'Facebook Home' APK teardown still doesn't answer the important question: Why hardware?

Does HTC Sense and a new Facebook-centric launcher warrant its own hardware? We'll find out Thursday

With the unveiling of Facebook’s “new home on Android” just a couple of days away, the folks at Android Police have gotten hold of a system dump for the fabled HTC-built Facephone, to which they’ve given the APK teardown treatment. Details included in the ROM seem to confirm earlier rumors of a relatively pedestrian Android smartphone, powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip (MSM8960), 1GB of RAM and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, running on a 4.3-inch 720p screen. (In addition, the “HTC Myst” codename is seemingly confirmed, along with AT&T radio support.)

Also confirmed is the presence of Facebook Home, apparently a home screen launcher replacement based around the user’s own Facebook news feed. That's not a huge surprise -- Phil predicted as much in his Editor's column on Sunday and on Twitter a few days before that.

The new Facebook Home launcher apparently includes the permissions needed to access and import settings from the stock Android, TouchWiz and HTC Sense launchers, indicating it might see a separate release at some point. (Incidentally, although the phone appears to run HTC Sense 4+, the Sense launcher is nowhere to be found in this system dump.)

All of which leaves us with a few nagging questions. First, if Facebook Home won’t be exclusive to the “Myst,” then how is this different from the approach taken a couple of years ago in the ill-fated HTC ChaCha (Status) and Salsa. What’s the incentive to pick up a phone running last year’s hardware and last year’s software, for the sake of a custom launcher that’ll be available elsewhere anyway?

Wrote Phil:

All signs are pointing to some sort of new phone from HTC in conjunction with all this.

Why?

Why does a launcher or software layer or whatever the hell we're going to call it need new hardware? Is Facebook going to sell this hardware? Will it end up in Best Buy alongside the 5,000 other phones? On Amazon? Even if it ends up in carrier stores, that's no guarantee it'll sell enough to make it worth it.

There’s every chance Facebook will have something to pull out of its sleeve this Thursday. But until then we’re left wondering just what Facebook and HTC will be doing to differentiate this new handset.

Source: Android Police

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/1B-sjtE7iyM/story01.htm

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Harper youngest with 2 HRs in 1st game of season

Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run in the first inning of the opening day baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Washington, on Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run in the first inning of the opening day baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Washington, on Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) is congratulated by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) after a first inning solo homer during the opening day baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Washington, on Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper is the youngest major leaguer to homer twice in his team's opening game of a season, delivering solo shots in his first two at-bats Monday.

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year, who is 20, drove a pitch from Miami Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center in the first inning. Harper's second homer sailed a little to the right of that in the fourth inning.

That first homer made Harper the fourth-youngest player to go deep in his team's first game. Robin Yount was 19 when he homered for Milwaukee against Boston on April 8, 1975, according to STATS. Tony Conigliaro and Ken Griffey Jr. also were younger than Harper, who is 20 years, 167 days old.

Don Money was 21 years, 305 days old on April 8, 1969, when he hit two homers for the Phillies.

After Harper's second homer Monday, some fans at Nationals Park serenaded him with "M-V-P!" chants and he gave a curtain call, stepping out of the dugout and pumping his right fist.

It's the third multi-homer of Harper's career, second against the Marlins.

Harper was 19 when he was called up to the majors by the Nationals in April 2012, turning in one of the finest seasons by a teenager in baseball history. He finished with 22 homers, 59 RBIs and 98 runs scored.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-01-BBN-Nationals-Harper-Homers/id-03ae820cd15c4bc8a88871508cf50e88

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FE colleges urged to adopt new flag and anthem | FE Week

Colleges will be urged to help solve FE?s ?Cinderella complex? with a bold new marketing campaign that includes a sector flag.

Principals will also be asked to adopt a sector ?anthem? for use as their institutions? telephone hold music and for official functions.

The song, a ?re-imagining? of S Club 7 hit Reach, has already been recorded with vocals by former Four Poofs and a Piano singer Ian Parkin.

The campaign is aimed at attracting more students to FE and boosting the sector?s profile.

It is being spearheaded by the Association of Colleges and is due to be launched today.

Association chief executive Martin Doel (top left, displaying the new flag alongside FE Week editor Nick Linford) said: ?Just recently, speaking to the Education Select Committee, even Ofsted?s Sir Michael Wilshaw made reference to FE?s Cinderella complex ? how, despite the essential work it does, it can sometimes seem neglected compared to other parts of the education system.

?We?ve taken great strides in overcoming this and will continue to do so, but after hearing Sir Michael?s comments I thought maybe we should try a new and different tack.?

He added: ?The flag was the first element that came to mind because the sector doesn?t have a unified symbol.

?The thinking behind it was very much inspired by the popularity of the London Olympics design and linked to that was the anthem idea.?

London-based firm Pink Salmon Media donated their time to designing the flag and employed Ivor Novello award-winning composer Paul K Joyce to write the anthem, provisionally named Reach For The College.

I ended up finding a singing voice I never knew I had? Martin Doel, AoC

Mr Joyce said: ?I hope the anthem makes people smile but I also hope it encourages them to really think about further education as an option.?

His previous credits include Can We Fix It?, the theme tune for children?s TV show Bob the Builder, which sold more than a million records and was the biggest selling single of 2000, and The Snow Queen, a stage show and animated film based on the Hans Christian-Anderson story, featuring Juliet Stephenson and Patrick Stewart.

Shane Palmer, Pink Salmon managing director, said: ?It was an honour for us to be appointed this task and I think our team has produced a stunning image for the FE sector to be proud of.

?We have utilised the profile of a mountain to signify the uphill journey to improvement and placed a flag on top of the mountain to signify achievement.

?Having the flag within the flag is also redolent of the learning that takes place within the learning environment because lecturers are on their own journey of discovery, as we all are.?

She added: ?I?m especially pleased with Paul?s re-imagining of the S Club 7 classic Reach, which made it all the way to number two in 2000, for the sector anthem.?

Colleges will be able to register to use the flag and the anthem on a special website due to be launched next week.

Mr Doel said: ?The anthem has already been recorded and I?m sure it will surprise many with just how catchy and upbeat it is ? and that?s something that rings true for the sector and how positive we want to be about it.

?Recording it was also an amazing experience. I only went along to the studios to oversee production and I actually got asked to do some backing vocals ? I ended up finding a singing voice I never knew I had.?

Ian Parkin recording Reach For The College at a studio in?Soho, London

Words to Reach For The College

When your work leaves you feeling blue,

Or you?re leaving school, FE will be there for you,

We can help, free your hopes and dreams,

With an apprenticeship, or a traineeship

?

We?ll help you find employment,

Upskill, or learn a new trade,

Learn in college or workplace,

Skills for the economy so

?

Reach for the college

Climb the FE mountain higher

Reach for the college

Learn to your hearts desire

Reach for the college

And whichever future best suits you

We?ll help your dreams to all come true

?

Don?t fret if you?re over twenty three,

There?s a special loan, that can help you pay fees,

Earn and learn, with an apprenticeship,

Build up that cv, train for a vocation,

?

If you want to do cooking,

Hair styles, finance or building

Never ever forget that

You can learn this with FE so

?

Reach for the college

Climb the FE mountain higher

Reach for the college

Learn to your hearts desire

Reach for the college

And whichever future best suits you

We?ll help your dreams to all come true

?

Doesn?t matter if you?re young or old,

There?s more than one way you can reach your goal,

If work or uni?s what the future holds

There ain?t nothing you can?t be

With the whole world of FE

I said reach

?

Climb the FE mountain (reach)

Reach for new skills (reach)

Follow that pathway

And your dreams will all come true

?

Reach for the college

Climb the FE mountain higher

Reach for the college? [Chorus x2]

?

Doesn?t matter if you?re young or old,

There?s more than one way you can reach your goal,

If work or uni?s what the future holds

There ain?t nothing you can?t be

With the whole world of FE

I said reach

?

Climb the FE mountain (reach)

Reach for new skills (reach)

Follow that pathway

And your dreams will all come true

?

Reach for the college

Climb the FE mountain higher

Reach for the college? [Chorus x2]

?

?

?

Source: http://feweek.co.uk/2013/04/01/fe-colleges-urged-to-adopt-new-flag-and-anthem/

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Leaked BlackBerry Roadmap - Business Insider

Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Research in Motion CEO Thorsten Heins

A leaked BlackBerry roadmap, first uncovered by TechnoBuffalo, suggests the Canadian company is gearing up to launch a new tablet, and two "phablet" devices within the next year.?

According to the roadmap, BlackBerry will release a tablet, dubbed the B10, around Q3 of this year. Before Q1 2014, it looks like BlackBerry will introduce a phablet device. And by Q2 2014, we may see a new tablet-like device with a QWERTY keyboard.

The roadmap also depicts the already-released BlackBerry Z10, and the forthcoming Q10 with a QWERTY keyboard ? both devices sport the new BlackBerry 10 operating system.?

BlackBerry made its first attempt at a tablet device with the launch of the 7-inch PlayBook tablet in 2011. Despite it being one of the most-hyped consumer gadgets at the time, it ended up not doing well, as it lacked a lot of basic functions like email and calendar when it first shipped. BlackBerry eventually added that functionality, but by then, it was too late.?

Head on over to TechnoBuffalo to take a look at the leaked roadmap.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/leaked-blackberry-roadmap-2013-3

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Graham: 'Gang of 8' bill will pass (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/295929703?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Internet Riches: The Simple Money-Making Secrets of Online ...

Review In this strategy-packed guide, top e-business consultant Scott Fox reveals the powerful but simple methods for strik?ing it rich on the Net. Exclusive interviews with dozens of ?mom and pop? entrepreneurs prove how easy it is to get started and build a million-dollar enterprise. Readers get:

An inspiring guide to e-business opportunities, including ?instant e-businesses? that require no start-up capital or technical training * proven strategies for making money from home and turning hobbies into businesses * low cost web marketing and product tips * legal and financial advice * detailed vendor recommendations * years of expertise and experience in one easy-to-use book Internet Riches also offers an innovative action plan for brain?storming new business ideas, and fun exercises to help readers determine the best moves for their particular situa?tions. Filled with practical pointers and motivational inter?views, it?s the most powerful guide ever to finding financial freedom online!

Q&A with Scott Fox, author of Internet Riches

A 2007 survey showed that nearly half of American workers aren?t satisfied with their jobs. What do you feel is holding people back from going into business for themselves?

People give their hesitation lots of names but it basically boils down to fear. I wrote Internet Riches precisely to help people overcome these fears. Starting an e-business today is much easier, much cheaper, and requires much less technology expertise than most people realize.

Unfortunately fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear that the learning curve is too steep, fear that there will not be a payoff for their work, fear that they cannot afford to do it, fear that they won?t be able to live up to their own expectations or the needs of the business combine to keep many people from even trying. It?s sad but true that in an effort to be ?rational?, these fears often combine to create a self-image where a person can?t imagine themselves building a successful e-business.

The problem is that this fear is based on an outdated 20th century understanding of the risks required to start your own business. As thousands of my readers have found, if you update your assumptions to reflect the realities of how easy it is to start your own business in the Internet Age, the conclusions change dramatically and in your favor.

The facts are plain: online markets are continuing to grow explosively, the costs of the equipment and infrastructure have dropped dramatically, the flexibility of working from home on a part-time basis means that people don?t have to quit their full-time jobs to pursue online success, and the great upside available to people who own their own small businesses have all combined to completely change the risk/reward equation.

Based on your research and experience, what areas have the most potential for growth in the coming years?

I?d put these opportunities in 3 buckets: The first bucket is filled with the obvious growth opportunities such as international markets and the mobile web (By this I mean the evolution of e-commerce into mobile commerce on your handheld device). Continuing explosive growth in these markets offers major profit opportunities.

The second bucket is the mining of niche markets. Because the Internet lets people communicate more easily than was possible in the 20th century, we are seeing the rapid emergence of millions of micro communities based on niche interests. This means that almost any hobby or issue can be used as the basis for a community of like-minded individuals. And anywhere there is a community, there is a market for goods and services which solve the problems faced by that community. The Internet allows entrepreneurs greater ability to service these niche markets cost-effectively than ever was possible before the Internet.

The third area of opportunity is the hardest to quantify but the most explosive: This is where entrepreneurs find new and unexpected ways to exploit the efficiencies of the Web to create new products, services, and markets. When one of these ideas finds particular success, it can spread like wildfire across the web and create very profitable new businesses very quickly. The big success stories like Facebook are very well covered by the media but there are thousands of smaller, millionaire-making e-businesses emerging all the time.

The benefits of starting a niche company are many; work from home, mesh passions with profits, be your own boss, etc. However, what potential pitfalls do niche market businesses need to look out for?

Getting ahead of yourself is probably the most common trap that I see for entrepreneurs. Especially because so many ?get rich quick? gurus promise unrealistic returns, entrepreneurs can get hurt by diving too deeply, too quickly into their new passion. So, although one of the best parts of starting a business is turning your own enthusiasm into a revenue generator, this enthusiasm can also blind you to possible flaws in your approach.

Three ways to reduce these risks are:

1. Do your research. This means thoroughly investigating the competition (both online and off), pricing the goods and services needed for operations, and setting a realistic budget up-front for both your money and your time.
2. Take advantage of the new e-business paradigm by keeping your costs down, especially at first. Try a few versions of your business model to learn what works the best. Wait until you have found the most profitable approaches before signing any long term contracts or investing heavily in a new venture. In other words, don?t quit your day job until you have evidence that your new web site can lead to the pay-off you?re targeting.
3. Manage your time, relationships, and expectations with extra care during the start-up period. It can be hard on your family and relationships if you are suddenly working two jobs at once. Just as with your financial budget, you should develop a time line for your projects. Discuss this plan, and its associated trade-offs, with your family to get them on board, too.
These steps can help you keep your enthusiasm from overwhelming your good business sense. They can also help preserve your capital until it can be used most effectively.

You state that venture capital is no longer needed for today?s internet start-up. Is this a product of cheaper technology, gun-shy investors, or both?

Venture capital can still be appropriate for capital-intensive ventures or to accelerate an already growing business. But for the niche entrepreneurs reading Internet Riches, it?s rarely needed because all the competition among technology service providers has so significantly lowered the costs and risks of starting an online business.

This trend is driven by competition in the technology sector, not just on the prices of hardware but also on the costs and ease of use of software, plus the economies of scale enabled by the Internet?s penetration into daily life and business operations worldwide.

For example, technologies that 10 years ago required tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and an IT engineering team on staff are now available to small businesses in easier to use web-based versions for a small monthly fee. Server maintenance, software upgrades, and tech support are included. This used to be called Application Service Providers (ASPs) but the latest buzzword is SaaS (Software as a Service). Companies can also source goods with increasing efficiency, pricing transparency helps lower prices, and there are more people online shopping than ever before. These trends combine to lower costs, speed up time to market and increase the profit potential of any new e-business venture.

Cheaper, more efficient and easier-to-use technology has also greatly reduced the costs of infrastructure for setting up a new e-business. Now entrepreneurs can work from home, in their spare time, and not have to invest in office space, parking, furniture, insurance, signage, etc. etc. Most of those ?real world? costs that were required to start a business in the 20th century have been eliminated for today?s Internet entrepreneurs.

Technology advancements have also revolutionized advertising. Services like Google?s Adsense/Adwords and Yahoo?s Search Marketing Solutions allow any business to advertise cost-effectively to consumers worldwide from a desktop PC. At the same time, those services can make money for entrepreneurs because they will place paid advertising on even the smallest, newest of web sites for no up-front cost. This gives any niche entrepreneur access to a potential advertising revenue stream previously only available to companies that owned newspapers, TV stations or radio programs.

If a business is less expensive to run, its products are cheaper to deliver and faster to market, and its advertising budget is more cost-effective, then it will also need less capital to get started. The combination of all these increased efficiencies and lower costs means a LOT less risk for entrepreneurs, and therefore less need for venture capital to sustain the business until revenues get started. Entrepreneurs can instead focus on growing their businesses instead of on technology support or on raising money that they may not need. Sorry, venture capitalists!

How important is search engine optimization (SEO) to a budding business?

SEO is a key strategy for marketing success, both for online and ?real world? businesses.

In my seminars, I often say ?Search engines are the Yellow Pages of the 21st century.? You wouldn?t traditionally have started a business without listing your phone number in the phone book would you?

Online is increasingly where the consumers are, so your business needs to be there as highly ranked as possible to attract as much traffic as possible. Today you can pay for prominent listings, just like in the days of the Yellow Pages? dominance. But you can also get good search engine display ?organically? for free. This means carefully crafting your web pages? appearance, copy, and keywords to attract a high ranking from Google and Yahoo.

Often overlooked is the increasing importance of search engines for ?real world? businesses, too. If you have a real world business based on local marketing (like a chiropractor or dry cleaner) you may not need a constantly updated e-commerce web site. But you should put up a basic ?brochure? web site that is optimized for search engines. As everyone spends more time connected to the Web, you?ll want to be easily discoverable by your local customers online, too.

Internet Riches has three chapters about online marketing tactics for small business. These ?No Budget Online Marketing Secrets,? ?Small Budget Online Marketing Secrets,? and ?Real Budget Online Marketing Secrets? chapters discuss ?pull? marketing tactics like free organic search engine optimization, as well as ?push? marketing techniques like keyword advertising and email newsletter publishing that can help any small business grow its online profitability.

Source: http://newsp.com/internet-marketing-news/internet-riches-the-simple-money-making-secrets-of-online-millionaires

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Exxon has yet to excavate area of ruptured Arkansas oil pipeline

LAHORE, March 31 (Reuters) - Pakistan have dropped senior batsman Younus Khan from the list of 30 probable players announced for this year's ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. Younus, 35, was the only surprise omission and the decision probably signals the end of his one-day international career which has spanned 253 matches. The former captain struggled in the recent one-day series in South Africa and has been out of form in this format of the game since last year. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exxon-yet-excavate-area-ruptured-arkansas-oil-pipeline-185433705--finance.html

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