Rather than using Apple's Safari browser directly, Blaze tested page loading on iPhone 4 using the company's own proprietary app that did not take advantage of the new new shoes 2011 improvements in iOS 4.3.As noted in a previous report by AppleInsider, apps that implement Apple's UIWebView to provide web browsing functions within an app (as Blaze did), in addition to full screen web apps, do not take advantage of the new web acceleration features Apple introduced in iOS 4.3, including Nitro and a variety of other improvements to the mobile Safari browser.The average speed difference was about a second longer page load on iPhone 4: 2.14 seconds compared to 3.25 seconds. The more complex the page, the greater the performance difference, Blaze reported. Guy Podjarny, the firm's chief technology officer, said "it’s not that Apple doesn’t care about speed, but Google is fanatical about it." However, while Blaze maintained that its benchmarks used the newly released iOS 4.3, suggesting that it took into account the fast new Safari browser with Apple's new Nitro JavaScript engine, the way it performed the tests completely bypassed those improvements. Test results promoted by Blaze Software that purport to prove that Android is much faster at loading web pages than Apple's iOS 4.3 did so using a poorly performing custom iPhone app, rather than using Safari itself.The results of the shop online 2011 test, according to Bloomberg, said that an Android-based Nexus S phone performed 52 percent faster on average after loading more than 45,000 pages from 1,000 websites compared to iPhone 4.
"Competing tablets to the iPad are poised to fail, which is why we're forecasting that Apple will have at least 80 percent share of the US consumer tablet market in 2011," Forrester said.The iPad 2 arrives in US stores to mostly glowing reviews from the influential technology Prada handbag 2011 columnists of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times."While it's evolutionary rather than revolutionary like the first model, the changes Apple has made are generally pleasing and positive, and the device worked very well for me," the Journal's Walter Mossberg said.The iPad 2, which is one-third thinner, nearly 15 percent lighter and faster than the model released last April, will go on sale in another two dozen countries on March 25.Besides the size and weight, the other major improvement to the new iPad is the addition of front- and rear-facing cameras that allow users to take still pictures and video and hold video online shop conversations.Apple sold 15 million iPads last year, bringing in $10 billion in new revenue and creating an entirely new category of consumer electronics devices.Dozens of other companies have been scrambling since then to bring their own touchscreen tablets to market, most of them relying on Google's Android software to power the machines.But with the exception of the Galaxy Tab from South Korea's Samsung, rival tablet-makers have enjoyed little success.Technology research firm Gartner is forecasting sales of 55 million tablet computers worldwide this year and another research firm, Forrester, said Apple has little to worry about for now.The new iPad goes on sale at Apple stores across the United States on Friday as the gadget-maker seeks to stay a step ahead of its rivals in the booming market for sleek touchscreen tablet computers.Apple will be taking online orders for the iPad 2, which was unveiled by chief executive Steve Jobs last week, beginning at 4:00 am (0900 GMT) and the device will be available in the company's 236 US Prada handbag 2011 stores starting at 5:00 pm (2200 GMT).
Walgreen Co. is selling its pharmacy benefit management business, as the Deerfield-based drugstore giant pushes to get consumers to the pharmacy counter and away from mail order.The nation's largest powerbalance drugstore chain said Wednesday that it will sell Walgreens Health Initiatives for $525 million in cash to Catalyst Health Solutions Inc., of Rockville, Md. The deal is expected to close in June.Walgreens and other retailers are working hard to increase foot traffic into their stores by adding medical services such as vaccinations and primary care from nurse practitioners. But owning a pharmacy benefit manager is contrary to that strategy."With nearly 7,700 drugstores as our center of gravity, we are focused more than ever on delivering convenient, affordable, high-quality pharmacy, health and wellness solutions, and on enhancing our full scope of services to become America's first choice for health and daily living needs," Walgreens Chief Executive Greg Wasson said.Pharmacy benefit managers work as middlemen that buy prescription medicines from drugmakers and provide prescription coverage to employers, typically encouraging consumers to bypass retail online shop pharmacies and purchase their drugs, usually in three-month supplies, through the mail.Walgreens pushed its benefit managers unit in recent years to employers as companies and insurers increasingly encouraged employees to get more of their prescriptions by mail. Employers saw mail order as less expensive and popular with consumers because it saved money.But consumers are finding better buys from retailers, while also seeing benefits of cheaper generic copies, leading analysts to question the savings of mail-order drugs. Employers and insurers typically offer health plan members generic drugs for chronic conditions such as high cholesterol and hypertension for free, and retailers, including Wal-Mart power balance Stores Inc., have popularized 30-day generic prescriptions for just a few dollars."We don't think the savings with mail are that big," said Robert Zimmerman, Walgreens senior vice president and chief strategy officer. "We see the value of face to face."
"Amazing. Amazing. Amazing," Dallas All-Star Dirk Nowitzki said after watching Love put up 23 points and 17 rebounds in the Mavericks' 108-105 victory on Monday. "Fifty-one in a row is unbelievable. He just has a great power balanceknack for the ball. He's got great hands. He's got a low center of gravity. He's a beast out there. He's going to be fun to watch for a long time."There have been some close calls — 12 points and 12 rebounds at Dallas on Dec. 1, 12 points and 10 boards at the Clippers on Dec. 20 and a 10-point, 10-rebound squeaker against Memphis on Feb. 2.Through another season filled with losing — the Timberwolves have lost a Western Conference-worst 50 games this season — watching Love try to keep his historic streak going has become the primary draw for this struggling franchise.One more double-double against Indiana on Wednesday night and he will surpass Malone, who had 51 over two seasons in 1978-79.Love's streak started on Nov. 22 against Oklahoma City and has endured despite opponents doing everything in their power to keep him in check. He's had guards crashing the shop online 2011boards behind him, centers trying to knock a potential rebound out of bounds rather than let him get it and forwards take it to him on the defensive end to try and wear him down.It's a heck of an accomplishment to be that consistent and put up the kind of numbers he's been putting up," Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said Wednesday. "It's very, very difficult to do that kind of thing so it's nice to be rewarded with that standing ovation."The downtrodden Timberwolves faithful rose to their feet and roared like they rarely have done all season, saluting Kevin Love for being one of the few reasons to keep coming to Target Center during another long, miserable basketball winter in Minnesota.Love raised his hand and thanked the crowd, who delivered a standing ovation Monday night when he recorded his 51st consecutive powerbalancedouble-double, which ties him with Moses Malone for the longest such streak since the NBA and ABA merged in 1976.
Turns out the bureau is not as omniscient as they purport — hats, doorways and rain can at least temporarily throw these stealthy operatives off the case. And then there's the element of chance, which still inexplicably figures into this deterministic vision.The Adjustment Bureau is compelling enough, a sort of Inception-lite, but the power balance pulseira plot holes take it off course. Still, this mind-meld of sci-fi thriller, morality play and passionate romance is worth seeing, mostly for the palpable chemistry between the lead actors.Inspired by her lack of artifice, he makes a concession speech that cuts through the usual political rhetoric. The masses eat it up — convinced of his integrity.With his natural charisma, Damon is convincing as a politician. And he has chemistry with the equally believable Blunt. The two actors' likability and intelligence propel the film, based on a Philip K. Dick story.Mysterious men in overcoats and hats appear ominously and early. Mad Men's John Slattery looks the role as a midlevel operative. But it's Anthony Mackie's more sensitive official that makes the strongest impression.These shadowy figures are from the eponymous Adjustment Bureau. It's not about insurance claims. Their job description is to make sure life goes according to plan for shop online 2011 — or they'll make adjustments. Some of those consist of "resetting" brains to ensure the human race is on track with the course set for it.But his first Senate bid has ended in defeat. A chance meeting in the hotel bathroom with a dancer named Elise (Emily Blunt), however, changes his life. They banter a bit and share an unexpected kiss, but their connection is electric.They're not exactly mind-readers or angels: "We're more like caseworkers," says Mackie. And a disproportionate number seem to be on Damon's case. It turns out that he's destined for great things as a politician. The implication is that he will one day be president — if he doesn't screw up and become romantically involved with Blunt."If I'm not supposed to be with her," asks Damon, "then why do I feel like this?"Good question. Best not to say much more, except that her dancing career will also be affected. She is destined to be one of the world's greatest dancers, but only if she avoids a pas de deux with Damon. If they get together, he's told, she'll be relegated to teaching 6-year-olds. As if this is a fate worse than death.Anyway, the point is: True love is a powerful force. That's a perfectly fine premise. It's a shame the dialogue is laden with clichés, and loopholes to the adjustment concept abound.Free will, destiny, undying love and a mystical/sci-fi premise are interwoven in a stylish tapestry — albeit with some gaping holes — in The Adjustment Bureau.Matt Damon plays an idealistic power balanceguy running for the U.S. Senate. Though his party is never revealed, he's clearly one of its bright lights, having been elected at 24 to the House of Representatives.
Another prominent opponent of the blasphemy laws, ruling party member Sherry Rehman, recently dropped her bid to get them changed. Rehman, who has said she had to abide by party leaders' power balancedecisions, faces death threats and has been living with heavy security.Brummitt reported from Lahore. Associated Press writers Zarar Khan and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Ashraf Khan in Karachi, Victor L. Simpson in Rome, Matthew Pennington in Washington and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the "tragic assassination," calling Bhatti "a prominent advocate for minority rights and a promoter of inter-faith understanding." The U.N. chief encourages the Pakistani government "to continue its efforts to combat terrorism, protect the rights of minorities and promote tolerance," his spokesman said.Pakistan's blasphemy laws were originally framed by the Asian subcontinent's British colonial rulers but were toughened in the 1980s during the military rule of Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, who pushed a politicized, austere brand of Islam."Bhatti's murder is the bitter fruit of appeasement of extremist and militant groups both prior to and after the killing of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer," said Human Right Watch. "An urgent and meaningful coach Outlet storepolicy shift on the appeasement of extremists that is supported by the military, the judiciary and the political class needs to replace the political cowardice and institutional myopia that encourages such continued appeasement despite its unrelenting bloody consequences."Human rights groups have long warned that the laws are vaguely worded and open to abuse because people often use them to settle rivalries or persecute religious minorities.Right-wing Islamist parties, looking for an issue to rally their supporters, have campaigned against any change to the laws, accusing those who seek to amend them of blasphemy — and creating an environment that led to the latest killings.President Barack Obama condemned the slaying, saying Bhatti "fought for and sacrificed his life for the universal values that Pakistanis, Americans and people around the world hold dear" — including rights to free shop online 2011speech and religious freedom.In Britain, leaders of the Anglican Church expressed shock and sorrow and urged Pakistan's government to do more to protect Christians.U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the attack was "not only on one man but on the values of tolerance and respect of all faiths and backgrounds."