For the past several months, it has been unclear as to whether or not bitcoin was either entirely illegal in the Russian Federation or was facing tremendous regulations that would make it immensely difficult to utilize. In February, for instance, Russian authorities issued many … [Read more...]
Bond sales set historic record thanks to Apple (AAPL), Oracle (ORCL)
Corporate bond sales ascended to a stratospheric new record in the first half of 2014, according to a report published yesterday by the Wall Street Journal, driven in part by massive debt offerings by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Oracle (NYSE:ORCL). The six month period ending on June … [Read more...]
IEA study: $80 billion worth of energy wasted for ‘smart’ devices last year
How much energy is that smart television in your home or that Internet modem on your desk wasting? According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electronic devices in homes all over the world are wasting approximately $80 billion in energy due to inefficient technologies that … [Read more...]
The ‘splendid isolation’ of Apple’s (AAPL) ecosystem might disrupt ‘Internet of Things’
Many companies are now concerned to develop an overall set of standards to ensure compatibility between different products in the emerging “Internet of Things,” according to a report by Reuters today. The Internet of Things is the collective body of smart devices, which will someday … [Read more...]
Electronic retailer Newegg partners with BitPay to accept bitcoin
Add Newegg as the latest United States electronics retailer to the list of big name merchants accepting the peer-to-peer decentralized digital currency bitcoin. The company confirmed the move in a press release Tuesday. Newegg, one of the biggest electronics e-retailer in North … [Read more...]
Apple (AAPL) iWatch may have finger on the market’s pulse after all
Great uncertainty surrounds the future potential of the iWatch, Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) much awaited new smartwatch form factor. Some analysts believe that it's destined to be an overhyped flop, following the pattern established by other smartwatches, including the Galaxy Gear, … [Read more...]
Gas filled speaker patent granted to Apple Inc. (AAPL)
Today, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was granted a patent for a gas filled speaker design by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). This speaker design, if it ever becomes a reality, will produce sounds of much higher clarity and fidelity than an air-filled speaker, yet … [Read more...]
Apple Inc. (AAPL) will launch gift card special for ‘Back to School’ today
Discounts and sales are extremely rare parts of Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) commercial strategy, though the trade-in program offered could be seen as a type of "continuity discount." However, tomorrow, July 1st, 2014, is to witness a gift card special that almost qualifies as a sale. … [Read more...]
Apple Inc. (AAPL) increases Apple Maps updates from weekly to daily
Long the subject of scorn and mockery for its massive inadequacies, the Apple Maps app, which appears on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices, is finally more responsive to user corrections and feedback, according to an article published today on Apple Insider. After not acknowledging … [Read more...]
Why a higher national debt could mean increased income inequality
The United States currently faces a near $17 trillion national debt and its annual debt payments are close to half a trillion dollars. It is projected that if interest rates remain the same then the debt will skyrocket to $1.1 trillion in 10 years. Interest rates are expected to rise, … [Read more...]
California Governor Jerry Brown “legalizes” alternative currencies like bitcoin
Soon after California lawmakers passed legislation that would update present day currency laws and eliminate bans on alternative currencies, Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law that would see digital currencies, such as bitcoin and litecoin, legalized. The … [Read more...]
Bipartisan report claims climate change will cost U.S. billions of dollars a year
A new report entitled "Risky Business" authored by a bipartisan group commissioned by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Secretary of the Treasury and Goldman Sachs alum Henry Paulson, and environmentalist and financier Tom Steyer claims climate change will cost the United … [Read more...]
Nearly half of Canadian baby boomers fear outliving retirement savings
It’s no secret that we’re all living longer than previous generations. With advancements in healthcare technology, consumer awareness when it comes to the food we eat and more people quitting smoking, a growing number of seniors are living well into their 70s and 80s. This is … [Read more...]
Staying with your current employer could cost you big time
In today’s intense labor market, there are various kinds of workers: the long-term unemployed, workers who have left the labor force, individuals that want more from the company they work for and those who are extending their years on the job because they were financially wiped out … [Read more...]
German gold reserve will remain in U.S after positive audit
Last year, Germany blew up headlines when its central bank – the Bundesbank – announced that it was planning to repatriate its gold from the United States Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the Banque de France. The Bundesbank owns nearly $200 billion worth of gold, but only a … [Read more...]
Hando Kickstarter aims to give Apple (AAPL) iPhone videographers robotic stabilization
One oddity of smartphones is that they often contain cameras that can take far better pictures and films than their owners have the resources to shoot, due to lack of tripods and other specialized stabilization devices. For this reason, home videos shot on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones … [Read more...]
Intuit will accept bitcoin payment for their cloud-based finance software
Intuit is a United States-based software company that establishes financial and tax software for individuals, companies and accountants. It has released a number of products over the years, including the ultra successful cloud-based QuickBooks Online financial management … [Read more...]
Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPod prices normalized to $50 price tiers
The Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPod is a rather peculiar legacy product that seems to be retained mostly in order to serve as a tempting, low-cost introduction to the Apple ecosystem for music enthusiasts who have not yet joined the ranks of iPhone and iPad users. However, Apple's price … [Read more...]
Bulgarian bank First Investment Bank (FIBank) hit by second bank run in one week
A Bulgarian financial institution has been hit by a second run in one week alone. his has prompted banking authorities to issue a statement that would calm the nerves of depositors, who fear their money is in trouble amid reports that the financial system is in disarray. The bank … [Read more...]
UK’s Odeon Cinemas to test movie theater iBeacons, expand pre-show experience
In the latest news about Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iBeacons, Britain's Odeon Cinemas is looking to bring smartphone use to one of the locations where it is generally forbidden and considered quite gauche as well, the movie theater. The beacons, which transmit highly location-specific … [Read more...]
