News Bits Around the World

Facebook buys Instagram photo app for $1 bn

2012-04-10T00:10:00.003-07:00

Facebook announced a billion-dollar-deal to buy the startup behind wildly popular smartphone photo sharing application Instagram.
The big ticket purchase was seen by some as a move by Facebook to strengthen defenses against Google and blazingly hot newcomer Pinterest in the weeks ahead of what promises to be a history-making stock market debut.
"For years, we've focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family," Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg said in announcing the deal.
"Now, we'll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests."
Zuckerberg called the acquisition "an important milestone for Facebook because it's the first time we've ever acquired a product and company with so many users" but promised it was a rare acquisition.
An Instagram application tuned to Apple's iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices has been downloaded more than 30 million times since the first version was released in late 2010 by the San Francisco startup.
A version of the application tailored for smartphones powered by Google-backed Android software racked up more than a million users in the 24 hours after its release last week.
"Instagram has built a sizable mobile photo sharing community," said NPD analyst Linda Barrabee.
"Clearly the value-proposition of Instagram's offering is a solid fit for Facebook."
The free mini-program lets people give classic looks to square photos using "filters" and then share them at Twitter, Facebook or other social networks.
Apple crowned Instagram its app-of-the-year for 2011.
"We're psyched to be joining Facebook," Systrom said in a message at the Instagram website.
"It's important to be clear that Instagram is not going away," he continued. "We'll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network."
Facebook users flood the world's largest social network with images to share with friends, but the website hasn't proven to be an ideal stage for organizing pictures around topics -- a forte that has made Pinterest a star.
"Facebook is pushing into the Pinterest space," said analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies.
"The thing about Instagram and Pinterest is that they are really interesting in the context of posting pictures around topics," he continued.
Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle said that Facebook is building a defense against Pinterest, which has been luring people's attention from the social network.
"Instagram is a reasonable competitive hedge against Pinterest," Enderle said.
"At the heart of both startups is picture indexing, they are just handled differently."
While Bajarin referred to the billion-dollar price tag for Instagram "boggling," Enderle contended that it could prove to be a bargain if it helps Facebook shine for its IPO on Wall Street.
Facebook in February filed for a stock offering and could raise as much as $10 billion in the largest flotation ever by an Internet company on Wall Street.
Facebook -- the leading social network in all but six countries, notably China and Russia -- claims more than 845 million users.
Facebook's value has been estimated at between $75 billion and $100 billion.
"The Instagram buy could be worth tens of billions of dollars if it holds off Pinterest and Facebook remains on top, Enderle said.
"Given what Facebook is trying to do -- get a massive valuation when it goes public -- a billion dollars is a trivial sum."
Facebook likely wanted to keep Instagram out of the hands of rivals such as Google while at the same time ramping up mobile offerings as people increasingly weave smartphones and tablet computers into lifestyles, according to analysts.
"It's conceivable that Facebook made this acquisition now to prevent other companies from snatching up Instagram," said Forrester analyst Melissa Parrish.
"It wouldn't be too surprising to later learn that Facebook wasn't their only courtier," she continued.
Some Instagram lovers were upset by the takeover news and expressed themselves, fittingly, in images posted online.
There were images of the word "no" as well as "R.I.P. Instagram" and "FU FB."

iPhone, Android passcodes easy to break, security firm shows

2012-04-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

Having a passcode on your iPhone or Android phones can probably secure your privacy whenever you left your phone not in use. But the moment your phone is stolen, you cannot guarantee that this passcode will secure your privacy as according tot this news, passcode can easily be cracked. I myself have lost my newly bought iPhone and wasn’t able to retrieve it, and when I read this news I realized that I will definitely not retrieve it again. Just the same, always keep your phone secure by having a passcode on it.
Repost from GMA Online News
Think the passcode on your iPhone or Android phone is a tough nut to crack? Better think again: a Swedish security firm showed it can crack the code in minutes.
Micro Systemation, a Swedish security firm that helps police and military crack digital security systems, released a video showing the recovery of the code with an app called XRY.
A report on tech site CNET said the video demo, titled “Recovering the Passcode from an iPhone,” shows a company spokesman using an application called XRY and accesses the contents of the mobile phone in less than two minutes.
User information, such as GPS location, call history, contacts, and messages, can all be read, the CNET report added.
The CNET report cited similarities between the XRY app and jailbreaking the phone.
On the other hand, CNET cited mobile security provider Lookout, which said both iOS and Android could beef up their security as they are both potentially threatened by rogue apps and Web-based malware. — TJD, GMA News

Top 10 Hotspots for Human Longevity

2012-03-22T02:06:00.000-07:00

Human life expectancy has becoming shorter and shorter nowadays. Among the possible reasons may include:

Diet. All that are fatty are so good to eat. Most of us like it very much! Too much sweets or food are too salty. A lot of food comes also as instant, with so many preservatives.
Stress in work, family, relationships, etc. We are too busy or too workaholic that we forgot to give balance to our life. The pressures that comes along with it make our life more stressful, thus making our self prone to cardiac arrest or other sickness
3G Technology. People are becoming more lazy now because almost all of what they need can be accessed in a click of their fingertips, food, clothes, basic tools, tickets, and other stuff. In effect, no exercise .Even games are virtual which does not require full body utilization.
Environment. We used to breathe fresh air, we used to eat organically produced foods, we used to have less carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, and we used to have beautiful land to live in. Gone are the days.

These are just few of the many reasons why people lives become shorter. I believe that one’s life depends on how you handle it, wherever in the world. Interestingly, there are still places on earth were life expectancy are still long. Read the article below:

By Miriam Weiner | U.S.News & World Report LP

In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León set sail in search of Bimini, a mythical land said to house a spring that restored youth to anyone who drank from it. After scouring the Caribbean and Florida, he returned empty-handed, and the Fountain of Youth remained undiscovered. Perhaps he was just looking in the wrong place.
As part of their data collection for the World Factbook, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) combs through death certificates, recording race, gender, cause of death, and other factors to estimate the life expectancy of a nation's entire population. Calculating the average life expectancy of the world's total population at 67.59 years, the CIA has determined which societies live longer.
In the United states, average life expectancy is 78.49 years, well above the world's norm. Many experts attribute this to ongoing medical developments, which have dealt with conditions that used to mow us down early. Meanwhile, nations without advanced medical care report a much shorter life expectancy. For instance, citizens of the Republic of Chad in central Africa are only expected to live until their late 40s.
Despite the fact that the average American lives into his or her late 70s, the United States ranks 50th on the CIA's life expectancy list. According to the World Factbook, these 10 nations seem to have discovered the secret to longevity--no magical spring water required.

10. Italy

Average Life Expectancy: 81.86 years

Italians live an average of 3.37 years longer than Americans. Many experts draw a connection between their longevity and diet--which is more than just pasta, meat, and cheese. The Mediterranean diet is credited with lowering the risk for all sorts of diseases. The antioxidants found in olive oil and red wine--two key features of an Italian meal--can improve cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and stave off heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Italians also rely on spices like basil, oregano, and garlic to flavor their cuisine, while Americans depend heavily on salt. As such, Italians improve their odds against high blood pressure and stroke.

9. Australia

Average Life Expectancy: 81.90 years

Australia's long life expectancy can be attributed to several factors, including relatively low smoking and obesity rates, as well as an active lifestyle enjoyed by its citizens. But many Australian medical experts insist that the secret to Aussies' longevity is universal healthcare. While the ability to obtain healthcare in the United States depends heavily on employment status and personal wealth, Australians have access to necessary care no matter how much they make. That said, Aussies shouldn't get too comfortable; the obesity rate is steadily climbing, which could undercut their longevity in years ahead.

8. Hong Kong

Average Life Expectancy: 82.12 years
Hong Kongers can expect to live nearly four years longer than Americans. Like Italians, people from Hong Kong can partly attribute their longer lives to their diet--rice, vegetables, and tofu are staples--and active lifestyle. Hong Kong reports a much lower obesity level than the United States does, as well as fewer instances of obesity-related health conditions, like diabetes.

7. Guernsey
Average Life Expectancy: 82.24 years
This small island in the English Channel is not a member of the United Kingdom or the European Union, despite being a British crown dependency. Its independence means Guernsey has not been affected by its neighbors' flailing economies. How does this tie into the long life expectancies of Channel Islanders? One theory: Guernsey residents live longer because they are wealthy, which affords them above-average healthcare and better nutrition. Channel Islanders are well-off, thanks to Guernsey's extremely low tax rates and high-paying jobs.
[See: Most Relaxing Beaches]

6. Andorra

Average Life Expectancy: 82.50 years

Several factors may explain why Andorrans outlive residents of other countries. First, this tiny nation, sandwiched between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, promotes an active, outdoor lifestyle. Residents have easy access to hiking trails and ski resorts, while clean and well-maintained parks are often used for friendly games of soccer and rugby. Its citizens spend lots of time outside, which experts say can lower stress levels and consequently, cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure. Secondly, the CIA states that 100 percent of Andorra's population is educated. High education levels account for Andorra's extremely low unemployment rate. This means most Andorrans can afford high-quality nutrition and healthcare.

5. San Marino

Average Life Expectancy: 83.07 years

Europe's third smallest state--behind Vatican City and Monaco--and the world's oldest republic has a life expectancy that trumps the United States by 4.5 years. Money plays a major role here, as it does in both Guernsey and Andorra, but another key ingredient could be the nation's work environment. This enclave on the Italian peninsula didn't rake in its riches through manual labor. San Marino's primary industries are banking and tourism, with the majority of the Sammarinese working in office settings. This drastically reduces the number of work-related deaths--a big problem elsewhere.

4. Singapore

Average Life Expectancy: 83.75 years

A sound diet and a clean environment contribute to the longevity exhibited by the population of this fast-paced city-state, located on the southern edge of the Malay Peninsula. Like in Hong Kong, Singapore's cuisine centers on rice and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients that help keep residents healthy and active. Singapore's government also enforces a strict code of cleanliness--such as heavily restricted smoking areas--to ensure that all residents live in healthy surroundings. Interestingly, back in the 1980s, the government recognized that the nation's population was aging steadily, and with careful planning, Singapore now features excellent healthcare facilities and programs for the elderly.

3. Japan

Average Life Expectancy: 83.91 years

Japan boasts an impressive obesity rate: 3.1 percent compared with 33.9 percent in the United States. Much of the credit is owed to the Japanese diet, which revolves around fresh vegetables, rice, and most importantly, fish. Fresh fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids encourage healthy brain function, helping prevent diseases like Alzheimer's. The Japanese also make healthier lifestyle choices: They tend to walk more and not overeat.

2. Macau

Average Life Expectancy: 84.43 years

Like several other nations on this list, Macau can attribute its high life expectancy, at least somewhat, to its fruitful economy. But why this tiny nation in the South China Sea is so prosperous might surprise you: Gambling is its main source of revenue, and 70 percent of the money generated on the casino floor is reportedly invested by the Macau government in public healthcare. The island boasts a variety of casinos, many of which are owned by the same bigwigs who gave Las Vegas its "Sin City" reputation. In January 2012, Macau welcomed 2,461,640 visitors looking to test Lady Luck.

1. Monaco

Average Life Expectancy: 89.68 years

Residents of Monaco live, on average, 5.25 years longer than the second longest-living nation, Macau; that's approximately a decade longer than the average American. Monaco shares several aspects with other long-living nations, including an abundance of wealth and state-funded healthcare. Monaco residents also live on a Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. But many say it's Monaco's relaxing atmosphere that keeps residents hanging on until a ripe old age. Its location along the Mediterranean Sea and clean environment do their part to reduce stress, which can lower immunity and contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Maybe Ponce de León should have stayed closer to home in his search for the Fountain of Youth.

Toyota recalls 550,000 cars for steering issue

2011-11-13T03:37:00.000-08:00

Do you own a Toyota car? If yes, better have it check or observe as it may be one of the thousands card that needs to be recalled. Though there are no mentioned of Philippines, there are about 14,000 cars to be recalled in Asia, outside of Japan.

“The latest recall is due to the possibility that the outer ring of the engine's crankshaft pulley may become misaligned with the inner ring, causing noise or a warning signal to light up, the company's U.S. sales unit said in a press release. If the problem isn't corrected, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley, making it suddenly more difficult to turn the steering wheel.”
You may want to check if you have the same problem and better yet contact Toyota dealers directly before an accident happens.

Repost from YahooNews
By MALCOLM FOSTER - Associated Press |

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling about 550,000 vehicles worldwide — mostly in the United States — for problems that could make it harder to steer.
The recall affects 447,000 vehicles in North America, as well as 38,000 in Japan and another 25,000 in Australia and New Zealand, said Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett. In Europe some 14,000 vehicles are being recalled along with 10,000 in the Middle East and 14,000 in Asia outside Japan.
Toyota has received a total of 79 reports about the defect dating back to 2007, said Corbett. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problems, he said.
Toyota's reputation has taken a hit over the last two years due to a string of huge recalls that have ballooned to 14 million vehicles over that time, including millions recalled last year for acceleration problems. It faces damage lawsuits and lingering doubts in the U.S. about whether it had been transparent enough about the recall woes.
Japan's largest automaker has been trying to communicate better with customers and empower regional operations outside Japan to make safety decisions.
The news comes a day after Toyota said its July-September profit slid 18.5 percent to 80.4 billion yen ($1 billion) on plunging sales caused by parts shortages from the tsunami disaster in northeastern Japan.
It now faces such uncertainties from flooding in Thailand, where it has many suppliers and three assembly plants, that it declined to release an earnings forecast for the full year through March.
The latest recall is due to the possibility that the outer ring of the engine's crankshaft pulley may become misaligned with the inner ring, causing noise or a warning signal to light up, the company's U.S. sales unit said in a press release. If the problem isn't corrected, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley, making it suddenly more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
In the United States, the automaker is recalling 283,200 Toyota brand cars, including the 2004 and 2005 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara, the 2004 Avalon and the 2006 Highlander HV. Its recall of 137,000 Lexus vehicles includes the 2004 and 2005 ES330 and RX330 and 2006 RX400h.
Those affected elsewhere include certain models of the Alphard, Highlander, Highlander hybrid and some Lexus models, Corbett said.
The recall notification process varies from country to country.
In the U.S., Toyota will mail owners a notification to make an appointment with an authorized dealer to have their car inspected once replacement parts have been produced in sufficient quantities.
If needed, parts will be replaced for no charge, the company's American sales unit said. Notifications will be mailed starting in January.
In the meantime, if an abnormal noise is heard coming from the engine compartment, the owner is asked to make an appointment with any Toyota or Lexus dealer to have the vehicle inspected for this condition, the release said.

The Most Common Complaints About the iPhone 4S

2011-10-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

The Most Common Complaints About the iPhone 4S

Followers of Apple’s product may not feel happy about this review but because a lot are so fascinated about iPhone and/or other Apple gadgets, this may not really matter. Last week’s commercial launch of iPhone 4S was again a major hit but comes with it also are complaints from the consumer. The article below explains some of the major flaws found on the new version of iPhone.

But who really cares? That is still an iPhone, the latest version! I myself would still probably get another iPhone even though I just got myself one J But perhaps would wait for the release of the new iPhone 5.

Repost from Yahoonews
By Rebecca Greenfield | The Atlantic Wire
After getting solid reviews hopeful iPhoners have flocked in record numbers to purchase the latest iGadget, but not even Apple's offerings are perfect. The phone has those same iPhone 4S outsides and even better insides, but less than a week after the first phones made it into consumer hands the kinks are starting to come out. Let's take a look at some of the early iPhone 4S issues and how to fix (most) of them.
Related: Who's Celebrating Record iPhone 4S Sales with Apple

Subpar Screen Quality
A fresh new phone shouldn't have a jaundiced screen. But proud new iPhone owners have taken to the Apple forums to complain about less-than-bright screens. "Got a new iPhone 4S this morning, and when I put it next to my old iPhone 4 I discovered the screen was much 'nicer' on the old iPhone," writes Snowglider on the forum. "When I say nicer, its kind of got a really yellow tint to the screen on the 4S, whites are where you notice it the most for example the email looks far nicer on the iPhone 4 screen. All other colours look quite washed out," he continues.
Related: Ranking the iPhone 5 Rumormongers

This same nasty tint has happened before, points out commenter Michael Bratley. "This came up last year I recall with iPhone 4. I think it's because the devices have literally just been produced. And should get better with time. I've not had chance to look at mine yet," he writes on the forum. Last year's problem had to do with an adhesive that will fade with time, adds Cult of Mac's David W. Martin.
Related: Apple Wakes Up to a Bad iPhone 4S Hangover

Siri Doesn't Always Work
Siri is the most entertaining feature, but it sometimes has trouble connecting. "Siri is not working at all on my Sprint 32GB Black iPhone 4S," writes Gregory 813 on the Apple Support Communities forum. "Keeps saying 'Sorry Something's gone wrong. Can you try that again?' or 'Uh oh, there's a problem. Can you try again?'" Siri has a popularity issue, speculates another forum writer. "I am going to bet that the servers that handle the dictation and Siri backend are overloaded and they are racing to implement failover servers for all of the unexpected traffic," suggests J. Morris. In any case, it looks like the fix is a classic: The old turn-it-off-and-then-on trick. Turning Siri off, resetting network settings, and turning her back on seems to work, discovered Business Insider's Ellis Hamburger.
Related: People Waiting in Line for an iPhone Are Weirder Than Ever

Sprint Is Slow
The company offers unlimited data, but who cares if it barely works. Gizmodo ran some tests and Sprint posted the slowest average data speed. Angry Sprint user beeay called it "too slow to be useful" on Sprint's discussion boards. There doesn't seem to be an easy fix for this one: Get a new wireless carrier?

PayPal to announce online shopping login service

2011-10-13T00:15:00.000-07:00

Talking about e-commerce, PayPal’s move to minimize account creations and just keep single account would definitely create convenience to its users. Moreover, integrating this as mobile apps and enhancing eBay’s interface will surely create big market and big revenue for the company. Even before the birth of online shopping and group buying sites, PayPal has been a popular payment system while eBay leads on online shopping. With this development is considered to be another milestone for the company.

Repost from YahooNews
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — PayPal, eBay's online payment service, plans to announce a new service Wednesday that aims to make it easier to shop online by cutting down on the number of accounts consumers have to create with various Web retailers.
Called PayPal Access, the service will be unveiled at eBay's X.commerce developer conference in San Francisco. It will be launched with X.commerce, a new eBay Inc. business launching Wednesday geared toward developers and merchants that encourages developers to integrate eBay's technology into mobile commerce apps. X.commerce merges the software developer communities for eBay.com, PayPal and eBay-owned e-commerce software company Magento, which together include 850,000 developers.
EBay spokesman Anuj Nayar said PayPal Access will let users log on to participating retailers' sites and pay with their PayPal username and password, rather than creating a separate account as many online retailers currently require. As it stands now, shoppers on some sites have to set up an account even if they're paying with PayPal, the details for which they don't enter until near the end of the transaction. The service would keep a user's personal details within PayPal, Nayar said.
Also Wednesday, X.commerce plans to roll out a set of developer tools called X.commerce Fabric, which is intended to simplify the process for adding eBay-owned technology — such as that behind Milo, a local shopping engine eBay bought in 2010 — to apps for smartphones and tablet computers.
And the conference will be used to show off the upcoming version of eBay's smartphone app RedLaser, which currently lets people scan product barcodes and compare prices online and in local stores. RedLaser 3.0, which Nayar said will be out by the end of the year, will add PayPal for purchasing items directly from the app.
It's likely that X.commerce will announce some sort of partnership with Facebook on Wednesday, too. Though eBay wouldn't divulge any details, Facebook's platform and mobile marketing director, Katie Mitic, will be a keynote speaker at the conference.

Back the to news room!

2011-10-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have been too busy lately that I was not able to post current happenings but I’m now back and would gladly to share anything that interest me and that I think would interest a lot too.
So many things had happen for the fast months but I think one that strikes the most is the death of Apple’s Cofounder, Steve Jobs. His death has rocked the world. Many will be affected by his lost, a lot mourned together with his family, close friends, and colleagues, they have considered Jobs as another scientist who have contributed a lot in the field of computing.
Everyday, many things are happening around the world and I hope that in my own special way I can also share my views and these current events so stay tuned and wait for my posting…I’m back to the news room!

America dusts off its welcome mat for global travelers

2011-07-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

While Asia and Europe receives high number of tourist every year, US is struggling on the tourism industry.
It seems that US is still trying to recover from its economic issues that now they need to promote their best place just to attract tourist. This may not be very easy for foreigners especially from Asian countries due to tight processing of visa's but this may also be the answer to those who has been dreaming to visit the place that once called "the land of the promise".

Repost from CNN

(CNN) -- Global travel is booming. It's faster, safer and cheaper to travel internationally than ever before, and despite the economic downturn, hundreds of millions of travelers are exploring the globe with passports in their hands and spending money in their pockets.

Over the next few decades, exploding growth from India, China and Brazil will produce even more international travelers. But as the global travel market grew by more than 60 million travelers in the past decade, the United States saw zero growth in overseas visitation. As a result, America's share of international arrivals has declined by 37% since 2000.
This happened even though the United States is a country that offers more to visitors than anywhere else in the world.

Our diversity, of both people and geography, makes us a uniquely compelling destination. The U.S. is a country of majestic peaks and expansive desert; of rolling hills and pristine beaches; of towering skyscrapers and chic glamour; of luxurious shopping and colossal amusement parks. No matter what you are looking for in a destination, you can find it in the U.S.A.
And yet, we are failing to keep pace in the global competition for overseas visitors.

Today, world travelers have an increasing number of alluring destinations from which to choose -- destinations that actively promote themselves and provide potential visitors with access to a host of important travel information. And a number of other countries and destinations around the world have done a much better job than the U.S. at winning the international traveler's business.
Until recently, the U.S. was the only developed country without a national travel promotion strategy. And, at the same time, the U.S. tightened security requirements, fueling the misperception that America is unwelcoming to guests.

It has become clear that the days are long gone when America could rely on reputation and word-of-mouth to attract international travelers. In this new, flat world, the U.S. must regain its competitive edge to grow its travel and tourism industry. Just as we compete globally to produce manufacturing or technology exports, we must also compete to attract world travelers and the spending they bring.

Jim Evans is the CEO of the Corporation for Travel Promotion. He was previously the head of Best Western International.

There is, however, both good news and a promising way forward. Last year, a bipartisan Congress passed the Travel Promotion Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law in March 2010. At no cost to U.S. taxpayers, the act created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, a public-private partnership that will create and execute America's first nationally coordinated marketing program designed to attract more international visitors and provide them with the kind of helpful information they need and expect.
Our top priority is simply spreading the word that Americans wants world travelers to come and visit. The Corporation for Travel Promotion will roll out the "welcome mat" and invite visitors to travel to our shores. We will run a coordinated, multichannel marketing campaign to tell the story of why our country is worth visiting to ensure that travelers move the United States to the top of their list of dream destinations.

It has become clear that the days are long gone when America could rely on reputation and word-of-mouth.

We will also spread the word about how the U.S. is easing the international entry process. We want our first impression to be one of hospitality and friendliness. Because negative perceptions tend to linger long after the reality has changed, it's not enough to just fix the problem -- we must also tell the world we did it.
The CTP will get the word out by communicating to the world that visiting America is easier than they may think.

The average overseas visitor spends $4,000 per trip. By welcoming more visitors, we will spur job creation and increase spending in communities around the country. But even beyond such economic dividends, in this time of economic recovery, a more visible welcome mat will boost global goodwill toward the United States.
The millions of travelers who accept our invitation will come to America and experience our people and values first-hand. It will create the kind of positive word-of-mouth buzz of which marketers dream.
With so much to offer as a destination, the key to winning the competition for global tourism begins by attracting visitors. Once they are here, our country can speak for itself.

Google begins testing its daily-deal Groupon clone

2011-04-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

Daily deals are now becoming popular and i think one best way in making a business reachable by the majority. Groupon, one of the biggest deal site are now being cloned and google has just lunched their own deal site.

This scheme is a win-win scenario for all stakeholders: the merchant, the customer, and the company offering a deal. Successful deal will guarantee the merchant of the volume of customers while the customer gets the deal on a very high discounts.

Repost from CNN
(WIRED) -- Spurned by daily-deal site Groupon, Google is now testing Google Offers, its own service for sending users deeply discounted offers for local businesses, starting with Portland, Oregon.
Yes, it's YADDS (Yet Another Daily Deal Site), but Google has the advantage of already having both millions of users and advertisers.
Google reportedly tried to buy Groupon for $6 billion in December, only to be rebuffed.
Groupon, based in Chicago, exploded in popularity in the recession, likely becoming the fastest-ever billion-dollar corporation. After spawning dozens of copycat sites, Groupon is now looking to IPO.
The beta of Google Offers is launching in Portland, and a splash screen prompting users to sign up began showing up Thursday.
Google confirmed that Google Offers is now official.
"Today we launched a marketing campaign inviting Portlanders to sign up for a test of Google Offers -- to get great deals delivered right to their inboxes," a company spokeswoman said by e-mail. "Offers is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new services that give consumers great deals while helping connect businesses with customers in new ways."
Google is also offering users in five other locations -- New York City Downtown, New York City Midtown, New York City Uptown, Oakland-East Bay in California, and San Francisco -- the chance to sign up.
Businesses interested in testing Google Offers can fill out a form to join the beta.

Philippine President pushes for electric tricycle

2011-04-16T04:14:00.000-07:00

Another effort to help greening the environment and at the same time to help the country's dependence on fossil fuel. If all Filipino's will see this as a positive options (as i believe this is more long term solution to the problem on oil price hike), we will support this program and invest on this. Introducing something new will always have its own disadvantage and will have a lot of criticism, but i encourage everyone to study first the program before giving your negative insights. This time, let us try to see the positive impact of this program and let us give this a chance.

Repost from Yahoo News Philippines
– Fri, Apr 15, 2011 9:53 PM PHT

MANILA - The Philippines wants to replace millions of petrol-powered tricycles with electric ones as part of efforts to clean up the nation's polluting mass transport system, President Benigno Aquino said Friday.
The government will initially replace 20,000 tricycles that ply minor streets across the capital Manila and eventually expand the project throughout the country, Aquino said in a speech to government employees.
It is hoped the scheme will save the impoverished country tens of millions of dollars annually.
"The (project) is an ambitious multi-year plan to wean public utility vehicles from the use of gasoline and diesel and to encourage them to shift to alternatives like natural gas, electricity and hybrid engines," he said.
"I would like to see the day when nearly all public utility vehicles... run on alternative fuel, freeing the public transport sector and commuters from the threat of unreasonably high oil prices and unhealthy levels of air pollution."
Aquino did not give a definite timetable of the programme, which was launched this week when 20 so-called "e-tricycles" hit the streets of a Manila suburb.
Manila-based Asian Development Bank, which is funding the initial stage of the project, said transport sector emissions accounted for 30 percent of all pollution in the Philippines.
In Manila, vehicle emissions account for 80 percent of all pollution, it said.
"A sizeable proportion of vehicle emissions are attributable to inefficient public transport, particularly from tricycles, jeepneys and buses," it added.
Jeepneys are colourful small buses that make up the backbone of the country's chaotic mass transport system, locally assembled using second-hand truck engines and transmission systems imported from Japan.
Sohail Hasnie, an energy specialist at Manila-based ADB, said more than 3.5 million tricycles operated in the Philippines.
These emitted more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and burned nearly five billion dollars of fuel yearly.
"Every 20,000 e-trikes that are introduced to Manila's streets will save the Philippines 100,000 litres of foreign fuel imports each day, saving the country about 35 million dollars annually," Hasnie said.
Though the electronic tricycles, which use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, are costlier, older petrol tricycles are more than twice as expensive to operate in the long run, Hasnie added.
The carbon footprints of the e-trikes, which are locally produced, would be less than a quarter of conventional tricycles, the ADB said.
ADB officials said the Manila-based lender was now in talks with the Philippine government on supporting the expansion of the project.

Super-fast 'Superbus' could transform your commute

2011-04-16T03:31:00.000-07:00

This is awesome! Aside from providing ease and comfort for the commuters, this will also reduce the number of vehicles on the road and at the same time reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. With this, 23 passengers will be transported meaning 22 vehicles will be reduce.

I hope that corporations will think of investing on this technology.

Repost from CNN

By Matthew Knight for CNN

April 13, 2011 -- Updated 1339 GMT (2139 HKT)

(CNN) -- With its gull-wing doors and 15-meter long (50 feet) chassis, the Superbus looks like the result of an amorous automotive liaison between a DeLorean and a stretch limo.
But rather than catering for champagne-quaffing party goers, its Dutch developers at the Delft University of Technology are aiming to transform the humble commute in the 21st century.
With a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph) and capable of carrying 23 passengers, the six-wheel Superbus attempts to marry the convenience and flexibility of traveling by car with the speed and comfort more often associated with rail journeys.
"The strength to the concept is that the Superbus can drive everywhere where a normal bus can drive. It has adjustable height, rear-wheel steering and a turning circle of roughly 10 meters," general manager of the project, Wubbo Ockels said.
Furthermore, Ockels imagines a network of "super tracks" -- essentially dedicated two lane highways linking one city to another -- running alongside traditional road networks enabling the Superbus to switch between the two, depending on the destination of passengers.

A prototype of the electric vehicle recently went on show at the 2011 World Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in Dubai in the hope of attracting investment for development of a test infrastructure.
"At the moment we have a prototype. The next phase is an industrial prototype and the third level is the actual implementation," Ockels said.
He's hopeful that Dubai, with what he calls its "visions of sustainability" will give the green light to a pilot project.
So far, it's been a long and expensive road for Ockels and his team. The project started in 2004 and has cost around €13 million ($19 million) to date using technology developed in Formula One racing and the aerospace industry.

But a production model would be considerably cheaper, Ockels says, costing around €2 million ($2.9 million).

HTC unveils Sensation 4G smartphone

2011-04-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

It seem that HTC smartphone is going to be the biggest competitor of Apple's iPhone. The unit is now becoming popular because of its fast processor and other impressive features. The same way it gives customer the same level or even higher level of satisfaction. I think the only edge of iPhone is that they came first in the market and has they has able to established a solid market but given enough time I believe that HTC can also find it's niche...now im wandering what to get, HTC 4G smartphone or Apple iPhone? What do you think?

Repost from CNN

By Doug Gross, CNN

April 12, 2011 -- Updated 2058 GMT (0458 HKT) | Filed under: Mobile

The HTC Sensation 4G, unveiled on Tuesday, features an updated version of the multimedia system Sense.

(CNN) -- HTC on Tuesday unveiled its newest smartphone, the HTC Sensation 4G, calling it a "multimedia superphone" with a focus on entertainment.
The phone runs Google's Android operating system and will be exclusively available on T-Mobile in the United States. It will be released sometime this summer, according to a written release from the company.
Prices have not been announced.
The Sensation includes the HTC Watch video feature, an app that provides access to a library of recent movies and television shows. The app's technology lets users begin watching a video without having to wait for the entire file to download, according to HTC.
The feature also lets users buy or rent videos and play them across multiple HTC devices.
The Sensation -- which had been widely referred to as the HTC Pyramid while it was in development -- also features HTC's Sense system which, among other things, lets users program their "lock" screen to show social-media updates, photos, weather and other media.
"Consumers have quickly transformed smartphones into consumer lifestyle hubs that are pocket-sized entertainment centers that enable people to take their favorite multimedia content with them wherever they go," said Peter Chou, HTC's chief executive, in the release.
Sense is already available on the HTC Legend and HTC Inspire phones, but the version on the Sensation is updated with new features.
The phone has a 4.3-inch widescreen display, an 8-megapixel camera and a dual-core processor.

Early reviews have been largely positive. PC World, which got a hands-on demo, called it a "beautiful, dual-core beast" and CNET's Bonnie Cha writes that, by the end of a demo, she was "trying to think of ways to distract HTC so I could run off with the smartphone."

Summer dreaming: 8 great vacation homes

2011-04-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you are planning for a family vacation this summer, here are some of the best deal vacation house all over US. Accordingly, the prices are really down so i think now is the best time to bond with your family. Among the list, the one i really like is the one of Rogers, Kentucky. I like the style and it being in the forest...I really am a nature lover. I hope one day i could rent one these houses :-)

Repost from CNN

Perry, Maine

Price: $220,000

Beds: 2

Baths: 2

The cool, rocky Maine coast has been a favorite summer destination for generations of boaters, recreational fishermen and nature lovers. This year-round home perches on 700 feet of shore on Cobscook Bay, where huge tides flood in and out four times a day.

The two-story Cape Cod features a wood-burning stove, galley kitchen, an artist studio and a workshop. It's fully insulated so off-season stays are possible as well.

This part of Maine, hard on the Canadian border, is quieter and less touristy than the parts closer to population centers. Recreation mostly focus on the outdoors, with whale watching, sailing and birding all popular. There are also great hikes and lobster pounds and lighthouses to visit.

Wareham, Mass.

Price: $1.199 million

Beds: 4

Baths: 5

This 2,400-square-foot Victorian is on a quarter-acre lot facing seaward toward Onset Bay, a lovely little cove of Buzzards Bay. Besides the main house, with its rocking-chair porch, two balconies and modern kitchen with breakfast nook, it has a separate carriage house with two two-bedroom apartments.

The summer is prime time for this vacation home, with its private beach and easy 10-minute walk to town shops. It's on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal, so those long drives up the Cape in Friday night traffic won't trouble residents of this house.

The beach and the sea are the big recreational attractions. Shore communities all over the state swell with refugees from Boston, New York and other cities.

Charlevoix, Mich.

Price: $219,900

Beds: 5

Baths: 2

This lovely 1923 vacation home is a block from Lake Michigan's northeast shore. The lake is a freshwater inland sea with shorelines too distant to see from the opposite sides and with shipping lanes filled with great cargo ships. Some 12 million people live beside the lake, but not many of them this far up in the Lower Peninsula.

This vacation house has a tumbled-stone front porch, hardwood floors, large rooms, formal dining room, fireplace and a three-car garage. There's a second kitchen upstairs for convenient late night snacking.

In additional to the boating, swimming and fishing, which headline the recreational opportunities, there's nearby casinos and some of the state's best ski resorts. It's about a four hour drive from Detroit.

Crestline, Calif.

Price: $240,000

Beds: 2

Baths: 2

The mountains north of San Bernardino and the lakes tucked into the valleys there have lured refugees from Los Angeles for decades. The cool, dry mountain air at more than 5,000 feet elevation and shady hillsides of pine and cypress trees are a welcome relief from smog and heat.

This cabin is near the western edge of the area, an easy 90-minute drive from central L.A.. It's walking distance from Lake Gregory and from the shops and restaurants of Crestline.

The charming cabin is roomy, about 1,400 square feet, and its layout affords residents privacy with the guest room on the first floor and the master suite on the second. Visitors here can boat, fish, hike and enjoy great mountain bikes. In winter, there's plenty of good skiing.

Brigantine, N.J.

Price: $1.495 million

Beds: 5

Baths: 4.5

Brigantine is not the Jersey shore made notorious by Snookie, The Situation and the rest of their crowd. It's a quiet, scenic, family oriented place. There's a wildlife preserve that attracts nature lovers from all over.

Most Americans don't realize how far south New Jersey reaches: Brigantine is about the same latitude as Baltimore, meaning the waters warm quickly in early summer and stay comfortable for swimming late in the season.

The beach at Brigantine is quite pristine and this house is just steps away. There's also a gorgeous in-ground pool with waterfall. Inside the house are a gourmet kitchen, cathedral ceilings and a great room with fireplace.

South Padre Island, Texas

Price: $1.237 million

Beds: 6

Baths: 6

South Padre is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast and is about as far south as you can go in Texas and still be in the United States. The beach here goes on for miles and there are extensive areas of sand dunes and salt marshes.

It's a prime destination for "Winter Texans" -- northerners, mostly retirees, who flee south to escape the deep freeze.
Here they can boat, fish, swim and enjoy wildlife viewing that includes resident dolphin pods and an annual bird migration of warblers, tanagers, orioles and other songbirds.

This luxury property sits right near the water and has beach views from its twin balconies out front. There's more than 4,300 square feet under the roof, with such features as a curved, marble staircase, cathedral ceiling and an elevator.

Rogers, Ky.

Price: $229,000

Beds: 3

Baths: 2

This part of Kentucky is physically and culturally part of Appalachia and the lakes, stream and heavily wooded hills here attract fishers and hunters. Its proximity to Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati, make the house very accessible.

The home itself is a modern lake chalet with wood siding, a wrap-around deck, fire pit and hot tub on a 1.3-acre lot. Inside there's central air, cherry floors, a stone fireplace and wiring for satellite TV and high-speed internet service. The wood paneled great room with its triple-story ceiling add to the home's rustic look.

It overlooks a crystal clear five-acre lake where whitetail deer and wild turkeys are regular visitors. Nearby is the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Price: $149,900

Beds: 3

Baths: 2

This compact cottage may be small, but it's cute and there are three bedrooms and two full baths. Who needs to rattle around in a lot of extra space on vacation anyway?
The beach is steps away and offers beach chair and umbrella rentals. In addition, the community has swimming pools, miniature golf, oceanfront playgrounds and security.

The whole Myrtle Beach area has become a huge vacation destination for the thriving inland cities of South and North Carolina. Both Charlotte and Raleigh are not much more than three hours distance.

In addition to the beach and amusement park culture, the area offers more than 250 golf courses. With the mild climate, these attract golfers throughout most of the year and make a big contribution to the 15 million annual visitors Myrtle Beach pulls in.

Amazon offers cheaper Kindle -- with ads

2011-04-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

I think this is another hit especially those who loves to read. I found this gadget really cool and handy especially when you are always on travel. Having a kindle is like bringing a library of your favorite books. So either you are at the beach, in the mountains, or in break during meetings and conferences you can always turn on your library and select the book you want to read. And now that Amazon is giving discounts on the item, surely it can capture a lot of customers. I just wonder how the ads will appear :-)

Repost from CNN

By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporterApril 11, 2011: 6:54 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Would you buy a Kindle with on-screen ads in order to knock $25 off the price? Amazon hopes so.
The company announced its new "Kindle with Special Offers" on Monday, which will begin shipping May 3. Pre-ordering is available immediately.
The ad-festooned Kindle will sell for $114, which is $25 less than its ad-free counterpart, Amazon's $139 Kindle Wi-Fi. The Kindle 3G is available for $189.
The Kindle's "special offers" and ads will appear on the e-reader's screensaver and at the bottom of its home screen. Amazon plans to mix together advertisements from launch sponsors including Buick, Olay and Visa with daily-deal style discount coupons.
Some of the discounts Amazon plans to offer in the initial weeks include a $20 Amazon gift card for $10 (a deal that was a monster hit when Amazon offered it earlier this year through LivingSocial), plus discounts on Amazon MP3 albums, Audible books and Kindle bestsellers.
Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) is also introducing an app called AdMash, which will let customers vote on potential future sponsored screensavers.
Amazon has never revealed sales figures for the Kindle. Price cuts late last year brought the most basic version down to $139, and Kindle apps are now available for a wide variety of devices -- including the iPhone, iPad as well as BlackBerry and Android phones.
But the Kindle seems to be doing well despite competition from e-readers including the Barnes & Noble (BKS, Fortune 500) Nook, the Sony (SNE) Reader and Kobo from Borders (BGP), as well as Apple's (AAPL, Fortune 500) multipurpose iPad.
Analysts expect the e-reader market to really catch fire when the price tag for the device drops below $100. Amazon implied that it's trying to get there.
"We're working hard to make sure that anyone who wants a Kindle can afford one," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a prepared statement.

The loneliest road in China

2011-04-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Planning of visiting china? Here is an alternative place to visit perhaps after seeing the majestic Great Wall of China, or the busy life in Beijing and other places.

Repost from CNN
Wang Wenxin, my 61-year-old guide, slows to a halt.
The midday sun is now high in the sky and we have already been walking for five hours, sometimes following clear signs of the 1,000-year-old paved road, at other times carefully trying to trace the correct route among the trees and streams.
It's not an easy task.
Once an important supply route for caravans of mules carrying exotic goods to and from southwestern China, the ancient trail we have been following for close to a week through Yunnan’s Gaoligong Mountains has long been superseded by other roads.
Now largely abandoned and unkempt, its paving stones are long overgrown with grass or are missing completely. Trees lie strewn across the path and few markers can be seen that hint at the rich history of the road.
It has long been known as the Ambassador Road since early dignitaries used the route to cross back and forth between British-ruled Burma (now Myanmar) and China.

More donkeys than cars

While modern visions of China center on vast smoggy cities, crowded streets, jammed highways and markets crammed with fake goods, in the far reaches of the country there are still ancient roads that wind through the countryside.
Roads where visitors are far more likely to see a donkey than a scooter or businessman.

Visitors are far more likely to see a donkey than a scooter or businessman

— Kit Gillet, author of article

The Ambassador Road is one of these near-forgotten trails.
Stretching hundreds of kilometers through a UNESCO biosphere reserve in Yunnan, it passes through picturesque hamlets, towering forests and flirts dangerously with imposing rivers, all while carrying with it a life that today looks strikingly archaic compared to the chaos of China’s urban centers.
The Gaoligong mountain range is about as distant as you can get from the big city life in Beijing and Shanghai, which is precisely why I came here.
Days walking the trail are followed by nights sleeping in farmhouses and drinking rice wine in the company of hospitable farmers who have acted as innkeepers along the ancient road for centuries.
While the road dips into valleys and the occasional market town, for the most part it snakes its way over mountain passes and through barely inhabited areas of stunning landscape.
And with only a scattering of villages and many hours of walking between each small hamlet, even today travelers are forced to rely on the kindness of strangers.

Road less traveled

Few tourists today venture this far, and I simply pick up my casual guide, Wang, at Yongping, one of the first towns on the journey. He would eventually stay with us until we had reached Tengchong, 200 kilometers to the southwest and close to the Myanmar border.

1,000 years old and a world away from modern urban China.

Even though Wang has walked the route twice before, he still has trouble picking out the correct route at points, and with only a handful of people crossing our path each day it's no easy task getting directions mid-journey. Despite mountain peaks marking most of the trail’s length, Europeans using the road in days gone by described the “rolling hills of the plateau,” “purple orchids and white dog-roses in the lanes” and “hedges of scarlet Cydania japonica broken here and there by masses of pink peach-blossom, and everywhere green leaves unfurling.”
Much of the same landscape remains, and it is still possible to indulge in some bathing in natural hot springs with local villagers, stare up at icy waterfalls, traverse rickety wooden bridges and buy fruit and vegetables at Sunday markets.
Yet the road is long forgotten by most and now serves only the few people who continue to live along its path. The larger towns in the valleys receive their goods and agricultural products from trucks along new cement roads, everything sped up in accord with the pace of modern life.
Perhaps this just makes it all the more charming for the few visitors who have the time to walk sections of this lonely road.
“I think we went the wrong way a few kilometers back,” Wang eventually says, after taking some time to determine the correct path of the Ambassador Road.
He shrugs his shoulders and leads me back down the path we had just come -- back through the endless yet stunning fields, peaks and trees.

getting there

The best way to get to the Ambassador Road is to fly to Kunming, and then take a bus to Yongping.

From Yongping, the trail winds its way down to Tengchong and beyond in the far southwest of China.

939 Filipinos receive Australian scholarships

2011-04-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Truly, given a chance Filipinos will excel because we have brilliant minds, patient, and have good attitudes. In behalf of all Filipinos I would like to thank the Australian government in extending us this help and allowing us improve in different fields. I too, is a recipient of scholarship program (from Europe) but still willing to avail another scholarship and Australia is one of the options im looking at. To all Filipinos who would like to avail here is the website of the Australian Scholorship Program: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/

I hope that we continue to seek for learning and help our nation.

Repost from Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines -- A total of 939 Filipinos have received Australian scholarships from 2000 to 2010, or roughly 100 awardees every year, the Australian Embassy in Manila revealed recently.
In fact, according to Australian Chargé d'Affaires Andrew Byrne, since the late 1940s, over 2,000 Filipinos were given the chance to pursue higher education in the ''Land Down Under'' free of charge: Government pays for the travel, study, and living expenses of the awardee.
Not content with these figures, Australia now plans to further increase the number of scholarships available to Filipinos planning to study in Australia, from around 80 per year to 120 per year. ''As a sign of our commitment to improving the quality of human resources in the Philippines,'' Byrne said recently during the announcement of the opening of the applications for the Australia Awards scholarships for 2012 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
During the same event, a coffee- table book was also launched, published by the Australian Department of Education. It chronicles 60 years of Australian scholarship in South and South East Asia.
Next year's scholars will join other notable individuals who have attended Australian schools and training programs.
''Many of our Filipino scholars have gone onto significant roles in the academe, politics, business, and the arts, shaped by their early scholarly endeavors in Australia,'' Byrne pointed out.

How Singapore is making sure it doesn't run out of water

2011-04-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

Is this for real??? Scarcity of water may have been unbelievable but the increasing population and fast urbanization will definitely cause this problem. In Singapore, what is surprising is the amount/volume of water that is imported in other country. This is a serious problem and a long term solution should be well thought. It is happening in Singapore, and possibly to other countries as well so let us conserve water.

Repost from CNN
Singapore (CNN) -- It may be one of the most developed nations in Southeast Asia, but on the densely packed urban island of Singapore, a simple glass of water doesn't come cheap, or easy.
A highly modernized city-state with a population of around 5 million, Singapore has no native freshwater supplies. Instead, it relies heavily on imports from neighboring Malaysia -- which delivers up to 250 million gallons a day -- to satisfy the nations huge and growing thirst.
At present, imports account for around 40% of its total water supply but, according to Singapore's Public Utilities Board (PUB), an array of alternative sources are in place to significantly reduce the country's future dependence on foreign supplies.
A "four tap" strategy -- which includes desalinated, recycled, rain and imported water -- has won the PUB an outpouring of international praise, including the Stockholm Industry Water Award in 2007.

Gallery: Singapore's sources of water

According to Singapore's National Environment Agency, the country enjoys 2,340 millimeters of rainfall a year -- much of which is caught and funneled into the water supply through a network of drains, canals and reservoirs dotted around the city.
Large reservoirs are found even in the country's most built-up areas. Bordered by skyscrapers in densely-populated downtown Singapore, the recently built $226 million "Marina Barrage" has become a popular tourist attraction.
The project is part of an overall plan that will eventually see two-thirds of the island's entire land area dedicated to capturing rainwater.
But for now, captured rainfall still only accounts for roughly 20% of Singapore's total consumption.
Aside from imports, the largest alternative supply of water comes in the form of "reclaimed," or recycled, sewage.

Using a system of microfiltration -- a process which removes microscopic contaminants as small as one millionth of a millimeter -- as well as other high-tech filtering systems, reclaimed water actually exceeds Singapore's drinking standards.
Officially branded by the PUB as "NEWater," treated waste water makes up 30% of Singapore's total requirements, although officials ultimately hope that figure will reach 50% in the long term.
Desalination -- the expensive process of removing salt and minerals from seawater -- accounts for the remaining 10%.
Besides introducing novel ways to increase its water supply, Singapore is also serious about reducing demand. It tackles waste with a two-level tariff for both homes and businesses that discourages excessive use.
"While we have ample supplies of water because of the four different sources of water that we now have, we do want people to realize that this don't come easy," says Yap Kheng Guan, a PUB official.

"It comes at a price and we do want people to understand the preciousness of water."

Apple's three biggest weaknesses

2011-04-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the things that Apple should look at in order to remain competitive with other tablet.

Repost from CNN
(Business Insider) -- Apple and CEO Steve Jobs have celebrated a string of huge hits over the past several years, including the iPhone, the iPad and the MacBook Air.
Reviews have been mostly glowing, sales have been strong and investors have cheered, sending the stock up 40% over the past 12 months. Apple, which was struggling a decade ago, is now the world's most admired and highly valued tech company.
But Apple is not perfect. In fact, the company has several weaknesses to address:
1) The cloud. Apple has been bragging about how the iPad 2 is a "post-PC" device, but you still need to plug it into a computer to activate and sync it. The easiest way to get photos off your iPhone is to email them to yourself. You still can't sync your iTunes music over Wi-Fi or 3G. This is a shame.
Apple needs to think about the cloud the way Google does -- as the future of mobile services. You shouldn't be tied to a USB cord to access files. You shouldn't need a PC to use a "post-PC" iPad. You shouldn't have to email a map link from your computer to your iPhone.
Perhaps this is part of Apple's new version of iOS, due sometime this year. (See our list of suggestions for iOS 5 here.)

The company has a huge new data center in North Carolina and can't be blind to the fact that other companies -- Dropbox, Amazon, Google, etc. -- are doing very cool things with the cloud.
But for now, Apple is still weak here -- MobileMe and Apple's iOS push notifications not withstanding.
2) Social. Apple has tried to do "social" a bit with Ping, its social network based around iTunes music, and GameCenter, its social gaming service. They aren't huge hits. Apple has not been able to go as deep integrating Facebook or other social networks into its products as some Android devices or Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 have.
Some of this could be to reduce Apple's dependence on other companies, so the iPhone is more reliable. But it seems that Apple and Steve Jobs don't really get social, and don't see its value. That could burn them in the long run.
Or perhaps, again, this could be addressed in the next version of iOS. For instance, Apple could go a long way by making the iPhone's built-in Photos app more social, like the popular Instagram app. And Apple's marketing boss Phil Schiller is all over Instagram. So it's not like the company isn't highly aware of what's out there.
This isn't to say that Apple should replicate Facebook, or even try to build its own general-purpose social network. But integrating your existing online social connections could be useful for many of Apple's products, ranging from the iPhone's address book to the App Store to photo sharing. So it's time for Apple to do more here.
3) The living room. The new Apple TV just got a small upgrade, in the form of live video streaming for MLB and NBA games. But it's still the weakest of Apple's products, with a relatively limited selection of video. And it's definitely not something TV companies like Comcast or DirecTV are worried about.
Apple could improve Apple TV with an app store within the next year or so -- gaming could be big! -- and more video content sooner. But it's a challenge, because this is a situation where Apple has to decide between being a good platform -- and allowing rival companies like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon to thrive -- and being a dominant content seller by keeping an iTunes monopoly.
The good news for Apple is that no one else is really putting up a fight here yet. Google TV isn't a big success, while Boxee, Roku and TiVo Premiere haven't caught on with mainstream consumers. So Apple can take its time. Heck, Apple may even come out with an actual television someday.
Also, these are all areas where Apple is relatively in control of its destiny, and can make improvements.

There are some other areas where Apple is vulnerable, such as the threat posed by Google's Android system, and possible production problems because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But that's a different list.

Toyota and Microsoft announce technology partnership

2011-04-07T00:24:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing? If this plan will push through then I can really say, "Toyota, I love this car!"

Repost from BBC News

Microsoft and Toyota have announced plans to work together to bring internet services to Toyota vehicles.

The world's biggest carmaker and the world's biggest software company are investing $12m (£7.3m) in Toyota Media Services, a Toyota unit which handles digital information services.
The aim is to provide features like GPS, power-management and multimedia services.
Toyota's 2012 hybrid vehicles will be the first to get the services.
The carmaker hopes to be able to offer them to customers worldwide by 2015.
The services will use Microsoft's "cloud computing" - the remote storage and handling of data - system called Azure.
"This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said.
Microsoft has been involved in the auto industry for several years but has so far focused on working with Ford.
It designed Ford's Sync entertainment system, which was rolled out in 2007 and allows drivers to make phone calls, listen to text messages and use GPS.

iPhone 5 release date: Big buzz, few facts

2011-04-07T00:04:00.000-07:00

Whether its true or just publicity I'm sure that apple fanatic will surely await for its release. For the meantime, I think there is still no confirmation on the release date, so lets wait and see.

Repost from CNN
(CNN) -- It doesn't take much to get the tech world talking about the iPhone.
The internet has swirled with speculation in recent weeks about a release date for Apple's iPhone 5, and even whether the company will update its iconic smartphone at all this year.
Now, the most tenuous of news reports has ramped the talk up again.
A South Korean news site reported this week that Apple plans to release the phone in the fourth week of June. According to a translation by the MacRumors site, ETNews.co.kr reported that "Apple has confirmed" that time frame.
There are a few problems here:
It seems highly unlikely that the typically tight-lipped Apple would have confirmed a release date. The report also says the phone will be released in South Korea the same day it goes on sale in the United States.

Possible. But, for comparison's sake, the iPhone 4 was released there about three months after its U.S. debut.
And, for what it may or may not be worth, the South Korean report appeared on April 1.
But as Western news outlets jumped on the report, excitement spread.
The words "iPhone 5 release date" were briefly at the top of Google's Hot Topics list Tuesday morning, and multiple U.S. blogs were following up the MacRumors report -- albeit skeptically, in most cases.
The original iPhone, the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4 all had June releases. The iPhone 3G was released in early July. But reports have said that Apple plans to focus specifically on software, not hardware, at its Worldwide Developers Conference, scheduled from June 6-10 this year.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One X-factor here could be the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Earlier this week, comments by Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer suggested that his company is making a camera sensor for the new iPhone. He said sensors for Apple will be delayed because of damage to 15 of Sony's plants in Japan.
It's also hard to know how Apple CEO Steve Jobs' medical leave of absence has impacted development of the newest version of the phone.

So the only thing that seems certain about when Apple will release the next version of the iPhone is ... that nobody in the tech media really knows.

Philippine first female commercial pilot

2011-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Dream big, work on it and you shall soar high! I have always been a fan of pilots, how much more if they are female pilots. Captain Brooke Castillo, the first Philippine female commercial pilot once again make women stands out! Kudos Captain and always have a safe flight!

Repost from Yahoo News Philippines

On the ground, Brooke Castillo is a classical pianist, a rock band manager, an elite sportswoman and a teacher, but it is high in the sky where she truly excels.
Castillo is the Philippines' first female commercial jet captain, and from the cockpit of Cebu Pacific airline's Airbus A319s and A320s she says she has the best job in the world.
"I think I was destined to be here," the tall and eloquent 41-year-old told AFP in an interview, explaining that she realised her many other talents would take a back seat immediately after she got into aviation school.
"I just took up the challenge and I realised it was something that I would love to do, and that was it."
Castillo grew up in a wealthy Manila household -- her father was a banker and her mother managed a casino -- alongside three brothers who helped instill in her a love for sports and competition.
Many hours of her childhood were spent with her family in ten-pin bowling alleys, and she ended up representing the country's junior team in the sport.
She was also a member of the Philippines' youth basketball team, and won a silver medal for her country as an adult at the Southeast Asian taekwondo championships.
Among her other hobbies and talents, Castillo plays classical piano, manages a local alternative rock band and has a business administration degree from the elite University of the Philippines.
Castillo said she never aspired to be a pilot, but fell into the aviation industry soon after her college days when she accompanied a friend to a testing session for a pilot's scholarship with national carrier Philippines Airlines.
Castillo took the tests as well and, while her friend failed, she aced them.
"When I went to aviation school, I realised everything that I learned from music, from my other endeavours in school and from sports -- all of it -- I was able to apply more than in my college subjects," she said.
Her love of flying and her skills saw her become the first woman in the country to fly a commercial jet in 1996, with Philippine Airlines.
After crossing to rival Cebu Pacific, Castillo in 2003 became the first woman in the Philippines to captain a jet.
Throughout her career she has blazed a trail for other women in the industry, with Cebu Pacific now boasting 14 other female pilots.
"Hopefully there will be more," she said.
Castillo, who is now also an instructor for Cebu Pacific's younger pilots, said she had earned her success on her merits, pointing out airline chiefs could not compromise when choosing captains for their jets.
"In our profession there are no double standards because you cannot afford to put anyone's life in danger," she said.
Castillo suggested women had an advantage because they tended to pay closer attention to the smallest details. A pilot needs to check more than 200 items before an actual flight.
"They say that women are more meticulous and more into multi-tasking. Probably that's true. In some instances I see it," she said.
Be they Piper Tomahawk trainers or Airbus jets, Castillo said the hardest aspect of flying was deciding when to take off and land or abort, because the tiniest hesitation could swiftly lead to life or death situations.
Her most dangerous moment was as a DC-9 co-pilot nine years ago, when the cabin lost compression in mid-flight. She said her professional training took over and the plane landed safely.
"The thing that I learned from that was that you don't feel the fear until it's over," she said.
"After you land and everything, that's when you catch the fear."
Castillo's remaining professional ambition is to captain larger, wide-bodied Airbus aircraft, a dream she will likely fulfil as her employers, now the country's biggest airline, push aggressively into international markets.
She said also she wanted to marry and have a child someday. But she has had trouble finding the time for such personal matters and sees herself flying and instructing until she turns 65, Cebu Pacific's retirement age for pilots.
"I hope, I wish, but I really can't see how," she said when asked about marriage and a family.
"Honestly I'm enjoying my flying career and I am enjoying teaching. Being an instructor, in a way, is fulfilling to me, and in a way it's making me think, 'Should I give it up for anything else?"

How to land a job at Facebook

2011-04-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

If you want to join Facebook, here is an interesting news and tips on how you can land a job at Facebook :-)

Repost from CNN
(Mashable) -- So you want to work at Facebook, one of the world's hottest companies -- what do you have to get your foot in the door and get noticed?
It's not going to be easy -- you have competition.
Facebook received 250,000 job applications last year and is consistently rated as one of the best places to work. And with Facebook's IPO around the corner, the competition for jobs is only going to heat up.
There are plenty of ways to get noticed and stand above the crowd, though. I chatted with Thomas Arnold, head of recruiting for the social network, on what the company looks for and what it takes to get a job at Facebook.
What jobs are available at Facebook?
Ever since Facebook announced it was moving to a bigger office and raised $2 billion in funding, it has been ramping up its hiring.
While there are many openings in legal, communications, HR, marketing, online operations, business development, IT, design, user experience and internationalization, the company is especially looking for technical talent, especially software engineers and product managers.
The Facebook interview process
I actually went through the entire Facebook interview process in 2008, before I joined Mashable as an associate editor. And while it's definitely changed since I applied for a job on the company's User Operations team, the basic format has remained the same.
The first step is almost always a recruiter phone-screening -- Facebook will begin exploring your resume, asking you about your previous work, especially about what you've built and what leadership roles you've had in the past. Sometimes there's a second screening, depending on the role.
If you pass the screening, the company will fly you out to its Silicon Valley headquarters for a series of on-site interviews with the hiring manager (your potential future boss) and a group of your peers -- in other words, you will be interviewed by the members of the team you're hoping to join.
As Arnold explained to me, these interviews are designed to determine whether you have the skills for the job and whether you're a cultural fit. The group then makes "a collective decision on whether you're a great fit" for the position.
The process itself greatly varies from group to group -- expect more technical skill challenges if you're applying for an engineering job. Oh, and one extra piece of advice from me: Always put the user first in any scenario or interview question.
Standing apart from the crowd
With more than a quarter of a million applicants, how does Facebook whittle down the applicant pool?
"We're primarily looking for builders," Arnold says. He explains that Facebook has an entrepreneurial spirit and is a flat organization, and thus it's looking for people who can thrive in that environment. Employees need to be self-starters who don't need a lot of direction, so autonomy and self-motivation are highly valued.
Builders -- especially engineers who like to build projects on their own and have cool, working products or apps they can show off -- are sought after by the Facebook team. If someone builds a unique application and/or solves a problem in a way that hasn't been done before, he's going to get Facebook's attention.
Strong applicants to Facebook also "just get the social space," Arnold says. They not only understand the product, but can see the company's vision. Even more important is that they're active users of the product.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but Arnold says his team finds a lot of applicants who haven't used their Facebook accounts in weeks or even months. And that is a very clear sign to Facebook that the person won't be a good fit.
Finally, it's very helpful to know someone at Facebook who can vouch for you -- this was true even when I interviewed with the social network three years ago. While I got special consideration due to my unique history with Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, I still had a Facebook reference.
Final thoughts
While I ultimately failed to secure a job at Facebook, you don't have to let that be the case for you. For those of you applying to non-technical roles, be sure you're active users, understand the company culture and have a resume filled with leadership and "builder" activities.
It's more impressive if you launched an organization or product than if you simply took it over.
For technical talent, the best thing you can do is build something. If you build a really impressive iPhone application that gains some traction, you're going to get noticed. If you are a major contributor of open source code to various projects, you're going to get noticed.
In the end though, the big filter is cultural fit. There isn't really much you can do to prepare for that -- the Facebook team simply knows if you're going to mesh well with them or if you're not going to be able to keep up.

And as I said before, be sure to have an employee refer you. Otherwise, you're going to have a really difficult time just getting the phone screening.

Windows 8 Coming Soon

2011-04-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

Technological war??? Gadgets and other technological advances are sprouting like mushrooms, and one has to compete well. The release of Windows 8 is smart move by microsoft to cater the increasing market of tablets. Let's see what can it offer.

Repost from CNN
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- While most of the world has yet to upgrade to Windows 7, Microsoft is gearing up to launch the next version of its PC operating system.
Web forums lit up last week with the news that PC manufacturers had just gotten their hands on a new Windows 8 test build. Several analysts reported that equipment makers had received "early beta" test versions of the operating system, after trying out much more rudimentary "alpha" versions earlier in the year.
Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) declined to confirm anything about Windows 8, but it's customary for the software giant to release its future operating systems in multiple test stages.
Considering that Windows 7 has been on the shelves for just 17 months, what's Microsoft's big hurry?
Tablets. Or "slates," as Microsoft likes to call them.
Windows 8 will operate on the ARM microchip architecture, the technology that powers most of the world's smartphones and tablets. In the past, Windows has always required devices to have a processor built on the x86 platform, which Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) or AMD (AMD, Fortune 500) designs.
Analysts expect Windows 8 to feature enhanced graphics, 3-D support, facial recognition, instant-on capability, and a Windows app store.
You know, all things that the iPad and other tablets and smartphones can do now.
Though Windows 7 works on a very small handful of tablets running Intel's Atom processor, ARM compatibility will open up Windows to a far wider range of devices. Getting Windows 8 on ARM-based devices means Microsoft may finally be able to develop some semblance of a tablet strategy.
"Microsoft cannot act fast enough for a tablet," said Neil MacDonald, a Microsoft corporate strategy analyst at Gartner. "They are already two generations behind Apple and Google."
Analysts predict Microsoft will release Windows 8 to the public sometime between this summer and the first quarter of 2012, with a tablet-compatible version likely to come in the summer of 2012. Dell (DELL, Fortune 500), for instance, is rumored to be working on a Windows 8 tablet, codenamed Peju, which won't be ready until the middle of next year.
"Windows 8 could be available as soon as this holiday season, but Microsoft won't be able to get its ARM version out that quickly," said Trip Chowdry, analyst at Global Equities Research.
Though the tablet play is most crucial, analysts note that Microsoft is also desperately trying to get its customers off outdated versions of Windows. About 54% of PCs currently run the 10-year-old Windows XP, and 11% are on the five-year-old Vista, according to Net Applications.
Many businesses skip one cycle between their Windows updates. For those that took the Vista bait but sat Windows 7 out, Windows 8 could entice them to upgrade off the widely panned Vista.
Releasing another version of Windows could also help convince many of those XP laggards to finally update their systems -- not a bad idea, considering they'd be three releases behind after Windows 8's debut.
"Not every customer deploys every release, because some customers may not need the specific new capabilities of that release," said Al Hilwa, analyst at IDC. "So I don't see an issue of having too fast of a development cycle."
Still, Microsoft is being unusually secretive about Windows 8. The company is typically is unafraid to discuss or even release beta versions to the public, but this time it's working quietly. Some experts suspect that that the company doesn't want to impede the success of Windows 7 in any way.
Microsoft hasn't even confirmed that the name of its next Windows iteration will be "Windows 8." Internally, Microsoft refers to it as Windows. Next, but many Microsoft employees on LinkedIn refer to the new OS as Windows 8.
One amusing twist: Windows 8 is likely to actually be Windows 6.2.
Microsoft discontinued naming its operating systems after version numbers following Windows 3.1. But officially, Windows 95 was version 4, Windows 98 was version 4.1, Windows 2000 was version 5, Windows XP was version 5.1, Windows Vista was version 6, and Windows 7 was version 6.1.
Or, as many view it, version "mopping up the Vista mess." That could end up being the best feature of Windows 8: It will move Microsoft one version further away from its Windows nadir.

China 'to overtake US on science' in two years

2011-04-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

It has been very impressive how China becomes the emerging "Tiger Economy". Their success only proves that it is accompanied by a well thought scientific researches and I believe soon they'll become the most known scientist in the world.

Repost from BBC News

China is on course to overtake the US in scientific output possibly as soon as 2013 - far earlier than expected.

That is the conclusion of a major new study by the Royal Society, the UK's national science academy.
The country that invented the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing is set for a globally important comeback.
An analysis of published research - one of the key measures of scientific effort - reveals an "especially striking" rise by Chinese science.

There are many millions of graduates but they are mandated to publish so the numbers are high”

End Quote Dr Cong Cao Nottingham University

The study, Knowledge, Networks and Nations, charts the challenge to the traditional dominance of the United States, Europe and Japan.

The figures are based on the papers published in recognised international journals listed by the Scopus service of the publishers Elsevier.
In 1996, the first year of the analysis, the US published 292,513 papers - more than 10 times China's 25,474.
By 2008, the US total had increased very slightly to 316,317 while China's had surged more than seven-fold to 184,080.
Previous estimates for the rate of expansion of Chinese science had suggested that China might overtake the US sometime after 2020.
But this study shows that China, after displacing the UK as the world's second leading producer of research, could go on to overtake America in as little as two years' time.
"Projections vary, but a simple linear interpretation of Elsevier's publishing data suggests that this could take place as early as 2013," it says.

Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, chair of the report, said he was "not surprised" by this increase because of China's massive boost to investment in R&D.
Chinese spending has grown by 20% per year since 1999, now reaching over $100bn, and as many as 1.5 million science and engineering students graduated from Chinese universities in 2006.
"I think this is positive, of great benefit, though some might see it as a threat and it does serve as a wake-up call for us not to become complacent."
The report stresses that American research output will not decline in absolute terms and raises the possibility of countries like Japan and France rising to meet the Chinese challenge.
"But the potential for China to match American output in terms of sheer numbers in the near to medium term is clear."
Quality questions The authors describe "dramatic" changes in the global scientific landscape and warn that this has implications for a nation's competitiveness.
According to the report, "The scientific league tables are not just about prestige - they are a barometer of a country's ability to compete on the world stage".
Along with the growth of the Chinese economy, this is yet another indicator of China's extraordinarily rapid rise as a global force.
However the report points out that a growing volume of research publications does not necessarily mean in increase in quality.
One key indicator of the value of any research is the number of times it is quoted by other scientists in their work.
Although China has risen in the "citation" rankings, its performance on this measure lags behind its investment and publication rate.
"It will take some time for the absolute output of emerging nations to challenge the rate at which this research is referenced by the international scientific community."
The UK's scientific papers are still the second most-cited in the world, after the US.
Dr Cong Cao, associate professor at Nottingham University's School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, agrees with the assessment that the quantity of China's science is yet not matched by its quality.
A sociologist originally from Shanghai, Dr Cao told the BBC: "There are many millions of graduates but they are mandated to publish so the numbers are high.
"It will take many years for some of the research to catch up to Western standards."
As to China's motivation, Dr Cao believes that there is a determination not to be dependent on foreign know-how - and to reclaim the country's historic role as a global leader in technology.

Toyota: earnings hit but priority is Japan recovery

2011-04-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

The domino effect of tsunami in Japan is being felt not only by the government but as well as the private sector and this effect is felt globally. But I would like to commend the President of Toyota for not being self-centered, or thinking only his company but rather to help in restoring his own country. Surely, his attitude will bring him forward and will help his company a huge success.

Repost from Yahoo News
TOYOTA CITY, Japan (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) President Akio Toyoda said on Friday that the devastating earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan would hurt the company's earnings, but said that was not on his list of priorities.
"We're not thinking about numbers right now," Toyoda said the company's headquarters in Toyota City, adding he could not estimate the scope of the impact.
"The priority now is the safety of the victims of the disaster, and to try and bring back normal operations as quickly as possible to restore hope," he told reporters after addressing new hires at a ceremony to mark their first day of work.
Deutsche Securities this week slashed its forecast for Toyota' operating profit by 84 percent to $1.7 billion for the current business year due to production outages.
Toyoda repeated the company's stance that it is uncertain when it can resume full production after the March 11 disaster disrupted its supply chain.
The world's biggest automaker has stopped producing vehicles at all but two of the 18 group factories that build Toyota and Lexus cars in Japan. At those two factories it is only assembling a limited number of three hybrid models at a reduced rate.
"This time, all of eastern Japan is affected," Toyoda said. "Rather than think about one automaker's recovery, we want to think about how we can help to restore the lifeline of infrastructure to this region."
Commencing the new hires' ceremony with a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the disaster, Toyoda spent the first few minutes speaking of the need for Toyota to help restore the damaged communities in the north and contribute to the nation's recovery.
Toyoda, who visited the damaged areas earlier this week, told reporters that Toyota would remain committed to the northeast region, Tohoku, which it started to build up as its third production base in Japan several years ago.
"It's about the recovery of Japan," he said. He added that rolling power blackouts would be inevitable during the peak summer season, and there was a limit to what one company could do to resume normal operations.
GLOBAL SUPPLIES AFFECTED
Toyota is certainly not the only auto company suffering from the effects of the disaster in Japan. Companies across the globe have idled plants because of the ripple effects of a lack of parts and many are only now able to resume limited production.
Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) on Thursday became the latest major automakers to say they would resume some production in Japan.
Honda said it would resume production of parts for overseas use on April 4 and production at all its car factories on April 11. Operations are scheduled to resume at about 50 percent of its original plan.
Honda also said production cuts at its plants in the United States and Canada would last through April 15. The company warned that output could still be disrupted after that date because of the "uncertainty" around the supply of parts from Japan.
Honda has not decided when it will resume full-scale operations, a company spokeswoman said. She also declined to specify which models the company will produce.
Mazda Motor Corp said it plans to restart limited production of vehicles from April 4 at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants. A decision on the resumption of full-scale production of both parts and vehicles has not been made.
A Mazda spokesman declined to say if the parts it is using are being produced by its suppliers or if they are coming out of suppliers' inventory. Mazda also declined to comment on which models it would begin producing, or how many.
In resuming operations, Honda and Mazda follow rival automakers Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) and Fuji Heavy Industries Co (7270.T), manufacturer of Subaru cars, which both restarted partial production earlier on Thursday.
In the United States, both General Motors Co (GM.N) and Ford Motor Co (F.N) have either closed factories or slowed production because of a lack of parts.
About 13 percent of worldwide auto output has been lost due to parts shortages and IHS Automotive has estimated this may cut output by as much as 30 percent within six weeks in a worst-case scenario.