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সোমবার, ৫ আগস্ট, ২০১৩

Time Warner, CBS draw viewers into fee spat

NEW YORK (AP) ? CBS and Time Warner Cable can't work out their differences, so they want viewers to help settle the fight.

Three million Time Warner Cable customers in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and other cities remained without access to CBS for a third day on Sunday, after the cable provider dropped the network in a spat over fees.

The blackout meant affected customers weren't able to watch Tiger Woods win the Bridgestone Invitational on their home screens, or shows including "60 Minutes." Also at stake was preseason National Football League coverage starting next week.

The two sides couldn't agree on the status of their talks either, with CBS saying on Sunday that no negotiations were taking place. A Time Warner representative, Maureen Huff, maintained that, "Talks continue."

In the meantime, the two New York-based companies have been taking their cases to the public, with full-page print ads.

A CBS ad on Sunday, for example, showed a TV screen with shots of the shows people wouldn't be able to watch, including "The Big Bang Theory" and "Big Brother."

"Call Time Warner Cable now," the ad urged. "Tell them you want your CBS 2 back!"

Time Warner Cable customers who turned to CBS this weekend were greeted by a message on white screen saying the network had made "outrageous demands" for fees. It advised viewers that they could still see their favorite shows through several ways, including "using an antenna to get CBS free over the air."

Although CBS sends its signal out over the airwaves for free to anyone with an antenna, about 85 percent of CBS viewers watch TV through a pay TV provider.

Time Warner cut off CBS for viewers in select markets on Friday, saying the network is demanding retransmission fees that are out of line with what it pays other broadcasters. CBS said it had asked the cable provider to continue negotiating while its programming was still on the air. But it said Time Warner rejected the request.

"We remain ready to negotiate in good faith when they are," the network in a statement Sunday.

CBS says it's never been dropped by a cable provider before and that it has successfully negotiated deals with other providers including AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, DirecTV and Verizon.

CBS is trying to gain revenue from retransmission fees as a buffer against swings in advertising revenue. Analysts say earning revenue from pay TV subscribers is crucial to the network's growth prospects.

Time Warner, meanwhile, says giving in to demands for higher fees would result in skyrocketing bills for customers. DirecTV came to the defense of its competitor, saying it applauded Time Warner for "fighting back against exorbitant programming cost increases."

Time Warner is trying to hold down costs as it fights to keep subscribers. In the most recent quarter, it lost 191,000 cable TV subscribers, ending with 11.7 million at the end of June.

Both companies nevertheless posted healthy quarterly earnings this week. Time Warner Cable Inc. grew its net income 6 percent to $481 million, as revenue rose 3 percent to $5.55 billion. CBS Corp. grew net income 11 percent to $472 million on stronger revenue.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/time-warner-cbs-draw-viewers-fee-spat-212148842.html

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Nissan's Infiniti aims for top-tier luxury status

Autos

Paul A. Eisenstein The Detroit Bureau

2 hours ago

Johan De Nysschen, president of Infiniti Motor Motor Company, and Ben Poore, president of Infiniti Americas pose with the Infiniti.

CARLO ALLEGRI / REUTERS

Johan De Nysschen (L), president of Infiniti Motor Motor Company, and Ben Poore, president of Infiniti Americas, pose after announcing the new Q50 at the New York Auto Show in March.

With the launch of its new Q50 sedan, Infiniti is steering a new course as it tries to navigate out of the second-tier of luxury brands and take on better-known high-line marques like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.

The Q50 replaces the old Infiniti G series and initiates an all-new alphanumeric naming strategy. It also introduces the world?s first steer-by-wire technology, among a variety of other high-tech features being added to the new sedan.

Whether potential buyers take to the new Direct Adaptive Steering system remains to be seen, and analysts warn that Infiniti risks serious confusion as it rebrands existing models to conform to the new nomenclature ? something that has caused serious problems for Honda?s Acura and Ford?s Lincoln when they also abandoned more familiar model names.

Read more: Ousted from Volvo, Jacoby Now Will Run GM's Vast International Empire?

?We know we?ll face challenges in the short-term but there are tremendous opportunities in the long-term,? said Robb Simmons, Infiniti?s senior marketing manager, during a media preview of the new Q50 line.

Nissan?s luxury division made its debut nearly a quarter-century ago, debuting almost simultaneously with Toyota?s Lexus brand. But Infiniti never quite got the traction of its Japanese rival, as analysts blamed product shortfalls and a curious ad campaign that focused on rocks and trees rather than the maker?s new vehicles.

Read more: Fuel-Saving Stop/Start Technology Migrating to the Masses?

Infiniti has gained some momentum, in recent years, with the entry-luxury G series, now its best-selling model line. But while volumes jumped 22 percent in 2012, to 119,877, that was barely half the U.S. total of luxury segment leaders. And Infiniti had virtually no presence outside the U.S. market.

Parent Nissan hopes to change that going forward. It recently reorganized Infiniti as a standalone entity, giving the luxury brand its own design and engineering operations as well as a new headquarters in Hong Kong ? where the brand will have a clear view of China. China is expected to become the world?s largest luxury market by decade?s end, according to various forecasts.

Read more: Ford Admits Delaying Recall, Pays $17 Mil Fine?

The maker also got a new boss, South African-born Johan de Nysschen, who won kudos during his time as head of the fast-growing U.S. subsidiary of Audi. ?My goal is to unlock the potential of this brand,? he told The Detroit Bureau during an interview, even if that means he has to ?challenge? the way Infiniti has traditionally done business.

Perhaps the biggest challenge comes from the decision to change the name of Infiniti?s current and future products. Passenger cars will be designated by a ?Q,? crossovers and light trucks getting a ?QX.?

Read more:?Toyota Earnings Nearly Double, Buoyed By Weak Yen, Even as Sales Slip?

The new Q50 reaching showrooms in August will be the first all-new model to take advantage of that shift. The sedan is slightly lower, longer and wider than the old G sedan, with a more distinctive grille, sculpted silhouette and the distinctive ?crescent? rear pillar first seen on the Infiniti JX ? which will be renamed the QX60 which isn?t to be confused with the old QX56 that becomes the QX80.

?There is a risk that the alphanumeric designation becomes a jumble in the minds of consumers,? analyst Joe Phillippi, of AutoTrends Consulting, warns, pointing to the sales stumbles both Acura and Lincoln experienced when they completely revised their own model nomenclatures.

Read more: Jaguar to Unveil 1st-Ever SUV

On the other hand, Phillippi says Acura could get through the challenge with new products that are solid and appealing. The real challenge will be finding a way to ?truly differentiate themselves from the rest of the luxury pack. They?ve never quite managed to catch fire and generate a substantial amount of enthusiasm for the brand.?

That?s where the Q50 comes in. The new model is part of the broader Nissan class-above strategy which aims to deliver vehicles that seem a bit more lavish and well-equipped than direct competitors ? here including such products as the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class. Introducing some cutting-edge technology is also part of the strategy.

Read more: Which Brands Will Cost You Most to Keep Fuel in the Tank??

The Q50?s optional Direct Adaptive Steering system makes it the world?s first production car equipped with steer-by-wire which replaces traditional mechanical linkage (though there?s a mechanical backup of power should fail). The system precisely reads driver inputs and, so Infiniti claims, can steer the wheels more quickly than a traditional system. In turn, electronic sensors pass road feel back to the driver ? though the three controllers have been designed to tune out unwanted harsh road inputs.

The steer-by-wire system has a lot of potential advantages and also permits the new Q50 to offer an optional lane-holding system that comes a step short of hands-free driving, a camera mounted at the top of the windshield looking for lane markers much like human eyes.

Infiniti officials promise the Q50 will be just one in a rapidly expanding line-up of products to debut over the next few years including one or more so-called ?halo? models designed to focus attention on the brand. The Nissan subsidiary also will add a range of new powertrains, such as the hybrid system in the Q50 that is meant to balance performance and fuel economy.

It?s an ambitious goal with potential pitfalls. Indeed, Infiniti officials confirmed last month they will indefinitely delay a luxury battery-electric vehicle based on the mainstream Nissan Leaf?s technology.

For his part, marketing chief Simmons says he?s confident Infiniti can roll out the product. The challenge will be ?to make consumers aware of us.? Compounding that challenge is Infiniti?s plan to become a truly global player.

Infiniti has spent more than two decades climbing into the middle of the pack. Challenging the established luxury leaders won?t come quick, both Simmons and de Nysschen agreeing they will need to push hard but maintain their patience. ?

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663286/s/2f8c50e2/sc/5/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cnissans0Einfiniti0Eaims0Etop0Etier0Eluxury0Estatus0E6C10A8430A46/story01.htm

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রবিবার, ৪ আগস্ট, ২০১৩

Google Nexus 7 Essentials Kit

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Source: www.incipio.com --- Saturday, August 03, 2013
Everything for your Google Nexus 7 in one kit. Price: $70.00 Special Price: $20.00 ...

Source: http://www.incipio.com/google-nexus-7-essentials-kit-3658.html

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Newsweek sold to IBT Media

By Gil Aegerter, Staff Writer, NBC News

Newsweek is being sold to an online news company, less than a year after it ended publication of its weekly print magazine and went all digital.

IBT Media, which publishes the International Business Times, said it was acquiring Newsweek from IAC, run by Barry Diller. Terms weren?t disclosed.

?"We believe IBT will serve as an excellent new home in which?Newsweek?has the opportunity to thrive," read a memo to employees from Rhonda Murphy, interim CEO of the Newsweek Daily Beast Company.?

Newsweek once had a circulation of 3 million but was in decline when it merged with The Daily Beast in 2010. It ceased print publication on Dec. 31. The deal with IAC is for the Newsweek brand and its online publication, IBT Media said in a statement.

?We respect the brand's long history of delivering high-quality, impactful journalism and believe this aligns well with IBT Media's culture and mission,? Etienne Uzac, co-founder and chief executive officer of IBT Media said in the statement.

IBT Media, which was founded in 2006, said it planned to continue the online publication as a wholly owned subsidiary of IBT Media.

IAC would continue to operate Newsweek for up to 60 days after the deal closes, IBT said. It said Newsweek would return to the URL http://www.newsweek.com.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663306/s/2f862296/sc/21/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A80C0A30C198541160Enewsweek0Esold0Eto0Eibt0Emedia0Dlite/story01.htm

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শনিবার, ৩ আগস্ট, ২০১৩

The battle for wild card berths in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is heating up among Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN

Updated?Aug 2, 2013 12:11 PM ET

This weekend at Pocono will be the six-week mark until the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field is set. In just six short weeks I believe we are going to see some big names make it into the Chase field, but to me the bigger story will be the names that don?t make it.

I think you would be foolish to discount the possibility of Jeff Gordon making the Chase. He?s obviously got Hendrick power plants and he runs well at Pocono. Plus, it seems like the No. 24 bunch as a whole is getting more and more consistent. He could be one of the oddities as this Chase wild card situation is evolving. I actually can see a scenario where he can be consistent enough to actually hop over some guys and make the Chase field without a win during the regular season.

He is the only guy right now that I believe can do that right at the moment. I know at one time Kurt Busch had all the consistency in the world going his way and looked poised to make the Chase via being in the top 10 in points. Unfortunately, I think they?ve reached their high-water mark on that front, and if he wants to be in the Chase, he?s going to have to win a race plus put good numbers up on the board to make it happen for the No. 78 car.

You can say the same thing about people like Joey Logano. It?s going to take a win or multiple wins very, very quickly for them to make this 2013 Chase. I simply don?t see anyone else out there other than Gordon that has the consistency to affect the wild card picture by pushing a Kasey Kahne or even a Greg Biffle out with the one win.

This weekend is one more piece of that puzzle as the Chase field picture becomes clearer, and it definitely is an exciting scenario. It?s hard to believe I keep having to say this, but our defending series champion, Brad Keselowski, is in that same group. He?s going to have to win for a chance to be in. It?s just that simple and almost a given at this point for the No. 2 car.

There are just too many guys with the one win that will wind up outside the top 10. It really is going to come down to the wire between two or three teams about how this is all going to play out. Depending on how they are running, I can see where it can affect strategy in a couple different ways.

With the one win in your pocket, do you go for broke on, say, a fuel call deep into the race and try to secure that elusive second win? Or do you simply play it safe, go for the good points day and hope that one win still will be enough to get you into the Chase?

Richmond is coming at us fast. It?s the last race of the regular season, and after that checkered flag, the 2013 Chase field will be set. So it?s going to be really, really interesting to see who puts it all out there versus who plays it safe just to get the points. Risk versus reward is what you are going to be hearing about. You actually might see some players forced to change their strategy as the clock ticks toward Richmond.

We know the good teams will still run well. The real unknown is who is going to step up and surprise us within the next six weeks. I am waiting to see who comes out of the woodwork and mounts a last-minute charge. Whoever that is could upset a lot of 2013 Chase apple carts in the process. It sure is going to be exciting to watch!

Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/race-for-chase-for-sprint-cup-wild-card-heating-up-among-jeff-gordon-brad-keselowski-kurt-busch-and-others-080213

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Save big money on XCOM, Borderlands, NBA 2K13, Pirates and more

2K Games has reduced the prices of several of its games for iOS. The deal runs through Monday, so don't wait too long before jumping on it.

Deals include:

Civilization Revolution - $.99 (reduced from $2.99) - Download now
NHL 2K11 - $.99 (reduced from $3.99) - Download now
Sid Meier?s Pirates! - $.99 (reduced from $2.99) - Download now
Borderlands Legends - $.99 (reduced from $4.99) - Download now
NBA 2K13 ? $2.99 (reduced from $7.99) - Download now
XCOM: Enemy Unknown ? $14.99 (reduced from $19.99) - Download now

(We've linked to the iPad versions but iPhone versions exist as well, if they're not universal.)