Cheap bathroom renovations that help sell a home

By Tom Kraeutler | The Money Pit – Wed, Jun 5, 2013 7:03 PM EDT

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  Yahoo! Homes/Thinkstock - Painting walls with a neutral shade or even a pale, soothing blue or green will contribute to the perceived scale and serenity of the space.

MORE AT Money Pit

• » Easy bathroom remodeling ideas
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A few cheap bathroom renovations can actually help you sell your home.  When potential buyers stroll through a home, they're looking for the features and amenities that best match their lifestyle. Every choice you've made impacts a buyer's interest, and you can get closer to the reality of a sale with a simple, one-step bath renovation.

"Bathrooms are one area where home buyers make decisions because it will be one of the most used rooms in the house," says industry expert Nora DePalma of O'Reilly/DePalma. "Make them look bright, absolutely spotless, and loaded with storage options. Your home will sell faster and at a better price."

These bathroom renovations are low-cost, where a little DIY savvy can go a long way toward making your home appeal to a wide range of shoppers. Here are five cheap ways to transform a bath without breaking your pre-sale budget.

1. Introduce a neutral palette: When you're showing a home for sale, one of the main priorities is to present a neutral but appealing space in which potential buyers can envision their own day-to-day lives. So even if you love bold color or a wallpaper print in your bathroom, tone it down for the sake of the sale. Painting walls with a neutral shade or even a pale, soothing blue or green will contribute to the perceived scale and serenity of the space. Freshen the entry door, cabinetry and trim with a crisp white for a clean look and renewed focus on the room's built-in details.

[Planning to renovate your bathroom? Click to find the right contractor now.]

2. Use your WaterSense: If your toilet is more than 15 years old, upgrade in both performance and water efficiency by installing WaterSense-labeled fixtures. Switching in a new water-saving faucet allows you to re-accessorize the room, and reduce water flow by at least 30 percent without a downgrade in performance. Smarter showerheads provide spa-style amenities while using under 2.0 gallons of water per minute. And high-efficiency toilets (HETs) are now the norm in up-to-date, resource-conscious homes, saving the owner over 4,000 gallons of water per year.  "Save money in many areas that provide rebates for high-efficiency plumbing products," says Jeannette Long of American Standard, which hosts a rebate locator.

If you make any or all of these green upgrades to your bath, highlight them in home listings and open house collateral so that shoppers know they're looking at lower utility bills as well as new fixtures.

3. Let there be (better) light: Illuminate the best features of a bathroom and add convenience by amping up the lighting scheme. Just replacing a few fixtures with energy efficient, eye-catching styles, you'll transform the space and reduce energy bills. When choosing bathroom lighting, focus on fixtures that provide task lighting at the vanity and over the shower or tub, overhead lighting for general illumination, and accent lighting to define architectural features. Also make the most of any opportunities for natural lighting: Skylights and glass-block windows will let the sunshine in but still provide privacy.

Improve ventilation with ultra-quiet, energy-efficient fans. Homebuyers will appreciate …4. Improve ventilation: Prevent moisture buildup and the mold, mildew and finish damage that tend to follow by upgrading your bathroom's ventilation. Depending on the current state of the ventilation system, this project can range from the DIY ease of installing a few components to all-new venting and electrical connections. Whatever the case, adequate ventilation is critical to air quality, structural integrity and overall comfort of a bathroom, and buyers will appreciate this important update.

The ventilation specialists at Broan-NuTone have solutions for any system redo, all with sleek looks, quiet fan operation and optimum efficiency. "We make an upgrade kit for builder-grade-model fans, which will actually quiet the fan down by about 50 percent and increase the performance of it by 20 percent," says Karen Collins of Broan-NuTone. "The kit also includes a new grille, and you can make these changes in under five minutes."
[Click to find the right contractor for your bathroom renovations now.]

If you're in the market for a complete unit replacement, check out Broan-NuTone's selection of super-quiet, Energy Star-qualified ventilation fans. They cost less than a dollar a year in energy to run, and are available with integrated lighting as well as humidity sensors that save you the trouble of switching the fan on when it's needed and off when it's not.

Lumber Liquidators' Tranquility resilient vinyl flooring in 2mm Kane County oak is 99 cents a square foot.5. Replace flooring: Transform a bath from the ground up by installing a new floor. The small footprint of most bathrooms makes this an affordable improvement, and new flooring options combine moisture resistance with the look of favorite finishes. Lumber Liquidators' line of Tranquility resilient flooring offers a great range of natural wood looks and textures made from a water-resistant, easy-to-clean vinyl material. In a peel-and-stick plank format, it's simple to install over existing flooring and backed by a 25-year warranty. Tranquility flooring is also a sustainable choice for your bathroom upgrade, as it's produced with recycled raw material.

If you're updating a powder room, other flooring options like natural hardwood are possibilities. But for a full bath, stick with materials that will stand up to everyday use and humidity. "Anywhere you have a full shower or tub, you want to avoid a wood, a bamboo or even a laminate, simply because of the moisture," advises Lumber Liquidators' John Jakob.

You don't have to spend a fortune. Take on a few cheap bathroom renovations that will deliver the greatest return on your investment, and sell your home faster.

Source(http://homes.yahoo.com/news/cheap-bathroom-renovations-that-help-sell-a-home-230350199.html)

10 ways to breathe life into old cabinets

Freshome – Fri, May 17, 2013 5:22 PM EDT

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  Freshome - Fresh paint and stylish handles dress up even simple cabinets.

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Cabinets can be one of the most expensive components of your home. Whether you are choosing kitchen or bathroom cabinets, sprucing up old cabinets will save money and give your home a face lift. When cabinets are updated, they can improve the value of your home and appeal to future home buyers. Even if you aren't moving, you'll want to spend more time in your kitchen and bathroom once you have fresh, updated cabinets.  Here are 10 ways to breathe life into old cabinets and update your home at the same time!

1. Paint cabinets: Consider painting old cabinets with a fresh coat of paint in a quality semi- or high-gloss paint. Make sure cabinets are sanded free of the old finish/stain. For the best results, seek advice of a home improvement store or a cabinetry maker for your specific type of cabinet.

[Need help with your home renovation? Click to find the right contractor now.]

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Modern metals in minimalistic shapes help update cabinets.2. Change/add door hardware: Without changing the physical door, cabinet hardware pulls and knobs can give your cabinetry a new look and provide functionality. Choose modern metals such as brushed chrome, nickel, copper or stainless steel hardware. Styles range from minimalistic, thin door pulls to more intricate and curvy oblong knobs.

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Cabinet detailing adds grandeur.3. Add crown molding: If your kitchen cabinets are in good condition but just need an upscale look, add wood details like crown molding and dentils. Wood cabinet detailing adds height and grandeur to your kitchen. To match stains of new woodwork to existing cabinets, stain all components at the same time.

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4. Add glass doors: To give cabinets country charm, replace solid doors with glass pane doors. If you decide to add glass, consider putting decorative dishes or display items in these cabinets. Add under-cabinet lights inside cabinets for added visual interest in the evening.

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Structurally sound cabinets just need refacing.5. Reface cabinets: Cabinetry that is outdated but still has good structural integrity is perfect for refacing. Refacing involves changing out the old doors and drawer fronts and replacing with new ones. For a stain color change, a wood grained image material is adhered to the current boxes – leaving your cabinets look brand-new.
[Thinking about refacing your cabinets? Click to find the right contractor now.]

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6. Remove doors entirely: Partially open shelving and cabinetry is for those who like to have dishware on display. Kitchens can add a decorative touch by using open shelving display to brighten their kitchen and walls. Consider painting the inside of the cabinets to give dishes a beautiful backdrop.

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7. Under/over cabinet lighting brightens the kitchen: Updating your old cabinetry can also mean improving its functionality. Consider breathing new life into your cabinets with over and under cabinet lighting. Lighting can add ambiance and under cabinet lighting doubles for ambiance and task lighting.

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What you put inside your cabinets matters, too.8. Add amenities to existing cabinets: For cabinets that still look good, consider adding amenities such as plate racks, wine storage, and display shelves to update your current look. Visit a cabinet manufacturer showroom or look online for inspiration and ideas.

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9. Add cabinetry paneling to your appliances: Once your cabinetry has been aesthetically improved, opt for appliances with matching cabinetry paneling. This is a good option for those who reface cabinets with door fronts and drawer pulls. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and heated/cooling drawers have varieties with customizable paneling for an integrated appeal.
[Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? Click to find the right contractor now.]

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10. Extend cabinetry into adjacent rooms: If you are lacking in storage, upgrading to new cabinets in an adjacent living or dining room area may solve your problem. Consider hiring a cabinet maker to assess your space and your budget. For some, the expense of adding three or four new cabinets is much less than replacing all old cabinets.








Source(http://homes.yahoo.com/news/10-ways-to-breathe-life-into-old-cabinetry-212237624.html)

The 10 Most Valuable Brands in the World

By Laura Stampler | Business Insider – 5 hours ago

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  Reuters - Men are silhouetted against a video screen with an Apple logo as they pose with an Apple iPhone 4 smartphone in this photo illustration taken in the central Bosnian town of Zenica, May 17, 2013. REUTERS/Dado …more 

In spite of struggling stock prices and loud public uncertainty over Tim Cook's innovative capabilities, Apple is once again the most valuable brand in the world, for the year 2013.

Every year, BrandZ and Millward Brown Optimor calculate and rank brands based on their global value. And even though Apple's growth rate decreased by 95%, the tech giant's brand value still increased by 1% from 2012 to a a whopping $185 billion.

Millward Brown VP Oscar Yuan told Business Insider that this is because the company ranks brands based not only on publicly available financial information, but "the second half, which is the unique part, is that we take in the consumer sentiment." Millward Brown polls more than 200 million consumers from 43 countries annually. In spite of everything, "Apple, in the eyes of consumers, is the gold standard."

The brands that really won this year were those tied to emerging mobile capabilities — be it AT&T for servicing tablets and smartphones or Visa for dominating online payment methods.

1. Apple

REUTERS/Mike SegarBrand Value: $185 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: 1%

What Happened: In spite of harsh Wall Street analysis and media speculation regarding Tim Cook's leadership capabilities, Apple continues to be a strong brand in the eyes of consumers — a major value measurement for Millward Brown. "Despite what the press says and stock market says," Yuan noted, "Apple in the eyes of the consumers is the gold standard."

In the last eight years, Apple's value has increased 1,045% — only topped by Subway's meteoric 5,145% rise. (Although Subway still hasn't broken the top 20.)


2. Google

REUTERS/Mike BlakeBrand Value: $113.7 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: 5%

What Happened: Google has effectively taught consumers that it is more than just a search-based company. With maps, mail, shopping, and more, Google is integrated into everyone's lives. The company also made recent headlines about its new contribution to the hardware world in the form of Google Glass. "It will be interesting to see how Google Glass will contribute  to the brand value, but now it's too soon to tell," Yuan said.


3. IBM

REUTERS/Tobias SchwarzBrand Value: $112.5 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: -3%

What Happened: At $112.5 billion, IBM's three percent value decrease is not a substantial figure. IBM is known as a company that consistently delivers year after year, Yuan told BI. And it is particularly hailed in the B2B sphere.

Yuan also noted that its Ogilvy-made "Smarter Planet" campaign, in which the company explained its plans to help clients innovate and make the world a better place, inspired consumers to believe in the brand.


4. McDonald's

AP Photo/Ng Han GuanBrand Value: $90.3 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: -5%

What Happened: Yuan noted that one of McDonald's gifts was the ability to listen to consumers' sentiments and adapt, particularly to growing health concerns. "It has come out with a much healthier menu with apple slices, oatmeal, and a Chicken McWrap which has done well," he said.

McDonald's is also gaining a stronghold in the coffee space, which should be an interesting new endeavor to follow.


5. Coca-Cola

REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueBrand Value: $78.4
Percent Change v. 2012: 6%

What Happened: "What's consistently impressive about Coca-Cola is its ability to innovate," Yuan said. "People think that soda consumption is declining, but Coke is turning the business on its head." For example, this year Coca-Cola released a series of freestyle machines which allows consumers and retailers to mix their own flavors of the soda syrup to make their own individual Coca-Cola. The company is constantly innovating and staying fresh.


6. AT&T

REUTERS/Mike BlakeBrand Value: $75.5 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: 10%

What Happened: AT&T is another company to gain value due to the increasing U.S. consumption of mobile products. For a long time, the service provider had an exclusive deal with the iPhone, so it became synonymous with the new technology. What's really interesting, however, is that even when Apple opened the iPhone up to Samsung and T-Mobile, AT&T's value didn't go down.


7. Microsoft

REUTERS/Bogdan CristelBrand Value: $69.8 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: -9%

What Happened: As a $70 billion brand, Microsoft is in great shape even in spite of a 9% value decrease. Microsoft is a powerhouse and has a reputation as one of the strongest tech brands in the business. But, Yuan notes, "with consumers, there's confusion as to where Microsoft fits." The company's fortune is largely tied with the PC business, but it has emerged on the mobile scene with the Surface and other devices. The company went through a major rebranding in the summer of 2012 to stay relevant.


8. Marlboro

Gilles Mingasson/Getty ImagesBrand Value: $69.4 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: -6%

What Happened: Marlboro is a top 10 regular, which goes to show that even though smoking is restricted in the U.S. doesn't mean that the rest of the world has laid off the habit. "Marlboro has consistently invested in the brand ever since its inception," Yuan said. "The rugged cowboy is very strong and consistent globally."

To put it another way, "about 25% of world's population are smokers, and they use it 5 to 10 times a day. I don't drink 10 bottles of water a day." That's getting your brand out there.


9. Visa

AP Photo/Patrick SemanskyBrand Value: $56 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: 46%

What Happened: A key way to bolster global presence is to sponsor the Olympics. But that's not the only thing that upped Visa's brand value so drastically. As one of the most trusted names in non-cash payments, Visa has gained clout in the world of online shopping and mobile payments.



10. China Mobile

REUTERS/Carlos BarriaBrand Value: $55.4 billion
Percent Change v. 2012: 18%

What Happened: China Mobile is the largest mobile carrier and brand in China, so it's a no-brainer that it's one of the most valuable brands in the world. "There are more mobile phone subscribers in China than in the U.S.," Yuan said.



Click here for the full list.

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Source( http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-10-most-valuable-brands-in-the-world-161307417.html)

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray arrives with edges sharpened

By Justin Hyde | Motoramic – 14 hours ago

In a rational world, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray wouldn’t exist. The very idea of launching a two-seat sports car named after a World War II ship powered by a truck-sized V-8 goes against every trend line on every chart in every automaker’s boardroom. Yet here it is, the seventh generation of America’s most venerated sports car, sharpened in all dimensions by racing experience toward out-hustling the best sports cars in the world. The question will be whether it can outrun history.
After 60 years of production, General Motors could have found ample reasons for waving the checkered flag at the Vette. Thanks to GM’s bankruptcy, the Vette has soldiered on longer than it should have without a major update; GM sold 14,132 last year, well off the 30,000 a year it sustained for much of the past decade. New U.S. fuel economy rules hit sports cars head-on, demanding the same measure of efficiency improvements in hot rods as in compact family sedans.
Slideshow: 60 Years of Corvette HistoryMore importantly, the Corvette has lost much of its cultural currency from the heyday of NASA astronauts drag-racing their free Corvettes on the beach, falling into the tar pit of an old man’s car competing for young people’s attention. From “Transformers” to the “Fast and Furious” movies, Hollywood prefers the new Chevy Camaro and those Vettes the astronauts drove. A survey from the popular Forza racing video game of the most-driven models found the modern Vette didn’t crack the top 40. And while you can still buy Barbie her classic pink Vette, it’s a far less popular choice than sending her off with Ken in a Mini Cooper.
On first view, the makeover wrought by Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter and team appears evolutionary. Yet every piece of the car has either been re-engineered or updated, from the new all-aluminum frame to the sharper, “shrink-wrapped” exterior to the 6.2-liter, 450-hp, 450 lb.-ft. V-8. That engine can now be paired to an optional Tremec 7-speed manual, a GM first, that will automatically match the engine’s RPMs to the anticipated gear in all shifts.
The biggest improvements come from applying modern electronic controls throughout the car for the first time. The Corvette will have five driving modes that alter 12 different systems, from the optional electronic limited-slip differential that’s part of the Z51 track package to launch control. In “eco” mode, the all-new V-8 will shut off four cylinders for maximum fuel economy, while in “track” mode, Chevy engineers say the new Vette will pull more than 1 g of cornering force and run to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. (Chevy vows to release exact figures, including prices, closer to the car's launch this fall.)
The interior, long the weakest part of the car, has been renovated to modern sports car standards. In place of Barbie-quality plastic, the dash comes wrapped in leather and carbon fiber; the heated and cooled seats have bolstering built for track use. The Vette also finally gets the requisite HD LED screens for the center console, but Chevy wisely keeps separate radio and air control switches instead of touch screen controls.
Much of the Vette’s improvements began as lessons learned from the Le Mans-winning Vette C6.R endurance racing team, such as the new fender intakes by the rear window that cool the transmission and differential. Purists have already begun to exclaim over the loss of the Vette’s trademark round taillights; the new squarish units take that shape because their frames double as a cooling vents.
While Corvette enthusiasts often dream of more radical changes, the Corvette engineering team has six decades of experience arguing against such moves. Moving to a smaller V-8 or turbocharged V-6 as in the Nissan GT-R would have added more weight while doing little for fuel economy; Chevy expects the new model to easily surpass the previous generation’s 26 mpg highway rating. A mid-engine super Vette would lose the sizable hatchback space that makes it more livable as an everyday car or grand tourer than a Porsche 911. And the unique suspension, with its transverse leaf spring rear axle, sacrifices little on the track while weighing less than the alternatives.
Some compromises were inevitable. Even with a new carbon-fiber roof and hood, and a frame that’s 99 lbs. lighter, the new Vette will weigh about as much as the old one, due to added pounds from the engine, interior bits and crash safety — although it keeps its perfect 50/50 front-rear weight balance and sports a lower center of gravity. The new 7-speed manual will still have a skip shift that forces higher gears for better city mileage, and a revised six-speed automatic remains standard.
But the greatest challenge for the new Stingray won't come from rivals like the new SRT Viper, the GT-R or the 911. As Zora Arkus-Duntov, the famed "father of the Corvette" wrote in 1954: "If the value of a car consists of practical values and emotional appeal, the sports car has very little of the first and consequently has to have an exaggerated amount of the second." The engineers behind the new Vette hope the revival of the Stingray name for the first time in 37 years along with years of knowledge gained from racing will spark that emotional connection with a new generation. The most apt answer for why the 2014 Corvette exists may be an Internet meme: Because racecar.
Top photo: Jim Fets

Source(http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-arrives-edges-sharpened-235611949.html)

The 10 best – and free – apps for iPad

By Marc Saltzman | Digital Crave – Fri, Jun 8, 2012 2:09 PM EDT

It's the hottest tech toy of the year, thus far, and for good reason: Apple's latest iPad builds upon what made its predecessors so popular — an intuitive touchscreen interface, smooth integration with iTunes and 10-hour battery — but have added a high-resolution "Retina" display, better cameras and faster graphics processor. Finding and downloading applications at the App Store is also a cinch compared to other tablets, and with nearly 800,000 to choose from -- including support for apps designed for iPhone and iPod touch. In fact, not only are apps relatively affordable -- only a buck or two apiece, for the most part -- but many tens of thousands of them are completely free to use, as well. If you're looking to fill up your iPad with awesome apps that won't cost you a dime, consider these following suggestions -- ranging from the über popular to the obscure, but all worthy of your attention.

Skype for iPad Ok, so this one might not be much of a shocker. iPad 2 and new iPad owners can video chat for free with friends and family anywhere in the world — as long as they're using a Skype-enabled device, too, such as a tablet, smartphone, computer or television. Using a Wi-Fi network or cellular connectivity (if the tablet has it), you can see who you're talking to and they can see you, plus you can tap to change to the rear-facing camera for them to see what you're looking at (such as a home renovation, as you walk around the home). Another great video calling app for iPad is Apple's own FaceTime, which works over Wi-Fi but not cellular connectivity.

Planetary Music lovers, listen up. The free Planetary is a beautiful way to explore and listen to the music stored on your tablet. As the name suggests, Bloom Studio's app delivers a 3-D rendering of space -- but the stars are the artists in your music collection, the planets that rotate around them are the albums and the moons that rotate around the planets are your songs. As you listen to your tunes, the camera slowly pans around the beautifully animated celestial scene. Not only does it look great on the iPad's 9.7-inch screen, but you also can connect the tablet to a big-screen TV (via an optional HDMI adapter) to wow your friends during a house party.

Netflix Are you a Netflix subscriber? The free app for iPad gives you access to many thousands of movies and TV shows. Look for something to watch in the search window or peruse the lists divided into New Arrivals, Genres or Recently Watched (with how many minutes you're at for each movie or TV show). You can read a synopsis of each piece of content before watching as well as Netflix user ratings for each one (and you can vote, too). While the app is free, a $7.99/month Netflix subscription is required. Other great video streaming apps include HBO GO, Hulu Plus and Crackle.

Flipboard A must-have iPad app is the free Flipboard, dubbed your "personalized, social magazine." Flipboard fuses updates from your friend's Facebook and Twitter profiles, including text and photos, as well as folds in your favorite feeds from blogs and websites -- then you can flip through it all like a glossy, colorful magazine (with video, too). Like something you read or saw? Share it with your social network with a tap (or send it via email). With its slick user-interface, image-heavy design and crisp text, Flipboard is indeed your own personalized digital magazine that's constantly refreshed with the latest content.

Draw Something Free This is the hottest game since Angry Birds: OMGPOP's Draw Something Free is like a digital, online version of Pictionary. You're presented with three words and you must choose one to draw — such as "tweezers," "giraffe" or "Lady Gaga" -- and you'll use your finger to draw it on the screen to the best of your ability. When you're done, tap Send, and the person you're playing with over the Internet must guess what you've drawn — and vice-versa. You can play against friends (search by email or username) or against a random person — the more. It's insanely addictive.

Find My iPhone Despite the name of this app, this free tool works with iPads, iPod touches and even Macs, too. If your tablet is lost or stolen, you can remotely see where it is on a map when you sign into iCloud.com or when using the Find My iPhone app on another iOS device. Note: if your phone was stolen it's recommended to give this info to authorities rather than you trying to retrieve it yourself. Apple's Find My iPhone app also lets you make the iPad ring loudly (if, say, left under the couch cushions), display a message on the screen (such as "Please call me: 212-555-1212") or remotely lock or even wipe the iPad, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. You need to download the app and sign in with your iTunes IS and password ahead of time -- so be sure to do that before it's too late.

TuneIn Radio Music lovers can access more than 50,000 radio stations from around the world (and online stations) with the free TuneIn Radio app for iPad. Whether you want to tune into a jazz station from New Orleans, reggae from Kingston or an Internet-based dance music station, you can listen as much as you like. Search for music by country or genre, plus there are thousands of stations featuring news, talk, comedy, sports and old time radio dramas. A $1 "Pro" version of TuneIn Radio lets you record audio to listen to at a later time, plus a timer you can set like digital video recorder.

Evernote Whether you need a more effective way to stay organized or simply want to jot down ideas wherever life takes you, a free app like Evernote is a great tool for iPad users. This app lets you create, view, organize, search and share your ideas — sort of like a digital version of yellow sticky notes, if you will -- but also with the option to include voice notes, photos and videos, too, if desired. An auto-sync "cloud" feature means your notes are automatically saved and accessible on other Evernote platforms, such as the web, personal computer or other mobile devices.

iBooks Apple's free iBooks app is an excellent electronic book (e-book) reading application for bookworms. You can preview and purchase books right from within the app -- and the book covers show up on a virtual bookshelf, ready for reading. When you tap to read the book, you can adjust the font size and type and page color, before "flipping" though the pages with your fingertip. Not sure what a word means? Double-tap it and select "Dictionary" for an instant definition. If you love your Kindle, Nook or Kobo, you can also download free apps to read on your tablet, too.

CNN Other news networks can learn from CNN on how to create such as rich, informative and easy to use app for news junkies. iPad users can swipe through all the top headlines, watch countless videos (including live streams of breaking news) and read in-depth interviews ripped from today's headlines.
Save your favorite stories for offline viewing, comment on articles or video features and engage in conversions with other app readers, and share your favorite stories on Facebook, Twitter or via email. If you prefer other TV networks or national newspapers (such as USA Today), chances are they, too, have a free tablet app to download.

Source(http://shopping.yahoo.com/blogs/digital-crave/10-best-free-apps-ipad-180925883.html)

Is texting ruining the art of conversation?

By Martha Irvine, AP National Writer | Associated Press – Mon, Jun 4, 2012 8:50 AM EDT

Related Content

• View Photo
  In this Thursday, May 24, 2012 photo, Anna Schiferl, foreground, texts her mother, Joanna, as they pose for a photograph in their LaGrange, Ill. home. Statistics from the Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, these days, many people with cell phones prefer texting over a phone call. It’s not always young people, though the data indicates that the younger you are, the more likely you are to prefer texting. But many experts say the most successful communicators will, of course, have the ability to do both talk or text, and know the most appropriate times to use those skills. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) -- Anna Schiferl hadn't even rolled out of bed when she reached for her cell phone and typed a text to her mom, one recent Saturday. Mom was right downstairs in the kitchen. The text? Anna wanted cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
Soon after, the 13-year-old could hear mom's voice echoing through the house.
"Anna," Joanna Schiferl called, "if you want to talk to me, you come downstairs and see me!"
Anna laughs about it now. "I was kind of being lazy," the teen from suburban Chicago concedes. "I know that sounds horrible."
Well, maybe not horrible, but certainly increasingly typical.
Statistics from the Pew Internet & American Life Project show that, these days, many people with cell phones prefer texting over a phone call. It's not always young people, though the data indicate that the younger you are, the more likely you are to prefer texting.
And that's creating a communication divide, of sorts — the talkers vs. the texters.
Some would argue that it's no big deal. What difference should it make how we communicate, as long as we do so?
But many experts say the most successful communicators will, of course, have the ability to do both, talk or text, and know the most appropriate times to use those skills. And they fear that more of us are losing our ability to have — or at least are avoiding — the traditional face-to-face conversations that are vital in the workplace and personal relationships.
"It is an art that's becoming as valuable as good writing," says Janet Sternberg, a professor of communication and media studies at Fordham University in New York who is also a linguist.
In the most extreme cases, she's noticed that more students don't look her in the eye and have trouble with the basics of direct conversation — habits that, she says, will not serve them well as they enter a world where many of their elders still expect an in-person conversation, or at the very least a phone call.
On today's college campuses, the dynamic is often different. Forget about things like "office hours," for instance. Many professors say they rarely see students outside of class.
"I sit in my office hours lonely now because if students have a question, they email, often late at night," says Renee Houston, an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Puget Sound in Washington state.
"And they never call, ever."
She recalls overhearing students chuckling about the way people older than them communicate.
"My parents left me a VOICEMAIL. Can you believe it?" one said, as if voicemail had gone the way of the dinosaurs.
This doesn't sound surprising or particularly troublesome to Lisa Auster-Gussman, who'll be a senior this fall at the University of Richmond in Virginia. For her, there are simply particular tools she uses to communicate, depending on the recipient.
Email is for professors, yes. Phone calls and maybe the occasional text are for parents, if the parents know how to do the latter.
"But I don't communicate much with older people. So much of my life is set up over text," says Auster-Gussman, who sends and receives an average of about 6,000 text messages a month.
Many are done as "group texts," sharing messages among eight college friends who live in the same building. The interactions are nothing more than you'd say in a casual conversation, Auster-Gussman says — but they are constant when they're not together.
Recently, for instance, she went to a movie and came out to find 50 text messages waiting for her on her phone.
Meanwhile, last summer, when she was away from her boyfriend, she went days without talking to him on the phone, but texted with him several times a day.
"You're not even really talking to him," she remembers her perplexed father saying.
"But I felt like I was talking to him all day, every day," Auster-Gussman says.
Is there some aversion to talking on the phone? Not really, she says. It's just a preference. In this day and age, it's just what you do.
As Anna, the 13-year-old in suburban Chicago, sees it: "There are people you'll text, but won't call. It's just awkward that way.
"It's not about anything important — just a way to stay in touch with each other."
She and her closest friends also send each other videos of themselves and their surroundings — maybe of their dogs or something new in their bedroom. "People would probably say, like, 'Why don't you just call them?'" Anna says.
Experts say there is, of course, nothing wrong with casual conversation and fun between friends. One could argue that the constant banter — scores of texts each day — keep people more connected. The problem, some communication experts say, is that the conversation isn't particularly deep — and therein lies the problem, says Joseph Grenny, co-author of the book "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High."
"The core problem has existed since we've had telephones — probably since the time of a telegraph," Grenny says. "We loathe having crucial conversations. We are paralyzed and do what we can to avoid them."
That applies to any generation, he says. Texting is just the latest way to do that.
Though they may not always be so good at deep conversations themselves, Grenny suggests that parents model the behavior for their children and put down their own mobile devices. He says they also should set limits, as Anna's mom did when she enforced the "no texting to people under the same roof" rule.
A bit of self-awareness helps, too.
Mary Ann Allison, an assistant professor of media studies at Hofstra University, has her students keep a log of their own communication habits.
"By paying attention to it, they say, 'Wow, it's a really different conversation when you're talking with someone and listening to them," Allison says. They key in on body language, facial expressions and tone of voice — all cues that you lose when you can't see or hear someone, or when you're distracted, even in person, by a gadget.
Sternberg, at Fordham, asks her students to give up one form of electronic communication to see what kind of difference it makes in their lives.
She also has them practice simple tasks such as standing up in a room full of people and introducing themselves. Many of them hate the drill, she says, but later tell her how useful it was, especially in the workplace.
Interestingly, Anna's mom, Joanna Schiferl, is more worried about the effect that texting is having on her daughter's writing skills than her social skills. Anna tends to rush her writing and pays less attention to grammar, or uses abbreviations she'd use in a text. It is a common observation among parents.
So the key, experts say, is to recognize your weak point and work on developing a wide range of communication skills.
"People with a more flexible style, whether they're communicators in person or through technology, will have an easier time adapting," Houston says — and will help bridge the communication gap, generational or otherwise.
That's not always easy in a world where modes of communication are ever-evolving — though young people often adapt with ease.
Houston notes, for instance, that her 13-year-old son is now doing homework with friends via Skype.
And that seems to be a trend. A recent Pew survey found that online video chat is catching on with teens, especially girls. The survey found that 37 percent of Internet users, ages 12 to 17, reported using such applications as Skype, Googletalk or iChat.
Of course, other forms of social networking are still enticing, as Anna's mom discovered one recent evening when she noticed that her daughter was on Facebook when she was supposed to be doing homework.
What did mom do? She broke her own rule.
"I texted her from downstairs," mom says, chuckling, "just to bust her."
___
Martha Irvine is a national writer for The Associated Press. She can be reached at mirvine(at)ap.org or via http://twitter.com/irvineap

Source( http://finance.yahoo.com/news/texting-ruining-art-conversation-125038901.html)

WOW! Facebook Is Now Worth More Than These 10 Huge Companies

By Matt Lynley | Business Insider – 15 hours ago

Companies:

• Facebook, Inc.

RELATED QUOTES

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Facebook is finally going public.
It'll be worth about $104 billion when it debuts at $38 a share, and there's guaranteed to be a pop once it starts trading.
That means that the total value of Facebook, an eight-year-old company, is more than some of the largest, most successful companies in the world that have been around for decades.
Even some of the top tech companies that have been on top of Silicon Valley for decades have fallen behind the Web 2.0 wunderkind.
Here are some of the most interesting ones:

• Hewlett-Packard, one of the largest PC makers in the world, is smaller than Facebook. It's worth $44 billion — less than half of Facebook's titanic $105 billion valuation. HP also just laid off about 25,000 employees. 

• Facebook is four times larger than Dell, another super-giant PC and server maker. Dell has a market cap of about $26 billion. It's still trying to find its way in the post-PC era.

• It's bigger than Salesforce.com, a company that is more or less partially responsible for the cloud computing revolution. Salesforce is only worth around $20 billion — and its interns end up as high-ranking officials from time to time.

• Starbucks, the coffee chain that literally appears twice on every corner. Starbucks is worth about $40 billion — less than half of Facebook. We hear plenty of horror stories about Starbucks.

• The New York Times, one of the most prestigious content publishers in the world, is a blip compared to Facebook. Sharing is apparently worth 105 times more than some of the best content available on the Internet. The New York Times is worth slightly less than $1 billion. A bunch of New York Times staffers are actually planning to quit.

• Target, a huge big-box retailer similar to a higher-end version of Walmart, is worth less than half of Facebook. Target has a market cap of about $37 billion — well short of Facebook's expected valuation. Target actually raised its guidance this week, raising its value.

• Facebook barely edges out Amazon, the largest online retailer in the world. Amazon is worth about $100 billion, while Facebook is worth just a smidge more. Amazon's Kindle has been a bit of a bust so far.

• Disney is worth about four-fifths of what Facebook is worth. The owner of ESPN and a ton of other properties is worth about $80 billion. Disney could soon be replaced by Rovio as one of the biggest media properties in the world.

• Facebook is worth twice as much as eBay. eBay has a market cap of about $50 billion.

• Facebook is worth about 10 Nokias put together. Nokia, one of the largest phone manufacturers in the world (not smartphone), is worth about $10 billion. The Nokia Lumia 900 is actually pretty nice, though.

Not much of a surprise, though. Facebook is making a world-changing piece of technology, and it also happens to pay its engineers better than most other companies in Silicon Valley — so it attracts the best talent.
But Facebook still isn't bigger than the typical tech giants: Google, Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft is worth about $250 billion, while Google is worth $204 billion and Apple is worth about $500 billion.


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Source( http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-huge-companies-facebook-now-210700763.html)

8 cool things you can do with your game console

You obviously bought your game console to play games, but these days, you can do more with an Xbox 360 or PS3 than rampage through Modern Warfare 3 maps. A lot more.

Thanks to a number of awesome updates, both the 360 and PS3 are now viable all-in-one entertainment hubs, offering a wealth of features and services that make conventional cable boxes and media players seem ridiculously one-dimensional. Here are a handful of non-gaming uses for your game console:
Watch TV shows and films
Want to watch the latest episodes of The Office or check out what all the fuss was about Lost?  Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 let you stream TV shows and movies from services like Hulu and Netflix (the 360 just got HBO Go as well). It's not free -- you'll need to already have active monthly subscriptions, plus you'll need a subscription to Xbox Live if you have the 360 -- but it's a relatively affordable way to watch what you want, when you want.  The PS3 also has an exclusive deal with Amazon to rent and download certain movies and television shows if you have a Prime account.
Be a sports nut
Sports fans no longer have to just play Madden or MLB to get their fix on their game system. Direct TV's Sunday Ticket is now available on your PS3, streaming nearly every football game during the regular season.  Similar deals are in place for diehard hockey and baseball fans, though the 360 has gone one better for fans of mixed martial arts by offering a UFC channel that gives them access to tons of material. You can even order pay-per view bouts through the console if you don't have a cable box.
Run your home's media
Have a hard drive full of movies and music but no way to get it from your computer in the bedroom to the television in your living room?  The Xbox 360 and PS3 both solve this problem by letting you stream media over your network from your computer to your console. Here's a basic guide for setting it up on the 360, and another for setting it up on the PS3. Relatively painless, and a great way to access content on the big screen.
Auto-blog
If you've been wanting to give your friends daily updates on your latest Xbox adventures but don't have the time because, well, you're too busy playing games, 360 Voice is a must. Simply sign up using your Gamertag and it will create an "automatic blog for your console," posting in eerily accurate detail about your latest gaming exploits. Note: it gets mad if you don't play very often, so be wary.
Network socially

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 keep track of what your gaming friends are doing while they're on their consoles, but if you want to do some real social networking, you'll need to check Facebook and Twitter. Luckily, both consoles also include social networking apps that will let you send in-the-moment updates without having to budge from the couch to track down your phone.
Fight disease
The PS3 has been used for everything from hardcore gaming to powering super computers, but a nobler cause awaits those willing to invest a few moments away from the games.  Through Folding@Home, one of four channels in the "Life with Playstation" application, you can literally help fight disease by donating a bit of your PS3 processing power. Spearheaded by Stanford University, the project, which "simulates protein folding and other molecular dynamics," utilizes a global community to study diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
Use it as a stereo
Chances are you've got your console hooked up to a nice TV and, hopefully, decent speakers. If that's the case, get rid of that bulky CD player and plug your iPod into your 360 console to blast your tunes through the system. Or if you want to go for something in the cloud, download the Last.fm app and stream away. Note: You'll need an Xbox Live Gold account to do that.
Video chat
Want to say hello to family and friends but don't have a laptop or iPad to make it happen?  If both parties happen to have an Xbox 360 with the Kinect sensor, you can have a face to face chat in the comfort of your living room.  All you need is Xbox LIVE and a Windows Messenger account.

Source( http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/8-cool-things-game-console-232954117.html)

Adastra super yacht is a one-of-a-kind aquatic marvel

A project 5 years in the making finally sails into the sunset

In the world of boating, there are yachts, super yachts, and then there's the Adastra, a massive, custom built masterpiece of engineering that looks more like a spacecraft from Star Wars than an actual vehicle. Unfortunately, a new class of marine transportation hasn't yet been coined, so for the time being the 140-foot will have to reside within the "super yacht" category, though to lump it in with any other water-faring ride does a bit of a disservice to its creators at John Shuttleworth Yacht Designs.
Adastra super yacht
The massive vessel's unique triple hull design — also known as a "trimaran" — was based on world record-breaking boats like the Ady Gil. But while previous tri-hulls were created with speed, fuel efficiency, and weight in mind, the Adastra mixes its braun with beauty. Featuring a luxurious interior, complete with dinning area, fancy sleeping spaces, and even a bathroom and shower, the brand new barge is both easy on the gas and the eyes.
Adastra super yacht
The ship features a master cabin as well as two guest cabins that will comfortably house a total of nine guests, crew quarters for up to six, and a plethora of deck space for taking in the sights.
Adastra super yacht
Designed and built over a span of five years, virtually every aspect of the Adastra's construction keeps its weight to a minimum while still being eye-catching. Its hardwood cabinetry is crafted of fine, light-weight oak with honeycomb pockets, while important hardware like the hatch and ladders are made of ultra-strong carbon fiber which are just a fraction of the weight of steel components.

Adastra super yacht

The Adastra's top speed hovers around 22 knots, giving it considerable get-up-and-go for a personal luxury yacht, while its fuel-sipping, 1,150hp Caterpillar engine allows it to travel 4,000 miles in a single trip. If you're looking to get your hands on the Adastra, you're out of luck: There's just one of these remarkable vessels in the world, and it's already spoken for.

[Image credits: John Shuttleworth Yacht Designs (Exterior styling and architecture), Orion Shuttleworth Design (Exterior styling), Applied Structural Technologies (Structural design), Jepsen Design (Interior design), McConaghy Boats (Builders)]

This article originally appeared on Tecca

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Source(http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/adastra-super-yacht-one-kind-aquatic-marvel-161218204.html"Mini Pond Yachts""Omega Yacht")