The hottest tech at CES 2015 (Cnet)

1. A first for HomeKit. "Siri, brew a cup of coffee." iDevices released one of the firstHomeKit-compatible products, the Switch. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled device lets anything plugged into it be controlled with Siri voice commands or through an app.

2. ZTE. What if you could upgrade your phone the way you could a PC? That's what ZTE, a leading Chinese phone maker, is showcasing. The Eco Mobius' parts can be swapped and upgraded by simply replacing its various modules.

And don't leave without testing ZTE's Star 2, an impressive voice-controlled smartphone.

3. Belkin. Charging ahead with home automation, Belkin is showcasing a new lineup of connected devices. Look out for a water-usage sensor, an alarm notifier, and even sensors for detecting when windows are opened.

Plus, take an early look at Belkin's Echo technology, a system of sensors that collectively analyze your utility usage.

4. Parrot. Camera-laden drones are an ongoing trend at Parrot, but this year, the company is also focusing on car tech. The RNB 6 lets you upgrade any car (including older models) with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

5. Intel Everywhere. Going beyond PCs, Intel is taking its investments to wearables. One of its focuses is on Quark, an SD card-shaped chip that can be plugged into a variety of wearable devices.

While you're here, check out the Lenovo LaVie Z, a 1.7-pound 13-inch laptop powered by Intel's new Broadwell chip, which significantly increases battery life and lets laptops go fan-free.

6. Streaming TV. Cord cutters, rejoice. Streaming TV is finally becoming a real option and Dish's $20-per-month SlingTV is a compelling example. The service works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TVs, Xbox, and ESPN makes it shine.

But Dish isn't the only one in the game, keep an eye out for competing services likeSony's Playstation Vue.

7. LG. In 2015, 60 percent of LG's TV lineup will be in 4K, with a combination of both flat and curved screens. The new sets will run on the WebOS platform, a smart TV interface that can stream in 4K. For those who can't decide between curved and flat, there's even a 77-inch flexible concept TV.

And don't miss the G Flex 2, a curved smartphone that can withstand drops and pressure thanks to its flexible screen.

8. The connected car. While the real car showcase is in the North Hall, take a look at Panasonic's connected car setup. The company, which has a solid track record of building in-dash units, is now incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into its hardware.

9. Samsung. Curved screens are still plentiful at Samsung, where the company is now taking its flexible screens to desktop monitors. Bendy screens aside, the new focus is on Quantum Dots (also called nanocrystals), which allow even LED screens to appear brighter and more colorful.

Also take a look at Milk VR, a new virtual-reality game streaming service, along with a bevy of smart home appliances and a 105-inch bendable 4K TV.

10. Sony. As the company's lineup of 4K TVs expands, its also offering ways for consumers to create 4K content. Take a look at the various camcorders and action cams that shoot in 4K, and don't miss Sony's impressive 4K projector(available for a modest $9,999).

The best and the worst in CES (BusinessWeek)

The Smart Ring and the Smart Belt Are Actually Kind of Stupid 

Consider this your annual reminder that the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is full of things that are very unlikely to strike much of a chord with actual consumers. Exhibit A: At CES Unveiled, a Sunday-night preview of the show, the two products that drew the most attention were clunky wearable devices that promise to meet needs that very few people have.

 The biggest crowds were found at the display for a product called Ring. The promise of smart home technology is that you’ll be able to control everything in your house without lifting a finger. Ring gets close: Users can turn home appliances on and off by waving a single digit in the air. Slogan: “One Gesture, One Magic.” 

This isn’t the first we’re hearing of Ring. Logbar, the company behind the product, raised more than $880,000 last spring via Kickstarter. The company admits that the first try wasn’t perfect. It was too big, for starters: The only rings larger go to the winners of the Super Bowl. Also, it was made from zinc, which, it turns out, interfered with the signals it sent to your phone. 

The new version, which was on display at CES, is smaller than the original, and the company is using materials that won’t cause any connectivity problems. When it goes on sale in March, they company is aiming to sell for around $130, half the price of the first Ring. The company also introduced an accessory, Ring Hub, that enables infrared communication, allowing people to wave their fingers around to close their curtains, turn on their televisions, or flip lights on and off. If this sounds too good to be true, CES is the trade show for you. But also consider the disclaimer on Logbar’s promotional material, which warns of potential itchiness, irritation, and rashes, “depending on the user’s health conditions.”

The other big draw was Emiota's Belty, which defies satire. In the language of its promoters, it’s a product designed to be worn around one’s waist to enhance “wellbeing.” In English, Belty is a belt that loosens or tightens depending on whether its wearer is sitting or standing. 

It also notices if its wearer has been sitting for too long. In that case, it vibrates. The point, says Emiota founder Carine Coulm, is to identify early signs of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both of which are correlated with waist circumference. “It’s the first device to allow you to follow the trend of your waistline over the long term,” she says. 

The belt is made from French leather, with a chrome-ish buckle about the size of an iPhone 6. Like the people behind Ring, the founders of Belty acknowledge that it has to solve the size problem before anyone will actually wear it. 

Of course, appealing to real people isn't always the primary objective at CES. At last year’s show, for instance, there was the HAPIfork, a cumbersome fork that vibrates when you’re eating too fast. Buzz ensued. Belty is this year’s HAPIfork—weird enough to stand out at CES, doomed to irrelevance the other 51 weeks of the year.

Feliz Año Nuevo 2015 les desea CAMACOL

Venta de inmuebles en Estados Unidos cae a su nivel más bajo en seis meses (Mercado de Dinero)

Menos americanos compraron casa durante el mes de noviembre, haciendo caer la tasa de venta de inmuebles a su nivel más bajo en seis meses.

La Asociación Nacional de Corredores Inmobiliarios publicó el lunes los indicadores mostrando una caída de 6.1 por ciento en la compra de casas llegando a un promedio anual de 4.93 millones. Esto representa una disminución de ritmo anual de ventas que en octubre se estimó en 5.26  millones en octubre. Durante el último año la tendencia fue diferente, las ventas habían subido en 2.1 porciento.

La combinación de altos precios de las casas y el estancamiento de los ingresos de los norteamericanos, ha reducido la oferta y restringido la capacidad de compra de inmuebles. La reciente caída de las tasas de hipotecas debería llamar a más compradores al mercado y al mismo tiempo, las propiedades reducidas de precio y en oferta, factores que tienen a atraer a los inversionistas, están volviendo al mercado.

Los corredores inmobiliarios estiman que el año 2014 cerrará por debajo de los niveles de ventas del 2013, llegando a 4.94 millones de casas, tres por ciento menos que el año pasado que llegaron a 5.09 millones de unidades.

El promedio del precio de los inmuebles fue de US$ 205,300 en el último año, algo positivo para los propietarios que buscan vender sus casas, pero un reto para quienes quieren comprar.

Con información de AP y Fox News.

En mi Opinión: La ultima esperanza

por: Ricardo Tribin Acosta

La esperanza es aquello que deja un destello de posibilidad cuando los caminos se tornan muy difíciles. Ella ve lo invisible, siente lo que no es tangible, y logra alcanzar lo que para otros es un imposible. Es pues una actitud mental que implica un definitivo cambio en el pensamiento y en la acción.

Por lo anterior creer que algo no es viable siembra el manto de la duda y conduce al encuentro con la adversidad. De otra parte, cuando se piensa distinto, las situaciones pueden verse bajo perspectivas totalmente diferentes, lo cual conducirá a la apertura de opciones que, el analizarse negativamente, no se pueden visualizar.

Entonces la última esperanza será aquella que nos puede abrir la puerta a otras diferentes, siempre y cuando estemos dispuestos a vivenciar los parámetros a los que nos enfrentamos a diario de una forma positiva. Es, en resumen, una invitación a una mejor calidad de vida.

Para todos mis queridos amigos : FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

LG Tips WebOS 2.0 TVs Ahead of CES (TechRepublic)

• BY STEPHANIE MLOT
• DECEMBER 18, 2014

WebOS 2.0 sets boast reduced boot time, faster switching between content, and a new My Channels feature.

LG Electronics has big plans for the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show—big-screen plans, that is. The company said today that it will unveil new TVs featuring its newest webOS 2.0 Smart TV platform at the show.

With webOS 2.0, LG promised "outstanding user experience unmatched" by competing systems. What does that mean? Reduced boot time, improved loading time when switching between content, and a new My Channels feature, according to the company.

Users will also be able to customize their favorite live TV or set-top box channels on the Launcher Bar, while the Quick Settings and Input Picker functions make adjustments and syncing even easier.

The sets will support 4K streams, and viewers can tap into 4K content from partners like Netflix and Amazon, which recently rolled out 4K streaming.

"With the newest features introduced in webOS 2.0, the overall user experience has become even simpler, easier, and more intuitive," In-kyu Lee, head of LG's TV and monitor division, said in a statement.

LG bought the webOS operating system from HP in February 2013, with grand plans for adding the all-HTML5, Web-centric operating system into TVs, commercial display, and potentially cars.

With TVs, the plan was to address frustration with overly complex smart television sets. "The webOS platform is a great example of our commitment to taking a leadership role in the next generation TV market with a truly innovative Smart TV solution," Lee said.

LG sold more than 1 million webOS sets in the first two months after their introduction, LG said today; that number has since jumped to 5 million.

Visitors to January's CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center can stop by the LG booth for a look at the full range of new webOS 2.0 TV products.

For more, see PCMag's roundup of the 10 Best HDTVs and What Is 4K (Ultra HD)?

Sprint Sued Over Bogus Phone Charges (PCMagazine)

• BY STEPHANIE MLOT
• DECEMBER 17, 2014

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today also sued Sprint for illegally billing wireless customers.

Sprint may be facing a $105 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission for unauthorized charges on customers' cell phone bills. But first, a lawsuit.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today sued Sprint for illegally billing wireless customers tens of millions of dollars in unauthorized third-party charges - like monthly subscriptions to services like horoscopes, sports scores, and ringtones.

"As the use of mobile payments grows, we will continue to hold wireless carriers accountable for illegal third-party billing," CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement.

According to the CFPB, charges ranged from one-time fees of 99 cents to $4.99, up to monthly subscriptions that cost $9.99. Sprint then received a 30 to 40 percent cut of gross revenues.

The move, according to The Wall Street Journal, could result in a hefty fine fro the FCC, too. Sprint declined to comment on those reports; the FCC did not immediately responded to PCMag's request.

Rival AT&T was hit with a $105 million cramming fine in October by the Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC, customers often did not agree to the charges, which were hidden on AT&T phone bills. AT&T was also accused of failing to stop the bogus charges in a timely manner since it received a 35 percent cut of all sales. Almost 360,000 individuals sought reimbursements from AT&T.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile this summer was also accused of failing to stop bogus charges on customers' bills; an FTC complaint said the Un-carrier made "hundreds of millions of dollars" via premium SMS subscriptions. T-Mobile has denied any wrongdoing.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint actually pledged last year to stop charging for spam or "premium" texts. When asked about that pledge in the wake of the AT&T fine, Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman of the FTC, said that "the carriers agreed to stop the premium text messaging services as of January 2014," but the AT&T settlement at least "applies to all forms of billing...like direct-carrier billing, so this continues to be an issue."

Complaints about cramming date back to at least 2008, when regulators started requiring carriers to refund customers who were duped into signing up for extra services they didn't want.

The FTC filed its first case in April 2013 against companies that add fraudulent charges to users' mobile phone bills.

In July, the FTC published a set of cramming-related recommendations, which includes five actions to be taken by mobile carriers, merchants who charge directly to phone bills, and billing intermediaries who facilitate charges.

The Senate Commerce Committee also joined the fight, calling on mobile providers to more vigilantly monitor evolving third-party billing practices.