Who Will Disrupt Real Estate? | TechCrunch

I don?t even want to imagine what looking for a house was like in the 80s. Over the last few years, Zillow, Trulia, Redfin and others have done a lot to make more information available to those who want to buy and sell their homes. Today, I can easily get an alert on my phone when a house comes on the market. Indeed, I?ll probably know about it long before our real estate agent does. In a competitive market, that can be a big advantage over less tech savvy buyers. It?s just as easy to look at comparable and figure out if a price has any wiggle room for negotiations or if a house is badly overpriced for its neighborhood.

That?s all great ? and I really can?t imagine what house hunting would be like without Redfin?s mobile app, for example. It seems, however, that this is about as far as real estate startups go. With their IPOs, Zillow and Trulia have obviously shown that you can build a very successful startup in the real estate information world ? though it?s worth noting that both of them have lately put a lot of emphasis on rentals, too. In their current form, however, most real estate startups remain squarely within the confines of providing users with more information and traditional agents with leads. That?s great, but there?s so much more startups could to do shake up the real estate market.

Redfin, too, is rumored to be looking at an IPO, but unlike most of its competitors, the Seattle-based company describes itself as ?technology-powered real estate brokerage? and as such, it has the advantage of being able to give its users just about the same kind of information an agent would get from a local Multiple Listing Service. Even though many users probably look at Redfin as a direct competitor to Zillow, the company actually works with local agents to let you schedule tours of houses and walk you through the buying process. In the end, though, Redfin?s website is basically a sophisticated lead generation tools for its agents and while the company clearly has traction in the relatively limited number of markets it operates in, it won?t put your local Century 21, Prudential or Windermere office out of business anytime soon.

So where is the real disruption in real estate? Startups are taking on commercial real estate and apartment rentals all the time, but when it comes to private properties, we?re still basically stuck with the same sales model today as somebody who bought a house in the 60s. We?re still working with agents and pay them fees (directly as least as sellers ? and indirectly as buyers), even though we often know more about a house and neighborhood then they do. They do, however, have the key to the house we want to see and unless there?s an open house, there is basically no other way to get into a place that?s for sale.

Real estate transactions are big and complicated (and you can bet your agent will often remind you that it?s the biggest financial decision you?ll ever make), but where is the startup that tries to change this or at least tries to make some aspects easier and more transparent? Sure, it?s a well-regulated industry with plenty of (local) quirks, but the same could be said for taxis and it looks like some companies have been able to change that landscape pretty effectively. If Airbnb can rent out houses, there sure must be a way to at least make home showings easier in the age of Lockitron (once it starts shipping) and internet-connected surveillance.

Don?t get me wrong ? there are plenty of good real estate agents out there, but I can?t help but think that in the long run, real estate agents will go the way of travel agents. There will also be a need for a few good ones that can help you out in special circumstances and some people will always want to rely on them instead of handling things themselves. It took some ambitious startups to change how we book our travel today and it?ll take even more ambitious startups to change real estate as we know it.

There is a huge opportunity here, however, and I?m looking forward to seeing somebody try to really shake things up.

Photo credit: Images_of_Money

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/04/who-will-disrupt-real-estate/

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Barack Obama overrules Apple import ban

Barack Obama's trade representative has vetoed an import ban on some Apple iPads and older iPhones, in a setback to rival South Korean electronics company Samsung.

US Trade Representative Michael Froman overruled a June decision by the US International Trade Commission, which had banned imports of the iPhone 4 and some variations of the iPad 2.

The commission ruled that the Chinese-made Apple devices violated a patent held by Samsung and could not be imported. But the ban never went into effect, because the Obama administration had 60 days to decide if it would uphold the commission.

President Obama is against import bans on the basis of the type of patent at issue in the Samsung case. The White House has recommended that Congress limit the ITC's ability to impose import bans in these cases.

Samsung and Apple are in a global legal battle over smartphones. Apple argues Samsung's Android phones copy vital iPhone features and Samsung is fighting back with its own complaints.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said the company applauded the administration "for standing up for innovation". A message seeking comment from Samsung was not returned.

In a letter to the commission Mr Froman said he had concerns about patent holders having too much leverage over competitors that use their technology under licences.

Companies license patented technology to competitors so the devices can communicate as part of an industry standard for mobile phones. Under the "standards-essential patent" legal theory prevailing in US courts, holders of such patents are obligated to license them to all-comers on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory" terms.

US courts have ruled that such patents cannot be the basis for import bans. The International Trade Commission follows a different standard than the courts, but the Obama administration wants it to follow the same principles.

Mr Froman wrote that he shared the Obama administration's concerns that the holders of standards-essential patents could get "undue leverage" over their competitors.

Last year, a federal court ruled that Samsung owed Apple one billion dollars in damages for infringing on non-essential Apple patents. But the judge refused to impose an import ban on Samsung phones and later struck 450 million dollars from the verdict, saying the jurors miscalculated. The case is set for a rematch in the appeal court.

Samsung is the world's largest maker of smartphones. Analysts estimate it outsold Apple nearly two to one in the first three months of the year. However, Apple's smartphone business is more profitable.

The iPhone 4 was launched in 2010 and is the oldest iPhone still sold by Apple. The ITC ruling applied only to the AT&T version of the phone. Apple is likely to retire the model.

Apple launched the iPad 2 in 2011. The ruling applies only to the version equipped with a mobile modem for AT&T's network.

The ruling also applies to older iPhones, though these are no longer sold by Apple.

AP

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/266/f/3492/s/2f880c10/sc/21/l/0L0Sindependent0O0Cnews0Cworld0Camericas0Cbarack0Eobama0Eoverrules0Eapple0Eimport0Eban0E87451580Bhtml/story01.htm

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Now You Can Live Stream On YouTube Without Being A Queen Bee

The internet is a constant popularity contest, and everyone is trying to collect followers, friends, shares, likes, hearts, views, +1s etc. You know the soul crushing drill. But YouTube wants to change the conversation. They've lowered the bar so you only need 100 or more subscribers to be able to live stream.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/now-you-can-live-stream-on-netflix-without-being-a-quee-1018733261

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Monster Truck Nationals a Hit with Fans at Lucas Oil Speedway!

Current Category : News and Headlines : Racing :

Wheatland, Missouri - July 28th, 2013 -They say a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few photos that sum up the amazing Monster Truck Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway. For the second year in a row, fans of all ages were thrilled with the smashing, crashing, banging, high jumping, engine roaring excitement of the Lucas Oil Monster Truck Nationals! The night kicked off with an awesome Party in the Pit and Autograph session, plus rides in the Raminator Ride-A-Long Monster Truck.

In opening ceremonies Lucas Oil welcomed home Jessica Carter, who returned from an 11 month tour of duty in Kuwait. Jessica surprised her family as the crowd roared with appreciation.

Special thanks to Chris Bork with CB Race Photos for capturing a great night at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

Up next at Lucas Oil Speedway is the Racing to Save the Hunt Night presented by the NWTF. Join the National Wildlife Turkey Federation "Race to Save the Hunt" at Lucas Oil Speedway for the Weekly Championship Racing Series on?August 3rd. The NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage. Also, it is Public Safety Appreciation Night as all Police, Fire, and Rescue Personnel are admitted FREE to the Speedway with ID. The ALPS Food Stores Late Models, the Pitts Homes A-Modifieds, the Carson's Corner Napa Factory Stocks, and the Tri-Lakes RV B-Mods will all be in action. The Pitts Homes A-Modifieds will be the evening's featured class as the Top Open Wheel Modified drivers in the region hit the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" for a special 25 Lap, $750 to win Main Event courtesy of Clearlight Inn.

**Please note, this is also a double feature night for the ALPS Food Stores ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds and the Tri-Lakes RV B-Mods from the rain forced early night on July 20th. Pit gates will open at?3 PM. Racing will begin 1 hour earlier.**

Saturday, August 3rd, 2013?Event Information

Gates open at?5:00, Hot Laps at?6:00, and racing at?6:30. **Note schedule adjustment for double-features**

Adults (16 and up) $12
Seniors (62 and up) $8
Youth (6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family Pass $25?
Pit Pass $25

For complete event information and to keep up with the latest news at Lucas Oil Speedway, visit?LucasOilSpeedway.com. ?

2013 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

AAA Missouri

"The Official Auto Club" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Bill Roberts Chevrolet

"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper?

"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

iON Cameras

"The Official Camera" of Lucas Oil Speedway

The lightest, fastest, fully-waterproof HD action camera on the market

?E3 Spark Plugs

"The Official Spark Plug" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

GEICO?

"The Official Insurance" of Lucas Oil Speedway

General Tire?

"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Lucas Oil Products?

"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

?MAVTV?

"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway?

Optima Batteries?

"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway???

Speedco?

"The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels?

"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2013 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:

AAA Missouri, A-1 Disposal, A & G Electric, Advanced Automotive Repair, All About Smiles, ?ALPS Food Stores, American Broadband, American Racer Race Tires, Amerigas of Bolivar, ?Andy's Frozen Custard, Anglers Port Marine, Ash Grove Aggregates, Bank of Urbana, Big Surf Water Park, Bill Roberts Chevrolet/Buick, Bridal Cave, Budweiser, Carson's Corner Napa Auto Parts, Casey's General Stores, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Clearlight Inn, Eibach Springs, Elite Auto Repair, Fast Shafts, Friendly Fuel America, Frog Signs, G2 Gemini, Gathering Place, Goody's Resort, Great Southern Bank-Weaubleau, Harbor Campground & Marina, Heart of America Beverage, Hermitage Lumber, Hobby Time Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Hot Rod Processing, Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps,?inthepits.net, JH Custom Wheel & Accessory, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lucas Cattle Company, MFA Bolivar, Midwest Low-E Insulation, Midwest Sheet Metal, Missouri Baptist Convention, Nemo Marina, Nemo Quarry, O'Bannon Bank, Old Kinderhook, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Harley-Davidson, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Petro Truck Stops, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, Poly Lift Boat Lifts,Racinboys.com,?RacinDirt.com, Rains Ice Company, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Ron's Racing Collectibles, SBU Athletics, Shadow Lake Golf, S & H Farm Supply, Sleep Inn-Camdenton, Sugarfoot BBQ, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, Travel Centers of America, Tri-Lakes RV, Triangle Quick Shop, TNT Quick Shop, Twisted Tea, Vickie and Tim's Pub & Grub, Wheatland Motel, ?White's Marine Center?

?

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Source: http://www.lucasoil.com/articles1-5327/MonsterTruckNationalsaHitwithFansatLucasOilSpeedway

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Chinese troops stop Army from patrolling in Indian territory

Amid a spate of incursions by China in Ladakh, its troops are also resorting to tactics like preventing Indian Army from patrolling posts in this sector along the border which was well within India's territory.

In what is being described as an aggressive approach by China, the tactics have come to the fore in the wake of yet another incident last week when Indian troops launched its patrol "Tiranga" from Trade Junction area in north of Ladakh for two posts located 14 km up in the higher reaches along the line of actual control (LAC).

The Indian Army personnel were stopped by Chinese troops who came mounted on heavy and light vehicles, official sources said on Sunday.

The patrol party was shown a banner that it was Chinese territory and that they cannot proceed to the posts, they said.

The sources said the Chinese troops were aggressive in their approach while stopping the Indian patrol who were at their posts.

These posts are well inside Indian territory, the sources said, adding that from April this year, the patrol for these forward bases were launched 21 times and only twice it could complete its mission.

Chinese have *****ed an observation post which kept a vigil on movement of Indian troops and as soon as an Indian patrol party is ready to leave, they are intercepted midway and sent back, the sources said, adding the matter would be taken up during the next Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) at Chushul.

In the same sector in Ladakh, there were instances when Chinese military vehicles were spotted in Depsang Bulge and Daulat Beg Oldi(DBO) sector where the two armies had seen a 21-day stand-off from April 15 this year.

Indian troops comprising mainly Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) immediately swung into action and prevented the "free-run" of Chinese military vehicles in the Indian territory.

In the last BPM meeting held on July 27, India also raised objections to a tower being constructed in the Chinese side on the LAC in Demchok-***hche sector.

During the meeting with the Chinese side which was led by Colonel Wang Jun Xian, the Indian side said the construction was in violation of peace and tranquality agreement signed between the two countries in 1993.

According to the agreement, no construction work has to be undertaken at the LAC by either country.

The Chinese side claimed that the tower was actually a weather station for the benefit of the people of the area and instead informed the Indian delegation that its Army was engaged in military activities in ***hche.

The Indian side led by Brigadier Sanjeev Rai told the Chinese team that PLA troops were regularly entering into the Indian area, sources said.

It gave instances like on July 16 and 19 when the Chinese troops entered 1.2km deep into Indian territory, on July 17 (2.5km), on July 20 (aggressive patrol entered 200 metres) and intervening night of July 25-26 (3.5km).

These incursions mainly happened in Chumar and Demchok areas, located 300km from Leh.

The sources said that the "assertive posturing" by the Chinese troops was a worrying trend which had been seen lately after the April 15 faceoff at the DBO sector.

Chumar is the last town after which Himachal Pradesh starts. This area also has the distinction of having a defined international border with China. This area is not accessible from the Chinese side whereas the Indian side has a road almost to the last point on which the army can carry a load upto nine tonnes.

All Indian units located along the LAC have been asked to maintain a tight vigil in their area of responsibilities (AOR) and launch frequent patrols to the higher reaches, the sources said.

Source: http://forum.santabanta.com/showthread.htm?326329-Chinese-troops-stop-Army-from-patrolling-in-Indian-territory&goto=newpost

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Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.

The Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. ($2,195 list) is an impressively small wide-angle lens with a modest f/2.8 maximum aperture. It's compatible with Leica rangefinder cameras, although it's easy enough to use with Sony NEX and Micro Four Thirds cameras using an inexpensive adapter. It's an impressive performer, delivering sharp images at its maximum aperture, but you don't get the edge-to-edge performance that Leica shooters adore until f/4. That's still pretty reasonable for a wide-angle design, and it's even more impressive when you consider just how compact and light the lens is.

The Elmarit measures just 1.2 by 2 inches (HD) and weighs in at 6.3 ounces. The included clip-on plastic hood adds a bit of height, but not much, and its weight is impressive when you consider its all-metal construction. It can focus as close as 0.7 meter and accepts 39mm filters, the standard for smaller Leica lenses. Its aperture ranges from f/2.8 down to f/22 in half-stop clicks, and there's a tab on the focusing ring to make adjusting focus a more pleasant experience. There's no such thing as an autofocus M camera, so be prepared to focus this one yourself.

I used Imatest to check the performance of the Elmarit when paired with the full-frame Leica M. The lens was released and designed for use on the older digital M8 camera, which featured a smaller-than-full-frame image sensor. Imatest shows that average sharpness, calculated using a center-weighted methodology, is 2,311 lines per picture height. This is in excess of the 1,800 lines that we require to call a photo sharp, but there is some softness at the extreme edges of the frame. Performance there is limited to a mere 1,347 lines, which is noticeably fuzzy upon careful examination.

Stopping down to f/4 fixes everything. The overall resolution jumps to 2,736 lines, and edges are quite impressive at 1,879 lines. At f/5.6 the overall sharpness is 3,104 lines, with edges that cross 2,700 lines, and things are just about the same at f/8. This is a wide-angle design, and it doesn't focus as close as some 28mm SLR lenses, so you won't be missing out on much bokeh by narrowing the aperture when corner-to-corner sharpness is a requirement for a shot.

There is a modest amount of barrel distortion, about 0.9 percent, which is a bit much compared to some Leica glass, but is barely relevant in field conditions. If you do notice some curvature in your images, a quick slider adjustment in Lightroom will straighten them out.

The Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. is a good choice for Leica shooters who want to buy a wide-angle lens, but can't afford the Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. ($4,295). Its aperture isn't as ambitious, but its price tag is significantly lower and it's compact to boot. The lens is the widest you can use on a full-frame M without resorting to an accessory viewfinder for framing. Leica shooters who value performance over size often seek out the older, larger 28mm Elmarit on the used market, as it is said to produce sharper corners at its maximum aperture. But if you prefer the more modern look that an aspherical lens produces, and don't want to have the need for an f/2 wide-angle or the budget for the Summicron, the Elmarit-M is a solid choice. Just remember to stop it down a bit when you're going for edge-to-edge sharpness in a shot.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/moo6aPBGAdc/0,2817,2422563,00.asp

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Allcare president surrenders Indiana dental license

INDIANAPOLIS ? The head of a well-known dental company has agreed to give up his state dental license after suddenly closing six of his Indiana dentist offices, including one in Mishawaka.

In early 2011, Allcare Dental & Dentures, a former national chain, abruptly shut the doors of its offices in Mishawaka, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Indianapolis, Avon and Evansville.

A complaint was filed claiming Allcare failed to reimburse patients who paid upfront for services that were not finished, not completing dental procedures and failure to provide dentures that were already made.

The state attorney general?s office last month received a consent judgment against Allcare President Robert Bates and the company which called for more than $1.3 million in total restitution to be paid to 443 consumers who filed complaints.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says his Consumer Protection Assistance Fund will pay a portion of the restitution still owed.

The CPAF allows the attorney general?s office to use money recovered from judgments against companies that violated consumer protection laws to reimburse consumers in cases where restitution cannot be collected.

The Indiana State Board of Dentistry accepted the agreement reached between Bates and the attorney general?s office which requires him to surrender his dental license and removes his ability to reapply for a license. Last year, Zoeller?s office filed an administrative complaint against Bates for closing his businesses and abandoning hundreds of patients.

?The abrupt closure of these businesses left patients without the promised services, dental devices or refunds,? Zoeller said. ?Today?s licensing action is welcomed as we turn to the patients and make every effort to make them whole again.?

People included in the judgment are eligible to receive reimbursements and should have received a copy of the claim form. Zoeller says his office will begin paying a portion of the restitution to patients once the August 26 claim form deadline has passed.

The amounts to be paid to each eligible consumer will be determined after all of the claim forms have been received.

If you have a question, you can call 1-800-382-5516.

Bates has also faced licensing actions for similar violations in Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Source: http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-allcare-president-surrenders-indiana-dental-license-20130802,0,1563419.story?track=rss

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