BlackBerry in formation: another interesting unfinished Tablet

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An employee demonstrates a Blackberry Playbook tablet at a Best Buy store in Chicago, Illinois, April 19, 2011.

At a San Francisco event last September, Research in Motion — the company whose BlackBerry phones rank among the most iconic gizmos of all time — announced its first tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. RIM played a splashy video about the device, detailed its features, and issued a press release laden with words like "unmatched," "uncompromised," and "unique." The one thing it didn't do was show off a working PlayBook — presumably because the tablet wasn't yet in any shape to be seen in public.

Seven months later, the PlayBook hit the shelves this week, one of the highest-profile contenders yet in the market pioneered by Apple's iPad. I've been spending time with a unit loaned to me by RIM, and judging from my experience...it still isn't in any shape to be seen in public. For every feature that works well right now, there seems to be one that's glitchy, half-baked, or simply missing. (Watch how the BlackBerry tablet is different.)

Some of the attractions that got me enthused about the PlayBook when I attended the launch still hold, starting with its compact size. Like Samsung's first Galaxy Tab, it sports a sharp 7-inch touchscreen, giving it a paperback-like personality compared to the larger, more magazine-like iPad 2. There's no such thing as one true ideal size for a tablet, but seven inches has its advantages: you can cradle the PlayBook in both hands and use your thumbs to swiftly tap your way around the interface, in a sort of modern counterpart to the thumb-typing that made the original BlackBerry famous.

(Bizarrely, one thing you can't do very easily is to turn the PlayBook on and off. The gnat-sized power button is nearly flush with the case, making powering up and shutting down something of a project.)

For a starting price of $499 — the same as the iPad 2 — the PlayBook provides some serious hardware muscle, including a zippy dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of solid-state storage, high-definition cameras on its front and back, Wi-Fi, and an HDMI connector for output to big-screen TVs. You can't get a PlayBook with a built-in 3G or 4G wireless connection yet; RIM says those options will come along later. (Read about the debut of the BlackBerry PlayBook.)

Rather than merely rejigger the aging software it uses on BlackBerry smartphones, RIM started from scratch with an operating system designed with the PlayBook in mind. The user interface pays the sincerest form of flattery to HP's WebOS, as seen on the Pre phone and the upcoming TouchPad tablet, but it's easy to pick up and fun to use. Swipe upward, for instance, and you get access to other apps; swipe downward, and you get features such as the ability to open new tabs in the browser. Everything's fast and fluid, even if you've got a bunch of programs open.

Some solid software comes preloaded on the PlayBook, including a Web browser that's on a par with the ones on the iPad and Android tablets, plus a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a tool for viewing (but not creating or editing) presentations. In a decision that's tough to fathom, however, RIM decided to ship this supposedly "professional-grade" tablet without e-mail and calendar apps of its own. Instead, the tablet can piggyback on a BlackBerry phone's Internet connection over Bluetooth and display big-screen versions of the handset's e-mail, calendar, to-do list, and notes.

The idea, RIM says, is to keep the data on the phone so that it's safe from prying eyes even if your PlayBook is lost or stolen. But this "BlackBerry Bridge" leaves the PlayBook utterly dependent on a BlackBerry phone. If you don't have one — or have one whose battery has conked out — the only way to do e-mail on the PlayBook is to use a Webmail service such as Gmail in the browser. (Early PlayBook buyers who own AT&T BlackBerrys also encountered a snag this week; AT&T may boast that it's the nation's preeminent BlackBerry carrier, but it failed to approve RIM's BlackBerry Bridge app and make it available to customers in time for the PlayBook launch.)

As for third-party apps, RIM says that the PlayBook's App World already has 3,000 programs — not too shabby for a brand-new platform. Standard offerings such as Twitter clients were scarce when I checked, though. And some of the ones I tried, including a note-taker and a solitaire game, were embarrassingly rudimentary — more like homework assignments for a programming class than commercial products.

For me, though, the biggest disappointment about the PlayBook in its initial form doesn't involve the absence of apps. It's how quirky RIM's software is — a problem I ran into immediately when I swiped at the screen as instructed during the initial setup process and nothing happened. At one point, the BlackBerry Bridge inbox started wobbling up and down for no apparent reason; the on-screen keyboard sometimes failed to pop up automatically when it should have. (See 20 back-to-school gadgets.)

Then there's the PlayBook's support for Adobe's Flash Player, the application — used for videos, games, and ads — which Apple refuses to allow onto the iPad and iPhone. As on tablets based on Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb software, Flash is allegedly a major selling point for the PlayBook. Some of the movies I streamed from Amazon's Video on Demand service did look superb. Much of the time, however, Flash video and games behaved strangely or didn't work at all — or simply crashed the browser. Some folks may consider thoroughly unreliable Flash to be better than no Flash at all, but I'm not one of them.

Unlike the earliest PlayBook reviewers, who used preliminary versions of the operating system, I experienced the device using the software that the first paying customers are receiving. Getting this tablet out appears to have been more important than getting it right.

Still, almost everything that's lacking stems from software shortcomings. RIM will surely squash at some of the bugs I encountered. It says it'll add more apps and features (including full-blown e-mail) and that the PlayBook will run not only software written specifically for it, but also programs designed for BlackBerry and Android phones as well as Adobe's Flash-based AIR platform. A few months from now, the PlayBook could be a dramatically better product than it is now — but I'd wait and see rather than plunking my money down just yet. (See pictures of the January 2010 unveiling of the iPad.)

Other tablets rushed out in the wake of the iPad have suffered from a similar slapdash quality. Samsung's first Galaxy Tab, for instance, used a version of Google's Android operating system that was meant for phones, not tablets. And early adopters of the Motorola Xoom got a machine with a buggy version of Android and without three major promised features: 4G wireless, Flash, and the ability to plug in a memory card. So far, only Apple has managed to release a tablet that doesn't have a slightly experimental feel to it.

Now that the PlayBook is out, the next major milestone for tablets will likely be the release of HP's promising TouchPad. All HP says about availability is that it plans to ship it "this summer." But you know what? After having used the Galaxy Tab, the Xoom, and the PlayBook, I'm in no rush. If the company needs more time to make the TouchPad as good as it can possibly be, that's fine by me — and it just might be the smartest long-term strategy for HP, too.

McCracken blogs about personal technology at Technologizer, which he founded in 2008 after nearly two decades as a tech journalist. On Twitter, he's @harrymccracken. His column, also called Technologizer, appears every Thursday on TIME.com.

Take a look at the new BlackBerry Torch.

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The US economy in the short term, the good news is bad news

Oliver Munday to illustrate the time

It is now also the traditional solution of direct taxation in the United States to face a calamity. USA: the problems are serious: the deficit, which is greater than 10% of the GDP and the total debt, which is more than 70% of ITS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP). But all evidence suggests that the US will face an immediate crisis. Discover the simplest indicator: the date that the Standard and poor's raised its now famous warnings, for the purposes of calculating the market decided the u.s. borrowing costs and USD against the euro, the main alternative. In fact, the United States of America and the real problem may well be that it will face a crisis in the short term.

Around the world, people, countries and companies are looking for safe, liquid investments. And the market Court is the safest investment in the debt of Uncle Sam. We all know the US debt in the medium-and long-term problem. It has been discussed throughout the world in recent years. And yet, during the u.s. borrowing costs have decreased. The markets are still willing to lend more money to astonishingly low in Washington. Care USA: n debt today is actually less than it was in 1998, Clinton at jib-height. Why? Although the Us debt is now much higher, interest rates are much lower and the result is less than the Bill of materials (BOM). (See pictures of the global financial crisis.)

Of course, change the views in the market, but for immediate exchange takes place, there must be attractive to U.s. Treasury bills. Imagine, the head of the Central Bank of China. You will need to invest tens of billions of dollars each year to something safe and liquid as you can get the money back when you need it. Has some good options. To invest in European bonds, but have you been alarmed in recent series of crises in the Euro. German officials have predicted that Greece has a default value, which, if it occurs, could precipitate a panic round. It is reasonable to ask, in its current form of the euro will be even be about 10 years from now? Reflecting this uncertainty, the small countries in Europe have increased dramatically as a result of the debt.

Then you are Japanese bonds. You can place them in, but Japan is the worst in the balance sheet of the European countries in relation to ITS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) debt of 200% of the PC, slow growth and the rapid aging of the population. Plus you can hate the Japanese (China), never apologize for World War II, and most likely will not do anything to shore as a global currency, the yen. The actual assets could buy — mines, oil fields, buildings — but they are changing the investments that are difficult to sell quickly and in any case, even if you have bought dozens of them, you can still have tens of billions of dollars to place somewhere along the left. To invest in the bonds of the people's Republic of China, but that the Chinese currency, the value of the drive and make a more expensive, for export to China, which would mean fewer jobs in manufacturing companies. In short, Beijing to buy Treasury bills is not out of love, America, but good, practical reasons. (See "what the US debt problem means the world economy.")

The u.s. economy in the short term, the news is positive. April's report from the IMF that global growth in the United States is likely to be the world's developed economies, China and India but very forward, fastest growing Europe. USA is the only advanced economy, with GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) is now back to precrisis levels. American consumers are saving more quickly than they were ten years and spend also begins. American companies have $ 2 trillion in cash on their balance sheets. Of course, the problems remain, but the US economy finally moving again.

As a matter of fact, the real problem is that this short-term good news means that Washington is not really behave as if it is in a crisis situation, regardless of the Rhetoric. Democrats still clinging to the entitlement to the aid programmes, with the actual cost cutting does not speak, even if the current system is clearly impossible. In the United States Government to build the confidence to pretend the world on the brink of losing, but they really believe that. If they did, they do not play politics with the vote to raise the debt ceiling; They also agree to raise taxes or undo the Bush-era tax cuts. The one step contributing to stabilising the u.s. economy, already a decade (even if the right system reform in the long term, yet). Other than the Gang of six in the Senate, the people are still pushing the idea of history rather than to fix this problem. The great danger is that once again the American economy to outperform expectations and exempt from the need to make tough choices on the politicians to fees and taxes. But it only postpone the day of reckoning, and crashes more painful.

See the time 100 most influential people in the world.

See "Urban is the 21st century's American success."

See "u.s. debt: the biggest problem is yet to Come."

Divorce and taxes: five things to know when the application returns

The Great recession proved to be very good for keeping the principles of the market, together with the trade unions. Divorce in America each year, the decrease in prices during the economic recession. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which follows the marriage statistics, had fewer divorces in America 63,550 2009 as it was in 2006.

The numbers do not, by 2010, but the divorce lawyers and government management say the marriage was likely to be the first year of 2010 after the financial crisis, which adds to the called it quits. And that is not only more difficult things on holidays. April 15 (or April 18 this year, because the add-in) can be complex, as well as the recently divorced. (See pictures of Elizabeth Taylor in many of the marriage.)

Although divorced taxpayers rules have not changed that much over the last decades of the divorce. Yhteishuollosta and other changes to the way people share the property to determine what made the only owes Uncle Sam, and by whom the more difficult than ever.

The following are tips on five of those who are divorced or divorcing the most vexing issues are:

1. the marriage status of the switch to the calendar
Even if your divorce was finalized on 1 April and 1 to 18 of this year, you are still officially hitched to an ex-spouse, when it comes to filing taxes in 2010. The flip-side: If your divorce became official in December, you will not be able to file as married, even though it was the largest year and save money. There is, however, in addition to the argues third status can be one or married. It is called "household head", and it could save you money. The status was originally intended to be one of the people, but some in the middle of a divorce may also be eligible. In this case, the spouse has been living separately from their own tax year; more than half of the last six months, keeping the main residence; costs shall be paid and be able to require parents of children of divorced or separated the kids than their own, under the rules. In addition, you must file a separate tax return, even if the spouse-still legally married. But if you're still willing to IRS forms, estranged you suggest a married check box. (See the top 10 celebrity relationship flameouts.)

2. sharing the printer may be more difficult than sharing
You do not have to pay income taxes on assets that is transferred during a divorce. But if you exit so the House, you don't get it are exempt from tax. The reason is the adoption of the taxation of capital gains, which continue to apply even the recently Divorced, and these are locking devices, if you decide to get rid of your House after the divorce. The couple does not normally have to pay up to $ 500000 profit tax, whose primary residence. But now that you have one, you can use only half of that. So if your House sells more than $ learning activities more than what you paid for it, and the former spouse, you owe taxes. But one of the first to receive, if you have recently divorced: If you have moved out of the House before the divorce was final, and then the artillery to get the trial in the House still may yet make the House as a primary residence.

3. just because your child to spend time with you — even at the same time — is to make sure their successors
Years ago, the majority of the storage system was rather simple: the mother received custody of children and, therefore, the right to require their successors. In recent years, however, custody agreements have become quite creative and storage can be shared with the rest of the week, holidays or during the workweek. These arrangements are complex, and the latest version of the IRS tax code set, which is just the maintenance or imprisonment in the parent definition.

You can claim your child as a general rule, the successors, only if defined in the judgment of the Court of Justice of the custodian. When a contract or order exists or does not have custody, imprisonment shall be deemed to be the parent of the parent who has physical custody of most of the year. What happens when you share a 50-50 custody? Of course, you can both claim as a dependent within the meaning of the same son. This is a violation of the law. Some couples exchange, which claims to be the children of the year, share the tax credit, and if you have only one child which is the only option. But if you have more than one son to avoid confusion, the best bets may be divided between the two parents of your child's dependency, which is allowed, even if both of the children to spend time with the same quantity of each parent company. (See the album of the British wedding.)

4. Regular maintenance payments and the return of the child's tax service good
In most cases, regular alimony and child maintenance, if you have it, one to lower the tax on an invoice. Even better, regular alimony and child is above the line deduction-, which means you do not need to itemize tax advantage. Still not lingerers tax breaks. If you and the ex-spouse continued to split on the issue of a residence permit after the divorce, alimony, as well as the Convention on the rights of the child, regular maintenance payments, which are carried out during this period cannot be reduced. In addition, the fees shall be the subject of a written separation agreement or divorce, nor shall it be regarded as child support. So couples facing divorce finances, extended the custody of the battles or the laws of the State, which require the separation of length may still have problems complying with the deduction.

5. the Convention on the rights of the child support is always tax-neutral
Although the regular alimony and child is considered a chargeable event, the child support is always tax-neutral, i.e. it does not in any way affect your taxes. This provides an incentive for ex-wife, who is making attempts to classify the child support as part of regular maintenance payments and child, in particular, when the law of increasing aid to complicate your requirements. In recent years, the College of education, for example, the parents of the required criteria. Regardless of how large check box — or how long the parent undertaking of which is to write it — tax-neutral rules shall remain in full force and effect.

Msnbc.com video: see the "Royal Wedding, and American marriage."

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Wool coffins offer green alternative to the tomb of the

To help it to survive — and thrive — in the United Kingdom of Great Britain shrinking textile industry, Hainsworth, 225-year-old, family-run Villa mill West Yorkshire, England has developed a niche uses for the Villa. The product range includes the Royal guards Buckingham Palace within the Steinway Pianos, an installation of the series and used in the Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars interior headlining worn uniforms. But it is one of the most recent and most unique Hainsworth, new products, which makes the company's competitors look sheepish: wool coffins.

Thanks to the growing demand for green of Great Britain, Hainsworth's natural Legacy caskets — each with three sheep wool woven fabrics and the parking braking system of the 840 lb (380 kg) — have begun to separate from the market share of the market in the United Kingdom, the coffin, which usually numbers about 500,000 a year. The total domestic sales volume of 50-60 per month and Adam Hainsworth, the company's commercial Director, to be sure, an investment firm can capture 5%, the United Kingdom market in a few years and eventually achieved a market share of 15-20%. "We should be the highest-selling our products," he says. Hainsworth has also started, fully biodegradable caskets, sales in the United States and other foreign markets. (See the 10 best celebrity of them)

Wool coffins, thanks to a little substance to the idea came to the reserves of good luck. Marketing student who was interning, as Adam Hainsworth detected that the Parliament — 1667, the desire to establish the textile industry — require all corpses buried passed woolen shroud. A good idea, the idea, even if clearly Hainsworth for this day and age would be something like tukevammista. So, with the assistance of the Director of the funeral, he knew, he built the prototype casket — with a bulked-up Recycled paperboard — and took the biggest JC Atkinson, a manufacturer and distributor United Kingdom coffins. The company liked the idea and agreed to help Shepherd the development of, and distributed. Six months later, in June 2009, trade fairs, Hainsworth took the wraps off the woolly coffin.

The outer coffin is 100% British wool, jute handles attached to six; the Interior is lined with cotton. For each of the coffin is also embroidered woolen adjusted. Keep all of the colours, natural, not used, so only two coffins: white or brown color. "The beauty of them; they are soft and comfortable, "Hainsworth said. But how is the biologically Active? According to one local farmer collects Hainsworth Woollen Mill waste to fertilize his Rhubarb fields. "Rot-proof down pretty well," Hainsworth said. (See the photo essay "photography Fallen still.")

Certainly, the timing is good, such as the green of the UK is growing rapidly in popularity. The natural death Center in the South of England is based on the Winchester says, the Government of the teaching of natural burial has grown 54 260/10 years to about 20 a year pace. And all of the sites of their burial in the annual report is growing 30% per year. Rosie the inma-Cook, Director of the Centre ", which is feeding the demand for eco-coffins," says. Other green caskets is usually made of cardboard, is, and even macaroni, but also the Tim Mahony Mahony, Leeds, and Ward funeral home owner says wool coffins "has become the accepted much faster than some other types of green. They look for what the people want to fit the Bill. " Even if they would have to pay extra for it. Hainsworth coffins range: $ 960 woolen $ 1,290, slightly more than the average cost of $ 800 standard wooden coffin in Great Britain to end users.

See how popular caskets are at home, knitting together with Hainsworth has begun, a group of overseas distributors and now sells coffins in Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia. The company also recently set up by the US distribution arm, which has so far sold about 100 caskets. It does not have many of the country that sees the grave of 2,5 million per year. But coffins costing around 2 000 EUR on average for us — more than $ 10, 000 towards the bronze and copper versions — Hainsworth caskets are relatively cheaper. And the demand of environmentally friendly children and mobile phones is launched in the u.s., the faster the Joe Sehee, Executive Director of the New Mexico green burial Council, citing studies that show that older Americans, for the purposes of paragraph 1 to 5 of the Green send-off says. And Hainsworth is confident that the strong word of mouth from satisfied customers has also help to open the US market fluffy creations.

Indeed, the company has received a number of the user experience of the members of the family woolen coffins of praise. "Some of them are real tearjerkers" Hainsworth said. "It is such as to the rights of the people." Funeral Director Mahony says that his experience in the comforting woolly coffins even affects the bereaved. "They give the users the nice feeling," he says. "It's like wrapping a loved one warm blanket order."

See "Aquamation: an ecologically sustainable alternative fuels in the funeral business?"

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The Motorola Spice Offers Something Different

The Motorola Spice Offers Something Different: "The Motorola Spice is a soon to be released handset that offers simplistic text capabilities, coupled with touch screen functionality. In addition it offers web access, and a variety of useful entertainment features to engage its user. The unit measures 97 mm x 61 mm wide and is 16 mm thick whilst weighing 145 g in weight. It is expected to be rele"