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Mobiletechreview have published their video review of the LG eXpo.

From the review it is apparent the smartphone would have benefited from more efforts to make the device more finger-friendly, and likely adding a capacitive screen as on the original leak of the device would have forced the issue.

The smartphone however remains quiet capable, and would likely do very well with some TouchFlo3D grafted on by more advanced users.

Do any of our readers have  an eXpo yet?  Let us know your impressions in the comments below.

Andy Soucek might not get much in exchange for his winning season in the F2 Championship last year. Although normally drivers winning feeder series of Formula One are usually handed a race seat in the Great Circle the very next year – with the sole exception of Giorgio Pantano in 2008 – Soucek is still out on the market, looking for an F1 commitment for 2010.

The F2 champion recently tested a Williams FW31 for Sir Frank Williams’ team, during the rookie session in early December a… (read more)

When the Treasury announced on Christmas Eve that it was lifting the limit on how much Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) could receive, one point that may have been lost on people was that neither of the GSEs were yet anywhere close to the $200 billion they’d been alloted.

It’s not like there was a need, under the current system to give them a permanent, unlimited blank check to cover their losses.

So then, maybe that’s not what’s going on.

Maybe it’s this, via MarketWatch:

The government’s decision to provide unlimited support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac probably presages more aggressive action to prop up the U.S. housing market.

The government may put a mortgage-modification effort, called the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, into overdrive in coming years, pushing for reductions in the principal outstanding on home loans overseen by Fannie and Freddie Bose George, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, wrote in a note to investors Monday.

So basically, Fannie and Freddie will be called on to do everything humanly possible to prop up the housing market in the coming years. Mortgage purchases, principal reductions… everything. And as it goes nuts in its efforts, it will need a blank check so that its lenders don’t even get slightly nervous.

Another serious dip in housing would be killer to this recovery and Obama’s Presidential career. That can’t be let to happen.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Here’s The Secret Reason We Eliminated The Bailout Caps On Fannie And Freddie
• Geithner Gives Housing Industry A Huge Christmas Present: Unlimited Fannie And Freddie Bailouts
• How Joseph Stiglitz Blew It On Fannie And Freddie

	AutoblogGreen’s Top Ten most popular stories of 2009 It starts with the World’s Most Miserly VW Bus.		VIDEO: Kia remains committed to fuel cells, check out Borrego FCEV The updates keep on coming.
	At Witz’ End – Working vacation means testing a new Prius in Hawai’i, and more Fun times, fun times.	Other news: REPORT: 76% of “electric propulsion vehicle” patent applications come from Japan REPORT: Toyota seeks to have latest Paice lawsuit dismissed EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide offers smoke-free ranking of fuel efficient vehicles

AutoblogGreen for 12.29.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good news from the record labels, in an effort to show that they do get the digital landscape, Interscope Records, part of the Universal Music Group, is giving away free TweetDeck copies, in partnership with Best Buy, with the purchase of select CDs. Finally, users get to enjoy the wonders of microblogging from the comfort of their own desktop or iPhone and all this without paying a dime. It almost sounds too good to be true and it almost is, except for the fact that TweetDeck is already free for everyone to download and use.

The custom TweetDeck client comes with purchases of CDs from artists like 50 Cent, Timbaland, Lady Gaga, Weezer and others which range in price from $10.99 to $13.99. Now, in all fairness, with the CD purchase, you get a customized version of the app which comes bundled with subscriptions to the Twitter streams of the 16 artists part of the promotion.

Of course, any user could also add the artists manually in a couple of minutes or make a list with them, if one isn’t already available. So, all that it does is maybe save the buyers a few minutes. On the other hand, does anyone actually want to follow all the 16 artists, which are actually quite diverse when it comes to music genres although they all fall squarely in the mainstream category, to begin with… (read more)

Mazda and other automakers are hoping for a revamp of EPA rules that are keeping them from introducing the fuel-saving stop-start technology in vehicles. According to Robert Davis, Mazda’s product-development executive in North America, testing regulations prevent automakers from bringing fuel-saving technologies, like the stop-start feature, to the U.S. market.

Stop-start, which has become widely popular throughout the world, shuts the car’s engine off when the vehicle is stopped and the driver applies the brakes. Releasing the break kicks the engine back on. According to Automotive News, the U.S. fuel-economy testing cycle doesn’t allow stop-start, since the mpg benefits are not reflected in the official rating.

The main issue is that EPA’s city-mode test includes only one complete vehicle stop, so the improvement comes in at a modest .1 or .2 mpg, Davis said.

“In Japan, we’re seeing anywhere from 7 to 9 percent fuel economy gains from it,” Davis said. “That’s a jump from 33 to 37 miles per gallon in a metro environment.”

Since it costs Mazda to install the fuel-saving technology in its vehicles, there is no marketing strategy to persuade car shoppers to cash out an extra $500 for the feature.

Don’t jump down EPA’s throat just yet. Automotive News says that EPA is looking to make some rule changes that could give vehicles with stop-start a higher rating. A final decision is expected in April 2010.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Credit to Marc Faber: In the long-term he thinks the greenback will be worth as much as toilet paper, but hee’s been a dollar bull for several weeks, and presumably he’s made money on that trade.

And it’s not over, he tells Bloomberg, predicting that the dollar could yet extend its gains by 5-10%.

And surprisingly, this doesn’t mean that stocks are toast. Just as we’ve been seeing lately, Faber expects the market to rally in unison with the dollar.

Just the fact that this is possible — a dollar rally and a stock rally in the final quarter of the year — has to be considered the last big surprise of what’s been a bizarre year for the market.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• The Junk Bond Rally Is Moral Hazard In All Its Glory, And Will Continue Next Year
• JPMorgan: Short The Dollar, Buy AAA CMBS, And Go Long Emerging Market Credit In 2010
• Marc Faber: Avoid The US Disaster, Buy Wheat, Sugar, Natural Gas, And Japan In 2010

Sure, wearing glasses with the new year emblazoned on them is not for everyone, but if you’re going to go that route you need these specs by Fred Butler.

This partytastic accessory is sure to spice up that boring old tuxedo you were going to wear. Now all you need is a great New Years Eve party to attend.

Related posts:

1. What Are Your New Years Resolutions?
2. How To Tell If You’re Boring
3. Study: Pricey Running Shoes Not Worth It

Palo Alto, CA-based GlobalMotion Media has raised $1 million in Series A financing from the Band of Angels and a group of domestic and international private investors. The young company is probably best known for operating EveryTrail, a GPS travel community and interactive trip sharing service.

The startup is today also announcing the release of its latest iPhone application, EveryTrail 3 (iTunes link), which allows users to easily record and share their hiking, driving, skiing, motorcycling, running, skateboarding or other trips.

EveryTrail enables people to keep track of their trips, by uploading GPS files or geo-tracking their trails, and allows to them to accompany those with stories and geo-tagged photos. The web service is quite feature rich already, but it’s the mobile apps that make EveryTrail unique and very fun to use.

Available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile, the apps allow people to geo-tag their trails and the pictures they take along the way instantly and automatically. The new iPhone app that’s being announced today makes the process super easy: all you need to do is let the device determine your location and hit the ’start’ button. The app will follow your path, and every photo you upload along the trail will automatically be geo-tagged and uploaded.

That way, the EveryTrail community you see what you’ve been up to. You can also share your trips with others on Twitter and/or Facebook, with just one click. So far, over 200,000 trips have been shared by EveryTrail users (217,588 worldwide to be exact, according to the website at the time of this writing).

Don’t have a GPS-enabled device or a file that you can upload? Heck, you can even draw your trips if you’re passionate enough.

Here’s a demo of how the new iPhone app works:

Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors

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You know what’s awesome about being the head of a South Korean chaebol? You’re untouchable. After being convicted of tax evasion netting a $110 million fine and a deferred 3-year prison sentence, Lee Kun-hee, the former chairman of Samsung Group, has been pardoned by the South Korean government — his second presidential pardon after first being convicted in 1996 of bribing former South Korean president Roh Tae-woo. Why the reprieve? Easy, so the 67 year old can help the country pursue a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics. A Korean activist group responded to the move saying, “Granting a chaebol chairman a pardon just to host an Olympics will make South Korea a laughingstock in the international community.” How true.

Samsung’s former Chairman pardoned, again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look, let’s not beat around the bushes — Verizon Wireless will one day stock Palm’s Pre. It’s a rather well documented fact, and at this point the only real question is “when?” Judging by a mysterious Wi-Fi Certificate that just popped up, we’re beginning to think that the waiting period is nearly up, and with CES 2010 happening in a week, there’s hardly a better time for us to really start believing. If you’ll recall, Sprint’s Pre snagged a Wi-Fi Certificate number of P100EWW, and just this summer we spotted a few leaked Palm devices within VZW documents with “P101″ and “P121″ monikers; lo and behold, the certificate for this elusive dual-mode (WiFi and cellular) smartphone boasts a P101EWW label. We aren’t trying to read too deeply between the lines or anything, but if this isn’t a Pre destined for Big Red, we’re eager to know what kind of new mobile Palm has lined up for its presser at CES.

[Thanks, Rehman]

Continue reading Palm smartphone pops up in WiFi certification database: is this Verizon’s Pre?

Palm smartphone pops up in WiFi certification database: is this Verizon’s Pre? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The famous pit lane exit from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will not be changed. Track boss Richard Cregan made that very clear in an interview with British publication Autosport, ending the speculation that the race officials were considering to proceed to some changes regarding that aspect following some criticism after the last season’s finale.

The pit lane exit tunnel that goes under the track was seen as one of the radical elements of the new Yas Marina Circuit, alongside the orga… (read more)

When selecting a dividend growth stock there is really only one factor that is important – sustainability.  As we evaluate many aspects of a company, what we are really trying to determine is if the company can continue to raise its dividend indefinitely into the future. To pay and raise its dividend a company must generate sufficient free cash flow. However, it is not enough to just generate the cash, it has to be available for dividend payments.

One of the largest uses for cash is to repay debt and its associated interest. Prior to the most recent downturn many companies took on enormous levels of debt, usually for one of these two reasons:

1. Fund An Acquisition:  Debt has been relatively cheap for some time and easy to access. When sellers thought the buyers stock was overpriced, they would demand significant levels of cash to close the deal. Debt was often used to raise the cash.
2. Restructuring: Analysts that follow companies have a target debt to total capital they are looking for. If they consider it is too low, management is encouraged to issue debt and use the proceeds to purchase their stock. (As an aside, I own a company that was encouraged to do this and eventually issued debt and purchased their stock close to its high. Then when the economy turned down they had to raise operating cash by, you guessed it, issuing stock well below where they purchased it.)

One of the key metrics I look for when evaluating a company is a debt to total capital ratio of 45% or less. Below are seven dividend companies with a debt to total capital less than 30%:

Nucor Corporation (NUE) is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. As the largest minimill steelmaker in the U.S., Nucor has one of the most diverse product lines of any steelmaker in the Americas. [Analysis]

• Debt to Total Capital: 29%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

Aflac Incorporated (AFL) engages in the marketing and sale of supplemental health and life insurance plans in the United States and Japan. [Analysis]

• Debt to Total Capital: 29%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX) provides a wide range of medical devices and diagnostic products used in hospitals, doctors’ offices, research labs, and other settings. [Analysis]

• Debt to Total Capital: 27%
• Current Rating: 5-Stars

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) engages in the manufacture and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide. [Analysis]

• Debt to Total Capital: 25%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC) is a regional holding company for property and casualty insurance companies that operates in 32 states, primarily in the eastern half of the U.S.

• Debt to Total Capital: 13%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

RLI Corp (RLI), based in Peoria, IL, provides selected property, casualty and surety insurance. [Analysis]

• Debt to Total Capital: 12%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

Raven Industries Inc. (RAVN) manufacturer provides electronic precision-agriculture products, reinforced plastic sheeting, electronics manufacturing services, specialty aeronautics, and sewn products.

• Debt to Total Capital: 0%
• Current Rating: 4-Stars

Having low levels of debt provides companies with greater financial flexibility. Of coarse, we must look at more than just debt as we evaluate a company, but the above can serve as a good starting point for your review.

Full Disclosure: Long NUE, AFL, JNJ. See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Credit)

Related Posts:

• 8 Dividend Stocks Covering Their Dividend
• A Winning Investment Strategy
• Dividend Payout vs. Free Cash Flow Payout
• 12 Dividend Stocks With A 5-Star Strong Buy Rating
• Five Stocks With A Low Debt To Total Capital

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Legislation that could bring more wind turbines and solar power projects to Indiana has a good chance of passing in the upcoming legislative session after failing in the last session’s closing hours, two state lawmakers say. While …

The first Mercedes-Benz Econic powered by Natural Gas Technology was handed out to the ALDI SÜD group of companies in Mönchengladbach, Germany. We’re talking about a semitrailer tractor with a high roof and a refrigerated semitrailer which is meant for food distribution operations.

According to Daimler, ALDI SÜD uses the new Mercedes-Benz Econic NGT to supply its branches on the left bank of the Lower Rhine from the central warehouse in Mönchengladbach. Traffic-calming zones, narr… (read more)

Au sommaire cette semaine un document magnifique datant de 1905, Top Gear oppose le X5M au Q7 V12 TDI, l’excellente parodie d’une pub Twingo (avec le non moins excellent original), la Chevy Volt enfin montrée sous un jour positif et Volkswagen fait la promo de son système d’assistance au parking.

(–> Vous cherchez des infos sur le Dacia Duster et Google vous a envoyé sur cette page? Cliquez ici)

On commence avec ce document sensationnel et émouvant,un film montrant une des artères de San Francisco en 1905, un an avant le tremblement de terre:

Dans un autre genre, plus dynamique, Jeremy Clarkson oppose cette semaine le BMW X5M à l’Audi Q7 V12 TDI:

Vous connaissez sûrement tous les excellentes pubs de la Twingo II. Notamment celle-ci:

Eh bien voici une petite parodie…

La Chevy Volt est à nouveau dans le buzz cette semaine, mais cette fois-ci pas pour se moquer d’elle (voir ici):

Et on termine avec la dernière pub Volkswagen,  digne des meilleures de la marque:

Retrouvez également les autres vidéos de la semaine:

–> Rémi Gaillard,Mario kart en live

–>L’étrange buzz d’Alfa aux Mariannes

–>Le père Noël VW en Golf GTI

Nouveau: pour profiter facilement et rapidement des notifications de nouveautés sur le site, pensez à vous abonner via Twitter.  Chaque modification, nouvel article ou nouvelle vidéo sur notre chaîne Youtube, fait l’objet d’un Tweet immédiat!

Ford has already confirmed that Geely is very close to take control of Volvo, with the final signature expected to come in early 2010. Although various media reports have already suggested several changes to be made within Volvo once the Chinese guys take over the brand, Geely’s officials promise to keep Volvo as it is in most areas.

For example, the current production, research and development facilities will remain untouched under Geely’s ownership, Reuters reported citing a Chi… (read more)

Facebook is now huge, with over 350 million monthly users, it can get unwieldy to handle all the problems that are bound to come up. The social network can’t possibly hire the people it would need if to cater to every request, so a very good help page is crucial. Facebook is now launching a redesigned help page which should make it easier for users to find solutions and guidance.

“When you need help using Facebook, we want it to be as easy as a click for you to get it. Our Help Center offers a central resource for you to find answers to common questions and learn more about using Facebook,” the social network explained. “Recently, we introduced a more streamlined design and a series of other changes for the Help Center to make it faster for you to find the answers you need.”

It’s not a major overhaul, but there are improvements in most aspects including the layout and the tools available in clear visible places. One of the biggest updates, Facebook says, is the improved search which does a much better job at surfacing possible answers. For example, it lists help pages in other languages if a useful one isn’t found in the user’s primary language.

Another new feature is the filters which show up on the left-hand side enabling users to focus on just one type of answers, FAQs, Help Discussions, … (read more)