s a vibration alert available for alarms (which I really appreciate), but otherwise, no pings or pulls on my attention.
First and foremost, the Helio Strap is a distraction-free fitness tracker.
In a word, it’s pleasant. Like the Whoop band, the Helio Strap is ideal for anyone who doesn’t need on-wrist data or smart features, just passive health tracking with all the insights waiting in the app. Personally, I’d consider wearing this over a smart ring. It doesn’t get in the way during lifts or on handled machines and offers a similar level of subtlety.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
It also boasts fantastic battery life, so I rarely have to think about it. The strap features a 10-day battery life claim, and so far in my review period, that seems about right if not a little underestimated. After 8 days of testing, I still have about 30 percent left. Compared to smartwatches, or even my Oura Ring 4 (which is my go-to wearable for screenless tracking), more than a week between charges is an amazing luxury.
A useful (but basic) activity tracker
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
As mentioned, it tracks a wide range of health and fitness metrics, including daily steps, calories burned, stress levels, and PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence), plus continuous heart rate (resting and during workouts), heart rate variability, skin temperature, and detailed sleep data. It even monitors respiration rate during sleep and can be used for non-medical grade sleep apnea detection. For training purposes, the band also tracks Exertion, or your total daily energy output (in direct contrast to your rest/sleep data), and provides metrics like training status, training load, and recovery time.
The strap measures all the basics, plus a readiness-style BioCharge score.
Amazfit also introduces BioCharge, a readiness-style energy score similar to Garmin’s Body Battery. This metric centers the dashboard of the companion app, and I found these big-picture metrics super useful, though I’m not convinced it’s being executed perfectly. My workouts didn’t always logically impact my score, and my perceived energy didn’t align as closely as I would have expected. Still, if you use your BioCharge for general guidance and throw in the Exertion and sleep scores, the strap offers plenty of general insights.
The key to accurate measurement is accurate heart rate data, and there, Amazfit delivers. I tested the strap throughout a variety of workouts and was overall impressed with its heart rate sensor. For a majority of the workouts, the device showed close alignment with my dedicated chest strap, an impressive result at this price.
It did, however, struggle at times to pick up heart rate spikes, even compared to other wrist-based wearables. On the graph above, you can see where my Garmin Watch (which aligned with my chest strap) registered my heart rate jumping immediately when I started an intense interval. The Helio Strap, on the other hand, lags behind, recording values roughly 20bpm off. It eventually catches up, though, and did considerably well for the remainder of the workout; it’s just worth noting that it isn’t going to give you pinpoint accuracy. Still, I was happy with the results overall throughout this review.
With that said, the Helio Strap isn’t a Whoop strap, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for serious athletes. Its companion app lacks the same training depth, and some of the tracking algorithms and software integration need polishing. For part of this review, I ran into issues populating an Exertion score. Automatic workout detection is also laughably unreliable. (If I actually worked out every time the Strap recorded a workout, I’d be much fitter.) Instead, the Helio Strap is better suited for users who care more about daily health trends than fine-tuned recovery or strain scores. Post-workout analysis exists in the Zepp app, but it’s not front and center. Like Amazfit’s Helio Ring, the strap is also compatible as a partner device to the brand’s watches, which remain stronger picks for training with real-time data and guidance. The strap also doesn’t pack GPS, so it can’t record routes like the Balance 2 or Active lineup.
Amazfit Helio Strap review: The verdict
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The Amazfit Helio Strap isn’t trying to be everything, and that’s the heart of its appeal. It’s not flashy, it’s not overloaded with features, and it won’t impress hardcore athletes chasing precise training metrics. But if you’re looking for a lightweight, screen-free companion that quietly tracks your wellness, the strap makes a strong case. With solid sensor performance, excellent battery life, and no subscription fees, it’s a refreshingly simple alternative in a market full of bloated smart tech. Compared to the Whoop 5.0, it boasts a very attractive one-time price tag of just $99. Just don’t expect perfection or a polished training suite, and you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by what Amazfit delivers for the price.
Amazfit Helio Strap
Budget-friendly price point with no subscription fee • Comfortable, lightweight, screen-free design • Broad range health and fitness tracker
MSRP: $99.99
Distraction- and subscription-free fitness tracker.
The Amazfit Helio Strap is a comfortable, distraction-free fitness tracker that delivers solid wellness insights without the bloat of a screen or the burden of a subscription.
Positives
Budget-friendly price point with no subscription fee
Last Chance to Save 51% On AirPods, Apple Watches and More
Best Prime Day Apple Deals on Day 4: Apple doesn’t typically offer discounts across its tech line-up, which means that you’ll need to head to third-party sites like Amazon to find them. With thousands of products now discounted across the site for Prime Day, it’s one of the best opportunities of the year to land […]
Apple doesn’t typically offer discounts across its tech line-up, which means that you’ll need to head to third-party sites like Amazon to find them. With thousands of products now discounted across the site for Prime Day, it’s one of the best opportunities of the year to land savings on the tech giant’s offerings, and there’s already plenty of Prime Day Apple deals to bank across AirPods, Apple Watches, Beats headphones and more. This opportunity to save money on Apple isn’t going to hang around much longer though, with the sale drawing to a close this evening.
Shop Apple Prime Day Deals Amazon
If you’re thinking about upgrading your smartwatch or fitness tracker, there’s discounts on all three of the latest Apple Watch models. The flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2 (read our review here) is a hefty £140 off, down from to £799 to £659, the everyday powerhouse Apple Watch Series 10 (read our review) has dipped under £300 – now just £295, down from £399. The latest entry-level Apple Watch SE is also discounted, with £34 slashed off its ordinary price this Prime Day.
There’s also plenty of opportunities for an audio upgrade. You can now grab the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 for less, reduced by £50 and £30 respectively. Because Beats is owned by Apple, we’ve also included deals on the new workout-friendly Powerbeats Pro 2 (read our review) – down from £249.99 to £185.25 – and the older, but still excellent, Beats Fit Pro, which are over £110 off at £108.30. Here’s a round-up of the all these, plus more of the best Apple Prime deals we’ve found so far, including more offers on iPads, iMacs and iPhones.
Prime Day Apple Deals
Watch Ultra 2
Was £799, now £659
SAVE £140
£659.00 at amazon
Watch Series 10
Was £699, now £595
SAVE £104
£595.00 at amazon
Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Was £249, now £215
SAVE £34
£215.00 at amazon.co.uk
AirPods Pro 2
Was £229, now £179
SAVE £50
£184.00 at amazon.co.uk
Fit Pro
Was £219.99, now £108.30
SAVE £111.69
£108.00 at amazon.co.uk
AirPods 4
Was £179, now £149
SAVE £30
£149.00 at amazon.co.uk
Studio Pro
Was £349.99, now £174.74
SAVE £175.25
£174.74 at amazon.co.uk
Studio3
Was £189, now £139
SAVE £50
£139.00 at amazon.co.uk
AirTag (4 pack)
Was £119, now £84
SAVE £35
£84.00 at amazon.co.uk
2025 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop
Was £1399, now £1207
SAVE £192
£1207.00 at amazon.co.uk
iPad 11″ A16
Was £329, now £284
SAVE £45
£284.00 at amazon.co.uk
Pencil Pro
Ws £129, now £109
SAVE £20
£109.00 at amazon.co.uk
Mac Mini M4
Was £599, now £499
SAVE £100
£499.00 at amazon.co.uk
Magic Mouse
Was £79.99, now £59.99
SAVE £20
£59.99 at amazon.co.uk
Magic Keyboard
Was £99, now £75
SAVE £24
£75.00 at amazon.co.uk
When Does Prime Day End?
If you’ve been holding out for a bargain before picking up a new Apple smartwatch, tablet, smartphone or earbuds, the clock is now ticking. You had 96 hours from the start of the sale to make the most of these deals before it ends at midnight on Friday 11 July.
Do You Need a Prime Membership to Take Part?
Yes. To make use of these Apple Prime Day deals, plus all the other offers included in the event this week, you’ll need to either already be a Prime member or you can join for free by signing up to a 30-day free trial, which you can cancel for no fee once the sale ends after midnight on Friday.
More Fitness Tech Deals and Reviews
Prime Day Deals 2025 | Prime Day Headphone Deals | Prime Day Garmin Deals | Best Apple Watches | Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review | Beats Fit Pro Review | Best Beats Headphones | Best Gym Headphones
UP To Boost Wine Production With Support For Fruit-Based Innovation And New Investments
In a bid to make Uttar Pradesh a leading state in wine production, the Excise Department, in collaboration with Invest UP, has launched efforts to attract top wine manufacturers from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Companies like Sula Vineyards and Good Drop Wine Cellars Pvt Ltd have already begun exploring opportunities in the state. Good Drop Wine […]
In a bid to make Uttar Pradesh a leading state in wine production, the Excise Department, in collaboration with Invest UP, has launched efforts to attract top wine manufacturers from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Companies like Sula Vineyards and Good Drop Wine Cellars Pvt Ltd have already begun exploring opportunities in the state.
Good Drop Wine Cellars, a prominent Maharashtra-based wine manufacturer, is setting up a production plant in Rania, Kanpur Dehat. This marks a significant step as Uttar Pradesh has traditionally lagged behind states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa in wine production, mainly due to the absence of grape cultivation.
ALSO READ: Centre Extends Tax Exemption For Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds For 5 Years
However, recent innovations in fruit-based winemaking using mangoes, guavas, jamun, mulberries, bananas, and honey have opened new avenues. These successful experiments have sparked fresh interest among wine producers to invest in UP.
Currently, wine is being produced by companies like Surbhi Wine in Noida, KD Green in Muzaffarnagar, Varni in Saharanpur, and Ambrosia Nature Living near Lucknow in Malihabad. The revival of wine production in Malihabad is particularly noteworthy. MD Singh, whose father had set up a wine plant in 1975 but had to shut it down due to a lack of government support, has now restarted the initiative. His company is producing wine from mangoes, mulberries, cloves, cinnamon, and honey and plans to launch the product next month.
Ashwin Rodrigues, Director of Good Drop Wine and Secretary of the Wine Growers Association of India, stated that their new plant aims to begin production within six months using alternative fruits and honey.
ALSO READ: Patna Metro: First Rack Arrives From Gujarat, Trials To Begin Soon | First Glimpse
Excise Commissioner Dr Adarsh Singh said the government is actively supporting the industry by offering a five-year exemption on excise duty and permitting wine companies to set up retail outlets.
With these efforts, Uttar Pradesh is set to establish itself as a promising hub for fruit-based wine production in India.
IIT Delhi launches MRI research facility to foster innovation in medical imaging
Home » HEALTH/MEDICINE » IIT Delhi launches MRI research facility to foster innovation in medical imaging New Delhi, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) on Saturday announced the launch of a cutting-edge Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) research facility to boost innovations in medical imaging. Established under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) […]
Home » HEALTH/MEDICINE » IIT Delhi launches MRI research facility to foster innovation in medical imaging
New Delhi, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) on Saturday announced the launch of a cutting-edge Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) research facility to boost innovations in medical imaging.
Established under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) initiative, the facility is equipped with a 1.5 Tesla clinical-grade MRI scanner.
It is the first of its kind among leading engineering and technology institutions in India, dedicated exclusively to research and teaching.
Unlike conventional MRI setups embedded within hospital ecosystems, this facility is designed to foster unrestricted innovation in medical imaging, particularly in the field of MRI.
This facility will enable cutting-edge research in various areas across applications in MR imaging, including the development of new contrast agents, acquisition sequences, optimisation of imaging protocols, development of MR-compatible devices, and integration of artificial intelligence in image processing.
“This new research MRI facility will enable research and innovation in imaging and support IIT Delhi’s efforts to create new knowledge at the interface of science, engineering, and medicine to make an impact in healthcare,” said Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi.
Located within the Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME) at IIT Delhi, the facility will initially support research using phantoms and, with appropriate regulatory approvals, will extend to clinical studies involving volunteers.
It will also serve as a hands-on training platform for students enrolled in IIT Delhi medical imaging courses, enhancing their practical exposure to advanced imaging technologies.
According to CBME’s Prof. Anup Singh and Prof. Amit Mehndiratta, who led this visionary initiative, the dream to establish such a facility “was visualised five years ago”.
The facility will offer a new dimension to teaching and learning in medical imaging at the varsity.
It was initiated on July 9 and the first MRI safety session was conducted by the B-MEC Imaging Pvt. Ltd., who installed the MRI scanner.
“This advanced imaging facility will help several researchers from different disciplines at IIT Delhi. This will also open up several opportunities for research collaborations with medical institutes in NCR and across India,” said Prof. Vivek Buwa, Dean of Planning, IIT Delhi.
Source: IANS
About Gopi
Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.
He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.
When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies. His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any.
ICYMI: the 8 biggest tech stories of the week, from Prime Day deals to Samsung’s shiny new foldables
It feels like trying to keep pace with everything happening in tech is more challenging than ever – which is why we put together this ‘In Case You Missed It’ round-up each and every week, to bring you right up to speed with everything that’s been going on. And this week has been particularly busy: […]
It feels like trying to keep pace with everything happening in tech is more challenging than ever – which is why we put together this ‘In Case You Missed It’ round-up each and every week, to bring you right up to speed with everything that’s been going on.
And this week has been particularly busy: Samsung launched new foldables and smartwatches, Amazon discounted a vast swathe of products for Prime Day, and Google pushed out even more AI updates for us to make use of.
Artificial intelligence’s mental health costs are adding up
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that the company hadn’t yet figured out how to warn users who “are on the edge of a psychotic break.” Something troubling is happening to our brains as artificial intelligence platforms become more popular. Studies are showing that professional workers who use ChatGPT to carry out tasks might lose critical […]
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that the company hadn’t yet figured out how to warn users who “are on the edge of a psychotic break.”
Something troubling is happening to our brains as artificial intelligence platforms become more popular. Studies are showing that professional workers who use ChatGPT to carry out tasks might lose critical thinking skills and motivation.
People are forming strong emotional bonds with chatbots, sometimes exacerbating feelings of loneliness. And others are having psychotic episodes after talking to chatbots for hours each day. The mental health impact of generative AI is difficult to quantify in part because it is used so privately, but anecdotal evidence is growing to suggest a broader cost that deserves more attention from both lawmakers and tech companies who design the underlying models.
Meetali Jain, a lawyer and founder of the Tech Justice Law project, has heard from more than a dozen people in the past month who have “experienced some sort of psychotic break or delusional episode because of engagement with ChatGPT and now also with Google Gemini.”
Jain is lead counsel in a lawsuit against Character.AI that alleges its chatbot manipulated a 14-year-old boy through deceptive, addictive, and sexually explicit interactions, ultimately contributing to his suicide. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, also alleges that Alphabet Inc.’s Google played a key role in funding and supporting the technology interactions with its foundation models and technical infrastructure.