As iPhone 6 Preorders Begin, Mobile Carriers Fight For Apple Customers

For U.S. mobile carriers, a new iPhone means one thing: a chance to steal a customer from the competition. Now that Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are available for preorder, it has opened up a fierce battle among carriers to sell as many iPhones as possible and lock new customers into lucrative two-year deals.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has traditionally had the advantage in new-iPhone season over Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, due to its history; AT&T was the first carrier to offer the iPhone and had exclusivity of the phone for four years. But this year analysts expect Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) to mount a stiffer challenge. AT&T and Verizon are neck-and-neck in terms of subscriber base, and both are offering discount or trade-in plans geared at luring iPhone fans to choose their service.

“Ever since AT&T lost exclusivity there’s been a lot of fluidity between carriers, there really isn’t one compelling thing that AT&T had that other carriers can’t match,” IHS analyst Wayne Lam said. Lam expects AT&T and Verizon to sell more than 10 million iPhone units each within the next quarter; in particular, the iPhone 6 should be a better seller than the iPhone 6 Plus.

To attract customers, AT&T is offering a $300 trade-in credit for old iPhones, while Verizon is offering a $200 gift card to use on the purchase of an iPhone 6, when trading in an older iPhone model. Both deals are tantalizing, but Apple is particularly miffed at Verizon for advertising the iPhone 6 as free. Apple has always positioned itself as a premium product company and doesn't want its newest flagship to be seen as a no value product.

“It’s also an interesting departure from Verizon’s traditional policy of assigning a value to every device. Previously there were no free devices, you always paid something,” Recon Analytics analyst Roger Entner said.

All of the mobile networks have been trying to get themselves in the spotlight with new programs and services, but none more than T-Mobile US Inc. (NYSE:TMUS), which analysts expect will come in third in terms of iPhone sales.

T-Mobile introduced its voice-calling-over Wi-Fi service and showcased its VoLTE network at its Un-carrier 7.0 press event on Wednesday, one day following the iPhone launch, where Apple announced that the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus would support VoLTE and Wi-fi calling.  A day prior to the iPhone launch, T-Mobile announced its deal to offer customers the best price when trading in an old smartphone, and also an extra $50 on top of the trade-in price.

“[T-Mobile has] gotten that momentum; it’s gotten much more options for the consumer when it comes to subscriptions,” Lam said.

T-Mobile has been the breakout carrier for the past 18 months with its Un-carrier initiative. CEO John Legere said in June that the network has gained 17 million subscribers since its brand restructuring in March. Many of the network’s new programs have urged competitors to follow suit with new plans of their own.

Currently, the fourth-largest U.S. network, T-Mobile is expected to soon pull ahead of Sprint Corp. (NYSE:S) in terms of subscriber base, but Sprint likely won't take that challenge sitting down. With a new CEO, Marcelo Claure, at its helm, the “Now Network” has some restructuring plans of its own.

“The big wild card will be how Sprint will perform. Sprint would have to change its trajectory from being the gift that keeps on giving other wireless carriers in terms of subscriber losses,” Entner said

“Marcelo Claure is trying really hard, he looks at it the right way -- that he has to be the value leader; it just takes a while for that to sink in with people.”

In accordance with the iPhone launch, Sprint has established a new exclusive plan called “iPhone for life,” which allows customers to lease an iPhone 6 for $20 per month and pay a flat $50 rate for unlimited talk, text and data. “It shows the importance of the iPhone. It also shows the importance for Sprint to break the mold, to do something that other carriers are not willing to do,” Entner said.

With the various models already experiencing shortages and shipping delays, the demand for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus is already apparent. Regardless of the carrier, it is subscribers that will ultimately tell the story of who wins the iPhone 6 war.  

“It’s a good time to be a consumer because the carriers are falling all over each other to attract you,” Entner said, “It’s extremely competitive.”

US Navy Jets Crash: Search Continues For Missing FA-18 Pilot Following Crash Over Pacific Ocean

The search for a missing pilot continued into Saturday in an area of the far western Pacific Ocean after two Navy fighter jets collided and crashed on Friday, according to officials. The fighter jets -- both F/A-18C Hornets -- were reportedly from Carrier Air Wing 17, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California's San Joaquin Valley.

One of the pilots was rescued safely while the hunt for the second, who went missing in the waters off the U.S. territory of Wake Island, located 2,300 miles west of Honolulu, continued Saturday, authorities reportedly said. Navy Cmdr. Jeannie Groeneveld said, according to The Associated Press, that the crash occurred 290 miles west of Wake Island.

"Initial reports indicate the two jets collided," a Navy official said, according toCNN.

The official also reportedly said that the rescued pilot was in a fair condition and was being treated aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson. Authorities are reportedly investigating the cause of the crash, while the jets involved are yet to be recovered.

"It’s certainly a challenging time for the United States Navy," Monty Ashliman, NAS Lemoore’s commanding officer, said, according to Visalia Times Delta. "An all-hands effort is certainly ongoing and they’re prioritizing the search for the air crew."

According to AP, the search operation involved the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley, the USS Sperett, the USS Dewey and two helicopter squadrons.

The jets involved in the crash were assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 94 and Strike Fighter Squadron 113.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved," Groeneveld said, according toAP.

මහේල-සංගාගේ කකුළු අවන්හල නීති විරෝධියි

මහේල-සංගාගේ කකුළු අවන්හල නීති විරෝධියි

ශ‍්‍රී ලංකා කණ්ඩායමේ සුපිරි ක‍්‍රිකට් ක‍්‍රීඩකයන් දෙදෙනෙකු වන කුමාර සංගක්කාර හා මහේල ජයවර්ධන විසින් පවත්වාගෙව යන ‘Ministry of crabs’ නම් කකුළු  අවන් හල නීති විරෝධී එකක් යයි බස්නාහිර පළාත් සභා මන්ත‍්‍රී නිරෝෂණ පාදුක්ක මහතා පවසයි.
කොළඹ කොටුවේ පරණ ලන්දේසි රෝහලේ පවත්වාගෙන යනු ලබනමෙම අවන්හල සඳහා බස්නාහිර පළාතේ ව්‍යාපාර නාම ලියාපදිංචි කිරීමේ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව විසින් ලබා දෙන ලද අවසරය අවලංගු කරන බවට කලේ යයි දැනට මාස 17 කට කලින් ප‍්‍රකාශ කලේ යයිද ඔහු සඳහන් කරයි.
රටේ ව්‍යවස්ථාවට අනුව අමාත්‍යාංශය යන වචනය පාවිච්චි කළ හැක්කේ රජයට පමණක් බවත් පෙන්වා දෙන ඒ මහතා ව්‍යාපාර සඳහාද අමාත්‍යාංශ යන වචනය පාවිච්චි කිරීමට ඉඩ දිය නොහැකි යයිද ඔහු වැඩිදුරටත් පෙන්වා දෙයි.

Probe on SL is of great importance-new UNHRC Chief

The new UN Human Rights Chief Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan has remarked that he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) while urging the Lankan authorities to cooperate with the investigation.

In a release copy of his first opening statement at a UNHRC session, which Zeid is due to deliver since his appointment as the new UN Human Rights Chief at the 27^th UNHRC sessions due to commence on Monday (8) he has called upon the Sri Lankan authorities to cooperate with the process in the interests of justice and reconciliation.

He has also expressed alarm at the reports on threats that have been leveled against Human Rights Defenders in the country as well as on prospective victims and witnesses.

Furthermore in his references on Sri Lanka, the new UN Human Rights Chief has also deplored the incitements and violence against the Muslim and Christian minorities in the country.

Meanwhile, an oral update is scheduled to be delivered on the probe led by the OHCHR on alleged abuses that were committed by both parties during the final phases of the war in Sri Lanka, despite delays to commence its operations.

The government of Sri Lanka has expressed optimism regarding the appointment of Zeid as the new UN Human Rights Chief, stating they believe he would act on matters concerning Sri Lanka with a proper understanding and by rectifying alleged shortcomings committed by his predecessor Navi Pillay.(Lakna Paranamanna)

Tips On Finding Chicago Artist Resources

By Kerri Stout For those living in the windy city, there is a strong creative community which fosters support for artists. This guide to Chicago artist resources illustrates some of the places you can look for guidance and tips. The city has a lively and vibrant arts scene, making it a strong attraction to creative people from all over the world. One of the most well known museums in the city is The Chicago Art Institute which has a very well known school and museum. The latter which is open to the public, has a wealth of world class treasures. The collection ranges from Impressionist painting to Greek sculpture to contemporary art. It unsurprisingly has visitors who flock to it from around the globe. Check out the museum's website for a schedule of public events. These include gallery tours and talks. Many offerings are free and geared towards family. This provides a great opportunity to interact with the world class art collection while expanding your knowledge. In addition, the local community of art students has resulted in many helpful resources. Check out the Art Institute website for listings of events which the public can attend. Examples are public lectures about artists and art history. This can be a useful way to learn something about an area which you have never encountered before. The time investment does not have to be very big. For instance, some workshops and lectures are one off events that only last an hour or two. This kind of event holds lots of appeal for both beginners and those with much more experience in art. It provides an introduction to various periods and styles as well as art collecting. In addition, many established artists find it useful to refresh their knowledge in an educational setting. In fact, those who attended art school decades ago may want to take a refresher course. Another resource which is consulted by many local artists is a more grass roots vehicle. This includes newsletters and websites organized by a loose collective of artists throughout the cities. There are many independent versions of this type of resource which allows artists to get together and share ideas. Networking events may take place at local galleries or coffee shops. You can also find online forums for locally based creative practitioners to exchange ideas. The key is to create a casual and informal setting for locals to network. For more help with this subject, there are many art guides to be found at local libraries and book stores. In addition, you can find a number of well known blogs and websites which are dedicated to providing help with art resources. As well, do not forget the wide range of local galleries. They often provide publications and newspapers which are aimed at the local creative community. One fun idea is to spend an afternoon completing a gallery tour. This is a good way to enjoy some time with your like minded art enthusiast friends. In addition, it is a chance to learn about local artists and resources.

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Benefits Of Custom Resistance Temperature Detectors

By Kerri Stout Technology is improving and over the years people have continued to make new inventions. This has seen experts define a new way of measuring temperature. In this case they have devised custom resistance temperature detectors which use the linear signal. It is used to measure temperature change depending on the electrical resistance of the pure metal elements. This includes platinum and nickel. In this case the industry has a lot to reap from this invention. There is a great benefit to all the clients as they are able to afford this device. The special tool which is used in a number of fields has been sold for years at a discounted price. This has remained a pleasure to the clients as the quality is maintained. The improvements which have been done have also seen clients enjoy bigger benefits while still paying a small fee. There is a chance of customizing the device to the specific needs of a person. These kind of settings give a person extra freedom to use the tool to achieve maximum results. This has also been appreciated by the firms which deal with various operations. This is because they are able to set the temperature tools to monitor various operations with great accuracy. The assurance about quality custom detectors comes through the praises which have been posted. The testimonials in this case will bear witness to both the nickel and platinum option. Those who want to buy many pieces also need to check the testimonies of people who have used them. This gives a person the assurance that quality is professional. The detectors have been praised over the years for their exceptional quality. This gives the new clients great confidence that they are buying something which is worth. It is also beneficial because they have also been recommended. Therefore people find confidence when using them. The recommendations have touched on accuracy and durability. A person is confident about the quality of devices which are offered. This is because they are offered on time without delays. All the clients are thus served when they expect and their needs are handled quite well. This has been facilitated by the great capacity of the experts. They are many and their skills are also well horned. This has seen them being able to service various orders of the custom devices. The companies which make the devices have been highly praised. It has also been licensed because of producing quality all the time. Therefore a client is assured that the production process takes a professional approach. This has also been analyzed and reviewed through the renewing of the licenses and proven to be a professional production. When they are serving the experts ensure that they deal with standard products. Therefore the tools will be durable and satisfying. One will thus find value in such a supply because it is worth the cash paid. This is made possible by linking with companies which have been recommended for their quality products.

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The Importance Of Having Storm Water Drain Cover

By Jody Leach A lot of people will rarely consider the overall function of a storm drain structure. Nevertheless, this type of framework is considered very essential to get rid of rain water so that street flooding will be completely avoided. A lot of the components are hidden below the above ground. The system must be installed properly in public highways and in another areas. They must be completely structured to position under the embankments which will be camouflaged with shrubs and other landscaping materials. Most of the part can be visible like the concrete catch basins, curb inlets and of course the street gutters. You should really consider the overall significance of having storm water drain covers. Most areas must make use of the drainage system to get rid of the damages on the whole structure. It is also done in a lot of areas while others still are not into it. The regions must cope with all the problems such as flood everytime it will rain. Right methods should be done always to avoid problems. The way it works is based on the importance of the law of gravity. Every area where drains mostly occur are highly designed to properly pull the liquid toward the intended street gutters. After it enters the pipe, it is being pushed through the entire system by exerting the needed amount of pressure. This is done to avoid problems along the way. The engineers make it a point that it will reach its point of discharge. It is like an important cycle that can keep the place free of flood. The methods in designing the construction plans and in installing the system must be very elaborate. It also involves multiple pipeline construction. The contractors must really know what to do. Civil engineers should really develop the best blueprint according to the acquired information from property surveys as well as utility engineering. All engineers must really think of the making numerous plans to determine the best type of framework to be done. The engineers must take into account various scenarios which can impact the system. All engineers should also consider the future happenings especially when it comes to the condition of the structures. They need to really estimate the population grown to make sure that the whole system can still operate despite expanding the overall community. Every region can possibly become an established community. It can get rid of any unwanted effects like vacant areas being totally covered with asphalt to recreate some types of roads, parking lots and sidewalks. If the liquid will not go directly to the pavement then it may result to deep flooding. They must ensure that all things are in place therefore to ensure that there will be no definite damage that could happen to all the structures. Public storm drain structures are indeed vital in protecting the communities against flooding. The overall system is installed and maintained by highly trained contractors. There will be a lot of consequences that could happen if the components are not installed well. They must be very careful therefore in building the structures. It needs great planning to avoid any problem which could happen anytime.

53 New Colorized Photos From The Past

These 53 Colorized Photos From The Past Will Blow You Away. Up until the 1970s, color photography was extremely rare, and so when we think about history prior to that time, we often envision it in black and white. Today's technology now enables us to "colorize" historical photos, giving us our only chance at seeing what the world really looked like back then. And it was truly spectacular. Take a trip back in time through these photos below. It's quite incredible to see Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein in living color. 1. Claude Monet in 1923. 2. Brigadier General and actor Jimmy Stewart. Stewart flew 20 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe, and even flew one mission during Vietnam. 3. Pablo Picasso. 4. Lou Gehrig, July 4, 1939. Photo taken right after his famous retirement speech. He would pass away just two years later from ALS. 5. Times Square 1947. Jordan J. Lloyd 6. Lee Harvey Oswald, 1963, being transported to questioning before his murder trial for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 7. Helen Keller meeting comedian Charlie Chaplin in 1918. 8. Girls delivering ice, 1918. 9. Burger Flipper 1938. Jordan J. Lloyd 10. Winston Churchill, 1941. 11. Albert Einstein, 1921. 12. Madison Square Park New York City around 1900. 13. Marilyn Monroe. 14. Samurai Training 1860. Jordan J. Lloyd 15. American Poet Walt Whitman, 1868. 16. Hindenburg Blimp crash. 17. British Soldiers Returning from the front in 1939. 18. Joan Crawford on the set of Letty Lynton, 1932. 19. Country store in July 1939. Gordonton, North Carolina. 20. Mark Twain in 1900. 21. Albert Einstein on a Long Island beach in 1939. 22. Audrey Hepburn. 23. Union Soldiers taking a break 1863. 24. Charles Darwin. 25. WWII soldiers on Easter. 26. Clint Eastwood, 1962. 27. W.H. Murphy testing the bulletproof vest in 1923. 28. Charlie Chaplin at 27 years old in 1916. 29. Elizabeth Taylor in 1956. 30. Big Jay McNeely, Olympic Auditorium, 1953. 31. Louis Armstrong practicing backstage in 1946. 32. Red Hawk of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on horseback, 1905. 33. Babe Ruth's 1920 MLB debut. 34. A Washington, D.C. Filling station in 1924. Patty Allison 35. Boys buying flowers in 1908. 36. An Oklahoman farmer during the great dust bowl in 1939. 37. Louis Armstrong plays to his wife, Lucille, in Cairo, Egypt 1961. Jordan J. Lloyd 38. Brooklyn Bridge in 1904. 39. Two Boxers after a fight. 40. 1920s Australian mugshots from the New South Wales Police Dept. 41. Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. 42. Brothers Robert Kennedy, Edward "Ted" Kennedy, and John F. Kennedy outside the Oval Office. 43. Clint Eastwood working on his 1958 Jag XK 120 in 1960. 44. Cornell Rowing Team 1907. 45. View from the Capitol in Nashville, 1864. 46. Baltimore Slums, 1938. Jordan J. Lloyd 47. Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels scowls at a Jewish photographer, 1933. 48. Henry Ford, 1919. 49. An RAF pilot getting a haircut while reading a book between missions. 50. Unemployed Lumber Worker and His Wife 1939. 51. Alfred Hitchcock. 52. A car crash in Washington D.C. around 1921. 53. President Lincoln with Major General McClernand and Allan Pinkerton at Antietam in 1862. Source: Reddit                          -- The moment you have hatred,even with good reason,that hatred will hurt you before it hurts anyone else.- Swami Satprakashananda.

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