5 reasons Google should be very afraid of Samsung

Wilson Rothman , NBC News ? ? ? 6 hrs.

Google takes pride in the fact that its Android mobile operating system has outpaced Apple's. But the truth is, Android phones don't outsell Apple phones, Samsung phones do. Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft ? these may be Google's main competitors, but it's Samsung that could be the search giant's biggest threat.

As Samsung launches the Galaxy Note 8.0 this week, and the upcoming Galaxy S 4, not to mention a fleet of new Smart TVs, here are five reasons Google should be afraid:

1. Phones, phablets, tablets and more
Samsung has been the largest phone maker in the world for a while, but for the better part of last year, it was even out-selling Apple in the profitable smartphone category. On the surface, this is good news for Google, since Samsung is the largest ambassador of Android phones.

But compare the interface on a Google-branded Nexus phone to the software on Samsung's best-selling Galaxy S phones. The fundamental operating systems are the same, but everything from the stock apps (calendars, email, media player, etc.) to the interactive services (voice command, wireless file sharing, etc.) are different. Critics (including me) generally prefer Google's "pure" Android experience offered by Nexus devices (which also get faster OS updates), but the masses don't seem to mind Samsung's interface. And with time, money and momentum on its side, Samsung can keep improving.

The bigger the device gets, the more problematic things are for Google. Android phone apps may be a roaring success, but Android tablets have barely any native apps, especially compared to what's built for iPad. As evidenced in the expanding Note line ? which just welcomed an 8-inch model ? you can expect to see more Samsung-only features and interface tweaks, and increasing cooperation between Samsung and its software partners.

2. Retail stores
In an age when big-box stores struggle, Apple can still brag of its unbelievable (and mostly unforeseen) brick-and-mortar store success. Former skeptics now believe that the best way for electronics makers to reach their customers is through direct shopping-mall and online sales. Google is building up the online side, but recently rejected the idea of a retail store. Meanwhile, Samsung has quietly built out an online sales site, and is starting to show the urge to build some Apple Store clones of its own. In the meantime, it has clout with Best Buy, other mall retailers and even cellular carriers that Google could only dream of.

3. Mobile payments
Google got the jump on the competition when it comes to using your phone as a credit card. Built-in near-field communication chips in its Nexus phones combined with the Google Wallet system lets you, in Google's words, "shop faster, smarter and safer, in-store and online." Apple has been slower to get into mobile payments ? its Passbook app is a useful tool for those already checking into flights and buying event tickets online, but it's not yet a vehicle for commerce in itself. Now Samsung is making its own move with its own app ? called Wallet.

While the system, as it stands, currently resembles Apple's Passbook more than Google's similarly named service, don't forget that Samsung has NFC built into most of its premium phones. Not only that, as the Verge points out, it has a partnership with Visa to use the credit card company's PayWave service.

4. Media store
About two years ago, I laughed when Samsung tried to get me to buy a movie via its service on a cellphone. The selection wasn't great, and what was I going to do, watch some outdated action film on a phone's 4-inch screen? The laughter has, substantially, subsided. Those screens have gotten bigger, and Samsung has sold a lot of phones with its media store pre-installed.

Meanwhile, Samsung has expanded its media sales to its Smart TV line, and the current Smart TV interface dedicates a whole page to Samsung media. In other words, while you can still buy movies for apps like Amazon Instant Video and Vudu, you'll soon most likely stumble over stuff first on Samsung's page. How soon till you're giving it your $3.99 for a movie rental, rather than your cable provider or the competition?

5. Apple TV
Google's already spent its ammunition on something called Google TV, which you likely never bothered to purchase. Apple TV exists now too, as a cheap little add-on for Mac, iPad and iPhone owners, but Apple may yet pop a full-size TV that's so user friendly, fanboys would drool like they haven't drooled since Steve Jobs was alive.

Only thing is, Samsung already has an answer to Apple TV, and from what we saw at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Samsung isn't going to rest until it gets the interface right. Does it need Google's help to do it? Nope.

(Bonus dirt in Google's face: LG recently went out of its way to buy a third-party operating system, probably so it wouldn't have to rely on Android for its next-gen smart TVs.)

Maybe none of this matters to Google as long as it can keep making money on mobile ads on Samsung devices ? but according to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, even this relatively safe haven could be threatened by Samsung's explosive growth.

Further reading:
Samsung sparks anxiety at Google - The Wall Street Journal

Eyeing Apple: How competitors are finally making phones consumers want - The New Yorker

Samsung takes a page from Apple's Passbook with new Wallet app - The Verge

'Next generation' Samsung smartphones to ship with Visa NFC payment system - The Verge

Android boss Andy Rubin says Google doesn't need a retail store - Business Insider

Samsung's new retail store clearly inspired by Apple - Digital Trends

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/5-reasons-google-should-be-very-afraid-samsung-1C8593123

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Higher indoor humidity inactivates flu virus particles

Feb. 27, 2013 ? Higher humidity levels indoors can significantly reduce the infectivity of influenza virus particles released by coughing, according to research published February 27 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by John Noti and colleagues from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers tested the effect of relative humidity on the capacity of flu virus released in a simulated 'cough' to re-infect cells.

They found that an hour after being released in a room at a relative humidity of 23% or less, 70-77% of viral particles retained their infectious capacity, but when humidity was increased to about 43%, only 14% of the virus particles were capable of infecting cells.

Most of this inactivation occurred within the first fifteen minutes of the viral particles being released in the high-humidity condition. The study concludes that maintaining indoor relative humidity at levels greater than 40% can significantly reduce the infectious capacity of aerosolized flu virus.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Public Library of Science.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. John D. Noti, Francoise M. Blachere, Cynthia M. McMillen, William G. Lindsley, Michael L. Kashon, Denzil R. Slaughter, Donald H. Beezhold. High Humidity Leads to Loss of Infectious Influenza Virus from Simulated Coughs. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (2): e57485 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057485

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/sNX-ZAws_4Q/130227183456.htm

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Abe - Japan acting calmly in island dispute with China

WASHINGTON | Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:18pm GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday said he told President Barack Obama in a meeting that Japan would act calmly in its row with China over tiny islands in the East China Sea claimed by both Asian countries.

"I explained that we have always been dealing with this issue ... in a calm manner," he said through a translator, while sitting next to Obama in the White House Oval Office.

"We will continue to do so and we have always done so," he said.

Abe said the existence of the Japan-U.S. alliance was a stabilizing factor in the region. He also said that he and Obama discussed additional sanctions against North Korea.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/UKWorldNews/~3/zmaGGLi9fn4/uk-usa-japan-abe-islands-idUKBRE91L10Y20130222

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Bombou.com Wants To Showcase Your African Business - TechMoran

• By?TechMoran
• February 21, 2013

Read 1085 times!

Bumbou.com? was created two years ago by a young Senegalese based in the North of France. His site, open to global companies interested in the African market or targeting? the 54 African Countries.

?

Martin Diatta told TechMoran he launched the site after graduating with Master 2? degree in Global E-Business at the University of Lille 1 France.

He began the development of bumbou website from his dorm room, but later took an office in a french HUB called ??Ruche du Nord??? to work and develop bumbou.com with his team.

TechMoran caught up with Martin and below are his plans for Africa and global companies interested in Africa.

?

What problem do you solve?

Bumbou.com is Pan-African and gives more visibility to African businesses both in the continent and in the world. I noticed that? more and more African are on? Internet as individual person but not many companies. According to internetworldstats.com the Internet Penetration in Africa was about 15.6%? in 2012 . There are some business directories specific to each country, but Pan-African as bumbou.com there very are few. And most of the existing b2b directories are static website.

Bumbou is really in the era of? the Web 2.0. as it gives companies the possibility to manage their own profiles in French, English, Portuguese, Chinese, and soon Spanish.

?

How does it work?

Bumbou.com? platform is? a business directory. Companies can register on, create their own page and their presentation form according to their sectors and country. They can post selling or buying products? ads. The website presents another new chapter of jobs and internships destinated to Africa for recruiting companies and job or internship? seekers. The goal is for every member to create its identity through the platform to be visible both in Africa and globally. In this sense Bumbou.com is also a website for sharing experiences and correspondence between the different companies registered on site.

?

Take us through your features.

For the directory part, the? basic listing is free and open to everyone registered to have access to the information available on the website. Every member can see the detailed records of other members, and contact them by sending email through a form.

However, after the basic listing we offer a Premium Membership for members to be more visible in advertisements and other services offered are the top list in their countries and their activities.

?

The job part allows any registered member to see available job offers on the website and be able to apply directly from the platform. The candidates can also post their CV online. There is also a section that provides information on economic activity and investment facilities in African countries. Through Bumbou, we post news about fairs and exhibitions taking place on the African continent. We have a particular focus on issues like renewable energy, because it is an industry that can and should be a priority for any business that wants to expand in Africa.

?

How many merchants using the site so far?

There are currently more than 2,500 companies listed on www.bumbou.com. These companies are both African and global business interested in doing business in Africa.

?

What is your business model?

The business model is based on the premium account already mentioned that enables businesses subscribers to be more visible and post free ads. The second business model is based on the ads? purchase. The third is a banner ad that is directly? sold to businesses or organizations that wish to be more visible in Africa.

?

Any competition in any of the countries you are in?

Yes there are some b2b online directories in some African countries, but the strength of Bumbou.com is its Pan-africanism. If we combine the following set: functionality, simplicity, the numbers of users and languages, we can say that Bumbou.com is in the Top 3 of B2B online directories for Africa.

?

How unique are you from them?

- www.bumbou.com goes? the web 2.0? since the beginning because it allows companies themselves to manage their card, post their ads and make the necessary changes.

?

- www.bumbou.com ergonomics is simple, clear and functional in 4 languages: French, English, Portuguese and Chinese, and soon Spanish.

?

- www.bumbou.com gained notoriety on the web these last two years, we are very present in the social? professional networks. So, in a few years Bumbou.com? will be the reference in Africa in terms of online b2b.

?

- www.bumbou.com is carried by a hard worker and passionate man, Martin Diatta, who designs and defines the strategy and development of the website with his team. It also communicates a lot to promote this tool in Africa and worldwide.

?

Bombou founder Martin talks to TechMoran

Any Funding yet? How much? From who?

The first development was funded by Martin Diatta. But Bumbou.com had to move a bank loan and also got some help from French agencies and the Northern France Department. The amount expended during the past two years is about 20,000 euros. We always have a need for funding to develop Bumbou.com and pay future development.

?

Challenges?

Yes to become the market leader in Africa in two years! We want to be the number one of African online b2b.

?

?

Any upcoming developments, like this month, next month or in a few months?

Yes, we have a lot of ideas for future development specifically in the adaptation of payment system at the African members. For example, the possibility to pay on Bumbou.com via their mobile phone.

Read 1085 times!

Source: http://techmoran.com/2013/02/21/bombou-com-wants-to-showcase-your-african-business-to-the-world/

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LG Announces the LTE-enabled Tab-Book Windows 8 Convertible

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Board=news&Number=44249

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UTSA blanks North Texas in doubleheader sweep

Thumbnail photo is Courtesy of UTSA Athletics

SAN ANTONIO- Pitchers Haylee Staton and Jolene Graham scattered just six hits in 14 innings to help UTSA to a doubleheader sweep of North Texas by scores of 7-0 and 2-0 on Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.

Both hurlers went the distance and combined to strike out 10 batters for the program?s first doubleheader sweep of the Mean Green (4-7).

Megan Low went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs to pace the Roadrunners, who improved to 6-4 on the season. Darian Blake, a North Texas transfer, added a team-high five hits on the day and drove in a run.

Alexis Ramirez opened the first game with a walk and moved to second on her seventh stolen base of the season. After a ground out, Courtney Buchman gave UTSA a 1-0 lead with a single up the middle off North Texas starter Brittany Simmons.

The Roadrunners offense got going with three runs in the third and another three-spot in the fourth for a 7-0 lead.

Ramirez led off the third with a double to left center and advanced to third on Blake?s single to left. The Birds used their speed for a run as the pair pulled off a double steal to make it 2-0.

Two batters later, Low connected on her third home run of the season and the blast to left pushed the lead to 5-0.

In the fourth, Victoria Birdwell took first base after being hit by a pitch and scored on Paige Hamilton?s triple down the left field line. Blake then plated Hamilton with a single to left and Low drove in another with a single later in the frame that capped the scoring.

Meanwhile, Staton kept the Mean Green offense from getting on track with a season-high eight strikeouts. The Austin native gave up just two hits and allowed one base runner in the final two innings to improve to 3-1.

Simmons took the loss for North Texas after allowing 10 hits and seven runs in six innings.

Both starters in the circle put runners on the basepaths early in the second game, but were able to work out of jams to set the stage for a pitcher?s duel.

The contest remained scoreless until UTSA plated the game?s only runs in the fifth.

Hamilton reached base to start the frame on an error and moved to second with a sacrifice bunt. An infield single by Blake put runners on the corners and the Katy native stole second to put a pair in scoring position.

With two outs, Low singled to left to score both runners and earn her fourth and fifth RBIs of the day.

That proved to be enough for Jolene Graham in the circle, as the Sutter, Calif., native allowed just a two-out single in the seventh, but got the final out for her second win of the season.

Graham (2-1) scattered four hits, allowed two walks and recorded two strikeouts in the victory, while Lauren Poole (0-2) took the loss after surrendering two unearned runs.

The Roadrunners will be back in action at 12:15 p.m. on Friday when they face Southeastern Louisiana (8-2) in the squad?s opening game of the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station.

-UTSA-

Source: http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/content/os/sb-os/c-sb-os/art-c-sb-os/utsa-blanks-north-texas-in-doubleheader-sweep.shtml?55810

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Brain Age: Concentration Training (Nintendo 3DS)

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day was one of the first inexplicable hits of the Nintendo DS. It provided a regimen of brain teasers and puzzles to supposedly prevent decreasing brain function. I'm not a doctor, and I can't attest to whether it "worked" or not, but it was fun and a good game for commuting and killing minutes between activities. Several sequels and years later, Brain Age: Concentration Training jumps to the Nintendo 3DS with a new take on training your brain. Again, I don't know if it actually helps, but I do know its brain teasers and puzzles are addictive. Brain Age is a lot like Sudoku?only engaging and fun.

Devilishly Difficult
Brain Age: Concentration Training focuses on improving your "working memory" rather than keeping up brain function. It does this through several "Devilish Training" modes that make you track moves, keep numbers or words in your head, and otherwise hold several things in your head at once. As its name implies, it's a lot harder than the regular Brain Age activities. Modes like Devilish Calculations have you making a simple arithmetic calculation, then another, then remembering what the first one was. As you do better, you have to remember more and more, until you find yourself trying to keep four answers in your head and jotting them down in order while doing new calculations.

Each Devilish Training mode puts you through a five-minute marathon of testing, bumping up the difficulty if you get over 85 percent of the problems correct and bumping you down is you miss less than 65 percent. After five minutes, you're scored and your level is saved for when you use that mode next. There are eight different types of Devilish Training modes, but only one is available at first. The others unlock as you play a little more every day.

Other Attractions
Besides Devilish Training, there are Brain Training and Supplemental Training activities, each with nine different modes. Supplemental Training is a selection of classic Brain Age puzzles to keep your mind working. Brain Training is a collection of minigames including a few different solitaire games and puzzles. There's also a Relaxation Mode that includes a color-matching puzzle game, a Dr. Mario-like puzzle game (complete with pills and germs), and a relaxing music player.

StreetPass lets you compare your records with people you pass on the street. You can also keep track of family and friends' training on the same system. You can even compete with training partners and set goals for yourself against other players. There's no head-to-head mode, which is a shame considering there's a Dr. Mario game included, but Brain Age isn't a competitive activity, anyway.

Brain Age: Concentration Training offers a new way to train your mind and improve your working memory, or so Nintendo claims. I don't know if that's the case, but I do know that Brain Age: Concentration Training has enough activities to keep your brain engaged whenever you find yourself with a few minutes to kill, and is a great game for 3DS owners who don't necessarily want to play regular games. Even if it does absolutely nothing for the brain, it's worth a solid four stars on the strength of its fun puzzles and tremendous replayability.

More Video Game Reviews:
??? Brain Age: Concentration Training (Nintendo 3DS)
??? Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3)
??? Fire Emblem: Awakening (Nintendo 3DS)
??? Fist of the Northstar: Ken's Rage 2 (Xbox 360)
??? Anarchy Reigns (Xbox 360)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/Dk4OKF4YPX0/0,2817,2415655,00.asp

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4 dead, including gunman, in Calif. shooting spree

TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) ? The early morning commute was just getting under way on suburban Orange County's network of freeways when Melvin Lee Edwards pulled up to a stop sign near a busy off-ramp.

It was just after 5 a.m. and Edwards, 69, was on his way to work when, police say, a fleeing murder suspect forced him out of his BMW at gunpoint, marched him across the street and shot him three times from behind as horrified commuters watched.

The shooting was the second of three murders in a trail of carnage early Tuesday that spanned 25 miles ? but lasted just an hour. The shooter, 20-year-old Ali Syed, killed a woman in the home he shared with his parents, killed two drivers during carjackings, injured two others and shot up cars on a busy freeway interchange before committing suicide as police closed in, authorities said.

Syed, an unemployed part-time community college student, had no known motive and acted alone, said Tustin police Chief Scott Jordan. The first victim, a woman in her twenties, has not been identified and was not related to Syed, he said.

The violence began at 4:45 a.m., when deputies responded to a call from Ladera Ranch, a sleepy inland town about 55 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They found the woman shot multiple times.

Syed's parents were in the house at the time, fled the residence when shots were fired, and reported it, Jordan said.

From Ladera Ranch, the gunman headed north and pulled off Interstate 5 in Tustin, about 20 miles away, with a flat tire, police said.

A man who was waiting in a shopping center parking lot to carpool with his son saw Syed had a gun and tried to escape in his Cadillac, Jordan said. Syed ran after the car as it drove away and fired his shotgun through the back window, striking the driver in head but not killing him.

The driver "noticed that he was loading his shotgun, so he simply gets back in his car and tries to escape," Jordan said. "He's driving through the parking lot trying to get away and the suspect is actually chasing him on foot, taking shots at him."

Syed then crossed the street to a Mobil gas station, where he approached the driver of a pick-up who was filling his tank and asked for his keys, Jordan said.

"He says something to the effect of, 'I've killed somebody. Today's my last day. I don't want to hurt you. Give me your keys,'" the police chief said. "He hands over the keys and he gets in the truck and leaves."

Syed got back on the freeway, where he pulled to the side of the road at the busy I-5 and State Route 55 interchange and began firing at commuters, Jordan said.

One driver was struck in the mouth and hand. He didn't have a cellphone, but was able to drive home and call police. Two other cars were hit but their drivers weren't injured, Jordan said.

"All of this is happening so quickly," he said, estimating that Syed shot at drivers from the side of the freeway transition for about a minute.

The shooter then exited the freeway in nearby Santa Ana but ran the curb and got his car stuck, authorities said.

He approached Edwards, of Laguna Hills, who was on his way to his Santa Ana business. Syed shot Edwards three times, including in the back of the head and the back, Jordan said.

Onlookers "tried to get away. They saw what was going on, they tried to get away and they called police," he said.

Syed took Edwards' BMW and next popped up at the Micro Center, a Tustin business, where he shot and killed construction worker Jeremy Lewis, 26, of Fullerton. Lewis' co-worker rushed to intervene and was shot in the arm, Jordan said.

Syed took the second construction worker's utility truck and fled to Orange, this time with California Highway Patrol officers in pursuit. He jumped from the moving utility truck at an intersection in Orange, about five miles away, and shot himself in the head, Jordan said.

"There really wasn't a confrontation at the very end," he said. "It happened so quickly."

A shotgun was recovered at the scene and is believed to be the only weapon used.

A message left at Syed's parents' home wasn't immediately returned on Tuesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/man-goes-shooting-rampage-calif-3-killed-085225997.html

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Poll: Pac-12 and the NFL draft

February, 19, 2013

Feb 19

7:00

PM ET

ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay are both predicting four Pac-12 players will be taken in the first round of the NFL draft. With the NFL scouting combine starting this week, it's possible that number could rise -- or drop -- pending workout performances. As of right now, the four players mocked in the first round are Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (No. 1 by McShay/No. 3 by Kiper), Oregon outside linebacker Dion Jordan (5/9), California wide receiver Keenan Allen (27/22) and Stanford tight end Zach Ertz (30/19).

McShay and Kiper agree on the four players -- but Kiper ranks Ertz higher than Allen while McShay gives the nod to the Cal receiver.

Could a fifth or sixth player enter the first round? ESPN's Adam Schefter reports it's possible that USC quarterback Matt Barkley could still end up being the first quarterback taken in the draft and possibly in the first round. Could one of the running backs -- with a strong performance at the NFL combine -- make a push? There's a lot of defense in the two mock drafts, so maybe a linebacker like Chase Thomas, a defensive back like Desmond Trufant or a defensive end like Datone Jones sneaks in. Look again at the Pac-12 players invited to the combine and see if there is a first-round sleeper in the mix.

Four would be consistent with how the Pac-12 did last year. In 2012, it was Andrew Luck (No. 1), Matt Kalil (No. 4), David DeCastro (No. 24) and Nick Perry (No. 28).

Will that number stay the same in 2013? Your Tuesday poll question: How many Pac-12 players will be taken in the first round of the NFL draft?

• ESPN.com Pac-12/Stanford blogger
• Joined ESPN.com in 2011
• Wrote for The San Diego Union-Tribune

Tags:

Datone Jones, David DeCastro, Nick Perry, Matt Barkley, Andrew Luck, Dion Jordan, Desmond Trufant, Chase Thomas, Matt Kalil, Keenan Allen, Zach Ertz, Star Lotulelei, 2013 Pac-12 poll

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/53839/poll-pac-12-and-the-nfl-draft

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Sony 46" 120Hz 1080p WiFi LED LCD HDTV for $700 + free shipping

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New Zealand's Fonterra: Culled China milk powder imports not ours

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, said none of its products had been destroyed in China as it sought to allay concerns fuelled by reports that milk powder imports from New Zealand had been culled there.

Initial worries that New Zealand milk powder had been destroyed weakened the New Zealand dollar on Tuesday. The safety of the country's milk products is a sensitive issue for the local currency as dairy products account for around one-third of the country's exports.

Chinese media in recent days reported on spoiled products destroyed or rejected by China's food quality authority (AQSIQ) in November and December, including Chinese brands of infant formula made with powder imported from New Zealand that did not conform to Chinese product specifications.

The AQSIQ also culled batches of Herobaby milk formula imported from Europe that were found contaminated with salmonella, as well as 210 metric tons of Anhydrous Milk Fat from New Zealand and cheddar cheese made by Kraft Foods , both of which had passed their expiration dates, according to the original report in the Nanfang Daily.

"(The AQSIQ's) latest list, published yesterday, refers to a sum total of 97.2 kilograms (of formula) - that's less than four bags of bulk export product," Kelvin Wickham, Fonterra's managing director of Greater China and India, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"None of the items mentioned by AQSIQ were Fonterra products," he added.

Last month, reports that traces of a potentially toxic chemical had been found in a New Zealand milk samples had also prompted some selling in the kiwi.

Foreign milk powder brands and imported formula command a premium in China, following numerous safety scandals involving Chinese infant formula including the deliberate contamination of baby powder in 2008 with melamine that killed at least six babies and sickened 300,000.

The firm at the centre of the melamine scandal, in which Fonterra owned a stake, eventually collapsed. Fonterra now sells New Zealand milk ingredient products into China and also operates three dairy farms in Northern China.

Chinese news reports routinely highlight any safety issues with imported formula.

(Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu in WELLINGTON and Lucy Hornby in BEIJING, additional reporting by Huang Yan in Beijing; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/zealands-fonterra-culled-china-milk-powder-imports-not-052925132--finance.html

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Family remembers Shelly McGrade as lover of shopping, chocolate ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The family and friends of Shelly McGrade meet to discuss with the Telegraph events from Shelly's life in the home of Shelly McGrade's father, Dennis McGrade in Lowell, Mass. on Monday, Feb 11, 2013. Enlarge Purchase Photo. img. Staff photo by WILLIAM ... 29 in a Hillsborough County Superior Court jury trial of second-degree murder for stabbing McGrade, 35, to death on April 18, 2008, in their Wilton home. Duling faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced ...

Source: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/994210-469/family-remembers-shelly-mcgrade-as-lover-of.html

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New material interface improves functioning of non-silicon-based electronic devices

Feb. 17, 2013 ? For the first time, researchers have designed a special material interface that has been shown to add to and to improve the functioning of non-silicon-based electronic devices, such as those used in certain kinds of random access memory (RAM). According to Qi Li, a professor of physics at Penn State University and the leader of the research team, the new method could be used to design improved, more-efficient, multilevel and multifunctional devices, as well as enhanced nanoelectronic components -- such as non-volatile information storage and processing; and spintronic components -- an emerging technology that uses the natural spin of the electron to power devices.

The research has been accepted for publication in the journal Nature Materials.

Li explained that most modern-day electronic chips -- integrated circuits that serve as the building blocks for semiconductor electronic devices such as solar cells, personal computers, and cell phones -- use silicon transistors to process "logical states," or the binary system of ones and zeros used by computers. This binary information is stored for fast access in RAM and also permanently in a magnetic form on hard disks. In this system, the numeral 1 can be understood as "on" -- with a current of electrons flowing freely -- and the numeral 0 as "off" -- with a current blocked. However, in recent years, Li said, researchers in laboratories across the world have been experimenting with different, non-silicon materials that "can toggle between a multilevel state system and can bring the memory into logic operation," and also function with greater speed and less power consumption than are possible with current technology.

Now, in a new research study, Li and her colleagues have designed and tested an alternative way of creating a device that is compatible with non-silicon technology and that combines into one device both an electronic and a magnetic junction. "Magnetic tunnel junctions -- which include two magnetic metallic layers with a very thin insulator barrier in between -- have been used for binary-state devices, such as magnetic random-access memories (MRAM). Tunneling itself is a quantum-mechanical effect," Li said. "Our goal was to create a multifunctional device with improved function by adding what we call a ferroelectric-magnetic interface -- a ferroelectric layer replacing the insulator barrier and a special interface layer, less than one nanometer thick, built into the device that acts to change from metal to insulator as well as from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic in response to the negative or positive charge polarization of the barrier." Thanks to this interface and through a phenomenon called the tunneling electroresistance effect, Li said, "we have found that the binary-state resistance difference, or the 1/0 system, is enhanced by up to 10,000 percent. This device is considered a quaternary-state device because we have integrated ferroelectric tunneling -- which can be used as a switch or memory -- into magnetic tunnel junctions, a type of magnetic memory."

Li added that her team's newly designed interface is special because the oxide materials used to build it are "multiferroic" -- one side magnetic and the other ferroelectric, with the magnetic layer changing with the ferroelectric switching. Ferroelectric materials, which are used in the capacitors built into medical ultrasound machines, as well as in other memory devices such as hotel key cards, have a spontaneous electric polarization of negative and positive charges that can be reversed. On the other hand, ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, form permanent magnets with magnetization direction also reversible. "Because our new interface combines both magnetic and ferroelectric properties and because we utilize the coupling effect between the two, we can reproduce a similar binary system with a much larger resistance difference between the two charge-polarization directions. With future modifications, faster switching and storage, or toggling, between 1 and 0 with the information also stored in the same device (or between the states of 1, 2, 3, and 4) may be possible," Li said. "With a 10,000-percent enhancement, the 1 is a stronger 1 and the 0 is a stronger 0, thanks to the physical properties of the materials used to build the interface structures. Stronger 1s and 0s mean sharper switching or fewer memory errors and better and faster information processing and storage power."

Li said that non-silicon materials that use enhanced tunneling-electroresistance-effect technology may be many years away from being available in personal computers and cell phones. However, her research is a next step toward demonstrating the feasibility of this technology. "A few of the exciting outcomes of a multiferroic interface built into tunnel junctions would be doubling the memory states from two to four, a switch and a memory in one chip, and electrical control of the magnetic devices. For example, a new generation of non-volatile multilevel data processing and storage would be possible with the combined memory of MRAM and ferroelectric RAM (fRAM) or logic operation." Li said.

Li explained that memory is considered non-volatile if it is stored even when it is not powered. "Most computers use dynamic random-access memory (dRAM) -- a form of computer data storage in which stored information fades from the capacitor unless it is refreshed periodically," Li said. "But with both MRAM and fRAM, if you shut down your computer while you are watching a video, then the video would pop back up on the screen immediately as soon as you powered the computer back on again. No restart of the window in your personal computer would be necessary."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Penn State. The original article was written by Katrina Voss.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Y. W. Yin, J. D. Burton, Y-M. Kim, A. Y. Borisevich, S. J. Pennycook, S. M. Yang, T. W. Noh, A. Gruverman, X. G. Li, E. Y. Tsymbal, Qi Li. Enhanced tunnelling electroresistance effect due to a ferroelectrically induced phase transition at a magnetic complex oxide interface. Nature Materials, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nmat3564

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/technology/~3/y6DP6h-chS4/130219091012.htm

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2m accuracy for GPS claimed by Spanish researchers | SMART Group

GPS with an accuracy of 2m has been developed by researchers at Carlos III University in Madrid.

The researchers added three gyroscopes and three accelerometers to a conventional GPS system to pinpoint the position of cars in cities to within 2m.

Unaided GPS has an accuracy of 50m in cities because of the ?Urban Canyon? effect of signals being affected by buildings, say the researchers, or an accuracy of 15m in open countryside.

The researchers are now working to put the same system into smartphones exploiting the normal sensor range of smartphones which includes an accelerometers, gyroscope and magnetometer as well as the WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular communications links.

See also: What?is? the Android Sensor Manager?

Article source: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2013/02/18/55583/2m-accuracy-for-gps-claimed-by-spanish-researchers.htm

Source: http://www.smartgroup.org/industry-news/2m-accuracy-for-gps-claimed-by-spanish-researchers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2m-accuracy-for-gps-claimed-by-spanish-researchers

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'We've All Been There' wins at short film festival

SYDNEY (AP) ? An Australian film about a woman in need benefiting from the kindness of others won top honors at the world's biggest short-film festival.

"We've All Been There" director Nicholas Clifford received the Tropfest first-place award Sunday from judging panelist and "Avatar" actor Sam Worthington.

Worthington said earlier about judging the festival, "It's not about budget, it's not about box office, it's about pure entertainment and that to me is what film should be about. Not all that other junk."

Clifford joked later that he gets grief about resembling Worthington, so their meeting "is going to give everyone a bit more ammunition to throw at me."

His film's star, Laura Wheelright, was named best actress while Nick Hamilton was named best actor for the time-travel tale, "Time."

For his first-place win, Clifford gets $10,000 cash, a trip to Los Angeles to meet with film executives and other prizes.

The outdoor film festival held since 1993 has grown to a large-scale event attracting thousands to a park near Sydney's central business district.

The next Tropfest will be Dec. 8 in Centennial Park ? an advanced date and new location to accommodate larger crowds and to attract fans and VIP attendees without having to compete for attention with the Oscars and other international film events in February.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/weve-wins-short-film-festival-042227074.html

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Discovery bets on 2 dope series about pot growers

NEW YORK (AP) ? Cupcake makers, pawnbrokers and storage container raiders have all had their moments in reality television's spotlight. Now the time may be right for marijuana growers ? and the people who chase them.

The Discovery network debuts a six-episode series, "Weed Country," at 10 p.m. Wednesday and will replace it with "Pot Cops" in April. Both examine the marijuana trade in northern California.

It fits Discovery's efforts to introduce interesting subcultures to viewers, said Nancy Daniels, the network's executive vice president for production and development on the West Coast. Discovery tried a series about a medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland two years ago, "Weed Wars," and is sticking with dope even though the show didn't do very well in the ratings.

"We still think it's an interesting world and maybe we didn't tap into the right part of it," Daniels said.

Based on its first episode, "Weed Country" is a nuanced effort at giving equal time to both sides of the issue. Producers find colorful growers who use science to make the best product possible. They don't believe what they are doing is wrong. "We're flying the flag of civil disobedience," one grower said.

The growers may be trying to dodge the law, but don't hesitate to open up different facets of their business to television cameras.

At the same time, "Weed Country" shows the challenges faced by law enforcement. It follows one group's careful training for backwoods missions to find farms guarded by growers who are armed and intent upon protecting their crops.

"It surprised me with how deep and complex it was," Daniels said.

The show does have some distracting reality TV contrivances. Before one commercial break, a grower making a late-night delivery to a customer becomes suspicious of a van that ominously pulls out behind him on a dark road. After the break, the van drives innocently by. At another point, producers lead you to believe the grower is about to be pulled over by police when, after a commercial, it becomes clear the officer is going after someone else.

The "Pot Cops" series will be told from the point of view of law enforcement, after producers reached an agreement for access to officers hunting down marijuana farms in California's Humboldt County.

Discovery had planned to air the two programs back-to-back on the same night and promote it as "Weed Wednesday" on the network. But those plans were dropped because unrelated programming expected to be available this spring had fallen through and Discovery needed "Pot Cops" to fill a hole on its schedule in April.

The change had nothing to do with feeling cold feet about a "Weed Wednesday" promotion, Daniels said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/discovery-bets-2-dope-series-pot-growers-172720461.html

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'LivelyIcons' Animates Your Home Screen Icons, Helps Fight Pediatric Cancer Too!

'LivelyIcons' Animates Your Home Screen Icons, Helps Fight Pediatric Cancer Too!

Published on 02-16-2013 05:50 PM

For those of you that want to animate your iOS home screens, and help fight pediatric cancer, it would be worth your time to check out and purchase a new jailbreak tweak in Cydia today called LivelyIcons by iOS developer Filippo Bigarella.

Buying the tweak helps fight pediatric cancer, because for every copy sold, Filippo will donate $1 to two separate foundations focused on pediatric cancer research. Those two organizations are:

1. Citt? della Speranza, an Italian association based in Padova
2. Because of Ezra, a non profit pediatric cancer research foundation run by Kyle Matthews and Robyn Matthews

Filippo says that donating $1 to each of these organizations for each copy sold is important to him for personal reasons, and states that he will provide proof of the donations 4-5 weeks after the launch of LivelyIcons, which was released just today. Why did Filippo go through with this?:

I think it?s a great way to help other people and at the same time ?give something back? to the ones who donate: at the end of the day, you can get this new, little, fun tweak and at the same time do something good for all of us!

You can read more about the LivelyIcons for Research project here.

So what does LivelyIcons do? It will actually animate your home screen application icons when you tap on them to launch an application. The tweak comes with several animations to pick from, and a setting to choose the speed of the animations. The LivelyIcons preferences pane is shown below:

You can enable and disable the tweak on demand, and the slider adjusts the speed of the animations ? the further left the slider is, the quicker the animation will be, while the further right the slider is, the slower the animation will be. The animations you have to pick from are:

• Zoom In
• Wiggle
• Spin Clockwise
• Spin Counter Clockwise
• Spin Clockwise (Image)
• Spin Counter Clockwise (Image)
• Bounce
• Pacman (Horizontal)
• Pacman (Vertical)
• Ripple
• Shake
• Random

You won?t need to respring every time you make changes to the preferences pane, as your options will be applied automatically. It?s a fun tweak that will make your home screen more fun to use, and at the same time, you donate to a good cause by buying the tweak.

LivelyIcons is available right now in Cydia's BigBoss repository for $1.99 and supports iOS 6 only.

Source: http://modmyi.com/content/10063-livelyicons-animates-your-home-screen-icons-helps-fight-pediatric-cancer-too.html

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Black Facebook Fight Turns to Boiling Oil Used as Weapon

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Source: http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=151771&goto=newpost

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They Are Wearing: London Fashion Week

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Source: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/they-are-wearing/they-are-wearing-london-fashion-week-6768860?src=rss/recentstories/20130216

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Slithering towards extinction

Friday, February 15, 2013

Nineteen percent of the world's reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction, states a paper published today by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in conjunction with experts from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).

The study, printed in the journal of Biological Conservation, is the first of its kind summarising the global conservation status of reptiles. More than 200 world renowned experts assessed the extinction risk of 1,500 randomly selected reptiles from across the globe.

Out of the estimated 19% of reptiles threatened with extinction, 12% classified as Critically Endangered, 41% Endangered and 47% Vulnerable.

Three Critically Endangered species were also highlighted as possibly extinct. One of these, a jungle runner lizard Ameiva vittata, has only ever been recorded in one part of Bolivia. Levels of threat remain particularly high in tropical regions, mainly as a result of habitat conversion for agriculture and logging. With the lizard's habitat virtually destroyed, two recent searches for the species have been unsuccessful.

Dr. Monika B?hm, lead author on the paper: "Reptiles are often associated with extreme habitats and tough environmental conditions, so it is easy to assume that they will be fine in our changing world.

"However, many species are very highly specialised in terms of habitat use and the climatic conditions they require for day to day functioning. This makes them particularly sensitive to environmental changes," Dr. B?hm added.

Extinction risk is not evenly spread throughout this highly diverse group: freshwater turtles are at particularly high risk, mirroring greater levels of threat in freshwater biodiversity around the world. Overall, this study estimated 30% of freshwater reptiles to be close to extinction, which rises to 50% when considering freshwater turtles alone, as they are also affected by national and international trade.

Although threat remains lower in terrestrial reptiles, the often restricted ranges, specific biological and environmental requirements, and low mobility make them particularly susceptible to human pressures. In Haiti, six of the nine species of Anolis lizard included in this study have an elevated risk of extinction, due to extensive deforestation affecting the country.

Collectively referred to as 'reptiles', snakes, lizards, amphisbaenians (also known as worm lizards), crocodiles, and tuataras have had a long and complex evolutionary history, having first appeared on the planet around 300 million years ago. They play a number of vital roles in the proper functioning of the world's ecosystems, as predator as well as prey.

Head of ZSL's Indicators and Assessment Unit, Dr Ben Collen says: "Gaps in knowledge and shortcomings in effective conservation actions need to be addressed to ensure that reptiles continue to thrive around the world. These findings provide a shortcut to allow important conservation decisions to be made as soon as possible and firmly place reptiles on the conservation map,"

"This is a very important step towards assessing the conservation status of reptiles globally," says Philip Bowles, Coordinator of the Snake and Lizard Red List Authority of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. "The findings sound alarm bells about the state of these species and the growing threats that they face globally. Tackling the identified threats, which include habitat loss and harvesting, are key conservation priorities in order to reverse the declines in these reptiles."

The current study provides an indicator to assess conservation success, tracking trends in extinction risk over time and humanity's performance with regard to global biodiversity targets.

ZSL and IUCN will continue to work with collaborating organisations to ensure reptiles are considered in conservation planning alongside more charismatic mammal species.

###

Zoological Society of London: http://www.zsl.org

Thanks to Zoological Society of London for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 45 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126850/Slithering_towards_extinction

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Authorities in California say fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner died of a singl...

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/newstalk1010/posts/10151319820658577

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Foursquare for Android now makes it easier to find friends, places nearby

It's safe to say the Android folk account for a pretty good chunk of Foursquare's hefty user base, so it's only logical for the social firm to often bring more and more new features to the highly-rated app. As such, today Foursquare announced it has added a few additional tidbits to its Android offering, including a couple which are bound to make it simpler for users of the service to find nearby spots and friends via the application's main map. What's more, Foursquare's moved the "To-Do List" feature over to the app's left drawer for easier access, while the essential "Check In" button also has a new home on that same side but toward the bottom corner. It's worth noting that despite the latest version being live right now, Foursquare says these changes will be rolling out "over the next few weeks" -- in other words, fret not if you're not seeing the novelties show up just yet, as they're sure to be coming very soon.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile

Comments

Source: Foursquare Blog, Google Play

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/xWjBgZQ13tY/

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Iran says it is installing new-generation centrifuges

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran started installing a new generation of uranium enrichment machines at its Natanz nuclear site last month, Iran's atomic energy organization chief was quoted as saying on Wednesday by Iranian media.

"From last month the installation of the new generation of these machines started in the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan complex (Natanz)," Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).

"We have produced the machines as planned and we are carrying out the installation gradually ... to complete the tests relevant to the new generation."

The U.N. nuclear watchdog had told its member states that Iran had announced plans to install and operate advanced uranium enrichment machines, in what would be a technological leap allowing it to significantly speed up activity that the West fears could be used to develop a nuclear weapon.

In a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran said it would introduce the new IR2-m centrifuges to its main enrichment plant near the central town of Natanz, according to an IAEA communication to member states seen by Reuters on January 31.

According to the Fars news agency, Abbasi-Davani also said on Wednesday that the new generation of centrifuges were specifically for lower-grade enrichment of uranium below 5 percent purity, and not the higher-grade enrichment to 20 percent that most worries the West.

(Reporting By Zahra Hosseinian in Zurich and Yeganeh Torbati in Dubai; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-says-installing-generation-uranium-enrichment-machines-113300449.html

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Apple's Cook Touts Software, Apps At Goldman Conference ...

Despite the phenomenal success of its iPhones and iPads, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) isn't a mere hardware company, according to CEO Tim Cook.

Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Cook said that "because we're not a hardware company, we have other ways to make money and reward shareholders," adding that Apple generated $3.7 billion in software and services revenue last quarter. "If you look at that compared to software and services companies, it's an incredible amount of revenue."

Cook pointed out that the purchase of an Apple device opens the door to additional revenue for the company. "We don't look at the sale of a product as the last part of our relationship with a customer," he said. "It's the first."

From iTunes to the company's ever-growing App store, Apple has a host of highly lucrative non-hardware products in its arsenal. In 2011, the company also launched iCloud, touting services such as cloud-based document storage and iTunes in the cloud.

There have already been a mind-boggling 40 billion downloads from the company's App Store, which boasts over 800,000 apps. Underlining the sheer scale of the ecosystem, Cook explained that Apple has paid $8 billion to developers. "That's an unbelievable number," he added.

Cook also took a swipe at PC giants such as HP (NYSE:HPQ) during his presentation, explaining that the tablet market still represents a huge opportunity for Apple.

Apple, he noted, sold 23 million iPads during its recent fiscal first quarter. "To put the 23 million in some context -- HP, which is the world's largest PC seller, in that quarter sold 15 million PCs," he said. "Last year there were more iPads sold than HP sold of its entire PC lineup."

Although tablets have traditionally been perceived as a different breed of device, tech research firm Canalys recently counted tablet computers among PC sales, noting that Apple is the dominant player in the space. By Canalys' definition, one-in-six PCs shipped in the fourth quarter of 2012 was an iPad.

Cook spoke for 59 minutes during his eagerly anticipated appearance at the conference, answering a series of questions from Goldman analyst Bill Shope.

Inevitably, the Apple CEO was quizzed on hedge fund manager David Einhorn's decision to sue Apple. The Greenlight Capital president wants his fellow shareholders to vote against Apple's proposal to do away with preferred stock, which he says restricts "the board's ability to unlock the value on Apple's balance sheet."

Last week, Apple issued a statement responding to Einhorn's letter, saying it will "thoroughly evaluate Greenlight Capital's current proposal to issue some form of preferred stock. We welcome Greenlight's views and the views of all of our shareholders."

Cook, however, described the lawsuit as "a silly sideshow" and a "distraction" during his presentation at the Goldman Sachs conference.

"My preference is that both parties would take the money they are spending on this and donate it to a worthy cause," he added.

Nonetheless, the CEO reiterated Apple's prior commitment to "thoroughly" evaluate and consider the Einhorn proposal.

Apple shares dipped 1.4% to $473.13 on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/Apple-Tim-Cook-hardware-iPad-PC/2/12/2013/id/48076

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Chinese 'Maternity Tourism' Targeted By California

Nearby, a string of so-called "maternity hotels," where Asian women -- often Chinese and Taiwanese -- come to give birth to babies who will automatically acquire a US passport -- has recently drawn the attention of authorities.

There is nothing illegal about foreign women giving birth in the United States. But federal officials are investigating possible related crimes, while local officials say planning regulations may have been violated.

Since December, there have been 64 complaints, mostly involving the districts of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights, Alex Garcia, an LA County planning department official told AFP.

Inspectors entered 16 of these lodgings for pregnant women, and found that five of them were operating as boarding houses for Chinese or Taiwanese women, he said.

A 26-year-old woman, seven months pregnant, who offers the pseudonym Xui Li, has just arrived from Beijing, to give birth on US soil. As other compatriots, she hesitates before discussing the reason for coming with her.

But in the end she opens up -- not giving her real name, of course -- as she browses in the stroller aisle in a store across the road from Pheasant Ridge, where she lives.

"It's my choice for my baby. Maybe later he can have a good education. US has the best universities in the world. In the future, maybe he can come here if he wants," she tells AFP.

As US citizens, her baby will be eligible for college loans and grants. And her parents will be able to apply for a family visa, if they want to settle in the United States.

A couple, who also ask not to be named, say their reasons are different.

"We want to have another child. After the birth of a child, it's not possible," he says, referring to China's one-child policy -- which only counts the number of officially Chinese children.

"If the child is born in a foreign country, the Chinese (officials) are not going to ask for ID," he added.

USA Baby Care, which has a hotel in Anaheim -- near Disneyland, south of Los Angeles -- offers lodging and prenatal care for expectant mothers -- but offers other reasons to convince Asian women to give birth in the US.

"In the case of political instability or unrest, US citizens enjoy the protection of the US government," it says on a Chinese-language website, which has a picture of a baby next to the Statue of Liberty and US Capitol.

"Even if there is an airspace shut-down, they enjoy priority to get on a plane to leave," notes the service, which has prices ranging from $14,000 to $22,000.

But mothers, like the organizations or people who house them, run serious risks with US authorities, depending on exactly how they go about it.

"There is nothing in the law that makes it illegal for pregnant women to enter the United States," Virginia Kice, regional spokeswoman for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told AFP.

"However if a pregnant woman or anyone else uses fraud or deception to obtain a visa or gain admission to the United States, that would constitute a criminal act," she added.

"Likewise, that would also be true if someone conspires with others who then commit fraud on his or her behalf.

She noted that the "focus on in any visa fraud probe would be on the instigators or organizers, since that is key to disrupting and ultimately dismantling the criminal activity.

"Often the defendants who orchestrate such schemes face violations beyond just visa fraud," including possible conspiracy, money laundering, and making false statements, she added.

As for those who rent lodgings, they are often in purely residential neighborhoods where commercial activity is illegal. Such services could face prosecution for tax evasion, said Garcia.

But inspectors then face the task of proving that they really are renting out rooms -- difficult if they are not allowed in, if they say they can't speak English, or agree among each other to say they are family member or friends.

In those cases no action can be taken, he said.

Source-AFP

Source: http://www.medindia.net/news/chinese-maternity-tourism-targeted-by-california-114219-1.htm

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