NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Apple confirmed Tuesday that it will hold a press event on Oct. 4 at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Expected to be the star attraction: The long-awaited iPhone 5.
It's been 15 months since Apple's iPhone 4 went on sale, making this lag between new models the longest since the iPhone debuted in 2007.
3759PrintComment
As always, the next-generation iPhone has been the subject of intense speculation. Almost daily, blogs and news agencies offer up new tidbits based on supposed leaks from hardware component makers or iPhone case designers to glean any information about what the next device could look like.
The dominant rumors for the next iPhone involve an 8-megapixel camera, longer battery life, a faster processor and availability on the Sprint (S, Fortune 500) network. Others have claimed that the device will have a larger screen, a curved display, no home button, support for 4G networks, and more memory.
In the past, about half the pre-launch rumors have turned out to be correct.
Apple has typically unveiled its new iPhone at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but this year, Steve Jobs reserved that time to preview the company's new software, including the iPad and iPhone's iOS operating system, the new Mac OS X Lion operating system, and iCloud.
0:00 / 2:55 'iPhone Doc' rides on Apple's coattails
In the fall, Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) has traditionally updated its iPod lineup. Many analysts believe that the company will at the very least update its iPod Touch product this year, perhaps even selling a version with a 3G data connection.
Despite the delays in launching a new version, demand for the iPhone 4 has remained insatiable. Apple sold a record 20 million of the devices in the second quarter, and early analysis points to another record quarter over the past three months. A recent RBC Capital survey suggested iPhone 5 sales would likely top those of the record-setting iPhone 4.
Apple's Oct. 4 event will likely be hosted by new CEO Tim Cook.
Will there be a cameo from Steve Jobs, now Apple's chairman? Don't rule it out: Jobs has surprised audiences before, making two public appearances this year at Apple events during his medical leave of absence
Comment: I can´t wait to see the new Iphone pecause I love al new Apple products and the Iphone $ was just amazing! I can bet hat the Iphone 5 willl be even more awesome than the Iphone 4.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Amazon's 'cloud' browser raises privacy concerns
John D. Sutter, CNN
By John D. Sutter, CNN
September 29, 2011 -- Updated 1900 GMT (0300 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets
Principal product manager Brett Taylor discusses the Silk browser in a promotional video.
Principal product manager Brett Taylor discusses the Silk browser in a promotional video.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Amazon unveils Web browser called Silk
* At least for now, the browser works only on the new Kindle Fire tablet
* Silk routes Internet traffic through Amazon's cloud
* It claims faster performance, but it may also collect lots of user data
(CNN) -- Facebook and Google's privacy issues are well-known.
But they're nothing compared with those surrounding Silk, Amazon's in-house Internet browser for its newly announced tablet computer, says Chester Wisniewski, a senior security adviser at British computer security firm Sophos, a British computer security firm.
"All of your web surfing habits will transit Amazon's cloud," he writes on Sophos' Naked Security blog. "If you think that Google AdWords and Facebook are watching you, this service is guaranteed to have a record of everything you do on the Web."
Amazon, best known for its online marketplace and the Kindle e-reader, unveiled a touch-screen tablet computer on Wednesday called the Kindle Fire. That got lots of chatter in tech circles. What's been less discussed is the new cloud-based Web browser that's loaded onto every one of Amazon's tablets.
The Amazon Silk browser appears to work unlike anything on the market today. Most Web browsers -- like Safari, Explorer and Firefox -- connect Internet users directly with websites. Silk filters everything through Amazon's own cloud-computing servers, a move the company claims will vastly speed up the mobile Web experience -- perhaps doubling the speed at which websites load.
But privacy advocates say there may be other consequences.
"What this means is that Amazon will capture and control every Web transaction performed by Fire users," Chris Espinosa, one of the first Apple employees, wrote on his personal blog. "Every page they see, every link they follow, every click they make, every ad they see is going to be intermediated by one of the largest server farms on the planet. People who cringe at the data-mining implications of the Facebook Timeline ought to be just floored by the magnitude of Amazon's opportunity here.
"Amazon now has what every storefront lusts for: the knowledge of what other stores your customers are shopping in and what prices they're being offered there."
Amazon says in its privacy statement that it does temporarily log Web use.
"Amazon Silk also temporarily logs Web addresses known as uniform resource locators ('URLs') for the Web pages it serves and certain identifiers, such as IP or MAC addresses, to troubleshoot and diagnose Amazon Silk technical issues. We generally do not keep this information for longer than 30 days," the company says in its privacy statement.
"Browsing activity is aggregated and is not linked to identity," an Amazon spokeswoman said in an e-mail to CNN.
For now, the Silk browser is available only to people who use the Kindle Fire, which doesn't go on sale until mid-November. There are rumors, however, that the Amazon browser could make its way onto other mobile devices and possibly desktop machines.
People who worry about the data Amazon Silk may be collecting can turn off the cloud-computing piece of the browser.
If they don't, every move they make online will be logged by the company for at least a month, Wisniewski said.
Amazon probably won't sell that data to advertisers, he said, but the fact that the company keeps a log of Internet use is scary for consumers, because that data could be hacked from Amazon's control, or it could be subject to subpoena by the U.S. government.
The Web tracking applies to secure connections as well, he said, meaning Amazon could keep a log of communications made on banking sites or the secure versions of sites like Gmail, Facebook and Twitter.
Amazon says Silk will bring about a much faster Web browsing experience on mobile devices.
"I'm sure you've had the experience where you're trying to load a page, and the browser is just sitting there hanging, and you're like, 'Oh, I wish I was on a better network,' " Amazon engineer Peter Vosshall says in a promotional video. "We're on a better network. Our back end has some of the fattest pipes to the Internet that you'll find. And we do all the heavy lifting on the back end and then serve optimized content over this dedicated channel back to your device, so you don't have to worry about it."
The underlying argument for a browser like Silk is that mobile devices don't have enough processing power to download websites as quickly as users would like. Amazon essentially is using its computer warehouses -- which are all over the country and the world -- to do this processing for its tablet computers so that websites will load faster.
The name Silk is representative of this "split architecture."
"We decided to call our browser Amazon Silk because, really, a thread of silk is an invisible yet incredibly strong connection between two different things," Jon Jenkins, director of software development for Amazon Silk, says in a video. "In our case, it's the connection between your Kindle Fire and our Amazon Compute Cloud. And it's the bringing together those two elements to create a better Web browser."
It's also a browser that's better at tracking you, Sophos' Wisniewski writes.
coment: While most of us roll our eyes when confronted with long privacy policies and pages of legalese, privacy risks lurk around every corner
John D. Sutter, CNN
By John D. Sutter, CNN
September 29, 2011 -- Updated 1900 GMT (0300 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets
Principal product manager Brett Taylor discusses the Silk browser in a promotional video.
Principal product manager Brett Taylor discusses the Silk browser in a promotional video.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Amazon unveils Web browser called Silk
* At least for now, the browser works only on the new Kindle Fire tablet
* Silk routes Internet traffic through Amazon's cloud
* It claims faster performance, but it may also collect lots of user data
(CNN) -- Facebook and Google's privacy issues are well-known.
But they're nothing compared with those surrounding Silk, Amazon's in-house Internet browser for its newly announced tablet computer, says Chester Wisniewski, a senior security adviser at British computer security firm Sophos, a British computer security firm.
"All of your web surfing habits will transit Amazon's cloud," he writes on Sophos' Naked Security blog. "If you think that Google AdWords and Facebook are watching you, this service is guaranteed to have a record of everything you do on the Web."
Amazon, best known for its online marketplace and the Kindle e-reader, unveiled a touch-screen tablet computer on Wednesday called the Kindle Fire. That got lots of chatter in tech circles. What's been less discussed is the new cloud-based Web browser that's loaded onto every one of Amazon's tablets.
The Amazon Silk browser appears to work unlike anything on the market today. Most Web browsers -- like Safari, Explorer and Firefox -- connect Internet users directly with websites. Silk filters everything through Amazon's own cloud-computing servers, a move the company claims will vastly speed up the mobile Web experience -- perhaps doubling the speed at which websites load.
But privacy advocates say there may be other consequences.
"What this means is that Amazon will capture and control every Web transaction performed by Fire users," Chris Espinosa, one of the first Apple employees, wrote on his personal blog. "Every page they see, every link they follow, every click they make, every ad they see is going to be intermediated by one of the largest server farms on the planet. People who cringe at the data-mining implications of the Facebook Timeline ought to be just floored by the magnitude of Amazon's opportunity here.
"Amazon now has what every storefront lusts for: the knowledge of what other stores your customers are shopping in and what prices they're being offered there."
Amazon says in its privacy statement that it does temporarily log Web use.
"Amazon Silk also temporarily logs Web addresses known as uniform resource locators ('URLs') for the Web pages it serves and certain identifiers, such as IP or MAC addresses, to troubleshoot and diagnose Amazon Silk technical issues. We generally do not keep this information for longer than 30 days," the company says in its privacy statement.
"Browsing activity is aggregated and is not linked to identity," an Amazon spokeswoman said in an e-mail to CNN.
For now, the Silk browser is available only to people who use the Kindle Fire, which doesn't go on sale until mid-November. There are rumors, however, that the Amazon browser could make its way onto other mobile devices and possibly desktop machines.
People who worry about the data Amazon Silk may be collecting can turn off the cloud-computing piece of the browser.
If they don't, every move they make online will be logged by the company for at least a month, Wisniewski said.
Amazon probably won't sell that data to advertisers, he said, but the fact that the company keeps a log of Internet use is scary for consumers, because that data could be hacked from Amazon's control, or it could be subject to subpoena by the U.S. government.
The Web tracking applies to secure connections as well, he said, meaning Amazon could keep a log of communications made on banking sites or the secure versions of sites like Gmail, Facebook and Twitter.
Amazon says Silk will bring about a much faster Web browsing experience on mobile devices.
"I'm sure you've had the experience where you're trying to load a page, and the browser is just sitting there hanging, and you're like, 'Oh, I wish I was on a better network,' " Amazon engineer Peter Vosshall says in a promotional video. "We're on a better network. Our back end has some of the fattest pipes to the Internet that you'll find. And we do all the heavy lifting on the back end and then serve optimized content over this dedicated channel back to your device, so you don't have to worry about it."
The underlying argument for a browser like Silk is that mobile devices don't have enough processing power to download websites as quickly as users would like. Amazon essentially is using its computer warehouses -- which are all over the country and the world -- to do this processing for its tablet computers so that websites will load faster.
The name Silk is representative of this "split architecture."
"We decided to call our browser Amazon Silk because, really, a thread of silk is an invisible yet incredibly strong connection between two different things," Jon Jenkins, director of software development for Amazon Silk, says in a video. "In our case, it's the connection between your Kindle Fire and our Amazon Compute Cloud. And it's the bringing together those two elements to create a better Web browser."
It's also a browser that's better at tracking you, Sophos' Wisniewski writes.
coment: While most of us roll our eyes when confronted with long privacy policies and pages of legalese, privacy risks lurk around every corner
But they're nothing compared with those surrounding Silk, Amazon's in-house Internet browser for its newly announced tablet computer, says Chester Wisniewski, a senior security adviser at British computer security firm Sophos, a British computer security firm.
"All of your web surfing habits will transit Amazon's cloud," he writes on Sophos' Naked Security blog. "If you think that Google AdWords and Facebook are watching you, this service is guaranteed to have a record of everything you do on the Web."
Amazon, best known for its online marketplace and the Kindle e-reader, unveiled a touch-screen tablet computer on Wednesday called the Kindle Fire. That got lots of chatter in tech circles. What's been less discussed is the new cloud-based Web browser that's loaded onto every one of Amazon's tablets.
The Amazon Silk browser appears to work unlike anything on the market today. Most Web browsers -- like Safari, Explorer and Firefox -- connect Internet users directly with websites. Silk filters everything through Amazon's own cloud-computing servers, a move the company claims will vastly speed up the mobile Web experience -- perhaps doubling the speed at which websites load.
But privacy advocates say there may be other consequences.
"What this means is that Amazon will capture and control every Web transaction performed by Fire users," Chris Espinosa, one of the first Apple employees, wrote on his personal blog. "Every page they see, every link they follow, every click they make, every ad they see is going to be intermediated by one of the largest server farms on the planet. People who cringe at the data-mining implications of the Facebook Timeline ought to be just floored by the magnitude of Amazon's opportunity here.
"Amazon now has what every storefront lusts for: the knowledge of what other stores your customers are shopping in and what prices they're being offered there."
Amazon says in its privacy statement that it does temporarily log Web use.
"Amazon Silk also temporarily logs Web addresses known as uniform resource locators ('URLs') for the Web pages it serves and certain identifiers, such as IP or MAC addresses, to troubleshoot and diagnose Amazon Silk technical issues. We generally do not keep this information for longer than 30 days," the company says in its privacy statement.
"Browsing activity is aggregated and is not linked to identity," an Amazon spokeswoman said in an e-mail to CNN.
For now, the Silk browser is available only to people who use the Kindle Fire, which doesn't go on sale until mid-November. There are rumors, however, that the Amazon browser could make its way onto other mobile devices and possibly desktop machines.
People who worry about the data Amazon Silk may be collecting can turn off the cloud-computing piece of the browser.
If they don't, every move they make online will be logged by the company for at least a month, Wisniewski said.
Amazon probably won't sell that data to advertisers, he said, but the fact that the company keeps a log of Internet use is scary for consumers, because that data could be hacked from Amazon's control, or it could be subject to subpoena by the U.S. government.
The Web tracking applies to secure connections as well, he said, meaning Amazon could keep a log of communications made on banking sites or the secure versions of sites like Gmail, Facebook and Twitter.
Amazon says Silk will bring about a much faster Web browsing experience on mobile devices.
"I'm sure you've had the experience where you're trying to load a page, and the browser is just sitting there hanging, and you're like, 'Oh, I wish I was on a better network,' " Amazon engineer Peter Vosshall says in a promotional video. "We're on a better network. Our back end has some of the fattest pipes to the Internet that you'll find. And we do all the heavy lifting on the back end and then serve optimized content over this dedicated channel back to your device, so you don't have to worry about it."
The underlying argument for a browser like Silk is that mobile devices don't have enough processing power to download websites as quickly as users would like. Amazon essentially is using its computer warehouses -- which are all over the country and the world -- to do this processing for its tablet computers so that websites will load faster.
The name Silk is representative of this "split architecture."
"We decided to call our browser Amazon Silk because, really, a thread of silk is an invisible yet incredibly strong connection between two different things," Jon Jenkins, director of software development for Amazon Silk, says in a video. "In our case, it's the connection between your Kindle Fire and our Amazon Compute Cloud. And it's the bringing together those two elements to create a better Web browser."
Comment: i think that amazon is coping too mucch from apple because they are making all the things that apple devekop like tabkets and ckouds. I think that they havr to be more original and make thair own and proper inventions.
"All of your web surfing habits will transit Amazon's cloud," he writes on Sophos' Naked Security blog. "If you think that Google AdWords and Facebook are watching you, this service is guaranteed to have a record of everything you do on the Web."
Amazon, best known for its online marketplace and the Kindle e-reader, unveiled a touch-screen tablet computer on Wednesday called the Kindle Fire. That got lots of chatter in tech circles. What's been less discussed is the new cloud-based Web browser that's loaded onto every one of Amazon's tablets.
The Amazon Silk browser appears to work unlike anything on the market today. Most Web browsers -- like Safari, Explorer and Firefox -- connect Internet users directly with websites. Silk filters everything through Amazon's own cloud-computing servers, a move the company claims will vastly speed up the mobile Web experience -- perhaps doubling the speed at which websites load.
But privacy advocates say there may be other consequences.
"What this means is that Amazon will capture and control every Web transaction performed by Fire users," Chris Espinosa, one of the first Apple employees, wrote on his personal blog. "Every page they see, every link they follow, every click they make, every ad they see is going to be intermediated by one of the largest server farms on the planet. People who cringe at the data-mining implications of the Facebook Timeline ought to be just floored by the magnitude of Amazon's opportunity here.
"Amazon now has what every storefront lusts for: the knowledge of what other stores your customers are shopping in and what prices they're being offered there."
Amazon says in its privacy statement that it does temporarily log Web use.
"Amazon Silk also temporarily logs Web addresses known as uniform resource locators ('URLs') for the Web pages it serves and certain identifiers, such as IP or MAC addresses, to troubleshoot and diagnose Amazon Silk technical issues. We generally do not keep this information for longer than 30 days," the company says in its privacy statement.
"Browsing activity is aggregated and is not linked to identity," an Amazon spokeswoman said in an e-mail to CNN.
For now, the Silk browser is available only to people who use the Kindle Fire, which doesn't go on sale until mid-November. There are rumors, however, that the Amazon browser could make its way onto other mobile devices and possibly desktop machines.
People who worry about the data Amazon Silk may be collecting can turn off the cloud-computing piece of the browser.
If they don't, every move they make online will be logged by the company for at least a month, Wisniewski said.
Amazon probably won't sell that data to advertisers, he said, but the fact that the company keeps a log of Internet use is scary for consumers, because that data could be hacked from Amazon's control, or it could be subject to subpoena by the U.S. government.
The Web tracking applies to secure connections as well, he said, meaning Amazon could keep a log of communications made on banking sites or the secure versions of sites like Gmail, Facebook and Twitter.
Amazon says Silk will bring about a much faster Web browsing experience on mobile devices.
"I'm sure you've had the experience where you're trying to load a page, and the browser is just sitting there hanging, and you're like, 'Oh, I wish I was on a better network,' " Amazon engineer Peter Vosshall says in a promotional video. "We're on a better network. Our back end has some of the fattest pipes to the Internet that you'll find. And we do all the heavy lifting on the back end and then serve optimized content over this dedicated channel back to your device, so you don't have to worry about it."
The underlying argument for a browser like Silk is that mobile devices don't have enough processing power to download websites as quickly as users would like. Amazon essentially is using its computer warehouses -- which are all over the country and the world -- to do this processing for its tablet computers so that websites will load faster.
The name Silk is representative of this "split architecture."
"We decided to call our browser Amazon Silk because, really, a thread of silk is an invisible yet incredibly strong connection between two different things," Jon Jenkins, director of software development for Amazon Silk, says in a video. "In our case, it's the connection between your Kindle Fire and our Amazon Compute Cloud. And it's the bringing together those two elements to create a better Web browser."
Comment: i think that amazon is coping too mucch from apple because they are making all the things that apple devekop like tabkets and ckouds. I think that they havr to be more original and make thair own and proper inventions.
Does Facebook really care about you?
By Douglas Rushkoff, Special to CNN
September 23, 2011 -- Updated 1003 GMT (1803 HKT)
Douglas Rushkoff says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg board meetings aren't about making users happy.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Douglas Rushkoff: Many upset by Facebook changes, but they are confused
He says changes are about monetizing your information for company's paying customers
He says users actually "work" for company by inputting info Facebook can sell to marketers
Rushkoff: Change like this reminds users they are not the customers, they're the product
Editor's note: Douglas Rushkoff is a media theorist and the author of "Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age" and "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How We Can Take it Back."
(CNN) -- The ire and angst accompanying Facebook's most recent tweaks to its interface are truly astounding. The complaints rival the irritation of AOL's dial-up users back in the mid-'90s, who were getting too many busy signals when they tried to get online. The big difference, of course, is that AOL's users were paying customers. In the case of Facebook, which we don't even pay to use, we aren't the customers at all.
Let's start with the changes themselves. Until now, the main thing that showed up on users' pages was a big list of "updates" from all the friends and companies and groups to which they were connected. It was a giant chronological list that made no distinction between an article (like this one) that may have been recommended by a hundred friends and the news that one person just changed his relationship status or had a funny dream.
Facebook has now prioritized that flow of stories into a news feed that puts "top stories" on top, and the more chronological list of everything down below. Top stories are selected by an algorithm of some sort that "knows" what will be important to the user based on past behavior and numbers of connections to those recommending the story, and so on.
Meanwhile, as if to make up for this violation of the what-just-happened-is-the-only-thing-that-matters ethos of the social net, Facebook added a live, Twitter-like stream of everything everyone else is doing or saying. It runs down the right side of the screen, almost like CNN TV's awfully distracting and wisely retired "news crawl."
Facebook unveils 'Timeline' feature Andy Samberg spoofs Mark Zuckerberg
On an Internet where everyone and everything are becoming "friended" to one another, such a division of the relevant "solid" bits from the topic stream of data points makes sense. After all, updates from your closest friends and favorite bloggers should take priority over those from some relative stranger you "friended" because he said he was in your fifth grade class and you didn't want to insult him. If everyone ends up connected to everyone, Facebook will have to make some distinctions or the service will be useless.
But users are bothered by all this. On the simplest level, they don't like change, particularly when it results in making their free time more complex and stressful. Facebook was always a lazy person's friend and time waster. Turning into a dashboard designed to increase productivity and relevancy turns it more into, well, work.
Of course, if they stopped and thought about it, they would realize that Facebook is work. We are not Facebook's customers at all. The boardroom discussions at Facebook are not about how to help little Johnny make more and better friendships online; they are about how Facebook can monetize Johnny's "social graph" -- the accumulated data about how Johnny makes friends, shares links and makes consumer decisions. Facebook's real customers are the companies who actually pay them for this data, and for access to our eyeballs in the form of advertisements. The hours Facebook users put into their profiles and lists and updates is the labor that Facebook then sells to the market researchers and advertisers it serves.
Deep down, most users sense this, which is why every time Facebook makes a change they are awakened from the net trance for long enough to be reminded of what is really going on. They see that their "news feeds" are going to be prioritized by an algorithm they will never understand. They begin to suspect that Facebook is about to become more useful to the companies who want to keep "important" stories from getting lost in the churn -- and less useful for the humans.
Ultimately, they don't trust Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and are suspicious of his every move. By contrast, Apple founder Steve Jobs took away his customers' hard drives, Flash movies, keyboards and Firewire ports -- and yet consumers put up with the inconvenience and discomfort every step of the way because they believed that Steve knew best, and trusted that he was taking them somewhere better.
Apple users pay handsomely for the privilege of putting themselves in the company's hands. Facebook does not enjoy this same level of trust with its nonpaying subscribers.
That's because on Facebook we're not the customers. We are the product.
COMMENT: I liked the last part: we are not costumers, we are the product. I do not think that facebook is to sell things, it develops as the needs of people increase, so it will never evolute to make us better, but to make FB better
By Douglas Rushkoff, Special to CNN
September 23, 2011 -- Updated 1003 GMT (1803 HKT)
Douglas Rushkoff says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg board meetings aren't about making users happy.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Douglas Rushkoff: Many upset by Facebook changes, but they are confused
He says changes are about monetizing your information for company's paying customers
He says users actually "work" for company by inputting info Facebook can sell to marketers
Rushkoff: Change like this reminds users they are not the customers, they're the product
Editor's note: Douglas Rushkoff is a media theorist and the author of "Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age" and "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How We Can Take it Back."
(CNN) -- The ire and angst accompanying Facebook's most recent tweaks to its interface are truly astounding. The complaints rival the irritation of AOL's dial-up users back in the mid-'90s, who were getting too many busy signals when they tried to get online. The big difference, of course, is that AOL's users were paying customers. In the case of Facebook, which we don't even pay to use, we aren't the customers at all.
Let's start with the changes themselves. Until now, the main thing that showed up on users' pages was a big list of "updates" from all the friends and companies and groups to which they were connected. It was a giant chronological list that made no distinction between an article (like this one) that may have been recommended by a hundred friends and the news that one person just changed his relationship status or had a funny dream.
Facebook has now prioritized that flow of stories into a news feed that puts "top stories" on top, and the more chronological list of everything down below. Top stories are selected by an algorithm of some sort that "knows" what will be important to the user based on past behavior and numbers of connections to those recommending the story, and so on.
Meanwhile, as if to make up for this violation of the what-just-happened-is-the-only-thing-that-matters ethos of the social net, Facebook added a live, Twitter-like stream of everything everyone else is doing or saying. It runs down the right side of the screen, almost like CNN TV's awfully distracting and wisely retired "news crawl."
Facebook unveils 'Timeline' feature Andy Samberg spoofs Mark Zuckerberg
On an Internet where everyone and everything are becoming "friended" to one another, such a division of the relevant "solid" bits from the topic stream of data points makes sense. After all, updates from your closest friends and favorite bloggers should take priority over those from some relative stranger you "friended" because he said he was in your fifth grade class and you didn't want to insult him. If everyone ends up connected to everyone, Facebook will have to make some distinctions or the service will be useless.
But users are bothered by all this. On the simplest level, they don't like change, particularly when it results in making their free time more complex and stressful. Facebook was always a lazy person's friend and time waster. Turning into a dashboard designed to increase productivity and relevancy turns it more into, well, work.
Of course, if they stopped and thought about it, they would realize that Facebook is work. We are not Facebook's customers at all. The boardroom discussions at Facebook are not about how to help little Johnny make more and better friendships online; they are about how Facebook can monetize Johnny's "social graph" -- the accumulated data about how Johnny makes friends, shares links and makes consumer decisions. Facebook's real customers are the companies who actually pay them for this data, and for access to our eyeballs in the form of advertisements. The hours Facebook users put into their profiles and lists and updates is the labor that Facebook then sells to the market researchers and advertisers it serves.
Deep down, most users sense this, which is why every time Facebook makes a change they are awakened from the net trance for long enough to be reminded of what is really going on. They see that their "news feeds" are going to be prioritized by an algorithm they will never understand. They begin to suspect that Facebook is about to become more useful to the companies who want to keep "important" stories from getting lost in the churn -- and less useful for the humans.
Ultimately, they don't trust Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and are suspicious of his every move. By contrast, Apple founder Steve Jobs took away his customers' hard drives, Flash movies, keyboards and Firewire ports -- and yet consumers put up with the inconvenience and discomfort every step of the way because they believed that Steve knew best, and trusted that he was taking them somewhere better.
Apple users pay handsomely for the privilege of putting themselves in the company's hands. Facebook does not enjoy this same level of trust with its nonpaying subscribers.
That's because on Facebook we're not the customers. We are the product.
COMMENT: I liked the last part: we are not costumers, we are the product. I do not think that facebook is to sell things, it develops as the needs of people increase, so it will never evolute to make us better, but to make FB better
news
"If Charlie [Sheen] is to sort his life out," Piers Morgan asked Denise Richards. "Can you ever imagine a scenario where you might one day get back together?"
"I'm way too old for him now," joked Richards, who turned 40 this year. "I'm way past his age range."
The actress and mother of three is a guest on Thursday's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Richards is also a first-time author. Her new book, "The Real Girl Next Door," was released this week.
Richards told Morgan that she and Sheen have been split up for six years. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2006.
"When we fell in love," Richards said, "he had been sober for three years. He was getting his life back together. He had just gotten a job on 'Spin City.' And I really admired his strength and courage for overcoming addiction, and being so humble about it.
"And that's what attracted me to him. So the Charlie that some of you have seen over the last six months is not the person that I met and married."
Richards went on to say that Sheen was "amazing" when they first met. "He was so humbled and sweet, and charming and funny. And had such a great heart, and very honest. And we just had a very deep connection."
Morgan asked Richards about her take on "the recent circus of Charlie's life."
"From the beginning of it I was very worried," she said. "And it made me sad to see him that way. And so I was concerned. I was concerned for our children."
Richards said that, in dealing with Sheen, the couple's two daughters -- Sam, 7, and Lola, 6 -- remain her priority.
"We'll always have a bond with our daughters," she said. "And I wish nothing but the best for him."
When Morgan asked Richards what her wish for her ex-husband was, the actress said she wants him to be healthy and there for his kids and himself.
"He's a survivor," said Richards. "If anyone can pick themselves up, make a huge comeback, it's Charlie."
Morgan asked, what is the weirdest rumor she'd ever heard about herself?
"Well, this isn't that hurtful, but it's weird -- that I used to be a hooker. I used to be a Heidi Fleiss girl. I heard that rumor," Richards answered.
"If anyone would know, it would be Charlie," said Richards, referring to Sheen's well-documented testimony in Fleiss' 1995 trial that he had spent over $50,000 on 27 hookers.
Richards, who is single, said of dating: "The qualities that I look for now are different than prior to getting married and having kids.
"I find myself very attracted to men who have children. And I think one of the sexiest qualities in a man is seeing a man great with kids."
Richards called motherhood her greatest achievement. "I love being a mother more than anything. And I get so much fulfillment and joy with my children."
Richards opened up about her recent adoption of a baby girl, whom she named Eloise Joni Richards.
"She's amazing," Richards said. She told Morgan that Sam and Lola "are so in love with her. They are very protective of her."
As for whether she'll marry again, Richards said she intends to "be a good role model for my kids, and be a strong woman, even if it's on my own."
Richards said that she also plans to continue acting, and that her dream gig has always been "a role in a movie with Quentin Tarantino directing."
Comment: - think thath waht she says is really true because if he left his adiction once he could makke it again. Also I think that charlie sheen is a great actor because he acted very good in the series "two and half men".
"I'm way too old for him now," joked Richards, who turned 40 this year. "I'm way past his age range."
The actress and mother of three is a guest on Thursday's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Richards is also a first-time author. Her new book, "The Real Girl Next Door," was released this week.
Richards told Morgan that she and Sheen have been split up for six years. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2006.
"When we fell in love," Richards said, "he had been sober for three years. He was getting his life back together. He had just gotten a job on 'Spin City.' And I really admired his strength and courage for overcoming addiction, and being so humble about it.
"And that's what attracted me to him. So the Charlie that some of you have seen over the last six months is not the person that I met and married."
Richards went on to say that Sheen was "amazing" when they first met. "He was so humbled and sweet, and charming and funny. And had such a great heart, and very honest. And we just had a very deep connection."
Morgan asked Richards about her take on "the recent circus of Charlie's life."
"From the beginning of it I was very worried," she said. "And it made me sad to see him that way. And so I was concerned. I was concerned for our children."
Richards said that, in dealing with Sheen, the couple's two daughters -- Sam, 7, and Lola, 6 -- remain her priority.
"We'll always have a bond with our daughters," she said. "And I wish nothing but the best for him."
When Morgan asked Richards what her wish for her ex-husband was, the actress said she wants him to be healthy and there for his kids and himself.
"He's a survivor," said Richards. "If anyone can pick themselves up, make a huge comeback, it's Charlie."
Morgan asked, what is the weirdest rumor she'd ever heard about herself?
"Well, this isn't that hurtful, but it's weird -- that I used to be a hooker. I used to be a Heidi Fleiss girl. I heard that rumor," Richards answered.
"If anyone would know, it would be Charlie," said Richards, referring to Sheen's well-documented testimony in Fleiss' 1995 trial that he had spent over $50,000 on 27 hookers.
Richards, who is single, said of dating: "The qualities that I look for now are different than prior to getting married and having kids.
"I find myself very attracted to men who have children. And I think one of the sexiest qualities in a man is seeing a man great with kids."
Richards called motherhood her greatest achievement. "I love being a mother more than anything. And I get so much fulfillment and joy with my children."
Richards opened up about her recent adoption of a baby girl, whom she named Eloise Joni Richards.
"She's amazing," Richards said. She told Morgan that Sam and Lola "are so in love with her. They are very protective of her."
As for whether she'll marry again, Richards said she intends to "be a good role model for my kids, and be a strong woman, even if it's on my own."
Richards said that she also plans to continue acting, and that her dream gig has always been "a role in a movie with Quentin Tarantino directing."
Comment: - think thath waht she says is really true because if he left his adiction once he could makke it again. Also I think that charlie sheen is a great actor because he acted very good in the series "two and half men".
Obama's race problem is black and white -- and green
Even as he charges into his re-election battle, President Barack Obama has a festering weakness on a flank that, by all accounts, ought to be rock solid: the one held by African-American Democrats. Their support for his programs, belief in his leadership and enthusiasm for another term is softening just as he needs it most.
In the past few weeks, the president has been chastised by the Congressional Black Caucus for avoiding troubled inner-city districts, peppered with tough questions on BET, and suffered plummeting poll numbers among black voters.
That last item is critical. During the 2008 election, their turnout was massive and their support almost unanimous. Now, however, a
Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that black voters with a "strongly favorable" view of Obama dropped from 86% to 58% in just five months.
"Patience is running out," says Reginald Daniel, a professor of sociology at the University of California Santa Barbara. Daniel has written extensively about race and politics. "People are disappointed because I think their expectations were way too high to begin with."
Many political analysts sum up those "expectations run amok" this way: White voters heralded the election of a black president as a sign that long-standing racial gaps were closing, and they expected Obama to play a post-racial role; a president for everyone, who just happened to be black.
Meanwhile, many African-American voters just as clearly saw his election as a great leap forward and hoped the presence of a black president in the Oval Office would bring a new level of understanding, acknowledgment, and relief for their community's problems.
"Finding a middle ground is almost an impossibility," Daniels says. "It's just the worst position to be in."
The driving problem, however, is neither black nor white -- it is green. Joblessness, bad for everyone, is much worse in African-American communities, where unemployment is pushing 17%, the worst since the 1980s. That is what triggered the revolt in the CBC and those stinging questions during that TV interview.
The president is pushing back, pointing out that his initiatives, such as health care reform and the recent jobs bill, especially help lower-income families, many of whom are black. On BET, he quickly dismissed talk about a dearth of specific programs for minorities.
"What people are saying all across the country is we are hurting and we've been hurting for a long time," the president said. "The question is: How can we make sure the economy is working for every single person?"
He also insisted that even if black leaders are grousing, it's not really about him or his policies. "There's always going to be somebody who is critical of the president of the United States." And at a CBC fundraising dinner he raised eyebrows by telling members to quit complaining and start "marching" with him for change.
But if the reaction of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, is any gauge, he'll have to do a lot more selling. She summed up his comments in a word: "Curious."
To be sure, most African-Americans still support Obama. Political analysts do not expect a massive shift of their votes to the Republicans; and even the president's most adamant black critics often follow their barbs with a quick salve, saying African-American voters ultimately will not oppose him.
Still, the danger for the White House is not that black citizens will vote against Obama, but that they won't vote at all.
A lackluster turnout in just a few key states could tip the electoral balance against him. What's more, every moment he spends making sure black Democrats come to the polls increases his risk of alienating white voters, and is time lost winning over independents, whom he also must have.
Politically, it is hard for a candidate to tiptoe through such a black-and-white minefield. For a president, it is even tougher.
comment: I think that obma was a good president but is a bad one he soesn´t know what he is doingWednesday, September 28, 2011
Kindle Fire vs. iPad: Which is right for you?
Doug Gross, CNN
By Doug Gross, CNN
September 28, 2011 -- Updated 2053 GMT (0453 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Amazon unveils its Kindle Fire tablet, a rival to Apple's iPad 2
* Price is the huge difference, although Amazon has sacrificed some features
* Fire offers a smaller screen and no camera or microphone
* Amazon has optimized the Fire for media consumption
(CNN) -- With Amazon unveiling its much-anticipated Kindle Fire tablet computer Wednesday, we may finally have a real tablet war on our hands.
In the nearly 18 months since the iPad went on sale, tablet rivals have come and gone. But Apple's device has remained dominant.
Amazon's new entry, though, might be different. Instead of crafting an iPad carbon copy and asking consumers to choose between them, they've pushed out a stripped-down and simplified device that sells for much less than the iPad 2 while skimping on some of that tablet's features.
If you're in the market for a tablet, though, here's the real question: Which one, if either, is right for you?
We can't say for sure, since we haven't gotten our hands on one yet. (Amazon didn't let reporters demo them at Wednesday's launch event.)
Tablet wars heat up with Kindle Fire
Here's a look at how the two devices stack up in some key areas.
Price
Apple's higher prices make the Fire's price tag look like, well, a fire sale.
At $199, the Kindle Fire will be a full $300 cheaper than the lowest-priced iPad 2. That's possibly an easier entry point for folks who are intrigued by the iPad but can't justify spending $500 for a portable computer when they already have a smartphone and a laptop.
One reason iPad competitors have had a hard time catching on is that, to make a profit, they're priced about the same as Apple's hit device, which costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capability. That being the case, the majority of consumers have stuck with the market leader.
For evidence of the power of a lower price point, though, look no further than HP's "dead" TouchPad tablet, which the company announced it was discontinuing last month. The company slashed prices to $99 for a 16GB model and $149 for a 32GB one, and they suddenly flew off the shelves (so much so that HP actually made more to fill the demand).
The Fire's $199 sticker may appeal to parents who want to get their child a tablet but hesitate at shelling out $500 or more for something that might get dropped into a puddle.
Screen size
There's a pretty clear difference here. The iPad has a 9.7-inch display, compared with a 7-inch screen on the Kindle Fire.
That screen size is probably a big reason Amazon can offer its tablet at $199 -- touchscreens are expensive to make. But with smartphone screen sizes inching ever-bigger (the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note will clock in at 5.3 inches) the Fire ends up being a bit of a "tweener."
That's probably no big deal for some users. But if watching movies or playing games is a big reason you want a tablet, bigger is clearly better.
On the flip side, the Fire is smaller and 50% lighter than the iPad, and Amazon says it's "easy to hold in one hand." This may appeal to some users who want to take their tablet on the go.
Features
The Kindle Fire is definitely scaled back from the iPad 2 in several ways.
The Fire doesn't have a camera. For shutterbugs, that might not be such a big deal, as many folks find it easier to shoot photos on smartphones than tablets anyway. But it also means apps like Apple's video chat service, FaceTime, won't be replicated on Amazon's offering.
The Fire also doesn't have a microphone, so voice recording and Skype-style chat are out.
And the Fire is Wi-Fi-only, which means users will be able to surf the Web and download content (like books from Amazon) only when they have a connection. The iPad also comes in 3G models, albeit at a higher price. (The 3G version of the low-end 16GB iPad 2 jumps to $629, not including the monthly data plan).
The Kindle Fire promises eight hours of battery life, as opposed to 10 hours for the iPad 2.
Finally, the Fire has only 8GB of storage (compared with the iPad 2's bottom end at 16GB) but makes up for it by offering free cloud storage on Amazon's gargantuan bank of servers.
Apps
The Fire will run on a modified version of Google's Android operating system. That means users will have access to more than 250,000 apps in the online Android Market. The iPad, of course, has access to more than 425,000 apps in the Apple Store. So, advantage iPad -- although both offerings are robust, and Android is catching up.
Bottom line
On the surface, both tablets appear to be good options for people who just want a basic portable computer for light Web surfing and content consumption. The iPad has a proven track record and more bells and whistles, although that $199 Kindle Fire price is sure to tempt consumers.
The Fire doesn't go on sale until November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews of the device by then.
coommen: amazon has of course optimized the fire for its own content like streaming movies e-books and music It also will come with a 30-day free look at amazon prime the companys premier service that offers free two-day shipping of products from Amazon.com and free streaming from a library of more than 11,000 movies and TV shows
Doug Gross, CNN
By Doug Gross, CNN
September 28, 2011 -- Updated 2053 GMT (0453 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Amazon unveils its Kindle Fire tablet, a rival to Apple's iPad 2
* Price is the huge difference, although Amazon has sacrificed some features
* Fire offers a smaller screen and no camera or microphone
* Amazon has optimized the Fire for media consumption
(CNN) -- With Amazon unveiling its much-anticipated Kindle Fire tablet computer Wednesday, we may finally have a real tablet war on our hands.
In the nearly 18 months since the iPad went on sale, tablet rivals have come and gone. But Apple's device has remained dominant.
Amazon's new entry, though, might be different. Instead of crafting an iPad carbon copy and asking consumers to choose between them, they've pushed out a stripped-down and simplified device that sells for much less than the iPad 2 while skimping on some of that tablet's features.
If you're in the market for a tablet, though, here's the real question: Which one, if either, is right for you?
We can't say for sure, since we haven't gotten our hands on one yet. (Amazon didn't let reporters demo them at Wednesday's launch event.)
Tablet wars heat up with Kindle Fire
Here's a look at how the two devices stack up in some key areas.
Price
Apple's higher prices make the Fire's price tag look like, well, a fire sale.
At $199, the Kindle Fire will be a full $300 cheaper than the lowest-priced iPad 2. That's possibly an easier entry point for folks who are intrigued by the iPad but can't justify spending $500 for a portable computer when they already have a smartphone and a laptop.
One reason iPad competitors have had a hard time catching on is that, to make a profit, they're priced about the same as Apple's hit device, which costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capability. That being the case, the majority of consumers have stuck with the market leader.
For evidence of the power of a lower price point, though, look no further than HP's "dead" TouchPad tablet, which the company announced it was discontinuing last month. The company slashed prices to $99 for a 16GB model and $149 for a 32GB one, and they suddenly flew off the shelves (so much so that HP actually made more to fill the demand).
The Fire's $199 sticker may appeal to parents who want to get their child a tablet but hesitate at shelling out $500 or more for something that might get dropped into a puddle.
Screen size
There's a pretty clear difference here. The iPad has a 9.7-inch display, compared with a 7-inch screen on the Kindle Fire.
That screen size is probably a big reason Amazon can offer its tablet at $199 -- touchscreens are expensive to make. But with smartphone screen sizes inching ever-bigger (the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note will clock in at 5.3 inches) the Fire ends up being a bit of a "tweener."
That's probably no big deal for some users. But if watching movies or playing games is a big reason you want a tablet, bigger is clearly better.
On the flip side, the Fire is smaller and 50% lighter than the iPad, and Amazon says it's "easy to hold in one hand." This may appeal to some users who want to take their tablet on the go.
Features
The Kindle Fire is definitely scaled back from the iPad 2 in several ways.
The Fire doesn't have a camera. For shutterbugs, that might not be such a big deal, as many folks find it easier to shoot photos on smartphones than tablets anyway. But it also means apps like Apple's video chat service, FaceTime, won't be replicated on Amazon's offering.
The Fire also doesn't have a microphone, so voice recording and Skype-style chat are out.
And the Fire is Wi-Fi-only, which means users will be able to surf the Web and download content (like books from Amazon) only when they have a connection. The iPad also comes in 3G models, albeit at a higher price. (The 3G version of the low-end 16GB iPad 2 jumps to $629, not including the monthly data plan).
The Kindle Fire promises eight hours of battery life, as opposed to 10 hours for the iPad 2.
Finally, the Fire has only 8GB of storage (compared with the iPad 2's bottom end at 16GB) but makes up for it by offering free cloud storage on Amazon's gargantuan bank of servers.
Apps
The Fire will run on a modified version of Google's Android operating system. That means users will have access to more than 250,000 apps in the online Android Market. The iPad, of course, has access to more than 425,000 apps in the Apple Store. So, advantage iPad -- although both offerings are robust, and Android is catching up.
Bottom line
On the surface, both tablets appear to be good options for people who just want a basic portable computer for light Web surfing and content consumption. The iPad has a proven track record and more bells and whistles, although that $199 Kindle Fire price is sure to tempt consumers.
The Fire doesn't go on sale until November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews of the device by then.
coommen: amazon has of course optimized the fire for its own content like streaming movies e-books and music It also will come with a 30-day free look at amazon prime the companys premier service that offers free two-day shipping of products from Amazon.com and free streaming from a library of more than 11,000 movies and TV shows
Man, 26, charged in plot to bomb Pentagon using model airplane
CNN) -- A 26-year-old Massachusetts man with a physics degree was arrested and charged Wednesday with plotting an attack on the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol with a remote-controlled model aircraft, authorities said.
Rezwan Ferdaus, a U.S. citizen from Ashland, Massachusetts, planned to use model aircraft filled with C-4 plastic explosives, authorities said.
As a result of an undercover FBI investigation, Ferdaus, who has a physics degree from Northeastern University in Boston, was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda for attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas, authorities said.
His federal public defender couldn't be reached immediately for comment.
A law enforcement official said Ferdaus posed no immediate danger to the public because undercover operatives kept in close contact with him.
"There is no information to indicate he was connected to a foreign terrorist organization. It appears he was radicalized watching videos on the internet. He was given the opportunity to back down, but he never wavered" from his intention to carry out the attacks, the source said.
The investigation also involved a cooperating witness, and authorities began recording conversations between that witness and Ferdaus in January, authorities said.
Ferdaus began planning a violent "jihad" against America in early 2010, authorities said, and he began supplying the FBI undercover agents with cell phones rigged to act as electric switches for improved explosive devices, intended to be used to kill U.S. soldiers overseas.
Undercover federal agents also gave Ferdaus 25 pounds of fake C-4 explosives. Only a very small amount of it was the real thing, the source said.
The FBI agents also gave Ferdaus six AK-47 assault rifles and three grenades, but they weren't functional, the source said.
Between May and this month, Ferdaus also ordered and acquired a $6,500 remote-controlled aircraft, an F-86 Sabre, that he kept in a rented storage facility in Framingham, Massachusetts, that he maintained under a false name, authorities said.
Despite coming into possession of the plane, another law enforcement official said, "The person was never really a threat."
Ferdaus is unmarried with no children, authorities said.
A federal magistrate in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Wednesday ordered Ferdaus to be held until Monday, when a detention hearing is scheduled, authorities said.
comentary:his U.S. Citizen is the son of immigrants. Why were they allowed to come here? Was this guy an "anchor" baby or just the product of parents who don't understand or value our system enough to teach their children about our social contract? There are some people who don't belong in America.
Rezwan Ferdaus, a U.S. citizen from Ashland, Massachusetts, planned to use model aircraft filled with C-4 plastic explosives, authorities said.
As a result of an undercover FBI investigation, Ferdaus, who has a physics degree from Northeastern University in Boston, was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda for attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas, authorities said.
His federal public defender couldn't be reached immediately for comment.
A law enforcement official said Ferdaus posed no immediate danger to the public because undercover operatives kept in close contact with him.
"There is no information to indicate he was connected to a foreign terrorist organization. It appears he was radicalized watching videos on the internet. He was given the opportunity to back down, but he never wavered" from his intention to carry out the attacks, the source said.
The investigation also involved a cooperating witness, and authorities began recording conversations between that witness and Ferdaus in January, authorities said.
Ferdaus began planning a violent "jihad" against America in early 2010, authorities said, and he began supplying the FBI undercover agents with cell phones rigged to act as electric switches for improved explosive devices, intended to be used to kill U.S. soldiers overseas.
Undercover federal agents also gave Ferdaus 25 pounds of fake C-4 explosives. Only a very small amount of it was the real thing, the source said.
The FBI agents also gave Ferdaus six AK-47 assault rifles and three grenades, but they weren't functional, the source said.
Between May and this month, Ferdaus also ordered and acquired a $6,500 remote-controlled aircraft, an F-86 Sabre, that he kept in a rented storage facility in Framingham, Massachusetts, that he maintained under a false name, authorities said.
Despite coming into possession of the plane, another law enforcement official said, "The person was never really a threat."
Ferdaus is unmarried with no children, authorities said.
A federal magistrate in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Wednesday ordered Ferdaus to be held until Monday, when a detention hearing is scheduled, authorities said.
comentary:his U.S. Citizen is the son of immigrants. Why were they allowed to come here? Was this guy an "anchor" baby or just the product of parents who don't understand or value our system enough to teach their children about our social contract? There are some people who don't belong in America.
With Amazon unveiling its much-anticipated Kindle Fire tablet computer Wednesday, we may finally have a real tablet war on our hands.
In the nearly 18 months since the iPad went on sale, tablet rivals have come and gone. But Apple's device has remained dominant.
Amazon's new entry, though, might be different. Instead of crafting an iPad carbon copy and asking consumers to choose between them, they've pushed out a stripped-down and simplified device that sells for much less than the iPad 2 while skimping on some of that tablet's features.
If you're in the market for a tablet, though, here's the real question: Which one, if either, is right for you?
We can't say for sure, since we haven't gotten our hands on one yet. (Amazon didn't let reporters demo them at Wednesday's launch event.)
Tablet wars heat up with Kindle Fire Here's a look at how the two devices stack up in some key areas.
Price
Apple's higher prices make the Fire's price tag look like, well, a fire sale.
At $199, the Kindle Fire will be a full $300 cheaper than the lowest-priced iPad 2. That's possibly an easier entry point for folks who are intrigued by the iPad but can't justify spending $500 for a portable computer when they already have a smartphone and a laptop.
One reason iPad competitors have had a hard time catching on is that, to make a profit, they're priced about the same as Apple's hit device, which costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capability. That being the case, the majority of consumers have stuck with the market leader.
For evidence of the power of a lower price point, though, look no further than HP's "dead" TouchPad tablet, which the company announced it was discontinuing last month. The company slashed prices to $99 for a 16GB model and $149 for a 32GB one, and they suddenly flew off the shelves (so much so that HP actually made more to fill the demand).
The Fire's $199 sticker may appeal to parents who want to get their child a tablet but hesitate at shelling out $500 or more for something that might get dropped into a puddle.
Screen size
There's a pretty clear difference here. The iPad has a 9.7-inch display, compared with a 7-inch screen on the Kindle Fire.
That screen size is probably a big reason Amazon can offer its tablet at $199 -- touchscreens are expensive to make. But with smartphone screen sizes inching ever-bigger (the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note will clock in at 5.3 inches) the Fire ends up being a bit of a "tweener."
That's probably no big deal for some users. But if watching movies or playing games is a big reason you want a tablet, bigger is clearly better.
On the flip side, the Fire is smaller and 50% lighter than the iPad, and Amazon says it's "easy to hold in one hand." This may appeal to some users who want to take their tablet on the go.
Features
The Kindle Fire is definitely scaled back from the iPad 2 in several ways.
The Fire doesn't have a camera. For shutterbugs, that might not be such a big deal, as many folks find it easier to shoot photos on smartphones than tablets anyway. But it also means apps like Apple's video chat service, FaceTime, won't be replicated on Amazon's offering.
The Fire also doesn't have a microphone, so voice recording and Skype-style chat are out.
And the Fire is Wi-Fi-only, which means users will be able to surf the Web and download content (like books from Amazon) only when they have a connection. The iPad also comes in 3G models, albeit at a higher price. (The 3G version of the low-end 16GB iPad 2 jumps to $629, not including the monthly data plan).
The Kindle Fire promises eight hours of battery life, as opposed to 10 hours for the iPad 2.
Finally, the Fire has only 8GB of storage (compared with the iPad 2's bottom end at 16GB) but makes up for it by offering free cloud storage on Amazon's gargantuan bank of servers.
Apps
The Fire will run on a modified version of Google's Android operating system. That means users will have access to more than 250,000 apps in the online Android Market. The iPad, of course, has access to more than 425,000 apps in the Apple Store. So, advantage iPad -- although both offerings are robust, and Android is catching up.
Amazon has, of course, optimized the Fire for its own content, like streaming movies, e-books and music. It also will come with a 30-day free look at Amazon Prime, the company's premier service that offers free two-day shipping of products from Amazon.com and free streaming from a library of more than 11,000 movies and TV shows.
Bottom line
On the surface, both tablets appear to be good options for people who just want a basic portable computer for light Web surfing and content consumption. The iPad has a proven track record and more bells and whistles, although that $199 Kindle Fire price is sure to tempt consumers.
The Fire doesn't go on sale until November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews of the device by then.
Comment: I think that this new tablet will be good and also is facinating thaat it is a lot cheeper. I think that the Ipad will remin a better option if you have money to buy it because it has more cooler stuff.
In the nearly 18 months since the iPad went on sale, tablet rivals have come and gone. But Apple's device has remained dominant.
Amazon's new entry, though, might be different. Instead of crafting an iPad carbon copy and asking consumers to choose between them, they've pushed out a stripped-down and simplified device that sells for much less than the iPad 2 while skimping on some of that tablet's features.
If you're in the market for a tablet, though, here's the real question: Which one, if either, is right for you?
We can't say for sure, since we haven't gotten our hands on one yet. (Amazon didn't let reporters demo them at Wednesday's launch event.)
Tablet wars heat up with Kindle Fire Here's a look at how the two devices stack up in some key areas.
Price
Apple's higher prices make the Fire's price tag look like, well, a fire sale.
At $199, the Kindle Fire will be a full $300 cheaper than the lowest-priced iPad 2. That's possibly an easier entry point for folks who are intrigued by the iPad but can't justify spending $500 for a portable computer when they already have a smartphone and a laptop.
One reason iPad competitors have had a hard time catching on is that, to make a profit, they're priced about the same as Apple's hit device, which costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capability. That being the case, the majority of consumers have stuck with the market leader.
For evidence of the power of a lower price point, though, look no further than HP's "dead" TouchPad tablet, which the company announced it was discontinuing last month. The company slashed prices to $99 for a 16GB model and $149 for a 32GB one, and they suddenly flew off the shelves (so much so that HP actually made more to fill the demand).
The Fire's $199 sticker may appeal to parents who want to get their child a tablet but hesitate at shelling out $500 or more for something that might get dropped into a puddle.
Screen size
There's a pretty clear difference here. The iPad has a 9.7-inch display, compared with a 7-inch screen on the Kindle Fire.
That screen size is probably a big reason Amazon can offer its tablet at $199 -- touchscreens are expensive to make. But with smartphone screen sizes inching ever-bigger (the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note will clock in at 5.3 inches) the Fire ends up being a bit of a "tweener."
That's probably no big deal for some users. But if watching movies or playing games is a big reason you want a tablet, bigger is clearly better.
On the flip side, the Fire is smaller and 50% lighter than the iPad, and Amazon says it's "easy to hold in one hand." This may appeal to some users who want to take their tablet on the go.
Features
The Kindle Fire is definitely scaled back from the iPad 2 in several ways.
The Fire doesn't have a camera. For shutterbugs, that might not be such a big deal, as many folks find it easier to shoot photos on smartphones than tablets anyway. But it also means apps like Apple's video chat service, FaceTime, won't be replicated on Amazon's offering.
The Fire also doesn't have a microphone, so voice recording and Skype-style chat are out.
And the Fire is Wi-Fi-only, which means users will be able to surf the Web and download content (like books from Amazon) only when they have a connection. The iPad also comes in 3G models, albeit at a higher price. (The 3G version of the low-end 16GB iPad 2 jumps to $629, not including the monthly data plan).
The Kindle Fire promises eight hours of battery life, as opposed to 10 hours for the iPad 2.
Finally, the Fire has only 8GB of storage (compared with the iPad 2's bottom end at 16GB) but makes up for it by offering free cloud storage on Amazon's gargantuan bank of servers.
Apps
The Fire will run on a modified version of Google's Android operating system. That means users will have access to more than 250,000 apps in the online Android Market. The iPad, of course, has access to more than 425,000 apps in the Apple Store. So, advantage iPad -- although both offerings are robust, and Android is catching up.
Amazon has, of course, optimized the Fire for its own content, like streaming movies, e-books and music. It also will come with a 30-day free look at Amazon Prime, the company's premier service that offers free two-day shipping of products from Amazon.com and free streaming from a library of more than 11,000 movies and TV shows.
Bottom line
On the surface, both tablets appear to be good options for people who just want a basic portable computer for light Web surfing and content consumption. The iPad has a proven track record and more bells and whistles, although that $199 Kindle Fire price is sure to tempt consumers.
The Fire doesn't go on sale until November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews of the device by then.
Comment: I think that this new tablet will be good and also is facinating thaat it is a lot cheeper. I think that the Ipad will remin a better option if you have money to buy it because it has more cooler stuff.
Your Digital Life? It's Worth Nearly $55,000 -- and It's at Risk See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/rhr0W9
It is easy to forget that the cigarette box-sized device in your pocket is actuallya computer more powerful thanthe one that sent Apollo 11 to the moon. Smartphones, along with tablet computers, e-readers and wireless laptops, now hold some of our most priceless assets: photos, home videos, work samples, financial spreadsheets, not to mention books, movies, every album by the Rolling Stones, games and more. Plus critical access to our banking, email and credit information. Thetotal value of a wired American's digital life? Nearly $55,00 on average, according to a new survey from security firm McAfee (INTC).
That value is only poised to get higher as digital consumers move more and more of their media -- and personal -- lives into the cloud. And as the value goes up, so does consumers' vulnerability to hacking, theft and financial loss.
Our digital belongings, which have high financial and emotional value, are often spread out over several devices -- such as a phone, a tablet and a music device. A quarter of global Internet users surveyed have at least five digital devices in their households, and 60% owned at least three, the survey showed. The survey included more 3,000 Internet users in 10 countries. Respondents said they had 2,777 digital files stored on at least one device on average.
"We use smartphone and tablets the same way we use our PCs," Gary Davis, director of consumer product marketing at McAfee toldDailyFinance. "But those devices are not treated with same security as a PC and they are even more vulnerable."
The threats to our information lives are diverse. In the realm of the strictly physical, damage to a device could potentially mean losing thousands of dollars of stored files. The loss or theft of a mobile device would have the same impact, as well as opening up the possibility of identity theft. But a growing danger involvesinvisible threats -- aka malware. Under this heading fall viruses, spyware and other nastiness embedded into seemingly harmless free apps that can be remotely "weaponized" by a hacker to trawl for select data and access accounts through your phone. According to McAfee data, 2 million new pieces of malware are discovered each month. Last year, malicious programs and sites cost U.S. consumers more than $2.3 billion, according toConsumer Reports.
"The hacking mentality is to get their app on as many devices as possible," says Davis. "[It could be a] free app that could passes [app store] scrutiny and gets in as many devices as possible. Then [hackers] can weaponize it. The point to consumers is, make sure you protect that device."
As Android devices gain market share, the amount of malware aimed at that operating system is also growing. McAfee reports that Android malware jumped 76% in the last 100 days, putting devices with that operating system at higher risk.
Increasingly, consumer security software is designed to fend off new threats -- and keep your files and personal information safe. McAfee has released a new security system, McAfee All Access ($99.99) designed to protect a range of Internet-connected devices from viruses and malware. Consumer review site NextAdvisor.comreviews other security software systems, and other mobile security systems includeLookoutandNorton Mobile Security.
See full article from DailyFinance:http://srph.it/rhr0W9
comment:
That value is only poised to get higher as digital consumers move more and more of their media -- and personal -- lives into the cloud. And as the value goes up, so does consumers' vulnerability to hacking, theft and financial loss.
Our digital belongings, which have high financial and emotional value, are often spread out over several devices -- such as a phone, a tablet and a music device. A quarter of global Internet users surveyed have at least five digital devices in their households, and 60% owned at least three, the survey showed. The survey included more 3,000 Internet users in 10 countries. Respondents said they had 2,777 digital files stored on at least one device on average.
"We use smartphone and tablets the same way we use our PCs," Gary Davis, director of consumer product marketing at McAfee toldDailyFinance. "But those devices are not treated with same security as a PC and they are even more vulnerable."
Mobile devices are more vulnerable than home computers because they are used in a wider variety of locations and on a greater number of networks. With hundreds of thousands of apps available, the sheer variety of offerings opens a slew of possible gateways for nefarious software. The growing trend toward mobile payments and banking -- last week,Google launched its own version of an e-wallet-- adds another potential layer of vulnerability.
The threats to our information lives are diverse. In the realm of the strictly physical, damage to a device could potentially mean losing thousands of dollars of stored files. The loss or theft of a mobile device would have the same impact, as well as opening up the possibility of identity theft. But a growing danger involvesinvisible threats -- aka malware. Under this heading fall viruses, spyware and other nastiness embedded into seemingly harmless free apps that can be remotely "weaponized" by a hacker to trawl for select data and access accounts through your phone. According to McAfee data, 2 million new pieces of malware are discovered each month. Last year, malicious programs and sites cost U.S. consumers more than $2.3 billion, according toConsumer Reports.
"The hacking mentality is to get their app on as many devices as possible," says Davis. "[It could be a] free app that could passes [app store] scrutiny and gets in as many devices as possible. Then [hackers] can weaponize it. The point to consumers is, make sure you protect that device."
As Android devices gain market share, the amount of malware aimed at that operating system is also growing. McAfee reports that Android malware jumped 76% in the last 100 days, putting devices with that operating system at higher risk.
Increasingly, consumer security software is designed to fend off new threats -- and keep your files and personal information safe. McAfee has released a new security system, McAfee All Access ($99.99) designed to protect a range of Internet-connected devices from viruses and malware. Consumer review site NextAdvisor.comreviews other security software systems, and other mobile security systems includeLookoutandNorton Mobile Security.
See full article from DailyFinance:http://srph.it/rhr0W9
My digital life just keeps getting more and more costly all of I have (that are few things)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Google announced another investment in companies selling rooftop solar panels Tuesday, putting $75 million into a fund that solar contractors and designers can draw on to finance solar systems for homeowners.
Contractors get cheap financing from the fund and pay a commission from each sale.
110
PrintComment
Administered by Clean Power Finance, the fund allows installers and designers of solar power systems to offer their customers rooftop solar panels for little or no money down.
Then, instead of paying an electric bill to the power company, homeowners send a monthly payment to Clean Power Finance who passes the check along to Google.
Ultimately, Google owns the panels and is also able to take the various state, local and federal tax credits associated with them.
"This allows companies [like Google] to invest in a space that makes a lot of sense," said said Rick Needham, Google's head of green business. "It creates jobs, it puts clean energy onto rooftops, and it allows homeowners to pay lower bills."
The funding will put solar panels on 2,000 to 3,000 homes.
How to build a cleantech success
Clean Power Finance is a startup firm that runs a software platform connecting small solar installers with financing. It currently works with over 1,400 solar installers, and has received financial backing from by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures and Claremont Creek Ventures.
Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) is the second company to create a fund with Clean Power, but who the other investor involved is, and how much was invested in the first round of funding was not made public.
Google wouldn't comment on the returns it expects to get on its money, but Clean Power CEO Nat Kreamer said investors can typically expect a payback in the high single or low double digit percentage points.
Commet: its good having a better google for better searching and easy searching I like all the things that google develop because they are very texhnilogical
Contractors get cheap financing from the fund and pay a commission from each sale.
110
PrintComment
Administered by Clean Power Finance, the fund allows installers and designers of solar power systems to offer their customers rooftop solar panels for little or no money down.
Then, instead of paying an electric bill to the power company, homeowners send a monthly payment to Clean Power Finance who passes the check along to Google.
Ultimately, Google owns the panels and is also able to take the various state, local and federal tax credits associated with them.
"This allows companies [like Google] to invest in a space that makes a lot of sense," said said Rick Needham, Google's head of green business. "It creates jobs, it puts clean energy onto rooftops, and it allows homeowners to pay lower bills."
The funding will put solar panels on 2,000 to 3,000 homes.
How to build a cleantech success
Clean Power Finance is a startup firm that runs a software platform connecting small solar installers with financing. It currently works with over 1,400 solar installers, and has received financial backing from by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures and Claremont Creek Ventures.
Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) is the second company to create a fund with Clean Power, but who the other investor involved is, and how much was invested in the first round of funding was not made public.
Google wouldn't comment on the returns it expects to get on its money, but Clean Power CEO Nat Kreamer said investors can typically expect a payback in the high single or low double digit percentage points.
Commet: its good having a better google for better searching and easy searching I like all the things that google develop because they are very texhnilogical
news
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: White House, monitoring the situation, says Greece should carry on with reforms
The prime minister tries to rally deputies ahead of a government shuffle
His party's lawmakers hold an emergency meeting; opposition leader urges early elections
Greece is getting international help to deal with its budget deficit
Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou tried to embolden his parliamentary deputies Thursday by telling them to stand fast to the task of rebuilding Greece under a new government, yet to be announced.
"We must not flee the battle, however difficult. I have faith in our MPs, in our movement, in our historical political party. You can rely on me and I will rely on you. We will get Greece out of this crisis," Papandreou said.
Earlier in the day two members of parliament from Papandreou's ruling socialists publicly resigned, shaking confidence in his efforts to reconstitute his Cabinet.
The prime minister has come under fire for his inability to form a coalition with conservative opposition leader Antonis Samaras, who Thursday repeated a call for elections to be held as soon as possible.
Papandreou's planned Cabinet reshuffle represents an attempt to win support for additional austerity measures intended to help the economy weather the current crisis amid fears global economic confidence could suffer.
Greece crisis could ripple across EU Europe to rescue Greece? Trichet: Consider big picture on Greece
RELATED TOPICS
Greece
George Papandreou
European Union
Lawmakers from the prime minister's own Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or PASOK, are holding an emergency meeting that could see him pushed out, even as Papandreou said he planned to unveil a government reshuffle Thursday.
A confidence vote on the reshuffled government will be held Tuesday, state television reported.
Papandreou faces strong opposition from his party over the austerity measures, which are intended to bring the government deficit down in order to secure a second enormous bailout package from institutions including the International Monetary Fund and European Union.
There are fears that efforts to restructure Greece's debt could wreak havoc with Europe's banking sector, sparking a rerun of investor panic like that caused by the 2008 collapse of the Lehman Brothers investment bank.
The crisis also raises concerns for Europe's currency, the euro. If struggling nations such as Greece, Portugal or Ireland default on debts, it could knock the bloc into the red, affecting the entire world economy.
The IMF issued a statement Thursday saying it would continue to back Greece provided it carried out economic policy reforms already agreed by the government.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States is monitoring the situation in Greece closely but believes its European counterparts have the capacity to deal with it.
"We consider it a headwind, if you will, in terms of the global economy and therefore the domestic economy," he said.
"So far Greece has made significant progress in terms of reforms. But it is important that the Greek government carry on with the fiscal measures and reforms that are frequently under discussion with the EU and the IMF."
The political crisis in Greece has helped send the euro down two points against the dollar over two days, while the credit default market now puts a 78 percent chance on Greece failing to pay its debts.
Many political observers were skeptical about whether Papandreou has the political authority left to form a new government.
Vasso Papandreou, a founding member of the governing PASOK party but no relation of the prime minister, said this was "a critical time for the country", as she circulated a petition among party members calling for "an immediate meeting of PASOK's parliamentary group."
Asked what would be discussed at the meeting, the lawmaker replied: "Everything."
One of the two lawmakers from PASOK who resigned Thursday, former government minister George Floridis, said both George Papandreou and the leader of the main, conservative opposition had displayed unforgivable lack of leadership in failing to form a national coalition.
"One-party governments, even if they include broadly popular figures, cannot bring about today's difficult mission," Floridis said in an open letter.
"This is not the time for bemoaning our fate and complaining," Papandreou responded in his speech. "The next government will be more effective and proceed to make the great changes that the people want and demand."
George Papandreou spoke with conservative leader Samaras by phone on Wednesday afternoon after street riots marked the introduction of a new, 28 billion euro ($39 billion) austerity bill in Parliament. But by evening their talks broke down into mutual recriminations.
The main opposition party, New Democracy, has repeatedly demanded that Papandreou quit and that a cross-party coalition renegotiate the terms of the bailout package.
Papandreou said Wednesday he would be willing to resign if he was the only thing standing in the way of a national unity government.
The government's popularity has plunged recently, and anti-government protests turned violent Wednesday, as demonstrators threw gasoline bombs at the Ministry of Finance and police fired tear gas at protesters, police said.
Tens of thousands of protesters had vowed to form a human shield around the parliament to prevent lawmakers from debating the new austerity measures Wednesday afternoon.
"This is a joke. It is all a joke," protester Christos Miliadakis, 35, said of the government plans.
"When will we be able to get out of this vicious circle? My wife lost her job. I had a 12% pay cut as a result of the first bailout. The new measures want to cut another 20% of jobs in the public sector," he said. "So if no one has money and we are just more in debt, who is going to drive the economy? We will live like slaves paying all our lives."
Architecture student Maria Iliadi, 23, said that, for people like her, "the future in this country has been erased. There will be no big public projects, and no one will be building for a long time. Sometimes, finishing my degree seems totally pointless."
About 25,000 demonstrators were on the streets of the capital by the middle of the day Wednesday, police said. Two police officers and four civilians were slightly injured, and 12 people were arrested, they said.
On June 9, the Cabinet approved a tough five-year plan for 2011-15 and introduced a bill in Parliament to put the measures into effect.
The government has said that the passage of these additional measures is essential to Greece's securing the fifth portion of a 110 billion euro ($158 billion) bailout package that Greece signed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to prevent the country from defaulting on its debts.
"We stand ready to continue our support for Greece subject to adoption of the economic policy reforms agreed with the Greek authorities," said Caroline Atkinson, director of external relations at the IMF, in a statement Thursday.
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou has said the country hopes to secure a second bailout deal this month.
The search for a second bailout comes after it became evident that Greece is extremely unlikely to raise capital from private markets in 2012 due to the prohibitively high interest rates it would face.
Papaconstantinou has also indicated that European Union members may support calls to get the private sector involved.
Despite the harsh austerity measures that the Greek government has imposed, it is failing to close its budget deficit as quickly as many had hoped. The country is in recession amid its fiscal restructuring program.
The finance minister has defended the five-year austerity plan, saying it is needed to keep Greece solvent. The new measures will include a number of additional taxes and an additional 20% cut in public-sector jobs.
Protesters have been gathering outside Parliament for more than three weeks as part of an ongoing peaceful demonstration against austerity measures, with some camping in the square facing Parliament.
The credit rating agency Standard & Poor's on Monday cut Greece's rating to just two notches above default, among the lowest in the world. The agency has said a default on some debt appears "increasingly likely."
Unemployment in Greece skyrocketed to more than 16% in May, a 40% rise since last year.
The European Commission has said Greece's economy was expected to shrink by 3.5% this year
comment "When will we be able to get out of this vicious circle? My wife lost her job. I had a 12% pay cut as a result of the first bailout. The new measures want to cut another 20% of jobs in the public sector," he said. "So if no one has money and we are just more in debt, who is going to drive the economy? We will live like slaves paying all our lives." so I think this is very bad.
NEW: White House, monitoring the situation, says Greece should carry on with reforms
The prime minister tries to rally deputies ahead of a government shuffle
His party's lawmakers hold an emergency meeting; opposition leader urges early elections
Greece is getting international help to deal with its budget deficit
Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou tried to embolden his parliamentary deputies Thursday by telling them to stand fast to the task of rebuilding Greece under a new government, yet to be announced.
"We must not flee the battle, however difficult. I have faith in our MPs, in our movement, in our historical political party. You can rely on me and I will rely on you. We will get Greece out of this crisis," Papandreou said.
Earlier in the day two members of parliament from Papandreou's ruling socialists publicly resigned, shaking confidence in his efforts to reconstitute his Cabinet.
The prime minister has come under fire for his inability to form a coalition with conservative opposition leader Antonis Samaras, who Thursday repeated a call for elections to be held as soon as possible.
Papandreou's planned Cabinet reshuffle represents an attempt to win support for additional austerity measures intended to help the economy weather the current crisis amid fears global economic confidence could suffer.
Greece crisis could ripple across EU Europe to rescue Greece? Trichet: Consider big picture on Greece
RELATED TOPICS
Greece
George Papandreou
European Union
Lawmakers from the prime minister's own Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or PASOK, are holding an emergency meeting that could see him pushed out, even as Papandreou said he planned to unveil a government reshuffle Thursday.
A confidence vote on the reshuffled government will be held Tuesday, state television reported.
Papandreou faces strong opposition from his party over the austerity measures, which are intended to bring the government deficit down in order to secure a second enormous bailout package from institutions including the International Monetary Fund and European Union.
There are fears that efforts to restructure Greece's debt could wreak havoc with Europe's banking sector, sparking a rerun of investor panic like that caused by the 2008 collapse of the Lehman Brothers investment bank.
The crisis also raises concerns for Europe's currency, the euro. If struggling nations such as Greece, Portugal or Ireland default on debts, it could knock the bloc into the red, affecting the entire world economy.
The IMF issued a statement Thursday saying it would continue to back Greece provided it carried out economic policy reforms already agreed by the government.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States is monitoring the situation in Greece closely but believes its European counterparts have the capacity to deal with it.
"We consider it a headwind, if you will, in terms of the global economy and therefore the domestic economy," he said.
"So far Greece has made significant progress in terms of reforms. But it is important that the Greek government carry on with the fiscal measures and reforms that are frequently under discussion with the EU and the IMF."
The political crisis in Greece has helped send the euro down two points against the dollar over two days, while the credit default market now puts a 78 percent chance on Greece failing to pay its debts.
Many political observers were skeptical about whether Papandreou has the political authority left to form a new government.
Vasso Papandreou, a founding member of the governing PASOK party but no relation of the prime minister, said this was "a critical time for the country", as she circulated a petition among party members calling for "an immediate meeting of PASOK's parliamentary group."
Asked what would be discussed at the meeting, the lawmaker replied: "Everything."
One of the two lawmakers from PASOK who resigned Thursday, former government minister George Floridis, said both George Papandreou and the leader of the main, conservative opposition had displayed unforgivable lack of leadership in failing to form a national coalition.
"One-party governments, even if they include broadly popular figures, cannot bring about today's difficult mission," Floridis said in an open letter.
"This is not the time for bemoaning our fate and complaining," Papandreou responded in his speech. "The next government will be more effective and proceed to make the great changes that the people want and demand."
George Papandreou spoke with conservative leader Samaras by phone on Wednesday afternoon after street riots marked the introduction of a new, 28 billion euro ($39 billion) austerity bill in Parliament. But by evening their talks broke down into mutual recriminations.
The main opposition party, New Democracy, has repeatedly demanded that Papandreou quit and that a cross-party coalition renegotiate the terms of the bailout package.
Papandreou said Wednesday he would be willing to resign if he was the only thing standing in the way of a national unity government.
The government's popularity has plunged recently, and anti-government protests turned violent Wednesday, as demonstrators threw gasoline bombs at the Ministry of Finance and police fired tear gas at protesters, police said.
Tens of thousands of protesters had vowed to form a human shield around the parliament to prevent lawmakers from debating the new austerity measures Wednesday afternoon.
"This is a joke. It is all a joke," protester Christos Miliadakis, 35, said of the government plans.
"When will we be able to get out of this vicious circle? My wife lost her job. I had a 12% pay cut as a result of the first bailout. The new measures want to cut another 20% of jobs in the public sector," he said. "So if no one has money and we are just more in debt, who is going to drive the economy? We will live like slaves paying all our lives."
Architecture student Maria Iliadi, 23, said that, for people like her, "the future in this country has been erased. There will be no big public projects, and no one will be building for a long time. Sometimes, finishing my degree seems totally pointless."
About 25,000 demonstrators were on the streets of the capital by the middle of the day Wednesday, police said. Two police officers and four civilians were slightly injured, and 12 people were arrested, they said.
On June 9, the Cabinet approved a tough five-year plan for 2011-15 and introduced a bill in Parliament to put the measures into effect.
The government has said that the passage of these additional measures is essential to Greece's securing the fifth portion of a 110 billion euro ($158 billion) bailout package that Greece signed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to prevent the country from defaulting on its debts.
"We stand ready to continue our support for Greece subject to adoption of the economic policy reforms agreed with the Greek authorities," said Caroline Atkinson, director of external relations at the IMF, in a statement Thursday.
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou has said the country hopes to secure a second bailout deal this month.
The search for a second bailout comes after it became evident that Greece is extremely unlikely to raise capital from private markets in 2012 due to the prohibitively high interest rates it would face.
Papaconstantinou has also indicated that European Union members may support calls to get the private sector involved.
Despite the harsh austerity measures that the Greek government has imposed, it is failing to close its budget deficit as quickly as many had hoped. The country is in recession amid its fiscal restructuring program.
The finance minister has defended the five-year austerity plan, saying it is needed to keep Greece solvent. The new measures will include a number of additional taxes and an additional 20% cut in public-sector jobs.
Protesters have been gathering outside Parliament for more than three weeks as part of an ongoing peaceful demonstration against austerity measures, with some camping in the square facing Parliament.
The credit rating agency Standard & Poor's on Monday cut Greece's rating to just two notches above default, among the lowest in the world. The agency has said a default on some debt appears "increasingly likely."
Unemployment in Greece skyrocketed to more than 16% in May, a 40% rise since last year.
The European Commission has said Greece's economy was expected to shrink by 3.5% this year
comment "When will we be able to get out of this vicious circle? My wife lost her job. I had a 12% pay cut as a result of the first bailout. The new measures want to cut another 20% of jobs in the public sector," he said. "So if no one has money and we are just more in debt, who is going to drive the economy? We will live like slaves paying all our lives." so I think this is very bad.
Kindle Fire vs. iPad: Which is right for you?
(CNN) -- With Amazon unveiling its much-anticipated Kindle Fire tablet computer Wednesday, we may finally have a real tablet war on our hands.
In the nearly 18 months since the iPad went on sale, tablet rivals have come and gone. But Apple's device has remained dominant.
Amazon's new entry, though, might be different. Instead of crafting an iPad carbon copy and asking consumers to choose between them, they've pushed out a stripped-down and simplified device that sells for much less than the iPad 2 while skimping on some of that tablet's features.
If you're in the market for a tablet, though, here's the real question: Which one, if either, is right for you?
We can't say for sure, since we haven't gotten our hands on one yet. (Amazon didn't let reporters demo them at Wednesday's launch event.)
Here's a look at how the two devices stack up in some key areas.
Price
Apple's higher prices make the Fire's price tag look like, well, a fire sale.
At $199, the Kindle Fire will be a full $300 cheaper than the lowest-priced iPad 2. That's possibly an easier entry point for folks who are intrigued by the iPad but can't justify spending $500 for a portable computer when they already have a smartphone and a laptop.
One reason iPad competitors have had a hard time catching on is that, to make a profit, they're priced about the same as Apple's hit device, which costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and 3G capability. That being the case, the majority of consumers have stuck with the market leader.
For evidence of the power of a lower price point, though, look no further than HP's "dead" TouchPad tablet, which the company announced it was discontinuing last month. The company slashed prices to $99 for a 16GB model and $149 for a 32GB one, and they suddenly flew off the shelves (so much so that HP actually made more to fill the demand).
The Fire's $199 sticker may appeal to parents who want to get their child a tablet but hesitate at shelling out $500 or more for something that might get dropped into a puddle.
Screen size
There's a pretty clear difference here. The iPad has a 9.7-inch display, compared with a 7-inch screen on the Kindle Fire.
That screen size is probably a big reason Amazon can offer its tablet at $199 -- touchscreens are expensive to make. But with smartphone screen sizes inching ever-bigger (the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note will clock in at 5.3 inches) the Fire ends up being a bit of a "tweener."
That's probably no big deal for some users. But if watching movies or playing games is a big reason you want a tablet, bigger is clearly better.
On the flip side, the Fire is smaller and 50% lighter than the iPad, and Amazon says it's "easy to hold in one hand." This may appeal to some users who want to take their tablet on the go.
Features
The Kindle Fire is definitely scaled back from the iPad 2 in several ways.
The Fire doesn't have a camera. For shutterbugs, that might not be such a big deal, as many folks find it easier to shoot photos on smartphones than tablets anyway. But it also means apps like Apple's video chat service, FaceTime, won't be replicated on Amazon's offering.
The Fire also doesn't have a microphone, so voice recording and Skype-style chat are out.
And the Fire is Wi-Fi-only, which means users will be able to surf the Web and download content (like books from Amazon) only when they have a connection. The iPad also comes in 3G models, albeit at a higher price. (The 3G version of the low-end 16GB iPad 2 jumps to $629, not including the monthly data plan).
The Kindle Fire promises eight hours of battery life, as opposed to 10 hours for the iPad 2.
Finally, the Fire has only 8GB of storage (compared with the iPad 2's bottom end at 16GB) but makes up for it by offering free cloud storage on Amazon's gargantuan bank of servers.
Apps
The Fire will run on a modified version of Google's Android operating system. That means users will have access to more than 250,000 apps in the online Android Market. The iPad, of course, has access to more than 425,000 apps in the Apple Store. So, advantage iPad -- although both offerings are robust, and Android is catching up.
Amazon has, of course, optimized the Fire for its own content, like streaming movies, e-books and music. It also will come with a 30-day free look at Amazon Prime, the company's premier service that offers free two-day shipping of products from Amazon.com and free streaming from a library of more than 11,000 movies and TV shows.
Bottom line
On the surface, both tablets appear to be good options for people who just want a basic portable computer for light Web surfing and content consumption. The iPad has a proven track record and more bells and whistles, although that $199 Kindle Fire price is sure to tempt consumers.
The Fire doesn't go on sale until November 15, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews of the device by then.
Opinion: I defintively feel more attracted by the Ipad than the Kindle device.Things that the Kindle doesn't contain is a camera, so you won't be able to use Skipe or videophones like Facetime, the App Store contains more aplications than the one the Kindle use, the screen is bigger, etc. But the major problem is that the Kindle is much chepear than the Ipad. Despite all the features the Ipad have, I would choose the Kindle because of its reasonable prices, the 250,000 apps you can download such as books, movies, aplications, games, etc, but mostly because of of all the advantages that the device take on Amazon.com. I will recomend the Kindle for the teenagers and adults who will use the device as a book or as for entertainment and de the Ipad for people who will use it to work
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Apple confirmed Tuesday that it will hold a press event on Oct. 4 at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Expected to be the star attraction: The long-awaited iPhone 5.
It's been 15 months since Apple's iPhone 4 went on sale, making this lag between new models the longest since the iPhone debuted in 2007.
As always, the next-generation iPhone has been the subject of intense speculation. Almost daily, blogs and news agencies offer up new tidbits based on supposed leaks from hardware component makers or iPhone case designers to glean any information about what the next device could look like.
The dominant rumors for the next iPhone involve an 8-megapixel camera, longer battery life, a faster processor and availability on the Sprint (S,Fortune 500) network. Others have claimed that the device will have a larger screen, a curved display, no home button, support for 4G networks, and more memory.
In the past, about half the pre-launch rumors have turned out to be correct.
Apple has typically unveiled its new iPhone at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but this year, Steve Jobs reserved that time to preview the company's new software, including the iPad and iPhone's iOS operating system, the new Mac OS X Lion operating system, and iCloud.
In the fall, Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) has traditionally updated its iPod lineup. Many analysts believe that the company will at the very least update its iPod Touch product this year, perhaps even selling a version with a 3G data connection.
Despite the delays in launching a new version, demand for the iPhone 4 has remained insatiable. Apple sold a record 20 million of the devices in the second quarter, and early analysis points to another record quarter over the past three months. A recent RBC Capital survey suggested iPhone 5 sales would likely top those of the record-setting iPhone 4.
Apple's Oct. 4 event will likely be hosted by new CEO Tim Cook.
Will there be a cameo from Steve Jobs, now Apple's chairman? Don't rule it out: Jobs has surprised audiences before, making two public appearances this year at Apple events during his medical leave of absence.
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