News Archive

Nintendo 3DS goes on sale and impresses 3D fans

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:59:48 -0800

If you didn’t buy one for your son or daughter, I guarantee you’ll buy one for yourself. The new Nintendo 3DS went on sale on Sunday for $249.99, and lets users play 3D games without wearing special glasses. The device also takes 3D photos and by summer, it will play 3D movies streaming from Netflix on its 800 x 240 pixel, 3.5-inch screen.

Like everyone else in the world, I’m skeptical that 3D glasses-less TVs, phones and other devices actually work without glasses, but many of the select few who’ve been able to preview the Nintendo 3DS do insist that the gaming device is in fact 3D capable. Once users can stream 3D videos on the device, I’m sure thousands of parents will rejoice in their kids’ silence and/or “oohing and aahing” of the special effects in movies.

Additionally, to get the best 3D effect, it’s been suggested that the gaming device be held 12 inches away from your face and any deviation from that point will make the imagery blurry. The device also has three cameras to capture 3D photos, making for one of the more exciting novelties offered.

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There are a couple downsides of the device, like a 3.5 hour battery life so ,ake sure to bring your charger for long road trips or cross-country flights. Another downside is that there is an actual age limit for Nintendo 3DS users that has been suggested for children over the age of 7. Nintendo says their eyes aren’t ready for the rapid movement and readjustment to the changing images in a way to safeguard themselves for future lawsuit-happy parents. I bet your kid is counting down the days until their 7th birthday now.

Finally, Super Mario Bros. isn’t included in the suite of games offered by the device, which is becoming a major issue for some heavy Nintendo users and lifelong fans. We’ll see how well first weekend sales pan out for Nintendo.

$10 million stake at Dubai World Cup 2011

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:00:00 -0800

If you find yourself in Dubai for some odd reason this weekend, I’m sure you already know about the Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race in the world. The gates open at 8:15 am and you better be on time for the $10 million race later that day. The Dubai World Cup is classified as a “Group 1 Flat Race” and spans about one mile.

Thoroughbreds run on Tapeta, a state-of-the-art race track and the Dubai World Cup is known as the international crossroads and global transport hub for the wealthy and elite. More than 50,000 racegoers attend the event each year. For a full schedule of the Dubai World Cup 2011, click here.

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The website offers the following details on the big races of the day:

Chief supporting races are the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free and the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic - the two richest races run on turf, anywhere in the world. The newest addition to the card is the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint, worth US$1 million, to be run over 1200m on turf. Also on the card are the Dubai Golden Shaheen and UAE Derby, both worth US$2 million, and the US$1 million Godolphin Mile, while the evening kicks off with the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.

If you’re traveling with your lady friend to the event, make sure to enter in the Jaguar Style Stakes competition where the “Best Dressed Lady”, “Best Dressed Couple”, “Best Hat” and the first ever “Best Dressed Man” contests will be quite the sight. The prizes of the Best Dressed are impressive, ranging from a one year lease of Jaguar to complimentary a six-day stay at an amazing resort.

I smell Gucci, Versace, Christian Louboutin, and Prada all over the turf.

Step aside Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes – the Dubai World Cup is taking over as the most luxurious, most exclusive horse racing event in the world.

BlackBerry PlayBook will support Android apps

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:38:07 -0800

The long-awaited BlackBerry PlayBook is hitting the shelves on April 19 and Research in Motion (RIM) has just announced that the device will support Android apps written for Android 2.3 and BlackBerry Java. Google Android support on a BlackBerry device is a shocker to many and the rumor mill has been churning for a few months now.

The editors over at Mashable believe that RIM is using a “virtual machine” to support Android code on its tablet, which may be similar to what QNX-based tablets will use to run apps written for older BlackBerrys.

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RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis says: “The upcoming addition of BlackBerry Java and Android apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook on BlackBerry App World will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will also showcase the versatility of the platform.”

App developers are definitely the ones to get the most benefit from the announcement. RIM says in a statement: “Developers currently building for the BlackBerry or Android platforms will be able to quickly and easily port their apps to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS thanks to a high degree of API compatibility. The new optional app players will be available for download from BlackBerry App World and will be placed in a secure “sandbox” on the BlackBerry PlayBook where the BlackBerry Java or Android apps can be run.”

The statement also says that developers will simply repackage, code sign and submit their BlackBerry Java and Android apps to BlackBerry App World. Once approved, the apps will be distributed through BlackBerry App World, making for a larger reach and a new opportunity for new BlackBerry PlayBook customers. Users will be able to download both the app players and the BlackBerry Java and Android apps from BlackBerry App World. To read the full statement, click here.

The PlayBook has been long awaited in the tablet world and this week’s announcement only makes the device even sweeter.

Groupon president and COO reportedly stepping down

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:58:50 -0800

Groupon’s president and COO, Rob Solomon, is reportedly stepping down from massive daily deal social buying site so that the company can look for a “more experienced hand” to manage the rapidly growing website, according to Fox Business. Solomon will stay on as a special advisor to Groupon and is stepping down in part because “Groupon got really big.” Who knew one would become so intimidated when a business got “too big” to manage?

Andrew Mason, CEO and founder of Groupon, was also part in making today’s decision. "I agree with Andrew that we really need a much different type of operator to take it to the next level," he said in an interview with Wall Street Journal. "What we did in that one year is equivalent to what happens in five years at the best Internet companies." Solomon said that Groupon had yet to find a replacement for him, but that the company was "talking to lots of world-class COO types."

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Groupon continues to entertain the idea of going public, but hasn’t chosen banks yet for the IPO. Based on the company’s growth, a public offering could take Groupon’s worth up to $20 billion, according to those familiar with the matter. It’s a good thing Groupon turned down Google’s offer of a measly $6 billion takeover last year.

Groupon started out with only 200 employees when it first opened shop in Chicago and today, has more than 6,000 employees and manages millions of dollars in its billfold. Groupon offers deals in 44 countries.

AT&T acquires T-Mobile, forces tethering plan

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:05:35 -0800

AT&T announced over the weekend that it would buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion in cash and stock from Deutsche Telekom. The deal has been approved by the board of directors of both mobile carriers and if it meets regulatory approval, AT&T will be the largest provider in the U.S. and its 4G LTE network will cover the scope of about 95 percent of the country’s population.

In a statement, AT&T says the acquisition “provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending exhaustion of wireless spectrum in some markets, which limits both companies’ ability to meet the ongoing explosive demand for mobile broadband.”

Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and CEO, also says: “This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation’s future. It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people."

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AT&T’S NEW TETHERING PLAN

What’s more interesting about this whole transaction is that AT&T “kindly” sent out an email to its U.S. customers early in the morning about their service plans that “may need updating.” For the savviest smartphone user, they know that their devices are capable of being used as a broadband connection for other phones, laptops and netbooks, which is called tethering. Users, especially those who have been grandfathered in with the unlimited data package, take advantage of this capability, while also using up AT&T’s network.

But now, AT&T, since it now owns T-Mobile and its customers, is now insisting that these tethering users be required to pay an additional fee – starting at $45 each month. AT&T picked up on the fact that many of its customers were using this capability and are urging them to take the next step to now pay up.

The breakdown of the new DataPro4GB for Smartphone Tethering package is:

• $45 per month
(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
• $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
• Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones

In one last attempt to stick it to AT&T customers, the email says that if the company doesn’t hear back from its customers, they will automatically enroll them into the tethering package after March 27. “The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.” However, those who immediately stop tethering will not be charged and resort back to their original pricing plan.

Now that smartphone users are actually becoming smarter and using all of the capabilities offered up by their devices and carriers, AT&T is realizing how much money they’re losing with all of this unlimited access. Let’s just see how many lawsuits show up on AT&T’s doorstep.

Even an editor at Mashable agrees: “AT&T may be talking a lot about 4G in its press release, but T-Mobile has no LTE technology or infrastructure to offer. No, today’s acquisition is all about bolstering AT&T’s network and beginning the process of repairing its reputation.”

It’s a good thing I’m a long-time customer of Verizon. All of my AT&T friends will be joining me now! Can you hear us now, AT&T?

Wi-Fi only XOOM on sale March 27 for $599

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:00:00 -0800

Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) announced this week that its XOOM will now have a Wi-Fi edition in the U.S. beginning March 27. Some of the retailers offering the 10.1-inch HD tablet powered by Android 3.0 Honeycomb include Amazon, Best Buy, RadioShack, Costco, Staples, Walmart, and some Sam’s Club locations. The 32 GB tablet has an MSRP of $599.

“Motorola XOOM is a truly innovative tablet – its design, coupled with being the first tablet to have Android 3.0, results in a user experience that is one-of-a-kind,” said Dan Papalia, vice president of retail sales for Motorola Mobility. “We are now continuing to expand the choices available to consumers with the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi to be available soon from numerous leading retailers in the United States.”

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Motorola fans are all kinds of excited for the XOOM when it was released February 24 and now that the tablet will be partnered with a Wi-Fi connection, they’re even giddier. The XOOM is still the only tablet to work off of the Honeycomb OS.

According to a statement, the XOOM showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience – including widgets, true multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization – on a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, enabling video content that’s richer and clearer than ever before. With a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, Motorola XOOM delivers exceptionally fast web-browsing performance.

The latest Google Mobile services include Google Maps 5.0™ with 3D interaction and access to more than 3 million Google eBooks and apps from Android Market™. The XOOM also supports a Beta of Adobe® Flash® Player 10.2 downloadable from Android Market, enabling the delivery of rich Flash based web content including videos, casual games and rich Internet applications.

The music industry and gaining a larger audience

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 04:00:00 -0800

It seems like people from all industries, parts of the world and from every walk of life are always looking to improve their bottom line and gain a larger targeted audience. The same goes for musicians, whether they’re a local artist or band making, or a massive, infamous band looking to spread the good word about their latest tour.

We speak to the soulful Jay Nash about his music and what advice he gives to Business Review USA readers about growing a fan base.

“The first step is to make a good record with good songs. Take your time to make something that’s great. Good music sells itself and if it’s not great, no advertisement in the world is going to help sell that product. People will naturally talk about it.

If you have the infrastructure and presence already on the web, you have a hub that will direct people to you. There was a time when it was only MySpace acting as an outlet to gain a new audience. I’d put a bulletin up to my fans and with little time, it would attract hundreds of people at a single show. Now, it’s Facebook and Twitter that is the best way to get in touch with fans.

Promotion of a brand goes beyond having just a great product. You or someone in your camp has to be constantly looking for what the next wave will be. Otherwise, you’ll just be at the wayside. Music is always changing. Something that works for monetizing a fan base of connections a year ago may not work in the next six months. I keep my mind on music and I restructured my management team to take care of everything else. People on my team are always brainstorming for new ideas and maintain the shift from targeting my fans on MySpace and Facebook and to keep the money coming in.

There’s a new generation of music fans and they crave the experience and direction with the artist. You’ve got to tell your own story, even if it’s strange or heartbreaking because it can influence people and create a connection by defying reason.

Rather than partnering with a record label, we recently had a virtual yard sale and offered five different product packages ranging from sweatshirts, early previews of new music, signed CDs, tickets to meet and greet and backstage passes. Fans will sometimes look for other outlets to learn more about my music. Three years ago, no one had done anything like this before.”

Jay Nash’s latest album “Diamonds and Blood” was released March 8 and became the No. 5 on iTunes that day. He’ll also be performing at this year’s music festival, Wakarusa, at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas. For more information, visit www.JayNash.com. To purchase the album, click here.

Firefox 4 slated for release March 22

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:56:26 -0800

The final version of Firefox 4 should be released March 22 if all goes according to plan – and it looks strikingly similar to Google Chrome. It took Firefox 10 beta releases in order to get the design and application nearly perfect and entered the “release candidate” stage this week. Firefox 4 is expected to be up to six times faster than its predecessors and features a “minimalistic interface” and sync and panorama features.

Firefox 4 took a note from Google Chrome and Opera and placed tabs above the search bar instead of below. Alex Faaborg, principal designer on Firefox, says the advantages are more logical visuals, space efficiency, and room for new features like app tabs and new notification windows. The first Firefox 4 beta was released in July 2010 with the hope of a final product in fall 2010.

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Jonathan Nightingale, director of Firefox development, says the search engine has more than 400 million users worldwide and a 30 percent global market share, according to an interview with Information Week. “Firefox 4 is fast,” he says. “It’s blazing fast. Six times faster than any Firefox we’ve done before.”

Nightingale argues that Microsoft is leaving most of its users behind by offering Internet Explorer 9 only for its most recent versions of Windows. "Microsoft has decided to focus their efforts on Direct2D, which is Vista and 7," he said. "And so they just don't accelerate on XP. That's really surprising to use because when we look at metrics, we see 40% to 50% of the Web still on XP. So we can't leave them out in the cold. It's harder, because it means you've got to build your hardware acceleration twice, once using the older set of APIs and once using the newer set. But we want everybody to have a first-class experience."

Other special features include:
• Tabs on top of the URL bar are referred to as the “Awesome Bar”
• Panorama tab manager simplifies browsing and customizing
• Add-ons Manager
• Do Not Track flag to avoid behavioral advertising
• Supports HD and WebM video

Samsung Series 9 laptop gives MacBook Air run for its money

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:00:54 -0800

The tech world has been admiring the latest Apple MacBook Air and its sexiness and sleekness as the thinnest laptop on the market. But starting today, the MacBook Air has quite the competitor as the Samsung Series 9 Notebook is hitting stores throughout the U.S. – and it weighs 2.89 lbs.

The 13.3-inch laptop is lighter and thinner than the MacBook Air while also offering a better processor. But with all of those bells and whistles, you better believe the price tag matches. The Samsung Series 9 with an Intel 1.4 GHz Core i5-2537M processor, 4 GB of RAM and 12 GB SSD is $1,649 – exactly $50 more expensive than the highest-priced MacBook Air. And the aforementioned Samsung is the cheapest offering of the Series 9. The laptop will be available at Best Buy, Amazon and other online retailers.

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“Weighing less than 3 lbs., Samsung has designed the 9 Series to stand out, completely reimagining the notion of the traditional laptop,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “When designing a premium laptop like the 9 Series, Samsung wanted to offer an unforgettable experience without limitations. The 9 Series laptop successfully combines elegant styling, performance and ease of use in an ultra thin and lightweight package.”

Samsung has also announced that it would bring to market another member of the Series 9 product fleet in April, an 11.1-inch super thing laptop with a Core i3-380UM processor, 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB SSD. No final price has been released yet, but price analysts believe the price to be around $1,150.

Production of Mark Zuckerberg Facebook action figure halted

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:13:10 -0800

As a CEO of any major company, there has to be a few important desk pieces one should have. Of course, you’ll have a sturdy desk clock to keep you on time for all of your “important” appointments/tee times on the local greens. You’ll most definitely have a framed photo of your beautiful wife and children from your last trip to the British Isles, along with your iPad or XOOM and iPhone or BlackBerry or Droid to keep you locked in on all of the latest happenings. And let’s just say you have a stack of papers strewn about on your desk offering information about your latest lawsuit, itineraries for upcoming vacations, and some imperative papers you “must see” that your assistant printed out for you weeks ago.

One other “must have” on your desk is an action figure of your most beloved executive. No not Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but Mark Zuckerberg. The big ol’ Zuck was about to have his very own action figure donning a completely realistic power suit (Levis, Adidas sandals and his signature hoodie) and he even had accessories: Poke and Like signs.

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But you’re out of luck now if you're thinking or ordering one. Facebook’s Chinese lawyers (who knew Zuckerberg had lawyers out there?) have forced the action figure manufacturer Made-in-China (M.I.C.) Gadget to halt production. The lawyers say M.I.C. doesn’t own the rights to reproduce Zuckerberg or the Facebook logo.

The lawyers say: “Without the authorization of Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and FACEBOOK, you have manufactured and sold on your website the Mark Zuckerberg Action Figures to customers globally, which has used Mr. Mark Zuckerberg's portraiture for commercial purpose and infringed his legitimate right. In addition, FACEBOOK's trademark "F" has also been used on these Action Figures, which has also infringed FACEBOOK's trademark right. Your improper act has infringed upon the legitimate rights of Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and FACEBOOK.”

M.I.C. Gadget has since issued an apology and said they will comply.

“M.I.C. Gadget hereby apologizes to Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Inc, and their Beijing law firm for any inconvenience caused. M.I.C. Gadget hereby clarifies that all of its editors and writers have NO relationship with Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and FACEBOOK in business and/or in law. M.I.C. Gadget had only produced 300 Poking Inventor action figures, and there are no more stock on our hands. The figurine is discontinued, and will not appear on Earth anymore. Upon Facebook’s request, we will stop the marketing and sale of the figurine.”

I bet that Facebook will now produce its own action figure and sell hundreds of thousands of them to Zuck fans. Who knew tech geek action figures would become so popular?

Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki puts extends halt on production output

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:53:47 -0800

Toyota Motor Corp. and other major Japanese auto makers have put an extension on the halts on domestic output until at least next week, due to the earthquake and tsunami. Toyota has said all assembly in Japan will remain suspended until Tuesday as the company works to get parts and also because employees are still unable to get to work. Toyota also said that it will resume production next Thursday at seven Japanese manufacturing plants of to supply domestic factories.

Toyota will start Monday to start parts production to supply Toyota’s overseas factories; in total, the car manufacturer has 12 factories in Japan. It’s only been five days since the earthquake and tsunami last week so it’s pretty amazing that through all of the devastation and tragedy, a global manufacturer like Toyota is able to round up its troops and continue to fill its manufacturing floor with willing and able employees. The natural disasters caused supply shortages, power outages and damaged facilities, yet Toyota has managed to surge through the devastation. Guess there’s no such thing as mourning or bereavement when you work for a massive powerhouse like Toyota.

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Suzuki Motor Corp. will also suspend production until Monday and plan to keep their domestic plants closed through at least Sunday. Nissan Motor Co. said today that it will resume part of its production Thursday and Friday and will run output lines at two of its plants using remaining parts. Saturday operations have yet to be decided. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. resumed domestic production today and also plans to operate all three of its plants Thursday.

As Japan is a vital part of the global supply chain in the auto maker industry, any disruption in shipments and production could have the potential of shutting down plants around the world. You would think that because this disaster caused such destruction to the well-being of humans, metropolitan and rural areas throughout Japan, automakers would be able to take a few extra days off from delivery and production.

What’s important to make note is that the U.S. has demanded more of a supply of Toyota’s Prius hybrids due to raising gasoline costs. It’s just one crazy cycle, now isn’t it?

Microsoft MP3 player retires, Verizon’s first 4G phone available

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:35:22 -0800

If you’re one of the very few people to listen to their music on the Microsoft Zune, it’s a sad day for you and your very unpopular MP3 player. Microsoft has discontinued releasing any further Zune devices and now plans to put more of its attention on Zune software for smartphones like the Windows Phone 7. It looks like Microsoft simply couldn’t complete with Apple and its iPod brands, even though Microsoft executives planned on conquering the market back in 2006.

The music player launched in the U.S. back in November 2006 with a hope to catch up to its Apple predecessor and make a name for its own self in the media player market. According to an article on Bloomberg, Apple’s “iPod led the market with 77 percent of unit sales last year, while the Zune failed to crack the top five, according to NPD Group Inc. By adding the Zune features to the Windows Phone software, Microsoft aims to gain ground in another challenging area -- mobile phones -- where it’s lost market share to Google Inc. and Apple.”

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“We have nothing to announce about another Zune device -- but most recently have introduced Zune HD to Canada via the Zune Originals store and remain committed to supporting our devices in North America,” the company said in an e-mailed statement. “We are thrilled by the consumer excitement for Zune across many new platforms, including Windows Phone 7 and Xbox 360. Our long-term strategy focuses on the strength of the entire Zune ecosystem across Microsoft platforms.”

The Zune HD was the last new model, released in 2009, and Microsoft will continue to sell existing versions of the product. To read about the Sony Walkman and its retirement, click here.

On a lighter note, the HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first smartphone on the LTE network, will be available March 17 for $199.99 with a two-year contract. Long Term Evolution is the widely adopted 4G-ready mobile network making for faster data transfer speeds.

Travel to Hong Kong with Interior Designer Sandra Espinet

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:12:54 -0800

I love Hong Kong! It’s one of the most interesting cities in the world and has some of the most incredible expansive skylines I have ever seen. It is also one of the most important economical economies of the world and an incredible melting pot of people and cultures. It’s an easy city to live in as an expat and a very easy city in which to do business. A perfect blend of East meets West.

As an interior designer, one of the things I like the most is the incredible shopping. From inexpensive home furnishings all the way to museum quality antiques, this city has it all. If you only have a short amount of time Hollywood Road is a must stop with all of its incredible antique stores. Oi Ling Antiques is one of my favorite shops and they ship all items directly back to your home country. They carry Qui and Ming dynasty furnishings and collector artifacts. One of my other favorite stops is Teresa Cole Antique textiles. Teresa has amassed an outstanding museum collection of Chinese textiles and antique handmade dressed that are sure to impress with gold treads and perfect embroidered stitches.

There is great style and elegance in this tropical metropolis and there is no shortage of fantastic or incredible food in this culinary town. One of the current trends in the city is the “private kitchen” eating experience. Unknown chefs are opening up beautifully decorated private kitchens which only serve one meal a night! Yours. If you have never had this experience I highly recommend you ask your hotel concierge to recommend one. But if you are looking for a more ethnic experience try having dim sum in one of the many Chinese restaurants through town. It consists of tiny portions of carefully wrapped food, into delicious mini bites and served in bamboo steam trays. Some of my favorites are “Luk Yu Tea House” because it has been around for so long and “Tim Ho Wun” because of its simplicity. A true working man’s restaurant with a 3 star Michelin chef!

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Not to be missed is the 8pm symphony of lights. It s a spectacular display of colored lights, laser beams and electronic energy that will stop you in your tracks. It has already been named by the Guinness World Records as the largest permanent light and sound show in the world. Over 40 high rises and buildings are lit and synchronized to reflect the spirit of Hong Kong. And the best place to see it is either aboard the Victoria Harbor Ferry or sitting on a front row seat at one of Kowloon’s many harbor view restaurants.

Luxury abounds in this cosmopolitan city and finding a hotel at any budget is easy. Because it’s such a large city I would suggest knowing what area you would prefer to be in before booking a hotel so you can avoid spending all day in traffic. Some of my favorites include the Grand Hyatt Hotel by the convention center because of its modern clean feel and floor to ceiling glass wall rooms overlooking the Victoria Harbor, The Langham Palace Mongkok Hotel in Kowloon because of the incredible views and beautiful Japanese style upper level rooms, the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon for a more formal and traditional experience, or the Four Seasons Hotel in Central Hong Kong for its outstanding service and walking accessibility.

***

Interior designer based in Los Cabos, Mexico and Los Angeles. In addition to designing luxury vacation homes for her high-end clientele, Sandra also owns and curates Square One Interiors & Fine Art Gallery in Los Cabos. Sandra has appeared on several HGTV series including Bang for Your Buck, HGTV’d, Celebrity Holiday Homes and Halloween Block Party. For more information, visit www.sandraespinet.com.

Apple sells out of iPad 2, another iPhone daylight savings glitch

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:11:06 -0800

The app developers for the Alarm Clock and Time features on the iPhone 4 still haven’t figured it out. Much to the amazement of many of the Verizon iPhone 4 owners, Americans experienced their alarm clocks falling back an hour instead of springing forward. It’s also been reported that AT&T iPhones also fell victim.

While America lost an hour of sleep on Sunday, many iPhone users were also late to their Sunday morning events if they used their alarm clock for an early morning wake up call. I, too, fell victim to the alarm clock and phone glitch and woke up extremely confused as to the actual time.

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This isn’t the first time iPhone users have experienced waking up late for appointments because of an alarm glitch. We reported a similar issue in January for the U.S. and back in November for the Aussies and the U.K. We just imagined the developers would have figured it out by now.

On another note, the iPad 2 sold out over the weekend and an estimated 500,000 devices were purchased; only 300,000 iPad first generations were sold in its opening weekend. The official number of units sold should be released by Apple in the next few days so stay tuned.

Chrysler f-bomb social media flop, cuts ties with New Media Strategies

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 05:00:00 -0800

If you follow Chrysler on Twitter, you have been one of the lucky 8,000+ followers of @ChryslerAutos to see the following tweet: “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to f#king drive.” Yup, you read it right. However, the actual tweet included the explicative and has been since deleted.

Chrysler quickly tweeted an apology for having their brand compromised and that they were taking steps to resolve the issue. The issue has definitely been resolved and the employee that handles Chrysler’s social media, from New Media Strategies, has been fired. Because so many individuals own a personal and professional Twitter, it’s no wonder that this employee mistook her account for the one she was managing, @ChryslerAutos.

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Chrysler has since cut its ties with New Media Strategies and is looking for a new agency to manage its social media strategies. The company said in a statement:

"Chrysler Group LLC will not renew its contract with New Media Strategies (NMS) for the remainder of 2011. NMS has agreed to support us with an orderly transition until a new agency has been named. We thank them for the work they have provided to us and wish them the best as they move forward."

Ed Garsten, Manager of Electronic Communications for Chrysler writes on the company’s blog:

“So why were we so sensitive? That commercial featuring the Chrysler 200, Eminem and the City of Detroit wasn’t just an act of salesmanship. This company is committed to promoting Detroit and its hard-working people. The reaction to that commercial, the catchphrase ‘imported from Detroit,’ and the overall positive messages it sent has been volcanic.

“Indeed, as an automaker that went through the roughest of times just two years ago, we appreciate the challenges Detroit faces in reclaiming its place as a vibrant, world-class city. Inside Detroit, citizens are becoming even more proud of their town, and outside the region, perception of Detroit is rapidly improving.”

NMS CEO Pete Snyder said in a company blog that the incident "certainly doesn't accurately reflect the overall high-quality work we have produced for Chrysler. We respect their decision and will work with them to ensure an effective transition of this business going forward."

Now, let’s see how New Media Strategies will manage its brand management skills.

How smartphone banking creates mobile security risk

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:00:00 -0800

Imagine not only being able to check your balance, transfer funds and pay bills from your phone, but also the ability to make a deposit without setting foot near an ATM. If you own an iPhone, Android, Windows Phone7, or a BlackBerry, then effortless banking is within your reach.

The most recently updated apps from banks allow customers to deposit checks from afar, simply by photographing that tiny slip of paper. JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and USAA, offer this convenient service. Splendid. But as authors of Crime in the Digital Age, Peter N. Grabosky and Russell G. Smith, point out “crime often follows opportunity.“ It seems the further advances in technology may also lead to vulnerability.

Users of mobile deposit should be cautious. Guarded information has the potential to be uncovered if a phone were lost or stolen. Banks assure that no information remains on the phone once a transaction is complete, much like using a PC at home. However, when using an app that has been downloaded onto your phone, things could turn out differently.

See top stories in the WDM Content Network:
• Smartphones: The Latest Innovations for 2011
• Top US Business Banks
• Click here to read the latest edition of Business Review USA

Co-founder of viaForensics, Andrew Hoog, warns that sensitive information can be found on your smartphone post mobile deposit use. When interviewed by NPR’s “Fresh Air,” the mobile security expert revealed interesting findings.

After putting several apps to the test, Hoog found that the Wells Fargo Android app allowed researchers “to come in and find your username. . . your password,” as well as “all of the different information about your bank account, about who you were buying services from, who you were paying [and] what your mortgage was costing.”

Regardless of such criticisms, proponents of the amenity stand behind the service; seeing safety in the diversification of manufacturers and operating systems. After all, there are many different phones being used for various banks.

Timidity in the face of progress is common; recall the advent of ATM cards. It seemed anyone could access your account if they got a hold of your debit card. Even online banking was daunting once upon a time, and understandably so. New technology can be a double-edged sword where hasty advancement may lead to lapses in security. As a result, it is very important to be a conscientious user.

So far, 1.5 million checks worth $900 million have been deposited through USAA’s mobile app, according to spokesman Paul Berry. It would behoove those users to treat a phone much like a wallet: and try not to lose it.

XOOM sales underwhelming, iPad 2 spot in line sells for $900

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:22:59 -0800

News about tablets is constantly conquering the media world and today is no different. To start, Apple’s iPad 2 went on sale on Thursday and was welcomed with lines out the door and overnight campers who couldn’t wait to be the first people in the country to have their hands on the new iPad. Final numbers of unit sold on its first day has yet to be confirmed. However, a $900 offer seems to be a cause for conversation.

New York college student Amanda Foote waited in line for almost 41 hours to be the first in line at Apple’s flagship store in the city. She sat on the street, held her position in line, through a day of rain and strange passersby, only to get about three hours of sleep. Despite looking like a bum on the street for almost two full days, she sold her spot in line for $900 to app developer, Hazem Sayed, who wanted the iPad 2 for a business trip he was planning on going on Friday night.

Foote gave up her spot, in the hopes of buying Lady Gaga concert tickets with the new found cash. I bet you $900 that once Gaga hears this story, she’ll personally visit Foote in her college dorm with two front-row tickets to her next concert in NYC.

See top stories in the WDM Content Network:
• Comparing Apple to the Rest of the World
• Tablets, iPhones, 3D TV Screens
• Click here to read the latest edition of Business Review USA

In some less exciting tablet news, reports are coming out that Motorola XOOM sales have been “underwhelming” according to Peter Misek, an analyst for Jefferies & Company. While the XOOM has a higher-resolution screen and faster processor than the iPad 2, Misek still says:

“Xoom sales have been underwhelming. While marketing has just started we believe MMI will likely have to cut production if it already has not done so. We believe the device has been a bit buggy and did not meet the magic price point of $500. We believe management knows this and is hurrying development and production of lower cost tablets. Importantly we believe management will likely have to make the painful decision to accept little to no margin initially in order to match iPad 2’s wholesale pricing.”

We’ll keep an eye out on both sales of the iPad 2 and the XOOM. Stay tuned.

Starbucks free petite treats, Foursquare giftcards, K-cup deals

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:23:08 -0800

It’s a big news day for Starbucks. Social media fans are happy because of the Starbucks Foursquare deal going on, the single-serve coffee industry is excited for future plans of product expansion, and customers are raking in on some free treats. Read on about Starbucks headlines for the avid coffee drinker.

• We first wrote about Starbucks going into the single-serve coffee market last month and the company has finally announced that it is partnering with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters this fall that Starbucks coffee and Tazo tea branded will be available in K-Cup portion packs for use in the popular Keurig single-cup brewing systems. Starbucks also partnered with Courtesy Products, a privately-held provider of in-room coffee service to hotels across the country.

• Social media and Foursquare fans are celebrating Starbucks’ 40th anniversary today through Saturday by entering to win $40 gift cards who check in to the geo-location site. Starbucks will give 500 gift cards to those who check in at participating locations and unlock a “Tribute Badge.” Winners will be drawn March 16.

• Another freebie that’s creating web chatter is that Starbucks is giving away free petite treats with the purchase of a beverage starting today through Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. New petite treats on the menu include a red velvet whoopie pie, tiramisu cake pop, salted caramel square, mini cupcakes and other tasty treats.

See top stories in the WDM Content Network:
• Top Ten Biggest Brands
• Building your brand
• Click here to read the latest edition of Business Review USA

Microsoft Kinect world record for fastest-selling consumer device

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:44:22 -0800

Who knew a video game system would make the Guinness Book of World Records? Microsoft sold more than 10 million Kinect systems for the Xbox 360 since it was available to the public late last year. The controller-free gaming system has been on the market since November and Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it earned the title of “fastest-selling consumer device.” Game sales also hit more than 10 million with the release of Kinect. Guinness World Records confirmed the record as Microsoft sold an average of 133,333 units each day between November 4, 2010 and January 3, 2011.

Who wouldn’t be impressed by selling more than eight million units in its first 60 days?

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• Top Gaming Consoles
• Tech Billionaires
• Click here to read the latest edition of Business Review USA

“The sales figures here speak for themselves,” said Gaz Deaves, gaming editor for Guinness World Records in a statement from Microsoft. “According to independent research, no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, which is an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector.”

The Kinect’s price tag is about $149 and the similar Nintendo Wii, is about $249; it took the Wii about two years to pass the 10 million sales mark. While the number of units sold has dwindled quite a bit after the initial excitement in the last few months, Microsoft hopes that its sales of the gamer unit continues its health in the gaming industry.

Kinect and Microsoft also released the latest games to hit the market this spring. For the full lineup, click here.

Exxon to spend $100M/day to boost crude oil production

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:15:50 -0800

If you haven’t noticed that the price for gas has been through the roof, then I commend you because either you own a hybrid, bike to work, or refuse to leave your house. Exxon Mobile Corp. says that they plan to spend $100 million each day for the next five years on capital projects like new oil wells and natural-gas plants to boost crude oil production. While Exxon is the world’s biggest company by market value, spending $100 million a day sounds a wee bit crazy, considering we’re an economy in recovery from recession.

According to an article on Bloomberg, Exxon has set aside $34 billion for capital projects for the year, says CEO Rex Tillerson, with a budget upward of $37 billion through 2015. In an analyst meeting today in New York, Tillerson also says that Exxon expects to boost oil and gas production by 3 to 4 percent this year and 11 new projects are on the dock to begin pumping oil or gas between now and 2013. Exxon will be exploring new prospects in such countries as Vietnam, Greenland and Madagascar.

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• Top 10 Biggest Brands
• The “Business” of Dispersants
• Click here to read the latest edition of Business Review USA

Exxon has been on quite the goose chase to find regions around the world with untapped oil and gas fields while also looking to Asia for plant upgrades to fuel the global demand in the energy market. Despite all of the civil unrest going on in the Middle East, production rose 13 percent last year, making for Exxon’s largest annual increase since the Mobil Corp. acquisition in 1999.

“We are executing a large inventory of high-quality projects,” Tillerson said today. “Actual spending in a given year will vary depending on the pace and the progress of each project.”

Let's see how today's annoucement affects gas prices even more. Or rather, how the public transit and hybrid vehicle industry gets a boost when Americans refuse to spend more than $4 a gallon for gas these next few years.