Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/295668105?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Sunday 31 March 2013
Saturday 30 March 2013
Artificial spleen to treat bloodstream infections: Sepsis therapeutic device under development
Mar. 30, 2013 ? The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University announced today that it was awarded a $9.25 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further advance a blood-cleansing technology developed at the Institute with prior DARPA support, and help accelerate its translation to humans as a new type of sepsis therapy.
The device will be used to treat bloodstream infections that are the leading cause of death in critically ill patients and soldiers injured in combat.
To rapidly cleanse the blood of pathogens, the patient's blood is mixed with magnetic nanobeads coated with a genetically engineered version of a human blood 'opsonin' protein that binds to a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and toxins. It is then flowed through microchannels in the device where magnetic forces pull out the bead-bound pathogens without removing human blood cells, proteins, fluids, or electrolytes -- much like a human spleen does. The cleansed blood then flows back to the patient.
"In just a few years we have been able to develop a suite of new technologies, and to integrate them to create a powerful new device that could potentially transform the way we treat sepsis," said Wyss founding director and project leader, Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. "The continued support from DARPA enables us to advance our device manufacturing capabilities and to obtain validation in large animal models, which is precisely what is required to enable this technology to be moved towards testing in humans."
The team will work to develop manufacturing and integration strategies for its core pathogen-binding opsonin and Spleen-on-a-Chip fluidic separation technologies, as well as a novel coating technology called "SLIPS," which is a super-hydrophobic coating inspired from the slippery surface of a pitcher plant that repels nearly any material it contacts. By coating the inner surface of the channels of the device with SLIPS, blood cleansing can be carried out without the need for anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting.
In addition to Ingber, the multidisciplinary team behind this effort includes Wyss core faculty and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty member Joanna Aizenberg, Ph.D., who developed the SLIPS technology; Wyss senior staff member Michael Super, Ph.D., who engineered the human opsonin protein; and Mark Puder, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School who will be assisting with animal studies.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Wyss Institute.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
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Female students just as successful as males in math and science, Asian-Americans outperform all
Mar. 29, 2013 ? While compared to men, women continue to be underrepresented in math and science courses and careers, is this disparity a true reflection of male and female student ability? According to a study to be released tomorrow in Psychology of Women Quarterly, a SAGE journal, male and female students earn similar grades in math and science while Asian American students of both genders outperform all other races.
Researchers Nicole Else-Quest, Concetta Mineo and Ashley Higgins studied 367 White, African American, Latino/Latina, and Asian American 10th grade male and female students in math and science. The study results indicated that while male and female adolescents earned similar grades in math and science, Asian American students outperformed all other ethnic groups, with Asian American males in particular receiving the highest scores. Furthermore, the researchers found that Latino and African American male students received the lowest scores in math and science.
"Asian American male adolescents consistently demonstrated the highest achievement compared to other adolescents, mirroring the 'model minority' stereotype," the researchers wrote. "In contrast, the underachievement of Latino and African American males is a persistent and troubling trend."
The researchers also studied the students' perceptions of their abilities in math and science. Male students reported a greater perception of their own ability in math as well as higher expectations of success, while female students reported greater value of science than their male counterparts. These findings did not vary across ethnicities.
The researchers also took into account the effects of family income and education on school achievement. Still, self-concept, task value, and expectations of success were strong predictors of student achievement in math and science.
"Despite gender similarities in math and science achievement, female adolescents tend to believe their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) abilities are just not as strong as those of their male classmates," says Professor Else-Quest, a lead author and developmental psychologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "We believe these attitudes are important in students' choices about persevering in math and science and pursuing STEM careers. Moreover, we need to expand our approach to this issue and study affective variables such as anxiety, boredom or apathy, enjoyment, and pride, given prior findings of the importance of these emotions in academic achievement contexts."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by SAGE Publications, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/6JDc2RX0HVM/130329125059.htm
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Rematch! It's Kirk vs. Gorn in this 'Star Trek' teaser
Captain Kirk and his infamous Gorn antagonist from the original series have it out again in this light-hearted ad for the new "Star Trek: The Video Game." Will they never bury the hatchet?
The Gorn are an alien species, reptilian and of great strength, one of which Kirk battled in an excellent demonstration of Starfleet martial superiority. It turns out Gorn aren't so great to have on your team, either, as the reprise of the match-up demonstrates.
While the game footage shown in the commercial looks like something out of the early 2000s, the ad is charming and may convince fans that "Star Trek: The Video Game" at least has its heart in the right place. The game arrives April 23 for Xbox 360 and PS3.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
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Aging vehicles leave Toyota North America chief optimistic on new sales
(Adds closing stock price)
By Ben Klayman
NEW YORK, March 28 - Toyota Motor Corp's
Jim Lentz, newly appointed chief executive of North America, said the Japanese automaker sees U.S. industry new-car sales hitting 15.3 million this year, up from 14.5 million in 2012. Just six months ago, its 2013 forecast was for 14.7 million, but the company at the time believed talk of the fiscal cliff's impact would dampen the economy.
"We're cautiously optimistic about a growing economy, but there's still a lot of uncertainty that can derail the consumer's attitude," Lentz said in an interview after the New York Auto Show.
Offsetting his concerns were the improving mood of consumers, which is being reflected in a stronger housing market and rising stock market, and the need for people to replace cars and trucks, the average age of which has reached an all-time high in the United States of more than 11 years.
"When people can look at their 401ks and see that not only have they not fallen, but they are now starting to gain ... that is a real positive to overall consumer confidence," Lentz said.
Toyota should sell about 2.2 million cars and trucks under its three brands - Toyota, Lexus and Scion - this year, up from 2.08 million in 2012. The company is introducing nine new or updated vehicles this year.
Automakers are scheduled to report March U.S. sales on Tuesday and Lentz said Toyota expects the industry's annual sales rate to finish at about 15.4 million vehicles. That would mark the fifth straight month above the 15 million rate.
However, Toyota has no plans to revisit its full-year estimate at this point as Lentz said the company is forecasting the sales rate to slow to a range of 15.1 million to 15.2 million in the second quarter.
Lentz said a tightening of interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve would have a minimal impact this year and in 2014 on consumers, many of whom have monthly car payments.
"Whether you lease or whether you borrow money to buy a car, it's still all about the monthly payment," he said. "Right now, if you look at car payments relative to income, cars have probably never been cheaper even though the price of cars continues to go up. That monthly payment is still very fixed."
However, Lentz agreed that the high residual values that automakers are setting on their leased vehicles is not sustainable. He said Toyota is already adjusting its residual values going forward.
"In 2014-2015, this low, low lease party will come to an end," he said.
Toyota shares closed down 46 cents at $102.64 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman in New York; Editing by Gunna Dickson)
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Friday 29 March 2013
S&P 500 ends at record closing high
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 set a record closing high on Thursday, finishing a fifth consecutive month of gains to extend a four-year rally.
The S&P had hovered near its record for more than two weeks, and market action next week will help determine if this is just another stepping stone for the rally, or if a long-expected pullback is in the offing.
The benchmark S&P 500 closed its strongest quarter in a year - up 10 percent. The Dow climbed 11.3 percent and the Nasdaq gained 8.2 percent for the first three months of the year.
The new closing high "is a very appropriate punctuation for a great quarter that saw a lot of last year's anxieties recede," said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank in Cleveland.
"However, this could be the start to a more realistic look at the problems that still haven't gone away. Some degree of caution is probably still merited, with the problems in Cyprus probably only the beginning to what we could see in coming months."
The rally hit a wall in the last two weeks as the latest chapter in the euro-zone crisis developed, with Cyprus nearing a default and a possible exit from the euro bloc.
The S&P 500 had been in a fairly tight range, having traded within 10 points of the October 9, 2007, record closing high of 1,565.15 over the previous 13 sessions.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 <.spx> gained 6.34 points, or 0.41 percent, to end at a new record of 1,569.19.
The Dow industrials, which surpassed its 2007 record on March 5 and has set a series of record highs since then, ended Thursday's session at yet another nominal closing high - at 14,578.54. For the day, the Dow rose 52.38 points, or 0.36 percent.
The Nasdaq Composite <.ixic> added 11 points, or 0.34 percent, to close at 3,267.52.
The gains in the three first months of the year have a very bullish history. An analysis by Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati, showed the S&P 500 has risen in the three first months of the year nine times in the past 30 years, and in each case, it has posted gains for the year.
The average yearly gain after such a start, the data showed, was 17.56 percent. An advance like that would leave the S&P 500 at about 1,676 at the end of this year.
"The key is the follow-through," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.
"It will be very important how the market handles next week's data."
Key manufacturing numbers are expected on Monday and factory orders Tuesday, building up to Friday's widely followed payrolls report.
During March, the Dow gained 3.7 percent, the S&P 500 rose 3.6 percent and the Nasdaq added 3.4 percent.
Thursday marked the end of the trading week. U.S. stock markets will be closed on Friday because of the Good Friday holiday.
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On the downside, Cliffs Natural Resources
Data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but probably not enough to suggest a faltering in the labour market's recovery. Other data showed the economy expanded more in the fourth quarter than was previously estimated by the government.
Volume was lighter than average with some market participants absent for the observance of Passover or to get an early start on the long Easter weekend.
About 5.8 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and NYSE MKT, below the daily average so far this year of about 6.4 billion shares.
On the NYSE, advancers outnumbered decliners by a ratio of roughly 8 to 5. On the Nasdaq, 14 stocks rose for every 11 that fell.
(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos, Chuck Mikolajczak and Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Jan Paschal)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/p-500-ends-record-closing-high-213401889--sector.html
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Monday 25 March 2013
Stockton, California bankruptcy eligibility trial starts
By Jim Christie
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Lawyers for Stockton and its creditors began their court battle on Monday over whether the California city may have bankruptcy protection in a closely followed trial hinging on the city leaving pensions intact while trying to force losses on bondholders.
As the biggest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy, the outcome for Stockton will be an important test case for the $3.7 trillion U.S. municipal debt market. The hearing is expected to last most of this week.
Stockton, along with Jefferson County in Alabama and smaller San Bernardino, California, has said its bondholders will be asked to take losses.
Since at least the 1930s no major city or county has forced a reduction in the principal of its debt during a municipal bankruptcy procedure.
Lawyers for bondholders and insurers, which will have to repay investors for any capital losses, argue the decision by Stockton to not seek to impair its largest creditor, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, shows a lack of good faith - a reason that should block Stockton's request for bankruptcy protection under federal bankruptcy law.
The retirement system, best known as Calpers, manages pension accounts for Stockton's employees and retired employees.
"The city ignores the 800-pound pension gorilla in the room," Guy Neal, one of the lawyers for the capital markets creditors, said in his opening remarks.
Bond insurers contesting Stockton's eligibility for bankruptcy protection have more than $300 million of exposure to the city's debt.
Assured Guaranty Corp, Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp and National Public Finance Guarantee Corp were joined by Wells Fargo Bank, the Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund and Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income Fund.
Marc Levinson, a lawyer for Stockton, defended the city's right to go bankrupt. He argued Stockton had attempted to negotiate in good faith with its creditors as required by California law before demanding protection from creditors.
The city of 300,000 in California's Central Valley, which filed for bankruptcy last year, fell on hard times when its revenue plunged after its once-torrid housing market went bust. Two decades of generous employee benefits, poor fiscal management and too much debt also caught up with the city, which is 85 miles east of San Francisco.
San Bernardino, which also filed for bankruptcy protection last year, is not making contributions to the state's pension fund as it contends with its financial troubles.
In other municipal bankruptcy cases, bondholders have been protected.
Central Falls, a tiny, poor Rhode Island city, had its bankruptcy plan approved by a judge in September. It slashed retirees pension payments in half and raised taxes, but left bondholders unscathed.
A Rhode Island law, passed as Central Falls' insolvency reached a crisis point, gave bondholders a lien on property tax revenue.
The Central Falls case, along with sweeping public pension changes at the state level, prompted labor unions and retirees in other struggling Rhode Island cities - including Providence, the state capital - to renegotiate retirement benefits and collective bargaining agreements.
Though Central Falls has exited bankruptcy, its case will remain open for several years so the court can step in if elected officials veer from the restructuring plan. Officials must provide quarterly statements about the city's financial health.
Because of the Central Falls case, "I don't think we're ever going to need a Chapter 9 again" in Rhode Island, said Theodore Orson at a distressed municipalities conference this month in Providence. Orson was the attorney for the state-appointed receiver who oversaw Central Falls' return from insolvency.
(Reporting by Jim Christie; Additional reporting by Michael Connor in Miami and Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Tiziana Barghini, Mary Milliken and Chizu Nomiyama)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stockton-california-bankruptcy-eligibility-trial-starts-204927219.html
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After car wreck kills her dad, 9-year-old climbs out of canyon, walks mile to find help
?
By Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ? A 9-year-old girl crawled out of a mangled SUV, climbed out of a canyon and walked about a mile in the middle of the night to find help after surviving a highway crash that killed her father in Southern California, authorities said Sunday.
The 2010 Ford Escape was launched about 200 feet down an embankment along a semi-rural stretch of the Sierra Highway in Acton about 1 a.m. Sunday, said California Highway Patrol Officer Cheyenne Quesada. The vehicle overturned several times.
The girl managed to extricate herself and walk through rugged terrain to a nearby home, but nobody answered the door, the CHP said. Then she hiked up the steep embankment and along the road to a commuter rail station where she flagged down a passing motorist at about 2:30 a.m.
?
"She walked quite a distance in a very, very threatening environment. It's very black out there, very dark," CHP Sgt. Tom Lackey told KABC-TV. "It's very steep and it's brushy and there's also coyotes in the background."
Responding officers found a man in his 30s had been killed, Quesada said. His name was not released but officials said he was from Los Angeles.
A helicopter transported the girl to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She was treated for minor injuries including bumps and bruises and a cut on her face.
Television footage showed crews extricating the severely damaged black SUV from the canyon.
The CHP is investigating whether alcohol played a role in the crash.
?
? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Friday 22 March 2013
Pain reliever shows anti-viral activity against flu
Mar. 21, 2013 ? The over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug naproxen may also exhibit antiviral activity against influenza A virus, according to a team of French scientists. The finding, the result of a structure-based investigation, is published online ahead of print in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
New influenza vaccines must be developed annually, because the surface proteins they target mutate rapidly, the way cars used to get a whole new look every year. The researchers, led by Anny Slama-Schwok of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy en Josas, France, found a much more stable, reliable target for anti-influenza activity. The so-called ribonucleoprotein complexes are necessary for replication, and the researchers realized they could target the nucleoprotein, preventing assembly of the complexes. Because of its vital function, the nucleoprotein is highly conserved, making it a good potential target for antiviral drugs.
The nucleoprotein's three dimensional structure, solved in 2006, provided the basis for searching for new drugs that could interfere with its action. The researchers did a virtual screening within the Sigma-Aldrich online catalog of biochemicals. That screening identified Naproxen, better known as the over-the-counter pain reliever Aleve, and as expected, it bound to the nucleoprotein, and impeded RNA binding, says Slama-Schwok. In further testing, it reduced the viral load in cells infected with H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A virus, and in mice it demonstrated a therapeutic index against influenza A that was superior to that of any other anti-inflammatory drug.
Specifically, naproxen blocks the RNA binding groove of the nucleoprotein, preventing formation of the ribonucleoprotein complex, thus taking the vital nucleoproteins out of circulation. The researchers write that naproxen is a lead compound for drug development that could be improved by tweaking the molecule to boost its ability to bind to nucleoprotein.
As an already approved drug, naproxen could become a treatment against influenza relatively quickly, the researchers write. Its status as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which inhibits the COX-2 pathway, as well as an antiviral would boost its efficacy.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Society for Microbiology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- N. Lejal, B. Tarus, E. Bouguyon, S. Chenavas, N. Bertho, B. Delmas, R. W. Ruigrok, C. Di Primo, A. Slama-Schwok. Structure-based discovery of the novel antiviral properties of naproxen against the nucleoprotein of Influenza A virus. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2013; DOI: 10.1128/AAC.02335-12
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/BESpgti4aGs/130321151926.htm
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Source: http://washingtonstate-basedhealthinsurance.net/?p=215
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Pentagon suspends 60 mm mortar use after eight Marines die in training
The Pentagon has issued a freeze on all use of 60 mm mortar rounds and has announced that the death toll from the mortar accident has increased from seven to eight Marines; another seven Marines were injured, four critically.
A sign telling residents about a memorial service is posted at the Convention Center in Hawthorne, Nev., on Tuesday, March 19. At the nearby Hawthorne Army Depot, eight Marines were killed and seven others seriously injured in a training accident Monday night.
Scott Sonner/AP
EnlargeA mortar shell explosion killed eight Marines and injured seven more during mountain warfare training in Nevada's high desert, prompting the Pentagon to immediately halt the use of the weapons until an investigation can determine their safety, officials said Tuesday.
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The explosion occurred Monday night at the Hawthorne Army Depot, a sprawling facility used by troops heading overseas, during an exercise involving the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Lejeune, N.C. Several Marines from the unit were injured in the blast, authorities said.
The mortar round exploded in its firing tube during the exercise, Brig. Gen. Jim Lukeman said at a news conference at Camp Lejeune. He said investigators were trying to determine the cause of the malfunction.
The Pentagon expanded a temporary ban to prohibit the military from firing any 60 mm mortar rounds until the results of the investigation. The Marine Corps said Tuesday a "blanket suspension" of 60 mm mortars and associated firing tubes is in effect.
The Pentagon earlier had suspended use of all high-explosive and illumination mortar rounds that were in the same manufacturing lots as ones fired in Nevada.
It was not immediately clear whether more than a single round exploded, a Marine Corps official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation.
The Marine Corps said early Tuesday that seven Marines were killed. Eight men under the age of 30 were taken to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. One of them died, four were in serious condition, two were in fair condition and another was discharged, said spokesman Mark Earnest.
John Stroud, national junior vice commander in chief for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, began a memorial event in Hawthorne on Tuesday night by saying "one of the critical has passed," bringing the death toll to eight. Mourners then laid eight floral arrangements at a park where a flag flew at half-staff within sight of the Hawthorne depot's boundary.
Stroud said he spoke with Marine officers from Camp Lejune who gave him the news before the ceremony. Messages left for a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force were not immediately returned.
The force did issue a statement Tuesday evening saying an additional Marine has been reported as injured.
The identities of those killed won't be released until 24 hours after their families are notified.
"We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident," said the force's commander, Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox. "We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."
The rescue was complicated by the remoteness of the site, which is favored because the harsh geography simulates conditions in Afghanistan.
The 60 mm mortar is a weapon that traditionally requires three to four Marines to operate, but it's common during training for others to observe nearby. The firing tube is supported in a tripod-like design and fires roughly a 3-pound shell, some 14 inches in length and a bit larger than 2 inches in diameter.
The mortar has changed little since World War II and remains one of the simplest weapons to operate, which is why it is found at the lowest level of infantry units, said Joseph Trevithick, a mortar expert with Global Security.org.
"Basically, it's still a pipe and it's got a firing pin at the bottom," Trevithick said. Still, a number of things could go wrong, such as a fuse malfunction, a problem with the barrel's assembly, or a round prematurely detonating inside the tube, he said.
The Marine Corps official said an explosion at the point of firing in a training exercise could kill or maim anyone in or near the protective mortar pit and could concussively detonate any mortars stored nearby in a phenomenon known as "sympathetic detonation."
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Thursday 21 March 2013
Tevel Global's Angels to invest in 3 Israeli StartUps ? Jewish ...
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Dr. Oren Fuerst of ?Tevel Global? says ?the Israeli creativity and initiative is not just a slogan.? We are speaking of bottomless well of creativity taking place in Israel?.
/By Yehudit Haspel Ben-Dak /
Dr. Oren Fuerst
Eighty Tevel Global investors (angels) attended a meeting that took place in New York on March 13th in the offices of American Attorneys, Grenberg-Traurig who have been involved in many Israeli high-tech ventures, and created initial investment and commercial ties with three Israeli start-up companies: VODIO, PetWise and Medivisor.
The three companies presented live examples of their technologies alongside business presentations.? ?I am satisfied by the number of attendees at the conference and have already created initial contacts between investors and company managers making presentations here?, concluded Dr. Oren Fuerst at the conference, ?we are following up these contacts and will know shortly regarding the amount of investments in these companies.?
Tevel Global incorporates some 500 international investors who invest in a wide range of fields: medical devices, Internet, software and Information Security.? The meetings among investors, most of whom are from outside of Israel, and the companies seeking investment takes place both physically and virtually.
Ever since the first meeting of the Tevel Global Angels in September 2007 in New York, the group?s investors have invested in more than 30 start-up companies who appeared in some 25 meetings that took place all over the world.? Previous meetings took place in Tel Aviv, London, Moscow, Brussels and Toronto.
Every meeting has around 5o private investors in attendance guaranteeing a diversity of quality people that enable many possibilities for potential joint ventures for successful entrepreneurs.
Dr. Oren Fuerst, himself a serial entrepreneur and investing angel, was involved in the establishment and development of many high tech companies mainly in the field of medicine and information systems.? Among the companies with which he has been involved in recent years are: Circ Medtech (developer of Prepex an HIV prevention device www.prepex.com ) and labstyle innovations (developer of Dario, a system for monitoring diabetes).
Dr. Fuerst has served in the past as a member of the faculty of ColumbiaUniversity?s School of Management specializing in the field of investment strategies of international technology companies.? Among other activities, he published many articles on the subject of entrepreneurship and investment management.
Dr. Fuerst, many funds are operating in the world of Israeli technology today, what is your group?s advantage?
?The Tevel Global investment group brings to the table many years of experience which is not usually available to private investors and entrepreneurs.? Tevel is the one and only group of investors, to my knowledge, that is completely dedicated to investing in high tech companies that have a connection with Israel. Tevel investors bring with them much more than just investment, they bring with them a rare combination of business experience and connections that is almost impossible to achieve in any other way,?
At the meeting held on March 13th, three select Israeli companies along side the TelAviv University technology fund presented the ?Momentum Fund? that enables investors and friends of the University to participate in the development of the next generation of technological products.
Among the companies making a presentation at the meeting was PetWise, a company developing a computerized robotic system that enables remote feeding as well as an interactive video system that can throw a ball and perform other games to entertain one?s pet.? The PetWise system also allows retailers to know when their clients are at home.
An additional company, Vodio offers a platform that enables the creation on an iPad or iPhone of personalized magazines containing printed and video libraries selected according to preferences and areas of interest of the user.? Vodion combines Flipboard with Pandora in a user friendly video application.
The third company making a presentation of its technology was Medivisor a first aid system of the type that gives up-to-date medical and health information to any person in a personal and private manner.? The information is based on the personal and medical condition of a patient and includes, among other things, updates on scientific research, new treatments, relevant clinical tests, recommended life styles and more.
The company is focusing on various types of Cancer (such as prostate, breast and stomach) and on chronic illnesses such as diabetes.? Among the initiators of the company are Dr. Steven Kaplan of Cornell the initiator of the public company Medidata, Dr. Oren Fuerst himself and Tal Givoly the former chief scientist of Amdocs.
Dr. Fuerst who has spent many years in the US does not hide his pride in Israeli entrepreneurship. ?The Israeli creativity and initiative is not just a slogan.? We are speaking of bottomless well of creativity taking place in Israel.? This is a creativity that reproduces itself.? Every company and initiative that succeeds creates an environment that encourages additional successful entrepreneurs.?
-Israeli entrepreneurship receives praise.? However there is always criticism regarding marketing strategy.? Do you agree with this criticism?
?The building of correct business strategy must include market analysis alongside the cost model, pricing, marketing and distribution along with putting together of the right team. However at the end of the day, entrepreneurs know and understand that their success depends also and perhaps mainly on hard work and luck.? In general, luck is attracted to those who also work hard and whose business strategy is correct.?
-On the average how much money has been invested in each company in the Tevel Global portfolio: Are we speaking only of Seed Money?
?The money invested varies widely, starting with investments by single investors of 100 thousand dollars and up to investments by a number of investors in the amount of 2 million dollars.? In most cases, we are talking about investments of 1 or 2 million dollars.? The investor joins a round of existing investments in the company.?
-Is there a preference for companies in a particular field?
?Different investors have different preferences that interest them in particular.? Different investors also invest in different stages of development.? Sometimes it happens that the same company raises money from different Tevel investors at different stages.? Each investor has a risk profile vis a vis the return he is looking for and has his investment strategy regarding additional investment, like diversifying within the industrial field and so on.?
?The investments are not necessarily seed money but generally are made after certain technological uncertainties are overcome (for example in the case of many medical apparatus companies) or after there have been successes in the field (as in the case of may iPhone applications).?Fuerst adds that testing technology is subjective and performed according to the potential return and with a preference for the level investment so that not a great deal of additional investment required or dependent on raising a great sum of money in the future.
?To clarify, there is a preference for companies with potential patent protection or a large market characterized by many deals regarding emerging companies.? Nevertheless, it is clear that a company that does not have an impressive management team will not raise any money at all even if its technology is amazing.? Fuerst explains
-Are there examples of companies that received investment and took off or succeeded in raising more money from other investors?
?Of course? emphasizes Fuerst and cites Polytouch, a company producing medical equipment that achieved an ?exit? with a very attractive multiple after Tevel investors participated in an investment round.? Similarly Mobideo a company dealing in software for process management in organizations succeeded in raising serious additional investment.? Fuerst also cites BioProtect and Ortho Space, companies operating in the fields of urology and orthopedics who have raised serious sums of money in amounts far greater than those originally raised through Tevel Global.
Among other companies that received serious investment was Circ Medical, a company that Fuerst was involved in its founding and reached a level of sales in Africa in addition to significant external follow-up investments.
?It is a great privilege to be a part of this entrepreneur venture.? I combine initiative with investment for many years.? With all the difficulties, costs, rebellions, energy and synergism.? The combination is no less than amazing,? Fuerst sums up.
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Source: http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/03/20/tevel-globals-angels-to-invest-in-3-israeli-startups/
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Adults worldwide eat almost double daily recommended amount of sodium
Mar. 21, 2013 ? Seventy-five percent of the world's population consumes nearly twice the daily recommended amount of sodium (salt), according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention 2013 Scientific Sessions.
Global sodium intake from commercially prepared food, table salt, salt and soy sauce added during cooking averaged nearly 4,000 mg a day in 2010.
The World Health Organization recommends limiting sodium to less than 2,000 mg a day and the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to less than 1,500 mg a day.
"This study is the first time that information about sodium intake by country, age and gender is available," said Saman Fahimi, M.D., M.Phil., lead author and a visiting scientist in the Harvard School of Public Health's epidemiology department in Boston, Mass. "We hope our findings will influence national governments to develop public health interventions to lower sodium."
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the world; excess sodium intake raises blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the major contributors to the development of cardiovascular disease.
Among women and men, average sodium intake exceeded healthy levels in almost all countries, researchers said. Kazakhstan had the highest average intake at 6,000 mg per day, followed by Mauritius and Uzbekistan at just less than 6,000 mg per day.
Kenya and Malawi had the lowest average intake at about 2,000 mg per day. In the US, the average intake was about 3,600 mg a day.
One hundred eighty-one of 187 countries, representing 99 percent of the world's population, exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended sodium intake of less than 2,000 mg a day; and 119 countries, representing 88 percent of the world's population, exceeded this recommended intake by more than 1,000 mg a day. All countries except Kenya exceeded the American Heart Association recommended sodium intake of less than 1,500 mg a day.
The researchers analyzed 247 surveys of adult sodium intake to estimate sodium intake, stratified by age, gender, region and nation between 1990 and 2010 as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study, which is an international collaborative study by 488 scientists from 303 institutions in 50 countries around the world. .
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Heart Association.
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/wycB2q81fmM/130321110920.htm
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EBay goes after Amazon with fee changes for sellers
By Alistair Barr
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - EBay Inc said on Tuesday it will overhaul fees for sellers on its online marketplace, lowering them for many sellers as it steps up competition with Amazon.com Inc.
EBay is simplifying its "final value fees" with the percentage fee levied on each sale determined by product categories. Currently, the percentage fee is based on an item's price.
Some of eBay's listing fees, a bone of contention among sellers, are also going away. Most of the changes will kick in April 16, with others taking effect May 1.
Many sellers will pay lower fees after the changes, especially those who are not volume sellers and list fewer than 12,250 times per month, according to Scot Wingo, chief executive of ChannelAdvisor, which helps merchants sell on online marketplaces including eBay and Amazon.
"These fee changes definitely make eBay more competitive," said Wingo.
EBay's move comes as sellers on Amazon's marketplace become increasingly upset with fee increases.
The company's announcement about the new fees included a table comparing its charges to Amazon's fees, a move that Wingo said he had not seen before.
"EBay is really coming out swinging against Amazon," Wingo added.
EBay shares rose 2 percent to close at $51.10 on the Nasdaq. Amazon slipped 0.6 percent to $256.41.
11 PERCENT CUT
For consumers who sell only a few items a year, eBay will offer 50 free listings per month. If the item sells, the company will take 10 percent of the sale price.
EBay has been using a fee structure that included a listing fee of 50 cents per item for full-price listings. The company has been offering free listings only on auctioned items.
For larger-volume sellers, eBay will introduce new final value fees ranging from 4 percent to 9 percent, depending on the product category.
Seller Phil Forman said he received an email from EBay on Tuesday morning, estimating that he would see an 11 percent decline in fees.
"I can work with an 11 percent cut," said Forman, owner of Newtownvideo.com, which sells CDs, DVD and video games on its own website and on marketplaces including Amazon.com and eBay.com.
The reduction in listing fees should encourage sellers to list more products, getting more inventory onto eBay, he said.
"Sellers like to only pay when they actually sell something," Forman added.
However, Forman said he was concerned because Newtownvideo.com lists many thousands of products per month, so the business may still pay some listing fees on eBay. This is because the new free listings top out at 2,500 per month for subscribers to eBay's premium "Anchor Store" selling program, he noted.
Amazon has never charged sellers listing fees, one reason why its marketplace has been gaining strongly against eBay in recent years.
"For most of our sellers the complexity of our fees were keeping them from being on eBay and preventing them from having full transparency into their profitability from selling on eBay," Michael Jones, vice president of merchant development, said.
"There will be some sellers who will pay a little bit more on eBay, but most sellers will be impacted positively by this," he added.
(Reporting by Alistair Barr; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Leslie Adler)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ebay-goes-amazon-fee-changes-sellers-130504126--sector.html
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Wednesday 20 March 2013
FedEx profit falls on weak airfreight business
DALLAS (AP) ? FedEx says its third-quarter profit fell 31 percent as customers are opting for less-expensive ground shipping, hurting the company's airfreight business.
The company says it will cut capacity to and from Asia starting next month and might retire some of its older airplanes.
Its shares fell more than 3 percent in premarket trading.
FedEx Corp. said Wednesday that its net income fell to $361 million, or $1.13 per share, in the three months ended Feb. 28. That's down from $521 million, or $1.65 per share, a year earlier.
Excluding costs of voluntary buyouts for some U.S. employees, the company says it would have earned $1.23 per share. Analysts were looking for $1.38 per share.
The company's fiscal year ends in May. It expects adjusted earnings of between $6 and $6.20 per share for the year. That is below analysts' forecasts of $6.35 per share.
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Yahoo in talks to buy stake in video site Dailymotion: report
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Dailymotion, one of the world's most popular online video websites, in what would be Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's largest deal since taking the reins in July, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
Yahoo could purchase as much as 75 percent of Dailymotion, which is owned by French telecommunications firm France Telecom-Orange, according to the newspaper report, which cited anonymous sources.
Dailymotion could be valued at roughly $300 million, according to the report, which noted that the deal is not imminent and could fall apart.
"We are unable to confirm, deny or comment on speculation regarding potential talks between Yahoo and Orange at this time," Dailymotion Managing Director Roland Hamilton said in an emailed statement.
Yahoo and France-Telecom Orange declined to comment.
France Telecom-Orange acquired Dailymotion for $170 million through a two-phase deal, with the most recent transaction closing in January. Dailymotion's editorial and executive management operate independently of France Telecom-Orange.
Dailymotion is the No. 12 ranked online video Web property in the world, according to industry research firm comScore. It says Dailymotion has 116 million unique monthly visitors and more than 2 billion videos viewed. Google Inc, which owns YouTube, is the world's No. 1 Web video property while Yahoo's various websites ranked 10th on the list.
The transaction for Dailymotion would represent Yahoo's largest deal since Mayer, a former Google executive, took charge last year. Yahoo has acquired several small mobile and web start-up companies since Mayer became chief executive last year.
(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Richard Chang and David Gregorio)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yahoo-talks-buy-stake-video-dailymotion-report-221122626--sector.html
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Tuesday 19 March 2013
Deal of the Day: Amzer Skin Case for Motorola Atrix HD
The March 18 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Amzer Skin Case for Motorola Atrix HD. Made out of 100% premium silicone, the Amzer Skin Case is a great lightweight option for protecting your Atrix HD while adding little bulk. This skin absorbs shock from drops and provides additional grip to your device. Comes in a variety of colors to choose from.
The Amzer Skin Case is available for just $5.00, 67% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/HDB1iM7OhCw/story01.htm
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Electronic Arts CEO steps down, takes blame for missed targets
By Malathi Nayak
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Electronic Arts' Chief Executive Officer John Riccitiello has resigned, saying he was "accountable" for the company missing its operational targets.
The company warned investors that earnings in the current quarter will be at the low end of or slightly below its previously issued forecast after the announcement.
In January, the company had said it expected non-GAAP revenue for its fourth quarter ending March 31 to be about $1.025 billion to $1.125 billion. It also forecast non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of 57 cents to 72 cents.
Riccitiello will step down from his post as CEO and member of the board of directors on March 30, the video game company said on Monday.
"We have fallen short of the internal operating plan we set one year ago," Riccitiello said in a letter filed to the Securities Exchange Commission. "EA's shareholders and employees expect better and I am accountable for the miss."
EA's former CEO and chairman of the board, Larry Probst, has been appointed as executive chairman as the company begins its search for its next CEO, the company said.
Electronic Arts' stock climbed 3.1 percent to $19.29 in after-hours trade, from a close of $18.71 on the Nasdaq.
(Reporting By Malathi Nayak; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/electronic-arts-ceo-step-down-202418535--sector.html
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BlackBerry Z10 (T-Mobile) Review | BB10 Smartphone Reviews
The BlackBerry Z10 is an incredibly important device, not only for the company formerly known as RIM but also for T-Mobile. For BlackBerry, the Z10 represents a fresh start, with a more modern interface and a touch keyboard that promises to beat them all. For T-Mobile, the Z10 is a big deal because it's one of the first devices to support the carrier's new 4G LTE network. Plus, this is the only Z10 you can get with unlimited data. So, should you pick this Berry?
Editors' Note: T-Mobile has not yet released a price for the Z10. We will update this review with pricing details when available. Portions of this review were taken from our review of the BlackBerry Z10 for AT&T.
Design
Click to EnlargeBlackBerry's sturdy, black slab looks like a slightly larger iPhone 5 with similarly rounded corners, though it's not nearly as elegant. No diamond-cut edges or any aluminum here. We do like the dimpled, soft-touch feel of the back plate, which makes the handset easy to grip. Those looking for a little more flair should opt for the white version.
Click to EnlargeYou won't find any button underneath the Z10's 4.2-inch screen. It's all about gestures on this smartphone. The top edge of the Z10 houses a headphone jack and power button, while a micro USB and micro HDMI port occupy the left edge. A Pause/Voice Command button sits between the two volume buttons on the right edge.
Measuring 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.35 inches and weighing 4.9 ounces, the Z10 is one-hand friendly. The iPhone 5, however, is a full ounce lighter.
Display and Audio
Click to EnlargeThe BlackBerry Z10 sports a 4.2-inch display with a fairly sharp resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels. Unfortunately, the display is not nearly as bright as its competitors' screens. The Z10 registered 311 lux on our light meter, far below the category average of 371 lux, not to mention the scores of the HTC One (463) and iPhone 5 (525).
When viewing an HD trailer for "Iron Man 3," the white dress on Pepper Potts popped, but we didn't see the same luster in Iron Man's helmet and suit as we did when using the iPhone. More of the details got lost in shadows. On the bright side, viewing angles were fairly wide.
The Z10's speaker fared better, delivering an impressive amount of volume and clarity when we listened to The Lumineers' "Ho Hey." Every pluck of the guitar resonated. At the max setting, Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning" sounded fairly clean.
Keyboard
Click to EnlargeThose holding out for the BlackBerry Q10 and its physical keyboard should really try the Z10's touch keyboard, because it's one of the best--if not the best--around.
BlackBerry designed its touch-screen keyboard to ape the look and feel of a traditional BlackBerry keyboard, right down to the frets between the keys. Large capital letters were easy to target, and because the Z10 tracks how you strike individual keys, typos became less frequent the more we used the phone.
The standout feature of the Z10's keyboard is its word-prediction functionality. As you type, words appear directly above the keys that you would tap for the next letter. To accept a word, you swipe it up to the body of the email or document you're typing.
Auto-correction makes an appearance on the Z10, too; you'll see suggestions appear on the space bar as you type, which you can then accept by tapping the key. We also found it convenient that the keyboard automatically presents a number row above the letters whenever you enter a password.
To say the Z10's keyboard has lots of other tricks up its sleeve is an understatement. Need to delete a misspelled word? Just start swiping from right to left on the layout. You can even switch among three different languages on the fly if you add them in Settings.
If you need to cut or paste, tap the screen to make a circle appear that you can drag around. Double-tap to select a word, then drag two anchor posts where you want them to go before tapping again to copy. There were a few occasions when the cursor didn't always go where we tapped, and the anchor posts for selecting text moved erratically at times.
Software and Interface
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Click to EnlargeBlackBerry 10 was designed with one key goal in mind: making multitasking easier. To do so,the company developed BB10 with two key pillars: Flow and Peek. Flow is the design paradigm that BB10 is built on and refers to the overall user experience, which allows you to quickly look up key info without jumping in and out of multiple apps.
For instance, when you tap on a meeting in the calendar, you can look up the LinkedIn profiles for the attendees right within the calendar entry or see your last several messages going back and forth on the subject. This approach saves time and ensures that users are always in the know.
Click to Enlarge The term "Peek" describes the gesture you use to access the BlackBerry Hub, up from the bottom of the screen and then to the right. The Hub, a one-stop shop for your messaging needs, aggregates everything from your email and texts to Facebook messages and Twitter mentions. You can also Peek at the Hub just by swiping from right to left while on the main home screen.
Unlocking the Z10 activates a nifty effect. As you swipe up, you'll see the lock screen start to fade and the home screen appear, as if you were clearing the fog off a window. The lock screen itself displays some useful info at a glance, such as a camera shortcut and a listing of how many messages are waiting in your multiple accounts.
The only persistent navigation buttons you'll find on the home screens are the Phone, Search and Camera buttons. Unfortunately, you can't change these. BlackBerry does, however, make the Search function universal, which means you can hunt for apps, contacts, calendar entries, messages and more just by typing.
Swiping down from the top of any home screen launches the Settings menu, from which you can toggle Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, the Alarm and the phone's Notification/Silent Mode. You can also activate Rotation Lock and hit the Settings button for more options. We'd like to see BlackBerry add Airplane Mode to this list of options. Moreover, the company should make this settings menu accessible while you're using any app, not just the home screen.
Multitasking and Active Frames
Click to EnlargeWith the Z10, minimizing an app couldn't be easier. Simply swipe up from the BlackBerry logo at the bottom of the display to the top. If you happen to be using an app in landscape mode, you need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen while holding the phone sideways.
Minimizing an app automatically returns you to the home screen, where a thumbnail for the app will appear in the top left corner along with a grid of other recent apps. Tap the X on the thumbnails to quickly close an app.
Minimized apps aren't just shrunken shortcuts, though. Many of them take advantage of BlackBerry 10's Active Frames feature, which shows helpful information on the shrunken tile. The Weather app, for example, displays current conditions and temperature at a glance, while the Calendar frame shows your next meeting.
BlackBerry Hub and Email
Click to EnlargeThe BlackBerry Hub is where many business users and BlackBerry Messenger fiends will spend the majority of their time. It's easy to switch from a view of all incoming alerts and messages to BBM, Gmail, Facebook, LinkedIn or calls. You can also scroll to the top of the hub to see upcoming appointments.
Note, however, that if you're looking at your Exchange email and then decide to surf the Web, you'll need to back out of the Exchange inbox when you come back to the Hub in order to see all of your alerts. On Android and iOS, you don't have to take this extra step. Users can just swipe down from the top of the screen to see their newest alerts in various apps.
The BlackBerry 10 email client supports multiple accounts, including Exchange ActiveSync, POP and IMAP. We had no problem adding our Exchange, Gmail and Yahoo accounts.
One of the coolest features of the Hub is that it suggests additional contacts to include in outgoing emails based on the first person you enter in the To: field. So if you tend to send emails to the same groups of folks on a similar subject, BlackBerry 10 can save you time.
Further highlights include the ability to compose messages in rich text (which includes Bold, Ital, Bullets, etc.) and robust attachment-support. You can even easily attach files from your Dropbox account.
Voice Command and Voice Typing
Click to Enlarge The Z10's Voice Command is BlackBerry's answer to Apple's Siri and Google Voice. You can do everything from send messages (text, BBM or email) to schedule an appointment or make a note. You can also update your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn status.
When it worked, Voice Control let us successfully update our Facebook status and schedule a lunch meeting. However, the feature had some trouble with certain commands. When we tried to search the Web for "BlackBerry Z10," Voice Control searched for blackberries.
BlackBerry 10 lets you voice-type, but it needs to feed your dictations to a server before processing. So, it can take several seconds for the Z10 to translate your utterances. Because Android Jelly Bean phones offer online voice typing, they don't suffer from such delays.
BBM, Video Chat and Screen Sharing
Click to Enlarge One of the true "Wow" moments when testing the Z10 came when we received a video call within BlackBerry Messenger. After we swiped down on the screen to accept the call, we saw an icon that allowed us to share what was on our display with the other caller. This BB 10-exclusive feature can really come in handy for giving a quick presentation (as we did with Documents to Go). Of course, you'll want to make sure you don't have anything on your screen you wouldn't want others to see.
Click to Enlarge We experienced only a brief period of blurriness when switching screens or opening an app. Just don't expect to share video via screen sharing, as we found out when another Z10 user tried to Rickroll us on YouTube. Thankfully, playback never started.
Web Browsing
Click to EnlargeThe Z10 is the first phone to launch on T-Mobile's new 4G LTE network, which has a lot of catching up to do. Up until now, T-Mobile users have had to rely on the carrier's 4G HSPA+ 42 network for their high-speed data needs. And while that network is capable of fast downloads, uploads are nowhere near LTE territory.
T-Mobile says that its LTE network will come online in time for the Z10 launch at the end of March. The carrier wouldn't provide launch cities, but told us it will cover 100 million customers by mid-2013 and reach as many as 200 million by the end of the year. Because the network was unavailable at the time of our review, we performed our Web tests over T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42 connection.
On Speedtest.net, the Z10 notched an average download speed of 3.1 Mbps. Upload speeds were much slower, reaching just 900 Kbps. Naturally, we expect those speeds to see a drastic improvement once the carrier's LTE network launches.
The Z10 loaded websites quickly, with ESPN and The New York Times' mobile sites loading in 6 and 3.3 seconds, respectively. Image-heavy sites like Laptopmag.com took a bit longer to load, finishing in 6.5 seconds.
Tapping the menu button to the right of the address bar provides access to several options, including the Add to Home Screen, Add BookMark and Find on Page. If you tap Settings on this menu, you can turn on private browsing; Chrome for Android makes this easier.
Performance
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Click to EnlargeUnlike many new Android superphones, the BlackBerry Z10 doesn't offer quad-core processing power. Instead, it packs a 1.5-GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with 2GB of RAM. Onboard storage is limited to 16GB, but that can be augmented with a microSD Card (up to 32GB).
Overall, the Z10 offered mixed performance. The phone was quick to switch between multiple applications, though we noticed occasional slowdown while playing "Jetpack Joyride". The phone was also slower than the iPhone 5 when changing screen orientations. In addition, in a few instances. the Z10 failed to recognize our inputs. We expect performance to improve as BlackBerry continues to fine tune the software.
The biggest turnoff was how long it took for the Z10 to reboot. We spent nearly 2 minutes (1:55) waiting for the phone to fully restart. Then you need to twiddle your thumbs as the Z10 prepares the BlackBerry Hub for another minute, during which time your emails and other messages are not accessible. We also noticed that the back of the Z10 became warm during extended use, especially when surfing the Web.
Apps
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Click to EnlargeIn order for BlackBerry 10 to be a success, it needs to offer the apps smartphone shoppers are looking for. The renamed BlackBerry World is off to a decent start, offering 70,000 apps at launch; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Foursquare are all on board. Other favorites, such as Evernote, MLB at Bat, ESPN and The Weather Channel, are also available.
What's missing? Instagram, Neflix and lots of other apps we use on a daily basis.
To BB10's detriment, many apps seemed watered down compared to their Android and iOS incarnations. ESPN ScoreCenter, for example, lacked the kind of functionality offered by the Android edition. In fact, whereas the Android app normally breaks down scores by sport, the BlackBerry app lumps all sports scores together in a scrollable list.
The shopping experience is fairly straightforward, with the option for credit card, PayPal or carrier billing (if supported by your carrier). We just wish you could launch an app you downloaded right from BlackBerry World itself. You'll see a grayed-out Installed button after an app installs, forcing you to return to the main menu.
Since its launch, BlackBerry World has seen its games library increase tremendously. Whereas the selection was at one time a barren wasteland, you'll now find games including "Angry Birds Star Wars," "N.O.V.A.3," "Where's My Perry", the previously mentioned "Jetpack Joyride" and more.
Click to Enlarge We enjoyed USA Today, which sports an intuitive layout that mimics some of the sideways swiping of the BlackBerry 10 interface. Flixster (pictured) made it easy to look up movie times and watch trailers, while Docs to Go lets you view and edit Office documents.
The bundled Remember app is more than a task manager that syncs with Outlook. You can also use it to record audio notes, as well as to scrapbook Web articles, photos and other items. Plus, Remember syncs with Evernote. The Slacker radio app proved disappointing because it forced us to drill down to find our favorite station (which should be right up front) and because we couldn't skip tracks unless we were in the app. We could adjust the volume, however.
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Click to EnlargeT-Mobile doesn't load down the Z10 with bloatware like it does with some Android phones. Instead, the carrier only installs its T-Mobile My Account app, which allows you to check your account information, find featured apps and get device-specific support.
Maps
Developed in partnership with TCS (the guys behind VZNaviagtor) and with TomTom's map data, POI and traffic info, the Z10's bundled Maps app is functional, but barebones compared to Google Maps and Apple's Maps app. You won't find 3D satellite views or fancy fly-overs, nor does BlackBerry Maps include images or ratings of businesses that you search for. The app doesn't even work in landscape mode yet. The good news is that the spoken, turn-by-turn navigation worked well and included accurate directions and street names. Still, maps were slow to fill in as we panned around the screen.
Music, Video and Magazines
Click to Enlarge BlackBerry is attempting to build BlackBerry World into an ecosystem, complete with more than 22 million songs (thanks to 7Digital), along with premium movies and TV shows (via Rovi). BlackBerry World makes it easy to discover content by displaying Top Albums, Movies and TV Episodes right underneath apps on its main page.
The content selection was current, with such flicks as "Life of Pi" and "Argo" available to rent or buy. TV Shows include "The Walking Dead" and "Downton Abbey" for $1.99 per episode. There doesn't, however, appear to be an option to purchase entire seasons.
Our Z10 had a Newsstand app that promoted such magazines as Motor Trend, Marie Claire and Surfer, which can be purchased for between $6.99 and $0.99.
Security and Parental Controls
Click to Enlarge BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers will be pleased to know that the Z10 features BlackBerry Balance, which lets users switch between work and personal profiles. The Work perimeter protects data with 256-bit AES encryption, and administrators can set up a storefront for corporate-approved apps. You can still access personal info in the Work profile, such as the Hub and your calendar.
BlackBerry 10's security extends to locating or wiping a lost smartphone via the BlackBerry Protect feature. Once this is enabled, you'll be able to track down the Z10 online at protect.blackberry.com, as well as have it display a message and play a loud sound. Should you decide to wipe your device remotely, you can also remove any data stored on the microSD card. In our testing, the service found our phone traveling down the NJ Turnpike within just a few seconds.
The Z10 offers several parental control options. You can disable various core applications and functions, such as the browser and Twitter, as well as the camera and the ability to purchase content. However, while you can restrict apps and other content based on ratings, you can't drill down on an app basis or white-list specific apps, as you can with Kid's Corner for Windows Phone.
Camera and Camcorder
The standout feature of the Z10's camera is its TimeShift mode, which can all but do away with shots in which one subject blinks but the others look great. After taking a shot with the back 8-MP camera, you can drag a nob back and forward in time, then select the version of the subject's face you want. As long as our subject didn't move too much, this feature worked well. If they do, though, be prepared for a head that looks dislocated from person's shoulders.
BlackBerry says the speed of its camera was a big focus area for BlackBerry 10. Sure enough, the Z10 fired off shots quickly in our testing, and there's a Burst mode that captures multiple shots in succession.
You'll also find a camera shortcut button on the lock screen. Too bad you have to long-press the button and watch a circle progress bar fill up first. It took 3.6 seconds to launch into the camera app, versus 1.8 seconds for the iPhone 5.
Click to EnlargeA shot we took outdoors of a motorcycle exhibited good color accuracy, but it looked slightly fuzzy when we zoomed in on the Honda logo. A shot taken with the iPhone 5 of the same bike turned out clearer. A shot of a busy New York street appeared sharp, with the yellow of passing cabs standing out nicely against the grey background. Below is a brief video sample recorded with the back-facing camera.
Photo and Video Editing
Click to Enlarge We do give BlackBerry a lot of credit for letting you have more fun with your photos and videos after you've captured them. The Pictures app lets you apply all sorts of Instagram-style effects and filters, and you can preview them just by sliding the effect onto the photo.
On the video front, there's Story Maker, which lets you easily combine video with music and various templates. Not only is the app intuitive, it made an otherwise dreary snowy Monday morning look interesting.
Call Quality and Battery Life
The Phone app on the Z10 lets you create a few shortcuts to your favorite people for quick dialing. While in the middle of a call, you can enter a quick note, or, if the person is on BBM, switch to a video call. Over T-Mobile's network, call quality was mostly clear on our end of the line, though we noticed a slight bit of static. The other caller noticed the same issue.
Click to EnlargeThe Z10's battery life is on par with competing smartphones, but as with the iPhone 5, you'll struggle to get through a full day if you're a heavy user. On the Peacekeeper Battery Test, which loops through a series of animations online using the Z10's 4G HSPA+ 42 radio, the Z10 lasted 5 hours and 17 minutes. That's better than the AT&T version of the Z10 (4:10), though that phone ran its test over 4G LTE, which uses more battery power than HSPA+42. The Galaxy S III for T-Mobile got just 4:05 on the same test.
NFC Support and Accessories
Click to EnlargeThe BlackBerry Z10 features an NFC chip for sharing files with other BlackBerry 10 devices, as well as for supporting mobile payment services. We successfully transferred a URL and contact from a Droid RAZR M to the Z10 with a tap, but the BlackBerry wouldn't accept an image file because apparently it was too large.
BlackBerry will make several accessories available for the Z10, including a Bluetooth-powered BlackBerry Mini Stereo Speaker ($99) and a Battery Charger Bundle ($49) that can charge your phone and a spare battery at the same time.
Verdict
Click to EnlargeWith the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry 10, the company has created a platform that should not only keep many faithful from jumping ship, but also win some back. In fact, there are some features here that all sorts of smartphone buyers will appreciate, especially the superior keyboard and the BlackBerry Hub, which shows you your emails, BBM and social alerts all in one place. And while it's not totally unique, we appreciate the camera's Time Shift function.
Those focused on being more productive have some reasons to look BlackBerry's way, but the app selection needs improvement. Whether you should buy the Z10 for T-Mobile depends on how long it will take the carrier's LTE network to roll out in your area, and how much you want to spend each month. You can get unlimited talk, text and Web for $89.99 per month on T-Mobile versus $119 on AT&T (unlimited talk, text and 3GB of data). If you want a Z10 on which you don't have to watch the meter, this BlackBerry is a good value.
Source: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/smartphone/blackberry-z10-t-mobile.aspx
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