You can stash up to $18,000 in your 401k next year | Money.Cnn.com

October 24, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Super savers and rich people will be able to put even more money in their 401ks next year. Starting in 2015, contribution limits for the tax-deferred retirement accounts will increase by $500 to $18,000, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.

Meanwhile, the “catch-up” amount that workers age 50 and over can contribute to their plans will rise to $6,000 from $5,500, for a total of $24,000 next year.Of course, not many workers can afford to save those maximum amounts. In 2013, 12% of Vanguard’s more than 3 million 401k participants contributed the max allowed not including any match from their employer, according to the company’s annual How America Saves report.

Best Small Tablets for Business 2014 and Why We Love Them |Business News Daily

October 24, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Large tablets give you more screen space to work on, but they can really weigh you down on your daily commute. Fortunately, opting for a smaller tablet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice power or great software features. There are tons of pint-size slates that offer zippy performance and features such as multi-window multitasking, stylus integration and even a fingerprint scanner for added security. Read on for a list of the best business tablets with displays smaller than 8.5 inches.

Now Everyone Wants to Sell You a Magical Anonymity Router. Choose Wisely | WIRED

October 24, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Maintaining your privacy online, like investing in stocks or looking good naked, has become one of those nagging desires that leaves Americans with a surplus of stress and a deficit of facts. So it’s no surprise that a cottage industry of privacy marketers now wants to sell them the solution in a $50 piece of hardware promising internet “anonymity” or “invisibility.” And as with any panacea in a box, the quicker the fix, the more doubt it deserves.

Last week saw the fast forward rise and fall of Anonabox, a tiny $45 router that promised to anonymize all of a user’s traffic by routing it over the anonymity network Tor. That promise of plug-and-play privacy spurred Anonabox to raise $615,000 on the fundraising platform Kickstarter in four days, 82 times its modest $7,500 goal. Then on Thursday, Kickstarter froze those pledges, citing the project’s misleading claims about its hardware sources. Other critics pointed to flaws in Anonabox’s software’s security, too.

Samsung Galaxy S5 review | CNET

October 24, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The Good Samsung’s Galaxy S5 excels at everything that matters — Android 4.4 KitKat OS; a bright, beautiful display; blistering quad-core processor; and an excellent camera experience. In addition, Samsung’s efforts to streamline its own custom interface and reduce pre-installed bloatware pay off.

The Bad The Galaxy S5 is a only small upgrade over the Galaxy S4. The fingerprint scanner can be confusing to use, and the heart-rate monitor is a niche feature at best. In some regions, the Galaxy S5 costs significantly more than rival top-rated handsets.

The Bottom Line Subtly improved and smartly refined, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a superior superphone that hits every mark but the sharpest design.

McDonalds and Coca-Cola Try to Adapt to Changing Consumer Tastes | Adweek

October 23, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Americans are losing their appetites for Big Macs chased down by Cokes, forcing two megabrands to re-think how to gain market share.

This week McDonald’s reported a 3.3 percent quarterly profit decline, marking its worst performance in years, while Coke’s profit dropped 14 percent with a continuing decline in North American sales during the same period.

What’s going on? That’s the question on the minds of those running both companies who are under pressure to turn things around fast.

McDonald’s execs might take a cue from rival Chipotle Mexican Grill, which posted 20 percent growth in the third quarter. Chipotle restaurants feature a Fresh Mex menu that offers customers a choice of ingredients to customize their orders as well as organic beans and tofu in its Sofritas for vegans.

The iPad’s Glory Days Are Over. Where Does It Go Now? | Mashable

October 23, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Apple reported its fiscal 2014 fourth quarter results on Monday, and in a surprise to absolutely no one, iPad sales are down again.For the third consecutive quarter, iPad sales have declined year-over-year. On a call with analysts, Apple CEO Tim Cook positioned the decline in sales as “a speed bump, not a huge issue.” Still, Cook conceded that this isn’t where Apple wants to be. “We want to grow. We don’t like negative numbers on these things.” That need for future growth is probably one of the reasons Apple realigned its iPad offerings last week.

Dos and don’ts for watching today’s eclipse | USA Today

October 23, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

WHEN TO WATCH

New York City: The eclipse starts at 5:49 p.m. ET. The eclipse will still be going on as the sun sets at 6:03 p.m. ET.

Washington: The eclipse starts at 5:52 p.m. ET. The eclipse will still be going on as the sun sets at 6:17 p.m. ET.

Chicago: The eclipse starts at 4:36 p.m. CT. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 5:43 p.m. CT and the sun will set while still in eclipse.

Denver: The eclipse starts at 3:18 p.m. MT. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 4:35 p.m. MT and will end at 5:44 p.m. MDT.

Los Angeles: The eclipse will start at 2:08 p.m. PT. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 3:28 p.m. and will end at 4:40 p.m. PT.

The Tech Behind Apple Pay: Is Your Money Secure? | Live Science

October 22, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Go ahead and forget your wallet. Apple’s new mobile payment system, Apple Pay, launches today Oct. 20, and while some have questioned whether the technology is safe, security experts say it may actually be safer than swiping your credit or debit card.

Apple Pay lets iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users make purchases in stores with their smartphones, using near-field communication NFC technology. A tiny antennain the phone transmits encrypted credit card data without consumers having to swipe their card.

NFC technology isn’t new; it’s used to make mobile payments from Android phones with apps like Google Wallet and Softcard. But Apple’s mobile wallet might be more secure than those other options, according to Martin Ferenczi, the North American president of Oberthur Technologies, a French electronics security company.

How to Watch the Partial Solar Eclipse on Thursday | Mashable

October 22, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Millions of people across North America could have a chance to observe a partial solar eclipse next week, weather permitting. Although the Oct. 23 partial solar eclipse may not be as spectacular as a total eclipse, it is still a beautiful and interesting event to witness. The sight of the moon gradually moving across the face of the sun fills most people with awe.

The best views of the eclipse will be in the north, in Alaska and the Canadian arctic, but everyone in North America should see some of it, except in the extreme northeast of the continent. In eastern North America, the eclipse will only be visible near or at sunset, so a low western horizon is essential. Venus is very close to the eclipsed sun, but you will probably need to block the sun from view to spot it.