New York News
GoDaddy may lose thousands on customers on “Dump GoDaddy Day”, Dec 29
With domain registrar GoDaddy. com initially voicing its support for the contentious Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), but later retracting its support and opposing the move, the uproar against SOPA and GoDaddy's shifting stance has assumed viral proportions on the Internet.
LG to debut 'world's largest' Organic-LED and 3D LED TVs at CES
The forthcoming January Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas will witness LG unveiling what apparently will be the "world's largest" TVs --- the Organic-LED TV and 3D LED TV; which boast 55-inch and 72-inch screens respectively.
Even though it is yet to be ascertained as to whether the "world's largest" TVs will be deemed affordable, there is hardly any doubt that the TV sets will be really large, and will attract the audiences to LG, which is second only to Samsung in the electronics arena.
China launches its own satellite navigation system - Beidou
According to a Tuesday report from Chinese official Xinhua News Agency, the country has launched its own satellite positioning system, Beidou; in a move that not only takes China up in the worldwide tech scenario, but also marks its emerging challenge to the West's monopoly.
As per the Xinhua report, which cited the details shared by Ran Chengqi, China Satellite Navigation System's director of the management office, the Beidou Navigation Satellite System has started `free' initial positioning, navigation as well as timing operational services for the country and its neighboring areas.
Apple dominates Google's Zeitgeist 2011
Google has released its annual Zeitgeist list comprising the ‘top 10’ “fastest rising” technology searches for the US in the year 2011--- and the list in the tech category is dominated by Apple!
The top six places in Google’s annual Zeitgeist rundown of the year’s hottest search-related trends have been bagged by Apple; with the leading Apple-linked terms ion the list being “iCloud," "Osx Lion" and "Ipad 2." At the eighth place on the list is yet another Apple-related search – “Steve Jobs”.
‘Timeline’ promises to turn Facebook accounts into online scrapbook
Popular social network Facebook is currently rolling out its much-hyped ‘Timeline’ profile layout to the Facebook users all over the world; giving the users the opportunity to tell their life stories built into photos, statuses, life events, relationships, Facebook events and recent activity!
PlayStation Vita: Sony's first handheld since 2004
Consumers will decide the future of Sony’s gaming strategy on February 22, 2012 – the scheduled date for the US release of the Sony PlayStation Vita, which will be the first handheld gaming device that Sony has launched since the 2004-release of the PlayStation Portable (PSP).
The Vita, which will be priced at $249 for the entry level Wi-fi model, will be released at a time when smartphones and tablet devices are fast becoming the preferred gaming platforms for the younger generation of gamers.
Microsoft to pull out of CES after 2012
Software giant Microsoft has confirmed that it would pull out of the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) after the January 2012 event.
Revealing the decision in a blog post, Microsoft corporate communications' CVP Frank Shaw said that the CES 2012 would be the software maker's last show.
However, Frank added that the company will keep on participating in CES by connecting with partners and customers across the phone, PC and entertainment industries.
Saudi prince buys around 3.75% stake in Twitter
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the richest man in the Arab world, has secured a stake estimated at around 3.75 per cent in Twitter by investing $300 million in micro-blogging site which is pushing through a redesign to attract more advertisers.
Prince Alwaleed’s latest investment, made through his company Kingdom Holding, makes the micro-blogging site reportedly worth more than the popular social gaming firm Zynga. Estimates suggest that the San Francisco micro-blogging firm’s valuation now exceeds $10 billion.
US senators urge FTC to probe Google’s business practices
Two US Senators have urged the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch a probe into Internet search giant Google's business practices.
In their letter to the FTC, Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Herb Kohl and Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said that they can’t pin an anti-competitive on Google but stressed that the Internet search giant’s dominance needs antitrust review by the US regulators.
Proposed channel squeeze could benefit wireless services
In an attempt to squeeze the not-much-watched over-the-air TV into a smaller sliver of the airwaves, Congress is reportedly mulling the move to allow cellphone firms to make payments to TV stations for relinquishing their frequencies which can better utilized for wireless broadband.
According to reports, the proposed `channel squeeze' deal between the TV stations and the cellphone companies will seemingly be negotiated by the government, which will likely make use of some part of the proceeds for funding tax cuts and unemployment benefits.
Black Friday deals to be available early this year
Black Friday deals will be available early this year as retailers have already announced their decisions to open their doors at midnight on Thanksgiving to help eager shoppers who are not ready to wait until Black Friday enjoy attractive holiday discounts.
More and more retailers offer attractive deal on the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday season, to attract more and more customers.
Obama administration delayed action on Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline
The Obama administration has delayed action on a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to Texas in order to assess a possible shift in its route.
The administration on Thursday announced that decision to explore a new route for TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL oil pipeline to evade environmentally sensitive areas in the Sand Hills of Nebraska.
Now, the oil pipeline will not get approval at least until the 2012 U. S. election.
The 1,661-mile oil pipeline was designed to carry crude oil from Canada to Texas coast, but it encountered severe opposition from environmentalists.
US economy reports two signs of improvement
The US economy showed two signs of improvement over the recent weeks, viz. lower number of unemployment benefits claims and narrower trade gap.
According to the Labor Department, the number of unemployment benefits claims slipped by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 390,000 last week. It was the lowest level since early April.
The U. S. labor market will still have to cover a long distance to recover from the harsh 2007-2009 economic slump, but the drop in the number of filings for the jobless benefits supported analysts' view that the economy is restoring to health gradually.
NY judge puts off decision on Citigroup-SEC deal
At a hearing in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, US District Judge Jed Rakoff continued his questioning of the justness of the proposed $285-million settlement which Citigroup has worked out with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for compensating the company’s investors affected by the housing crisis.
After grilling lawyers of both sides at the hearing, Judge Rakoff put off, yet again, a decision on a request for the approval of the settlement.
NY immigrant advocates accuse Border Patrol of abuse of authority
Leveling accusations of abuse of authority against the Border Patrol in upstate New York, immigrant rights advocates and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) said in a report based on a Freedom of Information request that Border Patrol agents questioned the citizenship of not only the bus and train passengers, but also of people carrying out their day-to-day businesses in towns miles away from the international border.
Toyota to restore output in early 2012: source
Japan-based Toyota Motors Corp., Asia’s leading car manufacturer, is preparing to bring the level of its output back to normal in Japan in early next year, a source familiar with the matter revealed.
On October 10, Toyota announced its decision to stop production at its three manufacturing facilities in Thailand due to disastrous Thai floods. It may be noted here that Thailand Toyota’s Southeast Asia production hub.
Yelp hires Goldman Sachs, Citigroup to lead its IPO
Yelp Inc., the review website for local businesses, has reportedly chosen Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. to lead its initial public offering (IPO) next year.
The Wall Street Journal reported that two people familiar with the matter informed it about the selection of Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup for the leading the Yelp’s IPO, which might value the San Francisco-based company between $1billion and $2 billion.
The Journal also reported that Yelp might file its IPO plans in the next few weeks, with an aim to go public sometime in the first quarter of next year.
SEC: Citigroup’s $285mn settlement in fraud case is “fair, adequate and reasonable”
In response to questions raised by US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan in October, the SEC has said that the court should approve Citigroup's "fair, adequate and reasonable" $285million settlement of claims that, during the housing bubble, the bank's investors had been misled in collateralized debt obligations.
New initiatives lead to increase in account openings
According to the most recent information shared by credit unions and small banks across the US, the two grassroots initiatives - Bank Transfer Day and Move Your Money - have turned out to be quite a boon in terms of account openings over the weekend.
Retailers offering plenty of Black Friday deals
Retailers are busy in announcing plenty of deals to attract more and more customers as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is in the offing.
Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, marks the start of the holiday shopping season.
Acclaimed retailer Wal-Mart claims that it is offering its broadest selection of merchandise at surprisingly low prices, while some others are allowing consumers to compare their prices with those of any of their competitors to see the difference.