Category: News

  • Hughes Telematics takes us for a ride with Mercedes’ latest mbrace tech, demonstrates ‘OnStar in a box’ [w/video]

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    Click above to watch video after the jump

    You may not have heard of Hughes Telematics before, but this offshoot of the great Hughes empire provides the tech that, amongst other things, powers Mercedes’ latest mbrace technology, Benz’s response to OnStar. But that’s not all they do; the company is working on its own advanced infotainment system for the car, and also showed off a system informally called “OnStar in a box” – an easy-to-install device that will let you track exactly where your car is at any time, how fast it was going, and even what kind of mileage it was geting at the time. Somewhat more troubling, it also could allow others access to the same information, people like your insurance company. Good stuff, or Big Brother with an OBDII connection? Read on to find out.

    Continue reading Hughes Telematics takes us for a ride with Mercedes’ latest mbrace tech, demonstrates ‘OnStar in a box’ [w/video]

    Hughes Telematics takes us for a ride with Mercedes’ latest mbrace tech, demonstrates ‘OnStar in a box’ [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Volcker: Fed Must Retain Bank Supervisor Role

    Paul Volcker, the chairman of President Barack Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, made a forceful case Thursday against moves to reduce the Federal Reserve’s powers.

    Paul Volcker speaks to President Barack Obama. (AFP/Getty Images)

    In particular, Volcker, a highly influential former Fed chairman, said the Fed needs to retain its current bank supervisory role, taking issue with legislative proposals to strip it of those powers.

    Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the Economic Club of New York, Volcker said the Fed “needs both the ability to identify” problems in the financial sector “and the instruments to deal with them.”

    “In acting as lender of last resort, it must know its counterparties and know them well,” he added.

    Volcker got behind the favored position of the Obama administration and of a House bill that would put the Fed at the top of a new systemic-risk regulator structure. By extension, he implicitly opposed a competing Senate proposal that would see the Fed’s powers significantly reduced.

    Creating a robust Fed-controlled institution of this sort, which would aim to avoid financial crises by dealing aggressively with failing banks before they infect the broader system, is crucial to deal with the still unresolved “moral hazard” involved with bailing out “too big to fail” banks, Volcker said.

    “The old question of institutions being too big to fail looms larger than ever,” Volcker said. Unless regulators are given a robust “resolution authority” to take over failing banks, all other proposed reforms in areas such as accounting rules and banks’ capital requirements “won’t provide the safeguards that we need,” he said.

    Using a medical analogy to describe how the systemic regulator would take over failing banks without providing financial bailouts to their management or their shareholders, he said it would comply with the instruction “DNR: Do Not Resuscitate.”

    Volcker said he worried that the will to create such an authority is dissipating. He observed that “some market participants seem to be suggesting that the events of the past couple of years were [merely] a bad dream” and so do not require any “really substantial changes in the structured of markets.”

    In making these reforms, it is vital that the Fed’s independence and world-wide reputation is kept intact, Volcker said, noting that individuals and leaders around the world look to it for leadership.

    “We simply cannot afford…to erode that trust,” he said, especially not while U.S. global leadership in other areas “can no longer be taken for granted.”

    “We are plainly overextended in budgetary terms,” Volcker said, noting that the U.S. “relies on the kindness of strangers” to fund its massive fiscal obligations.

    Later, asked whether he supported Obama’s recent move to impose a risk-based tax on banks to help rein in the fiscal deficit, Volcker said he did.

    “This country and other countries are facing a very real problem as to how they deal with the cost of the losses involved” in the crisis, Volcker said. The bank tax “would seem to me not an unreasonable response to that.”


  • Report: Chrysler may abandon damaged Sebring nameplate

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    Chrysler Sebring replacement might not be a Sebring

    Remember when Ford thought so little of its longtime best-selling “Taurus” nameplate that it spent a fortune trying to push the replacement “500″ badge on customers? That lasted about as long as a “Project Runway” cycle. Well, Chrysler might be going the same route in the near future. Ward’s Automotive is reporting that Chrysler is about to drop its “Sebring” nameplate to shake the stink off its replacement expected later this year.

    Chrysler is about to launch nine models in the coming year that are so thoroughly upgraded they are calling them “new.” The Sebring is one of those models. The butt of many jokes within the industry and a slow seller to boot, the Sebring has become a symbol of Chrysler’s long, slow slide into near oblivion. It’s not surprising then to hear that when the heavily revamped vehicle appears at the end of 2010, it’s not likely to wear the “Sebring” name.

    We don’t think the name had much to do with Sebring’s failure, but we understand the desire to convince buyers that the replacement is a fresh start for this mid-size sedan, if not for Chrysler as a whole. A thoroughly reworked Sebring, however, might not be enough to capture new buyers if the name association is still so unpalatable. Maybe they should call it the Camry.

    [Source: Ward’s Automotive]

    Report: Chrysler may abandon damaged Sebring nameplate originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely

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    GT Academy demo screenshots – Click above for high-res image gallery

    The GT Academy, the partnership between Sony’s Gran Turismo game and Nissan, released a time trial demo last month to begin searching for a racer good enough to jump from high-def screen to high-speed chicane. Last year Lucas Ordoñez was the first to go from gamer to racer, scoring a podium in his first race with the GT Academy team. You need to get on it if you want to follow in his footsteps, because you’ve already got a million competitors – that’s how many folks have downloaded the time trial in the first three weeks.

    If that isn’t convincing enough, there is another less appealing reason to download the demo: GT5’s release has been delayed indefinitely. Sony didn’t indicate on its web site what caused the delay, saying only, “We apologize for any inconvenience.” It was not, however, the previously attributed marketing issues. Some reports point to “production issues” with the $60 million game. London’s Times newspaper, however, said analysts think this could be a deliberate Sony strategy. They suggest that Final Fantasy XIII did so well that Sony wants to release GT5 in the next financial year, after March, to lengthen the sales boost.

    We’ll lean toward production issues as opposed to a deliberate strategy. Heck, we’d believe werewolves caused the delay before we’d believe this was planned. The game does look phenomenal but it’s already three years overdue, meanwhile Forza 3 eats into market share. On top of that, we have never heard of a successful business strategy that involved telling your biggest fans, repeatedly, “We don’t have it yet,” then switching to, “We don’t know when we’re gonna have it… um, we’ll call you.”

    Will GT5 do well whenever it shows? Of course. But we will wonder how well it could have done. For now there’s always the GT Academy demo, and among those million downloaders you’ll want to look out for the one who goes by the name Duke Nukem Forever (whose initials are, coincidentally, DNF). There’s a press release on the time trial after the jump, and a pretty bunch of high-res screenshots below. Thanks to everyone who sent tips!

    Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

    [Source: Reuters]

    Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely

    Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Manhattan Rents Fall Across The Board

    rent

    (This guest post originally appeared at the author’s blog, Matrix)

    The 4Q 2009 Manhattan Rental Market Overview that I author for Prudential Douglas Elliman was released today.

    Other reports we prepare can be found here.

    Our data section is being re-built to accommodate rental results but in the mean time you can check out our growing rental chart library.

    Press coverage can be found here.

    The report tracks new rental activity, not renewals. Over the past three quarters, landlords have been much more aggressive with their efforts to bolster tenant retention. Anecdotal stories of landlords approaching tenants with lower rent offers continue, however the amount of concessions being offered appeared to level off a bit this quarter.

    An excerpt

    …All rental price indicators, excluding concessions, were below levels seen in the same period a year ago, but showed signs of stability since the prior quarter. Rental price per square foot was $47.02, down 4.6% from the prior year quarter and down 1.7% from $47.84 in the prior quarter. Average rental price fell 4.3% to $3,789 in the fourth quarter from $3,958 in the prior year quarter, but saw a nominal 0.8% uptick from $3,759 in the prior quarter. The smaller price declines and mixed results from the prior quarter suggest near term stabilization in prices…

    Download 4Q 2009 Manhattan Rental Market Overview

    Read more housing analysis at Matrix — >

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • Segway Business Shifting Gears with Ownership and Management Changes

    segway-logo
    Ryan McBride wrote:

    Segway, the maker of two-wheeled transporters of the same name, has been sold through a merger with a UK holding company for an undisclosed sum, and the firm’s CEO, Jim Norrod, has stepped down from his post after nearly five years in that role, a company spokesman confirmed today. Reports about the action at Segway have been swirling since yesterday, after chatter about the merger and management reshuffle surfaced on online forums earlier this week.

    The Bedford, NH-based firm also confirmed the reports about the merger today on its blog, saying that the deal was completed on December 24. The acquiring company is backed by British businessman Jimi Heseldon, the chairman of Leeds, UK-based military container maker Hesco Bastion.

    Norrod left the chief executive position at Segway last week, and the firm’s financial chief, Brian Cohen, has taken over Norrod’s responsibilities on an interim basis, said company spokesman Eric Fleming today. He said that the company will remain headquartered in New Hampshire, where most of its 85 employees are based. The new owner is also expected to provide an undisclosed amount of fresh capital for the operation.

    Fleming declined to provide more details about information from a recent letter to shareholders that has appeared in online Segway forums this week. One of the shareholders who received the letter wrote that Tricia Laidler has been named CEO of the company and Wayne Mitchell of a UK Segway dealership has been appointed chief operating officer. Fleming would not confirm these details, however.

    This does not appear to have been a profitable transaction for some of Segway’s investors, given that at least one shareholder commented on a Segway forum that his recently received shareholder letter says that all common stock in the privately held company has no exchange value in the merger transaction. Fleming wouldn’t comment on how investors made out in the merger. The company has reportedly raised some $176 million from high-profile investors such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity, to name a few, according to reports in Mass High Tech and other publications.

    The company’s sale is the latest episode in the story of a much-hyped technology that has fallen woefully short of expectations and lofty predictions about its impact on society. According to a retrospective piece on Segway last month in Wired, Apple founder Steve Jobs forecasted early in the last decade that the Segway would outstrip the personal computer in significance.

    Dean Kamen, the famous inventor behind the Segway and other innovations, unveiled the transporter in 2001 with much fanfare, including this lofty feature in Time, headlined “Reinventing the Wheel.” Indeed, the Segway’s key innovations, such as its dynamic stabilization technology, are major feats of engineering. But the vehicles have never gained mainstream adoption. (They have, however, found a niche in the security and public safety markets—Fleming said that Segways are in use at more than 1,200 police installations and 525 tourist operations around the world.) Some have said the cost of the vehicle, which is in the $5,500 range, is too high for most people.

    Still, Segways still have a shot at popularity as interest rises in modes of transportation that are friendly to Mother Nature. In April, Segway and General Motors announced a collaboration to develop a larger version of the two-wheeled transporter that has seating. The companies called the effort Project P.U.M.A (for personal urban mobility and accessibility) and said that the prototypes run on lithium-ion batteries and can be driven 35 miles between charges.

    Kamen, the head of R&D firm DEKA Research in Manchester, NH, was not available at his office today. We’ll update our readers on any changes in the Segway story as we learn of them.







  • New Ping Feature in waze Due Shortly

    The good folks over at waze don’t like to stand still very long.  Today we received word that a new version of waze, the free, social mapping software, should be going live later today or tomorrow.  So what’s new in the app?

    Like practically all mobile app updates, this version includes new performance fixes, improved responsiveness and lower memory use.   The main, new feature in waze is called “ping a wazer” which gives users the ability to send pings directly through waze to other users.  The opt-in service allows other waze ping you and check on weather conditions, road hazards, or just to say, “hello”.  Oh, you can ping others without setting yourself up for pings.

    If you’ve already installed waze you’re advised to keep an eye out for the update.  If you don’t have waze yet, we’re advising you check it out!

  • Hush Little Baby Robot [Robots]

    Researchers from the Machine Perception Laboratory at UCSD have developed this baby robot to simulate the development of a 1-year-old. And clearly, they’ve become somewhat attached to the little automaton with a gigantic head.

    The robot baby is named Diego-San, and aside from joy, he’s bundled with a high resolution camera and 6-axis accelerometer. And while his coordination is limited to standing from a chair and holding a bottle, Diego-San’s face has 20 moving parts to convey emotion without speaking—the engineering of which probably necessitates the freakishly large head.

    On a related note, what’s it mean that I actually feel guilty calling the robot’s head “freakish?” My insides feel inexplicably icky, as if I’ve insulted an actual, helplessly deformed child. [PDF Source via BotJunkie via Geekologie]







  • Haiti: Should the US Evacuate American Citizens First?

    by Peter Spiro

    There are an estimated 45,000 US citizens in Haiti, and there’s an assumption that they should be first in line to receive US assistance.  As Hillary Clinton said yesterday, “They are our principal responsibility, to make sure that they’re safe, to evacuate those who need medical care.”  In his remarks this morning, President Obama stressed that “We will not rest until we account for our fellow Americans in harm’s way.”  The State Department has asked journalists in Haiti to get the word out that US citizens who would like to be evacuated should make their way to the airport.

    This makes the most sense for US government personnel (and perhaps especially their families).  It also probably makes sense for US citizens who were unlucky enough to find themselves in Port au Prince as tourists when the quake struck.  These are people who may be in some ways at special risk, in alien territory, and their government owes a special responsibility to them.

    But the vast majority of the 45,000 are not in either category.  (Another nontrivial category is aid workers who were already in place at the time of the quake, but assuming they are able-bodied, they are right where they want to be.)  Most are Haitian-born naturalized US citizens who had returned to Haiti; children born in the US to Haitian immigrants who returned to Haiti; or born in Haiti to US citizen parents.  In other words, US citizens who make Haiti their home.  (Most probably hold dual citizenship.  Although Haitian law does not recognize dual citizenship, in practice the status is common.)

    Should these individuals get priority for US help?  I don’t mean to challenge their entitlement to citizenship.  An estimated 4-5 million Americans live abroad, many permanently, and their right to retain citizenship as nonresidents is water under the bridge.  But as between a healthy US citizen who lives in Haiti (and who wants to get out because it is not a nice place to be now) and an injured non-US citizen who may die if not taken to a hospital ship or Miami or someplace where there are functioning medical facilities, the choice is not so obvious.  Evacuation capacities are finite.  Putting US citizens at the front of the line means putting others at the back.

  • Anápolis – GO de volta ao skyscrapercity em 2010 – 3° Parte

    Anápolis – GO de volta ao skyscrapercity em 2010 – 3° Parte

    A população atual é de 335.990 habitantes, segundo a estimativa do IBGE (www.ibge.gov.br) para 2009. Em população, Anápolis é a 69ª maior cidade brasileira, possuindo atualmente uma frota de mais de 180.000 veículos registrados (www.denatran.gov.br). A cidade sofreu colonização de mineiros, paulistas, paranaenses, árabes e japoneses, principalmente. É uma cidade bastante hospitaleira e tranquila, com baixos índices de criminalidade.

    01 – Panorâmica do centro da cidade a partir da BR 153 Região Leste

    02 – Busto em homenagem ás mães localizado na praça das Mães – centro – Bairro Jundiaí ao Fundo

    03 – Edifícios da Rua das Máquinas visualizados a partir do Parque da Criança – Bairro Maracanã

    04 – Panorâmica de parte do Skyline do Bairro Jundiaí ainda em processo de formação

    05 – Entrada do Parque da Criança – Bairro Maracanã

    06 – Pista de cooper em meio a floresta no Parque da Criança

    07 – Alguns edifícios do Centro vistos a partir do bairro Cidade Jardim

    08 – Skyline do Jundiaí visto a partir do Bairro Anápolis City

    09 – vista da em direção a Região Nordeste da cidade a partir do edifício comercial Cyllenio

    10 – Panorâmica da em direção a Região Sul da cidade a partir da Torre do Anashopping

    11 – Panorâmica do Skyline do Bairro Jundiaí entre a neblina visualizado a partir do Estádio Jonas Duarte

    12 – Panorâmica do Centro da Cidade a partir da GO – 330 em Campo Limpo de Goiás cidade vizinha

    13 – Panorâmica do Bairro Jundiaí a partir do Viaduto entre as BRs153 e 060

    14 – Unidade do Sesc de Anápolis – Bairro Jundiaí

    15 – Skyline do Bairro Cidade Jardim visualizado a partir da Praça Abadia Daher – Bairro Jundiaí

    16 – Paredão de edifícios se formando na Av. Jamel Cecílio – Bairro Jundiaí

    17 – Parque Jk, localizado no Bairro do mesmo nome

    18 – idem

    19 – Centro da cidade visto a partir da Av. Faiad Hanna

    20 – Bairro Jundiaí visto a partir da Av. Faiad Hanna

    21 – Vista panorâmica a partir do edifício do Senac

    22 – Praça do Ancião – Centro

    23 – Vista do Skyline do Bairro Jundiaí a partir da Praça do Ancião

    24 – Praça Bom Jesus – principal praça do centro da cidade

    25 – idem

    26 – idem

    27 – Praça 31 de Julho

    28 – idem

    29 – Lago do Central Parque no localizado no Bairro Nações Unidas

    30 – Cascata do Central Park

    31 – Praça Abadia Daher – bairro Jundiaí

    32 – Castata da Praça Abadia Daher

    33 – Panorâmica de parte da cidade em direção ao sul a vista a partir da Vila dos Oficiais na região norte

    34 – Avenida Goiás – Pricipal ligação entre as regiões leste e oeste da cidade

    35 – Prédio Sede da Unimed Anápolis

    36 – Brasil Park Shopping, Ginásio Interncional e vista do centro da cidade ao fundo

    37 – Anashopping

    38 – idem

    39 – Panorâmica do Bairro Jundiaí a partir da Vila dos Oficiais da Aeronautica

    40 – Vista panorâmica a partir do Bairro Anápolis City

    41 – idem

    42 – Avenida Jamel Cecílio – Bairro Jk

    43 – Panorâmica noturna da cidade

    44 – Foto Aérea de parte das regiões Central e Leste da cidade

    45 – Foto Aérea da Região Central da Cidade

    46 – Foto Aérea do Bairro Jundiaí

    47 – Panorâmica do Parque JK a partir da BR 153

    48 – Entrada da Base Aérea de Anápolis

    49 – Panorâmica noturna da cidade a partir do Viaduto da GO 222

    50 – Foto Noturna do Centro

    51 – Idem

    52 – Alguns edifícios do Centro vistos a partir do Edifício Farah

    53 – Avenida Goiás ao anoitecer

    54 – Avenida Brasil Sul

    55 – Chafariz da praça das Mães – noturna

    56 – Cascata da Praça Abadia Daher – noturna

    57 – Avenida Presidente Kennedy – Bairro Alexandrina

    58 – Panorâmica do Centro – noturna

    59 – Panorâmica do Centro da cidade

    60 – Vista do centro a partir da Universidade Anhanguera

    1° parte do thread disponível em:
    http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth…8#post45098558

    2° parte do thread disponível em:
    http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth…=986942&page=2

    Este thread ainda possui uma 4° parte – postarei em breve

    Créditos das Fotos:
    Pedro Henrique P. Santos
    Claudiomir J. Gonsalves

  • Marchionne: Alfa Romeo U.S. launch put on hold

    Fiat had planned on reintroducing Alfa Romeo back to the U.S. market as part of the brand’s centenary celebrations later this year. According to Fiat / Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, plans have now been put on hold.

    Speaking at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Marchionne said that Alfa must first prove it has “a right to exist as a separate brand” before being expanded into other markets.

    He said that if Alfa Romeo could not make a good product and business case for the North American market, it would remain a Euro-only brand.

    – By: Kap Shah

    Source: AutoCar


  • Fed Letter on Bank Supervision

    The following letter was sent by the Federal Reserve to the Senate Banking Committee on the central bank’s role in bank supervision.

    Dear Chairman Dodd and Ranking Member Shelby:

    Strengthening our financial regulatory system in ways that take the appropriate lessons from the crisis is essential for the long-term economic stability of our country.

    To this end, as you know, the Banking Committee has compiled an extensive hearing record and has begun considering specific reform proposals.

    A number of your colleagues on the Committee have recently asked for the Board’s views on the importance of the Federal Reserve’s continued role in bank supervision and regulation. In response to these requests, I am enclosing for you and your colleagues a document that discusses (1) how the expertise and information that the Federal Reserve develops in the making of monetary policy enable it to make a unique contribution to an effective regulatory regime, especially in the context of a more systemic approach to consolidated oversight; and (2) how active involvement in supervising the nation’s banking system allows the Federal Reserve to better perform its critical functions as a central bank.

    Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance. I look forward to working with you in the days ahead as the Committee continues its consideration of regulatory reform proposals.

    Sincerely,
    Ben S. Bernanke

    Read the rest of the letter for the Fed’s full argument


  • Blippy, the Twitter for credit cards, gets funding from Twitter co-founder

    blippyBlippy, a site where users can share their shopping habits, just raised $1.6 million in seed funding. What’s really impressive isn’t the size of the round, but rather the roster of investors, which includes famed venture firm Sequoia Capital, Charles River Ventures (where Blippy was incubated), prolific angel investor Ron Conway, Mahalo founder Jason Calcanis, Hot or Not co-founder James Hong, and Textmarks chief executive Ariel Poler. Most appropriately, given the occasional media description of Blippy as a Twitter for your credit card, Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams also participated in the funding.

    The big idea behind the Palo Alto, Calif. startup is that a lot of the data from your credit card can be used socially. Whenever you make a purchase with the credit card that you’ve linked to the Blippy site, it shows up in your profile, so people following you can see, for example, that you bought a movie ticket from Fandango. Co-founder Philip Kaplan (who previously founded the Fucked Company blog and ad network AdBrite) said it wasn’t that hard to convince Blippy’s investors to come on board, since several of them (including Williams and Sequoia’s Roelof Botha) were already avid users of the site. Assuming Blippy takes off, there are a lot of business opportunities around the social aspect of the platform and the data it’s collecting.

    Since Blippy launched its private test in December, 5,000 people have tried it out, sharing information about an estimated $5 million worth of purchases. Now, Kaplan said he and his co-founders Ashvin Kumar and Chris Estreich are confident they’ve worked out the major bugs and put most of the basic features in place, so Blippy is open to the general public. Anyone can visit the site to either share their credit card purchase information, or to just see what other users are sharing.

    “The goal for the next month or so is to see how people are using the site and see not only what benefit they’re getting out of it, but also what benefit they want to get out of it,” Kaplan said.

    The Blippy team might also release an API that allows developers to incorporate Blippy data into other applications.


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  • Windows Mobile 6.6 (aka ‘not Windows Mobile 7′) set for February release?

    The sometimes-believable, sometimes-not fellows over at DigiTimes are reporting today that Windows Mobile codename “Maldives” is going to break out as version 6.6 (a name we’d previously heard associated with version 7) with native support for capacitive touchscreens next month — a launch window that would line up nicely with Mobile World Congress, where 6.5 was announced a year prior. HTC’s HD2 has already proven that it’s possible to cleanly support capacitive touch on a 6.x-based device, so it’s reasonable to think that this is legit — but what we don’t yet know is how this dovetails with 6.5.3, whether they’re the same thing, and if Microsoft is doing this simply to buy itself a few precious extra months to bake WinMo 7 to a crispy, golden brown perfection. We’d already heard before that 6.x and 7 will have an opportunity to coexist in the marketplace, so it’s entirely possible that 6.6 is the version that’ll carry that torch on the 6.x side of things — but if this gets announced alone without a mention of Robbie’s ground-up rewrite at MWC, we’d wager there’ll be riots in Barcelona.

    Windows Mobile 6.6 (aka ‘not Windows Mobile 7′) set for February release? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Ableton, Serato announce ‘The Bridge,’ cause DJs to faint en masse

    Ableton and Serato — two of the biggest names in live music production — have been working in stealth mode over the past year to create what they’ve been billing as “the future of digital DJing,” and today that new product has been revealed as The Bridge. Basically, you’ve got a thin layer of software that sits between full versions of both Serato Live (or Itch) and Ableton Live that allows output from both products to flow into the other — DJ sets can be imported into Ableton with full control over effect parameters, tempo, pitch, and so on, and Ableton instruments can sit inside a Serato session. It’s an interesting advancement, and the way the companies are talking, this is just the first in a string of products of the partnership; the good news is that The Bridge will be free to owners of both products, but unfortunately there’s no release date yet, so raves are going to have to soldier on using last year’s technology for at least a while longer. Hang tight, we’re told it’s “coming soon.”

    Ableton, Serato announce ‘The Bridge,’ cause DJs to faint en masse originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • The Hasselbecks Switch Jobs For A Day

    Elisabeth Hasselbeck and husband Tim Hasselbeck will be trading places next week.

    The View pundit will be taking over Tim’s gig as an ESPN NFL analyst next Tuesday, Jan. 19, while Tim will co-host the ABC morning gabfest, alongside Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters, on Thursday, Jan. 21.

    Elisabeth and Tim have been married since 2002 and are the parents of three.

    “Hopefully I can pull this off because I see her preparation on a regular basis each week — reading, and watching cable news shows, other television programs and upcoming movies. I will enjoy this because I know they will have fun with me at ‘The View’ and, of course, when I get back to work at ESPN. I’m sure I’ll have a greater appreciation for what she does on a day-in and day-out basis,” Tim says of his upcoming trip to The View.

    “So many times we ask, ‘How did work go today?’” Elisabeth says. “Undoubtedly we will be finding out the hard way as we switch jobs. The question then will be, ‘What have we gotten ourselves into?’ ”


  • Sources Of Vegetarian Omega 3 And What Vegetarians And Vegans Should Know


    Vegetarian omega 3 sources allow those with alternative diets the same opportunity to enjoy omega 3 benefits. Vegetarians and vegans already have a diet that has been shown as beneficial for lowering the risk of heart problems and other diseases prevented by some fatty acids, but it is because it is rich in omega 6 and linoleic acid.
    Like most daily diets, these vegetable-based diets are low in omega 3 fats, often called alpha-linolenic acid, which allows your body to produce docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaeoic acid (EPA). These fats are the ones most people lack regardless of their diet, but also the most beneficial.
    Natural Food Sources
    Omega 3 benefits are generally associated with fish and fish oil, but those are not the only food sources rich in fatty acids. Flax oil and milled flax seeds are the richest vegetarian omega 3 sources. For an additional source of omega 6 and 3 sources, consider hemp seed and oil. Rape seed oil and olive oil contain smaller amounts of these nutrients, but you need to be careful since rape seed oil is an irritant for some people.
    Oils and seeds are not the only omega 3 foods from non-animal sources. Tofu and walnuts have some omega nutrients, but are actually higher in omega 6s than 3s. Dark, leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and other vegetables such as cabbage also have these powerful nutrients and make great additions to your diet.
    Vegetarian Omega 3 Fortified Foods
    Eggs are one food that has added omega 3 benefits because they are often naturally fortified by feeding the chickens an abundance of flax seeds. Milk producers and yogurt companies frequently add vegetarian based ALA as well. For strict vegetarian diets, however, these foods are off the list, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy the health benefits.
    Several brands of margarine and salad dressings use alternative oils such as olive or flax as their base. If you are drinking milk alternatives, consider soy drinks that include flax seed products. Yet another source of ALA for vegetarians is grain breads. The biggest rule of thumb is to read labels since different brands use different sources.
    Supplements
    One of the biggest omega 3 sources for everyone is supplements. Supplements are not necessarily from a vegetable base, so vegetarians need to watch labels. Flax, hemp, and perilla oils are a few of the common supplements available.
    All of the sources vary significantly in the actual omega 3 benefits your body receives. Fish oil, for example, requires two separate processes in order for your body to use the substance while flax oil requires three. One of the highest vegetarian sources of omega 3 is microalgae oil, which your body can begin to use immediately with no additional processing. Microalgae oil gives you the maximum benefit of omega 3s. In addition, microalgae oil contains the proper balance of EPA and DHA making it a far superior source to any other including fish.
    While foods and oils like flax oil and walnuts are a source of vegetarian omega 3, microalgae oil supplements is a higher source while being easier for your body to use. This allows everyone to enjoy omega 3 benefits and a healthy lifestyle.

    Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Omega
    3 Benefits and Microalgae Oil, visit
    http://www. Source-Omega. com.

    For great info on vegan vitamins, vegetarian supplements and nutrition, visit www.vegetarianvitaminsguide.com today!

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    Sources Of Vegetarian Omega 3 And What Vegetarians And Vegans Should Know is a post from the Vegetarian Vitamins Guide blog where you can find suggestions and advice from vegetarians and vegans on vegetarian diets, supplements, vitamins and overall nutrition.

    Related Vegetarian Vitamins Posts:

    1. Vegans and Vegetarians Get New Omega 3 Dha and Epa Exclusive Offering No longer are vegan and vegetarian omega 3s limited,…
    2. Are Omega 3 Fats Important To Fetal Development? DHA is an essential fatty acid found right through your…
    3. How Do Vegetarians Get Vitamins And Nutrients Usually Found In Meat? I’m in the process of transitioning to a vegetarian diet,…
    4. Does A High Fat Diet Cancel The Health Benefits Of Fish Oil? I have talked previously about the health benefits of fish…
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  • Woolrich Woolen Mills – Spring/Summer 2010 Lookbook

    woolrichwoolenmills-lookboo

    While Daiki Suzuki’s Engineered Garments is more workwear influenced, his shift to Woolrich Woolen Mills for the Spring/Summer 2010 takes more of a coastal approach. There is no doubt that some of Suzuki’s EG styles are infused within the Mills collection. However, his lighter and more casual approach to the label gives a certain balance of recreation and comfort. Outerwear is the focal point of the collection, which is versatile enough for pairing with shorts. The pajama like blazers and suiting are very comfortable alternatives to your modern summer suits. If Engineered Garments enthusiast were to vacation in coastal areas, this would be the collection that would take its place.

    Continue reading for more images.





















    Source: Denimaniac


  • Join PON to Celebrate the Publication of Professor Robert Mnookin’s New Book “Bargaining with the Devil”

    On Thursday, February 4, 2010, join us to celebrate the publication of Professor Robert Mnookin’s new book Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight. This event is co-sponsored by Harvard Law School, the Program on Negotiation, and Facing History and Ourselves.

    The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 PM in Pound Hall 101 (1st Floor, Pound Hall, Harvard Law School Campus).  Following the reception, Professor Robert Mnookin, Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow, Assistant Professor Gabriella Blum, and HLS Lecturer David Hoffman, founding partner, Boston Law Collaborative will discuss Bargaining with the Devil.

    Copies of Bargaining with the Devil will be available for purchase.

    Co-Sponsored by:

  • BackType Now Filters Out Boring Tweets, Launches New WordPress Plugin

    backtype_logo_jan09.pngConversations around blog posts now often happen offsite on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Sadly, a lot of plugins that try to bring these conversation back to the blog end up being somewhat useless, as large numbers of retweets can easily overshadow the more interesting tweets. Twitter search engine BackType just launched a major update to its search engine and a new WordPress plugin that aim to combat this problem. Starting today, BackType will filter out uninteresting tweets from its search results and its widgets.

    Sponsor

    Widgets and Plugins

    Last April, BackType released its first WordPress plugin. Unlike the original plugin, which features comments from sources like Twitter, Digg, FriendFeed,Reddit and other blogs, the new plugin only focuses on Twitter.

    Installing the plugin is straightforward. If you use WordPress, you can find the plugin and instructions for installing it here. If you use another blog engine, the widget can be found here. You don’t need to register with BackType to use this service.

    If nobody has tweeted anything interesting about your site yet, BackType will give your readers the option to send a tweet right from the widget. Sadly, BackType didn’t integrate a re-tweet feature into the plugin, which would have made the service even more useful for publishers.

    Here is the new BackType widget in action:

    BackType is obviously working in a crowded market. As a search engine, it has to compete with successful startups like OneRiot, while its plugin competes with more complete offerings from Disqus and JS-Kit. At the same time, though, the simplicity of the plugin is its greatest strength. If you don’t want to replace your current comment system but would like to bring in more discussions from Twitter to your blog, the new BackType plugin is definitely worth a look.

    Discuss