Business World |

Online News

Online advertising: Google gets caught at Apple

Sunday Feb 19, 2012

 

Apple promises to all iPhone users: using its Safari browser, they will escape hyperciblées advertisements on the Internet. The firm at the apple has, indeed, with his navigator, also available on Mac computers, an automatic locking mechanism that prevents the specialists in online advertising to place cookies on websites and thereby to determine an Internet user who accesses a merchant site is also a frequent visitor to a site about golf.

But a computer science researcher at Stanford University, California, has just discovered that Google has bypassed this protection system and collected data on the browsing habits of users who use Safari. The Wall Street Journal, which revealed the findings of this research, the Internet giant has "used a special computer program that leads the Safari browser software to allow tracing of many users."

"The Wall Street Journal distorts what happened, was immediately defended by the voice of Google's director of public affairs, Rachel Whetstone. We used a technical device known Safari to provide functionality that Google users logged into their accounts were activated. "It allows, for example, to store the click of a surfer on the button" 1 "or Google the "Like" Facebook as a Web content. This data is stored within a day on Google's servers payday loan.

Involuntary collection

But by putting a temporary marker to operate the "a" in Safari, Google has also opened a breach through which have slipped a variety of other markers that sought, them, to collect information on what users were on the Internet. These data are valuable to Google then to offer targeted advertising to users. Google defends itself by providing not have intended to collect these data.

From the revelation of the findings of this study, the giant search engine has disabled the technical device that has "opened the door" to the navigation information of Safari users. The group also noted that no personal data (identity of persons in particular) has been captured in this case. Apple, for its part, says "work to end" to this flaw.

But this incident is indicative of two forces that traverse the Web today: on the one hand, the giants of the Web, always seeking to target users more precisely, increasing the risks to the data they handle. The other, players such as Apple took the opportunity to surround their consumers ever higher walls.

ALSO READ:

"Google is embarking on medical diagnosis

"Google will compete with Apple on electronic products

"Google pays to scan their Internet privacy


Comments Off

Nessma chain, symbol of the revival of Tunisia

Sunday Oct 23, 2011

The "Jasmine Revolution" made him one of his symbols in the Maghreb, but for the Tunisian Salafists, it is now down to the media. However, Nessma, the first Tunisian private channel present in the Maghreb and available via satellite to 90 million people, has every intention on Sunday, play an important role during the first free elections in Tunisia. The staff of the chain refines his election night and will also take the opportunity to offer its viewers a brand new news.A symbol for the general channel, leading audiences in Tunisia and one of the most watched in other countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Libya.

The purpose of the chain is to offer a model that does not really exist in the Arab world: a general close to French and Italian models, including M6, TF1 and Canale 5, that is to say, entirely financed by private funds. The channel aims to break the hegemony of the operators in the Gulf as al-Jazeera or Al Arabiya. Founded in 2008 by brothers Nabil Karoui and Ghazi, the Italian media group Mediaset and businessman Tarak Ben Ammar, she was baptized in a prescient Nessma (the breeze, in Arabic). She now wants to surf the huge popularity that she raised 30 December 2010.It was the first media to dare criticize the regime deben Ali, and to support the "revolution of Jasmin", before calling a return to calm the population payday loan lenders.

Dissemination of "Persepolis"

The elections are for Tunisian Nessma "the birth of a certain editorial line," young, free and modern. "Nessma belongs to everyone, says one of its shareholders, businessman Tarak Ben Ammar, to all those who look at those who make it, and finally to all the political forces that are TODAY 'Today, in the presence to elect the Constituent Assembly that will work with the Constitution of our country.As such, Nessma deal with all of the coalition, including Ennahba with the moderate Islamic party, if elected democratically and if, as he said, condemning the violence and fighting for the freedom of expression and the achievements of Tunisian women. "

But the chain Nessma is in the firing line of radical movements. Last week, the Salafists protested against the chain, burning cars of its leaders and the house of its chief executive, Nebil Karoui. At the root of this conflict is the dissemination of Persepolis, the film of Iranian director Marjane Satrapi. Although awarded at festivals in Cannes or Abu Dhabi as well that of Carthage, the film was exposed on all screens in the Arab world. But its distribution in the midst of Nessma election and Tunisian dialect, so accessible to as many people, set fire to the powder.


Comments Off

The property prices have finally dropped this summer

Tuesday Oct 4, 2011

Finally down. After rising continuously for two years, property prices in France fell 2.7% in the third quarter. An observation made by Century 21, one of the largest networks of estate agents. Attention, the phenomenon is not felt the same way everywhere.

The price per square meter have ebbed in seven regions, only one out of three. The most dramatic decline (-9.7%) occurred in Burgundy. Overall, the square meter reached 2621 euros on average in the Hexagon. This downward trend for most homes (-4%) than apartments (-0.8%). "This illustrates a trend that is not new, said Laurent Vimont, CEO of Century 21.Not to be too far from their workplaces, are the buyers prefer to live in inner cities where there are more apartments in suburbs where the houses are built. "

Contrary to what one might imagine, the ups and downs of the stock market and the threat of recession do not even buyers of housing. The decline in prices has a much more immediate cause: rising interest rates on home loans now in the neighborhood of 3.9%. "In recent months, buyers have lost purchasing power of real estate, says Laurent Vimont. In the second half of 2010, paying 1,000 euros a month for twenty years, they could borrow 172,400 euros.Today, with the same reimbursement for the same period, they can not borrow 160,800 Euros. "This increase in interest rates has an impact because in France, on average, 77% of the purchase of a property is financed with a mortgage.

But everybody does not suffer the same way that rising interest rates. Most affected are first-time buyers under 40 years, the number has dropped by 18%. But also the CSP (occupational categories) the least favored: the employees and workers down 17% or middle managers decreased by 12% among the buyers.


Comments Off

Yves Rocher, the French company preferred

Sunday Oct 2, 2011

Yves Rocher wins first place in the ranking of companies preferred the French. This is indicated by the barometer Posternak / Ipsos released Sunday. According to a survey conducted in late September, the specialist in cosmetic dethroned then Peugeot. For Claude Posternak, chairman of the communications agency quoted by the Journal du Dimanche, the ranking "award both a cost-speaking consumers in times of crisis, a successful family business dynamic in the world and Finally a good fit with the expectations of society for more naturalness. "

Yves Rocher then steals the show from Citroen and Peugeot, which occupy the second and third place.Both brands of PSA, used to the top of the rankings are closely followed by Airbus, the only company in the first ten to score an increase over the previous edition dated June.

Banks still pending

Buffeted by the stock market, banks are unloved by the French. Frontlines to the problems of sovereign debt in the euro zone, this side of love see their melting: the index of average image of the banking sector down 18 points at half. Societe Generale dropped to 29th place out of 30 (-38 points), BNP Paribas in 28th place (30 points), Crédit Agricole on the 25th (29 points) behind the Crédit Lyonnais, 24th (14 points).The gap widens further with mutual banks, which enjoy a good opinion among respondents, like the Crédit Mutuel, ranking 11th.

L'Oreal, the 17th is still suffering from the case Bettencourt while Total is the least loved the company of the French, "crystallizing on behalf sensitive issues: the environment, purchasing power, sharing of wealth and taxation," says Claude Posternak. Overall, it notes that the average index of the image of French companies dropped sharply (-8 points). A decline that is equal to that which followed the subprime crisis in 2008.

ALSO READ:

"Low prices are not enough to win


Comments Off

Unedic: 123,100 more unemployed

Sunday Sep 25, 2011

The Unedic Thursday sharply revised its financial projections and employment for 2011 and 2012 following the economic downturn. And the results are anything but good. While the unemployment insurance system in late May included a slight increase in unemployment this year (12,000), it is now estimated that 144,100 more job seekers through the doors of employment center in 2011.

A variation in the end, more than 130,000 people! Worse, for next year, the decline was announced before the 91,000 unemployed in 2012 should eventually turn up … 123,100. Or, this time, a delta of close to 215,000 job seekers.

Job creation in 2012 will also suffer from the slowdown by 2013.According to projections by Unedic, they will simply be divided by 2.5, to stabilize below 70 000 in late 2012.

13 billion euros of accumulated deficit late 2012

The effect on the finances of the unemployment insurance system is important easy to get unsecured personal loans. The deficit for 2011 is expected to increase to 500 million euros, 2.5 billion tangent again. And over 272 million anticipated four months ago for 2012 will turn into hole of nearly $ 1.8 billion. Result, the deficit which was initially just exceed 10 billion by 2012, also off again on the rise and be around at the end of next year, the $ 13 billion.

"These poor results do not Unedic in a dire financial situation, however, reassured the president, Gaby Bonnand. We have the means to meet our commitments and pay allowances.We just need to remain vigilant because it will be difficult to borrow in the markets, given the situation worse. "

ALSO READ:

"The unemployment rate fell slightly

"Unemployment illustrates the" total failure "of Sarkozy for the PS


Comments Off

Slight decline for Wall Street

Friday Sep 16, 2011

After still closed down Thursday night, the U.S. stock markets could take a break this Friday. Shortly before the opening of Wall Street index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100, respectively, yielded 0.38% at 1199.60 points, 0.31% to 2277 points. The Dow Jones was meanwhile expected on an initial decline of 0.32% at 11,339 points.

The previous day, U.S. markets had progressed further in spite of macroeconomic indicators, however misguided, both on the employment front, and that of manufacturing.

But investors have ignored, preferring to focus on reassuring news from Europe, as the announcement of a new agreement between central banks to provide dollar liquidity to European banks and Japanese. "This program already exists, say the analysts at Aurel BGC.The ECB offered this week, two European banks to dollar liquidity in 7 days "

Suddenly, the "four witches" today is to say the expiration of four types of futures contracts on indices and stocks, "will be addressed, according to Aurel BGC in a more serene. Recent events have reassured investors and market expectations about European officials said after the meeting of the Ecofin support actions ".

U.S. consumer debt and European

At the macroeconomic agenda of the day, the index of consumer sentiment for the month of September is expected this afternoon, 12:00 to 3:55 p.m..But such macroeconomic indicators may well be once again overshadowed by political events related to the debt crisis and European banks.

Indeed, this Friday as European finance ministers and the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, this exceptional, try to resolve their differences at a meeting of high voltage in Poland. This is to complete a second plan of aid to Greece, imperative to save the country and the euro area, whose failing health is in turmoil the entire planet.Timothy Geithner has already openly believed that Europeans should inject more funds to avoid a major crisis.

On the corporate side, the rating agency Moody's said Thursday it placed under surveillance notes of the bank UBS (-10% yesterday at the close of Wall Street) with for a potential degradation due to " weaknesses in risk management group. "

At the heart of the news, Google has purchased 1023 additional patents in the computer company IBM to consolidate its portfolio and to attempt to dissuade trial for violation of intellectual property.Google expects the other hand that the number of Internet users in India to be tripled in three years through improved access to wireless internet and at prices more affordable smartphone, reported on Friday Wall Street Journal.

Boeing could finally respond to the order by Air France-KLM of 110 long-haul aircraft, including 50 firm orders, builders Boeing and European Airbus to ensure fleet renewal.


Comments Off

Nuclear stress test: EDF makes his copy of 7000 pages

Thursday Sep 15, 2011

No less than 7000 pages posted! This is the amount represented by the reports of its nineteen nuclear power plants (58 reactors in operation over the EPR under construction at Flamanville) EDF is currently on schedule to transmit to the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) . The "policeman" of the atom is committed, through the voice of its Director General Jean-Christophe Niel to publish in full on its website.

The delivery of copies by EDF and other operators of nuclear facilities is only the first step in the process of "revaluation additional security" required by François Fillon after the accident at the plant in Fukushima, and conducted in parallel with the European approach called "stress tests". Experts from the ASN and IRSN (Institute of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection) now have three months to publish their report.Extra work for which the ASN has even mobilized to reinforce the "three or four young retirees". Even before the peer review of these reports by experts from other nuclear countries in Europe, between January and April 2012, some foreign experts will participate in the analysis of the copy of EDF.

Alongside the work on paper, the ASN program completed in October of 38 inspections in power, focused on protection against earthquakes, floods, power loss, loss of cooling and crisis management.

During December, the ASN requested EDF as it deems necessary measures – as it has already been done to strengthen the concrete slab of the Central Fessenheim. From January to April, reports of national safety authorities will be considered by their European peers.In the nuclear environment and the hexagonal Quai d'Orsay, is expected to undergo strong pressure from Germany to close the central border Fessenheim, Cattenom and Chooz.


Comments Off

Wall Street managed to bounce back

Thursday Aug 4, 2011

Wall Street played the yoyo on Wednesday, a sign of great excitement. In early trade, the Dow edged up 0.09% at 11,878 points, but half an hour later, he lost 0.32% to 11,829 points. It finally closed on a small increase of 0.25% at 11,896 points. Nasdaq and S & P ending respectively on gains of 0.89% to 2693 points and 1260 points to 0.50%.

The day before, the Dow Jones had not been reassured by the vote of Congress, which has yet avoided a last-minute failure to pay the United States. The index feature New York had dropped 2.19%, still below 12,000 points."The U.S. indices have not even seen a technical rebound in the final hours of trading, as usual … Not since October 2008, the subprime crisis, to find such a sequence of declining U.S. indexes" analysts said Aurel BGC.

The threat rating agencies

In fact, the tension is not ready to fall in markets on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite the adoption by Congress of the Agreement on raising the national debt, the rating agencies maintain pressure on the world's largest economy. "The lowering of AAA to AA + rating from the U.S. would be a major shock for the world's largest economy, one that most creditors on the planet, says Stock Exchange on Barclays.Financing costs would increase the country, making more difficult the control of its huge debt. "

Moody's has already held that the agreement was manifestly inadequate and that the note of the United States could actually be lowered. The AAA highest possible rating currently assigned to the United States, is now accompanied by a negative outlook. Moody's is the second agency to assign a negative outlook on the triple A rating from the United States, according to Standard and Poor's on April 18. The third major rating agency, Fitch Ratings, maintains a stable outlook for now.

Another rating agency, but Chinese Dagong, has already lowered the credit rating of the United States after the vote of Congress, by passing from A + to A with a negative outlook.A decision that should be only for the time being very relative impact: the rating agency, in fact follows a methodology different from that of U.S. agencies Moody's, Fitch or Standard & Poor's. Unlike the three U.S. agencies that provide the United States sesame AAA Dagong does not in Washington this maximum score, and in November had lowered from AA to A +.

The ISM services disappoints

In this context, the macroeconomic agenda of the day, to say the least fleshed out, was watched closely, a sign of investor concerns about growth in the U.S..

At 14:15, the consulting firm HR ADP unveiled its traditional and highly anticipated monthly report on employment. Higher than the 100,000 new jobs expected by analysts, job creation in the U no fax pay day loan.S. private sector employment reached 114,000 in July.

In contrast, growth in the services sector in the United States recorded a surprise slowdown in July, according to the index of purchasing managers released Wednesday by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). ISM non-manufacturing index stood at 52.7 last month, falling to its lowest level since February 2010, after 53.3 in June. Analysts on average expected a 53.6 index.

Orders for the industry fell 0.8% in June in the United States, driven down by gloom in the transport sector, said Wednesday the Commerce Department. Economists on average had expected a decline a little less strong, 0.7%. Orders were up 0.6% in May

Oil prices have again fallen back sharply Wednesday in New York as the market worried about demand for crude in an economic environment deteriorates.On the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of "light sweet crude" for September delivery finished at 91.93 dollars, down 1.86 dollars compared to the previous day.

Concerns about U.S. energy demand were boosted by the expected increase in official reserves of oil in the week ended July 29.According to figures released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), crude oil inventories rose as expected 1.0 million barrels, those of gasoline rose more than expected 1.7 million barrels against the 100,000 barrels estimated by analysts.

Half year results: Comcast did better than expected

On the corporate side, several large quarterly publications are expected throughout the day, which should, once will not hurt, however, be overshadowed by the acute problems of sovereign debt and economic downturn.

The publications program began as microeconomic 13 hours, with, among others, the results of the second quarter of Time Warner (-1.18% to 33.60 dollars).Net income displayed increased 13.5% to 638 million.

At that moment, were released the results of Comcast (0.18% to 22.77 dollars), who, with a net profit up 16% to $ 1.02 billion, is slightly better than expected.

Garmin (-2.03% to 30.89 dollars) announced quarterly earnings down due to a fall of 19% of sales of navigation systems for cars and mobile devices. Before the opening, title Garmin gave 14%.

It will however wait until 22 hours to find out the half-year figures of Activision Blizzard (1.11% to 11.82 dollars).

Beyond the semi-annual publications, Amag Phamaceuticals (11.19% to $ 16) received an unsolicited offer to buy back the private equity investment MSMB Capital Management, valuing the pharmaceuticals group around $ 381 million.The offer, $ 18 per share offers a premium of 25% over the closing price of Amag Phamaceuticals Tuesday at 14.39 dollars.


Comments Off

Apple richer than the U.S.

Sunday Jul 31, 2011

The financial strength seems clear on the business side rather than states. Illustration of the disastrous state of American finances, the new number one smartphone, Apple has nearly $ 76 billion in cash and U.S. 73 billion. This represents what the world's largest economy may still spend before reaching the limit of the debt secured by the U.S. Congress (14.294 billion U.S. dollars).

Apple has just completed a record quarter with increases of 125% in profit and 82% of its revenues.With a market capitalization of $ 362 billion, the group "at the apple" appears as the second wealthiest company in the world stock market behind Exxon Mobil and its 395 billion market capitalization.

While Republicans and Democrats are torn in several weeks on the issue of debt, U.S. companies their bets. "One reason why companies put so much money aside is that they want to shelter financially cope with financial uncertainties in the U.S.," said Laurie Simon Hodrick, professor at Columbia University . He added: "As long as the threat of default by the U.S. government continues, U.S. companies will have to pay any interest that way." The war chest of U.S. companies is estimated at 1.2 trillion dollars.


Comments Off

Hypertension market regimes

Wednesday Jul 13, 2011

In the world of weight loss, it is called "Dukan effect." Far from referring to the weight loss of the followers of the method of Dr. Pierre Dukan high protein, the term refers to the earthquake has caused its rapid success in the market regimes.

"Since launching our website in 2008, 500,000 people have used our services," says the Figaro.fr Eric Levasseur, CEO of RégimeDukan.com, online service to support the regime. This figure does not however say how many customers are currently active on the site. To achieve this, the entrepreneur says he has not spent a dime on advertising. Media coverage and the very important word of mouth was enough. In addition, this success is due to an unbeatable price on the market, to 18 euros per month. In comparison, subscribe to premium services of Jenny Craig costs 380 euros per month, those of Weight Watchers, about 40 euros per month.

Three ingredients

Otherwise, the business model is based on Dukan a classic recipe with three ingredients. First, the publication of a book, "I'm not losing weight," bestseller in 2010. Then, offer coaching as a service fee. It is the function of RégimeDukan.com held by Marc Simoncini, Meetic founder, Eric Levasseur and children of the inventor of the method.

Last element of the strategy, products "house" manufactured under license, such as oat bran. "The 25 food products we offer for sale are regularly out of stock", says Eric Levasseur. The sale of meals, also proposed by Jenny Craig, has been tested since 1973 in France by Weight Watchers, the history of the area. For the latter, "the business of licensing products represent only a few percent of revenue," says her manager Corinne Pollier France.

The success of Dukan has not stifled competition. Instead, he seems to have created a renewed interest in France for the plans. Thus, Weight Watchers France announces "growth for two years" and has 120,000 active customers in early July. Jenny Craig brand, launched on the market in early 2010 by Nestlé hexagonal, celebrated for its part, the 10,000 th customer in late June. "It's beyond our initial objectives, ensures the boss of France's premium brand, Erick Moreau. We hired over 30 people since early 2011 and now have over 100 employees. "

Booming sales of surimi

Dukan is not only limited effect on the market methods of diet (500 million euros of turnover, against 5 billion for the sector of thinness at large). It also causes a tidal wave less visible in the food products that "light" generated 1.5 billion euros.It's simple: all the foods recommended in its method Dukan turn into gold. The turnover of surimi has enjoyed a double-digit growth in recent months. Sales of fresh cheese (fromage blanc in particular) grew by 14.5%, according to the specialist market research SymphonyIRI.

Still, with the recent controversy about the effectiveness of the regime and the disappointment of Dr. Dukan court, the effect will last Dukan he? "The ruling will not affect our business. The public is not fooled, says Eric Levasseur. We record even a 30% increase in registrations in the first half of 2011. "

Some competitors, however, fear side effects. "The media effect Dukan has cast doubt on the effectiveness of all plans," laments Erick Moreau.Others, like the union's general secretary of dietetics, Jean-Loup Allain, relativize: "For 30 years I have been in the business, plans star there was every year. Dukan has simply replaced the previous ones. "

Dukan is the world

With its success, start-up runs on equity and did not have to organize a capital increase from an initial one million euros. Its international expansion is also financed his own money, said Eric Levasseur. Closely following the launch of the book "I'm not losing weight" in these markets, RégimeDukan.com is being launched in Russia, China, Poland, Germany. It has been online for one month in the United States. In addition, it is already present in Spain, the UK and Italy.

At the same time, Dukan is recruiting 10 persons in Russia, fifteen in the United States.In total, the start-up has between 30 and 40 people abroad, in addition to its fifty employees in France, plus thirty in the rest of Europe.


Comments Off