Bad tech co. news sinks Nasdaq

A twitchy stock market closed lower yesterday off bad tech company news, eliminating promising gains earlier in the week, after disappointing earnings reports from major companies.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 72 points ­— 1.8 percent — while the Standard & Poors 500 and Dow Jones industrial average both dipped almost 1 percent.

"The market is in a precarious position at the moment, and overreacts to bad news far more than it did last year," said Scott Clemons, chief investment strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman.

Technology stocks fell across the board, on the back of a disappointing earnings report from Amazon.

The company fell 10 percent after telling investors that the second quarter will likely lead to an operating loss. Netflix, Facebook and Twitter also dropped yesterday.

Also contributing to the losses were renewed fears over the economic impact the conflict in Ukraine could have.

"Russian troops are massing up at the Ukrainian border, which is enough to make people nervous about anybody with business activities in Europe," said Tom Stringfellow, president and chief investment officer of Frost Investment Advisors.

The Nasdaq had been up 0.7 percent this week before yesterday.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Workplace Diversity Job Fair Monday, April 28, 2014

Workplace Diversity Job Fair

Monday, April 28, 2014

10:00-4:00

Boston Marriott Copley Place

110 Huntington Ave., Boston

Job seekers, don't miss this exciting opportunity

The Boston Herald is hosting the 21st annual Workplace Diversity Job Fair on Monday, April 28. Companies from the Greater Boston area will be in attendance looking for candidates to fill positions in areas including sales, business, medical, technology and more!

Look for a special pull-out section on Thursday, April 24 for all the information you will need to make the job fair a success for you.

There is no cost or obligation for attending.

Proper attire is suggested.

The following companies are participating in the Monday, April 28 Workplace Diversity Job Fair:

• Arbour Health System
• Bay Cove Human Services
• Boston Marriott Copley Place
• BMC HealthNet Plan
• Commonwealth Worldwide
• Eliot Community Human Services
• G2 Secure Staff
• Harvard University
• Keolis Commuter Services
• Lincoln Technical Institute
• Massasoit Community College
• Mass Eye and Ear
• New England HERC
• New England Research Institute
• Northeastern University Bouve' College of Health Sciences School of Nursing
• Northeast Security
• Prudential
• Rockland Trust
• South Bay Mental Health
• U.S. Navy
• Verizon Wireless
• WGBH

The Workplace Diversity Job Fair is conducted in accordance with federal laws advocating employment for all individuals. The Workplace Diversity Job Fair is handicapped accessible. If special arrangements are required, please call 617-619-6168 no later than 2 days prior to the event.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stylish loft offers space to ‘park’

This Manhattan-style loft in Boston's Leather District has something rarely seen inside a residence — a custom glass garage door that separates the home office/study space from the open dining/living area.

With its authentic brick and beam feel, the loft at 111 Beach St. is stylishly put together, with shiny, 
wide-plank maple floors 
and 12-foot ceilings with 
exposed duct work.

It's on the fourth floor of an 1899 brick building converted to condos in 2004-2005, with a contemporary stone and gray metal 
facade on the first floor and a granite and wood first-floor lobby.

Unit 4H opens into a home office/study area, which could also be a nursery or even a second bedroom. It can also be closed off with the custom glass garage door.

The large open dining/living area has three large Thermopane windows, 
exposed brick walls, wood ceiling beams and columns, exposed duct work and even a built-in ironing board.

A wood column sits at the juncture of the loft's kitchen, recessed and pendant lit with light cherrywood cabinets, beige granite counters and G.E. Profile stainless-steel appliances including an electric stove, dishwasher and built-in microwave.

The brick-walled master bedroom has one window and a double-door closet with built-in storage racks, plus an additional closet outside the door.

Across the hall is a bathroom with a granite-walled whirlpool tub/shower and a black granite topped cherry­wood vanity, as well as built-in linen drawers.

Adjacent is a closet that holds the unit's stacked Bosch washer and dryer. The $367 monthly condo fee includes heat and hot water and central air conditioning.

There is no on-site parking, although a space can be had at a nearby garage for about $350 a month. But the building does have a private fitness room for residents.

The unit comes with a private storage cage in the basement.

Home Showcase

Address: 111 Beach St., 4H, Boston
Bedrooms: One plus study
Bathrooms: One
List price: $649,000
Square feet: 1,095
Price per square foot: $593
Annual taxes: $5,890
Monthly condo fee: $367 (includes heat, hot water and central air)
Location: Half block to restaurants along South Street. Two blocks to offerings in Chinatown and about a half mile to Downtown Crossing.
Built In: 1899; converted to condos in 2004-2005
Broker: Robb Cohen of Boston Realty Advisors at 617-962-0142

Pros:

• Stylishly designed with exposed duct work, maple floors
• Home office
• Study area can be closed off with glass garage door
• Reasonable condo fee includes heat, central air, hot water
• Light cherrywood cabinets, granite and stainless steel kitchen

Cons:

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama pushes again for minimum wage increase

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is again encouraging Congress to pass a bill raising the minimum raise to $10.10 an hour.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says increasing the pay for minimum-wage workers would help 28 million workers. He says Republican lawmakers not only don't want to increase the minimum wage, some want to get rid of it entirely.

In a dig at Republicans in Congress, Obama says they have taken more than 50 votes against his health care law but resist one vote on the minimum wage bill.

In the Republican address, House Speaker John Boehner says the federal government needs to get out of the way as small businesses try to plan for the future.

Boehner says House Republicans are pursuing economic initiatives that put jobs first.

___

Online:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: www.speaker.gov

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Strike at Chinese shoe factory ends partially

BEIJING — Most of the tens of thousands of workers who were striking at a massive Chinese shoe factory complex have returned to the job, labor activists said Saturday, enabling Adidas to resume production there.

The Germany-based athletic wear giant said workers returned Friday to its factory run by Taiwanese-owned Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd., the world's largest manufacturer of athletic shoes.

More than 40,000 workers at Yue Yuen's sprawling, multi-factory complex in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan went on strike in early April to protest underpayments into their social security and housing funds.

It was one of the largest strikes ever in China's private sector, where low-cost manufacturers are facing increasing labor activism amid a shortage of migrant workers, pushing up labor costs.

Yue Yuen makes shoes for major brands including Adidas, Nike and New Balance, which are increasingly looking to other countries to source their production.

Labor activists confirmed Saturday that most Yue Yuen workers, including those assigned to the Adidas factory, had returned to work, though about 10,000 remained on strike.

The workers have not reached a deal with Yue Yuen, which has offered to pay full contributions starting May 1. The company rejected workers' demands for a 30 percent pay raise and back payments into their social security funds.

It was unclear why most of the workers had returned to the job. Some labor activists said Yue Yuen management — assisted by police — forced the workers to return.

It was not immediately known whether Nike or New Balance had resumed production at Yue Yuen.

On Wednesday, Adidas said it was moving some of its production from Yue Yuen to other suppliers. But as production at Yue Yuen resumed Friday, Adidas said in a statement that it remained committed to Yue Yuen and "to China as a sourcing country."

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Auto review: Nissan adds economy to practicality in Pathfinder Hybrid

Take one of the best family-size crossover utility vehicles on the market, and add a gasoline-electric hybrid drive system to it, and you'll have the best of both worlds: versatility and efficiency.

That's the theory behind the all-new 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, a great people hauler that also offers decent fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined city/highway. That's for a vehicle that can carry up to seven adults in comfort, with no compromises.

Prices begin at $35,300 for the entry-level SV front-wheel-drive version.

It's the first in a line of new hybrid models on the way from Nissan. Also planned are hybrid versions of the redesigned Rogue compact crossover, as well as the redesigned 2015 Murano midsize crossover and the Altima sedan, which plays in the same class as the Accord, Camry, Fusion, Sonata and Optima hybrids.

Nissan's crossover product planner, Scott Pak, confirmed that the new Murano, unveiled at the New York auto show, will get a hybrid version, although when it will arrive has not yet been determined.

Likewise for the Rogue and Altima, although the Rogue model probably is closer to launch. Nissan introduced the second generation of the Rogue last fall, and began production of it in the Nissan plant in Tennessee, which also makes the Pathfinder (including the hybrid) on the same assembly line. That plant also makes the Leaf electric car, and the lithium-ion batteries for it.

The Pathfinder got a complete redesign last year that turned it into a roomy, full-size crossover. It took another big leap this year with the addition of the hybrid version.

Under the hood of the hybrid is a supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine coupled with a 15-kilowatt electric motor, which gets its power from a compact lithium-ion battery.

Together, they provide nearly the same power as the gasoline-only Pathfinder's 3.5-liter V-6. The hybrid has a total of 250 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, compared with 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque for the 3.5-liter.

I've tested both vehicles, and the power of the hybrid feels quite similar to that of the gasoline model, although there seemed to be more pep on take-off with the hybrid. That's because the electric motor kicks in with all of its torque right away.

At highway speeds, the hybrid has plenty of power left in reserve for passing, also thanks to the boost provided by the electric motor.

EPA ratings for the front-drive hybrid are 25 mpg city/28 highway/26 combined, compared with 20 city/26 highway/22 combined for the two-wheel drive gas model. With four-wheel drive, the hybrid gets 25/27/26, compared with 19/25/21 for the four-wheel drive gas model.

Nissan targeted the Toyota Highlander Hybrid with the design of the Pathfinder Hybrid, Nissan said. The hybrid is priced just $3,000 more than a similarly equipped gasoline-only Pathfinder, while Toyota charges a $7,000 premium for the Highlander hybrid.

Regular Pathfinder prices for 2014 begin at $28,850 for the base S version with two-wheel drive, and run as high as $41,350 for the top Platinum model with four-wheel drive.

Pathfinder hybrids have the same interior space as the gasoline versions, including ample legroom, and cargo capacity. We packed six adults into our test vehicle — including two in the third row — and everyone acknowledged having decent leg and knee room.

New for 2014 is a technology package that adds a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system with navigation, voice recognition, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather capability, Zagat Survey restaurant guide, Bluetooth streaming audio and an 8-inch color touch screen.

Our tester was the Platinum four-wheel-drive hybrid with a Platinum Package that brought a rear entertainment system. It also had roof cargo cross bars, carpeted floor mats and illuminated kick plates.

The newest Pathfinder has a unibody-style design, rather than the traditional body-on-frame arrangement of the model it replaced. It's now a top competitor in its class, which includes such stalwarts as the Highlander and Honda Pilot, thanks to its best-in-class passenger space, fuel economy and standard towing capacity.

Other competitors include the big crossovers from General Motors: the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia; and both the Ford Explorer and Ford Flex.

Riding on the same architecture as the new Infiniti QX60 (formerly JX) crossover, the Pathfinder has the same passenger capacity and a similar drivetrain as the Infiniti. The main differences between the two are the styling and the levels of standard equipment. The QX60 also got a hybrid version for 2014.

There are now five crossovers in the Nissan lineup: the subcompact Cube and Juke, compact Rogue, midsize Murano and full-size Pathfinder. All but the Pathfinder and new Rogue have five-passenger capacity. Nissan also is continuing to sell the previous generation of the Rogue for 2014, renamed the Rogue Select, starting at just over $20,000.

Our Pathfinder's optional dual panoramic moon roof extended all the way to the third row, and would have been great for viewing the recent lunar eclipse — if it hadn't been raining at the time.

Standard on our Platinum version were leather upholstery; heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats; heated steering wheel; power tilt-and-telescopic steering column; and keyless entry with pushbutton start.

All seating positions are suitable for adults, unlike many crossovers whose third row is intended for children or very small adults. Getting into and out of the rear and middle seats was made easier by the large rear door openings and the EZ Flex seating system, which allows the second-row seat to slide forward up to 5.5 inches, and to tilt, as well, for access to the third row.

The middle seat had a 60/40 split feature that allows a child-safety seat to remain in place on the curb side while the other side is moved forward to let the rear passengers in or out. With the third seat in place, there is 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. It has a 50/50 split-folding design, so either side, or both sides, can be folded down to increase cargo capacity.

Second- and third-row seats can be folded to create a completely flat load floor from the tailgate to the back of the front seats, giving the vehicle nearly 80 cubic feet of cargo space.

The tailgate flips up in one piece, and on the Platinum model, it's power-operated. A small storage area under the rear cargo floor provides a good place to hide valuables when the vehicle is parked.

Also included on our tester was the Nissan AroundView monitor, which shows up on the nav screen next to the rearview-camera display. Around View gives the driver a 360-degree bird's-eye view around the vehicle, using front, rear and side mini-cameras.

Pathfinders also come with a tire-pressure monitoring system with Nissan's Easy Fill Tire Alert, which beeps the horn when a tire being filled with air reaches its proper inflation level.

———

2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER HYBRID:

—Type of vehicle: Large, five-door, seven-passenger, four-cylinder gasoline-electric hybrid, front- or all-wheel-drive crossover utility vehicle.

—Rating: 9.3 (of a possible 10).

—Highlights: Completely redesigned for 2013, the Pathfinder adds a hybrid version for 2014. With last year's makeover, the vehicle evolved into a crossover, with three rows of seats. It has plenty of power — hybrid or gasoline only — and lots of standard and optional features.

—Negatives: Can get pricey when options packages are added.

—Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with electric motor

—Transmission: Continuously variable automatic

—Power/torque: 250 horsepower/243 pound-feet (hybrid, total)

—Length: 196.9 inches

—Curb weight range: 4,417-4,714 pounds

—Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock

—Cargo volume: 16 cubic feet (behind third seat); 79.8 cubic feet (second and third row seats folded down)

—Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds

—Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; roof-mounted side-curtain for all rows

—Electronic stability control: Standard

—Fuel capacity/type: 19.5 gallons, unleaded regular

—EPA fuel economy, city/highway/combined: 25/28/26 (front drive); 25/27/26 (AWD)

—Base price: $35,300

—Price as tested, including destination charge: $48,285

———

ABOUT THE WRITER

G. Chambers Williams III has been an automotive columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram since 1994. He can be reached at chambers@star-telegram.com.

———

©2014 Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Visit Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

—————

PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): AUTO-NISSANPATHFINDERH-REVIEW

_____

Topics: t000047405,t000047103,t000002537,t000002676,t000018190,t000018196,t000003086

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Auto review: McLaren 650S a step below P1, but who will know?

The envy one feels toward an exclusive $1.15 million super car is usually from the buyer's perspective. But with the 2015 McLaren 650S, it's the British sports car maker that seems to be lusting after its own, more premium creation, the P1.

Designed as a track car that's civilized enough for the street and, with its Spider version, versatile enough to allow tanning at Mach speed, the 204-mph 650S Spider is what you get when you take an MP4-12C and give it a face-lift with 25 percent new parts to make it look like the limited-production, plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 buyers can only covet.

A bargain, at least comparatively, the $280,225 650S Spider aspires to the P1's glamor through a front end that is literally a carbon (fiber) copy, with serpentine headlights that subliminally suggest its most appropriate terrain. While most of the body panels are the same as the 12C it's replacing, the back and sides have had their share of plastic surgery, and the results are even better than Joan Rivers.

Gone is the glass fastback of the 12C, replaced with more angular lines, a taillight assembly that flows into its shapely backside and cavernous side scoops to shove even more air into its mid-mounted engine. With the 650S, McLaren finally makes use of the tiny hole it left in the 12C's rear bumper. It now has a rear-view camera to see whatever hasn't voluntarily cleared itself upon hearing the menacing blurp and gurgle of its exhaust.

Named for its European horsepower rating, the 650S makes a less numerically marketable 641 horses, by U.S. standards. That's 25 more than the 12C, but it costs roughly 1 grand for every 1 horsepower gain from its twin-turbocharged and intercooled 3.8-liter V-8. Like the 12C — and the Ferrari 458 it's gunning for — the engine is displayed in a peekaboo rear window to show it off like the high-performance art piece it is.

From the cockpit, I was able to control the beast to the extent possible with the help of a pair of knobs that adjust the performance and suspension as independent entities. The performance knob is operated in normal, sport or track modes, each of which activates different shift points on the smooth seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission that I heard more than felt. The handling is separately adjustable in the same trio of choices.

Unique to McLaren, the handling settings operate hydraulically interlinked dampers that increase or reduce pressure as needed to affect the stiffness of the suspension and negate the need for sway bars. A Z bar on the rear end acts like a spring, working with the air brake to keep the back end planted. The air brake automatically flies up from the car's hindquarters whenever the brake pedal is stomped at speeds above 62 mph and is such a cool feature, I was tempted to drive like an idiot just to watch it move.

McLaren Newport Beach let me take the 650S Spider for a morning drive last week, My favorite combination of settings was track for the power train, to maximize grunt on takeoff, and sport for handling, so I wouldn't negate the traction and stability controls when driving the 650S the way it wants — with giddy abandon, regardless of consequence.

Fortunately, the only consequences I experienced were stares, smiles, screams, even a salute from strangers who were responding to the spectacle of a middle-aged woman driving a flaming-orange super car with the top down on an especially moneyed stretch of Southern California real estate. I couldn't have felt more like a cougar if I had spots.

The 650S is constructed form the same carbon fiber MonoCell its sister company, McLaren Racing, has used in Formula One since 1981. Isolated by an aluminum crush structure, the molded carbon cockpit is lightweight yet rigid for high-speed flogging — and muscular enough that it negates the need for the usual chassis reinforcements required when jettisoning a fixed roof for a drop-top variant.

It takes 17 seconds for the electronically operated retractable hardtop to fully lift or lower into a tonneau cover that is color-matched to the body, which, on my test car, was a shade of orange so fiery it looked combustible. The roof can be operated at speeds up to 19 mph — a split second for the 650S Spider, which accelerates all the way to 60 in 2.9 seconds.

Entering the two-seater through its dihedral doors is an exercise in contortion. Its steeply raked windshield creates a sharp angle that interferes with easy access to a car that was so low-slung I developed an appreciation for hub caps and bumpers.

Early in my drive, I happened upon a dead possum that, in a taller car, I would have straddled with my wheels. Doing so with the 650S, however, that possum would have been along for the ride. Luckily, the 650S is an F1 racer in street clothing, so dodging the carcass was a breeze.

Everything about the 650S is decisive as an Eton schoolmarm. Even the performance and handling knobs turn with a firm touch. The steering feels heavy, the carbon ceramic brakes heavy duty, though they aren't grabby so much as progressive.

Hailing from the land of Benny Hill, there are aspects of the 650S that seem different solely for the sake of being different, such as the seat controls, which required some groping, since they're located at the seats' fronts, not their sides. Buttons for the climate controls are, oddly, on the driver-side door — most likely because they don't fit in a slim center stack housing the fun buttons 650S drivers will want to toy with.

The 650S may be the poor man's P1, but the good news is that the financial ability to buy one means you're still quite rich — not only with money but the wealth of experience McLaren so ably provides.

———

2015 MCLAREN 650S SPIDER:

—Powertrain: Rear/mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged, port fuel-injected, 3.8-liter, V-8, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, dual-clutch seven-speed transmission

—Horsepower: 641 at 7,250 rpm

—Torque: 443 pound-feet at 3,000-7,000 rpm

—Curb weight: 3,250 pounds

—Maximum speed: 204 mph

—0 to 60 mph: 2.9 seconds

—EPA-estimated fuel economy (mpg): 16 city, 22 highway, 18 combined

—Base price: $280,225

—Price as tested (Spider version with various options): $327,945

———

ABOUT THE WRITER

Susan Carpenter writes for the Orange County Register. She may be reached at scarpenter@ocregister.com.

———

©2014 The Orange County Register. Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit The Orange County Register at www.ocregister.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Auto review: New Cadillac ELR is more flash than dash

Sky-high fins clung to old Cadillacs with swaying, raucous grace.

Brash and a bit obnoxious, they gave the big, cushy cruisers the sort of strut and flash usually found in a French Quarter parade.

I remember.

As a sweaty gomer on a faded red Schwinn in the '60s, I would stop every time some sugar daddy's Caddy blew by, just hoping for a cooling whoosh from its fins.

You won't find any such excesses on the 2014 Cadillac ELR, a taut, radical new coupe full of the 21st century.

The ELR's edgy rear fenders, for instance, wear high, flat ridges on their tops, looking as if Cadillac's young skinny-tie designers just pruned the fins away.

And in effect, they did.

What we get with the ELR is a super-slinky coupe that's stylish in ways similar to the fabulously fashionable cruisers of the '50s.

But the ELR is also so self-consciously contemporary that you might one day find some pale space alien in sports coat and sunglasses behind its leather-covered wheel.

Welcome — again — to 2014.

As you probably know, the feds continue to squeeze all automakers for better fuel economy, with an astounding 54.5 mile-per-gallon requirement looming in 2025.

Consequently, Cadillac's most striking, traffic-stopping car is — hold on to your Stetson — an extended-range electric vehicle.

Does that get your heart racing or what?

As such, the ELR can run in all-electric mode for a modest 37 miles or so before needing a recharge back at the garage.

Or you can just keep driving.

When the electricity runs out, the ELR's computers seamlessly fire up a 1.4-liter gas engine that acts mostly as a generator, supplying electricity for another 300 miles or so.

Under hard acceleration, the gas engine also provides some power to the wheels, functioning then like a hybrid.

If that sounds familiar, General Motors pioneered the approach with the Chevrolet Volt, and much of the ELR's powertrain is Volt-derived — a fact likely to prove pretty controversial in the $81,000 ELR.

Few will criticize its looks, though.

Thin, vertical headlamps cut high into the front fenders of the dark red ELR I had recently, flanking a huge silver grille with a big Caddy emblem in the center.

Short overhangs front and rear emphasized the car's relatively long wheelbase, and seven-spoke 20-inch wheels wearing 245-40 tires filled the fender wells on mine.

Though the carved body looked a bit thick to my hick eyes, it was topped by a sloping, cut-down roof that gave the car good visual balance.

Best of all in back, tall, vertical tail lamps wrapped onto those flat-top fenders, vaguely evoking the fins and taillights of the past.

Although the ELR's powertrain is based on the one in the $34,000 Chevy Volt, Cadillac says the ELR gets some software tweaks that bring its total horsepower up to 217 with torque of 295 pound-feet.

Like all electric vehicles and many hybrids, the ELR starts in total silence — if it's operating in electric mode.

Mine was also fitted with an odd but effective automatic transmission that had fixed and variable-ratio modes.

With the instant torque of an electric motor, the ELR felt quicker than it was, accelerating smoothly and vigorously without any noticeable gear shifts.

In fact, though, it would struggle to out-accelerate a four-cylinder Honda Accord, getting to 60 mph in an unremarkable 8.1 seconds, according to Car and Driver. (In all-electric mode it's even slower, requiring 9 seconds to hit 60.)

Around town, in "sport" mode, the ELR felt adequate — and looked great.

The ride tended toward stiff, but it was controlled and well-damped.

But like Cadillacs of old, the 4,000-pound ELR, bulked up by its lithium-ion battery pack, preferred straight lines to curves.

Though equipped with a better suspension than the one under the Volt, the ELR was still essentially an overweight front-wheel-drive coupe.

If pushed hard, it would start to understeer, feeling twitchy in fast, sweeping curves as its front wheels threatened to let go.

Also, the regenerative brakes could be abrupt, particularly in traffic. They seemed slow to respond to initial presses on the brake pedal, but then grabbed hard.

That was unfortunate because, like most modern Caddies, the ELR had decent steering — light and quick with fairly good road feel.

Just drive it slowly. Electric cars typically have no vibration or noise and whisper down the road like the regal land yachts of the past.

Or you could pause to admire its fine interior.

The rich tan interior in mine was not marred by a single piece of black plastic.

Beginning with the padded, stitched geometric-shaped dash, the inside of the ELR was a sea of tans and browns.

Stuck in the middle of that dash was a large center stack with an eight-inch touch screen and Cadillac's controversial CUE climate and audio controls.

CUE uses various horizontal bars to "control" items such as fan speed and stereo volume.

You're supposed to gently slide your finger across them to change a setting. But they are so overly sensitive that you often get full-blast or nothing.

Give me buttons and knobs any day.

Still, the smooth light tan seats looked sumptuous with sectioned centers and decent bolsters.

Likewise, the door panels were stitched in tan velour on top with wood trim beneath that and a padded, light tan center panel and armrest.

A fairly broad console ran all the way back into the rear seats, splitting them into two finely stitched buckets.

Just ignore them. Positioned at a slight incline to compensate for the sloping rear window, the seats are difficult to squeeze into and offer tight leg- and headroom once you finally get in.

Actually, all of that seemed appropriate. Let's be honest here: The ELR looks like a million bucks and functions at something less than $80,000.

If you prefer to run on strictly electric and live in the suburbs, plan on recharging the ELR every night or two, a process that will take at least 12 hours using a standard 120-volt household outlet.

And if you're OK with allowing the on-board engine-generator to supply the electric motor, you will get about 33 miles per gallon, which these days is middling at best.

But you can be sure of this: Almost nothing on the road, regardless of cost, will look better.

And what is that worth in style-conscious Dallas?

———

2014 CADILLAC ELR:

—Type of vehicle: Four-passenger, front-wheel-drive extended-range electric coupe

—Fuel economy: Equivalent of 82 miles per gallon in electric range; 33 mpg with the gas generator running

—Weight: 4,054 pounds

—Engine/motor: AC permanent-magnet synchronous electric-drive motor working with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine for a combined 217 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque

—Transmission: Automatic with fixed- and variable-ratio modes

—Performance: 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds in combined electric/gas mode; 9 seconds in electric only

—Base price, excluding destination charge: $75,000

—Price as tested: $80,680

SOURCES: Cadillac division of General Motors; Car and Driver

———

ABOUT THE WRITER

Terry Box writes for the Dallas Morning News. He may be reached at tbox@dallasnews.com.

———

©2014 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Redesigned Camry, Sonata debut as competition heats up

The battle for buyers of family sedans — already the most competitive U.S. auto segment — will heat up this fall when Toyota and Hyundai launch dramatically restyled versions of their respective offerings, the Camry and the Sonata.

A decade ago, the default choices in this biggest slice of the auto market were the Camry and Honda's Accord, but the competition has grown fierce in the past five years. Automakers can't afford a misstep with a new model, and they can't fall behind with a dated model.

That's why Toyota and Hyundai debuted redesigns of their flagship sedans at the New York International Auto Show last week — even though the current version of the Camry is just 2 years old and the current Sonata launched as a 2011 model. Car companies typically wait five years between redesigns.

"The market is evolving faster, and consumer patience for vehicles that have not changed is dropping," said Karl Brauer, an analyst with auto information company Kelley Blue Book.

The Camry has been the nation's bestselling passenger car for a dozen years, but its lead over competitors is narrowing. Through the first three months of this year, Toyota sold about 94,000 Camrys. That leads the Nissan Altima by about 5,000 sales and the Honda Accord by about 15,000 sales.

But the Accord's market share is growing. When commercial sales to rental car companies and other fleet customers are subtracted, the Honda actually beat the Toyota last year, Brauer said.

That has prompted Toyota to ratchet up the discounts. Through the first three months of this year, Camry sales incentives averaged just over $3,200, almost $500 more than the industry average for the midsize sedan segment, according to ALG, a consulting firm that estimates used-car values for the leasing business. The Camry's average transaction price was $24,039, about $800 less than the segment average, ALG said.

Although Toyota sold more than 400,000 Camrys last year — about 16 percent of the midsize sedan market — consumers have requested improvements, said Bill Fay, general manager of Toyota's U.S. sales division.

"They wanted a more emotional styling and a better interior," Fay said.

Buyers also are looking for Toyota to continue to make improvements in ride, handling, technology and safety, he said. Often criticized for producing boring cars, Toyota challenged that notion with the Camry's new design.

The automaker's designers and engineers re-imagined nearly every exterior surface of the car, Fay said.

"Only the roof remains unchanged," he said.

With its new look, Toyota's designers worked to make the previously pedestrian Camry far more muscular.

The hood has four sculpted lines that trace back to the windshield and provide a sense that the car is in motion. Lines on each side of the Camry convey the same effect. The aggressive front bumper features a wider and more prominent trapezoidal grille shape, making the car look more securely planted on the road.

"You expect to have some sort of minor freshening at the three-year mark, where the Camry is now, but I was surprised to see such a substantial change. That has not been in the playbook for Toyota," said Jake Fisher, automotive director of Consumer Reports. "They are feeling the competition."

He likes the new styling and believes it will resonate with consumers.

To improve driving dynamics, Toyota bolstered the chassis and body structure with additional spot welds to improve rigidity and ride quality. It also retuned the suspension to give the Camry's handling a sportier feel.

Toyota engineers improved the window and door seals to reduce wind and road noise. The Camry's interior is upgraded with more soft-touch materials.

Because Toyota has led this segment for so long, other automakers "know they have to beat Camry at its own game" if they want to make inroads, said Tom Libby, an IHS Automotive analyst. "That drives incredible product redesigns and is great for the consumer."

That's exactly what Hyundai is doing with the redesign of its Sonata sedan.

"It feels more substantial and more luxurious," said Brauer of Kelley Blue Book. "The look of the interior components is great. The car is really well done."

The new version continues Hyundai's value strategy of packing the vehicle with features and pricing it below major competitors such as the Camry and Accord, he said.

Although Hyundai studied the ride and steering of Volkswagen's Passat sedan, its benchmark for this segment is the Accord.

The Honda "has set the segment ablaze and is leading in retail sales," said John Shon, manager of product planning for the Sonata.

Designers wanted to give the car a premium ride quality with improved steering response and reduced cabin noise, he said.

The Hyundai sedan follows the same "Fluidic Sculpture" design language that the South Korean automaker introduced with the outgoing Sonata five years ago. But the new version has a more refined, gentler look that gives the Sonata a statelier stance. Hyundai is clearly leaning toward luxury over sport with the new look.

For shoppers looking for expressive over conservative, the automaker will offer a Sonata Sport version with a more aggressive front grille and bumper, side rocker extensions and side chrome molding.

Hyundai is packing the frame of the new model with advanced high-strength steel — a move the automaker said improves ride quality and crash test performance.

Like the previous generation, the Sonata will come equipped only with four-cylinder engines. The main power plant is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. There's also a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option that produces 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

The automaker has redesigned the inside of the cabin to give the Sonata more room than most of its competitors. The car will qualify as a "large" vehicle rather than a midsize sedan under the Environmental Protection Agency classification.

On the technology front, Hyundai is putting Apple's CarPlay system into the Sonata. The system will give iPhone users access to car-safe apps on the 8-inch touch screen in the dashboard. Users of the iPhone 5 and above will be able to make calls, use maps, listen to music and access messages through their device.

Toyota and Hyundai expect their sedans will be their bestselling vehicles this year. Fay said the new version of the Camry will enable it to repeat as the nation's top-selling passenger car for a 13th consecutive year.

"Toyota will remain under pressure to keep that car at the top of the sales chart," Brauer said. "They will have to utilize sales incentives and fleet sales, but that is going to hurt the resale value of the Camry, which has been one of Toyota's traditional strengths."

Other automakers won't sit still, said Shon, the Sonata product planner. "Everyone brings their A game into this segment."

———

©2014 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Auto review: Jaguar F-Type a worthy heir to fabled E

Fifty-three years ago, in the afterglow of its 1961 debut, Enzo Ferrari described the Jaguar E-Type as "the most beautiful car ever made." That's right, Mr. Ferrari.

Today, 50 years after I lusted after this sleek and unique Jag, 50 years after Jan and Dean sang of the duel between the XKE and a Corvette Stingray on Sunset Boulevard's "Dead Man's Curve," comes the 2014 Jaguar F-Type.

Amazingly, it is the legendary British company's first new two-seat sports car since the famous E-Type. One can only imagine the smile on Enzo's face somewhere along that racetrack in the heavens.

It is wonderfully sculpted with headlamps that sweep up and over the fenders and a sleek profile with wheel wells that tightly surround the 20-inch wheels.

And while Jaguar folks say the F-Type isn't meant to be a celebration of the E, there are some hints of the old DNA in the rear. Check out the uplifted quad tailpipes, the rounded body panels and the accents on the circular taillights. Eh, Enzo?

Make no mistake, though, the E-Type and F-Type are from different eons. As one might expect with the benefit of today's technology, the F-Type would embarrass the old E with its raw speed and handling.

It is fast and fun — with a reminder from its growling exhaust — and yet it is well behaved on the road for commutes, too.

Even the base F has a supercharged V-6 that puts out 340 horses with 332 pound-feet of torque. The F-Type S bumps up the power to 380 horsepower and gets you to 60 mph under 5 seconds.

But the big bruiser is the F-Type V-8: a 5.0-liter supercharged machine that cranks out 495 ponies and 460 pound-feet of torque. That's sufficient to fly you to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, Jaguar says.

To let everyone know how many horses you are riding, the engine snorts and belches like a dragon — and that's on the regular setting. Push a little button on the console (the icon looks like a pair of eyeglasses but they're exhausts) and it really gets crazy. The wife doesn't like the racket, so for her, it was a turnoff. But for most, it will elicit a grin and a nod.

An 8-speed automatic is standard on all F-Types, sending the power smoothly and efficiently to the rear wheels. While a manual is not available, the automatic does come with manual levers to take more control, but it's hardly worth it. The automatic is right-on in its decisions.

Out on the road the F-Type is a rewarding experience. Acceleration is brisk, as the numbers indicate, but it also feels tight and true. Shifts are lightning-quick, especially when you turn the dial to the "dynamic" mode. There's also a racing mode for track-like sprints, and the more practical rain/snow mode.

Steering is nicely weighted and offers decent feedback, and the F-Type's cornering is reasonably flat and balanced — perhaps not by Porsche standards, but the Porsche is smaller and notoriously nimble. The Jag, even with its aluminum body, weighs nearly two tons.

This Jag feels tight, too, especially for a roadster, which can be prone to creaks and rattles. The soft top comes down in just 12 seconds and can be accomplished while on the move — up to 30 mph. That's handy for those who live in rainy-season regions, where a shower can come on quick and unexpected.

Inside, adjustable bolsters on the sport seats tuck you in as snugly for the twisty roads. Leather seats are soft and supple, too. Black seats are complemented by bold, red stitching.

Headroom is good; legroom is OK. At 6-foot-1, I was comfortable. Anyone taller might require a fitting before closing the deal.

Ambient lighting, neatly concealed under the door and center console, adds a classy touch. And materials are clearly upscale and rich-feeling.

Unusual — and cool — features include the start button that pulsates red, seemingly showing the cat's impatience to hit the road, and the AC vents that rise from the dash when the engine starts.

A handle flanks the center console so the passenger can hang on with both hands while gasping through the countryside en route to the bed and breakfast.

Oh, better pack light for those weekenders: 6.9 cubic feet of trunk space doesn't go far. Small suitcases maybe, or duffle bags even better due to the odd, angular shape.

Protecting occupants are side air bags and rollover bars — although stability and traction control systems are in place to avoid the need for those rollover bars.

Options include parking sensors with rear cross-traffic warning, blind-spot monitor and adaptive headlights.

The F-Type comes in three trims, and the base is well equipped with bi-xenon headlights, leather and suede upholstery, full power accessories and a manually-deployable rear spoiler.

F-Type S adds a more powerful six-cylinder engine, 19-inch wheels instead of 18-inch, adaptive suspension and selectable driving modes that control throttle, steering and tranny responses.

The top-of-the-line F-Type S gets the V-8 engine, 20-inch wheels, high-performance brakes and 12-way adjustable seats.

Add to all that several premium option packages plus an available performance package that includes the active exhaust control button, top-line brakes and a 14-speaker Meridian audio system.

How well this sports car compares to the likes of Mercedes SL63 or the Porsche 911 is one for the testing teams at the major magazines and websites. But I can tell you can't have more fun than in the F-Sport.

It will draw grins and compliments and thumbs-up. And, yes, I expect Enzo Ferrari would be giving his nod of approval from above.

———

2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE V-8 S:

—Base price, excluding destination charge: $69,000

—Price as tested: $92,895

———

©2014 The Miami Herald. Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit The Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple’s stock jumps after earnings top Wall Street expectations

Strong iPhone sales helped Apple Inc. blow through Wall Street expectations for its fiscal second quarter, sending its stock sharply up in after-hours trading.

The Cupertino, Calif., company announced Monday it earned $10.2 billion, or $11.62 a share, in the period ended March 29. That was up from a $9.5 billion profit, or $10.09 a share, the company posted in the same quarter a year earlier.

Apple's sales rose 4.6 percent from its second quarter of 2013 to $45.6 billion. The company sold 43.7 million iPhones in the period, up 17 percent from the same quarter last year.

On average, Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $10.18 a share on sales of $43.5 billion. The earnings guidance Apple gave investors in January implied earnings of between $8.4 billion and $9.3 billion, or about $9.29 to $10.34 a share if its share count remained stable, on sales ranging from $42 billion to $44 billion.

Investors cheered the news. In after-hours trading, the company's stock jumped more than 7 percent.

The company offered guidance for its fiscal third quarter that was toward the lower end of analyst's estimates. Apple's forecast implies earnings of between $6.7 billion and $7.5 billion, or around $7.66 to $8.52 a share if its share count remains the same, on sales of between $36 and $38 billion.

Before the reports, analysts had predicted Apple would earn $8.46 a share on sales of $37.9 billion in the current quarter. In the same period last year, Apple posted a profit of $6.9 billion, or $7.47 a share, on sales of $35.3 billion.

As part of its earnings announcement, Apple said it would raise its share repurchase program to $90 billion from $60 billion. To help fund that and other programs to return cash to shareholders, the company plans to raise additional debt.

The company also announced a seven-for-one stock split. The split, which will take effect June 9, is the first for the company since February 2005.

Apple's stock closed regular trading down $6.95 a share, or 1.3 percent, to $524.75.

———

©2014 San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Ticker

Postal workers to protest at Staples stores

Thousands of members of the American Postal Workers Union plan to protest outside Staples stores today, including in Auburn and Springfield.

The union is protesting a deal struck between the U.S. Postal Service and Staples last fall that has some Staples stores in a pilot program offering the same service as post offices, staffed by Staples employees rather than postal workers union members.

The Postal Service plans to expand the pilot program to 1,500 Staples stores, according to the union.

Drug company objects to new Zohydro rules

A San Diego company that makes the prescription painkiller Zohydro said it is disappointed with Gov. Deval Patrick's decision to impose new restrictions on the drug after a federal judge said his attempt to ban it was unconstitutional.

The new requirements include the doctor's completion of a risk assessment and a "pain management treatment agreement" with the patient before prescribing drugs such as Zohydro.

Drugmaker Zogenix maintains the medication is no riskier than other opiods currently on the market.

TODAY

 Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

THE SHUFFLE

Polaris Partners announced that Pat Kinsel has been made a venture partner, joining the firm's technology investment team. He specializes
in the areas of mobile, search, data analytics, collaboration and social software development.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

IV fluids in short supply at U.S. hospitals

Massachusetts hospitals have been closely monitoring their supplies of IV fluids due to a nationwide shortage.

Lori J. Schroth, a spokeswoman for Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said over the past year IV fluids have been in short supply for nearly all hospitals.

Although none of the more than dozen hospitals contacted in the Boston area and elsewhere in the state said the shortage had affected patient care, Schroth said, "Our pharmacy and materials management groups are concerned ... They are working daily, monitoring usage and incoming shipments, to ensure there is an adequate supply to support our patient population."

Suppliers attribute the shortage to unexpectedly high demand stemming from flu season. But Ted Okon, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, said the manufacturing base for things such as saline has been shrinking.

"Everybody's just making do," Okon said, "but saline is really basic and essential."

In a statement yesterday, Pat Noga, the Massachusetts Hospital Association's vice president for clinical affairs, said hospitals are working with federal and state regulators, suppliers and other stakeholders to identify ways to find adequate supplies.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aetna's 1Q profit jumps 36 pct, forecast climbs

Aetna's first-quarter net income soared 36 percent, fueled by gains from a multi-billion-dollar acquisition, and the health insurer hiked its 2014 earnings forecast above Wall Street expectations.

Its results breezed past analysts' expectations, and Aetna shares jumped more than 4 percent in premarket trading.

The Hartford, Conn., insurer closed a $6.9 billion acquisition of fellow insurer Coventry Health Care last May, and it said Thursday that deal was the main factor behind its growth in this year's first quarter.

Aetna Inc. is the nation's third-largest health insurer, and its medical enrollment swelled 24 percent in the quarter to 22.7 million people, compared to last year.

Coventry serves customers in two markets primed for growth. It administers Medicaid, the state and federally funded program that covers the needy and disabled people, and it offers Medicare Advantage plans. Those are subsidized versions of the federal government's Medicare program for the elderly and also disabled people.

The health care overhaul expanded Medicaid eligibility in several states starting this year. Medicare Advantage plans face funding cuts due to the overhaul, but retiring Baby Boomers are sparking enrollment growth in these plans, as are employers who are dropping their retiree health coverage.

Overall, Aetna earned $665.5 million, or $1.82 per share, in the quarter that ended March 31. That's up from $490.1 million, or $1.48 per share, a year earlier.

Adjusted earnings totaled $1.98 per share, not counting one-time items like a $92 million loss from the early retirement of some long-term debt and costs tied to the Coventry deal.

Analysts forecast earnings of $1.53 per share, according to FactSet.

Operating revenue excluding capital gains totaled $13.97 billion. Analysts expected about $13.6 billion in revenue.

Aetna said its revenue also grew because it raised prices or premiums on its coverage to recover fees and taxes imposed by the overhaul, starting this year.

The insurer's bottom line also was helped by a moderate flu season and harsh winter weather, which kept people home and away from doctor's offices, where they use their health insurance.

Aetna now expects 2014 adjusted earnings to range between $6.35 and $6.55 per share. It had previously forecast at least $6.25 per share.

Analysts expect $6.31 per share.

Aetna shares climbed $3.09, or 4.5 percent, to $72 in premarket trading about two hours ahead of the market open. Its shares have been almost flat so far this year.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dunkin' says bad weather hurt profit

NEW YORK — Dunkin' Brands on Thursday reported a lower profit for its first quarter, citing severe weather for dampening its U.S. sales.

Its net income and sales missed Wall Street expectations and shares fell 3 percent to $47.59 in premarket trading.

The company, which also owns ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins, nevertheless stood by its outlook for the year.

At Dunkin' Donuts stores in the U.S., which account for nearly three-quarters of the company's sales, sales edged up 1.2 percent at established locations. The company said people spent more on average per visit, in part because they traded up to pricier options. But it noted that sales growth was hampered by bad weather.

McDonald's Corp. earlier this week also cited bad weather for a 1.7 percent decline in sales in the U.S. By contrast, Chipotle reported a 13.4 percent increase at locations open least a year during the period.

Sales fell 2.4 percent at established Dunkin' Donuts stores overseas. Sales at Baskin-Robbins stores in the U.S. edged up 0.5 percent, while international locations saw a 1.4 percent increase.

For the three months ended March 29, Dunkin' earned $22.96 million, or 21 cents per share. Not including one-time items, it said earned 33 cents per share, which was still below the 36 cents per share Wall Street expected.

A year ago, it earned $23.8 million, or 22 cents per share.

Revenue rose to $171.9 million, also short of the $172.4 million analysts expected, according to FactSet.

Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. said it still expect U.S. sales at established locations to increase 3 percent to 4 percent for the year. Adjusted earnings are expected to be $1.79 to $1.83 per share.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

State issues restrictions for painkiller Zohydro

BOSTON — After a federal judge struck down Massachusetts' first-of-its-kind ban of the painkiller Zohydro, Gov. Deval Patrick is trying another approach: imposing more requirements on doctors who prescribe the powerful new drug.

The governor's office announced late Tuesday that the state's Board of Registration in Medicine has voted to require doctors to complete a risk assessment and "pain management treatment agreement" before prescribing drugs like Zohydro that are extended-release medications, contain only hydrocodone and are "not in abuse-deterrent form."

Patrick's public health commissioner also issued an emergency order requiring that prescribers use the state's online Prescription Monitoring Program, which tracks prescriptions of controlled substances, before prescribing drugs like Zohydro.

The governor, in a statement, said further state restrictions around opioids could be forthcoming. "We are in the midst of a public health emergency around opioid abuse, and we need to do everything in our power to prevent it from getting worse," Patrick said.

Earlier this month, Vermont issued similar requirements for prescribers of Zohydro but did not pursue an outright ban of the drug.

Patrick's announcement comes after a federal judge prevented the state from enforcing its ban on Zohydro, which the governor issued through an executive order in late March as the drug was going to market.

U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel said in her decision last week that federal law pre-empted the governor's order and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration already had approved the drug's use for treatment of severe and chronic pain. The maker of the drug, San Diego-based Zogenix, had argued that Patrick's ban violated the U.S. Constitution.

The state's ban officially ended Tuesday. Patrick has said he won't appeal the judge's decision.

Zohydro contains up to five times the amount of narcotic hydrocodone previously available in pills. But some health authorities say the drug can be easily crushed and then inhaled or injected, making it susceptible to abuse.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Delta navigates nasty winter, tops profit forecast

DALLAS — Delta Air Lines Inc. is making more money by filling more seats on its planes and paying a bit less for fuel.

Delta's first-quarter profit beat expectations and underscored how most big airlines are prospering with a combination of strong business travel, slightly higher fares and money from extra fees.

Even bad weather couldn't stop Delta from boosting profit, although it canceled more than 17,000 flights in January and February — double the number from a year ago — which trimmed $90 million off the company's revenue.

Ed Bastian, president of the Atlanta airline, said Delta expects revenue to remain strong through the year thanks to solid demand. He said that a key statistic of revenue per mile should grow in the mid-single digits during the April-through-June second quarter.

Delta said Wednesday that net income in the first quarter was $213 million, or 25 cents per share, up from $7 million, or a penny per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items such as fleet-restructuring costs and fuel-hedging, Delta earned 33 cents per share. Analysts, who usually exclude one-time costs and benefits like that, were expecting 29 cents per share, according to FactSet.

Revenue rose 5 percent to $8.92 billion, matching analysts' forecasts.

Passengers flew 4 percent more miles than in early 2013, which helped boost occupancy to 82.7 percent on the average flight, up from 81.2 percent a year ago. The average fare per mile rose 1 percent.

Including Delta Connection regional flights, the company spent $2.70 billion on fuel, its largest expense in the quarter. Still, that was a savings of $109 million, or 4 percent, as Delta paid $3.03 per gallon instead of last year's $3.24. The company expects total fuel costs of $2.97 to $3.02 per gallon in the second quarter.

The break on fuel spending more than offset an increase of $58 million, or 3 percent, in labor costs, the company's second-biggest expense at $1.97 billion.

As long as travel demand holds up, Delta should be able to cover those costs.

The company overcame severe winter weather and the shift of Easter travel into April.

"We see continued revenue strength as we move through the year from corporate revenue gains, the benefits of the Virgin Atlantic joint venture and improved ancillary revenues," Bastian said.

Ancillary revenues include fees for checking bags, changing reservations, getting an economy seat with more legroom, and other perks.

The financial strength of U.S. airlines has increased as mergers have reduced competition and made it easier for the carriers to control the supply of seats. Later this week, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are expected to report that their first-quarter profits also rose sharply from last year. Among the largest four U.S. airline companies, only United Continental Holdings Inc. is expected to report a loss

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Supreme Court justices cautious about broadcasters’ bid to shut Aereo

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court justices sounded uncertain and conflicted Wednesday in trying to decide whether a TV streaming service that allows users to receive their favorite programs through tiny, rented antennas violates the broadcasters' copyrights.

The case of ABC v. Aereo has the potential to reshape the broadcast and cable industries if the Brooklyn-based upstart prevails in the high court. And that appeared possible after Tuesday's argument.

An attorney for the broadcasting industry urged the court to shut down Aereo. It allows "tens of thousands of paying strangers" to watch the programs they wish, but without paying any copyright fees to broadcasters. If Aereo prevails, some experts think the cable and satellite companies may decide to stream their own signals in the same way Aereo does and refuse to pay licensing fees to the broadcasters.

Before Wednesday's argument, most legal experts were convinced the justices would rule against Aereo's service as a violation of copyright laws. But that certainty faded during the hour-long argument. Several justices admitted they were struggling for the right answer.

The broadcast industry relies heavily on a provision in the copyright law that a television broadcast may not be aired "publicly" without the permission of the broadcaster. Cable and satellite companies pay fees to broadcast networks to transmit those signals to their subscribers, but Aereo does not.

The competing lawyers argued over whether a customer of Aereo's service is receiving a "public" performance of a copyright broadcast or instead is watching a private show at home.

The attorney for Aereo said its service was like the videocassette recorders that became popular in the 1980s, which allowed homeowners to make copies of programs to be viewed at home.

Aereo "could rent DVRs in Brooklyn, and it would be the same situation," said Washington attorney David Frederick. He added that Aereo's tiny antennas "pick up over-the-air signals that are free to the public."

But former Solicitor General Paul Clement, representing ABC and other broadcasters, said Aereo had devised "a gimmick" to make money by sending TV signals to thousands of paying customers. This large-scale streaming is clearly a "public performance," he said, not a private one at home.

Justice Department attorney Malcolm Stewart said the government agreed with the broadcasters that Aereo was violating copyright laws by transmitting broadcast signals without a license.

Twice during the argument, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said Aereo had designed its system to "circumvent" the restrictions in the copyright law. But that did not necessarily mean it was illegal, he added.

The justices are expected to reach a decision by late June.

———

©2014 Tribune Co. Distributed by MCT Information Services

Visit Tribune Co. at www.latimes.com

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Microsoft expands ad-free Bing search for schools

LOS ANGELES — Microsoft is expanding a program that gives schools the ability to prevent ads from appearing in search results when they use its Bing search engine. The program, launched in a pilot program earlier this year, is now available to all U.S. schools, public or private, from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The program is meant to create a safer online environment for children, but also promote use of Bing, which trails market leader Google.

Microsoft Corp. is also giving away a first-generation Surface tablet computer to schools where community members sign up to use the ad-supported version of Bing outside of the school.

The program is tailored so that 60 parents and friends who do 30 Bing searches a day can earn their school a Surface in a little over a month. There is no limit on the number of Surface devices a school can earn.

Microsoft has some unsold inventory of the first generation Surface in stock after booking a large write-down on the devices last year.

Matt Wallaert, a Microsoft employee who created the "Bing in the Classroom" program, said the company hopes that some of the program's goodwill leads to more Bing usage.

"We absolutely are an ad-supported business, but we think that schools are not the time and place for that," he said. "Obviously we hope that parents will hear that message and want to use Bing at home."

Google Inc. doesn't offer the same ad-free search experience for schools.

Microsoft also has created some 500 lesson plans that encourage the use of search to answer questions. The questions aren't the kind that can be answered by just typing them into the search field.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Massachusetts homes sales down in March

BOSTON — Two organizations that follow the state's real estate market say a shortage of homes on the market is driving down sales while driving up prices.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported Wednesday that the number of sales of single-family dropped almost 12 percent last month when compared to the same month a year ago, while the median price jumped more than 8 percent to more than $314,000.

The Warren Group, a publisher of business data, reported an 8 percent decrease in sales volume and a nearly 9 percent boost in the median price to $315,000, the 18th consecutive month of higher year-over-year prices.

The organizations use slightly different figures in their calculations.

Realtors President Peter Ruffini says rising home values provides an incentive for owners to put their homes on the market.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Venerable Somerville Theatre celebrates its centennial with time-honored movies

You can't watch "Jurassic Park" on an iPad.

Oh, sure, technically you can. But if you reduce Steven Spielberg's terrible lizards down to something you can hold in your lap, you lose too much — nobody wants to see a jeep racing away from a T. rex the size of a butterfly.

Unless your plasma TV has a thousand-inch display, you need to see "Jurassic Park" on the big screen. Thankfully, you can see it tomorrow at the Somerville Theatre.

Curated by theater general manager Ian Judge and hosted by Judge and projectionist David Kornfeld, the movie house's centennial celebration is in full swing with loads of classics from the last century — still to come: screenings of "The Princess Bride," "The Last Waltz," "The Departed" and more.

"We wanted something that honored the anniversary and encapsulated it," Judge said. "We got some amazing movies, the best print of 'Sunset Boulevard' I've ever seen. I didn't really know what to expect with attendance. I knew it'd be good for 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Casablanca' but 90 percent of the films in the 100-day countdown to the May 11 anniversary have made us money."

One of the joys of the celebration is watching Judge and Kornfeld introduce the films. Witty and knowledgeable, the cinephiles put the films in context with history and humor. For Judge, who grew up coming to the theater and began in the business as an usher at the now-shuttered Harvard AMC, the series has put the glory of an old movie house in the spotlight.

"Other than the seats and the light bulbs, most of what you see in the theater is 100 years old," he said.

The final film in the program will be "The Wizard of Oz" on May 11 — the screening will also include three vaudeville acts, live music and classic short subjects. Judge loves a lot of the films in the series (he urges everybody to search out "A Thousand Clowns"). But he says nothing compares to "The Wizard of Oz."

"Going to see this movie in a theater like ours is such a magical experience," he said. "That magic is lost when you go to a multiplex. Sure, you can watch it on your phone or on DVD anytime. But that won't leave an imprint. I'm hoping there's some kid at our screening that grows up to take their kid to 'The Wizard of Oz' in 50 years."

For details and tickets to 
the Somerville Theatre's 
centennial programming, go to 
somervilletheatreonline.com.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coachella's young audience a marketers paradise

INDIO, Calif. — When it first started in 1999, Coachella was a couple of stages and a dance tent. Tickets were $65. A few dusty stands sold hot dogs and Cokes. It was the end of grunge and the start of a new millennium, and it was all about the music. All for one weekend.

Now, tickets start at $375. Gourmet menus and VIP packages abound. And dozens of companies have hopped on the Coachella bandwagon, turning the music festival — now two back-to-back weekends — into a marketing hotspot. Adidas, Details magazine, Harper's Bazaar and Lacoste are just some of the brands that host offsite festival events for stylish celebrity guests.

Rolling Stone executive editor Nathan Brackett said the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has become a destination for fans and brands because organizers consistently deliver compelling lineups of diverse and unconventional musical acts. A reunited OutKast headlines this year's festival, and other acts include Arcade Fire, Lorde, Haim, Lana Del Rey and Muse.

"They made great, cool choices and now they're enjoying the fruits of that," he said.

The Coachella crowd may be there to listen to music under the hot desert sun, but the retailers are there for the celebs and the crowd, which is young, hip and with money to spend.

"Music is a marketing platform for many lifestyle brands," said marketing expert Tom Julian, a director of merchandising and retail consulting firm The Doneger Group. "The festival circuit becomes as important as an ad campaign or social-media campaign. ... It just gets back to: This is where the millennial is, and this is a way to connect."

The idea is to transfer Coachella's cool factor to the brand itself, and translate that into sales: Festival fashion becomes synonymous with spring style for young consumers, right at the start of vacation season. Coachella's casual, summery look provides a sweet spot for fashion brands, said Megan Reynolds, senior shopping editor for Harper's Bazaar, which held its second annual event at this year's festival.

"It's so important not only because it's the only (event) of its kind — fashion is usually so focused on being dressed up all the time," she said. "It's kicking off this whole season."

For women, the look is super-short denim cutoffs, ankle boots, bikini top and/or sheer, macrame blouse, and floral headband. For guys, it's board shorts and an Abercrombie-and-Fitch body.

Celebrities embrace the dress code. De-facto Coachella mascot Vanessa Hudgens rocked the uniform perfectly in a shot on Instagram on Coachella's opening weekend. Katy Perry paired jean shorts with a mesh crop top at Bazaar's off-site pool party. Selena Gomez threw a crochet white dress over her bikini-and-shorts combo. Julianne Hough and Sarah Hyland also followed the rules.

Kellan Lutz and Joe Jonas sported buff biceps in drapey tank tops. Steven Tyler wore a sheer shirt at the Lacoste party, where Emma Roberts paired an alligator-logo top with the requisite denim shorts.

Brands set up shop at the posh Palm Springs hotels nearby where the beautiful people stay, then offer parties, merchandise and festival access to celebrities in exchange for publicity and the attention of a coveted Twitter audience. Social media gives the festival a reach far beyond music fans and readers of celebrity magazines.

"People have Instagram accounts just for Coachella fashion," Reynolds said.

The brands have followed the stars, Reynolds said.

"It really started as a place (stars) just wanted to go. It was like a more digestible version of Burning Man: You could be at a festival that wasn't totally marketed and had underground appeal," she said. "Now it's not like that, but people still really like it. ... It's evolved into just a fun place to be. We like the audience there, and a lot of the fashion industry is coming on board. It's taken on its own ambiance for the weekend."

Other festival sponsors, including Heineken and Fruttare, host "houses" on the concert grounds where all 100,000 attendees are invited to cool off, hear tunes and sample products (Representatives for festival promoter Goldenvoice declined to be interviewed for this story).

H&M, a festival sponsor for the last five years, also held its second annual Coachella after-party last weekend, drawing such stars as Jared Leto, Robert Pattinson, Kate Bosworth and Fergie. Company spokeswoman Marybeth Schmitt described the festival as "the ideal venue" to launch new H&M lines — it announced its collaboration with designer Alexander Wang last weekend.

"It is extremely exciting for us to be able to reach a significant number of our target consumers," she said in a statement. "The music culture has always been a source of inspiration for our collections — music is the perfect complement to fashion."

___

Online:

http://www.coachella.com

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen at www.twitter.com/APSandy .

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

4 French journalists abducted in Syria freed, safe

PARIS — Ten months after their capture in Syria, four French journalists crossed the border into neighboring Turkey and reached freedom Saturday, though dozens more remain held in the country's chaotic civil war.

Edouard Elias, Didier Francois, Nicolas Henin and Pierre Torres — all said to be in good health — were freed over the weekend in unclear circumstances in what has become the world's most dangerous, and deadliest, conflict for journalists.

"We are very happy to be free ... and it's very nice to see the sky, to be able to walk, to be able to ... speak freely," said Francois, a noted war correspondent for Europe 1 radio, in footage recorded by the private Turkish news agency DHA. Smiling broadly, he thanked Turkish authorities for their help.

French President Francois Hollande's office said in a statement that he felt "immense relief" over the release despite the "very trying conditions" of their captivity.

Elias, a freelance photographer, also was working for Europe 1 radio. Henin and Torres are freelance journalists.

A DHA report said soldiers on patrol found the four blindfolded and handcuffed in Turkey's southeast Sanliurfa province late Friday. Turkish television aired images of the four at a police station and a local hospital.

It wasn't clear whether a ransom had been paid for their release, nor which group in Syria's chaotic 3-year-old conflict held the men. In his statement, Hollande thanked "all those" who contributed to the journalists' release without elaborating. Longstanding French practice is to name a specific country that contributed to hostage releases. France denies it pays ransom to free its hostages.

Several of the journalists' families told French television stations that they were recently told a "target window" was opening that could mean a return by Easter Sunday.

The four are expected to touch down in France on Sunday morning.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement that freedom for the hostages "was the result of long, difficult, precise, and necessarily discrete work."

Journalists around France rejoiced at the news of their colleagues' liberation.

"What's planned is that we will hold them in our arms," said an exuberant Europe 1 chief Fabien Namias on iTele TV news channel.

The four went missing in June 2013 in two incidents. Two were taken after being interrogated by extremist fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in the eastern province of Raqqa, said a Syrian activist who said he accompanied the journalists as translator and guide.

Hussam al-Ahmad, 23, told The Associated Press that Henin and Torres aroused the fighters' suspicion after they entered a school and asked to take photographs of the fighters as they played football. Al-Ahmad said the fighters held them for about six hours.

During his interrogation, al-Ahmad said he was asked: "How do you let these infidels enter Syria after they killed our people in Mali?" France launched a military intervention in January 2013 in Mali that scattered Islamic extremists who had taken over the country's north.

"I said, 'These brothers are reporters. They have a humanitarian message,' and then he got angry because I referred to the Frenchmen as my brothers," al-Ahmad said.

Al-Ahmad said Henin and Torres were seized four days after the interrogation, likely by the Islamic State, an al-Qaida breakaway group.

Al-Ahmad, who fled to Turkey months ago after being threatened by jihadis, said he burst into tears when he heard of the journalists' release.

"It's a day of celebration for me," he said.

Syria is considered the world's most dangerous assignment for journalists. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in April that 61 journalists were kidnapped in Syria in 2013, while more than 60 have been killed since the conflict began.

The widespread abductions of journalists is unprecedented, and has been largely unreported by news organizations in the hope that keeping the kidnappings out of public view may help to negotiate the captives' release. Jihadi groups are believed to be behind most recent kidnappings.

Christophe Deloire, director-general of Reporters Without Borders, told BFM TV the four French journalists were kept in the same place as recently freed Spanish journalists and others. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile Saturday, the head of the mission charged with destroying Syria's chemical weapons said the government had removed or destroyed around 80 percent of the country's chemical weapons material. In a statement, Sigrid Kaag said at this rate, Syria could reach its deadline to eliminate its chemical weapons program within a United Nations-set deadline of June 30.

Syrian officials came under criticism for missing previous deadlines.

The civil war also bled into neighboring Lebanon. Security officials there said Saturday that soldiers detained six hard-line Syrian rebels in the northeast border town of Beit Lahia. The officials said the rebels planned to go to the nearby Syrian town of Beit Jinn, near the border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't allowed to speak to journalists.

___

Hadid reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Jamey Keaten and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dart adapter flashes power

Laptops keep getting smaller and lighter, but chargers never seem to change — until now.

A California-based company founded by a group of MIT graduate students has invented what it calls the world's smallest laptop-charger.

Measuring 2.5 cubic inches and weighing just over 2 ounces, FINsix's Dart is barely bigger than a lipstick case — making it four times smaller and six times lighter than the average laptop adapter — but it charges just as quickly.

"Everyone who has a laptop knows the big brick they have to carry around," said CEO Vanessa Green, who co-founded the company as an MBA student at MIT's Sloan School of Management. "We looked at the market and said, 'Hey, we can do something different here.'"

FINsix launched the Dart in January to rave reviews for its practicality at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Last Monday, the company began a monthlong Kickstarter campaign and met its goal of $200,000 on the crowdfunding site within 12 hours. By 7 p.m. Friday, the Dart had 3,104 backers who had pledged $336,706, with 25 days still to go in the campaign.

The money will be used to complete the development and production of the 65-watt charger, which sells on Kickstarter for $79, but which FINsix expects to retail in stores for about $119.

In addition to its small size and light weight, the Dart is designed for use anywhere in the world, and its laptop plus USB port allows people to charge multiple gadgets from a single outlet.

The Dart works well with all major PC brands, as well as with MacBooks 65 watts and under. To make chargers for the latter, though, FINsix has to buy off-the-shelf Apple adapters to get the connectors. So the Dart for MacBook costs $79 more than a standard Dart.

The charger is not compatible with 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros and the 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina display because they require more than 65 watts. It also is not compatible with the Microsoft Surface tablet and the Google Chromebook Pixel.

The good news for gadget buffs: The Dart is just the first of a full line of the smallest, lightest and highest-performing power electronics FINsix intends to make.

To accomplish that, the company has raised more than $6 million in venture capital and angel investments and assembled a team of 18 employees — five in Boston and the remainder in Menlo Park, Calif.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Robot gives telecommuters a presence in the workplace

Technology is already allow­­ing people to tele­commute across vast distances, giving companies the luxury of finding the talent they want, even if that talented individual doesn't live in the same city, state or country. And the ability to work remotely is a perk more companies are using­ to retain workers.

But email, tele­conferencing and phone calls still prevent a remote worker from establishing a presence in the workplace. Spontaneous interactions are impossible — there's no brainstorming in the hallway, or popping into a colleague's office to bounce around an idea.

The answer? ROBOT ME!

A number of robotics companies have begun marketing "telepresence robots," upright devices that can roam hallways carrying a screen displaying a live video ­image of a telecommuter. The remote worker can see and hear via a camera and microphone on the robot.

I spoke with Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot, the Mass­achusetts-based company that created, among many other things, the robotic Roomba vacuum cleaner that is currently striking fear into the hearts of your house pets.

"If you actually want people to have high-quality remote experiences, you need to solve this remote presence in a creative way," he said. "We're trying to create a true immersive remote presence — I'm trying to build you. So you can attend meetings not as the forgotten, dis­embodied black spider phone thing, or the strange floating head that's up there on a screen until we need to use Power­Point, but as the guy who shows up at the meeting, sits down and participates in a way completely analogous to you being there in person."

iRobot has created — and some companies have begun using — the Ava 500. It looks like a sleek, round-based pedestal with a rectangular high-definition screen mounted on its wide neck.

The screen slides up and down to simulate a standing or sitting position, keeping interactions on roughly the same eye-to-eye level with people. The remote user can pivot the screen 360 degrees and move the robot in any direction. (The robot has sensors so it doesn't run into people or walls.)

Angle said they intentionally steered clear of giving Ava 500 a human form.

"We had to create a stylized,­ attractive form for the robot that wasn't gender specific but had a gravitas and scale volume and fidelity that would make the remote user feel good about representing themselves," he said. "And the people on the other end would look at it in a friendly way where the robot wasn't distracting because of its failed attempt to look like a person."

Basically, if the robot looked too human it would be seriously creepy. So they stuck with a non-human design that makes Ava 500 substantial enough to give people the sense that there's a presence beyond just a face on a screen.

The robot memorizes the layout of an office building, allow­ing a remote user to simply press a point on a map to dispatch Ava 500 to a certain office or conference room. Once there, the worker "teleports" into the robot, appearing on the screen and en­gaging with whoever's around.

On a recent morning, the folks at iRobot allowed me to teleport into an Ava 500 at their facility. Within minutes, I was linked up with the Ava 500 using an app on my iPad and teleconferencing software on my desktop computer. I controlled the robot, the screen height and the camera direction via the iPad touch screen, zipping around with ease and making lots of ­cliche robot sounds.

It was amazing. I spoke with two iRobot employees and a photographer, followed them to different locations and checked out displays in the company's robot museum.

Before long, the inherent strangeness of the experience melted away and I under­stood why they call it an immersive experience. This was different than using Skype or making a conference call — I was able to react to facial cues, turn my attention to other people as they spoke and engage in a much more conversational manner.

"The difference in metaphor is that anything that you can do if you were in a meeting physically, we want to try to mimic and replicate using a robot," Angle said. "The feeling was that if we did a good enough job, meetings could take place identically to how they would take place if you were there in person."

The price for this technology is steep — one Ava 500 costs $69,500. But it can allow companies to bring people from far-off distances into a workplace without paying for flights or hotel rooms.

, and remote workers tend to reduce company costs by requiring less office space.

Devices like Ava 500 are going to become common in many workplaces. It's an inevitable step in sorting out how best to mix technology with our human need for some form of spontaneous interaction.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More