Category: News

A few years back, someone sued Apple, claiming that the iPod caused hearing loss, saying that the devices have an “inherently defective design” and that they need more warnings that you can acquire hearing loss if high volumes are used. The lawsuit eventually turned into a class action, which a district court dismissed. Now an appeals court has agreed, saying that the plaintiffs showed no evidence that an iPod “poses an unreasonable risk of noise-induced hearing loss.” Basically, the argument amounted to “you know, Apple could make iPods that are less likely to lead to hearing loss.” But that’s not legally actionable, and it’s good that the courts were quick to point that out.

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It’s almost January 1st, 2010 and we’ve been mulling over our favorites of 2009 – and the previous decade. Here we present another installment of our “Of the Decade” lists.

Valve’s follow-up to the revolutionary Half-Life is our game of the decade not just because it’s a fantastic game, but because it is a fine example of modern gaming. It exemplifies DLC done right, community support done right, and comes part and parcel with Steam, which has helped revolutionize digital distribution for games. All this while still being the standard by which other FPSes are measured.

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We’ve had some indication that Orange planned to expand its “HD Voice” technology beyond the hot testbed of Moldova sometime in the coming year, and it looks like the carrier is now starting to get a bit more specific about when the UK will finally have an alternative to standard definition calls. Apparently, Orange will begin trials of the new and improved, 3G-facilitated service early in the new year, and fully roll it out along with a “range of handsets” before the end of the year. Just what can you expect from HD voice? Why, it will make it “sound as if callers are actually in the same room,” according to Orange UK chief executive Tom Alexander, who further added that “HD voice really does inject a level of innovation into mobile phone calls,” and that “once people have tried it, they won’t want to go back.”

Orange plans to bring ‘HD Voice’ calls to UK next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WMExperts have published their full text review of the LG eXpo. They noted the construction was solid, like a smaller HTC Touch Pro 2. They did not like the free-hanging stylus, feeling it would be easy to misplace. They did however like that the device had a proximity and light sensor.  They were less enamoured with the fingerprint sensor, noting it was recessed just a bit too much to make use unreliable and uncomfortable.  This was a complaint Engadget also raised in their review of the device.

They found the keyboard good but not great, complaining of a crinkling sound when in use.

Their main complaint regarding the device appears to be the unresponsive screen, which they note to be well below modern resistive screen standards these days.

They found the device however fast and responsive, and battery life reasonable. The software bundle was felt to be reasonable but not outstanding. The camera and call quality was similarly middle of the road.

WMExperts concluded:

Out of the box and on paper, the LG eXpo looks, reads, and feels like a heavyweight contender in the Windows phone arena. However, once you get the eXpo up and running, the glitter tends to fade a little. LG has a well-constructed, feature-riddled phone, but there are enough shortfalls in eXpo’s performance that really hold this phone back.

The pre-loaded software is on par with any other Windows Phone and the native LG apps are a nice alternative to the Microsoft equivalents. Phone quality was good and the eXpo handled downloads with gusto and applications loaded and ran smoothly. The camera could be better but you can say that about a lot of Windows phones.

The frustration kept coming back to the phone’s two main input systems; the screen and fingerprint navigation system.  If LG could improve the screen and fingerprint navigation’s responsiveness, the eXpo would be a serious contender.

As is, it’s a "middle-of-the-road" Windows phone. The eXpo has a lot of potential and I think LG is headed in the right direction. The eXpo is a major improvement over it’s predecessor, the Incite. As is, though, it will be hard for the eXpo to compete with the AT&T Pure, Tilt2 or even the HP Glisten. Especially when you consider the pricing points are equal (less if you’re looking at the Pure and Glisten).

The LG eXpo is currently available through AT&T for $199 after rebates and contractual discounts.

Read their full review here.

This article is part two of a three part series by Attorney Jamie Feigelson.

As we last discussed, the new HUD rules are set to go into effect on January 1, 2010, but the enforcement of such rules will not be implemented until April 2010 to give time to settlement agents and lenders to adjust to the changes. The changes to both the Good Faith Estimate (“GFE”) and HUD settlement statement will have a tremendous impact on the entire settlement process.

To begin, the first change is that all residential lenders and mortgage brokers will be required to use a new GFE that clearly discloses loan terms and closing costs. Settlement agents and attorneys will also be using a new settlement statement for all residential loan closings. The statement will mirror the GFE and disclose any variances from the original figures. The main differences between the new and old GFEs are the standardization of the form; the grouping of fees; and the tolerance for variations from the GFE amounts at settlement.

The new GFE is a three page standardized document (as opposed to the old four-page version) that gives loan terms and an estimate of settlement charges.  The consumer should easily be able to compare GFEs from various lenders when shopping for loans. On a new third page, there is a comparison of the original GFE figures and the settlement statement figures, with an explanation of the tolerances. There is also a summary of the loan, including amount, term, rates, initial monthly payment, prepayment penalties and other loan terms.

In addition, on the new GFE, certain fees have been grouped together.  This allows the consumer to see a total cost for each category, rather than a random list of fees. The fees are broken down into four categories:

1. The “Origination Charge” is the total of all fees incurred for originating the loan.  Only one origination charge is disclosed and includes all service charges (charges paid to the lender/broker, including the YSP, and all junk fees lumped into one amount) and the charge or credits for the interest rate chosen is added to or subtracted from the service charge to arrive at one lump origination charge.
2. “Required Services Selected by the Lender”, such as appraisals, credit reports, and flood certifications and tax service fees are grouped, but each charge is listed separately.
3. “Title Services” includes the settlement agent’s charges for lender’s title insurance, the settlement fee, title searches, title examinations, commitments, and ALL other charges payable to the settlement agent.  There is a separate line item for Owner’s title insurance, since this is an optional purchase.
4. “Required Services that You Can Shop For”, which includes surveys, home warranties, pest reports, etc.

In addition to these groupings, there are separate line items for “Government Recording Charges”, “Transfer Taxes”, “Initial Escrow Deposit”, “Daily Interest” and “Homeowner’s Insurance”. This process will allow the borrowers to fully understand their fees during the application process, and it will help to eliminate junk fees.

Lastly, the new rules mandate that the final charges on the settlement statement can vary from those on the GFE only as follows:

1. For the Origination Charge and Transfer Taxes:  Zero Tolerance.  The GFE and settlement statement must match exactly.
2. For Required Services selected by the Lender, Title Services, Owner Title Insurance, Required Services That You Can Shop For (if you use companies identified by the lender) and Government recording charges:  There is a tolerance for a 10% increase for the total of these charges.
3. For the Initial Escrow Deposit, Daily Interest and Homeowner’s Insurance:  There is an unlimited tolerance for increases from the GFE.

NOTE – There are no restrictions on decreases of fees. Borrowers must love the sound of that.

After this GFE is completed, it is given to the borrower for review. At closing, the settlement agent or closing attorney will be required to put together a HUD which matches the GFE (see variances above). There should be no surprises by the time the closing happens, unless borrowers decide to not read the GFE at all. But HUD is here to protect the borrowers, and it appears they will achieve that. As for the closing agents and attorneys, that will be covered on the next blog. Part III of the blog will discuss the HUD form and the changes to it (tentatively entitled “A Rock and a HUD Place”).

The amount of venture capital thrown at green technology companies was down in 2009 compared to 2008.

Although the amount of deals increased slightly, from 350 to 356, investments in the sector this year totalled just $4.85 billion, a significant drop from 2008’s $7.6 billion.

Venture capitalists are still trying to spin the numbers in a positive way, saying that the “quality of entrepreneurs in the indistry is improving.”

CNET’s Green Tech Blog: In terms of technologies, solar continues to garner the most attention, having brought in $1.4 billion with 84 deals in 2009. Biofuels, another capital-intensive area, received $975 million in 44 deals.

After that, Greentech Media said the next three segments to attract money were energy efficiency and the smart grid; automotive; and batteries, fuel cells, and storage.

Despite the drop in overall spending, new energy-related companies are still taking the plunge and going public. The Battery maker A123 Systems went public earlier this year, and both the solar module manufacturer Solyndra as well as biofuel company Codexis filed papers to go public this month.

Continue reading here.

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See Also:

• Solyndra Hauls In A $238 Million Deal
• New Investment Fund To Bankroll Green Projects

The cracking of GSM encryption by 28-year-old German security expert Karsten Nohl has sent shock waves through the wireless industry. But the crack should come as no surprise to an industry that has long given short shrift to security, an analyst says.

Nohl — working with others around the Internet — has created a guidebook for cracking the Global System for Mobile communication’s 64-bit A5/1 algorithm, which was adopted in 1988. 3G networks use 128-bit encryption to protect caller privacy and the new A5/3 algorithm is being “phased in,” GSM Association spokesperson Claire Cranton said.

Nohl said the message from the cracking effort is “to have better security, not ‘We want to break you.’ The goal is better security. If we created more demand for more security, if any of the network operators could use this as a marketing feature … that would be the best possible outcome.”

High Crime or High Time?

“Being security researchers, one thing we can do — and what we choose to do in this case — is to show how it can be done,” he told the Associated Press. The revelations are aimed at pushing the industry’s adoption of 128-bit encryption, which would be “one quintillion times more difficult” to crack.”

Cranton spoke with outrage about the release of the guidebook, saying “this activity is highly illegal in the U.K. and would be a serious RIPA offense, as it probably is in most countries.” She referred to Britain’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which governs the interception of user logs and e-mails of suspected criminals by security and intelligence agencies.

But it should come as no surprise that the algorithm was broken, Andrew Storms, director of security operations for nCircle, said in an e-mail. “The variable of any encryption is time. One only needs to ensure the encryption is strong…

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Need help sorting through the tens of thousands of programs available for the iPhone on Apple’s App Store? Now there’s an app for that called Appsaurus.

Hello Chair, a small developer, convinced Apple to allow the app that was previously rejected because it’s similar to Apple’s Genius in helping users find what they like best. For 99 cents, Appsaurus does for your iPhone what TiVo does for your TV or Netflix for your DVD rental queue. It learns from your selections and recommends future choices.

“It makes sophisticated recommendations,” said Hello Chair CEO Luke Iannini. “Other apps make social recommendations based on what your friends like. Ours figures out patterns and groups of apps and recognizes themes.” In other words, if you liked app A, you’ll probably love apps B and C.

Guide And Matchmaker

With the number of available App Store applications expected to grow to 300,000 by the end of 2010, up from just 10,000 in 2008, according to IDC, Appsaurus could be a handy tool to help consumers and developers find each other.

“Any tool that makes it easier to navigate the App Store and helps users find applications that are useful and interesting to them is valuable,” says Aral Balkan, a developer whose creations include ‘Avit, an app that makes it easier to download e-books.

“The App Store has grown so much that although there is, most likely, ‘an app for that,’ the problem is whether or not you’ll find it,” he said. “As such, it needs better search tools and third parties should be encouraged to try and improve the experience.”

Iannini said his technology is based on an earlier program he and partner Kevin Corcoran developed, Adpinion, that groups similar ads.

“Our algorithm comes from ad technology that we’ve been working on for years,” said Iannini. “It was designed to deal…

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What if you could play all your favorite Xbox Live games on your mobile phone? You may soon be able to do just that, if a job listing from Microsoft offers any clue.

Based on recent job postings on Microsoft’s site, it appears that Redmond is making moves to bring Xbox Live to Windows Mobile devices. The competitive differentiating capability may be available when Windows Mobile 7 debuts in late 2010.

Microsoft posted the listing on its Connected Entertainment job site on Dec. 23. The job title is Principal Program Manager — LIVE Entertainment for the Xbox Live product. The post outlined how Microsoft is connecting players via the Live services on new devices beyond the console.

“We need a Principle Program Manager who can help drive the platform and bring Xbox LIVE enabled games to Windows Mobile,” the post said. “This person will focus specifically on what makes gaming experiences ‘LIVE Enabled’ through aspects such as avatar integration, social interactions, and multi-screen experiences.”

The Mobile-Gaming Landscape

Could Microsoft be setting out to compete with Nokia and Apple on the mobile-gaming front? Microsoft would have some catching up to do, but with the popularity of Xbox Live, the software giant could make strides quickly.

Games continue to dominate Apple’s App Store — there are currently nearly 950 games available. Apple has sold more than 30 million iPhones and iPod touch units, keeping pace with Nintendo’s Wii video-game console. The iPhone opened up a new world of gaming potential for mobile devices that some call the smartphone games 2.0 market. The iPhone accounts for 10 percent of the U.S. mobile-gaming market, according to media research firm Screen Digest.

For Nokia’s part, the N-Gage is a made-for-mobile games service available in compatible Nokia Nseries and other S60 3rd Edition devices from Nokia. N-Gage aims to make it easy…

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Business writers love hyperbole. The ground will swell. The paradigm will shift. But what if occasionally a new tech gadget comes along that really does shake up society? Apple’s planned tablet may just be such a device.

Speculation about Apple’s one-device-to-rule-them-all iPad reached fever pitch this month when Yair Reiner, an analyst at Oppenheimer, dug through Steve Jobs’ production pipeline and found evidence that the tablet was being readied for an April 2010 launch.

The timing makes sense. The iPhone is three years old, the U.S. economy is rebounding, and gadget demand is pent up among Americans who held off on toy upgrades during the recession. By spring we’ll no doubt be past the holiday sales of the black-and-white e-readers that still look vaguely like medical prostate screening devices.

The world is recovering from its Wall Street hangover, and it’s looking for a new tech party invitation. An Apple tablet would be the guest of honor. Laura DiDio, an analyst at Information Technology Intelligence, has predicted the Apple tablet will be “the next big thing,” complete with 10- to 12-inch high-res screen, Web connection, and a video cam. Other manufacturers such as Dell are preparing tablets, too, but Apple is the one to watch — because Apple is best at making radical new hardware formats undeniably cool.

Print Media Comeback

So yes, the Jesus Tablet will appear. And yes, you’ll buy one with an artificially high price of, say, $800 as penance for being an early adopter. Within two years the price will fall to $199 until everyone including your 6-year-old has a gleaming, do-anything, interactive pane of glass on his or her desk.

As that happens, the iPad will change the world in at least five ways.

– Magazine and newspaper publishing will bounce back as consumers rediscover paid subscriptions. Sorry, Chris Anderson, but not everything…

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Just when you thought you could enjoy your iPhone 3G, along comes the iPhone 3GS. VCRs are all but gone, replaced by DVRs. DVDs are on their way out, and Blu-ray discs are in.

Betamax and VHS. Eight-track tapes.

Cassettes and CDs. With technology, nothing lasts forever. As soon as something gets replaced by The Next Big Thing, the next Next Big Thing comes along.

So, before they disappear, here are 10 advances in consumer technology this past decade worth remembering.

Blue in the Face

Say what you will about Bluetooth: It’s unreliable. It’s too expensive. A Bluetooth ear piece makes you look like a geek. The wireless system that lets devices talk to each other over short distances has changed how we use our phones, computers and MP3 players. Since the technology hit shelves in 2000, at least 2 billion devices have become Bluetooth-enabled, according to the company.

Sex, Lies and DVRs

The digital video recorder came of age this decade, offering TV watchers the chance to pause programming and resume the show at will, which meant — among other things — the power to skip commercials. Consumers bought them in droves. Today, some 33 million homes have DVRs, according to industry estimates. What’s been happening since is predictable — Americans are watching more television than ever. How much? A recent Nielsen study pegged it at 151 hours a month.

Men Behaving Gladly

Men who won’t ask for directions collectively breathed a huge sigh of relief in 2000. That’s when the accuracy of Global Positioning System technology was significantly improved for public use. Since then, GPS has become so popular that it’s a standard feature in many new cars.

We Kike To Watch

The bulky machine that broke your back. The protruding mike. The cassette tape. That was how video cameras used to be. The past decade, however, saw cameras…

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Castor oil packs have been used for centuries to improve liver function. Discover why many people with Hepatitis C are benefiting from this age-old folk treatment.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Recommended by some holistic healthcare practitioners to enhance circulation, promote healing and improve liver function, castor oil packs have a long history of traditional medical use dating back to ancient Egypt. Making and applying a castor oil pack gives those with Hepatitis C a proactive way to reduce their symptoms and help their body better manage this viral infection of the liver.

Holistic Approach
A holistic approach to any illness is recognizing the innate, natural healing potential of the body. For someone with Hepatitis C, this belief means that as the entire body becomes healthier, it is better able to combat this virus and contend with its effects.

Since the liver of someone with Hepatitis C is often consumed with trying to fight and eliminate the virus, it has fewer resources to perform its regular functions – like detoxification and elimination. Thus, a holistic strategy for someone with Hepatitis C may be to support and facilitate detoxification and elimination. Accomplishing these goals contributes to the healthfulness of the entire body so that the virus can be more efficiently targeted.

Circulation Enhancement
Castor oil is derived from the castor bean (Ricinus communis) and was once taken orally as a laxative. However, castor oil is toxic and its modern day use is restricted to topical preparations on unbroken skin. When applied on the skin directly over the liver, warm castor oil packs can be beneficial to those with Hepatitis C because it is a strong circulation stimulant. This is helpful because:

· Increased circulation will reduce inflammation.

· Increased circulation will ease pain.

· Increased circulation will facilitate the detoxification process.

· Increased circulation will support toxin elimination by improving bile flow.

· Castor oil’s increase in circulation boosts the production of white blood cells that help fight the Hepatitis C virus.

· Increased circulation helps with drainage of toxins to the lymph system.

How to Make a Warm Castor Oil Pack
Castor oil packs are made by soaking a piece of flannel or un-dyed wool in castor oil and placing it on the skin. The flannel is covered with a sheet of plastic, and then a hot water bottle or hot pack is placed over the plastic to heat the castor oil-soaked poultice. More specific directions are described below:

1. Place the flannel or wool in a container and soak it in castor oil so that it is saturated, but not dripping.

2. Put the saturated cloth over the liver. The liver is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen – partially above the ribs and partially beneath them.

3. Cover the saturated cloth with plastic wrap. This will reduce some of the messiness and facilitate the oil’s absorption into the skin.

4. Put a hot water bottle or hot pack over the plastic wrap. Leave it in place for at least 20 minutes (up to an hour) and rest with the castor oil concoction on your abdomen.

5. Upon removing the pack, cleanse your skin with a dilute solution of water and baking soda.

6. The pack can be kept in the refrigerator in a covered container and reused many times.

7. Notorious for being thick, messy and staining, many people use separate, old sheets and clothing when bringing out their castor oil packs.

Castor oil packs can increase the body’s ability to fight infection, relieve hepatic pain and inflammation while aiding in detoxification – at a fraction of the cost of similarly intended holistic health therapies. An effective technique for improving liver function, castor oil packs are a good way for those with Hepatitis C to boost their body’s natural healing potential.

References:

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/CastorOilPack.htm, Castor Oil Pack, Cathy
Wong, Retrieved December 5, 2009, About.com, 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Cayce, Edgar Cayce, Retrieved December 6, 2009, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 2009.

http://www.edgarcayce.org/health/database/health_resources/hepatitis_C.asp, Hepatitis C, Retrieved December 5, 2009, Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research & Enlightenment, 2009.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5660796_natural-pain-relief-cirrhosis-liver.html, Natural Pain Relief for Cirrhosis of the Liver, LeeAnn Mullen, Retrieved December 5, 2009, eHow Inc., 2009.

http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2007/10/3-do-it-yourself-ways-to-help-gallbladder-and-liver-pain/, 3 Do-It-Yourself Ways to Help Gallbladder and Liver Pain, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved December 5, 2009, Natural Wellness, 2009.

http://www.thebody.com/content/art2055.html, The Liver and Living with HIV/AIDS: A Naturopathic Perspective, Seattle Treatment Education Project, Retrieved December 5, 2009, The Body, 2009.

Zand, Janet, et al, Smart Medicine for Healthier Living, Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY, 1999; 331.

Despite the historic expansion of the federal government’s involvement in, intervention in, and control of the economy — including Bailout Nation; takeovers of banks, car companies, insurance firms, Fannie, Freddie, AIG, GM, Chrysler, and GMAC; large-scale tax threats; overregulation; an attempted takeover of the health-care sector; ultra-easy money; a declining dollar; and unprecedented spending and debt creation — despite all the things that would be expected to destroy the economy — all this socialism lite and the degrading of incentives and rewards for success — despite all this, the U.S. economy has not been destroyed.

In fact, it is coming back. In 2009, the stock market had one of its greatest rebounds in history. And in 2010, we’re likely to witness a mini boom in economic growth.

Read the full column at Kudlow’s Money Politic$ –>

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See Also:

• Kudlow and Carney: The Federal Housing Administration Is Likely To Go Broke
• Did Larry Kudlow Get The Best Of Paul Wilmott?
• Larry Kudlow: Louder, More Conservative In Person

What are your foodie resolutions for 2010? Cook dinner at home more? Bake the perfect batch of brownies? Eat out at that one restaurant you’ve always dreamed of visiting? Open your own restaurant?

It’s a lot easier to make New Year’s resolutions than it is to keep them. I’ve heard statistics that say anywhere from 50 to 92% of all resolutions are not kept. They say that the trick to keeping a resolution is to break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. So, if you want to cook at home more, you might star out by cooking a big dinner once a week so that there will be plenty of leftovers for another dinner and a lunch or two. Gradually work up to more mights, or encourage yourself further by saying you’ll try a new dish or two fro a favorite cookbook.

Last year, one of my goals was to finish a cookbook, which I did! This year, I’m just not quite sure what my big resolution is going to be, but traveling more, taking an international cooking class and baking more bread (something I’ve put on the back burner a bit) are definite goals of mine. I’d also like to hold a few more contests on Baking Bites with giveaways for all of you readers. Beyond that, I’ll have to make them up as I go through 2010!

For those not familiar with the Scosche tapSTICK, it is a case that transforms your iPod Shuffle 3rd gen into a device that you can control with buttons on a case. The tapStick will now be offered in a clear shatterproof polycarbonate case, allowing Gen 3 iPod shuffle owners to show off the shuffle’s vibrant colors. The tapSTICK returns play/pause, volume and track control to the body of the Gen 3 shuffle basically undoing what makes the device so unique but yet oddly makes it more user friendly now. This will also be debuting at CES 2010, however their is no word on pricing or availability. But I assume it would retail around $29.95, just as the current tapStick retails for now.

There are only a couple more hours left in 2009 – so, as all of us prepare to bring in 2010, we were wondering what car you’re looking forward to most in 2010.

Not sure what’s going to be available in 2010? Here is a short list off the top of my head (in no order whatsoever):

2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2010 Nissan LEAF, 2011 Volvo S60, 2011 Audi A8, BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo, 2011 Ford Fiesta, 2011 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT, 2011 Toyota Sienna, 2011 BMW 740i / 740 Li, 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, Aston Martin Rapide, 2011 Audi R8 Spyder, 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 Buick Regal, 2011 Kia Sorento, 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2011 Mazda2, 2011 Bentley Mulsanne, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2011 BMW 5-Series, 2011 Infiniti M, 2011 Jeep Gran Cherokee, 2011 McLaren MP4-12C, 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, 2011 BMW X1, 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and Ferrari 458 Italia.

Remember, the list includes vehicles that we know for sure will enter production and be on the roads next year – not vehicles that are on the roads right now. If I missed something in the list – just add on to it in the comments section below.

Let us know your pick in the comments section below.

– By: Omar Rana

Season’s Greetings to all of our GER readers! We appreciate your support during our inaugural year, and look forward to bringing you green energy news in 2010. We will return to our regular stream of news and commentaries on Monday, January 4th. Happy New Year!