Apple unveils new 128GB iPad

Apple (AAPL) on Tuesday announced the upcoming availability of a 128GB version of its fourth-generation iPad tablet. The new slate will be identical to its predecessors in every way, but it will double the amount of available internal storage from the previous maximum of 64GB. Apple’s new full-size iPad model will be available beginning on February 5th and it will cost $799 for the Wi-Fi model or $929 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Apple’s full press release follows below.


8:40 AM
Apple (AAPL) on Tuesday announced the upcoming availability of a 128GB version of its fourth-generation iPad tablet. The new slate will be identical to its predecessors in every way, but it will double the amount of available internal storage from the previous maximum of 64GB. Apple’s new full-size iPad model will be available beginning on February 5th and it will cost $799 for the Wi-Fi model or $929 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Apple’s full press release follows below.

Apple Increases iPad with Retina Display to 128GB

Offers Twice the Storage Capacity to Create & Enjoy Even More Incredible Content

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today announced a 128GB* version of the fourth generation iPad® with Retina® display. The 128GB iPad with Wi-Fi and iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular models provide twice the storage capacity of the 64GB models to hold even more valuable content including photos, documents, projects, presentations, books, movies, TV shows, music and apps.

“Our AutoCAD WS app for iOS was designed to give customers seamless access to their designs anywhere, anytime”

“With more than 120 million iPads sold, it’s clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs.”

iPad continues to have a significant impact on business with virtually all of the Fortune 500 and over 85 percent of the Global 500 currently deploying or testing iPad. Companies regularly utilizing large amounts of data such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, project blueprints, training videos and service manuals all benefit from having a greater choice of storage options for iPad. The over 10 million iWork® users, and customers who rely on other incredible apps like Global Apptitude for analyzing team film and creating digital playbooks, Auria for an incredible 48 track recording system, or AutoCAD for drafting architectural and engineering drawings, also benefit greatly from having the choice of an iPad with more storage capacity.

“Our AutoCAD WS app for iOS was designed to give customers seamless access to their designs anywhere, anytime,” said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products for Autodesk. “These files are often large and highly detailed so having the thin and light iPad with its Multitouch display, integrated camera and all-day battery life, is a real advantage for iPad users to view, edit and share their AutoCAD data.”

“The features and capabilities of iPad give us the ability to set a new standard for multitrack recording and editing on a mobile device,” said Rim Buntinas, WaveMachine Labs’ CEO. “Users of the Auria app can play 48 mono or stereo 24bit/96 kHz tracks simultaneously, record up to 24 of those tracks simultaneously, and also edit and mix with familiar tools. With its portability and all-day battery life, iPad has revolutionized recording for audio professionals allowing artists to record anywhere.”

“The bottom line for our customers is winning football games, and iPad running our GamePlan solution unquestionably helps players be as prepared as possible,” said Randall Fusee, Global Apptitude Co-Founder. “The iPad’s unbeatable combination of security, being thin and light, having an incredible Retina display and also being powerful enough to handle large amounts of data enables us to deliver a product that takes film study to a new level and ultimately gives our users the best opportunity to prepare, execute and win.”

The fourth generation iPad features a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina display, Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime® HD camera, iOS 6.1 and ultrafast wireless performance**. iOS 6.1 includes support for additional LTE networks around the world***, and iTunes Match℠ subscribers can download individual songs to their iOS devices from iCloud®.

iPad runs over 800,000 apps available on the App Store℠, including more than 300,000 apps designed specifically for iPad, from a wide range of categories including books, games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. iPad also supports the more than 5,000 newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand, and the more than 1.5 million books available on the iBookstore℠.

Pricing & Availability

The new 128GB versions of the fourth generation iPad will be available starting Tuesday, February 5, in black or white, for a suggested retail price of $799 (US) for the iPad with Wi-Fi model and $929 (US) for the iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular model. All versions of the 128GB iPad will be sold through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
courtesy:bgr.com,yahoo.com,Zach Epstein

Starbow to begin 2nd daily return Tamale flights to Accra

The Starbow Airline will, as from Monday, February 4, 2013, be operating a late afternoon Accra-Tamale-Accra Flight.

The new addition to the Starbow timetable will make it possible for travelers from both Accra and Tamale to conduct day return business between the two cities which will remove the prolonged visits and needless costs through night stopping. 

It will also provide customers in Tamale the opportunity to travel to Accra in the evening to conveniently connect onto international services from Accra.

Mr. Andy Smith, Head of Commercial at Starbow said 

“Starbow will provide an enhanced service using our BAE146 Jet and it’s reduced flight times between the two cities that will provide benefit to the business community by offering them a significant improvement in cost efficiency over existing services and enable a full days business in ether Tamale or Accra with a return in the same day”.

Departure time from Accra to Tamale is 16:15, and from Tamale to Accra is 17:45, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Story by: Myjoyonline

Zeitgeist 2012 | Google's Review of 2012

This year, Google is doing a review of the searches made globally via their search engine. They chose to call it Zeitgeist 2012. With this, people go  watch the review video and if they have the time, they can share their New Year's resolution with the rest of the world. 

" Zeitgeist 

~ The defining spirit or mood 

of a particular period of history

 as shown by the ideas and beliefs 

of the time. "

As the year draws to a slow close, Google reminds the world by saying "What did the World Search for in 2012?

2012 was a year of big moments, from global games to historical elections and everything in between. With this site, we've analyzed over one trillion queries to showcase what the world searched for.

"2012 has been an awesome year for me... how was your 2012?!?"

Victoria's Secret Fashon Show Video Sneak Peek leaked by CBS

CBS already leaked a sneak peek of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The video is still up on the CBS website. CBS 12 News also caught footage of the video on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Those who can't watch the flash video on either website can view it on YouTube. 

The video gives a glimpse of the sexy Victoria's Secret runway show, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the backstage action.

Models walk the runway  during the Victoria's Secret  2012 Fashion Show  on November 7, 2012. Photo credit:   Photo by Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images for  Swarovski Elements

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is a combination of fashion and music. The runway will have Victoria's Secret's famous "Angels" like Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel and Alessandra Ambrosio. Musical guests include Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Rihanna.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is a special CBS event for the holiday season. It's become an annual tradition for the sexy lingerie brand. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show includes the infamous million-dollar bra, over the top lingerie and angel wings. This year, Alessandra Ambrosio walks the runway in a $2.5 million dollar bra, with a matching thong and baton. 

"I think this looks like fun... What do you think?"

Story by: Chanel Adams, Boston Fashion News| Examiner.com

20 trivia facts about world countries [Infographic]

Have you ever wondered what country has the highest alcohol consumption??? Or which is the least tolerant. Someone took the pain to put this photo together and I think its a must see... Go on!

"I just saw this with a friend while staring at it he asked, 'What do you think about this? I was stunned by the question... and I still am. 

So I want to know what you think too. You can leave it as a comment." 

Story by Aya Padron, Matador Network

Virginity on sale for $780,000!

A 20-year-old Brazilian woman been offering her virginity and a man from Japan known as "Natsu" has managed to place the winning bid. The asking price is a whopping $780,000. Talk about being weird but its no wonder that her virginity sold out for so much because she is quite the hot babe. By losing something, Catarina Migliorini could gain $780,000.

The 20-year-old Brazilian woman has been auctioning off her virginity online for the past few weeks and a man from Japan known as "Natsu" came out on top with the winning bid.

Natsu beat out five other bidders after a feverish final day where the price of Migliorini's virtue jumped from $190,000 on Oct. 23 to the final $780,000 price tag. The news wasn't so good for her male counterpart, Alex Stepanov, whose virginity only racked up $3,000 from a woman in Brazil named "Nene B."

Catarina Migliorini, 20, is auctioning off her virginity for charity, and
received a winning bid of $780,000 for virtue.

Although Migliorini, a physical education student, has claimed to media that she planned to donate as much as 90 percent of the auction price to charities that will build homes in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, even auction organizer Justin Sisely, who devised the plan for a proposed documentary, was skeptical.

"I was surprised she said that because in all my dealings with her, she made it clear that it was a business decision for her," Australian filmmaker Justin Sisely told The Huffington Post recently. "Now, given how big this story is in Brazil, she's trapped. If she doesn't give any money to charity, she's going to look bad."

Now that the price of virginity has been established, "Natsu" will be tested for sexually transmitted diseases before getting his big shot with Migliorini aboard a plane flying between Australia and the U.S. -- Sisely's attempt to circumvent prostitution laws.

Migliorini will also undergo an examination to prove she is as pure as the driven snow -- before the actual driving commences.

The actual sex act will not be filmed, but both Migliorini and "Natsu" will be interviewed before and after the auctioned-off intercourse, the New York Daily News reported. "Natsu" will be allowed to remain anonymous without his photo appearing in the media.

In order to ensure the encounter is as tasteful as possible, sex toys are not allowed and "Natsu" must wear a condom.

Although having sex in exchange for money pretty much defines prostitution, Migliorini doesn't see it that way.

"If you only do it once in your life then you are not a prostitute, just like if you take one amazing photograph it does not automatically make you a photographer," she said, according to the Daily Mail. "The auction is just business, I'm a romantic girl at heart and believe in love. But this will make a big difference to my area."

That was Sisely's goal when he started working on the documentary two years ago.

"This is about transforming life," he told HuffPost. "These people will be different afterwards. Their lives won't be the same. Catarina is the biggest story in Brazil right now. Where will she go after this?"

As for the "donation," it may be hard to find a charity willing to take cash from a person who got it by selling her virginity to the highest bidder, according to Cleon Daskalakis, a former Boston Bruin who now runs NetRaffle.org, a company that raises money for charities on the Internet.

"This type of transaction is setting a dangerous precedent, not to mention a call for global prostitution on a one-time basis," he told HuffPost. "To those of us who promote professional and successful fundraising vehicles, this is a disgrace. I can't imagine any legitimate charity would want to be associated with this type of promotion."

The virgin auction has received worldwide attention as well as skepticism from journalists like William K. Wolfrum, who points out that the production company behind the film, Thomas Williams Productions, seems to have little more than experience doing wedding videos.

"Basically, let me wrap this up as I see it: An unheard-of director is working with an unheard-of producer. Two years ago, they floated out the idea of auctioning off virgins and filming the sexual encounters. Two years later, they are back and say the sex will happen by the end of the month," he wrote on his website.

"I think this world is getting weirder and weider by generation..."

Story by Nina, Times of India

British Airways is 75 years in Ghana!!!

Seventy-five years ago a handful of passengers boarded a bi-plane for a one-week journey which would pioneer an air service that today still links Ghana and the United Kingdom.

On 13 October 1937, the DH86 Diana class aircraft operated by Elders Colonial Airways on behalf of Imperial Airways arrived in Accra for the first time. This once-weekly service between Southampton and Accra took almost one week, involving nine stops between the UK and the Central African hub of Khartoum.

A couple of years later, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was formed under the BOAC Act, from the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd, a British airline that operated in Europe in the 1930s.

In 1974, the UK government dissolved BOAC and British European Airways to form the global carrier, British Airways, as we know it today. 1987 saw the airline privatised in a hugely oversubscribed flotation of shares on the London Stock Exchange, as well as the appointment of British Airways’ first women pilots.

In 2002, British Airways begun daily, non-stop flights between Accra and London on a Boeing 767 aircraft. The six-hour overnight flight is extremely popular for business travellers, who enjoy the convenience of a full working day in Ghana, and an early morning arrival for easy onward connection to other destinations.

Today, British Airways operates to Ghana on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with a four-class configuration, which features its innovative First (First Class) product, along with Club World (Business Class), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and World Traveller (Economy Class).

Currently, British Airways is the only airline to offer a first class service in and out of Ghana, and its £100m investment into the improved product is proving extremely popular on the route.

Iberia, the Spanish national carrier, merged with British Airways in January 2011 to the International Airline Group. In July 2012, Iberia launched it’s twice-weekly Ghana operation, with Economy and Business Class Cabins on an Airbus A319 aircraft. So far, Iberia’s operations have been “extremely encouraging.”

“It’s amazing to think that 75 years ago we were operating bi-planes that could carry seven passengers and the journey took over a week, when you consider that today we have daily flights a day that do the journey in about six hours,” says James Wooldridge, British Airways commercial manager for Ghana.

“We believe very strongly in investing in the communities we operate in, and Ghana has benefited greatly from such commitments over the past 75 years,” says Wooldridge.

British Airways’ CEO, Keith Williams was recently in Ghana to support Flying Start, the airline’s partnership with UK charity, Comic Relief, which was launched two years ago to raise money around the world for good causes. Flying Start hopes to raise £500,000 by the end of 2012 to vaccinate 100,000 Ghanaian children against deadly diseases.

Story by myjoyonline.com

Internet giants Google, Facebook and Twitter threaten to block controversial snoopers' charter

Google, Facebook and Twitter are set to torpedo Home Office plans to spy on every citizen's emails and website visits.

The internet giants have threatened to block the so-called 'snoopers' charter', which requires them to store all data for a year so that security agencies, police and councils can request its disclosure.

Civil liberty groups claim the powers would create a surveillance state, but Britain's security and intelligence agencies insist they are vital to investigate crime and protect the national interest.

Google, Facebook and Twitter are set to torpedo Home Office plans to spy on every citizen's emails and website visits.

Now the frank testimonies of internet bosses have been released by a cross-party committee of MPs and peers that is scrutinising the draft Communications Data Bill.

They reveal directors from Google, Facebook, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Twitter believe the Bill would breach users' privacy and allow repressive regimes to spy on Britons. Facebook said it might go to court to resist the new law, while Google and Twitter executives said they could refuse to unlock encrypted data if the Government were to seek the information via third-party providers such as BT.

Facebook said it might go to court to resist the new law, while Google and Twitter said they could refuse to unlock encrypted data

Facebook director Simon Milner accused the Government of using a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut', and claimed the potential for nations with poor human-rights records to obtain data 'should be a real concern'. Nick Pickles, director of  civil-liberty group Big Brother Watch, said: 'How the Home Office thinks these plans are workable in light of such clear criticism is a mystery.' The Home Office said: 'We hope all major communications companies take their responsibilities to assist law-enforcement seriously.'

Story by  Robert Verkaik, Daily Mail 

The most inappropriate show of support: Madonna, 54, dedicates onstage striptease to Pakistani girl shot by Taliban

Clearly not content with flashing a nipple and 'ironically' calling Barack Obama a Muslim, Madonna has decided to wade in on the shooting of a Pakistani girl after she spoke out against the Taliban.

Madonna continued to use her 'MDNA Tour' to make yet another controversial statement by strip-teasing to 'show her support' for Malala Yousafzai, who was shot on a schoolbus for writing a blog about how important education is.

On her Wednesday night performance in the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, the singer began by telling her audience that she wanted have a 'serious talk'.

Inappropriate: Madonna stripped off to 'dedicate' her act to a Pakistani girl who is in hospital in a critical condition

In yet another 'controversial' act, the singer took her clothes off to support a cause that had touched her

Madonna shouted 'support education'... before taking her clothes off, angering Pakistani people who branded it 'cheap self popularity'

Madonna performing in her MDNA Tour at Staples Center, Los Angeles, when she decided to embark on a striptease

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen, but survived

According to Entertainment Today, she told fans that the news that the 14-year-old had been gunned down by the Taliban had made her 'cry'. She said: 'The 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot on a schoolbus for writing a blog about how important education was to her. 

'The Taliban stopped her bus and shot her. Do you understand the sickness and absurdity of this?'

She rallied the crowd by shouting at them to support education and those who help women.

But then the millionaire decided that this performance clearly was not a strong enough statement, and chose to 'dedicate' a strip tease to the girl, who is currently in a critical condition.

She turned her back to reveal 'Malala' written across it, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'This song is for Malala,' she said, before singing her 'Human Nature' song.

But her attempt to make a stand in the name of Malala backfired after furious Pakistanis discovered her act.

There was a chorus of disapproval from Twitter users, who branded her performance a shameless attempt to garner attention, Entertainment Today reported.

@OHPakistan tweetwed to NBC News' Amna Nawaz: 'Get it Right: Associating #Madonna with #Malala IS DISRESPECT TO #Malala!!! Plz. Give #Malala a rest!'

User @bijm30caahm condemned the move: 'Not the right way to pay Homage to Brave Malala. Its a way to earn cheap self popularity.'

A Taliban gunman boarded a packed school bus and shot a teenage education activist twice at point blank range.

The brave teenager was targeted by the Taliban after speaking out against atrocities committed under the regime.

People have protested against attack on Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, in Hyderbad, Pakistan

The senseless attack on of Malala Yousafzai has captured the heart of the Pakistani people, who have been praying for her recovery

According to Malala's friend Shazia, speaking to the Christian Science Monitor, a group of militants riding on a bike stopped the bus carrying the schoolgirls. Masked men then boarded the vehicle and pointed guns at the girls, asking for Malala. 

A hooded Taliban militant shouted: 'Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all. She is propagating against the soldiers of Allah, the Taliban. She must be punished.'

Almost as soon as he shouted this, the militant recognised the youngster and shot her at point blank range. The shooting has horrified people in Pakistan and internationally, and has been followed by an outpouring of respect for a girl who earned the enmity of the Taliban for publicising their acts and speaking about the importance of girls' education. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying that the girl was promoting 'Western thinking'.

Malala was shot twice at close range and is currently unconscious in hospital in a critical condition. Madonna has also used her tour to encourage her fans to support Obama by demanding they vote for 'the black Muslim in the transparent House'.

The Queen of Pop threw her weight behind the president during a concert in Washington, D.C. on Monday, before stripping off her shirt to reveal her massive 'Obama' temporary tattoo on her back.

But she made a fatal error - which she later said was 'deliberately ironic' - because Obama is a Christian.

Madonna 'backs' Obama with a temporary tattoo during her MDNA Tour at the New York's Yankee Stadium

Story by Anna Edwards, Daily Mail 

Mother of three watches in horror as her American Bulldog is stabbed 23 times by irate pet owner after it had a fight with another dog

A dog died after being stabbed 23 times in a frenzied attack by another dog owner. Mother of three Daisy Jenkins cradled her dying American Bulldog Tyson following the daylight attack.

Her dog had got in a fight with another dog in a walkway near her Hampstead home in north London.

WARNING: Graphic images

Attack: Mother of three Daisy Jenkins cradled her dying American Bulldog following the vicious daylight attack

The owner of the other dog Wayne Stearman, 41, left the scene and returned with two 10-inch knives before stabbing the bulldog.

One of the blows was so forceful that the knife bent in half in what one witness described as a ‘blood bath’.

Today, Mr Stearman said he knifed the dog because he was only trying to stop it killing his own terrier Monty. Mr Stearman said: 'The dog’s a lunatic. I’d just stepped out my house and the dog went for him. It wasn’t on a lead. It locked its jaw on to Monty’s head. He’s only little and he’s a donut around other dogs. 'It was like a lion on top of a gazelle. I was screaming for help and the owner was nowhere to be seen.

Dying: The owner of the other dog left the scene and returned with two 10-inch knives before stabbing Tyson

'When she did finally turn up five minutes later all she did was stroke her dog. I was kicking and punching it but it wouldn’t budge so I went into the kitchen and got three knives. 'I’m not proud of what I’ve done but what was I supposed to do, stand there and let it kill my dog?' Mr Stearman said the bulldog tried to attack his dog three months earlier.

He said: 'I literally had to pick Monty up and throw him over the fence because this dog was going to go for him. He’s attacked loads of dogs on this estate and he’s even gone for a kid outside the Budgens up the road. 'I’m just glad it happened to me because it was only a matter of time before it killed a kid.' Eleven-year-old Monty, who Mr Stearman has had since he was a puppy, suffered bite marks to his head, face, ear and chin and now flinches when anyone tried to touch him.

'He’s going to be alright but it has affected him. I’m on anti depressants because I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t sleep. It’s been an absolute nightmare,' Mr Stearman said. The waterways worker, of Belsize Park, north London, was arrested over the incident and held in a police cell for 22 hours but has since been released without charge.

Pet: Tyson was an American bulldog like this one pictured. A 41-year-old man was since been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage

He could be charged with criminal damage but is not expecting any further action to be taken against him.

'The police have actually been very sympathetic to me. It’s not nice to say but people are happy now the dog’s gone. It caused so much trouble round here,' he said.

Miss Jenkins, 41, who has since set up a shrine to her dog at the spot where he died, had begged passers-by to help her as Tyson died on the Aspern estate near Hampstead.

Witness Allison Havey said: 'It was a bloodbath. She was covered in blood and she was just saying: ‘Please help. Help me make my dog live.’ It was very sad indeed.'

A vet was called to try to save Tyson, but the 42kg bulldog died on the footpath.

Miss Jenkins said of the attack: 'We were just clinging together right up against the fence and trying to keep away from the knives.

'I could feel bleeding but I just held him tightly. I thought if I pretended to be dead he would leave us alone. 'I just kept saying to Tyson ‘hang on, please hang on, pull through’. She was unavailable for further comment today. Neighbour Kim McFarland, 54, claimed Miss Jenkins let to dog run around the estate.

She said: 'Daisy always used to let the dog off the lead and it would run round the estate.

'It used to go for other dogs. It never had a muzzle on.

'One neighbour only just managed to get her dog inside once before he went for it. Even when she closed the door it kept charging at it.'

Weapon: One of the blows was so forceful the knife bent in half in what one witness described as a 'blood bath'

The grandmother-of-10, who has lived on the estate for 22 years, said the man, was acting in self defense and was ‘devastated’ about what had happened. She said: 'He’s a dog lover himself and he’s not the kind of person to go around doing things like that. He was just trying to save his dog who is a lot smaller and older. 'Daisy had let Tyson off his lead and he ran into the woods and got hold of this other dog by the throat. I don’t even think she was there at the time to stop him.

'The other dog owner tried to punch Tyson to get him off but he’s a big dog. He went inside to get something and the next thing I heard was a dog’s been stabbed and it’s dead.

'He literally couldn't get Tyson off his dog. What was he supposed to do, wait until it killed his dog? It would have been the same circumstances - a dog would still be dead.'

Story by Emily Allen, Daily Mail