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Morano wants to improve the display on violent video games

Friday Nov 27, 2009

The signs shown on video games is too little known and not visible enough by the Secretary of State for Family, Nadine Morano. Such written statements and pictograms should enable parents to identify the particular minimum age recommended for each game and its degree of violence. "We see too many young people have easy access to shelves of video games most violent, most dangerous and which are not of age and pass without any difficulty to cash" deplored Nadine Morano Thursday on RMC / BFM .

Logos PEGI (Pan European Game Information, http: / / www.pegi.info/fr/) are not mandatory but all three major console manufacturers (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft) do not play these unstamped European symbols in their catalog.They lay one hand a minimum recommended age (3, 7, 12, 16 and 18) and may also include potentially offensive content (violence, coarse language, sex …). So far only 4% of the games listed are recommended for over 18 years, against 12% for over 16 years and 24% for over 12 years. But this classification is only for information purposes only, with no binding and it is still very poorly understood by parents. While virtually all of 6-17 years practicing video games, only 21% of parents know the signs PEGI according to an Ipsos.

In this context, the secretary of state for family wants better information for parents as well as in-store packaging or on the internet for online sales.Furthermore, she asked that the information referring to the risk of epilepsy for players who stay too long behind their screens are visible on the packaging. In turn, in a statement, the union of the publishers of entertainment software (SELL) "surprised at the positions of the minister who go against the European trend. Considering about Nadine Morano as "a repudiation of the work carried out over the years by professionals in the game, the SELL stresses that" the development of new signage could upset consumers who are accustomed to standards PEGI " .Believing he had been hitherto neither listened nor heard by the Minister's Delegate General SELL Jean-Claude Larue complains: "Nadine Morano stigmatizes these digital entertainment with high potential without apparently having studied the matter seriously."

As for the National Union of Family Associations (UNAF), she believes it is important to build on the PEGI logos and raise awareness. "The signage could probably be improved, says Olivier Gerard support new technologies to UNAF, but it is essential to help parents to decide and justify whether their decision to buy a game" for go further in the discussion and discuss the game in all its aspects the association has launched with eight other partners a section dedicated to him on his sitewww.pedagojeux.fr.


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The cloud computing revolutionizes IT

Monday Nov 23, 2009

The cloud computing mask does a tsunami? For months, the heavy hammer of new technologies that the future lies in the cloud computing literally computing in the cloud.

Amazon and Google, born on the Internet – symbolized by a cloud – are the pioneers of this movement that is revolutionizing the computer world. Their idea? Rent their gigantic business infrastructure and services via the Web, thanks to their huge data centers, these "farms" that can accommodate up to 100 servers 000.

It is true that these two global companies have invested billions of dollars into these gigantic and expensive tools of computing and storage.One for its sales online, the other for its search engine whose algorithms are greedy in power calculations and, therefore servers.

In spring 2006, Amazon launched the leasing business called Amazon Web Services.

Low-Cost Computers

With Internet access, any company can use the computing capacity and storage data from Amazon. And above all it is billed for use. A clever way for the giant e-commerce to recoup its costs. "You think we sell our waste? asked Werner Vogel, CTO of AWS turning to CIOs increasingly concerned by the potential savings represented by the cloud. We offer a unique technology, agile, safe, cheap, secure and with high volumes.It has become a big business for Amazon, as big as e-commerce, "says the leader of AWS without giving further details.

In fact, many start-ups and small businesses who can not afford to invest in an own computer network chose this solution immediately. Others assign only part of their computer when their business demands a bigger consumption computer. Finally some companies have decided to convert entirely to the cloud to make savings in staff and infrastructure, and especially better calculate these costs as if the computer had become a "convenience" as electricity. "Currently, information is still very traditional," says Philippe Bournhonesque, director of strategy for IBM Software in France. The cost of the equipment is expensive, but it must be added that the facility and human resources deployed.The cloud has the advantage of being charged according to usage. You pay only for what you use. "

According to Gartner, sales of computer dematerialized, cloud computing, is expected to exceed 14 billion dollars annually by the end of 2013. IDC, another firm, is more upbeat and consider that services on the cloud will reach $ 44.2 billion end 2013. A drop of water compared to current sales by hardware manufacturers, service companies and traditional software. But the trend toward the industrialization of IT tasks and reducing costs changed the face of techno.

The Internet, elected by the general public is conquering the business world. Now, all groups of high-tech began to cloud. They are not targeting any infrastructure like Amazon.Google has chosen services. Since February 2007, the ogre of Mountain View sells business software accessible over the Internet, such as messaging, calendar, document sharing … sold by annual subscription ($ 50 per user). The Google Apps competitor of Office, one of Microsoft's flagship software, totaled $ 553 million in sales in the first nine months of the year, or 3.25% of turnover from leader Internet research.

IBM and Microsoft have also shown that they were not out of the cloud. Big Blue has developed a comprehensive project called Blue Cloud, with partners. Microsoft has launched in its test platform called Azure cloud computing."We will be the only market to provide the infrastructure, development and software" as a service "that is to say the demand," explains Bernard Ourghanlian, technical director of Microsoft France.

But if the cloud computing will free business investment, it also leaves unanswered questions. These groups, all Americans do not have data centers in France. Companies will they accept that their data is hosted in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium. This cheap computer will she need battalions of technicians and engineers active in the business? A cloud passes …

"The companies will pay only what they use"


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Warren Buffett is doubling down on Wal-Mart

Wednesday Nov 18, 2009

Warren Buffett appears on the asset markets. The American billionaire accelerates its positions, as evidenced by the amount of shares of its holding company Berkshire Hathaway, which jumped 15.6% in three months, reaching $ 56.6 billion at the end of September. The investor has almost doubled its particular contribution (up 90%) in the giant U.S. supermarket chain Wal-Mart, according to documents sent Tuesday to the SEC, Constable Exchange overseas.

After this increase, Warren Buffett owns 37.8 million shares of Wal-Mart, or 0.97% stake in Arcelor. The leading global distribution on Thursday presented the results for the third quarter better than expected, but he was cautious about its outlook for the holiday season, and all of its fourth quarter.Wal-Mart, which weighs 205 billion dollars to the New York Stock Exchange, plans to pay shareholders more than $ 4.2 billion in dividends for fiscal 2010, which ends late January. The group also announced this summer it will spend $ 15 billion for share repurchases, which contributes to support the title on Wall Street, where it currently is trading against 53.53 dollars.

Nestle, Exxon Mobil, Travelers and Wells Fargo seduce Warren Buffett

Among other paris of American billionaire is Nestle. Warren Buffett has indeed acquired 3.4 million shares of Swiss food group, which has therefore 0.09% of the shares.The Oracle of Omaha already has a stake in rival Kraft, which recently launched a bid for the British confectioner Cadbury rejected by the latter for being too low, which has revived speculation about Nestl?, which some would well tried his luck to turn on Cadbury.

But Warren Buffett has eased its position in ConocoPhillips by 10%. The billionaire has therefore now 57.4 million shares of the oil, that is to say 3.87% of the shares. In this sector, he also took an initial stake in Exxon Mobil, buying 1.28 million shares, or 0.027% of the capital of the oil. For the first time, he entered the capital of the insurer Travelers, which acquired 3.4 million shares.

During the quarter, Warren Buffett has also conducted an operation in the banking sector, emerging more or less difficult of the crisis.It has strengthened its 3.6% stake in the bank Wells Fargo, which now owns 313.4 million shares, or 6.69% of capital.

The activity of billionaire American markets continued after the end of the third quarter. Warren Buffett has announced November 3 last it would acquire all 77.4% of capital it does not already own in Burlington Northern Santa Fe This acquisition represents the group's rail investment estimated at 44 billion dollars.


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Reforming finance Obama mired

Thursday Nov 12, 2009

The priority project to reform the finance chair of Obama might derail in Congress. Supposed to address the causes of the banking crisis that has triggered a global recession, this reform presented in June by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, was nevertheless well on in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, however, as in the case of health reform, things get complicated.

The chairman of the Banking Committee of the Upper House, Democrat Christopher Dodd has introduced a very different text of the draft Administration and Obama much more radical. His project, no Republicans rally seems further divide the Democrats the majority. The objective of Barack Obama to enact a law by Christmas is compromised because the vast open debate by Chris Dodd could drag on for months.The Senate and House of Representatives, each on its own agenda, must agree on a common text.

Dodd, Senator from Connecticut, neighboring state of New York resident and where many Wall Street professionals, wants to give the dish any system of regulation of American finance. His most controversial proposal is to remove the Federal Reserve full competence in supervising banks. The Fed does not deal more than monetary policy, what Barack Obama wants to avoid. Dodd calls for consolidation into a new super agency to monitor banks, functions now split between four agencies.

Two points of agreement

The senator vowed Tuesday that he did not seek in any way to "punish the Fed, even if it was a" complete failure "in its mission of regulating banks.Chris Dodd also said he was not attacking "individuals or personalities, but the system architecture. A precision is useful when Ben Bernanke, the Fed governor, will testify before Congress at the end of the month for renewal of its mandate.

The blueprint also provides for federal regulation of insurance companies. So far these are the U.S. states regulate insurers. For prevention of systemic risks, he proposed a new agency specializing in surveillance of the largest banks. It would, in retrospect, these establishments to fund the eventual rescue of one of them.But to better ensure that the taxpayer is requested, the rival project of the House, instead stating that a fund maintained by these banks too big to fail accumulates in advance the resources needed for a rescue.

Two points of agreement exist however between the Obama Administration and the powerful senator. The first is the creation of a new agency that specializes in the regulation of financial products distributed to the general public, such as mortgages or credit cards. A proposal was however rejected by the Republican camp. In addition, Chris Dodd accepts the principles of management salaries and bonuses for bankers posed by the White House. It is forcing banks to greater transparency and allow shareholders to vote on remuneration issues.

But the boards would retain the discretion to overrule.However regulators may prohibit any compensation deemed "excessive." Finally the most senior officials of banks would be forced to surrender their salaries awarded in the event of subsequent review of company performance.

Christopher Dodd, a key player "Ron Paul, the Republican who calls for an audit of the Fed's" The insoluble problem of the size of banks


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The plant Flins for Renault power

Friday Nov 6, 2009

The plant Flins in Yvelines, near Paris, will become the heart of the strategy of Renault electric car, a niche where the group has become the diamond leader. Its CEO, Carlos Ghosn, announced Thursday that the "electric vehicle that will form the heart of our range" will be built in this factory. Marketed in 2012, this model should represent term "nearly two-thirds of sales of vehicles' electrical manufacturer, he said. Named Zoe ZE, it will be of equal size to that of the Clio, which was also released chains Flins. The investment amount was not specified. The state plans to give soft loan of up to 150 million euros.

Renault will launch in 2011 a range of four electric vehicles, whose prototypes were unveiled at the IAA.The group expects a share of this technology in global sales by 10% in 2020. In early October, he said he made the future a small electric car in its range, in 2011, in Valladolid, Spain. This will logically its Twizy ZE Two other cars in the range, the Kangoo ZE (utility vehicle) and Fluence ZE (a family sedan due out in Israel in 2011) respectively should be assembled in the factory French Maubeuge and Turkey.

As expected, the site of Flins also manufacture electric batteries. Renault's Japanese ally Nissan, the Commissariat for Atomic Energy (CEA) and the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF) of the State, on Thursday signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture responsible for advanced research Industrialization and recycling of batteries.The planned production capacity is 100 000 copies per year in 2012. It would reach 250 000 batteries in 2015, according to Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry.

"The game is open"

The investment of the first phase of the project is estimated at 600 million euros until 2013. The second component includes the development of the second generation of batteries. The ISP will invest 125 million and will own a share "but substantial minority" of all. The ECA will provide Renault 5 million and 125 million. This company aims to supply batteries to all carmakers. "It was a sine qua non for us to invest and be profitable, said Gilles Michel, Executive Director of the ISP in Figaro. Renault will be a major client in the early years, but it will not be alone: the game is opened. "Especially from 2013.It also confirms that Philippe Varin, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroen. His group already has batteries for its future electric Peugeot iOn (planned for October 2010), provided by GS Yuasa Japanese partner Mitsubishi. But "we think the second generation of models and batteries," says he. To provide with Renault or Bollor? – which opened its plant in Britain – "is exploring options", by Philippe Varin, who has not decided between "manufacture" or "buy" batteries.

"Convalescent, automotive resumes appetite for risk


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Pernod Ricard remains cautious

Monday Nov 2, 2009

The group of wines and spirits Pernod Ricard is on Monday's Combined General Meeting to approve the consolidated accounts of social and fiscal 2008/2009, ending June 30, 2009. In a statement, he stressed that "even if the general economic environment remains challenging, particularly in Europe, the first signs of improvement appear on some markets."

Pierre Pringuet, the Group Managing Director says "target for the year 2009/2010, a growth in recurring operating income of between 1% and 3%, with stronger advertising and promotion on strategic brands.

The title Pernod Ricard, a component of the CAC40, the flagship index of the Paris bourse, gained 0.4% to 57.02 euros in mid-session.


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