Polaroid's New Android Tablets Might Give Nexus Some Stiff Competition

Polaroid has announced a new pair of Android tablets at CES. Their most obvious selling point is super-low pricing?but will their performance be able to stand up to the competition?

There are two new tablets?predictably, a 7-incher (M7) and a 10-incher (M10)?and when we say price is a big draw here, we really mean it. The little 'un is set to retail for $130 and the large one just $230. Super cheap, then, so if specs can match the price Polaroid could really be on to something.

The M10 packs a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution screen, quad-core Cortex A7 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB or storage, 5-MP rear camera, 2-MP front-facer, and HDMI-out. Running Jelly Bean it does, sadly, have a light Polaroid skin laid over the top, but at least that looks fairly crisp and clean?reminiscent of Windows 8, in fact.

Meanwhile the M7 offers a 7-inch 1,280 x 800 display, 1.6GHz dual-core A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB or storage, and a 2-megapixel front camera that sits to the left of the display. Once again, it's running Jelly Bean with Polaroid's skin over the top.

None of this is setting the world on fire, of course, but for the price the specs seem really solid. Engadget explains that it found the smaller tablet "very responsive when swiping through home screens and jumping in and out of apps", so it will be interesting to see how they stack up during real-world use. They might not quite pack all of the punch of Google's Nexus range?but they could well give it a run for its money. [Polaroid via Engadget and Engadget]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5974767/polaroids-new-android-tablets-might-give-nexus-some-stiff-competition

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Consumer watchdog tightens mortgage lending rules

17 hrs.

Reuters

More than five years after the housing market collapsed, the U.S. government's newly created consumer watchdog said Thursday it will force banks to verify a borrower's ability to repay loans to ward off the kind of loose lending that helped push the U.S. economy into recession.?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said its new guidelines would also protect borrowers from irresponsible mortgage lending by providing some legal shields for lenders who issue safer, lower-priced loan products.?

Lenders and consumer groups have anxiously awaited the new rules, which are among the most controversial the government watchdog is required to issue by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law.?

"When consumers sit down at the closing table, they shouldn't be set up to fail with mortgages they can't afford," Richard Cordray, the bureau's director, said in a statement.?

The new rules are intended to combat lending abuses that contributed to the U.S. housing bubble, when shoddy mortgage standards led American households to take on billions of dollars in debt they could not afford.?

The U.S. economy is still feeling the after-effects of the bubble, which sparked a global credit crisis after it burst in 2006. As the housing market imploded, banks sharply tightened the screws on lending.?

Regulators said the new rules would head off future crises by preventing irresponsible lending, without forcing banks to restrict credit further. Lenders will have to verify a potential borrower's income, the amount of debt they have and their job status before issuing a mortgage.?

And because lenders are likely to want the heightened legal protection that comes with offering certain "plain vanilla" loans, the rules could go a long way in determining who gets a loan and who can access low-cost borrowing rates.?

Safe harbor for lenders
Dodd-Frank directed regulators to designate a category of "qualified mortgages" that would automatically be considered compliant with the ability-to-repay requirement. The rule was first set in motion by the Federal Reserve and then handed off to the consumer bureau in July 2011.?

The consumer protection bureau said on Thursday that it would define "qualified mortgages" as those that have no risky loan features - such as interest-only payments or balloon payments - and with fees that add up to no more than 3 percent of the loan amount.?

In addition, these loans must go to borrowers whose debt does not exceed 43 percent of their income.?

These loans would carry extra legal protection for lenders under a two-tiered system that appears to create a compromise between the housing industry and consumer advocates.?

Bank groups had lobbied the bureau to extend a full "safe harbor" to all qualified loans, preventing consumers from claiming in lawsuits that they did not have the ability to repay them. But consumer advocates wanted a lower form of protection that would allow borrowers greater latitude to sue.?

Under the rules announced on Thursday, the highest level of protection would go to lower-priced qualified mortgages. Such prime loans generally will go to less-risky consumers with sound credit histories, the bureau said.?

Higher priced loans would receive less protection. Lenders would be presumed to have verified the ability to repay the loan, but borrowers could sue if they could show that they did not have sufficient income to pay the mortgage and cover other living expenses.?

Credit availability
Some lawmakers and mortgage lenders had warned against a draconian rule that could exacerbate the current credit crunch and set back a housing market that has become a bright spot in an otherwise tepid economic recovery.?

Consumer bureau officials said they were sensitive to concerns about credit tightening, and they baked into the rules several provisions meant to keep credit flowing and to smooth the transition to the new regime.?

The new rules establish an additional category of loans that would be temporarily treated as qualified. These mortgages could exceed the 43 percent debt-to-income ratio as long as they met the underwriting standards required by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other U.S. government housing agencies.?

The provision would phase out in seven years, or sooner if housing agencies issue their own qualified mortgage rules or if the government ends its support of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two housing finance giants it rescued in 2008.?

Regulators also proposed creating a qualified mortgage category that would apply to community banks and credit unions.?

Banks will have until January 2014 to comply with the new rules, the consumer bureau said.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer-watchdog-tightens-mortgage-lending-rules-banks-1B7915622

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Elyria family is displaced after home is condemned ? The Chronicle ...

ELYRIA ? A day that likely started just like any other for an Elyria family of seven took a turn for the worse when city officials tacked a ?condemned?? notice on their front porch, leaving the entire family seeking a place to live.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, the home in the 100 block of Water Street was condemned. Moments later, with city officials standing by, several adults began hauling personal belongings from the home ? flat-screen televisions, boxes of food, and children?s backpacks and clothes.

After they left, large wooden boards were nailed to the doors and windows on the lower level. It was a striking contrast to the obvious signs of family life ? Christmas lights still strung across the porch roof, a Happy Holidays sign with a cheerful snowman tacked on the front door, toys in the yard and on the porch.

Click any image to view larger.

Building inspectors went to the home Wednesday to follow up on a complaint about a collapsed garage only to find the home in such deplorable condition that the only remedy was immediate eviction.

The garage reportedly collapsed Tuesday night. After the inspector checked out the fallen garage, the homeowners allowed an interior inspection of the home, which prompted the condemnation order.

?The city is not in the business of telling people to leave their homes, but this is a very rare occasion of a home that has some imminent safety issues,? Safety Service Director Mary Siwierka said.

The main issue was the lack of a primary and suitable heating source, said Chief Building Inspector Phil Lahetta. The furnace was broken and the family was using kerosene and electric heaters to heat the home.

The heaters posed a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and cans of fuel were being stored in the home.

The water tank also needs to be repaired, although the home had hot water.

?We definitely need to find out what kind of remedy can be found before the family is allowed back in the home,? Lahetta said. ?In its current condition, it is not fit for human occupancy based on the housing violations found. This is rare, because it doesn?t get this bad with someone remaining in the home.?

Five adults and two children were living in the home.

Kevin Brubaker, operations manager of the Building Department, said the interior of the home had trash and clutter throughout.

?We will issue violation orders on everything that can be fixed, but they cannot stay in the home until things are fixed,? he said. ?But this ranks right up there with the vacant homes I have been in.?

The Water Street home is a stone?s throw from another home Brubaker was in just months ago. That home was vacant and also condemned but showed obvious signs that it was once a family home ? a discarded Barbie doll was on the floor, along with children?s books and graded school papers.

That home will likely be demolished in the coming months. As for the home from Wednesday, city officials have vowed to work with the family to get them back in it. The conditions of the home show city officials that some residents need a lot more help to keep up with the obligations of homeownership.

Brubaker said the home was owner-occupied.

The adults who were carrying belongings out of the home declined to talk with a reporter. An elderly woman would only say the family would be fine, and they had a place to go.

The Lorain County auditor?s office lists the owners as Karen and Andrew Mayer. The auditor?s website states the home was built in 1900 and is more than 1,400 square feet in size with four bedrooms and one bathroom.

The family could be in line for funds through the Community Development Department?s emergency rehabilitation program. The program is funded with federal tax dollars and is designed to be spent in low- to moderate-income neighbors.

?It is our understanding the family understands our concerns and wants to make the repairs so they can return to their home. We want that to happen as well,? Siwierka said.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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Source: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2013/01/10/elyria-family-is-displaced-after-home-is-condemned/

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US prisoner still held after Google boss' N. Korea visit

Adrian Bradshaw / EPA

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt (l) and former governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson speak to reporters as they arrive at Beijing Capital Airport on Thursday. Schmidt and Richardson had flown from Pyongyang, North Korea where had been on a three day unofficial visit.

By Ed Flanagan, Producer, NBC News

BEIJING ? American detainee Kenneth Bae remained in North Korea Thursday after a controversial visit by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson failed to secure his release.

The pair told reporters at a media briefing at Beijing's airport that they had not been able to meet Korean-American Bae, who is charged with unspecified crimes against the secretive state.

However, they were confident their calls for greater Internet freedom for ordinary citizens had been ?well received? by the Pyongyang regime.

?As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world," said Schmidt, who added that not opening up would "make it harder for them to catch up economically. We made that alternative very, very clear."

Richardson said the four-day visit had three central themes: a call for North Korea to embrace a moratorium on ballistic missiles and nuclear tests, the release of Bae and a call for the isolated country to increase their usage of the Internet.

During the visit, Schmidt and Google Ideas think tank director Jared Cohen met with North Korean scientists and software engineers who reportedly peppered the two with questions about the Internet and technology development.

?Once the Internet starts, citizens in a country can certainly build on top of it, but the government has to do something,? said Schmidt. ?They have to make it possible for people to use the Internet, which the government in North Korea has not yet done.?

?It?s their choice now and time in my view to start or they?ll remain behind,? he said.

The purpose of the Google Chairman?s visit had been speculated on by North Korea watchers in recent weeks, but Richardson was quick to credit Schmidt with the biggest success of the trip: the opening of a new level of unilateral dialogue between scientists in the two countries.

?A new dialogue on technology with scientists and software engineers is very important and that was started,? said Richardson of Google?s influence on the trip. ?There was a very positive reaction to Dr. Schmidt and his team in North Korea.?

Missile dialogue
Richardson was also confident that progress had been made in improving dialogue on tensions on the Korean peninsula over North Korea?s recent missile launches and rumored nuclear test.

?The delegation had a series of very frank discussions with North Korean officials,? said Richardson. ?We?re concerned with the current level of tension in the Peninsula.?

The former governor was heartened to hear that the North Koreans were ?anxious to improve their relationship with the United States? and also noted that they ?were encouraged by the recent statements of the new South Korean president.?

Still, Richardson was quick to challenge North Korea?s contention that last year?s missile tests were science-based and peaceful in purpose.??I must say, I personally disagree, I don?t think it's science-based and it is a violation of the United Nations moratorium on missiles,? he said.

Google executive Eric Schmidt visits the secretive country despite his receiving criticism from the White House. NBC's Frances Kuo reports.

Richardson?s nine-person delegation had been planning to travel to the reclusive state last month, but postponed the trip to January after North Korea announced its intentions to conduct a controversial rocket test.

The United States and its regional allies in Asia have been pushing for some sort of combination of economic and political sanctions against North Korea for these continued long-range missile tests and viewed the Richardson visit as unproductive toward that.

On Monday State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland reaffirmed the administrations? disapproval of the trip, telling reporters that, ?the trip is ill-advised.?

?We think that both sides need to move in new directions,? Richardson told reporters today. ?We think that it?s important that the North-South dialogue be revived. We think that it?s important that the United States and North Korea start having some positive bilateral discussions. We need dialogue, not confrontation on the peninsula.?

Bae still in detention
Despite the delegation?s success in improving dialogue, Richardson was unsuccessful in securing the release of American, Kenneth Bae, who remains in North Korean prison after he was arrested in the northeastern city of Rajin last November.

Asked by NBC News on Bae?s current status, Richardson said that while he was unable to visit the 44-year old tourist, he had been assured by North Korean officials that his legal rights and personal well-being would be protected.

"We pushed to make sure that there were strong protections for Kenneth

Bae both in the judicial process and personally,? said Richardson, ?another encouraging development was that they told me the judicial precedence would happen soon."

Richardson also said that a letter from Bae?s son would be passed on to him in prison.

Related stories:
Detained American, Internet freedom on agenda as Google boss visits N. Korea
Google Earth helps put North Korea gulag system on map
Slideshow: Rare journey into North Korea

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/10/16444596-google-boss-opens-north-korea-dialogue-but-no-us-prisoner-release?lite

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Western Digital shows off upcoming WD Black hybrid drives, we go eyes-on (video)

As devices get thinner and thinner, there's no place in the world for chunky hard drives, and to that end Western Digital has been talking about bringing ultra-thin 5mm hybrid drive technology to the market. We just got a look at the new drives, which will be branded WD Black -- two 2.5-inch models consisting of a 500GB, 5mm thick (or thin) unit with 24GB of NAND memory, along with a 1TB, 7mm drive that also has 24GB of NAND. A spokesperson said that NAND could eventually go up to 32GB. There's no performance figures or pricing available yet, but WD has already started shipping copies of the new models to OEMs, and expects that they'll land in the laps of consumers within the next 6 months. For a brief video tour of the new products, head after the break.

Gallery: Western Digital WD Black hybrid drive

Continue reading Western Digital shows off upcoming WD Black hybrid drives, we go eyes-on (video)

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/9F4v6Qf0wOA/

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Physical Activity is Key to Keeping Your Child Healthy

Kids are not as active as they used to be. On average, a child will spend upward of three hours daily sitting and watching television. Lack of physical activity has led to a spike in the rate of childhood obesity.?As parents, we should be doing what we can to help our kids understand why being active is an important aspect of healthy living. But how do we get our kids interested? Support them by introducing them to fun and active hobbies they will love.

While also teaching discipline, showing your kids how to be active will set them up for an active lifestyle in the future. It is also a good way for the family to learn how to set goals and work together. Take the entire family shopping for cool, new running shoes and take turns choosing routes for the whole group to run together. Steps like this can make the family run an exciting part of your normal routine and encourage your kids to ditch the TV and get active.

Studies show that childhood obesity cases in the U.S. have tripled during the past three decades. To alleviate this situation, parents should develop health and fitness activities for their kids. The activities will depend on the age of the children and for maximum benefits, 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity daily is recommended.

Ages 4 to 6

Let your kids explore their environment. Play games of catch and encourage them to walk and run. Walking with the kids is ideal and will keep them healthy.

Ages 6 to 9

During this age period, children?s balance, visual tracking and motor skills are under heavy development. Their activities should concentrate on improving their coordination and movement. Jumping rope, dancing and running will help. You should get them into organized sports so they will become fit physically. At the same time, they will also make new friends and their social skills are developed as well. Kids will learn the meaning of teamwork and developing strategies.

Ages 10 to 12

When your children are in middle school, they can play more complex sports. Motivate them to play basketball, soccer, tennis or other physical sports. At this point you can get them started on strength training. This should be done under the supervision of an adult. To make health and fitness activities more exciting, have kids play in groups. They will discover the value of camaraderie.

Physical Activities for Adolescents

The best way to get adolescents and teens to exercise is to make it into a social activity. Their choices of activities will be influenced by their friends or their school. Let them select the fitness program. Popular now are swimming, bicycling, hiking, running and football. A growing number of adolescents are also taking up yoga. While most adolescents like to work out with friends, others prefer to do it alone. So let them decide?

Read More:?olympicweightset.org

Source: http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/01/10/keep-your-kid-healthy/

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Police: Colo. shooting suspect planned massacre

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