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Turbo-boosted Beetle

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 16 Maret 2013 | 12.32

Sporty, quick and fuel-efficient — that sums up the 2013 VW Beetle TDI.

Based on the popular Golf architecture, the 2.0 liter, 140-horsepower Turbo Diesel offers pleasantly surprising performance. Driven through the upgraded DSG Automatic Transmission, or Direct Shift Gearbox, it can be wrung out for quick, sport-like driving or babied as an economical commuter car.

What's great about this car is watching the digital display counting out at least 35 mpg in mixed driving and a robust 39 on the highway. So even though diesel fuel costs more, the extra 10 mpg gained over gasoline models makes this an intriguing choice.

The flat metal dash and tiny glovebox highlight the throwback interior, which is a bit spartan in places, but the controls are well-placed and intuitive. The rear seat straps also pay homage to the cars of yesteryear, but remain helpful when clambering out of the very tight rear seats. The good news: The trunk has more space now. The rigid and bench-like leatherette front seats are a disappointment. A more supportive seat would make the driving experience better: Go with cloth for more comfort. The squared-off steering wheel with its easy infotainment controls makes you want to run this Bug through a weekend rally.

Thanks for the heated seats, but the car interior eventually warms and then roasts you! As high schoolers we rattled around in a mid-'60s era Bug and had to use an ice scraper on the interior window. Looks like this Bug is plagued by erratic heating, too.

The handling is crisp and sure with just the right amount of feedback to the driver, and the electronic braking distribution system delivers nice, solid stopping power. The electronic stability and independent strut suspension keeps the Bug flat on turns with little body roll. The torquey diesel accelerates quickly with just enough turbo gurgle to let you know that this is not one of the air-cooled bangers from the '60s. This is a good engine, and it produces. Step on it for immediate response, and the Bug scoots swiftly into traffic.

Our tester was the base DSG TDI, so for $24,395 you get a nicely packaged coupe that includes satellite-ready stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and 
17-inch wheels. Upgrades will get you navigation, sunroof and the Fender stereo. However, the hands-free phone is miserable. It's difficult to understand and callers had a difficult time hearing me.


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Court gives OK for wharf eatery

Redevelopment of Boston's Long Wharf pavilion into a waterfront restaurant — seven years in the making — is a step closer thanks to a decision by Massachusetts' highest court.

Restaurateur Michael Conlon and the Boston Redevelopment Authority welcomed yesterday's Supreme Judicial Court ruling that the pavilion doesn't constitute a public park and its redevelopment doesn't require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

"We look forward to moving ahead with the BRA on this project, which we believe will benefit the city, the waterfront and the neighborhood," Conlon said in a statement.

In 2007, Conlon's Eat Drink Laugh Restaurant Group was the winning bidder for a 10-year lease of the pavilion, which is slated to be enclosed and expanded to make way for Doc's Long Wharf, a 220-seat casual, moderately priced eatery.

The next year, the state issued a Chapter 91 waterways license to the BRA for the redevelopment of the pavilion, which sits atop an MBTA ventilation shaft.

But a group of 10 North Enders appealed the license and eventually filed suit in Superior Court in 2010. They argued the state Department of Environmental Protection acted unconstitutionally and beyond its authority in issuing the license without legislative approval, which is needed when land taken for open space is used for other purposes.

The BRA argued that it took the land by eminent domain in 1970 as part of a waterfront urban renewal plan to eliminate blight and stimulate development.

A Superior Court judge sided with the North End residents, and the BRA waged an appeal.

"We are pleased with the SJC's decision," BRA director Peter Meade said in a statement. "It paves the way for yet another great destination on the edge of the Boston Harbor."

The SJC sent the case back to Superior Court to heed the North End residents' request for review of the Chapter 91 license.

"They will have to litigate the Chapter 91 legal claim and consider litigating alleged violations of federal law," said Gregor McGregor, the residents' attorney, referring to legal requirements tied to federal funding for Long Wharf improvements.


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They’re married all year – to the IRS

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 15 Maret 2013 | 12.32

Tax season is upon us and the Herald's TaxSmart experts are here each Friday to help.

Today, Norwood CPA Robert Fineman discusses how married couples can cope with filing statuses.

I got married toward the end of 2012. My wife and I had already bought a house together the previous year. We don't have children.

Since we were only married for a short time in 2012, I'm confused as to how we should file. Am I single or married? Sort of married? Not quite single? Do I have to file differently for the different time periods? It all seems problematic.

— Mark Irving

I have good news. The answer to your complicated question is actually very simple.

Your filing status for the entire year is whatever your marital status is on the last day of the year. For example, if you get married on Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m., you are considered married, for tax purposes, for the entire year.

Generally, "Married Filing Jointly" is the more favorable status as opposed to "Married Filing Separately." Couples filing separately reach the 28 percent, 33 percent and 35 percent tax brackets much sooner than those filing jointly.

Certain deductions and credits are not available to taxpayers who elect to file separately, such as student loan interest deductions, college tuition deductions, the American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Also, taxpayers filing jointly can deduct capital losses of up to $3,000 per year, compared to $1,500 if filing separately.

Email tax questions 
to bizsmart@boston
herald.com.


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Rooms with a view of St. Pat’s Day fun

Rooms with a view of St. Pat's Day fun

Once a year, a select group of Southie residents have front-row seats to the neighborhood's storied St. Patrick's Day parade.

Tens of thousands flood the sidewalks and fill the windows along Broadway, East Fourth, East Fifth and Dorchester streets as green floats, bagpipers and marching bands pass by.

It's too late to settle into a piece of property along the parade route in time for Sunday's Irish festivities, but here's a sampling of residences on the market with their asking prices, listed from start to finish:

258 West Broadway, Unit 1 — $365,000. Located two blocks from the Broadway MBTA station, this 1,100-square-foot loft with possibilities to be a live/work place offers 13-foot ceilings and exposed brick. The one-bedroom property also has exclusive use of a rear patio area and a shared roof deck. The monthly condo fee is $110 per month. Terry Hillery of Commonwealth Coastal Real Estate is the listing agent.

399 West Broadway, Unit 4 — $529,000. This 1,260-square-foot condo with two bedrooms and two bathrooms has an open floor plan featuring a living and dining room, along with a wood-burning fireplace and custom built-ins. The home has 10-foot-high ceilings, walnut-stained floors and a third bedroom that has been converted to a custom walk-in closet. There is also a large roof deck with views of downtown Boston. The monthly condo fee is $285. Listed by John Collins Capital Residential Group.

796 East Fourth St. — $939,000. This is only the second time in 100 years this magnificent 4,175-square-foot Victorian home near City Point has been available for sale. The eight-bedroom residence has four levels and 12-foot-high ceilings with original mill work, three marble fireplaces and stained glass window doors. There is also a private backyard. The property was the setting for the 2009 film "The Box," starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. Listed by Mike Sullivan and Stephen Hussey of Meridian Realty Group.

689 East Fourth St., Unit 2 — $729,000. This is one of seven newly constructed condos in a building at the corner of K Street. The 2,100-square-foot property fills two levels and features three bedrooms, three full baths and central heat and air conditioning. Units come with two deeded parking spaces. The monthly condo fee is $275. Listed by Jackie Rooney of Rooney Real Estate.

362 Dorchester St., Unit 3 — $459,000. This penthouse duplex has two bedrooms, two baths and two sunny decks. Built/renovated in 2005, the 1,109-square-foot condo features a chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances, stone counters, marble baths, recessed accent lighting, hardwood floors and a gas fireplace. Garage parking is available for $200 per month. Listed with the Ranco & DeAngelo team at Hammond Residential.

Jennifer Athas, a licensed real estate broker, can be reached on Twitter 
@JenAthas.


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Cocktails will flow year-round in Frost’s cool setting

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 14 Maret 2013 | 12.32

Customers can expect a cool reception at Boston's newest attraction this spring.

Frost Ice Bar — where everything but the floor and ceiling will be made of ice — is under construction in a building near Faneuil Hall in preparation for a June opening.

The 1,500-square-foot bar, similar to the Minus5 ice bars in Las Vegas, will be a chilly 17 degrees.

"Most of them that have been done are temporary outdoor ones, but this is going to be year-round indoors," said Cindy Brown, CEO of the Frost Group, the Hub company building the bar. "Interestingly, it's not as cold as it sounds, given there's no humidity or wind. It's amazingly comfortable."

The bar is taking shape in former office space on the third floor of the north building, above the American Eagle store, at Marketplace Center, which borders the Greenway on the east end of Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Customers will check into a retail area and don hooded capes and gloves before entering a 32-degree "transition room" for about a minute to get acclimated to a cooler temperature and receive brief instructions.

"Then the doors open, and you're kind of wowed by a beautiful cave all made of ice — the walls, the furniture, the actual bar, the glasses for the drinks," Brown said. "It will have beautiful sound, beautiful lights ... ice sculptures, and you can get your photos taken."

A Canadian company is constructing the bar's ice components and will ship them to Boston, while Brookline Ice Co. will handle the artistic end, supplying ice sculptures and specialty logos for private parties.

Customers will be admitted about every 15 minutes for a 45-minute stay in the 115-capacity bar. The Frost Group is considering a $29 admission charge, which would include one drink.

The cocktail menu will include about eight Boston-themed drinks that will rotate seasonally. It will be 21-plus after 5 p.m., but will admit adults with kids age 6 and older, and serve non-alcoholic drinks, before then.

The Frost Ice Bar will cater to locals and tourists alike. Brown said she plans cross-marketing with Boston Duck Tours, which she co-owns and is part owner of the bar.


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Roxbury grocer aims to triple size with $44M plan

Madison Park Development Corp. and Tropical Foods International hope to start construction by July on their $44 million mixed-used project in Roxbury's Dudley Square.

The companies have filed a "letter of intent" to the Boston Redevelopment Authority for the 2.75-acre development. The $14 million first phase will be a new home for Tropical Foods, an urban supermarket that has operated in Dudley Square since 1974.

"It's only fair to our customers that we get that new store so we can give them the shopping experience that they deserve," co-owner Ronn Garry Jr. said. "It's also a good sign, in this day and age — when independent (grocers) such as Johnnie's Foodmaster and Hi-Lo are going out of business — to see an independent that's willing to expand and build new."

Garry hopes to open the "long overdue" store by late 2014, with offerings including a deli, bakery, fresh seafood and prepared foods.

The developers say city and state approvals are time-sensitive. Bank of America's financing is contingent on the phase-one construction loan closing by July.

The new Tropical Foods, with 27,000 square feet of retail, will be more than triple the size of the current market, which draws 14,000 shoppers weekly.

"People call us the 'United Nations,' " Garry said, noting Tropical Foods' Caribbean, black American, and Central and South American customers. "But we're not just an ethnic store; we're a full-service supermarket."

Bordering Melnea Cass Boulevard, Washington Street and Shawmut Avenue, the project covers four parcels owned by Tropical Foods and vacant land, called Parcel 10, owned by the BRA and state Department of Transportation.

The project's estimated $17 million second phase will be a 54,000-square-foot building with office and retail. Madison Park scrapped a wing of 36 residential units there.

"Part of the reason for some of the design changes was that the city is widening Melnea Cass Boulevard because they're planning a bus lane down the middle," Madison Park CEO Jeanne Pinado said.

The nonprofit has yet to secure financing for the building or the third phase — a $14 million rehab of the Tropical Foods building into 30 subsidized apartments and first-floor retail.


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Harvard Poll: U.S. losing its zeal

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 13 Maret 2013 | 12.32

Harvard Poll: U.S. losing its zeal

Business leaders are warning that the federal budget morass is one symptom of a far more troubling problem: long-term challenges to U.S. competitiveness that are sapping America's strengths, according to a Harvard Business School survey.

The poll of nearly 7,000 alumni business leaders and more than 1,000 members of the public found that business leaders foreseeing a decline in competitiveness outnumbered — by more than two to one — those predicting an improvement.

While the members of the public were more optimistic, they agreed with business leaders about the greatest weaknesses in the nation's business environment, including America's K-to-12 education system, tax code and political system.

"It's very hopeful that we see such consensus. ... On the other hand, it does raise the question: Why can't we get things done?" said Jan W. Rivkin, the Bruce V. Rauner professor at Harvard Business School and one of the study's authors. "We're in a period of real gridlock in Washington. ... We should be paying more attention to the challenges to U.S. competitiveness."

Across the political spectrum, Rivkin said, business leaders and the public called on President Obama and Congress to:

• put the federal budget on a sustainable path, one that includes both revenue increases and spending control;

• reform the corporate tax code by reducing statutory rates and eliminating loopholes;

• make a sustained effort to improve America's infrastructure;

• address distortions of the international trading system that puts the United States at a disadvantage; and

• develop a responsible framework for tapping newly accessible gas and oil reserves, a framework that balances both the economy and the environment.

Business leaders additionally supported moves by Washington to streamline regulations and ease immigration rules for highly skilled workers.

The survey also assessed what businesses are doing to improve the nation's competitiveness and found that the ones most likely to take steps were manufacturers, followed by education and health-care organizations.

Financial service firms were least likely to act, the survey found.

"Business is stepping up to do its role, but there's still a lot more they can do," Rivkin said, "not out of patriotism or altruism, but because it makes good business sense."


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Ready for spring

Surrounded by flowers, exhibitor Liz Behrend of The Cass School of Floral Design in 
Watertown puts the final touches on a selection of delphinium in preparation for The 
Boston Flower & Garden Show, which kicks off today at the Seaport World Trade Center.


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Yo! kicks into gear as Fung Wah still stalled

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 12 Maret 2013 | 12.32

With Fung Wah still out of service, Greyhound revved up a bid to dominate the discount passenger bus market between Boston and New York City with yesterday's expansion of its Yo! brand.

"Fung Wah had been a thorn in Greyhound's side for years, so they were ready to attack Fung Wah, anyway," said Joe Schwieterman, a bus industry expert and transportation professor at DePaul University. "The timing is opportune."

Yo!, which launched last year and is jointly run by Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines, will offer six daily nonstop round-trips between Boston's South Station and New York's Chinatown starting Thursday. The bus line already offered service between the Big Apple and Philadelphia.

"Boston is a great market for us," said Yo! spokesman Timothy Stokes. "We always evaluate all markets we operate in to see where maybe our service would be a success in the area, and we think Boston would do that."

The arrival of Yo! in Boston was decided before Fung Wah's 28 buses were ordered off the road by government safety regulators earlier this month, Stokes said.

Greyhound previously went after the low-priced competition with its BoltBus service, but has been "fighting a losing battle" against the Fung Wahs of the world for years over cost savings, Schwieterman said.

"BoltBus won back many of the young professionals and some of the students, but Asian carriers still often had a price advantage," he said. "Not a big one, but five bucks or so makes a difference for a student."

Schwieterman added Greyhound still faces "fierce" competition in the New York-Boston travel market, a "crown jewel of discount bus service," as lines such as Megabus and Lucky Star also offer daily reduced-fare trips to New York City.

"I think (Yo!) will mostly remain a niche product," he said. "This looks good, but it's still risky."

Yo!'s amenities include guaranteed seats, extra legroom with leather seating, free Wi-Fi and power outlets. One-way ticket prices will range from $20 to $24, depending on the day and time of the week.

There are currently eight buses in the Yo! fleet, but officials remain unsure of how many will operate through Boston, Stokes said.

"There is a possibility that the service will consist of Yo! buses, Greyhound buses and Peter Pan buses to accommodate the recent demand for the service," Stokes said. "Although the livery of the buses may be different on some schedules, the buses will all consist of the same amenities."


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Judge strikes down NYC ban on supersized sodas

NEW YORK — A judge struck down New York City's pioneering ban on big sugary drinks Monday just hours before it was supposed to take effect, handing a defeat to health-minded Mayor Michael Bloomberg and creating uncertainty for restaurants that had already ordered smaller cups and changed their menus.

State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling said the 16-ounce limit on sodas and other sweet drinks arbitrarily applies to only some sugary beverages and some places that sell them.

"The loopholes in this rule effectively defeat the stated purpose of this rule," Tingling wrote in a 36-page ruling that examined the scope of power that should be afforded an administrative board for regulations. The ruling was seen as a victory for the beverage industry, restaurants and other business groups that called the rule unfair and wrong-headed.

In addition, the judge said the Bloomberg-appointed Board of Health intruded on the City Council's authority when it imposed the rule, citing in part a case from the 1980s which questioned whether a state public health council had the authority to regulate smoking in public places.

The city vowed to appeal the decision, issued by New York state's trial-level court.

"We believe the judge is totally in error in how he interpreted the law, and we are confident we will win on appeal," Bloomberg said, adding that the city would emphasize to higher courts "that people are dying every day. This is not a joke."

For now, though, the ruling means the ax won't fall Tuesday on supersized sodas, sweetened teas and other high-sugar beverages in restaurants, movie theaters, corner delis and sports arenas.

"The court ruling provides a sigh of relief to New Yorkers and thousands of small businesses in New York City that would have been harmed by this arbitrary and unpopular ban," the American Beverage Association and other opponents said.

While some eateries had held off making changes because of the court challenge, some restaurants had begun using smaller glasses for full-sugar soda. Dunkin' Donuts shops have been telling customers they will have to sweeten and flavor their own coffee. Coca-Cola has printed posters explaining the rules.

Frames Bowling Lounge developed — and is keeping — a slate of fresh-squeezed juices as an alternative to pitchers of sodas for family parties, investing staff time, buying new glasses and changing menus.

"All that cost a lot of money — but you have to go with the flow," executive general manager Ayman Kamel said. Customers have started calling about the new juices, and "we're all very excited about it," he added.

Bloomberg urged businesses to comply despite the court ruling, and not just because the city may yet prevail.

"If you know what you're doing is harmful to people's health, common sense says if you care, you might want to stop doing that," he said.

The first of its kind in the country, the restriction has sparked reaction from pizzeria counters to late-night talk shows, celebrated by some as a bold attempt to improve people's health and derided by others as another "nanny state" law from Bloomberg during his 11 years in office.

On the "Late Show with David Letterman" Monday night, Bloomberg defended the ban but he also joked about his own "addiction."

"As long as you don't ban Cheez-Its," he said. "Cheese-Its are OK. That's my addiction."

On his watch, the city has compelled chain restaurants to post calorie counts, barred artificial trans fats in restaurant food and prodded food manufacturers to use less salt. The city has successfully defended some of those initiatives in court.

Because of the limits of city authority and exemptions made for other reasons, the ban on supersized beverages doesn't cover alcoholic drinks or many lattes and other milk-based concoctions, and it doesn't apply at supermarkets or many convenience stores — including 7-Eleven, home of the Big Gulp.

The rule, if upheld, would create an "administrative leviathan," warned Tingling, who was elected to the Supreme Court bench in 2001 as a Democrat.

The health board has considerable regulatory power, but its limits will likely be a central question in the appeal.

"I think it turns on whether the appellate division feels that the mayor has gone too far in ruling by decree in bypassing City Council," said Rick Hills, a New York University law professor who has been following the case.

In defending the rule, city officials point to the city's rising obesity rate — about 24 percent of adults, up from 18 percent in 2002 — and to studies tying sugary drinks to weight gain.

The judge acknowledged the impact of obesity on the city's residents, and noted that those bringing suit likewise didn't dispute obesity is a significant health issue, but questioned how much sugary drinks can be blamed for it. Ultimately the judge said whether the issue of obesity is an epidemic is not the key issue here, but whether the board of health has the jurisdiction to decide that obesity is such an issue that it could issue a cap on consumption of sugary drinks.

The judge found that the regulation was "laden with exceptions based on economic and political concern."

Critics said the measure is too limited to have a meaningful effect on New Yorkers' waistlines. And they said it would take a bite out of business for the establishments that had to comply, while other places would still be free to sell sugary drinks in 2-liter bottles and supersized cups.

The city had said that while restaurant inspectors would start enforcing the soda size rule in March, they wouldn't seek fines — $200 for a violation — until June.

The ruling "serves as a major blow to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's incessant finger-wagging," said J. Justin Wilson at the Center for Consumer Freedom, created by restaurants and food companies. "New Yorkers should celebrate this victory by taking a big gulp of freedom."

Jose Perez, a fifth-grade special education teacher in Manhattan who was getting a hot dog and can of soda from a street vendor, called the ruling "dead-on."

"Really, I think it's just big government getting in the way of people's rights," he said. "I think it's up to the person. If they want to have a giant soda, that's their business."

___

Associated Press writers Meghan Barr and Deepti Hajela contributed to this story.

___

Follow Jennifer Peltz at http://twitter.com/jennpeltz


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Fine-tuning fine dining preferences

Written By Unknown on Senin, 11 Maret 2013 | 12.32

A Cambridge startup is making it easier for diners to choose from the 200-plus eateries participating in Boston's Winter Restaurant Week this month.

Nara Logics aims to become for restaurants what Pandora is for music.

After users of Nara's website or mobile application answer a few questions, an algorithm uses the information to create their "personal digital DNA" and match their tastes to restaurants. Nara developed a special filter for Restaurant Week to narrow the field.

"We're a personalized web engine," CEO Tom Copeman said. "We like to say we're 'Pandorifying' other key consumer lifestyle categories on the Web, and we're starting with restaurants."

Users can fine-tune their dining preferences by giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to restaurants.

Searching the Web is so 20 years ago, according to Copeman. Now it's about "finding and getting something recommended to you," he said. "We're sort of the Match.com between restaurant and consumers."

Nara's patented "Nara Neural Network" is powered by an artificial intelligence-like architecture that trolls sites and emulates users' thinking patterns.

In stealth mode for two years, Nara made its public debut last June and launched its products in November. The company generates revenue from users who book restaurant reservations on OpenTable, order takeout from GrubHub or book a ride from Uber through its site. The company also has fielded interest from companies interested in using Nara's technology to power their own sites, Copeman said.

Nara's restaurant recommendation engine is available in 50 North American cities, and the company plans to expand into areas such as shopping and hotels.

Nara has $7 million in funding to date, led by Boston investment advisory firm Account Management.

"I don't do many startups," Account Management founder Peter de Roetth said. "I invest in people, and it was the combination of (Copeman and CTO Nathan Wilson)."


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Google now hits homer

One year since the launch of Android's virtual helper Google Now, Apple has failed to hit back with anything remotely as intuitive. Although it's the most robust smartphone assistant to date, Google Now has been sort of a quiet success.

On a recent trip to escape the cold weather, Google Now became a trusted sidekick. It knew I had been researching activities at my destination and provided me with unsolicited information on the topic. At the airport, Now gave me a nice surprise by displaying my digital boarding pass. A person on my flight asked me what the point was, and I didn't really know the answer until my gate changed, and Google Now updated the boarding pass automatically.

This may seem kind of magical to some, but it's really not. Think about how intimately our smartphones know us: our search history, what we read, who we talk to, where we go. Yet most remain indifferent to this knowledge. Google Now changes that. The subtle reminders from Google Now come in the form of "cards" that take on different themes, like the weather and your daily commute to work. Right now there are only a few dozen of these so-called cards. But as Google continues to develop this feature and when it opens up cards to third-party developers, you really will start to see Google Now take off.

The search giant has shown that it understands the future isn't just about providing the next beautiful-looking device; it's about deeper integration with the user and lessening friction points of daily tasks.

For instance, I shouldn't have to open an app to search for movie times, nor should I have to navigate to my e-ticket. My phone already has all the data about when I'm going to need that ticket. Google Now acts on that information. Of course, the tradeoff here is privacy. We need to continue keeping Google accountable on that front. And although Google Now wasn't always perfect, the hiccups are tolerable because the more you use it, the smarter it gets. That's more than I can say for any other virtual assistant, Apple's much-beloved Siri included. Though it's probably more correlation than cause, each company's stock value seems to have responded in kind.


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Co. offers cash rewards 
for comparison shopping

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 10 Maret 2013 | 12.32

Co. offers cash rewards 
for comparison shopping

There was a time when small businesses took out ads in the Yellow Pages to get noticed. Today, they find themselves competing with national companies for attention online. But a new website founded by two Bay State entrepreneurs offers an alternative.

Inforpaid is a comparison-shopping site that allows small businesses to pay serious customers just for checking them out. Businesses offer cash rewards to shoppers and, if a purchase is made, the customer collects the money from all the firms considered.

"As a small business, it's very hard to compete with national players," said
 Renan Levy, who launched the website this month with co-founder Meny Elany. "(Small businesses) spend money on things that don't work, and they get frustrated. With Inforpaid, we redirect some of the money they would have spent on marketing to customers."

Inforpaid contracts with nearly 120 Greater Boston businesses in four categories — insurers, accountants, mortgage companies and financial advisers — but plans to add more categories, such as moving companies and car dealerships, in the coming months.

People can choose to be contacted by up to three businesses per category. Each business decides the amount of the cash reward to offer. (Currently, rewards range from $10.50 to $35.)

If a person closes a transaction and the business confirms the sale, Inforpaid sends a check to the person for the reward amounts from each business compared. The website also collects a separate fee.

"If it gets the phone to ring a few more times, I feel I have a really good chance of winning that business," said Rick Scherer, vice president of sales at MSA Mortgage in Winthrop.

Like Scherer, Frank Keaney Jr., a manager at Amity Insurance in Quincy, said most of his leads have traditionally come from referrals. To drum up more business, Amity tried to increase the visibility of its website and the company's presence on social media.

"We were getting some leads, but not as much as we would have liked," Keaney said. "Inforpaid seemed to be a great idea to drive business. I think it's going to be a win-win for everyone — for us, for Inforpaid and for clients."


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Catholic faithful get wired for papal selection

The vote to select a new pope may remain shrouded in secrecy — the Vatican even installed special jamming equipment to block cellphone use inside the Sistine Chapel — but for the Catholic faithful who want to follow the papal election in real time, there's more than one app for that.

Since Pope Benedict XVI announced he was resigning last month, apps such as Conclave, iConclave, Popechart and Conclave Alert have sprung up, allowing mobile and tablet users to view photographs and biographies of all the eligible pope candidates, watch live webcams in St. Peter's Square for signals of white smoke for a new pope, follow the papal chatter on Twitter and vote on their pick for a new church leader.

"The interesting dynamic this time around is the conclave has become a much more communal event," said Brandon Vogt, a Catholic blogger based in Orlando. "Tools like this will allow people to watch in real time. Now you're going to have millions of people who will know right when it happens. As soon as the pope is announced, we're going to have access to an incredible amount of material. I'll be able to talk immediately on Twitter and Facebook with hundreds of my friends. In 2005, those sort of reactions took days and weeks to roll out."

Vogt told the Herald he plans to watch webcam feeds from the Vatican and has signed up with Pope Alarm, a text and email alert, which advertises that "When the smoke goes up, you'll know what's going down."

Vogt, one of the bloggers invited to the Vatican in 2011 to consult with church leaders on how to use new technology, said the church has embraced social media and even released its own Pope App in January complete with speeches and the pope's event schedule.

In recent years other Catholic leaders have been following the lead of technology trailblazers such as Boston's Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, the first cardinal with a personal blog and the author of the foreword for Vogt's book, "The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet."

"This is really the first crop of cardinals that are Internet savvy with 10 cardinals that have personal Twitter accounts," said Vogt. "I think we're seeing a new movement with the cardinals and the pope and his successor leading the way."


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