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Cisco Stock Surges On High Speed Internet Demands 2007-08-08 10:01:21 Technology stock Cisco gained the most they have in 9 moths after the company increased its sales forecast. Cisco sales are expected to increase on demand for high-speed Internet gear and Web-based phone systems. Cisco is the world’s largest manufacturer of computing networking equipment and it announced yesterday that it expected revenue to climb 12 percent to 17 percent a year, compared with a previous prediction of as much as 15 percent. This growth is predicted to accelerate as consumers buy faster network equipment to handle more advance applications like online videos. Shares of San Jose, California-based Cisco rose $1.75, or 5.9 percent, to $31.44 at 9:34 a.m. New York time in trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Do you think Cisco can make these sales forecasts? Can Cisco stock continue to rise? Source Written by Sam for Product ReviewsIn Sections: News, Business ... Internet

Dell is Disappointing Chinese Laptop Buyers: XPS M1330 Shortage! 2007-08-08 10:01:08 Dell is facing a rather significant problem in a market that they really don’t want to be upsetting. There have been reports of huge shortages with the vast demand for the new Dell XPS M1330 Laptops, which is understandable. The very powerful, sleek and sexy, super thin notebook with fancy multimedia possibilities really is a laptop and a half. The M1330 is priced at the oh-so-substantial tage of $1,579, after being converted from Yuan. “Right now, we are focused on shipping as many systems as we can. Currently, we have worked through about 10% of our backlog and will focus on improving this going forward,” he wrote. “Despite our best efforts, we may not be able to ship some orders before the original estimated ship date we gave you. In those cases, Dell will be contacting affected customers to let them know. Details will vary by region.” Are the Dell XPS M1330 Laptops really worth all the hassle? I think so. Written by Ryan for Product ReviewsIn Sections: Laptops ... Dell

Mortgage Applications Increased 8.1% in the US Last Week 2007-08-08 09:53:39 In the last week, mortgage applications increased by 8.1% last week as cheaper borrowing costs persuaded more Americans to seek loans for home purchases and refinancing. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index of applications to buy a home or refinance a loan gained 8.1 percent to 656.5 from 607.1 the prior week. The housing market has been fairly weak recently, as American Home Mortgage went bankrupt and HBOS and Bear Stears as well as other mortgage stocks are suffering from mortgage fears on Wall Street. Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wachovia Corp. in Charlotte, North Carolina said: “We’re at the bottom right now in housing. The biggest declines are over.” However, Sam Kirtley of The Gold Prices Newsletter disagrees: “The US is in for a major real estate crash. The housing bubble has been over inflated by cheap, easy credit and the US government printing more and more dollars to keep it going. This is only the beginning, it has started in the sub prime market ...

Oil Prices Ease As Traders Await US Oil Stocks Data 2007-08-08 09:25:51 Oil prices are easing off slightly after making an all time high recently. Oil traders are awaiting a report from the US government that is expected to show an increase in oil inventories. Light sweet crude for delivery in September fell to $72.05, down $0.37 a barrel at midday Europe time. Last week, a report from the U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration indicated a big drop in oil inventories and this sparked a rally in oil to $78.77 a barrel. Where do you think oil prices are going? Source Written by Sam for Product ReviewsIn Sections: News, Business ...

MP3 Music Eating Virus, Worm Can Damage Your iPods Too 2007-08-08 09:24:24 Computer industry experts have recently alarmed many people accross the net, reporting that a new virus that specifically targets MP3s has turned up and is potentially harmful to your mp3 players too. The worm is called W32. Deletemusic which speaks for itself; it goes through your hard drive and simply deletes every MP3 that you have. Director Consumer Business EMEA at Trend Micro, Ian Yarlott, has given advice on how to keep your computer uninfected. “…having all of your music on your hard drive and not backing it up is asking for trouble - try to back it up onto a DVD for safekeeping. Thirdly always make sure your anti-virus is up to date.” Be safe. Don’t attach any unknown memory cards or foreign mp3 devices to your machines guys. Source Written by Ryan for Product ReviewsIn Sections: Computers ...

CPSC: Cost Plus World Market chair recall 2007-08-08 09:22:10 Today, Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, Calif. along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall of Bistro Chairs. The recall, which affects 24,000 units, was initiated because the chairs can collapse due to faulty rivets, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Cost Plus is aware of seven incidents in which the chairs collapsed, including one report of a minor injury. Manufactured in Taiwan, the metal painted folding chairs were sold at Cost Plus World Market stores nationwide from January 2007 through June 2007 for about $50. They were sold in four colors, red, blue, white and green. SKU numbers 390225, 390228, 390229 and 390230 are printed on the sales receipt. Consumers should stop using the recalled chairs immediately and return them to any Cost Plus World Market store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Cost Plus Inc. toll-free at (877) 967-5362 between 7 a.m. and 12 midnight ET any day, or visit the firm’s Web site at www ...

Sony in trouble over UK PS3 advert: glamorised violence & anti-social behaviour 2007-08-08 09:17:55 Sony oh Sony oh Sony what are you doing, we know you make some messed up TV commercials for the PS3 which hands up are good and invigorating. Sony are in hot water over their UK PS3 advert which the Advertising Standards Authority say there are fears that this advertisement could potentially glamorise violence of which can also lead to anti-social behaviour. The Playstation advert that is in question features a character called Kovac and he is holding a knife and of which there are words saying “Kovac mercenary or misunderstood?” there is also the tag line “This is living”. There have been numerous complaints and the ASA investigated said that it broke advertising rules relating to responsibility and violence, Sony have now been told that they must amend all future adverts to avoid similar incidents happening again. Do you think PS3 adverts are glamorising violence which lead to anti-social behaviour? Written by Mark for Product ReviewsIn Sections: News, Gaming ... Amp  Sony

Brocade ex-CEO Found Guilty in Options Trial 2007-08-08 09:14:35 In the government’s first criminal trial of stock options backdating, the former chief executive of Brocade Communications Systems Inc was convicted on all counts by the jury. Top legal experts say that this case could open the door to many prosecutors to take on companies involved in options scandals. There have been over 170 companies involved in options scandal in the USA. The ex-CEO of Brocade, 44 year old Gregory Reyes, was convicted on 10 counts including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, mail fraud, falsifying books, records and accounts, and making false statements. “Greg Reyes is innocent and we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated,” Richard Marmaro, Reyes’s attorney, said. “At all times, he acted in the best interests of the employees and shareholders of Brocade.” What do you think about this conviction? Should more executives be tried for options scandals? If so who? Source Written by Sam for Product ReviewsIn Sections: N ...

Linux Has a New Best Friend: Google Increases Committment 2007-08-08 09:12:00 Google has joined with major companies like IBM and Oracle plus other Open Invention Network (OIN) lovers, to help ‘protect’, if you like, the newly popular Linux operating system. The OIN is an organisation that uses Linux patents as a way of deterring potential patent infringement challenges. The OIN was developed a couple of years ago to allow patents to be shared between organisiations and form a defense if a powerful company, such as Microsoft, decide to challenge Linux on the patent side of things. “Ever since Google got its start, Linux has given us the power and flexibility we need to serve millions of users around the world,” said Chris DiBona, open-source programs manager at Google. What do you think of the whole idea? Is the Linux really that much of a big deal? Personally, I think Linux has the potential to take over- big time. Written by Ryan for Product ReviewsIn Sections: Software ... Google

CPSC: Trane CleanEffects™ and American Standard AccuClean™ Air Filtration Systems Recalled 2007-08-08 09:07:31 Trane, of Tyler, Texas, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a voluntary recall of Stand-alone CleanEffects and AccuClean Air Filtration Systems. The recall was initiated because the Electrical arcing inside the collection cells can cause the collection cell material to overheat or ignite, posing a fire hazard. Trane has received twelve reports of overheating and property damage limited to HVAC equipment. No injuries have been reported. The recall involves whole-house air filtration units that were installed with consumers’ air handlers or furnaces. They were sold as the Trane CleanEffects and the American Standard AccuClean systems. The recall involves air filtration systems with serial numbers prior to 7222***** and includes: CleanEffects models TFD145ALFR000A TFD14DALFR000A TFD215ALAH000A TFD175ALFR000A TFD17DALFR000A TFD235ALAH000A TFD210ALFR000A TFD21DALFR000A TFD260ALAH000A TFD245ALFR000A TFD24DALFR000A AccuClean models AFD145ALFR0 ...

Fed Head Bernanke Holds US Interest Rates at 5.25 pct 2007-08-08 09:04:50 US interest rates were kept the same by the US Federal Reserve and its chief, Ben Bernanke. Despite a crumbling US dollar and a shaking economy, the Fed said it would not be raising interest rates. Bernanke and the Fed hinted that interest rates were not likely to rise anytime soon. Analyst Sam Kirtley of The Gold Prices Newsletter said: “The US Dollar is falling and soon it will break down through the key support at 80. The Fed can raise interest rates to temporarily save the US dollar, however this would damage the US economy. Lowering rates would have a very negative effect on the dollar but it would boost the economy. They have chose to stay put for the time being, which changes nothing. Gold is going up if the Fed raise rates, as the US economy will collapse and investors will move to gold as a safe heaven. If the Fed cut rates, the US dollar will plunge and gold will soar anyway. Today they kept rates the same, and gold is currently up $5.00! We think gold and gold stocks are ...

Forbes May Have Acquired Clipmarks 2007-08-08 08:47:00 Forbes may have bought the New York based company Clipmarks for an undisclosed sum. Clipmarks is sort of like del.icio.us, in that is is a social bookmarking service that allows users to bookmark a webpage, or a part of a page, and annotate it. Clipmarks could be considered similar to Digg.com since popular stories are linked from the home page. What do you think Forbes will do with Clipmarks? Can Forbes make Clipmarks as big as Digg or del.icio.us? Source Written by Sam for Product ReviewsIn Sections: News, Business ...

CPSC: Hanna Andersson sandal clogs recalled 2007-08-08 08:44:37 Hanna Andersson Inc., along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a voluntary recall of Birchwood Sole Sandal Clogs. The sandals were manufactured by Skottens Skor, of Vretstorp, Sweden. The recall was initiated because the leather ankle strap can tear or seperate from the clog sole, posing a fall hazard. No injuries have been reported. The recalled sandals have a birchwood sole and leather straps. They come in different colors (blue, pink and black) and were sold in European sizes 25-41. The bottom of the wooden sole has rubber grips. The words “Hanna Andersson” and “Made in Sweden” are printed on the sole. The units were sold at Hanna Andersson stores nationwide, its catalog, and Web site from January 2007 through July 2007 for between $48 and $58. Customers should immediately stop using the recalled Sandals and contact Hanna Andersson for instructions on returning the item for a full refund. For additional information, call Hanna Ande ...

Use USB keyboard for Nintendo Wii shop & Wii Message Board 2007-08-08 08:38:11 There are many apps for the Wii and many updates within firmware for the Wii but I personally like the idea of this one, the latest news is that USB keyboards can now be used for typing in entries into some channels, this means that you can use the keyboard within the Nintendo Wii shop (you know where you can type in game titles in the search box. This is well handy for those writing memos or want to write an email via the Wii Message Board, so ok the USB keyboards are usable in the Wii Shop and Wii Message Board but there is a downside, the downside is that you cannot use the keyboards in the Internet Channel (at the moment anyways). We can see this being a success, “If you are a modder and have already used a keyboard please let us know. Read Written by Mark for Product ReviewsIn Sections: Gaming, Nintendo Wii ... Amp  Usb

JS-Kit Gets $1.2m in Financing From The Entrepreneur’s Fund III 2007-08-08 08:36:40 JS-Kit has come along way since being just a simply commenting widget. It has added CEO Kris Loux as well as 12 engineers from Filmloop, but most importantly, they have received $1.2m in financing today from the Entrepreneur’s Fund III. JS-Kit widgets make it easy for webmasters to make their website interactive. JS-Kit have been very successful, with their widgets now on 5,000 websites and growing at a rate of 1000 each month. All together, these websites have more than 70 million impressions each month. Do you think JS-Kit can make their widgets into a much larger success story? Source Written by Sam for Product ReviewsIn Sections: News, Business ...