Technical Pro

He said that advertising revenues had improved, with the group seeing year-on-year increases of more than 20pc. The automotive and financial services industries had started to pick up, he said.

Forbes Europe will be based in London or Paris and it will probably launch in 2011. Mr Forbes said he had spoken to European advertisers and there had been a lot of interest in Forbes Europe.

“Even though everyone is focused on Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain, there is a recovery coming. And this is precisely the right time to move in. We want it [Forbes Europe] to be entrepreneurial. This is the right time for a European magazine,” he said.

The company currently publishes Forbes and Forbes Asia, which together reach a worldwide audience of more than 6m readers. There are also licensee editions in many countries from China to Croatia.

While the licensee editions are local language versions of Forbes, Forbes Europe’s content, like Forbes Asia, would be in English with original, local content.

In August 2006, Elevation Partners became a minority shareholder in a newly formed company, Forbes Media, the publisher of Forbes magazine, Forbes.com and other media properties.

Mr Forbes also offered his advice to the UK Government. “Don’t believe because you’re cutting spending you must raise taxes. Do what is right to get the economy moving and then people will forgive you for how you got there.

“What you have to do is combine tough measures with measures that will be conducive to encouraging growth,” he said.

“And if [George] Osborne and the Bank of England strengthen the pound, exporters will howl, but if people believe in the pound again then that would be good for the euro.”

He added that Britain should adopt a tax code similar to some Asian territories.

“Give Britain a tax code similar to Singapore’s or Hong Kong. You’d have very low rates and generous exemptions. You’d make Britain a haven of capital.

“You afford to do that because you are growing. Asset values go up if people see a future.”

He said he had sent David Cameron a copy of his book on the benefits of flat tax.

Mr Forbes said the group will not introduce paywalls on Forbes magazine’s websites.

Earlier this year, Mr Forbes relinquished his chief executive role at Forbes Media. Gentleman’s Quarterly publisher Mike Perlis was brought in as chief executive.

via Forbes unveils plans to launch a European title – Telegraph.

Talk about the history of palaces, and chances are that there are little or none who come quite close to the Palace of Versailles. Be it the site of the French Revolution, the home and the power seat of some of the most dynamic kings or queens, or the only place that contains in its wall more drama of power, deceit, romance and scandals than reams of history books. Truth be said, there’s nothing like this royal residence- a place whose grandeur is legendary and yet unseen. And if you, like us, have been enamored by the mysticism of this historic place, then here’s news for you. Come 2011, and the age old palace will see a transformation from the royal residence of the yesteryear royalty to a luxury hotel par excellence.
Yes really. As per the agreement between the Culture Ministry and the Secretariat of State for Tourism in 2009, one of the satellite buildings of palace is being turned into a luxury hotel. The Hotel du Grand Controle, the traditional home of the chateau’s treasurers, is to be converted into a “luxury hotel,” Jean-Jacques Aillagon, president of the Chateau de Versailles, said Tuesday.

The palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site deemed one of the crowning achievements of 18th-century French art, is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions. Famed for its Hall of Mirrors and home to the French court from 1682, the complex was transformed and expanded under the Sun King Louis XIV into a monument to royal grandeur and absolutism. It remained the official seat of power until the French Revolution in 1789, when Marie-Antoinette fled the palace via a secret passage.

A concession has been granted to the Belgian company Ivy International SA, which is to renovate and develop the satellite building that dates back to the 17th century, over 30 years. Built in the 1680s by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the 1,700 square-metre (18,000 square-feet) Hotel du Grand Controle served as an officers’ mess until 2006.

Ivy will pay for the renovation works, estimated at 5.5 million euros (7.3 million dollars), which will be led by historic monuments architect-in-chief Frederic Didier. The palace, ordered by Louis XV and is considered a jewel of French patrimony. The opening of the 23-bedroom establishment, in which some rooms will look out onto the “Orangerie” – the chateau’s elaborate greenhouse – or the Swiss ornamental lake, is planned for late 2011.

[Independent]

Here’s a list of the largest earthquakes (see quake photos) to rattle the world since 1900, according to MCT. Maps (find your home) show where they struck.

• A 9.5 magnitude quake struck Chile (see where) in 1960.
• A 9.2 magnitude quake struck Prince William Sound, Alaska, (see where) in 1964.
• A 9.1 magnitude quake struck off the coast of northern Sumatra (see where) in 2004.
• A 9.0 magnitude quake struck Kamchatka, Russia, (see where) in 1952.
• An 8.9 magnitude quake struck Japan (see where) in 2011.
• An 8.8 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Ecuador (see where) in 1906.
• An 8.8 magnitude quake struck Chile (see where) in 2010.
• An 8.7 magnitude quake struck Rat Islands, Alaska, (see where) in 1965.
• An 8.6 magnitude quake struck northern Sumatra, Indonesia, (see where) in 2005.
• An 8.6 magnitude quake struck Tibet (see where) in 1950.
• An 8.6 magnitude quake struck Andreanof Islands, Alaska, (see where) in 1957.
• An 8.5 magnitude quake struck southern Sumatra, Indonesia, (see where) in 2007.
• An 8.5 magnitude quake struck Banda Sea, Indonesia, (see where) in 1938.
• An 8.5 magnitude quake struck Kamchatka, Russia, (see where) in 1923.
• An 8.5 magnitude quake struck Argentina’s border with Chile (see where) in 1922.

Apple Os Lion is out for beta and if your one of the few lucky users then see below for a list of apps.

App Compatibility Table – RoaringApps.

Please note that there is an email going around that is a virus
Make sure to delete it and do not open attachment
See below example of the email I received.
Urgent Report!

Your Federal Tax Payment ID: 0103237534 has been rejected.

Return Reason Code R21 – The identification number used in the Company Identification Field is not valid.

Please, check the attached information and refer to Code R21 to get details about your company payment in transaction contacts section:

EFTPS: The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System

PLEASE NOTE: Your tax payment is due regardless of EFTPS online availability. In case of an emergency, you can always make your tax payment by calling the EFTPS.

IRS Notification.

Just when you thought you could get everything and the kitchen sink from Amazon, the company began developing a free local delivery service called AmazonTote, so you can have it all delivered faster.

While Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program offers free delivery for items in that section, the new service through AmazonFresh has a much larger inventory — from fresh produce to laundry supplies.

Amazon is testing the new Tote program in its home city of Seattle, according to Financial Times Online. Purchases are bagged in reusable totes and delivered to the Seattle participant’s home, free of charge, within the appointed delivery window, either weekly or twice weekly. You can also do returns right from your doorstep. The company is reportedly going to expand the program, but it hasn’t issued a time frame for the expansion.

Other than the limited delivery area at first, what’s the catch? At first glance, it appears that the trade-off is in the price markup, but then, you won’t find a bunch of organic Lacinato kale much cheaper at your local co-op than the $3.19 that AmazonFresh charges. And if you consider gas prices, the cost of driving back and forth to the store balances the hike in the grocery bill. But for many, the sheer convenience of having groceries and other products delivered to their doorsteps more quickly than overnight delivery is worth it, even if it does cost a little more.

If AmazonTote expands, it will obviously create yet another challenge for its competitors. The Financial Times also reports that one of Amazon’s largest competitors, Walmart, is making plans to expand its own online low-cost services. Still, it’s difficult to keep up with a company that offers everything “from A to Z,” as its arrow indicates. Even if you can’t find what you are looking for, AmazonTote makes it easy for customers to request products it doesn’t carry by providing a link on the AmazonFresh shopping site. There’s even a blog site where customers can browse recipes from Amazon’s Chef Dana.

Perhaps it is this kind of service and innovation that makes Amazon so popular with consumers, and as retail focuses even more on its online audience, programs such as AmazonTote may turn online companies into the next generation of box stores.

via AmazonTote Aims for Local Delivery Market.

By Paul Miller posted Jan 11th 2011 11:06AM

We’ve waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year — it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on February 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version — everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T’s iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It’s not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it’s just a Verizon phone.

Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon’s CDMA network doesn’t support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that’s just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn’t go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch — a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that’s standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one computer.

Check out our full hands-on with the Verizon iPhone right here, and stay tuned — we’ve got lots more coming up.

Verizon iPhone 4 full hands-on

Verizon iPhone 4 detailed comparison shots

By Laura Heller, dealnews writer

If it’s January, then it’s time for the Consumer Electronics Show. This is when the industry trots out the latest and greatest to whet our appetites for new TVs, mobile phones and portable computers.

CES is exciting and fun, to be sure, but it will end up costing you money if you fall for the hype. But if you know how to read between the lines, you’ll be able to easily plan upcoming purchases.

The most important distinction is between what’s being promoted as groundbreaking, cool new technology and what’s actually going to reach the mass market. At every show, companies debut examples of products in development or those meant for very limited production. In years past, we’ve seen 100-plus-inch plasma TVs (price upon request) still seen only in a handful of sports bars in places such as Las Vegas, where the industry goes to gather, and super-skinny LED TVs available for exorbitant sums relative to their tiny screen size.

Last year’s much-hyped 3D TVs are a great example. When the recession hit in 2008, many electronics companies halted expensive research and development, trimmed costs and scaled back new product releases. Some even stayed away from consumer shows like CES altogether, deeming them too expensive to attend. Those that came, had little to show.

Hence 3D TV.

As one veteran reporter quipped, “when you’ve got nothing else to show, bring out the 3D.” It’s not that the technology doesn’t have merit or isn’t fun, but rather is it compelling enough to get consumers to pay more for it, or buy new TVs to have it. Add to that a lack of content and glasses that have to be worn at home, and it’s hardly an easy sell. But 3D technology has been kicking around for a long time, so it was easy enough for companies to resurrect it and bring it out in lieu of more impressive new technology.

Don’t expect to see much talk about 3D TV coming out of CES this year, however.

“Connected TVs are the big focus this year,” says Jason Oxman, spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association, sponsor of the show. “This year, it’s the range of apps and the TV will start to look a lot like a cell phone.”

Indeed, the TV is merging with computers. More and more can be connected to the Internet, with apps — or widgets — embedded into the TV. You might not have full Internet access, but the apps will take you to Netflix, Hulu and Yahoo! to download and watch content.

No, 3D TV isn’t dead, it’s just becoming part of a package of features you’ll see included in new TVs this year. “Literally every high-end TV will have 3D as a feature, but what manufacturers have discovered is that we’re looking for TVs that do a lot of things,” Oxman says.

We’ll see more tablet computers this year — dozens according to Oxman — to compete with Apple’s iPad in a variety of price points. There will be more 4G smartphones for faster data transfer, and connected home appliances that propose to help save consumers money by allowing remote diagnostics and monitoring peak times for power use to reduce energy costs.

All practical advancements meant to save us money. More use, less hype.

Once the show opens on January 6, stay tuned for more reports from the convention floor. Follow Laura Heller on Twitter for up-to-the-minute details.