News Archive

In American sports, there is the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup and NBA Finals. In American finance, Apple’s quarterly reports are the equivalents. The excitement surrounding Apple’s quarterly reports has become so high that the company has found it difficult to shift the public’s attention back to its products. On Tuesday, Apple released its second-quarter earnings report, which met the predictions of most analysts. The company earned an impressive $43.6 billion in revenue and $9.5 billion in net profit, reaffirming its status as one of the most consistently profitable companies in the world today.           

Apple’s stockholders will receive an extra $55 billion in cash in an effort by the company to build its share-repurchase program. This sets the record as the largest stock buyback in history. Apple will borrow money from U.S. capital markets and overseas accounts to cover this cost.           

Despite the report’s impressive earnings statistics, there is still some concern regarding the decline of Apple’s shares. Apple’s stock price has continually declined since its peak of over $700 last September. CEO Tim Cook admitted feeling a sense of frustration ...

Business and philanthropy rarely work well in conjunction with one another but a new startup presents an innovative strategy that shows promise of successfully merging these two institutions. Introducing… HaloCard, a startup that offers a bank-issued credit card that allows holders to donate 1% of their transactions to their favorite charities. The card benefits both the holder and the charities involved. HaloCard holders receive a tax deduction while charities earn 100 basis points, as opposed to the usual 30 or 40 earned through most affiliate relationships with credit card companies. As for the community banks issuing HaloCards, their interchange income from the cards is lower than usual – about half the amount of regular cards – but HaloCard users are expected to be high-spenders and low-risk customers, according to the startup’s founders.

If HaloCard is to succeed financially, the startup must overcome certain looming obstacles. One major concern is the company’s rate of growth. Founder Nick Lepetsos estimates that the startup can manage a couple thousand cardholders during its opening months but anything greater than that could lead to turmoil. Another challenge will be generating profit. Currently, the startup aims to ...

There is no better tool for startup companies to introduce their products or services to potential customers than search engine optimization.  SEO involves strategizing ways of getting a website to reach the top of a search results page for a query related to the company’s field of work.  It’s important for your company to build an aesthetically pleasing and informational website, but getting your website to the top search result spot takes more involvement.  Here are three tips to guide your startup company in its SEO journey:

1.            Make your site index-able: Search engines rank sites by having automated “bots” scroll through an index, which stores information about each website.  If your website has broken links or hidden content, this could cause indexing issues.  Set up a Google Webmaster Tools account; this will display any “crawling errors” that need to be fixed.

2.            Include Industry and Branded Keywords on your website:  Keywords are specific words or phrases that your company’s potential customers might include in a Google search.  Industry keywords refer to broader search queries related to your industry.  Optimizing with these keywords in mind will help ...

Florida keeps growing! A record 20 million people now live in the state, making it the third most populous state in America. Florida boasts a family friendly environment, beautiful cities such as Miami and Orlando, and many bars and restaurants across the state. However, Florida is prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes and a lesser known problem with sinkholes.

Before you consider that new luxury condo in Florida, know that Florida is prone to a problem unique to the region: sinkholes. These powerful sinkholes have been known to swallow up cars, backyards and even dragging peoples’ homes down into the depths of the earth. 80% of Floridians receive their water from a cheap, easily accessible underground source, namely groundwater. Under the state of Florida, there are huge reserves, reservoirs that fill up with clean, drinkable rainwater that can be inexpensively accessed using a series of pumps. The problem lies in the ever growing population of Florida. They’re using more water than can be replenished by the rain. This causes the limestone bedrock on which most of Florida is established to cave in on itself, creating massive, devastating holes in ...

Named as one of the hottest online marketing trends to look out for in 2013 by entrepreneur.com, online game platforms, whether they be on an iPhone or right on a person’s computer, can boost brand awareness and help with marketing research. Recently, the popular television show The Simpsons followed the trend and released an iPhone app of their own—The Simpsons: Tapped Out. The premise of the app is this: Springfield has been destroyed by Homer Simpson’s negligence at the power plant. The explosion that occurred because of his lack of attention destroyed and scattered all of the townspeople. In the app, it is up to you, the player, to “tap” your way back to normalcy. By making the Simpsons do simple tasks that take a certain amount of time, you get money to rebuild iconic Springfield. The comic book store, the elementary school, Cletus’ farm—these are only some of the things that you have to rebuild in order to restore peace in Springfield.

The game is important because it gives the player an inside look at the town. It also is constantly being updated with new content, often relating to the ...

Better double-think downloading that mysterious e-mail attachment.  In recent years, malware has become increasingly customizable and hackers are now able to attack their victims through sneakier methods.  Since antivirus software programs like McAfee and Symantec operate by identifying familiar signatures or patterns in malicious software codes, they have had difficulty recognizing the threat of these customized forms of malware.  The New York Times recently fell victim to an attack by Chinese hackers, who were able to circumvent the company’s Symantec protection and infiltrate its network through sending infected e-mails to its employees.  With incidents like this is in mind, many company executives are questioning whether antivirus programs are worth the cost of installation.

           
For many companies, installing antivirus programs is not a choice.  The Payment Card Industry (PCI) requires retailers that accept credit cards to be protected by antivirus software.  Other companies may still want to install antivirus software as a means of protection from less complicated threats.  Steven Ashley, an analyst with financial services firm Robert W. Baird, offers the analogy, “Even if someone broke into a guarded office or facility, you won’t take down the ...

Given the infinite supply of weight loss tips posted on the internet by anonymous sources, it can be hard to decipher between the truth and the latest “weight loss miracle” myth. Fortunately, a recent weight loss study has provided weight-loss seekers with scientifically substantial advice. Marta Garaulet and Dr. Frank Scheer suggest it’s not just towering calorie counts you need to be concerned about; you also need to consider the time of day that you’re eating meals. A recent study they conducted showed that people who eat earlier in the day lose more weight than those who eat later. 420 participants were divided into two study groups: early eaters (people who ate lunch before 3 p.m.) and late eaters (people who ate lunch after 3p.m.). The study was conducted in Spain, where lunch contributes to about 40% of person’s daily calorie intake, during a 20-week weight loss program. Gauraulet and Scheer found that the early eaters lost 25% more weight than the late eaters.

What’s the science behind this result, you ask? Fat tissue cells, like the majority of cells in the human body, run on ...

In the modern tech war between the iPhone and Droid dynasties, it’s only reasonable for tech lovers to quickly write off any third party attempts at giving these titans a run for their money. On January 30, 2013, these skeptics were introduced to the BlackBerry 10. The makers of BlackBerry, Research in Motion, also made the shocking announcement that it would change its business name to BlackBerry.

The BlackBerry 10 has made a complete overhaul of the usual BlackBerry format. Most notably, the BlackBerry z10 (the featured product of the two new BlackBerry phones) lacks a physical keyboard, a feature that has always been a staple of BlackBerry products. Given these radical moves, it seems clear that the once dominant, now struggling BlackBerry is aiming to reclaim its seat at the throne of the smartphone world. But its move to a touch-screen only platform brings up the question of whether BlackBerry is bringing something new to the table or simply copying the successful platform of its competitors.

While past BlackBerry formats were cluttered with buttons, the Z10 has fewer buttons than the most popular iPhone and Android phones. In fact, it doesn’t ...

Enter: The Microsoft Surface, Microsoft’s answer to Apple- and not just the iPad. As a transforming device, one which is both laptop and tablet, the Surface has essentially created a new category previously unknown to the technology world. Yet, this is enough fuel for some critics to slam the device- if it’s not a laptop, netbook, or tablet, then what is it? The Surface is its own category.

Hailed by some as the iPad killer and others as a waste of effort by a dying company, Microsoft has managed to create a unique polarization which was formerly associated with Apple. Regardless, sales of the device have only been reported to be, in the words of Steve Ballmer, “modest”- in other words, underwhelming. While the Surface is nothing before which has come out of the bowels of Microsoft, or anything within the recent history of the technology industry, with the vote of their wallets, consumers are voting against it. But why?

It’s all in the marketing and product placement of the device; no matter the level of innovation, it is ultimately the work of marketing which ...

One of the most important issues that is sure to be key in the upcoming presidential election in that of healthcare. How do the candidates fare in terms of their own health? 

With both parties voicing strong opinions regarding the benefits and drawbacks of different healthcare plans and reforms, it is difficult to see the big picture of healthcare on a more personal level. With all this talk of legislation, insurance, and so on, it’s easy to forget that our presidential candidates and representatives are no less human than we are, and no less susceptible to poor health. In that light, it’s interesting to wonder about how our legislators take care of their own health—whether they are walking the walk when it comes to personal health and hygiene. Let’s examine one example in our very own president, Barack Obama. How does the POTUS stack up in terms of health? 

1. The Smoking Question: As has been very publicly talked about, President Obama has been a smoker in his lifetime—certainly of cigarettes, and questionably of other substances. Many Americans had strong reactions to this particular habit, as it is an extreme lifestyle ...

Just like any other product you purchase online, be careful when buying life insurance. Make sure to do all the research or else you'll make a costly error. 

There are many things that you can buy online. Right now, life insurance is one of them. You no longer have to fill out lengthy paperwork or meet with an insurance agent in person. And thanks to Life Insurance No Medical Exam, you can get the coverage that you need without having to take time out of your schedule to pass a medical exam. But there is still one question that many people ask: is buying life insurance online safe? 

Just like buying anything else online, you'll need to exercise your due diligence before you make the purchase. If you do a search for life insurance without a medical exam, you'll find that there are thousands of results. Therefore, you should check the reputation of the company that you're thinking of dealing with before filling out any form with your personal information or paying for anything. 

Thankfully, in the life insurance industry, outright scams- where you pay for something and you don't get ...

Disaster recovery is currently ongoing in many nations, but those affected by man-made violence tend to be the worst places to live. Afghanistan and Libya are currently two of the most violent places in which you can reside; even humanitarians looking to help must cope with the possibility of an attack.

The worst place to live in the world depends a lot upon your personal tastes and preferences. Ongoing Disaster Recovery  plays a large role in determining the worst places to live. Still, everyone can acknowledge that a war-torn nation is not a great place to live. Right now, war and violence is occuring in several areas of the world, including Afghanistan and Libya. Neither of these locations are a pleasant place to be for an American right now, thanks to the violence and threat of terrorism attacks that go along with these places.

Afghanistan has been at war due to the United States’ attempts to rid the world of terrorist threats. If you live in certain areas here, there is always the threat of being attacked or bombed. Even with the increased presence of U.S. troops over the last ...

Running your own small business can be the most fulfilling decision of your life. You will get to spend all of your time doing exactly what you love and even get to make money to pay for your living expenses—and maybe even put some into that savings account—in the process. But deciding that you are ready to start your business is the easy part. The hard part comes when you have to figure out how to pay for all of the things that you will need to establish your company.

Even the business owner who has run his company for years will need financial assistance somewhere along the line to expand. But asking your bank for a business loan Massachusetts can be a daunting task. How should you act? Is there anything that you can do to ensure that you make the right loan decisions—ones that you will not come to regret later?

Here are some basic rules of applying for business loans, as well as some tips to help you secure the funding that your company needs:

Credit—Your financial history is what lenders are going to consider the most before they ...

The season has started with a bang! Loads of snow has fallen across U.S. over the last 10 days or so, and there's more in the forecast. It looks like it could be a record opening for many resorts - with snow depths already being measured in the meters, even in non-glacial resorts. The majority of ski resorts in U.S. have opened last month, 15th December, some with limited opening.

Skiing in December and January can often throw up different challenges as you try to cope with cold, wind, snow etc. How best can you prepare for changing weather and conditions? Here are some top tips to help!

1. Layer Up

It really is best to have good technical base layers.

2. Morning Checklist

It's easy to forget those little extras that make life more bearable.

3. Neck warmers - the Skiers’ and Snowboarders’ friend

It's difficult to underestimate how useful and effective these little items are.

4. Boots - Dry them out at the end of day

Wherever you're staying make sure you can keep your boots in a heated area overnight so that any dampness is dried out before the next morning.

Toaster oven—It is a magical piece of kitchen machinery, playing the roles of a toaster, oven, and in many cases microwave. It is quite a good helper for students to prepare food quickly.

Smartphone – Everyone has their preference when it comes to mobile OS, and for the average user, it doesn’t really matter which one you use. Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 will all give you a great user experience. With smartphone, students can efficiently manage their study and life by using a variety of apps.

Kindle– Books are heavy, your phone is too small, and everyone hates reading on their computer. The Kindle is the answer! It makes reading easily, and it is an environmental-friendly product.

Macbook Air 13”/Windows Ultrabook – If you need a computer for Office, the Internet, managing some photos and daily tasks, a new Macbook Air or Windows Ultrabook is absolutely a good choice. While they may be a bit pricier, the extremely light weight means you can easily carry it around with you.

Flashlight – Many phones have the function of flashlight, however, having a dedicated flashlight can be a life (and battery!) saver. A real ...

For our environment to stay healthy, we need to promote sustainable practices within our industries. Paper-based packages have a far smaller impact on our environment than plastic packaging does, and this is important for keeping our environment in a healthy state.

Sustainable Packaging is an important part of keeping our environment in a good condition. Paper-based packaging has a lot of benefits- it's completely renewable, since trees can be replanted and replenished on a regular basis. Paper is also completely recyclable, and it is extremely easy to do so. Let’s take a look at these factors in a bit more detail.

Trees take time to grow, and a tree must be big enough in order to make it worthwhile to cut down and convert into paper packaging. However, if carefully planned out, this is a dilemma that is easily avoided. If enough trees are planted on a regular basis, the paper supply can be replenished as quickly as it is depleted if the number of trees cut down doesn't overcome the number of trees planted. Trees serve other purposes as well- they provide oxygen for us, consume carbon dioxide waste products, ...

Business week launched a new feature, “Face/Off”, that allows readers to vote on various polls. On a recent controversial poll, they asked “Which Business school has the most attractive female students?” The poll had negative reactions and Businessweek was accused of intentional sexism. It was stunning that “Businessweek”, known for its reputation, would try to rank colleges by the hotness of women. Some believe the comment demeans every women, since nothing screams that they don't take women seriously in Business like ranking them only on their looks. Business week deleted the article and the tweet, but it took a few days to do so.

What you don't know is that it isn't the first time Businessweek has done articles based on this topic, it just hadn't been noticed before. In previous years, Businessweek has published articles called “Campus Life: A Report Card” and“ Fifty Colleges with the Hottest Guys, Girls, and Nightlife”. This time creating a controversy and backlash on social media sites, maybe because it choose to do it specifically on women. If Businessweek decided to do it on “Which Business school has the most attractive male students”, probably no ...

Anyone who needs their website hosted, or wants to register a domain name has to do a lot of research online. There are a lot of hosting services available on the web, but how do you find the right one? You're obviously going to want to get the best financial deal, but at the same time you want to pick the most reputable company that not only provides you with all the hosting services you need, but also answers all of your questions and provides stellar customer service.

One of the best solutions is to consider the hosting site Network Solutions, which provides registering domain names, website hosting packages, catered email services, e commerce tools, Search Engine Optimzation (SEO), Pay Per Click advertising (PPC), Facebook marketing, press releases, website design, social media apps, and mobile services.

Many of these services are available for a discount through different websites that can offer you a network solutions coupon code. This website provides exclusive coupons and promotional codes to companies such as GoDaddy, HostGator, BlueHost, GreenGeeks, and Network Solutions. Any customer looking to get a deal on Network Solutions' products can get great discounts on ...

Facebook has recently made important updates to improve user experience: Gifts Application improvements, Charitable Gifts, multiple picture uploads, and photo filters.

To start, Facebook made two important updates to its 'Gift' application for the iPhone. You can now send real-time gifts to your friends directly from your phone and you can also give charitable contributions. The app allows users to send gifts, from cake pops and Uber rides, without giving a physical direction. The app is perfect for last-minute gift-giving and for gifts on-the-go. On the other hand, for the charitable contributions, it includes 11 non-profit partners including American Red Cross, Blue Star Families, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, DonorsChoose.org, Girls Inc., Kiva, LIVESTRONG, Oxfam America, RAINN, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Water.org. The app aims to help raise money and also build awareness about the non-profits.  

Facebook has also added the ability to upload multiple photos at once to Facebook. Users may also add photo filters, like in Instagram, to the pictures uploaded. There are 13 filters users can choose from, which were also available in the Facebook Camara app, but can now be directly ...

DealDash is an innovative new online alternative to penny auctions. Unlike those types of auctions, where you permanently lose the bids that you place on an item if you didn't win that particular auction, Deal Dash refunds the bid pack back to customers by letting them buy an identical item for the normal rate and receive all of their bids back.

If you're not satisfied with the first item that you win, you can get a full refund. DealDash also has no membership fees; you only pay for the items that you bid on. Give DealDash a try, and see if you win some products at an incredibly reduced price.