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Personal Computers sales will go downhill and only hit 409 million units in 2011

According to research firm Gartner, computer buyers will less likely to purchase PC in the next few years but they would prefer to buy tablets, as reported by businessweek.com.   

PCs shipment will only hit 409 million units in 2011, compared to 2010 sales, it will only reach 352.4 million units.  The research firm believes that the new generation of tablets such as Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy S will take away 10% market share from PCs sales.  In order to beat tablets, the research firm said that future PCs must include better services and more innovative features.

Cyber Monday: buyers return to work after Thanksgiving Day holiday, shop on the Internet, and fill up their shopping carts via office computers

Since the Internet booming starting in the late 1990s, majority office workers return to work on Monday and surfing for Internet deals after Thanksgiving Day holiday.  At the same time, data from top analytic company comScore show positive online sales since early last week.  Analysts believe this year’s holiday shopping season could be the biggest sales in e-commerce history.  Citing data from comScore, reuters.com reported that online spending on this year’s Thanksgiving Day (Nov 25) gained 28% from one year ago to $407 million.

Mobile devices giant Apple is now the largest land owner in its hometown Cupertino, Silicon Valley

The maker of iPods, iPhones, and iPads has made the largest land purchase in the city of Cupertino, Silicon Valley, during the Thanks Giving holiday.  Real estate analysts believe the property will cost about $300 million with land size of 98-acre and adjacent to a large parcel Apple acquired in 2006, reported mercurynews.com.  Previous owner of the property was another tech giant, HP.  The newly acquired estate will double the size of its current headquarter in Cupertino. 

According mercurynews.com, CEO Steve Jobs was a local school boy and went to Cupertino Junior High School and Homestead High School, and the big boss remained loyal to its hometown.

During the past one year Apple has reached revenue of $65 billion and now the most valuable company in Silicon Valley in term of stock market.  With its hot tech products include iPods, iPhones, and iPads plus iOS operating system, the mobile devices giant company added 12,300 employees within the past one year and most of the new hires reside in Cupertino.

(Map: mercurynews.com)

Black Friday shoppers stay at sideline to wait for better deals, while this year’s sales gained only 0.3% from one year ago to $10.7 billion

American shoppers believe deeper price cuts are still in front of them as many decided to delay buying on this year's Black Friday (November 26), the day after the Thanks Giving holiday in America.  According to Bloomberg citing data from ShopperTrak, this year’s Black Friday hit only $10.69 billion mark or a gain of 0.3% from one year ago.  Moreover, citing Roxanne Meyer, UBS Securities analyst, Bloomberg wrote “But consumers are increasingly waiting closer to Christmas” to find the best deals for shopping.

More wealthy Americans with full time jobs exchanged from homeowner to home renter especially in New York City

Although renting luxury two-bedroom apartments could go as high as $11,000 a month in Manhattan area, many rich Americans with full time jobs in New York City have switched from homeowner to home renter, reported cnbc.com.  Many home owners were worried with the current housing market and decided to sell their homes. 

According cnbc.com, demand for luxury apartments has skyrocketed during July to September this year.  In one real estate consulting firm in New York City, the number of new leases for rentals charging at least $10,000 per month went up to 200 contracts during the third quarter compared to only 89 contracts one year ago.

Say hello to “The Daily” and “Project” as two billionaires will launch a new generation of digital newspaper and magazine catered for Apple iPad users

Last week billionaire Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. unveiled a new type of newspaper and magazine catered for Apple iPad users dubbed as “The Daily.”  Next week another billionaire Sir Richard Branson will launch a new generation of digital magazine specially catered for Apple mobile devices dubbed as "Project."  According to AFP, the new digital magazine from Virgin Galactic spaceship owner will include business news, sport updates, entertainment show biz, travel deals, architectural designs, and culture from around the world.

Wealthy Americans have more advantages in broadband connection, mobile device ownership, and access to the Internet at home

A latest study conducted by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that people in higher-income households have better Internet connection and cellphone ownership.  The study found 95% of people who have income over $75,000 use the Internet more often than households in lower bracket income. 

Other interesting findings include 99% of people in top income level use the Internet at home while only 93% of people in lower brackets use the Internet at home.  The study also saw 95% of top level income households own cell phones while only 75% in households with low income own mobile devices.

 
(Chart: Pew Research Center)

E-commerce Booming: Americans will spend more money via online for 2010 holiday season shopping (Nov-Dec) and it's projected to increase 11 percent over one year ago

According to comScore, the popular analytic company, Americans will spend more money via online retails from November to December.  So far, during the first 21 days of the November, Americans have spent over $9.01 billion buying stuffs online, compared to one year ago which totaled only $7.95 billion (an increase of 13%).

The world leader in web analytic is now projecting this year online shopping will reach $32.4 billion, compared to last year’s total of $$29.1 billion, an increase of 11%.

iChina: Apple is trying to capture Far East market, the giant mobile devices company plans to open 25 stores in China by the end of 2011

The giant gadget company already has two Apple stores in Beijing, the capital city, and a couple stores in Shanghai, the Eastern port city.  And, now Apple plans to operate 25 stores in China by the end of 2011, reported mercurynews.com, one of the top Silicon Valley newspapers. 

Citing Morgan Stanley, mercurynews.com reported that Apple could earn $9 billion per year in doing business in China.  China is now the most populous in term of mobile users and online users, with 800 million mobile users and 400 million Internet users.

The side effect of Wi-Fi networks radiation and mobile phones on city trees including irregular growth on leaves

A recent study by a team of researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands found Wi-Fi networks and mobile phones is harmful to city trees, reported pcworld.com.  The study believes wireless technology makes trees sick and cause irregular growth in trees.  Researchers also found similar disease in many advanced Western nations.  The study claimed that 70% of all trees in the Netherlands metropolitan areas have the sickness symptoms include unusual growth on leaves.

America’s pilots get exemption on X-rays body scans and pat-downs if they travel in uniform and carry two types of ID

America’s top agency Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a new rule for airline pilots flying for American carriers.  Using the latest updated and secure database, TSA will allow airline pilots to go thru security without pat-downs and body X-rays scans if they carry at least two types of ID, reported latimes.com. 

Airline pilot union leaders had complained to the agency that X-ray body scans could harm pilots which could increase the side effect to radiation.

Apple may start selling a thinner and lighter iPad in April 2011 which will work on multimode GSM and CDMA networks (including AT&T and Verizon)

Computer industry watchers and tech bloggers speculated that Apple has been working on the next-generation iPad which will be on sale sometime in April 2011.  The sales calendar is almost similar to the first generation iPad which went on sale during the first week of April 2010. 

The future iPad could use processor chips made by Qualcomm.  The advantage of the new chips is that it will work on multimode GSM and CDMA networks (including AT&T and Verizon), reported allthingsd.com. 

At the same time bloomberg.com predicted that the new iPad will be thinner than the current model.  The new model will also include a camera for video-calling, similar to iPhone 4 FaceTime camera.

Start selling on the first week of December: Dell Inspiron Duo powered by Windows 7 operating system, a new type of hybrid computer between tablet and netbook

A new generation of hybrid computer between tablet PC (similar to Apple iPad) and netbook will soon hit computer stores starting the first week of December. 

The new hybrid PC is manufactured by Dell with a model dubbed as Inspiron Duo and powered by Windows 7 operating system. 

According to edgadget.com, the asking price for the hybrid computer is about $549.  The new type of computer is run on processor by dual-core Intel Atom N550.  It has memory of 2GB RAM and storage of 250GB of hard disk.

(Photo: edgadget.com)

America’s premature birth rate was 12.3% (in 2008) versus target rate of 7.6%

Based on data collected in 2008, America’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion published report on premature birth rates.  During an annual Prematurity Awareness Day, the March of Dimes also gave grades to the states progress to reduce preterm birth rate in America.   While improving in many states, because there were still too many premature babies, America is getting a "D" grade for its preterm birth rate, reported cnn.com.

According to the March of Dimes, the target rate for preterm births is below 7.6%.  The latest data show America’s premature birth rate was 12.3% in 2008.

The March of Dimes Foundation believes that premature birth is one of the reasons for high number of newborn death and causing intellectual disabilities for babies.

The brand new Chevrolet Volt receives "Car of the Year" award from Motor Trend Magazine

 
Since the popular man magazine first edition in 1949, Motor Trend has been known to give award for "Car of the Year."  For the calendar year 2011, the famous automotive magazine has selected Chevrolet Volt as their top choice.  Volt is considered as the next generation electric car where the car can goes as far as 40 miles on battery power and later run on gasoline power.  Each year Motor Trend editors pick their top choices based on several criteria, such as design, engineering, efficiency, safety, value, and car functionality, as reported by cnnmoney.com.

(Image: Chevrolet Volt)

Over 500 million active users will soon get an email address @Facebook.com (based on current user names) and the new system will compete with Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo Ymail

At a product launch event at 10:00am PST in San Francisco, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new service dubbed as “modern messaging system” (MMS) which will integrate Facebook mail with instant messaging (IM), and chat services.  During the beta, the new service will be available with an invitation only.  Key components of MMS include seamless messaging with other IM providers, recording conversation history with each person a user communicate with, and mail system called as “social inbox.”

With the new launch, Facebook corporate employees email system will switch to FB.com domain name.  For general public, users will be using @Facebook.com domain name.  Each user will be assigned an email address based on their current Facebook user names.

California public schools consist of 50.4% Latino, 27% White, 9% Asian, and 7% Black

As one of the largest state in America, California is facing budget crisis, cutting many public services, and layoff teachers.  Due to recession, many California kids must attend underfunded public schools. 

Of the total of 6.2 million public school students, majority attendants are Latinos.  As reported by sfgate.com, this segment of population makes up for 50.4% of total public school students.  27% of public school students are White, 9% are Asian, and 7% are Black.

The side effect of information technology advantages: America’s Postal Service continued to suffer lost of revenues due to the growth of Internet services and e-mails system

While America’s Postal Service (USPS) eliminated 105,000 full-time jobs during the past two years for cost savings, it had a total lost of $8.5 billion in the latest fiscal report dated September 30, as reported by CNNMoney.com. 

As one of the oldest service in the planet, USPS blamed their big losses on America economy turmoil and the increasingly public use of e-mail system to communicate with clients, friends, and families. 

According to CNNMoney.com, in the latest fiscal year, USPS delivered fewer mails than one year ago.  It delivered only 170.6 billion pieces this year, compared to one year ago which totaled 176.7 billion pieces (a drop of 6.1 billion pieces). 

New York City has installed close to 1,500 cameras of its goal of 3,000 cameras with a total budget of $201 million

The most populous city in America, New York City, has installed close to 1,500 cameras in subway stations, streets, and major business and tourist spots including Times Square, Wall Street financial district, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.  The goal of the city is to install a total of 3,000 cameras with a total budget of $201 million. 

According to bloomberg.com, 90% of the total budget is funded by America’s Homeland Security Department.  The 3,000 cameras is a part of a government network to track terrorist activities in popular business and tourist spots in the largest city in America.

Video games maker Activision Blizzard Inc. sold 5.6 million units of "Call of Duty: Black Ops" and gained revenue of $360 million within the first 24 hours

A video game that depicts Cold War battles during the 1960s era including Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War, and the conflict between America’s biggest enemies USSR (Soviet Union), went on sale this past Tuesday (Nov 9) early morning.  Although the game is rated M for mature, but within the first 24 hours, the video games maker Activision Blizzard Inc. announced that they sold 5.6 million units of "Call of Duty: Black Ops," reported AP.  The cost of producing the video game was about tens of millions of dollars, so this is a great profit for the video games maker Activision.

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released proposed health warnings for cigarette packages and ads

It’s known in America as the Tobacco Control Act, or in a long version as The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which requires cigarette producers to place larger product warning labels.  The new law regarding labels will take effect starting June 22, 2011.   FDA is now welcoming public comment starting this Friday, November 12, 2010 until Tuesday, January 11, 2011.

FDA shows nine graphic health warnings, include:

• WARNING:  Cigarettes are addictive.
• WARNING:  Tobacco smoke can harm your children.
• WARNING:  Cigarettes cause fatal lung disease.
• WARNING:  Cigarettes cause cancer.
• WARNING:  Cigarettes cause strokes and heart disease.
• WARNING:  Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby.
• WARNING:  Smoking can kill you.
• WARNING:  Tobacco smoke causes fatal lung disease in nonsmokers.
• WARNING:  Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.

 

(Screenshot: a sample of the nine health warnings from fda.gov)

Helping friends and families for clean records: a Florida court clerk arrested for allegedly wiping traffic tickets and changing traffic case results

A court clerk at the Palm Beach County courthouse (near Miami, Florida) was arrested for allegedly wiping traffic tickets and changing traffic case results.   According to nbcmiami.com citing Sun-Sentinel, there were about 42 traffic tickets that were dismissed for the clerk’s families and friends.  As for the act, this clerk could face jail time for official misconduct.

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 hit America’s smartphone marketplace with 1,000 apps versus Apple iPhone's 300,000 apps and Google Android's 100,000 apps

Of the 1,000 apps for today’s launch in America, Windows Phone 7 will have apps include Twitter, Netflix, Pandora, Yelp, etc.  While its competitors Apple iPhone has over 300,000 apps and Google Android has over 100,000 apps.

The new Windows Phone 7 is now available in AT&T stores in America.  Handset will cost about $199 with two years contract.  Gadget lovers will like this new phone because it will integrate with Microsoft Office Mobile version, Bing decision engine, Xbox gaming, and Zune music download.  In some regions, the new phone will also integrate with AT&T U-verse set-top box to control home cable TVs.

(Image: Windows Phone website)

Eating too much BBQ grilling steaks and hamburgers may have a higher chance of developing throat and stomach cancers

Using data from 500,000 older adults in America for duration of ten years, as reported by American Journal of Gastroenterology and cited by reuters.com, researchers found people who ate a lot of steaks and hamburgers may have higher risks of developing throat and stomach cancers.  Red meat when cooked in high-temperature includes BBQ grilling as steaks and hamburgers could contain high level of heterocyclic amine (HCA) which trigger the development of cancer sells in human body. 

Simplified Google: giant search company ads are no longer labeled as AdWords “Sponsored links” but now will be labeled as AdWords “Ads”

As the giant search company is getting a little bit older and smarter, Google has simplified term used in its main website.  Google ads are labeled as AdWords “Ads” and removed AdWords “Sponsored links” term.  The use of AdWords “Sponsored links” has started since the giant search company began doing business several years ago.  Google official blog still has to write a post regarding the latest change.

 
(Screenshot: Google search “website”)

Northern California’s solar panel maker Solyndra, Inc. will delay factory expansion and layoff workers after disappointments from America’s mid-term election for President Barack Obama party

As America’s mid-term election results show disappointments for President Barack Obama party, one of the casualties is a solar panel maker in Northern California, Solyndra Inc.  The famous solar panel manufacturer received about $535 million in taxpayer loans from Obama administration last year, reported insidebayarea.com. 

While the top solar panel company continues to face competitions from manufacturers in China and other parts of America, it announced to delay its factory expansion in Fremont (South of San Francisco) and will also delay hiring additional 1,000 workers.

Not so happy in San Francisco as one of the major city in America bans restaurants (incl. McDonald’s) from giving a free toy with meals starting in December 2011

Lawmakers in one of the top city in America, San Francisco, have voted to ban restaurants from giving away a free toy and bundle with meals.  The new law was introduced to help protect kids from obesity.  In recent years, many kids meals contain high levels of calories, sugar, and fat.   The law will take effect starting in December 2011.

McDonald’s is one of the hardest hit restaurants with this new law as the fast-food chain usually serves kids meals and bundle with free toy which is best known as “Happy Meals.” 

According to latimes.com, restaurants could still add a toy with a meal if they serve food and drink with less calories, such as not over limit of 600 calories for a happy meal.  The new law also asks restaurants to serve fruits and vegetables with all type of kids’ meals that offer free toys.

(Image: mcdonalds.com)

No love from the Big Apple: New York City hall to stop sending out Happy Holiday cards this year to save money

As budget crisis hit many large metropolitan cities in America, New York City hall official has urged its staffs to stop sending out Seasons Greetings cards this year to save money.  As part of cost saving for the largest city in America, official also asked all departments to make double-sided copies to cut cost, as per nydailynews.com.  At the same time, city hall has started to unsubscribe to magazines and newspapers and also stop serving bottled water for staffs. 

The price of sugar hit a new record high as world’s harvest suffered from low production due to dry weather

While sugar inventories hit the lowest levels around the world, crops also hit hard due to dry weather in many growing countries include Brazil, Russia, and Western European, reported ft.com.   Traders expect shortage of sugar in months to come. 

According to ft.com, the price for raw sugar futures was 13 cents a pound in May, and this week has reached a peak of 30.64 cents a pound.    Previous record high was in 1980 where the price of sugar was reported at about 45 cents a pound.

Google Android gained significant share of smartphone operating system in Q3-2010 (July to September) in America while BlackBerry dropped and iPhone stabled

Based on the latest data from NPD for America’s smartphone market for Q3-2010 (July to September), Google Android operating system has captured 44% of all smartphones purchased for the quarter.  Apple iOS for iPhone handsets received 23%.  RIM BlackBerry OS has dropped to 22%, compared to the previous quarter (Apr-Jun) which was at 28% (a drop of 4% share), reported NPD.

According to NPD market research, the top four handset models for smartphones in Q3-2010 were the following:

• Apple iPhone 4
• BlackBerry Curve 8500 series
• Motorola Droid X
• HTC EVO 4G