Headline May18,2012 / Murdoch Mystery

 MURDOCH MYSTERY

Respectful Dedication Ariana Huffington, Diego Maradonna, Michael Kinsley/Slate

Ariana Huffington

Diego Maradonna

Michael Kinsley

James Murdoch is studiously modern , and so full of MBA Jargon and language, although he does not have an MBA or, for that matter, even a college degree. But do remember he was since long being considered as the 'heir apparent' to Rupert Murdoch's empire. 

And those who considered him the unlikely 'heir apparent' also talked of him as the family's black sheep. But no matter which school of thought you come from or toed, to his face all and everybody embraced him as "the real deal !! But before he could be crowned , the 'HACKING SCANDAL' broke through. SKY caved in ! Or better still it fell ! And his power base disintegrated. 

These humiliations and disasters are only the beginning of long slide into obscurity !! 

Rupert is a man of newspapers and was always considered one. James is a man of new media. At first it was running a hip hop label - something it is almost impossible to imagine, other than in hilariously comic terms -  that he may have had a conversation with his father about and then the internet. 

But it is a true fact that his father did buy his label ! Haha ! 

In fact, it was James who led the company down its rabbit hole of early failed internet investments. 

Frankly , Rupert is political. James is aPolitical. 

At the heart of the hacking scandal is James support of David Cameron, who he saw as a kind of post - ideological figure - exactly the kind of politician his father would have little interest in and quite a but of contempt for. 

Hence in an attempt to count Rupert's favour, there was the deal brokered by James Lieutenant by REBEKAH BROOKS.

Don't miss tomorrow's post. Good night and God bless!

SAM Daily Times - The Voice Of The Voiceless

Toyota, Nintendo team on in-car navigation remote

For those who often feel they are competing against their in-vehicle navigation system to get to their desired destination, Toyota has a new tool that may help you beat the voice that lives in your dashboard.

The Japanese automaker has teamed up with Nintendo to turn the Nintendo DS into navigational remote control that allows users to set destinations, map out routes, and even get sightseeing information.

Dubbed the Kuruma de DS, the game card is Bluetooth-enabled for easy pairing of the handheld game with the vehicle's navigation system, according to a Kotaku report. The interface features Nintendo Mii characters and even sports a speedometer.

The game will also show you information about where your vehicle has been and even pose quizzes.

However, this little tour de fun is a bit pricey: Toyota's top-end navigation system runs about $2,600, while the game itself costs about $90. And you will also have to factor in the cost of traveling to Japan, because for now it looks as though the pair will be available only in Japan.

Source

Microsoft bolsters parental controls with Windows 8

Microsoft aims to give parents more control over their children's computer use on Windows 8 with a new feature announced this week.

"With Windows 8, you can monitor what your kids are doing, no matter where they use their PC," Microsoft's senior program manager for Family Safety Phil Sohn wrote in a blog post. "All you have to do is create a Windows user account for each child, check the box to turn on Family Safety, and then review weekly reports that describe your children's PC use."

With these controls and weekly reports, parents will be able to keep tabs on whether their kids are playing violent online video games, looking at bikini models, or actually doing their homework. They'll also be able to make sure their children aren't associating with online predators.

Most previous parental controls focused on complex filtering options or using software to block children from Web sites; however Microsoft says with Windows 8, it's now taking a "monitor first" approach.

The company says this new system is much easier. How it works: parents sign into Windows 8 with a Microsoft account, create a separate user account for each child, and then check the box to turn on Family Safety.

From there, parents can make the controls more or less restrictive and see what their kids are doing via the weekly e-mail reports.

Microsoft says Windows 8 will have all the same restrictions as Windows 7 along with some new ones. Here's the list of additional restrictions:

Web filtering: You can choose between several web filtering levels.

SafeSearch: When web filtering is active, SafeSearch is locked into the "Strict" setting for popular search engines such as Bing, Google, and Yahoo. This will filter out adult text, images, and videos from your search results.

Time limits: With Windows 8, you now can restrict the number of hours per day your child can use their PC. For example, you might set a limit of one hour on school nights and two hours on weekends. This is in addition to the bedtime limits currently available in Windows 7.

Windows Store: Activity reports list the most recent Windows Store downloads, and you can set a game-rating level, which prevents your children from seeing apps in the Windows Store above a particular age rating.

Application and game restrictions: As in Windows 7, you can block specific applications and games or set an appropriate game rating level.

Source

Samsung loses $10 billion market value on Apple report

An Apple-related report from Taipei-based DigiTimes lopped $10 billion off Samsung's market value, according to Reuters.

The Taipei-based publisher said on Tuesday that Apple has placed "huge orders for mobile DRAM" chips with Elpida, a Samsung rival.

That news alone drove Samsung's shares down 6 percent, wiping the $10 billion off the market value on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

It also drove memory maker Hynix's shares almost 9 percent lower, the biggest one-day drop in nine months.

Taipei-based DigiTimes is known generally as an Asian manufacturer mouthpiece, with a flair for airing supplier grievances and regurgitating gossip.

But the Elpida report could have some merit. Apple does have an appetite for Elpida DRAM chips -- used in the third-generation iPad, for example.

And the Reuters report quotes an financial analyst, who said that Apple wants to keep Elpida around, lest it rely too much on Samsung and Hynix for DRAM.

Which leads to the next twist in the story. Elpida filed for bankruptcy in February, claiming $5.6 billion in debt. And U.S.-based Micron Technology confirmed last week that it is in discussions to acquire Elpida,. Meaning that Micron could emerge as a major chip supplier to Apple and an even bigger competitive threat to Samsung.

Source

Body Surfing by Anita Shreve

At the age of 29, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. Trying to regain her footing once again, she has answered an ad to tutor the teenage daughter of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage.

But when the Edwards' two grown sons, Ben and Jeff, arrive at the beach house, Sydney finds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divisions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt for herself is threatened. With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Miami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage that it takes to love.

Historic Diamond sells for $9.7 Million

A centuries-old diamond passed down through generations of European royalty fetched nine million Swiss francs ($9.7 million) at auction in Geneva on Tuesday.

The 35-carat "Beau Sancy" diamond was worn by Marie de Medici, Queen consort of Henry IV, at her coronation in 1610.

Five bidders spanning three continents competed for the historic jewel at a Sotheby's auction where there was little evidence of the current global financial woes.

An anonymous telephone bidder purchased the jewel, put on the market by the House of Prussia and described by Sotheby's as one of the "most fascinating and romantic" gems ever to come to auction.

The buyer paid 9,042,500 Swiss francs ($9,699,618) including the buyer's premium for the pear-shaped, double rose cut diamond -- more than double the $2 million to $4 million estimate.

"You are buying an historic work of art -- you are not buying a diamond," said Philipp Herzog von Wuerttenberg, chairman of Sotheby's Europe, following the sale.

"I fell in love with it when I saw it. It's the cut, it's the history," he said.

The Beau Sancy attracted bids from North America, Europe and Asia, he said, refusing to give further details about the buyer.

The diamond's royal connections date back to 1604 when it was bought for Henri IV of France at the insistence of his wife Marie de Medici who wore it atop her crown at her coronation.

Later that century it was acquired by the Dutch and used to seal the wedding of Willem II of Orange Nassau to Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England.

Stuart pawned the rose-cut gem to finance her brother Charles II's fight for the throne.

In 1702, the first king of Prussia gave it pride of place in the new royal crown and it has passed through generations of the House of Prussia until today.

"We've sold much larger diamonds but it has this wonderful romantic history, an unparalleled royal history -- it has never been in non-royal hands," said David Bennett, co-chairman of Sotheby's Switzerland, ahead of the sale.

The Beau Sancy went under the hammer at Geneva's Beau Rivage hotel as part of Sotheby's "Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels" sale.

A second historic diamond, a 7.3-carat "fancy yellow" formerly belonging to Charles Edward Stuart, one-time pretender to the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland, sold to a telephone bidder for 902,500 francs ($968,085) including the buyers premium.

More commonly known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", his attempts to make the Stuarts regain the crown failed and following the Battle of Culloden in 1745 he went into exile in France and Italy, where he is thought to have offered the gem to the Corsini family in gratitude for their support.

A pearl and diamond tiara created in 1920 by French jeweller Chaumet for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat to Yvonne Gillois meanwhile sold to a caller for 3.6 million francs ($3.8 million), well over its 1.4 million franc estimate.

The headpiece boasts one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded, according to Sotheby's.

On Monday a collection of 70 jewels belonging to billionaire philanthropist Lily Safra was sold by auctioneer Christie's in Geneva, raising $37.9 million for charity.

Brazil-born Safra, 77, was married to the Jewish-Lebanese banker Edmond Safra who died in a blaze at his Monte-Carlo penthouse in 1999.

The Elton John AIDS foundation, a water treatment programme in Brazil and children's hospital in Israel are among 32 charitable institutes to benefit from the sale of the gems, many of them created specially for Safra by renowned Paris jeweller JAR.

The Dictator (2012)

The Dictator is a 2012 comedy film co-written by and starring Sacha Baron Cohen, released on May 16, 2012. His fourth feature film in a leading role "tell[s] the story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed", according to distributor Paramount Pictures. The film is directed by Larry Charles, who previously directed Baron Cohen's mockumentaries Borat and Brüno. Cohen, in the role of Admiral General Aladeen, a dictator from the fictional North African country of the Republic of Wadiya, stars alongside Ben Kingsley and Anna Faris. The film has generally received mixed to positive reviews.

Plot: For forty years, the North African Republic of Wadiya has been ruled by Admiral General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen), a lecherous, anti-western and antisemitic despot who surrounds himself with female bodyguards and intends to develop nuclear weapons. After the United Nations Security Council resolves to intervene militarily, Aladeen travels to the UN Headquarters in New York City to address the council. During his stay, he is kidnapped and shaven by a hitman (John C. Reilly) hired by his traitorous uncle Tamir (Ben Kingsley). Tamir intends to replace Aladeen with a political decoy, who he can manipulate into signing a document democratizing Wadiya and opening the country's oil reserves for business. Aladeen escapes and is discovered by activist Zoey (Anna Farris), who offers him a job at her co-op. Following the advice of his ally Nadal (Jason Mantzoukas), Aladeen accepts the offer, as Zoey's employees have access to the UN headquarters. Aladeen manages to acquire a new beard taken from a corpse, and infiltrates the headquarters, tearing up Tamir's document in front of the UN delegation. Upon seeing Zoey in the room, he declares his love for her and vows to democratize his country. Upon returning to Wadiya, he marries Zoey, but is shocked when she crushes a glass and reveals herself to be Jewish.

Kalamazoo College: An Inspiring Creature

Eve Ensler has devoted her life to stopping violence against women and girls, envisioning a planet in which they will be free to thrive, not merely survive. She has traveled to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Haiti, and the Congo providing innovative programming to support women survivors of sexual violence. She is the creator of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. Her documentary, What I Want My Words to Do to You, about her work with a writing group at Bedford Hill Correctional Facility in New York, highlights her work exploring the voices of women as a path to empowerment. Her latest book, I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls around the World, made the New York Times best sellers list. She is best known for her Tony award-winning play The Vagina Monologues, which has been performed in more than 130 countries. And on Tuesday May 15, she spent the afternoon and evening on the Kalamazoo College campus meeting students, faculty, staff, trustees, and community guests. She wowed a large audience in Dalton Theatre with her talk, Theater as a Tool for Revolutionary Change, and stayed late into the night to sign books and autographs in the Light Fine Arts lobby. Thank you, Eve Ensler, for your authentic and inspiring visit to K as the 2012 Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership annual spring lecturer.

Comics as Teaching Tools: Juniata Hosts Educational Conference

Time was that schoolkids would hide copies of Batman, Archie and Jughead and the Green Arrow inside their textbooks during class reading time. These days using the Green Lantern as a teaching tool is being given a green light by teachers and professors across the country and Juniata College is hosting a conference to bring comics-minded educators together to fight against the forces of darkness and triumph over evil.

Actually, forget that last part. In reality, Juniata is hosting "Sequential SmArt," a two-day conference and preconference, Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, designed to share ideas, approaches and not a few classic comic book lessons for college faculty and secondary school teachers.

The conference is the brainchild of several Juniata faculty, Jay Hosler, associate professor of biology, David Hsuing, professor of history, and Jim Tuten, associate professor of history, who by day are mild-mannered college professors, but by night, well, by night they're pretty much the same thing.

The conference features a Friday preconference workshop and talk with Matt Madden, a comic book author who teaches at Yale University's School for the Visual Arts. The following day, the conference's keynote address will be delivered by Eric Shanower, author-illustrator of the graphic novel "Age of Bronze," a retelling of Homer's "Illiad."

Juniata decided to create the conference because Hosler, a biologist specializing in physiology, has an alter-ego. He also is the author of three graphic novels: "Clan Apis," "The Sandwalk Adventures" and "Optical Allusions." He also wrote "Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth. He and Hsiung also created a course called "Comic Books and Culture" at Juniata. Tuten has used comic books (specifically "Iron Man #1") in his history classes referencing the Vietnam War. Other Juniata faculty also use graphic novels and comic books in their teaching.

The conference is $75 for the preconference and full Saturday conference combined, or $45 for just the Saturday conference. To register online or to get more information, go to sequentialsmart.com. or call Jim Tuten at (814) 641-3548. The Saturday sessions offer Act 48 credits for Pennsylvania teachers.

The Friday workshop starts with registration at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of the von Liebig Center for Science. At 5 p.m. Matt Madden will present a talk and workshop at the college's Raystown Field Station. Transportation to the station is provided.

Madden is a co-author of "Drawing Words and Writing Pictures," and also wrote "99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style." He will lead a creative exercise for attendees at the workshop (the workshop is limited to 30 participants).

The May 19 full conference will feature more comic book experts than the Legion of Superheroes, the X-Men and Justice League of America combined. After the conference opening talk by Madden, "Mastering Comics as a Tool for Deeper Learning," at 8:45 a.m., attendees are free to pick and choose topics offered at three concurrent sessions over the course of the day.

Shanower will speak on his project "Age of Bronze" at 12:30 p.m. Shanower also serves as the writer of the "Wizard of Oz" adaptations published by Marvel Comics and has been awarded the Eisner Award as Best Writer-Artist twice.

The conference is divided into topic areas.

Learning About Comics: Hosler will present "The Comic Book Syllabus." "Comics in Classrooms and Libraries: Using Graphic Novels Across the Secondary Curriculum" is presented by Karen Gavigan, of the University of South Carolina. "Using Comics as a Tool of Inquiry" will be taught by Nick Sousanis, of Columbia University's Teachers College.

The Fine Arts: "Exhibit: Future Bear" will be taught by Rachel Simmons and Julian Chambliss, followed by Shanower's lecture on "Age of Bronze."

English and Literature: Maureen Bakis, Masconomet Regional School, will present "Drawing with Words and Writing with Pictures to Understand Memoir." "Cartooning and Confianza: Using Comics to Build a Classroom of Trust" will be taught by Jared Rosello, Penn State University. "Student Views on Using Graphic Novels in High School ELA Classes" is taught by Stergios Botzakis, of the University of Tennessee. "Cartooning the Essay: The Easy Planning Process" is taught by Catherina Evans, of Saints Peter and Paul School. "Teaching Gender and Sexuality" is taught by Kelley J. Hall, of DePauw University. "Diving Deeper: Arguments for Teaching Fewer Graphic Novels" will be taught by Craig Fisher, of Appalachian University.

Social Studies: "Teaching Muslim Women's Lives Through 'Persepolis'" will be taught by Susan Prill, assistant professor of religion at Juniata, and Belle Tuten, professor of history at Juniata. "Our Private Wakandas: The Lives and Deaths of the Black Panther" is taught by Dwain Pruitt, of Morgan State University. Julian Chambliss, of Rollins College, will present "Superhero Comics: Artifacts of the U.S." "Illustrating The Journey: Immigrant Youth Learning to Tell Their Stories Through Comics," is presented by Nathaniel Lauster, of the University of British Columbia. "Teaching Bronze Age Archeology: From Schliemann to Shanower" will be presented by Shannan Stewart, of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Natural Sciences: "The Spectacular Teacher-Man: Comics as Primary Text in a Science Classroom" is taught by Brock Eastman, of Takoma Park and Rosa M. Parks Middle Schools. Kevin Kinney, of Depauw University, will present "Using the X-Men to Teach Mutation." "Man Thing vs. The Industrialists: Messages About Nature and the Environment in Comics" is taught by Elizabeth "Scout" Blum, of Troy University. Hosler will teach "Teaching, Testing and Creating Science Comics."

University Press Release here.

Record Number of Grinnellians Win Fulbright Awards This Year

A record number of Grinnell College seniors have accepted Fulbright assistantships for international teaching and research assignments next year—11 who will graduate on Mon., May 21, plus one recent graduate, making a total of 12 Fulbrights for Grinnellians this year.

The prestigious Fulbright international education exchange program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. State Department.

“This has been a banner year for Grinnellians in the Fulbright competition,” said Doug Cutchins, director of social commitment. “Grinnell has consistently been a top producer for the Fulbright program, but this year we exceeded even our own expectations.” Cutchins said that a record number of Grinnell students applied to the Fulbright program (55) and a record number received offers (15) or were named alternates (7).

Read details about students here.

Scripps College: The Student's Choice

Gender and women’s study professor Chris Guzaitis shocked everyone – including herself – when she entered the Motley Coffeehouse on April 27 and found a party in her honor. Expected through another entrance, Guzaitis’ arrival brought cheers and applause from students, faculty, staff, and alumnae as she was quickly ushered on stage and crowned the 2011-2012 Professor of the Year.

“I was completely shocked,” says Guzaitis of the festivities, which included a bouquet of flowers, and ceremonial wand, and her own plush squirrel nicknamed “The Nutty Professor.” “It was all a bit surreal and wonderful. I am so, so grateful; this is a wonderful honor.”

Guzaitis joins a select pantheon of faculty with her nomination. Started in 2008, Professor of the Year annually celebrates one faculty member as voted on by Scripps students; past winners include Matt Delmont, Winston Ou, Marina Perez de Mendiola, and Tony Crowley.

Students gathered at the event were effusive in their praise of professor Guzaitis. “I’ve seen her interact with students of all ages, from ninth and tenth graders in the Scripps College Academy to alumnae from all walks of life,” says Shane Zackery ’14. “There isn’t anyone she can’t motivate through her wit and huge breadth of knowledge.”

“Chris is a wonderful professor and has been a continual source of guidance, support, and knowledge for me,” says Lillian Estenson ’12. “She took extremely challenging queer and feminist theories, which I had previously been intimidated by, and helped me understand them. By the end of her class, I felt confident enough to bring these theories up in casual conversations.”

“I see the classroom as a space of possibility and community,” Guzaitis says. “I teach material I really love, so being able to share that with students and have them also grow passionate about issues related to feminism, gender, and sexuality is exciting for me.

University Press Release here.

Third of Primary School Children 'Cannot Swim'

Figures show a third of pupils struggle to swim at least 25 metres by the age of 11 – the recommended minimum target set out by the Government. In some areas, almost three-quarters of children are unable to complete a length of a standard pool, it emerged.

The Amateur Swimming Association blamed a decline of swimming and enhanced life-saving lessons in many schools combined with a lack of encouragement from parents. It follows criticism over a decision by local council to close large numbers of swimming pools across Britain because of budget cuts – leaving many children without easy access to local facilities.

Critics also fear that school sport has been downgraded in the final year of primary education as children are drilled to pass English and maths exams at the expense of other activities. Figures suggest that the number of schoolchildren learning to swim is on the decline, with a separate study a decade ago revealing that just a fifth of children nationally failed to hit the 25 metre target.

David Sparkes, chief executive of the ASA, the governing body for swimming in England, said: “Swimming is the only subject on the national curriculum that can save your life so it’s essential that government, schools and parents join us in taking action and break the cycle before we create a generation of non-swimmers unable to pass on this life-saving skill to their children in the future.”

The study by Kellogg’s and the ASA, which was based on Freedom of Information requests made to local councils in England, found that a third of children across the country were unable to swim 25 metres unaided at the end of primary school.

The latest study also showed huge variation nationally, with children in poor areas significantly less likely to swim than those in relatively affluent boroughs. It emerged that just 26 per cent of children in Middlesbrough could swim the required 25 metres in 2011 compared with 91 per cent in parts of Northamptonshire.

An additional survey of 1,000 parents found that around four-in-10 children who were unable to swim had never been offered lessons by their school. This comes despite swimming forming a compulsory element of the National Curriculum. Some one-in-six parents admitted never taking their child swimming.

The disclosure led to renewed fears that children were being put at risk close to the sea, lakes and ponds.
Drowning is already the third most common cause of accidental death among children in England, with the number of fatalities increasing by 35 per cent year-on-year.

David Walker, leisure safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said swimming was an “essential skill” that every pupil should master. “We are concerned to see that so many children are struggling to swim at an acceptable standard,” he said.

Original source here.

French privacy watchdog to quiz Google on policy change

France's data protection watchdog has set up a meeting with Google to closely examine its controversial privacy policy.

The search giant consolidated 60 privacy policies into one single agreement in March.

The EU expressed concern over the legality and impact of the change.

France's information commission, the CNIL, said it was not yet "totally satisfied" with Google's explanation of the amendments.

"We want to untangle the precise way that specific personal data is being used for individual services, and examine what the benefit for the consumer really is," CNIL president Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin said.

Google spokesman Anthony House said its privacy policy "respected the requirements of European data protection law".

"The meeting will give us [the] chance to put things into context and explain the broader actions we are taking to protect our users' privacy," he said.

Targeted advertising

Under the new policy, Google is able to pool the data collected on users across its services, including YouTube, Gmail and its social network Google+.

This data is used for various reasons, including powering the network's targeted advertising system.

Google has already provided a 94-page response to a CNIL questionnaire on the new policy.

The meeting, scheduled for next week, will more closely examine the implications of the policy for users.

The French authorities are acting on behalf of the EU, and the decision is likely to apply to all 27 member states.

The review could lead to financial penalties or administrative sanctions, but it is not clear whether they would be imposed collectively or if individual states would seek their own fines.

The CNIL can impose fines of up to 300,000 euros (£240,000).

China Mobile 'in talks' with Apple to offer iPhone

The world's biggest mobile phone network, China Mobile, could soon offer its customers Apple's iPhone.

The Chinese carrier's chairman has confirmed the two firms are in talks.

Compatibility issues between the iPhone and China Mobile's 3G network mean that currently Apple's handsets only work on the much slower 2G service.

The problem could be resolved with the launch of the next iPhone, rumoured to happen this summer, and when China adopts the 4G standard, analysts say.

China Mobile is the country's biggest mobile phone network, and in terms of users the world's largest, with more than 660 million customers.

Even though the iPhone is not yet in China Mobile's official product line-up, about 15 million of the company's customers are thought to be iPhone users already, having bought the phone through different channels.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

We've been actively talking to Apple on how we can cooperate”

Xi GuohuaChina Mobile chairman

Despite being the biggest telecoms provider, China Mobile is the country's only operator that does not support the iPhone.

China Mobile's market share is about 67% - a lot more than its two rivals China Unicom and China Telecom - but it has been slipping steadily in the past few years.

Officially offering the iPhone to its subscribers could help China Mobile to get back the consumers it has lost to other carriers.

China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua mentioned the ongoing discussions between the two firms at a shareholders meeting in Beijing.

"We've been actively talking to Apple on how we can cooperate," he said.

"I can't give you too many details, but I'd like to repeat that both sides do hope to boost our cooperation."

Apple did not respond to BBC requests for comment.

Different network

Both of China Mobile's rivals offer the iPhone to their subscribers

The operator has been in talks with the US giant for years.

"The reason China Mobile hasn't been able to offer iPhones is that it was 'anointed' by the government with the dubious prize of having to deploy China's own attempt at a 3G standard," Duncan Clark, chairman of BDA China, a consultancy firm in Beijing, told BBC News.

This standard, called TD-SCDMA, is unique to China and different from what many international operators use.

It is also different from China Mobile's smaller rivals, China Unicom and China Telecom.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

China Mobile's own path has been a nightmare for the company”

Duncan ClarkBDA

"China Mobile's own path has been a nightmare for the company," said Mr Clark.

"It has had to rely on 2.5 or 2.75G connections and subsidise heavily phones with TD-SCDMA chipsets which are rarely used in fact," said Mr Clark.

"China Mobile has invested heavily in wi-fi hotspots too as a defensive measure - to access faster speeds.

"So they have lost many high-end customers who want the iPhone or some other smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy II to China Unicom and to a lesser extent China Telecom."

Move to 4G

But once the Chinese authorities approve the new LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard, a flavour of 4G, the incompatibility issue could be resolved, said Mr Clark.

"The only catch is when the government here will approve LTE; right now we see trial deployments but don't expect LTE to be deployed here until 2014 at the earliest," he said.

Cookies: Majority of government sites to miss deadline

All UK sites have been given until 26 May to make sure visitors are able to give "informed consent" over cookies.

Cookies are pieces of personal data stored when users browse the web.

The Cabinet Office said the government was "working to achieve compliance at the earliest possible date".

Once the new rules take force, consent will most likely be obtained by ticking a "yes" box when visiting a site - although other approaches have been suggested.

The regulations are designed to protect user privacy when using the web.

"As in the private sector, where it is estimated that very few websites will be compliant by the 26th May, so it is true of the government estate," a Cabinet Office spokesman told the BBC.

"The majority of department websites will not be compliant with the legislation by that date."

Showing 'commitment'

The BBC understands that the sites, which range from those run by local councils to national departments, have been told that no action will be taken by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) over the deadline miss - provided they were "showing a commitment" to eventually make changes.

Continue reading the main story

The ICO did not want to comment on the issue when contacted by the BBC.

On 26 May the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) imposes an EU directive designed to protect internet users' privacy.

The law says that sites must provide "clear and comprehensive" information about the use of cookies.

In computing, cookies are small text files that help organise and store browsing information. However, cookies are increasingly being used to power targeted advertising, by gathering data about sites visited and search terms used.

It is these "tracking" cookies, which users do not often know about, which the EU hopes to clamp down on with the regulations.

The deadline had originally been set for May last year. However, the ICO - which will be enforcing the rules in the UK - decided to give firms an extra year to comply with the laws in order to avoid an "overnight" change.

At the time, communications minister Ed Vaizey said: "It will take some time for workable technical solutions to be developed, evaluated and rolled out so we have decided that a phased in approach is right."

'No problem'

While government websites do not carry advertising, cookies are still used to carry out various tasks, such as helping site administrators monitor levels of traffic.

"If people listen to our advice and are prepared to take steps towards compliance there shouldn't be a problem," Dave Evans, the ICO's group manager for business and industry, told E-Consultancy last month.

"However, if businesses deliberately stop short of total compliance, then there is a risk."

Mr MacAuley said meetings had been held earlier this month between the LGA's members and the ICO to discuss how best to comply.

"I think the issue is really more about what the spirit of the regulations is intended to prevent," he said.

"They're intended to prevent any kind of malicious exploitation of cookies, or any wilful avoidance of the regulations. I think the ICO takes a very dim view of that.

"However I don't think local governments would in any way try to do either of those things."

Business frustration

Vinod Bange, a lawyer for Taylor Wessing who has spent time consulting companies who are cautious of the changes, said the small number of businesses who have invested in meeting the guideline deadline could be left feeling frustrated.

In the interview with E-Consultancy, the ICO's Mr Evans said there would not be a team of investigators seeking out infringing sites, but would act on complaints."There will be some companies out there wondering why they've gone to the expense, and committed a lot of resource, into trying to tackle a problem which is not going to be enforced," he said.

"How likely it is that complaints will flood in, we don't know," he said.

"It may be that the great British public simply isn't that concerned about cookies." (BBC)

New Look at Known Destination: In Search of Modern Rome

Think of Rome, and the next word you think of probably wouldn’t be ‘modern.’ Majestic, perhaps; historic – definitely, but not exactly contemporary or avant-garde. Most tourists flock to Rome to gaze in wonder at the stone relics of the Roman Empire – the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Forum among them. But if your affinity lies more with the more up-to-date, then believe it or not, this ancient city has something to offer if you look hard enough.

To find an appropriate accommodation option in Rome, click here for a choice of available apartments in the city.

MAXXI (National Museum of the 21^st Century Arts)

This exciting contemporary space, dedicated to modern art and creativity, is about as modern a place as you can find in Rome. The sweeping, innovative building itself was designed by Zaha Hadid, one of the most celebrated modern architects. You can find the gallery in Rome’s Flaminio district, where it opened its doors to the public in 2010. Ever since then, the gallery has hosted groundbreaking works by a host of contemporary artists, both Italian and international. Even if you’re not an art expert, the impressive building and colourful collections make an entertaining afternoon’s trip away from the heavy stone constructs of Old Rome.

Church of Santa Maria Madre del Redentore

Rome, like all Italian cities, has no shortage of churches. You’ll hardly walk three streets without coming across a bell tower, a Gothic archway, some Romanesque pillars, or a doorway decorated with angels. But this church in the district of Tor Bella Monarca is different. For one thing, it wasn’t built 800 years ago; it was built in the ’80s. That means that the same robust bravado that made ’80s fashion so distinctive makes itself felt in the design of this church: from the tall, arching spires, to the sweeping interior with its long skylight and bumper-size crucifix above the altar. Approach it from the right angle, and you’ll realise that the building is reminiscent of a modern Noah’s Arc.

Parco della Musica

Seen from the air, this colossal concert complex looks something like three grey-backed beetles consulting with one another across a modern interpretation of a Greco-Roman amphitheatre. Combined, these four spaces play host to over 1 million spectators every year, who come to hear music from a range of different artists and musical groups. If you get the chance, buy a ticket and treat yourself to a show. But don’t hope to escape Ancient Rome completely! When the Parco della Musica was being constructed, builders found the remains of a Roman villa from the 6^th century BC, so if the modernity gets too much, you can visit the on-site museum and get a glimpse of this antique pad. (Tourism Review)

Cannes curtain goes up with whimsy, glamour

CANNES: Kooky comedy and buffoonery are on the agenda Wednesday as the 65th Cannes Film Festival, with its trademark mix of high cinematic art and Hollywood glitz, kicks off on a light note.

US director Wes Anderson brings his whimsical touch with the opening film "Moonrise Kingdom", a pre-teen elopement fantasy whose star-packed cast includes Bruce Willis as a small-town cop and Bill Murray as a morose parent.

But as the celebs march up the red carpet for the gala premiere, Sacha Baron Cohen's zany alter ego General Aladeen, star of "The General", will try to hijack media attention with a press conference in the nearby Carlton Hotel.

Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt and Robert Pattinson are among the Hollywood royalty who will join high-brow film-makers at the Riviera resort for the next 12 days at the world's top film showcase.

This year's bash features druggy roadtrips, soul-searching drama and stylish gangland flicks and sees the return of such Cannes grandees as David Cronenberg, Ken Loach and Michael Haneke.

Star-wise, the 2012 line-up promises to dazzle with Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Jessica Chastain, Kylie Minogue, Kristen Stewart, Pattinson and Pitt just a few of the A-listers expected in town.

The festival will also feature its usual dose of champagne-fuelled parties, high-stakes movie deal-making, and publicity stunts such as British comic Baron Cohen's armed intervention at the Carlton Hotel.

The "Ali G", "Borat" and "Bruno" star, who turned up in military regalia at the Oscars and pretended to pour late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's ashes onto an interviewer, has already premiered his movie and is in Cannes simply to cause a stir.

He turned up at the festival in a "mankini" in 2006 to promote "Borat".

Twenty-two films -- none of which was directed by a woman -- are vying for the coveted Palme d'Or award at the festival's glitzy gala finale on May 27.

Palme d'Or-winner Nanni Moretti of Italy heads up a nine-strong jury -- which includes actor Ewan McGregor and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier -- that will pick the winner.

Moretti was due to hold a press conference later Wednesday ahead of the evening opening ceremony.

Two US mavericks are running for Cannes gold: Lee Daniels's keenly awaited "The Paperboy" stars Kidman opposite John Cusack and Zac Efron in the tale of a reporter investigating a death row case.

The second is Jeff Nichols, whose "Mud", about two teenage boys who form a pact with a fugitive, was a surprise entry.

Canada's Cronenberg brings Manhattan thriller "Cosmopolis", adapted from Don DeLillo's novel and starring Pattinson as a billionaire asset manager journeying through the city in a stretch limo.

Brazil's Walter Salles has adapted Jack Kerouac's cult novel "On the Road", while Australians John Hillcoat and Andrew Dominik bring two US-set works: bootlegging drama "Lawless" and the mobster flick "Killing Them Softly".

Among the European giants, Austria's Haneke will show "Amour" (Love), starring Isabelle Huppert as the daughter of a woman hit by a stroke.

Britain's Loach returns for the 17th time with the comedy "The Angel's Share", about ex-offenders who turn to whisky-making.

One of three French filmmakers in the race, Jacques Audiard has cast Cotillard as a killer-whale trainer hit by a tragedy in "Rust and Bone".

Romania's Cristian Mungiu, who scooped the 2007 Palme for a Communist-era abortion drama, returns with "Beyond the Hills" about two orphans, while Italian Matteo Garrone takes on TV culture with "Reality".

Politics holds a slot in the Palme d'Or race with "After the Battle" by Egypt's Yousry Nasrallah, about the Arab Spring, while French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy shows an out-of-competition documentary on the Libyan war.

Asia gets a look-in with two South Koreans: Im Sang-soo with erotic thriller "Taste of Money", and Hong Sang-soo with "In Another Country".

And Palme-winning Iranian Abbas Kiarostami returns at 71 with "Like Someone in Love", a Japan-set tale about a student who works as a prostitute.

Last year's jury chaired by Robert De Niro crowned Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" starring Pitt and Sean Penn. (AFP)

Cadillac Lets You Test Drive Your New Car From an iPad

If you purchase a 2013 Cadillac XTS you'll walk way with a little something extra: an iPad. Cadillac is giving each new Cadillac XTS owner in the United States an iPad loaded with Cadillac's CUE app, My Cadillac app, and OnStar RemoteLink.

The CUE app replicates many of the controls and features in the CUE center stack in the car and provides tutorials and videos so you can learn how each feature operates and practice using it. The idea behind putting the app on an iPad is that you could sit on the couch and test drive how to operate the system rather than sit in your driveway or fumble with learning controls while you're on the road.

“CUE is intuitive, bringing touch and voice controls into the car in a really unique and helpful way,” said Don Butler, U.S. VP of Cadillac marketing. “With CUE becoming a signature feature of Cadillac, and with the launch of two entirely new cars -– the XTS luxury sedan and ATS sport sedan -– this is an opportunity for us to build a new level into the luxury customer experience.”

Cadillac is also adding 25 Connected Customer Experts across the U.S. to work as a “geek squad" of sorts for cars with the CUE system, and Cadillac's customer assistance services have added CUE experts to help answer questions for new owners. OnStar built into the vehicles will also be able to connect owners to CUE experts to help answer questions.

The Cadilllac XTS is launching later this spring in North America.

(Source: Emily Price | Mashable)

Virgin Atlantic launches in-flight cell use

Virgin Atlantic will soon allow passengers to use their cell phones during flights, but don't expect your phone-free fuselage to be replaced with coffeehouse clatter.

The airline announced today it would allow passengers to make in-flight phone calls, send and receive texts, check e-mail, and surf the Web via general packet radio service from the comfort of the their seats inside A330 Airbus planes. The airline hopes to expand the service to 20 planes, including Boeing 747s that are being retrofitted, by the end of the year, the company said in a press release.

"We have listened to what customers want and connectivity in the air is always on the wish list," Virgin Atlantic Chief Operating Officer Steve Griffiths said in a statement. "Many people will have experienced that moment when you're about to take off on a 10-hour flight and you need to send an important message to the office, or even reminding a family member to feed the cat."

However, that privilege will not be cheap: Virgin will charge about $1.20 per minute for access, and access to the service will be limited to six passengers at a time.

"The service is intended for use in exceptional situations, when passengers need to send an SMS, make a quick call, or access an e-mail on a BlackBerry," the company said in a statement.

Customers of Telefonica's O2 and Vodafone networks will be the only ones to have access, at least initially. And, of course, cell use will be verboten on take-offs, landings, and within 250 miles of U.S. airspace.

The service, which will be powered by AeroMobile, will join British Airways and a handful of Middle Eastern airlines in offering cell access.

Source: cnet

Even Google was blindsided by Android's success

Back in 2010, Google thought Android had some very nice potential for growth -- at the time, it projected its mobile operating system might even reach more than 200 million installed users by 2013.

Turns out Google was wrong: it busted through the 200 million threshold in 2011 instead and is now on a trajectory for more than 700 million users in 2013.

All this number-crunching is based on Google's internal estimates for Android growth, which recently came out during the Oracle patent trial. Asymco analyst Horace Dediu dug through the data and compared it with the activation announcements that have been made public to determine that Google greatly underestimated Android's potential.

So far, about 370 million Android devices have been activated, which is between two and three times as much as Google was expecting at this point.

It's possible that either Google truly had no clue how fast Android would catch on worldwide, or that they were under-promising in the hopes of being able to over-deliver, but it seems unlikely anyone would under-promise this much.

Dediu also points out something interesting and potentially insulting to Android users in his analysis:

Unexpected, exponential user growth is usually accompanied by a dramatic positive improvement in the finances of a company and a higher return to shareholders. The curious aspect of Android's success is that it has not had an impact on either. The market has not "discounted" the half-billion anticipated Android users into a price for Google shares that reflects this growth. It can only imply that those users are not very valuable.

That's right, Android fans -- the market has labeled you as cheapskates.

Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that, and Dediu has been going to great lengths this week to explain how Android functions as an extension of Google's search and ad-based business model. Check that out if you want to dive deep into Android's expenses and revenues.

Soource: cnet

Beckham to help bring Olympic flame to Britain

A cauldron with the Olympic flame is seem atop the
Athens Acropolis after a torch relay ceremony
May 16, 2012

(Reuters) - David Beckham will help bring the Olympic flame back to Britain on a golden plane on Friday after he takes part in a formal handover ceremony in Athens, London 2012 organisers said.

The former England football captain, a London 2012 'ambassador' who was on the bid team in 2005 and is hoping to play in a united British side at the Games, will team up with the official delegation and return with them on British Airways 'Flight 2012'.


Britain's Princess Anne, a member of the International Olympic Committee, LOCOG Chairman Seb Coe, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Hugh Robertson, minister for Sport and the Olympics, arrived in Athens on Wednesday on "The Firefly' - a golden liveried Airbus 319.

The flame is due to be handed over to London by the president of the Greek Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos, at the Panathenaic Stadium which hosted the first modern Games in 1896, at the end of a Greek torch relay.

The visiting delegation, without Beckham, attended a torch ceremony at the Parthenon in Athens on Wednesday evening where a cauldron was lit under a cloudless blue sky for the flame to 'rest' overnight.

An elderly male runner, in white vest and clutching the golden torch aloft, climbed the stairs through an olive grove to the Temple Of Hera for the lighting.

The flame will arrive in Britain at Culdrose naval base in Cornwall on the south-west tip of England for a welcome ceremony before triple Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Ben Ainslie starts the relay in Britain from Land's End on Saturday.

Beckham, now 37 and playing for LA Galaxy in the United States, will be joined in Athens by five young Britons invited by organisers LOCOG and the British Council in recognition of their commitment to sport and promoting Olympic values.

They will also play a role in the handover ceremony.