Current Events in June 2012

In recent years, technology and athletics have been moving closer and closer  together. Whether it's new aerodynamic, lightweight bicycles for cyclists or newly designed full-body swimsuits for competitive swimmers, many athletes aren't just relying on their natural ability to perform well anymore.

The latest technological advances for athletes come by way of Nike and Reebok, for both the fitness enthusiast and the golfer.

Reebok and the electronic company mc10 will be launching a new tracking sensor device for runners that the company claims is far better than previously released electronic armbands. Reebok says the new exercise device is thinner, lighter and more malleable, as it can bend and stretch while one is working out. Details of the new device are vague, but consumers can see for themselves how different the new armband is, as it's rumored to be released later this year.

mc10 is also releasing what it calls the Biostamp Sensing Sticker, that will be introduced in 2013, and the company says it can assist those with congestive heart failure, and sense just how the heart contracts. Diabetics can use the device to help detect hypoglycemia before it flares up, and first responders can use a "person-down" triage patch that can read vital signs and determine if quick medical assistance is needed.

"If you think about how data is collected from the body, it's by using clunky straps and boxy equipment," said mc10's CEO David Icke at a speaking engagement."mc10 is focused on advancing that so it's seamless, thin, invisible to the user and scalable for large scale manufacturing."

Putts and drives

Nike has also created a new technology for the golf enthusiast, as the Nike Gold 360 app allows golfers to score their game, improve their swing and share stats with other users. The app also tracks one's golf play by documenting driving distance, the average amounts of putts per hole, and also allows golfers to compare golf swings with friends or competitors. Users can also upload their golf game for other golfers to see and critique.

The app is also equipped with a training component, which gives tips on the golfer's body movement, and overall play. The idea of the app, Nike says, is to act as a virtual coach that will provide digital feedback for further improvement. The app is free for iPhone and iPod touch users at retail Apple stores.

With all of the technological advances in the sports world, it becomes increasingly harder for athletes and fitness enthusiast to perform at mediocre levels. Especially when further advancements are sure to be on the way.

Using your cell phone when you leave U.S. borders can be expensive. ConsumerAffairs has received many complaints from consumers over the years who encountered "bill shock" on their return from a trip.

Now, AT&T Wireless says it is introducing new international roaming packages it says will do away with bill shock. Beginning June 1, the updated packages allow customers to enjoy the convenience of data access on their AT&T device while traveling abroad in more than 130 countries at a significant cost savings.

In April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a bill shock Web site, alerting consumers to the charges imposed by various carriers.

AT&T's new international data package tiers are:

• 120 MB Data Global Add-on package for $30/month
• 300 MB Data Global Add-on package for $60/month
• 800 MB Data Global Add-on package for $120/month
• The overage rate for all packages is $30 for 120MB.

The company said the three international data packages are designed to give customers the freedom and flexibility to use their smartphone, tablet or laptop to stay in touch when they travel without incurring hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in roaming charges.

All the comforts of home

“We want our customers to experience the same level of wireless connectivity while traveling abroad as they do at home,” said Mark Collins, senior vice president, Data and Voice Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Whether they choose to surf the Internet, use GPS on their device, respond to emails, or update their social network status, we are making it more affordable than ever for them to enjoy data services internationally.”

AT&T already operates voice service in more than 225 countries. The company said its customers can travel around the world and make and receive calls on the same wireless number they use at home.

Before traveling outside the U.S., AT&T suggests visiting an AT&T store to determine if your wireless device will work in the country you are visiting. For example, to roam in Japan or South Korea, a 3G device that operates at 2100 MHz is required.

Also, verify that international roaming service is activated or, if you prefer, blocked.  

The Internet offers hours and hours of video content that consumers can view on their smartphones. But unless you have an unlimited data plan - and those are becoming quite rare these days - your movie-watching can put you over your data limit.

For example, most measured data plans now offer 2 GB or 5 GB of data per billing cycle. If you go over that amount, an overage charge kicks in, resulting in a higher bill.

To address that issue Netflix is updating its iOS app so that consumers watching video on their Apple devices, over 4G and LTE networks can limit their streaming. They can choose a setting so that they only watch video content when they are connected through a Wi-Fi network. That way, they can't use up all their allotted data from their carrier.

The app will work on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

In addition the company said the updated player includes the following features:

• A look and feel more consistent with the Netflix browse experience in our mobile applications 
• Larger, more separated play controls appropriate for how people use these devices 
• Better exploration during video play with thumbnail images on the scrub bar 
• Easy access for audio/subtitles settings and other existing player features 

 For subscribers in Canada Netflix said it also added easier "do not share" capability for Facebook-connected members.

In a blog posting, the company said it plans to issue similar updates to its app for Android devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook set tech tongues wagging this week when he spoke at the All Things Digital Conference. The take-away by those who heard Cook speak is that Apple is about to introduce the television set of the future.

"If you are in the market for a new TV, hold off," Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray's tech analyst said on CNBC. "Apple has a new product coming and it's going to be hot."

Cook actually did not come right out and say Apple will introduce a new TV. He mainly talked about Apple's current product, Apple TV.

"It's a key part of the ecosystem," Cook said. "It's an area of intense interest for us."

He also mentioned that Apple has "stuck in there" with its current TV product and that it has paid off.

"The customer satisfaction with that product is incredible, off the charts," Cook said. "So, we're going to keep pulling the string and see where it takes us."

What does it mean?

That could mean Apple is about to launch an entirely new TV product, or it could simply mean the company plans to refine the product is already has, which the late Steve Jobs at one point referred to as "a hobby."

Back in early January DigiTimes, a technology web publication, reported Apple suppliers had gotten the word to get ready to gear up for production of a new television product, code named iTV. Suppliers cited in the article said the TVs should go into production before the end of 2012. One of the sources says iTV will come in two screen sizes – 32 and 37 inches, not all that big by current standards.

In Walter Issacson's 2011 biography of Jobs, the author reported that Apple's design team was hard at work on a "connected" television -- one that would do for TV what Apple once did for the computer, cell phone and portable music player.

Jobs' vision

"I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. ... It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud," Jobs is quoted as saying. "It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”

Such a device would be much less dependent on traditional sources of content, such as over-the-air broadcast and cable. It would make it much easier to access and view content from the Internet.

The current Apple TV is basically a set-top box that works with other screens and monitors. Presumably a new Apple television product would be an actual "set," as they used to call them -- a self-contained box containing all the components.

While nothing definitive has been disclosed, tech writers and analysts who follow Apple's every move -- much like Kremlin-watchers back during the days of the Soviet Union -- believe an Apple TV could be on the market before the end of the year, just in time for holiday shopping.

Hey smokers, are you enjoying that cigarette right now? Well it soon might not be so enjoyable as cigarette prices are expected to see a tax increase and overall price hike in the very near future.

Cigarette packs are expected to see a rise somewhere in the range of 5 and 7 cents, according to the managing director at Wells Fargo Securities Bonnie Herzog. Philip Morris USA is rumored to be releasing a new cigarette price list, that will surely frustrate many smokers and probably cause them to need another cigarette. Talk about a catch-22.

In a survey from Wells Fargo Securities, it was shown that over 70 percent of respondents expect to see a rise in cigarette costs by the close of June, and states like Illinois and California could see prices increase even higher, as folks head to the polls to vote on Proposition 29. If the bill is passed, it would raise the state's excise tax from 87 cents to $1.87, and affect other tobacco products such as cigars, chewing tobacco and hand-rolled tobacco.

Illinois has also increased its state excise tax by $1 per pack, giving smokers another reason to quit, bringing the new state tax to $1.98.

Smokers endure

But as history suggests, smokers will more than likely accept the price hike, as past increases did little to assist smokers in quitting. Just like price hikes in foods, alcohol and other beverages did little to curb consumer want, cigarette tax hikes won't sway a person that still desires to inhale. Whether it stops children, which are the cigarette companies chief target, from smoking is arguable. However, such tax increases does provide states with needed funding for cancer and other types of health research.

Some states such as Massachusetts have said that cigarette tax hikes could save at least $1 billion in the state's long term health costs.

"The California proposed tax increase has had a higher profile as California has approximately 7 percent of the U.S.'s smoking population, nearly double Illinois' approximately 4 percent," said Herzog.

"Regardless, while tax increases may cause a temporary volume disruption, we feel that, after an initial shock, these increases would be absorbed as consumers become conditioned to accept higher price points. In other words, we don't see an incremental negative volume impact that would alter the long-term industry decline rate of approximately 3.5 percent."

"Further, all else equal, a tax increase would narrow the relative price gap between premium and discount brands which could actually soften potential downtrading pressure," she said.

If you're planning to do some summer travel this season, you may want to start booking those rooms right now, as travel reports suggests that U.S. consumers will be traveling in greater amounts this summer than in 2011.

At this year's Annual Leisure and Travel Summit, Best Western International, AAA and U.S. Travel Association, say that although summer travel will increase this season, consumers are still keeping a close look on what they decide to spend on travel.

"While the economy improves and more Americans will travel this summer, travelers are more discerning than ever and looking for great value add-ons such as free breakfast, parking and Wi-Fi, which is now the most important free hotel amenity for travelers," said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Best Western.

Best Western says that advance hotel bookings for Memorial through Labor Day, jumped to 21 percent, and duration of stay is up 4 percent over the last year. Experts also say the return of family travel has increased summer bookings, including multi-generational summer vacationing, which will increase the amount of tour groups and hotels that cater to families through specific promotions and amenities.

Resourceful and resilient

"Americans are resourceful and resilient and they are going to find a way this summer to have a great vacation experience," said Bill Sutherland, AAA vice president, travel services. "Last year we saw significant pent-up demand to travel after a few years of fewer people on the road due to the down economy. This year, we expect more people to travel as the summer goes on."

"That said," he added, "they will be looking for value, likely cutting back on entertainment, staying closer to home and perhaps trading in a Four-Diamond hotel for a Three-Diamond one."

AAA suggests that the most popular domestic travel destinations this summer will be Orlando, Honolulu, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Maui and New York, and while car rental rates are down, hotel rates will be up this summer. Oster says though outbound international travel is down this summer due to economic concerns, inbound U.S. travel is really starting to thrive.

"The average length of stay in the U.S. for overseas visitors is 17 days and most of these travelers are starting in gateway cities such as Los Angeles or New York before jumping off to other destinations throughout the U.S.," said Oster. "With Brand USA helping drive inbound travel, we are excited to welcome more international travelers and show them what a wonderful destination America is."

Sutherland agreed. "It's really a win-win to have international travelers come to visit our cities and spend money. Americans who are traveling domestically will also benefit as they visit these cities have financially benefitted from overseas tourists."

A lot of kids have their eyes set on college, but most still feel their parents are solely responsible for footing half of the bill.

The London based company Legal & General Investments, ran a study that suggests 28 percent of UK students expect at least half of their university fees to be picked up by their folks. In addition, only eight percent said they plan to pay college fees themselves by eventually getting a job.

This is a bit of a generational shift, as many students of the past associated college fees with getting work studies, side jobs or trying to get grants or scholarships. But as Bob Dylan once prophesized, the times are a'changing.

Well, they're kind of a'changing, as researchers found that over a quarter (26 percent) of children intend to assist their parents with college fees, and 18 percent of that same group say they will secure a part-time job and share the financial responsibility with mom and dad. Sadly, seven percent of children say college is merely a dream, and feel although they would like to attend, neither them or their families will be able to afford the costs.

The study consisted of 1,000 school children in the UK, between the ages of 6 through 15, and researchers say their answers provide keen insight into their plans for higher education and the necessary finances that will pay for it.

Significant support

"Our research shows that children expect significant financial support into adulthood," said Marketing Director of Legal & General Investments, Claire Evans. "University fees are at an all-time high and the cost to fund a child through a three year course can cost tens of thousands of pounds."

Evans also points towards the fact that it's really the parents responsibility to ensure their children will have the very best chance to thrive in an extremely competitive job market, that will more than likely be even more competitive by the time these young school children enter the university ranks.

In August of 2011, BBC News reported that the average debt for a student in the UK will be £53,000 (about $81,000) in 2012, and school fees increased by 6.4 percent from the previous year. With university fees growing at that fast of a rate, many families are concerned about being able to foot the bill by the time their younger children become college age.

"We believe that saving for your children's future is vital," said Evans. "Set against a backdrop of increased university tuition fees, it is paramount that preparations are in place to give children the very best start in adult life. All parents want to provide their children with choice and opportunity as they approach adulthood and ensuring money is available will help ease the transition."