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| 12/03/2010
Spanish novelist Miguel Delibes dies at 89(AP)
| | AP - Miguel Delibes, an acclaimed and prolific novelist whose work featured gritty depictions of rural life in post-civil war Spain and psychological analyses of characters facing turning points, died Friday. He was 89. > more |
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| 11/03/2010
Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen dies at 69(AP)
| |  AP - Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman and member of the Los Angeles Rams'"Fearsome Foursome"who followed up football with a successful television career in"Little House on the Prairie,"NFL broadcasts and commercials, has died. He was 69.
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| 10/03/2010
Egypt's top Muslim cleric dies of heart attack(AP)
| |  AP - Egypt's top cleric, Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, known for promoting the government agenda against female genital mutilation and the face veil, died of a heart attack Wednesday during a visit to Saudi Arabia. He was 81.
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| 09/03/2010
Israeli spy Kimche dead at 82(AP)
| | AP - David Kimche, the Israeli spy-turned-diplomat who played a key role in the Iran-Contra scandal that rocked President Ronald Reagan's administration, has died. He was 82. > more |
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| 18/02/2010
J.D. Power: Wireless Call Quality Has Declined
| | Wireless call quality is getting worse, according to a new study. "....reported call quality problems have increased considerably in 2010," according to theFeb. 18 reportfrom J.D. Power&Associates. Out of 100 calls placed, 13 experienced some problems, up from 11 six months ago. In particular, the number of reported dropped calls has increased to six per 100 calls, up from four six months ago. The cause: Smartphone use is surging, putting strains on networks and resulting in static on lines and dropped calls. Smartphone users, who pay carriers much more than regular phone subscribers, are actually getting poorer service. An average American pays $50 a month for wireless service, while most smartphone users' bills are 50% to 100% higher. Yet, smartphone users "are nearly three times more likely to experience dropped calls than are traditional mobile phone customers," according to the study. These problems will plague an increasing number of Americans in the coming months, as wireless carriers have been implementing incentives for more customers to switch to smartphones. But their networks are already groaning under the extra traffic. AT&T hasadmittedto network overload problems in New York and San Francisco. Smartphones can surf the Web and stream videos, and typically use up much more wireless network capacity than voice-centric phones.
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| 12/02/2010
Leap and MetroPCS: Can This Marriage Work?
| | MetroPCShas hiredseveral advisors to explore a potential purchase of rival Leap. But can this combination work? Thetwo companies appear to fit well together. They operate in different markets, so a merger would vastly increase the combined company's coverage area (the two already have an agreement that lets one's customers place calls when they are in the rival's territory). They could shave costs by combining certain operations such as billing and customer care. "We believe PCS's board and large shareholders have likely pressured [management] to look at a deal," Jonathan Chaplin, an analyst at Credit Suisse, wrote in a Feb. 12 note. "We also believe the company will investigate both a potential sale and an acquisition." Let's not forget that Metro and Leap have tried to merge before -- and failed. In 2007, Leaprejectedan unsolicited takeover offer from MetroPCS, saying it undervalued the business. That followed a legal tussle over patents. In 2006, Leap had filed a lawsuit saying Metro violated its patents related to offering all-you-can-eat pricing plans. Metro counter-sued, alleging disclosure of trade secrets. Yet, considering the accelerating competition in the already cutthroat U.S. wireless market, and any pressure the companies' boards and shareholders may be placing on the management for a merger, CEOs Doug Hutcheson and Roger Linquist may need to get past any lingering unresolved tension quickly to make a deal happen.
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| 10/02/2010
PROMISES, PROMISES: War widows'futile fight(AP)
| |  AP - For a decade, war widows in matching yellow suit jackets and hats quietly and persistently have knocked on Capitol Hill doors seeking an end to the"widows'tax,"a government policy that deprives them of benefits from their husbands'military service.
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| 10/02/2010
Pakistani officials confirm Taliban chief is dead(AP)
| |  AP - Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has died, the country's top civilian security official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. It was the government's first categorical confirmation of the death of the feared militant, whose passing is likely to weaken, but not vanquish, the al-Qaida-linked insurgent network he led.
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| 09/02/2010
Changes proposed in how psychiatrists diagnose(AP)
| | AP - Don't say"mental retardation"— the new term is"intellectual disability."No more diagnoses of Asperger's syndrome— call it a mild version of autism instead. And while"behavioral addictions"will be new to doctors'dictionaries,"Internet addiction"didn't make the cut. > more |
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| 09/02/2010
Obama would OK health bill minus items he pursued(AP)
| |  AP - Signaling he'd meet critics part way on health care, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's willing to sign a bill even if it doesn't deliver everything he pursued through a year of grinding effort at risk of goingdown as a dismal failure.
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| 09/02/2010
Man shoots himself in leg outside Fla. gun store(AP)
| | AP - A man accidentally shot himself in the leg shortly after leaving a Jupiter gun store. Police said the unidentified man went to Chuck's Guns and Ammo Monday afternoon, looking for batteries for the laser sight on a small handgun. When the man was back in his car, the gun accidentally fired, hitting him in the leg. > more |
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| 09/02/2010
Drivers, cars are ill-equipped when panic sets in(AP)
| |  AP - You're driving down the highway and suddenly your car starts accelerating on its own. Knuckles white, going from 60 to 90 miles an hour in seconds, you do what comes naturally— hit the brakes. But what if the car keeps going?
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| 09/02/2010
Is Rhapsody As Good As It Used To Be?
| | Real Networks is cutting its Rhapsody music business free topursue an IPO(just as Ariksuggestedin this prescient story many months ago. How does he do it?). The news of the IPO doesn't fill me with optimism--which is only interesting because I, unlike the vast majority of analysts and industry watchers, have long thought the business hadgreat potential. The change of heart isn't based on any rethinking of the subscription model. One way or another, this will ultimately be the future of music. It's only a matter of time before people realize that there's no reason to buy songs a la carte or put up with annoying ads when you can have listen to whatever you want for a flat monthly fee. Once the price is right on these subscriptions--say, $3 or less per month, buried in your cellphone or broadband bill--hundreds of millions of people will jump on board. But ultimately could be a long way off, and an independant Rhapsody will have less financial firepower at its disposal to stay in the fight long enough to secure victory. Especially if the quality of the service declines--which in my case, it has. For the last eight months or so, I've been running into a maddening Infinite Loop, so to speak, whereby a problem with the Helix DRM technology in Rhapsody causes it to crash every time I try to use the $140 Sandisk Sansa View portable MP3 player I bought to use with the service last May. I connect the device, and get an error message telling me I need a new version of Rhapsody--but once installed I'm told I need to update my license to play the music transferred to the device. Which leads to the error message requiring the new version of Rhapsody...and so on. Am I alone in this? If you are a Rhapsody user, let us know whether the quality of your experience has held up. And whether you think news of the IPO was good news or bad news for fans of the service.  > more |
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| 09/02/2010
White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium(AP)
| |  AP - Even the White House's top spokesman is getting in on the act of mocking former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin for looking to talking points written on her palm during a speech to"tea party"activists.
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| 09/02/2010
Mystery swirls around George W. Bush'Miss me yet?'billboard(The Newsroom)
| | The Newsroom - For all of the wonderful things life in the Internet age provides us, there are some notable drawbacks. One of them is that email and popular social media tools like Twitter and Facebook provide powerful launching pads for unchecked rumors and popular myths. Often these rumors and myths are proven false by websites like Snopes.com and FactCheck.org, but not this time. > more |
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| 09/02/2010
Google says very hard to operate in China(Reuters)
| |  Reuters - Google Inc co-founder Sergey Brin said on Tuesday it has become"very hard to operate"in China, but he is optimistic that the Internet company can continue to"open up information for everyone everywhere, free of political censorship."
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| 09/02/2010
Obama says US developing new sanctions for Iran(AP)
| |  AP - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that Iran remains on an"unacceptable"path to nuclear weapons, despite its denials, and that the U.S. and like-minded countries will soon produce a set of punishing sanctions against the Islamic republic.
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| 09/02/2010
Android Doubles U.S. Market Share
| | Android operating system for smartphones has more than doubled its market share in the U.S. between September and December, according to comScore'ssurveyof more than 30,000 consumers aged 13 and up. Android's market share rose from 2.5% in September to 5.2% in December, while BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, Microsoft and Palm lost ground in the U.S. smartphones market, according to comScore. Developed by a consortium of companies lead by Google, Android has gained traction thanks to the introduction of a slew of new handsets that run it, including Google Nexus One and the popular Motorola Droid. But while Motorola's new smartphones enjoyed good traction this fall, that didn't prevent the company fromlosing more market sharein the fourth quarter, as sales of its cheaper phones slowed down further. The world’s largest handset maker, Nokia, lost share as well. The company said recently that it has gained share worldwide, but it’s still having trouble cracking the U.S. market. Research In Motion, on the other hand, actually gained cell phone market share, as more Americans switched to smartphones and picked up popular handsets like BlackBerry Pearl and Curve, according to comScore. LG gained share as well. The biggest gainer in handsets, though? Samsung, whose market share expanded from 20.4% of the U.S. market in September to 21.2% in December, according to comScore’s Feb. 8 report. Samsung has continued to come out with highly capable yet inexpensive phones that have been a hit at AT&T, Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless. At Verizon, Samsung Omnia, a Windows Mobile-based smartphone, sells for only $10 after an online discount and with a two-year contract. The phone features a 5 Megapixel camera, a touch screen and full Web browser.  > more |
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| 09/02/2010
How Turkey can help NATO in Afghanistan(The Christian Science Monitor)
| | The Christian Science Monitor - At the recent London Conference on Afghanistan, the United States, its NATO allies, and Afghanistan’s regional neighbors agreed to more closely align civilian and military efforts to stabilize that nation so foreign forces can withdraw and local Afghan forces can take over security. > more |
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| 09/02/2010
Google Improves Nexus One Customer Care
| | Google is taking steps to address customer support problems that cropped up soon after the release of its Nexus One, a phone that Google currently only sells online. On Feb. 8, Googlebegan providing phone supportin addition to existing efforts to solve problems through online forums. Until recently, customers whohad problems or questions-- and wanted to talk to a customer service representative -- had to call the phone’s maker, HTC, if their questions concerned the hardware. Or they had to call T-Mobile USA to inquire about service. Now, Google has begun also offeringphone supportfor customers with questions on existing or pending orders, at 888-48-NEXUS (63987). It’s a small but important step toward making consumers comfortable with buying phones online vs. through carriers, as they normally do today.  > more |
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| 09/02/2010
Change in Pakistan requires respect, reconciliation, and religious freedom(The Christian Science Monitor)
| | The Christian Science Monitor - Victory or defeat in Afghanistan will be determined by how the United States engages Pakistan this year. In particular, the US counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan hinges on whether or not the “Afghan Taliban,†a Pashtun movement, maintains sanctuary and support from outside the country. Currently, the Pakistani government is not denying that sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban, or the “Pakistan Taliban†(also Pashtun). I spent 10 days last month in Islamabad and Peshawar speaking with leaders from across society, including those with direct access to the Taliban. Conversations revealed that there are three things that the US must understand in order to end the Taliban insurgencies on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border: respect, reconciliation, and religious freedom. 1. Reverse the respect deficit between Pakistan and America. Pakistan views its relationship with the US in the context of its primary threat: India. The Indian Army’s commander recently said it could invade Pakistan from the east and defeat it in 96 hours as part of it’s “Cold Start†military doctrine, which calls for a rapid and integrated offensive using all of India's military forces. A pro-Indian Afghanistan along the western border of Pakistan would encircle the country with potential enemies. Because Pakistan is not sure of US intentions in Afghanistan (I was constantly asked whether America is planning to stay or leave Afghanistan) the Pakistani Army has no incentive to defeat the Pakistan Taliban in the border areas. Better to keep the Taliban, conventional Pakistani wisdom suggests, as a buffer against the possibility of a pro-Indian Afghanistan. The US, on the other hand, views the relationship with Pakistan through its biggest concern: Al Qaeda. The US is focused on defeating an Arab-dominated Al Qaeda, whose forces are nested among Taliban groups along both sides of the Pakistani-Afghan border. Thus, the US has put so much pressure on the Pakistani government to move against Al Qaeda and the terrorist elements of the Taliban that many Pakistanis consider President Asif Ali Zardari to be an American stooge. The Pakistani reluctance to go after all of the Taliban groups within its borders, after a new multibillion dollar aid package from the US, meanwhile, gives some Americans the impression of ingratitude. Adding injury to insult for the Pakistanis are the American drone attacks that the Pakistani government has unofficially sanctioned – at the insistence of the US – but not publicly acknowledged. While most Pakistanis believe that these strikes do not respect them or their sovereignty, there is also general recognition that they are increasingly accurate, killing Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. Nevertheless, too many civilians have been killed by accident. The Taliban manipulates these civilian deaths to justify suicide bomber attacks throughout the border areas. Incredibly, the Taliban blame a ficticious “American Taliban†– CIA and Blackwater infiltrators sent to destabilize the region – for these attacks. (I wish I was kidding.) In the absence of access to other information, or a concerted effort by the Pakistani government and press to deny such rumors, many along the border believe such nonsense. Although the majority of Pashtuns do not support the Taliban, the Pashtuns are, as someone told me, “one body.†They all know someone who has lost a family member to the drone and terrorist attacks, and they all know someone in the Taliban. 2. Reconciliation is central to a solution. If the Pakistan Taliban can be integrated into the Pakistani political process, they are much more likely to stop providing sanctuary and support to their Pashtun brothers who make up the Afghan Taliban. And if support of the Afghan Taliban ceases from within the Pakistan border, Afghan stability is not far behind. The US-Pakistan relationship would then be freed to mature beyond the perceived disrespect of the moment into a healthy recognition of long-term and common interests. > more |
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| 08/02/2010
Howard Stern May Leave Sirius for 'American Idol'
| | Shock jock Howard Stern likely gave Sirius XM executives a shock on Feb. 8, when hetoldhis radio listeners that he is considering leaving Sirius to become a judge on 'American Idol' when his lucrative Sirius contract expires at the end of the year. A few weeks ago, Stern also said he'd been approached by terrestrial radio executives who want him to work for them. Radio giant Clear Channel recentlytoldBloomberg BusinessWeek it might be interested in hiring Stern. By disclosing these negotiations, Stern may be trying to up the pressure on Sirius to offer him another lucrative deal. Sirius currently pays Stern, his agent and his staff $100 million a year to air Stern's radio show on Sirius exclusively. But in the years since that contract came into effect, Sirius's growth has slowed. And its renewed focus on financial performance may forbid writing another large check. So, if he wants to make as much money in the future, Stern may, indeed, have to look elsewhere. 'American Idol' would certainly offer a lot of money -- and tons of exposure.  > more |
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| 03/02/2010
Symbian Goes Open Source
| | On Feb. 4, the Symbian Foundation will release the first completely open-sourced version of its mobile phone operating system, a move it hopes will make it easier for developers to improve the software and create applications for use on Symbian-based phones. Starting tomorrow, programmers will be able to download, modify and use the software at no charge. The organization madepiecesof its code available earlier. The release marks the conclusion of the huge effort to turn Symbian, the most commonly used smartphone software, from a proprietary operating system only available to developers at companies like Nokia into an open-sourced one, accessible to programmers around the world. Symbian engineered the move as rival Google made a splash with Android, a rival open-source mobile operating system that's gaining steam. By 2012, Android will surpass Windows Phone and the iPhone to become the world's No. 2 most popular mobile operating system behind Symbian, according to Gartner. Asrival software gained market share, support for Symbian began to flag. Symbian hopes the new, open-sourced software will help reverse the slide. "We'll see proliferation of converged devices based on Symbian happen this year," says Larry Berkin, general manager for Symbian in the U.S.  > more |
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| 01/02/2010
Reality TV Jumps Onto Gaming Consoles
| | Alas, reality TV has just jumped from the TV and onto your gaming console. On Feb. 2, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA)announcedit will debut an original competition reality series, The Tester, on PlayStation Network for free download starting February 18, 2010. In the series, 11 gamers from across the country will compete "in grueling physical and mental challenges to win a position as a game tester at SCEA and a $5,000 signing bonus, all under the scrutiny of a panel of judges, including actor/comedian and diehard gamer Hal Sparks," according to Sony. The Tester, which was designed by some of the same people who gave us TV reality series Rock of Love and The Surreal Life, will be available for download on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. "The Tester will follow contestants over eight episodes as emotions run high, alliances form and they battle with brain and brawn," according to Sony's press release. "While donning giant slingshots, paintball guns, and human hamster balls, contestants will be put to the test in a series of elimination challenges shaped around the skills necessary to be a game tester, including dexterity, communication skills and mental prowess." Cast members range in age from 22 to 36 years old and include a student, a paramedic and a used car salesman. Check out the trailerright here. The move is a nod to the fact that many gamers play games rather than watch television nowadays. But, like the rest of us, they enjoy reality TV shows -- particularly when those series follow their fellow gamers.  > more |
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| 01/02/2010
Leap Wireless: No Easy Sell
| | Leap Wirelesshas hiredGoldman Sachs and asked its board members to consider selling the company, according to The Wall Street Journal. Leap's shares jumped 13.1% today, to $14.92, amidst investor hopes of a quick deal. Chances are, selling Leap won't be easy, however. As Michael Nelson, an analyst at Nelson Alpha Research, points out in his Feb. 1 note, "We believe an acquisition by AT&T or Verizon is unlikely, owing to significant regulatory hurdles associated with the companies' high market share at 30% and 32% respectively." A deal would mean major divestitures. The most likely buyer, MetroPCS, has long resisted merging with Leap. The two companies' cultures differ, and its management had been known to exchangepotshotsduring a prior merger attempt. Moreover, the combination would basically bring together two companies that are struggling to grow and prosper. In the first nine months of 2009, Leap's losses mounted. Metro is in the black, and growing, but that may change. Amidst rising competition, both companies have been aggressive on pricing, and Metro's financials could suffer as a result. "We expect no free cash flow generation in 2010 and note that next year's free cash flow generation will be highly dependant on how far the company can cut capital spending," Pali Capital analyst Walter Piecyk wrote in a Jan. 14 note. Leap has other options: A private-equity investor could take an interest in Leap, or facilitate a Leap-Metro merger. A foreign telco could buy Leap to gain a toehold in the U.S. market.  > more |
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| 29/01/2010
Mobile Phone Market Rebounds
| | After retrenching for five consecutive quarters, sales of cell phones returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2009, reports consultant IDC. In that period, mobile phone sales rose 11.3%, and vendors including Nokia, Samsung and LG shipped 325.3 million units worldwide. Full-year sales were still down 5.2%, to 1.13 billion handsets vs. 2008, according to IDC. IDC analyst Kevin Restivo called the rebound "dramatic." Yet, some vendors failed to benefit from this dramatic growth spurt. Take Motorola. The company reported yesterday that while its smartphone shipments increased in the fourth quarter, the company's overall unit sales dropped, and itsmarket share declinedfrom 4.7% of the global market in the third quarter to 3.7% in the fourth. Motorola expects further shipment declines in the first quarter of this year. Based on IDC numbers, Motorola clearly underperforms the market. Nokia, on the other hand, has done well. The company, which also reported on Jan. 28, announced it hasgained some market share. Clearly, even as the market begins to rise, it's not lifting all boats, though.  > more |
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| 28/01/2010
Amazon CEO: “Millions†of Kindles Sold
| | Amazon.com keeps secret the number of Kindles it sells, saying the devices generate too small a portion of overall revenues to warrant disclosure. But on Thursday, the company gave its first big hint at the e-book reader’s financial success. In apress releasedetailing the e-commerce giant’s solid all-around performance in the fourth quarter of 2009, CEO Jeff Bezos says, “Millions of people now own Kindles.†So, assuming that at least two million people have bought the device, and that each paid at least $259 – the cost of the least-expensive Kindle – Amazon now has a business worth more than $500 million in sales. Not bad for a product that’s a little more than two years old. Amazon spokeswoman Mary Osako declines to specify whether the word “millions†was deliberately pluralized in the release. “We’re letting the quote stand for itself,†she says. The size of the Kindle market has been the subject of much guesswork, since e-books are such a new and promising business. In 2008, Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney came up with a method of estimating sales based on a filing from Sprint, the former wireless carrier for all Kindles, and estimated 500,000 that year. Forrester Research recently estimated that 2.5 million Kindles have been sold, based on consumer surveys.  > more |
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| 28/01/2010
Author JD Salinger dies
| | The American writer JD Salinger has died. He was 91. His best-known work The Catcher in the Rye became an inspiration to rebellious teenagers and sold nearly 60 million copies worldwide. > more |
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| 28/01/2010
Helmand after Panther's Claw
| | Operation Panther's Claw in the Babaji district of Helmand province involved hundreds of British soldiers, ten of whom were killed. Six months after it concluded, how has the area changed? > more |
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| 27/01/2010
Afghan security move 'this year'
| | A fund of over£80 million to pay Taliban fighters to give up their weapons has been agreed by representatives from more than seventy countries gathering to discuss the future of Afghanistan. > more |
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| 27/01/2010
Republicans say nation can't afford Dem policies(AP)
| |  AP - The nation cannot afford the spending Democrats have enacted or the tax increases they propose, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Wednesday in the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
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| 27/01/2010
Embattled Obama declares in speech,'I don't quit'(AP)
| |  AP - Declaring"I don't quit,"President Barack Obama fought to recharge his embattled presidency with a State of the Union vow to get jobless millions back to work and stand on the side of Americans angry at Wall Street greed and Washington bickering. Defiant despite stinging setbacks, he said he would fight on for ambitious overhauls of health care, energy and education.
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| 27/01/2010
Activist touted'project'before phone tamper case(AP)
| |  AP - Four days before James O'Keefe was charged in a plot to tamper with the office phones of Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, the conservative activist promised his audience at a luncheon they would be hearing about a project he was working on in New Orleans.
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| 27/01/2010
Dealers swamped by worried Toyota drivers(AP)
| |  AP - Toyota dealers across the country were swamped with calls Wednesday from concerned drivers but had few answers a day after the company announced it would stop selling and building eight models because of faulty gas pedals.
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| 27/01/2010
FACT CHECK: Obama and the'hatchet'job(AP)
| |  AP - President Barack Obama, who once considered government spending freezes a hatchet job, told Americans on Wednesday it's now part of his solution to the exploding deficit. He didn't explain what had changed.
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| 27/01/2010
Stunning recovery: Haitian girl pulled from debris(AP)
| |  AP - French rescuers pulled a teenage girl— very dehydrated, with a broken left leg and moments from death— from the rubble of a home near the destroyed St. Gerard University on Wednesday, a stunning recovery 15 days after an earthquake devastated the city.
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| 27/01/2010
Arenas, Crittenton suspended for rest of season(AP)
| |  AP - When Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton brought their dispute to work, they needed to leave the guns home. Instead, the Washington Wizards guards became the first players to violate NBA rules prohibiting firearms on team property, and commissioner David Stern suspended both without pay for the remainder of the season Wednesday.
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| 27/01/2010
Capabilities of U.S. intelligence agencies questioned(Reuters)
| |  Reuters - U.S. intelligence agencies set up after the September 11, 2001 attacks still have trouble with sharing information that could help them thwart plots like the one to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day, a senior counterterrorism official said on Wednesday.
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| 27/01/2010
iPad: Pushing More Americans to Pay More for Wireless Service
| | On Jan. 27, Apple said it will soon make available a version of its iPad tablet computer able to run over AT&T's wireless network, as long as youpay$15 or $30 a month for service. The device could usher in the era of more people paying wireless charges for multiple mobile devices. In other parts of the world, paying for multiple mobile devices is already commonplace. In Italy, people often own several phones, one for calling and one for messaging. And Americans should follow suit. In a few years, each American will own four or five mobile devices, each of them requiring a voice or a data plan, figures wireless expert Chetan Sharma. A small percentage of Americans already pays for service for several mobile devices. Amazon's Kindle e-reader comes with wireless connectivity to AT&T's network priced in. Some consumers pay monthly charges for data cards, allowing them to connect their laptops to wireless networks. The iPad, which some analysts expect to sell5 million unitsin its first year, could push the idea of paying for service for non-phone devices into the mainstream.If the iPad takes off, that is. That, in turn, could lead to the introduction of family plans for devices, an idea analysts have talked about for years. A carrier might sell you a pool of wireless minutes and data access to be used by your stable of three or four wireless devices, such as a tablet, a gaming console, a car navigation system and your phone. Clearly, as Americans snap up more wireless gadgets that require wireless plans, carriers stand to benefit, big time. Their costs in pushing these gadgets to consumers should be low: The devices' manufacturers will do the heavy lifting of marketing and selling the gadgets in their stores. The devices won't necessarily have to be subsidized; AT&T won't subsidize the iPad, Jefferies analyst Jonathan Schildkraut says in a Jan. 27 note. The carriers will likely have to share service revenues with the manufacturers, though, and those service fees may be smaller than regular phone charges. But even those feescould drive the carriers' growthfor years to come, Sharma says.  > more |
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| 27/01/2010
Why the Jury's Still Out on the Apple iPad
| | Does Apple's tablet computer, the newly announced iPad, live up to the
hype? There's no doubt Apple fans will flock to the device, with
its svelte build and 9.7-inch color screen. But Steve Jobs' confirmation of the long-rumored device was more striking for what wasn't announced than what was. The iPad is designed to access the same applications available for
iPods and the iPhone on Apple's popular App Store. There's even
software that will automatically re-size existing applications for
better viewing on the larger screen. But even Jobs, during his presentation in San Francisco, wondered
aloud whether Apple has what it takes to establish a third category of
products between smartphones and laptops. He says yes, but it's not that clear. One reason is because there was no immediate word on any of the
rumored subscription content deals with Hollywood and other content
providers that might make the iPad a must-have gadget that moves beyond niche
markets such as education, health and graphics arts. Much has been made about Apple's attempts to revive the markets for various forms of media, but little was said at the Apple event to clarify just how the iPad will do that. Jobs' announcement of Apple's foray into the electronic book market also
left questions about the price of the books and whether consumers will
be able to seamlessly sync them among Apple devices. The challenge for Apple is whether it can convince the millions of
consumers who already own an iPhone or iPod Touch, or are content with
their notebook computers, that it's worth shelling out at least
$499--the base price for six model categories -- for a larger
touch-screen machine. The iPad offers 10 hours of battery life even
when playing video, which should help. And the touch display helps distinguish the iPad from Apple's MacBook notebook computer lineup as well as Windows-based notebooks and netbooks. Apple did strike what should be a consumer-pleasing deal with its
wireless carrier partner AT&T to offer two data plans, one for $14.99, the other for $29.99 unlimited monthly data. Combined with built-in Wi-Fi and free access to AT&T's national Wi-Fi hotspot network, the plans could make the iPad an all-around mobile device. As expected, Apple announced it had struck deals with five of the major
book publishers to create its own store for downloading books in
electronic form. But many rival makers of mobile devices, including
Amazon's Kindle family and Sony's Reader ebooks, include mobile
broadband connections in the purchase price. Early adopters enamored with all things Apple will flock to the iPad. But until Apple gets developers to create more iPad-specific applications that showcase the hardware, it may face the same mainstream consumer apathy that has plagued other tablet-specific devices created over the past decade by its rivals.
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| 22/01/2010
Germany seeks Argentina's Videla
| | A court in Germany has issued an arrest warrant for the former Argentine military leader, Jorge Rafael Videla, on suspicion of murdering a German man. > more |
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| 22/01/2010
Sprint Nextel's Ad Spending Skyrockets
| | Ad spending by wireless companies is going through the roof. Sprint Nextel's ad spending might have hiked 40% in 2009 over 2008, according to Jan. 22 report from Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett and TNS Media Intelligence. It now adds up to 4.4% of Sprint's revenues -- double the level of its peers. Yet, whether Sprint's aggressive marketing has paid off is debatable. "The astronomical growth in ad spending by Sprint is not translating into increased gross additions," Moffett writes. "Sprint accounted for 26% of Big Four ad spending, but just 14% of Big Four post-paid gross additions." While Sprint is struggling to retain its subscribers, Verizon Wireless, which actually slashed its ad spending 7% last year, has managed to grow its customer base. While ad spending by U.S.'s six largest wireless carriers declined steadily throughout 2008, it jumped 4.3% last year, Moffett estimates. What's clear is that carriers' ad spending no longer translates into subscriber gains. As Sprint has keptlosing subscribersover the past several years, many analysts blamed that on lower advertising spending by the company. Well, now that Sprint has ramped that spending up, it's not helping as much as hoped.  > more |
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| 22/01/2010
US firm removing Bible gunsights
| | A US military contractor says it will stop engraving Biblical references on rifle gunsights used by the US army, as well as the UK, Australia and New Zealand. > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Survivors of Hudson jet landing gather year later(AP)
| |  AP - A year after 155 people lived through the water landing of the incapacitated US Airways Flight 1549 in the middle of the frigid Hudson River, many of them gathered Friday to celebrate the anniversary of their unlikely survival.
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| 15/01/2010
UK Tories lay out defense policies
| | LONDON (AP) -- The leader of Britain's Conservatives said Friday that if elected he would be far more cautious than his predecessors in deciding to deploy British troops abroad.... > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Controversy hits pope's Rome synagogue visit
| | ROME (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Rome's main synagogue on Sunday has sharply divided Italian Jews, with some angered by his moves to push World War II Pope Pius XII toward sainthood.... > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Iran warns opposition on cell phone, e-mail use
| | TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's police chief on Friday warned opposition supporters not to use cell phones and e-mail messages to organize protest rallies against the government, saying those who do so will be prosecuted and punished.... > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Officials: Pentagon report faults Hasan's bosses(AP)
| |  AP - As many as eight Army officers could face discipline for failing to do anything when the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood rampage displayed erratic behavior early in his military career, two officials familiar with the case said.
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| 15/01/2010
Berlusconi skips hearing in Milan corruption case
| | MILAN (AP) -- Premier Silvio Berlusconi's corruption trial was suspended Friday pending the final appeal by his co-defendant, who was convicted of accepting a bribe in exchange for lying in court to protect the premier's business interests.... > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Columbia prof says Prop 8 adds to gay health woes(AP)
| |  AP - A Columbia University social scientist says California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriages contributed to the social stigma that makes gay men and lesbians more susceptible to depression, suicide and substance abuse.
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| 15/01/2010
Aid groups struggle to get food, water to Haitians
| | PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- Aid workers hoping to distribute food, water and other supplies to a shattered Port-au-Prince are warning their efforts may need more security Friday as Haitians grow increasingly desperate and impatient for help. Hundreds of U.S. paratroopers arrived overnight to back up the relief effort.... > more |
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| 15/01/2010
Haiti quake puts parents'adoption dreams in limbo(AP)
| |  AP - Jill Lear has decorated bedrooms waiting for the 9-year-old boy and girl she calls her son and daughter even though she hasn't brought them home from Haiti. Kim Lewen wants to wrap her arms around the two smiling girls she left at an orphanage last fall with a promise to return.
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| 14/01/2010
NJ church group returns home after Haiti aid trip(AP)
| |  AP - Members of a New Jersey church group who were in Haiti on a humanitarian mission when a massive earthquake struck the island nation this week have returned to the United States, recounting the horrors they experienced and thankful to be home.
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| 14/01/2010
Texas murder suspect searched'overdose'online(AP)
| |  AP - In the month before his wife died, a minister in Texas tried to buy a prescription sleeping aid online and conducted an Internet search for"overdose on sleeping pills,"computer experts testified Thursday in his murder trial.
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| 14/01/2010
In ravaged Haiti, aid workers among the victims(AP)
| |  AP - Haiti's limitless poverty and hardship have long drawn aid groups and charities from across the world. Now the same people who tried to do good before the earthquake find themselves trapped in the rubble, out of touch with their loved ones and struggling to carry on their missions.
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| 14/01/2010
Powder Found at Dutch Financial Firm
| | Fifteen people at a Dutch financial services firm were released from quarantine after powder discovered in a letter caused slight breathing problems for three of them.
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| 14/01/2010
Mass. doctor accused of fraud by faking research(AP)
| | AP - Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that they have filed a health care fraud charge against a doctor accused of faking research for a dozen years in published studies that suggested after-surgery benefits from painkillers including Vioxx and Celebrex. > more |
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| 14/01/2010
Pa. trooper's killer had sniper's perch in home(AP)
| |  AP - A suicidal man made an improvised sniper's"perch"in an upstairs bedroom so he could fatally shoot a state trooper who volunteered to investigate a domestic-abuse report because he had previous contact with the gunman, the state police commissioner said Thursday.
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| 14/01/2010
Life sentence for Seattle Jewish office shooting(AP)
| | AP - A man who went on a shooting rampage at a Seattle Jewish center, killing one woman and wounding five others, appealed for forgiveness and blamed his medication as a judge sentenced him Thursday to life in prison without parole. > more |
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| 14/01/2010
Israel-Turkey diplomatic spat
| | Israel's apology to Turkey over its treatment of the Turkish ambassador has failed to convince many pundits in the Middle Eastern media. > more |
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| 14/01/2010
Haiti earthquake: News updates
| | 11:13 a.m. -- The death toll of United Nations personnel, including military and police officers, stands at 22, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. About 150 U.N. staff members remain unaccounted for.  > more |
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| 14/01/2010
Aid groups race against time in Haiti
| | Countries and aid groups large and small worked Thursday to help survivors in quake-ravaged Haiti in an international effort rivaling the response to the 2004 Asian tsunami.  > more |
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| 14/01/2010
Intriguing people for January 14, 2010
| | Dr. Rajiv Shah President Obama announced Wednesday that Shah, the 36-year-old administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be in charge of the overall U.S. relief effort in Haiti. "The goal of the relief effort in the first 72 hours will be very focused on saving lives," Shah said.  > more |
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| 14/01/2010
'Heroes' actor searching for parents after earthquake
| | Haitian native and "Heroes" cast member Jimmy Jean-Louis was searching for his elderly parents in Haiti on Wednesday afternoon after a powerful earthquake struck the nation. Jean-Louis learned that a house he had grown up in collapsed, killing several of his relatives.  > more |
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| 13/01/2010
Guinea?s Ruler Surfaces
| | Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, who had been getting medical treatment in Morocco for a gunshot, has traveled to Burkina Faso, east of Guinea.
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| 13/01/2010
Burning tires illuminate what remains of Haitian town
| | In Jacmel, Haiti, as light rain fell with the darkness Wednesday, Gwenn Goodale Mangine and a group of 35 people prepared to spend their second night sleeping outside on mattresses and cardboard boxes in her driv |
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