Google Chromebooks Go Global: Now Available In Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland And The Netherlands

Google has learned all that it needs to learn about the reception of its Chromebook laptops in the US and UK, and has announced availability of Acer, HP and Samsung flavors of its device in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. As we’ve spent time with Google’s Chromebook and OS, it has become apparent that the goal of the operating system is to focus on what people do on a computer the most, which is surf the web in a browser. Since Chrome has become the #1 browser, building an operating system that showcases it makes complete sense. In addition to this global rollout, Chromebooks will now be available in all 1,000+ Best Buy stores that sell PCs in the US. Basically, that’s twice the number of stores that Chromebooks were sold in previously. This in-store rollout will take place over the next two weeks. As far as the rest of Google’s line of laptops in partnership with Acer, HP and Samsung, there is indeed a niche that has gravitated towards the machine as a lower-cost alternative to the Macbook Air and Windows machines, specifically schools and small businesses. Google recently launched its Chrome Pixel, which has come with mixed reviews. One thing that most technologists can agree with is that while this machine might not be the end-game for consumer computing, it includes quite a bit of technology that will eventually be priced for mass-markets. I’ve been using the machine for the past few days and the idea of touching your laptop screen is still something of a mind-melt. It’s going to take some time to consumerize this product. Its been an active past week in Google Chrome land, as it recently named its VP of Chrome, Sundar Pichai, as head of its Android unit, moving Andy Rubin on to bigger and brighter “moonshots.” Some think that this means the eventual merging of Chrome with the Android OS, which is something we’ve been waiting for. Can Google get past the “cheap” label? It remains to be seen, but I can truly say from experience that the machine does exactly what you need it to do, and it does it well. During my trip to India, it’s the only laptop that I had with me, and it did the trick. The only downside to Chrome OS is the lack of popular applications available, such as Skype. That will

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/cx-RgD0Uttk/

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Toyota's Sheldon Brown backstage at Expand (video)

Toyota's Executive Program Manager Sheldon Brown took to the Expand stage to discuss how the automaker developed its fully-electric RAV4 and what the future of driving looks like. After chatting with us in front of the crowd, Brown slipped backstage to dive a little deeper. Brown and Myriam discussed the Rav4 EV's development and aerodynamics, and how electric cars have evolved over the past decade or so. Check out the full video interview after the break.

Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!

Filed under: Transportation

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/M0Mu6Ourpb8/

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NJ stringing up dead birds to get rid of buzzards

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Biologist Nicole Rein lifts a black vulture carcass in Bridgewater, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013, as it is hoisted up in a tree in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Biologist Nicole Rein lifts a black vulture carcass in Bridgewater, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013, as it is hoisted up in a tree in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

A black vulture carcass is hoisted up in a tree in Bridgewater, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013, by United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife workers in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Specialist Terri Ombrello prepares a line to cast over a tree in Bridgewater, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013, to hoist a vulture's carcass into a tree in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

A Turkey Buzzard flies over farm fields in West Amwell, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013. Large numbers of buzzards have been roosting in neighborhoods recently causing complaints. In Bridgewater Monday, wildlife officers hoisted a vulture's carcass into a tree in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Resident Jim Van Allen looks on in Bridgewater, N.J., Monday, March 11, 2013, as United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Specialist Terri Ombrello, left and United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Biologist Nicole Rein prepare to hoist a vulture's carcass into a tree in a tried-and-true method of driving away flocks of damaging buzzards. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) ? The dead vulture's feathers snap and crack, breaking apart as its frozen wings are spread for one last flight.

It will soon soar gracefully ? albeit briefly ? into a tree in this hilly New Jersey suburb, hoisted to a branch where it will hang, upside down, until spring.

Wildlife officials say it's a sure-fire way to get an estimated 100 black and turkey vultures from roosting in the neighborhood, leaving behind foul-smelling and acidic droppings on roofs and lawns, creeping out residents and even their pets.

Before the black vulture's carcass is strung up, nearly a dozen vultures glide over Bridgewater on a cool, gray Monday morning. Some perch in trees. One rests on a chimney-top.

Neighborhood residents watched as wildlife specialist Terri Ombrello launched a weighted fishing line over a branch with a sling shot. She took turns with partner Nicole Rein tying the bird's legs with another line then pulled the bird about 30 feet off the ground.

Vultures may like to eat road kill but it turns out they don't like the sight of their own dead upside down.

"They don't like seeing their own in that unnatural position," Rein said.

Bridgewater, a town of 45,000 about 40 miles west of New York, became at least the seventh New Jersey community this winter to turn to the wildlife services unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for buzzard-beating help. Black and red turkey vultures are protected species and cannot be killed without a permit.

The birds roost from November to April, settling down as it gets dark, when they are most visible.

Jim Van Allen, 69, lives across the street where the carcass was strung up in Bridgewater. He's lived in the neighborhood practically his entire life. He said it isn't unusual to see vultures there in this community but not this many. He said the vultures started arriving in November, just after Superstorm Sandy.

"They just glide all around, all day long, I mean, just looking for something dead," he said.

The vultures, which have sometimes lined up eerily on rooftops, have not just spooked residents. Mark Nathan said his yellow lab Callie is afraid of the vultures, especially when they fly low.

"She freaks out about them," Nathan said. The dog "barks at them and then she runs inside as fast as possible," he said.

Scavenging vultures are key to the ecosystem because they feed off dead animals, acting as flying garbage disposals. Still, in densely populated areas where they can thrive, vultures pose a serious nuisance.

"Their feces runs down the roof. It looks bad," Van Allen said.

Residents can expect to see fewer vultures within one to three days. While some may still perch on the tree, Rein said, they will not do so for long.

While some New Jersey towns regard the influx of vultures as a problem at least one community is hoping it will get its birds back.

Wenonah started holding a vulture festival in 2006 after nearly 200 turkey and black vultures made the town their winter home. But the town canceled its festival this year, according to Vulture Festival website, because they're no longer roosting there at night.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2013-03-11-US-Buzz-Off-Buzzards/id-fb29ca3a93f34822a87011a49658f9c2

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Allianz gives small business owners the right tool in new radio ...

The Ahh-llianz "One Word" campaign hits the airwaves this month with the launch of six radio spots positioning Allianz small business insurance as the 'right tool for the job' via MercerBell, Sydney.

Each spot depicts a different type of business owner using the wrong tool for the job, emphasising the value of Allianz's tailor-made insurance packages that are the right choice for any business. So a hairdresser starts up a chainsaw when a customer asks for a quick trim. A landscaper pulls out a sheep to mow the lawn. A caf? owner uses a cow to make a latte. A wayward employee installs a lion instead of a security system. An office worker orders the wrong kind of mouse. And a painter pulls out a can of spray paint to complete a job on a formal dining room.

Listen to the spots - RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.mp3

MercerBell, Sydney called on the expertise of Eardrum director, Ralph Van Dijk, to help bring the spots to life.

Says Liz Kain, creative group head, MercerBell: "There are six spots in this campaign and we really wanted each one to perform in its own right. Ralph helped to bring real depth and texture to the characters and their stories, and his technical expertise was invaluable. We're delighted with the result."

Says Julie Dormand, managing director at MercerBell: "This campaign is about Allianz's new online system that provides ready-made packages designed for different business needs. MercerBell's campaign for Allianz has always used humour to connect with our target audience and these radio spots continue that tone.

"We began over a year ago with the introduction of the Ahh-llianz meme to embed the brand into the vernacular. Since then we have been able to show many of life's moments when you are glad to have insurance."

Dominic Brandon - Group Manager Marketing and Brand, Allianz
David Bell - Executive Creative Director
Liz Kain - Senior Copywriter
Ian Hammond - Copywriter
Mike Nikotin - Art Director
Lorraine Gormley - Account Director
Tim Barrett - Senior Account Manager
Ralph van Dijk - Director
Song Zu - Sound Design

Source: http://www.campaignbrief.com/2013/03/allianz-gives-small-business-o.html

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Blasts at Iraqi market kill 5 south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) ? An Iraqi official says a pair of car bombs has exploded at a livestock market in the south of the country, killing five and wounding dozens.

The head of the provincial council, Jubair al-Jabouri, says 70 people were wounded in the Friday attack in Diwaniyah.

He blamed the blasts on al-Qaida, though there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Diwaniyah is 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad.

Violence in Iraq has fallen since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, but deadly attacks are still frequent. Friday's attacks come a day after bombings in Baghdad and towns south of the Iraqi capital killed at least 22 people.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-01-Iraq/id-d12f55295216476fb343bf67d55a5ca3

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A look at the deadliest hot air balloon accidents

Tuesday's crash of a hot air balloon near Egypt's ancient city of Luxor, killing 19 tourists, surpasses what ballooning experts believed to have been the deadliest accident in the sport's 200-year history, a 1989 crash in Australia that left 13 dead.

Some of the worst accidents involving recreational hot air balloons:

? Feb. 26, 2013: A hot air balloon flying over Luxor, in southern Egypt, caught fire and plunged 300 metres (1,000 feet) to the ground, crashing into a sugar cane field and killing at least 19 foreign tourists.

? Aug. 23, 2012: Six people died and 26 were injured when a hot air balloon carrying 32 people, mostly tourists including some children, caught fire and crashed near the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana.

? Jan. 07, 2012: A hot air balloon struck power lines near Carterton, New Zealand and exploded, crashing to the ground and killing all 11 people on board.

? Oct. 14, 2009: Four Dutch tourists were killed in Guangxi, China, after pilots lost control and their hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed.

? Aug. 26, 2001: Six people including a child were killed when their hot air balloon touched a power line at Verrens-Arvey, in southwestern France.

? June 17, 1999: Four passengers were killed when their hot air balloon hit a power line near Ibbenburen, Germany.

? Jan. 31, 1996: Five people died in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland when their hot air balloon crashed into a mountainside at a height of 2,400 metres (8,000 feet).

? Aug. 8, 1993: Six people were killed when their balloon hit a power line near Aspen, Colorado, tearing off the basket and sending it plunging 30 metres (100 feet) to the ground.

? Dec. 11, 1990: Four people died near downtown Columbus, Ohio, after their hot air balloon hit a television tower and deflated.

? Oct. 6, 1990: Four people were killed in a balloon crash at Gaenserndorf, near Vienna.

? Aug. 13, 1989: Thirteen people were killed when their hot air balloon collided with another over the Australian outback near the town of Alice Springs. The two balloons were flying at an altitude of 600 metres (2,000 feet) when one plunged to the ground after the collision.

? Oct. 3, 1982: An explosion on board a hot air balloon carrying 9 people at a festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico killed four people and injured five.

? Aug. 6, 1981: Five people were killed and one seriously injured when a hot air balloon caught fire after touching electrical wires and crashed in a suburb of Chicago.

? 1785: Two Frenchmen attempting to cross the English Channel in a hot-air balloon were killed when their balloon caught fire and crashed, in possibly the first fatal aviation accident.

Sources: AP reporting and news reports. Compiled by AP News Researcher Jennifer Farrar.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/look-deadliest-hot-air-balloon-accidents-174018300.html

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One person critical, two others in hospital after Texas college shooting

HOUSTON (Reuters) - One person was in critical condition and two others were taken to hospital with injuries after a shooting broke out between two people on the campus of Lone Star College near Houston on Tuesday, an official with an ambulance dispatch company said.

"We did transport three patients from the scene," said Mark Smith, an official with Harris county Emergency Corps which dispatches ambulances in that area.

"The patients were described as one critical, two as urgent. My understanding is that at least one of the patients had heart issues, not gunshots," he said.

Smith said he had been told that the shooting took place in the school library, which is near the center of the campus.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Armando Tello said, "We do have, we believe, 3 people injured at this time. We also have a person of interest that's being detained." He gave no further details.

A second shooter fled the campus, according to college spokesman Jed Young. Neither police nor Young said whether the second shooter had been apprehended, and it was not clear if the two people involved in the shooting were students.

The shooting took place on the North Harris campus of the community college system. The campus was evacuated and closed for the day, officials said.

The campus is covered with pine trees and local media reported that authorities were searching a wooded area for the second shooter.

Police were stopping traffic at every intersection on the campus. Some vehicles and some pedestrians were allowed to pass but others were turned away.

Four schools in the Aldine district near Lone Star College were locked down, said Leticia Fehling, a spokeswoman for the district. Officials have closed several roads near the college and school buses were not able to enter the area, she said.

Student Amanda Vasquez said she was waiting for an English class to start in a campus building when she heard shots.

"I heard about 6 shots ... Kids started rushing down the hallway. It really happened so fast," she told CNN news.

Vasquez said people in the classroom closed the door, turned off the lights and put a table against the door.

The shooting occurred just over a month after a gunman killed 20 students and six staff at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

The Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, according to its website. Student enrollment is 90,000 and there are six colleges in the system.

There have been three separate shootings at schools and colleges in the United States in the past two weeks.

On January 10, a student armed with a shotgun opened fire at a California high school, wounding a fellow student. A second student also received minor injures at Taft Union High School in Taft, California, about 30 miles southwest of Bakersfield.

On January 15, a student armed with a pistol opened fire at Stevens Institute of business & Arts in downtown St. Louis, shooting a school employee and then turning the gun on himself.

Also on January 15, two people were killed and a third wounded when gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a community college in eastern Kentucky. Authorities said that shooting was a result of a domestic conflict.

(This story corrects paragraph 5 spelling to Armando instead of Amando. The error first occurred in Update 4.)

(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Additional reporting by Corrie MacLaggan, Jim Forsyth, Mary Wisniewski and Bill Trott; Editing by Greg McCune)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/two-students-struck-gunfire-texas-college-official-195804814.html

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