Pygmy seahorses are super tiny creatures that have the awesome ability to camouflage. They attach themselves to colorful corals and blend in so seamlessly that I have a hard time picking them out. What’s cool is that even if the pygmy seahorses are descendants of orange seahorses, they can adapt and become purple if that’s the only coral nearby.
Xiaomi, the smartphone of choice in China, just had a really good few months selling phones. According to Strategy Analytics, it reckon the new phone maker is now the third largest smartphone maker in the world, trailing only Samsung and Apple. Its…
At a briefing earlier today, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata explained that the company was now developing a device to monitor sleep and levels of fatigue. However, it didn’t sound like it would be a wearable device — even though it’s the done thing….
As you might have heard, retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, CVS, Rite Aid, and a few others are part of the MCX group where they will be launching their own mobile payment system called CurrentC. This is a big deal as the MCX group had forbidden its members from allowing Apple Pay in their stores in the face of heavy penalties.
That being said, many have questioned the security of CurrentC and it looks like things aren’t off to a good start for them. According to reports, it seems that CurrentC has been hacked as the MCX group has recently started to send out emails to users who have signed up for information regarding the program.
CurrentC has been pegged for a 2015 launch but in the meantime, the group has noticed that unauthorized third-parties have managed to gain access to the email addresses that users have left on their website in order to be kept notified about CurrentC’s progress and status. Thankfully it is only the email addresses that have been stolen and that credit card information and personal information have not.
“Within the last 36 hours, we learned that unauthorized third parties obtained the e-mail addresses of some of you. Based on investigations conducted by MCX security personnel, only these e-mail addresses were involved and no other information.” Of course having access to your email can be a big deal as no doubt some of you use it for login information. They could also subscribe you to unwanted emails and services, but either way if you have signed up for CurrentC, perhaps it’s best you keep an eye on your email for suspicious activities.
Apple Pay Competitor CurrentC Hacked, Email Addresses Possibly Stolen
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When GT Advanced Technologies announced that they would be filing for bankruptcy, many were shocked as it seemed that they were doing well in their partnership with Apple. Well thanks to the new agreement that the company made with Apple, they have finally managed to reveal just what went wrong.
According to the court filing, it seems that the initial deal Apple and GT made with each other would see Apple buy 2,600 sapphire furnaces and other equipment that GT would then use to help Apple manufacture the material. However after negotiation, it was changed to Apple loaning GT $578 million which the company would use to buy said furnaces and equipment.
This basically put GT in a riskier position compared to if Apple had bought the furnaces themselves, and here’s when things went downhill. “GTAT ended up bearing the costs of more than 1,300 temporary and permanent personnel, utilities, insurance, repairs, and raw materials with minimal revenue output. The total cost incurred by GTAT pursuant to the project with Apple has so far amounted to approximately $900 million” (of which $439 million was funded by the Apple prepayment).”
This is also where the “oppressive and burdensome” comment comes in. According to GT’s COO Daniel Squiller, not only was the company expected to churn out as much sapphire boules as possible, there was no guarantee that Apple would buy them. They were also not allowed to sell the sapphire unbought by Apple to other companies, loan or sell their furnaces, both of which would incur fines, and there was also a fine if GT was late in delivering the sapphire boules to Apple, which Apple had the right to cancel a purchase if they see fit.
There was also the issue regarding the price of sapphire which had fallen. The company was unable to secure a new pricing agreement with Apple and with sapphire expected to drop further in value in 2015, the company ultimately decided that the best way to go about was to cancel the project and file for bankruptcy.
GT Advanced Technologies’ Court Filing Reveals What Went Wrong
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Lenovo is expending its Windows Yoga Tablet 2 line with a new 13” model which features a quad-HD (QHD) 2560×1440 IPS display. This size is arguably optimum for Windows, and a lot of users would probably agree that this the best size for using classic Windows apps, instead of Metro (or “Modern Design”) apps. Just like other Yoga-branded computers, this tablet does support four different positions: hold, stand, tilt and hang. Depending on your own use case, a specific position may be the best.
Inside, the 13-inch Yoga 2 Tablet is powered by an Intel Atom processor (quad-core, model Z3745, 2M cache and 1.86 MHz max). There’s 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage (for the OS and Apps), which can be supplemented by another 64GB via MicroSD. WiFi B/G/N is supported, along with Bluetooth 4.0. There’s no support for WiFi AC – it’s too bad because the range is better, but in general, WiFi-N is just fine in terms of speed.
This tablet can be connected to a larger display via a Micro HDMI port. There’s also a Micro USB and of course a 3.5mm audio port. We’ve mentioned the MicroSD slot earlier. There is a front camera for video calls, but no high-performance back camera.
In terms of industrial design, this new model looks very much like previous ones (except for the black color), with the distinctive aluminum base and a solid stand. The base also contains a robust 12800 mAh battery which Lenovo says can keep this tablet up for 15 hours. 13.3-inches of diagonal isn’t small, but the Yoga 2 Tablet 13 weighs 2.27lbs (without keyboard), so once you add the keyboard, it will compete with ultralight Windows laptops.
In general, this should be a great device if you plan to use your Windows computer more as a tablet than a PC. In-flight work or entertainment would be one of the better use case, but this should be a great “executive” ultralight for those who peek at emails and reply with short bursts of text. It could also be great for the road warrior who wants to shed any ounce of weight possible. There are many possibilities, but if you are just fine with a regular laptop, the Yoga 2 Pro may be worth looking at.
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 13-inch Announced
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Last year Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, but what about this year? Strangely enough we had not seen a refresh of the tablet, although in all fairness perhaps Samsung could be focusing on their newer tablets, like the larger 12-inch Note tablet. However if you liked the size of the 10.1-inch tablet, you might be interested to learn that a refresh could be happening in 2015.
This is according to a sighting on Samsung’s website in which some of the company’s apps like WatchOn have listed support for the Galaxy Note 2015 edition. It could have been a typo, but the listing also mentions the Galaxy Note 2014 edition, so chances are it could be in reference to a new Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet that has yet to be announced.
Now it is possible that we could see it launched this year. After all the 2014 version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 was launched in October last year, so for the 2015 model to launch later this year might not be that much of a stretch, but either way we will be keeping our eyes and ears peeled for more information.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition was launched with a resolution of 2560×1600. It also included support for the S Pen, thus making the tablet an ideal device for artists on the go who might want a large surface to doodle on. It also makes it great for students who want handwritten notes that have been stored electronically.
Samsung Website Hints At Galaxy Note 10.1 2015 Edition
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As it stands, using the command “OK Google” on your Android device will launch the voice assistant feature that allows users to perform searches, set reminders, alarms, find directions, and so on. All of this is based on Google Search to a certain extent. However it seems that Google will be extending the functionality to third-party apps.
As announced by Google, developers will be able to insert a short code into their apps that allows the “OK Google” function to work with their apps. According to Google, “At Google, we always look for innovative ways to help you improve mobile search and drive user engagement back to your app. For example, users can now say to the Google app: “Ok Google, search pizza on Eat24″ or “Ok Google, search for hotels in Maui on TripAdvisor.”
This means is that if you’d rather not rely on Google Search for restaurant or holiday advice, you can try searching for it with your voice in third-party apps and it can be done from any screen. That way if you favor Yelp, you could search for a restaurant review on Yelp via the “OK Google” function.
Of course this will depend on developers updating their apps to support the feature so for some apps, the update might take a while to arrive. The feature will also only be available on devices running Android Jelly Bean or later, so if you have an older handset, we guess you’d be out of luck.
OK Google Functionality Extended To Third-Party Apps
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Gather ’round ladies (figuratively for effect). It has been a long journey planning your wedding and I know you are exhausted. It is finally time to finalize your makeup artist and so much of your budget has been poured into the caterers, the flowers, the gown, and those cute little napkin holders. While all these things are absolutely crucial to make your day perfect, your makeup is equally as important. Not only is the bride the main attraction at any wedding but the photos will last forever. In an effort to save money I have seen too many brides cut corners on their makeup and I cannot understand the reason behind not investing in this important aspect of your day. There is no doubt that all eyes will be on you- what you are wearing, your hair, and your makeup.
So the question is, how do you get the look you want for the price you are expecting?
A piece of advice is to contact the makeup artist you have in mind as early as possible in your planning process and have them work with you while you are building your budget. Absolutely do not call them after you have destroyed your entire budget on that Vera Wang wedding gown and those Christian Louboutin pumps expecting them to cut their rates to the cheapest amount possible.
Be realistic on prices. The upfront quote you get from an artist might seem like a lot at first; however, there is much more that goes into your wedding day makeup than you think. On average I spend a total of seven to ten hours with a bride. We have multiple phone and email conversations, we prep for the wedding day, we prepare the look together, we make sure she is happy with the way she will look three to five weeks in advance of the event. In the end you are paying for much more than the makeup application. You are paying the time involved in creating your perfect wedding day look, in packing a kit customized for you (colors, brushes, disposables, powders, liners, etc.), traveling to your venue/returning, setting up a mini studio just for you in your bridal suite, repacking, cleaning and sterilizing all the products used for the next client.
Some people have a hard time seeing the art in makeup artistry and would prefer to save on the cost of their wedding makeup. On the other hand, if you are someone that has a vision for how you want to look on your big day in front of your guests, and in your pictures then investing in this essential component of your wedding day is a must. Not all wedding makeup is equal and an expensive artist isn’t always the best one. Doing your research is an important part of the process. Usually, the more experience a makeup artist has, the bigger the price tag for services. Newer artist tend to be cheaper but then you might be sacrificing maturity in the business, the skill set you are looking for, and the experience that can only be built over time. I suggest getting more than one trial from different artists at all different experience levels. This will allow you to have the chance to see different artistic perspectives, gather ideas, and find the best possible artist for you on one of the most important days of your life.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke and her brother on Wednesday rejected a claim by a former top Trek executive that she was fired from her job at the family company, calling it “character assassination” just days before an election where she’s running close with GOP Gov. Scott Walker.
“It’s ridiculous,” Burke said in a telephone interview of the claims she was fired. “It’s completely false.” Former Trek president Tom Albers told The Associated Press that Burke’s role as head of Trek’s overseas operations “just didn’t work out. We were losing money.”
Albers spoke to the AP after the allegation that Burke was fired was first reported by Wisconsin Reporter, a conservative website.
The claim that Burke was fired goes to the heart of her credentials as a successful Trek executive and comes just six days before the election.
Both Mary Burke and her brother John Burke, the current head of Trek, denied that she was fired from the job in 1993. They said Trek decided to reorganize its overseas operations, eliminating her position, at a time when she was ready to leave the company.
Albers, who worked for Trek from 1982 to 1997, said Mary Burke was fired by John Burke. Albers said he was told of the 1993 firing at the time by CEO Dick Burke, father to Mary and John Burke, who died in 2008.
Mary Burke said the claim so close to the election was politically motivated.
“It started on Day 1 on the character assassination and it’s continued throughout,” she said. John Burke used the same phrase in responding to the claim.
“She’s a very good person who’s very good for this job,” John Burke said.
The accusation came the same day as a Marquette University Law School poll was released that showed Walker with a 7-point lead among likely voters, his widest of the race after months of being neck-and-neck. The poll of 1,146 voters between Oct. 23 and Sunday had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.
Mary Burke argues that her experience at Trek, the bike company started by her father in the 1970s, qualifies her to be governor and lead economic development and job-creation efforts for the state.
Burke worked for Trek twice, first as director of overseas operations from 1990 to 1993. She has said she left because she needed time off after holding a demanding job. She took two years off, which included three months snowboarding in Argentina. She returned to the company in 1995 in a non-managerial role and eventually led strategic planning and forecasting. She left in 2004 and then in 2005 took a job as state Commerce Department secretary, which she held for nearly three years.
John Burke said he decided to bring his sister back to the company because she had done such a good job in her first stint, increasing overseas sales from $3 million to $50 million. He said he did not have detailed financial records from that far back, but there was one year where the company had a loss.
Albers, who left Trek to take a job with its competitor Specialized Bicycles, said he had no ax to grind. Albers said he’s not politically active, but campaign finance records show he gave $1,100 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green in 2006. Albers said he thought he had donated $50 to Walker, but it doesn’t show up in campaign records.
Albers, 73, said he only talked about the situation after first being asked by a reporter.
“I always had a lot of respect for Mary Burke,” Albers said. “She was very intelligent.”
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