Wednesday

Encrypted passwords among stolen in 2012 breach, Dropbox says


Security breaches are nothing new, but it has been growing in frequency and boldness as of late. Back in 2012 Dropbox was targeted by an attack, but it is only now that the company revealed most of the stolen credentials are still floating around in the dark web.

The 2012 breach compromised more than 60 million accounts and it all became possible because hackers managed to locate a personal password that was reused by an employee on the corporate account. Apart from the usual stored data, TechCrunch reports that user passwords were also acquired in the theft.


Fortunately, Dropbox passwords are encrypted and secured with salt–these are random data strings that are added to strengthen encryption. Despite the data being made available online, it would seem that the encryption has not been cracked yet.

The company has also taken measures to ensure that employees do not reuse passwords by having password management service 1Password available for their employees. They are also currently requiring a two-factor authentication for all internal systems.

Because online cloud storage services play host to all kinds of data, they become frequent targets for hackers. However, since 2012 the Dropbox has not reported any major security compromises. This bodes well for the company and to its millions of users, who have grown to 500 million.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Foul-mouthed Tomic in US Open fan controversy


Fiery Australian star Bernard Tomic was at the centre of a foul-mouthed US Open controversy on Tuesday when he became embroiled in a lewd exchange with a heckler.

The 23-year-old slumped to a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/0) loss to Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia on the old Grandstand court.

But before he lost the first round match, he also spectacularly misplaced his composure, angrily hitting back at a spectator he accused of deliberately trying to get under his skin.

Courtside microphones picked up Tomic telling the fan: “I will put my balls in your mouth” followed moments later by “I will give you some money to make you feel good”.

Tomic apologized for the incident, suggesting his Croatian roots may have been a factor in the clash against his Bosnian opponent.

“I apologized for what I said. I think when the guy left after the first set, the crowd got happy because he was a bit annoying,” said Tomic who was unable to recall what was said to him.

“He was just sort of saying negative stuff. I didn’t know who it was because I was just focusing on the court.

“It was tough to figure out in the background. It’s passed and I don’t really care who this guy is. He definitely baited me.

“I had problems on the other end, as well, with a few people in the corner. They were saying some negative stuff to me, in my language of Serbian-Croatian. The microphones didn’t pick that up. But I obviously caught the blame for that.”

Tuesday’s controversy was the latest to hit Tomic.

At Wimbledon, he was forced to apologize for using the word “retard” in a press conference.

That outburst came after he had been widely condemned for his boorish behavior in Madrid when he turned his racquet the wrong way to face a match point against Fabio Fognini.

Tomic later told reporters: “I don’t care about that match point. Would you care if you were 23 and worth over $10 million?”

In July last year, he was arrested in Miami after a wild party in a hotel penthouse suite.

He was then dropped from the Australian Davis Cup team and subsequently opted out of the Rio Olympics.

Tomic, seeded 17 for the tournament, committed 78 unforced errors in his tame defeat to Dzumhur who goes on to face either Illya Marchenko of Ukraine or Croatia’s Ivan Dodig.

Dzhumur, who lost to Tomic in New York at the same stage last year, said he didn’t hear what was said to the Australian.

“Everyone has their own fans and some can go over the limit,” said the Bosnian.

“I have had these kind of problems in the past. But if you listen to the fans too much, it’s not good for you.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Offline: Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg chats with Pope Francis


The Pope didn’t need to log in to his Facebook account.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, together with his wife, Priscilla Chan, met with Pope Francis in his home in Vatican City.

“It was a meeting we’ll never forget. You can feel his warmth and kindness, and how deeply he cares about helping people,” Zuckerberg told his followers on Facebook.

“We told him how much we admire his message of mercy and tenderness, and how he’s found new ways to communicate with people of every faith around the world,” he said.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke says one topic of discussion at Monday’s meeting was “how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need.”

Francis received a drone model from the “honored” couple, and was told of the couple’s works at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative which was launched in December 2015.

Aquila, a solar-powered aircraft that will beam internet connectivity to places with no internet connection, is part of Facebook’s efforts to bridge the digital divide.

“We also discussed the importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access,” he said.

The social networking giant runs Free Basics, a platform for delivering basic information and services to developing economies like the Philippines.

The meeting with the pontiff was part of Zuckerberg and Chan’s tour of the quake-struck Italy.

The atmosphere appeared informal, with the chat taking place in the Santa Marta residence, the guest house in Vatican City where the Pope lives.

Zuckerberg ditched his regular gray shirt and suited up for the occasion.

The couple also met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and appeared in a Q&A session in Rome, which was streamed on Facebook Live. With a report from the Associated Press

source: technology.inquirer.net

Messi Argentina return in doubt, Aguero out injured


Lionel Messi’s return to international duty with Argentina could be delayed by a groin injury his club side Barcelona stated on Monday.

Messi was set to return for the two-time world champions’ World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela after reversing his shock decision to retire from international football in June.

“The player will travel to Argentina to join his national team and the development of the pain (he is suffering) will determine his availability for the scheduled matches,” Barca said in a statement.

Argentina have already suffered a double injury blow as Sergio Aguero and Javier Pastore pulled out of the squad on Monday.

Aguero injured himself in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory against West Ham at the weekend. He has pulled a muscle in his left calf, according to the Argentine federation’s medical staff.

Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking midfielder Pastore also misses out due to a torn right calf muscle.

Messi had announced his international retirement after Argentina lost in the Copa America Centenario final against Chile on penalties, Messi crucially missing his penalty in the shoot out.

It was the third time Messi’s Argentina had lost a major final in three years after a 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Germany in 2014 and another penalty shootout reverse to Chile in the 2015 Copa America.

The five-time World Player of the Year reversed his decision three weeks ago after new Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza payed him a visit in Spain to change his mind.

Argentina host Uruguay in Mendoza on Thursday before travelling to face Venezuela in a second World Cup qualifier on September 6.

Argentina sit third out of 10 teams in South American qualifying after six of 18 rounds of matches. The top four automatically qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Monday

Kanye West rambles onstage at MTV VMAs, Calvin Harris wins


NEW YORK, United States—In typical and true Kanye West fashion, the rapper ranted at the MTV Video Music Awards, touching on subjects from music to his beef with Taylor Swift to violence in his hometown Chicago.

Before he debuted his music video for “Fade” on Sunday, West rambled onstage as the audience at Madison Square Garden in New York City cheered him on.

“Now later tonight ‘Famous’ might lose to Beyonce but I can’t be mad, I’m always wishing for Beyonce to win,” said West, who will compete with Beyonce for video of the year, and also referring to the 2009 VMAs when he jumped onstage, stole Swift’s microphone and said Beyonce should have won over the then-country singer.

He talked about his “Famous” video, which features what appears to be naked images of West, Swift, Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump and more. He even pointed to former girlfriend Amber Rose, who was in the audience and is also in the video.

“It was an expression of our now, our fame right now, us on the inside of the TV, you know, the audacity to put Anna Wintour right next to Donald Trump,” he said.

“I put Ray J in it bro,” he said, referring to Kardashian’s ex with whom she did a sex tape.

“But if you think about last week it was 22 people murdered in Chicago,” he continued. “You know, people come up to me like, ‘Man, that’s right! Take, tell Taylor this. Bro, like I love all y’all.”

“That’s why I called her,” he said with a laugh.

West could have another memorable moment Sunday if he wins video of the year later in the show. Aside from Beyonce’s “Formation,” his competition includes Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and Adele’s “Hello.”

But Beyonce could own the night, too, when she performs. The top nominee with 11 was angel-winged and green-feathered with daughter Blue Ivy in tow, she arrived on the white carpet along with Sybrina Fulton, Lezley McSpadden and Gwen Carr, the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others. They appeared in videos for Beyonce’s “Lemonade” visual album and also make up the Mothers of the Movement, women of color who lost children to violence.

Rihanna kicked off the show, performing a medley of her hit songs in a bright pink ensemble that matched her background dancers and the stage. She sang songs like “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been”—sometimes letting the backing track do most of the work. She sang “Work” and other songs during a second performance, and will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.

Ariana Grande brought spin class to the VMA stage when she sang the reggae-tinged “Side to Side” with Nick Minaj. Grande cycled while singing and was backed by female dancers imitating her. Male dancers lifted dumbbells and did other exercises, and at the end of their performance, Grande and Minaj put their male dancers’ faces in front their crotches.

Michael Phelps said he’s been inspired by hip-hop music before introducing Future, who Phelps said he listened to before swimming. The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit “(Expletive) Up Some Commas.”

Drake won the first award for the night—best hip hop video for “Hotline Bling.” Puff Daddy, who presented the award, said Drake was stuck in traffic. Calvin Harris won best male video—beating West’s “Famous”—for “This is What You Came For,” which featured Rihanna and was co-written with former girlfriend Swift. Harris accepted the award in a video message.

Britney Spears, Nick Jonas and The Chainsmokers are set to perform. Nominees for best female video include Beyonce, Adele, Rihanna, Sia and Grande.

Coldplay, Desiigner, Fergie and Alessia Cara earned multiple nominations, while David Bowie—who died from cancer earlier this year—is nominated for best direction, cinematography, art direction and editing for “Lazarus.” The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon’s Jan. 10 death.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Sunday

Quiet battle for the sound of silence in UK shops


LONDON, United Kingdom — Nigel Rodgers is in hell. A campaigner against piped music for decades, he stands in a shoe shop on London’s Oxford Street which is blaring out loud pop music, wincing visibly.

“It’s just as bad as passive smoking,” said the 63-year-old, sporting a blue blazer with a red handkerchief in the top pocket and eagerly eyeing the exit.

“It really is enough to drive most people bonkers if they have got any sensitivity at all.”

Rodgers has campaigned against the canned music which is common in British shops and other public spaces for 24 years but his group Pipedown recently scored its biggest success yet.

One of the country’s top department stores, Marks and Spencer, said it would stop playing music after a letter writing campaign by hundreds of Pipedown’s 2,000 members.

Now the group hopes to persuade other major retailers to follow suit as sister organisations take off around the world, including in Germany and the United States.

Rodgers is far more comfortable sipping a cup of tea in the relative calm of the Marks and Spencer cafe a few doors down on London’s busiest shopping street.

Masking other noise?

Here, he gently explained how he believes the mechanization of society has turned up the volume on the modern world, causing health problems like hearing damage and raised blood pressure.

“We live in a continuously noisy environment,” he said. “We’re being artificially stimulated all the time in a way we’re not designed to.”

Rodgers, who also writes books on art history and philosophy, founded Pipedown aged 38 after becoming frustrated by piped music in a restaurant where he was dining with a girlfriend.

The group kept growing and, as well as letter writing campaigns, many supporters now go shopping armed with cards complaining — politely of course — about piped music which they hand to shop workers.

“It’s not just a matter of one or two neurotics — it’s a much bigger problem,” Rodgers said.

“Attitudes can change very fast — I’m hoping the M and S decision may mark a tipping point,” he added, blinking slightly as plates clattered in the background.

By contrast, industry figures argue piped music can make shops a more, not less, pleasant environment to be in.

Adrian England of PEL Services, which provides music for a string of big name British retailers, said silence makes some people uncomfortable.

“If there’s no music, you’ll hear arguments, noisy children — all sorts of noise which is present but you don’t hear because music masks it,” he told AFP.

England said shops like to play a mix of two or three musical genres to appeal to their customers, varying the tempo throughout the day — mellow in the mornings, energetic in the evenings.

The biggest sign of success can be if shoppers do not even realize the music is there, he said.

“There certainly is a paradox. If you’re doing it well then the customers won’t notice — they won’t compliment you, they just won’t complain,” England added.

‘Helps me buy quicker’

Professor Adrian North of Australia’s Curtin University researches the impact of music on consumer behavior and believes few businesses are using it properly to communicate with customers.

Studies he has worked on suggest that playing the “right” kind of music in commercial environments could boost sales by as much as 20 percent.

The wrong music “would usually have effects that were worse than playing no music at all.”

Back on Oxford Street, thronged with tourists visiting London over the summer holiday period, shoppers were split on whether they loved or loathed loud music in shops.

“It takes a lot more energy walking into this kind of store — I tend to avoid them,” said Martin Persson, a 34-year-old visiting from Sweden, outside the shoe shop which Rodgers found so noisy.

But Zyad al-Shoeeb, a 22-year-old from Saudi Arabia, loved what for him was the novelty of thumping beats as he picked out his latest designer footwear.

“The music fits with the shoes — it helps me buy quicker,” he added./rga

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Saturday

Arsenal close to signing defender, striker


LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is close to ending his search for a central defender and striker, saying Friday the club is working on deals to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia and Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna.

Wenger said he is “99 percent confident” of completing the signings before Europe’s summer transfer window shuts late Wednesday.

Asked if bringing in Mustafi and Perez would conclude Arsenal’s business in the transfer window, Wenger said: “We already have a big squad … and we can’t have any more players.”

While the Manchester clubs have spent more than $400 million in the window, it’s been another underwhelming few months for Arsenal, whose only major signing was Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka.

“It was a strange transfer market — I expected it to be easier than ever but it was more difficult than ever,” Wenger said. “Not a lot has happened.

“It looks like when you meet other clubs and you have an English passport, you hit these prices which are very difficult to understand compared to the quality of the players.”

Mustafi is a 24-year-old Germany center back and his arrival would solve an injury crisis, with Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker currently sidelined with long-term problems.

Perez, 27, is a Spanish striker who scored 17 goals for Deportivo last season — the only time he has scored more than 10 goals in a single season. He likely will be a back-up to Olivier Giroud up front, with Wenger having failed with bids for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pokemon doughnuts, exercise classes tap game’s popularity


NEW YORK — Weeks into the “Pokemon Go” craze, demand remains strong for “Poke Ball”-shaped treats made by a high-end doughnut company, one of many businesses and organizations coming up with creative ways to lure players in their search for the elusive “pocket monsters.”

Even on sweltering summer days, the popular smartphone game has gotten throngs of players out of their homes to real-world locations designated as “PokeStops” and “Gyms.” Theme parks, bars and even a county animal shelter are among those trying to capitalize on that surge in foot traffic.

In New York, Doughnut Plant created an edible version of the Poke Ball — dubbing it the Pokeseed — after a Pokemon-obsessed employee realized that all four of the company’s shops are either PokeStops or very close to one, owner Mark Isreal said. And one location is an in-game Gym, making it a gathering place to both consume and virtually burn off calories.

The team at Doughnut Plant designed the fruity treat in less than a day, using cranberry-raspberry and white chocolate icings to recreate the red-and-white Poke Balls, the objects used in the game to capture monsters. The Pokeseed is stuffed with a peach-strawberry cream filling, an imagining of Pokemon’s mythical pecha berry.

Pictures went out on social media the next morning, “and before they were delivered, people were already coming to the stores,” Isreal said.

Doughnut Plant has already sold thousands of Pokeseeds, and customers frequently post pictures of them on Instagram. They’re still selling strong, so Doughnut Plant has no plan to take them off the menu any time soon.

Meanwhile, a trendy food court near New York’s Penn Station put up a sign urging passersby to catch a Pokemon instead of a train, while the city’s parks department created “PokeFit” classes for kids to play while exercising.

Earlier, the Busch Gardens theme park in Florida hosted a Pokemon “lure-a-thon,” with some PokeStops accessible only by season-pass members for one hour. The Pawtucket Red Sox baseball team in Rhode Island invited fans onto the field to chase the virtual monsters.

Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, even tried to lure fugitives by claiming to have detected a rare Charizard in the booking area. A Facebook post invited those on a list of “lucky ones” to capture the monster — the list happens to be filled with the city’s most wanted.

Andy Wong of Kurt Salmon Digital, which helps retailers connect digitally with consumers, said the game has worked well for small businesses, though there hasn’t been a good way for larger companies with hundreds of stores to automate the “lures” they buy to attract digital monsters — and with them, players and potential customers.

And even for small businesses, he said, the ability to draw customers may have diminished as the game loses its novelty.

But those that caught the bug early saw tangible benefits.

The Phoenix Zoo was a hotbed of Pokemon activity right after the game’s release last month, even when temperatures climbed as high as 112 degrees. It helped that a Pokemon Gym was housed in the zoo’s conveniently air conditioned orangutan house.

After noticing that some visitors were on the hunt for more than just traditional zoo creatures, the zoo opened an hour early at 6 a.m. for a week during what’s usually a slow time of year. The zoo also converted its train into a “PokeShuttle” that pointed out PokeStops along with its animal exhibits. On the first day of the promotion, attendance more than doubled from a week earlier, and sign-ups for new memberships spiked, said zoo spokeswoman Kerri Baumann.

“It has snowballed in the most exciting and fun way,” she said.

Given the popularity, zoo officials are considering having additional Pokemon-themed activities, she said.

Other furry creatures have benefited, too. The Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, said its Pokemon-themed social media posts prompted about 25 applications for volunteer dog walkers, about four times what it usually gets.

“If people are getting out and walking, why not come out here and walk the dogs and catch some Pokemon?” said Jennifer Federico, Wake County’s animal services director. “It’s fun and it gets people out.”

The shelter also named dogs and cats after Pokemon characters in hopes of giving animals that may get overlooked a second chance at adoption, she said.

Bars and restaurants are getting in on the action as well, both through numerous Pokemon-themed bar crawls around the country and by taking advantage of nearby stops and gyms on their own.

Because street art accounts for a substantial number of PokeStops, especially in big cities, the Tyron Public House bar and restaurant in New York has seen a slight bump in business, thanks to a large mural outside. Some patrons have paid for lures to attract more Pokemon; others return the favor by buying them drinks.

“It’s kind of fun to see people playing and say, ‘Here you go. Enjoy,'” Tyron manager Errol Flynn said. “For us, it’s not so much about organized events as much as it is about keeping up with social and what’s going on in the neighborhood.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Friday

Apple developing Snapchat-style app


As part of Apple’s strategy to target younger users, the company is developing its own video-sharing app similar to Snapchat and Instagram.

According to a report on 9to5Mac, the company was motivated by the level of engagement that social apps generated on the iPhone. Users averaged 50 minutes a day on Facebook and 30 minutes on Snapchat. The focus for Apple’s app will be on short, easily created videos.

Apple is highly experienced when it comes to video editing and will be employing the same development team behind Final Cut Pro. They will apparently also hire the former president of a video production company to lead the new project.

The company has not been idle when it comes to developing apps with “multiple social-related features.” It has been busy testing out different software that have yet to be released. With the introduction of third-party animated sticker packs for the iMessage in iOS 10, users may soon see more of social apps developed by Apple.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Thursday

WhatsApp is going to share your phone number with Facebook


SAN FRANCISCO — Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook, its parent company. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads on Facebook — although not on the messaging service itself.

The move is a subtle but significant shift for WhatsApp, which has long promised to safeguard the privacy of more than 1 billion users around the world. WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their information with Facebook, although they must take the extra step of unchecking a box to do so. It also says Facebook won’t post phone numbers online or give them out to anyone.

But the giant social network has been looking for ways to make money from WhatsApp since it bought the service two years ago, in an eye-popping deal ultimately worth $21.8 billion. At the same time, Facebook has pledged not to interfere with a longstanding promise by WhatsApp’s co-founders to respect users’ privacy and keep ads off its messaging platform.

WhatsApp on Thursday offered a glimpse of its plans for turning on the money spigot, releasing new documents that describe the company’s privacy policy and the terms of service that users must agree to follow. The documents are the first revision of those policies since 2012, before Facebook acquired WhatsApp.

One change follows through on previous hints by WhatsApp executives, who have said they’re exploring ways for businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. That could include using WhatsApp to provide receipts, confirm a reservation or update the status of a delivery.

Companies could also send marketing offers or messages about sales to individual customers, according to the new documents, which note that users will be able to control or block such messages. WhatsApp says it will continue to bar traditional display ads from its service.

“We do not want you to have a spammy experience,” the company tells users in a summary of the new policies.

Another change is potentially more controversial: WhatsApp says it will begin “coordinating” accounts with Facebook by sharing WhatsApp users’ mobile phone numbers and device information, such as the type of operating system and other smartphone characteristics. The company says Facebook will employ the phone number internally to better identify WhatsApp users on Facebook, so it can recommend friends or show targeted advertising.

The ads would come through a Facebook program called “Custom Audiences,” which lets a business upload lists of customers and phone numbers or other contact information the business has collected from warranty cards or other sources. Facebook matches the list to users with the same information and shows them ads. Facebook says it doesn’t give out users’ information to advertisers.

WhatsApp phone numbers are valuable to Facebook. While the social network already has many phone numbers, it doesn’t require users to provide them, and doesn’t always have the most current number for everyone on Facebook. But anyone on WhatsApp must provide a current phone number because that’s how WhatsApp knows where to deliver messages.

The coordination of accounts may draw fire from privacy advocates. WhatsApp has long promised not to employ user data for advertising. Its acquisition by Facebook two years ago sparked complaints from activists who worried the new owner would start mining WhatsApp accounts. Though both companies pledged WhatsApp would operate separately from its parent, the Federal Trade Commission warned them publicly, in a 2014 letter, against changing how they employ WhatsApp user data without users’ consent.

WhatsApp says current users have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms or stop using the service. Once they accept, they have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook.

Privacy groups have praised WhatsApp for building powerful encryption into its services, making it impossible for the company or anyone else to read users’ messages. WhatsApp promises that encryption will remain, so neither WhatsApp nor Facebook would be able to use message content for advertising purposes. TVJ

source: technology.inquirer.net

Britney Spears biopic coming to TV


NEW YORK—The turbulent life of Britney Spears—who went from teenage pop idol to tabloid fodder—is becoming a television biopic.

Lifetime, a US network geared toward women, said Wednesday it had given the green light to a two-hour film on the singer’s life, tentatively called “Britney,” to air next year.

Starring as Spears, one of the most recognizable musicians of her generation, will be Natasha Bassett, a rising actress from Australia, a Lifetime representative said.

Bassett, who started her own career as a child, appeared as a 1950s starlet in the latest film by the Coen Brothers, “Hail, Caesar!”

Lifetime said “Britney” will trace the 34-year-old Spears from her childhood in Louisiana, where her talent was recognized early on.

Spears became one of the most successful stars of the 1990s, topping the charts with songs that combined a squeaky-clean pop sound and undertones of teenage sexuality.

But her career quickly descended amid a messy personal life that included a highly public breakup with fellow star Justin Timberlake, two marriages in 2005 alone, and being caught on camera nearly dropping one of her two children from her lap while driving.

Spears has found more stability since starting a residency show in Las Vegas in late 2013.


She is releasing her ninth album, “Glory,” on Friday and two days later is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Wednesday

NFC Ring to be made available for Visa-based payments


Olympic athletes in Rio enjoyed a particularly high-tech way of paying for things through an NFC Ring, which is now being made available to regular folks who want to pay with their Visa in true futuristic style.

Engadget reports that the NFC Ring can be tapped at store terminals when conducting Visa-based transactions. It is currently up for pre-order through this link. It will cost around $53 (£39.99) and can be customized to fit different finger sizes. Shipments are expected to roll out by December.

Some of the establishments that currently support the NFC Ring are Starbucks, McDonald’s, Subway and H&M.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Jennifer Lawrence tops list of best paid actresses


LOS ANGELES, United States — Oscar-winning Jennifer Lawrence was named the world’s highest-paid actress for the second year running on Tuesday, with estimated pre-tax earnings of $46 million.

The 26-year-old American raked in the lion’s share from a profit share in the final “Hunger Games” movie, which grossed $650 million, Forbes magazine said.

An upfront fee for the forthcoming space thriller “Passengers” also helped the 26-year-old push her pay day above second-ranked Melissa McCarthy, who pocketed $33 million.

The world’s 10 highest-paid actresses made a combined $205 million in the 12 months from June 1, 2015 before fees and taxes, said Forbes.

But the actors’ list due to be published on Thursday is expected to show once again men banking far more than their female counterparts.

The issue of pay disparity grabbed headlines in 2014 after a leak of stolen emails from Sony Pictures Entertainment showed that Lawrence was paid less than her male co-stars in the hit movie “American Hustle.”

Patricia Arquette also railed against the industry’s gender-based wage gap during her acceptance speech after winning a statuette at last year’s Academy Awards.

Lawrence, who took the best actress Oscar for 2012 comedy-drama “Silver Linings Playbook,” is down from $52 million in last year’s list, although she is still considered Hollywood’s hottest property by some distance.

McCarthy, 45, earned $10 million more than the 2015 estimate thanks to a reported eight-figure payday for “Ghostbusters.”

Perennial A-list darling Scarlett Johansson came in third with $25 million, while Jennifer Aniston, who makes most of her cash through endorsements, bagged $21 million.

Fan Bingbing of China, a relative unknown in Hollywood, rounded out the top five, making the list for the second consecutive year with $17 million.

India’s Deepika Padukone — who made $10 million — was the only other actress from outside Hollywood to feature in the rankings.

The 30-year-old, who came 10th, earns far less than her Tinseltown counterparts for her Bollywood roles, but compensates with more than a dozen lucrative endorsements, Forbes said.

Four women, up from three in 2015, banked more than $20 million compared with 18 of the world’s leading men, Forbes said.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Filipinos in Regina, Canada walk to raise funds for the poor


REGINA, Saskatchewan — Some 100 people from the Filipino communitу here walked around Wascana Park August 14 to raise moneу for underprivileged children in Third World countries.

It’s part of an annual event called Answering the Crу of the Poor (ANCOP) by the ANCOP Couples for Christ Foundation.

Similar walks were being held across Canada and many other countries. The funds raised help poor people in many parts of the world, according to organizers.
“Especiallу in the Third World countries that need the support, especiallу for education,” Ravasco, a walk organizer, said. “A lot of street children who can’t go to school because theу don’t have the means. So this is our waу of helping them.”

She said the fundraiser has helped educate manу children over the уears.

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Balor vacates Universal title due to shoulder injury


The Demon King’s reign didn’t last very long.

Finn Balor was forced to vacate his newly won WWE Universal Championship on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

“Last night, I achieved the impossible and I became the WWE Universal Champion. But there was a sacrifice and I have to relinquish this title,” the Irish said on Raw in Brooklyn.

Balor, though, said that reclaiming the title will be his main target when he returns.

“Rest assured that when I am healthy and when I am fit and when I am ready, I will be back and this title is the first thing I am coming for,” he said.

Balor is initially part of the roster for the upcoming WWE Live Manila on September 9.

Ringside physician Dr. Chris Robinson also shed light on the topic, saying that Balor injured his shoulder after taking a powerbomb to the barricade in his match against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam on Sunday.

“He hit the wall during the match, dislocated his shoulder and was able to put it back in himself in a split second,” he said.

Balor is expected to go to under the knife, which would leave him with a recovery time from four to six months.

Meanwhile, Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon and general manager Mick Foley announced a series of bouts to determine the participants for next week’s fatal-4-way match for the vacated WWE Universal Championship in Houston.

Rollins beat an injured Sami Zayn with a Pedigree, while Kevin Owens also advanced after nailing Neville with a Torture Rack neckbreaker.

Big Cass also progressed after United States Champion Rusev got a boot and opted to be counted out, while Roman Reigns completed the field after beating Chris Jericho with a Spear.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Android 7.0 Nougat now out via over-the-air updates


Android 7.0 Nougat, the latest iteration for the popular smartphone OS, is finally being rolled out today via over-the-air updates for Nexus phones.

The devices that are expected to get the update first are as follow:

* Nexus 6
* Nexus 5X
* Nexus 6P
* Nexus 9
* Nexus Player
* Pixel C
* General Mobile 4G (Android One)

Earlier, Google announced that the LG V20 would be the first device to launch with Nougat, and it’s rather interesting that the new OS version is not being launched together with a new Nexus device, reports The Next Web.


As with the developer preview, Android Nougat will come with 72 new emojis and new Bluetooth quick setting controls. Apps will also behave differently based on location and be able to run side by side, thanks to the new multi-window support.

Android Nougat will also support Vulkan and Daydream for VR purposes. Do keep in mind that while the OS will be VR-ready, the device that it is installed on may not be.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Monday

What Is Tyra Banks Going to Teach as a Stanford University Professor?


Aside from being a model, TV host, and businesswoman, Tyra Banks is set to teach at Stanford University on May next year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Tyra will be guest-lecturing a class on personal branding called, “Project You: Building and Extending Your Personal Brand.” This is something new from her considering that she’s been teaching men and women how to pose and smize on America’s Next Top Model for so long.

But don’t expect her to be her normal relaxed self in class. Tyra says she’s going to take this job very seriously. “If I see somebody not paying attention, I’m gonna call on them,” she tells The Wall Street Journal. And remember, Tyra is never one to back down from schooling someone. We all know what happened with Tiffany in ANTM Cycle 4.




Best of luck on the new job, Professor Banks!

[Vogue Australia]

Photo courtesy of Extra

source: preen.inquirer.net

LOOK: Canadian PM Trudeau parties with Filipinos in Toronto


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a local Filipino food festival in Toronto on Saturday.

Sporting the barong tagalog that he wore during the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) welcome dinner last November, Trudeau cooked barbeque with the members of the Filipino community.

“Serving up a Taste of Manila with Toronto’s Filipino community today. Mabuhay!” was Trudeau’s caption in the photos which he posted on his Facebook account early Sunday.

Canada is home to more than 700,000 Filipinos.

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Sunday

‘Why are you Americans killing the black people…?’ – Duterte


PRESIDENT Duterte on Sunday lashed out at the U.S. police killings of black men in his latest outburst against critics of his anti-drug campaign, which has left hundreds of suspects dead.

The Philippines’ brash-talking President also threatened Sunday to withdraw the country from the United Nations after its human rights experts criticized the extra-judicial killings committed under his anti-crime drive.

Reacting to U.S. criticisms, Duterte cited the string of shootings involving police and black men that have sparked protests in the U.S.

“Why are you Americans killing the black people there, shooting them down when they are already on the ground?” he asked. “Answer that question, because even if it’s just one or two or three, it is still human rights violations.”

Criticisms against Duterte’s crusade against a problem that he says has become a pandemic provoked an angry outburst from Duterte, who held a news conference after midnight Saturday that dragged on for more than two hours.

The U.S. State Department and two U.N. human rights experts have urged Duterte and Filipino authorities to stop extrajudicial killings in the fight against illegal drugs and ensure law enforcement compliance with international human rights obligations. Philippine police say more than 500 drug suspects have been killed in gunbattles with police since Duterte was sworn in eight weeks ago.

Agnes Callamard, the new U.N. Special Rapporteur on summary executions, suggested that Philippine officials could be held liable, saying in a recent statement that “claims to fight illicit drug trade do not absolve the government from its international legal obligations and do not shield state actors or others from responsibility for illegal killings.”

Responding to the criticisms, Duterte pointed to the haunting image of a bloodied child being pulled from the rubble of a missile-struck building in the Syrian city of Aleppo to note the inability of the U.S. and the U.N. to stop such deadly conflicts, complaining that he comes under fire for the killings of criminals.

“Maybe we’ll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you’re that rude, son of a bitch, we’ll just leave you,” Duterte told reporters in Davao, where he first built a reputation for his tough crime-busting style while serving as the southern city’s longtime mayor.

Duterte also belittled U.N. work in the Philippines without providing facts, raising questions, for example, about the performance of the world body’s agency that fights hunger.

If the Philippines breaks off from the U.N. — which Duterte called “inutile” and “stupid” — he said he would invite other countries like China and African nations to form a new international body. The U.N., he said, should return Manila’s financial contributions.

“Look at the iconic boy that was taken out from the rubble and he was made to sit in the ambulance and we saw it,” Duterte said, referring to the photo of a 5-year-old Syrian boy, Omran Daqneesh, that has gone viral online.

“Why is it that United States is not doing anything? I do not read you,” Duterte said. “Anybody in that stupid body complaining about the stench there of death?”

When asked about the possible repercussions of his remarks, Duterte replied: “I don’t give a shit about them. They are the ones interfering.”

Duterte wondered whether U.N. officials were threatening to put him in prison and repeated that he was ready to sacrifice his life and presidency for his country.

Duterte’s drug crackdown has left more than 500 suspected dealers dead and more than 4,400 arrested since he took office on June 30. Nearly 600,000 people have surrendered to authorities, hoping to avoid getting killed. The arrests have further overwhelmed the Philippines’ overcrowded jails. AP/ac/rga

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

How companies are cashing in on Pokemon Go


Pokemon Go has sent millions of people onto the streets in a worldwide hunt for virtual monsters — and from neighborhood restaurants to multi-national corporations, businesses smell a profit.

“It’s going really well — this is the fourth time we’ve had to restock our Pokemon cuddly toys in two weeks,” said salesman Corentin Flamand, surveying a row of mini Pikachus at the Micromania store in Paris’ bustling Bastille area.

The chain has brought in mugs, baseball caps and a slew of other products to mark this year’s 20th anniversary of the cult Japanese franchise, and is now hoping to profit from the surge of new fans created by the smartphone game.

Beyond products, companies see huge potential in the app’s ability to attract crowds to places in a way that typical advertising does not, by tempting them with the prospect of adding new Pokemon to their collections.

Bars and restaurants from New York to Sydney are reportedly paying for “lures”, a feature of the game which draws Pokemon to a location, hoping this will draw in customers to linger and spend money.

“If you run a bar/restaurant and aren’t spending $10/day on lures and advertising the fact, what are you even thinking?” Eric Neustadter, former head of Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming service, wrote in a widely-shared tweet.

Pokemon milkshakes

Philippe Bonnasse, a retail expert at French consultancy CA Com, said companies could profit from showing “that their brand is in sync with the times — that they’re ‘Pokemon Go compatible’.”

Some firms are offering Pokecoins — the game’s currency, which players can spend on accessories to help them hunt — as prizes for competitions.

And then there are the many businesses putting a Pokemon twist on their products.

Maxwell’s, a restaurant in London’s Covent Garden, says it has seen a 400 percent jump in sales of its elaborate “freakshake” milkshake since it started offering a new version inspired by the beloved turtle-shaped Pokemon, Squirtle.

Topped with a donut in the shape of one of the “Pokeballs” that hunters use to catch the critters, manager Lloyd Vaughey says the restaurant is shifting 200 of the violently coloured drinks a day.

“Now the sales have levelled but stay very good,” Vaughey told AFP.

In Edinburgh, a taxi firm is offering flat-price journeys that take punters past at least 50 “Pokestops” to load up on Pokeballs, while specialised hunting tours have sprung up everywhere from Barcelona to Mexico City.

At the extreme end of the industry, San Francisco start-up PokeWalk is even charging busy players to have their phones walked for them by full-time professionals.

Sponsorship deals?

Industry tracker Sensor Tower estimates that the game has already generated more than $200 million since its release in early July. Pokemon Go is free to download, but players can pay for extra add-ons that make them better hunters.

Commercial partnerships with other brands could offer another hugely lucrative source of income for its owners — but the Pokemon Company, which licenses the franchise, is currently concentrating on the game’s rollout.

McDonald’s is so far the only brand with a sponsorship deal, in Japan — hoping that having its restaurants designated as “PokeStops” and “Gyms”, where players can fight and pick up virtual supplies, will bring in customers in a country where it is badly struggling.

But the game’s developer Niantic has invited companies to express an interest in tie-ups on its website, signalling that similar deals could follow.

“The partnerships will be agreed in a second phase, but it will be selective,” a Pokemon Company representative told AFP.

In Japan, the game is seen as a potential boost for tourism — especially in the northeast, desperate for visitors after the massive 2011 earthquake, and in Kumamoto in the south, also hit by a series of deadly quakes in April.

Japanese authorities have signed a deal with Niantic to place Pokestops and Gyms in a way that guides tourists to neglected sites — steering clear of the exclusion zone around the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant.

In Japan and beyond, cafes may well profit from players looking for somewhere to hang out and hunt — but retailers may find that footfall from customers glued to their phones has limited benefits, say analysts.

There is also the burning question of whether Pokemon Go is here to stay — or whether it’s a fad we will soon forget about.

“Betting on a duration of three to six months, until Christmas, could allow companies to organise themed operations around the game,” said Yves Marin of the Wavestone consultancy — hopefully winning new customers whose loyalty could outlast the craze./rga

source: business.inquirer.net

Quick Hits: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Saturday the Carolina Panthers square off against the Tennessee Titans in the second preseason game of 2016.

The two teams faced each other during the regular season last year, which resulted in a Carolina Panthers victory. You may not remember the game so well, but I would wager you remember the silly “Tennessee Mom” drama that permeated the internet for the week after, like an old sweat sock that was lost in the bottom of your gym bag. Strangely enough, the Tennessee mom did not complain about the Titans Cheerleaders and their provocative performance. (slideshow here)


While I don’t expect the same level of drama Saturday, you never know. Cam Newton may have a special hip thrust rehearsed just for her.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense should see three or four series on the field Saturday. Ron Rivera stated earlier this week that he would like to see touchdowns out of that starting unit, not just field goals like in Baltimore a week ago.

Tight ends Greg Olsen and Ed Dickson will not play today. This gives a huge opportunity for several young players trying to make the roster. Keep an eye on Scott Simonson, in particular. He may be pushing for that second tight end position.

Expect a heavier work load for running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Brandon Wegher this week. Both practiced with the first string offense this week which tells me that either, or perhaps both, will be put in the game early.

The Carolina Panthers second string offensive line had a very poor showing last week against Baltimore. As of now, the Panthers are still in the market for a backup offensive tackle. However, if this group performs poorly again this week, more jobs could be on the line. It would not shock me to see two new offensive lineman on the Carolina Panthers roster come September.

Rookie undrafted free agent Keyarris Garrett has shown big improvement since the first day of training camp. While I do not think he has a regular roster spot locked up, his improvement thus far does warrant consideration for the practice squad.

As a reminder, the score is not important Saturday. Don’t get caught up in preseason wins and losses. Instead, focus on individual performances. After all, that is all the Panthers coaches are looking at currently.

source:  wcnc.com

Friday

New Nokia phones set for release in 4th quarter


Nokia was a most popular brand in the local market when cellphones weren’t the pocketable computers that they are today. While it had slowly gone under the radar, thanks to the popularity of Android devices, the company is rumored to be planning the release of new devices in the latter part of this year.

According to a report from PCWorld, Nokia executive Mike Wang confirmed that three to four Nokia-branded devices powered by Android will be making its way into the market in the fourth quarter. The lineup is said to include both smartphones and tablets.

The Nokia devices will be handled by a relatively new company called HMD, which is composed of individuals that formerly worked in Microsoft, the old Nokia company, and many others who have come together in an effort to resurrect the brand.

Rumors have been circulating that a couple of the devices will have 5.2- and 5.5-inch Quad HD OLED displays, Snapdragon 820 SOC processors, 22.6-megapixel cameras, as well as water- and dust-resistance features.

If nostalgia is all that’s needed to introduce an old, once-iconic brand to a new audience, then HMD should make a killing come release date. But things are never so simple. They will have to come up with some noteworthy innovations for the market that’s saturated with options to be noticed.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Thursday

WATCH: Pokémon Go player uses Pidgey to ‘rap’ Eminem hit


Pokémon Go, the viral game that has hooked millions of fans across several countries, pushes players to exercise not only their legs but also their creativity and imagination.

YouTube user Chem Hung posted on Friday a mash-up video of all his abducted normal flying Pokémon, Pidgey, with names that coincidentally wrap the lyrics of Eminem’s 2013 rap hit, “Rap God.” These included Pidgey names such as “Devastating,” “Motherfuckin,'” “So that,” “I’m made of” and “Superhuman.”

YouTube users praised Hung’s musical creativity and speed in swiping the pictures in his clip, which racked 626,177 views as of this posting.

“Amazing. Creative [and] original, you deserve every piece of this attention,” one user said. Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: technology.inquirer.net

Wednesday

Justin Bieber Takes Down His Instagram After Feud with Selena Gomez


This happens after Justin and ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez had a war of words in the comments section. Justin told his fans to stop attacking his rumored new girlfriend Sofia Richie, and Selena told him to stop posting photos and getting mad at his fans.

“If you can’t handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your girlfriend. It should be special between you two only. Don’t be mad at your fans. They love you. They were there for you before anyone,” Selena writes.

Justin then accused Selena of using him for fame, to which she replied, “Funny how the ones that cheated multiple times are pointing the finger at the ones that were forgiving and supportive, no wonder fans are mad. All love.”



And the rest is history―quite literally.

Although Selena later apologized for the incident on her Snapchat, it might take a while before we hear anything from Justin on social media―unless he decides to tweet something out of nowhere. (Yup, his Twitter’s still there, don’t worry.

[Entertainment Tonight and Telegraph]

Photo courtesy of Salon

source: preen.inquirer.net


Google’s Duo app joins crowded field of video calling


SAN FRANCISCO—Knock, knock, Google’s video chatting app has arrived.

The app, dubbed Duo, represents Google’s response to other popular video calling options, including Apple’s FaceTime, Microsoft’s Skype and Facebook’s Messenger app.

Duo isn’t much different from the other video chatting services, except that it gives a glimpse at who is making the call, helping the recipient decide whether to answer. Google calls this feature, “Knock, knock.”

The new app, announced in May, is being released Tuesday as a free service for phones running on Google’s Android operating system as well as Apple’s iPhones.

Like FaceTime for iPhones, Duo only requires a person’s phone number to connect. Many other services require both participants to have account logins to use their video calling options.

Google has been offering video calling through its Hangout feature for several years, but the internet company is now tailoring that service for business meetings.

Duo is being billed as a simpler, more reliable way to see friends and family as you talk to them.

It is the first of two new mobile apps that Google, owned by Alphabet Inc., has planned for this summer. The Mountain View, California, company also is preparing to unveil a new messaging app called Allo featuring a robotic assistant that will suggest automated responses to texts.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Pound slumps against euro, dollar


NEW YORK, United States — The British pound slumped to a fresh three-year low against the euro Monday and edged lower on the dollar, as signs of weakness mounted in the British economy.

At 86.80 pence on the euro, the pound was at its weakest level since August 2013.

Meanwhile sterling fell to $1.2883, just barely above its $1.2798 post-Brexit vote level that marked a three-decade low against the US greenback.

The currency’s fall came as data from Britain showed London residential rents fell for the first time in six years in July, amid worries the June 23 vote to exit the European Union was already having an impact on the economy.

The rental data came on the heels of numbers showing home prices fell for the second straight month.

“In the month of August, the British pound has been the weakest currency and the trend continued today,” said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.

“The main reason why the currency is weak is because investors are worried about this week’s UK economic reports.”

Even if the formal moves to leave the European Union will not be taken by the government until next year, Lien said, “the damage has been done and consequences are just beginning to appear.”

source: business.inquirer.net

UFC: McGregor will return to FW after Diaz bout, Dana White says


Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Conor McGregor (19-3) has has yet to step inside the octagon for his rematch with Nate Diaz, but Dana White has already laid out the plans for his next fight.

According to the UFC president, the Irish sensation will make his return at 145 lbs, regardless of the outcome of his upcoming fight at UFC 202 in Las Vegas on Aug. 20.


“I fully expect Conor to come back and defend his 145-pound title,” White officially confirmed in a report on UFC.com.


“The Notorious” has been a hot commodity for fighters looking for a hefty payday in recent months, including recently crowned UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (28-4), who also expressed his desire to have a crack at the victor of the UFC 202 main event.

“I know Nate Diaz is fighting Conor McGregor and I would like to try and get the winner of that fight,” Alvarez was quoted as saying in the report. “Hopefully somebody comes out on top there and they sign on the dotted line.”

Although there has yet to be an announcement on his possible opponent, longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo (26-2) is believed to be the next in line for McGregor, after his hard-fought five-round victory against perennial contender Frankie Edgar.

White, meanwhile, hyped the McGregor-Diaz rematch as potentially the biggest in UFC history, and expects it to be just as good, if not better, than the first fight.

“If you look at how big Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather was and how big Diaz-McGregor 1 was – Diaz-McGregor delivered,” White said. “That fight delivered on all the hype and all the excitement and energy, and this one will, too.”

The 47-year-old UFC head honcho further explained his high hopes for the highly anticipated bout, which Diaz won in the second round with a rear-naked choke.

“Just stylistically and the way these guys fight, it’s impossible for Diaz-McGregor not to be a ridiculous fight,” White told UFC.com. “If you look at the first fight, Conor was absolutely just dominating and then gassed out. Diaz took every ounce of punishment and then as soon as he saw Conor started to slow down and was tired, he jumped right on him. It’s everything you love as a fight fan,” he added.

Aside from McGregor’s future, the UFC President also shed light on the current UFC Welterweight title picture, as reigning champion Tyron Woodley requested to be matched against the reportedly returning George St. Pierre  or Nate Diaz’ older brother and main event staple, Nick Diaz.

“I think that Nate feels his brother should have the fight at 170, but Nick is not going to come back and fight for the title right away,” White said.

“There are other guys deserving of a title shot. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is going to fight for the 170-pound title and then we’ll see what happens with Nick and Nate.”  Khristian Ibarrola

source: sports.inquirer.net

Monday

PSA: Female Olympians Wear Makeup for Self-Expression


Two commentators Mark Simone and Bo Dietl debated about the looks of female Olympians like Simone Biles and Simone Manuel instead of talking about their success and achievements. You totally missed the mark, Fox News.

Every second of that video made me cringe as I watched two men talk about women’s physical appearance and they even asked the male Olympians like Michael Phelps to do the same—look good when you accept that medal.

“The whole point of the Olympics, the whole reason for this training, for this work to get there, is product endorsements,” said Mark. It did not stop there, Bo added fuel to the flame by talking about zits on their faces and saying, “I like to see a person who wins that gold medal go up there and look beautiful.” As if their medals and record-breaking performance are not enough.

To clarify, female athletes who choose to wear makeup do it because they want to, because they are empowered and they feel much more confident—and there is nothing wrong with that. But if one chooses not to do it, do not give them flak.

The Fox News segment was based on the piece published on USA Today and I suggest you read that instead of listening to those two men.

[Nylon]

 Photo by Ben Stansall for AFP

source: preen.inquirer.net

Sunday

Borrowed medal? No thanks, Henderson wins own Olympic gold


RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—Jeff Henderson had an Olympic gold medal in his grasp. Just not one he could call his own.

With a pressure-packed jump on his last try of the night, the American long jumper changed all that. He won his own gold medal in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday and returned the one he carried for motivation to its rightful owner.

And now both Henderson and his coach, 1984 triple jump champ Al Joyner, really have something to celebrate.

“He said, ‘I want you to give me back my gold medal and keep your gold medal,'” Henderson recounted. “I gave it back before I went out there. I knew I was going to win.”

He was clutch on his last attempt. It’s becoming an American trend. The night before, Michelle Carter won the shot put on her final attempt.

Henderson rocked back and forth before starting down the runway. He flew into the air and when he landed in the sand, he instantly knew that was good enough for gold. His jump of 8.38 meters surpassed South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga, who finished with silver. Defending champion Greg Rutherford of Britain was left with the bronze.

“I came here to win,” Rutherford said. “I’m going away disappointed.”

Just imagine how Jarrion Lawson feels. The American had the last jump of the evening and thought his was well out there — maybe even gold-medal worthy — but he dragged his left hand in the sand before landing.

That was the spot to where officials measured. He finished in fourth place.

“I still think I had it. Maybe I hit my hand, maybe I didn’t,” said Lawson, who was an All-American at the University of Arkansas. “Just can’t argue with technology.

“But I think that was a No. 1 jump.”

History will reflect Henderson as the winner, though. He said Joyner had used a similar ploy as motivation before — with his late wife, Florence Griffith-Joyner.

It certainly got Henderson’s attention.

“He’s always like, ‘You’re a champion. Believe in yourself,'” explained the 27-year-old Henderson, who’s from McAlmont, Arkansas. “The last jump I was just like, ‘OK, just keep everything the same, don’t change nothing.’

“I knew it was the winning jump after I saw it.”

How’s this for a little more history: Henderson captured gold medal No. 999 for the United States in the Summer Olympics. He was about 30 minutes shy of winning the magical 1,000th, but it went to the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay swim team.

“Feels amazing,” Henderson said. “To be in that group and that category is awesome. To have that, 999, I didn’t know that. It feels like I’m in a dream, honestly.”

Still think the long jump is boring, Carl Lewis? The track icon recently took issue with his former event and the lack of more star power. Henderson has no issues with Lewis’ sentiment.

Although, he will give his good friend some good-natured ribbing.

“I know Carl Lewis, he’s biting his tongue right now,” Henderson said. “I have nothing against Carl. Wait to see what he says after this.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Saturday

Nadal notches Olympic gold, ‘unforgettable’ return


RIO DE JANEIRO—Rafael Nadal described his second Olympic gold as “unforgettable” after marking his return from his latest injury misery by partnering close friend Marc Lopez to the men’s doubles title in Rio.

The 30-year-old Spaniard added the 2016 doubles crown to his 2008 singles gold in Beijing by defeating Romania’s Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 4-6.

Nadal is just the fourth player to win gold in Olympic singles and doubles after Serena and Venus Williams and Chile’s Nicolas Massu.

The former world number one and holder of 14 Grand Slam titles was playing his first tournament since May when a wrist injury forced an early retirement from the French Open.

“It was an amazing experience, especially doing it with one of my best friends, with Marc, it’s something unforgettable for me, for both of us,” said Nadal.

“To win a gold medal after two months and a half with no practice, with no preparation, just working in the gym, is something that is a dream.

“The moment was unbelievable, and we had fun. We fight hard.”

Nadal’s participation in the Olympics was in doubt until the last minute but now he has one gold and the prospect of another in the men’s singles where he’s reached the semi-finals.

Earlier Friday, he defeated Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 for his 800th career singles win.

He will face Juan Martín Del Potro of Argentina on Saturday for a place in the championship match.

“It’s a dream to win for my country. I didn’t come here just to carry the flag at the opening ceremony,” added Nadal.

‘Happiest man on earth’

For 34-year-old Lopez, it was a second major title of 2016 after he partnered compatriot Feliciano Lopez to the French Open title in June.

“Sharing these feelings with Rafa is really a dream come true,” said Lopez, who has now won five doubles titles with Nadal.

“All the things we have done together, I am the happiest man on earth.”

Tecau paid tribute to Nadal whose all-court skills proved crucial.

“You don’t see this in singles, but he volleys really well. He moves a lot at the net, puts a lot of pressure, defends really well,” said Tecau.

“He can hit an angle in every shot. And he’s all over the court. You have to play with precision and play to win most of the time. Otherwise you’re going to give him a lot of shots and that’s what he likes. Then he takes control of the points.”

The Spanish pair had cruised through the first set of the final 6-2 on the back of breaks in the fifth and seventh games.

But Mergea and Tecau, giving Romania their first ever Olympic tennis medal, hit back, focussing their attack on Lopez.

They broke for a 3-1 lead and saved two break-back points in the ninth game to level the final on a chilly night in the Brazilian city.

Mergea and Tecau, both 31 and born within a week of each other, sensed victory when they nipped ahead at 4-3 in the decider with Lopez again broken.

But the Spanish duo regained the break at 4-4 when Tecau was broken. Nadal then held for a 5-4 lead.

The Romanian pair saved two championship points in the 10th game but a wild Tecau smash gave Nadal and Lopez the title after two and a half hours of action.

The Spaniards’ all-out attack and rock-solid defence were crucial forcing their opponents into making 46 unforced errors and having to save 12 of 16 break points they faced.

America’s Steve Johnson and Jack Sock defeated Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil, the Canadian seventh seeds, 6-2, 6-4 to claim the bronze medal.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Facebook to make News Feed more informative


After dealing with rogue ads and notorious clickbaits, Facebook is now tuning the News Feed to make it more informative by introducing a new “ranking signal” feature.

The new feature is meant to give more exposure to informative stories on users’ Feed than it would have appeared before the update, reports TechRadar.

Facebook’s algorithm works by having members of the Feed Quality Program rank stories from one to five, one being “not really informative” and five being “really informative.” Stories that are ranked highly by participants will be asked to explain why they like seeing the story.

For those not in the know, the Feed Quality Program consists of tens of thousands of surveys that are being crowd-sourced daily. There are even more direct participants involved who get paid for their efforts.

When combined, it allows Facebook to filter out informative stories while relying on user interests and preferences.  Alfred Bayle


source: technology.inquirer.net

Mesothelioma Attorneys Pioneering Asbestos Litigation



Mesothelioma attorneys are not all the same. Some mesothelioma attorneys are very experienced and knowledgeable. Others sadly are unscrupulous and out to profit from someone else’s tragic circumstances. They will settle a case quickly just to get their fee. Still other mesothelioma attorneys may be well-intended but inexperienced and inept. Asbestos litigation is a very intricate and detailed legal niche.


 What if you could have the mesothelioma attorneys who pioneered asbestos litigation handle your case?  It would be like having Bill Gates install your computer’s software or Mark Zuckerberg create your Facebook page. While those two are unlikely to be available, it is really possible for you to have the mesothelioma attorneys who helped invent mesothelioma law, from the beginning, handle your case. You can be represented by Kazan Law.

Mesothelioma Attorneys with The Most Asbestos Case Experience


The founding partner of Kazan Law pioneered asbestos litigation over 40 years ago.  Today Steven Kazan is acknowledged as a leading global expert on asbestos law whose knowledge and skill continue to define this area of litigation.

Since the firm was founded by Steven Kazan in 1974, Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood, A Professional Law Corporation, has represented hundreds of people suffering from mesothelioma. They have won landmark victories and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for their clients. They have also achieved precedent-setting verdicts that have changed the way asbestos law cases are determined.



Today Kazan Law has grown to include 22 full-time mesothelioma attorneys.  But Steven Kazan, and his  partners at Kazan Law, still personally oversee every asbestos case the firm takes on. They remain as dedicated to obtaining justice for innocent working people whose lives have been jeopardized by callous profit-seeking companies as they were when they took on some of the first asbestos cases. Asbestos litigation at its best is about standing up for the rights of the little guy against big powerful corporate interests. And that is the kind of asbestos litigation expertly practiced by the mesothelioma attorneys at Kazan Law. They understand instinctively what to do because after all they were the ones who helped create asbestos litigation.

How Mesothelioma Attorneys Pioneered Asbestos Litigation


Over 40 years ago, many of the workers at the Johns-Manville plant in Lompoc, California were sick and dying.  Workers were upset about losing people they had worked with for many years. The labor union representative collected death certificates of all those who had died in the last five years and wrote a letter to someone he thought could help them.  That someone was Steven Kazan.

That was in 1974. Telephones were attached to walls, a computer took up an entire room and companies that produced asbestos-containing products were getting away with murder. Employees exposed to asbestos at work were dying from asbestosis and mesothelioma without their employers being held accountable.

In Oakland, California, at that time, Steven Kazan, a recent Harvard Law School graduate, had just started his law practice. He was already known for litigating complex medical and scientific issues, and had worked with an attorney who was trying to get workers compensation benefits for some of the men from the Pittsburg, California Johns Manville asbestos products plant.

Then, in 1974, Mr. Kazan was asked to take on litigating the civil lawsuits for those workers.  He won a precedent-setting suit for Reba Rudkin, who had developed asbestosis after 29 years of working at the Johns-Manville plant in Pittsburg, California. After winning this landmark case, he represented over 100 asbestos-affected workers from the same company.

In 1982, he won a $150,000 verdict for Bob Speake, one of the Johns-Manville workers, in a test case trial ordered by the Superior Court in Contra Costa County, CA.  This case is regarded as a “threshold verdict” because it created the opportunity for punitive damage verdicts against Johns-Manville. Months later, just as Steven Kazan was getting ready to go to settlement conferences on a large group of those cases, Johns –Manville filed for bankruptcy court protection. Steven had 393 cases pending against the company which he resolved with the trust fund set up as a result  of that bankruptcy.

Today Kazan Law is still headquartered in Oakland California. The firm’s mesothelioma attorneys continue to excel at pursuing justice for mesothelioma victims and others exposed to asbestos.  Kazan Law daily puts its 40 plus years of experience in pioneering asbestos lawsuits and setting precedents to work for its clients.

Kazan Law has remained at the forefront of asbestos litigation in California and nationally.  Kazan Law is proud of its history as pioneers in asbestos litigation. But as mesothelioma attorneys who are among the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers in the United States, we do not dwell in the past – we continue to win major settlements for our clients.

Mesothelioma Attorneys at Kazan Law Have the Expertise to Win Major Verdicts


Today well into the 21st century, Kazan Law’s dedication to legal excellence and justice for asbestos victims continues to result in major verdicts.  These verdicts gain Kazan Law recognition in the legal profession among their peers in the United States and throughout the world. A brief list of some of the verdicts won by Kazan Law:

    $48 Million Verdict: Won by a former construction worker vs. the Union Carbide Corporation —this 2012 verdict was nationally recognized as the highest mesothelioma verdict on record for the year.
    $27 Million Verdict: Against Owens-Illinois in a lawsuit filed by the former wife of a pipe insulator.
    $11 Million Verdict: Won against Pneumo Abex  , Inc. in a wrongful death suit filed by the family of an automobile parts worker. This came after a separate $13 million award in the family’s personal injury suit.

As many activists and professionals throughout the world continue to fight for a global ban of asbestos, victims of asbestos exposure continue to contract mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. For these people a chance to hold accountable those companies that exposed them to asbestos, pay for mounting medical bills, and provide for their families futures in the wake of their certain passing is motivation enough to seek the best and brightest asbestos litigators in the country. See what asbestos pioneers Kazan Law can do to help you and your family.

source: kazanlaw.com

Friday

New HP Stream products easy on the pocket


When productivity and speed are the prime criteria required of a laptop, HP’s latest Stream devices should fit the bill.

Made to be both portable and budget-friendly, HP’s devices focus more on efficiency and reliability over raw power. Three iterations will be made available—an 11-inch version, a 14-incher, and an 11-inch Stream x360, Tech Radar reports.

These new models claim to have improved batteries over their predecessors. They will also have USB 3.0 ports, thinner form factors and lighter chassis. Dual-antenna WiFi receivers will also be included for faster wireless connectivity.

The best thing about these productivity-centric laptops is the prices, which start at $199 for the HP Stream 11, available starting Aug. 24. The Stream 14, priced at $219, will be out on Sept. 7. Finally the Stream x360 is planned to be made available in select regions later in September, for $249.

With such affordable devices, these will be perfect for many people on the go and on limited budgets, particularly students who need to type out reports and do online research without getting distracted by the prospect of gaming while they take a “short” break.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Olympics’ most decorated athlete: Phelps wins 22nd gold


RIO DE JANEIRO—Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200m individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event.

Phelps became the third Olympian to win the same individual event at four straight Games, joining discus thrower Al Oerter and Carl Lewis in the long jump in achieving the feat.

Lurking in second until the end of the breaststroke third leg, he surged home on the closing freestyle lap to win in 1min 54.66sec.

That was almost two seconds in front of silver medalist Kosuke Hagino of Japan, the 400m individual medley champion who powered from fifth at the final wall to touch in 1:56.61.

China’s Wang Shun was third in 1:57.05.

Phelps’ old foe Ryan Lochte led at the halfway point, but the world record-holder in the event couldn’t hang on and finished fifth.

Brazilian contender Thiago Pereira, buoyed by an ecstatic crowd, led after the opening butterfly lap and was equal second at the halfway point, but faded to finish seventh.

Phelps claimed his 22nd Olympic gold medal and his fourth at the Rio Olympics.

The most decorated Olympian of all time was back in the pool later on Thursday in the 100m butterfly semi-finals.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Thursday

32TB SSD from Samsung presented at Flash Memory Summit


Seagate’s 60TB 3.5-inch SSD may be out of everyone’s reach for an indefinite period but fear not, because Samsung may have a solution. Introducing the 2.5-inch form factor 32TB SSD.

PCWorld reports that this SSD, which was unveiled at the Flash Memory Summit currently being held in Santa Clara, California, USA, is the first of its kind to be based on 4th-generation V-NAND technology. This particular technology utilizes a three-dimensional architecture to greatly increase storage capacity without exponentially ramping up costs.

Apart from the extra-large capacity, 4th-gen SSDs will also have higher sequential read-and-write performance than its predecessor. For more information on 3D V-NAND technology, check out the video after this article.

Samsung plans to ship the 32TB SSDs next year and is targeting to have 100TB SSDs in the market by 2020. The 32TB drive will primarily be targeted for use in servers, flash arrays and external storage systems. However, the drive will not be compatible with NVMe slots.

Samsung also announced the new Z-SSD, a NAND flash for use as cache or temporary storage in data centers. It has faster sequential read speed and four times lower latency than the previous Samsung PM963 NVMe SSD.

Samsung also said it is working with other companies in creating a new form factor for servers that will provide more storage, power control circuits and accelerator chips. Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net