Another day, another record for the Dow

JeeYeon Park , CNBC ? ? ? 16 hrs.

Stocks ended higher Wednesday, with the Dow extending its gains to post a record high for the second-straight day, amid signs of improvement in the labor market.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly crossed above 14,300 for the first time, led by Bank of America and Hewlett-Packard. Verizon led the blue-chip laggards.

(Read More:What the Pros Are Saying About the Market's Rally)

The S&P 500 eked out a small gain, while the Nasdaq finished slightly lower. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed above 13.

Among key S&P sectors, materials ended modestly higher, while telecoms dragged.

"We've climbed a wall of worry?the only thing that's been pushing stocks up is the $85 billion of spending every month from the Fed. Don't fight the Fed!" said Adam Hewison, chief strategist at president of INO, adding that the Dow could extend its gains to 14,600-14,800 as a result. "But if [the Fed] tapers off, stocks will hit south. And the other fly in the ointment is Italy."

(Read More: Why Dow Record Could Be Good News for the Dollar)

Economic growth continued to show improvement in January and early February as consumer spending picked up, according to the Fed's Beige Book, a region-by-region assessment of the economy. The central bank expects the economy to maintain its gradual recovery, supported by the low interest rates and the ongoing bond-buying program.

"It's reasonable to think that the upside can continue?we're not here because of euphoric sentiment; we're here because we earned it," said Lawrence Creatura, portfolio manager at Federated Investors. "Earnings have increased beyond expectations. And if earnings continue to be strong, then stocks will continue to go up."

Meanwhile, some analysts warned that the rally may be the beginning of a bubble. U.S. shares are up almost 7 percent since the start of the year, European markets have gained about 5 percent, while in Asia, Japanese shares have soared almost 13 percent.

"I think stocks could very well rally through the rest of this year, even into 2014 based on this wave of money, but at some point it will pop and collapse, and that's what investors need to bear in mind," Jim Rickards of Tangent Capital, told CNBC Asia's "Squawk Box".

Dell gained amid news activist investor Carl Icahn has taken a position in the computer hardware maker of nearly 100 million shares, sources told CNBC, which would total his ownership to approximately 6 percent. Meanwhile, Icahn did not provide a comment to CNBC. Meanwhile, Dell holder Southeastern Asset Management has considered a counter-bid for the company, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

(Read More: As Bull Market Turns 4, Traders Thank Bernanke)

Also on the tech front, Apple edged lower, putting a damper on the Nasdaq, after a batch of brokerages turned sour on the iPhone maker, Berenberg cut its rating on the company to "sell" from "buy." Citi lowered its price target to $480 from $500 and Barclays slashed its price objective to $530 from $575. Apple has plunged nearly 20 percent so far in 2013.

Qualcomm declined after Goldman Sachs removed the chipmaker from its "conviction buy" list, saying the chipset market has peaked this year.

Microsoft slumped to lead the Dow laggards after the European Union fined the software giant a hefty $731 million for breaking a pledge to offer PC users a choice of Internet browsers when they install the Windows operating system.

Among earnings, American Eagle Outfitters posted a higher quarterly profit, but shares tumbled after the teen apparel retailer handed in a disappointing current-quarter sales forecast, citing a tough economy.

Staples posted earnings that edged past expectations and also raised its quarterly dividend by one cent, but shares declined to lead the S&P 500 laggards after the office supply retailer reported revenue below estimates and estimates a lower-than-expected full-year forecast, due to weakness in Europe and North America.

Big Lots rallied to lead the S&P 500 gainers after the retailer topped Wall Street earnings and revenue expectations.

PetSmart and Vail Resorts are among notable companies slated to post earnings after the closing bell.

JCPenney slipped after Citi and Openheimer downgraded the retailer to "neutral" from "buy and to "perform" from "outperform," respectively.

On the economic front, private sector employment jumped by 198,000 in February, according to ADP's monthly report. Economists polled by Reuters expected a gain of 170,000. The report comes two days before the Labor Department reports the widely-followed non-farm payroll figures, with economists expecting a gain of 152,000.

"If the employment data is better than expected, and the market fails to sustain a rally, it will be an indication that lots of good news is already priced in and that could exacerbate a downside move," wrote Elliot Spar, market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus.

Meanwhile, factory orders fell 2 percent in January amid weak demand for transportation equipment, according to the Commerce Department, against expectations for a decline of 2.2 percent. Orders gained 1.3 percent, excluding transportation.

?By CNBC's JeeYeon Park (Follow JeeYeon on Twitter:@JeeYeonParkCNBC)

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/another-day-another-record-dow-1C8707524

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Microsoft TechFest 2013: 3-D Display with Haptic Feedback

One theme that really stood out today is the use of 3-D?typically to scan physical objects and transform them into three-dimensional models on? your computer. So one project that really stands out?both literally and figuratively?is the 3-D display with haptic feedback that Mike Sinclair, Michael Pahud and Hrvoje Benko developed in cooperation with the Microsoft Research Engineering Lab.

Haptic feedback has always been a keen area of interest for Mike, and he?s also been heavily involved in the First Robotics Competition. This project combines the two disciplines into a 3-D display experience that adds the sense of touch. The standard display monitor has been retrofitted with resistance transducers that sense the amount of pressure a person is placing on the screen.

The transducers work in conjunction with a one-dimensional robot that looks a bit like those articulated television mounts that extends and pivots the television away from the wall. The robot responds to the sensory data generated by the pressure of your finger tip and moves forward or backward accordingly.

To explore the different dynamics that come into play, the team developed a simple game in which the user pushes against a variety of objects made up of different materials: a concrete cube, a wood cube, a sponge cube, a beach ball and the ubiquitous recyclable Microsoft coffee cup.

The team also touched on how doctors could use haptic feedback to virtually navigate a patient?s brain scan and identify where treatment is needed. There?s clearly a lot of technical and practical wizardry at play here, and judging from the number of people queuing up, there?s also a great deal of curiosity about where it could lead.

Check out the TechFest 2013 microsite for more information about the research projects on display.

Source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2013/03/05/microsoft-techfest-2013-3-d-display-with-haptic-feedback.aspx

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Valerie Harper Cancer ? 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Actress Reveals ...

One of the most iconic actresses in TV history has revealed heart-wrenching news concerning her health. But she?s taking the diagnosis bravely and heroically. Keep reading for the tragic details.

Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda on the beloved?Mary Tyler Moore Show?and its spin-off?Rhoda, tells People that she is facing a tragic diagnosis: terminal brain cancer.

The 73-year-old actress received the news herself on Jan. 15, that she is suffering from?leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare type of cancer that occurs when cancer cells fill the fluid membrane around the brain.

According to doctors, she has only three months left to live.

Valerie Harper: ?I Don?t Think Of Dying?

The actress insists she is being strong and taking her shocking diagnosis in stride: ?I don?t think of dying. I think of being here now,? Valerie told People.

Her resolve may be due to the fact that she?s been through a form of this before. In 2009, Valerie ? a self-described ?lifelong non-smoker? ? was diagnosed with lung cancer. Thankfully she beat it, though she admitted to?People, ?I?m well past my expiration date already.?

Valerie Harper?s TV Legacy

The baby boomer generation will always have fond memories of Valeries contributions to television. Her hilarious work as Rhoda Morganstern on?The Mary Tyler Moore Show?earned her four Emmys and a Golden Globe.

And Valerie has never left our TV screens ? she has appeared in character roles in some of the most popular series, like?Melrose Place,?Desperate Housewives, and?That 70?s Show.

Valerie Harper: Celebrities Tweet Support

Celebrities have already taken to Twitter to voice their love and support for Valerie, proving how much of a role model she truly is to show business.

Andy Cohen?tweeted, ?Praying for Valerie Harper. Puts everything in perspective quickly.?

And famed talk show host?Sally Jesse Raphael?said on Twitter, ?Tragic news about?Valerie Harper. She has terminal brain cancer & just 3 months. Sending prayers, love & gratitude for her wonderful work.?

Obviously our prayers are with Valerie Harper and her family and friends as she goes through this difficult time.

??Andrew Gruttadaro

More Celebrity Cancer News:

1. Giuliana Rancic: I Was Going To Keep My Breast Cancer A Secret Forever
2. Brooke Burke-Charvet Reveals She Has Thyroid Cancer In New Video
3. Robin Roberts: ?I Felt Like I Was Dying? After Bone Marrow Transplant

Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/03/06/valerie-harper-cancer-mary-tyler-moore-show-brain-cancer/

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U.S. report: Billions wasted rebuilding Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Ten years and $60 billion in American taxpayer funds later, Iraq is still so unstable and broken that even its leaders question whether U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation were worth the cost.

In his final report to Congress, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen's conclusion was all too clear: Since the invasion a decade ago this month, the U.S. has spent too much money in Iraq for too few results.

The reconstruction effort "grew to a size much larger than was ever anticipated," Bowen told The Associated Press in a preview of his last audit of U.S. funds spent in Iraq, to be released Wednesday. "Not enough was accomplished for the size of the funds expended."

In interviews with Bowen, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the U.S. funding "could have brought great change in Iraq" but fell short too often. "There was misspending of money," said al-Maliki, a Shiite Muslim whose sect makes up about 60 percent of Iraq's population.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, the country's top Sunni Muslim official, told auditors that the rebuilding efforts "had unfavorable outcomes in general."

"You think if you throw money at a problem, you can fix it," Kurdish government official Qubad Talabani, son of Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, told auditors. "It was just not strategic thinking."

The abysmal Iraq results forecast what could happen in Afghanistan, where U.S. taxpayers have so far spent $90 billion in reconstruction projects during a 12-year military campaign that, for the most part, ends in 2014.

Shortly after the March 2003 invasion, Congress set up a $2.4 billion fund to help ease the sting of war for Iraqis. It aimed to rebuild Iraq's water and electricity systems; provide food, health care and governance for its people; and take care of those who were forced from their homes in the fighting. Fewer than six months later, President George W. Bush asked for $20 billion more to further stabilize Iraq and help turn it into an ally that could gain economic independence and reap global investments.

To date, the U.S. has spent more than $60 billion in reconstruction grants to help Iraq get back on its feet after the country that has been broken by more than two decades of war, sanctions and dictatorship. That works out to about $15 million a day.

And yet Iraq's government is rife with corruption and infighting. Baghdad's streets are still cowed by near-daily deadly bombings. A quarter of the country's 31 million population lives in poverty, and few have reliable electricity and clean water.

Overall, including all military and diplomatic costs and other aid, the U.S. has spent at least $767 billion since the American-led invasion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. National Priorities Project, a U.S. research group that analyzes federal data, estimated the cost at $811 billion, noting that some funds are still being spent on ongoing projects.

Sen. Susan Collins, a member of the Senate committee that oversees U.S. funding, said the Bush administration should have agreed to give the reconstruction money to Iraq as a loan in 2003 instead as an outright gift.

"It's been an extraordinarily disappointing effort and, largely, a failed program," Collins, R-Maine, said in an interview Tuesday. "I believe, had the money been structured as a loan in the first place, that we would have seen a far more responsible approach to how the money was used, and lower levels of corruption in far fewer ways."

In numerous interviews with Iraqi and U.S. officials, and though multiple examples of thwarted or defrauded projects, Bowen's report laid bare a trail of waste, including:

?In Iraq's eastern Diyala province, a crossroads for Shiite militias, Sunni insurgents and Kurdish squatters, the U.S. began building a 3,600-bed prison in 2004 but abandoned the project after three years to flee a surge in violence. The half-completed Khan Bani Sa'ad Correctional Facility cost American taxpayers $40 million but sits in rubble, and Iraqi Justice Ministry officials say they have no plans to ever finish or use it.

?Subcontractors for Anham LLC, based in Vienna, Va., overcharged the U.S. government thousands of dollars for supplies, including $900 for a control switch valued at $7.05 and $80 for a piece of pipe that costs $1.41. Anham was hired to maintain and operate warehouses and supply centers near Baghdad's international airport and the Persian Gulf port at Umm Qasr.

? A $108 million wastewater treatment center in the city of Fallujah, a former al-Qaida stronghold in western Iraq, will have taken eight years longer to build than planned when it is completed in 2014 and will only service 9,000 homes. Iraqi officials must provide an additional $87 million to hook up most of the rest of the city, or 25,000 additional homes.

?After blowing up the al-Fatah bridge in north-central Iraq during the invasion and severing a crucial oil and gas pipeline, U.S. officials decided to try to rebuild the pipeline under the Tigris River at a cost of $75 million. A geological study predicted the project might fail, and it did: Eventually, the bridge and pipelines were repaired at an additional cost of $29 million.

?A widespread ring of fraud led by a former U.S. Army officer resulted in tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks and the criminal convictions of 22 people connected to government contracts for bottled water and other supplies at the Iraqi reconstruction program's headquarters at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

In too many cases, Bowen concluded, U.S. officials did not consult with Iraqis closely or deeply enough to determine what reconstruction projects were really needed or, in some cases, wanted. As a result, Iraqis took limited interest in the work, often walking away from half-finished programs, refusing to pay their share, or failing to maintain completed projects once they were handed over.

Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, a Shiite, described the projects as well intentioned, but poorly prepared and inadequately supervised.

The missed opportunities were not lost on at least 15 senior State and Defense department officials interviewed in the report, including ambassadors and generals, who were directly involved in rebuilding Iraq.

One key lesson learned in Iraq, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns told auditors, is that the U.S. cannot expect to "do it all and do it our way. We must share the burden better multilaterally and engage the host country constantly on what is truly needed."

Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno, who was the top U.S. military commander in Iraq from 2008 to 2010, said "it would have been better to hold off spending large sums of money" until the country stabilized.

About a third of the $60 billion was spent to train and equip Iraqi security forces, which had to be rebuilt after the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority disbanded Saddam's army in 2003. Today, Iraqi forces have varying successes in safekeeping the public and only limited ability to secure their land, air and sea borders.

The report also cites Defense Secretary Leon Panetta as saying that the 2011 withdrawal of American troops from Iraq weakened U.S. influence in Baghdad. Panetta has since left office when former Sen. Chuck Hagel took over the defense job last week. Washington is eyeing a similar military drawdown next year in Afghanistan, where U.S. taxpayers have spent $90 billion so far on rebuilding projects.

The Afghanistan effort risks falling into the same problems that mired Iraq if oversight isn't coordinated better. In Iraq, officials were too eager to build in the middle of a civil war, and too often raced ahead without solid plans or back-up plans, the report concluded.

Most of the work was done in piecemeal fashion, as no single government agency had responsibility for all of the money spent. The State Department, for example, was supposed to oversee reconstruction strategy starting in 2004, but controlled only about 10 percent of the money at stake. The vast majority of the projects ? 75 percent ? were paid for by the Defense Department.

___

Online:

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction: http://www.sigir.mil/learningfromiraq/index.html

___

Follow Lara Jakes on Twitter at https://twitter.com/larajakesAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/too-much-money-spent-iraq-too-few-results-051221182--politics.html

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Seniors who play video games report better sense of emotional well-being

Public release date: 5-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Matt Shipman
matt_shipman@ncsu.edu
919-515-6386
North Carolina State University

New research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.

Researchers asked 140 people aged 63 and older how often they played video games, if at all. The study participants then took a battery of tests to assess their emotional and social well-being. 61 percent of study participants played video games at least occasionally, with 35 percent of participants saying they played at least once per week.

The study found that participants who played video games, including those who only played occasionally, reported higher levels of well-being. Those who did not play video games reported more negative emotions and a tendency toward higher levels of depression.

"The research published here suggests that there a link between gaming and better well-being and emotional functioning," says Dr. Jason Allaire, lead author of a paper describing the study and an associate professor of psychology at NC State. "We are currently planning studies to determine whether playing digital games actually improves mental health in older adults. "

###

The paper, "Successful aging through digital games: Socioemotional differences between older adult gamers and non-gamers," was published online this week in Computers in Human Behavior. The paper was co-authored by Dr. Anne McLaughlin, an assistant professor of psychology at NC State; NC State Ph.D. students Amanda Trujillo, Laura Whitlock and Landon LaPorte; and Dr. Maribeth Gandy of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation.

---

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?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 5-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Matt Shipman
matt_shipman@ncsu.edu
919-515-6386
North Carolina State University

New research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.

Researchers asked 140 people aged 63 and older how often they played video games, if at all. The study participants then took a battery of tests to assess their emotional and social well-being. 61 percent of study participants played video games at least occasionally, with 35 percent of participants saying they played at least once per week.

The study found that participants who played video games, including those who only played occasionally, reported higher levels of well-being. Those who did not play video games reported more negative emotions and a tendency toward higher levels of depression.

"The research published here suggests that there a link between gaming and better well-being and emotional functioning," says Dr. Jason Allaire, lead author of a paper describing the study and an associate professor of psychology at NC State. "We are currently planning studies to determine whether playing digital games actually improves mental health in older adults. "

###

The paper, "Successful aging through digital games: Socioemotional differences between older adult gamers and non-gamers," was published online this week in Computers in Human Behavior. The paper was co-authored by Dr. Anne McLaughlin, an assistant professor of psychology at NC State; NC State Ph.D. students Amanda Trujillo, Laura Whitlock and Landon LaPorte; and Dr. Maribeth Gandy of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/ncsu-swp030513.php

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Beyond the Samsung Galaxy S4

Waiting is never easy. And in the fast-paced smartphone market, it feels like you can wait forever before buying a new phone, because there's always a better one around the corner.

For the smartphone consumer, it's a delicate balance in deciding when to pull the trigger on the next smartphone purchase. While the upgrade cycle of devices seems nearly constant, I've noticed that the spring and summer have become the sweet spot for the introduction of most of the year's hottest devices.

In this Ask Maggie, a reader is already content to wait for the Samsung Galaxy 4, which should be announced next week. And I offer some advice about waiting a little bit longer to see what other devices are likely to come to market in the next few months.

I also offer some insight to a reader, who has found a sweet deal on a new Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon's retail partners. He wants to know if there is a catch to Amazon's and Best Buy's aggressive pricing.

Waiting for my next smartphone

Dear Maggie,
I really appreciate your practical, no nonsense, reviews; especially in the mobile phone arena. For me, the race is coming to a head March 14. Will it be the HTC One or the Galaxy S4? Both are terrific phones. I'm not one to switch phones every year. I've had my HTC Hero for more than three years, and it has served me well. Family members have the Galaxy S3, and they are very satisfied. Which one of the new phones actually noses out the other?

Also, since my HTC Hero is still working fine, I don't really need to buy a new device right away. Are there other smartphones on the horizon that I should wait to consider?

Thanks,
Larry

Dear Larry,
If you are in the market for a new smartphone and you love new technology, the next six months should be a very exciting time for you as there will be several new, high-end devices hitting market.

First, let me start by answering your initial question: Which is better the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4?

Samsung Galaxy S4

As you know the Samsung Galaxy S4 hasn't yet been announced. Samsung is planning a special event in New York City on March 14, where it will release all the details about the new phone. So I can't realistically compare it with the HTC One, which has already been announced.

That said, I can tell you that the rumor mill has been churning. And in general what's expected from the new Samsung is a faster processor (probably a quad-core processor, previous rumors of an eight-core processor may not be true), an improved camera (some rumors say around 13 megapixels), a crystal clear screen (likely Super AMOLED) and the latest version of Google's software (probably Jellybean 4.2).

The latest rumors also indicate that Samsung has really focused on improving the software on this phone. And the New York Times reported that Samsung will use a new technology that will track a user's eyes and automatically scroll the screen when you are reading longer text.

Unlike the iPhone and the HTC One, Samsung isn't expected to make this phone out of metal, which could give it more of a quality feel. Instead, some experts believe it will share a similar design and materials to existing Galaxy devices, which means plastic.

HTC One
HTC has also been busy updating its flagship device. And this time, it's going for gold by introducing just a single device to take on Samsung and Apple.

The HTC One X (AT&T) should see Sense 5 UI in the coming months.

(Credit: CBS Interactive)

The HTC One was announced last month. It's an all-aluminum smartphone that CNET Reviews editor Jessica Dolcourt described in one of her posts as a "gorgeous" smartphone. The phone comes with the almost-up-to-date Android software Jelly Bean 4.1, dual audio speakers, a new Beats Audio feature in BoomSound, and a rebooted version of the HTC Sense interface that includes a new element called Blink.

It sports a 1.7GHz quad core processor, 4.7-inch LCD screen, and a 4-megapixel camera, which the company claims is still superior to other cameras because of its UltraPixel technology. UltraPixel is a marketing term for a new light sensor the company uses. HTC decided that for this camera the current standard of 8 megapixels is overkill for a camera phone, and so it is sticking with a 4 megapixel camera. But HTC has enhanced the camera with the updated ImageSense system, new ImageChip 2 hardware, and the revamped light sensor. The result is a camera that HTC claims can capture 300 percent more light than competing camera phones.

The phone is expected to hit the market in March on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. It'll cost $199.99 for the 32GB version and $299.99 for the 64GB version with two year contracts.

Other options
The HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, when it's announced, are likely to be fantastic choices for your next smartphone. But the truth is that there will soon be a lot more options to choose from as other manufacturers also roll out their latest devices. And if you're going to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S4, then it might make sense to wait just a bit longer to see what other smartphones will soon be available.

Here are a few more devices you should keep in mind. Some of these smartphones have already been announced. And some are merely expected to be in the pipeline and may be a little further out. But they are all worth considering.

BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10: These phones were announced in late January and are the first devices to use the new BlackBerry 10 OS. The BlackBerry Z10 is a 4.2-inch touch-screen device. It is expected to go on sale in the U.S. this month and it will be offered by Verizon Wireless on its 4G LTE network for $199.99 with a two-year contract; T-Mobile and AT&T also confirmed plans to carry the smartphone. But it doesn't look like Sprint will get the phone.

This BlackBerry Z10

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

The BlackBerry Q10 has a 3.1-inch screen and a full Qwerty keyboard, which should appeal to die-hard BlackBerry fans. No launch date has been released for this phone, but it's expected to start selling globally in April and will likely come to the U.S. a few weeks later. Pricing will be announced at a later date. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless have each announced they will carry the phone. T-Mobile has only said it will offer the Z10.

BlackBerry's Q10 smartphone.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

I wouldn't say that either of the new BlackBerry phones is likely to be any better than the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4. But for people who really like BlackBerry, these devices are a reason to wait. After months of delays, BlackBerry finally has some products to show off using its new software. And it will be interesting to see if the company can keep or even reclaim some of its former Blackberry customers.

Sony Xperia Z or (Sony Xperia ZL in the U.S.): Sony took the wraps off the Xperia Z at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and showed it off again at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. CNET Reviews editor Brian Bennett has called it an impressive phone with a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software. It also has a 13-megapixel camera with a backside illuminated sensor. The phone is supposed to work well under low-light conditions. The camera also comes with additional features, such as burst mode, panorama, plus a bevy of special filters and effects.

Sony Xperia Z

The phone is made for the global market, so it will work on GSM carriers in the U.S., such as AT&T and T-Mobile. The U.S. version, the Xperia ZL, includes 4G LTE, which means it will likely work on AT&T's 4G LTE network. But Sony has not announced a U.S. carrier partnership for this device. So it's likely that it will be sold unlocked and without a subsidy on Sony's Web site. It's not yet available for sale in the U.S., but execs say it's coming soon. Pricing is also not available yet, but the price tag is rumored to be more than $700. You can check out Sony's Web site to be notified of when it will be available.

Motorola X Phone: Finally, Motorola is expected to make a splash this spring and summer with the announcement of the new Motorola X Phone. This is rumored to be a phone designed from the collaboration between Google and Motorola. (Motorola is now owned by Google.) The phone is expected to debut at Google I/O in May. While some are saying it may not offer much "wow" factor compared with other devices on the market, it is still likely to be a solid device that should meet or exceed the specs of some of the other devices on this list. And while Motorola has had a rough go of it in past years, there are some customers who are loyal to Motorola because they consider the hardware to be better quality than other Android devices. Plus it's expected to be the first smartphone to sport the new Google Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie software.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: I know it feels like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 just came on the market. But people are already talking about the next version of the super large smartphone. And why wouldn't they? The Galaxy Note franchise is a hit. Samsung reported that it sold more than 5 million Galaxy Note 2 devices worldwide in the first two months the product was on the market. Apparently, some people really like oversize phones.

Rumor has it that the next version of the "phablet" will be available this summer. In terms of specs, the third generation of this device is rumored to have a 6.3-inch Full HD screen display, 8-core Exynos 5 Octa processor, a stylus and finger hovering feature, and a 16-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus plus LED flash. And it will run Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. The rumors also suggest it will come in three memory sizes: 32, 64, and 128 GB internal memory.

iPhone 5S/ iPhone 6: Rumors about the next iteration of the iPhone start bubbling up shortly after the latest iPhone is released. And since the latest version, the iPhone 5, came out in September, nearly six months ago, we are right on track for iPhone rumors to really heat up again.

As with any speculation about a new iPhone, people want to know when it will come out and what new features will be added. The truth is, nobody knows when or what we'll get until Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals it on stage later this year. But my CNET Reviews colleague Scott Stein has made some educated guesses about what is likely.

He says the odds are strong that the immediate successor to the iPhone 5 will debut in the summer to autumn time frame, which means anywhere between June and October. And the release will likely coincide with the release of Apple's next version of software iOS 7. If Apple follows tradition, as it's done the past several cycles, the new version of the device will look a lot like the iPhone 5, but with some tweaks to the hardware and software on the inside.

Scott also says other things that might be upgraded include the resolution on the cameras and perhaps memory. Now that there is a 128GB iPad, Scott thinks there is a chance Apple will offer a 128GB iPhone, too.

Other than that, it's really hard to say what else is likely coming when it comes to the iPhone. But one thing you can be sure of is that a new one is coming. It's just a matter of when.

Don't forget about the software upgrade cycle
Another thing to keep in mind is that the two phones you are currently considering are Google Android devices. And they will each hit the market before Google introduces its next big software update, which many expect to happen in May at the Google I/O developer conference.

What this means is that either of these phones may be considered "out-of-date" in terms of software, once Google announces Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. While Samsung has already said that the Galaxy S4 will be on a path for whatever upgrades Google announces, those upgrades will likely take a while to go through the manufacturer and carrier testing process. For example, some versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 are only now just getting Google's Jelly Bean update, which was first introduced last June.

Apple is also expected to release a new version of its iOS software this summer. While the software tends to be immediately upgradeable to some previous versions of the iPhone, it could still turn out to be an important update and could offer some iPhone users a reason to wait before upgrading. So keep an eye out for that.

The bottom line
So what should you do? It's a dilemma that every smartphone consumer has every time he is ready for an upgrade. Do you buy what's available now, or do you wait a little longer for something better? What I tell people is that if you absolutely need a phone right now, then just buy what's available today. That said, because we are so close to the launch of some really good phones, if it's at all possible, if you can duct tape your ailing device or keep it together with some gum and string, you probably should.

If your existing phone is working perfectly fine and you aren't in a hurry to buy a new phone, and if you plan to keep your next phone for a long time, then definitely wait. In just a few months, we'll have a better idea of how the market will shake out. In the end, you might still end up with either the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4. But maybe you will be wowed by the upcoming Motorola phone, or you may finally be lured into Apple's ecosystem with the new iPhone and updated iOS.

The bottomline is that you are going to have a whole slew of products to choose from in a relatively short time frame. So it makes sense to wait just a little longer.

I hope this advice was helpful. And good luck!

Does it matter where I buy my smartphone?

Dear Maggie,
I'm in the market for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon Wireless. I have been a Verizon customer for many years and have always purchased my phones directly from Verizon. However, both Amazon and Best Buy are offering the same phone priced $100 cheaper than Verizon. As of this writing, Verizon says that they do not match prices. Someone told me that Best Buy and Amazon are able to offer these lower prices probably because they buy in larger quantities. That surprised me. So, this time I am seriously considering not getting the phone from Verizon. But I still want to keep my Verizon service. Are there any "gotchas" of which I should be aware before buying the phone from a reseller instead of directly from Verizon?

Thank you,
Ed

Dear Ed,
As far as I know there are no "gotchas" when you buy a device from a retailer, such as Best Buy or Amazon. You are still expected to pay the monthly service fee set by the carrier. And you are still expected to adhere to the carrier's contract terms.

Honestly, if you can find the device $100 cheaper from one of these retailers, then go for it. You have got yourself a bargain and I don't see any drawbacks to going this route. Just to be sure, double checked with Verizon to see if it had any warnings for customers about buying from one of their resellers. Here is what a Verizon representative told me in an e-mail:

All of our agents are independent businesses and while there are parameters on how they represent Verizon Wireless products and services, they create and implement their own marketing and sales strategies. The customer gets the same Verizon Wireless network service and is treated as any other Verizon Wireless customer when it comes to service pricing. The phones these agents sell are approved for the Verizon Wireless network but how they choose to price those devices is well within the scope of managing their businesses to meet their strategic goals.

She added that she was also not aware of any "gotchas." She suggested checking with the individual retailers to see if there is any fine print to the deals they are offering. But as far as Verizon is concerned, she said that the company works with its retail partners to protect the Verizon Wireless brand.

"We want our customers to have a quality experience regardless of where they purchase the service, which is why you see the leaders in the retail industry (selling our phones and service.)"

My advice is take the discount. A $100 saved is a $100 earned!

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/JhqR/~3/fjiEu5mKyUM/

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Oakwood Homes lands $100 million investment - Inside Real Estate ...

This 4,113-square-foot home by Oakwood Homes in Green Valley Ranch is priced at $315,900.

Highlights:

• Oakwood Homes, Colorado?s largest privately owned builder, gets $100 million investment.
• Investment from MREC will allow it to grow, primarily in secondary markets outside of Colorado.
• Pat Hamill, Oakwood?s founder, will remain CEO, chairman and general partner.

Oakwood Homes, the largest privately owned home building company in Colorado, announced on Tuesday that it has received a $100 million investment from Mountain Real Estate Capital, a Charlotte, N.C.-based residential real estate firm.

Last June, Oakwood and MREC, one of the largest real estate investment firms of its kind in the U.S., teamed up to pay $16 million for more than 2,600-acres in the Banning Lewis Ranch in Colorado Springs.

The new partnership will allow Denver-based Oakwood Homes to expand into new markets, as well as grow its Colorado footprint with some of the most sustainable and energy-efficient homes built by a production builder in the U.S.

?Probably most of our acquisitions will be out of state,? said Pat Hamill, the founder of Oakwood Homes, who will remain the chairman, CEO and general partner of the builder.

?We will most be going into tier II markets where there aren?t many publicly traded builders who are active,? Hamill said.

?For example, we recently went into Omaha, Nebraska, where HearthStone Homes, which used to build 1,000 homes a year, went bankrupt, leaving a void,? Hamill said. ?Just today, I was on the phone with two out-of-state builders I have known for years, who are interested in joining our family.?

Hamill said that Oakwood Homes was able to weather the Great Recession better than many other builders that had become over-extended during the go-go days preceding the real estate crash.

?Oakwood has clearly developed a competitive edge in their marketplace and continued to reinvent themselves with superior product and market positions during the downturn,? said Peter Fioretti, chairman and CEO of MREC.

?Together, we will be positioned to now take advantage of the growing market opportunities throughout the Midwest and Western markets,? Fioretti said.

?We are very excited about our opportunity to capitalize on the current housing recovery,? said Bob Sanderman, executive vice president of Oakwood Homes and the company?s point person on the transaction. ?Mountain is a great organization and will assist us in our next chapter of Oakwood?s history.

Hamill said that Oakwood did not need to $100 million because of any financial problems.

?We were already in very good shape financially, with very little debt,? Hamill said. ?With this investment, we will be in an extremely enviable position. We will be one of the financially strongest homebuilders in the country, including publicly traded companies. This transaction really puts us in the top tier as far as our financial position.?

Indeed, while there are no plans at this time, ultimately Oakwood could go public itself.

?I?m not the youngest builder on the street,? said the 51-year-old Hamill.

MREC?s investment, however, doesn?t change Hamill?s ownership position.

?They will get some preference as far as capital returns, but ultimately it is still a 50-50 ownership situation,? Hamill said. He was a 50 percent owner before the investment.

?All major decisions still require an unanimous vote.? Hamill said.

The $100 million investment is by far the largest in the company?s history.

?I think I started Oakwood Homes with $1,500 in 1991,? Hamill said

Hamill said the $100 million could be leveraged many times that amount, if the opportunity arises.

?We are very cautious,? Hamill said. ?Like I said, we have very little debt and we like it that way. We would borrow what we need, but not a penny more.?

Oakwood currently has nine communities with 7,100 home sites. It has a backlog of 348 sold homes and 200 homes under construction. It projects to sell more than 600 homes this year.

In addition to Banning Lewis Ranch, it is a developer of master-planned communities including including Green Valley Ranch, Thompson River Ranch, Belle Creek, Cumberland Green and Stillwater. Oakwood also builds within the Meadows.

All of its homes are extremely green and it will continue to seek cutting edge and cost-effective energy saving features, Hamill said.

?We?re still the only home builder that gives buyers a guarantee on their utility bills.?

He compared buying a new home to buying a new car.

?You wouldn?t buy a new car with hand-cranked windows. People buying a new homes are the same way. The great thing about buying a new home is that you can get an extremely energy-efficient home with very efficient floor plans. We are about 30 days away from opening some new models that will have every gadget you can imagine.?

Interested in buying house from Oakwood Homes? Please visit COhomefinder.com.

Have a story idea or real estate tip? Contact John Rebchook at? JRCHOOK@gmail.com. InsideRealEstateNews.com is sponsored by Universal Lending, Land Title Guarantee and 8z Real Estate. To read more articles by John Rebchook, subscribe to the Colorado Real Estate Journal.

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Source: http://insiderealestatenews.com/2013/03/oakwood-gets-100-million-investment/

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