Weekend Recap: Intel CEO on iPhone, Handbrake 0.9.9, Tresorit for Mac Teased

Aside from some rumblings of a big Yahoo! deal (we'll get into that shortly), it was a relatively quiet, low-key weekend for the tech world. Temperatures are starting to rise as summer fast approaches, but news on the Apple front should really heat up with WWDC in early June. In the meantime, let's reflect on how Intel let the iPhone slip through its fingers and catch up on some Mac updates...

Outgoing Intel CEO on iPhone: The One That Got Away

These days, it's rare for someone to have spent four decades with the same company, but that's exactly what outgoing Intel CEO Paul Otellini has done. During an interview with The Atlantic last week, Otellini reflected on his eight years as CEO and the 32 years that preceded that tenure, which includes at least one big regret: That Intel didn't get to make the chips that power the iPhone. "At the end of the day, there was a chip that they were interested in that they wanted to pay a certain price for and not a nickel more and that price was below our forecasted cost," Otellini reflects. "I couldn't see it. It wasn't one of these things you can make up on volume. And in hindsight, the forecasted cost was wrong and the volume was 100x what anyone thought."

iStopMotion for Mac 3.1 Adds Screen Capture, ProRes Export

The folks at Boinx Software released an update to iStopMotion for Mac over the weekend, bringing the desktop version of its fun stop motion animation package to 3.1. The update adds the ability to record a stop motion or time lapse movie from whatever is displayed on your Mac -- which could include sketching, drawing, writing, teaching or even playing a game. For users looking to add their animations into professionally-edited sequences, the update also adds the ability to export to Apple's ProRes codec for easier editing in Final Cut Pro. The update is free for existing users and $49.99 for everyone else, with your choice of purchasing from the Boinx website or the Mac App Store.

Samsung CEO Claims Galaxy S4 Sales Will Top 10 Million This Week

The Korea Times reported that Samsung may be on the verge of its most successful Android smartphone to date with the Galaxy S4. On Thursday, Samsung co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun told reporters “we are confident that we will pass more than 10 million sales of the S4 next week… it is selling much faster than the previous model S3." Shin noted that the Samsung Galaxy S3 took 50 days to pass the 10 million mark, so hitting that goal less than a month after a global release in 60 countries at the end of April would certainly qualify as the company's fastest-selling smartphone ever.

Handbrake 0.9.9 Adds Retina Support, Drag & Drop

DVD ripper Handbrake received a rare update over the weekend, with version 0.9.9 adding Retina-ready icons and an improved icon on top of a host of under-the-hood changes which include Blu-ray subtitle support, additional video frame rates, better audio remix support and updated built-in presets. On OS X Mountain Lion, Handrake will now prevent sleep during encoding or scanning, and the Mac version now allows drag-and-drop onto the main window or icon to begin a scan. There are a host of smaller changes as well, so be sure to give the release notes a quick check before updating or downloading the latest version.

Tresorit Teases Upcoming Mac Version

Dropbox-style cloud storage provider Tresorit has been offering its Windows-only solution for several weeks now, while teasing that Mac and mobile apps are on the way soon. Judging from an email sent to Mac users who signed up to be notified, one of those may be closer than you think, with a sneak peek at the forthcoming user interface and a query on whether future users prefer a "high tech blue" (see above) or "dominant orange" for the color scheme. With 5GB of free cloud storage, drag-and-drop uploading and encrypted sharing, Mac users can sign up on the Tresorit site to be among the first to grab the new client when it becomes available.

Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter

Iron Man 3 Review

After utilizing an open-city design for its premium Iron Man 2 movie game – complete with the requisite array of screen-cluttering virtual buttons – Gameloft opted for something simpler, swifter, and certainly cheaper for the next tie-in. Released in advance of the latest live-action Marvel Comics romp, the free-to-play Iron Man 3 sends Tony Stark soaring ahead through multiple locales, with alternating sequences that find him swiftly dodging traffic and aerial obstacles, zapping waves of foes, and even fighting through narrative-led boss battles. Blazingly fast and initially quite fun, this gratis game easily warrants a download from fans, though the thrills are short-lived.

Iron Man 3 impresses out of the gate with its attractive presentation, with nicely detailed suits of armor zipping speedily through the 3D environments and only the occasional hint of slowdown on an iPhone 5. Taking the form of a behind-the-back endless flier, the game finds you tilting or tapping the screen to move from left to right as needed to evade obstacles – like fighter jets, trucks, and missiles – while tapping to blast enemies as they come up. An array of quick-hit missions are readily available to earn you Stark Credits to put towards unlocking upgradable armor suits in the game, plus each new day allows access to one of several boss fights, which serve up a larger villain (like M.O.D.O.K.) to defeat.

The freemium affair is exhilarating in spots, especially when whipping through laser-filled tunnels at an insane clip, but the approach turns repetitive before long, particularly when you realize that you're not making much progress. It's unclear how to unlock the later two locations (New York City and China), and we were whipping around Malibu ad nauseam until we spent $5 in real cash on enough ISO-8 – one of the in-game currencies – to buy a few continues and apparently fly far enough to start up in the following area the next time we played. Or maybe it was tied to one of the daily missions? Iron Man 3 doesn't make it very clear either way, but we wouldn't recommend shelling out that much cash to find out for yourself.

We love the large array of unlockable armor suits (18 in total), and didn't mind the occasional timers for suit repairs and upgrades, which unsurprisingly can be hurried along with ISO-8. But things get a little convoluted with three types of spendable currency (including earned experience points and Stark Credits), which make unlocking armor a slow, multi-step process that'll only ever benefit those with huge amounts of free time – or the ludicrous $100 worth of ISO-8 needed to open everything at once. The tough-to-dodge obstacles deliver huge damage to the lower-end suits, and it makes Iron Man 3 feel too much like a constant, sluggish grind for better gear. It's then that initial excitement withers.

The bottom line. Iron Man 3 is a fun free game and a very solid diversion, but slow progress saps its long-term appeal.

LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes Review

The gang's all here for LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes, a decidedly goofy clash between iconic comic-book superheroes and villains modeled with digital plastic bricks. While Batman and Robin are the centerpieces of this silly iPhone and iPad romp through a LEGO-fied Gotham City, they're joined by more than 80 unlockable characters that add tremendous variety to your quest to stamp out evil. The silly antics and block-smashing fun found throughout this original adventure will feel familiar if you've played any of the other recent licensed LEGO games, but it's an amusing time nonetheless.

Sporting an original story, the latest LEGO Batman game kicks off with a grumpy Lex Luthor seeking revenge for losing the Man of the Year award to Bruce Wayne. In his nefarious bid for the presidency that follows, he recruits Gotham's finest evildoers to create mayhem to further his plan. The cinematics are rife with puns and the story itself is fairly entertaining. Great voice acting and funny tongue-in-cheek dialogue also punctuate this spoofy trek, and the plastic characters and polished environments look outstanding on iOS devices.

As with other LEGO titles, each confined area you explore is full of objects to smash, puzzles to solve, things to build, and baddies to battle. Whether you're playing as Batman and Robin or another heroic combo, swapping back and forth between characters plays directly into LEGO Batman's puzzles. Each character has its own unique perks and abilities, allowing you to access different secrets and elements in a given stage, and swapping out suits for some heroes adds even more variety to the puzzle play and exploration.

LEGO Batman isn't without notable flaws, however. Neither of the two control schemes feels entirely comfortable or precise enough for tackling the full range of tasks you have to tackle in any given stage. Casual touch-centric controls tend to make platforming sections and combat more frustrating than necessary, but the virtual thumbstick setup isn't as helpful in puzzle situations. These issues can be a pain at times, though they won't stop you from getting sucked into this charming adventure.

The bottom line. Despite control quirks, LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes delivers console-quality visuals and tons of variety to bolster its familiar-but-fun smash, build, and puzzle gameplay.

Google Stock: Buy It and Hold It For Life

Filed under: Investing

Of the thousands of stocks one can invest in, there are only a handful that you can reliably invest in and plan to hold for life. Google is one of those companies. The world's largest search engine has the coveted one-two punch: a sustainable edge over the competition, and culture of innovation. The makes Google stock as close to a "must own" as you can find.

Who doesn't use the Big G?
To appreciate what the company has been able to accomplish over a relatively short period of time, take a look at how Google has wrested global market share for search from Yahoo! and Microsoft's MSN Search, Windows Live Search, and now Bing -- all while holding Chinese search giant Baidu at bay.

Sources: Netmarketshare, Market Watch, webpronews, clickz, OneStat, and Websidestory. 

Google has lost some ground internationally because of its decision to back out of China, where Baidu now dominates. Overall, however, its global market share is 12 times larger than the next competitor, Yahoo!

That type of dominance is important for two key reasons. First, it means that Google is collecting more information on more users -- by an enormous margin -- every day. Google can turn that information around and ensure that users get a search experience tailored to their personal desires.

Just as important, because Google has all of this information, it is able to offer advertisers the most efficient use for placement of their Internet advertisements. Because Google is the only entity that has all of this information, businesses are more than willing to pay for Google's AdSense services.

Not resting on its laurels
If Google were content to be King of Search, it would still make a good investment. But it's the fact that CEO and co-founder Larry Page keeps pushing the company to become more that makes Google a great investment.

Google has a well-documented 20% time policy. It allows employees to spend 20% of their work time on any Google-related project that they like -- and doesn't need to be directly related to their day-to-day duties. This innovative time has unleased a plethora of products for the company: Gmail, Google Maps, and Chrome, to name a few.

That's why you shouldn't be surprised to hear about Google developing Google Glass, or self-driving automobiles. Some of these projects may turn out to be duds, but that's not the point. The point is that Google will continue to drive innovation. If only one of every 10 ideas makes it to market and is a hit, then Google -- and its shareholders -- are the big winners.

Not as expensive as you might think
The price tag for Google stock could rightly scare away some investors: about $900 per share! But if you dig a little deeper, you'd see that Google investors have always been rewarded for their faith in the company. And on a price-to-earnings basis, Google is actually cheaper now than it historically has been.

GOOG Total Return Price data by YCharts.

Google has played a key role in helping my retirement portfolio outperform the S&P 500. Since mid-2011, the stock has beaten the market by 54 percentage points. Google stock currently accounts for about 9% of my real-life holdings, and I plan on continuing to hold it in my retirement portfolio indefinitely.

Right now, it's more important than ever to understand each piece of Google's sprawling empire. To get all the details, check out The Motley Fool's new premium research report on Google, where we'll break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

The article Google Stock: Buy It and Hold It For Life originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Brian Stoffel owns shares of Google and Baidu. The Motley Fool recommends Baidu and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Baidu, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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NextEra Earnings: Can Renewables Rock This Dividend Stock?

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Publix Reports First Quarter 2013 Results and Stock Price

Filed under: Investing

Publix Reports First Quarter 2013 Results and Stock Price

LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Publix's sales for the first quarter of 2013 were $7.5 billion, a 6.1 percent increase from last year's $7.1 billion. The Easter holiday in the first quarter of 2013, which was in the second quarter of 2012, increased sales by approximately 1.3 percent. Comparable-store sales for the first quarter of 2013 increased 3.9 percent.

Net earnings for the first quarter of 2013 were $471.3 million, compared to $409.4 million in 2012, an increase of 15.1 percent. Earnings per share for the first quarter increased to $0.61 for 2013, up from $0.52 per share in 2012. Net earnings and earnings per share benefited from the early Easter holiday in the first quarter of 2013.

These amounts are based on unaudited reports that will be filed next week with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company's quarterly report to the SEC, Form 10-Q, will be available May 9 on its website at www.publix.com/stock.

Effective May 1, 2013, Publix's stock price increased from $23.20 per share to $26.90 per share. Publix stock is not publicly traded and is made available for sale only to current Publix associates and members of its board of directors.

"I'm very pleased that our strong operating performance and improvements in the stock market resulted in a significant increase in our stock price," said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. "I want to thank our associates — the owners of Publix — for continuing to make us a leader in our industry."

Publix is privately owned and operated by its 158,000 employees, with 2012 sales of $27.5 billion. Currently Publix has 1,069 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" for 16 consecutive years. In addition, Publix's dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. For more information, visit the company's website, www.publix.com.

Publix
Dwaine Stevens, 904-693-6107

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Alabama  Florida  Georgia  South Carolina  Tennessee

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The article Publix Reports First Quarter 2013 Results and Stock Price originally appeared on Fool.com.

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Apple Accused Of Avoiding Paying Billions In Taxes By The Senate (AAPL)

Apple CEO Tim Cook is appearing before Congress tomorrow to talk about the company's taxes and offshore profits.

It looks like it's going to be a showdown in D.C. between Apple and Senators who think it's conducting shady business to avoid paying taxes.

Senators Carl Levin and John McCain put out a statement saying Apple has subsidiaries in Ireland that it funnels profits through, thus allowing it to avoid paying taxes.

Apple admits that it has a subsidiary in Ireland, but says it's completely legal. It also says it doesn't use tax gimmicks.

Sen. Levin disagrees with Apple, saying:

"Apple wasn’t satisfied with shifting its profits to a low-tax offshore tax haven ... Apple sought the Holy Grail of tax avoidance. It has created offshore entities holding tens of billions of dollars, while claiming to be tax resident nowhere. We intend to highlight that gimmick and other Apple offshore tax avoidance tactics so that American working families who pay their share of taxes understand how offshore tax loopholes raise their tax burden, add to the federal deficit and ought to be closed."

Here is the memorandum from Levin and McCain:

Senate on Apple

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FLASHBACK: Tumblr Founder David Karp's Words Of Wisdom To Entrepreneurs

We interviewed Tumblr founder David Karp all the way back in November 2010, and asked him for any words of wisdom he would give to startup founders.

Since he just sold his company for $1.1 billion to Yahoo, we thought we should revisit what he had to say. :
 

Produced by Business Insider Video

SEE ALSO: What's Tough And Awesome About Being A Well-Known Couple In Silicon Valley

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The New House Finance Chair Went On A Luxurious Ski Vacation With Wall Street's Top Bankers

In January, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, ascended to the powerful chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee. Six weeks later, campaign finance filings and interviews show, Hensarling was joined by representatives of the banking industry for a ski vacation fundraiser at a posh Park City, Utah, resort.

The congressman’s political action committee held the fundraiser at the St. Regis Deer Valley, the “Ritz-Carlton of ski resorts” known for its “white-glove service” and for its restaurant by superstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

There’s no evidence the fundraiser broke any campaign finance rules. But a ski getaway with Hensarling, whose committee oversees both Wall Street and its regulators, is an invaluable opportunity for industry lobbyists.

Among those attending the weekend getaway was an official from the American Securitization Forum, a Wall Street industry group, a spokesman confirmed. It gave $2,500 in February to Hensarling’s political action committee, the Jobs, Economy, and Budget (JEB) Fund.

Len Wolfson, a lobbyist for the Mortgage Bankers Association, which gave the JEB Fund $5,000 that month, posted a picture on Instagram from the weekend of the fundraiser of the funicular at the St. Regis. (It was labeled, “Putting the #fun in #funicular. #stregis #deervalley #utah.”) Wolfson did not respond to requests for comment. (UPDATE 1 p.m. Wolfson has now set his account to private.)

Visa, which gave the JEB Fund $5,000, also sent an official. A Visa spokesman told ProPublica that in attendance were not just finance companies, but also big retailers and others.

Hensarling, a protégé of former Texas senator and famed deregulator Phil Gramm, has a mixed record regarding Wall Street. While he has been critical of “too big to fail” banks and voted against the 2008 bailout, Hensarling recently said he opposed downsizing big banks, according to Bloomberg. That stance matters now more than ever as a bipartisan duo in the Senate, David Vitter, R-La., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced a bill last week seeking to constrain the too-big-to-fail institutions. While the bill is considered a longshot, it has provoked intense opposition from the industry.  

Meanwhile, Hensarling recently barred the head of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from appearing before the House Financial Services Committee, citing a legal cloud over recess appointments made by President Obama.

Whatever his stance on the industry, Hensarling has been more than happy to court Wall Street’s money.

Donors working in various financial industries are Hensarling’s biggest supporters, giving him over $1 million in the last election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The congressman’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Others donating to Hensarling’s JEB Fund around the time of the Utah ski weekend: Capital One; Credit Suisse; PricewaterhouseCoopers; MasterCard; UBS; US Bank; the National Association of Federal Credit Unions; Koch Industries, which is involved in sundry financial trading; the National Pawnbrokers Association; and payday lenders Cash America International and CheckSmart Financial. All either declined to comment or did not respond to requests.  

A spokeswoman for one large bank that donated $5,000, Alabama-based Regions Financial, told ProPublica the company doesn’t discuss events employees attend for “a number of reasons, including security.”

Also donating $5,000 to Hensarling’s political committee around the time of the ski weekend was Steve Clark, a lobbyist for JP Morgan and the industry group the Financial Services Roundtable. (In 2011, a memo written by Clark and his partners for the American Bankers Association proposed an $850,000 public-relations strategy to undermine Occupy Wall Street. It leaked to MSNBC; the plan had apparently never been executed.)

Clark didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The ski weekend was a large, apparently family-friendly affair. A Utah entertainment booker told ProPublica she had hired two caricature artists for a Feb. 23 event at the St. Regis for a group of 100, including 20 children. Hensarling’s JEB Fund, paid the bill. The fund also reported spending about $1,000 on “gifts and mementos” at Deer Valley as well as charges at the upscale restaurant Talisker on Main.

Campaigns and political action committees of a few other GOP congressmen also show charges totaling more than $50,000 at the St. Regis around that time: House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas; House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp of Michigan; and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon. None responded to requests for comment.

This is at least the second consecutive year that Hensarling has attended a fundraiser at Deer Valley. During the same February congressional recess last year, the National Republican Congressional Committee hosted a “Park City Ski Weekend” for Hensarling along with Sessions and Walden. Hensarling’s JEB Fund also reported about $60,000 paid to the St. Regis Deer Valley in the last election cycle. (The NRCC said it did not sponsor this year’s event.)

The Texan congressman has long had a taste for mixing skiing and politics. On the same February weekend in 2009, for example, Hensarling’s political action committee invited donors “to the second annual ‘JEB Fund Takes Jackson’” ski weekend for a minimum contribution of $2,500. The setting was the Snake River Lodge and Spa in Jackson, Wyoming, which boasted “wintertime activities fun for the entire family” including dog sledding tours and sleigh rides, according to the invitation.

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