U.S. seeks tighter control over Apple in e-book case

NEW YORK: Apple Inc is headed for a showdown with the U.S. government and dozens of states, which on Friday urged that tough new restrictions be imposed on the company for illegally conspiring to raise e-book prices.

The changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 33 U.S. states and territories are designed to stop Apple from committing further antitrust violations after U.S. District Judge Denise Cote said on July 10 Apple had a "central role" in a conspiracy with five major publishers to raise e-book prices.

But the proposed changes extend beyond e-books, potentially limiting Apple's ability to negotiate for such content as movies, music and TV shows, and increasing regulatory oversight of other business areas such as the company' App Store.

In a court filing, Apple called the proposed injunction a "draconian and punitive intrusion" into its business that would hurt consumers and competition, and was "wildly out of proportion" to the harm it was meant to address.

"The resulting cost of this relief - not only in dollars but also lost opportunities for American businesses and consumers - would be vast," it said.

Federal and state regulators disagreed.

"Under the department's proposed order, Apple's illegal conduct will cease, and Apple and its senior executives will be prevented from conspiring to thwart competition," said Bill Baer, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division.

Cote will weigh the arguments at an Aug. 9 hearing in her Manhattan courtroom. A damages trial might follow.

Despite Apple's protests, analysts have said the bigger issue for the Cupertino, California-based company in this case might be damage to its reputation, not financial harm.

Amazon.com Inc commands about 65 percent of the U.S. e-books market, while Apple's share has been estimated in the single digits.

The governments' plan, which needs court approval, would require that Apple end its contracts with the five publishers and be banned for five years from entering contracts that would effectively raise prices of e-books sold by rivals.

The publishers are Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group Inc, News Corp's HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Pearson Plc's Penguin Group (USA) Inc, CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster Inc and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH's Macmillan. All settled with U.S. regulators.

Apple would also be unable to cut deals with providers of movies, music and TV programs for its iPad tablets and iPhones that would likely increase the prices at which rivals might sell such content.

Officials also want to make it easier for consumers to compare e-book prices by requiring Apple for two years to let Amazon, Barnes & Noble Inc and other rivals provide links to their own stores within their iPad and iPhone apps.

Industry experts said the proposal, if adopted, could solidify Amazon's dominance in the e-books market.

"Why isn't the DOJ forcing Amazon to play fairly? This is the question the publishing industry wants answered," said Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, an e-book publisher and distributor that works with Apple, Barnes & Noble and other companies. "Apple brought much-needed competition to the e-book market and now the government is trying to undermine them."

Albert Greco, a book-industry expert at Fordham University's business school, said the proposal "does not address the long term issue of book pricing in the United States."

The plan also requires Apple to hire a full-time internal antitrust compliance officer, and use a court-appointed external monitor to ensure its compliance with the proposed final judgment for 10 years.

Government officials said the changes would permit Apple to compete "vigorously and lawfully" in the e-books market.

Apple countered that the changes seek unnecessary relief for harm already remedied under the settlements with the publishers. It urged Cote to reject the injunction entirely or approve a "narrower and more modest" alternative.

Federal and state officials accused Apple of conspiring with the publishers in late 2009 and early 2010, as the iPad was being launched.

They said the conspiracy caused some e-book prices to rise to $12.99 or $14.99 from the $9.99 that Amazon charged.

Evidence damaging Apple's case included emails from Steve Jobs, its late chief executive, that the officials said reflected a desire to boost prices.

"Taking advantage of the publisher defendants' fear of and frustration over Amazon's pricing," Cote concluded, "Apple seized the moment and brilliantly played its hand."

In their settlements, the publishers agreed to pay more than $166 million for consumers' benefit. None admitted wrongdoing.

The case is U.S. v. Apple Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-02826.

Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Technology/International/2013/Aug-03/226160-us-seeks-tighter-control-over-apple-in-e-book-case.ashx

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Oakland A's see advantage dwindle after loss to Texas Rangers

OAKLAND -- It's already been a crazy race between the A's and Texas Rangers in 2013, and it looks as though it's going to get wilder and wackier over the final two months.

On May 15, Texas led the American League West by seven games. By July 26, there had been a 13-game swing, with the A's opening up a six-game advantage.

Now it appears to be swinging back the other way again -- and quickly.

The Rangers came into a sold-out Coliseum on Friday night (35,067) riding a four-game winning streak and promptly walloped Oakland 8-3.

Texas' recent run has shaved the A's seemingly comfortable six-game lead to just 2? games in just four days.

"They've played us well all year," said Brandon Moss, whose two-run double in the first inning turned out to be Oakland's biggest hit of the night. "They've definitely had our number a little bit. We need to come out and win some games against them and get some confidence going."

Indeed, the Rangers have won seven of 11 this season from the A's, who have lost three straight games for the first time since early May.

On this night, Texas pounded Tommy Milone (9-9) for nine hits and six runs in just 3?2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz and Jurickson Profar each hit two-run home runs off the A's left-hander.

This could be just the start of the bad news for the A's. If the Rangers can get out of town by winning the series, they're set up nicely for a longer haul -- they'll play 24 consecutive games against teams with losing records before they return to Oakland again on Sept. 2.

The A's, by contrast, will play teams with winning records 15 of the next 24 games after this series.

Milone started the game like he was locked in -- all 10 pitches he threw in the first inning were strikes, and he was hitting his spots. But it all went downhill from there.

"Pretty terrible," Milone said. "I felt fine early on, in the bullpen and the first inning. Even the second inning, I only made one bad pitch (the Cruz homer). But from the third on, it just kind of escalated. I started leaving balls out over the plate. A couple big hits, and there's six runs."

Milone, who fell to 0-4 against the Rangers in five career starts, didn't survive the fourth inning. Craig Gentry lined a one-out double past third baseman Josh Donaldson, and rookie Profar followed with his fourth homer of the year, a line shot over the left field fence. Dan Otero replaced Milone with two outs in the inning.

Oakland got one run back in the bottom of the fourth on a Josh Reddick leadoff walk and a run-scoring double to right by Coco Crisp.

But early on, the A's were squandering more opportunities than they were cashing in against erratic Texas starter Alexi Ogando,

Ogando threw 60 pitches and walked four batters in the first two innings alone, but the A's could manage only the two runs. In the third, they had first-and-third with one out after back-to-back singles by Yoenis Cespedes and Moss, but Donaldson -- who hasn't had an RBI since the All-Star break -- hit into a double play.

Ogando was gone after four innings having thrown 92 pitches, and the A's subsequently loaded the bases against his relief, left-hander Robbie Ross. Jed Lowrie opened the inning with a single, and after two were out, Donaldson singled and Reddick walked. But pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo flied out to center against reliever Jason Frasor (2-2) to end Oakland's last legitimate threat.

The A's left 10 men on base and are now 1 for 19 with runners in scoring position the past two games.

"There were some opportunities for us that we didn't cash in, and on the flip side, they did cash in on their opportunities," manager Bob Melvin said.

Adam Rosales, designated for assignment by the A's on Wednesday, was claimed on waivers by the Rangers and was in the opposing dugout after 3? seasons with Oakland.

"I was shocked but excited at the same time," Rosales said. "It's obviously bittersweet. I was with the A's for four years. I felt like I grew up a lot. But this is great. I'm ready for this new chapter in my baseball life."

Even though Rosales now plays for a division rival, the A's were happy for him.

"We'd probably rather he be in a different uniform, with someone in the National League that we don't play," Melvin said. "But everybody's pretty fond of Rosie, and the fact that he's back in the big leagues again is good for him."

Brett Anderson threw a live batting practice session before the game, and the A's will announce Saturday whether the left-hander is ready to begin a rehab assignment. Anderson threw two 15-pitch B.P. stints to hitters in addition to 25 pitches on the side.

John Jaso will undergo further testing Saturday for the concussion that has put him out of action for a week. Melvin said Jaso is improving, but the catcher is not expected to play this weekend.

Saturday's game

Texas (Matt Garza 1-0) at A's
(Jarrod Parker 6-6), 1:05 p.m. FOX

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/athletics/ci_23788984/oakland-see-advantage-dwindle-after-loss-texas-rangers?source=rss_viewed

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Kirobo the talking robot blasts into space on historic mission

Sun Aug 4, 2013 8:16am EDT

(Reuters) - Kirobo, a knee-high talking robot with red boots and a black and white body, has blasted off from Japan for the International Space Station to test how machines can help astronauts with their work.

The Japanese-speaking robot, equipped with voice- and facial-recognition technology, was packed into an unmanned cargo vessel along with tons of supplies and equipment for the crew of the orbital research base.

The cargo vessel, launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan on Sunday, will arrive at the outpost on Friday, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's website.

At a recent demonstration, Kirobo said it "hoped to create a future where humans and robots live together and get along".

As it carries on the first robot-human chats in space, Kirobo's main conversation partner will be Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is expected to take off for the space station with six other crew members in November.

Wakata is due to take command of the complex, a $100 billion project by 15 nations, next March. Kirobo - jointly developed by the University of Tokyo, Toyota Motor Corp and Dentsu Inc - will stay in space until late 2014.

Standing 34 cm (13 inches) tall and weighing about 1 kg (2.2 pounds), Kirobo is designed to navigate in zero gravity and gets its name from "kibo", the Japanese word for "hope", and "robot".

(Reporting by John O'Callaghan; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/kouhywcjYyE/story01.htm

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Disposable Spy Computers Are Disturbingly Easy and Cheap to Make

Be honest, how often do you use unsecured Wi-Fi for something you shouldn't? You know, just a quick Facebook login at Starbucks. If you've done it even once, that's too much, because making a secret spy computer that can steal all that data is dumb easy. And cheap to boot.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/disposable-spy-computers-are-disturbingly-easy-and-chea-1014343556

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This week's big questions: Has the Edinburgh Fringe grown too big? Has Twitter gone too far?

There are more places to eat. Seriously, it?s pop-up this and noodle that and I?ve already spotted a bratwurst van near my venue ? I do love sauerkraut. I used to come up to Edinburgh and guarantee losing a stone: fear and cigarettes for a month is a really effective diet. Now that I have given up the fags and am consequently very greedy, I will have to keep an eye on my sausage consumption. There are also loads more gyms and health clubs, unfortunately. I liked it when Edinburgh thought gyms were a bit sissy.

Is the Edinburgh Fringe too big? Would it not better for so much talent to be spread about the calendar and the country?

This city is the ideal size for a festival, but I do fear it?s getting borderline obese. The fringe brochure is bewildering and I?ve been saying for years that the festival needs trained Fringe ?Buddies? on hand to guide confused punters through the maze. These could be out-of-work performers which would add a nice touch of bitterness to the scheme. You?ve got to get organised, plan your route, carry a banana with you, and remember while it might be pissing down outside, your venue is likely to be sauna hot. If you need to strip down to your bra, make sure it?s a pleasant one.

You seem to enjoy Twitter but its dark side is coming to the fore. Why is that?

Argh, how sad that the playground should occasionally turn into a cesspit. I?ve been moderately lucky ? a few ?you?re shit? comments but, on the whole, much laughter, loads of information and lots of friends. The downside of social networking is that horrible people can hide behind fictional identities. The reality of most trolls is that they are socially incompetent, but that doesn?t necessarily mean they are harmless.

How best to respond to trolling?

Block, block, block. Occasionally, I will get a snide comment and if I react, the comment will be removed or I?ll get an apology. Twitter is very open to misinterpretation, especially when no one bothers with grammar. I?ve taken offence on a few occasions, because I?m prickly and I?ve read something the wrong way. Thing is, you?ve got 140 characters, so if you?ve made a boo-boo you?ve always got enough space to say sorry.

As a northerner what do you make of a Tory peer describing the North-east as ?desolate? and suitable for fracking?

Typical nimbyism. I?m scared of fracking. This country is too small to risk it. My parents live up in Lytham St Anne?s near Blackpool, which was fracked a few years ago ? and subsequently had a small earthquake. You can call it a tremor if you like, but the earth moved and it wasn?t good for me. I always think of the earth?s crust as being a bit biscuity. Fracking is like drilling into a massive Ryvita: bits are going to start breaking off. It?ll all end in tears and crumbs.

David Cameron has laid down Facebook rules for his children. Should parents monitor their children?s use of Facebook?

How? I?ve never had to stop my daughter doing anything. They have to develop their own moral code. That said, she barred me from Facebook about 10 years ago, because she said I?d use it to snoop on her. Weirdly, I obeyed! Doesn?t mean I haven?t used other snooping methods, but I think (from what I can gather) Facebook puts kids under horrible pressure to be seen to be having ?fun?. I think the most important thing we can instil into our kids is that ?fun? isn?t all that it?s cracked up to be. Sometimes ?fun? is really exhausting and boring. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

A quarter of parents are said to be hiring a tutor for their children over the summer holidays. What do you make of that?

Great work for graduates! I see it from the POV of being the parent of a 24-year-old; there?s not much out there for tons of bright post-uni kids. There?s always the hope a good tutor will inspire where a dull teacher won?t, but it shouldn?t be necessary. What?s weird is that it tends to be parents who have already opted into the fee-paying system who are forking out for tutors on top of school fees! That?s like volunteering to pay twice for the same thing, which is a bit mad.

The Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee have, we are told, made Britain a happier place. Was that the effect they had on you?

Yes, it?s good to be reminded that we are stylish and plucky. My natural inclination is to sneer at everything, but both occasions proved just how brilliant we are at putting on a show and how cool we are even when we?re doing something madly traditional. I thought the river procession would leave me completely cold, but fortunately on the day I was invited into a set of barristers? chambers overlooking the Thames ? so I was kept completely warm, dry and stoked up on chicken thighs.

Jenny Eclair?s stand-up show ?Eclairous? is at the Edinburgh Festival at the Gilded Balloon, 7.30pm from now until 17 August. Her novel ?Life, Death and Vanilla Slices? is published by Sphere

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/266/f/3750/s/2f7a54b2/sc/38/l/0L0Sindependent0O0Cvoices0Ccomment0Cthis0Eweeks0Ebig0Equestions0Ehas0Ethe0Eedinburgh0Efringe0Egrown0Etoo0Ebig0Ehas0Etwitter0Egone0Etoo0Efar0E87438490Bhtml/story01.htm

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USA/Canada Looking for laptop for college

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Source: forum.notebookreview.com --- Thursday, August 01, 2013
What is your budget? Absolute max $2000US What country will you be buying this in? U.S. or Canada What size notebook do you prefer? Mainstream (15 - 16-inch screen) Desktop Replacement (17-inch + screen) Would you consider a refurbished laptop? Maybe What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for? Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Listening to Music, Photo Editing, Video Chat and Conference, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Graphic Intense 3D Gaming What games will you be playing? GTAV, Bioshock Infinite, DIRT, etc. Where will you be using this laptop? Will be used different places and Will stay on desk Will you be buying online or in store? online or in store Which OS do you prefer? Windows 8, touchscreen is a must-have List the screen resolutions that interest you: High Resolution (1600 x 900) Max Resolution (1920 x 1080) Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen? Glossy or Matte is fine Is the laptops design important to you? Kinda Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop? Early to mid-August How much storage capacity do you need? 1 TB+ Are you interested in SSD for storage? Maybe Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type? Nice to have, but not "required" I've been looking at the Samsung ATIV Book 8, but I can't find it in the US with an 8870 graphics card. ...

Source: http://forum.notebookreview.com/what-notebook-should-i-buy/727167-usa-canada-looking-laptop-college.html

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97% A Hijacking

All Critics (75) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (2)

This isn't an action picture; it's a picture about the suspense and terror of inaction.

Gripping and tightly focused.

Lindholm rations the meat and potatoes of plot to keep us captive at the bargaining table. It's a sadistic ploy that produces a real payoff.

A Hijacking is one of those perfect films that crop up every few years to prove that with true artistry, even the most exhausted genre can yield something new, rich, and strange.

Lindholm justifies his confidence in a visual approach that's refreshingly realistic.

To refuse to call A Hijacking a thriller is not to say it isn't thrilling, in a dryly cerebral way.

A tense, gripping drama filled with psychological showdowns from Danish writer-director Tobias Lindholm.

... has an embedded feel without being a real-life report or documentary at all. It's a fictional film that hits both with blunt force and a surprising amount of complexity.

A Hijacking is more about one incident than about how it relates universally, but in thoughtfully exploring the specifics and emotions of that incident, Lindholm is able to show how modern life sometimes seems devoid of any accord.

A lean, stressful nail-biter, smart, well-written, nicely shot and wonderfully performed.

[Omar and Mikkel are] like Marcus and McTeague in Frank Norris's 1899 novel, handcuffed to each other in a struggle that could well end in mutually assured destruction.

Tobias Lindholm's slow-burning thriller makes a bid for verisimilitude that extends well beyond the use of natural light and handheld cameras.

Though the acting in "A Hijacking" is superb, the film is strictly a "follow-the-dots" offering. This is not entertainment. It is another overwhelmingly depressing foray into corporate greed.

"A Hijacking", if eligible, is an early contender for Best Foreign film at the 2014 Academy Awards.

It's an effective piece of work that will leave you longing for a shower, a nap, and a warm meal.

It's a radical departure from any thriller in stateside theaters.

A nail-biter of the highest order, A Hijacking is astonishingly emotional, gritty, and terrifying -- a genuine directorial achievement that should not be missed.

When the gut-wrenching conclusion of A Hijacking comes in the form of a single, random act, it's only then you realize how far you've been pulled into its emotional core.

A Hijacking delivers all the thrills the title suggests, but in none of the places you'd expect them.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_hijacking/

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