Why You Should Buy A Windows Phone 8 Device in 2014

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 didn’t see a lot of momentum last year. Though sales definitely rose when compared to last year, the platform and the devices that it powers didn’t have many high profile moments that smartphone buyers could latch onto as a sign that it was improving. As such, many users are wondering whether 2014 is the right time to buy a Windows Phone.Understandably,key programmer potential Windows Phone buyers in 2014 are worried about Windows Phone 8, the often rumored update that it is believed will deliver some much-needed polish to the operating system as a whole.Thankfully, Microsoft has already confirmed that Windows Phone 8 users are entitled to software upgrades for two-years. That means that the new notification center and separate toggles for ringer and music volume will come to all Windows Phone 8 devices at some point in the future.Microsoft’s release of the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update last year didn’t necessarily get users riled up. That makes sense because users who received the update only picked up the option to specify new notification sounds on their devices. Behind the scenes there was a bit more going on.With Windows Phone 8 GDR3 smartphone makers are finally free to create devices running Microsoft’s operating that compete head to head with the hardware included in high-end Android smartphones. In fact, the same Snapdragon 800 processor that powers the LG G2 is used in Nokia’s Lumia 1520 phablet. This is the first time that’s ever happened and definitely makes buying Windows Phone hardware in 2014 much less of a gamble.Of course, Windows Phone has always been optimized for the hardware it ships on. As such, users won’t notice a dip in performance regardless of what processor they have. However, I’d imagine that knowing you have the power to play the latest games even a year or two from now is a good thing. 

Windows Phones haven’t changed much in the year since Microsoft first announced Windows Phone 8.Menstrual Cup On the other hand, the services and products that surround Windows Phone have all grown and matured in a number of ways. There’s SkyDrive, which is now available anywhere and integrates seamlessly with apps running on user’s Windows 8.1-equipped laptop, desktop or 2-in-1. Every Windows Phone comes with a free version of Microsoft Office. These too are backed up by and expanding and ever-changing array of apps for desktops, tablets and the web. Windows Phone users can even access these documents for free online through Office Web Apps.Not all users are comfortable with two-year service agreements. After all, taking the risk on a new mobile platform and signing a two-year service agreement could be dangerous. What if they turn out to not like the platform? What if there aren’t enough apps to tide them over in the Windows Phone Store.Luckily, buying a Windows Phone device without a two-year service agreement has never been cheaper. The low-end Lumia 520 and Lumia 521 now hover at about $60 to $40 at most retail stores. Pricing for the now-midrange Windows Phone 8X b HTC is even lower. Buyers can pick up that device on Amazon for as little as $199 without a two-year service agreement.united-promo As we move forward into 2014 prices for once high-end Windows Phone devices without a two-year service agreement are only going to get lower.

Finland targets giant status in global cleantech arena

"We see ourselves as the Henry Ford of wave energy," said Tomasz Mucha, who is responsible for project financing and business development at AW-Energy, a small renewable energy company based in Vantaa, just north of the Finnish capital Helsinki."When Ford built the first car he knew what it should do and he had an idea of how it should be done. Eventually, he was able to take the technology to line production," said Mucha.Mucha and his colleagues are working hard to ensure that in the next five to 10 years, powering household devices with abundant clean energy harvested from the ocean will be more science fact than science fiction.Currently two companies in Finland's cleantech sector focus on wave energy: AW-Energy and Wello, headquartered in Espoo, a satellite town near Helsinki.Both companies have patented solutions that convert the kinetic power of ocean waves to electricity.Wello's Penguin is a specialized vessel that bobs on ocean surfaces while anchored to the seabed, allowing it to convert the rocking and rolling motion to energy.AW-Energy's WaveRoller is deployed on the ocean floor and features a moveable, fin-like panel that converts the constant undersea wave surge to electricity.AW-Energy is hoping that its first commercial project will take the company one step closer to the Fordian production line ideal. Plotted for Bretagne in France, the initiative has impressive Herb basilheavyweight partners behind it: Finnish energy giant Fortum, French naval shipbuilder DCNS and the support of the local Bretagne region."We need projects and their operational data before the industry can kick off and get results that will convince conservative organizations like financial institutions, energy companies and insurance companies," Mucha emphasized. 

Kaisa Hernberg, executive director of the government-backed export promotion network Cleantech Finland, said that renewable energy companies represent just one aspect of Finland's dynamic clean technology sector.Altogether the sector includes 2,000 companies and organizations and cuts across a diverse range of industries: energy and materials efficiency; technology for built up environments; bioenergy and biofuels; and water management, including water treatment or purification.Finnish cleantech is quietly yet solidly increasing its contribution to the Finnish economy and conquering major markets abroad."In 2012 the turnover of the cleantech sector surpassed that of the forestry industry, so it's major business in Finland, and turnover in the sector increased by 15 percent in 2012," Hernberg elaborated."It's the competitive factor that spawns the growth," she added.According to AW-Energy's Mucha that competitive factor includes an operational model that has become a key feature of many companies operating in the techno-industrial sector.Fruit knife"Finland has well-established know-how in the heavy machinery and equipment industry, and has been traditionally involved in heavy industry. In addition there is a business model where R&D and core components are produced in Finland and exported to projects on-site," Mucha outlined.The competitive edge has also seen Finland's cleantech sector grow to employ 50,000 people with another 40,000 jobs to be added by 2020, according to estimates by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. 

Moreover, it has helped the Nordic nation spread its cleantech wings far and wide."China is the number one market for Finnish cleantech. They have ambitious emission reductions targets so they are very interested in cleantech solutions," Hernberg noted.She added that Russia, Brazil, India,Antique faucets Germany and Sweden are also major markets, and the United States to some extent."What they all have in common is that they are all large growth markets. And many of the emerging economies are struggling with the effects of wide industrialization and urbanization," she said.A 2013 analysis of the global renewables market by a specialist team at the business and financial information provider Bloomberg estimated that by 2030, renewable technologies will account for 50 percent of new power generation capacity globally.Groundbreakers like AW-Energy and Mucha want to play a major role in that transformation, and in so doing could make Finland a global cleantech giant.

Sony announces 1.1 bln USD annual net loss as deal to sell PC business reached, 5,000 jobs to be axed

Sony Corp. announced Thursday it had revised its full year forecast for the year through March to a group net loss of 110 billion yen (1.Vintage faucets1 billion U.S. dollars) from a profit of 30 billion yen, owing to sluggish sales of its televisions and personal computers.Sony, also known for its Xperia smartphones and PlayStation games consoles, also forecast an operating profit of 80 billion yen, from sales totaling 7.7 trillion yen.In the April-December period, the electronics giant returned to profit to the tune of 11.17 billion yen, from a 50.87 billion yen loss logged at the same time in the previous year, the firm said.Banner PenSony also said its sales were up 16.4 percent to 5.9 trillion yen, from the previous year, with its operating profit surging 70. 5 percent from the previous year to 141.45 billion yen.The firm however confirmed Thursday it has reached a deal to sell its flagging Vaio laptop business to investment fund Japan Industrial Partners."Sony has determined that concentrating its mobile product lineup on smartphones and tablets and transferring its PC business to a new company established by Japan Industrial Partners is the optimal solution," Sony said in a statement.The firms are planning to have themodern lamps deal finalized by spring this year and just ahead of a planned consumption tax hike from 5 to 8 percent a month later that could negatively impact demand for consumer electronics here, as purchasing sentiment for non- essential goods wins as consumers here rein in spending. 

"Sony and JIP will now proceed with due diligence and negotiate detailed terms and conditions of the business transfer, targeting the conclusion of a definitive agreement by the end of March 2014," said Sony."Following reevaluation of the product lineup, the new company is expected initially to concentrate on sales of consumer and corporate PCs in the Japanese market and seek to optimize its sales channels and scale of operations, while evaluating possible further geographic expansion," the statement added.As well as making wholesale changes to its TV business, by restructuring the struggling section as a subsidiary and not one of the mainstay businesses of the firm, Sony also announced it will be cutting personnel in a bid to reduce costs.Sony said that as part of the sale of its PC business, some 5, 000 jobs will be axed."For employees of Sony Corporation and Sony EMCS Corporation that are not hired by the new company or transferred within the Sony Group, Sony plans to also offer an early retirement support program to assist their reemployment outside of the Sony Group," Sony said in an official statement Thursday.

Samsung Electronics fourth-quarter profit sags

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd posted its first decline in quarterly profit in two years, hit by one-off special bonus as well as slowing smartphone sales as it braces for a year of tougher competition with rival Apple Inc.The world's biggest smartphone maker kept its full-year investment plan conservative and warned it would be difficult to increase earnings in the first quarter as demand pulls back from the year-end holiday period.October-December operating profit fell 6 percent on year to 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion),amino resin in line with a previous estimate of 8.3 trillion won, Samsung said in a statement on Friday.The figure was brought down by an 800 billion won ($745 million) special employee bonus to commemorate 20 years since Chairman Lee Kun-hee announced a management strategy that the company regards as the catalyst to its recent growth. 

It said a stronger won also hit profit, knocking off around 700 billion won.Shares of Samsung Electronics, worth $204 billion, edged up 0.4 percent after the earnings release, compared with the benchmark index which fell 0.3 percent. The stock has fallen 8 percent in the past month on concern over slowing smartphone growth."It will be challenging for Samsung to improve its earnings in the first quarter as the weak seasonality of the IT industry will put pressure on demand for components and TV products," the company Cast iron tubsaid in a statement.Samsung said its 2014 capital expenditure, a barometer of broader technology industry demand for manufacturing tools such as chip equipment,World of Warcraft US - Golden Pig will be similar to 2013's 23.8 trillion won. 

Operating profit at its cash cow mobile division stood flat at 5.47 trillion won, but slipped 18 percent from July-September's record 6.7 trillion won as new iPhones drew away sales during the year-end holiday period.Operating profit from display unit Samsung Display tumbled 90 percent to 110 billion won as weaker-than-forecast sales of the Galaxy S4 left smartphone screens sitting in the inventory, while subdued sales of television sets also had an impact on TV screen shipments.

The future of Dynamics in a Nadella-led Microsoft

Microsoft's Dynamics ERP and CRM product lines seemed safe immediately following former CEO Steve Ballmer's sweeping reorganization of the company last year. But now that longtime Microsoft executive Satya Nadella has been named Ballmer's successor, the time is ripe for more focused speculation on the future of Dynamics. Here's a look at what could be in store.He knows Dynamics well: Nadella served a stint in the Dynamics business from 2001-2007, so he has an intimate knowledge of the ERP applications and their user bases, as well as Dynamics CRM, which has made strides against the likes of Salesforce.com, thanks to factors including aggressive pricing and the option of cloud or on-premises deployments."It's not as if he's going to take a lot of time to come up to speed," said analyst Frank Scavo, managing partner of IT consulting firm Strativa. "I think Dynamics increases in stature at Microsoft under Nadella."Nadella played a "fairly prominent role" at a Microsoft analyst event Scavo attended several months ago, taking part in a lengthy session that primarily focused on Dynamics and Microsoft's Azure cloud service, which Nadella oversaw before taking the CEO job, Scavo added.x431Meanwhile, Nadella has said that to be a leader in enterprise cloud computing, a vendor must have "best-in-class first-party SaaS applications," running on its own cloud infrastructure. 

All in all, Nadella will likely be a strong advocate for Dynamics as he settles into the CEO slot.key programmer"We are very happy about Satya's appointment as CEO,BMW ICOM" a spokesperson for Dynamics said via email Thursday. "Microsoft Dynamics is on a strong growth path and is seeing great traction market. We are innovating at a rapid pace and are excited about what we plan to deliver to our customers in the upcoming months."Customer enthusiasm: Customers are happy too. "We're extremely excited about it," said Frank Vukovits, co-founder and director of programming for the Dynamics AX User Group, regarding Nadella's appointment. In fact, Nadella spoke at the group's first summit meeting in 2005, Vukovits said. "He has always been a big supporter of the community and sees a lot of value in users and customers getting together and sharing their knowledge to allow them to do more with the product." 

Nadella understands business applications and the needs of users that work with them, Vukovits added. "What would have made me nervous is if they brought someone in with a history focused just on sales and licensing, the volume side of the business, versus the need to truly embrace the business customer," he said.Eyes on the enterprise: In order to substantially grow the Dynamics business, Microsoft will have to go after ERP deals with large enterprises. To that end, it's been building out its global services capabilities, even though traditionally Dynamics has mostly been sold through partners around the world, who tweak the software for customers' needs. Many have also built out industry-specific functionality for Dynamics.

This iPhone-Sized Device Can Hack A Car, Researchers Plan To Demonstrate

Auto makers have long downplayed the threat of hacker attacks on their cars and trucks, arguing that their vehicles’ increasingly-networked systems are protected from rogue wireless intrusion. Now two researchers plan to show that a few minutes alone with a car and a tiny, cheap device can give digital saboteurs all the wireless control they need.At the Black Hat Asia security conference in Singapore next month, Spanish security researchers Javier Vazquez-Vidal and Alberto Garcia Illera plan to present a small gadget they built for less than $20 that can be physically connected to a car’s internal network to inject malicious commands affecting everything from its windows and headlights to its steering and brakes. Their tool, which is about three-quarters the size of an iPhone, attaches via four wires to the Controller Area Network or CAN bus of a vehicle, drawing power from the car’s electrical system and waiting to relay wireless commands sent remotely from an attacker’s computer. They call their creation the CAN Hacking Tool, or CHT.“It can take five minutes or less to hook it up and then walk away,” says Vazquez Vidal, who works as a automobile IT security consultant in Germany. “We could wait one minute or one year, and then trigger it to do whatever we have programmed it to do.” 

Just what commands the researchers can remotely inject with the CHT, Vazquez Vidal says, depends on the model of car. They tested four different vehicles, whose specific make and model they declined to name, and their tricks ranged from mere mischief like switching off headlights, setting off alarms, and rolling windows up and down to accessing anti-lock brake or emergency brake systems that could potentially cause a sudden stop in traffic. In some cases, the attacks required gaining under-the-hood access or opening the car’s trunk, while in other instances, they say they could simply crawl under the car to plant the device.For now, the tool communicates via only Bluetooth,Soft cup limiting the range of any wireless attack to a few feet. But by the time the two researchers present their research in Singapore, they say they’ll upgrade it to use a GSM cellular radio instead that would make it possible to control the device from miles away.All the ingredients of their tool are off-the-shelf components, adds Vazquez Vidal,x431 GDS so that even if the device is discovered it wouldn’t necessarily provide clues as to who planted it. “It’s totally untraceable,” he says.The Spanish researchers’ work adds to a growing focus in the security industry on the vulnerability of networked automobiles to hackers’ attacks. Before the Defcon hacker conference last July, researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek put me behind the wheel of a Ford Explorer and a Toyota Prius and then showed that they could plug their laptops into a dashboard port of vehicles to perform nasty tricks like slamming on the Prius’ brakes, jerking its steering wheel and even disabling the brakes of the Explorer at low speeds.That work helped to spur Senator Edward Markey to send a seven-page letter to 20 automakers asking that they detail their security practices. Though the automakers’ answers were due on January 3rd, Markey’s office hasn’t yet released the results of their responses. 

Toyota both brushed off Miller and Valasek’s work by pointing to the fact that their hack required physical access to the vehicle. “Our focus, and that of the entire auto industry, is to prevent hacking from a remote wireless device outside of the vehicle,” Toyota safety manager John Hanson told me at the time.But Miller and Valasek counter that others had already shown that the initial wireless penetration of a car’s network is indeed possible. In 2011, a team of researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California at San Diego wirelessly penetrated a car’s internals via cellular networks, Bluetooth connections, and even a malicious audio file on a CD in its stereo system.Vazquez Vidal’s and Garcia Illera’s CHT device adds yet another way to cross that wireless divide,Period Cup and one that’s likely far cheaper. But like prior researchers, they say their intention is to show that digital car attacks are possible, not to enable them. Though they’ll detail the physical construction of their tool, they say they don’t plan to release the code used to inject commands into their test vehicles’ networks. “The goal isn’t to release our hacking tool to the public and say ‘take this and start hacking cars,’” says Vazquez Vidal. “We want to reach the manufacturers and show them what can be done.”Like Miller and Valasek, they argue that car makers need to look beyond the initial wireless penetration of a car’s network to consider adding security between a vehicle’s systems, limiting a rogue device’s ability to wreak havoc.

2014 Detroit Auto Show: Mercedes unveils new midsized sedan

Mercedes-Benz showed off the next-generation C-Class at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday. The 2015 C-Class will be roomier than the current model and offer more safety features and amenities.Mercedes is growing the car and adding features because it is no longer the luxury brand’s entry-level vehicle. That role has fallen to the smaller CLA, a just-released sedan starting at about $30,000, roughly 20% less expensive than the expected starting price of the new C.“It’s not uncommon for lower-priced models to slowly move upmarket and get replaced by all-new, entry-level models,” said Karl Brauer, an analyst at auto information company Kelley Blue Book.“The C-Class was never the sportiest car in that segment, so making the next version larger and more luxurious isn’t a major shift for the model’s image or role,” Brauer said.united-promoMercedes’ challenge will be to pack enough luxury features into the new C while still keeping the price competitive, he said.The C300 will come with a 2.0-liter,Tampon turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder that will produce an estimated 235 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.The C400 will have a 3.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected V6 making an estimated 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Expect a diesel option later.Initially, Mercedes will offer only the all-wheel-drive version. A rear-wheel-drive model will follow. 

The new C grows by four inches in length and 1.6 inches width. Mercedes has used that extra room to make a cramped back seat more comfortable. The trunk capacity also has grown to 17 cubic feet from 12.4.The bigger C gives Mercedes slots in nicely in the brands lineup, said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst at HIS Automotive, fitting between the CLA and the larger E-Class and S-Class models.And like Ford,Soft cup with the 2015 F-150 pickup truck also introduced at the Detroit show Monday, Mercedes is making a much greater use of aluminum alloys to shave weight from the car and increase fuel economy. The new C-Class will be about 220 pounds lighter than its predecessor.Nearly half the new C-Class platform is made from aluminum, compared with 10% in the outgoing model. This lightweight construction cuts fuel consumption up to 20% over the current model without any loss of performance, Mercedes said.Mercedes has not released fuel consumption numbers for the new car, but the current generation gets 24 or 25 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, depending on the engine choice, according to Environmental Protection Agency ratings.The new model will be the first passenger car built by the German manufacturer in America. Mercedes plans to assemble the C-class at the automaker's factory in Alabama, where it already produces sport-utility vehicles. The shift is part of as strategy by Mercedes to build cars closer to their markets to avoid the negative effects of currency fluctuations.

Canada Post unveils stamps marking Chinese Year of the Horse

Canada Post on Monday unveiled a collection of Year of the Horse stamps to usher in the Chinese Lunar New Year, which will start on Jan. 31.The stamps, the seventh issue in a 12-year series, are part of a popular commemorative stamp program Canada Post has been running for the past 18 years.This year's collection, featuring designs by Louis Gagnon and Daniel Robitaille from Montreal-based firm Paprika, depicts outlines of horses. While it is the second time they have issued Year of the Horse stamps, Canada Post's spokesperson, Eugene Knapik, said this year's design was not like its 2002 predecessor."They (the designers) were influenced by shadow puppetry as well as traditional print-making techniques,GM TECH2 so they've gone with flattened images and used foiling to emphasize the flattening of the images," he explained.The two designers both had their own special traits, said Knapik. 

He pointed out that the international stamp this time adds a twist to a technique used in previous issues, using embossing on the entire image of the horse to add dimension, as opposed to just using the technique in small areas.A reusable silicone cup, worn internally to collect menstrual flow. Includes FAQ and testimonials.Menstrual Cup The domestic stamp depicts a horse in motion with a simple and elegant design."With the domestic stamps, they've really gone for motion," he said. "So when you look at the full sheet of 25 domestic stamps, you will see they're in motion like waves, because the tail of one touches the mane of another."Color is also a key element in the 2014 designs, with the designers making use of the traditional Chinese colors of red and gold on the pair of stamps to evoke the liveliness of fire and to portray a powerful and graceful horse. 

The stamps have become a long-standing tradition at Canada Post to usher in the new year and to celebrate the diverse cultures within the country.x431"Our stamp program focuses on all facets of the Canadian experience, and there's 1.5 million people of Chinese heritage living in Canada, and it's the most important festival in the Chinese calendar," said Knapik, adding that it has become one of their most popular series."I'm amazed at the popularity, the number of people who come out and purchase all the stamps," he added.As always, the launch never fails to attract avid collectors who cannot get enough of the series."I come every year because I have grandsons now, and I like to give it to them," said King Wong, an avid collector. "The kids love them, and they enjoy it very much."

Wall Street rebounds on positive retail sales

U.S. stocks surged Tuesday, bouncing back from Monday's selloff, as better-than-expected retail sales provided a boost to the market.In midday trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 70. 90 points, or 0.44 percent, to 16,328.84. The S&P 500 climbed 13. 55 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,832.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index soared 50.85 points, or 1.24 percent, to 4,164.16.U.S. retail sales edged up 0.2 percent in December following a downwardly revised 0.4-percent gain in November, the Commerce Department said, exceeding market forecasts. "The December retail sales numbers look strong," said a research note Tuesday from FTN Financial. It also added the downward revisions to the October and November numbers must be taken into account.U.S. business inventories rose 0.4 percent in November from the preceding month, the department said in a separate report Tuesday.Moreover, U.S. import prices recorded no change in December following two months of declines, while export prices advanced 0.4 percent, the Labor Department said. 

A pair of notable banks posted a mixed picture in their earnings reports, followed by a bound of earnings reports from other giant banks later this week, which is expected to set the tone of the new earnings season.JPMorgan, the largest U.S. bank by assets, early Tuesday reported a net income of 5.China visa houston3 billion U.S. dollars for the fourth quarter of 2013, down from 5.7 billion dollars a year ago. Its revenue for the quarter was 24.1 billion dollars, down 1 percent compared with the previous year.Legal costs, including the recently announced settlement over JPMorgan's involvement in Bernard Madoff's fraud, took a toll on the bank's results in the fourth quarter. However,Wedding invitations the bank's shares still slightly advanced in midday.Meanwhile, Wells Fargo & Company, the biggest U.S. mortgage lender, reported a record full-year and quarterly net income Tuesday.The main tool that comes in an electric Household scissors often has bits, similar to those used on a drill, that are for sanding and shaping the nail. Its net income in 2013 was 21.9 billion dollars, up 16 percent from last year, while its fourth-quarter net income was 5. 6 billion dollars, up 10 percent year on year.Wells Fargo's record-setting performance was boosted by strong loan and deposit growth, continued improvement in credit quality and strengthened capital levels. But the bank's shares traded in negative territory in the morning trading session.

What court's decision on FCC net neutrality rules means for you

Internet content is no longer treated equally in 2014, as the Federal Communications Commission Open Internet Order ran into a closed courtroom door this week in the net neutrality case of Verizon v. FCC.This controversial ruling in favor of internet service providers (ISPs) strikes down government regulations that had prohibited their discrimination of data that passed through their pipelines.The mistake of the FCC was that it classified ISPs as "information service providers" in 2002. This week, more than a decade later,China tourist visaamino resin the court's 3-0 decision saw through the agency's attempt to adopt rules as if ISPs were of the more regulated "common carriers" distinction applied to telecom companies.Now Verizon,Banner Pen AT&T, Time Warner or whomever you get your internet from can legally increase the speed of content that conforms to their business needs and, without rebuke, slow down or even block content that rivals their own services.If YouTube or Netflix are hogging up all of the bandwidth, for example, and your ISP has its own half-baked on-demand video service, it could essentially sabotage the download speeds of YouTube and Netflix and favor its own service.This, as you can imagine, bodes poorly for content consumers, a.k.a. the American public. 

Proponents of net neutrality rules are alarmed at this verdict because it could create a tiered internet in which ISPs become the gatekeepers to what you can and can't access on the web.The scenario in which Netflix is treated differently from a cable provider's own video on-demand service isn't so far fetched. It actually happened in 2012 and caught the attention of Netflix CEO and Comcast subscriber Reed Hastings.Hastings noticed that Comcast didn't count the data used to stream video through its own Xfinity app on Xbox 360. A button click away, the video game console's Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO Go apps did count against the data cap instituted by Comcast, giving Xfinity an unfair advantage.Scenarios like this make it clear that the choice as to which service is best may no longer be in the hands of users. ISPs could heavily influence your online habits from here on out.That's not only bad for the well-funded Netflix, it's devastating for the garage-based app developer with a legitimately innovative idea. The next Snapchat could easily be overshadowed by a deep-pocketed copycat like Facebook's inferior Poke app if it were too slow or counted against your data plan. Facebook would have the money to copy and compete, but two Stanford University students with an original idea would not.Ultimately, the biggest losers would be content consumers - you and everyone who uses and enjoys internet content.

Google's latest Chrome release tries to replace the Windows 8 desktop

According to stats published by Google, the newest Android release, codenamed KitKat, is powering over one percent of all Android devices accessing the Google Play store.The data, which is based on smartphones and tablets accessing the Google Play store over a 7-day period ending on January 8, 2014, shows that Android 4.4 is installed on 1.4 percent of devices.Android 4.4 was release on 31 October, 2013, and first made its public appearance on the Nexus 5.This latest version has a long way to go to catch up with the previous release, codenamed Jelly Bean. This release, which includes versions 4.1.x, 4.2.x and 4.3, power 59.1 percent of Android devices and makes it the single most popular version. However,x431 Android version 4.1.x is the single most popular release, installed on 35.9 percent of devices.This means that there's considerable fragmentation among devices running Jelly Bean, with the majority unable to benefit from features introduced in versions 4.2.Seventh Generation Sanitary Pads, Sanitary Napkin, Sanitary Napkin Pads. Featuring a natural absorbent material derived from wheat.Soft cupx, 4.3, and now 4.4 as KitKat is rolled out to handsets.However, Jelly Bean's nearest rival continues to be Android 2.3.x Gingerbread, a version first released back in February 2011, and this version continues to power 21.2 percent of the devices accessing the Google Play store. However, the good news is that this version's dominance is eroding slowly as the months progress, but it is likely to remain significant for at least another year. 

The problem with getting users up to the latest version is not down to a lack of interest. Indeed, the speed and ferocity with which iOS users upgrade to the latest version shows that users clearly are interested in new versions of operating systems. The problem is that Google is the beginning of a long system that updates have to go through.Whenever Google releases a new version of Android,drives his golf cart across the street to the high school and unlocks the key programmer. device OEMs have to then customize the release, add their own tweaks and personalizations. Then, for smartphones and tablets that are hooked to a carrier contract, the carriers have to add their own branding. The problem is made worse by the fact that neither the OEMs of the carriers feel there's much of a benefit in pushing free software updates to customers, and would rather focus on selling owners a new device. Beginning in April 2013, Google started delivering data collected from each device when the user visited the Google Play Store. Previously, the data was collected when the device simply checked in to Google servers. Google believes that the new data "more accurately reflects those users who are most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem."

GM wins awards, Ford turns heads at Detroit auto show

General Motors' Chevrolet unit swept car and truck of the year honors but Ford's use of aluminum in its F150 sparked new debate on the first day of the Detroit auto show Monday.But as cars from Mercedes Benz's new C-Class and Honda's little third-generation Fit showed, consumers are getting more amenities, from connectivity to power to comfort, in the lower ranges of the automakers' fleets."There's a tremendous amount of innovation taking place in the industry right now," said Robert Carter, senior vice president for automotive operations at Toyota.Automakers, after a hugely successful 2013, forecast more growth and unveiled powerful new trucks, sexy sports cars and luxury models.General Motors logged an early win after its Chevrolet brand swept the car and truck of the year awards with the Corvette Stingray sports car and the Chevy Silverado pickup truck."Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand's more than 100-year history," Chevy chief Alan Batey said, hailing its wins.Eyes were on Ford, however, as it gambled with a major change for the best-selling F150 pickup,Lanyard Strap replacing steel body panels with aluminum to drastically lower body weight and boost fuel economy. 

The move, which helped Ford slash the truck's weight by up to 700 pounds (317 kilos) is seen as a big risk, because truck buyers tend to focus on sturdiness and power.Toyota, meanwhile, revved up its design credentials with a provocative new concept for a sports car, with a race car pit crew opening a shiny red box to reveal the FT-1 sports concept -- Future Toyota 1.Chrysler unveiled its hotly anticipated revamp of the 200 sedan, which aims to bring a new level of luxury and styling to its midsized offering with a low entry price of $21,700."We designed a car to take on every other vehicle in its class, feature by feature and prove that a quality sedan doesn't have to cross an ocean to be worthy of an American driveway,Shop our enormous selection of knife sets - islands, range hoods, pot racks, cabinet and pantry organizers and more." Chrysler brand chief Al Gardner told reporters.Mercedes got a jump on its competitors by hiring Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child to serenade its sleek and luxurious new C-Class sedan, an upgrade from the entry-level position it has held for several years.Now that role has been taken by the CLA, and the C-Class has been decked out with features from higher-end Mercedes.Also enjoying the move down from senior models is the diminutive Honda Fit.light project Honda has reshaped the front, enlarged the inside with generous leg space for a subcompact, boosted horsepower to 130 and worked to smooth the ride, adding a right-side Lane Watch, Bluetooth, rearview cameras, and upgraded smart phone connectivity.Corvette also generated excitement with its new racing versions of the Corvette Stingray, the street-legal Z06 and the track-ready CR.7.Mark Reuss, a senior executive at General Motors, Chevrolet's parent, said there was little to separate the two, which he called "America's Supercar"."Racing motorsports and winning is a part of who we are," said Reuss.Kia and Toyota brought in concept pocket-rockets, BMW served up a hat-trick of new models -- the 2 series, and an M3 and M4.

Natural Style Kitchen Designs With Simple Decor

Like this modern kitchen, the nifty kitchen draft certainly has an useful stuff with develop every space to save the space. Nifty kitchen pattern certainly shall touch of art. This great kitchen nuance is a stylish concept with light ornament that generating this kitchen more fantastic.This Natural Style Kitchen Designs With Simple Decor has dashing scenery by maximize the awesome concept with update the furnishings and make the beautiful kitchen scheme. The designer has set this impressive interpretation of Natural Style Kitchen Designs With Simple Decor inspired by contemporary kitchen design and modern kitchen, describe a comfortable intonation.uv resin What do you think about sweet modern kitchen with lovely intonation that provide us an superb intonation to redesign our home kitchen intonation.Adornment is one of soft ideas in this modern kitchen that you can implemented to your kitchen, but if you have a crowded kitchen area it will be a little difficult. This awesome kitchen atmosphere is a stylish design with light paint that create this kitchen more comfortable. Like this modern kitchen, the kind kitchen configuration definitely has an useful furniture with make use of every area to save the space.If you like this Kitchen atmosphere we are recommend you to get the Awesome Kitchen below. Need more ideas? look at the another Amazing Kitchen accent linked with Natural Style Kitchen Designs With Simple Decor in modern kitchen topic. 

Do you feel confuse to choose the best interior design ideas for your kitchen? If you feel that, don’t worry because we provide some pictures of the kitchen which can be reference for you. Moreover if you want to have modern kitchen style, you are in right way.These are the modern furniture with beautiful performance. Well, what are you waiting for? Check these pictures out. And, make sure after seeing the pictures here, you will get new inspiration and don’t feel confuse anymore.Here are some pictures which we are talking about. You can see the white brick wall between cabinet and storage. These are the white storages with the white cabinet in interior design ideas for house. The white cabinet has grey counter broad.You can see that this kitchen is soft and cozy with calm colors. Then, two little lamps are hanged above the cabinet. This kitchen has the glossy refrigerator and white corner shelves. The appearance of shelves are so useful,Banner Pen the people can put and take the stuff from three directions.Clawfoot tubsActually, this kitchen is designed with the dining room. You can see the dining room is designed with classy and charming combination. Classic furniture designs come from the classy chandelier and oak table.Then, for the charming furniture comes from some colorful chairs. Next to those furniture appearances is the white storage for keeping some kitchen accessories to increase the performance of the room. There is even the shelf which shows off the fruits.Well, this kitchen has small window with white window frame. This window can be used for the air circulation. The appearance of the window is the next to the sink. So, the people who want wash their hands can enjoy the outside view.

Bathrooms can be made cosy and comfortable when you choose the right type of curtains

If you want to keep your bathroom dry then hang shower curtains as they restrict the flow of water from the wash area into the other areas of the bathroom. You can choose shower curtains according to the bathroom fittings in your bathroom. You can also display the curtains according to the colour of the walls and the design of the tiles. A durable shower curtain though expensive is perfect for your bathrooms as they are easy to manage and clean. Here are a few bathroom shower curtain ideas.If your lavatory is missing otherwise cannot present expediency utilities plus have a propensity to be uninteresting while you dress in it, after that it is occasioned you do a redecoration plus we advise you create Candice Olson bathroom. Even thought, pains, faintness, drenched plus fewer enthusiastic forever live surrounded by us, not slightest while residence beginning job otherwise continual action. Plus a position that we extended meant for is the lavatory. Since additionally to the lavatory be able to eradicate corpse smell plus offer cleanness to your remains. Considering as a result enormous designed for lavatory task of our living,A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, maxi pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating.Period Cup it is appropriate that we present further concentration to the position. Thus, you can create your ideas with Candice Olson bathroom design. 

Candice Olson bathrooms are the resolution intended for you moreover your relatives. Condition you do not contain the aptitude within the redecoration, after that there are two belongings you ought to perform. The primary is to make contact by a skilled plus a proficient to label meant for assist changing your lavatory. The professionals will characteristic numerous plans,x431 GDS methods plus insignia to outfit your lavatory. This on the other hand, does not affect for those who contain partial money. The following is to leave to your neighbors, associates otherwise relatives who have worn Candice Olson bathroom design meant for insight, plus if essential get the descriptions. Afterward, you be able to do themselves redecoration scheme. The second method is extremely appropriate designed for you who contain the money incomplete.Within formative the plan, method plus insignia, which require to be measured is the nature of the residence plus change your flavor. Intended for those of you forceful idealistic,A reusable silicone cup, worn internally to collect menstrual flow. Includes FAQ and testimonials.Menstrual Cup cherry paint is wonderful designed for Candice Olson bathrooms. Meant for those of you who desire a marvelous devise, paint harmonizing is glow emerald also glowing blue. The last well done modernize your lavatory.