Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored. ~Daniel Webster
Author Archives:
Samsung Wallet makes its consumer debut in Korea
Available for select Galaxy devices, the new Samsung Wallet made its consumer debut in Korea, with more than 30,000 domestic retailers supporting the service on launch.
Future plans include adding support for Passbook-like services, including membership cards, coupons tickets, and other services.
Samsung spokespeople told us NFC payments will be supported withing the next year. No timeline announced for wider expansion beyond South Korea.
NFC terminals allegedly purse-dipping at Marks and Spencer
“Some Marks and Spencer customers have told the BBC of cases where the chain’s contactless payment terminals have taken money from cards other than the ones intended for payment.”
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22545804
Quote of the Day: “The vision and generosity of Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young will profoundly influence the way all of us perceive and experience artistic media”
“The vision and generosity of Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young will profoundly influence the way all of us perceive and experience artistic media,” University of Southern California President C. L. Max Nikias.
Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are giving $70 million to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles to establish a four-year undergraduate program for students interested in a mix of the arts, visual design, entrepreneurship, computer science and marketing.
The gift will create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, with the intention of attracting students “who challenge conventional views of art and industry,” according to a statement by the university.
Source: Rolling Stone Magazine
BlackBerry brings BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to Android and iOS devices
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins shared during the opening keynote of BlackBerry World, the smartphone maker’s annual developer event that it is bringing BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), its proprietary messaging platform, to Android and iOS devices. This is a significant strategy shift that could drive cross-adoption and enhance utility and relevancy of the brand.
For those unfamiliar with BBM, it uses carrier data networks to pass secure messages back and forth through its servers to other BlackBerry users. The service now offers the ability to make phone calls, conduct video chats and share screen views with other BBM users holding the new BlackBerry 10.
Heins told the enthusiastic audience that BBM for Android and iOS will be free. Features loaded into the Android and iOS BBM apps at launch will include normal chat and group chats, followed by voice and video over the next few months.
Big Push for Mandatory Personal Finance Classes in School
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched Transforming the Financial Lives of a Generation of Young Americans, a white paper with specific recommendations for advancing financial education in grades K-12.
Not to be left behind, the Treasury Department has introduced moneyasyoulearn.org, a new website offering teachers ready-made personal finance lessons that fit neatly into existing math and English courses.
Read more: http://business.time.com/2013/05/07/a-big-push-for-mandatory-personal-finance-classes-in-school
What do smartphones and water softeners have in common?
It was a busy Sunday afternoon and I’m at Lowe’s looking for a new water softener for our home. The product was on display, but not a soul wearing the red and blue vest was nearby to answer a few questions. Not to worry, I whipped out my iPhone, scanned the bar code on the box, and got the basic info I needed to get me started.
A few feet away, a couple were looking at the screen of their phone, discovering that whatever store they were looking for didn’t have a location nearby.
No surprise to anyone trying to find knowledgeable help in a retail store these days, smartphones have replaced interaction with store personnel.
“Mobile In-Store Research: How in-store shoppers are using mobile devices,” a new study from the Google Shopper Council, says 84 percent of mobile shoppers use their phones to help make better purchases while in physical stores.
The report says 82 percent of respondents used mobile search to find information about products. Comparing prices (53 percent), seeking offers and promotions (39 percent), finding locations of other stores (36 percent) and getting hours of the store (35 percent) were other top uses.
The study discovered that one-third of respondents would rather consult their phone than ask a person for information in store, assuming anyone was available.
By the way, I never found anyone at Lowe’s to get my “how much to install it” question answered. A subsequent stop at Sears down the street was met by a real live person in appliances who was trained about the product, handed me some literature, reassured me that the installer knew what he was doing, and made some recommendations, all which resulted in a sale. While I was there, I picked up a garage door opener, too.
Schwinn exec who developed the Schwinn Sting-Ray dies at 88
Schwinn Sting-Ray with Overdrive Transmission
It’s a sad day for some of us here in the Santa Monica offices as we learned Al Fritz has died at 88. He was the Schwinn exec who developed “the Corvette of bicycles,” the Schwinn Sting-Ray.
The low-slung bike with sky-high handlebars was born out of the Southern California surf culture and went on to became a national phenomenon.
Back in his youth, this author personally rode a lime green Sting-Ray with a coveted Overdrive two-speed kick-back hub, mostly with the front wheel off the ground in a perpetual “wheelie.”
Square adds Socket Mobile Barcode Scanner to POS
Socket Mobile, Inc. (SCKT), a provider of mobile productivity solutions, today announced that Square, Inc. has selected the Socket Bluetooth® Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) 7Ci barcode scanner for Square Register, a full point-of-sale system running on the Apple iPad or iPad mini that enables businesses to accept payments, track inventory, and share location information.
Square makes commerce easy for everyone, with a free credit card reader for the iPhone®, iPad and Android devices. The company processes more than $10 billion in transactions every year.
Certified by Apple for the iPad, iPad mini, iPhone and iPod touch®, the Socket CHS 7Ci is Socket Mobile’s best-selling barcode scanner for smartphones and tablets. Small, sleek and comfortable to hold, the Socket CHS 7Ci connects wirelessly to a broad range of devices and enables retailers to quickly and accurately capture barcode information on product labels or device screens. The Square Business in a Box hardware bundle, which features the Square credit card reader, a wireless receipt printer and cash drawer, includes on-screen instructions for installing the Socket CHS 7Ci barcode scanner.
“Square’s selection of the Socket CHS 7Ci barcode scanner for its Square Register iPad app validates how effectively the Socket CHS 7Ci meets the needs of retailers in terms of size, portability, and ease of installation,” said Mike Gifford, Executive Vice President of Socket Mobile. “We are excited to be a part of the Square Register solution, providing affordable, commercial-grade mobile barcode scanning to brick-and-mortar retailers.”
The Socket CHS 7Ci is backed by a Software Development Kit (SDK), known as SocketScan™ 10 SDK, which includes support for Apple, Android, BlackBerry and Windows devices and is available to members of the Socket Mobile Developer Program. For more information, please visit: http://developer.socketmobile.com.
About Socket Mobile
Founded in 1992, Socket Mobile is a leading innovator of mobile devices and productivity tools for retail POS, field service, healthcare, and other mobile markets. Our portfolio includes wireless handheld and hands-free barcode scanners for tablets and smartphones; durable handheld computers and accessories; and OEM solutions for the mobile device market. Socket Mobile is headquartered in Newark, Calif. and can be reached at +1-510-933-3000 or http://www.socketmobile.com. Follow Socket Mobile on Facebook and Twitter @socketmobile and subscribe to sockettalk.socketmobile.com, the company’s official blog.
3,000 annual teen deaths from texting while driving
Researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park estimate more than 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide from texting while driving, plus an additional 300,000 injuries.
In fact more kids die while texting annually than while driving drunk. Yet, we do nothing.
