The scoop: MyCloud Mini personal cloud server, by Akitio, about $104

What is it? The MyCloud Mini is a network-attached storage device (without the actual storage - you have to install either a 2.5-inch internal HDD or attach a USB external storage drive) that connects to a router to provide file storage that can be accessed via the cloud, either through a browser or mobile device. Once connected, the browser-based software includes the ability to share content to friends (or via social networks), as well as stream content (photos, music, videos) from across the Internet (aka the "cloud").

Why it's cool: If you plan to use this as a centralized storage unit for your personal content that can be accessed by multiple devices within a home network, the MyCloud Mini can handle this task. Connecting to the device is quite easy through a browser - just login to myakitio.com and type in the name of your server (initially, you type in the media access control address, but then you can change it) in order to connect. The interface via the browser is very Mac-like, with colorful icons and easy-to-understand locations for accessing content stored on the drive.

You can also connect to the MyCloud Mini via mobile app - I tried the iOS app on the iPhone, but there's also an Android app available. The app makes accessing the unit easier - you don't have to remember the Web address, and once you login initially, you can have the device remember your password and have it go right to the file area. The app also adds some additional functionality - for example, a camera app lets you take photos with the iPhone and store the images directly to the MyCloud Mini - saving space on the iPhone.

Likewise, a Voice Memo app lets you record audio with the phone and save the audio file (.AIF format) to the cloud server. In addition, you can also easily download files from the server to the mobile phone at the push of a button. Akitio has done a really good job with the mobile app.

Some caveats: With network-attached storage (NAS) functionality built directly into new wireless home routers, it might be easier to attach an external drive to the router in order to access the same functionality. I found it annoying that I needed to attach my own storage to the unit - there are home NAS units that already have storage built in. Streaming media content from the MyCloud Mini, even over the local wireless network, was tedious - I never got videos to play correctly (it would start and then just stop), and even streaming music had lag and burps. While I didn't attach other devices to the network, such as a TV or Xbox, I'd be afraid that those devices would have similar problems.

The instruction guide and setup manual are also very sparse - casual users are likely to be frustrated quickly, although IT pros might be able to get through all of the features without too much pain. There's some really good potential here - the software and mobile apps shine, but the streaming speed over a local network and the cloud needs to be improved. If Akitio can bundle this with a hard drive and make those performance improvements, consumers might be impressed with a device that can provide them with centralized storage for their media content.

Grade: 2.5 stars (out of five)

The scoop: MovieNite streaming media player, by D-Link, about $80.

What is it? Like similar units from Roku and Western Digital, the D-Link MovieNite box connects to your TV and Internet connection, providing you with access to Internet movies, music and TV services, including Netflix, Pandora, YouTube and Vudu.

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Personal cloud server needs work; MovieNite streams movies & more

By: Marisa Taylor | McClatchy Newspapers Published: July 11, 2012 Updated: July 11, 2012 - 7:40 AM

One of the nations most secretive intelligence agencies is pressuring its polygraphers to obtain intimate details of the private lives of thousands of job applicants and employees, pushing the ethical and legal boundaries of a program thats designed instead to catch spies and terrorists.

The National Reconnaissance Office is so intent on extracting confessions of personal or illicit behavior that officials have admonished polygraphers who refused to go after them and rewarded those who did, sometimes with cash bonuses, a McClatchy investigation found.

The disclosures include a wide range of behavior and private thoughts such as drug use, child abuse, suicide attempts, depression and sexual deviancy. The agency, which oversees the nations spy satellites, records the sessions that were required for security clearances and stores them in a database.

Even though its aggressively collecting the private disclosures, when people confess to serious crimes such as child molestation theyre not always arrested or prosecuted.

Youve got to wonder what the point of all of this is if were not even going after child molesters, said Mark Phillips, a veteran polygrapher who resigned from the agency in late May after, he says, he was retaliated against for resisting abusive techniques. This is bureaucracy run amok. These practices violate the rights of Americans, and its not even for a good reason.

The agency refused to answer McClatchys questions about its practices. However, its acknowledged in internal documents that its not supposed to directly ask more personal questions but says it legally collects the information when people spontaneously confess, often at the beginning of the polygraph test.

After a legal review of Phillips assertions, the agencys assistant general counsel Mark Land concluded in April that it did nothing wrong. My opinion, based on all of the facts, is that managements action is legally supportable and corrective action is not required, he wrote.

But McClatchys review of hundreds of documents including internal policy documents, memos and agency emails indicates that the National Reconnaissance Office is pushing ethical and possibly legal limits by:

Establishing a system that tracks the number of personal confessions, which then are used in polygraphers annual performance reviews.

Originally posted here:
National Reconnaissance Office accused of illegally collecting personal data

The managers for the world's largest bond fund have some explaining to do.

The newly minted PIMCO Total Return ETF (exchange traded fund) outperformed the PIMCO Total Return mutual fund over the last four months by more than 3 percent. The outperformance by the ETF has created a stir because both investment vehicles have the same manager and an identical investment strategy.

The flagship fund for the Pacific Investment Management Co., better known as PIMCO, is the 25-year-old Total Return Fund, which is a bond mutual fund with $263 billion under management as of July 9, 2012. In late February, PIMCO created an exchange-traded fund, the PIMCO Total Return ETF, which has the same strategy and manager as its older and much larger sibling, but that's where the similarities end.

The performance of the two funds highlights the structural differences in ETFs and mutual funds and also how fund size and age can play a role in performance. As of July 9, 2012, the Total Return ETF has only $1.8 billion under management, a fraction of its mutual fund equivalent.

In an article by Bloomberg Businessweek, fixed income manager with DoubleLine Capital, Bonnie Baha, when referring to PIMCO's performance was quoted as saying that "it is very difficult to beat the market when you are the market." She goes on to say, "Once you get to a certain size, your ability to add value is constrained almost by definition."

Baha added, "If you believe in the efficient-market theory, the bigger you get the more difficult it is to add value because your choices are more limited."

While Baha's statement may be conventional wisdom for equity mutual funds, bond funds generally aren't thought to have the same issues. The size of the credit market is much larger than the equity markets. According to the Securities Industry and Financial Association, the size of the U.S. bond market is just under $37 trillion to date, making the Total Return Mutual fund's holdings a fraction of the market.

So why were the returns so different?

For starters, the ETF holds about 300 securities and the mutual fund holds more than 19,000. The mutual fund uses derivatives to simulate an investment holding or to hedge its losses, while ETFs are not allowed to use certain derivatives.

According to a recent Financial Times article, PIMCO's Total Return mutual fund holds credit default swaps which serve as an insurance policy against certain bonds if they default. The cost of the credit default swap acts as a drag against performance relative to the ETF, which can't hold such instruments. If the credit market begins to undergo defaults, it is possible the unhedged Total Return ETF would see greater losses than its mutual fund equivalent.

The rest is here:
Personal Finance: PIMCO returns differ from similar accounts

By Sam Dunn

PUBLISHED: 17:56 EST, 10 July 2012 | UPDATED: 04:48 EST, 11 July 2012

How do you fancy having your own fund manager to try to boost your long-term savings?

They would keep a close eye on where you are invested, sell funds that were failing and buy new ones that are about to soar.

It sounds ideal and it ispossible. Increasing numbers of investors are turning to a fund of funds, a type of investment where one fund manager picks a whole range of funds for you based on how much risk you are willing totake.

Filtering down: How 'funds of funds' investments work to spread your risk

Typically, the money is invested in between 10 and 30 other investment funds these in turn invest in 20 to 30 other companies.

These type of funds helpyou take less riskbecause your cash is spread across a greater number of funds and companies.

So if one funds performance starts to fall off a cliff, you should, in theory at least, be able to rely on some of the others to prop it up.

Of course, the fund manager isnt actually working just for you but you and a host of other like-minded investors.

Read this article:
Will a personal fund manager be worth the extra expense?

IRVINE, Calif., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- WD (WDC), a world leader in external storage and connected home solutions, today introduced powerful new collaboration and file management features, including Dropbox integration, in the next generation of its popular WD 2go mobile app for their personal cloud products, the My Book Live, My Book Live Duo and My Net N900 Central HD router with storage.

WD's personal cloud products provide shared storage on the home network, letting customers centralize their important documents, photos, videos and music in one place as well as automatically backup all the computers in their home. With the WD 2go app customers can access and share that content from outside the home on their mobile devices.

The new version of WD 2go lets customers move, copy and share content between their mobile device, their Dropbox and their WD personal cloud combining the benefits of personal and public cloud storage into one, easy-to-use app. For example, if a user has a small number of photos they want to share with their friends, they can copy them from their personal cloud into their Dropbox using the WD 2go app. But if they have a very large number of photos, or files that are too big for their Dropbox, they can use WD 2go to send a secure link to the files via email. WD 2go is available for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Android compatible mobile devices.

"WD is committed to providing consumers with secure storage of digital content and access to it on any screen, on-the-go or at home," said Jim Welsh, executive vice president for WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. "By combining access to Dropbox and personal cloud storage into a single intuitive mobile app, WD is empowering consumers with the flexibility and control of anytime, any-device management of their growing libraries of digital content."

WD 2go Features

Price and AvailabilityWD 2go (free download) is currently available for download from the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore for Android. My Book Live personal cloud storage drives and the My Net N900 Central router with storage are available at select U.S. retailers and online at the wdstore.com.

About WDWD, a storage industry pioneer and long-time leader, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its storage technologies serve a wide range of host applications including client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own storage systems. Its home entertainment products enable rich engagement with stored digital content.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital, WD and HGST brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

Western Digital, WD, the WD logo, My Book Live and My Net are registered trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries; Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. Pictures shown may vary from actual products. Not all products may be available in all regions of the world. All product and packaging specifications subject to change without notice. As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. As used for transfer rate, megabit per second (Mbps) = one million bits per second.

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WD® Redefines Personal Cloud With Dropbox Integration

This past season was a special one for Fairports field hockey team as they finally beat their rival, Webster-Thomas, in the sectional finals after losing to them two years in a row.

One reason for their success: goalie Sara Cook or Cookie Monster as shes known on the team. Although she was just a sophomore, Cook had a phenomenal season, achieving personal bests of a .68 goals against average and a .89 save percentage and attracting the attention of college coaches.

She has already begun to make Fairport history, becoming the first goalie to be named to varsity as a freshman and only one of two players ever at Fairport to be brought up in her freshman year.

It was nice winning sectionals, Cook said. It was kind of like getting the monkey off our back because we lost to Thomas the past few years. And our team got along really well, so it was nice to accomplish our goal as a team. Theyre my family, and we all just really loved each other last year.

Fairport coach Sharon Sparling attributes Cooks success to her commitment.

Shes totally involved in field hockey and being a goalie, Sparling said. The biggest asset she has is dedication. As a seventh grader, she was my goalie and she has continued to improve the whole time.

Pamela Morris Keenan, the second Fairport coach, echoes Sparlings sentiment on the talented netminder.

Sara is a dedicated, driven player with a great deal of skill, Keenan said.

Another aspect of her game that has helped Cook is the aggressiveness she has from her days as an ice hockey player.

Im so much more aggressive in field hockey because of ice hockey, and it made me a better overall athlete because it makes you more aggressive and teaches you to work with people, and Im more competitive, Cook said.

Here is the original post:
Field Hockey: "Cookie Monster" aims for more in 2012

Home politics Success as a premier is really up to Yingluck

Burning Issue

Piyanart Srivalo The Nation July 12, 2012 1:00 am

All administration matters have been put in Suranand's hands since he took over as the prime minister's secretary-general in June. Apart from taking care of Yingluck's official administration duties, he has also been giving her advice on how she can improve her image.

It's clear that the premier is satisfied and even impressed by Suranand's performance. Perhaps it reminds her of her old job as a CEO, especially as Suranand screens everything before putting it to her for the final nod.

This secretary-general seems to be more in charge when compared to his predecessor Bantoon Supakvanit, who only seemed to help her with documents and budget-related issues.

Unlike Bantoon, Suranand holds a "morning brief" with all units under the PM's Office at 7.30am every day to discuss and analyse news of the day so Yingluck's position as PM can be strengthened. Suranand then briefs the PM about the meeting.

In addition, Suranand also holds a meeting with the National Intelligence Agency every Monday morning to find out what's going on. This initially confused the agency, because it normally reports to its supervisor, Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha who is in charge of security affairs.

Other than all this, Suranand is also Yingluck's eyes and ears. He is very careful and tries to keep the government's confidential information away from the public. He even controls how many high-ranking officials attend meetings, insisting that only those who are necessary attend. This, apparently, is a move to block any leakage of confidential information.

In fact, he stopped some key officials - such as the chiefs of the Public Relations Department and the National Intelligence Agency - from attending a recent Cabinet meeting. Also, he has been heard telling those attending meetings with the premier to leave their aides outside.

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Success as a premier is really up to Yingluck

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Westwood College today announced the 2012 Westwood Success Stories, a group of 100 graduates demonstrating exceptional success in pursuing careers in the face of a tough economic environment and personal challenges after getting a degree from Westwood College. From a variety of degree programs and located across the country, this groups collective determination and dedication are an inspiration to current Westwood College students, faculty and staff, showing them through personal accounts how the hands-on training students receive from a career college education pays off.

The Westwood Success testimonials are presented in personal profiles, photos and videos featured online at http://www.WestwoodSuccess.com and are seen across campuses on signs and in books made available to students. The stories represent the diverse student population of Westwood College and provide straightforward, first-person insights into the obstacles and challenges many people face when making a decision about furthering their education.

We are honored to share the extraordinary journeys of our graduates, said Dean Gouin, system president and chief executive officer of Westwood College. These are powerful stories, particularly because graduates tell them in their own words. We recognize that finding employment upon graduation is challenging for all college students in todays economic climate, but these graduates demonstrate the success that can be achieved when they are given hands-on training in their fields, significant support and embrace taking personal responsibility to overcome obstacles and challenges.

Westwood Success Stories graduates serve as ambassadors for over 30,000 Westwood College graduates who have gained real-world experience from classes led by industry professionals. These students now use their Westwood degrees to launch, change or transform their careers.

Collectively, the students represented in the Westwood Success Stories program faced numerous challenges in order to earn their degrees. These hurdles include lack of family and peer support, single-parent childcare obligations, juggling multiple jobs or lack of transportation to and from campus.

Nearly half of the students attending Westwood are single parents and most are working either full- or part-time while getting their education. More than 60 percent of students are the first in their families to pursue a higher education degree, and many have been unsuccessful at traditional and community college programs.

One Westwood Success Story, Efrain Gastelum of Los Angeles, is a graduate with a bachelors degree in network management and is now working as the manager of network operations and emerging technologies at Tangram Interiors. While in school, working full time as a manager at an oil change shop, having a full course load, balancing the birth of his first daughter and being a mentor to younger students tested his commitment to Westwood. I learned that if you fail to plan, well, plan on failing, Efrain said. Westwood worked for me because they had an individual plan for success. The availability of online and evening classes allowed me to continue to work and support my family and the instructors became mentorsmore than just teachers.

Westwood College congratulates these exceptional men and women featured as the second round of Westwood Success Stories alumni and looks forward to celebrating the successes of all our graduates for years to come.

To learn more about the Westwood Success Stories program go to http://www.WestwoodSuccess.com. You can also watch testimonial videos of select Westwood Success graduates on Westwoods YouTube channel.

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Westwood College Announces Graduate Success Stories

WOODRIDGE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has raised $104 million in its Series E financing round. Elevance produces high performance ingredients for use in personal care products, detergents, lubricants and other specialty chemicals and fuel markets from renewable feedstocks. Lacustrine Limited via Genting Genomics Limited, wholly owned by Genting Berhad, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia led the round with Total Energy Ventures International, based in Paris, France also participating in the financing. Elevance also announced that Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad, will join the Elevance board of directors.

The investment will support Elevances strategic growth plans, including the continued development of biorefineries in Asia and North and South America,said KLynne Johnson, CEO of Elevance. The addition of the Genting Group via Lacustrine Limited, compliments the strengths of our existing investors and further emphasizes the key potential that Malaysia and Asia play in our global footprint.

About Elevance Renewable Sciences

Based in Woodridge, Ill., Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. creates valued specialty chemicals from natural oils. Using a Nobel Prize-winning technology called olefin metathesis, the company creates high performance ingredients for use in personal care products, detergents, fuels, lubricants and other specialty chemicals markets. To learn more about Elevance, visit http://www.elevance.com.

About Lacustrine Limited

Lacustrine Limited via Genting Genomics Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, the holding company of the Genting Group. Genting Berhad, its subsidiaries and affiliates operating under the Genting name, is recognized as one of Asias leading and best managed multinationals. The Group, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is involved in leisure & hospitality, power generation, oil palm plantations, property development, biotechnology and oil & gas business activities.

About Total Energy Ventures

Total Energy Ventures investments support the development of companies with innovative technologies and business models in areas such as energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energies, water, waste valorisation, greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable mobility. The investments primarily consist of acquiring minority interests in promising innovative companies to help finance their development.

Total is one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world, with activities in more than 130 countries. The Group is also a first rank player in chemicals. Its 96,000 employees put their expertise to work in every part of the industry exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining and marketing, new energies, trading, and chemicals. Total is working to help satisfy the global demand for energy, both today and tomorrow. http://www.total.com

Excerpt from:
Elevance Renewable Sciences Raises $104 Million in Series E Financing

NEW YORK, July 10,2012 /PRNewswire/ --HBA Global, the leading product development event for the entire beauty and personal care industry, announced the winners of several industry awards for innovations in package design, emerging brands and suppliers' new products.With its online communities and show attendees voting, the HBA awards reached a worldwide audience of top beauty and personal care brand manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120710/NY37783-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120710/NY37783-b )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120426/NY95610LOGO )

For the first time, HBA Global attendees voted for their favorite new product from industry suppliers that were displayed in the on-site New Product Showcase. The following products, from more than 150 submitted, were selected by top beauty and personal care manufacturers for the Exhibitor New Product Excellence Awards:

Another new HBA feature was the Best of SPLASH Awards. During the 3 days of the HBA Global event, attendees visited the inaugural SPLASH Pavilion and voted for their favorite emerging brands. The Best of SPLASH 2012, as voted by show visitors, were:

The winners of the long-standing HBA International Package Design Awards (IPDA) were also announced by Lady Emmy during a special ceremony and reception on the first day of HBA Global. The Grand Award Winner and category leader for Tools/At Home Devices was:

The other HBA IPDA Category Wiiners included:

In addition, a Facebook campaign where the entire HBA community could vote on their favorite new package took place and this new campaign generated 25,000 votes and close to 1 million impressions giving the HBA IPDA Finalists worldwide exposure for their products and brands. The winner of the 1st Annual IPDA People's Choice Award was Socializer's Can You Keep A Secret? Lip Exfoliator & Conditioning Balm by Elizabeth Grant.

To view the winners of the HBA IPDA go to: http://www.hbaexpo.com/ipda_2012winners. For more information on HBA Global, its exhibitors, and supplier resources go to: http://www.hbaexpo.com/home.

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HBA Global Announces Its Beauty & Personal Care Award Winners