Apple Touts European Job Creation Numbers, Including 500K Related to App Store
Several years ago, Apple rolled out a new page on its site touting job growth associated with its businesses in the United States, calculating that included over 300,000 workers directly tied to the company and its business partners, as well as over 200,000 more workers that were part of the App Store economy. The total number is now approaching 600,000 workers, driven largely by increases in the App Store segment over the past two years.
Now, Apple is bringing the same public relations effort to Europe, with a series of pages touting Apple’s job creation numbers in Europe, as noted by The Wall Street Journal.
Throughout our history, we have created entirely new products – and entirely new industries – by focusing on innovation. This has resulted in nearly 630,000 European jobs at Apple and at developers and businesses supported by Apple. In addition, the App Store has created hundreds of thousands of jobs that previously did not exist in the European economy, enabling developers to launch new companies and earn $6.5 billion from App Store sales worldwide.
Out of the 630,000 European jobs cited by Apple, the company includes nearly 500,000 related to the App Store economy, with Apple highlighting the $6.5 billion in developer payments the represents over 30 percent of the total $20 billion paid out by Apple worldwide. The remaining 132,000 European jobs cited by Apple are related to the company itself, including its own employees and those at suppliers and resellers.
Country-specific versions of the pages, such as for France and Italy, share largely the same information, although each has a unique “Spotlight on Developers” section sharing quotes from and links to select developers from those countries.
Apple also puts a special spotlight on its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland, where the company now employs 4,000 workers. Apple notes that it is the city’s largest private employer, housing roughly 10% of Apple’s corporate employees and supporting an additional 2,500 jobs at other companies providing services to Apple in Cork.
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Security firms help Cryptolocker malware victims get their files back
Remember Cryptolocker? It was a clever but terrible piece of malware that encrypted files on your PC, charging you a ransom to get them back. The leader of the gang behind to be behind the software is now awaiting trial, but that won’t help around 500,000 people who still can’t get at their prized documents. That’s where FireEye and Fox IT, two of the companies who helped take the gang down, come in. Using the seized databases, the pair have built Decrypt Cryptolocker, a web portal where you supply your email address and one encrypted file, and it’ll give you a recovery program and master key that’ll restore control of your files.
Filed under: Internet
Via: BBC News
Source: Decrypt Cryptolocker
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Brits will send 300 billion IMs in 2014, and it’s all down to sexting
The traditional lull in news during the summer seasons means that throughout August, companies pump out swathes of research that would otherwise get ignored or drowned out. Coincidentally, Deloitte is claiming that the UK population is likely to send around 300 billion electronic instant messages this year, up from 160 billion in 2013. What’s the cause of this sudden near-doubling of iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger chat? Sexting. At least that’s what Paul Lee, Deloitte’s media and telecoms chief, believes, saying that teenagers sending winky emoticons and Snapchatting pictures of their genitals pets is the biggest contributor to the rise. According to the firm, the average person sends just seven texts, but nearly 50 IMs in a single day, and that if the trend continues, 2014 will be the first year that text messaging numbers fall compared to its free rivals. Just think, it’ll be September soon, so we can all go back to reading about actual developments in the world of technology.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
Source: The Guardian
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Sprint names wireless sales veteran Marcelo Claure as its new CEO
There were murmurs that Sprint was about to shake up its leadership, and today it’s official. The carrier has named Marcelo Claure, the head of wireless distributor Brightstar, as its new President and CEO. He’ll take over from Dan Hesse on August 11th. The company doesn’t have a direct explanation for the change, but it does allude to refocusing now that its attempt to buy T-Mobile has gone awry; while it would prefer “industry consolidation,” it’s only concerned with self-improvement in the short term. How Claure will fare isn’t certain. He’s known for his entrepreneurial skills and has been involved with Sprint’s board for months, but this will be his first time running a provider. He’ll have to get up to speed quickly if he wants to reverse the company’s ailing fortunes.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint
Source: Sprint
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Watch This App: Attopedia
So you’ve got an Android Wear device and now you’re looking for some Android apps to go along with it. We’ve got you covered. Our Watch This App column is designed to help educate readers in the various apps available for the platform and highlight the best of the bunch. Watch This App: Attopedia Long gone are the days…… Read more »
The post Watch This App: Attopedia appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Four online marketing ideas for businesses on a shoestring budget
Unfortunately setting up a new internet business is not as easy as it sounds. You can’t just build a website and expect people to know all about you. If you want to spread the word about your business and make people aware of your products, you will need to create a good internet marketing strategy.
One of the main problems new and small businesses face when it comes to internet marketing is a lack of finance. However all is not lost! There are many different ways you can market your business online on a shoestring budget and below we have outlined four of them.
Advertise your products and engage with potential customers for free by starting a blog.
Image source: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/14045819341_6651d70343.jpg
- Start a blog
Whilst it will cost you time to write and publish content, it will not cost you anything to set up and maintain a business blog. Believe it or not, blogging is one of the best ways to engage with customers, promote your products and increase your search engine rankings. Providing the blog content you produce is fresh, unique and relevant to your industry, it will go a long way in improving your internet marketing efforts, without costing you an arm and leg!
- Collaborate with other brands and bloggers
Another great way to promote your products or services without spending a fortune is to collaborate with other brands and bloggers. This works particularly well if you are a small or new brand looking to gain exposure. Often bigger brands and bloggers host giveaways and competitions. By donating a prize in the form of one of your products or a voucher for your store, you will not be spending actual money and can benefit from the exposure provided by the brand or blogger you are working with. Often giveaway rules require participants to ‘like’ your Facebook page, follow you on Twitter or follow your blog, so they are a great for marketing your business and generating a following.
- Leverage free social media tools
Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and LinkedIn are free to use, so why not use them to your advantage? Building up a following on social media will help to spread the word about your business and direct traffic through to your website. It is important to keep in mind that your followers will not want to be constantly bombarded with links to your products though.
Instead, take the time to produce unique and interesting content that will be of value to them. This sort of content will increase engagement levels and is more likely to be shared by your followers, leading to further exposure for your brand and products, without any money being spent!
Create videos for YouTube and Vine.
Image source: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/12088752723_bb35ca8731_o.png
- Make useful videos
Believe it or not you do not need a marketing budget of hundreds or thousands of pounds to create useful and effective video content. Thanks to apps like Instagram and Vine, consumers are used to viewing low-production video content and are actually very receptive to it. If you cannot afford to create high production marketing videos for your company, think about the content you can create. A simple sit down Q&A video or a product demonstration video will only cost you time to make, butcould go a long way in improving customers’ confidence in your business and generating sales.
Conclusion
Although internet marketing is essential if you want to grow your business and generate profit, it does not necessarily have to cost you a fortune. There are plenty of ways you can use online marketing techniques to promote your business on a shoestring budget. It’s just about thinking out of the box and identifying key opportunities.
Image credits:manoftaste.de&@NonprofitOrgs
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A review of the Panasonic AG AC90 Entry Level 3MOS Full HD AVCCAM Camcorder
Despite numerous DSLR cameras being released this year with an array of features for videographers, the Panasonic AG AC90 still remains a firm favourite with industry professionals. Here we will provide a review of its key features and benefits.
Image source: http://www.3dbroadcastsales.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/d/3d_ag-ac90__84984.jpg
The Panasonic AG AC90 is a professional ACCCAM HD handheld camcorder that boasts a wide range of features and benefits including high-sensitivity 1/4.7, full HD 2.19 megapixel 3-MOS imagers ideal for capturing native 1920 x 1080 resolution images. It records in 1080/60p, 60i, 30p and 24p, as well as in standard definition (480/60i) in 60Hz.
The lens
The Panasonic AG AC90 comes with a 12X zoom lens, with three independent adjustable rings (zoom, focus, iris). The iris offers a wide 29.8mm to 357.6mm viewing angle. The lens has also been treated with Panasonic’s special Nano Surface Lens Coating that is designed to reduce ghosting and flares.
LCD and controls
A key feature is the camcorder’s versatile LCD monitor (approx. 1,152,000 dots) that allows for easy HD viewing. It has a widescreen LCOS colour viewfinder and a widescreen 1.15-million pixel 3.5 inch LCD colour monitor. The monitor conveniently rotates two hundred and seventy degrees, allowing for easy low-angle, high-angle and self-interviewing shooting.
The control panel on the camcorder is multifunctional and allows for easy operation. The functions that videographers will need to use more frequently have been enlarged and are also conveniently located. The camcorder also benefits from large audio level dials for operating ease.
Key features
- 2 x SD memory card slots
- 5 axis image stabiliser
- 4X pixel shifting technology
- Intelligent auto zoom technology (25X super-resolution function)
Key features of the AG AC90 include two SD memory card slots that allow for simultaneous back-up recording. This particular model is compatible with Panasonics UHS-1 (ultra-high speed) memory card series and benefits from transfer rates up to 90MBs.
When it comes to shooting handheld, excellent stabilisation is essential. This is something that the Panasonic HD handheld camera can offer with its five axis image stabiliser. The AG AC90 also benefits from 4X pixel shifting technology, allowing for sharper images to be captured and intelligent auto zoom technology that automatically adjusts the edge, gradation and detail to produce quality images.
The Panasonic AG AC90 also benefits from a number of professional features including:
- Time code / UB recording
- Time / date stamp
- Two wired remote control terminals for zoom, focus, iris, Rec, start / stop
It has a large-capacity battery (5,400 mAh) allowing for an average of 6 hours continuous shooting in PH mode.
Inputs and outputs
This professional camcorder has HDMI, USB 2.0 and multi-AV outputs. It also comes with a built-in stereo microphone, XLR inputs with switches for mic, two RCA audio outputs and two-channel Dolby Digital recording.
Image source: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8223786167_7b47221f3f.jpg
Editing and playback
Transferring video content for editing and playback could not be easier. Users simply need to insert the SD memory card from the camcorder into their Mac or PC. Alternatively they can connect their Panasonic camcorder directly to their computer or laptop, using a standard USB 2.0 lead. The camcorder’s Importer Software comes with a free download of a QuickTime plug-in component, preventing users from needing to manually convert files from AVCHD to ProRES422 when using software like Final Pro.
Who is it aimed at?
Panasonic designed this HD handheld camcorder with professional videographers in mind, though it is not limited to a specific market. A wide range of industry professionals could benefit from using the AG AC90 including wedding and event videographers, as well as sports and corporate videographers.
Buying / leasing the AG-AC90
The Panasonic AG-AC90A AVCCAM offers high image quality, advanced functionality and easy operation. It benefits from a sleek and ergonomic design, perfect for professional use. No matter what area of videography you work in, if you are looking for a solid state of the art HD camcorder at a reasonable, budget-friendly price, Panasonic’s AC-AC90 will make the ideal choice.
Image credit: Imrishale
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China bans Apple products for government use
China has apparently decided to blacklist Apple products including the iPad and MacBook lines for official use, according to Bloomberg. The report says that the government has instructed its procurement arm not to purchase desktops, tablets and laptops from the company because those oft-cited “security concerns.” It’s the latest in a series of attacks on western tech companies in the wake of the Snowden revelations — with Windows 8, IBM, Apple, Google, Kaspersky, Symantec and the iPhone all getting singled out for criticism. According to Bloomberg’s analysts, the move is to ensure that the US doesn’t have too much influence in China, and in no way will distract people from China’s own sordid history of snooping.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Apple
Source: Bloomberg
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Ninja Sphere promises to turn your house into a smart home for $329
Back in January, a smart home device called Ninja Sphere made over $650,000 on Kickstarter. Now, its creators (Ninjablocks) has started accepting its first pre-orders outside the crowdfunding website for $329 per unit. But, what can a Ninja Sphere do in the first place? Well, this gesture-controlled device can monitor temperature, lighting and even energy usage, but that’s just one of the things it’s capable of. Ninjablocks touts it as a veritable multi-tasker that sends alerts if you’ve left appliances running when you go out and let you turn them off using your phone. With the proper IFTT recipes in place, it also lets you switch on the heater or AC before you get home, or switch on the lights at a set time using a phone or even a smartwatch.
Since the Sphere can connect to Bluetooth Low Energy devices, it can locate pets and items tagged with those small BLE locators like Gecko. It can even tell you if one of the things you’ve tagged has been moved and gives you the option to activate cameras in the room, if available. The device can also serve as a hub for Philips Hue, Belkin WeMo, and Dropcam, among other high-tech systems for the home. Based on the device’s original Kickstarter page, these are but some of the things the Sphere can do, as it comes equipped with ZigBee radio for more advanced home automation and a USB port where you can plug in Arduino-based projects, cameras, speakers and more sensors. And, since the device is open source, tech-savvy users can upgrade it as they please. You can get a unit as early as October if you choose to pre-order this round, but if you’re unsure and want to know more, check out Engadget Spanish’s Sphere write-up.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Ninjablocks
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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 to hit 25 more countries as losses mount
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is set to arrive in 25 more countries including the UK, most of Europe and China on August 28th. It’s been up for pre-order in many of those regions for a while now, but will finally start to ship by month’s end. The 12-inch model has been treated more kindly in reviews than the previous two models, despite some keyboard issues. However, sales figures for the new model haven’t been released, and past versions have fared poorly — in fact, it just had to write off $38 million in unsold devices, including a model it didn’t even launch. And according to Computerworld, the damage goes even deeper.
Based on filings, the site estimates that Microsoft has burned through a total of $1.7 billion since the Surface series arrived in 2012. About $363 million of that red ink came from the most recent quarter, although it’s likely that the company had to spend a lot to ramp up production of the Surface Pro 3 that started shipping at the tail end of that period. It’s bound to recoup at least some of that investment now that the Pro 3 has hit US store shelves and will soon arrive elsewhere.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft to see if it has any commentary on the numbers. Provided they’re accurate, though, they suggest that the crew in Redmond has been willing to endure a lot to get its first in-house PC range off the ground. Such a sacrifice wouldn’t be out of character for the company, mind you. Its cloud services (including its Bing search engine) were money-losers for years; its game console division only really came into its own during the Xbox 360 era. Microsoft may not be so patient with Surface when new CEO Satya Nadella is focused more on services than hardware, but you shouldn’t expect these slates to disappear in the near future.
Steve Dent contributed to this report.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: Computerworld, SEC
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