Links: 2013-08-08
I am way behind on the links because I have not been able to devote the time I would like to the site this week. But here is what I have.
Broader Sifting of Data Abroad Is Seen by N.S.A. – NYTimes.com
“To conduct the surveillance, the N.S.A. is temporarily copying and then sifting through the contents of what is apparently most e-mails and other text-based communications that cross the border. The senior intelligence official, who, like other former and current government officials, spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said the N.S.A. makes a “clone of selected communication links” to gather the communications, but declined to specify details, like the volume of the data that passes through them. “
Acer to Expand Android, Chromebook Offerings – WSJ.com
Microsoft is now wholly dependent on Nokia in mobile and vice versa. They will have to merge eventually.
“Taiwanese personal computer maker Acer Inc. said it plans to offer fewer Microsoft Inc. products and more Chromebooks and Android-based mobile devices, after it posted a surprise second-quarter loss on lower sales and rising expenses.
“We are trying to grow our non-Windows business as soon as possible,” President Jim Wang told investors in a conference call. “Android is very popular in smartphones and dominant in tablets…I also see a new market there for Chromebooks.” “
Buy-to-let boom powers ahead with lending up 31pc – Telegraph
“The resurgence of property investment has sparked controversy with rents so many Britons priced out of buying and rents rising rapidly.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) data showed £5.1bn was advanced to landlords in the three months to the end of June, up 21pc on the first quarter.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney’s clear indication yesterday that rates will remain low until at least 2016 is likely to spur further growth in the sector.”
Greek youth unemployment soars to 64.9pc – Telegraph
“Unemployment rose to 27.6pc in May from an upwardly revised 27pc in April, according to data from statistics agency ELSTAT. This is more than twice the average rate in the eurozone, which stood at 12.1pc in June, and is the highest reading since Greece’s statistics office began publishing monthly jobless data in 2006.
This means there are now almost 1.4m people out of work in Greece, and 3.3m people who are considered economically inactive.
Joblessness in the 15-to-24 age group jumped to 64.9pc, from 57.5pc in April. “
Dexia bank loses another €905m | Business | The Guardian
“The first half shortfall this year included a €389m accounting adjustment on the value of its derivatives and a €152m loss on disposals, Dexia said.
The group, whose business once thrived lending to municipalities across Europe and the United States, said it would have made a loss of €364m in the period excluding these items.
The overall size of its balance sheet fell by 31% in the first half of 2013 to €247bn, mainly because of the sale of its French lending unit Société de Financement Local.”
Google’s Android Device Manager Finds and Wipes Your Lost Phone
“Today, Google released the Android Device Manager. Now, you can locate and ring your phone or tablet remotely.
If you’ve misplaced your device in the house, you can use this service from the web to ring your phone. This function will override any silent or vibrate settings, so you won’t have to worry about not hearing it. Additionally, it will show you exactly where on a map that your device is hiding. You can also elect to enable remote wipes, though this needs to be set up on your phone or tablet first before you can trigger it remotely.”
Moto X review roundup | Android and Me
“Motorola’s first flagship under Google ownership, the Moto X, is due out on multiple carriers in the coming weeks, but the first reviews have already started to roll in. We have curated the reviews from around the web to get a picture of what critics think of the device. The big announcement left some of us a bit disappointed, but the real tale of the device is what it’s like to use and you can’t get that from a specs sheet. Read on to see how the first product of Googorola performed.”
I’m Gretchen Rubin, and This Is How I Work
Android on 80% of smartphones shipped in Q2, while Apple’s iPhone took 13%
“Google’s Android operating system continues to dominate the smartphone segment in terms of shipped devices, with an 80 percent share in the latest quarter according to new data, while Apple’s iPhone accounts for less and less of shipments in a growing market. “
Here is a good overview of the specs of each of the top of the line phones each major mobile manufacturer is making. Four of these phones use Qualcomm processors. So that puts Qualcomm at the forefront of mobile for good and bead.
This would be fairly radical. I don’t see the Washington Post stopping a print edition anytime soon.
How scammers drained $1,700 from my bank account using Starbucks cards — Tech News and Analysis
“To say I’m diligent about checking my account, especially around paydays, is an understatement.
And that vigilance has paid off, because this past weekend hackers walked away with roughly $1,800 from my account — and my bank did nothing to alert me or stop it.”
Hands-On With The New WhatsApp Voice Messaging For Android, iOS & WP
Rajan arrives at critical time – FT.com
“India’s appointment of Raghuram Rajan, a former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund, as its new central bank governor, comes as the country faces critical challenges in stabilising its plunging currency and narrowing its current account deficit while bolstering slowing growth.”
Why Obama should not pick Summers for the Fed – FT.com
I agree with Summers over Sumner but here is what Sumner is saying:
“Ben Bernanke, the current chair, has always insisted monetary policy remains effective when rates fall to zero, and has implemented several unconventional policies. Ms Yellen supports those policies and might even be a bit more aggressive. But Professor Summers has argued that the Fed may not be able to control aggregate demand once interest rates hit zero, and therefore that we need to rely on fiscal stimulus.
Even worse, he has warned that policies such as quantitative easing and low interest rates threaten to create malinvestment and new asset bubbles. “
Macro View: Not an Entry Point for U.S. Stocks | Guggenheim Partners
“Historically, markets that have rallied as aggressively as U.S. equities since November 2012 (an increase of 25 percent), pause or correct to digest their advances. Also, earnings among U.S. companies have flattened and could turn negative within two to three quarters, meaning further upside can only come from multiple expansion. Of the 19 percent rise in stocks year-to-date, 16 percent has already come from multiple expansion. “
The Surveillance Reforms Obama Supported Before He Was President – ProPublica
Interest rates to remain low until well after 2015 election, says Carney | Business | The Guardian
Savers clobbered as Bank of England makes radical rates pledge – Telegraph
Analysis: Forex hedging in vogue as U.S. investors target overseas shares | Reuters
“The real return for a U.S. investor in 19 countries between 1972 and 2011 was 6.1 percent unhedged, or 4.7 percent hedged, according to a recent study by Credit Suisse and the London Business School. The hedge reduced volatility by 2.7 percent, but at the cost of a 1.4 percent reduction in the annualized real U.S. dollar return.”
Why Bankruptcy Won’t Erase Student Loan Debt | TIME.com
“Before 1976, all education loans were dischargeable in bankruptcy. That year, the bankruptcy code was altered so loans made by the government or a non-profit college or university could not be discharged during the first five years of repayment. They could, however, be discharged if they had been in repayment for five years or if the borrower experienced “undue hardship.” Then, the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984 made it so all private student loans were excepted from discharge too.
Two decades of further tweaks to the bankruptcy code ensued until 2005, when Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which made it so that no student loan — federal or private — could be discharged in bankruptcy unless the borrower can prove repaying the loan would cause “undue hardship,” a condition that is incredibly difficult to demonstrate unless the person has a severe disability. That essentially lumps student loan debt in with child support and criminal fines — other types of debt that can’t be discharged.”
Michael Lewis: Did Goldman Sachs Overstep in Criminally Charging Its Ex-Programmer? | Vanity Fair
The Science Behind How We Learn New Skills
Data security and privacy: can we have both? | News | theguardian.com
“It’s not about Obama or party loyalty. It’s about the reality that public opinion on privacy versus security can change quickly”
This Is What Would Happen If Fast-Food Workers Got Raises – Businessweek
Summers After Government Saw Wealth Surge to $17 Million – Bloomberg
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